Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon.com

Presenting a bleak, harrowing, and yet ultimately hopeful vision of humankind's not-too-distant future, Children of Men is a riveting cautionary tale of potential things to come. Set in the crisis-ravaged future of 2027, and based on the atypical 1993 novel by British mystery writer P.D. James, the anxiety-inducing, action-packed story is set in a dystopian England where humanity has become infertile (the last baby was born in 2009), immigration is a crime, refugees (or "fugees") are caged like animals, and the world has been torn apart by nuclear fallout, rampant terrorism, and political rebellion. In this seemingly hopeless landscape of hardscrabble survival, a jaded bureaucrat named Theo (Clive Owen) is drawn into a desperate struggle to deliver Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), the world's only pregnant woman, to a secret group called the Human Project that hopes to discover a cure for global infertility. As they carefully navigate between the battling forces of military police and a pro-immigration insurgency, Theo, Kee, and their secretive allies endure a death-defying ordeal of urban warfare, and director Alfonso Cuaron (with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki) capture the action with you-are-there intensity. There's just enough humor to balance the film's darker content (much of it coming from Michael Caine, as Theo's aging hippie cohort), and although Children of Men glosses over many of the specifics about its sociopolitical worst-case scenario (which includes Julianne Moore in a brief but pivotal role), it's still an immensely satisfying, pulse-pounding vision of a future that represents a frightening extrapolation of early 21st-century history. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE EXTINCION LIST!.......2007-09-13

this film was great. it was deep, and had a lot to say. really makes you think, about the world and the population in general. petty things that don't matter compared to a fear of us being no more on this earth. another point made is that mother nature is above all science, and man here. very well written, the whole story was very interesting, and shows what one man with nothing to live for, would do for mankind. clive owen gives a brilliant performance. this put his name on the map, defenitly. well acted, nailed his character right on the mark. from an ordinary man to a hero in a day. julianne moore and michael caine played meaningful roles, both gave a huge sacrifice for the miracle of the world. this movie is very entertaining, shows how the world because of us has gone to hell, all hope is lost, when out of nowhere we get a second chance. brilliant idea, loved it.

Prepare to snooze.......2007-09-01

What a great concept for a movie and what a poor execution of it! The story is that the world has gone sterile (no more babies being born) but nature has fought back and one woman is finally pregnant. Trouble is, she's not part of the "preferred" class and the upper-echelon would disect her and her child if given half a chance. Clive Owen is called into service to shuttle her through numerous dangers and get her to a rebel group called "The Human Project" where she'll be safe. The downside to this movie is that it takes FOR FRIKKIN' EVER to tell that story and there's way too much exposition that takes place. The story moves about as slow as molasses on a cold day in January.

There are good performances. Clive Owen does great. Michael Caine is hilarious with his "pull my finger" bit. Some of the other lesser-known actors turn in competent performances as well.

The movie just lasts too long and moves way too slowly for me to reccommend anyone see it...unless you've got insomnia and need something to help you go to sleep. It's a shame because when I heard the premise for this story, I thought it was going to be a real winner.

AN UNIQUE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE in HI-DEF GLORY.......2007-08-29

Two things can be said about this product:
a) This is a great film.
b) This is a great HD DVD edition.

SYNOPSIS: The world is in chaos in 2027. Mankind decays slowly and faces its extinction as infertility has been the rule for over 18 years. Theo (Clive Owen), a disillusioned man, must escort through a sea of unimaginable adversities the most precious person: a pregnant woman.

THE FILM is great at many levels. First, I'd say it is because of a great cast. Clive Owen is the perfect "zombie", a man who just lets himself go on with nothing to look forward to. His performance is unforgettable as a passive anti-hero who'll go all the way in order to accomplish his mission. Julianne Moore is also perfect as she gives a very quiet and underplayed performance as an activist hunted by the police (with whom Theo was once in love). Michael Caine shines (as usual) as an old hippie who now lives in the woods - in fact, his performance made me go back many times because it is so rich and physical... I really had to see it again several times at certain scenes.

The Production Design is a landmark.
Rarely we have seen such a puzzling look at the future. It is not Blade Runner. It is not Star Trek. It is not I, Robot. It is simply (if I try to define it) a version of the future which is incomplete... as (like i said before) mankind is slowly disappearing, the future becomes stagnant and reduced to minimum signs of utopia and evident signs of dystopia.

The direction is precise and creative.
The director really succeeds in giving us his full vision of the story, in scenes that are absolutely great. Using excruciatingly long takes, he really succeeds in giving us the true feel and the emotion behind the story. The car sequence is unbelievable. The old building shootout scene is unbelievable - just to chose two.

The cinematography & camera work are perfect.
From the composition of the shots to the light in each shot/scene... the camera movements, the focus... everything here is right. I loved the blood drops on the lenses. you really don't see things like that every day...

The screenplay is near perfect.
Well paced and well developed. It makes all journeys though "urban chaos" look like Disneyland. Characters and situations are very well written. I really felt the screenplay went where the story needed to go.

Special effects are perfect.
THEY ARE UNBELIEVABLY GREAT!!!!!

This HD DVD edition is a combo disc meaning that the disc comes with two sides: side A is a HD DVD side. Side B is a regular DVD side you can play everywhere.

Isn't it great?

The extras are great:
- Picture in Picture interviews with the director, crew and cast. (an exclusive HD DVD format feature not possible in the Blu-ray format).
- U control feature: exploring the imagery (another HD DVD exclusive feature that takes advantage of HDi).
- Info & Commercials: expanded from what we saw in the movie while we watch the movie. VERY DISTURBING! (another HD DVD exclusive feature).
- The Possibility of Hope: a documentary exploring the themes you'll find in the film.
- Under Attack: a short piece showing us how they made two very hard scenes (yes, the car sequence is there!).
- Deleted scenes (the one in the Art Ministry is my favorite).
- Theo & Julian: a short piece detailing the characters/actors relationship.
- Futuristic Design: a short piece on the stunning visual aspects of the film (a must see!).
- Commentary.

This is one those titles that really show you how great HD DVD is.
HD DVD is truly a great format. It delivers the goods. It is the best choice.
A treasure!

If this is what the world's going to come to ... Why are we here?.......2007-08-28

Amazing how two films about babies that I've seen in the past couple of days (this and Knocked Up) can make me feel so differently about the world. For starters, Knocked Up made me feel depressed about relationships in general. Children of Men ultimately makes me feel like getting on a roof top and shooting all the zombies.

Wrong film.

Children of Men ultimately makes me feel like getting on a roof top, with a megaphone, and telling everyone to throw away their pill, their condoms, etc. If every woman in the world is going to end up infertile, then lets get procreating now!

Hahahahaha.

OK, a bit OTT, but what a harrowing film this is to watch. It's all about the world in 2027 (twenty years away) when no child has been born in 18 years, as all women are infertile, and the world's youngest human is murdered. Clive Owen (I know!) is sought out by an ex girlfriend (played by Julianne Moore) to help protect a pregnant girl.

It's set in a very dark and depressing England, filled with guns, violence and lots of not very nice things. The film did grip me from beginning to end, purely because of how shocking it is, despite the fact I hate Clive Owen's acting with a passion. It's a infinitely shocking movie, which will leave you depressed, full of no passion for life anymore - yeah, I do let myself get too affected by movies sometimes. Give me a couple of days. The best thing to do after watching this movie, is to get into bed with the person you love and stay there. Hehe.

Makes you think.......2007-08-26

In this movie babies have stopped being born and people have lost hope. However one woman is pregnant and Clive Owen fights to protect her and the unborn child.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

Average customer rating:

Some of the smartest humor ever
Everything great about bad superhero movies
Disco Boys
it grows on you..
Wonderful, Campy Movie!

Mystery Men
Starring: Hank Azaria , Ernie Lee Banks , Claire Forlani , Janeane Garofalo , and Eddie Izzard
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000035Z38
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Amazon.com

Ever wonder if there was a class system in the world of superheroes? After all the big names like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, etc., who were the supporting players? The folks assigned to the less-than-stellar gigs of saving only a small part of the world? According to this intermittently successful send-up of comic book heroism, there are indeed masked heroes who struggle and toil for their moment in the super sun. Based on the Dark Horse comic book series, Mystery Men follows the travails of three B-list avengers--Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the Shoveler (William H. Macy), and the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria)--as they fight to make themselves known to the citizens of Champion City, quite difficult to do when the flashy Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear, never better) takes all the cool gigs and has product endorsements up the ying-yang. According to them, it's all a matter of timing--never mind that Mr. Furious never rises above a snit, or that the Blue Raja wears green. Their big break comes when Captain Amazing is abducted by the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), and it's up to this motley crew to save Champion City.

Blessed with a wondrously gifted comic cast and full of droll details, Mystery Men struggles in fits and spurts towards its climax. Transcendently witty in parts, it's also woefully sophomoric in others. Literally, this is the kind of movie in which someone gets off a brilliant line and then sits on a fork. Still, when this movie is rolling, it's gleefully on target, thanks primarily to the mordantly cocky Stiller and Janeane Garofalo as a latecomer to the superhero gang; her secret weapon is a bowling ball in which her dead father's head is encased. The comic chemistry between these two is fierce, and when you add the dryly funny Macy and the endearing Azaria (who finally gets a chance to let loose with his comic gifts), it's a hilarious joyride. Too bad that the gas tank is only half-full; this stunning cast deserves a first-rate vehicle. With Tom Waits as a weapons expert, Claire Forlani as the requisite babe, and Paul Reubens as the Spleen, the world's most flatulent superhero. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Some of the smartest humor ever.......2007-08-21

I think one reason why this movie gets mixed reviews is the level of humor. It can be very dry and deep and I'm not sure the average movie-goer is likely to catch all the jokes on the first run. Multiple viewings often lead to deeper enjoyment. I'll provide just one example of a joke in the movie that tends to go over most heads but that I find brilliant and hilarious:

While searching for more super heroes to add to their team, the budding Mystery Men run through a list of current crime-fighters.

"We could get ... White Flight and the Black Menace--they work together."

If you get that, Mystery Men is for you. If not, well, explaining it just wouldn't be the same.

Everything great about bad superhero movies.......2007-03-22

This movie characterizes just how bad the superhero movie industry was at one time and turns it into GinGOLD! Ben Stiller steals the show and does his serious ridiculous routine so well! Paul Ruben takes a little away from the movie but not enough to take away from dynamic performances of this group!

Disco Boys.......2007-03-09

Dude, it's all about the Disco Boys. Having Claire Forlani is a plus as well. They are the "real deal" heroes that don't get to play in the big leagues like Batman and Superman, but they still are heroic and get the job done. Even though they make fun of the superhero genre, at least they did it with pinache.

it grows on you.........2007-01-05

The first time I saw this I didn't particularly like it. But, much like Galaxy Quest, after a couple more viewings I began to see things I'd missed and now it's high on my list of favorites. It would be higher but I really don't like Ben Stiller.

Wonderful, Campy Movie!.......2006-11-03

Mystery Men is one of my favorite movies! As an avid player of "Champions," a role-playing game based on comic book heroes, this movie is a blast! Bumbling wannabe heroes come through with panache - what's more fun than that? Campy villians, odd super powers, and goofy non-lethal weapons!! This movie has it all!

Average customer rating:

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE EXTINCION LIST!
Prepare to snooze
AN UNIQUE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE in HI-DEF GLORY
If this is what the world's going to come to ... Why are we here?
Makes you think

Children of Men (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Juan Gabriel Yacuzzi , Michelle Hussain , Rob Curling , Jon Chevalier , and Rita Davies
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000N6TX1S
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE EXTINCION LIST!.......2007-09-13

Prepare to snooze.......2007-09-01

AN UNIQUE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE in HI-DEF GLORY.......2007-08-29

If this is what the world's going to come to ... Why are we here?.......2007-08-28

Makes you think.......2007-08-26

Children of Men (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD)

Average customer rating:

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE EXTINCION LIST!
Prepare to snooze
AN UNIQUE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE in HI-DEF GLORY
If this is what the world's going to come to ... Why are we here?
Makes you think

Children of Men (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD)
Starring: Clive Owen , Julianne Moore , and Michael Caine
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000N6TX22
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE EXTINCION LIST!.......2007-09-13

Prepare to snooze.......2007-09-01

AN UNIQUE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE in HI-DEF GLORY.......2007-08-29

If this is what the world's going to come to ... Why are we here?.......2007-08-28

Makes you think.......2007-08-26

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 7 (Attack of the Killer Shrews / Hercules Against the Moon Men / Hercules Unchained / Prince of Space)

Average customer rating:

"The Sculpture Anteater With Onion Ring Is Located In The Plaza."
GREAT SET HERE! GIVE ME MORE!!!!!
"Killer Shrew. Killer Shrew. Don't know the difference from me and you..."
Deeeep Hurting...!
Prince of Space

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 7 (Attack of the Killer Shrews / Hercules Against the Moon Men / Hercules Unchained / Prince of Space)
Starring: Tatsuo Umemiya , Ushio Skashi , Joji Oka , Hiroko Mine , and Takashi Kanda
Director: Eijirô Wakabayashi
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007Y8ALK
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Description

Join Joel, Mike and their "Robot Friends" as they are forced to watch the worst movies ever made. To endure, these crazy characters make hilarious jokes at the expense of those bad movies. Includes the following episodes:

Episode 407- THE KILLER SHREWS (with short: JUNIOR RODEO DAREDEVILS)
Episode 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED
Episode 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN
Episode 816- PRINCE OF SPACE

Customer Reviews:

"The Sculpture Anteater With Onion Ring Is Located In The Plaza.".......2007-09-06

As a long time "Mystery Science Theater 3000" fan, I love to revisit episodes periodically. This set is one of the few I had not previously purchased, mostly because I find the Hercules films to be exceptionally tedious. Of course that didn't stop me from watching the two contained here, "Hercules Unchained" and "Hercules Against the Moon Men." Without question "Hercules Against the Moon Men" is the more entertaining of the two due to the ludicrous imposition of "Moon Men" in a sword and sandals extravaganza. The riffing and host segments in the two Hercules films are great as usual, but I still find the films too boring to be very entertaining. The Hercules-induced tedium is the sole reason I gave the set four stars instead of the normal five stars for an MST3K set.

On the other hand, "Prince of Space" is one of my very favorite episodes. There is nothing as amusing as seeing Prince of Space using his magical stick to defeat the menacing chicken-like arch villain Krankor while yelling "Your weapons have no effect on me!" You'd think Krankor would figure it out, but he never does. The whole undercover superhero aspect of the plot combined with the typical Japanese children mitigating disaster ("We like boot blacking very much!") elements make this a must see episode.

I have always loved "The Killer Shrews" as well. I saw the original movie many years ago, and can't even begin to tell you how much the MST3K treatment adds to this somber, yet stupid, shaggy dog movie: I love the concept of dressing dogs up in shrew costumes and then making them chase the main characters off an island under inverted storage drums. The acting is hilariously overplayed, the concept is beyond laughable, and the direction and lighting are among the worst even by MST3K standards. I love it.

The set comes with three shorts that I liked to varying degrees. "Assignment: Venezuela," which was never used in an episode, is lengthy and is a modestly boring film about an American family moving to Venezuela to help the oil industry. There are some great riffs during this short, including my review title, which was Crow's description of a piece of modern sculpture. "Century 21 Calling" is an account of extremely white people learning about the telephones of tomorrow, which are quite humorous in retrospect. By far my favorite of the shorts is "A Case of Spring Fever," which is about the wonders of springs, and features a character named "Coily the Spring Sprite." ("Coily? Ewww.") I love this short because I completely don't understand who would make this film or why. Was it made by the National Spring Council? Was some other product in danger of dominating springs in the marketplace? I have no idea, but it makes for one of the best shorts ever.

In summary, any MST3K is a great thing, but compared to other sets this one left me wanting more...a little Hercules goes a long way. Despite that modest critique, I would still highly recommend volume seven.

GREAT SET HERE! GIVE ME MORE!!!!!.......2007-06-13

This is a very funny set of episode on volume 7. I am a fan of some of these old movies and "The Killer Shrews" is one goofy old film I've seen many times without the jokes! If your a fan of these guys this is another great set.

"Killer Shrew. Killer Shrew. Don't know the difference from me and you...".......2007-02-28

As much as I am a huge fan of MST3K, this set is easily one of the strongest DVD collections that Rhino has put out. With three episodes from the Joel/Comedy Central era and one from the Sci-Fi era, this set will keep you occupied for so long, what with repeated viewings and all.

The set kicks off with "Hercules Unchained", with a plot line I've never heard in the Greek myth stories: Hercules goes on a mission and drinks the "water of forgetfulness" and, you guessed it, forgets everything about his life, and is lured to some...secret kingdom of some sort. Joel and the bots have a real fun time with this one, as in one of the host segments, they make fun of the phrase "water of forgetfulness" with the food they eat and drink, like asparagus of happiness or something like that. 8/10

"Hercules Against The Moon Men" is a little stronger than the previous film, although it would have been best to not compile two Hercules in one set. Still, this movie is worth-watching. Granted, only a few of the riffs have been repeated from the previous Hercules flick, but it also contains some much stronger riffs than the other. This film involves Hercules on a mission to find out what the fuss is about with, you guessed it, the Moon Men. It has one of the funniest host segments: The Pants Song, sung by Joel and the bots, making fun of the costumes worn by the characters in the film. 8.5/10

While the Sci-Fi era may be considered to be Ganon's Sacred Realm for MST3K, you still get a gem every now and then. "Prince of Space" is one of those gems from that era. Granted, the host segments aren't really up to par, but the really cheesy film, as well as riffings from Mike and the bots really make up for it. This is your below-average, Saturday morning, children's Japanese superhero flick, that would better told in just a half hour than stretching it to an hour and a half. Memorable riffs pop up now and then such as "Krank 'wh*re'?", and the riffs run at a fairly consistent rate, keeping you occupied for quite a while. 7.5/10

This set goes out with a bang. That bang is "The Killer Shrews", one of my favorite episodes. I do believe cheesy monster flicks are so easily funny to poke at, making some of the funniest episodes of the series and this one is no exception. The plot is simple: a couple guys are sailing on a boat and arrive at an island infested with giant shrews. Some great moments are present here, including the Killer Shrew song ("Killer Shrew, Killer Shrew, Don't know the difference from me and you..."), and the riffs are consistently hilarious, making this the real highlight of this set. 9/10

In addition, you'll also get a few bonus featurette riffings from Joel and the bots, including a rarely seen featurette, "Assignment Venezuela", all of which are worth watching.

Deeeep Hurting...!.......2006-12-21

I brought this compliation mainly for the feature "Prince of Space" one of the last MST3K episodes I saw before the show was cancelled on the now weakened and somewhat abysmal SciFi Channel. But I found the two Hercules features and Killer Shrews to be just as hilarious. One of the Hearcules features was directed by a famous Italian director who also made Black Sunday and Planet of the Vampires.

Prince of Space.......2006-12-08

What can I add? I really miss MS3K. I HAD to get this collection, mainly for Prince of Space. I remember growing up and seeing this craptacular on a local UHF station. The two Hercules movies, eh. Some funny stuff there but the Shrews is better than both combined. Still, it a must have for any fan of MST3K!

Average customer rating:

Mystery Men [HD DVD]
Starring: Hank Azaria , Ricky Jay , Louise Lasser , William H. Macy , and Lena Olin
Director: Kinka Usher
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000OHZL1M
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

The hippest cast in history has united to become the funniest superhero team ever. Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Geoffrey Rush and Paul Reubens join forces in this wild, funny and thoroughly original misadventure. When Captain Amazing, Champion City's legendary superhero, falls into the hands of the evil madman Casanova Frankenstein and his disco-dancing henchmen, there's suddenly a chance for the aspiring superheroes to show what they can do. They're the Mystery Men… a ragtag team of superhero wannabes featuring: Mr. Furious, whose power comes from his boundless rage; The Shoveler, a father who shovels "better than anyone"; The Blue Raja, a fork-flinging mama's boy; The Bowler, who fights crime with the help of her father's skull; The Spleen, whose power is pure flatulence; Invisible Boy, who's only invisible when no one's watching and The Sphinx, a cliche-spewing philosopher. With its outrageous adventure, incredible cast and hip alternative humor, Mystery Men is so irresistibly funny and appealing, seeing it just once will never be enough.

Average customer rating:

Bringing Up Baby
brilliant
Actually better than what you might expect
Silly, But Quite Fun
I fell in love with Roland Giraud... (mild spoilers)

Three Men and a Cradle
Starring: Roland Giraud , Michel Boujenah , André Dussollier , Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu , and Dominique Lavanant
Director: Coline Serreau
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009WFFWC
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Amazon.com

When a baby girl appears on the doorstep of a Parisian apartment belonging to a trio of hedonistic bachelors, baby care is thrust upon them with hilarious and, ultimately, heartwarming results in this 1985 French comedy (with English subtitles) by writer/director Coline Serreau. Pierre, Michel, and Jacques are pleasure-seeking professionals with the singular goal to seduce women in their spare time. When Jacques leaves on a three-week vacation, a mix-up ensues and roommates Pierre and Michel (Roland Giraud and Michel Boujenah, respectively) discover that the "package" Jacques has enlisted them to watch in his absence is a cooing infant in a pink bassinette. With no prior experience and unable to contact Jacques (André Dussollier) to whom the baby was "addressed," they dive into the frenzied fracas of diapers and feeding schedules. Adding insult to insanity, they must fend off drug dealers—and police--interested in another "package." The simple storyline leaves plenty of room for shenanigans—formulaic perhaps, but still irresistible. Rather than a morality play on the recklessness of child abandonment, farcical comedy prevails. Over time, the men are smitten with little Marie who gives them plenty of adorable moments until they can't live without her. The obvious appeal of the story inspired the American remake two years later, though the French version is more compelling, nuanced, and touching. Parents should take note of the PG-13 rating for excessive profanity and sexual content. (Ages 12 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Description

Three clueless and hedonistic bachelors are forced to trade dames for diapers when an infant is left on their doorstep. Winner of the César Award for Best Film and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, writer-director Coline Serreau's irresistible, sweet-natured farce was one of the most popular French comedies of the 1980s, and inspired the blockbuster American remake.

Customer Reviews:

Bringing Up Baby.......2005-09-21

Shrewd advice: Always seek out the original when America decides to remake a foreign film in its own image. The Hollywood moneymaker "Three Men and a Baby" and its unmentionable sequel are, well, laughable alongside the superior French comedy "Three Men and a Cradle" now out on DVD. Men's bonding with children isn't new to cinema ("Kramer versus Kramer"), but treating child abandonment as farce was when this film opened in 1985. It became a big European hit, won France's best film Cesar Award, and got nominated for a Hollywood Oscar. Absolutely delightful describes it best.

Three bachelors in an upscale apartment continue to pursue women and their jobs, deflecting police snoopers and drug dealers, all the while caring for a baby girl left on their doorstep. That's the set-up, which the American remake never got beyond. The movie is really about how gender switching, including diaper-changing and bottle feeding, permits the inner man to express his true self. All of the actors have a sweet sense of ensemble, yet each man bonds with the baby in his own way. If you have to ask how this perfectly charming comedy will end, you have never been a parent.

brilliant.......2005-04-26

this is the original film and much less schmaltzy and cute than the truly awful American remake (3 men and a baby). Don't watch the bad remake, watch this. 3 batchelors, keen on women and wine are left with a baby. Yes the men grow to love Marie, but only in time, and only really when they release a package of drugs is the real parcel to be collected. love is not instant (as in the US remake). subtle too. I saw this subtitled years ago in a cinema in NZ and have loved it since.

Actually better than what you might expect.......2005-03-12

Three young independent bachelors live together in Paris. One day, a woman, known to all three men, leaves a baby on their doorstep. She wants them to care for it while she goes to America. It's a total disaster for them at first, as expected, and just as predictably they soon grow fond of the little tike, learn responsibility, and become less selfish. When the mother returns and they have to give the baby up, they are despondent and their lives suddenly have a big hole in it. Sounds like it should be a big mess, but actually it's very well done and, best of all, believable. [This is the French version which inspired the American remake two years later.]

Silly, But Quite Fun.......2001-04-27

This 1985 French comedy is best known as the source material for the Disney hit Three Men and a Baby, but is quite entertaining in its own right. Pierre, Michel and Jacques, three self-centered ladies' men who share a spectacular Paris apartment, are thrown for a loop when an ex-girlfriend abandons infant Marie--"the fruit of our passion"--on their doorstep. (This is apparently a temporary measure, designed to teach Jacques, the baby's actual father, a lesson.) As you can probably predict, the complaints and bumbling new-dad hijinks are many, and they grow highly attached to Marie...just in time for the mother to arrive to take her back. Or will she?

This is hardly a perfect movie--there's a subplot involving drug smugglers and mistaken identity that's particularly clunky and out of place--but it's silly and warmhearted fun for anyone who doesn't mind a movie with a (very cute) baby as the center of the action. No slapstick, just a domestic comedy with a sharply Gallic sense of humor and some surprisingly gentle moments. The actor who plays Michel, and whose character seems to love Marie the most, is particularly good. Recommended.

I fell in love with Roland Giraud... (mild spoilers).......2001-04-25

I saw this movie before the mediocre American remake, THREE MEN AND A BABY, came out, and I'm so glad I did. There's really no comparison.

The premise -- three confirmed bachelors taking care of a tiny baby -- seems contrived at first, but the three principle actors, Roland Giraud, Boujenah and Dussollier, deftly handle their characters with humor, intelligence and sympathy. There are some very funny scenes, not so much with the expected gee-I'm-a-man-handling-a-little-baby kind of slapstick but rather the three men arguing with each other and their friends.

Best of all, the sweet scenes are never overly-sentimental or trite but instead are gentle and moving. Roland Giraud is absolutely brilliant. MILD SPOILER: The scene in which Giraud comes home to find the apartment ransacked has him running frantically throughout looking for the baby. When he finally finds her, safe and sound, his absolute relief and joy flood from the screen. I fell in love with him at that moment.

Amazon.com

"A Scandal in Bohemia"
The very first Sherlock Holmes short story (following the detective's introduction in the novels A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four) was also the first Granada Television production in the long-running Holmes series featuring Jeremy Brett's definitive performance as the famous sleuth. No deerstalker cap, cape, curved meerschaum pipe, or Basil Rathbone mannerisms for this Holmes: Brett's portrayal went straight to the heart of the character Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created, with all the manic-depressive, coldly clinical, drug-dependent, and unnervingly focused brilliance intact. Just as on-the-money is David Burke's Dr. John Watson, who is hardly the loyal puppy of widespread assumption but rather a dedicated ally and determined chronicler of the publicity-wary Holmes. "A Scandal in Bohemia," ironically, is one of the few instances of Holmes being bested by an equally intelligent adversary--an actress by the name of Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt), who has threatened to reveal damaging evidence of her own affair with the king of Bohemia (Wolf Kahler), a ridiculous pseudonym invented by Watson to protect the real royal personage in trouble. It's Holmes to the rescue, going undercover in disguise to take away the blackmailer's trump, though it's he whose head will ultimately be turned by the extraordinary Irene. The cast is wonderful (meet Rosalie Williams as Baker Street housekeeper Mrs. Hudson), and the drama is great fun. (For a contemporary movie reinvention of this story, check out the 1998 feature Zero Effect, starring Bill Pullman as a whacked-out variation on Holmes, Ben Stiller as his long-suffering Watson, and Kim Dickens as an updated Irene.) --Tom Keogh

"The Dancing Men"
What is the meaning of the stick figures that appear scrawled one day on the exterior wall of a Northfolk manor? Why do they so terribly upset the American wife (Betsy Brantley) of the gentleman (Tenniel Evans) who lives there? The case proves one of the most tantalizing for Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and his ally and chronicler, Dr. Watson (David Burke). Then it proves among the gravest of Holmes's career when murder enters the picture and the distraught woman is charged with the crime. This is one of those stories from the Holmes canon that practically invites an adaptation; Sherlockians will enjoy seeing the oddly disturbing "dancing men" on screen, while newcomers to Holmes will find the tale particularly compelling. As always, Brett remains the definitive Holmes. --Tom Keogh

"The Naval Treaty"
An old schoolmate of Dr. Watson's, Percy Phelps (David Gwillim), has asked the longtime friend of Sherlock Holmes to intercede on his behalf with the famous detective. Phelps, a member of the Foreign Office, has stolen a copy of a naval treaty with serious international consequences, but the document has been missing for two months. His nerves shattered from worry, Phelps is under the care of his fiancée (Alison Skilbeck), but so far the treaty has not surfaced. Holmes (Jeremy Brett), aided by Watson (David Burke), agrees to take the case, which is handsomely adapted in this episode from the Granada Television series. As usual, Brett is the most fascinating, most complex, and truest of the many Holmes portrayals in film and TV history, Burke is solid as the good doctor, and Rosalie Williams is delightful in her fleeting appearance as the Baker Street housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. --Tom Keogh

"The Solitary Cyclist"
Sherlock Holmes (the incomparable Jeremy Brett) is unhappily interrupted during a major investigation by the appearance at Baker Street of a young, regal-looking woman named Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere). Frightened for her safety, Smith tells the busy sleuth and his friend Dr. Watson (David Burke) of her recent life since being left penniless. Employed as a music teacher in the Charlington home of one Bob Carruthers (John Castle)--a man who, along with a quite dangerous and "hideous" fellow named Woodley (Michael Siberry)--knew her late father in South Africa, Smith has lately been harassed by Woodley and followed on bicycle by a mysterious, bearded fellow. Watson is dispatched to look into the matter, but the mystery only deepens and darkens even after the Master finally arrives. One of the strongest episodes in the long-running Holmes series from Granada Television, "The Solitary Cyclist" never lets up its taut suspense. Brett and Burke are magnificent, as always, but even the most loyal fans are taken aback by the rare sight of Holmes throwing punches, as he does in a boxing duel with the beastly Woodley. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Best!.......2007-04-13

In one of my classes at college, our professor made us watch a Sherlock Holmes episode the first day. As a rule, I prefer to read stories as opposed to watching them on TV because usually the TV versions are not as good as the books from which they are derived. However, after watching Jeremy Brett's portrayal of the legendary slueth, I was well satisfied with the excellent job of both the actors and the producers in bringing these extrordinary tales to life. I have since watched every episode, and I can say with confidence that Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes is the best I have ever seen.

There's no better version of the Sherlock Holmes stories.......2007-03-24

I've loved these since I first saw them on television decades ago- Brett delivers, without a doubt, the truest, and most accurate picture of Holmes at Conan Doyle wrote him. Brett's Holmes is detached from humanity- uninterested in other peopel, except insofar as they can provide him with an intellectual challaneg. For him, the case is the thing; if he solves a mystery, he considers himself to have succeeded- even if the client happens to die along the way.

The people and places depicted in this series may not be terribly true to history, but they are very true to Conan Doyle's depiction of the age, and thus very satisfying to any serious Holmsian. The rigid societal roles, the predictable behavior, the overdone stereotypes- this is the world of Sherlock Holmes, where all can be induced from a few clues, where invalids take to divans and fan themselves, and where the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. If you're Holmes fan- and you must be, to have read this far- you'll absolultley love this series.

Vintage Homes.......2006-11-04

A Scandal in Bohemia is my favorite Holmes story. I bought this to get it but found the other three stories just as well done. The people that write the scripts for this series all do a formindable job and the casting as is usual for English TV is excellent. Would that American TV would learn to cast as well. But most of the actors and actresses on American TV never learned their craft. You're lucky if one of two members of a cast are real pros while in England even the small roles are well done.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist) .......2006-07-07

HI,
This version of the DVD has helped me to recollect the memories of the old days when I used to view Holmes series in my home TV duiring my childhood. Good and fresh memory.

But I expected a better quality DVD. This one tht have reached me sometimes stops for a fraction of a second and it srarts automatically. I expected a flawless and superior quality. Although I am returning it back but Amazon should take care of this in future.
Thanks,
Sanjib

Technical problems with two copies of this DVD.......2005-11-01

This DVD appears to be encrypted or mastered in a slightly unusual way. My DVD player could not play it, nor could any of the normal DVD players on my computers play it. This was true of two copies of this DVD that I bought.

Eventually I discovered that VLC (VideoLan Client) on the Mac could play it and we did get to see it in the end. The episodes are good, but I agree with most of the other reviewers in saying that the quality of the DVD is far below what is expected. There are sound problems on "The Naval Treaty" and a piece of dirt appeared to get caught in the projector's film gate at one stage during one of the episodes!

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices...
Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect
Early Hitchcock classics
Correction
IMMACULATE(AND STILL AVAILABLE)

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00008OM70
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Amazon.com

Wrong Men & Notorious Women is an irresistible set: five early Alfred Hitchcock thrillers--The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Spellbound, and Notorious--in sumptuous Criterion Collection editions that offer pristine transfers, commentary tracks by film scholars, and other bonus features such as screen tests, essays, rare photos, and radio broadcasts.

The 39 Steps (1935) is a prime example of the MacGuffin principle in action. Robert Donat is Richard Hannay, an affable Canadian tourist in London who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy when a mysterious spy winds up murdered in Hannay's rented flat--and both the police and a secret organization wind up hot on his trail. It's classic Hitchcock all the way, a seemingly effortless balance of romance and adventure set against a picturesque landscape populated by eccentrics and social-register smoothies, none of whom is what he or she appears to be.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) begins innocently enough, as a contingent of eccentric tourists spend the night in a picture-postcard village inn nestled in the Swiss Alps before setting off on the train the next morning. Attractive young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) clashes with brash music student Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) when his nocturnal concerts give her no peace. True love is inevitable, but not before they are both plunged into an international conspiracy. Hitchcock effortlessly navigates this vivid thriller from light comedy to high tension and back again, creating one of his most enchanting and entertaining mysteries.

Rebecca (1940) is an ageless, timeless adult movie about a woman who marries a widower but fears she lives in the shadow of her predecessor. This was Hitchcock's first American feature, and it garnered the Best Picture statuette at the 1941 Academy Awards. In today's films, most twists and surprises are ridiculous or just gratuitous, so it's sobering to look back on this film where every revelation not only shocks, but makes organic sense with the story line. Laurence Olivier is dashing and weak, fierce and cowed. Joan Fontaine is strong yet submissive, defiant yet accommodating. Brilliant stuff.

Hitchcock takes on Sigmund Freud in Spellbound (1945), in which psychologist Ingrid Bergman tries to solve a murder by unlocking the clues hidden in the mind of amnesiac suspect Gregory Peck. Among the highlights is a bizarre dream sequence seemingly designed by Salvador Dali--complete with huge eyeballs and pointy scissors. Spellbound is one of Hitchcock's strangest and most atmospheric films, providing the director with plenty of opportunities to explore what he called "pure cinema"--i.e., the power of pure visual associations.

Notorious (1946) features a cast to kill for: Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, and Claude Rains. Bergman plays the daughter of a disgraced father who is recruited by American agents to infiltrate a post-World War II spy ring in Brazil. Her control agent is Grant, who treats her with disdain while developing a deep romantic bond with her. Her assignment: to marry the suspected head of the ring (Rains) and get the goods on everyone involved. Danger, deceit, betrayal--and, yes, romance--all come together in a nearly perfect blend as the film builds to a terrific (and surprising) climax. Grant and Bergman rarely have been better.

Description

A supreme technician and innovative stylist, Alfred Hitchcock always left his indelible stamp on his productions. From the wit, romance, and fast-paced action of 1935's British-made The 39 Steps to the bittersweet blend of lush romance and spy- thriller in the 1946 Hollywood production Notorious, Hitchcock continually flaunted a peerless formal mastery as he capitalized on a wide variety of genres. In the 1940 Academy Award™ -winning Rebecca and 1945 psychoanalytic thriller Spellbound, Hitchcock also proved himself a keen surveyor of the human mind, incisively exploring the psychology of fear and sexual repression within the context of films that both entertained audiences of the day and ensured that his career would be one of the most illustrious in the history of cinema.

Starring Robert Donat, Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Claude Rains, and Cary Grant, these five acclaimed films bridge Hitchcock's early British masterworks with his triumphant American collaborations with producer David O. Selznick, and present the legendary director at his unparalleled best, creating films that are exemplars of suspense and cinematic virtuosity.

Oscar™ , Academy Award™ , and Academy Awards™ are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices..........2007-03-09

MGM dvd is set to to release these same titles later sometime this year (2007). So be on the look out. I already own this Chriterion collection and it is great, but it lacks any documentaries on the films. I'm sure the new MGM dvd releases will more than likely put this on them and hopefully more features too, like Warner dvd did with the rights they own of Hitchcock now.

Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect.......2006-05-13

Hitch, Cary, Ingrid, Olivier, Whitty, Du Maurier,Fontaine. The list goes on. All these great talents combined to make a great package for Hitch fans.A selection of fabulous noir, that is definitive of all things Hitch. The suspense, the shadows and light, the camera angles, the sly humor, his trademark sequences, all here, for one great Hitch film-fest. A mix of his vintage British films, and the great classics of Hollywood.
Here are the "wrong men" and "notorious women" that make up this great collection.

"The 39 Steps"
One of Hitch's masterpieces! From 1935.. "The Thirty Nine Steps" has Hitch's trademark style all through it. An innocent man gets involved with spies and counter spies. He is at the music hall, watching a "Memory Act"(which is quite a scene in itself),there's a gun shot, panic erupts and everyone runs out. A mysterious woman attaches herself to him and comes home with him. She reveals she is a spy and others are after her. She mentions the mysterious "Thirty Nine Steps", and the next morning he finds her dead. He goes on the run for fear he will be implicated in the murder and in order to prove his innocence he must uncover this spy ring on his own. His path is fraught with danger, suspense and of course a beautiful woman. It stars Robert Donat,Madeline Carroll(you know how Hitch loved those beautiful cool blondes!), and Lucie Mannheim(as Annabela the spy).Also look for his trademark staircase scene.

Looking for Hitch: Less than 10 minutes in, you'll spy him. What a litter bug!

"The Lady Vanishes"
Of all Hitch's early British made film's(mostly made during the late 1920's and 1930's), "The Lady Vanishes" is by far the most captivating one for me.
A train trip is the setting for this mystery. A woman's traveling companion has disappeared. Where could she be? The train is only so big. She tries desperately to find her friend, but is alone in her quest. No one seems to believe that she even had a companion to start with.All seem to have their own mysterious reasons for denying her any help.
Finally one man is convinced to help, and together they try to solve this possible crime. There are lots of tense sequences to keep you in suspense, and your heart pounding. Hitch mixes up the thrills with his marvelous sense of humor and his wonderful trademark style.Wonderful performances by the likes of Dame Mae Whitty, Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave add to the enjoyment of this one.

Looking for Hitch:....You must be patient. Check Victoria Station almost at the end of the film.

"Rebecca"
What do you get when you have a great work of literature by Daphne Du Maurier, combined with the cinematic skill of Director Alfred Hitchcock,combined with the extraordinary acting talents of Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Judith Anderson? You get pure perfection on film. Movie heaven!

The story begins in the South of France where a young, introverted woman(Joan Fontaine) meets wealthy widower Maxim de Winter(Olivier) His wife,Rebecca, had recently died in a drowning accident and often he seems to be pensive and far off. They fall in love, marry, and go back to his home, an estate called Manderly. She is overwhelmed by the palacial grandeur, the huge staff of servants but mainly by the very prim but chilling head housekeeper Mrs. Danvers(Judith Andersson). The first Mrs. De Winter still seems to have a presence in the household that Mrs. Danvers keeps alive.
To say anymore will be giving away too much of this hauntingly chilling love story/mystery.

Looking for Hitch: Nice day for a stroll...check the phone booth scene towards the end.

"Spellbound"
Here's a little of this riveting story.....
The beautiful Ingrid Bergman plays the distant psychiatrist Dr. Constance Petersen. She treats a number of troubled patients at the Green Manors Mental Asylum, but her toughest case is yet to come. With Dr. Murchison(Leo G Carroll) being forced into retirement a new chief of staff will be arriving. It is the esteemed Dr Edwards(Gregory Peck)who takes over. It is not long before Edwards and Constance find themselves attracted to one another, and it is not long before Constance figures out that Edwards is not really who he says he is. He displays signs of paranoia and amnesia and it is possible that he murdered the real Dr. Edwards.They are on the run to try to solve the case but as the original theatrical poster says,"Will he Kiss me or Kill me?"

You'll be awed Hitch's definitive style of camera angles, shadow and lights, romance and a unique dream sequence designed by Salavdor Dali. Not to mention all the wonderful talent that graces this film. Bergman and Peck make screen magic together, Carroll is a legend and this film shows us why.Also starring is Rhonda Flemming,Michael Chekhov, and Wallace Ford. The music by Miklos Rozsa also adds greatly to the building tension, and romantic scenes in the story.
So don't worry about trying to over anaylze this one....As Hitch himself said "It's just a movie." But a GREAT one!

Looking for Hitch: About :40 minutes in, you may see him if you're quick!

"Notorious"
The master of suspense, Alfred Hi