Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Amazon.com essential video

Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Joseph certainly isn't revolutionary musical theater, but if you view it as a kids' show, it's a silly good time (though there are poignant moments too). Parents should note, however, that this production might warrant a little discretion due to one suggestive scene and some risqué costumes. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

fantastic movie.......2007-07-16

I love love love this movie. Donny is so much fun to watch, the music is really cool...my kids sing the songs all the time, so catchy.

terrific!.......2007-06-18

my kids and I have viewed this MANY times since we received it. my only complaint is the variability in sound quality - very hard to hear the first part.

Donny is awesome ... and that's pretty much it........2007-05-23

Make sure you read the Amazon Ediorial Review of this product before you buy it. This is not a typical stage production of this musical. Instead of filming a live stage production as it was performed, it was filmed more like a movie. This is not a negative part of my review, just one to be aware of.

Donny Osmond's does a fabulous job as Joseph, which is the main highlight of the DVD.

I didn't rate it more than three stars for two main reasons. The sound quality is very poor, for one. However, my main complaint is risque Potiphar scene. I was warned beforehand and watched that scene before allowing my kids to. I'm glad I did, because I'd never want my kids to see that scene. The costumes the women wear make them look naked. I bought the DVD because my kids and I are doing this musical at our church and because I have always loved Joseph's story. Yet I'm saddened that Hollywood had to make something Biblical into something so risque that no child should ever see. Potiphar's wife did try to seduce Joseph, so I have no problem with telling that part of the story. It just doesn't have to be portrayed the way it was in this DVD.

Not Appropriate Family Entertainment.......2007-05-15

Let me start by stating this is perrenial favorite of mine. I've attended several productions of this from Tuacahn to high school productions. My daughters drove me nuts playing the soundtrack. I finally broke down and bought the DVD.

Let me also state that we have high Christian standards. This did not meet those standards. My wife and I both flinched several times while viewing this version.

Some of the costume are very risque' and some of the behaviors are very inappropriate. The Potipahr's wife scene was just short of brazen nudity and overly sexual.

The narrator was not up to the caliber of other performances I've seen and Richard Attenborough did a mediocre job as Jacob. Donny Osmond played Joseph well and continues to deliver the level of vocal performance he was known for in the 70's.

I liked the sets and the creativity, although a 'for film' version would have been nice.

The sound was poor. We had to adjust it several times during our viewing, especially in the beginning.

Minus one star for inappropriate material. Minus one star for poor sound. My wife and I rate this at PG-13, drifting slightly towards R.

The Best .......2007-05-14

This is the best version of Joseph ever. The DVD is almost as great as the live performances!

The Exodus Revealed: Searching for the Red Sea Crossing

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Must see DVD
Learn and grow in faith!
THE EXCITING, TRUE, EXODUS CROSSING!
Moses parted the Reed Sea
Not what we thought

The Exodus Revealed: Searching for the Red Sea Crossing
Starring: Exodus Revealed
Manufacturer: Questar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005AUE2
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Description

During the Exodus, one of the most famous miracles of the Old Testament took place. More than 3000 years have passed since Moses led two million Israelites across the Red Sea and out of the bondage of Egypt. It is a topic that so fascinated Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille that he made The Ten Commandments, twice. Steven Spielberg also took on the story in The Prince Of Egypt. Now The Exodus Revealed follows the footsteps of the children of Israel on an unforgettable journey of discovery. A journey that reveals physical evidence for the Exodus, including: the remains of 3800 year old Hebrew settlements in Egypt's Nile Delta; Egyptian records of the Israelites' bondage under Pharaoh; the precise route they may have followed to freedom; their crossing site on shore of the Red Sea; and the location of Mt. Sinai.

Customer Reviews:

Must see DVD.......2007-08-16

Jesus himself stated, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe." (Lk 22:67)

That being said, there are those who under NO circumstances will allow themselves to accept ANY of the historical facts of the Bible. Even if those facts are the best interpretations based on all of the evidence. There will never be a case where 100% of the facts points in one direction. Faith, in some capacity, is required for almost everything we do and think.

While I personally don't believe everything I read or see, I am intelligent enough to know that thus far everything I have experienced in life, has been perfectly accurate as described in the Bible. And the great thing is that as new facts are being discovered, it is only strengthening my faith...not the opposite.

This documentary, while in no way constitutes an answer to every question, is yet another piece of the puzzle that when placed along with all other pieces, gives a strong argument to the fact that the Bible's history can be trusted.

And at the same time, it is very entertaining and thought provoking, with some fantastic images!

Worse case scenario...the Bible just might be the best answer to all the evidence. How scary would that be?

Just a thought. Thx.

Learn and grow in faith!.......2007-08-09

Well done documantary. Very revealing and understandable even for those of us who are not geography buffs.

THE EXCITING, TRUE, EXODUS CROSSING!.......2007-04-09

DID YOU MISS IT? For 3500 YEARS the desert has held the secret of the true Exodus Crossing, the Route of the Exodus, the true Mount Sinai where God gave Moses the ten commandments. Now you can see the DVD of recent discovery with overwhelming evidence to the Biblical record. Here's the story. Every believer deserves to see these films.

Imagine following the true route of the Exodus, the Red Sea Crossing, and seeing the real Mount Sinai. This mountain is also known in Scripture as Mount Horeb where God visited Moses in Midian at the burning bush, where he brought the Hebrew nation out from Egypt, where God gave him the Ten Commandments, and the cave where Elijah saw God pass by. For 3500 years, man has not known the true mountain, but now in modern times, the route and the mountain have been rediscovered with overwhelming evidence, as well as following the exact descriptions of the words of the Bible.

GOD taught us something at this true Exodus Crossing. There are times in our lives when we seem to be caught in the east with our backs to the Red Sea, YAM-SUPH, on a beach called NUWEIBA. And Pharaoh's army of 600 war chariots is attacking from the west down the eighteen mile gorge with 1500 foot cliffs. Indeed, they've arrived at the Mouth of the Gorge, PI HAHIROTH, facing us. And our whole situation seems incredibly hopeless. There is only one thing to do. Surrender the situation to God and see his plan unfold.

Moses parted the Reed Sea.......2007-03-03

Check the Hebrew [Yam Suf]is the Reed Sea: Meaning fresh water where reeds grow. Moses did not get that far with the children of Israel, he would have went through the wilderness long before reaching the Red Sea that is more the 120 miles from Goshen too far to travel in the time mentioned in the Bible. Moses would have parted one of the Sea of Reeds not the Red Sea as it has been mistranslated into the English Bible.

Not what we thought.......2007-02-23

Pretty boring. We were expecting a movie and ended up with a documentary.

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Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power
Starring: Prof. Dorothy Thompson , Lucy Hughes-Hallett , Professor Peter Green , Dr. Robert Bianchi , and Anjelica Huston
Director: Katherine Gilday
Manufacturer: Questar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JYWV
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Amazon.com

Who was Cleopatra? Most think of a sultry Elizabeth Taylor seducing the Roman Empire through its leaders. But history has been written by the winners, and the successors of the Romans painted her with their own colors. Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power examines her life through contemporary Egyptian sources, from her Greek birth through her canny 20-year rule of Egypt. Anjelica Huston narrates this powerful and thought-provoking film that uses often-funny footage from Hollywood, contemporary shots of the Mediterranean, and interviews with historians to show a strong woman whose nobility survives centuries of slander. The formerly one-dimensional queen lives and breathes for the viewer of Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power. --Rob Lightner

Description

For centuries, the real Cleopatra has been shrouded behind legends and myths. Roman and Greek accounts—the records most widely scrutinized—have portrayed the queen of Egypt as a brazen temptress who corrupted both Caesar and Marc Antony. But was this portrait an accurate one? Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power considers the legendary queen from the perspective of the Egyptians. Their records portray her as a visionary ruler and brilliant strategist, motivated not by wanton lust or greed but a genuine concern for her kingdom. The Egyptians saw Cleopatra as a strong leader who won the loyalty of a distrustful populace, resisted Roman rule for 20 years and amassed a fortune so great that Rome's interest rates dropped by two-thirds when her treasure was brought there upon her death. This program utilizes re-enactments, original location footage and interviews with leading historians to look behind the legends and shed light on this woman who has captivated generations.

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A magic carpet ride that is exotic, romantic and realistic
Youssef Chahine Master Filmmaker
Mix of styles worth your time
Artistic and insightful
Great quality, at times too much art

An Egyptian Story
Starring: Oussama Nadir , Mohsen Mohieddin , Nour El-Sherif , Ahmed Mehrez , and Mohamed Mounir
Director: Youssef Chahine
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305949182
Release Date: 2000-08-14

Amazon.com

The second of Youssef Chahine's autobiographical Alexandria Trilogy takes place largely in the mind of Chahine's cinematic alter ego, Yehia Mourad (Nour El Cherif), or, to be more accurate, his torso. Rushed into emergency open-heart surgery after an on-set heart attack, Yehia is put through a fantasy trial in a courtroom situated in his rib cage (a rather theatrical-looking contraption of white sheets draped over wooden ribs) as he flashes back on his life. Chahine embraces the absurdity of the silly device with fanciful fun (his inner child rebels against the stodgy grownup by crawling through his veins and undoing the surgery) but it's the flashbacks that carry the film's power. Think of it as Chahine's All That Jazz, only less flashy and more thoughtful. The young director struggles within the industry, sacrificing his vision and his politics in commercial compromises, sacrificing his family for his art, still dreaming of Hollywood while toiling in the low-budget environs of Egypt.

Fans of Chahine will recognize startling re-creations of two of his most famous films, Cairo Station and The Sparrow, but you don't need to know his work to feel the strain of his conflicts. Inspired by his real-life bypass surgery and the self reassessment it triggered, Chahine is more critical than you might expect; he forgives himself his sins, naturally, but never quite lets himself off the hook. Followed by Alexandria Again and Forever, which stars Chahine himself as Yehia. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

A magic carpet ride that is exotic, romantic and realistic.......2005-01-01

For now I can only write a few lines, it's 10.29 PM ET, here in the United States of America, and I am sitting on the threshold awaiting 2005 to enter my life. And yes, this is what I did tonight, instead of going out to celebrate the new year, I stayed home and watched the Alexandria Trilogy, one after the other, 1,2,3.

Indeed this is the best, and only way, to watch such a rich, colorful, exotic series. I knew nothing of Youssef Chahine until about ten days or so ago, and am I ever so glad I heeded the reviews here, at amazon, and indulged my whim of renting his Alexandria Trilogy as well as two of his other films.
The Trilogy is a keeper and I will purchase it soon, most likely after I finish watching Chahine's next two films, Destiny and The Emigrant.
I will return to write a longer review because this series is worth it, and not only because of being exotic and romantic, but also, because it's educative. More of us Americans should watch foreign films... truly today's world is a global village.
Happy New Year, y'all! Slainte.

Youssef Chahine Master Filmmaker.......2003-05-22

eskinderia leeh? is simply one of the best, well made movies of all time, the movie shows different form of loves and how they all got stuck because of one thign, WW2. the movie also shows the life in the mother of the world, egypt....and how magical alexandria is....the movie is very well made with egypt's all star cast...a must c movie... ...BUY THE MOVIE

Mix of styles worth your time.......2002-07-26

An interesting mix of the struggles of an independent international filmmaker, combining surrealism and recent Egyptian history.
There are elements of "8 1/2" and "All That Jazz" in the story of a film maker who faces a trial in which the child and young man he was testify against the person he has become. The surrealist settings are cheap but fun and the central performance is nicely done. The many characters and switches in time are a bit complex and it helps to have a little knowledge of modern Egyptian history, but there is humor and insight worth your time.

Artistic and insightful.......2001-03-05

This is the second part of Chahine's Alexandria Trilogy. The first part "Alexandria, why?" is a biography and courageous self-examination of his adolescent years. This part moves on to examine his adult life. It is, again, a very courageous, honest, and insightful self-trial of himself as an adult and his choices in his professional life as a movie director, as well as in his personal and family life. His artistic talents as a director and his creative thinking are reflected in his representation of his turbulent relationship with his inner child. This is another distinguished piece of work by this talented movie director and a must-have for those who appreciate his art.

Great quality, at times too much art.......2000-11-23

I am going to divide my review to three parts, the basic reproduction / packaging, the subtitles and last the actual art:

The basic reproduction is good in comparison to any other Egyptian movies you can buy. Good is by no means very good nor excellent

The subtitling is very poor. It is very clear and will help keep non-Arabic speakers in the game, but it is seriously inaccurate and in my view often distorts the meaning of the movie. I was particularly amazed to see things like "damn you all" being translated into "fxxk you all". It is truly absurd to subtitle anger into profanity

As to Youssif Chahine own work, it is very clever, at times way too clever. The symbolism goes to the extreme that you just end up going in circle. See how clever and symbolic I can be

The presentation of the gay side of Mourad is certainly brave, but does not seem to be much more than a "dare" game, often it is unclear why it is there and what impact does it have on the whole thing, except for possibly the middle film

As to the camera work, direction, music, acting etc. it is all excellent, well above anything else coming out of Egypt in the last 25 years or so. The real shame is to be the only really good moviemaker in Egypt and to use this to make such narrow movies with too much symbolism.

At any rate, make no mistake about it this is great stuff

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