Hamlet

Amazon.com essential video

Franco Zeffirelli's stripped-down, two-hour version of Shakespeare's play stars Mel Gibson as a rather robust version of the ambivalent Danish prince. Gibson is much better in the part than many critics have admitted, his powers of clarity doing much to make this particular Hamlet more accessible than several other filmed versions. The supporting cast is outstanding, including Glenn Close as Gertrude, Alan Bates as Claudius, Ian Holm as Polonius, and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia. Zeffirelli's vigorous direction employs a lively camera style that nicely alters the viewer's preconceptions about the way Hamlet should look. --Tom Keogh

Description

Treachery. Madness. Murder. The story of Hamlet has been told for 400 years...but it's never been told like this! Mel Gibson (the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon films) takes on his richest part to date, the title role in a dynamic new version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet, Jesus of Nazareth), the location-shot production has a sumptuous look that won Academy Award nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design. Gibson plays the prince of medieval-era Denmark, who senses treachery behind his royal father's death. Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons) plays Hamlet's mother Gertrude, all too dangerously entangled in that treachery. A brilliant supporting cast, including Alan Bates as Claudius, Paul Scofield as the ghost of Hamlet's father, Ian Holm as Polonius and Helena Bonham-Carter as Ophelia, adds its powerful presence to this immortal tale of high adventure and evil deeds. Big, bold and heroic, this is a vivid and virile Hamlet for the modern age and all time.

Customer Reviews:

A worthy depiction.......2007-07-26

Throughout cinematic history many gifted people have made many splendid versions of what is one of Shakespear's most spirited and acclaimed stories of all time. They have come and gone, but this is one that should remain for all times never to be forgotten. Definitely my favorite, it seems so much more alive than other versions and lets face it, with an actor so live as Mel Gibson at the helm, its bound to be.

Gibson slips immaculately, if not effortlessly into the shoes of this hard-to-fill character previously portrayed by so many other fine actors. But in doing so, he brings something new to the theatrical table set forth here by Franco Zeffirelli (The Taming of the Shrew). It is practicalism. Gibson does not selfishly attempt to play Hamlet in his own way as some have, but instead prefers to keep things deeply theatrical and classic as well as practical for all those watching. In the 'actor's journey' included in the special features leaf, we witness Gibson's painstaking and dedicated efforts to keep the character accurately real through constant research and repetition of the lines. We get to see a master at work. Mel Gibson sacrifices nothing and yet adds everything to the renowned character, and does it with a truly wonderful supporting cast.

Glenn Close is Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, while Alan Bates portrayes Hamlet's Uncle Claudius. Both are superb in their skills and fill their respective roles wonderfully, but the two roles that really captured my attention were Ian Holm as the meddlesome Polonius, and Helena Bonham-Carter as our frail and lovely Ophelia. As a viewer I have always been partial to Holm in any role. To me he seems to be one of the lesser known geniuses of his craft, and that evaluation is in no way lessened by his work here (for those of you unfamiliar with his name you might remember him from his most recent role as 'Bilbo' in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy). He's been around for ages and seems to be at the peak of his acting abilities in this work, moving effortlessly over the unceasing and complicated structure of Shakespear's lines and phrases. As for Helena Bonham-Carter, no one could have been better to portray the ill-fated Ophelia in saneness or madness. She also posesses one of those unique, other-worldly kind of faces that just seems to gel for this role. Paul Scofield returns to familiar work in William Shakespear's plays as the dead ghost of Hamlet's father. Top all of this off with music scored by the legendary Ennio Morricone (who was recently honored with lifetime achievement at the Academy Awards) and you've got yourself a depiction of a story that can't go wrong!

The movie runs 135 minutes long and is accompanied by a making-of documentary by Mel Gibson, "To Be or Not to Be". It also comes with the original theatrical trailer and the movie itself is viewable through English, French or Spanish subtitles. And be sure to buy the widescreen version for better viewing.

This movie is produced with the upmost dilligence, and most superb effort from actors, writers, designers, musicians and director alike. The most wonderful and practical version of "Hamlet" on the market. You'll see what I mean.

Great.......2007-07-25

high school students will love this movie for its vivid scenes. Very true to the text. Brings Shakespeare to the teen's grasp.

The classic story returns for the next generation.......2007-07-22

Though Shakespeare has been studied by scholars for centuries and it theater audience have been limited to the highly educated, only in this last decade have I recently enjoyed the works of Shakespeare through the movie screen. Its language and historical value have eluded me for decades. Only since the release of Taming of the Shrewd on VHS have I ventured to view and thoroughly enjoy not only the Shakespearean words, but a lively tale which showcases how life has not changed since the 16th century. Hamlet, with Mel Gibson, is another such movie that has brought Shakespeare alive and understandable. It is entertaining & easy to follow & not too lengthy that one would lose interest. Glen Close also adds her genius acting to the mix and you can escape into a world that may or may not have existed. It was a pleasant two hours of entertainment which is a rarity in Hollywierd today.

Shakespear at it's best.......2007-06-08

Stunning acting by Mel Gibson, Shakespearian art hasn't been lost from this DvD a must buy if you have read the story before or just getting into Shakespeare. Truly a intellectual movie you will watch for years to come.

-SBJ

Good enjoyable interpretation........2007-06-04

I liked this version of the tragic prince's tale. As someone who's spent a lot of time studying Hamlet, the portrayal of the closet scene irritated me, but is entirely forgivable. The acting is very good, though the editing and arrangement of the script might throw you for a loop. If you're not a student who's read the play umpteen times, you should be fine though. Regardless, it's very enjoyable, and definitely worth the price.

Mysterious Skin (Deluxe Unrated Director's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Mysterious skin Joseph Gordon-Levitt Wow!
Brilliant!
Mysterious Skin
Does Not Compare To The Book
Sensational!

Mysterious Skin (Deluxe Unrated Director's Edition)
Starring: Chase Ellison , George Webster (IV) , Rachael Nastassja Kraft , Lisa Long , and Chris Mulkey
Director: Gregg Araki
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Gay & Lesbian | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000F6II1M
Release Date: 2006-03-20

Amazon.com

Though the subject matter of Mysterious Skin is as sensational as that of Gregg Araki's other films (such as Totally F***ked Up, The Doom Generation, or The Living End), his direction is richer and more multilayered than ever before. Two Kansas teenagers named Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 10 Things I Hate About You) and Brian (Brady Corbett, Thirteen) share a childhood trauma--but their responses are radically different: Neil hustles tricks, while Brady, who can't remember what happened, believes he was abducted by aliens and left with "missing time." As both try to make sense of their lives and Brian struggles to find out the truth, Mysterious Skin builds to an emotional pitch that some viewers will find uncomfortable and others will find liberating. The characters of Neil and Brian have a fullness that lifts Mysterious Skin above most examinations of sexual abuse and trauma. Gordon-Levitt has been deservedly praised by the critics, but the entire cast--which also includes Bill Sage (Simple Men), Elizabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Mary Lynn Rajskub (24)--turns in superb performances. A striking and powerful movie. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Mysterious skin Joseph Gordon-Levitt Wow!.......2007-09-16

This movie covers many different and profound topics. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a magnificent performance. If you can handle dark topics that could actually, sadly, be someones real life, then you will be able to appreciate this movie.

Brilliant!.......2007-08-07

This movie is stunning. The acting is suburb and the characters are well-developed and believable. The story does take some disturbing turns, and the realistic portrayal of a sensitive subject (childhood sexual abuse) is hard to watch at times (as is some of the stuff that happens later in the movie). But overall this is a stunningly dramatic movie that really makes you think. Despite the tough subject matter, there are also some fun and sexy scenes that help make the movie great viewing! Buy this today.

Mysterious Skin.......2007-07-23

Based on an acclaimed novel by Scott Heim, Araki's sensitive, disturbing drama examines the corrosive effects of early childhood trauma on two youths, bookish Brian and vacant, lovelorn Neil. While the subject matter is certainly disquieting, Araki handles the material with sensitivity, injecting a feeling of hope. Corbet and Levitt (from TV's "Third Rock From the Sun") are strikingly credible in demanding roles, while supporting players Elisabeth Shue (as Neil's loose, permissive mother), Michelle Trachtenburg (as his New York friend, Wendy), and Bill Sage (as the Coach) turn in exemplary work. "Skin" digs deep and burrows right into your heart.

Does Not Compare To The Book.......2007-07-18

Although both were sensationally heartwrenching, the book and the film seem to be on two completely different fields of excellence. I read the novel and I was astounded, drawn in, even inspired to begin writing myself.
The movie was satisfying but only when you factor out the prosepect of it having the potential to be better. It could have been just as phenominal as the book if only it were slightly truer to it.
I wasn't completely dissapointed though. The actors threw on the roles with impressive grace, slipping them over themselves as if they were truly their own new mysterious skins. The direction is another thing I'd like to give a credit to, breathtaking and well-suited with the film's pace.
Over all Mysterious Skin is a film worth recognition, both painful and thought provoking, but it will never instill the lasting impression the book has.

Sensational!.......2007-06-19

Mysterious Skin- Sensational, controversial, intense... so many words can describe this movie by Gregg Araki based on the novel by Scott Heim. The first time I watched this film, I was blown away by the display of raw emotions of the two young lead actors- Joseph Gordon Levitt (who plays young hustler Neil McCormick) and Brady Corbet ( who plays Brian, the shy teen who believes he was abducted by Aliens). There is a special, albeit disturbing connection between the two young men and the film captures the journey towards their reunion and the ultimate discovery of that particular event that connects them.

Gordon-Levitt delivers one of the most unforgettable performances I have seen in recent years. As a young hustler, his dark and secret past, allowed him to mask his emotions, and live life as if what he does for a living is something ordinary and mundane. With his eyes showing off nothing, and staring blankly into space, he goes from one job to another just as if he's replacing parts in an automotive shop or sorting out letters in a mail room. There are certain sex scenes that are graphic and disturbing, but it captures the world of Neil- dark, violent, uncaring... It's the only way he can go on- the absence of emotion and with it, the inability to truly love the people who care for him. Corbet also delivered an amazing performance, as Brian he is the shy, trusting and unassuming young man who is so obsessed with recording his periodic episodes of forgetfulness, that he opens himself to anyone who cared enough to listen...

There is a certain fulfillment in watching this movie and see it towards its end, it opens up a world that is there, perhaps a world apart from your own, but it's there and you may need or may not need to protect yourself to discover it.

Average customer rating:

The Rest Of The Story
Hes not my father hes my lover
Hard to say
awesomely quick
An All-time Favorite GUY movie.

The Professional
Starring: Jean Reno , Gary Oldman , Natalie Portman , Danny Aiello , and Peter Appel
Director: Luc Besson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: 0767802519
Release Date: 1998-02-24

Amazon.com

Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) made his American directorial debut with this stylized thriller about a French hit man (Jean Reno) who takes in an American girl (Natalie Portman) being pursued by a corrupt killer cop (Gary Oldman). Oldman is a little more unhinged than he should be, but there is something genuinely irresistible about the story line and the relationship between Reno and Portman. Rather than cave in to the cookie-cutter look and feel of American action pictures, Besson brings a bit of his glossy style from French hits La Femme Nikita and Subway to the production, and the results are refreshing even if the bullets and explosions are awfully familiar. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Rest Of The Story.......2007-09-04

The additional 24 minutes of footage make this movie finally come together for the viewer.The scene of Tony's first face to face meeting with Mathilda , (glaringly absent from the first U.S. version)make one see how she could approach him with familiarity later.The restored scenes of Leon training Mathilda (in the use of firearms), and going on "cleaning" jobs, lends credibility to her having the idea she could take on the DEA. And so on, and so on.I considered it a excellent film before,but it is much more coherent and understandable with the re-insertion of the missing scenes.******(6 Stars)

Hes not my father hes my lover.......2007-08-18

I just watched the professional a couple of months ago. And i didn't see any of the love story. If you've seen this movie and you seen Matilda and leon as lovers then i bet your a huge fan of John Mark Kar, and child pornagraphy. I mean come on shes twelve and he's what pushing 40. But i do have to admit Matildas a pretty creepy kid. But whenever she comes on to him it gets really awkward and he seems afraid of her. And all the flaws in this is kind of sad. Nobody notices how crazy the cop is. And leon kills a dozen not just cops but a swat team with two hand guns oh while hanging upside down. Can you imagine how many times he dropped the guns during takes. What is he superman always dissapearing and reappearing during his hits. And why weren't there any reporters i mean come on. Cops killed, shootouts in the middle of new york, a aparment building being blownup. I know new yorks a pretty bad place but not one freakin reporter. Then theres matilda shooting out the window and nobody calls the cops. And what up the cops killing matildas whole family. THe force didn't even do a real invastigation. They should of suspended there badges untill they got to the bottom of it. Because I'm so sure a four yr old is such a threat.

Hard to say.......2007-08-13

The Professional is an interesting movie. It's gritty, oddly matched characters and colors present something...odd. Leon is lovable...he is sexy and kind and hilarious, while still retaining the sadness that is due him, anywhere from watching Gene Kelly with ardour to his sleeping habits. Gary Oldman is a little over the top, but he's still good and creepy, while being a believable drug addict. Natalie Portman is a brat...her swearing was annoying, her dressing ridiculously provocative at points, her attitude unbearable, and her penchant for Jean Reno, or Leon, extremely creepy sometimes (such as wearing his underwear to bed, telling the hotel manager that Leon was her lover, and telling him she was falling in love with him while they zoomed in on her stomach). The storyline was good, and thankfully they kept Leon refreshingly not-turned-on by her attempts to be close to him. It stays platonic enough to be enjoyable at parts, but Mathilda (Natalie Portman) was over the top and pervertedly provocative, such as dancing in a bra and thong-over-tights while singing "You Make Me Feel Like a Virgin" to Leon. Thankfully Leon is just respectable and kind.
The storyline is sad, such as Leon worked for years and years killing while being used by his "friend" Tony, then Mathilda being denied the money Leon desired her to have. The ending was extremely sad, but thankfully one gets the impression Mathilda will become better later in life.
In Ronin, it is pointed out during director commentary how hard it is and what a beautiful thing it is to make a set look lived in or old and cruddy. They achieve this grittiness to perfection in The Professional, with all the different apartments Mathilda forces them to move in to. The clothes, unfortunately, excepting Leons, seem to hark back to mid-80s rather than mid-90s.
Jean Reno was absolutely fantastic, lovable, and sympathetic as a man learning to live again, while still being able to kill. He's smart, he just seems to have turned off his human side too long. Gary Oldman is creepy, a little over the top, but hateful in the good way while having his own almost endearing nuances. Mathilda is extremely annoying and creepy, but after watching it twice she did not bug me as much as the first time. She's extremely believable in her idiocy.
It was a good movie, Jean Reno was fantastic, however it is not a feel good movie, nor does it have crazy fighting sequences, though the ones they do have are good. A good movie to watch Jean Reno in.

awesomely quick.......2007-07-09

lucky this movie came before i went on vacation. and i had forgot i was going away for the week. so great shipping

An All-time Favorite GUY movie........2007-06-28

Lots of action; bang bang shoot 'em up (Leon's a professional hitman!). Lots of edge of your seat suspense at every turn (will the main character's get away safe?) You definitely root for Leon because of his grandiose kindness. You've got a real bad guy as the antagonist (this guy is psycho!) Did I say action and suspense?!!! Leon is VERY ADEPT at his craft! Excellent acting, believable. You do spend almost the entire movie holding your breath.

Leon - The Professional (Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Rest Of The Story
Hes not my father hes my lover
Hard to say
awesomely quick
An All-time Favorite GUY movie.

Leon - The Professional (Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Jean Reno , Gary Oldman , Natalie Portman , Danny Aiello , and Peter Appel
Director: Luc Besson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B0006GVJEE
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Product Description

Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Danny Aiello star in LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL, a go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a "cleaner", the mysterious Leon (Reno) is New York's top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Leon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family's sole survivor - 12-year-old Mathilda, but Mathilda doesn't just want protection; she wants revenge. Training her in the deadly tricks of his trade, Leon helps her track the psychotic agent (Oldman) who murdered her family.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 133 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Rest Of The Story.......2007-09-04

Hes not my father hes my lover.......2007-08-18

Hard to say.......2007-08-13

awesomely quick.......2007-07-09

lucky this movie came before i went on vacation. and i had forgot i was going away for the week. so great shipping

An All-time Favorite GUY movie........2007-06-28

Leon - The Professional (Uncut International Version)

Average customer rating:

The Rest Of The Story
Hes not my father hes my lover
Hard to say
awesomely quick
An All-time Favorite GUY movie.

Leon - The Professional (Uncut International Version)
Starring: Jean Reno , Gary Oldman , Natalie Portman , Danny Aiello , and Peter Appel
Director: Luc Besson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00004YYDI
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Rest Of The Story.......2007-09-04

Hes not my father hes my lover.......2007-08-18

Hard to say.......2007-08-13

awesomely quick.......2007-07-09

lucky this movie came before i went on vacation. and i had forgot i was going away for the week. so great shipping

An All-time Favorite GUY movie........2007-06-28

Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

Average customer rating:

A Blazing Indictment on the Judicial System.
SUPPORT THE WM3!!!
Well done unbiased documentary
Paradise Lost
Celluloid Propaganda

Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Starring: Jason Baldwin , Steven Branch , Christopher Byers , John Mark Byers , and Melissa Byers
Director: Sinofsky, Bruce
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000AYEIY0
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com

On May 6, 1993, the mutilated bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found in a shallow creek in West Memphis, Arkansas. A short time later police arrested three local teenagers, linking the boys' killings to a satanic ritual. One of the boys confessed. The intriguing court case was about to unfold as filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky ventured forth to make this documentary. They captured footage of not only courtroom proceedings but also interviews with the major players in trial--parents, suspects, lawyers. The documentary filmmakers, whose previous film, Brother's Keeper, is as intriguing of a crime story you'll ever see, tells this story without re-creations or flashbacks. The film makes a clear argument that the court trial may not be about witchcraft but a witch hunt. As with any great drama, the faces and situations are etched upon the viewer; however, we are dealing with real lives and real crimes (told gruesomely and necessarily by police photographs and videotape), and the impact is far greater. And so is the maddening ambivalence of the trial. Like the O.J. Simpson fiasco, a verdict is reached but the truth is questioned. Did police make fatal errors the night of the crime? Do last-minute clues lead to justice? Who's lying on the stand? As with Roger and Me and Hoop Dreams, we have a provocative single incident that holds a mirror to many of society's problems. The results are just more horrifying. The Emmy-winning film was followed four years later by Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. --Doug Thomas

Description

One of the most influential documentaries in recent years, the Sundance favorite PARADISE LOST is an emotionally raw, must-see crime doc from two of today's most exciting filmmakers--Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (the team behind Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Brother's Keeper). This dark odyssey began with the tragic murders of three 8-year-old boys, whose bodies were discovered in a shallow creek in West Memphis, Arkansas. The community demanded justice, and one month later the police delivered: three local teenagers accused of sacrificing the boys as part of a Satanic ritual. Despite overwhelming public antipathy towards them, defendants Damian Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley steadfastly maintained their innocence. Although the trial produced virtually no physical evidence connecting the defendants to the crime, the town, the jury, and the police felt that they had their killers, and used the young men's penchant for heavy metal music and black clothing and a fascination with the Wicca religion as evidence of their guilt. With unprecedented access to all the players, Berlinger and Sinofsky captured the events as they unfolded before their cameras. From actual courtroom footage and clandestine jailhouse interviews to behind-the-scenes strategy meetings and intimate portraits of grief-stricken families, PARADISE LOST is a shocking yet uniquely American real-life drama. DVD Features: Exclusive Trial Footage; Timeline of Events; Trial Updates; Theatrical Trailer; Filmmaker Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

A Blazing Indictment on the Judicial System........2007-08-24

When three little boys were murdered (and one of them mutilated), HBO was given exclusive rights to film everything. The crime scene, the parents reaction, and eventually the trial of the three teenage boys that were tried and, many say, wrongly convicted of the crimes. Having now seen the film, I'm not COMPLETELY convinced that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelly had nothing to do with the murders; but with the complete lack of evidence, except completely untrustworthy testimony, it's hard to believe they were convicted. The setup is this: On May 5, 1993 the bodies of Steven Branch, Chris Byers, and Michael Moore were found on a creek bed in a secluded part of the woods called Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis, Arkansas. Soon, the police had a confession from Jessie Misskelly, Jr. who implicated his friends Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin. This wouldn't be suspicious if not for the fact that at 17, Misskelly has an I.Q. of 72, making him borderline mentally retarted. And the fact that he was interrogated for many hours and the police took no notes nor tape recorded the first 2 hours of it. Anyone who's ever seen the Blue Collar Comedy Tour will recognize many of the inbred, rednecks that the Blue Collar boys frequently poke fun at. This town is filled with the stereotypical priests that pronounces "Jesus" as "Jeyzus." And the mother of Stevie Branch laughing "Oh my God, on TV" before telling the cameras about the loss of her son. Most viewers of this film agree that the most likely killer is Mark Byers, the stepfather of Chris Byers (the only boy who was mutilated). First of all, the man is creepy and makes some incriminating statements and most of the time when he's parading in front of the camera, it does all seem a little overdramatic. The film does seem to point out Mark Byers as the most likely suspect until one of the final scenes, after Echols has been convicted, when he makes his most incriminating statement. This is the only scene that made me think about his involvement in the crime. In the scene Echols says (I'm paraphrasing) "I always knew I'd be known for something, but not for this. People are going to be talking about me long after I'm dead." Even if the film does not truly expose who killed the children, it does show how flawed the judicial system is. The complete lack of evidence, the mistakes the police made in handling the case, and the irrelevant questions that were asked during the trial all point to a huge "miscarriage of justice." Whatever your opinion is on the murders and the convicted murderers, this is a truly eye-opening, must-see documentary.

GRADE: A

SUPPORT THE WM3!!!.......2007-08-01

This is a very well done documentary. It is unbiased and gives you a good look into what REALLY happend before, during, and after the trial. You are not pushed one way or the other, you have the chance to see real facts and draw your own conclusion as to what happend in this case. This is a dvd that I highly recommend.

Well done unbiased documentary.......2007-07-24

I saw this documentary on HBO's America Undercover when it first aired. It is a fascinating look at how easy it is for people to hate without gathering enough information to develop an informed opinion. The filmmakers do not choose a side, and I was able to form an opinion without feeling manipulated.

Paradise Lost.......2007-07-13

Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's intensely disturbing true-crime tale "Paradise Lost" examines the confounding details of the infamous kiddie murders at Robin Hood Hills. The children-killed-by-children theme is scary enough, but the trial and its outcome leave a sour, uncertain taste, as the prosecution case is built mostly around the confession (under duress) of one defendant, who's just on the cusp of being mentally handicapped. Be warned: this unnerving film contains graphic images of the victims. But just as unsettling is the feeling that in this case, our society and criminal justice system may have failed us--and those kids.

Celluloid Propaganda.......2007-05-16

Paradise Lost is an exercise in historical revisionism. Its producers aimed at spinning history with the hope that a trio of clearly guilty murderers would be released. This alleged documentary plays fast and loose with the facts that it presents while leaving inconvenient facts on the cutting room floor to present a false picture of three innocent lads being railroaded for crimes that they did not commit.

Paradise Lost is a dishonest documentary in that while the producers never state their opinions directly, they deliberately omit certain facts while twisting other facts so that they can present a distorted version of what really happened. For instance, the producers want you to believe that the convicted killers were really innocent, that there was no real evidence against them. The makers of this documentary want you to believe that the 3 teenagers were convicted due to their love of heavy metal, the works of Stephen King, the fact they wore black T-shirts and because there was a "satanic panic" in the community.

The documentary producers also use John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the victims, as a red herring. They insinuate that Byers should have been the top suspect instead of the 3 convicted punks. They conveniently leave out the fact that Byers had an airtight alibi and was cleared of suspicion following an intensive police investigation. This so-called documentary implies that since Byers is mentally slow, then he could have been the real murderer.

Paradise Lost was made along the lines of a Michael Moore documentary sans the comedy. Like a Moore documentary, Paradise Lost shows some of both sides of an issue, but upon further examination, it is clearly one sided. In this case, the bias is on the side of the convicted criminals. Facts that point towards guilt are either glossed over or entirely left out. Contrary to the movie, the trio were not convicted just because they wore black or liked heavy metal music. That is a gross distortion of the evidence against them.

Paradise Lost is one of those documentaries where if you do not know much about the subject, your response likely will be that what happened to the 3 convicts was a horrible miscarriage of justice. However, if you actually know a good deal about what really happened, your reaction is that the documentary itself was nothing but a sham and a fraud.

Paradise Lost is a sham and a fraud that is not worth either your time or your hard earned money. It is most definitely not recommended.

Average customer rating:

JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU INTERESTED!!
Wait! I've seen this before..... a lot!
Predictable and overall unimpressive
Save Your Time, Your Money, Your Brain Cells, And Spare Your New Media Room Sofa Two Excruciatingly Misspent Hours Worth Of Wear
Hide & Seek? No thanx. I dont want to play

Hide and Seek (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , Dakota Fanning , Famke Janssen , Elisabeth Shue , and Amy Irving
Director: John Polson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00092ZLSK
Release Date: 2005-07-05

Amazon.com

Dakota Fanning--the elfin star of Uptown Girls, The Cat in the Hat, and Man on Fire--trades in her blond locks for a semi-gothic brunette do in Hide and Seek. Fanning plays Emily, a young girl whose mother commits suicide. To help Emily through the trauma, her father David (Robert DeNiro), a psychologist, takes her to an isolated house in upstate New York. But instead of healing, Emily gets dark circles under her eyes, mutilates her favorite doll, and develops an imaginary friend named Charlie. In no time at all, things get spooky and David suspects this imaginary friend isn't so friendly. Hide and Seek owes a lot to The Shining, but whether the creepiness is borrowed or not, there's a decent dose of it (though the twist at the end is unlikely to surprise many viewers). DeNiro does his job with professional gloss, but Fanning carries the movie; she's got the kind of charisma that goes beyond acting ability--that ineffable glow that makes an audience want to watch her. Hide and Seek also features Famke Janssen (X-Men), Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), and the ever-dependable Dylan Baker (Happiness). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning keep pulses pounding and hearts racing in this chilling horror hit about a troubled father and daughter tormented by someone - or something - named Charlie, a malevolent entity who may or may not be "imaginary" but is definitely the stuff nightmares are made of!

Customer Reviews:

JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU INTERESTED!!.......2007-09-08

the best things about this movie is robert de niro, and dakota fanning. de niro, excellent actor, great in all kinds of films, especially mafia films. love him in those. in hide in seek he did what he does, and that was not a disappointment. as for dakota fanning this little girl sure knows how to act better than some adults do. the girls got talent, and she brings it out in all she does. she can be cute, adorable, and smart, but she can also be dark, scary, and weak. beautiful work. the movie overall was good, but it was pretty predictable. but there were some tid bits that you didn't expect, and the ending was pretty good.

Wait! I've seen this before..... a lot!.......2007-08-26

If you've not seen Angel Heart, or Secret Window or Fight Club stop reading. You'll enjoy it.

I figured the whole story out watching the previews. I went to see this movie hoping I was wrong. I wasn't. This "surprising twist" has been done before. Robert Deniro was in Angel Heart. Did he just cash the check without reading this script?

I do applaud Dakota Fanning for doing the creepy child role so well.

Predictable and overall unimpressive.......2007-07-25

Why do people want to watch scary films? What is the reason for the popularity of Horror films? The usual conventional wisdom suggests that it is most often a desire for experiencing heightened evocative sensations in a safe and harm-free environment (the best of both worlds, so to speak). Others will say that they are interested in some `artistic' facet of the film itself. As I have often stated, horror film fans have very high expectations and a demanding threshold for everything from gore to special effects to - lacking a better term - scariness. Those who have been hardcore fans long enough might have already begun to acknowledge the realization that they probably won't be scared by most films out there. However, there are some trade-offs that can be made: good pacing, solid direction, capable writing, original story premise, and failing these - FEMALE NUDITY - which can sometimes offset a lack of gore and flashy special effects. Acting is not usually deemed a critical aspect, but is welcomed when it does indeed come through with solid performances.

One thing I have a fair certainty about is that people generally DON'T watch horror movies just because Hollywood tosses a couple of big names on the marquis. The presence of "A-list" celebrities (an arbitrary, often temporary, and generally meaningless designation) is no substitute for a good plot and lively pacing, or at least capable special effects. But what if the cast is really good, filled with talented and even exceptional actors? As proven by the film HIDE AND SEEK, it still isn't adequate by itself.

The cast features Robert DeNiro and Dakota Fanning in principle roles, with Dylan Baker and Elizabeth Shue and Famke Janssen in supporting roles. Pretty solid performers all. However, the story is easily predictable early on and the film never really generates the kind of suspenseful tension that grips the audience. Although DeNiro is recognized as one of the preeminent actors of his generation, and can play some roles better than anyone else can, his range is more limited than some will admit. Even his talent can be offset when cast in the wrong role and not given the right direction - as is the case in this film. Dakota Fanning was terribly directed in the dismal WAR OF THE WORLDS, and although she does a good job in this film, she can't save it from its unoriginal premise and formulaic structure.

So as not to seem aloof in my observations, I rented this film because the trailer seemed pretty good, and I too like the challenge of finding a Horror film that will make a positive impression. Many of you have indicated that our (yours and my) insights and opinions regarding movies are somewhat parallel and occasionally similar. In this case, you will most likely be unimpressed and somewhat disappointed. Deserves 1 star for misleading trailers which exaggerated its horror value, its bland and lackluster atmosphere, and its completely predictable plot; gets 2 stars for competent production and my own rare generosity.

Save Your Time, Your Money, Your Brain Cells, And Spare Your New Media Room Sofa Two Excruciatingly Misspent Hours Worth Of Wear.......2007-07-10

I can only assume great bulging bags of money were dangled in front of a lot of stars because I can't think a plot this vapid would coax this much talent in on its own strengths. This pretends to be a horror movie, then reveals itself to be a psychological piece, and never once scares, surprises, thrills, or engrosses anyone I personally know who has seen it. It's sadder than it is suspenseful, and in the end such a painful waste of time I was astonished that it ever got made, let alone made with the participation of the big names it lists in a sallow (s-a-l-l-o-w) effort at validation.

So thinly plotted was Hide and Seek that it can be sketched out in haiku form, condensing two irretrievable hours of viewing time to five seconds.

Ready, kiddies?

Mom--tub-based death scene;
Dad and girl move to country;
Playmate---real?---kills lots!

Yep, that's about it, folks....

Hide & Seek? No thanx. I dont want to play.......2007-07-04

Hide and seek is one of the many films that tries (and fails) to emulate films of a much greater value. The over hyped Dakota Fanning is useless throughout the film and has about as much presence as an ice cube in an igloo. Sure Deniro is showing a slightly better persona here than he did in Godsend, but where Godsend had atmosphere, decent chills and plot development and dread throughout, Hide and seek is a bland mish mash of ideas used throughout the horror film library and it does nothing particularly well. Camera angles are either way off the mark or too much in your face. The pace is so slow during the first half of the movie, I actually got up twice to get snacks and to go to the bathroom, having not paused the DVD, and I missed nothing. Slow pacing is fine if you are telling a story or building up care for the characters onscreen by giving us vital information about their lives, but that is not the case in Hide and Seek. With Hide, it just seems to be a way to waste time until the audience starts to question why they decided to watch the movie in the first place. The third quarter involves a lot of warning signs that horror movie veterans were already savvy enough to have figured out in the first 20 minutes of the film. The last quarter of the movie is of course the inevitable finale that is more predictable than Punxatawny Phil. Here the director threw the kitchen sink of horror hijinx at us as if to apologize for our bad treatment in the first 3/4ths of the film. Yet the director still misses the mark in what appears to be a ripoff of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Deniro does his best work of the film here, and you almost feel bad for him having to take part in such an obvious display of "me too" horror play. The film also has 4 alternate endings that I had absolutely no interest in seeing. I was just glad the movie was finally done when the credits started rolling. All in all, Hide and Seek is a borefest of epic proportions that is bested even by the worst direct to DVD horror shlock. Advice for Deniro: When you sign on to act in a horror movie, do it with people who have a track record of giving us real winners, not stinkers.

Average customer rating:

The Fan - a review
De Niro Swings For The Seats & Catches Nothing But Air
Why is Ellen Barkin in this movie at all?
It is hard to fall from a dream
this is a full frame only edition

The Fan
Starring: Robert De Niro , Wesley Snipes , Ellen Barkin , John Leguizamo , and Benicio Del Toro
Director: Tony Scott
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 0800141822
Release Date: 1997-12-10

Amazon.com

Lurid thrillers don't get much more shameless than this movie, in which Robert De Niro plays a pathological baseball fan whose obsession is focused on a San Francisco Giants all-star outfielder (Wesley Snipes). While the newly signed baseball star is having trouble getting his favorite uniform number from a competitive teammate (Benicio Del Toro), De Niro is having career troubles at the knife company his father founded, and you can bet that his proximity to high-quality stainless-steel blades will be a factor in the suspenseful plot. Recycling parts of his maniacal roles in Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, and Cape Fear, De Niro takes his idolatry to violent extremes, eliminating any obstacle to Snipes's stardom until the baseball hero is forced to confront his most terrifying devotee. Directed with brutal excess and souped-up style by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Crimson Tide), this manipulative nail-biter pulls all the right strings in predictable fashion, but it does have moments that are effectively intense. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Fan - a review.......2007-08-21

Robert De Niro stars as a man whose life is taking a turn for the bad, but it does not deter him from his one true love, which is the game of baseball. This film has several elements to it that connect to bring a tantalizing thriller of a script to the forefront. The game of Baseball, its adoring and loyal fans and the psychotic fever of a fan who goes over the edge all come together well. Some people might think this film is about De Niro's character obsessing over a particular player, but there is more to it than that. Wes Snipes plays a major league player who has recently transferred from the Braves to the San Francisco Bay area to play for the Giants.

Gil (De Niro) is an avid fan who realizes that in order for his team to have the best chance of succeeding during a hitting slump that Bobby Rayburn (Snipes) has, must up the stakes of his involvement in the players life. De Niro and Snipes are excellent together throughout this film, and if you are a baseball fan you might recognize John Kruk featured in the lineup as well. The Soundtrack is particularly good and it mixes eerie tunes from the score with hit singles from bands like The Rolling Stones and Nine Inch Nails. The final scene at the ballpark is a spectacular way for this film to cap it all off, and despite this film being over ten years old, I still found great enjoyment in viewing it. The Fan is a thrilling, diabolical and often times downright sinister film.

De Niro Swings For The Seats & Catches Nothing But Air.......2007-04-15

When Robert De Niro is on, he's on! When he jumps into character, he lives the part without looking back. That's what makes De Niro such a great actor. He usually takes his work very seriously (Bullwinkle would be one of the exceptions)and makes us believe, good or bad, in what he's doing. When he plays Gil Renard, divorced hunting knife salesman, avid Rolling Stones fan and SF Giants' Baseball freak, the message is a little muddled. The Giants have picked up baseball superstar Bobby Raybun (Snipes) for some outrageous amount of money (Sound familiar?) and Gil is tickled pink. Rayburn is going to put the Giants on top and win them a World Series title. Well...things don't always work out that way. Rayburn doesn't get his lucky number 11. He screws up his ribs. The pressure of his huge contract is weighing him dow because the fans expect results and they're not afraid to tell him that at each game. Can we all say SLUMP! Gil, on the other hand, is having troubles of his own. His job is moving on without him. His relationship with his son is a strained and creepy mess of custody battle proportions. His ex-wife has put a restraining order on him. And Bobby Rayburn, the 40 Million Dollar Kid, sucks! Focusing not on the other things in his life that need fixing, baeball needs Gil's full, obssessive attention. He needs to help Rayburn out of his slump, right? Well....what if he kills off the outfielder who refused to give up the number 11? Things deteriorate from there as Renard's madness take over.

A mixed, creepy movie. I could not feel any pity for De Niro's charcter & he needed that to be truly effective. Otherwise, he just comes off as some looney assh*le baseball freak who blames his own problems on the game. The storylne is loose and clumsy. The characters are middle of the road. Somewhere along the line, De Niro picks parts that make no sense. When he plays the bad guy or the psycho, he's pretty effective, but here the performance is mired in bad writing. I couldn't wait for Gil Renard to die and that's not a good thing, even though I knew it was going to happen. Very predictable. Not one of De Niro's better outings. Snipes was decent as was Benicio Del Toro. Like Cape Fear, not a De Niro flick I'd want to watch again for a long, long while.

Deal with it!

Why is Ellen Barkin in this movie at all?.......2007-01-14

"Everytime they think of you, they are going to think of me."

This is a wonderfully creepy role, DeNiro, as a phsyched out baseball fan puts himself into San Francsisco Giants Bobby Rayburn life at any cost. Put me in coach. Excellent music in the movie itself, I believe in large part due to Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails. DeNiro Shines!

It is hard to fall from a dream.......2006-04-13

A man who is going through a bad period is captured by the camera in his fall down onto earth. But he does not want to fall alone and he tries to take his baseball star down with him. You will never know why he goes through this bad period. Some will say his old deception that got him out of baseball a long time ago. Some will say it is his midlife crisis after a bad divorce and when professionally he is losing interest and ground and falling flat on his unemployed face. Some will say that he is also motivated by some crooked racist ideas who make him hate a Mexican player who stands in the way of his black star. Many other reasons could be invoked but probably all and each one of them in vain. There is in him something more psychopathic than just circumstancial. There is in him the will and the tension of someone who wants to be on top without paying the price for the passage, without making the effort of climbing up to it. He seems to believe the world owes him that recognition and that promotion. Then the rest is nothing but good and bad means to reach his aim, to force people and society to satisfy his demands. Sad that baseball is thus dragged into this mire and mud. After all this sport does not deserve that lack of respect. But it is nothing but a film after all. So let's believe what we have to believe as long as the pictures are moving. We will flush down the bad impressions and the negative vibes when the pictures retire.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Universit? Paris Dauphine, Universit? Paris I Panth?on Sorbonne

this is a full frame only edition.......2006-01-26

Contrary to what the product description mentions, this DVD only offers the full frame version of the film. The original format was 2.35 so you've now been warned: the picture was butchered by Sony on this one!!

Average customer rating:

Mary Reilly
What was the casting director thinking?!?
I can understand why this is not a Julia Roberts classic flick
A Twist on the Classic Horror Film
If negative stars were a rating option, I would use them

Mary Reilly
Starring: Julia Roberts , John Malkovich , George Cole , Michael Gambon , and Kathy Staff
Director: Stephen Frears
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00004W4UB
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Amazon.com essential video

Stephen Frears reunites with the production talents who made the tempting Dangerous Liaisons for this new look at the infamous Dr. Jekyll (a deft John Malkovich). Instead of being in the laboratory where the good doctor unlocks his evil twin, we stay in the mansion overlooking the lab. An inquisitive, proper maid, Mary Reilly (Julia Roberts) slowly becomes Dr. Jekyll's confidant. Rather than a horror story, the film is a spooky mystery that keeps us in the dark, and what a wonderful dark Frears and his designers have fashioned. Roberts carries the movie, digging deep for her best dramatic work to date. Though some may wish she'd show more passion, she holds her emotions appropriately in check. The movie faced considerable, well-documented troubles, including the reshooting of several scenes months after the initial production. This probably affected the finale, which has little impact and nearly ruins a good thing. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Mary Reilly.......2007-08-23

Julia Roberts and John Malkovich were great together. It kept me on the toes through out the whole movie.

What was the casting director thinking?!?.......2007-07-13

I don't know why this movie got so many great reviews on here. The movie is not bad, but is certainly not good. However, what makes this movie really horrible is Julia Roberts. I am a HUGE Julia fan, but her performance in this movie is laughable. She can't hold a stead Irish accent-- at times she sounds like good old American Julia, and at other times, a VERY strong Irish accent comes out of her mouth, with no explanation for the sudden change. I believe this must have been a critical point in her career, at which point someone must have told her, "stick with what you do well... romantic comedies!"

I can understand why this is not a Julia Roberts classic flick.......2007-07-04

This is not the way America is accustomed to seeing Julia Roberts. She doesn't act here like she did with "Pretty Woman", "I Love Trouble", or for that matter: " America Sweethearts", "Sleeping With The Enemy", or "Hook". There's one thing missing that's in all the movies I mentioned, and that's Julia's laughter. That laugh of hers as far as I'm concerned has become her trademark. Actors and Actresses all have a trademark as far as I'm concerned. George Burns always and forever had a stogey in his mouth, Groucho Marx always with those wire-rimmed glasses, and Julia Roberts with her laugh. However, don't think because she doesn't laugh in this movie that means it isn't good, on the contrary this shows her ability to drop her Georgian accent, and trade it for an almost Irish accent, but it also shows her ability to act in crossover films which prepared her for an I believe an Oscar nomination for supporting actress for the film "Stepmom". The story line I will have to look in