A Room with a View (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

The prestigious filmmaking trio of producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala had made other critically acclaimed films before A Room with a View was released in 1985, but it was this popular film that made them art-house superstars. Splendidly adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster, it's a comedy of the heart, a passionate romance and a study of repression within the British class system of manners and mores. It's that system of rigid behavior that prevents young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) from accepting the loving advances of a free-spirited suitor (Julian Sands), who fears that she will follow through with her engagement to a priggish intellectual (Daniel Day-Lewis) whose capacity for passion is virtually nonexistent. During and after a trip to Italy with her protective companion (Maggie Smith), Lucy gradually gets in touch with her true emotions. The fun of watching A Room with a View comes from seeing how Lucy's thoughts and feelings finally arrive at the same romantic conclusion. Through an abundance of humor both subtle and overt, this crowd-pleasing "art movie" rose to an unexpected level of popular appeal. The Merchant-Ivory team received eight Academy Award nominations for their efforts, and won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, and Costume Design. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nominated for eight Oscars in 1986, including Best Picture, and winner of three (Costumes, Art Direction and Adapted Screenplay), A Room with a View is the film that defined Merchant-Ivory as the masters of the romantic period piece. A brilliant adaptation of E.M. Forster?s novel, A Room with a View tells the story of the coming of age of Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham-Carter). Longing to burst free from the repression of British upper class manners and mores, she must wrestle with her inner romantic longings to choose between the passionate George (Julian Sands) and the priggish but socially suitable Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis). Boasting a brilliant supporting cast, A Room with a View is one of the most romantic of romantic comedies ever filmed.

Customer Reviews:

I wanted to like it.........2007-09-04

I really did. I bought it with high hopes of liking it, yet i did not. I kept looking at the clock on my dvd wanting it to end. It started very slow for me and did not pick up at all. And i love period piece movies and have seen alot. This one did not do anything for me, except bore me.

Phenominal movie.......2007-08-03

I originally watched this movie around 10 years ago and it is one of my all time favorites. The actors do an incredible job of pulling you into the story and feeling the emotions their characters are experiencing. I recently read the book and decided that I must own the movie, and it was as good as I remembered! The movie is as good as the book- if not better!!!

A Room With a View.......2007-07-06

One of the finest examples of the longstanding Merchant/Ivory alliance, "Room With a View" is a superbly executed romance set in 1907 and adapted from the book by E.M. Forster. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, the film boasts dazzling sets and costumes, along with note-perfect early turns by Merchant-Ivory regular Carter and an uncharacteristically priggish Daniel Day-Lewis. Don't miss this smart and sumptuous cinematic treat.

Passion, uncorseted , in this E. M. Forster story.......2007-07-06

Take two stuffy,repressed English ladies, pour them into gorgeous Florence of the late 1800's, throw in a few fiery encounters with the native Italians (amorous and/or violent), and watch for the ensuing combustion. Helena Bonham Carter loosens her hair and her heartstrings. Maggie Smith, my favorite character who is the chaperone, also learns a thing or two. The real stars arcing over this production, however, are "bella" Florence itself and the singing of Kiri Te Kanawe in the background, as she delivers her thrilling aria, "O Mio Babbino Caro."

One of My Favorites.......2007-06-06

Now I'm a girl that loves a period piece movie but this is one of my all time favorites. All the roles are great campy caricatures (my favorite is the pompous Cecil), beautiful Florence is the setting and it has humor, romance and adventure.

Average customer rating:

High Spirits is a great comedy
DVD arrived just as I expected
Awesome movie, the dvd was perfect
Blew me away
Amazon +

High Spirits
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Donal McCann , Mary Coughlan , Liz Smith , and Tom Hickey
Director: Neil Jordan
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000063JDK
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Amazon.com

Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia, My Favorite Year) gives an exuberant performance in High Spirits. Peter Plunkett (O'Toole) hopes to save his mortgaged castle by turning it into a tourist attraction--the most haunted castle in Ireland. When American tourists arrive--among them Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and Sharon (Beverly D'Angelo), a couple whose marriage is rapidly disintegrating--Plunkett's tomfoolery arouses the real ghosts, who decide to give these interlopers everything they're asking for. But when Jack accidentally helps a beautiful ghost named Mary (Daryl Hannah), she decides he's the man to help her break the curse she's been suffering for 200 years. High Spirits is an odd foray into comedy by director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire). The special effects are clumsy, but the strong supporting cast includes Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher, and Liam Neeson as Mary's murderous 200-year-old husband. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Daryl Hannah, Peter O'Toole and Steve Guttenberg star in this gleefully ghoulish comedy sparkling with romance and rollicking with supernatural special effects. Written and directed by Neil Jordan (Interview With the Vampire) and co-starring Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher and Liam Neeson, High Spirits is the most fun you'll have in this world or the next!Impoverished Peter Plunkett (O'Toole) hatches the perfect plan to save his debt-ridden Irish castle: lure American tourists by advertising the place as haunted. But when Peter and his staff don sheets and chains to go a-haunting, they scare up more than paying guests'they arouse the real ghosts of Castle Plunkett! And when American tourist Jack (Guttenberg) spies a gorgeous ghost named Mary (Hannah), it's love at first sighting. Now all Jack has to worry about is Mary's murderous spook of a husband and their 200-year age difference!

Customer Reviews:

High Spirits is a great comedy.......2007-05-10

This is a great movie. Peter O'Toole is very funny and I enjoyed seeing a young Lian Neeson. The DVD arrived in great shape. I would recomend this movie to anyone who likes comedies and is interested in ghosts and the possibilities of life after death.

DVD arrived just as I expected.......2007-03-28

Hi
I want to thank the sender of this dvd. It is exactly what they had described and well worth the extra effort to track down this dvd. I am in the process of collecting older out of circuit movies. Thank you Amazon for helping me with this project, this hasn't been the first time that I have been able to locate valuable material from your website.

Awesome movie, the dvd was perfect.......2007-03-28

This dvd came in the mail way before it was scheduled to arrive and the movie was in great condition. I have watched it dozens of times and I still can't get enough of it. I would suggest that if you were to buy a movie I would definently buy it from this company they know what they are doing. Great job guys!!!

Blew me away.......2007-01-29

Hilarious, Ghosts & con-artists with a few budding romances. Love the movie.

Amazon +.......2007-01-19

High Spirits is just one of many items i've received from Amazon & i've been pleased with it all, from the quality of the item to the quality of the service. Thank you for making buying over the internet a pleasant experience.

Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who

Average customer rating:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS
Dr. Seuss's Original...
Still the Best!
Great flick

Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who
Starring: June Foray , Boris Karloff , and Thurl Ravenscroft
Director: Ben Washam
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Holidays | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00004VVP9
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Product Description

With the talents of Chuck Jones, Boris Karloff, and Dr. Seuss combined, there was almost no way this could be anything but an instant classic. Watched regularly every holiday season and beloved by children and cynical adults alike, this animated gem is ju

Amazon.com essential video

This all-time classic now has Horton Hears a Who! on the same video for a great double bill.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
To heck with the kids--this is one of the best holiday presents you can give yourself. Adapted from the children's book by Dr. Seuss, this charming story is one to watch every holiday season. It is just edgy enough to help you forget the more cloying aspects of Christmas, yet it is also sweet enough to remind you of the reason for all that holiday cheer. Animation genius Chuck Jones directed this 1966 television production featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as the mean greenie. Bitter and selfish, the Grinch decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, the sweet little folk who live at the bottom of his mountain home. When little Cindy Loo Who returns his hateful act with kindness, she melts the old miser's heart. There are many reasons to watch this: inventive wordplay, Karloff's impressive narration, and a very memorable soundtrack. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Horton Hears a Who!
Chuck Jones was chief animator on this lively adaptation of the famous book by Dr. Seuss. The story of a friendly elephant named Horton who discovers--deep inside a daisy--a tiny city called Whoville with tiny, intelligent residents--this film (fleshed out a bit from the source) is strong on character and has striking, appealing visuals. The little folks of Whoville, with their natural air of aristocracy, are a kick, and when they come to see Horton as a hero for his democratic view of all life big and small, the effect is quite touching. This should be a real treat for kids already familiar with the book, and just might inspire those who haven't read it to pick it up. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.......2007-05-13

Love it! Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss and the Who's in Whoville. Great family movie with no advertisements. A must have for any home with or without kids. I have watched it by myself on occasion. I am a BIG Dr. Seuss fan. Check out the great selection of Dr. Seuss books on Amazon our family owns many titles. They great for reading to k-6th graders at school or home.

HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS.......2007-05-06

Wow! I just watched this newest edition of the Grinch, and what a difference! The COLORS are FABULOUS! He never looked better! The remastering is, well, masterful; and I never saw this wonderful Christmas feature so beautifully represented.
All the hundreds of times I watched this before have been in B&W by comparison!
"You're a Mean One-Mr Grinch! You have Termites in your Soul!"
Sung by the inimitable Thurl Ravenscroft (what a great name!) who also voiced one of the Ghosts on the Haunted Mansion ride, ( a Singing Bust in the Graveyard) lends a thrilling richness to the feature, as great as the voice of Boris Karloff as the Grinch himself.
An extra feature on this disc is the Making of...including interviews with Mrs Theodore Geisel, AKA Mrs Seuss, and Chuck Jones, who worked closely with his old friend Dr Seuss, at first reluctant to animate his story, but who thawed after seeing the drawings and hearing the great songs, esp the one on Christmas Morning.
Horton hears a Who is included, and this is just wonderful...so sweet.
One day Dr Seuss was sitting at his desk littered with sketches when a breeze wafted in and blew a drawing of an elephant onto a drawing of a tree, which set Seuss to thinking: "What is that elephant doing up in that tree?" which led to Horton Hatches the Egg.
Seuss's wonderful surrealist POV is the child's version of Dali, and another favorite Seuss work of mine is the sets he created for "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr T."
This set also includes Phil Hartman's Grinch special and pencil tests.
But the real star here is the incredible colors and how magnificent the Grinch looks in his splendid coat of bright Green. You've never seen this great feature so beautifully done until you get this version! The packaging is wonderful with sparkles all over the jacket.

Dr. Seuss's Original..........2007-04-22

The 1966 cartoon version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" has rightly become a Christmas season classic. Its simple but evocative storyline is brought to life by the pairing of animator Chuck Jones with original artist Theodor Geisel. Boris Karloff's absolutely superb narration is the thing of genius that makes the whole movie work.

The story is familar to anyone who has been young in the last forty years: The Grinch, a Christmas-hater, lives near Whoville, populated by Whos, a cheery bunch who celebrate Christmas with abandon. The Grinch has the stoke of awful inspiration one Christams Eve to sneak into Whoville and steal all the holiday paraphanalia, and stop Christmas from coming. Disguised as Santa Claus, the Grinch makes away with all the presents, decorations, and food, only to discover that he has missed the point about Christmas altogether. His moment of relevation may be the highlight of the whole movie.

This movie is highly recommended as a Christmas Classic suitable for all ages.

Still the Best!.......2007-04-17

As a child of 4 or 5 years old, watching this, I have to say that Boris Karloff's rendering of the Grinch gave me literal nightmares. But then I always loved a movie that could enter my slumber, so even the nightmares of my childhood were a welcome adrenaline rush.

I realize this is a movie you're probably only supposed to watch at Christmas time, but honestly I can watch it in the middle of July and enjoy it just as much as if I I were watching it on Christmas Morning!

When I was a kid, it was about the lesson learned by the Grinch. He learned to let people in, to love and to be loved. He learned the true meaning of being a cheerful giver.

As a grown-up, it's about being able to harken back to a simpler time. About re-living those moments I so enjoyed in my youth. The Grinch is more than a holiday classic. It's a journey into one of the most enjoyable aspects of a person's past.

It's beautifully drawn... as I already said, the voices are positively mesmerizing. The message/moral/theme is very positive and clear. Tell me what's NOT to like about this movie?

Great flick.......2007-03-17

My 4 year old son loves the Grinch. We bought this because the tape was worn out. It is nice and clear and is the original we all remember. And even though we didnt think we were getting "Horton Hears a Who" it was included on the disc.

Spirit of the Beehive - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

be persistent
The Spirit of the Beehive
a pleasant surprise
Otherwordly, beatiful cinema
Haunting & Unique

Spirit of the Beehive - Criterion Collection
Starring: Fernando Fernán Gómez , Teresa Gimpera , Ana Torrent , Isabel Tellería , and Ketty de la Cámara
Director: Víctor Erice
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000G8NXZU
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Amazon.com

Victor Erice's hauntingly beautiful The Spirit of the Beehive features one of the most unforgettable child performances in the history of cinema. Hailed as the greatest Spanish film of the 1970s, Erice's visually elegant "poem of awakening" takes place in a small Castilian village in the early 1940s, as echoes of the Spanish Civil Wart can still be heard throughout the countryside. It is here, in this richly rural atmosphere, that six-year-old Ana (played by six-year-old Ana Torrent) is introduced to alternate world of myth and imagination when she attends a town-hall showing of James Whale's Frankenstein, an experience that forever alters young Ana's perception of the world around her... and her ability to mold reality to her own imaginative purposes. Is she using her imagination to escape what is essentially a bleak reality, or is she protecting herself with an inner world of innocence, to counter the darker worldview of her slightly older sister Isabel? While her emotionally distant parents go about their mundane daily affairs, Ana's world becomes the film's mesmerizing focus, and The Spirit of the Beehive unfolds as an enigmatic yet totally captivating study of childhood unfettered by the strictures of reason. In Erice's capable hands, young Ana Torrent really isn't performing at all; her presence on screen is so natural, and so deeply expressive, that you almost feel as if she's living in the story being told--a story that retains its mystery and beauty in equal measure, full of visual symbolism and metaphor (including the title, which yields multiple meanings), yet never self-consciously "arty" or artificial. Simply put, this is one of the timeless masterpieces of cinema, produced at a time when Franco's repressive dictatorship was finally giving way to greater freedoms of expression. No survey of international cinema is complete without at least one viewing of this uniquely moving film. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
Disc 1 presents a new, restored high-definition digital transfer of The Spirit of the Beehive, with a new and improved English subtitle translation. The supplements on Disc 2 are thoroughly fascinating, beginning with "The Footprints of a Spirit," a very well-made documentary about the making of the film, combining present-day (2006) visits to the film's original locations along with interviews with director Victor Erice, producer Elías Querejeta, coscreenwriter Ángel Fernández Santos, and actress Ana Torrent (now a beautiful 40-year-old veteran of many Spanish films). "Victor Erice in Madrid" is an extensive and thought-provoking interview, conducted by Japanese filmmaker Hideyuki Miyaoka, in which Erice discusses his films, and specifically The Spirit of the Beehive, including his observation that the film's shot of young Ana Torrent watching Frankenstein for the first time (a real-life reaction filmed with documentary realism) represents "the most important moment I have ever captured on film." Two other 2006 interviews round out the supplements: One with the great Spanish actor Fernando Fernán Gómez (who describes how he "couldn't understand a word" of the Beehive screenplay, but played the role of Ana's father because he needed the work), and another with scholar Linda C. Ehrlich, who astutely discusses the film's visual qualities (including its warm color palette and the influence of Vermeer's paintings on Erice's sunlit interiors), the significance of Frankenstein to the story, and the qualities that made The Spirit of the Beehive both timely (in terms of its sociopolitical context) and timeless. The accompanying booklet contains an informative essay on the lasting influence of Erice's film, including the startling revelation that Erice (as of 2006) had directed only two more feature-length films (El Sur and the documentary Dream of Light) since The Spirit of the Beehive was released in 1973. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The Criterion Collection is proud to present Víctor Erice's spellbinding The Spirit of the Beehive, widely regarded as the greatest Spanish film of the 1970s. In a small Castilian village in 1940, directly following the country's devastating civil war, six-year-old Ana attends a traveling movie show of Frankenstein and becomes haunted by her memory of it. Produced as Franco's long regime was nearing its end, The Spirit of the Beehive is both a bewitching portrait of a child's inner life and an elusive, cloaked meditation of a nation trapped under tyranny—from one of cinema's most mysterious auteurs.

Customer Reviews:

be persistent .......2007-09-09

Many first time viewers of The Spirit of the Beehive will watch it and go "huh?" As a result, they may decide that art film (or international film) is beyond them OR that it is a bad film. Neither is true if some basic preparations are made. Not everyone comes ready made to understand a great work of art -- nor should we feel guilty because we aren't. Some simple backgrounding can make all the difference.

Several specific simple preparations can help. (1)Read up a little on the Spanish Civil War. This can help set the time and place of the film. Even a skimming of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls could help adjust one's mind. (2) Watch Whale's film "Frankenstein." This can set a psychological context. Ana, as a little girl, is growing into an awareness of her Self and her world -- so too is Frankenstein's monster. It also helps set a literal context -- how else can one understand the relationship between the monster and Ana in Beehive if one doesn't understand the incident in "Frankenstein" between the monster and the little girl he accidentally kills. (3) Re-read a traditional fairy tale or two (not Disney, try Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm). This will help establish the "once upon a time-ish" way of thinking of Beehive. Remember how often the children in fairy tales are abandoned -- one or both of their parents are dead, the remaining parent is often separated from their own children either because s/he is preoccupied with putting food on the table or is lost in memories of the past. Think too of the relationship between siblings in fairy tales -- while the older sister in Beehive is not quite the ugly stepsister of narrative fame, she is not above the (fairly normal) petty torture of her little sister. (4) Look at a few of Vermeer's paintings and read a bit about his use of light. This can help one "get" the visual aesthetic that Beehive captures. (5) Read a few reviews. Don't assume they are right (or wrong) -- read them to get a sense of what to look for in the film and what others have appreciated (or not) about Beehive.

Finally, there is one other very important strategy to appreciate Beehive -- watch it more than once. Even a popcorn flick takes more than one viewing to catch the subtle details. So why feel we must "get" a more demanding film in one sitting. Watch it the first time for a general sense of what is going on (or, in the case of Beehive, a general sense of bafflement). Try to figure out who is who (printing out a cast list from IMDB helps!) Then watch it again. The storyline starts to make more sense and the dreaminess seems to have more purpose. Like the honey hidden away in the comb of a real beehive, the sweetness of the film emerges and one realizes that this poetic journey into awareness really does offer us something for understanding ourselves and our world more fully. What more could one want?

The Spirit of the Beehive.......2007-07-06

Long considered a masterpiece of world cinema, this hauntingly gorgeous film by Victor Erice does not immediately yield all its secrets--it simply asks us to surrender ourselves to young Ana's fertile imagination. Her family, for instance, is slightly enigmatic and off-kilter: While her father (Gomez) broods in his study and obsesses over a backyard beehive, her mother (Teresa Gimpera) pens tearstained letters to a soldier who might not exist. Ana, meanwhile, finds her imaginative world transformed by the vision of Whale's tragic creature, and eventually makes a fantastic discovery in an abandoned barn. Bathed in an ethereal honey light, exquisite to watch and ponder, "Beehive" epitomizes the magic of cinema itself.

a pleasant surprise.......2007-01-16

criterion has the habit of completely delighting me from time to time (more often than not). 'spirit of the beehive' which was a kind of chance purchase for me paid off.. This ranks among the finest films i have recently seen - a rich evocation of childhood- and a fairy tale like homage to an older world.. and to well.. frankenstein. Sometimes, very rarely to be sure, we feel that we are so touched by something that it is almost on an unconcious level.. someone might, for example, experience this familiar yet unexplicable feeling from watching the wizard of oz or reading lewis carrol.. this is the sort of feeling i got from the spirit of the beehive.. at the risk of sounding too emotional in my reaction.

Otherwordly, beatiful cinema.......2007-01-04

While I am not a cineaste nor a reviewer, I feel unable to refrain from passing on just how remarkable this film was. The stunning cinematography combines with a lovely, subtle tale with nicely crafted allusions to Spain's then-recent civil war and Fascist victory to form a (sadly obscure) masterpiece.

Victor Erice's depictions of childhood are also spot-on. I am very glad that I bought this movie on a whim, but then again, who ever expects to be disappointed by a Criterion release?

Haunting & Unique.......2006-11-17

"The Spirit of the Beehive" is a film that was long considered one of (if not the) finest Spanish film. It's now presented in a gorgeous transfer by The Criterion Collection, which seems to only improve each year in quality and quantity. It's an odd film, that some call disturbing. It's not disturbing, at least to me, but it does have a few thought-provoking and haunting images occupying it. I think what Spirit of the Beehive does best is that it showcases truly one of the finest performances I've ever seen by an adolescent. A performance that ranks right up there with Jean-Pierre Leaud from The 400 Blows, although the child in that film and the child in this one are quite different. I don't know the young actresses name, but she's amazing. The movie's opening credits feature children's drawings, before giving us the title card "Once Upon a Time..." In a small Mexican village, the movie 'Frankenstein' is being shown and the entire town is enthralled by the movie. Two particular kids find the movie particularly good, two sisters named Ana and Isabel. During the movie Ana poses a question to Isabel, regarding one of the most famous scenes in the movie. Why did Frankenstein kill the girl? And why was Frankenstein, as a result, killed? Isabel doesn't know, so she instead tells Ana that the monster is not dead at all, but living in an abandoned farmhouse-type thing that sits in the middle of a field. Ana begins frequenting this place, believing that Frankenstein actually lives there...Who knows? Maybe she's right. A lot of people mention the overtones of war in the film and things like that, but whether you've caught those or not is irrelevant. The movie is a masterpiece of filmmaking. Some of the images in the film are bound to stay with you for days. I guess I should add that the "beehive" works into the title, because the girls' father works around beehives. Sorry about the chronology of the review, but anyway...The movie has some beautiful shots (one of the most haunting one is of Frankenstein and Ana, the other is the final shot of the film), a haunting musical score;
All of which are equally important in creating the mood and atmosphere of this film. Foreign film/Criterion Collection lovers. See this movie.

GRADE: A-

Average customer rating:

A Room with a View [HD DVD]
Starring: Maggie Smith , Helena Bonham Carter , Denholm Elliott , Julian Sands , and Simon Callow
Director: James Ivory
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Comedy | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000T28Q14
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Description

Nominated for eight Oscars in 1986, including Best Picture, and winner of three (Costumes, Art Direction and Adapted Screenplay), A Room With a View is the film that defined Merchant-Ivory as the masters of the romantic period piece. A brilliant adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel, A Room With a View tells the story of the coming of age of Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham-Carter). Longing to burst free from the repression of British upper class manners and mores, she must wrestle with her inner romantic longings to choose between the passionate George (Julian Sands) and the priggish but socially suitable Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis). Boasting a brilliant supporting cast, A Room With a View is one of the most romantic of romantic comedies ever filmed.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary from producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, actor Simon Callow and cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts
Featurette:E.M. Forster remembered Merchant Ivory Tribute
Other:Archive promotional appearances by Daniel Day Lewis and Simon Callow BBC report on the film's success in the U.S.
Photo gallery

Juliet Of The Spirits - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Trippy
Accessible film about a Fantasy life transforming and informing reality.
My favorite film
Not up to the best of Criterion
Juliet of the Spirits (1965) - Federico Fellini

Juliet Of The Spirits - Criterion Collection
Starring: Giulietta Masina , Sandra Milo , Mario Pisu , Valentina Cortese , and Valeska Gert
Director: Federico Fellini
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

Comedy | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

International | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00005V6N6
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Description

Cinematographer Gianni di Venanzo's masterful use of Technicolor transforms Juliet of the Spirits, Fellini's first color feature, into a kaleidoscope of dreams, spirits, and memories. Giulietta Masina plays a betrayed wife whose inability to come to terms with reality leads her along a hallucinatory journey of self-discovery. The Criterion Collection is proud to present the fully restored version of one of Fellini's most dazzling dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Trippy.......2007-08-27

Not as powerful as several of his other films but Juliet has always been a fun watch for me. Arguably the weakest flimsiest plot of any Fellini movie and that's saying something. Even Satyricon and 8 1/2 have discernable plots that figure into the overall understanding of the film's intent or message. In Juliet a woman hallucinates about her suspicions about her husband and her childhood. That's it. That's the entire plot. Fellini might be trying to say something deep about loneliness, longing, disillusionment and betrayal but the message seems to be subordinate to the images in this case. It is as if Fellini had all of these bizarro images floating around in his head and needed some excuse, any excuse, to put them on celluoid for his first shot in color feature. Consequently, the viewer is treated to over two hours of loosely held together intriguing, beguiling, provocative, confusing, funny, fascinating and beautifully filmed images. I'd like to watch it high sometime.

Accessible film about a Fantasy life transforming and informing reality........2007-04-11

One of Fellini's most accessible films (his use of color really helps), he once again plays reality against an active fantasy life... fantasies that combine memory, fears, fleeting desires and the way we imagine the lives of others. For me, one of the things that makes a film 5 star is that it provides something that only film can provide, and this is it; while the presentation is very theatrical, this quick intercutting of time/memory/mood can only be done in film.
While the overall message is a very conservative (pre/anti-feminist) one of it's day, Fellini DOES liberate a woman's fantasy life, and this is the essence of his leading "little woman." The predominant action of the film is in her imagination.
This was the day when middle/upper class Italian women did not work, and Masina represents the "good little woman." Rich enough to have servants, there was little to occupy her time or mind, other than similar friends who have veered to the outre and wierd just to have something to do. Masina's character searches more internally, and her fantasies color her vision of the lives of others. (Note that her usual circle of friends are equated with a fantasy of death, and you'll be clued into her psyche as these begin.)
I think you have to have lived a bit to "get" Fellini - I didn't like his work when I was younger - I love this. Also note his use of color as "percieved color" not literal color and this is worth many viewings.
And finally, if you are a larger woman... nothing makes you feel so great about being a large woman as watching Fellini's glorious Amazons!

My favorite film.......2006-09-13

This was the first Fellini film I ever saw and I was awestruck. I saw it ironically on a videotape that my English teacher had taped it off of public television- channel 11 here in Chicago. However, she had erased over it(the first 3/4 of the movie), as I had asked her if she could tape the season finale of the first season of "Twin Peaks"-whoa, I'm dating myself! Thank you Mrs. Cantrell for introducing me to a master director and shaping me into what I am today; though I always tended to favor the weird, whimsical and offbeat. So, I immediately rushed to the video store and rented out a copy of "Juliet"("Giulietta degli Spiriti,") so I could watch the first part. The print on the video was pretty old and faded but I've been enjoying Criterion's excellent remaster. This dvd is stunning and the colors are so vibrant. It just reminds me of an Easter, pastel fantasy- all that is transgressing in Juliet's disturbed mind.
In the opening scene, Juliet sets up for a romantic evening with her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary but instead is disappointed when Giorgio comes home with an entourage of their freinds. Later, Juliet and freinds engage in a seance session with the assistance of Genius, the mystic. It is determined that Juliet is also gifted and has sort of a sixth sense and gravitates to spirits. Iris, a spirit that has surfaced from the seance follows Juliet throughout the film and becomes her conscience. Juliet escapes in her fantasies and hears so-called spirits may lead the viewer to believe she has gone off her rocker! Juliet's visions and or images vary from the beautiful to frightening. She's a tormented soul since her younger days as her childhood freind Laura committed suicide for love. Now as a lonely housewife she witnesses her husband calling out another woman's name as they lie in bed together. She suspects her husband is having an affair and hires private investigators. Juliet also appears to have an inferiority complex towards her overcritical mother and more "successful" older sister. In the interim Juliet befreinds Suzy, the lady of the villa next door. Suzy head of the bordello style household throws extravagantly lavish orgy filled parties and immerses Juliet in her freinds, weird play acting, sex and wine and even sets Juliet up with her nephew for an evening rendevous. Juliet struggles with her self; she desires to fulfill her lust for sex and man but the spirit of Laura is persuading her not to act upon her desires as it is sinful.
Will Juliet find her inner peace? Will the spirits guide her or is it just all in her world of fantasy she has created for herself to escape from harsh realities of life including her husband's infidelity. Or will she follow the path of her childhood freind Laura who is in eternal peace.

Julius-Allan H.

Not up to the best of Criterion.......2006-06-28

Simply put, the sound sucks on this DVD (the music soundtrack especially - it sucked on VHS and sucks on this DVD) - with so much technology around, the sound quality could have been improved -
Visually, the main body of the film is cleaned up, with a decent (if not overwhelming) color palette, but irritating when you can see specks during the opening credits (not the first Criterion Edition to do this ) -

Becuase I find the film endearing I'll put up with these deficiencies - But this is not one of Criterion's best efforts -

Juliet of the Spirits (1965) - Federico Fellini.......2005-10-16

Juliet of the Spirits is a film that contains such lush colors, such nice cinematography, and enough visual, dreamlike imagery that it's a shame it all covers a rather emotionally shallow interior. The film has too much of a whimsical feel to it to really cut deep into the human psyche, but often times Fellini fills the screen with such nice imagery that you can excuse most of the film's shortcomings. Similar to 8 1/2 (1963), but from a woman's standpoint, Juliet of the Spirits is mostly an interesting experimentation in color and image because Fellini has a hard time finding the emotional core that makes his best films work so well. Still, Juliet of the Spirits is enjoyable, especially to look at, and there are a few scenes that will leave you in awe.

Fighting Spirit - Champion Road TV Special

Average customer rating:

DR. FIST
the DEFENDING TITLE MATCH YET

Fighting Spirit - Champion Road TV Special
Starring: Fighting Spirit-Champion Road TV Special
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000J4QWLI
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Amazon.com

It took Ippo Makunouchi 76 episodes of the broadcast series Fighting Spirit (2000) to win the featherweight championship of Japan; in this 2003 special, he defends his title for the first time. The challenger is Sanada Kazuki, a rich, suave medical student who boxes as an avocation. He's coached by Dankichi, the master of the "Flying Swallow" punch and the arch-rival of Kamogawa, Ippo's trainer. The outcome of the title match may never really be in question, but the depth of the characters sets Fighting Spirit apart from other battle-oriented anime. Unlike Baki Hanma in Baki the Grappler, Ippo isn't a bully who delights in thrashing others. He begins the TV series as a high school dork who's always getting the sushi beaten out of him by the local toughs: under Kamogawa'stutelage, Ippo reinvents himself. But even as a buffed-out champion with 12 knock-outs to his credit, Ippo enters the ring feeling like a challenger who doesn't know what it means to feel strong. Nor can he summon the courage to tell Kumi he's in love with her. Fighting Spirit remains underrated in America: its stylized action sequences and endearing characters deserve a wider audience. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use, minor profanity) --Charles Solomon

Description

Ippo Makunouchi's first title defense match is against a relentless challenger named Kazuki Sanada, but this isn't just any formidable pugulist. Sanada also happens to be a medical school student, and using his thorough knowledge of human biology, he knows which parts of the body to hit in order to defeat an opponent and the skills to accurately deliver the most damaging blows, while draining away an opponent's stamina. Not only does Ippo face a tremendous boxer who possesses the most intellectual fighting skills in Japan, but Sanada's trainer, Dankichi Hama, was also Chief Kamogawa's rival during his prime, and is now sharing his legendary fighting technique, the "Flying Swallow" with Sanada. It's Ippo vs. Sanada and the explosive collision of the coaches, Chief Kamogawa vs. Dankichi Hama - each of these individuals' thoughts entangle as the day of the battle finally arrives! Will Ippo be able to overcome the deadly "Flying Swallow" and claim victory?

Customer Reviews:

DR. FIST.......2007-01-26

When the Fighting Spirit tv series ended with Volume 15, Ippo was left holding the Japanese Championship belt in his hands after a brutal contest with Sendo. He's healing quite nicely and becoming a bit complacent when an old rival of Chief's from his fighting days shows up asking for a bout between Ippo and his own fighter. The guy denies any ulterior motives to revenge himself upon the Chief for ending his boxing career decades ago. But it's left unsaid that if his fighter can defeat Ippo, it would be the next best thing to fighting and beating the Chief himself. His fighter, Sanada, is a medical student when he's not in the ring, and has studied not only many ways to heal the human body, but also to destroy it! He uses his medical knowledge to pinpoint his opponent's weaknesses and vital areas to greatest effect. Will even Ippo be over to overcome this emotionless fighting machine that exploits the weakness of the flesh?

This dvd is a welcome continuation of a series that seemed abruptly cut off just as Ippo had begun to achieve his dreams and ambitions. Even after all his fights, he still has yet to understand what true strength is, so he's a bit of a work in progress even now. That's one thing I like about this show and Ippo. He never gets time for his success to go to his head. Ippo is constantly wanting to improve himself and become stronger and comes to the slow realization that everyone will now be gunning for him, the Champion. This quest to become an even better fighter unfortunately doesn't lead to much progress in his relationship with his girl "friend", Kumi, which is a little frustrating to me. The unnecessary delay in revealing his true feelings to her is right out of Rumiko Takahashi. It's ironic too, in the sense that Ippo has such a strong heart and indomitable will but can't even tell a girl he loves her. If you haven't watched the previous fifteen volumes, there's little sense in watching this dvd. If you are a fan of the show, it will be like the tv show never ended.

the DEFENDING TITLE MATCH YET.......2007-01-10

MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE THESE SERIES AND AS SOON AS WE GOT THIS WE SAT AND WATCHED IT. THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT WE CANT WAIT TO SEE WHEN THE NEXT ONE COMES OUT WE ARE EXITED ABOUT THESE SERIES WE HAVE THEM ALL. IF YOU LIKE BOXING YOU WILL LOVE THIS. BUT START AT THE BOTTOM GET THEM ALL THEY ARE WONDERFUL.

Average customer rating:

Seldom-seen scary treat.
underated horror film
tomb fright
Gogol's Viy
For Gogol Fantatics Only

Viy (Spirit of Evil)
Starring: Leonid Kuravlyov , Natalya Varley , Aleksei Glazyrin , Vadim Zakharchenko , and Nikolai Kutuzov
Director: Konstantin Yershov , and Georgi Kropachyov
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00005M20C
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Description

An eerie, foreboding, rarely-seen classic horror film from Russia, "Viy" is based on 19th century writer Nikolai Gogol's original story of Thomas Brutus, a theology student who is forced to read scripture for a young woman who has died. What he doesn't know is, she is the devil's emissary on earth. Over the three nights of his mission, Thomas is tempted and tormented by all the minions of hell as the young man's faith and courage are tested in a trial by fire.

Customer Reviews:

Seldom-seen scary treat........2006-11-07

If you can figure out the command buttons you will have your choice of languages and subtitles for this fun and scary Russian movie about an inexperienced young priest who is ordered to a country estate to perform exorcism on the corpse of a witch. She proceeds to call down her supernatural wrath on him. If you like the old Roger Corman pictures inspired by Poe you will probably love this.

underated horror film.......2006-06-28

I bought this DVD with some trepidation, worried by comments that it wasn't scary, that the special effects were crude, and it was slow. Don't believe it, unless you are one of those who rate movie horror by the numbers of mutilations and amounts of blood.

This is a faithful adaptation of a little known, and lesser, story by Nikolai Gogol, which makes it perfect for film, because the film actually improves the original with effectively creepy music (where appropriate), and by special effects that were very good for a movie made nearly forty years ago.

It is as scary as any of the Hammer films of the same era. The folk-tale motif reminds me a little of CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1962), only with Gogol's trademark sense-of-humor. Hammer would have made the witch more grotesque, and the young dead woman sexier. But these are minor points.

The only let-down is when the spirit of evil, Viy, arrives at the end. His appearance is un-scary and even somewhat comical. But he is only on-screen a few seconds. The lead up to Viy's arrival is sufficiently suspenseful.

The menu allows you to watch the film dubbed in your own language, or to hear the actors' own voices in Russian with subtitles. Also there are extensive clips from three pre-revolutionary silent Russian horror films that would have benefited from music. To access them on the disc you have to click on the RUSCIA icon, and then the museum icon.

tomb fright.......2005-09-23

An enjoyable and different horror film. Only the overproduced conclusion mars it. The first of the three nights the "hero" must spend in a tomb with a dead witch is one of the most frightening scenes ever. Viy is worth a view just for that and the second night. But that third one!!! Definitely worth the price.

Gogol's Viy.......2005-09-07

Enigmatic, with a depth of 'Russian' which is to be savoured. Made in 1967, this film is a delight of Russian culture, not easy to follow, sometimes wandering, but always rich. Well recommended.

For Gogol Fantatics Only.......2002-10-14

If you're a Gogol fanatic like myself, this is a must buy. Other than Viy, you get an extremely funny Soviet-era documentary about "Comrade Gogol," plus an exert from Portrait, a silent-era movie based on another (and better) Gogol story. I would've actually rather have gotten the entire Portrait than Viy.

Amazon.com essential video

Description

A superb English cast in the acclaimed comedy of manners from Merchant/Ivory based on E.M. Forster's novel of wit and romance. Off to the sensuous landscape of Florence for her horizon-broadening tour, Lucy, a perfectly proper young Edwardian lady, is chaperoned by her even more proper Aunt Charlotte. At the merest hint of scandal--Lucy is kissed by an improper suitor--Charlotte whisks her back to the serene English countryside, where she is betrothed to a supposedly suitable gentleman, insufferably in love with himself. With its "superb ensemble acting, intelligent writing and stunning design" (The New York Times), this delightful comedy of manners sparkles with keen observations of class behavior and genuine humor.

Customer Reviews:

I wanted to like it.........2007-09-04

Phenominal movie.......2007-08-03

A Room With a View.......2007-07-06

Passion, uncorseted , in this E. M. Forster story.......2007-07-06

One of My Favorites.......2007-06-06

DVD:

DVD

DVD