William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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It's the greatest work of literature, but nobody had ever filmed Hamlet uncut--until Kenneth Branagh went about the task for his lavish 1996 production. The result is a sumptuous, star-studded version that scores a palpable hit on its avowed goal: to make the text as clear and urgent as possible. Branagh himself plays the melancholy son of the Danish court, caught in a famous muddle about whether to seek revenge against his royal father's presumed slayer… the man who now sits on the throne and shares the bed of Hamlet's mother. (Or, as the song "That's Entertainment" summarizes the plot: "A ghost and a prince meet / And everyone winds up mincemeat.") As a director, Branagh (who shot the movie in 70 mm.) uses the vast, cold interiors of a vaguely 19th-century manor to gorgeous effect; the story might scurry down this hallway, into that back chamber, or sprawl out into the enormous main room. With its endless collection of mirrors, the place is as big and empty as Citizen Kane's Xanadu.

That all works; what doesn't work is Branagh's tendency to over-direct the big dramatic moments. He indulges in quick cutting and flashbacks as though to fend off the audience's objections to the four-hour running time, and the style sometimes looks like wasted energy. The experienced Shakespearians in the cast come off nicely; Derek Jacobi's Claudius, Richard Briers' Polonius, and Michael Maloney's Laertes are just terrific. Julie Christie is a suitably attractive Gertrude, and Kate Winslet makes the most of Ophelia's mad scenes. Branagh's habit of folding in unexpected American performers is on the mark, too: Billy Crystal is surprisingly good as the Gravedigger, Robin Williams predictably camps up Osric, and Charlton Heston is an inspired choice as the grandiloquent Player King. The biggest irony here is that Branagh himself is not quite spot-on as Hamlet. Of course he speaks the lines beautifully, but Branagh's screen personality radiates certainty and clarity of vision; there's little of the doubt that might make him Hamlet-esque. Still, tremendous credit for fending off slings and arrows to get the movie made. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Methinks Kenneth doth overact too much.......2007-09-12

Im a huge fan of KB. He made shakespeare real, brought meaning to the dialog in a way that no other actor has or perhaps will. Henry V is the finest on screen portrayal of a any shakespearean play. I adored Hamlet, but I felt it was slightly OTT, vaudevillian and camp. However, I hate to be critical of a piece that reaches for perfection. Mel Gibson's Hamlet was in my opinion much better in terms of the complete piece (although KB's own portrayal is on a different level) and more compelling a movie.

So much praise..........2007-09-10

The juxtaposition of the late 19th century settings and Shakespearian English creates an air of a Broadway musical. For the first 15 minutes it seemed the actors would burst into some uncontrollable dancing and singing of silly verses. Hamlet's gesticulation, facial expression and manners (throwing his mother-queen in her bedroom like a ball) are more suitable for a hotdog vendor than a prince. Plenty of innovation such as a politically-correct multi-racial court and army. Aside from the aforementioned 19th century set, Ophelia's flashback of sex with Hamlet, nearly Siberian-deep snow (was it cheaper to rent the facilities in the winter?), pursuing the ghost across a battlefield, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern riding a locomotive - those are real gems. Lots of group fencing (some other Olympic sport or a football game would be very refreshing too). Ophelia in a straightjacket leaves no room for doubt - yes, she's insane. But the best one is the entire Norwegian army discretely approaching the palace and storming it while the unaware royals and unsuspecting courtiers enjoy a brawl complete with falls off a balcony and swinging chandeliers. And of course, Branagh lying in state is a great sight.

He must be given credit for his strict adherence to the original text though.

Lavish Production.......2007-09-10

I have seen Olivier's and Gibson's renditions of Hamlet and each has much to recommend it, but this is my absolute favorite. I purchased the VHS as a used copy from the video store and carefully preserved it as I anxiously awaited the DVD release. The dvd tranfer looks great. I have a 36" Sony TV, but no high definition. The music is beautiful and suited to each act, the sets spectacular, and the main characters are excellent in their portrayals. I love the intense passion Branagh gives to his Hamlet, the period setting he uses, the fact that the entire play is included and his attention to detail. The only weakness for me is in the performance of a couple of the secondary characters.

Great Adaptation.......2007-09-09

This particular version of Hamlet on film is one of the best adaptations out there. True in all forms to the original dialog, the filmmaker takes very little creative license in recreating this theatrical masterpiece.

Incredible Production.......2007-09-05

I'm not a big fan of theatre or anything, but I like movies that are truly geniune, and lemme tell ya this movie is a good as it gets as far as Hamlet adaptations are concerned, in part because it isnt an adaptation per say, it is in fact the entire play unabridged in its entirety. Kenneth Branagh does an incredible performance along with the very seriously all star cast.

The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great film without the extra crap you don't want
Dorothy and Toto
OVER THE RAINBOW
Entirely satisfied
Wizard of Oz DVD

The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Judy Garland , Frank Morgan , Ray Bolger , Bert Lahr , and Jack Haley
Director: Victor Fleming , Mervyn LeRoy , and King Vidor
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ADS63K
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com essential video

When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. --Jeff Shannon

DVD features
The Wizard of Oz DVD released in 1999 was loaded with extra features, but it's now safe to throw away that version in all its cardboard-package glory in favor of this new two-disc edition. First things first: All the bonus material from the earlier disc is there (with one small exception). That includes the Angela Lansbury-hosted documentary The Making of a Movie Classic; the outtakes and deleted scenes, including Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow" reprise and the home-movie recording of "The Jitterbug"; the sketches and stills and composer Harold Arlen's home movies; the audio underscores and radio programs; the 1979 interviews with Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, and Jack Haley; and other items too numerous to mention. (Some text introductions to the features have been replaced by narration by Lansbury, for whatever reason.) Brand-new to the 2005 edition is a sharp restoration using Warner's Ultra Resolution process and an accompanying featurette on how it's done. The technicians also discuss how the sound was remixed, though that would have been more effective had it included surround-sound demonstrations (the featurette is in 2.0). Other features on the new set include a commentary track by critic John Fricke supplemented by vintage cast interviews (he offers a lot of trivia, and debunks the myth that Shirley Temple was ever close to getting the Dorothy role); profiles of nine cast members and clips of other movies they appeared in (including Toto); a lightly animated 10-minute storybook again narrated by Lansbury; 2001 and 2005 behind-the-scenes featurettes; and a 1950 Lux Radio Theater broadcast. Oh, and if you were still wondering about the missing material mentioned above--the 1999 disc included one-minute excerpts of three early treatments of The Wizard of Oz. Those excerpts are not included in the two-disc special edition, but the third disc of the three-disc collector's edition includes the complete versions of those treatments and more. --David Horiuchi

Description

An All-New Wizard of Oz With State of The Art Ultra-Resolution Picture Quality and Over 10 Hours of Bonus Extras.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by John Fricke and multiple cast and crew members.
Biographies:We Haven't Really Met Properly - includes 9 orginal cast biographies
Deleted Scenes:If I Only Had a Brain; If I Only Had a Heart; Triumphal Return to Emerald City; Over the Rainbow; The Jitterbug
Documentary:Memories of Oz -2001 TCM documentary
Featurette:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook; Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz; The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz; Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
Music Clips:Audio Vault Includes: Over the Rainbow; Munchkinland Medley Rehearsal Recordings; Munchkinland Medley Sequence Recordings; Munchkinland Medley Voice Tests; If I Only Had a Brain; We're Off to See the Wizard; If I Only Had a Heart; If I Only Had the Nerve/We?re Off to See the Wizard; Emerald City/The Merry Old Land of Oz; If I Were King of the Forest; The Jitterbug; Over the Rainbow/Triumphal Return to Emerald City; Kansas Underscoring; Munchkinland Underscoring; and more
Music Only Track
Newsreel:Cavalcade of the Academy Awards Excerpt - 1939 newsreel
Other:Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power - 1938 MGM short; Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo; Good News of 1939 Radio Show; 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
Photo gallery:Oz on Broadway; Pre-MGM; Sketches and Storyboards; Costume and Make-up Tests; Richard Thorpe's Oz; Buddy Ebsen; Oz Comes to Life; Behind the Scenes; Portraits; Special Effects; Post Production; Deleted Scenes; Original Publicity
TV Special:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic - 1990 TV special
Theatrical Trailer:1939 What is Oz? Teaser; 1940 Loews Cairo Theater Trailer; 1949 Re-issue Trailer; 1949 Grownup Re-issue Trailer; 1970 Children's Matinee Re-issue Trailer; 1998 Warner Bros. Re-issue Trailer; Texas Contest Winners [1939 trailer]

Customer Reviews:

Great film without the extra crap you don't want.......2007-09-08

There seems to be six or seven different DVD versions of this film (a new one out every year) with more and more bonus features, extras, etc. However, if you're only interested in seeing the actual film and are generally bored and/or underwhelmed by bonus features (like me!), I recommend this version for nearly half the cost of newer multiple-disc sets. This remastered version has excellent picture!

Dorothy and Toto.......2007-09-04

Well, everybody probably already knows about this product. I am trying to get my grandchildren (5 & 3 1/2 yrs old) interested in live action movies with real people in them. They watch cartoon characters & "Shrek" type movies all the time. I have a Madam Alexander doll of Dorothy and Toto. I tried to explain to them who she was and they got interested in the story.
So, I ordered this and sent it to them in Detroit. They loved it. They sat through the whole movie. And my daughter said the extras are great!

OVER THE RAINBOW.......2007-08-28

I hesitated to spend the money on this 3 disc set. How wrong I was! This is THE set for "Wizard of Oz" fans. The movie looks gorgeous and the special features have something for everyone. I found myself grinning so much at some of the features that my face hurt afterwards. It's great to hear and see the homage given to this film. This is one DVD set that invites repeat viewing of all the discs and you will gladly accept the invitation again and again.

Entirely satisfied.......2007-08-27

DVD was shipped timely and was exactly as advertised. Great buy. 100% satisfied.

Wizard of Oz DVD.......2007-08-26

Love it. I don't know why they took so long to come out with this edition. But well worth the wait. Will buy from again. Highly Recommend to all.

Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland

Average customer rating:

Music, sound, live production 5 stars / DVD production 3 stars
Gary the Celtic Music Lover
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman-A New Journey: at Slane Castle, Ireland
Great Concert !!!

Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland
Starring: Chloe Agnew , Lisa Kelly , Mairead Nesbitt , Orla Fallon , and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha
Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LC4CVA
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Amazon.com

Celtic Woman, the PBS sensation, returns for 2007 in A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland. Most of the elements return as well: vocalists Chloe, Meav, Lisa, and Orla; fiery fiddler Mairead; music director David Downes; chorus and orchestra; and the New Age-y Celtic and traditional music. New for this show is New Zealand vocalist Hayley Westenra, a picturesque outdoor location, and an almost entirely new song list. Chloe sings "The Prayer" (made famous by Josh Groban) and "Panis Angelicus"; Lisa covers "Caledonia," "The Blessing," and "The Voice"; Orla sings "Newgrange" and accompanies herself on harp for "Carrickfergus"; Meav sings "Dulaman"; Mairead plays "Granuaile's Dance" and "Shenandoah: The Pacific Slope"; and Hayley sings "Scarborough Fair" by herself and duets with Mairead (Handel's "Lascia Ch'io Pianga") and Meav ("The Last Rose of Summer"). Then of course the group performs together ("The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun," "Over the Rainbow," "Beyond the Sea," "At the Ceili," "Sing Out!", "Spanish Lady," "Mo Ghile Mear"). Encore performances from the original show are Enya's "Orinoco Flow," "Danny Boy," "Somewhere," and "You Raise Me Up." Hayley proves to be an excellent fit among the beautiful voices, and Lisa seems to emerge as the talent most deserving of attention, but overall the show lacks some of the fresh sparkle of the original. The song list isn't quite as strong, and some of the "primp and pose" choreography is just silly. But Celtic Woman is never less than charming, and at its best can be quite stirring. --David Horiuchi

Description

DVD TRACKLIST:
1. The Sky & the Dawn & the Sun
2. The Prayer
3. Calendonia
4. Newgrange
5. Orinoco Flow
6. Dulaman
7. The Blessing (not in TV broadcast)
8. Scarborough Fair
9. Granuaile's Dance
10. Over the Rainbow
11. Beyond the Sea
12. At the Ceili
13. Laschia Ch'io Pianga
14. Carrickfergus
15. Sing Out
16. The Last Rose of Summer
17. Spanish Lady
18. Panis Angelicus (not in TV broadcast)
19. Shenandoah-Reels
20. The Voice
21. Danny Boy
22. Somewhere
23. Mo Ghile Mear
24. You Raise Me Up (not in TV broadcast)
25. Ceili Playout (not in TV broadcast)

Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes live show + additional 20 minutes "Making of" bonus feature

Customer Reviews:

Music, sound, live production 5 stars / DVD production 3 stars.......2007-09-13

If you simply like the music of Celtic Woman, then this DVD is 5 stars hands down. The music is beautiful, and the production is incredible.

If you are a sound or production tech, I highly recommend watching this just for the quality of the recording, micing, and staging. I personally would have EQed the violin a little differently, but everything else was a wonderful natural sound.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the sound was a few microseconds off from the video. Hardly noticeable to the average viewer, but extremely annoying to those of us who do notice. Also, there are no subtitles, but it has a subtitle track. The subtitle tract doesn't work, but it is there.

I can just imagine the irritation of those who sweated and agonized over making this such a wonderful presentation only to have the DVD processing company mess up the sound sync, and the subtitles.

Perhaps they fixed these flaws in later releases of the DVD, but I've verified that the version I have is due to a production problem. It isn't due to a flawed disk, or DVD player.

Gary the Celtic Music Lover.......2007-09-13

This program was one of the finest examples of the wonderful sounding music to come out of the Irish Countryside. These ladies are some of the best talented in the world. Just to listen and to see their action while preforming is a indication of their love of the country and the music.

Celtic Woman.......2007-09-05

I love Celtic Women music! You can't go wrong with any of them. I highly recommend this one along with all the others I have purchased! If you haven't heard them, you have really missed a wonderful experience!

Celtic Woman-A New Journey: at Slane Castle, Ireland.......2007-09-02

We love the CD and the DVD we got .....we watch it regularly and we listen to the CD regularly... Thanks Rosie Brunker

Great Concert !!!.......2007-09-01

I have seen this concert on PBS 2 times. I loved it. So today I am buying the DVD and CD combo. Now I can watch it all the time. I love listening to Haley Westerna sing. She is my favorite. Also I like Chloe, singing The Prayer. The background scenes of the Slane Castle in Ireland are awsome. My husband and I would like to go Ireland to see the castles someday.

Anyone buying this DVD will not be disappointed.

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

Average customer rating:

painted into a corner
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.
Fan :-(
A Masterpiece
Middle ending.

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ahmed Best , David Bowers (II) , Silas Carson , Keisha Castle-Hughes , and Hayden Christensen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JLXH
Release Date: 2005-11-01

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.

Average customer rating:

Young Frankenstien
One of Mel Brook's masterpieces..
"Elevate Me!", "What Knockers!"...Classic!!!
Brooks best
Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein
Starring: Gene Wilder , Peter Boyle , Marty Feldman , Madeline Kahn , and Cloris Leachman
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000G6BLWE
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com essential video

If you were to argue that Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein ranks among the top-ten funniest movies of all time, nobody could reasonably dispute the claim. Spoofing classic horror in the way that Brooks's previous film Blazing Saddles sent up classic Westerns, the movie is both a loving tribute and a raucous, irreverent parody of Universal's classic horror films Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Filming in glorious black and white, Brooks re-created the Frankenstein laboratory using the same equipment from the original Frankenstein (courtesy of designer Kenneth Strickfaden), and this loving attention to physical and stylistic detail creates a solid foundation for nonstop comedy. The story, of course, involves Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and his effort to resume experiments in re-animation pioneered by his late father. (He's got some help, since dad left behind a book titled How I Did It.) Assisting him is the hapless hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the buxom but none-too-bright maiden Inga (Teri Garr), and when Frankenstein succeeds in creating his monster (Peter Boyle), the stage is set for an outrageous revision of the Frankenstein legend. With comedy highlights too numerous to mention, Brooks guides his brilliant cast (also including Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, and Gene Hackman in a classic cameo role) through scene after scene of inspired hilarity. Indeed, Young Frankenstein is a charmed film, nothing less than a comedy classic, representing the finest work from everyone involved. Not one joke has lost its payoff, and none of the countless gags have lost their zany appeal. From a career that includes some of the best comedies ever made, this is the film for which Mel Brooks will be most fondly remembered. Befitting a classic, the Special Edition DVD includes audio commentary by Mel Brooks, a "making of" documentary, interviews with the cast, hilarious bloopers and outtakes, and the original theatrical trailers. No video library should be without a copy of Young Frankenstein. And just remember--that's Fronkensteen. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Mel Brooks' monstrously crazy tribute to Mary Shelley's classic pokes hilarious fun at just about every Frankenstein movie ever made. Summoned by a will to his late grandfather's castle in Transylvania, young Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) soon discovers the scientist's step-by-step manual explaining how to bring a corpse to life. Assisted by the hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the curvaceous Ings (Teri Garr), he creates a monster (Peter Boyle) who only wants to be loved.

Customer Reviews:

Young Frankenstien.......2007-09-05

I recived the movie the next day. The movie and service was great, I was so impressed with the service that I ordered 2 more movies for friends.
Delores

One of Mel Brook's masterpieces.........2007-08-13

In my oppinion, this is one of Mel Brooks best movies and one of the best comedies EVER! Great DVD!

"Elevate Me!", "What Knockers!"...Classic!!!.......2007-08-02

Truley one of the funniest movies ever made! This is Mel Brooks at his very best along with a superb cast. This movie has made millions of people laugh, (hysterically!), for years. One of the funniest scenes is when the Creature rapes Elizabeth, but she's so overcome by his "size" she bursts out singing "Oh sweet mystery of life at last I've found you!" That scene is one of the funniest ever filmed, and highly worth metioning! Other scenes, and quotes include: "Putin' on the Ritz!", "Put the candle back!", "What Knockers", Elevate Me!" "Frau Blucher", (horses whining hysterically!) "Abby Normal", and on, and on, and on... Also, I believe the term "blucher" is German for glue. Hell, if I were a horse I'd whine too!

You simply can't go wrong this classic comedy. It is sure to put a smile on your face and have you quoting the characters lines for years to come. Way to go Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Cloris Leachman, & Teri Garr!

As for Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle and Madeline Kahn: You all are true comdey legends. God bless you all, and may you all rest in peace.

Fredrick: "Igor. Will you give me a hand with the bags?"
Igor: "Certainly. You take the blonde and I'll take the one in the turban!"

Deserves more than five stars. WAY MORE!!!

Brooks best.......2007-07-29

Although 'Blazing Saddles' is better remembered and 'The Producers' more critically acclaimed (Mel Brooks won an Oscar for the screenplay), Young Frankenstein is the best and the funniest film he has ever made. Its a wonderful comedic homage to the original James Whale films made back in the 1930's. So this is much more than just a parody. The original sets were recreated, in the same location, and the film is shot in black and white which brings back happy memories of Bride of Frankenstein (itself a black comedy).

Mel Brooks was very lucky to have Gene Wilder as leading actor for his best films. In the 1960's and 1970's Wilder was a comedy actor without peer. Effortlessly funny, and here right from his opening scene, at a teaching Hospital he's brilliant. The classic moment in this scene is his growing anger whilst holding a scalpel. Well you can guess what happens... Wilder does it with brilliant comic timing. Seeing the film again recently it struck me that Wilder would have made a great silent comedy star. Evidence of just how good Wilder was in this era, is that he even out performs the late Marty Feldman. The rest of the cast are nearly as good with Cloris Leachman and Peter Boyle both giving marvellous performances.

Gene Wilder also gets writing credits with Brooks as well and between them they produced a great script with a stream a great one-liners:

Frankenstein: Igor, would you give me a hand with the bags?
Igor: [doing a Groucho Marx] Certainly, you take the blonde and I'll take the one in the turban.

The DVD has some great extras, with the commentry by Mel Brooks being a particular highlight. Its both informative and funny. I haven't watched the documentary on the DVD yet. Overall this is a superb disc and a film that should be in everybodies collection.

Young Frankenstein.......2007-07-16

I LOVE this movie!! That's why I had to own it--it's a classic. Funny stuff.

Average customer rating:

Delightful and interesting
Best Ever!
Great animation
Better than I thought
Continuing Enjoyment

Howl's Moving Castle
Starring: Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashuin , and Ryunosuke Kamiki
Director: Pete Docter , Rick Dempsey , and Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CDGVOE
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

Like a dream, Howl's Moving Castle carries audiences to vistas beyond their imaginations where they experience excitement, adventure, terror, humor, and romance. With domestic box office receipts of over $210 million, Howl passed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Away and James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle marks the first time Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war. The film overflows with eclipsing visuals that range from frightening aerial battles to serene landscapes, and few recent features--animated or live action--offer as much magic as Howl's Moving Castle. --Charles Solomon

The Many Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki

The works of Miyazaki
The Book
The Art of Howls' Moving Castle (book)

Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)

Description

In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. (c) 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT

Customer Reviews:

Delightful and interesting.......2007-09-06

I have to agree with the one reviewer that the book is better but the adaptation from the book to the movie is tasteful and enjoyable. Without reading the book, you have to pay attention to subtle comments by non-specific characters to determine Howl's perceived personality within Market Chipping and the reason the two cities are at war. My seven year old daughter is in love with the movie and we now own a fish named "Calcifer".

Best Ever!.......2007-09-04

I cannot rate this film high enough; it is my absolute favorite move of all time! The story of Howl and Sophie is magical, delightful, and inspiring in every sense of the word. Sophie is my particular favorite; her unfailing cheerfulness and determination never ceases to warm my heart. She faces like with a spunk that is only more clearly seen after she is given the curse, aka the freedom, of old age. Her tongue is sharp, and her intelligence sharper as she somehow manages to bully fire demons, take charge of a magic castle, and make a whiny wizard become the truly great man that he is destined to be. That's a woman, my friends.
As for Howl, Christan Bayle does an absolutely phenomenal job giving him a voice, and despite all of Howl's imperfections, makes you love him anyway. You cheer as you watch Howl progress from a timid and lethargic wizard who is unable to see past the outside of people into a man taht doens't care just how old Sophie looks or just how much trouble he'll get into to enter a war; he does it anyway, because it's simply the right thing to do. A true masterpiece, in every sense of the word.

Great animation.......2007-08-22

If you love Spirited Away you will love Howl's Moving Castle.
If you haven't seen the films from Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, order today.
Great films for young, old and adventurous.

Better than I thought.......2007-08-15

I admit I am not a fan of anime and all but when my cousin told me I "Had To Watch This" I did. Maybe it was just Christian Bales voice as Howl, but I really did enjoy it.
This actually got me hooked on Miyazaki's other films which everyone should watch.

Continuing Enjoyment.......2007-08-14

I became a Miyazaki fan after I by chance watched Spirited Away. I loved it, and I loved Howl's Moving Castle as well. It is so easy to forget that this is animation. The characters are so rich and real.

Average customer rating:

The Lord works in strange and inconvenient ways.
A Little Stoic
The Humble Jewish Origins of Yeshua, Mary, and Joseph
A wonderful and surprisingly moving look at the story of Jesus' birth
Beautiful depiction of Christ's birth

The Nativity Story
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes , Oscar Isaac , Hiam Abbass , Shaun Toub , and Ciarán Hinds
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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ASIN: B000MGBM1I
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

The Nativity Story is a remarkable, if frustratingly restrained, act of imagining the tale of Christ's birth as a flesh-and-blood drama actually set in Israel two millenia ago. Written by Mike Rich (Finding Forrester) and directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), the film makes very strong impressions in a scene-by-scene way. Beginning with the slaughter (bloodlessly portrayed; this is a PG movie) of Bethlehem's innocents under orders from a paranoid King Herod (a dark and knowing Ciarán Hinds), the film then jumps back a year to the prophecy that informs Zechariah (Stanley Townsend) that his wife, Elizabeth (Shohreh Aghdashloo), will bear a child. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's cousin, the adolescent Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes), struggles with her family to make ends meet and is promised to the carpenter Joseph (Oscar Isaac). Soon comes word to Mary, via an angel, that she will carry, while still a virgin, the long-awaited Messiah who will liberate the Jews from Herod and his Roman benefactors. Thus begins a detailed account of Joseph and Mary's hard travel to Bethlehem, while three Magi spend months crossing the desert trying to rendezvous with some point below the convergence of three heavenly bodies in the night sky. Hardwicke and Rich anchor all this in period detail, though what proves most moving are relationship nuances, especially the friendship and trust that emerge between Mary and Joseph after he is told in a dream that she speaks truthfully about her miraculous pregnancy. While The Nativity Story should appeal to almost anyone as a straightforward narrative, it is far from a secular version of the familiar Biblical tale, and thus feels a bit stifled. It might have been nice if the film could have breathed a little more with imagination, but The Nativity Story makes up for it by ingeniously weaving hints of things to come, later in Christ's life, into the action. --Tom Keogh

Description

It was the cruelest of times. Under Herod's torturous reign, families struggled to survive and yet, in the midst of utter turmoil, a young woman's faith is put to the test. Join Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) on an incredible journey of hope and discovery. Epic in its scope, yet intimate in it's portrayal of this historical family, this "wonderful film" (Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun Times) is "a family feature that will be cherished for years to come!" (Greg Russell, WMYD-TV, Detroit).

Customer Reviews:

The Lord works in strange and inconvenient ways........2007-09-14

The great thing about this movie is that it shows the unfolding of the events surrounding the birth of Christ is something like "real time". We get to see day-to-day life in Nazareth, and how the lives of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and their families were impacted by Mary's pregnancy and the attempts by the Romans to keep the Messiah from being born.

I thought the sets were great, the photography beautiful, and the soundrack very appropriate.

My one criticism is that the acting was for the most part dry and emotionless. It's like there wasn't a lot of acting in the acting, if that makes any sense.

Certainly worth seeing once, epecially for Christians, but as for me I don't think it will be one of the movies that will be come a Christmas tradition. Once through is enough.

A Little Stoic.......2007-07-24

While the story is powerfully displayed, Keisha is terribly stoic in her acting. Mary is supposed to be the Jesus-loving humble servent of God. But Keisha hardly shows emotion except for anger at an arranged marriage. For instance, when Joseph finally believes that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, she just simply says, "you believe me". No emotion or relief in her voice, but rather almost sadness. That should've been a joyful scene because she is no longer believed to be a harlot or a whore by the man who's going to spend the rest of his days with her. Other than that, the added fiction about the stars and the development of the three wise men was very interesting.

The Humble Jewish Origins of Yeshua, Mary, and Joseph.......2007-07-17

A human portrayal of the humble and human origins of Jesus through the Nativity story of Mary and Jospeh, Zachariah and Elizabeth, under the oppression of King Herod's paranoid lust for power. Three wise men in Persia read the stars to decipher that a Messiah is soon to be born while a poor Jewish girl of 13 is approached by an angel informing her that she is to give brith to the Messiah. People often forget that Jesus was born in a very meek circumstance and his mysterious origins brought on defilement and rage from the proud Pharisees. The Nativity story portrays the political and social context that the Jews were living in and how the promise of the Messiah brought a tyrannical King to fear. This also depicts how a young girl faces ridicule for faith and the near blasphemous claims that preceeded the birth of Christ in an obscure Jewish village called Nazareth.

A wonderful and surprisingly moving look at the story of Jesus' birth.......2007-07-07

When you're talking about film adaptations of the story of Christ's birth, the old rubric "if you've seen one, you've seen them all" just does not apply. That is especially the case with The Nativity Story, a truly wonderful film that conveys great spiritual power, even as it brings home the humanity of Mary and Joseph to a degree few of its predecessors ever even attempted. Keisha Castle-Hughes is wonderful as young Mary, but I tend to look upon this film as Joseph's story, and Oscar Isaac is more than up to the task of bringing this humble carpenter to vivid life.

The Nativity Story basically tells the story of Mary and Joseph from the time Mary is betrothed and then finds out she is to give birth to God's Son up through the time of Jesus' birth and the family's evacuation to Egypt. It does an exceptional job of humanizing Mary and Joseph. At 14, Mary is on the brink of womanhood, and early on we are treated with several moments showing us a glimpse of the normal child she was. Her sudden betrothal to Joseph is not something she welcomes, but we see it as a reality of family survival in those troubled times under the double domination of Herod and Rome. When the angel appears to her, she accepts the good news he brings - yet she doesn't completely believe it until she finds her much older cousin Elizabeth carrying the child who would be Jesus' messenger. Her most trying time comes when she returns home. A lot of adaptations tend to gloss over this part. Put yourself in her place, though - she's a 14-year-old girl, betrothed to a good man, who returns home with a child she claims to have been miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit. Her story was even less plausible back then than it would be today. Suddenly, she is a pariah of sorts, looked down upon by all who know her, her very future very much in doubt.

The thing I loved most about this film is the depth of its portrayal of Joseph. All too often, Joseph gets short shrift in the story of Christ's birth, but this film has one of the best characterizations of Joseph I've ever seen. Obviously mortified by Mary's pregnancy, he refuses to accuse her (thus very probably saving her life). Even after he is visited by an angel and told that Mary is indeed carrying the Son of God, it takes a lot of courage for him to take Mary as his wife and to claim a child that is not his. On the long and hard road to Bethlehem, we see many small yet all-encompassing examples of his sacrifice for Mary and the Child. After their arrival and frantic effort to find a room, it is Joseph who delivers the child himself. The bond that grows between he and Mary is one of this film's many great strengths.

The portrayal of the three Wise Men from the East is especially interesting, as they sometimes serve up a few bits of comic relief. One of them, for example, is less than enthused about actually traveling to Judea to find the child whose birth they have predicted based upon their study of the stars (with the star of Bethlehem being attributed to the rare convergence of three heavenly bodies). It really was a hard journey, requiring several months of travel across deserts and mountains. By conveying their journey basically in its entirety, this film produced in me a new level of respect for these men and their significance in the story of Jesus' birth.

The final half hour of the film pretty much blew me away. The light of the Star shining down on the manger, the depiction of the shepherds, the arrival of the Magi - it all really brings home the significance of this newborn baby. As if that isn't enough, the story also features some subtle and profound foreshadowing of later events in Jesus' life. For Christians, the film is truly a blessing, but even nonbelievers should appreciate the poignancy of the story, the fine acting, and the excellent cinematography - and everyone should welcome the opportunity to glance into the rearview mirror of time and get a sense of life as it was just over two thousand years ago.

Beautiful depiction of Christ's birth.......2007-07-07

The story of the Nativity has been told and retold, yet somehow this movie manages to make it seem new, by an honest and moving retelling of the story of the birth of Christ. Following the accounts told in the Bible by Matthew and Luke, the filmmakers create a dignified depiction of the events and the people surrounding Christ's birth. The shame of Mary's pregnancy is shown from the point of view of Joseph and Mary's parents. After an angel appears to Joseph and explains that Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, his relationship with Mary grows in a beautiful way. The film makers wisely resist Hollywood glitz and keep the story simple and human, while still impressing viewers with the importance of the world-changing event they are re-enacting.

Average customer rating:

YOU DON'T HAVE THIS?!?!?!?!
Great fun to watch over and over
LAST STARFIGHTER DVD
The Last Starfighter
New Computor animation

The Last Starfighter
Starring: Kay E. Kuter , Dan Mason (III) , Lance Guest , Dan O'Herlihy , and Catherine Mary Stewart
Director: Nick Castle
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000IQW3
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Amazon.com

At the time of its original release in 1984, this modestly budgeted sci-fi excursion had the distinction of offering some of the first examples of purely computer-generated animation, an apt (and frugal) special-effects solution for a movie with a plot line rooted in computer games. Both the computer-generated visuals and the arcade game now look quaint, but writer-director Nick Castle's affable, good- hearted adventure holds up nicely, thanks to a clever premise--the title game is actually a test for prospective starship pilots, planted by embattled aliens under siege from an evil invader. When a restless teenager (Lance Guest) racks up an impressive score, he finds himself spirited away to the besieged planet and thrust into the midst of an intergalactic war. Apart from Castle's skill at contrasting his extraterrestrial settings with the mundane details of his hero's earthbound life, the movie gets lift-off from two thorough pros, Robert Preston, who makes the alien recruiter, Centauri, a planet-hopping cousin to The Music Man's Harold Hill, and Dan O'Herlihy, the alien copilot, who suggests a scaly Walter Brennan. Older fans will snicker, but kids and young teens will find this rite of passage absorbing, while their folks will savor Preston's brash charm. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

YOU DON'T HAVE THIS?!?!?!?!.......2007-08-13

Good Lord, run right out and get it. If you love the 80's and the glorious fun movies of a gone era. Great story and a true classic. Not too hokey kind of in the guise of Cloke and Dagger and War Games. Good acting, "From the Humans". Truely a rightous movie for the Uber collector!

Great fun to watch over and over.......2007-08-08

This space fantasy offers action, adventure, humor, great characters, and many memorable scenes. Robert Preston's character Centauri is a wonderful parody of his famous portrayal of Professor Harold Hill in "The Music Man." Dan O'Herlihy plays the wise and lovable alien pilot Grig and manages to convey an amazing amount of facial expression through his full-head prosthetic makeup. Catherine Mary Stewart is incredibly appealing as Maggie, the girlfriend next door. Lance Guest does a great job as our hero, the talented, ambitious, but frustrated Alex Rogan who finds himself whisked to another part of the galaxy to join a battle against an evil force that he had thought only existed in a video game. But as Alex learns, Earth's in danger too.
Using computer-generated imagery for all the space scenes was a pioneering move in the mid-1980s when most studios were still using models. Yes, we've come a long way in digital animation since then, but the quality is good enough so that it still holds up well, never detracting from the storytelling. Besides, they never could have used Death Blossom in the battle scene if they had stayed with physical models. (You'll understand when you see it.)
Underneath it all is a dynamic musical score that can stand proudly next to the other space classics. The only thing this movie lacks is a sequel. It leaves you wondering what Alex's next adventure will be.

LAST STARFIGHTER DVD.......2007-08-01

I ORIGINALLY COPIED THIS FILM OFF OF HBO ON MY VCR ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. WE SAW IT AT THE THEATER TWO TIMES WHEN IT FIRST WAS RELEASED. WE MADE AN AUDIO TAPE OF THE ENTIRE SOUNDTRACK AND MY TWO YOUNGEST KIDS LISTENED TO IT EVERY NIGHT AT BED TIME. I STILL HAVE THE AUDIO COPY, BUT MY VIDEO WORE OUT, SO I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER COPY.

The Last Starfighter.......2007-07-20

Had this movie before and alway liked it. I wanted a new copy and ordered it on DVD. I like the space the DVD saves.

New Computor animation.......2007-07-14

The Last Starfighter is the first computor graphic space movie. I beleive that it is brilliant due to the technology available when it was made.

Average customer rating:

I Just Count Help Liking This Production
Count Dracula (BBC Mini-Series)
One of the Best FINALLY Availble - and in Widescreen!
Most accurate version by far.
I was a kid too .....

Count Dracula (BBC Mini-Series)
Starring: Louis Jourdan , Frank Finlay , and Susan Penhaligon
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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