The Last Samurai (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Product Description

Epic Action Drama. Set in Japan during the 1870s, The Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a respected American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the Emperor attempts to eradicate the ancient Imperial Samurai warriors in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly government policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him.
Running Time: 154 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honor despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honor to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honor. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Movie.......2007-09-01

I am not a Tom Cruise fan. In fact I think he is a bit of a nut. But...after saying that this is a good performance for him. While the plot is fairly predictable I think it is an interesting look into a historical time period. A transition from an ancient tradition in Japan into the modern age. I would recommend the film to anyone who loves history.

My bro loves it.......2007-07-28

My brother thinks of this as one of the best movies ever. I thought it was pretty good, but I sent it to him for a what the heck gift, and it was worth it to make him happy.

Very Good Movie.......2007-06-27

Something you'll want to watch a few times. Story of a civil war hero, fighting his own demons,(Tom Cruise) recruited to train the Emperors Army. He is forced to confront those demons and...A lot of similarites to "THE KING AND I". I primarily enjoyed the evolution of the main character brought on by...Lots of action. Lots of personal interaction of a philisophical nature. A somewhat "deep" movie. Hope I didn't spoil it for you!

One of my favourites.......2007-06-05

I don't care what the negative reviewers think, it's just a story, make-believe! Fiction doesn't have to be absolutely perfect, nor absolutely accurate either. You'd be hard-pressed to find any fictional films/stories that are.

And if a few liberties were taken with the historical element well, that's nothing new where Hollywood is concerned is it, and the film isn't meant to be historical in that sense anyway, just uses that period as a backdrop really. Poetic licence.

A number of people have likened it to 'Dances with Wolves'. Sorry but no. 'Dances with Wolves' bored me to tears. But 'The Last Samurai' is a lovely film, very emotive and with a nice soundtrack, and some great perfomances from all concerned. The themes were ones we could all do with being reminded of.

The only things about it that I didn't like were:

1. It didn't go on for as long as I would have liked it to.

2. The battle at the end seemed just a touch not right.

I've lost count how many times I have watched this film.

My thoughts of why this movie was not popular in the US.......2007-05-11

My profile 43 yo no qualifications as a movie critic

Browsing through the reviews (there is just too many), I stopped after finding out one reviewer who reflected on why this movie was not that popular in the US and why it it was almost not mentioned in the Oscar (that was my impression at least).. Well, the reviewer said something about the view of the "whiteman's burden" made have caused unpleasant reactions.. that could be part of the reason, but my opinion is, the movie was released at a bad political timing and was censored by Hollywood as part of the "Patriot" canpaign designed at getting moral support to the invasion of Irak

Now you may label me now as a "conspiracy paranoid", but let me deliniate some aspects too see if they are not logical.. in the movie, americans go to Japan as mercenaries with a agenda of opening the big arms trade with imperial Japan.. to make matters worse, an ethical crisis occurs to the character of Tom Cruise.. an actor who is still remembered as a patriotic pilot who shot down those dreaded MICs in "Top Gun" ( a movie destined to make the public feel good at their defense expenditure)... talk about a bad timing to reflect and see that your goverment; not only sends you to genocide the american indians, now its time to continue somewhere else!! and what's even worse, he joins the other side!!, not exactly the kind of attitude you need on the troop morale sent to invade Irak under weak grounds.. hell, was it not enough the catharsis done by all those Vietnam movies? (where Tom Cruise did a Nam veteran).. well that was then this is now... lets face it.. why such an epic movie, a superb production and what I consider Cruise's pass to inmortality in the world of true films, was given a "foreign movie" treatment??!!

Perhaps after the dust settles and a new peace period begins, this movie can be seen in its proper context..

Cold Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!
The Odyssey of the Civil War?
Beautiful Scenery But Shallow Story
Wow! What a Story!
who hasnt seen it!

Cold Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jude Law , Nicole Kidman , Renée Zellweger , Eileen Atkins , and Brendan Gleeson
Director: Anthony Minghella
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001MDP3G
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Amazon.com

Freely adapted from Charles Frazier's beloved bestseller, Cold Mountain boasts an impeccable pedigree as a respectable Civil War love story, offering everything you'd want from a romantic epic except a resonant emotional core. Everything in this sweeping, Odyssean journey depends on believing in the instant love that ignites during a very brief encounter between genteel, city-bred preacher's daughter Ada (Nicole Kidman) and Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law), who deserts the battlefield to return, weary and wounded, to Ada's inherited farm in the rural town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina. In an epic (but dramatically tenuous) case of absence making hearts grow fonder, Inman endures a treacherous hike fraught with danger (and populated by supporting players including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and others) while the struggling, inexperienced Ada is aided by the high-spirited Ruby (Renée Zellweger), forming a powerful farming partnership that transforms Ada into a strong, lovelorn survivor. The film's episodic structure slightly weakens its emotional impact, and it's fairly obvious that director Anthony Minghella is striving to repeat the prestigious romanticism of his Oscar®-winning hit The English Patient. For the most part it works, especially in the dynamic performances of Zellweger and Kidman, and the explosive 1864 battle of Petersburg, Virginia, is recreated with violent, percussive intensity. Those who admired Frazier's novel may regret some of the changes made in Minghella's adaptation (the ending is particularly altered), but Cold Mountain remains a high-class example of grand, old-fashioned filmmaking, boosted by star power of the highest order. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nicole Kidman (Academy Award(R) Winner -- Best Actress, THE HOURS, 2002) stars with Academy Award(R) winner Renée Zellweger (Best Supporting Actress, COLD MOUNTAIN, 2003) and Academy Award® nominee Jude Law (Best Actor, COLD MOUNTAIN). At the dawn of the Civil War, the men of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, rush to join the Confederate army. Ada (Kidman) has vowed to wait for Inman (Law), but as the war drags on and letters go unanswered, she must find the will to survive. At war's end, hearts will be dashed, dreams fulfilled, and the strength of the human spirit tested ... but not broken! Directed by Academy Award® winner Anthony Minghella (Best Director, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, 1996).

Customer Reviews:

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!.......2007-09-13

man this movie is a breathtaking love story. it's for sure to be a classic. greatly written, and portrayed. the acting was excellent. i'm sure everyone was touched at one point or another with the story behind this film. it has war, hard times, and a love so deep it surpasses everything and anything. this is greatness. jude law, not much of a big fan, but the man did it for me in this one. no complaints. he was very good. believable, a prince charming. he fought with one thing in mind, his beautiful ada. he must do all that he can to get back to her, it's his will to love, that helps him live. and nicole kidman, love her, great actress. she really brought it here. a women in love, writing, hoping, and dreaming for her inman to return to her. hope is never lost, and her love is never gone. she goes from a woman of high society, to a woman who must do all she can to survive the long winter months. extrodinary performance, and the capacity to keep hope alive through all is great. as for renee zellweger, she was so good in this movie. i loved it. she's a loud mouth, off her rocker tomboy. a thumbs up for her collaboration in this film. she brought the sass, and the "i don't take no bull from nobody" attitude. just right for this film. this has it all. action, drama, love, and survival. when finally they do reunite, there is so much love and passion, you can't help but be happy for them both, finally they become one. although it was sad what happened to inman, it was sadder to see all he and she went through to be together, for the outcome to be this way, but i'm sure they would have preferred that one night together, than a lifetime without each other. and with their daughter it's proof that love conquers all.

The Odyssey of the Civil War?.......2007-08-30

"Cold Mountain" (2003) tries to be The Odyssey told during the Civil War -the story of a man on his way home to his eternal love and all the obstacles and tribulations he faces. There a lot to admire in "Cold Mountain" - Anthony Minghella sure knows how to make a good-looking film with great views and impressive cinematography. This and his previous films, "The English Patient" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" are the good examples of his craft. The war scene in the beginning of the film is very impressive - realistic, powerful and violent. I did not read the book, so I can not comment on what parts were left out but the love story between Inman (Law) and Ada (Kidman) did not touch me very much. I am not sure if it has to do with the story itself or with the performances of two main characters but they were overshadowed by the supporting characters played by Eileen Atkins, Brendan Gleeson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Kathy Baker, and Giovanni Ribisi. Some of them had only few minutes of screen time but their characters are interesting and alive. Renee Zellweger received all possible awards that year for her turn as Ruby, funny looking but strong, energetic and independent woman who had helped the helpless and lonely Ada to manage her farm after her father died. I liked the character but I was not too impressed by Zellweger's performance. I think she had overplayed and made Ruby too grotesque. I've seen four Oscar nominated performances from 2003 and I liked two much better than Renee Zellweger.

There is a very frank love scene between Law and Kidman in the end. It is the well made scene but too beautiful considering that two lovers went through the nightmares of war, starvation, disease, and the lack of any decent conditions. I saw on the screen two very attractive people in great shape with sexy bodies but not two lovers of Cold Mountain during the devastating war.

Beautiful Scenery But Shallow Story.......2007-08-28

I'm not quite ready to join in dismissing this version of the best selling novel Cold Mountain as a "big-budget chick flick" but I will say that I'm one of the few women I know who wasn't captivated by this movie. (Not many men I've talked to about it liked it, and mostly said that was because it needed more Civil War battle scenes, which I agree it did.) What was good about Cold Mountain was its visuals, which were often very nice. What was wrong with Cold Mountain had to do with its slow moving plot, and the intolerable extent of its departure from realism. The morality here was cartoon-ish and straightforward good versus evil, no line of gray between, and its love story was the fluff of razor-thin romance novels. I also thought the characters were broadly-drawn stereotypes who somehow exuded shallowness (that mortal sin of the fiction world) despite the many over the top moments they were all given. Dyed in the wool fans of the actors who make up the cast of Cold Mountain will probably always enjoy this film, and it's great that they do, but for the rest of us, I'd advise that expectations be kept low. Cold Mountain is all right, but not much more.

Wow! What a Story!.......2007-08-17

Loved Jude Law! The story line was awesome and so was the cast. Great film with some sad and good moments. It's a love story that will make you cry and laugh at times. I was touched!

who hasnt seen it!.......2007-07-28

Cold Mountain....aptly named, is along side many great epics. A truly touching and heart wrenching tale,beautifully done in every fashion.

Dances with Wolves - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A story every American should see
Wonderful experience
Good Film, bad disk arrangement, what a dumb idea
Very good movie, but don't buy into all the mythology
Dances With Wolves

Dances with Wolves - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Kirk Baltz , Tantoo Cardinal , Maury Chaykin , Tom Everett , and Wayne Grace
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008PBZZ
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com essential video

Kevin Costner's 1990 epic won a bundle of Oscars for a moving, engrossing story of a white soldier (Costner) who singlehandedly mans a post in the 1870 Dakotas, and becomes a part of the Lakota Sioux community who live nearby. The film may not be a masterpiece, but it is far more than the sum of good intentions. The characters are strong, the development of relationships is both ambitious and careful, the love story between Costner and Mary McDonnell's character is captivating. Only the third-act portrait of white intruders as morons feels overbearing, but even that leads to a terribly moving conclusion. Costner's direction is assured, the balance of action and intimacy is perfect--what more could anyone want outside of an unqualified masterpiece? --Tom Keogh

Description

A "truly spectacular" (The New York Times) film that combines action, romance and breathtaking adventure, Dances With Wolves is "a cinematic masterpiece" (American Movie Classics) that is nothing short of "a triumph" (Roger Ebert)!Sent to protect a US outpost on the desolate frontier, Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) finds himself alone in the vast wilderness. Befriending the very people he's sent to protect the outpost from, the Sioux Indians, Dunbar slowly comes to revere those he once feared. But when the encroaching US Army threatens to overrun the Sioux, he is forced to make a choiceone that will forever change his destiny and that of a proud and defiant nation.

Customer Reviews:

A story every American should see.......2007-09-10

Great scenery, great music, poignant story have the fading of the great frontier and the demise of the Souix nation - an inevitable yet tragic clash of cultures

Wonderful experience.......2007-08-16

Kabajhed enterprises delivers again. What wonderful cinematography. This is truly a classic for all times. While Costner is not always known for his acting ability, this one is a plus mark for him. I would recommend this to everyone.

Good Film, bad disk arrangement, what a dumb idea.......2007-08-09

Although the film is a good one, I had to write this bad review, not for the film, but for the DVD arrangement on this Collector Edition. The first disk is two sided and has part 1 of the movie on side 1 and part 2 on the other side. The second disk contains the special features. Whatever moron decided this was a good idea has no clue about collectors and what they look for. This should have been put on three disks or at least put the special features on the B side, so the movie could be watched without having to manually remove the disk from the player and turn it over. I have a multi-disk player so I can just put them in the player and select which movie I want to see, sort of like a juke box, but with this DVD's arrangement, that isn't possible. Out of over 400 DVD's this is the only one that does such a thing (other than having a full screen on one side a widescreen on the other, that's Ok). The problem isn't the kind of thing one can return it for, so this one will go in the reject pile while I look for a better version (probably not available).

Very good movie, but don't buy into all the mythology.......2007-08-06

Let me just get my quibble with the aura around this movie down first so that all the people who want to give me unhelpful votes will have some ammo in their guns: what about the Pawnee? This movie was credited with turning around the cinematic view of Native Americans by making them the good guy. And to a large degree it does just that, showing the Sioux through the eyes of an outsider who grows to love and respect them while spurning the decadent culture he used to be a member of. However, while the Sioux are portrayed wonderfully and humanely, the Pawnee come across just as badly as any "Red Indian" ever did in the 1950s. They scalp a defenseless man, launch an attack on a defenseless community full of women and children, make evil-sounding war cries, etc. Oh, and in Stands-with-a-Fist's flashback sequence, we learn that Pawnee massacred her whole family too. This isn't really a major problem, but it is certainly something that should be thought of before heaping so much praise on the film for its "revisionist" leanings, especially since (as far as I'm aware) the Sioux were the masters of the Great Plains rather than the Pawnee.

Nonetheless, the movie still earns a hearty 4/5 star recommendation. While I wouldn't have minded focusing a little less on Stands With A Fist and more on the more interesting Sioux characters, I recognize that this is John Dunbar's story and she represents a large part of it. The acting is very good (including a career-best turn by normally-iffy Kevin Costner), the action sequences are good verging on spectacular, and it comes to a very emotional but unmanipulative conclusion. A little long (made by Costner after all) but a nearly-great film

Dances With Wolves.......2007-07-11

Long but engrossing Western is staggeringly beautiful as it details the tragic outcome of our expansion westward: the virtual annihilation of a proud society and culture. Costner has never been better as the most conflicted of men, a U.S soldier converted to a way of life that is dying, due to the destruction and injustice wrought by his own countrymen. An outstanding achievement for Costner, as the star/producer/director took home Oscars for Best Picture and Direction.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

More than Quality...
THE GOOD,THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Arche... Arche Stantin!?! Are you sure?
awesome western!
Best western ever

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Eli Wallach , Clint Eastwood , Lee Van Cleef , Aldo Giuffrè , and Luigi Pistilli
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001GF2DS
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com essential video

Clint Eastwood (the Man with No Name) is good, Lee Van Cleef (Angel Eyes Sentenza) is bad, and Eli Wallach (Tuco Benedito Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez) is ugly in the final chapter of Sergio Leone's trilogy of spaghetti westerns (the first two were A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More). In this sweeping film, the characters form treacherous alliances in a ruthless quest for Confederate gold. Leone is sometimes underrated as a director, but the excellent resolution on this digital video disc should enhance appreciation of his considerable photographic talent and gorgeous widescreen compositions. Ennio Morricone's jokey score is justifiably famous.

Description

By far the most ambitious, unflinchingly graphic and stylistically influential western ever mounted, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is an engrossing actioner shot through with a volatile mix of myth and realism. Clint Eastwood returns as the "Man With No Name," this time teaming with two gunslingers (Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef) to pursue a cache of $200,000and letting no one, not even warring factions in a civil war, stand in their way. From sun-drenched panoramas to bold,hard close-ups, exceptional camera work captures the beauty and cruelty of the barren landscape andthe hardened characters who stride unwaveringly through it. Forging a vibrant and yet detached style of action that had not been seen before, and has never been matched since, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly shatters the western mold in true Clint Eastwood style.

Customer Reviews:

More than Quality..........2007-08-30

I finally sat down to watch the new Good the Bad and the Ugly DVD with the extended scenes, etc. I haven't seen it in awhile and really got into it. This has got to be hands down (at least for me) the best western ever made. Every little detail of this movie emulates Sergio Leone's absolute brilliance. He finally got his big budget on this film and he totally makes the most of it.

The movie is definitely carried first and foremost by its characters. Obviously, Eastwood as Blonde, who is like the coolest cat you have ever scene in your life, dripping out classic lines such as,

"Such ingratitude after all the times I've saved your life",

".....Idiots......it's for you...".

and

"Were you gonna die alone?"

Van Cleef who Leone basically plucked out of TV obscurity to come star in two of the spaghetti westerns, was perfectly evil...

Eli Wallch who could have easily won an academy award for this role as the shady bandit, Tuco. Despite his overall sense of humor and seemingly good heart at times, Tuco cannot help being bad when it comes to greed, especially in terms of money. Just when you think towards the end that Blonde and Tuco are really even (dare I say) friends, greed gets the better of Tuco when he takes off in the horse for the money in the cemetary. Blonde calmly walks out of the abandoned church and as cool as a cucumber fires a couple of cannonballs at the fleeing Tuco. ---Classic. Sergio Leone slowly pans in for a close up of Blonde's cigar as it lights the cannon....with the theme song starting to play in the background....this is AWESOME.

Leone's artistic vision in this western is unprecedented to say the least. Every scene contains a scent of authenticity to it---from the awesome costumes that look worn and frayed, to the dirty finger nails, to the blown out buildings and abandoned churches. The cemetary scene in the end is simply phenomenal. You couldn't pick out a better location with a better feel! And then, we can't forget the actual actors themselves! You talk about ugly scarred up dudes! The flies hovering over their lips as they speak in broken Italian (dubbed in English almost comically at times). Another thing I love about Leone is the constant creativity he has with the lense. As Tuco is digging in the grave towards the end of the movie, you see Blonde's shadow creep up into the scene and a shovel is tossed at Tuco from off camera with Blonde saying, "It'll be a lot easier with that". Leone seemed to love the mystery he gave audiences with characters talking off screen or off the view of the camera. Even in one of the opening scenes where a few other bounty hunters capture Tuco and say, "Hey amigo, you know you have a face beautiful enough to be worth 2,000 dollars?" At which, Blonde repies (off camera) "Yeah. But you don't look like the ones who'll collect it." Then you show various shots of Blonde (but only from behind--lighting his cigar, or else his trigger finger---never his actual face)----it's awesome.

I found the new extended scenes to be interesting because it gave some more detail to the story. The negatives were that they for some reason needed to redub all the voices in the new scenes (including Tuco's, Blonde's, and Angel Eyes). They actually got a 99 year old Eli Wallach to use to dub his own character...and it's almost comical in the sense that in the new scenes Tuco sounds like......well......a crackling old shrieking guy. They got some other guy to mimic Blonde's voice as well. I don't understand why they needed to do this. As far as I could tell Eastwood was still speaking English in those extended scenes...

When Quentin Tarrantino says that he feels that The Good the Bad and the Ugly is the best directed movie of all time I can totally see why. I know that is quite a bold statement and I can't even say for sure it is actually true. But I do know for sure that it DEFINITELY is the best directed western of all time hands down. From the intricate plot, the script, the characters, the authenticity of costumes, set design, etc. this movie has it all.

GREAT MOVIE

THE GOOD,THE BAD AND THE UGLY.......2007-08-15

What's a mystery is simple.In the TRAILER..it's very clear...The ULGY..is suppose to be VAN CLEEF..&..the BAD..is ELLI WALLACH.But now go to the beginning of the movie..where they are introduce....VAN CLEEF now is refer to THE BAD...&..WALLACH..is refer to as THE UGLY.Othertwise...a great foreign western.Great Music.Super long drawn out plot...But who cares..with great American stars like..EASTWOOD,VAN CLEEF..& still around is ELI WALLACH.VAN CLEEF's kind will be truly missed.He was a great character star.

Arche... Arche Stantin!?! Are you sure?.......2007-08-11

The Good,the Bad, and Ugly is a movie that cares nothing for critics or popularatity. This movie is based around a wonderer and bountey hunter(The Good), a heart-less bounty hunter and murderer (The Bad), and a relentless and ruthless bandit(The Ugly).

In this movie no character is good by any means; they are all bad just one has better manners. This movie is also very diffrent bacause no one speaks for much of it; however, relies on the music and facial expressions to set the tone. Might I add that this film has some of the best acting of any movie. Clint Eastwood accually has the weakest character and though is portrayed as the main character many times, he is not. Lee Van Clef play as Angel Eyes who will kill anything or anyone in his path and will sacrifice his own men for what he wants, his scenes are nothing short of awsome. Eli Waltch steals the show as Tuco and it is very debatable that he is the main character. Every scene he is in explores how complexed he is and how close to insanity he lies. The part with his brother is particully memorable. When the movie gets going its none stop; with a perfect ballance of action and suspense. One will best the other one and then the other will better that one; which is unque in that no man is better then the others but who handles better in different situations. To the point it makes the amazing story real and fresh time after time. Make the back drop the Civil War.

If your not into westerns don't be detured, this will refuse to disapoint. Imagin a film based around a muderer, a murderer, and a murdering theif; it is great like Pulp Fiction. It's in reality what Terantino looked at when directing. The formula is simular to pulp fiction in that no one is good and it ends with the climaxing scene. The ending scene is a climax that rivals any film. The only one that competes in my opinion is Casablanca. The music score is just simply beautiful,simply the best arond.

The movie with the deleted scenes runs 3 hours, but time will fly bye like a 2 hours. By the end it will expand what stereo types are a western. Truely an astromicly incrediness film. One of three of my personally favorite movie of all time. Astounding.

awesome western!.......2007-08-01

The theme song to this movie still sends chills down my spine! This gritty tale was one of several that set the bar for great westerns. Clint Eastwood didn't have to be muscle bound or loud to be a convincing 'tough hombre'. And of course, who could forget the wicked 'Angel Eyes'? The movie also incorporates some of the horrors of the Civil War era while we focus on the quest for hidden gold. Who will get to the cached gold in the graveyard first?

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

Best western ever.......2007-07-14

If there a better western movie has ever been made, I've missed it. I would praise "High Noon," *The Ox Bow Incident," "True Grit" "Lonesome Dove" (the TV mini-series)--but they don't measure up to this spaghetti western. It is odd that Hollywood, with the West in the studios' back lots and plenty of real cowboys to choose from, couldn't make a movie as good as this one, directed by an Italian and shot in Andalucia Spain.

The plot is episodic, but what episodes they are--Eli Wallach defending himself successfully while sitting in a bubble bath, Angel Eyes reporting to the man who hired him as a killer, a pointless Civil War battle over a bridge, etc., etc. The plot finally settles on the attempt to recover some $200,000 in gold, buried in a cemetery. One man knows the name of the cemetery, but not the grave. The other knows the name on the grave marker, but not the location of the cemetery. The finale is a work of art.

The atmosphere is magnificent, the sparsest, dryest land this side of the Taklamakan Desert, miserable hovels, ramshackle towns, horse flies that buzz and land on faces, manure--in a word, reality--so real one can see and hear and almost smell it.

The non-featured characters are perfect, many of whom were not actors at all, but Spanish and Italian peasants. There is one actor with no legs, who crawls into a saloon and shouts, "Hand me down a whiskey." Hollywood would never have done that. Clint Eastwood is fine but mostly silent; his six gun does the talking for him. Lee Van Cleef is likewise fine, an evil looking armed man with no conscience or pity. But the real star is Eli Wallach, a little Mexican thief, liar, sadist, joker who is intent upon staying alive. He should have received several Academy Awards for his performance--one wouldn't have sufficed.

Most westerns are just horse chases and random gunplay, with maybe a song here and there. The same old stories were told over and over. Not so with this movie. If anyone out there remotely likes westerns and hasn't seen "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," you're in for a rare pleasure.

Gorillaz - Phase Two - Slowboat to Hades

Average customer rating:

Definitely worth the price of admission!
Great
FOR GORILLAZ FAN ONLY
Slowboat anything but slow...
reject false idols!

Gorillaz - Phase Two - Slowboat to Hades
Starring: Shaun Ryder , Phil Cornwell , Haruka Kuroda , Damon Albarn , and Nelson De Freitas
Director: Jamie Hewlett
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HT39CA
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Description

Gorillaz's second album "Demon Days" and its accompanying videos took the world and its websites by storm. "Slow Boat to Hades" rounds up these incredible documents for the first time and captures them in digital formaldehyde; from the award-winning videos and hi-tech performances to their inventive animated shorts, acceptance speeches and more.

All of these delights - including new content - can be accessed through the interactive menu, a brand new 3D DVD reconstruction of Gorillaz' online hangout Kong Studios. Viewers can wander through this decaying palace of sin and watch the breathtaking live performances in the cinema, visit the band's bedrooms, tour the corridors and find games, original animatics, cameos from some of the Demon Days guests and off-color jokes galore. A bonus CD-ROM includes 16 fiendishly addictive games including Gorillaz.com favourites Animal Kwackers, Tiles of the Unexpected and Operation, a whole library of wallpapers and screensavers plus some hidden extras.

DVD CONTENTS:
1. Feel Good Inc. Video
2. Dare Video
3. Dirty Harry Video
4. El MaÃ±ana Video
5. Feel Good Inc. animatic
6. Dare animatic
7. Dirty Harry animatic
8. El MaÃ±ana animatic
9. The Swagga
10. Bill Murray
11. Spitting out the Demons
12. Kids with Guns
13. People
14. Samba at 13
15. Murdoc is God
16. Demon Days album ad
17. Demon Days Live DVD ad
18. Demon Days Live Manchester mash up
19. Dare Ringtone ad
20. GES mobile games trailer
21. Celebrity Takedown DVD trailer
22. MTV Europe Music Awards performance
23. Feel up Live performance
24. Brit Awards 2006 performance
25. El MaÃ±ana Live in Harlem
26. Brit Awards rehearsals
27. Gorillaz Live in Harlem sting
28. Hip hop machine ident
29. Mexican Jailer ident
30. Fairground ident
31. Capsule Hotel ident
32. On the Island g bite
33. The lost g bite
34. Noodle VMA acceptance speech
35. Murdoc Alternative Queen's speech
36. Murdoc Record Company Thank You
37. Noodle Dare Interview
38. MTV Cribs
39. Monk's montage
40. Polar bear gags

CD-ROM INCLUDES:
16 games with full screen mode: Russel's Animal Kwackers, Bowling, Russel's Cookie Eating, Darts, Dirty Harry, Helly-Drop, Identikit, Operation, Potato, Santa Sleigher, Pumpomatic, Shooting Range, Mahjong, Murdoc's AttachÃ©, Tiles of the Unexpected, Bonesy Apple Bobbing; plus eight screensavers, 45 wallpapers and hidden, achievement based extras.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely worth the price of admission!.......2007-01-11

When I purchased this dvd, I didn't even know it existed. I found it by accident. Already owning Phase One, I had to get Phase Two. I was expecting some videos and maybe a couple bonuses. This dvd has visual videos for non-album tracks, not to mention Rock It (which I've tried finding a copy of that for years!). Of course, all of the videos for Demon Days. All kinds of concert and award show clips (including a duet with Madonna called Feel Up from the Brit Awards).

Also, like Phase One, it gives you the opportunity to experience them by searching through a maze of rooms. As fun as that is occasionally, I prefer using the chapter list, it's easier to navigate that way.

I've read this before and I agree: "Gorillaz. Way More Fun Than Real People".

Great.......2007-01-10

Fast service, easy ordering, very efficient. I never even heard of this DVD that my nephew wanted, and looking for it on amazon and finding it was sooo easy and so convenient to get. Thanks for making my Xmas shopping so easy.

FOR GORILLAZ FAN ONLY.......2007-01-09

An interesting cd much better than the first one i think all the new videos and more gorillazbites, so if youre a gorillaz fan you wont be dissapointed.

Slowboat anything but slow..........2006-11-14

Right off the bat if you've been a fan of the Gorillaz and have their first Celebrity Takedown, you sort of know what to expect from this lot. Well not really but in terms of their DVDs you get an idea.

For those of you crying as to not getting the inside scoop as to the creators of the G-band and the processes that brought them about: What did you expect? This is a virtual band that takes themselves seriously and believe themselves to be real. Treat them as such and relish in their great music and productions.

There has never really been any background information coming from Albarn or Hewlett officially regarding the creation of the band. Hence why there is a mockumentary on the first DVD showing the band beating up the "collaborators". If you really want to learn the background info search for them on Wikipedia, and you find a pretty extensive article on them and backstories.

What we do get is of course all of their beautiful Hi Def videos, their animatics (as an animator I have always loved the showing of these), B-side visuals to B-side tracks, (which are great as well), some quick flash animations of the boyos and girl, one real Gorillaz Bite, some wicked 3D animated TV spots as well as show footage (they're 3D renditions look even better now then they did back when they toured. It's quite amazing really because these guys aren't like the Simpsons they actually do age. You mainly see this in Noodle and 2D; She's getting taller, prettier of course, and 2D while more realistic looking more zombified then ever. Russ as well, not so much for Muds.

Animation is very pricey, and while I would have loved to have seen Dennis Hopper doing his bit, they would have had to animate the band with him in order to show them working together. This is ultimately why you don't see a lot of footage with them because the animation is just too damn expensive.

As for those clamouring for clips of the Apollo shows, I don't see why, the Manchester show was much more stellar, and already on DVD, why have a repeat of that?

You also get a CD for the PC to install some Gorillaz applications, pretty much mini games to muck about with, some screensavers and some kewl wallpapers as well, but nothing you couldn't get before, unfortunately. Wish there were some exclusives to the DVD set.

All in all it's a great sequel to their first DVD set, and a great companion piece to their new book of which I have also reviewed if you're interested in.

Cheers mates, and here's to the Gorillaz film hopefully that will go through this time around!

reject false idols!.......2006-11-07

This is a great set for the Gorillaz fan. Perhaps not perfect, perhaps it doesn't give us all we could ever dream of, but it's a great music dvd. All the proper videos from Demon Days are here, a cool edition of MTV Cribs at Kong Studios, many of the b-sides from the singles with some cool animations to go with them, things to find hiding in the studios (which are now collapsing, I don't know why... the website is like that too. It's kinda sad.)

My main complaint would be no more stuff from the Apollo shows, other than El Manana. Some Dennis Hopper would have been nice, especially, since he couldn't make it to the Manchester shows and doesn't appear on that DVD.

All in all I like it a lot, a great follow up to the phase 1 dvd. And best of all, all the great games from the website are collected on a handy cd-rom which you can load and play on your computer. And it's all playable without the disc, so if you load it on your laptop you are ready to play anywhere, even without wireless!

unfortunately some b-sides aren't represented and there are of course many things we could demand more, but what is here is well worth the purchase if you love Gorillaz. And it's fun to navigate the menus with the map monkey.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Flick
A very nice film
"If you have to direct, you've chosen the wrong actor."
A film to be cherished

The Two of Us (Criterion Collection)
Starring: Michel Simon , Alain Cohen , Charles Denner , Luce Fabiole , and Roger Carel
Director: Claude Berri
Manufacturer: Criterion Collection
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OPPAE2
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

A Jewish boy living in Nazi-occupied Paris is sent by his parents to the countryside to live with an elderly Catholic couple until France's liberation. Forced to hide his identity, the eight-year-old, Claude (played delicately by first-time actor Alain Cohen), bonds with the irascible, staunchly anti-Semitic Grampa (Michel Simon), who improbably becomes his friend and confidant. Poignant and lighthearted, The Two of Us was acclaimed director Claude Berri's debut feature, based on his own childhood experiences, and gave the legendary Simon one of his most memorable roles in the twilight of his career.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Flick.......2007-09-11

Absolutely charming. Michel Simon and the young Alain Cohen are so endearing I watched this film twice the first I opened it. No pain all gain, this during WWII in France, 1944-end of war.

A very nice film.......2007-07-20

This review is for the Criterion Colleciton DVD edition of the film.

The Two of Us released in Fance as Le Vieil homme et l'enfant is about a young Jewish boy in World War II era France who hides from the Nazis with the parents of a neighbor. The neighbor's father is very anti-Semitic and the boy has to hide the fact that he is a Jew. The boy and the old man become fast friends despite his anti-Semitic remarks. He rants on about Jewish stereotypes but the boy does not flinch.

The special features are Claude Berri's short film, Le Poulet, about a boy who befriends a chicken his parents get from a farm and intend to eat.

There are also new and archival interviews with Berri and actor Alain Cohen.

I found the movie to be very nice and a way to debunk arguments that anti-Semites make.

"If you have to direct, you've chosen the wrong actor.".......2007-07-02

The addition of "The Two of Us" to the Criterion Collection disappoints only in having taken too long to come to fruition. Besides the justly celebrated film, we are given a booklet containing an appreciative review by critic emeritus David Sterritt and autobiographical excerpts by Francois Truffaut and the film's director, Claude Berri, together with the usual acknowledgments, scene titles, and cast listing. Extras on the DVD include Berri's Oscar-winning short, "Le Poulet," historical clips of veteran actor Michel Simon--the old man--and contemporary interviews with Berri and with Alain Cohen who played the child and who is instantly recognizable forty years later. It is a splendid store, and students who are assigned--as they will be-- criticisms to write will find everything they need and more for plagiarizing.

All this and the movie, too! Simon, Cohen and Berri have been amply praised by critics with stronger credentials than my own, so I will allow the interviews and the film to speak for me. What higher praise for the acting than this from Berri: "If you have to direct, you've chosen the wrong actor." How better to summarize the film in one line than by the child's question before he meets the old man: "Why doesn't he like Jews if he is nice?" The old man is all that a surrogate grandfather should be: empathetic, loving, comforting, and playful. "I'll teach you myself," he says when the boy is cruelly treated at school, and teach him he does, from an abundant store of misinformation and prejudice, which the boy pumps from him with the impudent certainty that it is all nonsense.

When the village children and their teacher are cruel, it is casual cruelty to a stranger from Paris, not to one of the hated Jews. The war is there, too, with propaganda from the radio, rationing, and overhead bombers, and we are aware, as the child is not, of the devastating consequences should he forget his Catholic prayer, his false name, or the need to dress and bathe in private. Berri, in his interview, says that amidst much suffering, it was possible to be happy during the war, as he was and as is the child in the movie. It is no less an indictment of racism that these two escape its tragic consequences.

I don't speak French, but the subtitles are more than adequate. The dialogue isn't irrelevant, but most of the time the situation is more than clear with no dialogue at all.

A film to be cherished.......2007-04-24

I haven't seen this movie since its original theatrical release, but it's one that stays with you forever. The great french actor Michel Simon, whom many U.S. moviegoers may remember as the crusty old locomotive engineer in "The Train", plays an aged french anti-semite who becomes the unaware guardian of a little Jewish boy sent to his farm to escape Nazi persecution. The simple story of bonding and endearing friendship despite their diverse backgrounds is made especially compelling by the superb performances of the film's two main players.

Average customer rating:

Just the Two of Us (Vintage Collection)
Starring: John Aprea , Marland Proctor , Luanne Roberts , and Elizabeth Plumb
Director: Jacque Deerson , and Barbara Peeters
Manufacturer: WOLFE VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PMFRTM
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Product Description

This wildly entertaining vintage lesbian exploitation film rarity tells the story of a pair of lonely housewives who fall into bed together after seeing a lesbian couple holding hands at a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard.

While their husbands travel for their government jobs, Denise (Elizabeth Plumb) falls big-time for her pal Adria (Alisa Courtney). Life is all peaches and cream for the lovebirds: They go horseback riding together, play mini golf and go to the carousel on the Santa Monica Pier.

But when man-loving Adria falls for swarthy hack actor, Jim (John Aprea, who you ll recognize from The Godfather), Denise is left out in the cold easy prey for the British seductress Mona (Elizabeth Knowles) who gets her stoned before trying to defile her on a pool table. Jim eventually dumps Adria and the film manages to end on what, for 1975, is a definite up-note: The two women walk into the sunset together.

This vintage melodrama has it all: Contrived dialogue and hilarious early 70s fashion design and sets to die for (avocado shag carpet, anyone?). The original posters trumpeted the film as The Tragedy of Today s Lonely Housewife, and touted it for its Insights into a young woman s deep sexual desires!

JUST THE TWO OF US was directed by Roger Corman acolyte/feminist exploitation film pioneer Barbara Peeters with Jaque Beerson.

Average customer rating:

Great movie :)
Not bad
Thoroughly Superb!
It's All In The Imagination, Luv!
Crafted for the Beatles fan but brilliant.

Two of Us (2000)
Starring: Aidan Quinn , Jared Harris , Ric Reid , Martin Martinuzzi , and Neil Foster
Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007ELFF
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Amazon.com

Since many movie depictions of famous figures are cringe-worthy, it is pleasant to report that Two of Us creates a smart, informed, and intimate portrait of two music gods. This made-for-TV feature is a fictional speculation about a day in 1976 when Paul McCartney popped into John Lennon's New York apartment by surprise. With Yoko away on business, it's just the two giants spending a day together--bickering, goofing, toking, and eventually coming to a bittersweet reconciliation. There are awkward TV-movie moments, and some psychobabble, but the film respects its characters too much to round them off into simpletons. Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg made Let It Be, so he could draw on first-hand experience, and Jared Harris and Aidan Quinn are totally committed to their roles. For an even better speculative Beatles film, check out The Hours and Times, a superb study of Lennon and Beatles manager Brian Epstein. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Great movie :).......2007-08-03

You know, I'm not really even a beatles fan, but I thought the movie was great.

Not bad.......2007-04-06

A decent "what if" film about Macca and Lennon. It is pretty well made for a VH1 movie, but there are some cheesy parts. Don't be fooled by the high rating here. This is not a great film by any means...It's not bad either. Just don't get your hopes up. If you don't expect much, you will probably enjoy it. If you are expecting a great film, you will probably be disappointed.

Thoroughly Superb!.......2007-02-04

As Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) says on his deathbed -- in Tim Burton's movie "Big Fish" -- as his son, William, finishes describing his father's death to him -- Edward smiles at Will and says that's exactly how it happens and dies.

If you have seen "Big Fish" this may make sense...if you have not seen "Big Fish" what's keeping you?!

"Two of Us" deals with the themes and issues that many Beatles fans may want to know about or interact with, and the film does an outstanding job of fairly dealing with these issues in a reasonable manner. I highly recommend "Two of Us"

It's All In The Imagination, Luv!.......2006-03-14

I'm not a fan of biopics, particularly when most of the dialogue comes straight from the head of the script writer. In point of fact, this and other "you are there" movies require a suspension of disbelief in order to give the events a degree of plausibility. Although it was difficult for me to shake the notion that this movie was a complete and utter fantasy, I decided to enjoy it at face value. In reality, John and Paul did get together in April, 1976, during the "Wings Over America" tour. In the real life get-together, both Yoko and Linda were at the Dakota, and all four of them watched the Saturday Night Live "reunion offer" episode. John and Paul briefly toyed with the idea of going down to the studio as a lark, but all four decided it was too late at night, and the idea was quickly dismissed. After Paul and Linda left the Dakota (on a high note, pun intended!), Paul decided to return the next day by himself. It was on that return that John refused to let Paul in, stating that he had to take care of Sean, and that it wasn't like the old days, when as teenagers they would just show up at each others' homes. Paul left the Dakota, never to return.
Okay.... so back to the movie. If you're into "what ifs?", and you want a fairly realistic version of what might have happened had they met (based on their personalities and prior interactions), this is the movie for you. The John of this movie is the sterotype we have grown to know and love.....pissed off the whole movie. Paul is in his sweet, "we can work it out" mode, as would be expected of him. These fallbacks to stereotype tend to bring a one-dimensional bent to both of their characters, but the movie is well-written, and the dialogue and interaction are strangely compelling. I don't know if this "what if" scenario is as mind-boggling as say, "what if Hitler had won the war", or "what if Oswald had lived", but for Beatles afficianados such as myself, to see John and Paul interacting anytime after the breakup of the Beatles is worth the investment in time and money, and certainly worth suspending one's disbelief for 90 minutes. For further clarification and insight into the complexities of both the personal and the working relationships of John and Paul , please refer to the research of Dr. David M. Kopp, PhD. Dr. Kopp offers a perspective of the inter-relationship between the two Beatles that has rarely been touched upon in other scholarly works.

Crafted for the Beatles fan but brilliant........2006-03-08

This is such a well made, well written movie that if you are a fan of The Beatles, you will watch it over and over again. In fact, it is so pleasant to watch, you wish it really did happen. No one really knows what happened when Paul rang up John and Joko's pad on that day in 1976, but I'm sure it was not so wonderful as this movie would suggest. It is best to treat this film as 'fiction' and go on daydreaming about how Paul and John could've been close friends again in the post-Beatles era.
The only flaw in the story was the Saturday Nite Live bit, where John tells Paul that the two should shock the world by showing up at the TV studio to play a few tunes. Paul then hesitates and says 'What if we stink?'. First of all, John never would have made that suggestion (it would have been Paul to suggest that), then in return, John would have hesitated and said 'What if we stink' instead of Paul. Thats my prediction.

Average customer rating:

truth and beauty
Better Late Than Never

TWO OF US (1987) - TWO OF US (1987)

Manufacturer: ANTOnline
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00062J06C

Description

Once upon a time this was the most controversial film that the BBC ever produced. today we can view it for what it actually is, a sweet and charming teenage love story, where the two lovers just happen to be two boys. Phil is in his final year at school and is going steady with his girlfriend Sharon. His best friend Matthew left school the previous year, but during this time the boys have become more than just friends. Pressure from home and school force the boys to run away on their honeymoon to the South Coast. But it isnt easy to escape the problems that they have left behind, and finally they must come to terms with the truth about their own lives.

Customer Reviews:

truth and beauty.......2007-05-21

Twenty years ago I fell in love with this little gem, its message, and its two extraordinary leads. I have treasured my VHS copy of this heart-rending and -warming sixty-minute film, and am now delighted to see it on DVD to find the wider audience it deserves.

Phil (Lee Whitlock) is an ebullient high school lad who loves two people: his best mate Matthew (stunning Jason Rush), and his banal, mean-spirited girlfriend. She wants him to choose between the two. Considering Matthew's meltingly blue eyes, that seems too easy. In any case, Phil has no problem with his bisexuality and considers himself twice blessed. But not everyone shares his joy: the boys are taunted, intimidated, threatened, and attacked by classmates and family, receive no help from school authorities, and are hassled by police. Matthew and Phil run off on a "honeymoon" to find a place where they can be themselves. Cue up 'Somewhere' from West Side Story. They end up at a seaside resort, where Phil's girlfriend shows up and pressures him to return home with her -- and leave Matthew. The boys find that the most important thing is, no matter who is against them, they have each other.

One cannot help but fall in love with Phil and Matthew as they fall in love with each other. Their beauty, innocence, and struggle for freedom will melt your heart and may even restore your faith in our future.

It's hard to imagine how such a sweet story could offend anyone but, after much controversy in England, it ended up being shown at midnight though it was made for an after-school audience. The BBC, apparently, was reluctance to present a positive picture of loving young gays, or to educate teenage viewers.

Such reaction reminded us that we have not come so very far since 1905 when E.M. Forster stated privately that he could not publish his gay novel "Maurice" because it had a happy ending.

Better Late Than Never.......2007-03-21

"The Two of Us"

Better Late than Never

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Finally out on DVD is "The Two of Us", one of the most controversial film ever screened on British TV. It was well worth the wait. "The Two of Us" is the story of two school boys from Brighton Beach who fall in love and then openly confess their feelings for each other. When it was produced two versions were made of the film--one gay and one straight. Both deal with young love and its ramifications. Considering it was made in 1987, it is quite graphic and has a gay kiss--something rarely seen at that time.
The movie is beautiful in its sensitivity. The two boys are young and innocent and good looking. Matthew is a recent graduate and Phil, his best friend is a bubbly senior. Phil knows he has strong feelings for Matthew but he also has feelings for his girlfriend. He is taunted at school and both boys are harassed and tormented by families, friends and authorities. The two finally defiantly proclaim their love but Phil's indecision as well as his bisexual bent cause indecision and their relationship takes a while to develop. But develop it does and the two young men give us an uplifting look at love and romance and a glimpse into the world of young men we rarely get to see.
This is far from the movie it could have been but we have been tempered by what we see on the screen today. After "Queer as Folk" almost everything else looks mild but "The Two of Us" is to be applauded for what it does portray. Above all it shows us to remain true to oneself.
Jason Rush and Lee Whitlock are perfect as the boys. Not only are they convincing as actors it is easy to see how they fell in love. As a piece of our past this is a film that must be seen and to see it is to understand how little movies like this pave the way for what we have today.

Average customer rating:

Mmhmm

Two of Us
Starring: Mates of State
Manufacturer: Polyvinyl Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00065GI6Y
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Mmhmm.......2005-01-23

It's a great DVD, and definitely takes a real fan to enjoy. Like one who's got/ or intends to listen to ALL of their recordings, and would advertise for them.

And also, it says at the top of this webpage that it's only compatible in US/Canada. That's a lie; it's ALL REGION COMPATIBLE (yes, they REALLY exist). I found this a little insulting to MoS since they promote world peace, and saying they produce materials that are available exclusively to one part of the world sullies what should be an absolute clean reputation.

DVD:

DVD

DVD