The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

From the moment that Prince Eric's ship emerged from the fog in the opening credits it was apparent that Disney had somehow, suddenly recaptured that "magic" that had been dormant for thirty years. In the tale of a headstrong young mermaid who yearns to "spend a day, warm on the sand," Ariel trades her voice to Ursula, the Sea Witch (classically voiced by Pat Carroll), for a pair of legs. Ariel can only succeed if she receives true love's kiss in a few day's time and she needs all the help she can from a singing crab named Sebastian, a loudmouth seagull, and a flounder. The lyrics and music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken are top form: witty and relevant, and they advance the story (go on, hum a few bars of "Under the Sea"). Mermaid put animation back on the studio's "to do" list and was responsible for ushering Beauty and the Beast to theaters. A modern Disney classic. --Keith Simanton

Description

THE LITTLE MERMAID, one of the most celebrated animated films of all time -- and winner of two Academy Awards(R) (Best Music, Original Score; Best Music, Original Song, "Under The Sea," 1989) -- splashes onto an exciting 2-Disc DVD with an all-new digital restoration. Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian at her side. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true—and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula! Dive into a world of music and adventure in this new 2-Disc Platinum Edition your family will enjoy again and again!

Customer Reviews:

Terrible movie - don't waste your money or your time.......2007-09-03

Our family enjoys many Disney movies (Mulan, Peter Pan, Fox & the Hound, Robin Hood, Sword in the Stone, etc.), but Little Mermaid is terrible! I can't believe this plot was developed anytime after 1950. 16-year-old mermaid "falls in love" with prince after seeing him once (never actually speaks with him), gives up everything (family/talent/etc.) to see him again. If you are looking for a strong female role model, watch Mulan - it is amazing. If you are looking for a girl-gets-prince movie, watch Cinderella - it is a classic.

The Little Mermaid.......2007-08-24

Disney never seems to let us down with the classics. Great movie and songs.

How can anyone not like this?.......2007-08-23

This is an all-time classic. I dont know anybody who hasnt seen it. Its a magical, beautiful film that you can watch over and over. And who doesnt know the words to every song? It doesn't get any better than this.

The Little Mermaid.......2007-08-21

Like all the other "Disney Princess" movies, The Little Mermaid is great. The DVD came with all kinds of cool bonus features. Some people have said that the restoration was good, and if that is your case: get a new tv, i had no problems with it whatsoever, the work they did was incredible.

Cheated. I Got The Region 3 DVD. Only 1 Disc. "Jumping Jellyfish.".......2007-08-18

Walt Disney's classic under-the-sea coming-of-age film "The Little Mermaid" (loosely based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen) gets the 2-Disc Special Platinum Edition DVD treatment.

When I ordered this movie, I specifically ordered the 2-Disc edition, but I recieved the wrong one. I got stuck with the Region 3 DVD, which has only 1 disc and only several special features. As Sebastian would say,
"Jumping jellyfish." I was very disappointed.

On to the movie itself, however. The film is a classic, with songs by the Academy-Award winning team Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (who would go on to score "Beauty And The Beast," my all-time favourite movie) and wonderful characters (Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian and Scuttle, among others), the movie is a timeless classic your little girl will treasure forever. Rated G.

Denise Austin: Boot Camp - Total Body Blast

Average customer rating:

too annoying to watch frequently
Fast-paced and fun
great workout
"I LOVED IT!!"
Good Workout

Denise Austin: Boot Camp - Total Body Blast
Starring: Denise Austin
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IHY9UC
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Description

In BOOT CAMP: TOTAL BODY BLAST, your personal drill sergeant Denise Austin will transform your body into a fat-burning furnace with dynamic intervals of punches, kicks, and power drills! Banish flab, burn mega calories and sculpt a champion body with Denise's unique blend of cardio, strength training and FUN! The DVD includes: CARDIO BOOT CAMP: Blast into shape with this 20-minute, high-energy workout that interchanges short bursts of cardio with longer workout periods that combine kickboxing, sports drills and calorie-crunching calisthenics! STRENGTH BOOT CAMP: Experience another level of interval training with this explosive, 20-minute workout that alternates strengthening exercises (using hand weights) with heart-pounding cardio boosts to incinerate fat and keep your heart-rate soaring! FLEXIBILITY: Look and feel better than ever with this 10-minute series of active, isolated, stretching moves and techniques designed to improve your posture, flexibility and overall athletic performance!

Customer Reviews:

too annoying to watch frequently.......2007-09-11

As far as a workout, this was pretty good -- able to get the heart rate up and work up a bit of a sweat in 20 minute chunks, which was what I was looking for.

But Denise drives me nuts. I couldn't take the constant chattering and coddling about what a "champion we are" as we "train like an ath-e-lite" while we "think about how good we'll look in a bathingsuit" because I'm "a fat burning machine!" If it wasn't constant, or if it was in a different tone of voice, I think I could live with it. Her form was pretty good, though one of her minions was wearing high-heeled sneakers which really rubs me the wrong way.

When I ordered the dvd, I thought I'd be able to put up with it, but now my next step is trying to mute the volume for the dvd so I don't throw my TV out the window.

Fast-paced and fun.......2007-08-30

This is a fast-paced, mostly athletic style cardio and toning interval workout with lots of step-touch squats and lunges, jump ropes, high-knee jogs, kickboxing moves, etc. The intensity level of the workout really depends on how much energy you put into them and I found Denise's upbeat, positive personality and constant pep talk to be well-suited for this video despite the fact that she clearly isn't everyone's cup of tea. At 50 minutes, it works the entire body and while it doesn't go too heavy on the weights, it will make you sweat profusely and burn off lots of calories. The only reason I gave it four instead of five stars is because, as others have noted, Denise's cuing isn't the best - if not downright confusing at times - and so you may have to go through this video a few times before finally catching on to the quick-changing moves. I'd say it's fairly appropriate for all fitness levels, as beginners can take the intensity and weights down if needed, while advanced exercisers can simply increase these factors (although the fast-pace of the toning exercises probably won't allow you to up the weight too much). Although not perfect, I still greatly enjoyed this workout and the time flew by!

Rating: Good

great workout.......2007-08-19

I just tried the bootcamp workout and did all 3 sections. The cardio section really got my heartrate up and that was great. The second section was a mix of cardio and strengh. I would have liked a bit more strength exercises but I am just going to use heavier weights to get more from it. The flexability section was a great way to finish it off. I really enjoy her upbeat attitude.

"I LOVED IT!!".......2007-08-16

I love this denise austin dvd... it makes you sweat and it makes you feel like you have acomplished something for your self! and its great having denise coach you all the way thru.!!

Good Workout.......2007-08-15

The workouts on this video are pretty intense although only they are only 20 minutes each. Austin can sometimes seem a little strange but she gives a good workout!

Average customer rating:

Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle
Edie
An enchanting movie, a spirited muse
Now I remember why I don't like Andy Warhol
Missing Dylan

Factory Girl (Unrated)
Starring: Colleen Camp , Illeana Douglas , Charles Ferrara , Beth Grant , and Edward Herrmann
Director: George Hickenlooper
Manufacturer: The Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000QGDXG6
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Amazon.com

The lovely face of Sienna Miller fills in for luminous but tragic 1960s icon Edie Sedgwick, the child of wealth and privilege who found brief delight but eventual destruction in the fabled Factory of Pop artist Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce). Factory Girl begins with Sedgwick as a naive art student who comes to New York City seeking freedom from her troubled family, just as Warhol was surrounding himself with oddballs, sycophants, and drug addicts. The eager girl briefly becomes Warhol's favorite and the center of the city's attention, but when she falls into an affair with 'The Musician' (the only slightly ambiguous depiction of a certain nasal-voiced rock star, played by Hayden Christensen, Shattered Glass), Warhol is stricken with jealousy. Factory Girl wants to paint Warhol as the villain in this story of innocence corrupted, but the casting undercuts the movie's moral. Miller, though pretty and capable, never takes us under Sedgwick's skin, and Christensen's performance is one-note and clumsy. But Pearce's Warhol fascinates; it's a sneaky, stealthy performance, predatory yet passive, hiding a million neuroses beneath a cunningly vapid facade. Whenever Pearce is on-screen, Factory Girl sparkles; when he's not--despite abundant views of Miller's and Christensen's attractive naked flesh in the "uncut unrated" version--the movie loses its fizz. Also featuring Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Jimmy Fallon (Fever Pitch), and Illeana Douglas (Grace of My Heart). --Bret Fetzer

Description

(Drama) "Factory Girl" tells the story of the rise and fall of the original "IT GIRL" Edie Sedgwick. When Edie meets famed artist Andy Warhol, she is thrust into a life of glamour, parties and ultimately…tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle .......2007-09-06

For the concerted effort Sienna Miller puts into her searing portrayal of Warhol protégé and underground celebrity Edie Sedgwick, it would have been rewarding to experience a film that matches her unbridled dramatic impact. Unfortunately, director George Hickenlooper, primarily a documentary filmmaker, seems more focused on eye-catching cinematic techniques - a deliberately artsy mix of overtly dramatic images, grainy film stock and slow-motion photography - than honest character development in this highly fictionalized 2007 account of her brief life. The result feels energetic but ultimately rather cursory in the way he depicts the Manhattan party scene in the mid-1960's, in particular, the Factory, where Warhol let his coterie of drug-addicted fame-seekers gather to make virtually unwatchable films that reflect their constant state of ennui.

With her big raccoon eyes, pre-punk hairdo and flashing smile, Miller bears such a striking resemblance to the real-life Sedgwick that she carries much of the film by the sheer will of her character's Holly Golightly-like sense of exalted self-worth. But like Holly, Sedgwick lacked talent to sustain a film career, and the script leaves Miller to her own devices in connecting us with her character's tormented psyche amid her escalating drug use. On the upside, Guy Pearce accurately captures the discomfiting public image of Warhol down to the familiar narcissistic indifference and manipulative shyness, but his character gradually recedes into the background. At first, Hayden Christensen comes across as amateurish and unintentionally amusing as a Bob Dylan doppelganger, especially since he makes a feeble attempt at capturing the singer's recognizable speech cadences. Just as he manages to transcend the awkwardness of the character's intrusion into the story, he also disappears making his impact in Sedgwick's life feel rather fleeting.

Even though the cryptic screenplay by Captain Mauzner, Aaron Richard Golub and Simon Monjack conveniently paints Warhol and the faux-Dylan as polarizing figures pulling at Sedgwick's soul, the story really comes down to her own inner demons. The problem is that she remains oddly elliptical throughout, and Hickenlooper seems satisfied with leaving us with an impressionistic view of a person who barely warrants our attention forty years later. Among the supporting players, there are quite a familiar faces - Ileana Douglas as Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, Jimmy Fallon as Sedgwick's confidante Chuck Wein, Tara Summers as fellow Warhol protégé Brigid Berlin, Mena Suvari as Brigid's sister Richie, Edward Herrmann as the family attorney, Mary Kate Olsen as a partygoer. However, none of them are given any opportunity to shine.

The 2007 DVD includes several extras of varying interest, the best being an insightful commentary track from Hickenlooper and a thirty-minute documentary on the life of the real Sedgwick that mimics the main film's stylistic touches. There is also a bland ten-minute making-of featurette, a scene that was understandably excised, audition footage of Miller, the original theatrical trailer, and a twenty-minute behind-the-scenes video diary coordinated by Pearce. Despite strong work from Miller and Pearce, the film is only marginally effective as a dramatic vehicle even as Hickenlooper viscerally evokes a fascinating period of history in the arts scene.

Edie.......2007-09-01

This is a vey well made movie about the rise and fall of Edie Sedgwick. While it may not completely explain or try to explain why Edie did what she did it is a very well done movie. The acting, especially by Sienna Miller is very good (even if you wonder why she got the role when you see some of her screen test passages in the extras).At times the physical resemblance with the real Edie is exceptional, or at least with pictures from that era. Basically Edie was a wealthy New England socialite who left art school to go to New York where she met Andy Warhol- Being spectacularly attractive she became famous for the famous Warholian 15 minutes and then became very involved in drugs and eventually died at 28 years of age. However she has with time becom an icon of the 60's. This was confirmed by a book hat came out a while ago by Jean Stein and which is quite an excellent read.
The extras are rather good since there is a short documentary about the real Edie with interviews of survivors who knew her such as Gerard Malanga and her brother. This series of interviews actually complement the movie quite well. Together with the above mentioned book it increases the fascination one can have for her. Also as stated above there is a short screen test Sienna Miller did for the movie.
The guy who plays Warhol is not that great though.

An enchanting movie, a spirited muse.......2007-08-26

A lot of people gripe about this film, but I side with Edie's bro Johnathan: I think it does a wonderful job evoking her spirit. The acting is great, the sets and costumes and music are fabulous, and the story is heartbreaking. Though it may have some inaccuracies, I've never seen a Hollywood biographical film that didn't. I'm so glad I bought this movie so I can watch it again and again!

Now I remember why I don't like Andy Warhol.......2007-08-26

This is a movie that is a bit tricky for me to review. If you ask: "Was it well done?" The answer is yes. If you ask: "Was the cast good?" The answer is yes. However, it's simply not what I expected, and that's my fault. I did not read the plot of the movie. I read about how it was un-rated & heard that Sienna Miller did some nude scenes in it. Both are true, but neither was able to overcome my lack of interest in the story.

The movie is based on a true story of a woman named Edie Sedgwick. She was part of Andy Warhol's entourage in the 1960s. I'd always figured Warhol to be a quack. If this film is remotely accurate, then Warhol was even more of a quack than I thought!

Sienna Miller gives a terrific performance. Guy Pearce is creepy and whacked-out enough to play Warhol. The problem is, I just couldn't get into the story. I've always had a big problem having sympathy for junkies, as it seems to me that they "make their own beds" insofar as their myriad problems are concerned. The movie reminded me a lot of Angelina Jolie's Gia (Unrated Edition), which was about another troubled young woman / junkie from about a decade later.

I will be, in the end, as fair as I can be here. If you are a big fan of Andy Warhol and / or Edie Sedgwick, then this film certainly belongs on your shelf of DVDs. If you are (like me) mainly drawn to this film due to the fact that it's Un-Rated, then I would recommend you find other, more saucy UR films. That's as diplomatic as I can be.

Missing Dylan.......2007-08-23

Bob Dylan's refusal to allow his name and music ruins a great story. He immortalized Edie, seeing very early on how weak and damaged she was. You can't tell the story of Edie without Bob.

Average customer rating:

Aaah... sooo sweet!!!!!!
Always a classic
The Parent Trap
Sweet, charming and satisfying, makes for a great time with the family...
Try to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's first film without the ironic frame of reference

The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan , Dennis Quaid , Natasha Richardson , Elaine Hendrix , and Lisa Ann Walter
Director: Nancy Meyers
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007LXPBI
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills--it's as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy--about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents--out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly '90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad's impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. --Marshall Fine

Description

What makes the Special Edition of THE PARENT TRAP so cool isn't just that you get to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's amazing theatrical debut, but that's it's filled with bonus materials you've never seen before. Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss (both played by Lohan) are identical twins who don't even know each other exists -- until they accidentally meet at summer camp. Now they're up to their freckles in schemes and dreams to switch places, get their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) back together, and have the family they've always wished for!

Customer Reviews:

Aaah... sooo sweet!!!!!!.......2007-08-23

This movie was soo sweet and cute. Lindsay used to be so innocent! I didn't really like the original, this one is way better! There's some really funny scenes, and I liked the British accent. I would totally reccomend buying this movie!

Always a classic.......2007-08-07

The first version of this movies was one of my favorites when I was little. My kids love the new version. Its not often that you find a remake that rivals the original but this one definately does. Great entertainment!

The Parent Trap.......2007-07-30

I disagree with a lot of a people. This movie is really safe and sweet and Lindsay Lohan is an amazing little girl in this movie who wants to see her parents get back together again. It's true she grew up to make mistakes, but it's parents fault. It's her mother's fault for giving her a bad upbringing and it's her father's fault for doing drugs when she was a kid and for being in jail and then ten years later going around thumping the Bible on her when he himself is a grade A loser. A lot of great people in the world were born to losers. I like Lindsay Lohan. I really do. And as for I Knew Who Killed me, I'm sure it's not as bad as people think. And nothing was funny about Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine dancing like that. It was good and I think actresses take roles like that to show they have an edge to them. And maybe they just want to make people see how they'e matured. So there.

Sweet, charming and satisfying, makes for a great time with the family..........2007-07-30

If you want to watch something sweet, something fun and something memorable look no further than Disney's 90's remake of `The Parent Trap'. It's funny, it's charming and it's sure to be appreciated time and time again. Young Lindsay Lohan is so preciously sweet here that you can't help but fall in love with her. And talk about talent. This young actress may not have really struck it big until her `Mean Girls' stint, but `The Parent Trap' may very well hold her finest performance to date. She's convincing as two totally separate children, accent included, and that is a tough feet for most adult actors. But here Lohan pulls it off with flying colors, never once missing a beat.

The film follows the original film, at least in general plot, but it updates it quite a bit for modern society. Lohan plays both Annie James and Hallie Parker. Hallie lives in California with her father Nick, played by Dennis Quaid while Annie lives in London with her mother Elizabeth, played by Natasha Richardson. When they first meet at summer camp they are camp rivals, but soon after realizing they are in deed sister, identical twin sisters, they devise a plan to reunite their parents and become a family again. They swap places, each getting to meet and spend time with the parent they've never known and then, when their secret is exposed and they're forced to swap places again their parents will see one another and the wheels will be set in motion for their love to rekindle.

There's only one problem. Their father is falling in love with a horror show of a hot young thing named Meredith Blake, played brilliantly by Elaine Hendrix. Annie realizes soon after meeting her father that she is in way over her head with his new arm-candy. She's manipulative and beautiful and her father is obviously blinded by her legs. Hallie doesn't believe the danger is real for as far as she knows her father is never serious about any woman and besides the fact, she wants to spend more time with her mother. But the problem is serious for her father intends on marrying the gold-digging tramp and if that happens the girls plan would be ruined.

The hi-jinx's that ensue are hilarious and the acting is superb. Lohan outshines all, but both Quaid and Richardson do a wonderful job as the two loving parents. In fact, they are both so lovable and charming that it's hard to understand why their marriage didn't work in the first place. As I mentioned, Hendrix is deliciously evil here and works her character to the bone. My favorite supporting character though is Lisa Ann Walter who plays Nick's housekeeper. She's effortlessly charming and sweet and so good natured. I just love her character and her interacting with Lohan is fantastic. Simon Kunz is memorable as the James' butler and Ronnie Stevens is more than effective as Elizabeth's father.

The film is a wonderful experience from start to finish and monopolizes very well on the charm of the entire cast and the popularity of the original film. It's a remake that was worth being remade and it'll be sure to bring plenty of smiles to the faces of everyone in the family. As many have mentioned, Lindsay's life has taken a huge detour down to the gutter, but put your preconceived notions about her off-screen antics aside and embrace the career she could have had had she stayed cute and adorable and level headed.

Try to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's first film without the ironic frame of reference.......2007-07-30

I am sure the reason "The Parent Trap" is airing on cable television today is not because of Lindsay Lohan's arrest this past week but more because this past Friday "I Know Who Killed Me" opened. So you have to appreciate that they are showing Lohan's first movie on television the same weekend that what may well be her last movie is opening in theaters. It is hard to watch this 1998 remake of the 1961 Haley Miles film of the same name, which is an American version of the German story "Das Doppelte Lottchen" by Erich Kästner filmed in 1950, and not wonder what happened to sweet little Lindsay Lohan. Watching this version again I kept thinking of Rob Schneider's joke on "The Tonight Show" about Lohan being worried about losing jobs to the English chick that played opposite her in "The Parent Trap" (Erin Mackey was the acting double, but that is not who he mean), but the basic situation is way too sentimental to be caustic and cynical for too long when watching this movie again.

My problem with this movie is neither Lohan nor her performance, but rather the parents and the premise. I am tempted to review "The Parent Trap" as a horror film. You have these two people, Nick Parker (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth James (Natasha Richardson), who get married and after the birth of twin girls not only get a divorce but decide that to guarantee they never have to see each other ever again they will each take one of their infant daughters and go their separate ways, she to London, England and he to Napa Valley, California. The fact that the roots of this story go back a half-century to post-war Germany makes a lot of sense to me because I can see circumstances warranting such a separation making a lot more sense than a mother deciding she hates her husband enough to give away one of her children. I mean, come on, when Solomon offered his 50-50 deal way back when it was not a serious proposition (I want to ask what sort of parents break up immediately following the birth of their children, but Kevin Federline can now go for the hat trick on that score).

Fortunately, we only have to deal with the interaction of the parents in the third act of this film and as a general rule of thumb if there is not at least one Lindsay Lohan in a scene in this film, it tends not to work as well. The first act finds Hallie Parker and Annie James both arriving at the same Summer Camp (sending your kid to Summer Camp in another country across an entire ocean strikes me as being rather bizarre parental behavior, but it is a necessary plot device in this film). Eventually the girls will figure out the connection between them, which leads to the second act where they switch places to meet the parent they have never met. But before that they terrorize each other in an escalating series of camp hijinks that suggest they are forces to be reckoned with individually, so imagine what they can do if they team up.

The second act is far and away the best part of this film because it is pretty much impossible not to be moved when each girl finally gets to meet their other parent and when the parents finally realize what is going on (although my favorite moment is when Annie reveals her true identity to Lisa Ann Walter's Chessy). Coming clean is mandated because Annie, pretending to be Hallie, learns that their dad is going to marry Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix), apparently because he is the only one who cannot tell she is a money-hungry ice queen. So it is up to the twins to set things right, or at least set their parents up so they can do the right thing. One of the things that I think are required in a romance is what I call the "grand gesture," and when Nick takes Elizabeth down to his private wine cellar that is exactly what we get. The two-fold problem is that it does not work and that this particular grand gesture begs the question that needs to be asked of both parents as to why they never bothered to track down their other child. Part of me thinks that the twins would be better off with Chessy and Martin (Simon Kunz). If you can suspend your disbelief with regards to the stupidity of Nick and Elizabeth and the horrible thing they did to their daughters, then you can enjoy this film and the Lindsay Lohan that was.

Average customer rating:

A Tim Curry Showcase
Finally saw Clue for the first time last night
256 5-Star Recommendations Should Mean Something
Clue
hilarious movie

Clue
Starring: Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd , and Michael McKean
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: 6305882649
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Amazon.com

Undoubtedly the first movie in history to have played in theaters with three different endings (depending on which theater you attended), Clue is a silly whodunit based on the familiar board game featuring Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and all the other usual suspects. A broadly comic cast play the sundry suspects gathered in a mansion to solve a murder, knowing that one of their numbers is the culprit. Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and Tim Curry are the best of the bunch, and the film is as lightweight an experience as a round of the game itself. Directed by Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny). The video release contains all three endings. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A Tim Curry Showcase.......2007-09-04

The classic board game comes to life in this film. A bunch of characters have been summoned to a strange mansion where they are given aliases. Eventually they meet a strange character named Mr. Body. When he is mysteriously killed the fun really begins. Who killed Mr. Body? The characters don't know and they all suspect each other. The police are on the way and everyone could be guilty. The only hope is to solve the murder before the police arrive.

Despite the strong cast this movie really showcases Tim Curry the most. The film was originally released in three versions, each with a different ending. On this disk you can choose to watch the theatrical release with a random ending or you can watch the video release that includes all three endings back to back. Other than that, there are no real features other than the basics (chapter menu, subtitles, etc). The story works well and moves at a madcap pace obviously inspired by movies such as Murder By Death and The Cheap Detective while still managing to make the plot and action true to the board game. A good choice if you are looking for a zany comedy. Check it out.

Finally saw Clue for the first time last night.......2007-08-17

Even though I was only on this planet one year before Clue was released you would think I would have watched this little gem by now. I loved all the characters (especially Tim Currey) and the murder/mystery aspect made it even more enjoyable. I saw it for free, but now I just ordered my copy here. I suggest you do the same, if you weren't smart enough to already do so years ago. Prepare to sit back, relax and laugh of course!

256 5-Star Recommendations Should Mean Something.......2007-08-02

It means you should see this film, that is if you haven't already. There are few movies which I would give a 5-star rating to and this is one of them. The movie is only 90 minutes in length and very easy to sit through. It has a nice mix of both verbal and physical comedy. It takes multiple viewings to catch all that's going on. But, it isn't like you have to sit and concentrate or you will miss something, totally the opposite. This is a fun movie. Just put it on and relax.

The basic synopsis is: guests are invited to a isolated country mansion for dinner. They are confronted with the fact that they have something in common, they are all being blackmailed. Locked in the house with the blackmailer, murder (and comedy) ensues. There are 3 endings to the movie which you can program to either play one after the other or just one at random.

The only disappointing thing to the DVD is the lack of extras. I was hoping for a 20-year anniversary edition filled with extras, but alas.

Clue.......2007-07-03

Another great classic! You can't go wrong buying this movie. It's still good and funny no matter how many times you've seen it.

hilarious movie.......2007-06-02

This is one of my favorite movies and has been since I was a little kid. I'm not sure it would hold up to most people's tastes, but it makes me laugh every time. Some of the best movie quotes made into inside jokes. Playing the game when I was little only made some of the references more amusing.

One of the best parts is the end - there are three! You can watch one randomly or all three. Something I wish would happen more often with silly movies made nowadays.

Average customer rating:

Sad, but hardly the "scary" movie liberals make it out to be.
OH MAN...
Severe Misrepresentation of Charismatic Christians
Man, look at all the defensive fundies on Amazon!
Jesus Camp DVD

Jesus Camp
Starring: Mike Papantonio , Ted Haggard , and Becky Fischer
Director: Rachel Grady , and Heidi Ewing
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000KLQUV2
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Amazon.com

The feverish spectacle of a summer camp for evangelical Christian kids is the focus of Jesus Camp, a fascinating if sometimes alarming documentary. (Shortly after its release, the movie gained a new notoriety when Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who appears near the end of the film, resigned his post amid a male prostitute's allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct.) For most of the film, we follow a charismatic teacher, Becky Fischer, as she trains young soldiers in "God's Army" at a camp in North Dakota. Some of the kids emerge as likable and bright, and eager to continue their work as pint-sized preachers; elsewhere, the visions of children speaking in tongues and falling to the floor in ecstasy are more troubling. Even more arresting is the vision of a generation of children home-schooled to believe that the Bible is science, or Fischer's certainty that America's flawed system of democracy will someday be replaced by a theocracy. (In one scene, a cardboard cut-out of George W. Bush is presented to the children, who react by laying their hands on the figure as though in a religious procession.) Filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady maintain neutrality about all this, maybe too much so (they throw in some interviews with radio host Mike Papantonio to provide a liberal-Christian viewpoint) and one would like to know more about the grown-ups presented here. Power broker Haggard is the creepiest person in the film, an insincere smooth talker whose advice to one of the young would-be campgoers comes across as entirely cynical. Time will tell whether the film's Christian soldiers will be marching onward. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Sad, but hardly the "scary" movie liberals make it out to be........2007-09-14

"Jesus Camp", a 2006 documentary about a Pentecostal summer camp for children, has had liberal America alternately cowering in fear and up in arms, due to its startling revelations that some Americans take Christianity rather seriously and would like to use the democratic process to change public policy. Rendered hysterical by the fear that a Christian Taliban of Bible-quoting Bushbots will soon be marching into their respective urban enclaves to burn down the alternative coffee houses and yoga schools, American lefties have shown that they are in serious need of a sense of proportion and a field trip to the America with which they are so obviously out of touch. I have my own problems with the church depicted in this film, but it's deranged to consider these fanatics any kind of threat to American democracy and it's hypocritical to condemn them for doing what is their Constitutional right in a free society.

"Jesus Camp" centers around a Pentecostal church led by a loud-mouthed, grossly obese female "pastor" named Becky Fischer who is shown indoctrinating a group of children at the church's summer camp in North Dakota. I don't use the word "indoctrinate" pejoratively; it's just a statement of fact. Every religion, parent, school, etc. indoctrinates children in the group's own tenets and ideologies. It is somewhat disturbing to see young children programmed in such fanaticism, but it's no less disturbing to see other young children spouting off liberal propaganda that their parents and schoolteachers quite obviously put into their heads. If New York and London critics don't like the fact that this church indoctrinates its young in Jesus and conservative politics, then they should try practicing a little more of the tolerance they're always preaching about.

What made me upset was the disgusting emotional manipulation this bully of a pastor and her lackeys put these kids through. Watching her psychologically destroy these children with tactics like her hellfire and damnation sermon and reduce them to blubbering, self-hating puddles of tears who can only be built back up through the ministry and approval of "Pastor" Becky is to witness a sickening form of child abuse. In that aspect, this church can indeed be regarded as cult-like. She doesn't just want to influence their religious thinking or get them to vote a certain way when they get older; she wants to control these children. Because of whatever psychological defect this woman has, she wants and needs to be at the very center of their lives, to be worshiped by them. Adults made a choice to to abdicate their minds to such a woman. Children are forced into it. That was what I found objectionable about this this movie, not the fact that religious conservatives vote.

OH MAN... .......2007-09-10

After watching this movie I, in my humanity, want to go medieval on the fools subjecting these kids to this crap. I could go on and on about what is wrong with what is done to these kids...but let me instead respond to two comments that are made in the movie:

1. Kids are not to be USED for anything. Kids are to be loved, protected, educated and given freedom to make their own choices and take their own actions.

2. Following God is not about saving oneself from heartache. If you want safety and comfort, look elsewhere...

...which is EXACTLY what these people are doing. They have made an idolatry of their ideology and called it Christianity. I fear for them when the only one who is holy and just does return to judge. They have wracked up quite an account for themselves.

Also...what is it with these people and their penchant for speaking in terms of "this generation?" If I could have only had $5 for every time one of them uses the phrase, I could start my own camp.

Seriously though--I am a Christ-follower. I am also an American. This movie, as well done as it is, makes me sad, makes me sick. This is an important document of some of the ways people calling themselves by the name of the Savior have brought ridicule on it and on America. Shame on them.

Severe Misrepresentation of Charismatic Christians.......2007-09-07

I was deeply disturbed how the children were portrayed and misrepresented by the bias of those producing the film. True Christianity is God's love being extended to the world through His sacrifice of His Son, Jesus on the cross. The way these kids were misrepresented was just another drum beating the beat that Christians are bigoted. True Christians love people, but don't agree with lifestyles outside of the Bible. These type of feelings/values are NOT bigoted. Often, alternative lifestyles lead to destruction anyways, anyone can see that and that is the Holy Spirit's job to convict. Just take a look at the divorce rate and all of the shattered children as a result. Look at the devastation of drug abuse. The list goes on and on. These children love the Lord with all of their heart. Look at any devote follower of any "religion" and you will find that the children are raised to believe what their parents believe. This is not brainwashing. By the way, Christianity is not a religion, it is a lifestyle with a relationship with the Lord Jesus Himself. In fact, most Christians even in the US are the objects of mockery, bigotry and inequality. This film is just evidence of that again. It really grieves me, because I am the type of person who would be willing to talk to anyone, as the Lord leads, despite their beliefs. Most Christians are like this and we are just portrayed incorrectly in the media. It makes me really sad and mad that the producers did not depict these kids and Christians fairly.

Man, look at all the defensive fundies on Amazon!.......2007-09-01

Good, disturbing documentary. Limited in scope, but representative of a mass movement that's had a significant impact on our day to day lives - and wants to have more of an impact. Levi, the main kid who is followed in the film, looks to be a born grifter. He's a master of knowing how to say what people want, in the way they want to hear it. His sister, Rachael, is learning the game, but is less nuanced; her bit about martyrs is painful and funny as she makes up a scene that she claims to have heard about.

All of this rings true to me; I was a fundie in high school, in Missouri, 30+ years ago, and the dynamics remain very similar. There is still a heavy emphasis on Jesus as the genie in the bottle who will grant your wishes. God is the judgmental, abusive father who constantly needs to reiterate how much he loves you - but He'll send you to Hell in a heartbeat if you don't figure out what he wants. There is still an Us vs. Them mentality, not just toward unbelievers, but toward Christians who are not like one's own community. Like the Gnostics, there is a Children of Light vs. Children of Darkness foundation underlying it all, presupposing that unbelievers wish to persecute or lead believers astray, resulting in isolation to preserve one's faith (as when Levi says he would prefer to attend a school that teaches Intelligent Design rather than Evolution; it is assumed to be dangerous to one's faith to be exposed to different, conflicting ideas). I remember warnings from the pulpit against being "unequally yoked with" (marrying or dating) unbelievers. The only accepted reason to interact with unbelievers is for the purpose of evangelizing them or otherwise advancing the cause of "The Kingdom". And, of course, there is the intense but unexamined obsession with all things sexual, and the craven need for powerful authority figures.

I'd have liked to hear a child psychologist or two talk about the adult/child processes depicted in the film. Given the ages of the children here, and a knowledge of their various stages of development, a discussion of brainwashing techniques and indoctrination and the use of peer pressure and authority - driven pressures would be well-worth hearing.

Though the definitive documentary on the Religious Right in America is yet to be made, Jesus Camp is worth seeing. The scene where the youth minister declares that Harry Potter would be stoned if he lived in Old Testament times (Oh, for the good old days, when the stoning of fictional characters was encouraged!) is worth the price of admission.

Jesus Camp DVD.......2007-08-31

I had heard about this dvd and wanted to see it for myself. I was not disappointed. It is thrilling to see children walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was frustrating to see the bias of the media also filmed. It is a sad commentary on the condition of nominal 'church goers'.

Average customer rating:

Clearly, I Don't Get It
Arts and Farts and Crafts!!
The best!
College Hit Movie
A Fairly Good Parody that Loses Sight in the Second Half

Wet Hot American Summer
Starring: Elizabeth Banks (II) , Michael Ian Black , Bradley Cooper , Janeane Garofalo , and David Hyde Pierce
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006AUIH
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Amazon.com

Tasty and nutrition-free as a snow cone on a hot summer day, Wet Hot American Summer is a silly, hilarious throwback to those mildly smutty early-'80s teen comedies. It takes place on the last day of Camp Firewood's 1981 season, and it's everyone's last chance for romance, self-realization, and of course the Big Talent show. The movie is filled with brilliant comic performances; it looks like the cast just took over a summer camp and had a great time. Writers Michael Showalter and David Wain have captured the essence of parody: absolutely nailing the conventions of their subject, kidding the hell out of it, and all the while showing a real fondness for the genre. People unfamiliar with Meatballs and its many imitators may well be left cold by Wet Hot American Summer, but anyone born between 1965 and 1980 will love it. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

Clearly, I Don't Get It.......2007-09-09

Clearly, I'm in the minority here, but I didn't find this movie the least bit funny. The reviewer who said that if you loved, "Anchorman" and "Old School", this is the film for you, is exactly right. This reminds me of a SNL skit saved for the last 5 minutes of the show that goes on for 90 minutes. One reviewer said there was a laugh a minute. The only laugh I found was when the kid lights his fart in the talent show. I realized there was something wrong with the writing when that was the only thing I found funny.

Maybe it's an age thing. Being in my 40's, the best camp film ever was "Meatballs". This was the era when movies like "Animal House" ruled, and set the bar for wacky/slob humor. There is a major difference between a movie being funny and being stupid. "Tommy Boy" and "The Hollywood Nights" each pull this off. Those movies are very funny and a laugh a minute. If I were watching "Wet Hot American Summer" in the theater, I would have walked out. Was it ever in theaters? I never even heard of it before browsing reviewer lists at Amazon.

If you are over 25, and are looking for some classic summer humor, try "Meatballs", "Summer Rental", "The Great Outdoors", as well as the hard to find summer camp movie, "GORP". This movie did actually come out in 1981 and features a young and crazy Dennis Quaid. It also has Robert Klein, Rosanna Arquette and Fran "The Nanny" chick in it. One reviewer called it "Meatballs" on steroids ... a great quote.

Arts and Farts and Crafts!!.......2007-08-26

This movie rocks hard. Early 80's camp-movie satire hard. Maybe more of a homage. From the same guys behind The State, Reno 911, and Stella. It's more of a series of similarly-themed sketches than a real plot - but very funny. You don't have to have gone to a Jewish summer camp as a kid, but it doesn't hurt.

The best!.......2007-05-12

`David Wain is an unbelieveable writer and director! He has an amazing sense of what is funny in a bizarre and goofy way. This is a must see for everyone!

College Hit Movie.......2007-04-28

Defiantly a movie for college kids! There is no denying the fact that this is a totally college based movie with humor related. It is a comedy based on a summer camp with a great deal of humor and jokes in it. Very low budge and a movie that has the potential to become a cult classic, at least among the college generation.

A Fairly Good Parody that Loses Sight in the Second Half.......2007-03-12

Hollywood likes to pretend the early 1980s -- when tight clothes, natural hair, and a laid back attitude were more common than throughout the rest of that narcissistic, self-indulgent decade -- never really existed. "Wet, Hot Summer" wants to remind us of the more interesting half of Reagan's era, parodying two genres, the raunchy teen comedy and the summer camp movie.

In both cases, the film mostly works, managing to both evoke the look and feel of those films while also offering a nostalgic peek into the time period. This is one of the few films about the 1980s that actually gets the hair and clothing styles right, as well as the attitudes of teens and preteens. As breezy as the films it parodies, "Wet, Hot Summer" relies less on a rigid plot and more on a series of episodes featuring a slew of characters who hook up, break up, and repeat the pattern as necessary, all to a soundtrack that includes Rick Springfield, Foreigner, and Loverboy. Indeed, scenes often play out more like "Mad" magazine parodies, right down to funny non-sequiturs and layers of jokes that make for repeat viewings.

The best storylines concern the awkward romance between the camp director (Jeaneane Garofalo) and a timid astronomer (David Hyde Pierce), though the ongoing soap opera involving a beefy jerk (Paul Rudd), his shallow admirer (Marguerite Moreau), and the sensitive goof who loves her (Michael Showalter) gets credit for being brutally honest. The rest of the cast is mostly unknowns or sketch comedy vets, like the kooky but cute Amy Poehler and the kooky but unnerving Molly Shannon, but Christopher Meloni (who could play Bert if they ever film a version of "Sesame Street's" Bert and Ernie) gets to pull an Ed O'Neill as the unstable Viet Nam vet stereotype.

The first half of the film stays more or less grounded (in fact, the opening credit sequence and first 15 minutes could have been lifted from an actual early 80s film); the second half takes the humor and story to far more exaggerated levels, involving, among other things, telekinesis and Skylab. Those of us who came through the decade will probably feel nostalgic, while younger generations will no doubt chuckle at the silliness of it all, if they aren't simply rolling their eyes. The ironic thing is that in making a spoof, director David Wain managed to capture many of the low-budget delights that made those films watchable, right down to the tight camera angles and the schmaltzy center. If it worked on you back then, it'll probably work on you now, too.

Average customer rating:

VERY BAD DELIVERY SERVICE
The Great Escape...
Great Classic
One of the Best Movies Ever Made
Classic

The Great Escape
Starring: Steve McQueen , James Garner , Richard Attenborough , James Donald , and Charles Bronson
Director: John Sturges
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 0792838408
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

The Great Escape image of Steve McQueen (as "The Cooler King") astride his motorcycle has entered silver-screen iconography, alongside Brando on his bike from The Wild One. Based on a true story about a group of POWs who mount a daring breakout from a supposedly inescapable Nazi prison camp, this rousing and suspenseful WWII epic features an all-star cast, including James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. The DVD also includes a 24-minute documentary about the making of the film. --Jim Emerson

Description

In 1943, the Germans opened Stalag Luft North, a maximum-security prisoner-of-war camp, designed tohold even the craftiest escape artists. In doing so, however, the Nazis unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military historybrilliantly portrayed here by Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson and James Coburnwho worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted. One of the most ingenious and suspenseful adventure films of all time, The Great Escape is a masterful collaboration between director John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven), screenwriters James Clavell (Shogun) and W.R. Burnett (Little Caesar), and composer Elmer Bernstein. Based on a true story, The Great Escape is epic entertainment that "entertains,captivates, thrills and stirs" (Variety).

Customer Reviews:

VERY BAD DELIVERY SERVICE.......2007-09-11

I have ordered 2 DVDs on August 9, 2007 and today is September 11th 2007 but yet I have no clue about my DVDs. This is pathetic and very shameful thing for a name like AMAZON. I ask everyone not to buy anything before they commit you fast delivery.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY DVDs YET.

The Great Escape..........2007-08-19

1963's "The Great Escape" is Director John Sturgis' big screen adaptation of Paul Brickhill's World War II account of the biggest Allied escape attempt from a German prisoner of war camp. The movie version features an outstanding cast, a suspense-filled storyline, and superb direction.

In 1943, the German Air Force consolidated many of their "escape artist" POWs in a single POW compund. If the German intent was to put all their bad eggs in one basket and watch the basket, the effect was to pool some remarkable talent for the staging of a huge escape operation. Led by "Big X" as portrayed by Richard Attenborough, the POWs organize themselves to dig escape tunnels while fooling the Germans about their activities.

The movie is really two stories. The first is the struggle by the POWs to dig tunnels out of the compound under the noses of their captors. The second is the aftermath of their breakout, as POWs flee in all directions across Germany. Their respective fates are captured in gritty detail.

The huge cast and length of the movie (almost three hours) allows the director to explore a number of individual story lines. Among these: "Big X" perseveres in escape planning, knowing he faces almost certain death if captured. A tunnel expert played by Charles Bronson struggles with claustrophobia. A forger of escape documents played by Donald Pleasance discovers he is going blind as the escape attempt nears. A "scrounger" played by James Garner comes up with innovative ways to find materials for the escape. Perhaps the highlight of the second half of the movie is Steve MacQueen's famous run for the Swiss border on a stolen motorcycle.

The DVD includes a number of special features, most notably a documentary of the making of the movie.

This movie is most highly recommended as a highlight of the movie-making art and a classic thriller of the World War II genre.

Great Classic.......2007-08-09

One of the best WWII escape movies (based on some truth) ever. Spectacular stunts with Steve doing a lot of his own riding. Just a great action movie.

One of the Best Movies Ever Made.......2007-02-24

The Great Escape is my favorite movie of all time. It is an excellant movie and follows the book it is based on very well. This movie shows the courage, strength and fighting spirit of these men. And it is truely dedicated to the fifty who were murdered.

Classic.......2007-02-06

What else can I say about a classic? McQueen's motorcycle jump is the unforgettable part for me.

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Extra Frills Edition)

Average customer rating:

Where are the extra frills?
Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert
Great fun & Understanding
An Original
A Timeless Classic in Lavender

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Extra Frills Edition)
Starring: Alan Dargin , Bill Hunter , Ken Radley , Terence Stamp , and Hugo Weaving
Director: Stephan Elliot
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OPOAKC
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

A surprise hit in America, this 1994 Australian comedy is anchored by Terence Stamp as a transsexual who, in the company of two drag queens, travels to a remote desert location to put on a lip-synch performance--to the amazement of the locals. Getting there on a pink bus named Priscilla, the trio stop and play for people all over the Outback, getting the same homophobic, bewildered responses. The weak link in the film is dialogue that seems to have been pulled from "Queer Movie Banter for Dummies," all bitchy and cliché-ridden but fortunately salvaged by strong acting. The most fun comes whenever the three are performing; fans of Abba will be particularly pleased. --Tom Keogh

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert Extras

Watch Director Stephan Elliot talk about the film's iconic costumes.

An Interview with Priscilla Costume Designer Tim Chappel

How much of costume design is your own inspiration / how much is inspired by the character?
I rarely have creative free reign like I had on Priscilla. Priscilla was one of those rare situations where the powers that be said "Go for it". The characters are my babies. All design is meant to build character and help move the story along. Fortunately Mitzi, Felacia, and Bernardette were outrageous drag queens so that was not only easy bit great fun. Hard as it may seem, there are nuances that aren't obvious. For example when the queens are climbing Kings Canyon each of their headdresses are a distillation of their individual personalities. Bernardette is the Evil Queen, Mizti has lipsticks, rollers and pacifiers, and Felecia has Cupie dolls that are staring at themselves in little mirrors.

What is the process of physically rendering the costumes? Do you build them by hand? Work with a team? Hit vintage stores?
I usually begin by sketching roughs. Then once everyone has had their input - or cocked their leg as it seems more of the time, I do the finished sketches. These get signed off on literally becoming a visual contract. Then they get handed to the Costumier that builds a toile (a practice one). That gets fitted on the talent and we all um and ah--hopefully more ooh and ah if it's working well. Then we have a second fitting to perfect the fit and a final fitting to see the final project.
On Priscilla however I simply grabbed whatever I had around or worked out which costume could be sacrificed and started gluing and sewing and hoping for the best. If something started to break there was always the hot glue gun and a handful of glitter to disguise any lumps and bumps. The costumes were literally finished when they would tear them out of my hands.

Did any of the actors on Priscilla have any costume concerns? Was anyone concerned the costume would overpower their performance?
The actors were all good sports. Terence told us he wanted to look like Holly Golightly but he soon gave up on that idea. He actually looked quite beautiful at times I thought. There was a moment at Kings Canyon when Terrence said that something was bothering his forward and I looked over to see a single drop of blood run down his brow--whoops, with only $12,000 US there was no room for comfort.

What's the difference between cinematic fashion and street (real people) fashion? I.e., does it have to be "bigger" if it's on the screen?
There are lots of differences between what you wear on the street, on stage, or in stills. Each medium requires special attention. For example in film you have to find out what kind of film stock is being used, what kind of filters and the general visual feel that the production designer and cinematographer are trying to go for. Of course the Director is trying to convey very specific ideas and using texture, color and contrast your job is to build, along with your team, that visual statement.
The use of detail is also vital; sometimes you can't even see it but the actor will know its there and much detail, even though you can't literally see it, becomes absorbed in a more subconscious way.

In your opinion, who looked the most beautiful (lead roles) in drag, who was the most fun to work with?
They were all beauties. Guy Pearce had a background in musical theatre so he was prone to stealing the show. They were all great fun and still people I count as good friends.

Any idea the film would take off to become an enormous hit and cult classic as well as meaning so much to fans around the world?
We thought we were basically making a home movie; it wasn't until we had the 15-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival that we knew we had created a DRAG MONSTER!

Where did you get the inspiration and know-how regarding costumes? Was there research involved? How did you get involved in doing this movie?
I started with the music and let it send me in a delirious creative free fall and took notes as I spun. We got to have a buying trip to NYC in '92--WOW. I got to meet Girlina and Lasdy Bunny and all the voguing Queens--we were doing something totally different but Queens are trick everywhere aren't they.
I got involved because Stephan needed a Costume designer who could do everything: design, sew and wear--if necessary. I was working as one of a pair of male backup dancers (an "earring") for a drag-queen troupe called Glamourworld. I used to make all our costumes and we were pretty successful. We even toured Asia going to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ho Chi Mihn city--all on DragOn Air. How funny is that?

What inspires you--what movies stand out to you as having great costumes?
It all goes in and just comes out this way. I don't consciously look for inspiration. I like to think of myself as a creative distillery.

If you could dress Oscar (of the Academy Awards) - what would you have him wear?
My Oscar was on display in Australia's National Gallery in an Exhibition called "The Sights and Sounds of Australian Film." Oscar had purple hair and a disco tube dress. I butchered a Rock and Roll Barbie. She didn't seem to mind 'cause Oscar looked roool perty!

Beyond The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Cross-Dressing 101
The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
More from MGM

Stills from The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Description

They came. They conquered. They looked fabulous. This wonderfully inventive, visually stunning and incomparably funny Australian import about three drag performers braving the vast, rugged outback won the 1994 Academy Award(r) for Costume Design. Veteran actor Terence Stamp (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace), Hugo Weaving (The Matrix), Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential) all give hilarious ? and heartfelt ? performances in a three-fishes-outta-water story that's "one of the wildest movies ever made" (Rex Reed, New York Observer)! With a contract to perform a drag show way out in the Australian desert, Tick (Weaving), Adam (Pearce) and Ralph (Stamp) each has his own reason for wanting to leave the safety of Sydney. Christening their battered pink tour bus "Priscilla," this wickedly funny and high-drama trio head for the Outback...and into crazy adventures in even crazier outfits. You go, girls!

Customer Reviews:

Where are the extra frills?.......2007-09-12

Not much behind the scenes info as I would have liked, and there are only a few deleted scenes. The standard version is probably the better bargain.

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert.......2007-08-27

We first saw this film many years ago on a video rental. This version was much more interesting with the afterwards interviews. The movie was just as funny and entertaining as the first time we saw it.

Great fun & Understanding.......2007-08-14

This film is filled with great comedic & sensitive insight into a different world from the one most of us live in. The site gags & verbal repartee are eye catching & definitely quotable, as the 3 characters learn to live with themselves, each other & the world at large. This film is a lot of fun to watch & be immersed in, without a lot of pathos. There is a happy ending & it's nice to know that things will work out for Mitzie, Felicia & Bernadette. This is one of my absolutely favorite fims of all time & feel I need to watch it on a regular basis. I never get tired of it & like to have it on hand to pop into my DVD player at will.

An Original.......2007-08-08

An oldie but absolutely fabulous. This movie is a lot of fun and totally original for it's time and surprisingly it stands up 10 years later!

A Timeless Classic in Lavender.......2007-08-07

The film offers a truly timeless look at the life of transvestites, transsexuals, gays, and straights; their families, friends, lovers, and haters. Hilarious, campy, bittersweet, biting, and witty - an artistic masterpiece for the ages. Regarding the 'Extra Frills:' For once, the ubiquitous "Director's Comments" are relevant, informative, and entertaining rather than self-centered. The backgrounds of all the lead actors are explored, an invaluable asset in such a ground-breaking film. Best-of-the-best bonus: an extended look at the Academy Award-winning costumes.... all done on a budget of approximately $5,000. And - nowhere else will you learn the secrets behind Terence Stamp's tongue, and the nickname "Trumpet."

Shape: Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout

Average customer rating:

Love It!!
This DVD is awesome!
Great Workout.. Altough,
Liked it
Bravo to you people who can do this

Shape: Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout
Starring: Lisa Wheeler , Tracy York , and Michelle Dozois
Director: Linda Shelton
Manufacturer: Peter Pan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IJ7A2E
Release Date: 2006-12-12