Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

Masterful Hong Kong action director John Woo (The Killer, Face/Off) turns in this exciting and pyrotechnic tale of warring gangsters and shifting loyalties. Chow Yun-fat (The Replacement Killers) plays a take-no-prisoners cop on the trail of the triad, the Hong Kong Mafia, when his partner is killed during a gun battle. His guilt propels him into an all-out war against the gang, including an up-and-coming soldier in the mob (Tony Leung) who turns out to be an undercover cop. The two men must come to terms with their allegiance to the force and their loyalty to each other as they try to take down the gangsters. A stunning feast of hyperbolic action sequences (including a climactic sequence in an entire hospital taken hostage), Hard-Boiled is a rare treat for fans of the action genre, with sequences as thrilling and intense as any ever committed to film. --Robert Lane

Description

A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to bring down a gun smuggling ring. Features some of the most amazing and influential action set pieces in cinematic history.

Customer Reviews:

Important film that didn't age well..........2007-08-12

When Hard Boiled came out as a theatrical release I was blown away. It was utterly unlike any other film I had seen up to that point. Now though it's been imitated so many times, both by Hollywood and by Woo himself, it just doesn't hold up. It plays almost as a parody of itself.

It's worth seeing because it is such an important milestone, but don't be surprised if your memory of the film is stronger than the film itself.

A good introduction to the "Heroic Gun Play" genre.......2007-08-12

This was my first experience with a movie from the "Heroic Gun Play" genre. I'm not a fan of American action pictures, so I had always shied away from John Woo's Hong Kong action flicks. I now see that I have definitely missed some great movies (I'm female, so a bunch of guys shooting guns at one another was never something I thought I would get into). I decided to give the movie a look because Tony Leung is my favorite actor at the moment and I knew that he co-starred in the film. Actually, Leung and Philip Kwok Choy (the killer Mad Dog in the film AND the action director) steal every scene they share with Chow Yun-Fat. Now I want to check out some of the Shaw Bros. films Kwok Choy was in to see more of this martial arts actor.

Maybe it is the surprising emotional complexity Leung brings to the film and the exhilerating action sequences (and that the killing looks so fake), but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. As a neophyte, the commentary and 3 interviews added to my understanding and enjoyment of the film. Since this is a cult film, I understand that die-hard fans of Woo and this particular film might be disappointed in various aspects of the presentation (this isn't a Criterion 2-disc premium treatment, afterall). But, as an introduction to this film, to Woo 's heroic gun play pictures and to the world of Hong Kong action films, it is as good a place to start as any. I am definitely looking forward to viewing other John Woo HK films.

Not the "Ultimate" but Awesome Nonetheless.......2007-07-31

For those of you lucky enough to own the Criterion Collection edition of this movie, you might want to hold onto your copy as none of the extras from that edition are included on this one. That being said, the video and audio on this version easily surpass any previous Region 1 incarnations making this edition a must-have for fans of the movie.

The first disc features an audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan. He shows off his impressive knowledge of HK geography by pointing out which locations in the film don't exist anymore and their significance in the country's culture. Logan also dishes out interesting factoids, like the teahouse in the opening sequence was going to be demolished and this happened right after they filmed the last scene in the place! As with other commentary tracks that he has done his encyclopedic knowledge about the film and HK cinema in general is quite impressive, making for an informative track.

Disc two starts off with "A Baptism of Fire: A Featurette with Iconic Director John Woo." He was a big fan of Steve McQueen in Bullitt and Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and with Hard Boiled; he wanted to create his own Dirty Harry. Woo wanted to make Chow Yun-Fat like Eastwood's iconic character but with the Asian actor's warm charisma.

"Partner in Crime: An Interview with Producer Terence Chang." He talks about how he met Woo in the late 1970s but that they didn't start working together until ten years later. Chang also talks about the genesis of the film which was originally a psycho who kills baby (?!). Fortunately, after they filmed the teahouse shoot-out, Chang convinced Woo to discard this idea.

"Art Imitates Life: An Interview with co-star Philip Chan," the actor who played Tequila's boss in the film. He was real policeman before getting into film and brought that authenticity to his role. He actually ran a team of undercover cops and speaks admiringly of working with Woo.

"Mad Dog Bites Again: An Interview with Leading Villain Kwok Choi." He talks about working with Woo on the film. Originally, he was hired to only design the action sequences but Chow Yun-Fat recommended him to play the villain's right-hand man.

"Hard Boiled Location Guide": takes us on a fun, fascinating tour of many of the locations from the movie. Some places, like the teahouse (which is now a mall), don't exist anymore and a little historical background is given to some of the places.

Also included are two trailers, the U.S. and Hong Kong versions.

Finally, there is "Stranglehold Video Game Mini-Making Of." This is the John Woo-approved sequel to Hard Boiled that allows you to play Tequila. This extra shows how deeply involved he was in the game's production with Chow Yun-Fat returning to provide the voice for his character!

One of the greatest action films of all time.......2007-07-29

Undoubtedly one of the finest action films ever made, Hard Boiled tops every single slam bang, big budget, mainstream action film you have ever seen. Chow Yun-Fat stars as a super tough cop on the trail of the murderous triad, only to learn that an up and coming triad soldier (Tony Leung) he has his sights set on is an undercover cop who gives the term deep cover new meaning. As loyalties shift and the bullet and body count rise, the two team up and help provide some of the most dynamic and exciting action scenes ever put to film, including a standoff at a hospital that concludes in a barrage of blood, bullets, glass, and incredible carnage. Before he came over to America and helmed watered down mainstream action films like Broken Arrow, Mission: Impossible 2, and Paycheck (personally, the only film of his I've liked that he's made over here is Face/Off), John Woo crafted the amazing action scenes that you've heard so much about with this film. This double disc Ultimate Edition released under the Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label features a nice selection of extras (yet no commentary from Woo or Chow Yun-Fat) including an examination of how much Hard Boiled has influenced the action genre over the years. To this day Hard Boiled remains a masterpiece, and if you're an action junkie who has never seen the film before, you need to pick this up immediately.

Nice enough release of this Hong Kong classic........2007-07-25

Forget the reviewer claiming that they cropped the picture and then stretched it back out. He probably doesn't know how to work his wide screen TV or hasn't set his DVD player to enhance anamorphic DVD's. Cropped and stretched? What a silly notion. And as for the subtitles, they seem to be pretty much the same as the Criterion version which wasn't bad, but not anamorphic. Unless you speak fluent Cantonese, how in the hell could you ever know which version was the most accurate? This release has the best transfer of the film to date, and I've owned four copies of it including this Dragon Dynasty edition. The colors are rich and the the images are sharp. This is the best version for your money, unless you want to wait for the Blu-Ray edition. I hate it!!!

Face/Off (Two Disc Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great Movie/Buy!
john and nick

Face/Off (Two Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: John Travolta , Nicolas Cage , Joan Allen , Alessandro Nivola , and Gina Gershon
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000RZIGUY
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Amazon.com

At his best, director John Woo turns action movies into ballets of blood and bullets grounded in character drama. Face/Off marks Woo's first American film to reach the pitched level of his best Hong Kong work (Hard-Boiled). He takes a patently absurd premise--hero and villain exchange identities by literally swapping faces in science-fiction plastic surgery--and creates a double-barreled revenge film driven by the split psyches of its newly redefined characters. FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) must play the villain to move through the underworld while psychotic terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) becomes a perversely paternal family man while using every tool at his disposal to destroy his nemesis. Travolta vamps Cage's tics and flamboyant excess with the grace of a dancer after his transformation from cop to criminal, while Cage plays the sullen, bottled-up agent excruciatingly trapped behind the face of the man who killed his son. His attempts to live up to the terrorist's reputation become cathartic explosions of violence that both thrill and terrify him. This is merely icing on the cake for action fans, the dramatic backbone for some of the most visceral action thrills ever. Woo fills the screen with one show-stopping set piece after another, bringing a poetic grace to the action freakout with sweeping camerawork and sophisticated editing. This marriage of melodrama and mayhem ups the ante from cops-and-robbers clichés to a conflict of near-mythic levels. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description

John Travolta stars as FBI agent Sean Archer doing the unthinkable to stop the elusive terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage). Watch the bullets fly and the action explode as master action director John Woo ( Broken Arrow) detonates the screen in this special collector's edition DVD. Loaded with high-voltage special features, this two-disc set redefines the action genre like never before!

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie/Buy!.......2007-09-12

This action packed movie stars two great actors Nicolas Cage and John Travolta at their best. A great movie if you're a fan of action films, or just like either of the actors. Castor Troy (Cage) has planted a bomb somewhere and agent Sean Archer (Travolta) must literally switch identities with his old enemy in order to find out where the bomb is and disable it. I don't usually hand out 5 stars but this one definatly deserves it!

john and nick.......2007-08-15

THE MOVIE IS PACTED WITH GREAT ACTION AND TWO EXCELLENT ACTORS AND I JUST DON'T GIVE IT 5 STARS BUT A GREAT DEAL OF 100 STARS SO BUY THIS DVD BECAUSE IT GREAT LOVE THOSE ACTORS SIGN YANELYS

Average customer rating:

Looking forward to this HDDVD
Great action film with awesome plot twist!
Great action film
Walked out....

Face Off [HD DVD]
Starring: Joan Allen , Nicolas Cage , Nick Cassavetes , Colm Feore , and Gina Gershon
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000RZIGYU
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Customer Reviews:

Looking forward to this HDDVD.......2007-08-21

Face/Off is a great movie and will be great on HDDVD. Thank you Paramount for supporting the best high definition format!

Great action film with awesome plot twist!.......2007-08-11

This is one of my favorite action films. For its time, the concept of "face off" and how both Travolta and Cage can act so good and so evil makes this one of the best action films. Definitely will get it as soon as the HD DVD comes out!

Great action film.......2007-07-27

This is one of the best action flicks released in the last ten years. Great fun.
Don't be fooled by the reviewer giving this film one star. That prude dude must
think that watching Die Hard is a sin and should be punished as a crime.
I wish they do a great HD DVD transfer and I'll be happy.

Walked out...........2007-07-26

Yeah, Unlike the other reviewer I don't care about Travolta. This film was horrible - 100,000 bullets fired, children shot in the temple and it has the record for the most continuity errors of a film... ever. It remains the only movie I walked out of the theatre before it ended only to be tortured again at a friends watching it on video. Don't support this junk when there is real cinema available. Get your machismo-porn-violence somewhere else. This is just stupid.

Average customer rating:

Sorry, but this film would stink on ice.
Very disapointing
Korean Kult Klassic
Overhyped? Are you freakin kidding me?
A subpar plot, plus spectacular viuals makes this a pleasant movie.

The Host [Blu-ray]
Starring: Scott Wilson , Song Kang-ho , Bae Du-na , Park Hae-il , and Byun Hee-bong
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000PKG8SS
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Customer Reviews:

Sorry, but this film would stink on ice........2007-09-07

From the opening lab sequence, to the two fishermen in the Han River, on to the final scene, I just kept waiting for something to happen. Never did. Based upon the reviews comparing 'The Host' to 'Jaws' (a true classic), I was expecting something grand. Could it be that the critics watched a different movie? Or perhaps they simply took the producer's word for what was on the disc? In any event, I am more than a little bit disappointed.

Very disapointing.......2007-08-24

I purchased this movie based on general critics, that seemed to praise it. This is a very boring movie, that I would have rated "B", because of very crappy acting, outdated special effects, and general storyline. My wife and I did not finish it, and we resold it on ebay after only 3 days.

Korean Kult Klassic.......2007-08-10

Great movie on BD. Crisp, clear and refreshing. It is the story of a family sticking together at all costs. A nice blend of humanism mixed with a CGI beast from the depths of murky waters, government conspiracy and brain surgery.

The story keeps you engaged most of the time. Monster effects are good, not the best. That is why it gets 4/5. The acting is good, you'll like most of the main characters.

Nice to see something of this magnitude make its way to the States, just goes to show what you are missing if you don't think outside of the box we call USA.

Overhyped? Are you freakin kidding me?.......2007-08-07

The Host is one of those rare movies these days that uses its top-notch effects scenes to enhance rather than drive the storyline. The plot does not center around the mutated creature, but rather on the dysfunctional family, which is the primary reason why the audience would give a damn if one or two of them are "offed." The acting performances are superb, especially by Song Kang Ho and Koh Eun Ah, who play the father and daughter respectively. It's not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it sure is fun. I can't really call this a horror movie, because in my assessment, it's not really that horrifying. Of course, your experience may vary. No severed limbs, decapitated heads, or other such excess macabre here, so if that's your cup of tea, go seek psychiatric help and then rent Re-Animator or something like that at your local Blockbuster. There are the obligatory few moments that you sort of expect the monster to show up and kill unimportant characters, and it obliges with a menacing gusto. The creature's introduction in the opening scenes is handled masterfully and dare I say- realistically. I mean, if a bus-sized mutated fish/amphibian suddenly decided to get nasty, run over crowds, grab ladies by the face and devour people whole, that's how it would play out, I'm sure. Ultimately, it's the most original creature flick that Asia has come out with since the original Godzilla in the 1950's, and it's infinitely better than recent Hollywood giant creature flicks like Anaconda or Lake Placid. And by the way- a note to Amazon- who the hell is Scott Wilson?

A subpar plot, plus spectacular viuals makes this a pleasant movie........2007-08-02

I must admit that when I first heard about this movie I was a little skeptical. A Korean flick about a monster that lives in a river and feasts on an unsuspecting Korean city? Sounds kind of cliched, right? Well, right in that sense but wrong in the sense that I underestimated this film.

While the story-line and plot falter at times, I still found this to be a very entertaining and arousing film to my senses. If you can get over the cheesy American voice-overs for the Korean characters(and they are pretty lame at times), then you've pretty much gotten over the only true flaw of "The Host". The other flaw being the uninspired plot of an over-sized and ugly fish-like creature carrying off a family member to sea(or river, in this case), while the other family members take up a personnal vendetta against the creature and go searching for it with hardly enough weapons to last albeit one minute.

Where the plot fails, the viuals and sound more than make up for it. The monster looks and sounds amazing! It is simply unreal what computers can do this day in age for movies. Very creepy and life-like looking creature. It really makes your skin crawl at times just imagining what you'd do if face to face with this monstrocity.

While the films drags on at times, mainly in the middle of the film, it isn't all that bad. Just when you think you are about to lose interest, the monster comes right back into the picture and captivates you once again! And I also found that if you speak Korean, you will probably take this movie a little more seriously. I turned on the Korean language option for about five minutes and found that I could take this film and the characters alot more serious. The American voice-overs are laughable and rediculous compared to hearing this movie the way it was originally intended to be heard. In Korean!

Overall, if you are into chilling monster flicks, ala King Kong, Jaws, Godzilla etc., this movie is definetly for you. Brilliantly directed and very solid performances from the cast make this a must-see film for fans who are itching for a decent horror movie. Where the story lacks, the creature and the suspense more than make up for it and will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't take this movie too serious though, as you could be disappointed. Keep an open mind going into this film, and you should enjoy it quite a bit.

The sound and picture on this Blu-Ray disc are amazing. I am totally hooked on next-gen visuals for movies(be it HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) and this film blew me away! Whether on Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, or SD-DVD this is a great film and should be seen by many. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

TWO OF THE GREATEST FACE/OFF!!!
Face/Off
Face/Off
One of the best action movies made
who are these people that give films like this five stars?

Face/Off
Starring: John Travolta , Nicolas Cage , Joan Allen , Alessandro Nivola , and Gina Gershon
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 630512762X
Release Date: 1998-10-07

Product Description

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

TWO OF THE GREATEST FACE/OFF!!!.......2007-09-08

who doesn't like this movie. i can't believe people would give it a low rate, what the...? oh well, you can't win them all. back to the important stuff. this movie is truly a movie of greatness. two of the industries GIANTS go head to head in this action packed story. what better reason are you going to need to watch this than having john travolta and nicolas cage together. all the action and super movie was just a bonus. there couldn't have been a better idea than to make this film. travolta is one of the greatest actors ever, and this is just another huge step to achieving success. cage is another, who brings his own to this movie. he is terriffic, and knows what he's doing. this is natural to him. and the ability to change roles is what makes them two of the best in the industry. legends like these are hard to come by. the plot is they both hate each others guts, but in an attempt to save the city travolta must become cage, and vice versa, but...things do not go as planned, and all hell breaks loose. cage takes charge in travoltas' body, and nobody will believe travolta in cages'. someone must come out on top, and may the best man win.

Face/Off.......2007-07-12

Despite the grotesque, almost preposterous premise, Hong Kong director John Woo's second American-made actioner has all the savage bite, black humor, and balletic fight choreography of his best-known Asian films. Deliberately mythic in concept, "Face/Off" probes questions of honor, identity, and morality while giving Travolta and Cage plenty of leeway to stretch their archetypal good-and-evil personas. Ingenious, kinetic and reveling in its choreographed, over the top violence, "Face/Off" is a complex thriller that's bloody good fun.

Face/Off.......2007-06-08

I am a big fan of John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. both are outstanding in this twist of face..... Loved it....

One of the best action movies made.......2007-05-25

Its great but where is a special edition or directors cut?

who are these people that give films like this five stars?.......2007-05-25

I read some of these reviewers and I wonder if they are making my food at restuarants, if they are saving lives in the ER or are the ones who run right out to buy some fools CD from American Idol, or talk in superlatives about the new Snoop Dog video that was on MTV. Do they sell tires in Spokane or crawdaddies in Batan Rouge?

Face off is truly an atrocious film, from start to finish. Cage and Travolta have no on screen chemistry and it is so shallow, so utterly beneath me to even want to describe the assanine plot and utter paltry dialouge.

For years I have thought this, and will continue to until I leave this medium, but Face Off is unequivically one of the worst films ever made. Pure trash.

Mission Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection (Mission Impossible / Mission Impossible II / Mission Impossible III)

Average customer rating:

Awesome collection
The Best of all MI movies
mission impossible ultimate mission collection
Mission Impossible Gift for Dad
Excited to have all three movies together.

Mission Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection (Mission Impossible / Mission Impossible II / Mission Impossible III)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Ving Rhames , Billy Crudup , and Michelle Monaghan
Director: J.J. Abrams , Brian De Palma , and John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HEVZ9O
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Amazon.com

Mission Impossible
A flashy, splashy summer-movie blockbuster that's fun and exciting without being mindless? That's the impossible mission accomplished by director Brian De Palma, star-coproducer Tom Cruise, and the crack team of Mission: Impossible. Based on the '60s TV show and an almost impenetrably complex (but nonetheless thrilling) original story by David Koepp (Jurassic Park) and Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List), with a screenplay by Koepp and Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo), Mission: Impossible begins with veteran agent Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his expert crew embarking on a mission that goes horribly, horribly wrong. But nothing is what it seems. The nail-biting set piece--always a signature of director De Palma (Carrie, The Untouchables)--in which Cruise is lowered from the ceiling to retrieve information from a computer in a high-security vault--is an instant classic. But perhaps even more impressive, at least in retrospect, is a flashback sequence in which two characters attempt to reconstruct a series of events from multiple points of view. It's pretty daring and sophisticated stuff for a big-budget spy movie, but brains were always what put the Mission: Impossible team ahead of the competition, anyway, no? --Jim Emerson

Mission Impossible II
Visually stunning, and a likely must for John Woo aficionados, the second Mission: Impossible outing from megastar Tom Cruise suffers from an inconsistent tone and tired plot devices--not only recycled from other films, but repeated throughout the film. Despite remarkable cinematography and awe-inspiring, trademark Woo photography, the movie offers a tepid story from legendary screenwriter-director Robert Towne (Chinatown, Without Limits) and a host of other writers, most uncredited.

It is, regrettably, as forgettable as the first big-budget, big box-office MI in 1996, and it's clear (as Towne confirms) that the plot was developed around Woo- and Cruise-written action sequences. The film combines equal elements of romance and action, and is best when it features the stunning allure of Thandie Newton as Nyah, a master thief recruited by the sinewy charms of Ethan Hunt (a fit Cruise). Deeply in love after a passionate night, the couple must then combat MI nemesis (and Nyah's former lover) Sean Ambrose (Ever After's Dougray Scott). Ambrose holds hostage a virus and its cure, and offers them to the highest bidder.

Woo's famed mythic filmmaking is far from subtle, with heroic Hunt frequently slow-motion walking through fire, smoke, or other similar devices, replete with a white dove among pigeons to signal his presence. The emphasis on romance is an attempt to develop character and a more human side to superspy Hunt, but still the dreary story proves a distraction from the exciting action sequences. John Polson (as an MI team member) is an Aussie talent to keep an eye on. --N.F. Mendoza

Mission Impossible III
At the time of its release, Mission: Impossible III's box office was plagued by the publicity backlash against couch-jumping star Tom Cruise. It's too bad, because this third installment of the spy thriller franchise deserved a better reception than it got. First-time feature director J.J. Abrams (bigwig TV director/producer of Lost, Alias, & Felicity) proves more than able-bodied in creating a Mission: Impossible that's leaner and less over-stylized than John Woo's sequel and less confusing than Brian De Palma's original. Plot is still a throwaway here (Cruise's Ethan Hunt rescues his kidnapped former trainee and works to steal a device that... well, we don't really know what it does, but it's something about mass destruction that costs $850 million), but the action sequences, particularly one where Ethan faces down a helicopter on a bridge and gets flung hard against the side of a car, are particularly impressive since Cruise, at 44, is still doing most of his own stunts and shows no hint of the weathered look that's struck his action-star peers. (Though no Mission: Impossible stunt will ever be quite as simultaneously nail-biting and funny as the first film's wire-dangling break-in of CIA headquarters.)

Mission: Impossible III boasts a pedigreed cast, particularly Oscar® winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) as baddie arms dealer Owen Davian. Hoffman plays Owen all teeth-clenched and cool, especially when threatening to kill Ethan in front of his lovely new wife (Michelle Monaghan) who has no idea of his spy life. But in his first action-film lead role, Hoffman's almost too calm and collected to really make a memorable villain, especially when the rest of the cast--Ving Rhames (the only other cast member to return for all three films), Asian film star Maggie Q, and an underused Jonathan Rhys-Meyers--are a highlight as Ethan's IMF team. Mission: Impossible is still fun popcorn spy fare, and if Cruise chooses to end the franchise here, at least he goes out on a high note. --Ellen A. Kim

Description

This 3pk includes Mission: Impossible SCE, the 2-disc set of Mission: Impossible 2, and Mission: Impossible 3 SCE.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome collection.......2007-08-23

I thought the first MI was pretty cool, I though the second had its cool moments and I loved the 3rd one. Tom Cruise still has it, I dont care what anyone says. These are all action-packed, edge-of-your-seat type of movies and are all quite enjoyable to watch at anytime. The first and last are definetely the better ones, but this collection was a pretty cool idea. I'll definetely have to pick it up for myself.

The Best of all MI movies.......2007-03-28

I really like Mission Impossible III, it was really entertaining. In my opinion it was the best out of all three MI movies.

mission impossible ultimate mission collection .......2007-01-15

It came a head of the time that it said it would be here in very good condition.

Mission Impossible Gift for Dad.......2007-01-11

My dad loved the collection, which was a Christmas gift. He got it in a timely fashion and has watched all three movies.

Excited to have all three movies together........2007-01-10

I enjoyed seeing all these movies in the theater and i will continue to enjoy them at home. The extras were interesting to see the behind the scenes of how the movies were made.

Average customer rating:

Is It Safe
Marathon Man
Ehhh.
Not Understandable
MY TOOTH IS KILLING ME

Marathon Man
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Laurence Olivier , Roy Scheider , William Devane , and Marthe Keller
Director: John Schlesinger , and Allan Garden
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B00005M2CO
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com essential video

John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) directed this gripping, entertaining 1977 thriller that centers on graduate student Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Tootsie). Hoffman plays a sullen and cowardly loner haunted by the suicide of his father, a suspected communist. He is drawn into a murky web of international intrigue when his brother, CIA agent Doc Levy, played by Roy Scheider (Jaws, The French Connection), is murdered by a former Nazi (Laurence Olivier) who has come to the United States to reclaim a valuable stash of diamonds. Babe (Hoffman) must confront his fears of the past as he runs for his life and tries to avenge his brother's death at the same time. Featuring a classic torture sequence and a terrific cast that includes William Devane and Marthe Keller, this film written by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men) stands as a great entertainment and as one of the seminal films of the 1970s. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Is It Safe.......2007-08-09

Those words still scare me and I still hate dentists. Great movie with Hoffman entirely scared and confused. Good supporting cast. Done well, creepy enough and a edge of the seater.

Marathon Man.......2007-07-04

Dustin Hoffman re-grouped with "Midnight Cowboy" director Schlesinger for this nerve-jangling thriller based on screenwriter William Goldman's novel. Olivier, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, is chilling as the sadistic Szell. Twisty and paranoiac, "Man" delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense straight through to its memorable finish.

Ehhh........2007-04-17

After reading Goldman's novel of the same name and being surprised by some of the twists and turns , I was eager to see how the book was converted to film. To learn how Scylla the spy, Levy the student, Janey the Provider, and Szell the Nazi were handled. I was disappointed.

Don't get me wrong - the movie is a fine thriller. It just doesn't match up to what I'd been expecting. In the novel, Janey's identity is not revealed until halfway through the book, at which point you're shocked to learn the true nature of Scylla's relationship with him. This is a startling conclusion that is totally glossed over in the film. Also, while Elsa is transparently in cahoots with the bad guys even in the book, here it's made even more obvious and the viewer's small doubts of, "Is she good or bad?" are removed.

The movie is good. You should see it. But read the book afterward.

Not Understandable.......2007-01-11

I got this DVD.......in German!!!! I had NOT requested it in German, why would I???? Big surprise when it arrived. I had to return it and request a copy in English (duh!) but seller stated he was sold out (so he sends me one in German??)

MY TOOTH IS KILLING ME .......2006-12-17

What do you get when you combine top notch acting and a stellar cast? You get the 1977 action thriller "The Marathon Man" presented in it's 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio.The dvd transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound from Paramount Studios is excellent.The video transfer doesn't seem to contain any dust or debris and the image is very impressive,considering this film is from the 1970's.The acting is superb and the chilling performance given by Laurence Olivier as the former Nazi "Szell" is outstanding.I've always hated the sound of the dentist's drill and after seeing it in the hands of "Szell",I hate it even more.Suspense,action and intrigue this movie has it all and after 30 years it's still highly entertaining.Only one question still remains "is it safe?"

The dvd bonus features include: Theatrical Trailer, Cast & Crew interviews, Rehearsal Footage, Original "Making of Marathon Man" Featurette.

Mission Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection (Mission Impossible / Mission Impossible II / Mission Impossible III) [HD DVD]

Average customer rating:

Excellent Movies
Mission Accomplished in HD-DVD
Mission Possable
amazing box set
Great trilogy, an even better price!

Mission Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection (Mission Impossible / Mission Impossible II / Mission Impossible III) [HD DVD]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Ving Rhames , Billy Crudup , and Michelle Monaghan
Director: J.J. Abrams , Brian De Palma , and John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HEZF0E
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Description

This 3pk includes Mission: Impossible SCE, Mission: Impossible 2, and Mission: Impossible 3 SCE.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Movies.......2007-08-31

The Mission Impossible series is one of those series, like The Matrix, that really needed a remake in HD. Mission Impossible is decent but the MI2 and MI3 are absolutely gorgeous.

With my Onkyo receiver the sound quality is phenomenal. I'm not a big fan of extras but there are a decent amount if that is your thing.

If you already own the series on DVD, I would buy MI2 and MI3 in HD but don't bother with the first one...I don't think you'll notice the difference.

Mission Accomplished in HD-DVD.......2007-05-31

Bottom line, other than the Ultimate Matrix HD-DVD set, there isn't another finer HD set on the market.

Mission Possable.......2007-05-13

Great video and sound I thopught it brought even more life to the movies. The only draw back is that the bonus stuff wasnt hd on the first 2 and even that was limited. Overall though its a must buy for any action fan.

amazing box set.......2007-01-11

The Ultimate Missions Collection on HDDVD was great. The audio and video in the three movies were fantastic,Especially MI-3.There were also a ton of special features (some also in high definition) and even a 4th disk (Just for MI-3) I loved this box set!

Great trilogy, an even better price!.......2007-01-10

I saw this in the retail store for close to $100! I got it here at a fraction of the price, and that makes the viewing experience even better! This is some of Tom's best work, even before going a little nuts... I have to say the MI3 is by far my favorite of the set, and the picture is astounding in HD, but what really blew me away is the SOUND quality; every bullet shell, every explosion, every fight scene; the Dolby is undeniable. I highly recomend this set for anyone that loves action flicks, and enjoys the quality of HD.

Average customer rating:

Over the top
Almost a throwaway
Broken Depth, nauseating....trite, for fans of flat, uncharging films
Broken Arrow...Yes it is cool!!
Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow
Starring: John Travolta , Christian Slater , Samantha Mathis , Delroy Lindo , and Bob Gunton
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305280754
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Amazon.com

John Travolta is Vic Deakins, a bomber pilot who launches a devilish plan to hijack two nuclear missiles for big-time extortion. Vic never sweats, spews out great one-liners, knocks off money men with glee, toys with killing half a million people... he even smokes!

If you giggled at his "Ain't it cool" line from the trailer, you're in the right frame of mind for this comedic action film. Never as gritty or semi-realistic--or for that matter as heart-thumping--as the original Die Hard, Broken Arrow still delivers. If Travolta is cast against type, everyone else is by the numbers; Christian Slater as Hale, the earnest copilot looking to foil the plot, Samantha Mathis as the brave park ranger caught in the middle, Frank Whaley as an eager diplomat, Delroy Lindo as a right-minded colonel. As with his previous script (the superior Speed), writer Graham Yost moves everything quickly along as Hale and the ranger try to cut off Deakins's plan over a variety of terrains. We have plane crashes, car chases, a pursuit through an abandoned mine, a helicopter-train shootout, and lots of fighting between boys. Each time Hale finds himself perfectly in place to foil Deakins. You're suppose to laugh at the unbelievable situations. That's where Arrow is deceptive: its tone is right for the laughter compared to the mean-spirited Schwarzenegger and Stallone action films with labored jokes. Hong Kong master director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Target) pulls out all the stops--slow motion of Hale and Deakins's gymnastic gun play, nifty stunts, countdowns to doomsday. Woo may know action, but he needs more guidance in creating unique and stunning special effects. This is action entertainment at its cheesiest. Travolta and Woo later reteamed for Face/Off. --Doug Thomas

Description

When a B-3 Stealth Bomber crashes in the Utah desert during a top-secret test run, the military quickly moves in to retrieve its two "broken arrows." But the situation spins wildly out of control after one of the pilots reveals the crash to be part of an incredible nuclear extortion plot.

Customer Reviews:

Over the top.......2007-08-28

Travolta plays a creepy pilot trying to steal a nuclear weapon. Christian Slater is the guy trying to stop him. Entertaining but not believable.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

Almost a throwaway.......2007-08-03

Broken Arrow is meant to be a high impact thriller with in house terrorism and a good vs. evil mindset. It is meant to be a movie that is exciting and adventurous. What it is rather, is a laughable attempt at all these things. John Travolta is always accomplished in the role he plays, and this is no different. What is truly hilarious is former professional football player Howie Long also having a part as one of the rogue bad guys. Long may be in the hall of fame and have a Superbowl ring as one of the greatest Lineman to ever play the game, but his talents stop there. All this guy does is bring a brute look to the screen, complete with signature flat top haircut. The script got hacked a lot on this one because he has few lines and even when he tries to act intense when saying them during some fight scenes, he comes off more as someone who really does not belong in a movie at all.

That is not the main problem with this film though. Broken Arrow is doomed from the start with an improbable situation that in real life, whether it is pre or post 9/11, just would not happen like that. A scene of a warhead launching out of a moving train and just knocking the guy out into the air who was standing in front of it was ridiculous. Any missile of this size needs a massive amount of burst behind it, and the flames alone would have fried him anyway. Beyond that, a human body really is nothing more than a sack of water, and in real life this guy would have been in several pieces before the rocket had traveled a minimal distance.

The hero is Hale who is played by Christian Slater. Hale tries to thwart Vic Deakins (Travolta) and his master plan of hijacking two nuclear warheads to sell for profit. Slater is not bad but his partner in crime is, and that is Terry Carmichael (played by Samantha Mathis) who is a park ranger. She just happens to come across all this high action desert dueling while on the job. Mathis is lovely and an accomplished actress but her character is way, way to ridiculous to the point of laughable. Many times she seems to know how to dodge bullets and a scene depicted in slow motion of her running down a canyon ravine while being threatened by a helicopter had me rolling on the floor.

Travolta's character is by far the most likeable, with witty one-liners and a diabolical outlook that has no mercy. Beyond that, it pales even to other films of a similar kind like Con Air (Unrated Extended Edition) or another Travolta favorite of mine called Face/Off. A lot of build up was put into this movie upon it's initial release and even though it claimed some fame at the time, to view it now is nothing but a waste of precious time.

Broken Depth, nauseating....trite, for fans of flat, uncharging films.......2007-05-25

everyone should burn this dvd. Horrible acting, slow, moronic script, lackluster dialouge, Travolta is truly second rate B actor in this, Slater is appalling as per usual, (with the exception of Pump Up the Volume, which I found rather delicious as a feel good film)

The film just doesn't go anywhere, it's a movie you forget about a week later after you watch it. It is simply a 'fair' film, with frosh dialouge from a liberal arts major at a state college. In this reviewers opinion, it is probably in the top twenty or so worst acting films in the cinemas history. No emotion, no depth, a zero star. Horrendously crafted. It is as bad, or as comparable to 'Con Air', and we all know how truly pathetic that was.

Broken Arrow...Yes it is cool!!.......2007-05-06

Catching a line from this movie the suspense in this movie is "cool". John Travolta and Christian Slater are at odds in this 1996 movie on the theft of two nuclear warheads in rugged terrain of Utah. At times it has you on the edge of your seat. It certainly is a far cry from Travolta's roles in Grease and Saturday Night Fever but one of his best!!

Broken Arrow.......2007-03-09

I had originally taped this from TV but liked it so much that I wanted to buy it. It is a great movie and I like both the actors in it.

Average customer rating:

MAJOR SUCK FEST
Waste of time, waste of money
Dark, Disturbing Film
1 was definitely extreme
Icky but not that extreme, really

3 Extremes
Starring: Ling Bai , Pauline Lau , Tony Leung Ka Fai , Meme Tian , and Miriam Yeung Chin Wah
Director: Takashi Miike , Fruit Chan , and Chan-wook Park
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CRR3ME
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Amazon.com

The idea of unleashing three of Asia's wildest directors in the same omnibus film is a terrific one, and putting the likes of Miike Takashi and Park Chan-wook to work in the Twilight Zone-style mini-feature is mouth-watering for fans. (Just look at what happened when Miike made an installment of Showtime's Masters of Horror series--it was deemed too crazy for broadcast.) Alas, the results are a letdown. First up, "Dumplings," is from Hong Kong's Fruit Chan, and it's the most cogent (and ickiest) of the bunch. Bai Ling plays a specialist in preparing dumplings that promise to restore youth and health for her customers; the weird part is she also runs a particular clinic on her premises. Ugh. The Korean offering from Park Chan-wook is "Cut," a warp on filmmaking about a self-centered director who gets trapped at his home (or is it the set of his new movie?) by a deranged former extra. The sadistic machinations here make Hannibal Lecter look reasonable, and the segment gets points for weirdness, but Park's take on revenge fantasies is much more exciting in Oldboy and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. Miike represents Japan with "Box," which really is in the spirit of an old Outer Limits episode, complete with a "gotcha" ending that doesn't seem worth the trouble. Sure, twins are always a good topic for horror, but this segment is a long way to travel for not much. All three segments look good--there's little hint of the grindhouse cheapie here--but overall it's a disappointment. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

MAJOR SUCK FEST.......2007-08-30

I barely made it through this dvd and when it was over I rolled my eyes and shelved it. Having watched (and bought) A Tale of Two Sisters, OldBoy, Dark Water and The Eye 1 and 2 (which are all disturbing and GREAT Asian movies), it takes a lot to impress me. The trilogy of films on this dvd are just plain silly. "Dumplings" is ridiculous. It's a story about a fetus-munching woman. The slow, deliberate 'crunch, crunch, crunching' of fetal bone is over emphasized and almost comic. The second story has the usual twitchy Asian lunatic torturing and punishing. And the third story is forgettable.

3 Extremes II and III are mostly boring with little or no shock value, with the exception of the story "Going Home" which is on 3 Extremes II. It stars the incredible Eugenia Yuan (The Eye 2) and is a complex and bittersweet story. As for 3 Extremes III, I was not scared, disgusted, or moved in any way by this dvd. I am amazed at some of the other reviews that give this DVD a 5 star rating and comment on how horrible and frightening the 3 stories are.

Please do not waste your money or your time on this DVD. If you want to watch trully incredible, GREAT Asian films, I recommend A Tale of Two Sisters, OldBoy, Dark Water and The Eye 1 and 2.

Waste of time, waste of money.......2007-07-20

These three movies are supposed to be like Asian "Twilight Zone" episodes but were just three very bloody disturbing movies. The first was Chinese and was about the extremes to which a woman would go to remain young and beautiful...(the secret's in the dumplings). It was actually well made but just plain gross. The second story was Korean and was about a young rich director (who happens to be a really nice guy) who is kidnapped by a man who tortures the director's wife in order to get the young man to confess to a sin. There must be some Korean philosophy here that doesn't really translate to the West ---that a rich man cannot be a good man...so if good man is rich, then he must be lying and hiding an awful secret. I didn't get it, but it was extremely violent and bloody and in my opinion had no point to it. The third story is Japanese and is about a woman who lives with the guilt that as a child she unintentionally caused the death of another little girl whom she was jealous of. It was a beautifully made movie and had a couple of eerie scenes in it, but there was absolutely no point to it. It was disturbing because the adult trainer of the girls (they were acrobats) seemed to be sleeping with the little girl he favored and gave her a necklace...but it seemed to imply that the other girl was jealous because she wanted the same 'attention' from the man (as well as a necklace). There was of course a twist at the end, but it made no sense. This DVD was a BIG waste of time and money!
*Parental Note*: This Dvd contains graphic violence, sadism, blood, gore, sex and just plain 'yuck'. If you let your kids see this movie you are a really bad parent!

Dark, Disturbing Film.......2007-07-19

One thing about the horror genre is that it is so difficult to define.

Viewers expecting supernatural ghost stories or vampires and werewolves might be disappointed with "Three...Extremes." What any good horror film does however, is hit (or sometimes pound) on a key that deeply disturbs us inside.

Three...Extremes is one such film and is comprised of three shorter films, the best of which being Dumplings (Fruit Chan). Though utterly disgusting and hard to watch, it is done right, for it does not rely on gore alone. Rather, it delves into the human psyche and exposes a darker side of humanity-- thoughts and perversions we'd rather not think about. To what length will one go to obtain what she thinks she wants?

The other two mini-films, although not as good as "Dumplings," are decent. "Cut" would draw comparisons to "Hard Candy," and perhaps "Saw." The third mini-film (Miike), entitled "Box," is somewhat unique, perhaps too abstract to be truly chilling.

1 was definitely extreme.......2007-06-11

*3 Extremes* is an anthology of 3 Asian directors giving a short film.

The first one was "Dumpling" and I thought this was the most gruesome of them all. Let me forewarn you not to eat, especially Chinese food, while watching this particular short because that is exactly what I did. I had to put down my food until this movie was over.

Anyways, "Dumpling" is about a woman who is known for her dumplings that seem to bring restorative powers of youth. An aging actress has sought out this woman for the dumplings. Over time, she starts to notice that she gets a little younger. Of course, there is a price attached for wanting to become younger.

"Cut" was ok. It was the least favorite of mine. Maybe I overanalyze this one but I felt that the ending ruined the whole point of the movie. Anyways, a movie director is captured and imprisoned in his own set that he was currently filming. On his right is his wife who is "stringed" to a piano. On his left is a bound and gagged girl. The kidnapper is deranged and wants a confession out of the director and wants him to strangle the girl to death. For every 5 minutes that passes and the girl isn't strangled, the wife loses a finger.

This one is sort of like watching "Tales from the Crypt" because something goes awry towards the end.

"Box" was interesting. A woman gets this strange recurring dream and then she gets a visit from her dead sister. Then, you're taken back to the time when the woman and her sisters were little girls. They were acrobatic dancers for a man at a one-tent circus.

One evening, a girl decides to tease her sister by locking her in a box. When that is done, an argument ensues between the girl and the man. During the argument, a fire breaks out and quickly engulfs the box with the trapped sister. The man jumps into the fire but he never makes it back. The girl runs away, never looking back.

Years later, the woman is having dreams about her past. Plus, someone is sending her reminders of the past. If you really pay attention, you can probably figure it out before the ending is revealed.

Overall, I thought this film was alright. Nothing really scary or suspenseful. Just gruesome...with "Dumpling". I was telling a friend of mine about this. He told me there is an extended/completed version of "Dumpling". So, I'm curious to check that out.

Icky but not that extreme, really.......2007-05-24

You know how it is with anthologies - they're always hit and/or miss, even when you get top directors. This one really has good names. I was wary of this film when I learned two of the three directors were Park Chan-wook and Takashi Miike. I saw their previous movies and they freaked me out. Miike, especially, really traumatised me with "Ichi the Killer". All three mini-movies are beautifully shot and there are hints the directors really are trying to be extreme but trying doesn't mean that they are. It was really surprising that non-horror director, Fruit Chan, is the one who comes closest. His "Dumplings" - a tale of abortion, cannibalism, dumplings and beauty supplements - is the only one truly worthy of the price of admission. It's uncomfortable, disturbing and macabre, all the more by relying on suggestion and being relatively gore-free. Ironically, Park's and Miike's segments are the weaker ones. Park's entry, "Cut" is silly psychobabble nonsense while Miike's "Box" is too bizarre and incoherent to be horrifying. There's a lot of fluids,body parts and mad people but that only makes it icky, not extreme.

DVD:

DVD

DVD