Hallmark TV Classics Collection II (Arabian Nights/Jason and the Argonauts/The Lost Empire/Moby Dick/The Odyssey)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-04-05

This set is worth buying just for "Jason and the Argonauts." The "Arabian Nights" is a delight. "Moby Dick" and "The Odyssey" were very nicely mounted, but somehow a little less fun than the first two. As for "The Lost Empire" it was a great movie, but somehow didn't fit with the rest. Perhaps because it was based on a Chinese tale, or perhaps because of the notes of realism (the story is framed by modern events) that were jarring in what is essentially a "fairy tale."

As all reviewers have noted, these are handsomely mounted with not apparent sparing of expenses. Great attention to detail in costuming and settings. Also the stories, particular "The Arabian Nights" move at a clip that is brisker than one expects in made-for-TV movies. I do wish that one was 10 hours longer.

These movies are a delight for young and old, though not for sensitive youngsters, for, as in the original works, there are acts of violence and other sorts of despicable behavior.

I bought mine new from Amazon and am sad to see the set is not still available. If you want to collect them do them in roughly this order:

1. Arabian Nights/Jason and the Argonauts
2. The Lost Empire
3. Moby Dick/The Odyssey

A must have for any DVD collector.......2006-03-31

I really bought this set just for Moby Dick, and since it's about the same price for five movies, as it is for a single. I figured this wasn't a bad deal.
Moby Dick, Jason and hte Argonauts, the Lost Empire and the Odyssey are all wonderful movies, but the best in my opinion is Moby Dick. With stars Like Patrick Stewart (STTNG, X-Men 1-3, Ted Levine (Memoirs Of a Geisha, Monk, The Hills have Eyes, Gregory Peck and Henry Thomas (Legend of the Fall,) you cannot help but love this movie. Its a classic movie at its greatest, but don't worry if the time on the box reads 145 minutes. Since I had origionally owned the VHS version which only runs for two of the three hours, I for one was rather worried on getting gyped again. But the DVD version is the full three hours, and after watching it, you won't ever go back to the VHS version ever again. So much of the character and plot development had been cut out, that all you were really getting was just the basics of the film. Definatly not as blood stirring and wonderful.

Again, I highly reccomand this collection for those that love Hallmark movies, good classics or just the intrigue of worlds and centuries long past. Trust me...you'll be glad you spent the money.

A Wonderful Movie Collection To Own.......2002-10-09

As always, Hallmark has out done itself. I Own all of the Hallmark movies available, and it was a sheer delight to add these 5 movies to the collection. The movies combine Myth, Fantasy, Magic & Adventure. In Jason and the Argonauts, Jason embarks on a perilous voyage to fulfill his destiny. The Odyssey braves the terrors of a mysterious world, matching wits with a fantastic array of being both mortal and monstrous. In Moby Dick the captain and the crew go into the unchartered waters of their darkest fears. The Lost Empire has a God who was trapped for 500 years & A powerful monkey king who together battle against an army of demons and other creatures of evil. Arabian Nights brings to life some of the most timeless fables to come down through the ages (Aladdin, Ali Baba, and other larger then life heroes.)

Average customer rating:

Jason and the Argonauts / The Odyssey
Starring: Jason London , Frank Langella , Natasha Henstridge , Derek Jacobi , and Olivia Williams
Director: Nick Willing , and Andrei Konchalovsky
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005NX15
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com

Jason and the Argonauts
Is your classical Greek rusty? This is just the thing--a feast of epic Greek mythology--and the classic tale of Good (Jason, Theseus, Hercules, Orpheus) versus Evil (angry gods, Poseidon, Harpies, the women of Lemnos) is a great introduction. The plot has been entertaining people for thousands of years and is still going strong--now strengthened by great special effects and good acting. Sure, some people will think this version isn't "high culture" enough (it's a bit reminiscent of Clash of the Titans), but those folks should probably be reading Bulfinch's Mythology instead of watching TV anyway. Even hard-core fans of Ray Harryhausen's 1963 stop-motion-animation version will find room in their hearts (and DVD libraries) for this one. Although the basic plot elements are the same, the two versions achieve very different (and both quite enjoyable) effects. The new Jason and the Argonauts is something kids and adults can all enjoy. --Tara Chace

The Odyssey
Andrei Konchalovsky's expansive television mini-series production of Homer's epic poem gets off to clumsy start as he tries to squeeze the Trojan War into a mere half hour, but once the arrogant but honorable Odysseus (strikingly played by Armand Assante) and his loyal crew begin their doomed voyage home, this film turns into a fantastical adventure. Integrating often-stunning special effects with inventive art design, Konchalovsky achieves a beautiful look on a limited budget as he follows the 10-year ordeal of Odysseus from his battles with the Cyclops and the magical Circe (Bernadette Peters) to his secret homecoming and his confrontation with the treacherous Eurymachus (Eric Roberts). Isabella Rossellini appears as his spiritual guide, the goddess Athena, with Greta Scacchi as Odysseus's faithful wife and Vanessa Williams as the seductive Calypso. The rest of the cast includes Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher Lee, and Irene Papas. The production was shot on location in and around the Mediterranean, making for a lush, lovely visual experience. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Jason and the Argonauts: One of the most legendary adventures in all mythology is brought to life in Jason and the Argonauts, an epic saga of good and evil. As a mere boy Jason (Jason London), the heir to the kingdom on Ancient Greece witnesses the murder of his father at the hands of his ruthless uncle, Pelias (Dennis Hopper). After narrowly escaping death, Jason flees his home and returns twenty years later to reclaim the throne. Upon learning of his return, Pelias sentences him to death. To save his life, Jason promises to deliver the most coveted gift of the gods to his uncle - the Golden Fleece. Joined by the Argonauts, a stout-hearted crew of sailors, he embarks on a perilous voyage to capture the Fleece and fulfill his destiny. Also joining this remarkable, all-star cast are Frank Langella as King Aertes and Natasha Henstridge as Hypsipyle. Jason and the Argonauts is both a mythic adventure and a classic love story, a film achievement destined to thrill generations for years to come. The Odyssey: The ancient world's most spectacular epic unfolds on-screen as a star-studded, special-effects-filled adventure of breathtaking beauty and power in this lavishly produced adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey." An extraordinary international cast sweeps you into the heroic age of the mighty warrior-king Odysseus (Armand Asante) as his victorious return from the Trojan War becomes a decade-long quest to reach his homeland and his faithful wife, Penelope (Greta Scacchi). Aided by the goddess Athena (Isabella Rossellini), Odysseus braves all the terrors and temptations of a mysterious, far-flung world, matching wits and wiles with a fantastic array of beings both mortal and monstrous. It's the voyage of a lifetime, and a journey you and your family will never forget, in this glorious retelling of one of the greatest adventure tales of all time.

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