Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

Product Description

The Star Wars saga is now complete on DVD with Episode III REVENGE OF THE SITH. Torn between loyalty to his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the seductive powers of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker ultimately turns his back on the Jedi, thus completing his journey to the dark side and his transformation into Darth Vader. Experience the breathtaking scope of the final chapter in spectacular clarity and relive all the epic battles including the final climactic lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan.

System Requirements:
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee
Directed By: George Lucas
Running Time: 140 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Ending the most popular film epic in history, Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith is an exciting, uneven, but ultimately satisfying journey. Picking up the action from Episode II, Attack of the Clones as well as the animated Clone Wars series, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), pursue General Grievous into space after the droid kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).

The Star Wars Family Tree (click for larger image)

It's just the latest maneuver in the ongoing Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist forces led by former Jedi turned Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). On another front, Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) leads the Republic's clone troops against a droid attack on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. All this is in the first half of Episode III, which feels a lot like Episodes I and II. That means spectacular scenery, dazzling dogfights in space, a new fearsome villain (the CGI-created Grievous can't match up to either Darth Maul or the original Darth Vader, though), lightsaber duels, groan-worthy romantic dialogue, goofy humor (but at least it's left to the droids instead of Jar-Jar Binks), and hordes of faceless clone troopers fighting hordes of faceless battle droids.

But then it all changes.

Star Wars Time Line (click for larger image)

After setting up characters and situations for the first two and a half movies, Episode III finally comes to life. The Sith Lord in hiding unleashes his long-simmering plot to take over the Republic, and an integral part of that plan is to turn Anakin away from the Jedi and toward the Dark Side of the Force. Unless you've been living under a rock the last 10 years, you know that Anakin will transform into the dreaded Darth Vader and face an ultimate showdown with his mentor, but that doesn't matter. In fact, a great part of the fun is knowing where things will wind up but finding out how they'll get there. The end of this prequel trilogy also should inspire fans to want to see the original movies again, but this time not out of frustration at the new ones. Rather, because Episode III is a beginning as well as an end, it will trigger fond memories as it ties up threads to the originals in tidy little ways. But best of all, it seems like for the first time we actually care about what happens and who it happens to.

Episode III is easily the best of the new trilogy--OK, so that's not saying much, but it might even jockey for third place among the six Star Wars films. It's also the first one to be rated PG-13 for the intense battles and darker plot. It was probably impossible to live up to the decades' worth of pent-up hype George Lucas faced for the Star Wars prequel trilogy (and he tried to lower it with the first two movies), but Episode III makes us once again glad to be "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." --David Horiuchi

DVD features
Say what you will about the new Star Wars films--and plenty has been said already--but the DVDs continue to set the standard for technical excellence. From the opening of the first scene, the Dolby 5.1 EX sound is thrilling, and the picture, transferred directly from the digital source, is fantastic. A commentary track is again provided by a combination of people, including George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Roger Guyett. Lucas admits that the film is political and that he was influenced by Vietnam, but makes no mention of the Bush administration, as is widely speculated.

The main documentary on the second disc is probably the most granular DVD feature ever. "Within a Minute: The Making of Episode III" takes 67 minutes to deconstruct one minute of the film, an excerpt of the duel on Mustafar. The idea is to cover all the aspects that go into creating that minute, from writing to set construction to accounting. Fortunately, many of the concepts such as costumes apply to the movie as a whole, but having producer Rick McCallum tell us the importance of food seems a bit overkill. Two other featurettes are "It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III," an 11-minute discussion focusing mainly on the lightsaber duels, and "The Chosen One," a 14-minute examination of Darth Vader's evolution over the six films.

The six deleted scenes were no great loss from the film but are all worth watching. Natalie Portman in particular gets some much-needed screen time as one of the co-plotters of an anti-Palpatine movement, and an early action scene ties in to the Clone Wars animated series. There's also a 15-part series of 5 to 7 minute Web documentaries on topics such as the creation of General Grievous and Ewan McGregor, and an Xbox sampler of Battlefront II (if you're lucky, you can play as Obi-Wan Kenobi cutting through an army of droids) among other supplements. --David Horiuchi

The Complete Star Wars Saga

Episodes 4-6 Trilogy (widescreen)
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episde II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1
Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 2
The Star Wars Store

Stills from Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (click for larger images)

Anakin turning to the dark side
When Wookiees attack

Yoda, Jedi master
Mr. and Mrs. Vader

Saber training with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen
The cast

Customer Reviews:

painted into a corner.......2007-09-05

This Star Wars movie is the worst since Episode V
when Luke's face was in bad shape from the bike crash
between films. The special effects remind on more of a Japanese
anime than a Lucas film.
You get the feeling this film was completed
because it had to be,
not for the fun or worth of it.
It got in all the "stuff" it had to,
but compared to Episode I or II is is a failure.
I find myself not "believing" Anakan's turn to the dark side:
the creation of Darth Vader.

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

Fan :-(.......2007-08-08

Yes the acting was good and the special effects where excellent. But it lacked any feeling of reality. Any Star Wars fan (Who's not?) should watch this movie and if they are a collector, add it to their collection. Like its predecessors, it is not as good as the originals (despite the bad acting). I think that this is a prime example of CGI gone wild.

A Masterpiece.......2007-07-30

Words don't describe how wonderful this movie is. It is a masterpiece. Everything in this movie is perfect. The acting, the special effects, everything comes together so beautiful, so perfectly, and so tragically. We open in the biggest space fight in history as the Separatists are attempting to leave Courscant with the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin and Obi Wan fly in assigned with the task of rescuing the chancellor. Both are even better looking then in Attack of the Clones. Upon arriving on the ship they immediately realize it's a trap set by Dooku. As Obi Wan says so well "Let's spring the trap." They find the Chancellor and Dooku starting the first awsome lightsabre duel. Obi Wan is quickly knocked out of the fight leaving Anakin and Dooku. Anakin defeats Dooku using the dark side of the Force. At Palpatine's urging Anakin kills him in coldblood taking another step towards the dark side which Anakin immediately regrets and is horrifed by his actions. I love the way Hayden Christienson played Anakin so well from his cold blood murder to being confused by his actions.
This are not the ways of the Jedi. Palpatine tries to assure Anakin that it was all right and that Dooku was too dangerous to keep alive. He then tells Anakin they need to get off the ship and to leave Obi Wan behind. This time Anakin refuses Palpatine's order and goes to retieve Obi Wan. I love the way Anakin looked at Palpatine and told him "His fate will be the same as ours."
After an exciting crash landing back on Courscant Anakin is reunited with Padme who tells him she's pregnant. Anakin's over joyed but that's quickly destroyed when he has a premontion that night of Padme dying in childbirth. Similar to the dreams he had about his mother before she died. Anakin's determined not to let this premontion come true. Anakin goes to Yoda first to seek advice who gives Anakin the typical Jedi response after all the Jedi aren't suppose to have attachments. The scene between Yoda and Anakin is very well played. Here's Master of the Jedi order and the Chosen One in Yoda's small room both of them almost completely cloaked in darkness with only a little light illustrating how neither one of them is truly seeing the other person.
Anakin's relationship with Jedi Council has become difficult to say the least. His close relationship with Palpatine has the Council concerned especially now that the Jedi are growing suspicious of Palpatine. They don't like the way he keeps finding ways to stay in office even thought he's term has expired or how he keeps getting more power voted to him through the Senate or the way Palpatine interferes with Jedi affairs. Including putting Anakin on the Council as Palpatine's personal representitive. While trying not to be controlled by Palpatine the Jedi in fact end up doing exactly what he wants by denying Anakin the rank of master knowing it'll create more cracks between Anakin and the Jedi. The Jedi have their suspicious about Palpatine but they have no proof so the Council ask Anakin to spy on the Chancellor who inturns ask Anakin to spy on the Jedi. Which side will Anakin chose?
Palpatine being his helpful self offers Anakin an answer when during that incredable opera scene Palpatine mentions a Sith legend about how a Sith was able to keep those he cared about from dying knowing full well this was exactly the answer Anakin was looking for. At least a glimmer of hope that there was away to save Padme. Ian plays the role of Palpatine flawlessly as he insidiously moves all the pieces into place for his endgame. He's got to be the best villain I've ever seen.
Back that the Jedi Council Obi Wan is chosen to be sent off to defeat Grevious and hopefully put an end to the war over Anakin once again this is exactly what Palpatine wanted. Its such a tragedy watching the Jedi Council scenes knowing these Jedi are trying so hard to stay out of Palpatine's manuiplations and bring an end to the war and get Palpatine office without them realizing that they are in Palpatine's trap. That's really the hard part for the Jedi is that their enemy Palpatine knows them so well that he knows exactly what move they will make even before they make it. I mean its like watching a football game where one side has the other team's play book.
Obi Wan goes off to face Grevious but not before the beautiful and emotional pack of his last conversation when Anakin apologizes for his behavoir and Obi Wan gives him praise. You know this is the last time they'll be friends which makes even more emotionally packed. I'm usually pulling out the tissues at this point in the film.
Once Obi Wan is gone Palpatine reveals himself to Anakin who turns him into the Jedi Council. Mace takes four Jedi to arrest the Sith Master but orders Anakin to stay behind because of his mixed feelings. Mace and the Jedi arrive in Palpatine's office and attempts to arrest him. What follows completely surpised me. Palpatine leaps from his chair and kills three of the Jedi leaving only Mace. Now I know Palpatine's a Sith and Sith use lightsabres despite that I was shocked that Palpatine had one. The dueling being Palpatine and Mace is amazing.
Back at the Temple Anakin's contomplating things and he has Palpatine's voice (literally) in his head warning him dies all hope Anakin has of saving Padme dies with him. Anakin gets up and looks out the window out at Padme's apartment. Padme sensing Anakin gets up and goes to her window. This is one of the best non-speaking scenes I've ever seen. You see the emotion and love between the two while Anakin makes his decision.
Anakin arrives at Palpatine's office to find way appears to be a very similar seen to him and Dooku. A Jedi about to kill an unarmed person. Of course Palpatine set it up to look just like that unlike with Dooku, Palpatine's playing possum. When Anakin cuts off Mace's arm Palpatine hurls lightening at Mace which sends him out the window and to poor Mace's death. Samuel L. Jackson did an awsome job of protraying Mace from his frustrations with Palpatine over not stepping down from chancellor to conflict with Anakin to Mace's conversations with the other members of the Council. I like how Mace did originially intend to simply arrest the Chancellor and was unprepared for how powerful Palpatine was to his attempts to get Anakin to realize that Palpatine was the traitor.
This is Anakin's irreversionable step to the dark side of the Force. I love Anakin's horror of what he just done, that he made the wrong choice and realization that he can't go back. Anakin kneels in front of Palpatine/Sidious to become a Sith and receive his name of Darth Vader. Its an emotional and powerful scene at the same time. The intercut to Yoda on Kaskyyyk clutching his chest in confusion while this was going on was amazing.
Anakin now Darth Vader marches up the steps of the Jedi Temple leading a legion of clonetroopers while we go from planet to planet through the galaxy to watch the heartbreaking scenes of the Jedi being gunned down by their own troops. Its heartbreaking, devastating and so sad to watch people who devoted their entire lives to the Republic being gunned down and declared traitors of the Republic and the Jedi in the Temple being killed by one of their own. Yoda dropping his cain as he felt the pain of the Jedi being killed was very well done.
This is where Senator Organa, Leia's future adoptive father shows up at the Jedi Temple demanding to know what was going on only to be turned away by Clonetroopers at gun point. Organa leaves but not before witnessing a Youngling attempting to escape gunned down. Jimmy Smits plays his part every well. I love his line "And so it is." At being told it was time for him to leave. It was the line and the expression of someone who's worse fears had just come true. Organa leaves Courscant to find surviving Jedi he finds of course only Obi Wan and Yoda. They decide to return to Courscant Organa to attend a special session of Congress where Palpatine declares himself Emperor to the sound of applause. Its an amazing scene caped off with Padme's perfect line "So this is how liberty dies, to thunderous applause."
Intercuting this scene is Anakin/Vader slaughtering the Separatists. Indeed the Republic's dead. At the Jedi Temple Obi Wan's shocked at the finding even the Younglings were killed and wants to know who's behind it. How wonderful and yet tragicly fitting that Obi Wan doesn't realize it was Anakin until he goes to the security holograms. Ewan McGregor who's all ready been putting in an incredable preformance as Obi Wan Kenobi pleades with Yoda to send him to kill the Emperor so he wouldn't have to go and face Anakin. You can see in his eyes and words of desperation he doesn't want to be the one to kill Anakin. But Yoda wisely and rightly knows that he must be the one to take on Palpatine/Sidious.
Obi Wan hides on Padme's ship after to follow her to Anakin after informing her of Anakin's turn. Natalie Portman who's also been putting in an incredable preformence gets even better as she goes to Anakin. This scene between them is so perfect. Padme wants him to say that it wasn't him or that Obi Wan's claims were crazy. But Anakin doesn't. He tells Padme that he's becoming more powerful then any Jedi could ever hope to be and he's doing it for her to protect her. He tells Padme of his plans to over throw Palpatine and they can rule the Galaxy Anakin says this in a tone of desperation, of insanity, of unstablity, irrational and Hayden completely sells it..that in this moment of craziness Anakin truly believes this. Padme slowly begins to back away from Anakin realizing that Obi Wan was right that even though she loves Anakin and would follow him any where she can't follow him down this path. She tells him that you can see a switch in Anakin/Vader as Padme pleades with him to come back but Anakin/Vader's not seeing her anymore he sees Obi Wan behind her and is outraged believing that Padme bought Obi Wan with her to kill him. Padme's protests are silenced when Anakin/Vader force chokes her. I love the way Obi Wan advances on Anakin/Vader ordering him to let her go. Anakin does and she falls. Obi Wan and Anakin circle each other slowly Anakin clearly consumed by the dark side and Obi Wan trying to get Anakin see that. You can see Obi Wan's trying not to end up fighting Anakin but realizes after talking with Anakin that there's no other way. They begin the amazing Obi Wan and Anakin duel we've been waiting thirty years to see and weren't disappointed. They fight through the buildings and around fiery lava. They both know each other so well they know each other's fight and it a long time before Anakin's defeated. I love how Obi Wan tried to get Anakin not to make that fatal jump which severs Anakin's remaining arm and legs. Obi Wan's emotional cry to Anakin before picking up Anakin's lightsabre and leaving.
Intercut is Yoda and Palpatine/Sidious fight which is just as incredable. The two masters of their orders battling it out light vs. dark winner takes all duels in its well done. Palpatine hurling Senator pods at Yoda who sends them back. Even thought Yoda ends up being the one to withdrawl from the battle I say it was a draw. Yoda realizing that withdrawls from the battle and is rescued by Organa. The they meet up with Obi Wan who's carrying Padme. Intercut between Anakin being reborn in the black suit Padme gives birth to Luke and Leia and dies but not before telling Obi Wan that there's still good in Anakin something which we know Luke will take to heart. Padme's body is sent back to Naboo for her funeral while Leia and Luke are sent to their respective homes. We actually get to see a glimpse of Alderaan and Leia's adoptive mother. The final second with Ben, Beru, and Luke standing where Luke will eighteen years later is a beautiful way to end this emotional roller coaster of a movie...and a great way to end the series.
Everything in this movie was perfect. All of the actors played their rolls perfectly. The special effects was perfect. Little details like Governor Tarkin with Palpatine and Vader on the Star Destroyer looking at the Death Star. Return of Tantive VI, the ship Leia will be captured on to Padme holding Anakin's gift to her from The Phantom Manace during the funeral prosession. Revenge of the Sith was everything I wanted it to be but even better.
Although it the deleted scenes and not the actual movie I did like the scenes with Padme and the Senators you could see the beginnings of the Rebellion. I love how it was started by Padme and these Senators and would lead to Empire's defeat by her daughter Leia. I have seen this movie a hundred times and I'm still blow way with how amazing it is. Its truly a masterpiece.

Middle ending........2007-07-29

And so the StarWars story has come full circle. I sat in the theater when A new Hope was released in 1977. The awesomeness of that Star Destroyer chasing down the Blockade Runner was like nothing ever befor seen in movies and changed the way movies have been made ever since. Everyone who saw A New Hope in '77 knew that StarWars was going to be big! Who knew it would be 20 years BIG! All of the StarWars saga should be seen on the big screen, that is the medium it was made for. This DVD is a wonderfull way to bring the story home, and I digress by saying it was much better to see it in the theater. I love the story line and I am glad to have been able to see it complete. The action shots and special effects are the pinnical of all the years George Lucas has devoted to his dream.

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

A small review of the DVD image quality, not the movie
Use The English Subtitles - It Will Help Make The Movie Better
the child, Anakin Skywalker
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.
MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Pernilla August , Kenny Baker , Brian Blessed , Ralph Brown , and Anthony Daniels
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Robots & Androids | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Accessories:

ASIN: B00003CX5P
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.

Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.

Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson

Description

Feature-Length Audio Commentary
The creators of Episode I give you insight into the film like no one else can. Hear from: writer/director George Lucas, Producer Rick McCallum, sound designer and film co-editor Ben Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires.

"The Beginning"
Making Episode I Documentary Film
Culled from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, this all-new hour-long documentary film takes you inside Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic during the making of The Phantom Menace. Sit in on the film's production process including: pre-production, casting, principal photography, editing, rough-cut reviews, visual effects meetings and other events that few people have had access to before.

Exclusive Deleted Scenes and Documentary
All-new documentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum and guests discussing the painstaking process every director must go through in determining what scenes make the final cut. View seven exclusive deleted sequences that were created specifically for this DVD and learn why they were eliminated from the final version of the film.

Multi-Angle Animatics
Discover the amazing techniques used to create two memorable sequences (Submarine and Podrace Lap 1) from storyboards to animatics to final composites.

Featurettes
Five mini-documentaries give you an insider's look at The Phantom Menace's Storyline, Design, Costumes, Visual Effects and Fight sequences through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

Web Documentaries
Originally released on starwars.com during the production of Episode I, this award-winning twelve-part web documentary series gives you a fly-on-the-wall perspective into the making of the film as it was happening.

Exclusive Production Photo Gallery
Scroll through a never-before-seen gallery of candid cast and crew shots, each with captions.

"Duel of the Fates" Music Video
One of the most popular music videos during its release in May 1999, the "Duel of the Fates" video intertwines live footage of John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with behind-the-scenes clips and dramatic footage featured in Episode I.

Posters and Print Campaign
Examine the Episode I theatrical posters (Teaser and Launch) and the International Outdoor advertising used to support the release of Episode I around the world.

Trailers and TV Spots
Watch the theatrical teaser and launch trailers, plus seven TV spots (including the five original "Tone Poems" along with "The Saga Begins" and "All Over Again").

"Star Wars: Starfighter-The Making of a Game" from LucasArts
This featurette offers insight into the making of the popular flight action combat game along with information on other Star Wars games from LucasArts.

Exclusive DVD-ROM Content
Your Episode I DVD is a key that unlocks exclusive Star Wars content only available through a special DVD-ROM website.

Customer Reviews:

A small review of the DVD image quality, not the movie.......2007-09-10

After putting off this purchase for years, I finally walked to the store and got my copy. I was disappointed.

The image was transfered from film, which makes no sense to me. It has the typical dust, scratches, overexposure and over-sharpening problems of a scan from film. I guess back in 2001 when everyone had small TVs no one noticed, but I have a 70" screen and, compared to the Episode III DVD, the image quality in this one sucks.

I know Episode I was the last Star Wars flick shot with film instead of digital cameras, but, come on, it was edited in computers! It makes no sense to further degrade the image by transferring it from digital to film and then back to digital... unless you are planning to re-release it as a "Digitally remastered" version for the 10th anniversary (Which I hope they do, along with the HD DVD and Blu-ray versions)

Use The English Subtitles - It Will Help Make The Movie Better.......2007-09-05

I believe George Lucas said he was inspired by the chariot race in the 1959 epic Ben-Hur, and thought of it often when he staged the big pod race scene in this movie.

So, when I watched the film again the other day, the third or fourth time I've seen it, I kept looking for comparisons. Well, suffice to say nothing will surpass that chariot race, which had no benefit of any special-effects while this was almost all computer-generated. Nevertheless, the pod race in here was a lot of fun to watch, had excellent surround sound, was exciting and the highlight of the film. Oddly, in this movie instead of a man you have a small boy as the good guy- driver, so to speak. Young Jake Lloyd who plays "Anakin Skywalker." He's the key character in this Star Wars saga, the boy who later becomes the father to Luke Skywalker and winds up being revealed as Darth Vader. But....this is long before that

This movie, the first Star Wars movie after a long hiatus (16-years) disappointed a lot of fans but I thought it was entertaining overall. My main complaint was trying to understand "Jar Jar Binks," but on the DVD I can use English subtitles and thus understand all the strange things he says with his Caribbean accent. It makes the movie more enjoyable and I strongly recommend doing that.

As usual, there is a ton of astounding visuals in here, all kinds of strange characters and excellent "effects." Yes, the action gets hokey in spots, especially near the end, but what modern-day action film doesn't?

People who are really "into" this Star Wars saga, and take it seriously, were, as mentioned generally let down with this movie. I guess they expected a lot more after waiting so long for the next installment. I just watch it for the enjoyment of an escapist film and as someone who usually enjoys good visuals. I repeat: put on the "English subtitles." That helped a lot, believe me.

the child, Anakin Skywalker.......2007-09-04

This is a decent movie. it could have been better on a lot of levels but it is definitely a good movie to check out. If you're looking for A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi, this ain't it.

It's a different movie. Not as action packed as those but definitely worth a look. I actually prefer this to Attack of the Clones, mostly because of Hayden Christensen, Jar Jar Binks is an annoyance but you'll learn to live with it. If he didn't talk as much it'd be a very good movie.

Alas, I still recommend this movie. The DVD is great. A commentary from George and others and a few features on the second disc make it all the worthwhile. The deleted scenes are a must watch. Definitely for the fans. If you aren't a fan, you won't appreciate it as much.

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

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

Of all the many Binks in the world, who is the most skull-crushingly annoying? Is it the Binks Company, the Canadian insurance brokers? Is it the U.S. manufacturers of spray guns, paint booths, and electrostatic spray equipment? Or is Jar Jar, the mouthy horse-lizard from the 4th Star Wars movie, appropriately titled Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace? If you said anything but number three, you are imprisonably insane! That's right, Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy take on the franchise-ruining Star Wars that everybody loves to hate but nobody loves to watch! Only we make you want to watch it again, and laugh instead of kill! Finally, Jar Jar gets what he deserves!

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

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Robots & Androids | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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

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!

Average customer rating:

Great Western!
Sacketts on Parade
Louis L'Amour's The Sacketts
Good Western
"You play the harp, mister? You keep pushin, you'll end up learnin'."

Louis L'Amour's The Sacketts
Starring: Sam Elliott , Tom Selleck , Jeff Osterhage , Glenn Ford , and Ben Johnson
Director: Robert Totten
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000EOTUSK
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Amazon.com

Louis L'Amour's easy voice with its gentle rhythm sets the tone and pace of the film in a spoken introduction to this loping, rambling three-hour-plus TV-movie adaptation of his novels The Daybreakers and Sackett. Sam Elliot stars as the elder Sackett, a nomad hunting and trapping in the mountains who happens upon an ancient treasure. Tom Selleck and Jeff Osterhage are his younger siblings, forced to leave home to avoid a Hatfield and McCoy situation. As the Sackett brothers wind their way across the Midwest prairies and mountains we join them on cattle drives and gold hunts, in gunfights and fistfights, and in a climactic showdown as they find their place in the world. This 1979 film rambles and meanders like a lazy river winding through a beautiful landscape of peaks and plains and forests, punctuated by the occasional gunfight and enlivened by a story that celebrates both the open range and the taming of the towns. Elliot looks almost young but flashes his savage eyes behind a thick black beard, while Selleck's easygoing manner is backed up with a stony-faced determination. The excellent cast includes a veritable who's who of Western character actors: Glenn Ford, Ben Johnson, Gilbert Roland, Gene Evans, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens, L.Q. Jones, Mercedes McCambridge, and Pat Buttram. Followed in 1982 by The Shadow Riders, which reunited the three stars and even a few members of the supporting cast in a tale of three different brothers. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Louis L'Amour's epic Western saga of brothers who blazed a name across the untamed post-Civil War New Mexico frontier.

Customer Reviews:

Great Western!.......2007-09-13

Adapted from a story written by one of the greatest western writers of all time, I was happy the video version lived up to my expectations. It was a joy to watch the Sacketts come alive on screen, and be played by some of my favorite actors. I wasn't the least disappointed.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

Sacketts on Parade.......2007-08-25

I ordered this disk as it is one of the Sackett series never seen on TV and I do watch most all westerns being a big big fan of Louis LaMour. I wish some of the movie companies would make some of the other LaMours and film them for tv specials. I rate this at the top and a great Amazon transaction.

Louis L'Amour's The Sacketts.......2007-08-23

Louis L'Amours one of the greater western writers. His books are faithfully made into movies like The Sacketts. I think he is a great
teller of western stories. I was not that big of a fan of western
when I was growing up my dad loved them. After following Louis L'Amours
books and movies I have become a fan. It is how judge other westerns now
for quality of story and realism.

Good Western.......2007-07-24

I enjoyed this movie a lot. The only real problem I had with it was you could tell it was made for TV by the scene changes.

"You play the harp, mister? You keep pushin, you'll end up learnin'.".......2007-07-08

Warning: SPOILERS scattered all over.

To this day, Louis L'Amour remains my favorite western wordsmith. And, amongst his many protagonists, my preference lies with the Sackett family. Which leads me to this two-part television mini-series. In 1979, Louis L'Amour's THE SACKETTS came aroaring to the small screen and brought to gritty realization some of my favorite Western characters of all time. There are 17 Sackett novels in all (19, if you count minor roles by a Sackett in BENDIGO SHAFTER and in DARK CANYON), and the mini-series chose to base itself on two early novels, SACKETT and THE DAYBREAKERS. Screenwriter Jim Byrnes had to somehow combine the two books into one cohesive screenplay and, thus, had to make some changes. But it's all good as Louis L'Amour read the screenplay and gave his blessing. In fact, L'Amour provides the opening voice-over intro for Parts 1 & 2.

So, the plot: After fatally gunning down a feuding man, young Tennessee gunfighter Tyrell Sacket (Jeff Osterhage) hightails it to the untamed west, trailed and then accompanied by his level-headed older brother Orrin (Selleck). First hiring on as cowhands in a cattle drive to Kansas, Tyrell and Orrin then make their way to New Mexico. In Santa Fe, they get caught up in a bitter feud between a hidalgo, whose people have long held the territory, and a land-grabbing Anglo encroacher named Jonathan Pritts, who aims to push the Mexicans out. With Pritts bent on achieving his goal come hell or high water, it's only a matter of time before them hillbilly boys from Tennessee find cause to slap leather.

Meanwhile, William Tell Sackett (Sam Elliott), a Civil War veteran and the oldest Sackett brother, gets drawn into a slanted poker game and has to kill a cheatin' cardsharp, an act which promises dire consequences for Tell. Weeks go by and Tell is now prospectin' for gold and finds himself fending off an unkempt but plucky girl, greedy varmints, and grim-lookin' folks bent on a reckonin'. Undermanned and outgunned, Tell looks to be in a spell of trouble. But, then again, when you fight one Sackett, well, you fight 'em all.

There've been quite a few movie renditions of L'Amour's novels, including the pretty great HOW THE WEST WAS WON, the little known but still nifty THE BURNING HILLS (with Tab Hunter), and THE SHADOW RIDERS, which reunites Elliott, Selleck, and Osterhage. But, to me, the finest L'Amour film adaptation is THE SACKETTS. At 3 hours and 20 minutes long and shifting back and forth between the two story arcs, the film captures the personalities of the three Sackett brothers and conveys a certain down and dirty realism, all the while espousing that old-fashioned Western code of honor and delivering its share of frontier justice. The sets are peopled by actors who appear genuine in their patina of dust and grime. In striving for an authentic depiction, the filmmakers had to fight just to keep the horse dung intact on the dusty streets (the movie backers were appalled). Present also is the authentic-sounding, colloquial frontier speak which, naturally, heavily sprinkles L'Amour's books.

Sam Elliott has his character down pat, a natural as the "rawboned and ugly lookin'" Tell Sackett, with his tangled beard and ferocious handlebar mustache and feral, ill-tempered eyes. So convincing is Elliott as the laconic Tell that it's almost a surprise whenever he parts his lips to speak. Tom Selleck, still one year away from his iconic, star-making turn as Thomas Magnum, had to come in 5 times before he was signed on. As Orrin Sacket, the most erudite and learned of the three brothers, Selleck brings to the screen his charm, warmth, and heartthrob smile. Orrin supposedly can "talk a squirrel out of a walnut tree" or "a pump handle into believing it was a windmill." And, as embodied by Selleck, one can fair believe it. Little known Jeff Osterhage does just fine as the shy and earnest, but oh-so-deadly Tyrell Sackett, who, along with the legendary Barnabas Sackett, is one of my all time favorite L'Amour creations.

The supporting cast is uniformly solid, with veterans Glenn Ford and Ben Johnson as standouts. Ford adds depth to the canny Tom Sunday, who starts out as Orrin and Tye's mentor but eventually metamorphoses into a bitter and hard-drinking man. The grizzled Johnson exudes experience and world-weary wisdom as Cap Rountree, whose "wrinkles are war maps." Old oater reliables Jack Elam and Slim Pickens ride up as the vengeful minded Bigelow brothers.

While there is a smattering of action throughout, which culminates in the three brothers engaging in a furious shootout at the livery stable, the movie takes its time with its thoughtful, wide ranging character development. It pays off later as I feel the saddest part of the film is actually the downspiraling turn of once friend and ally Tom Sunday and his inevitable fate. In the relatively short passage of time covered by the film, Orrin and Tye grow from raw Tennessee boys to adults who've planted roots and become men of means and responsibilities. However, from beginning to end, the grim-visaged Tell Sackett is seemingly immutable, although he seems to have gained a lady friend at the end there. While, in my opinion, Orrin and Tye's story is more engrossing, Tell's story arc is noteworthy in that it bespeaks the often solitary life preferred by a certain hardy breed of men who lived back then, when the country was spacious enough to give a man room to breathe.

There are several highlight moments which I savor. There is Tye's showdown with Carney. Tell's shaving demo with the wicked-looking Arkansas toothpick. Tye overcoming his shyness with the hidalgo's daughter. Tell facing down Kid Newton, a would be gunfighter. There is Tom Sunday's last stand. And the climactic shootout between the Sacketts and the Bigelows.

Part One of the mini-series is on the first disc. The 2nd disc has the conclusion, as well as a 12-minutes-long featurette "The Sacketts Go West" which presents fairly informative interviews with Jeff Osterhage and writer Jim Byrnes.

With TNT foremost, but also other cable networks, having championed the movie western down thru the years, here's hoping Ted Turner or whoever sees fit to adapt more of L'Amour's work, and specifically, the Sackett books, and, even more specifically, SACKETT'S LAND (with Barnabas Sackett) and THE SACKETT BRAND (with Tell Sackett and a passel of other Sacketts). Here's hoping.

Average customer rating:

Not done right for HD
Rent it
Alright...until you read the book.
the sleeper has awakened
Ripped off

Dune (Extended Edition)
Starring: Francesca Annis , Leonardo Cimino , Brad Dourif , José Ferrer , and Linda Hunt
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Extended Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0007PAMR4
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Amazon.com

Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it" affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and convoluted in the epic tradition; it has

Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides

something to do with political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts (and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting, Kenneth McMillan, Patrick

Sting as Feyd-Rautha

Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt. --Jim Emerson

DVD features
Melange fans have a lot to be excited about with this impressive edition of Dune, though the "Extended Edition" label is a bit misleading. If you are expecting the mythic 4 hour "David Lynch preferred" version that is rumored to be sitting in a vault, don't get your hopes up. This isn't it. In an attempt to quickly sober spice-fueled giddy fans, producer Raffaella De Laurentiis (daughter of Dino De Laurentiis) immediately reveals in the 'Deleted Scenes' introduction that the rumored 4 hour version is just that; a rumor. What this DVD set does contain is the 2 Hour 17 Minute original theatrical release digitally remastered, available for the first time in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround sound. The presentation on this edition is a drastic improvement from the original letterboxed release. On the flipside of the DVD

Knife fight!

is the alternate 2 hour 57 minute version cut for television. As many fans know, this 'extended' version was disowned by Lynch, who insisted his name be replaced by that famous Hollywood pseudonym "Alan Smithee;" the name used by directors whose film was taken away and recut against their wishes. There is some new material in the 14 minutes of deleted scenes offering a bit more background into the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy and the Fremen culture and their struggle. All other extras focus on the international production crew of Dune including the design team, special effects, and short documentaries on the miniature models and wardrobe designs. Disappointingly, there are no appearances in the bonus features by any of the original cast or Lynch himself. However, many of the production crew members talk openly about working with David Lynch and his artistic involvement in the visual process. To cap it off, this edition comes in a very stylish and sturdy DVD tin that opens like a keep case. --Rob Bracco

Further Explore the World Of Dune

Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)

Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)

Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)

Sci-Fi Action Films on DVD

The Dune TV Series

David Lynch Essentials

Customer Reviews:

Not done right for HD.......2007-09-13

OK the title pretty much says it all. I have always been a fan of this movie but I expected a lot more out of it for a HD-DVD release. The video quality was pretty much the same as the original, none of the graphics were enhanced, and it was other than being made to fit in HD resolutions without issue nothing else was done to the film.

All the blotches that were present on the original film were left and show excessively in the opening credits. The CGI looked entirely untouched. There was in some scenes strong evidence of grainy looking video.

The only reason I give this movie 3 stars is because it's DUNE, if it were any other title I would have received much less. I would have taken a little more care in releasing this movie for HD but apparently I was wrong. You might as well just pick up the original DVD as with a HD player it'll upscale to just about the same quality of this HD-DVD.

Rent it.......2007-09-05

This is not a very good adaptation of the novel, so if you are a purist you will be disappointed.

Alright...until you read the book........2007-08-14

I saw this once; thought it was decent. Then I read the book, and realised just how BAD it was in comparison. It's now impossible for me to watch this and NOT think about what it could have been, if there'd been a genuine attempt to transfer the book's depth to the screen.

Not bad if you've never read the book; but if you love good sci-fi, READ THE BOOK INSTEAD.

the sleeper has awakened.......2007-08-07

This movie is so cool. I can understand why someone who has never read the booK Would find this very hard to follow...or enjoy. But I LOVED it. I think the acting was good...aside from maybe Sting's (which wasn't too bad either). The ending was not what I expected, but hey, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn't keep my eyes off it, and the cinemetography is so well done, that I could find something different each time I watch it. Very cool.

Ripped off.......2007-07-08

If you do not have a HD DVD you can not play this product, so be warned.

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Another winner
Violent groundbreaking Western. Not for the faint hearted!
A Great Guy Flick!
One Of The Top Four Westerns
Bloody eye candy

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Alfonso Arau , Ernest Borgnine , Elsa Cárdenas , Albert Dekker , and Emilio Fernández
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Outlaws | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Two-Disc Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000BT96CS
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com essential video

One of the best action movies ever made, in a cleaned-up print restoring crucial parts of the story. No cavalry ever rode in with more epochal impact than the Wild Bunch in the legendary opening scene. Their steel-eyed leader, Pike (William Holden), and his robbers in stolen army uniforms help an old lady across the street, and then spark a massacre led by Pike's old crony Thornton (Robert Ryan), sprung from jail to hunt down his old gang. In just a few minutes, Sam Peckinpah sets the scene--a dusty Texas town in 1913--sketches a dozen vividly individualized characters, and choreographs one of the most realistic, influential, brilliantly photographed shootouts under the pitiless sun. The cast is superb (even Ernest Borgnine!), the dialog crackling, the bitterly ambiguous moral of the story hard-earned. It's the deeper, dark flip side to 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Consider buying the letterbox Wild Bunch, the review collection Doing It Right, and the Peckinpah bio "If They Move... Kill 'Em!" --Tim Appelo

Description

Outlaws on the Mexican-U.S. frontier face the march of progress, the Mexican army and a gang of bounty hunters led by a former member while they plan a robbery of a U.S. army train. No one is innocent in this gritty tale of of desperation against changing times. Pump shotguns, machine guns and automobiles mix with horses and winchesters in this ultraviolent western.

Customer Reviews:

Another winner.......2007-08-09

Another tradional classic western, much action, anyone who hasn't seen it and is a fan of westerns should.

Violent groundbreaking Western. Not for the faint hearted!.......2007-08-04

THE WILD BUNCH (1969) In 1913 at the height of the Mexican Revolution an aging band of outlaws from the last century known as "The Wild Bunch", to fund their retirement decide on a last robbery on a dusty Texas town. Unbeknown to gang leader Pike Bishop (William Holden) and his right-hand-man Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine) a rival and former gang member and friend Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan) has the bank staked out, ambushing the gang as they try to make their escape after a most violent shootout the survivors head for relative safety across the Mexican border, with Thornton and his posse of roughneck bounty hunters in hot pursuit.

Once across the border the gang the gang head for a small Mexican border town where Freddie Sykes (Edmund O'Brien) is waiting for them with spare horses and saddles, here they discover that their loot from the robbery is made up of worthless steel washers. They then head for the Mexican village home of Angel (Jaime Sanchez) one of the gang members. Bishop learnt from the village elder that General Mapache (Emilio Fernandez) and his troops had attacked the village.

In an effort to restore their fortunes Pike Bishop and his men head for the headquarters of General Mapache (Emilio Fernandez) to sell their horses,
No sooner have they arrived, than Angel spotted his girl friend Teresa in the arms of Mapache, he draws his gun and shoots her dead, when things have cooled down General Mapache and his German advisors hire the gang to hijack a US arms shipment for a price of $10,000 in gold. Angel insists to Pike and Dutch that he's allowed to take one case to his village for their defence, they both agree.

The gang hold up the train only to discover that Deke and his posse our also on board the train. Following the successful hijack of the arms shipment they head back over the Rio Grande via a bridge, which they dynamite just as the posse, is crossing over. The posse was also being followed by a "green" US cavalry troop who had been acting as train guard. After a successful getaway, Pike, suspecting foul play arranges for arms to be delivered to General Mapache in stages delivering the first one his-self in exchange for part payment in gold!

By the time Dutch and Angel ride in for the final exchange big trouble is brewing not least because Mapache knows of Angel's double-dealing and takes him prisoner, Dutch pretends he doesn't care and is allowed to walk away. Back with the rest of the gang Pike decides to try and buy Angel back from Mapche with half of his share of the gold. Meanwhile Deke and his posse are breathing down their necks indeed Sykes has already been seriously wounded in the thigh!

Pike, Dutch and the two Gorch brothers (Warren Oates & Ben Johnson) set out for General Mapache's stronghold, on arrival they find a fireworks celebration in progress along with drunken debauchery, Mapache's car is driving around with Angel tied and dragged along behind the car with children running happily along behind! Pike demands that Mapache lets Angel go. He refuses, Pike and the gang retreat and take solace in local prostitutes, apart from Dutch who waits outside whittling on a piece of wood. Having had their fill of whiskey and women Pike rallies the Wild Bunch and they walk out four abreast into the sunshine heading across town. On arrival he demands of Mapache that he releases the moribund Angel, the General refuses at the same time cutting Angel's throat, which precipitates the last violent shootout. At the end of it all only two survive the adventure of crossing of the River Grande into Mexico, one of the hunted (The Wild Bunch) and one of the hunters (The Posse), but which ones?

Sam Pekinpah had already made the critically acclaimed RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY aka GUNS IN THE AFTERNOON (1962) with those two Western stalwarts Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea. And although this film has a vastly expanded budget it still explores the same theme of men out of their time and place in the advancing twentieth Century! Brilliant Opening freeze-framed credits sequence to the sound of drums and cymbals as they ride past a group of Mexican children who are feeding live scorpions to a colony of red fighter ants. Several other set pieces are expertly handled most notable of which was the blowing up of the bridge over the River Grande The film was made midway through the Vietnam War and the American public by this time were used to scenes of violence on TV news reports. Many critics reported that the film merely reflected that violence. Still not to every ones taste then, or now!

This review refers to the Two-Disc Special Edition from Warner Bros. 2006 (The original directors cut) 139 minutes. Disc 1: The Film (restored) plus Sam Pekinpah documentary. Disc 2: Wild Bunch outtakes plus 3 documentaries. All represents Good Value for Money from Amazon.

A Great Guy Flick!.......2007-08-03

One of the featured Amazon reviews, by a fellow named Wilson, alleges that after viewing this movie, "it is the quiet moments one remembers"...I DON'T THINK SO!!!

For me - and I'm sure for most people - it is the ultraviolent beginning and ending that make the film. What happens in between is less interesting.

William Holden plays Pike, the aging leader of a gang of outlaws. As the film opens, they are attempting to rob a train station that, they think, is receiving a large shipment of gold. They are being set up, however, and the station is surrounded by a motley crew of bounty hunters. A wild bloodbath ensues and the surviving gang members are chased into Mexico, where they hope to regroup.

Pike knows that his best days are behind him and looks for one last great robbery to retire on. Having become entagled in a Mexican civil war, Pike and his men agree to rob a train-load of rifles on the United States side of the border for a Mexican General. The General has promised them a very large sum of cash in return.

Ultimately, as the film climaxes, Holden's character leads the last surviving members of the Wild Bunch into battle against the Mexican General and his entire army. It is one of the greatest film endings of all time, with Sam Peckinpaugh's trademark violence exploding all over the screen. I can think of lots of adjectives to describe the ending battle scenes, but, if I had to pick just one, it would be: EXHILARATING!

My wife and I started watching this movie together but, about a third of the way through, she left the room. You've heard of "chick flicks"? This is definitely a guy flick!

One Of The Top Four Westerns.......2007-07-12

The Wild Bunch is in the top four westerns of all time, the first being High Noon, the second being Shane, and then The Wild Bunch and last being Silverado. All four had a positive message in each of them even though The Wild Bunch had the most violence. I saw this movie when it first came out and being in my late teens early twenties it had a major impact on me it was just before going into the service with the war raging in Vietnam and the protests going on here in the United States, my generation never saw that kind of violence while we were growing up the actors got shot at and just fell down there was never any blood or bullet holes in the bad guy.
The message that I took from this movie and I still live by it today is best summed up by Pike and that is you do what is right no matter what, and you stick by your friends to the end.
Sadly in this day and age the younger generations that have followed don't it is all about them and what is in it for them.
The DVD looked great and there were a couple of scenes put back in that you don't see on TV.

Bloody eye candy.......2007-07-03

This bloody extravaganza made Sam Peckinpah's reputation. A kind of fantasy of machismo set along the Texas-Mexico border around 1913--yes, very late for a Western--The Wild Bunch has thrilled adolescent boys and twentysomethings for almost four decades. The slowmo shots of horses falling awkwardly, of bodies squirting blood as they fall off of roof tops or cliffs, of tough hombres talkin

Episodes 4-6 Trilogy (widescreen)	Episode I: The Phantom Menace	Episde II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1	Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 2	The Star Wars Store

Anakin turning to the dark side	When Wookiees attack
Yoda, Jedi master	Mr. and Mrs. Vader
Saber training with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen	The cast

Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)	Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)	Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)
Sci-Fi Action Films on DVD	The Dune TV Series	David Lynch Essentials