Lonesome Dove

Amazon.com essential video

Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones star as Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, aging cowboys and former Texas rangers and who organize a 2,500 mile cattle drive for one last great adventure in this excellent 1989 miniseries adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel. The best friends, who steal the herd from a gang of Mexican cattle rustlers, drive their herd from Texas to Montana, battling horse thieves, angry Indian tribes, and a renegade half-breed killer named Blue Duck (Frederic Forrest) on a mission of revenge. The excellent cast also includes Robert Urich as cardsharp and former Ranger Jake Spoon, Anjelica Huston as McCrae's old flame Clara Allen, Danny Glover, Ricky Schroder, Diane Lane, Chris Cooper, D.B. Sweeney, Steve Buscemi, and even a small role for author Larry McMurtry. Australian director Simon Wincer shows a tremendous capacity for balancing sweeping drama and intimacy against the gorgeous landscape of the American Southwest, giving a grandly epic feel to the film despite its small-screen target and limited budget, and for forging memorable characters of even the smallest supporting parts. The heart of the drama belongs to McCrae and Call, memorably etched by Duvall and Jones as the last of the range romantics. In the age of revisionist Westerns, this excellent cattle-drive drama nicely maintains an old-fashioned feeling while still showing the dark side of the American West. Winner of seven Emmy Awards and responsible for two miniseries sequels (Return to Lonesome Dove and Dead Man's Walk) and a TV series. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

as good as the book.......2007-09-13

I loved the book and had to see the mini series. the mini series really nailed the whole approach of the book and Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall were perfectly cast. I could watch it over and over again.

Concerned about getting an edited version? Read here........2007-09-06

I recently bought this for my dad for his birthday. I remember watching it when I was younger and I always liked it, but the version we had was recorded from TV and was terrible quality, especially because it is now almost 20 years old. It is an excellent series, but you can decide that for yourself if you choose to buy it.

My decision to write this review is designed to help the potential buyer who doesn't want to get ripped off. I read most of the reviews before buying this product, and time and time again I came accross people who complained about purchasing an edited version with much of the content removed. Many of those reviews were old, so I didn't know if I was getting a newer version with the whole story of some other version that was edited. Hopefully this will help.

It appears that Amazon sells 2 versions of the DVD (I know nothing about the VHS versions so this review does not apply to them). The version I bought (ASIN B00005Y6YB) is listed as 360 minutes in length and is ranked in the top 500 in Amazon's top sellers. It was released by Hallmark. The DVD box lists the run time as 6 hours, which is what you would expect after removing commercials an 8 hour TV miniseries that is split into 4 parts. Amazon's price is listed as $8.49.

Another version of the series (ASIN B00003IPFK) is listed as 360 minutes as well, but is listed at about #48,000 in the top sellers and is priced at $13.75 (only available from independent vendors). Seeing how few people bought this version and how much more it costs, I would avoid it.

The version I bought is ASIN B00005Y6YB and it is complete. Perhaps the people who gave bad reviews did not receive the same version I bought. Amazon lists the same reviews for both, so it's possible that people gave poor reviews to a different version and those reviews got mixed in with the complete version's reviews. If you want to be sure you are getting the complete series without editing, I would recommend searching the ASIN so that you don't have to pick and choose between versions. Be sure you check when you get the product that you have the full 6 hour version. I hope this helps!Lonesome Dove

Wish there were more.......2007-09-06

Duvall is at his best. This is the kind of movie you can let yourself enter and be there. Wish there were more movies around like this!

Lonesome Dove.......2007-09-05

This is a great movie!!! I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good western. It is almost as good as Tombstone!

bobs review.......2007-08-28

One of the best, and most powerful movies that I have ever seen.
even though I am not necessarily a western buff

Average customer rating:

It was hilarious!!!
simply the best
You are America's Mexica
Hilarious!!!
Psst.... George? You're NOT Mexican!

George Lopez - America's Mexican
Starring: George Lopez
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000P6R6XS
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Description

Superstar comedian/actor George Lopez, one of the premier comedic talents in the entertainment industry, makes his HBO solo debut performed live in front of a packed house at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona. Lopez delivers a hilarious routine touching on his own Latino roots, immigration and naturalization, modern-day kids, old-school values, interracial relationships, the e-coli outbreak, and the future.

Customer Reviews:

It was hilarious!!!.......2007-08-28

I loved this Dvd it was funny from beginning to end!! I would recommend it to all who love a good laugh!!

simply the best.......2007-08-04

America's Mexican is simply the best performance George Lopez has had. To have an HBO special is big and only talented and funny performers like Mr. Lopez deserve to be there. I recommend this DVD to everyone, you won't be dissapointed.

You are America's Mexica.......2007-07-25

As a Mexican American myself I thought this was some of his BEST work. His views from politics (FTP) to family life had us all cracking up from the beginning. If you like his TV show you'll love this from the moment it starts until the end. Even the deleted scenes were good. LMAO

Hilarious!!!.......2007-07-18

This is his best one yet! It is not for the younger ones to watch, though any adult that knows a true Mexican family will laugh to the point of tears! Highly recommended for those not easily offended.

Psst.... George? You're NOT Mexican!.......2007-07-03

But you are a highly hillarious individual who thouroughly deserves his own sitcom and line of products. You're SO much better than Carrot-Top!

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)

Average customer rating:

Hey Abbott!
Great Movies!!!
Classic
Great classic comedy!
FUNNY MOVIES

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Mari Blanchard , Robert Paige (IV) , and Horace McMahon
Director: Charles Lamont , and Charles Barton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00023P4O2
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Description

Includes the following movies,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Mexican Hayride
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Comin' Round the Mountain
Lost in Alaska
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

Customer Reviews:

Hey Abbott!.......2007-09-02

Abbott and Costello are the best comedy duo, ever. This collection has some of their funnier movies as well as some of their "quieter" ones. Family fun for everyone. It's pure comedy and has non of that "blue" that's so popular with people today. If you want "funny", this is it! Enjoy!

Great Movies!!!.......2007-08-23

Great movies that my kids love. I had forgotten how funny Abbot & Costello are. Highly recommended.

Classic.......2007-08-11

Two DVD's, 8 films. Picture and film quality is as good as technology can make something this old. The balance between the films is uneven, but I guess every movie can't be a gem. A little pricey for what you get, actually. I remember watching these movies as a kid and being absolutely thrilled with them. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer will have you laughing in the aisles. The other movies have their moments, but don't expect more than an occasional chuckle.

Great classic comedy!.......2007-06-27

I used to watch these guys every Sunday morning when I was a kid. When I seen they finally came onto DVD and especially 8 episodes per volume, you just can't go wrong for the price. In my opinion, they were the best comedy duo there ever was. Some of their best movies exist within this volume including my favorite, Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein. I ordered via standard shipping and received them within a weeks time, packaged nicely, and in great condition. If you love classic, clean comedy, then this is for you.

FUNNY MOVIES .......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

Average customer rating:

A Representative of Foreign Film and Coming of Age of Mexican Cinema
Realistic, funny, poignant
Beyond just Erotica
Sex, death and the open road.
Sex and Death: The Road to Lost Innocence

Y Tu Mama Tambien
Starring: Ana López Mercado , Diego Luna , Gael García Bernal , Nathan Grinberg , and Verónica Langer
Director: Alfonso Cuarón , and Carlos Cuarón
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JL57
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Amazon.com

Plenty of juicy "s" words apply to And Your Mother Too: sexy, sweet, subtle, sad, surprising, superb... and did we say sexy? With enough male and female nudity to qualify as softcore porn--but deserving none of the stigma attached to that label--this vibrant coming-of-age road movie is guaranteed to jumpstart any viewer's libido. Frank treatment of its characters' burgeoning sexuality makes this unrated film a real eye-opener, but it's never prurient or juvenile. Rather, the three-way odyssey of two 17-year-old Mexican boys (Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna) and a 28-year-old Spanish beauty (Maribel Verdú) is energetic and affirmative, while acknowledging that relationships--and sexual adventures--rarely develop without a hitch or two (or three). Filmed in sequence by Alfonso Cuarón (Great Expectations), and shot with invigorating natural style, this refreshing comedy-drama employs an omniscient narrator to reflect upon precious stolen moments, weaving three lives into a memorable tapestry of fun, friendship, and fate. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormonesand a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild, cross-country road trip with seductive, 28-year-old Luisa. Both boys taste forbidden fruit as Luisa schools them in the finer points of passion, but will their mutual desire for her destroy their friendship forever?

Customer Reviews:

A Representative of Foreign Film and Coming of Age of Mexican Cinema.......2007-08-14

Y Tu Mama Tambien is a foreign film in the Spanish language that has been categorized over and over again as a "Coming of Age" film which it most certainly is. Released in 2001, directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Ana Lopez Mercado as the three main characters, Y Tu Mama Tambian is a foreign film about two boys just out of high school and good friends who plan a road trip with the unhappy wife of a cousin which turns out to be more than just sexually adventurous. Winning 33 awards at film festivals throughout the world, this film was actually nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay at the 2003 Academy Awards.

The playful sexual overtones of the movie full of new hip Spanish colloquialism is also a very serious thought provoking drama about death, corruption, friendships and is certainly representative of the "coming of age" of Mexico, Mexican Society and Mexican Cinema.

Realistic, funny, poignant.......2007-06-19

I find it odd how so many mainstream reviewers refer to this movie as a comedy about coming of age, a road movie etc etc without seeing the underlying message (common in Babel as well).

Y Tu Mama Tambien is layered in an irreverent bubble-gum euphoria with a cast that is 100% committed and convincing, giving the whole trip a tingling authenticity. Yet its underlying theme is the ephemeral nature of the drama we create in our lives, in this case over sex and relationships; the fun yet the actual shallowness of friendships; and the ultimate randomness and futility of it all. So, it is a rush of a movie.. first the surprising treatment of the frequent sex scenes that one could label soft porn yet is reluctant to do so because they are so appropriate and germaine to the story; then the hilarity of the road trip set up ahead of the disintegration of the happy trio's relationship under the pressure of sexual politics; and finally the melancholic ending which even though bleak, is not black because it is lightened by what went before.

Beyond just Erotica.......2007-06-16

I bought this DVD since I enjoy Gael Garcia Bernal's work..I think it is one of his most enjoyable films to watch. It was one of the best written films I've seen, very interesting concept and the erotica was done very tastefully and not offensive in the least. Worth purchasing so you can watch over and over for the magnificent details. Beautiful photography, will make you want to visit Mexico. The bonus commentary was one of the best on any films. Worth learning (or improving) your Spanish for.

Sex, death and the open road........2007-06-09

When I first heard about Y Tu Mama Tambien, I had it described to me as something like an "erotic road movie set in Mexico about two young guys taking a trip with an older, sexually experienced woman." Well, all that is true but that is really just scratching the surface. It's about friendship, coming to terms with who you are, the ties that bind us together, how people come and go out of our lives, class differences, what it means to be Mexican and perhaps more than anything, death. I think ultimately, that's what Y Tu Mama Tambien is ultimately about. However, it doesn't dwell on it, instead it offers death as an inevitable fact of life and in a sense celebrates it - without death, or at least the knowledge of it, we aren't truly alive.

The story is simple but excellent, I'm sure you know the gist of it so I won't get into it. What I really liked is that there is virtually no exposition in this film - characters do things for reasons that the viewer just has to go with but eventually their motivations will all begin to make sense.

All the actors are superb, particularly the three main leads Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal and Maribel Verdu. The three of them have a chemistry between them that is both natural and magnetic.

From a technical aspect, the film is superb. Cuaron is a superb director - he uses his settings perfectly and uses it as a means of transformation. The urban jungle of Mexico City makes way to civilization mixing with nature on the Mexican highway, to finally the breathtaking oceanside beauty of "Heaven's Mouth". As well, Cuaron favors long, uninterrupted takes and prefers to set his camera back and let things unfold naturally. Both of these create a unique and pleasurable viewing experience.

All in all, a superb film from a fantastic talent. Strongly recommended.

Sex and Death: The Road to Lost Innocence.......2007-06-09

The coupling of sex and death is ancient. Y Tu Mama Tambien is a modern treatment of this theme. Two seventeen year old boys go on a road trip with a twenty-eight year old woman who is beautiful and who is dying. The boys don't know about her illness, however, and see the trip as an opportunity to further their sexual experience. They act as most seventeen year old boys do. They brag about their sexual exploits and their ability to please their girlfriends. Their dying companion takes it upon herself to teach the boys what women really want. Underneath this, though, is her fascination with the boys' youth and exuberance. Their bodies are strong and responsive, if a bit jittery and hard to control. Their energy is in stark contrast to her own, which must wane as her illness grows more severe. The road trip is replete with references to death. Even as the sexual adventure progresses, the boys' relationship with each other is also explored. One is rich, the other of a lower class. The boys have devised all sorts of chivalric rules to live by, yet the rules are broken. Not only do they sleep with each other's girlfriends, they relate to each other on the basis of social status more than they are willing to admit. The movie shows this in many ways, not the least of which is the way each acts when he visits the other's bathroom. This is a coming of age film which is not corny and which doesn't hide the more black elements of growing up and losing one's innocence. Yes, there is a lot of nudity, but the nudity is not exploitive or (...). It is natural and, I would argue, necessary to the film.

Average customer rating:

South of the Border
Man On Fire
"Im a professional," thats what everyone keeps telling me,
Not great, but not bad
Top notch film starring Denzel Washington

Man on Fire
Starring: Denzel Washington , Dakota Fanning , Marc Anthony , Radha Mitchell , and Christopher Walken
Director: Tony Scott
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JN0W
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Product Description

Hard-drinking, burnt-out ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Washington) has given up on life--until his friend Rayburn (Oscar winner Christopher Walken) gets him a job as a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). Bit by bit, Creasy begins to reclaim his soul, but when Pita is kidnapped, Creasy unleashes a firestorm of apocalyptic vengeance against everyone responsible.

Amazon.com

Style trumps substance in Man on Fire, a slick, brooding reunion of Crimson Tide star Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. The ominous, crime-ridden setting is Mexico City, where a dour, alcoholic warrior with a mysterious Black Ops past (Washington) seeks redemption as the devoted bodyguard of a lovable 9-year-old girl (the precociously gifted Dakota Fanning), then responds with predictable fury when she is kidnapped. Prolific screenwriter Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, L.A. Confidential) sets a solid emotional foundation for Washington's tormented character, and Scott's stylistic excess compensates for a distended plot that's both repellently violent and viscerally absorbing. Among Scott's more distracting techniques is the use of free-roaming, comic-bookish subtitles... even when they're unnecessary! Adapted from a novel by A.J. Quinnell and previously filmed as a 1987 vehicle for Scott Glenn, Man on Fire is roughly on par with Scott's similar 1990 film Revenge, efficiently satisfying Washington's incendiary bloodlust under a heavy blanket of humid, doom-laden atmosphere. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

South of the Border.......2007-09-02

This was a totally believable movie. Denzel Washington's character delivers violence of action while drinking himself to death.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

Man On Fire.......2007-08-06

The butchered version you'll see on TV (even cable channels) leaves out information essential to the story. This is the only version to have.

"Im a professional," thats what everyone keeps telling me, .......2007-07-14

Man on Fire is one of Denzels greatest performances. He plays a character John Creasy with not much to live for until he gains a bodyguard job for a young girl who eventually is kidnapped. Once kidnapped you get to see John on a war path to take down anyone involved with the tragic event. The story is excellent and is complimented by a great cast of actors.
This definately recieves my seal of approval for a solid viewing experience.

Not great, but not bad.......2007-06-20

To my surprise, Tony Scott's remake of Man On Fire isn't the war crime I was expecting by a long shot. Horribly over-directed in places, true, but nowhere near as irritating as Domino, which is the closest ADDS filmmaking has come to projectile vomiting at the audience to date. It helps that Scott has a decent script and a good cast to keep his worst excesses in check, and it has to be said that some of the stylistic touches (such as the very active subtitling) are really pretty good. He's better at framing the surrounding scenes than some of the big moments, which are fairly tension and adrenaline-free for all their imagination, but he's prepared to get his hands far dirtier than you'd expect from a mainstream studio picture, and he even manages a couple of moments of emotional resonance as well. It's certainly much better than the dire original, which only had a good John Scott score (part of which turned up in Die Hard) going for it (aside from the film's change of location from Italy to Mexico, the song has changed from Someone to Watch Over Me - well, Ridley beat him to that one - to Linda Ronstadt's infinitely less relevant cover of Blue Bayou). Good to see Christopher Walken in a good guy role again, too.

Top notch film starring Denzel Washington.......2007-06-19

Man on Fire is one of the best crime drama films I have had the pleasure of viewing. Set in the heart of Mexico, the film tells a fantastic story that is backed up by great direction and cinematic appeal. With that said, you throw in top notch actors like Denzel Washington and Christopher Walken and it does more than make the grade.

Man on Fire centers on John Creasy, a burned out loner type whose only resolve in the present day is a bottle of liquor. Creasy meets up with an old friend (played by Walken) who turns him towards work as a bodyguard for a family's daughter in Mexico, a place where multiple ransom based kidnappings occur on a regular basis. Given his extensive background of military accomplishments which includes counter terrorism and Special Forces (to name a few) he is hired almost immediately, although he himself is reluctant about the new role.

The character development of Creasy is excellent, but I would have to attribute that as much to the screen presence of Denzel as I would anything else. Overall the direction of this movie is superb, using captions when necessary and applying some different camera uses in regards to angles and perception to allow different moods to be invoked for a specific scene. Dakota Fanning plays as the daughter that he is supposed to protect, and I feel was a good choice for the role. As the movie moves on, we learn little about Creasy's past but get to explore him tearing down some walls in the present, as both a "vigilante with a vengeance" persona as well as seeing the human compassion side of him in his adoration of the little girl he is paid to protect. The film has it all when it comes to twists and turns as well as themes of corruption, family, and revenge. As Creasy says it best in the movie; "revenge is a dish best served cold". The films emotional conclusion is still a stoic ending when you take into account all the harrowing events and actions that led up to it. I feel what makes this film so much better than many of its kind is the ability to evoke a great seriousness within the main character while putting him in a dire situation throughout much of the film.

Bonus Disc: If you were a fan of this film when it first came out then you may enjoy this particular "Collector's edition Steelbook" package, which features a bonus disk chocked with extra's including multiple trailers, behind the scenes footage and an interesting documentary that talks about the ransom based kidnappings that take place in places like Mexico on a regular basis. Also discussed somewhat is the history of this story which originally came from a novel and had an initial film made about it starring Scott Glenn several years ago.

Average customer rating:

Love George Lopez!
Hilarious Comedy!!
why you crying
hilarious
Hilarity

George Lopez - Why You Crying?
Starring: George Lopez
Director: Paul Miller
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000A0GOUU
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Description

In GEORGE LOPEZ: WHY YOU CRYING?, George will take you on a liberating, comedic journey hysterically dissecting his life growing up in a Hispanic family in Los Angeles. You will be swept along for the ride when Lopez reminisces about quirks in the Mexican culture, tackling such taboo topics as family relationships, insecurities, and unique language

Customer Reviews:

Love George Lopez!.......2007-08-24

I saw this dvd on Comedy Central one night, and I just had to get it. The jokes and stories about his family are endearing. If you like his comedy, you'll love this one.

Hilarious Comedy!!.......2007-07-23

For all of you wanting to find a genuinely funny stand up comedy, this is the one!! George Lopez is hilarious in this one!!

why you crying.......2007-07-20

Goerge is a true talent and a great comedian. His jokes hit straight to the hearts of latinos, because they're true and lived them all. It makes the jokes even more funny.

hilarious.......2007-06-08

If you love to laugh, then this is the video for you. George Lopez's facial expressions are what get me everytime. I saw this first on cable and loved it so much, I bought the video. I have watched it twice since and I still laugh like it's the first time. This video is well worth the money. George Lopez is truly a great comedian.

Hilarity.......2007-04-05

Lopez is in the zone! His adlib mid way through jokes is brillant. Observational humor is hilarious. A must have for any fan of stand-up.

Touch of Evil (Restored to Orson Welles' Vision)

Average customer rating:

stop talking mexican...
Unique as Film Noir
Touch of Evil
Orson Wells
Touch of a master.

Touch of Evil (Restored to Orson Welles' Vision)
Starring: Joe Basulto , Joseph Calleia , Ray Collins , Marlene Dietrich , and Zsa Zsa Gabor
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305999872
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com essential video

Considered by many to be the greatest B movie ever made, the original-release version of Orson Welles's film noir masterpiece Touch of Evil was, ironically, never intended as a B movie at all--it merely suffered that fate after it was taken away from writer-director Welles, then reedited and released in 1958 as the second half of a double feature. Time and critical acclaim would eventually elevate the film to classic status (and Welles's original vision was meticulously followed for the film's 1998 restoration), but for four decades this original version stood as a testament to Welles's directorial genius. From its astonishing, miraculously choreographed opening shot (lasting over three minutes) to Marlene Dietrich's classic final line of dialogue, this sordid tale of murder and police corruption is like a valentine for the cinematic medium, with Welles as its love-struck suitor. As the corpulent cop who may be involved in a border-town murder, Welles faces opposition from a narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) whose wife (Janet Leigh) is abducted and held as the pawn in a struggle between Heston's quest for truth and Welles's control of carefully hidden secrets. The twisting plot is wildly entertaining (even though it's harder to follow in this original version), but even greater pleasure is found in the pulpy dialogue and the sheer exuberance of the dazzling directorial style. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

stop talking mexican..........2007-08-11

"It is not supposed to be easy. Only in a police state being a policeman is easy". If there ever was a story about crime and corruption, this one takes the cake. A very unique & avant-garde film with surreal characters in a super-real world. Outrageous Akim Tamiroff as 'Uncle Joe' at his best and unforgettable.

Unique as Film Noir.......2007-08-09

Orson Welles, as Hank Quinlin, offers his own view of film noir. Of course, at the beginning of the film, it states that those editing it wished to stay as close to what Orson intended, in it's making. TO me, Orson takes a page from righ out of his character, Will Varner, in The Long Hot Summer. His acting skill as a crude, clever, bawdy, worn out Detective, who wants to run all of those in whom he runs into, in his course of administrative sleuthing is unmatched. To me this is the style character Orson was made for. And I must say that the film had a good cast - with other leading stars of the day - like Charleton Heston and Janet Leigh. Charleton Heston's Character running into Orson's - as Ole Hank, reminds me of what Forest Gump said in getting a box of chocolates, "you never know what you're going to get." I highly recommend this film, but I must admit I am a great fan of Orson Welles, and anything he acts in. Great stuff!

Touch of Evil.......2007-06-27

The director's original version is restored for this DVD, to powerful effect. Welles creates a desolate night-time world in the dirty town of Los Robles, a forgotten speck on the map where everyone seems to carry a nasty secret. Lurid, almost surreal atmosphere is complemented by uniformly first-rate performances, with Heston and Leigh never better, Welles himself a bloated symbol of moral decay, and Akim Tamiroff memorably slimy as a local crime boss. Don't miss Marlene Dietrich playing a gypsy- as you might guess, she gets the final word. A cult movie with a capital "C".

Orson Wells.......2007-03-19

well worth seeing. A Wells classic, that just has not aged

Touch of a master........2007-02-28

Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

The American Experience documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane concludes with the observation that after the scandal that erupted over Kane, Orson Welles "never worked on another major Hollywood production." Which is pretty amazing, when you consider how many of Welles' post-Kane movies are acknowledged as classics nowadays. After Kane, Welles plunged himself deep into the world of noir (one wonders what Jung would have to say about that) and continued cranking out fantastic movies. Seventeen years later, Welles made his second-best movie-- Touch of Evil, the very epitome of the things that make noir great.

Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) is a Mexican (yeah, yeah, but suspend your disbelief) narcotics officer who's just gotten married to Susan (Janet Leigh), a Philadelphia socialite. On the eve of their honeymoon, someone plants a bomb in the car of a rich American on the Mexican side of the border, and the bomb explodes on the American side. This brings Vargas into contact with Hank Quinlan (Welles), a corrupt, racist American detective who tries to railroad Manelo Sanchez (Victor Millan, last seen in Scarface), the victim's daughter's boyfriend, by planting evidence at the crime scene. Vargas, meanwhile, is also being pursued by Joe Grandi (Justine's Akim Tamiroff), a crime boss whose brother Vargas arrested. All the threads eventually come together in the most entertaining of ways; the movie's climactic scene has been copied (and parodied) so many times that by now it's a cliché. But remember that it wasn't in 1958; this is as good as it gets.

Orson Welles' directorial prowess was as legendary as his excesses. Rent a Welles movie at random, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good time. Some of his movies, though, deliver more universally than others; Citizen Kane seems to be the favorite of most folks. Mine has always been The Stranger. But Touch of Evil stands with both. This is great stuff, an absolute must for film fans. **** ½

Average customer rating:

hard to follow.
Traffic
Three separate stories...one seamless screenplay: TRAFFIC
Remarkable
At times gripping, at times kind of slow

Traffic
Starring: Benicio Del Toro , Jacob Vargas , Andrew Chavez , Michael Saucedo , and Tomas Milian
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B000067IZ3
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Amazon.com essential video

Featuring a huge cast of characters, the ambitious and breathtaking Traffic is a tapestry of three separate stories woven together by a common theme: the war on drugs. In Ohio, there's the newly appointed government drug czar (Michael Douglas) who realizes after he's accepted the job that he may have gotten into a no-win situation. Not only that, his teenage daughter (Erika Christensen) is herself quietly developing a nasty addiction problem. In San Diego, a drug kingpin (Steven Bauer) is arrested on information provided by an informant (Miguel Ferrer) who was nabbed by two undercover detectives (Don Cheadle and Luis Guzmán). The kingpin's wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), heretofore ignorant of where her husband's wealth comes from, gets a crash course in the drug business and its nasty side effects. And south of the border, a Mexican cop (Benicio Del Toro) finds himself caught between both his home country and the U.S., as corrupt government officials duke it out with the drug cartel for control of trafficking various drugs back and forth across the border.

Bold in scope, Traffic showcases Steven Soderbergh at the top of his game, directing a peerless ensemble cast in a gritty, multifaceted tale that will captivate you from beginning to end. Utilizing the no-frills techniques of the Dogme 95 school, Soderbergh enhances his hand-held filming with imaginative editing and film-stock manipulation that eerily captures the atmosphere of each location: a washed-out, grainy Mexico; a blue and chilly Ohio; and a sleek, sun-dappled San Diego. But Traffic is more than a film-school exercise. Soderbergh and screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (adapting the British TV miniseries Traffik to the U.S.) seamlessly weave the threads of each separate plotline into one solid tale, with the actions of one plot having quiet repercussions on the other two. And if you needed more proof that Soderbergh takes unparalleled care with his actors, practically all the members of this cast turn in their best work ever, the standout being an Oscar-worthy Del Toro as the conflicted moral conscience of the film. While no story is fully resolved in the film, you'll be haunted by these characters days after you've seen the film. By far one of the best movies of 2000. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

hard to follow........2007-08-28

I am not going to take the time to tell you what this was about. Basically because I have no clue myself. This movie was so freaking hard to follow. It was SO long. I guess I understand. The guy finally realized his family was more important than his job and drugs can have an effect on even the most unsuspecting families and pepole. But holy man make it like and hour and a half amd save me the time. Perhaps if I watch this again it will make more sense to me. I love movies I have 304. Even though half of them are still sealed up I watch alot of them. So don't think I am some 22 year old who is just a moron. This was a good movie I think. They just made it hard to follow. Going from one story to another. Over and over. Give it a try I guess.

Traffic .......2007-07-26

This story is very interesting and takes a look at the drug trade, and the drugs effect on people in all walks of life. It starts out with grainy, yellowish haze to help enhance a scene in the Mexico desert. Michael Douglas plays Bob Wakefield, a political figure whose position is led to stressful circumstances when his own daughter falls to deep in the very substances he is supposed to be fighting on a National level. Outstanding cast also includes Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta Jones and Don Cheadle. This is one of those stories that could be considered art on the big screen when it comes to telling an interesting drama that touches on a major issue within our world.

Three separate stories...one seamless screenplay: TRAFFIC.......2007-07-14

TRAFFIC is the film for lovers of the seamless screenplay brought to the screen with thought, care and professionalism of direction and acting.Three stories all separate and disconnected, but all beautifully bound together in the drug trafficking war.You will not know from one minute to the next where
this is going to wind up.Highly recommended.

CRASH is an excellent companion film as well as THE FRENCH CONNECTION.

Remarkable.......2007-05-23

Thought provoking, suspenseful, illuminating and candid. Actors love working for Steven Soderbergh and it shows. Each role was well developed and fully realized on screen. This movie is powerful!

At times gripping, at times kind of slow.......2007-02-19

I still don't understand the love for Crash, the recent film centering on the racism issue. It seemed like a film that had a couple good ideas but they were featured in a bad movie which makes its win for Best Picture all the more confusing. That film for some reason reminded me of Traffic which centers on another important issue; this one being about the drug war and its effects on addicts and non-addicts. While you can obviously tell Traffic is an important film and it is indeed a good one, it's also slightly marred by erratic pacing and a bit of uninteresting characters.

The film, unlike let's say, Magnolia or Short Cuts, is 3 separate storylines with one thing in common: the drug trade. In one story set in Ohio, Robert Wakefield is the newly-appointed "drug czar" crusading against decreasing the amount of drugs in the country. However, he has a daughter that's quickly starting to get addicted. In San Diego, Helena sees her husband arrested while she's unaware he's a key player in the drug trade with another captured by DEA agents who is going to testify. And finally in Mexico, a highway patrol cop gets involved in the corruption between drug cartels and the want for control of the drugs going in and out of Mexico and the US.

To help the audience differentiate the different places, a color code has been given to each segment. The Wakefield story looks so unbelievably blue that you wouldn't be surprised if character blood looked blue too. San Diego looks more traditional but a bit overexposed making it more brighter while Mexico looks like an indie movie with a very gritty and raw feel and a jittery looking camera. It helps keep track of where you are but like I said, you've never seen skin tones look so blue before; they really overdid it in some cases.

The best storyline is most likely Mexico since it's anchored by Benicio Del Toro who certainly deserved his Oscar. It's also got a more interesting story and a better look to it despite its intentional amateurishness. The one that isn't that great is probably the Wakefield story since it never gripped me all that much. San Diego was alright but nothing to special. Ultimately the problem with the film was that the film just felt slow. Ever watch one of those movies where it feels like you've been watching for longer than the movie is? Not to mention that sometimes one storyline is starting to get interesting then whoosh! off to somewhere else. A similar problem plagued Babel since the Chieko story was ultimately more emotional and gripping than the others. Some will probably disagree and say all stories in Traffic were good but I always groaned slightly when we moved away from Mexico.

It's certainly an ambitious film so not going to argue there and it's a great film at times but I wouldn't say it was my favorite film of 2000.

Duck, You Sucker (aka A Fistful of Dynamite) (2-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Where was this?
Torture of Dr. Villega
"You can't leave now, you're a great, grand, glorious hero of the revolution..."
My utopia for a dream... the American dream, please
"Once Upon a Time...the Revolution

Duck, You Sucker (aka A Fistful of Dynamite) (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: James Coburn , Rod Steiger , Maria Monti , Rik Battaglia , and Franco Graziosi
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OPOANO
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

A different sort of Sergio Leone Western, this one takes place during the Mexican Revolution, with more politics than usual. But there's still plenty of action, with Rod Steiger as a cigar-chomping peasant who robs banks to liberate political prisoners, and James Coburn as an Irish terrorist trying to flee from his bitter past. They team up to thwart a sadistic officer and help the cause; redemption for the more subdued Coburn provides added depth. This contains the longer uncut version (released in Italy) known as Duck, You Sucker, featuring more flashbacks, more politics, and a more unsavory Steiger. But it's terrific fun, with Ennio Morricone's moody score and Coburn's most underrated performance. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Where was this?.......2007-07-28

Wow, this was a great western by one of the great western directors that was unvailable for years. How wonderful that MGM finally released it with its original title. Coburn and Steiger are at the top of their games and the story is both thrilling and meaningful. A great film.

Torture of Dr. Villega.......2007-07-24

Does this version of the movie include the shadowed torture of Dr. Villega?? I own the region 2 (UK)version because I was unwilling to wait for the American release and its missing on that copy. if it is included this would be a great find. To the person that answers this question, THANK YOU!!

"You can't leave now, you're a great, grand, glorious hero of the revolution...".......2007-07-14

"Duck, You Sucker" (also known as "A Fistful of Dynamite") is one of those films you need to watch a couple of times before you can fully appreciate it. It's another Western epic from Sergio Leone, yet it is extremely different from his famous "Man with No Name" trilogy. Filled with more deep personal conflicts, transformations and revelations, this makes for one entertaining film.

Juan is a despicable thief and sometimes murderer who's not afraid to get his hands a little dirty if it means getting goods and money for he and his family. John is an Irish Revolutionary who has expertise in blowing just about anything up to smithereens. When Juan sees the man in action, he gets the idea that John could help him empty out the bank of his dreams. With Juan's trigger finger and John's dynamite tossing, how could it go wrong? The only thing is Juan ends up getting himself involved in an unexpected revolution that he never wanted to be a part of, and for better or worse the two end up forming a very odd bond and team.

I wouldn't call this my favorite Leone film, but it is one I find myself watching again and again. There's just something very appealing about it, and that's no easy feat when you really set out to have your main guy, Rod Steiger who plays "Juan," to be as despicable and vile as they come. Within the first 10 minutes or so, we see him kill somebody, rob a group of snobs and even rape a woman snob (though the rape isn't violent and is relatively short, it still is rape). I really thought there was no way in hell I would be able to sympathize for a character like that, but I knew there was the great James Coburn who could make the movie work for me. Surprise, Leone really does actually get you to care about Juan as you see him grow and mature through this little quest (he's still very flawed and shallow at times, but the growth and transformation is undeniable). And Colburn, who plays "John," is also not without his many flaws, as he's a tortured soul who can't seem to let go of the past. The two men are absolutely fantastic in their roles.

This new 2-Disc edition of "Duck, You Sucker" includes the complete 157 minute version that wasn't shown in the U.S., which includes a lot of extended scenes and flashbacks (most noticeably the three minute flashback at the end that was usually trimmed down to keep the flow and avoid confusion). The movie looks and sounds great, and if you're afraid the 5.1 surround will ruin the authenticity or credibility of the film, you can always watch it in mono. There are some nice featurettes and a commentary from a film historian, Sir Christopher Frayling.

"Duck, You Sucker" has a great balance of action, comedy, drama and even heart at times. Again, I don't know if I would call this his best film, but it is definitely one of Sergio Leone's more entertaining films. I'd say put this on your list at some point, especially if you're a huge film buff, as it is a very different movie experience. So sit down, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show, but beware if at some point in your living room you hear a fuse and some stranger in the distance yelling, "Duck, you sucker!" -Michael Crane

My utopia for a dream... the American dream, please.......2007-07-13

3 1/2 stars

Way too long and unnecessarily slow (even for Leone's standards). A cartoonish overlook at the Mexican Revolution. The characters are exaggerated to fit into the stereotypes of a loathable capitalist troupe (the American empresario, the rich and sexually repressed woman, the gluttonous priest, the mercenarious soldiers...) presented against the revolutionaries (the sly and higly read leader, the specialist -James Coburn, the dynamiter-, and the mass of poor). Rod Steiger, who plays the main role, is the individualistic outsider, however, he ends up getting involved in the revolution unwillingly. What he cares for is himself and his family. He is not such a sucker as to fight for the intellectuals who promise that changes are about to happen and end up taking the place of the former oligarchy; while those who really fight -the poor- will end up probably dead. So there is a lesson here. It's more a political coming of age story.

There's not much talking but a few lines do stand out: "I've only judged once in my life and I will never do it again." Says Coburn, meaning when in the past, when he was fighting for the Irish revolution he had to "follow the rules of engagement", let's put it this way (not to give out too much of the story); or "if I have to choose between the chicken-thieves and the uniform killers I'd rather choose the uniform killers",
Coburn's words after realizing how much hypocrisy was on the side of the revolutionaries but choosing not be a free-thinking individualist like Steiger is. The 2 men become great pals and the movie rests most of its interest on that friendship, specially since they represent psychologies so much apart (in the beginning).

So even though politics seems to be the issue targeted here, it's only the background for the real story: human life, friendship, family, love. The utopian ideals are dead by the end of the film, and one friend finds himself holding the other -who is about to die- while saying to him: "Remember (what we said) about America..." What started as a utopia, ended as a dream: the American Dream (which is more than many people can afford).

"Once Upon a Time...the Revolution.......2007-07-07

Great Leone flick, with all of the trademarks you'd come to expect from the man who reinvented the western as we know it. Wide angles, close-ups, and James Coburn and Rod Stieger in award worthy roles make this an underrated gem from one of the great directors of all time.

Average customer rating:

good movie
It doesn't get any more gratuitous than this...
AMAZING
Top Of Their Game
Johnnie Depp is the Man!!!

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Starring: Pedro Armendáriz Jr. , José Luis Avendaño , Antonio Banderas , Rubén Blades , and Miguel Couturier
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000WN140
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Amazon.com

Guns, guns, guns! And a few explosions as bodies fly through the air and crash into tables and fruit stands. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, like all Robert Rodriguez movies, is all about the kinetic kick of high-velocity action. Johnny Depp, blase and whimsical, plays a CIA agent who's drawn guitar-playing gun-slinger Antonio Banderas (long black hair flopping over his face like the ears of a Labrador puppy) into a ridiculously convoluted plot to overthrow the Mexican government. Along for the ride are a craggy-faced rogue's gallery including Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo, Ruben Blades, and (to balance things out) the smooth, tantalizing complexions of Eva Mendes and Salma Hayek. For sheer trashy fun, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a step down from its predecessor, Desperado--but Desperado set the bar pretty high. For coherent storytelling, look elsewhere, but for action razzle-dazzle, this is your movie. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Robert Rodriguez returns with the mythic guitar-singing hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), in the third installment of the El Mariachi/Desperado trilogy. The saga continues as El Mariachi makes his way across a rugged landscape on the trail of Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), a kingpin who is planning a coup against the president of Mexico. Enlisted by Sands (Johnny Depp), a corrupt CIA agent, El Mariachi demands retribution, and the adventure begins. The character, made famous by Banderas, remains a slinger of guitars and guns, a tragic and bloodied hero, but a survivor forever.

Customer Reviews:

good movie.......2007-05-07

I really enjoyed this movie on Dvd. Now I have to for psp for travel.

It doesn't get any more gratuitous than this..........2007-01-03

If gratuitous violence and gore are in your tastes, you will like this one. Johnny Depp's talent as an actor is obvious but that alone cannot carry this one above the blood-spatter and dismemberment. There are some that like such movies, more power to them. If you are on a low-gore diet, you will want to avoid this one.

AMAZING.......2006-11-03

I absolutely loved this movie. Johnny Depp is such a diverse actor and I love seeing him work.

Top Of Their Game.......2006-10-10

Sure this movie is silly. It's over the top and at times confusing. It's highly unrealistic and savagely brutal. It's also my favorite movie ever. The energy, the colors, the characters, the pe