No End in Sight

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A MUST SEE by all freethinkers

The Power of Delusion

Powerful And Disturbing

Demonstrates The Utter Incompetence Of The Bush Administration

The first documentary that actually made me cry!

No End in Sight
Starring: Campbell Scott , Richard Armitage , James Fallows , Samantha Power , and Barbara Bodine
Director: Charles Ferguson
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000U6YJMO
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Customer Reviews:

A MUST SEE by all freethinkers.......2007-09-16

No End In Sight is a powerful and poignant documentary that every freethinker should see. It is not a political bashing movie by the leftist but rather an honest recollection of the events leading up to the occupation by the actual individuals involved with carrying out the administration's misguided and ill-conceived plans. It's a tale of honest people following the orders (albeit reluctantly) of a dishonest demagogue and the pain and regret they now feel for being a part of the most unjust military occupation of this century. When will the citizenry of our country wake up to the atrocities being done in the name of "We the people" of these United States? It's time to recognize that "High crimes and misdemeanors" have been repeatedly committed by the arrogant and ignorant in this administration and that the only prudent recourse is IMPEACHMENT.

The Power of Delusion .......2007-09-07

"No End in Sight" is a history of the US involvement in Iraq beginning with the Gulf War in 1991 and continuing up until the end of 2006. The interviewees and informants are former senior U.S. government officials, including Rich Armitage and Jay Garner, military and intelligence officers, soldiers, marines, and Iraqis from all walks of life. All senior Bush administration officials declined to be interviewed for the movie. The tone of "No End in Sight" is bleak; the music is appropriately funeral.

There's little that we haven't seen before in this movie, but its useful to recall how we got involved in Iraq. Reverse selection of brains for a thousand years could not have resulted in a bigger mess than created by Messrs. Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et al. Perhaps the sub-title of the movie should be, "The Power of Delusionary Thinking" because the whole basis of our involvement in Iraq was due to the deluded minds of a few highly-placed US government officials. This movie brings that out clearly.

The most startling fact to come out of the movie is that the ultimate cost of the war is now projected at nearly 2 trillion dollars. Some elementary arithmetic establishes that our expenditure in Iraq will be about $80,000 for each and every Iraqi man, woman, and child. We would have had a better chance of success had we just dropped dollar bills instead of bombs. A disaster many times over, our most optimistic hope now can only be that the mess we have made in Iraq does not spread beyond its boundaries.

Smallchief

Powerful And Disturbing .......2007-09-07

Both in published reviews and among our citizen reviewers on this site, there has been some criticism levied against this documentary that there is little or nothing NEW presented here. Naysayers also opine that the film offers little analysis of options and that the title is misleading in that the filmmakers seem to be content to "rehash" mistakes of the past rather than focusing on solutions--i.e. discussing likely "ends" and getting them closer to being "in sight."

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I did indeed learn much that was new to me. Like many Americans, I had concerns about this war from the outset and was pained to see so many things going wrong so early--almost no sooner than the President had declared "mission accomplished." There was a basic sense that the administration had not adequately prepared for post-invasion realities, but I don't believe that I am in the minority when I say that I didn't have a full grasp of just how bungled that planning (if it can be called that) was.

This film lays out the history of those tragic mistakes concisely and graphically. There are certain advantages that film offers over even the best, most well-researched prose. Visuals are but one, but they are certainly an important one. It is literally painful to see the charred bodies, to hear the screams of the wounded and the dying. Even the best newspaper accounts or the most exhaustive books can't hit you in quite the same way. If it IS a rehash, it's a needed one, and a powerful one.

Again, I am speaking for myself when I say this, but I have to admit that I may have been in a strange sort of denial about this war. I thought I was following the news accounts fairly closely and that I had a basic understanding of what was happening (and failing to happen) in Iraq. But the film not only made the issues painfully graphic, it also convincingly made the case that even steps taken by the administration that were at least debatable ("de-Ba'athfication," the complete dismantling of the Iraqi military) were actual hopelessly misguided and counter-productive.

The looting and pillaging of Baghdad, to which the US administration effectively gave a green light, was an early sign that things were going wrong, perhaps hopelessly wrong. I recall reading accounts of the destruction of the National Museum--with its 4000 years worth of cultural history lost or destroyed--with some dismay. Seeing film footage of the same was literally sickening to me.

No two-hour documentary can be as extensive as the scholarly literature and expert journalism that emerges during the course of a protracted war, but there is a reason why the authors of so many recent books on Iraq opted to appear in this film--and they go beyond sheer self-promotion. A film can serve as a wake-up call, can get necessary dialogue going. (One can easily make the case that as a nation, we've been in denial about the realities of this conflict for quite some time now.)

"No End in Sight"? The charges that the title is misleading (since it is pointing to the future while the film's actual focus is on the recent PAST) is ultimately without standing. The film lays out the reasons for this quagmire (and yes, Mr. Rumsfeld, that's precisely what it is) clearly and logically. Commentators interviewed DO address the fact that because of those mistakes, there are no good solutions, and that Iraq's future looks bleak no matter whether we stay in force, pull out gradually or pull up stakes immediately. There truly is no clear end in sight. And that's downright scary.

Demonstrates The Utter Incompetence Of The Bush Administration.......2007-09-07

The most striking aspect of this documentary is that the people giving interviews are not your typical anti-war activists. To the contrary, they are people like Colonel Paul Hughes, a strategic planner for the Coalition Provisional Authority, and Barbara Bodine, ambassador in charge of Baghdad. They were the ones "on the ground" attempting to create a successful democracy in Iraq. But their efforts were stymied by arrogant and clueless higher ranking Bush officials such as Donald Rumsfield, Paul Wolfowitz and Paul Bremer.

The stories they tell of the Bush adminstration's extreme incompetence are mind boggling. For instance, how Bush officials chose to completely disband the Iraqi military. This left huge numbers of Iraqi men, with military experience and access to weapons, out on the street and with a strong desire to seek revenge against those who had taken away their jobs and livelihood. This problem was further compounded by the huge stashes of Iraqi military weapons that Bush officials foolishy left unguarded. Thus the Iraqi insurgents were able to achieve a level of weaponry and man power that to this day fuels the ongoing civil war. Part of the problem is that the military experts, like Colin Powell, were being ignored. While "chickenhawks" with no substantial military experience, such as Rumsfield, Wolfowitz and Cheney, were making all the decisions.

A strong argument can be made that the Iraq War was always doomed to turn into a Sunni versus Sh'ia civil war quagmire. But this movie isn't really aimed at those who opposed the war from the beginning. Instead it seems more directed at moderates and conservatives who initially supported the war but are beginning to question the results, especially those military families who have lost loved ones in what appears to be a hopeless cause.

It's hard for me to imagine that anyone - conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican - could come away from this film and not feel angry and disillusioned at how the Bush administration has conducted the war. Highly recommended!

The first documentary that actually made me cry!.......2007-09-04

Facts and figures can usually be overwhelming and dry as dust;but when they are laid out so explicitly and compelling as first time documentary film maker Charles Ferguson has done,then it is really tough to not want to cry as I did."No End in Sight" means exactly what it says;if the U.S does not leave Iraq a projected $1.860 Trillion will be spent on this "War" and who knows how many more lives taken.What I like most about this film is that Ferguson interviews those who were in key positions in the military during the initial push into Iraq.This is their story from their lips.These were people appointed by the Bush Administration to go in and "get the job done and leave." You will hear just how this did not happen,and it is sad and frustrating. It is significant for me to note that in order for those in The Administration to comment and be interviewed.....ALL DECLINED!

Is this just another documentary to be picked apart by naysayers? I heard Ferguson speak and he said " I made mistakes and I would have made many more were it not for two things. First,filmmaker Alex Gibney (Enron:The Smartest Guys in the Room) agreed to consult.And second, my crew taught me my job." If ever there is a more daring and compelling expose of the manipulation and mishandling of The Iraq War someone would really have to excel mightily in order to surpass "No End in Sight."

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Don't end this journey
Extra mundane
Sight and Sound Reveal This Artist
No Journey's End
Loreena Can Do No Wrong

No Journey's End
Starring: Loreena McKennitt
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000K7UHGU
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Customer Reviews:

Don't end this journey.......2007-08-19

Excellent, intellectual, soul searching dialog of a bohemian music goddess. I didn't want it to end.

Extra mundane.......2007-06-25

It's hard for me to belive that a voice like that comes out of a human being and not a Goddess. I am smitten with Loreena Mckennitt.

Sight and Sound Reveal This Artist.......2007-05-13

I have always found Loreena's voice intriguing, almost haunting. But music alone does not tell much about the performer. This video does. When you see her sing a duet with her harp or dance with her accordian you become aware of an attractive and enchanting personality. Besides being a great musician she is intelligent with messages that she wants her music to convey. Curiosity about life, respect for the past, and a reverence for the spiritual are her messages. You can see how she comes across by observing the chemistry she has with her back-up musicians. This really shows up on "The Mummer's Dance" where they all have a lot of fun. This is a very professionally done video and well worth every penny.

No Journey's End.......2007-04-12

A fantastic CD, one that you must have for your collection especially if you are a fan of the singer, Loreena McKennitt

Loreena Can Do No Wrong.......2007-03-12

First off, I must confess to being an avid Loreena McKennitt fan. I first heard her, over ten years ago, at 2:30 in the AM, broadcast over the local university radio station. Not exactly the finest spot for notoriety. I went out and bought the album the next day, and have purchased everyone since. So then it came as a pleasant surprise to find out that a video had been released this past Christmas season (2006), and I had somehow missed the debut. My loss for not being on top of that . . . my gain for finding out as soon as I did! Ms. McKennitt's voice is probably not that superstar sound that sells multi-million albums, be it opera, rock, or anything in between. But then, her audience is selective, and (I am thankful to say) growing. She evokes an otherworldly, ethereal presence to all her music. Her research is quite in depth, and her instrumental talents go hand-in-hand with her innate ability to draw a listener into the world that she describes in song. A clear voice that many times she veils in a whispered quietness, her perfect intonation and precise inflections all conspire to wisk the listener away before they are aware they have left. This DVD provides movement and a face to all those wonderful albums. She is "not just another pretty face", but an artist of great skill, talent, and a gift for sharing her world while making you believe you are the honored guest. My only sorrow was the brevity of the DVD - I wish that it had been longer. However, I am given to understand a PBS special is forthcoming this spring, and I am hoping that a DVD will follow.

Sir! No Sir! - The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam

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Documentary at it's finest
A documentary that should be seen by everyone in the military
so moving
A story retreived from the dustbin of history
War resisters speak out

Sir! No Sir! - The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam
Starring: Louis Font , Michael Wong (IX) , Joe Bangert , Dave Blalock , and Howard Levy (II)
Director: David Zeiger
Manufacturer: DOCURAMA
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Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IB0DE4
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Amazon.com

Pundits often make parallels between America's involvement in Iraq and the nightmare that was Vietnam; director-writer-producer David Zeiger's Sir! No Sir! does it too. But while the comparisons are generally apt (both conflicts are known as "quagmires," became hugely unpopular with the public, and inflicted serious political damage on the presidents who presided over them), this documentary makes a vital distinction: namely, that some of the most vocal and active opponents of the Vietnam War were the very soldiers who fought in it. These are haunted men who went to Southeast Asia because it was their duty, perhaps even because they saw it as the right thing to do, only to become sorely disillusioned when they witnessed the horrible injuries, the villages bombed for little or no reason, the civilians tortured and killed, and various other horrors that took place "in country." Some, like the so-called Nine for Peace, formed GI protest groups while still on active duty in Vietnam; some went AWOL (there were reportedly 500,000 incidents of desertion); a great many, including soldiers who refused to be deployed to 'Nam at all, were court-martialed and imprisoned in military stockades like San Francisco's Presidio, while still others returned home, joined movements like Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and published virulent underground newspapers. All of this is delivered via personal anecdotes, photos, and occasional file footage. The material is undoubtedly compelling, but Sir! No Sir! pretty much makes its point in the first half hour, rendering the final hour somewhat tedious. And that's not even including the nearly two hours of accompanying bonus material. Most of the latter consists of extended interviews based on what we've already seen in the main program; there's also a look at the Winter Soldier inquiry (the subject of a separate documentary), as well as a joint appearance by "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, Vietnam's most infamous celebrity protester, and Cindy Sheehan, who became an anti-war activist after her son was killed in Iraq in 2004. --Sam Graham

Description

Easily the most timely and resonant film about the soldiers on the front lines of antiwar resistance, the award-winning breakout theatrical hit SIR! NO SIR! Tells an almost entirely forgotten story of the military men and women who helped force the U.S. government to end the Vietnam War. Contrary to the popular image of long-haired hippies spitting on returning soldiers, SIR! NO SIR! vividly demonstrates that GIs were the heart and soul of the anti-war movement. Poignantly narrated by a diverse cast of veteran GI resisters who recall the ferocious days of peace marches and stiff jail sentences, SIR! NO SIR! pulls no punches in its raw depiction of the power of people, especially those in uniform. Directed by David Zeiger, SIR! NO SIR! is "powerful stuff, offering us not only a new look at the past, but to the unavoidably relevant insights into the present" (New York Daily News).

Customer Reviews:

Documentary at it's finest.......2007-09-13

i've seen a lot of documentaries, but the soundtrack, the interviews and the reflection of past onto the present made this film one of the best i've ever seen.

A documentary that should be seen by everyone in the military.......2007-06-19

Sir! No Sir! is one of the best documentaries produced about the Vietnam War. In light of the emerging soldier's resistance to the Iraq War, this documentary shows us where anti-war energy should be focused. See this documentry, than read The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq.

so moving.......2007-06-11

i don't have additional factual information to add to the excellent reviews already posted. i'll just say i viewed this last night and found it so moving and inspiring i can't stop thinking about the subjects of this film, what they endured and their incredible service to humankind. the personal risk they undertook is almost unimaginable. note that several commented they were not even aware there was a GI antiwar movement to support their actions.

i do want to add that besides the fascinating subject matter this documentary is extremely well done. the pacing keeps you riveted and the production overall is excellent. highest recommendation.

A story retreived from the dustbin of history.......2007-05-03

This documentary is a necessary corrective to the widely held perception that the Vietnam anti-war movement was anti-soldier. In fact, a key component of the anti-war movement was the soldiers. As early as 1965, highly decorated "lifers", who joined the armed services convinced they were doing their duty to their country, began speaking out against the war, refusing orders, and faced court-martials to stop the war in Vietnam. As one former Green Beret said, "I was doing my job right, but I wasn't doing right." By 1969 war resistance among GIs, which had started as individual acts of defiance spread among draftees "in country" and among vets returning home, and emerged as a crucial component of the anti-war movement. So much so that even the US military had to concede that the majority of US troops were anti-war.

Sir, No, Sir is a very well done documentary that weaves together interviews, news footage, and commentary about the "forgotten" anti-war movement--the GI coffee house movement, the underground GI press, and the "alternative" USO-style shows that featured an anti-war message that was tailored to the soldiers' expereince. It closes with some parting shots on how the GI anti-war movement was "erased" from popular memory through films like Hamburger Hill and Rambo--which situate the anti-war movement as being anti-soldier.

The extras on the DVD are also quite interesting. Of particular interest is the interview with the infamous "Dave Rabbitt." Years ago, I received a copy of a recording of a "pirate" radio station in Vietnam and had often wondered about its authenticity. This film confirmed that briefly an unofficial radio station (Radio First Termer-FM69), which was "for the troops" but against the war, operated in the Phan Rang area of Vietnam. It broadcast "hard acid-rock music" for the "first-termers and non-reenlistees" in Vietnam. An interesting story in and of itself, and just one part of the forgotten anti-war movement.

War resisters speak out.......2007-04-15

A most-important film about the GIs who resisted the war on Viet Nam while inside the military and in the country itself. Fragging of COs was not unusual, leaving Nixon to pull out ground troups and send major air strikes to this torn country .. A must see for all people who think they recall or have read about the resistance against this war.

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Film Noir Boxed Set
remember...no 16 Boomerang is still missing
better price (than list) to start your collection, but not the best deal on noir
Don't Forget This One Too.........
An indispensable series for aficionados of film noir

Film Noir Boxed Set
Starring: Gene Tierney , Dana Andrews , Clifton Webb , Vincent Price , and James Stewart
Director: Henry Hathaway , and Otto Preminger
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ASIN: B000MDH6RK
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Amazon.com

This 17 film collection includes some of the best in film noir from 1944 - 1955, with 12 Oscar nominations between them. These are the films that defined the genre and the style of film-making. Mystery, Suspense, Murder, this collection has it all! Films Included: Call Northside 777, Laura, Panic in the Streets, House of Bamboo, Nightmare Alley, Street with no Name, House on 92nd Street, Somewhere in the Night, Whirlpool, Dark Corner, Kiss of Death, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Fallen Angel, The House on Telegraph Road, No Way Out, I Wake Up Screaming and House of Strangers

Customer Reviews:

Film Noir Boxed Set.......2007-03-28

I have watched about half of these movies & so far all of them have been very good, in fact, much better than I expected. I find Dana Andrews to be a very compelling leading man & the actresses in all of these are superb as well. I hope Fox will resolve their issues with "Boomerang" which is #16 in the set, (which is not included with your purchase) so that I can add this one to the collection. My only complaint is that this collection is not really a boxed set. It is simply 17 great film noir DVD's shrink-wrapped together. However, this is a great value & lots of these titles are being released for the first time in this set. Highly recommended for those who like the genre.

remember...no 16 Boomerang is still missing.......2007-03-18

This set misses out no.16 "Boomerang". It got recalled at the eleventh hour by Fox because of a legal tangle.
You can find it on sale for $45.00 on amazon marketplace, because it was actually printed and ready to go.
Clearly a few boxes have found their way out the back door!!!!
But despite that wee dissapointment you'll love the rest.
Hopefully Fox will sort out the mess soon..... and then you can plug the gap without having to shell out silly money.

better price (than list) to start your collection, but not the best deal on noir.......2007-03-12

I haven't yet purchased these titles & was just about to, until I checked up on what's included with the current bundle (March 1 2007) that Amazon is offering. As previously mentioned, this is not a box set (misleading description from Amazon), but rather a bundle of the first 17 titles in Fox's noir series. I purchased the Warner Bros.' boxes 1-3 (and reviewed them there) which I thought were an excellent value for the money (when on sale, roughly 6 - 7$ per disc). I've held off on these since the price is higher. This bundle discounts the titles to about $8 per disc, which is better than the usual price for each, but a local retailer often sells these titles for 7.50 - 10.00 (with a buy 3 get 1 free sale). Still I would have jumped on this price had this been a bonafide box set with the slimmer DVD cases, but these regular dvd's will take up quite a bit of real estate in my storage. Moreover, the more recent titles aren't included (missing titles: Boomerang, 14 Hours, Shock, Vicki, all released last year). If Fox would release all the titles to date (plus the next releases: Hangover Square & The Lodger) in slim cases & a box at a comparable price I'll jump, otherwise I'm holding out for a better deal.

Don't Forget This One Too................2006-03-05

For some reason the Fox Noir release Dark Corner (Mark Stevens, Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix) doesn't get much coverage under the typical outlets for obtaining these Fox Noir titles, Amazon included. I didn't even know the title was even out there, but it is, and it is quite a Noir gem. I say this without hesitation because I was never a Lucy fan at all. But in this one, she's actually pretty cool. Too bad she went goofy in later life (I guess it paid the bills).
If you like the Fox Noir series and Noir in general, don't forget this one too. I got mine from Tower Records (seems hard to find for some reason). The famous "peering through the venetian blinds" scene that you see stills of all the time, that's Mark Stevens. A somewhat overlooked actor in Noir circuit, but he can hold up to any of the other more noted ones in my opinion. Check it out.

An indispensable series for aficionados of film noir.......2006-01-10

The Fox film noir collection is an "Amazon.com exclusive" consisting of 9 DVDS in their individual cases (alas including individual shrink wrap, which one tediously has to remove) presented in one blister pack. The nine titles are:
*** BATCH 1 (DVDs released 3/05): Call Northside 777 (1948); Laura (1944); Panic in the streets (1950)
*** BATCH 2 (DVDs released 6/05): House of bamboo (1955); Nightmare alley (1947); Street with no name (1948)
*** BATCH 3 (DVDs released 9/05): House on 92nd Street (1945); Somewhere in the night (1946); Whirlpool (1949)

The film restorations are superbly done. The DVD cases are in uniform format, being part of the "Fox film noir" series. Each title has a film commentary (Laura has two) plus other extras, minimally a trailer. In addition, each title has a 4-page booklet with these sections: "the lineup," "the look," "the scoop," "the story," and "scene selection."

The DVDs list for $14.95 each and currently Amazon sells them for around $10 each. Amazon sells the 9-DVD collection for $74.99, which works out to $8.33 for each DVD. Certainly, not all titles are of the caliber of Laura (1944), but this collection is a must-have for the firm-noir aficionado.

Incidentally, BATCH 4, was released 12/05 and consists of: The dark corner (1946); Kiss of death (1947); Where the sidewalk ends (1950). BATCH 5 will be released in 3/06: Fallen angel (1945); House on Telegraph Hill (1951); No way out (1950)

Alain Silver & Elizabeth Ward's "Film noir: An encyclopedic reference to the American style" (1992, 3rd ed.) lists 32 noir titles by Fox. Hence we can probably expect from Fox another 20 or so titles in the "Fox film noir" series. If these 32ish titles all materialize in this excellent series, it will be a big chunk both out of one's purse and DVD shelf space.

The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)

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Essential cinema: The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection.
Kieslowski collection . . .
Some of the best movies I have ever watched
Bravississimo!

The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)
Starring: Boguslaw Linda , Tadeusz Lomnicki , Zbigniew Zapasiewicz , Boguslawa Pawelec , and Marzena Trybala
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009UZGQY
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Customer Reviews:

Essential cinema: The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection. .......2007-07-23

Roger Ebert calls Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996) "one of the greatest of all filmmakers." Best known for his film cycles Three Colors Trilogy (Blue / White / Red) and The The Decalogue (Special Edition Complete Set), Kieslowski explores similar themes (the hardships of Polish society, love and loss, faith and fear) in this first-rate Collection of his lesser-known feature-length films.

A Short Film About Love ("Krótki film o milosci") (1988) is an expanded film version of the sixth episode of The Decalogue, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," with a different ending than the original. A young man (Olaf Lubaszenko), obssessed with a stranger (Grazyna Szapolowska), spies on her through her window and eventually falls in love with her.

Blind Chance (1981), which later influenced the films, Sliding Doors and Run Lola Run, follows three separate story lines involving Witek (Boguslaw Linda) sitting on an airplane and overcoming obstacles while attempting to catch a train to Warsaw.

Winner of the grand prize at the Moscow International Film Festival, Camera Buff (1979) tells the story of a factory worker, Filip Mosz (Jerzy Stuhr), who becomes obsessed with his amateur film hobby. The film explores government repression of an individual's artistic expression.

Told from the point of view of a lawyer's ghost and his widow, No End (1984) is a political feature about the political trials in Poland during martial law. The film was Kieslowski's first collaboration with screenwriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz and composer Zbigniew Preisner (The Decalogue; The Double Life of Véronique; Three Colors).

In its documentary-style portrayal of everyday life under a flawed system, The Scar follows the upheaval of a small town by a poorly-planned industrial project.

A Short Film About Killing ("Krótki film o zabijaniu") (1988) is an expanded version of the fifth episode of The Decalogue, "Thou shalt not kill." A brutal murder unites a drifter (Miroslaw Baka), a taxi driver (Jan Tesarz), and an idealistic lawyer (Krzysztof Globisz), reflecting Kieslowski's opposition to the death penalty.

For those wanting to explore Kieslowski's genius beyond The Decalog, Three Colors, and The Double Life of Veronique, this six-disc Collection (totaling 596 minutes) should not be missed.

G. Merritt

Kieslowski collection . . ........2005-12-31

A dirty Warsaw frames A Short Film About Killing, symbolizing a society in decay. Murder . . . both state sanctioned and random are shown in counterpoint. The film is a powerful indictment about the death penalty, and the barrister reflects the outrage of the heart. The second theme is random chance . . . if only the killer's sister hadn't been killed, if only he had a good friend to talk to, if only someone had intervened. The film is so hard to watch because it reflects the mirror back at our souls.

Voyeurism, love and loneliness mingle in A Short Film About Love. Love, the special world, cannot be approached directly, but only tangentially . . . in the film's case, through the lens. Where Tomek begins as an impassioned voyeur, his love interest takes over as the film progresses. Do we only need a fleeting glimpse to arrive at love? How do we escape from being alone in the world? Such universal question are asked(and answered) in this expanded film version of The Dialogue classic.

Blind Chance is fantastic. Absolutely great. The themes of free choice and predetermination are explored not as opposites but as two qualities somehow blended together. When we think, "ah, I can choose," are we correct, or does each cosmic choice imply similar outcomes, similar problems? If we have three choices, are they really so different? Is the bad choice so bad? On the extra selections, check out the fascinating interview with his film censor, whom he respected so much she became a sort of creative sounding board for his works in progress, while at the same time examining his work in her `official capacity.'

No End is obviously a precursor to Blue . . . where the dead(sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically)live on, influencing events. There is no Black and White in Kieslowski's films, only gradations. Like Blind Chance, each position/argument on how to handle the case of the prisoner has their pro and con side. Truth or the true side of the prisoner is expressed by the deceased lawyer, revealed through his writings. Check out the short documentary The Office on the extras portion of the disc. It has comedy, wit, grace and tragedy(all in five minutes). It takes place in the black hole of an official state office where some hack drones on in a staccato tone to desperate pleas from several claimants. In this short(shot in film school), one can see the shape and scope of Kieslowski's future films.

On the extras of Camera Buff, Kieslowski's short documentary Talking Heads shows the humanity and hopes of ordinary people, and also of the filmmaker Kieslowski himself. Camera Buff works on several levels. First, it's laugh-out-loud funny(in parts). Second, it raises questions of putting somebody in the spotlight . . . and its implications. Like the dwarf worker or the communist functionary who loses his job. I see implications in news stories everyday . . . the power of turning the camera on ourself. This is Kieslowski's first "breakthrough film," and, perhaps it is here that Kieslowski first all incorporates all of the parts in the sum in combination making Kieslowski a singular genius. No other filmmaker or artist of any kind examines life in this manner, turning the camera inward.

Some of the best movies I have ever watched.......2005-12-10

Each movie of the collection is a masterpiece, a refreshing experience, leaving a deep, intense after-taste. Do not miss them !

Bravississimo! .......2005-08-31

SO FAR THE DVD EVENT OF THE DECADE!

No need to heap more praise upon Kieslowski, one of the greatest masters behind the camera. Just wanted to uncork a flood of this for this nothing short of phenomenal DVD set harvested by the "Kino video" film thoroughbreds! Each of these DVD titles has features aplenty to consider the entire edition a cultural event of the first water ---Kieslowski' rare shorter footage films are added on each of the titles; each title includes interviews with closest associates, friends, critics etc. It seems like that even the critics got inspired -being awara that they are paying tribute to a master that stand on equal footing to a Tarkovski, Fellini or Kurosawa to name but the cream of the crop.
All DVD's from the set are rented relentlessly, around the clock, at least in the video store I frequent. It makesone joyous to see that there's so many film fans hungry for the REAL THING (as opposed to the abominable, unmentionable, ever worse and more offensive Hollywood drek ;-)

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No happy endings
A great movie, a great director

No End
Starring: Grazyna Szapolowska , Maria Pakulnis , Aleksander Bardini , Jerzy Radziwilowicz , and Artur Barcis
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CHI9M
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Customer Reviews:

No happy endings .......2004-08-26

"No End" (1985), probably the best of Krzysztof Kieslowski's early feature films, was assailed by the church because of its dark, numbing ending. The film was set in 1981, during martial law. With a setup out of "Six Feet Under," this was Kieslowski's most personal film, his friend and fellow director Agnieszka Holland says in the extras. "Audiences didn't know what to make of it." Grazyna Szapolowska plays a young widow who fights to find a reason to go on; a second story concerns the trial of an uncompromising political prisoner. Critics of the time complained it was really two movies. Perhaps. They're both well worth seeing. This is one of four recent additions to Kino's Kieslowski collection -- along with "The Scar," "Camera Buff" and "Blind Chance" -- all of which show that the Polish master's writing and directing skills arrived almost fully formed when he turned to feature films. Each of the films benefits from a powerful central performance. They are products of the 1970s and '80s, a time of vast sociopolitical changes in Poland, but are not timepieces or simplistic attacks on the communists. Highly recommended. The color images (full frame, enhanced) and sound are adequate. Subtitles are clear. The DVD includes a short film.

A great movie, a great director.......2000-09-09

I was happy to find another great movie to buy. I bought this one taking the chance, because I never have heard anything of it. But once again Kieslowski take over deep fellings and a complex speech, opening a door of sensations. Great movie.

Charlie Rose - Charles Ferguson & Esther Dyson & Brooke Marshall Astor (August 14, 2007)

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Charlie Rose - Charles Ferguson & Esther Dyson & Brooke Marshall Astor (August 14, 2007)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Mozart No End & The Paradise Band - Friedrich Gulda

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Mozart No End & The Paradise Band - Friedrich Gulda
Starring: Mozart , Paradise Band , and Gulda
Manufacturer: KULTUR VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
from the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 26 in D major, K. 537 Coronation
D-Dur * en ré majeur * in re maggiore
II. Larghetto (arr. F. Gulda)

Fantasia for Piano in C minor, K. 475
c-moll * en ut mineur * in do minore
Adagio Allegro Andantino Piü allegro Primo tempo

Piano Sonata in C minor, K. 457
I. Molto allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai
from Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)
Recitativo ed Aria Giunse alfin il momento - Deh vieni, non tardar (Aria of the roses ) (arr. F. Gulda)

FRIEDRICH GULDA
Aria
Exercise 9

BARBARA DENNERLEIN
Stormy Weather Blues

HORACE SILVER
Opus de Funk

FRIEDRICH GULDA
For Paul
Du und i (You and Me)
General Dance

FRIEDRICH GULDA piano
BARBARA DENNERLEIN organ
MITCH WATKINS guitar
HARRY SOKAL saxophone
WAYNE DARLING bass
MICHAEL HONZAK - drums

Customer Reviews:

"My Path Of Exploration" ~ The Music And Mind Of A Modern Day Muse.......2006-12-29

`No Journey's End' is a beautifully conceived and masterfully produced journey into the heart and soul of one of the most talented and spiritually aware composers and musicians in the world today, Loreena McKennitt.

Contents:
- No Journey's End (26:19); a mini-documentary following Loreena to beautiful and exotic sites as she traces her musical influences to their ancient source. Loreena is not only attractive to behold, but highly articulate. She provides the sole commentary on this journey, not only providing fascinating glimpses into the evolution of her unique sound but lessons in history and spirituality as well.
- The Bonny Swans (4:00); a music video from `The Mask And Mirror."
- The Mummers' Dance (3:58); a music video from `The Book Of Secrets.'
- Explore the Music of Loreena McKennitt; an interactive discography.

If you didn't love Loreena before you will once you view this fantastic DVD. A must own!

Very informative........2006-07-27

I expected this to be more of a music video than a commentary. I should have done my homework before I bought it. The commentary was done very well. The music videos of "The Bonny Swans" and "The Mummers' Dance" were very enjoyable. I have yet to view or listen to the snippets offerred on the dvd of other songs from her cd's yet. I have all her cds with the full song versions.
As I said, I should have done my homework. I am happy that I did not pay the price that stores and some websites are charging for this dvd.

The Lady of Shalott Live: Takes the Breath Away.......2006-01-19

The high point of this production is a breathtaking performance of "The Lady of Shalott". The performance is a stripped down rendition but that doesn't hurt the song. The extra production layers that featured Loreena's voice on harmony as well as the lead vocals are gone. The song is shorter as well, probably due to the time restrictions of the original broadcast. What comes out is four minutes of absolutely stunning ethereal beauty! McKennitt is an exceptional vocalist at the worst of times. At her best she combines the best elements of expression and restraint to form an almost otherworldly presence. The arrangement is strong and rich but never overwhelms her vocals and never becomes submerged by them either. The cello line is played by Ofra Harnoy in this rendition and is much stronger in the mix than on the original recording. This is wonderful addition for anyone who sees and hears the performance because Harnoy is as expressive with the cello as McKennitt is with her voice. They've worked together since this was recorded and hopefully will do so again. All that can be said about this is that's it's pure magic, enchantment guaranteed to leave the viewer begging for more.

The remainder of the content is a mixture of the same strengths and faults inherent in almost all of the documentary profiles that come from Public Broadcasting (PBS). The subject matter is interesting, and, as is the norm with the network, treated with great respect. There's plenty of commentary and most of it is well worth the time to needed to absorb it. They keep things sanitized (which means anyone looking for ribald tales of orgies and infighting needs to look somewhere else) but (to their credit) they manage to steer clear of the vacuous sorts of sound bytes that occur when Network people interview politicians or athletes. McKennitt comes across as soft spoken, and extremely thoughtful. The things she says do give the viewer and added insight into the workings behind her work. The commentary is (for the most) nicely interspersed with bits of music. The only complaint is that it cuts into the music too often. This is especially true when she discusses the creation of "The Dark Night of the Soul" (which I personally feel is one of her very best works). If this video is missing anything it's a complete performance of that work.

The DVD is uneven from a technical standpoint. The most important points, the quality of the sound and the video itself, are exemplary. There are also a couple of nice extra features added; the DVD includes the original videos of the Bonny Swans and the Mummer's Dance. The menus are another matter. They're easy enough to navigate but they have a couple of quirks. The opening menu won't let anyone advance to the next stage until after they select a set of subtitles. Those can be turned of once the program is running but that should have been an option in the first place. The choice between audio tracks (PCM Stereo or 5.1) has to be made before the program starts. And it can't be changed once the feature starts, at least not without going back to the main menu. What were they thinking?

These are minor complaints though. Though the content ranges between good, great and magnificent and (as stated earlier) the sound quality is exceptional. The 5.1 track is the better of the two (even on conventional stereo) as it seems to have more information on it. Right now this DVD is added as a bonus to any of the remastered albums if they're purchased directly from Loreena's site. The sound quality of the original releases was very good (considerably better than almost anything else that was issued during the same time period in fact) the remastered audio is a huge improvement over the originals. For anyone interested in McKennitt's work this is worth considering.

Overall this is a wonderful introduction for people unfamiliar with McKennitt and an excellent addition for those already entranced. For lovers of great music her performance of "The Lady of Shalott" makes it a "must have".

The End of Summer [Region 2 Import, English Subtitles]

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The End of Summer [Region 2 Import, English Subtitles]
Director: Yasujiro Ozu
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

'The End of Summer', the penultimate film by Yasujiro Ozu, examines the difficulties faced by the Kohayagawa family as they struggle to adapt their traditional values to a rapidly changing post-war Japan. As the family's generations-old sake making business begins to fail in the face of increasingly fierce competition, Manbei, the incorrigible elderly patriarch, rekindles an affair with an old flame, much to the disapproval of his daughter Fumiko. He is further distracted by his attempts to marry off his two other daughters: Akiko, the eldest and a widow with a small son, and Noriko, the youngest who is still single. A sublime, bittersweet elegy for a vanishing world, 'The End of Summer' is beautifully shot in muted colour, elegantly acted and masterfully directed by one of the twentieth century's greatest filmmakers.

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