Shaun of the Dead

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British horror/comedy Shaun of the Dead is a scream in all senses of the word. Brain-hungry zombies shamble through the streets of London, but all unambitious electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg) cares about is his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), who just dumped him. With the help of his slacker roommate Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun fights his way across town to rescue Liz, but the petty concerns of life keep getting in the way: When they're trying to use vinyl records to decapitate a pair of zombies, Shaun and Ed bicker about which bands deserve preservation--New Order they keep, but Sade becomes a lethal frisbee. Many zombie movies are comedies by accident, but Shaun of the Dead is deliberately and brilliantly funny, while still delivering a few delicious jolts of fear. Also featuring the stealthy comic presence of Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and some familar faces from The Office. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

What an incredible let down........2007-09-16

Wow! I was excited to see this movie based on the trailers I had seen, what an incredible let down. Not so much a comedy, I kept waiting to laugh and never did. Live and learn. It's just a movie but I wouldn't waste my money on this stinker.

After you stop laughing--watch it a second time.......2007-09-11

First go around, I had to clean my glasses because they were fogged with tears from laughing so hard. "Shaun" is truly one of the most bizarrely funny cult films I have ever seen.

Since I had some trouble with my Mac scanning the DVD, I watched for a second time. What jumped out at me was Shaun's manager's pep-talk about 'teams' and what a study of human nature Shaun and his group would make. We saw thinking outside of the box, bravery in the least expected places, selflessness, and how utterly stupid the panicked group Critic could be.

Seriously, if the corporate trainers ever get tired of making their teams climb rock walls and build paper gizmos that nobody will ever use, they ought to have employees watch this film--twice--so they can see human nature in action.

Wouldn't dealing with zombies be a great way to explain difficult tech support calls? How many uses can you find for this scenario?

"Shaun" is a great film on both the funny and the serious levels. And it is one to be watched more than once. I seriously regret not seeing it in the theatre.

Awesome, funny film.......2007-09-01

I have watched this film several times and now and just love the humour. It is a horror film though so not for the faint hearted
Lets all go to the 'Winchester'....:-)

surely not hilarious..........2007-08-23

it could have been much more better. the scénario is very poor and acting is pretty bad.About laughing....search where and when..
as poor as Hot fuzz
rent it at the best.

WASTE OF TIME........2007-08-18

I love British humor but this sucked. I cannot understand why people loved it so much...Let's face it, if these actors had American accents it would be a complete flop...Also, I believe a lot of people are saying they like it to fit in.

Ken Park (Uncut Uncensored Director's Version - Import)

Average customer rating:

intense movie
Had to see what the hoopla was about
A powerful film
A perfect look into a teens life...
Trash movie about life of trashes.

Ken Park (Uncut Uncensored Director's Version - Import)

Manufacturer: CP Digital
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ASIN: B000298WFE

Product Description

This is PAL VIDEO FORMAT (not NTSC and will not play in regular American DVD-player) and an only official release of Larry Clark's "Ken Park" movie on DVD over the world by Russian company "CP Digital". Larry Clark's Ken Park has sent ripples with explicit scenes, and acts, overshadowing other movies on display. The story of four dysfunctional families in the skateboarding hotbed of Visalia, Calif., unspooled in the experimental Upstream competition. "But I didn't want to cut a single frame," the cult film director and photographer told. "All my life I've seen the camera turn away, but these scenes are part of the reality ... of this generation." The film was co-directed by Clark who made the controversial 1995 movie "Kids", renowned cinematographer Ed Lachman, who shot Steven Soderbergh's award-winning "Erin Brockovich" and Todd Haynes' "Far From Heaven". The movie features violence involving not only the restless teenagers in the small town, but also their parents. But Clark says the film is an "uplifting" look at modern youth that shows some of the kids overcoming the odds..."My first film Kids was about the secret world of children, where parents are not allowed. In Ken Park we go inside the houses of four families and meet the parents. Ken Park is the story of children and their parents in Visalia, California, an isolated inland town between Los Angeles and Fresno. The story flows through the lives of three young boys and one girl, all childhood friends, and their parents. The childrens and parents lives are unmasked and you see the ascent of violence, sex, hatred, love and the manic episodes of emotional confusion." - Larry Clark

Customer Reviews:

intense movie.......2007-09-09

i saw this movie one night being aired on a movie channel in reykjavik, iceland. this would probably never air on a cable channel in the states. some of the scenes are pretty unsettling and i actually didnt know what it was called or who directed it until i searched for it here. definitely worth seeing, very larry clark.

Had to see what the hoopla was about.......2007-08-06

Hard to watch at times due to its unflinching realism and unsympathetic characters, Larry Clarke's hard to find "Ken Park" centers around a quartet of dysfunctional friends in Visalia, California after the death of a fellow student (named Ken Park). Clarke takes his camera into the lives of the teens whose own lives aren't exactly rosy. Shawn is having an affair with his girlfriends mother; Peaches is the surrogate wife for her widowed father who is still in mourning; Claude is having difficulty with his parents (particularly his obnoxious father), who are about to have another child, but should have instead been sterilized; and lastly there is Tate, the psycho who lives with his parents and has a passion for women's tennis. With real actors playing alongside the teens, it is difficult to watch at times due to the lack of acting talent, but the adults rounding out the cast - including the always riveting Amanda Plummer as Claude's pregnant mother - make up for it.

It's explict and really hard to find - pretty much banned in the US, but I purchased my copy off eBay for $10.

A powerful film.......2007-07-08

Ken Park has so much controversy and disagreement surrounding it that it's impossible to know what is true and what isn't without seeing the actual film yourself. Allow me to address some of these issues here:

Those who see Larry Clark as a pedophiliac fetishist are largely ignorant of his previous work and his motivations for filming the things that he does. It's not as simple as a 60-year-old director filming naked adolescents - Clark has been interesting in telling the story of adolescents since he was their age. It's simply that he's gotten older while his interest has stayed the same. Unfortunately for him, society has a complex structure of taboos that he appears to break at times. This does not make him an exploiter of young people. He has valid artistic reasons for showing what he does.

Clark has always been about showing the unaffected reality of youth whether it's in the city (Kids), the ghetto (Wassup Rockers), or suburbia (Ken Park). Clark doesn't turn his camera away because to fide behind the conventions of film and ideas of "morality" is to compromise the honesty that Clark finds in his young actors. Zavattini speaks of filming the common man for the purpose of social change - Clark is operating along similar premises here.

It's possible that moralists would have problems with Clark's vision if he was in his 20s, but it's more likely that these people are just using it as an easy excuse to attack frank, open sexuality on film.

Ken Park is the work of an artist at the top of his game. It's brutal honesty is what is missing from Hollywood cinema today. I enjoy big budget movies as much as anyone, but it's nice to have a refreshing alternative. This film has a purpose beyond "entertainment" (indeed - it's not a fun, or easy film to watch), but it's a film worth watching provided you don't mind seeing some truly horrible sights.

The film IS graphic and you'll see things that will stay with you for a long time, but it never crosses into exploitation. If you look at the work, its structure, and its system, you can justify everything in the film. However, that is not to say that everyone should watch this film. There's nothing wrong with not enjoying extreme content (whether visual or textual) and if that's you, I would avoid this. If you can handle it though, this is a very powerful film.

Finally, there's the issue of the lack of a domestic release. The PAL DVD from Russia has decent video and sound quality. It comes with Russian subtitles, but they are removable. The only difficulty is the menu system which is in Russian. I can't speak for all sellers, but RussianDVD-Com (the seller I used) provided excellent instructions for deactivating subtitles and starting the film. Since the DVD is all-region, you can watch it in a computer or a DVD player with a PAL converter. It's a shame we can't get this film a proper release in the USA.

A perfect look into a teens life..........2007-04-24

I think this person is totally missing the point of Larry Clark and his total body of work. Had you done your homework you would have known that Larry Clark started his career as a photographer. He went underground with a group of kids in the 60' and 70' to photograph how they lived etc. Most were drug addicts and had casual sex (take a look at Tulsa). All of this was boldly documented in Larry's photos. He does not flinch from life as you would seem to have him do. You say that none of these characters are interesting to you. Well would they be if you met them on the street? They are kids. You would ignore them. You have no idea how they live, what they think and what makes them do the things they do. Nor it seems do you care. This is a movie about life. It has not beginning or end, it has not climactic scene, and this is not a Johnny Deep film. Wake up! You may not like Ken Park but despite your shortcomings on understanding film it is and important piece. You should also watch Short Bus. Not buy Clark but an excellent film as well. But watch out it has graphic sex in it. It also has no Disney ending so you might be disappointed with that as well. What did you think of Kids? Gummo? Julian the Donkey Boy? And please list the million other ways in which teenagers can act out their messed up lives. Just a few will do. Do you know any teenagers? Have you talked to them? Guess what. They are lying to you. That is Larry Clark's skill as an artist. His kids tell the truth and some people can't take it, don't understand it or want to ignore it. Where do you belong? I think you should go underground with some homeless kids. Live with them for a year and document what you see. It might just open that closed mind of your and allow you to see what is actually in front of you.

Oh, one other thing, what is this Jerry Springer situation you keep referring to? Were you on the show giving your point of view on this film? If so, I'm sorry I missed it.

Trash movie about life of trashes........2007-03-31

Trash movie about life of trashes. That's all I can say.

Dog Day Afternoon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

You're Killin' Me!
This Film Is Tricky!
"Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica!"
5 Stars
Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Penelope Allen , Sully Boyar , John Cazale , Beulah Garrick , and Carol Kane
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000CNESTE
Release Date: 2006-02-28

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A gripping true crime yarn, a juicy slice of overheated New York atmosphere, and a splendid showcase for its young actors, Dog Day Afternoon is a minor classic of the 1970s. The opening montage of New York street life (set to Elton John's lazy "Amoreena") establishes the oppressive mood of a scorching afternoon in the city with such immediacy that you can almost smell the garbage baking in the sun and the water from the hydrants evaporating from the sizzling pavement. Al Pacino plays Sonny, who, along with his rather slow-witted accomplice Sal (John Cazale, familiar as Pacino's Godfather brother Fredo), holds hostages after a botched a bank robbery. Sonny finds himself transformed into a rebel celebrity when his standoff with police (including lead negotiator Charles Durning) is covered live on local television. The movie doesn't appear to be about anything in particular, but it really conveys the feel of wild and unpredictable events unfolding before your eyes, and the whole picture is so convincing and involving that you're glued to the screen. An Oscar winner for original screenplay, Dog Day Afternoon was also nominated for best picture, actor, supporting actor (Chris Sarandon, as a surprise figure from Sonny's past), editing, and director (Sidney Lumet of Serpico, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and Running on Empty). --Jim Emerson

Description

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Documentaries
Featurette
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

You're Killin' Me!.......2007-08-19

Simply put: One of the great American films ever, with one of the great American performances EVER. A classic for many reasons, I couldn't recommend a film more. A true classic.

This Film Is Tricky!.......2007-07-26

Be careful when you watch this movie; it plays many tricks! Al Parchino yells "Attica" when they are in a bank trying to scare monies from the workers there. They eat pizzas and yell to each other with sweat but in the end, they trick you: he is shot in the head!! Also, the phones are silly, but fun - not tricky there!!!

"Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica! Attica!".......2007-07-16

The blackest of black comedy-dramas, DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975) is the last of the great performances of Al Pacino's early career. These tour-de-force performances include THE GODFATHER, THE GODFATHER PART TWO (both of which co-starred his co-star here, John Cazale), and SERPICO. After DOG DAY AFTERNOON Pacino returned to the stage for a time.

This story of a bank robbery gone bizarrely wrong is based on a true 1972 occurrence in Brooklyn, New York. Sonny Wortzik (Pacino) convinces his friend Sal (Cazale) to help him rob a bank. The motive for the robbery is oddly altruistic, as it transpires that Sonny is a married, closeted gay man, also married to Leon (Chris Sarandon) who needs money for his sex reassignment surgery.

The actual robbery, which should have taken five minutes, stretches into a fourteen hour hostage standoff as the incompetent Sonny loses control of the environment in and around the bank and the incompetent police on the scene fail to assert control. Nature abhors a vacuum, and the crime scene soon becomes the preserve of the tabloid media and a participatory crowd of people in the street. Neither Sonny nor Sal qualify as particularly cold-blooded, and in fact, the hostages appear to be having a fairly good time, and become friendly with their captors, waving enthusiastically at the cameras and refusing to leave the bank when chances occur.

Besides being Pacino's early last hurrah, DOG DAY AFTERNOON is also the last in a long line of frankly antiestablishment films produced by the Hollywood mainstream in the late 1960s and early 1970s, films like BONNIE AND CLYDE, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, LITTLE BIG MAN, and THE GRADUATE. The NYPD is presented as chaotic, disorganized, and bloodthirsty. Sonny and Sal become dark folk heroes as they win over the huge crowd of spectators. Sonny's leading the crowd in chanting, "Attica! Attica!" (Attica prison in Upstate New York was the site of a 1972 prison riot which was put down with a brutal loss of life) is considered one of the greatest moments in movie history.

Made at the nadir of American self-respect (the post-Vietnam, post-Watergate era), DOG DAY AFTERNOON doesn't excuse the crime it portrays, but it does raise some ethical questions by humanizing the perpetrators as antiheroes. Sonny turns his empty pockets inside out while addressing the crowd about his struggle to make a living; the cops are hooted and hissed continually; Sonny and Leon's relationship is portrayed as outrageous only by the media circus within the film, not by the filmmakers themselves (historically speaking, this early Seventies liberalism was about to go into societal eclipse just as DOG DAY AFTERNOON was released), and the only real violence in DOG DAY AFTERNOON is perpetrated by the authorities.

Throughout it all, Pacino shines as the emotionally conflicted, uncertain, overwhelmed, and desperate Sonny. Leading a cheering crowd one moment, he is frozen into immobility the next. In trying to cope with the helpless people around him, Sonny screams, shouts, sinks into despondency, and becomes grandiose by turns. He is shown as marginally effective only in relation to the utterly ineffective people in his life, people he seems to unerringly gravitate toward (including Sal, who becomes more and more befuddled as the film progresses, Angela, his wife, who becomes hysterical because she can't find a babysitter in the midst of this madness, and Leon, who criticizes Sonny self-indulgently over his negativity and fear of death, never considering that Sonny is facing a firing squad of hundreds on this brutally hot summer afternoon).

In so many ways, DOG DAY AFTERNOON is a summation of its time, an era of cynicism, failure, fear, distrust of authority, and economic, moral and ethical impoverishment, thirty years on not unlike our own.

5 Stars.......2007-07-09

"Dog Day Afternoon"

5 Stars

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

I just finished watching "Dog Day Afternoon" again and it seems that every time I watch it, it just gets better and better. It is a film that will change your opinion of the bank robbery genre of film and with its homosexual theme it was way ahead of its time (made in 1975). It really captures the spirit of the 1970's and shows why Al Pacino is a great actor. Here is Pacino the actor and Pacino the character.
"Dog Day Afternoon" is based on a true story--an actual event. Pacino plays Sonny Wortzik, a Brooklyn man who takes a bank hostage in order to pay for his "wife's" sex-change operation. Leon Shermer (played by Chris Sarradon) is Sonny's gay lover who needs the money to become a woman. When Sonny gets trapped inside the bank, he shows up all over the media and the police are waiting outside with guns drawn. Sonny's partner in crime, Sal (John Cazale) is worried that the media will also consider him to be a homosexual and the way he expresses his concern is great comic relief.
The movie, however, belongs to Al Pacino. He is manic and energetic and gives a performance of a lifetime. One of the best scenes in the film is when Sonny speaks to his "wife" on the phone and not giving away what he is talking about to the audience. Pacino takes on his character like a pair of tight-fitting jeans. Pacino breathes life into the character and his performance is a real tour de force.
It seems to me that Hollywood was trying to change our culture about homosexuality and sex-change operations and introduce us to gay characters. Hollywood gives us a true story which, regardless of homosexuality, is a good movie.
There are other great performances here s\as well. John Cazale is excellent and Charles During as police lieutenant Moretti is amazing as he works hard to keep the situation under control.
Here is a high-tension drama and thriller that captures the true events of that summer afternoon in Brooklyn. Sidney Lumet's is his usual good director and the movie moves swiftly under his management. The character study is unique and wonderful and the movie is brilliant in every way. This is Hollywood at its finest and a movie that is a pleasure to watch. Here is one that you do not want to miss.

Dog Day Afternoon.......2007-07-03

Reuniting Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino, who'd worked previously on "Serpico," this Oscar-nominated drama (based on a true story) tracks two scheming misfits who've witlessly imprisoned themselves in a no-win situation. Pacino's ruffled, passionate evocation of working-class Brooklynite Sonny--who riles the gawking crowd outside the bank with chants of "Attica!"--stands alongside his best work of the 1970s. The late Cazale, who played weak brother Fredo in "The Godfather," is heartbreaking as Pacino's imbecilic partner-in-crime. Gritty, suspenseful, and superbly crafted.

Average customer rating:

Estupenda película
Day for Night
Pointless. A film about filmmaking of no interest.
smile! you're on candid camera!
fantastic film........one of Truffaut's best.....

Day for Night
Starring: Nike Arrighi , Jean-Pierre Aumont , Walter Bal , Nathalie Baye , and Jacqueline Bisset
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00007G1ZE
Release Date: 2003-03-18

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François Truffaut's lavish and fun 1973 comedy-drama about a film production is a clever hall of mirrors, with Truffaut himself playing a director, and his most important actor in real life, Jean-Pierre Léaud (The 400 Blows), portraying Jacqueline Bisset's immature costar. Day for Night is full of tales undoubtedly told out of school and repeated here in camouflage, and one can't help but be impressed with the stylistic and technical means by which Truffaut captures the adventurousness of a full-budget shoot. The cast is very good all around, with actors in some cases playing fictional thespians and in other cases playing members of the crew. A sequence set to thrilling music by Georges Delerue celebrates the whole art of filmmaking as seen from an editor's perspective--it makes one want to drop everything and shoot a film of one's own. --Tom Keogh

Description

The leading lady is recovering from a nervous breakdown, another performer is soused on the set, unions threaten to walk, shooting must finish before the insurance lapses and a cat can't hit its mark. Is this any way to make a film? FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT's sly, humorous OscarO-winning Best Foreign Language Film (1973) that speaks the language of everyone who loves movies. JACQUELINE BISSET, JEAN-PIERRE AUMONT, VALENTINA CORTESE, NATHALIE BAYE and Truffaut star.

Customer Reviews:

Estupenda película.......2007-09-14

Wonderful film, that any lover of the cinema cannot be lost, mainly
because is cinema within the cinema and the magic of the
cinematographic accomplishment. The DVD has good extras, documentary
and interviews, although some do not have without subtitles and that
can be annoying for some people hispanoparlanntes.

My only complaint is that the broken box arrived and evidentmente was
not broken by bad maipulación during its transport, since noticed
that already it was broken before empacar it.

Day for Night.......2007-07-03

One of the best films ever made about the innate absurdities of moviemaking, "Night" is a loving satire about the film-world family filled with marvelously nutty performances, tons of movie references, and an overwhelming joie de vivre. Truffaut develops his slightly defective characters beautifully, and the entire cast is splendid--including then-unknown Nathalie Baye, playing an indispensable production assistant. "Are women magic?" Leaud's bratty actor keeps inquiring. But a better question would be: Has any director ever loved movies more than Truffaut, who lovingly spoofs even himself? The dizzying, exhilarating "Night" is his personal answer.

Pointless. A film about filmmaking of no interest........2007-03-31

Almost 2 hours long. A film about filmmaking. A narcissistic view of the movie business. The film is about a film being shot, and ends when this is accomplished. We see what goes on in the daily lives of those involved in the work, from the director (the same Truffaut) to the producer, to the cast, to the stuntman. There's a curious lady, a wife to one of the employees, who sits knitting and watching her husband so he doesn't cheat on her during work. Everybody keeps busy working and flirting chaotically, and the only one who does not mix work and pleasure seems to be the director (and maybe the producer). It's supposed to be funny, and even nostalgic. There are visual references to the great classic directors in film history, to how the film industry has changed... One thing to learn from this story is that fiction plays a role in our lives: it serves as a contrast to the frivolity and emptiness of our real lives.

"Do you think the story of a woman who falls for her father-in-law can still be interesting today?", asks a reporter to the leading star. That question is quite revealing of what our world has become. Sex and alcohol keep these pitiful troupe working like gasoline keeps a car running. Another important moment is when the knitting lady (mentioned before) gets tired of watching so much promiscuity going around and starts yelling at the whole crew. What role does she play? Is she the typical conservative fun-spoiler? Or is she Truffaut's alter-ego? Hard to say. And that's one reason why this whole film is pointless. It just describes what goes on, which is not interesting at all, there's no plot, there are no interesting characters, only adults acting as children acting as adults.

In another scene the director's assistant, another sexy gal, after one of the female workers runs away with the stuntman and leaves her lover, says "I could leave a man for a film, but never a film for a man", which doesn't make her any more likeable to me.

At least if it had been only 60 or 80 minutes of film I would have given it 3 stars. A film as empty and pointless as its characters.

smile! you're on candid camera!.......2007-03-21

truffauts somewhat overrated movie about making a movie. why do people who make movies believe that making movies is an interesting enough topic to make movies about -- over & over & over? not saying its bad, just saying its nothing as special as those who appreciate "cinema" would have us believe. sorry.

fantastic film........one of Truffaut's best............2007-02-13

For those of you who haven't seen any films by the late, great French director, Francois Truffaut, Day For Night (French title: La Nuit Americaine) is a great introduction. This actually won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, and it is evident why. Day For Night is really a valentine to Francois Truffaut's love affair with cinema. This is a great and intriguing story (a sort of film within a film approach). Ferrand (played by Truffaut) is the hardworking film director, trying to line all of his ducks in a row, to film and complete his movie, "Je Vous Presente Pamela." As is often the case, nothing is going quite as was planned. For starters, his beautiful lead, Julie (Jacqueline Bisset), is recovering from a breakdown. Her co-star (Jean Pierre Leaud) is completely unreliable, and Severine (Valentina Cortese), an aging actress, is hitting the bottle pretty hard during the filming of their picture. What's more, all sorts of other intrigues are taking place between members of the crew (romantic and otherwise).

I love this shot because it almost seems like a pseudo-documentary, as well as a loving tribute to the blood, sweat and tears that go into making a film. How great that Truffaut got in front of the camera for this piece. He really should have done it more often. This film is equally funny and touching and I highly reccomend it.

The Incredible Adventures of Wallace and Gromit

Average customer rating:

This *is* the original unaltered BBC version
Not too cheesy!
Entertaing family fun
A must.
Excellent short stories of Wallace and Gromit

The Incredible Adventures of Wallace and Gromit
Starring: Peter Sallis , and Anne Reid
Director: Nick Park
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
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ASIN: B00005LC1I
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com essential video

The first three Wallace & Gromit shorts are grouped together in a single volume.

A Grand Day Out
Nominated for an Academy Award in 1990, this was the first short-film adventure starring Wallace & Gromit. This 24-minute comedy was created by clay animator Nick Park over a six-year period at the National Film and Television School in London and at the Aardman Animation studios, which Park boosted to international acclaim. In their debut adventure, Wallace and his furry pal Gromit are planning a vacation, but first they've got a crisis to solve: they've got plenty of crackers but no cheese! Undeterred, Wallace comes up with an extreme solution to the cheese shortage: since the moon is made of cheese (we all know that's true, right?), he decides to build a rocket and blast off for a cheesy lunar picnic! Gromit's only too happy to help, and before long the inventive duo is on the moon, where they encounter a clever appliance that's part oven, part robot, part lunar skiing enthusiast... Well, you just have to see the movie to understand how any of this whimsical lunar-cy can make any sense! It's a grand tale of wonderful discoveries, fantastic inventions--and really great cheese!

The Wrong Trousers
Clay-animation master Nick Park deservedly won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Animated Short for this 30-minute masterpiece, in which the good-natured inventor Wallace and his trusty dog, Gromit, return for another grand adventure. It all begins on the morning of Gromit's birthday, when Wallace gives his beloved pooch a rather selfish gift that (to Gromit's chagrin) is more useful to Wallace--a pair of mechanical "techno-trousers" ("ex-NASA," says Wallace, duly impressed) that can be programmed to take Gromit out for "walkies" while Wallace sits comfortably at home. Gromit's not exactly thrilled with the new gadget, and things go from bad to worse when Wallace rents a room to a new boarder--a rather suspicious-looking penguin--to offset his rising expenses. As it turns out, the penguin's a notorious thief, and the amazing techno-trousers provide a foolproof method of pulling off a diamond heist! It's Gromit's big opportunity for canine heroics, and The Wrong Trousers turns into one of the funniest, most inventive caper-comedies ever made, with an action-packed climax on a speeding miniature train. Will the notorious "Feathers" wind up in jail, where he belongs? Will Gromit finally get his due recognition? Watch this amazing marvel of clay animation to see why Wallace & Gromit have become global celebrities--this is comedic ingenuity at its finest.

A Close Shave
Hot from the international triumph of The Wrong Trousers, clay animator Nick Park knew that his third Wallace & Gromit film was going to have to be the biggest and best adventure yet for the mild-mannered inventor Wallace and his perceptive pooch, Gromit. With the ambitiously zany plot of A Close Shave, Park and his fellow animators rose to the occasion, and their film won the 1995 Academy Award (Park's second Oscar) for Best Animated Short. This time out, Wallace & Gromit have teamed up to provide a window-washing service, and that's how Wallace meets the lovely Wendolene Ramsbottom, a wool-shop owner whose malevolent dog, Preston, turns out to be the mastermind of a sheep-napping scheme! Of course, no Wallace & Gromit adventure can be without a grandiose gadget, so Wallace's latest invention is the Knit-O-Matic, a yarn-making machine capable of shearing a whole flock of sheep just a bit too efficiently! When the villainous Preston gains control of the mechanical knitting marvel, Gromit must race to the rescue, and A Close Shave reaches new heights of clay-animation mastery. Every shot is a testament to Nick Park's patience, his clever ingenuity, and his filmmaking flair. The movie's so technically impressive, in fact, that the whole world wondered where Park could go next. It was clear that Wallace & Gromit would eventually star in an animated feature-length movie, since this marvelous 30-minute film represents its own kind of short-form perfection. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com

The perfect gift set for the Wallace and Gromit fan. All three of animator Nick Park's first adventures featuring the dotty inventor and his loyal but laconic dog--The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, and A Grand Day Out--come wrapped together and ready for multiple viewings. This is truly one of the rare gift sets that will entertain the entire family. --Doug Thomas

Description

This award winning Wallace & Gromit compilation video includes three irresistible films- A Close Shave, A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers. Climb aboard for a wacky voyage with The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit!

Customer Reviews:

This *is* the original unaltered BBC version.......2007-05-30

J. Lee is referring to the *new* release, Wallace and Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures.

This is the original 2000 release, Wallace & Gromit, the First Three Adventures. This is the version you want.

Not too cheesy!.......2007-05-16

These early Wallace and Gromit shorts have an old-fashioned claymation charm. The first film in particular looks a little rough. Wallace and Gromit (the silent but extremely expressive dog) are very charming characters, indeed! Wallace has an obsession with cheese and with building machines to perform the most mundane chores. The plots are very clever and bizarre, from vacationing on the moon (to sample the cheese, of course) to inventing a pair of mechanical trousers to walk a dog, only to find that a shady new boarder (a silent and sinister penguin, of course) has a clever criminal use for them. The stories are full of delightful surprises and punny humor. It's fascinating to watch the making-of clips to see how painstakingly these films are put together. It gave me an appreciation of these films as truly an art, from the hand-painted sets to the classic film stylings. One of my favorite features of the DVD is a series of minute-long shorts featuring Wallace's many overly complicated inventions, bizarre and very funny! The creator of the characters apparently loved inventions himself, and animation allows him to "invent" the impossible and make it work. Overall, very charming movies/DVD. I did see "Curse of the Were-Rabbit" first which I love, so in comparison to that perfect little piece of cinema, I only give 4 stars out of 5. My 3 1/2 daughters love these films, by the way, especially Gromit and the little touches of slapstick.

Entertaing family fun.......2007-05-07

As the title says the incredible adventures of Wallace and Gromit. This is a fun show for the whole family, plus it keeps the small children entertained and happy.

A must........2007-03-28

If all you know is "The Curse of the Ware Rabbit" you are missing the best of W & G.

Excellent short stories of Wallace and Gromit.......2007-03-11

This DVD contains 3 short stories of Wallace and Gromit plus a series of about 10, 2 minute skits. All are from years before the Wallace and Gromit movies and while they are not as "polished" as the movie, they are just as good. Two of the short are excellent, while one, the first one, it not up to the same standard but still good. The short skits are very funny. Great for kids when you don't have time for a full movie.

Average customer rating:

More sports candy from Season One
Love this show!!!
A Very Good Show
Bleh.

LazyTown - Records Day
Starring: Amanda Maddock , Julie Westwood , Jodi Eichelberger , Raymond Carr , and David Matthew Feldman
Director: Magnús Scheving , and Raymond P. Le Gué
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FEBWSK
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Description

Show overview: The people of LazyTown love to lounge. They find inactivity invigorating and they revel in relaxation. On any given day you can find the inhabitants of LazyTown doing whatever requires the least amount of effort. Which means kicking aback in comfy chairs, vegging out in front of the TV, playing video games and gulping down junk food. The children of LazyTown are in dire need of a hero to look up to, someone to show them alternatives to all the bad habits and easy solutions they see around them. "Record's Day" will be the fifth LazyTown home video title. The main episode focus on Stephanie and the LazyTown kids trying to break different kinds of records while Robbie Rotten tries for one of his own. The DVD will include 2 main episodes and 2 bonus episodes, each approximately 24 minutes in length, for an approximate runtime of 100 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

More sports candy from Season One.......2006-08-08

The LazyTown television series is growing in popularity every day, and there's no prize for guessing why. Originating from Iceland and led from the front by creator and star Magnus Scheving, the show encourages healthy eating and exercise, to the beat of hot Eurodance music. Part live action, part puppets and some CGI animation, this appealing series also stars one of the most loveable of villains, played by the talented Stefan Karl Steffanson, a hottie with a strong jaw line, an impressive wardrobe of costumes and a never ending stream of nefarious gadgets.

This is the fifth DVD release, and contains four episodes from Season One (2004 - 2005):

Records Day (Episode 18): There's an opening in the LazyTown Records Book for "Laziest Person" and Robbie is looking forward to having his name entered for posterity as the record holder in this category. Unfortunately, Stephanie and the other kids also have their eyes on various records, and a villain's gotta do what a villain's gotta do to put a stop to all the activity.

Hero For a day (Episode 7): Ziggy wants to be a hero like Sportacus, but of course things don't work out as planned for the candy addicted lad.

Zap It! (Episode 17): Lazy Pixel hates cleaning, so he invents a machine that makes things disappear, especially the garbage in an untidy room. Robbie sees an ideal opportunity to get rid of Sportacus forever. (Insert diabolical laughter and a little dance jig here)

Secret Agent Zero (Episode 27): Move over Mayor Milford Meanswell, because there's a new mayor in town. Suspecting that the election has been rigged, the kids go undercover with Mayor Meanswell to reveal the truth behind the ballot.

The special features are disappointing, with only two short exercise dances that are impossible to follow, and there are no subtitles or closed captioning. It can however be played in French - oooh la la!

Amanda Richards, August 7, 2006

Love this show!!!.......2006-08-07

My granddaughters adore this show! Which is good for this grandma because Robbie Rotten is one of the coolest characters on TV. The actor who plays him is amazing--versatile, creative, expressive and the most charming bad guy you've ever seen. It's worth watching the show for him alone. But Sportacus is beyond amazing. Watching him spin and jump and leap--it makes me want to get up and get going! Best of all--his movements are all real--nothing is computer generated--except the background. Stephanie is a very sweet and charming character as well. The puppets are life-sized, funky and fun. We have the music CD in my car and in their parents' car and my granddaughters are actually learning to sing not just sing-a-long. Even their parents enjoy the music and we all have confessed to listening to it without the little ones! I can't recommend this show enough. It is one of the most charming shows on TV. Lazy Town and the Wiggles and I'm one happy grandma with two very happy granddaughters!

A Very Good Show.......2006-06-20

This is an amazing kids' show. Any show that gets kids excited about eating healthy and being active is one that deserves a lot of praise. It is very well done. The costumes, sets, and yes, even the storylines, are all great. Each episode also includes at least three highly energetic songs (including the theme song and closing song). And it's not just a show for the kiddies. I'm addicted to it, and I'm a nineteen year old college student with no kids or younger siblings. Yeah, I just watch it because I like it :-) The enthusiasm of the main character, the superhero Sportacus, proclaiming the merits of a healthy lifestyle are even helping ME become healthier. (Although I still don't exercise as much as I should.) The "villain," Robbie Rotten, is the funniest guy ever (and basically the main reason for my love of the show). Stephanie, the girl in pink, is adorable as well. The rest of the characters are puppets, some more loveable than others...

This show is worth every penny and every minute spent on it.

Bleh........2006-06-14

If little kids like this show it must be good for them. It does not matter if other people hate it even though they do. As long as little kids like it it does what it can do.

Average customer rating:

Good not Great!!
"Don't you realize that Americans dislike having their children stolen?"
Good remake
One of Hitchcock's "entertainments," and a pleasant two hours it is
A thrilling climax at London's Royal Albert Hall...

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Starring: Yves Brainville , Hillary Brooke , Naida Buckingham , Doris Day , and Brenda De Banzie
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000055Z4M
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com essential video

Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of his own 1934 spy thriller is an exciting event in its own right, with several justifiably famous sequences. James Stewart and Doris Day play American tourists who discover more than they wanted to know about an assassination plot. When their son is kidnapped to keep them quiet, they are caught between concern for him and the terrible secret they hold. When asked about the difference between this version of the story and the one he made 22 years earlier, Hitchcock always said the first was the work of a talented amateur while the second was the act of a seasoned professional. Indeed, several extraordinary moments in this update represent consummate filmmaking, particularly a relentlessly exciting Albert Hall scene, with a blaring symphony, an assassin's gun, and Doris Day's scream. Along with Hitchcock's other films from the mid-1950s to 1960 (including Vertigo, Rear Window, and Psycho), The Man Who Knew Too Much is the work of a master in his prime. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Good not Great!!.......2007-06-21

I like this movie and can watch it over and over but it isn't Rear Window or Dial M for Murder. You can't go wrong with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. I thought they were great together. I know some reviews don't like Doris in this part but I thought that it shows what a great actress that she is. I would recommend that you watch and rate yourself.

"Don't you realize that Americans dislike having their children stolen?".......2007-04-26

"The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1955) is Alfred Hitchcock's own remake of his 1934 thriller about a married couple (James Stewart and Doris Day) on vacation in Morocco where they got caught up in a nightmare that include murder, espionage, assassinations and the worst of all, kidnapping of their 10-years-old son. The movie which Hitchcock himself considered superior to the original is a great fun. Stewart and Day have a good chemistry together. The film is filled with the wonderful comical scenes and dialogues as well as the scenes of chilling suspense.

The inclusion of "Que Sera, Sera" proved to be a stroke of genius because rarely the song fits the content and plays such an important role in the movie like "Que Sera, Sera" did in "The Man Who Knew Too Much".

Hitchcock also treats us to the live music playing from Arthur Benjamin "Storm Cloud Cantata" for almost ten minutes while scene in London's Royal Albert Hall where the assassination of a very important politician was attempted takes place and both, the scene and the cantata are simply marvelous.

Good remake.......2007-03-05

Having seen both the original and the remake I found it difficult to decide which version I prefer and that shows the quality of this one. Classic Hitchcock, well directed and solid perfomances. The only , in my opinion, grey spot is the selection of Doris Day which seems not to work as well as the other leading ladies Hitchcock chose for his other films. However, to her credit, she makes a good couple with James Stewart.
All in all an intense thriller that will satisfy the viewer.

One of Hitchcock's "entertainments," and a pleasant two hours it is.......2007-01-13

I like The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956; I've never seen the 1934 version) the same way I like To Catch a Thief. Both are big, fat, satisfying entertainments made by professionals at the top of their game but perhaps without much to chew on afterwards. This isn't much of a criticism; I just don't put the film in the same category of some of Hitchcock's other, greater films. One weakness (which also is a strength) is Doris Day. When she's sobbing and being hysterical she gets on my nerves. It's too much and too "actorly." Her strength in the movie is that for most of the time she's good company, and she's believable as a woman who will do what it takes to rescue her son. She paired well with Stewart in both star power and likable personality.

I do think the movie is too long, the curse of so many movies beginning in the Fifties. For me, this undermined some of the set pieces; I wanted Hitchcock to get a move on. The scenes I particularly liked were the unease and suspicion that developed in the church, the cocktail party chit chat, the build-up in the Albert Hall and the rescue of Hank.

And let's hear it for some fine actors who made appearances. I have a lot of admiration for Brenda de Banzie who played the wife of Bernard Miles. She was a fine actress; just see her in The Entertainer as Olivier's wife or in Hobson's Choice when she makes a man of John Mills and masters Charles Laughton (who detested her). Bernard Miles was a first class actor who could play just about anything but aristocrats. For those who like medals and honors, Miles was made a Sir in 1969 and became a lord in 1979 (the first actor to do so after Olivier). Not bad for the son of a farm laborer and a cook. The cocktail party had some old friends it was good to see. Among the familiar faces were Alan Mobray, Hillary Brooke and Carolyn Jones. And among the best of the best is Reggie Nalder, who played the assassin. According to IMBd, he was a handsome guy who, when a young man, was burned severely over the bottom third of his face. He was a chilling killer in The Man Who Knew Too Much who made the premise of the film -- a political assassination -- believable and dreadful.

A thrilling climax at London's Royal Albert Hall..........2007-01-08

Many people have the irritating habit of dying before completing a vital message, thus confusing the hero, not to mention the audience...

Dr. Ben McKenna (James Stewart) and his wife Jo, a former musical star (Doris Day) are vacationing in Morocco with their son, Hank (Christopher Olsen), when they meet Mr. and Mrs. Drayton, a British couple (Brenda de Banzie and Bernard Miles). They are also befriended by a charming Frenchman, Louis Bernard (Daniel Gelin), who invites them to dinner but then cancels at the last minute...

The MacKennas go to a restaurant and end up having their meal with the Draytons, when they spot Louis Bernard...

The next day in the market place, they are caught in an assassination intrigue... While they are wandering in the local market, the crowds suddenly scatter to reveal an Arab fleeing from his pursuers... Dr. McKenna stands amazed as the Arab falls into his arms, a knife sticking out of his back...

Gulping his last breath, the dying man mutters some words and collapses... Dr. McKenna is completely taken aback when the Arab's hood falls from his head and he is revealed as Bernard in disguise... McKenna is left knowing too little, but as far as the assassins are concerned, too much...

To prevent Dr. McKenna from revealing what he knows, the conspirators kidnap his son as a hostage... The film is primarily concerned with the dilemma of kidnapping--how to get the little boy back safely... The subplot about the assassination is just the setup...

The film is a breathless escapade... The death of Bernard comes suddenly and points out that death comes when we least expect it...

Stewart is charged with emotion as the Midwestern doctor, accidentally involved in political intrigue... His perceptive facial expressions and indignant delivery made him convincingly human--a person we could easily identify with... It is his temperament that actually sets the pace for the entire film...

By 1956, the lovely Doris Day had won increasing esteem as an actress as well as a singer... She had been particularly strong opposite James Cagney in the Ruth Etting's biopic, 'Love Me or Leave Me,' but she was still unsure of her basic Thespian talents...

The casting of character actor Reggie Malder as the assassin, is brilliant... The man looks like a menace and his effusive portrayal radiates evil...

Average customer rating:

Must see movie
An Exceptional Film
Decoration Day - Great Movie
5 stars all the way!
Pleasing drama

Decoration Day
Starring: James Garner , Judith Ivey , Ruby Dee , Bill Cobbs , and Laurence Fishburne
Director: Robert Markowitz
Manufacturer: Hallmark
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006SFKE
Release Date: 2002-12-17

Customer Reviews:

Must see movie.......2007-06-28

If you want to feel comfortable with yourself, don't watch this film. Decoration Day propels you out of complacency and into personal growth. After first viewing the film for its beauty and honesty, sit down and ponder the truths it so skillfully reveals. Based on a more complex novella by John William Corrington, the film is nevertheless rich in relationships among men and women in community. Judge Finch (James Garner) and Old Gee (Bill Cobbs) provide an interpersonal history against which an honest human can examine prejudice and race relations. Other relationships protrayed by the excellent supporting cast deepen the main plot through revealing other ways in which humans separate themselves from one another.

An Exceptional Film.......2002-07-08

Set in the state of Georgia, James Garner renders a powerful and very sensitive performance of a Judge who following the death of his wife, retires from the bench. He tries to with-draw from life esconced in his own grief and bitterness. The mys-tery surrounding an old friend's refusal to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the personal crises in the lives of those closest to him, compel him to step back into the mainstream of society . As he reaches beyond his own pain and into lives of others, he not only becomes an anchor for them, but finds a renewed reason for living, himself.
The supporting cast is superb, esp. Bill Cobbs and Ruby Dee.
This is an exceptional film, providing wholesome entertainment.

Decoration Day - Great Movie.......2002-04-13

Decoration Day is a great movie - lots of heart and such a fine family show. It reminds us not to make assumptions when we don't have all the facts and shows the great value of friendship and family.

5 stars all the way!.......2000-12-20

James Garner plays a retiring judge who becomes an unwilling, but interested player in a story centered around the government's plan to award the Medal of Honor to an African American man because of heroic actions during WWII's Battle of the Bulge. Here's the catch -- the man doesn't want to have anything to do with medal!

Garner is convinced that he should intervene and persuade the man to accept the medal. A story of racism, bitterness, decepetion, and revelation unfolds as the movie progresses. Be sure to watch for an interesting, unexpected plot twist toward the end.

This is top-notch drama, and a real treat for James Garner fans.

5 stars all the way! Watch this movie, you'll be glad you did. This is the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" at its best!

Alan Holyoak

Pleasing drama.......1999-07-10

James Garner stars as a retired judge who is widowed but has a wonderful housekeeper who still keeps him in line. All he wants to do is spend his days fishing and live without any hassles. A call for help from family for an old friend and he finds himself caught up in the human drama that leads to his own renewal. Great performances by James Garner and Judith Ivey and beautiful cenima make this movie a delight.

Average customer rating:

The Calm and Deliberate Murder of Hungarian Jews
Highest recommendation!!
An incredible journey
5 personal heartbreaking stories of what once happened.
one of the stronger entries in the holocaust documentary factory

The Last Days
Starring: Robin Zisblatt , Joachim von Ribbentrop , Katsugo Miho , Josef Goebbels , and Tom Lantos
Director: James Moll
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007ELEV
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com essential video

In the last year of World War II, German defeat was inevitable. Yet rather than reinforcing his troops and focusing his efforts on battle, Hitler chose to renew his campaign to eliminate the Jews of Europe. Hungary, which had remained mostly untouched during the war, found her Jews being rounded up and shipped off to concentration camps where they were systematically and brutally killed during these last days. This documentary, directed by James Moll and produced through the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, whose goal is to document the memories of those who lived through the Holocaust, records the stories of five Hungarian Jews who managed to survive.

The five survivors, all now living in the United States, movingly tell how they made it and recount the tragedies they witnessed: Tom Lantos, a Congressman from California, whose 17 grandchildren are a gift from his two daughters to try to make up for the families Lantos and his wife lost; Alice Lok Cahana, an artist who uses her painting to testify to what she saw and to grieve for the meaningless death of her sister Edith; Bill Basch, who while working for the resistance escaped from Hungarian police by joining a group of Jews that were, unknowingly, being led to Buchenwald; Renee Firestone, an educator at Simon Wiesenthal Center's Educational Outreach Program, whose touching connection to the past is discovered in the simple gift of a bathing suit given to her by her father; and Irene Zisblatt, a grandmother who smuggled out, at tremendous risk, a few precious diamonds in order to buy bread when there was no more food to be had. Other interviewees include American liberators, a superkommando, and a Nazi doctor who performed experiments on camp inmates.

While the stories are tragic and watching this documentary is a tearful experience, the final message is one of hope, as the five people return to Hungary and the camps with their families to confront their pasts and say their prayers. While the occasionally graphic footage will disturb, this Oscar-winning film is one that should be shared with family as a way of educating and reminding us, "Never again." --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

The Calm and Deliberate Murder of Hungarian Jews.......2007-08-17

Many Hungarian Jews perceived themselves as loyal and enthusiastic citizens of their chosen country. They took it for granted that their Christian neighbors were true friends and wished them no harm. This illusion was brutally shattered after the Nazi invasion. These Christians often took special delight in harassing Jews and handing them over to Hitler's thugs. What happened to God? Why did He allow such evil to exist? You will find the interviews with these survivors of the Holocaust riveting.

The Hungarian aspect of the Holocaust is most interesting, if for no other reason, but to show how committed the Nazis were to slaughtering Jews and others deemed racially inferior---even if it jeopardized their war efforts. Indeed, it appears that Jew killing was deemed of paramount importance. Nothing else was allowed to stand in the way. One might even argue that the Third Reich's emphasis on sending victims to the death camps cost it the war.

Highest recommendation!!.......2007-05-12

Spielberg's documentary about the holocaust is excellent - a very moving film. This should be mandatory viewing by high school history students everywhere, especially in those countries who deny the last Holocaust as they prepare for the next one.

An incredible journey.......2006-11-09

This moving documentary covers the lives of 5 Hungarian survivors who were young people during the war and who are all now United States citizens. They are Alice Lok Cahana, Congressman Tom Lantos, Irene Zisblatt, Bill Basch, and Renée Firestone. Although I had previously heard or read some of these people's stories, I hadn't heard all of them, nor all of the details provided here. Also included are interviews with former Nazi doctor Hans Münch, some American liberators, and Greek survivor Dario Gabbai (whom I'd also previously seen on at least one other documentary), who is, by his own estimates, one of only 4 Sonderkommandos who were alive at the time this film was shot (1998).

The fate of Hungarian Jewry has always had a special fascination for me, since they were largely still intact until the spring of 1944, when the Nazis invaded their country (19 March), put them into ghettos, and between May and July sent the majority of them to their deaths. A huge population that had been largely untouched was suddenly nearly obliterated in the blink of an eye, and in no other conquered nation-state in Europe was the Final Solution carried out with such frightening speed, savageness, barbarity, and support and assistance from the locals. At least in Budapest, where Congressman Lantos and Mr. Basch (until he was accidentally deported to Buchenwald) were, it was relatively safer because it was a big city and not one of the small towns and cities where the people weren't as cosmopolitan and open-minded. This documentary covers these 5 survivors before the war, during the war, and after the war, including their respective journeys, decades later, back to their hometowns and to the various camps where they were enslaved.

Some people complain that there are "too many" books and films about the Shoah, and that after awhile it all starts to sound the same, or that the subject is too depressing for one to voluntarily immerse oneself in, but no two stories are exactly alike. Each story is unique and worth telling and remembering, before it's too late to be recorded, and so that hopefully new generations will learn what hatred can lead to if left unchecked and unprotested, will realise that hatred isn't something one is born with, but rather something that one learns. Each of these stories have their own unique touches, like Renée's beautiful bathing suit, Alice's artwork, the hanukiyah a liberated prisoner made from cement and nails and which decades later, a few years after his death, was finally delivered to Dr. Paul Parks, one of his liberators, and Irene's diamonds from her mother, which she managed to preserve all through the war and today wears in a tear-shaped pendant on a necklace, a necklace she intends to pass on through each firstborn female in her family line in perpetuity. The most haunting story for me was when Alice talked about how she and her sister Edith began singing "Shalom Aleychem" in the outhouse at Auschwitz, a short time after their arrival, to welcome Shabbos in spite of their surroundings, and soon all of the people around them, whatever their nation of origin, joined in in the haunting Hebrew melody. And all of the survivors report feeling pride and joy in having large families, rebuilding what the Nazis tried to take away from them, many coming from one or just a few survivors of what had been very large families.

Extras include outtakes, photo galleries, the theatrical trailer, and filmographies of the producers, cinematographer, director and editor, photographer, music composer, and the executive producer. The film is also available for viewing in both widescreen and fullscreen. The only extra that seemed a bit out of place was executive producer Steven Spielberg's introduction to the Shoah Foundation, seeing as that very same introduction is already included at the beginning of the film itself!

5 personal heartbreaking stories of what once happened........2006-07-03

This has to be one of the best documentary films I've ever run across. The personal stories of 5 survivors of the holocaust are laid before you raw and uncensored as they should be. The survivors were all young at the time and their stories told with their photographs shows these extraordinary people to have been at the time very ordinary just like you and me. Their journeys back to the camps they were held in makes this as real as you can get. Their strength and ability to carry on awes me to no end. All ages should see this film so that we never ever forget what happened not so long ago. I own this film and am very proud to have it apart of my dvd library. I gave it 5 stars only because thats the highest rating you can give it here. It's truly worth 5 more to make this a 10.

one of the stronger entries in the holocaust documentary factory.......2006-06-04

yet another holocaust movie, the surest way next to mental retardation and AIDS to win a best documentary oscar. this one is really quite a bit better than the others, focusing on five very different survivors from hungary, and giving great insight into how their futures were shaped and their need to return to see what remains of their old homes. very affecting, and free of rhetoric: allowing the experience to speak for itself, rather than overlaying it with rhetoric. honest and spiritually satisfying.

Controversial Classics, Vol. 2 - The Power of Media (All the President's Men / Network / Dog Day Afternoon) (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

The summit for movies for serious adults
YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Controversial Classics, Vol. 2 - The Power of Media (All the President's Men / Network / Dog Day Afternoon) (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Robert Redford , Jack Warden , Martin Balsam , and Hal Holbrook
Director: Alan J. Pakula , and Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000CNESUS
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Warner Home Video releases three of the most explosive films from the 1970's - All the President's Men, Network, and Dog Day Afternoon - all in one collection. This three title, six-disc giftset boasts the star power of Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, John Cazale and more, and tackling the media mania of American journalism and reality TV, thirty years later these films are just as exciting and relevant as they were when they were made. Bonus features include commentaries by Robert Redford and Sidney Lumet and new making-of documentaries.

Customer Reviews:

The summit for movies for serious adults.......2006-05-14

CONTROVERSIAL CLASSICS VOLUME 2: THE POWER OF MEDIA is one of the crown jewel disk boxed sets in my private DVD library. It includes three incendiary masterpieces from the golden age of the 1970's: DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975), NETWORK (1976), and ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (also 1976). All three were Oscar contenders for Best Picture, and all three were winners for Screenplay.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON, directed by Sidney Lumet from a script by Frank Pierson, is so far-fetched that it has to be true. On a hot summer afternoon in 1972 Brooklyn, a nobody named Sonny Wortzik (Oscar nominee Al Pacino) robs a bank to pay for his male lover's (Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon) sex change operation. What should have taken ten minutes ends up becoming an eight hour media event, complete with pizza delivery to the hostages. Lumet took over an entire block in Brooklyn, had the hostages in effect play themselves with improvised dialogue, and worked like an Army commander with a thousand or so extras and stunning second-unit helicopters. The movie has incredible vitality and conviction from Lumet, powerhouse editing by Dede Allen (another Oscar nominee), and another of the great Pacino performances. Bonuses include a vintage featurette on Lumet, brand-new audio commentary by Lumet, and a four-part 30th anniversary featurette. Plus a brand-new remastered print of a great film.

If you thought DOG DAY was looney tunes, get a load at Paddy Chayefsky's audacious Oscar-winning Original Screenplay for another great Sidney Lumet triumph: NETWORK (1976). It is a satire on network television, but so outlandish that virtually everything (except the ending-thank God) has taken place. An unbalanced man (Oscar winner Peter Finch) becomes a media folk hero with super ratings. Oscar winner Faye Dunawaty lives only for ratings-and even discusses them in bed with producer William Holden (at his very best and and an Oscar nominee). Beatrice Straight is electrifying as Holden's wife in one Oscar-winning scene. ("I'm your wife, damn it! And if you can't work up a winter passion for me, the least I ask is respect and allegiance...Are you in love with her? Then say it. SAY IT!") Then the question arises over what to do with Finch's Howard Beale character ("I'm as mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!") when his ratings seriously fail. NETWORK is a brilliant satire that is almost reality thirty years later. And the direction, writing, and performances are all flawless. Bonuses here are huge: PRIVATE SCREENINGS: SIDNEY LUMET (2005) from Turner Classic Movies with Robert Osborne, a vintage Paddy Chayefsky interview from "The Dinah Shore Show", a new 90 minute 30th anniversary filmmaking documentary, and a brand-new Lumet audio commentary. Figure on three nights for this baby.

Best of the lot is producer-director Alan Pakula's ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (also 1976), with an Oscar-winning scr