Apollo 13 (Widescreen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)

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NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious filmmaking techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Proof that Hollywood sometimes gets it right.......2007-08-13

I remember really liking this movie when it came out in 1995 - and now, more than 10 years later, I recently watched it on DVD with my kids. I realize now why this is such a great movie - this isn't your typical movie that's "based on true events" or worse "inspired by true events". The actual events were so incredibly dramatic that they didn't need to "Hollywoodize" the story. You really feel like you are there, living the events that shook the nation when Apollo 13 almost didn't return. Sure, the casting, the production, the effects, and the acting are top notch. But it really is the screenplay that makes this movie such a success - because the actual story is just so good that they didn't need to screw it up.

Apollo 13.......2007-07-11

A nail-bitingly tense and heroic tale of survival-against-the-odds based on the actual Apollo 13 crisis, Howard's Oscar-winning drama rekindles the exhilarating enthusiasm the nation felt during the first flights to the moon--and also draws on the collective anxiety that pooled in the wake of the Challenger explosion. Even without this context, "Apollo 13" is a grippingly authentic story, crisply helmed by Howard and superbly acted by a first-rate cast including Hanks, Bacon, Paxton, Harris, and Gary Sinise--most of whom prepared with zero-gravity flights at the director's insistence.

Apollo 13 is a gripping tale of moon travel.......2007-05-19

I remember seeing this movie in the theater, and it was awesome. It still is, on DVD. The astronauts almost didn't make it back. One of the top ten movies ever made.

The extras are nice, if you have the time. Together they take at least a couple of hours.

Review.......2007-05-07

I had to replace my original Apollo 13 DVD which, after several successful playings, started to fail to "play back." Possibly, this failure was exacerbated by my attempted "fix" which was to clean the business side of the DVD with an (electronic grade) 99% alcohol cleaning solution.

At any rate, I am happy to have the new disk.

(Of the many [more than 100] DVDs I have, this is the only instance of media failure I have experienced.)

Keep It Honest !.......2007-04-29

Good movie of a great human adventure,well acted and professionally filmed.
Looks a bit stiff and un-imaginative in the developpement of the "story" but overall a very fine visualisation of this tragic-heroic piece of American history.

Average customer rating:

If you give this film a chance, you will not regret it
not that good
Searching for Bobby Fischer
"Then your job is harder"
Endearing tale of a prodigy

Searching for Bobby Fischer
Starring: Max Pomeranc , Joe Mantegna , Joan Allen , Ben Kingsley , and Laurence Fishburne
Director: Steven Zaillian
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305910340
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

Steve Zaillian, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Schindler's List, made his directorial debut with this critically acclaimed but little-seen drama based on the nonfiction book by Fred Waitzkin, about a father (Joe Mantegna) who discovers that his seven-year-old son (Max Pomeranc) is a genius at playing chess. The boy plays chess for fun, but when he's tutored by a former champion (Ben Kingsley) and entered into high-pressure competitions, an enjoyable pastime becomes a source of tension and resentment, forcing the father to reconsider his parental priorities. A poignant study of the difference between parental idealism and proper parenting, the movie is also an observantly witty portrait of a precocious child who is still, after all, a child, and still eager for the joyful discoveries of youth. While offering a fascinating look into the world of competitive chess, the movie's dramatically engrossing and extremely well-acted by a brilliant cast that also includes David Paymer, William H. Macy, and Dan Hedaya in memorable supporting roles. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

If you give this film a chance, you will not regret it.......2007-09-03

I watched this movie several times when I was a kid and I remember liking it. I will admit that I loved chess and that probably made me biased towards it.

Two days ago I watched it again for the first time in maybe a decade. And there's a question that I've been asking myself: Now that I'm an adult and not that interested in chess do I like it as much now as I did when I was a kid?

Honestly, no. I like it even more now. And that's because this film is not really about chess. It's about life. It's about the people who influence us, our fears, our struggles, respect and even compassion towards each other, and trying to decide what really is important in our lives. Knowing a little bit about chess might enhance your pleasure in the film but it also might not: chess is really only the context of the story.

This film also has what seems like flawless acting. The actor who plays the chess genius Josh (Max Pomeranc) might have given the most believable performance any kid has ever given in any movie. Ever.

Of the 38 films that I have reviewed so far, there is no film that I recommend more than Searching for Bobby Fischer. I may not be as good at chess as I once was but for your next move, I have a strong recommendation: buy this film.

not that good.......2007-08-21

My rating is based on how I feel about the film, but I'm writing this review to set a few things straight. First of all, there are two people portrayed in the film that are really ill-served by it: Josh's rival, who's real life name is Jeff Sarwer, and Bruce Pandolfini. Far from the brooding, dark-stepchild demeanor of the rival character in the film, Sarwer was actually a very lively, energetic, happy-go-lucky boy. Probably more importantly: he did not actually lose the 1986 primary championship game to Josh Waitzkin. The game was a draw, and since both players had not lost a game and Josh was the higer rated player, the championship went to Josh. In fact, Josh has never beaten Jeff Sarwer; they played twice, with Jeff winning the first game and Josh drawing the second for the championship that year. Jeff Sarwer has a website with links to the actual games he played against Josh, as well as personal information about himself which fans of "Searching for Bobby Fischer" might avail themselves to peruse.

Second, Bruce Pandolfini taught both children. He was also at least twenty years younger than Ben Kingsley in the film, not Irish, and much taller. And to the best of my knowledege, Pandolfini never resorted to silly, melodramatic tactics like sweeping the pieces off the board in front of an eight year old student and asking him to find the mate-in-four. (Since Pandolfini has a cameo in the film I assume, however, that it had his approval.)

Finally, one of the major themes in the book is the relative poverty and squalor that chess players live and work in in this country because Americans don't take chess seriously. (Or didn't at the time?) This topic is repeated almost to a fault in the book, yet the film's settings are all ninteenth-century mansions or churches. You'd probably have a hard time getting real estate like that in New York even if you were Microsoft. Try this sentence from the beginning of chapter 5: "Beyond a door padded against slamming with wads of newspaper and silver duct tape, the best players were in a sorrowful front room over a pizza parlor, with discolored wall paneling, peeling paint, torn rugs and electrical wires dangling from holes in the ceiling."

For those reviewers who thought that the film was inspiring and taught important lessons about life: it is just a movie. It has very little to do with life except being able to make a lot of people feel squishy inside. The movie has even less to do with chess.

Searching for Bobby Fischer.......2007-08-15

This movie is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time !!! It makes you happy, sad ,it makes you cry and it is an excellent example of how family life should really happen. It also makes you think. I loved it. It's exceptional.

"Then your job is harder".......2007-08-03

This movie tells the story of Josh Waitzkin and it is based on the book with the same title written by his father. If you have read the book, you will certainly notice that the adaptation for the movie was flexible and does not really follow he facts, but it sure does make the story more exciting.

The film starts at the time after Bobby Fischer withdrew from the international chess scene and went into seclusion. After winning his title, Fischer had many disagreements with FIDE (International Chess Federation) and did not show up to defend his title against Karpov. As a result, he lost the title and left a huge crowd of fans, that had taken up chess after and American defeated the seemingly invincible Soviets, without a hero to carry their flag.

In this setting we find small Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc), who picks up chess from watching people playing in the park and soon shows his innate ability for the game. His parents soon find themselves in unfamiliar territory and have trouble coping with the requirements and stress even young chess players face. In an effort to help their son cultivate his gift, they contact Bruce Pandolfini, one of the most recognized chess coaches in the US (if you go to a bookstore and look for chess books you will see several written by him).

This is when the search for Bobby Fischer within this child begins, and the journey could not be better. Kingsley, Mantegna and Pomeranc are all very good in their roles and give their characters with the right amount of emotion and passion. But if I had to pick a performance, it would be the one by Laurence Fishburne, who plays a character that will remain imprinted in the memory of all those that watch this movie.

The fact that Pandolfini is presented in a slightly negative light, compared to reality and the modification of the end of the story do not really detract from the overall quality of the production. If you love chess, this movie is a must, but even if you do not, I bet you will really enjoy it.

Endearing tale of a prodigy.......2007-07-25

I was happy to see this movie released on DVD so I could add it to my collection. SFBF is an endearing tale, based on a true story, of the discovery of a chess prodigy (who was otherwise a very normal kid) and his learning about the harsh realities of competition. Joe Mantegna does his usual excellent acting job, lending a particular humor and humanity to the role of the father, but the young actor they sourced for the role, Max Pomeranc, is an acting prodigy. He's a cute kid, no doubt, but he evinces a certain pathos not normally seen in children his age. He steps into the role very well. Primarily a drama/slice of life movie, there are some excellent bits of comedy throughout as well. The chess scenes are done quite well so you don't get bogged down in it, and even if you've never heard of chess you won't be lost in this movie. Released in 1993, you'll recognize a lot of other folks in earlier roles (I'd forgotten Laura Linney was in it). My only complaint is the "reality" of some profanity, but you can't escape that it seems, but be forewarned if you're showing it to your own kids who are Max's age in the movie.

Average customer rating:

Simple DVD.
Great Movie
Great for me!
Terrific entertainment
Corny, clunky, a deserved turkey of the early 90s.

Rocketeer
Starring: Bill Campbell , Jennifer Connelly , Alan Arkin , Timothy Dalton , and Paul Sorvino
Director: Joe Johnston
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: 6305428514
Release Date: 1999-08-17

Amazon.com

Based on a retro-styled comic book hit of the '80s, this Disney film was meant to launch a whole line of Rocketeer films--but the series began and ended with this one. That's too bad, because this underrated Joe Johnston film has a certain loopy charm. The story centers on a pre-World War II stunt pilot (Bill Campbell) who accidentally comes into possession of a rocket-propelled backpack much coveted by the Nazis. With the aid of his mechanic pal (Alan Arkin), he gets it up and running, then uses it to foil a plot by a gang of vicious Nazi spies (is there any other kind?) led by Timothy Dalton. Jennifer Connelly is on hand as the love interest, but the real fun here is when the Rocketeer takes off. There's also a nifty battle atop an airborne blimp. --Marshall Fine

Description

The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense, and intrigue! Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who's a secret Nazi spy (Timothy Dalton). With the help of his actress girlfriend, the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world! The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero!

Customer Reviews:

Simple DVD........2007-08-25

For me this movie holds a lot of nostalgia and that makes it great!
BUT, this is a really simple version of the movie. No extras, no books, no 5.1 SS.

Great Movie.......2006-11-10

This movie is great - I wish a sequel had been made, as was originally planned. It would have been nice if the DVD had been anamorphic, but otherwise it is a great product.

Great for me!.......2006-11-05

I always liked this movie, a simple idea with a great out come. A good story of good verses evil, with a cool strap on rocket. Now i get to enjoy this movie when ever i please.

Terrific entertainment.......2006-08-23

(4.5/5 stars) This is a fantasy film set during World War II, with the Nazis chasing jet-propelled backpack technology that will enable their airmen to land in enemy territory. There is even a mock Nazi propaganda film to illustrate the awesome power of this new weapon. In fact, the film really blurs fantasy with reality, with appearances by W.C. Fields and Cab Calloway, among others. Timothy Dalton plays Neville Sinclair, an actor whose life bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Errol Flynn's. Fiction mixed with reality can be amusing because it offers an imaginative alternative to straight fiction and non-fiction. On the other hand, "The Da Vinci Code," "JFK" and the current Bush administration have all proven mixing fantasy and reality can produce downright ugly results. There is some very good action as The Rocketeer, played by the dashing and handsome Bill Campbell, eludes the Nazis and attempts to foil their plot. Jennifer Connelly is radiant as his love interest, Jenny Blake. This is the type of movie where gray areas do not exist; everything is either black or white, good or bad. Along with excellent sets, wardrobes, styles, etc., this aids the film in establishing its nostalgic, 1940s feel. This is a very fun movie for most of the family. Even though there is little objectionable material, some themes might be better suited for ages ten and up.

Corny, clunky, a deserved turkey of the early 90s........2006-07-15

The Rocketeer is the cinematic version of all the faux-Deco buildings that have been erected in recent years around Los Angeles, particularly the Miracle Mile area. It's wafer-thin nostalgia masks a chintzy story that can't stand on its own two feet.

The plotting of The Rocketeer is sound enough for adolescent fare. Unfortunately, the characters are totally uninspired and the dialogue atrocious. Worse still is the execution of the material. Every actor is miscast and thoroughly lacking in charisma. Bill Campbell -- ever hear of him anymore? He overacts every single scene. Timothy Dalton? Hammy. Jennifer Connelly is the only one to come out unscathed.

The direction is beyond weak. When The Rocketeer appears at the nightclub it is so poorly staged, so cloyingly "goofy" that it extinguishes the promise of anything remotely thrilling from happening. Add to this foul mixture a horrendous James Horner score... you get the idea. Still, some nice set design and an effective animated film-within-a-film make for a couple high points.

Average customer rating:

Great Restoration and Extras; Silly Movie.
New DVD is somewhat disappointing
A glittering disappointment...not a critical or box-office success...
Buy the Film for the Visuals.

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Starring: James Cagney , Joe E. Brown , Dick Powell , Mickey Rooney , and Victor Jory
Director: Max Reinhardt , and William Dieterle
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QGE8JC
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Amazon.com

James Cagney and Mickey Rooney romping in a Shakespearian fairyland? This could only be A Midsummer Night's Dream, Warner Bros.' 1935 attempt at classing up the proletarian studio. The legendary German stage director Max Reinhardt had produced the play at the Hollywood Bowl to enchanted, sold-out audiences, and Warners decided to hand Reinhardt the keys to the studio (along with fellow Germans William Dieterle, co-director, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who adapted Mendelssohn's music). Reinhardt created an eye-popping phantasmagoria, a movie laced with sparkling sequins, flying fairies, and moon-kissed forests. As for the words, Reinhardt had a collection of Warners studio players, notably James Cagney as Bottom, whose playing of "Pyramus and Thisby" with Joe E. Brown is perhaps the movie's comic high point. The other actors are decidedly varied, and they tend to be overwhelmed by the production design. Not so Mickey Rooney, whose performance as Puck is a feral, antic act of imagination (he was 14 during filming); picture a boy raised by wolves who somehow memorized Shakespeare. His Puck growls and screams and mocks the drama of the other characters, a little postmodern imp before his time. (Critic David Thomson called this Puck "truly inhuman, one of the cinema's most arresting pieces of magic"). The rest of the movie comes to earth with some regularity, but it's a one-of-a-kind production, and a reminder of the lavish, unreal possibilities within a movie studio. --Robert Horton

Description

Love is blind, fickle and true. And under the sway of capricious fairies it becomes blinder ( a queen romances as donkey), more fickle (best friends swoon over each other's beau) and truest of all (lovers repledge their devotion). "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" in Shakespeare's bewitching comedy!

Customer Reviews:

Great Restoration and Extras; Silly Movie........2007-09-03

Max Reinhardt's sound-film career started and ended with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (AMND). Reinhardt (originally Goldmann) was a noted European stage director/producer who tried to make the jump to sound film. Not everything that was successful in live theater (especially on European stages during the 20's and 30's) ended up a cinematic hit (especially with American film audiences) during the same period. AMND is an expensive exhibit A. Reinhardt was in the midst of preparing his next film for Warner Bros. (working title appears to have been "DANTON") when the disastrous box office results came in from AMND. This, among other things, lead Warners to promptly terminate their film-directing arrangements with Reinhardt.
AMND was puffed up with some of Warners' major stars of the time, but it is difficult--make that painful and plain embarrassing--to watch them in such a silly film. Apparently, Warners was apprehensive from the start. At least two featurettes or shorts were produced by the studio to plug its own film (both are included as extras on this DVD).
Film restoration and transfer are suburb, complete with digital sound. Obviously a fair amount of money and effort went into this release. The question is, why? Warner Home Video has not done the same for many/most of its recent releases of classic films on DVD including the shabby treatment afforded THE ERROL FLYNN SIGNATURE COLLECTION.
The extras make this DVD worth buying. They include the promotional short A DREAM COMES TRUE which includes the only known appearance of classic film-score composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold in a sound film (a tad brief at only 49 seconds). Plus an early Olivia de Havilland screen test (there are two scenes). While it is obvious that the tests have nothing to do with AMND, apparently they were directed by Reinhardt perhaps in preparation for his second sound film (which was never produced). Each scene is a bit long, but both are delightful to watch as a plucky and pudgy de Havilland delivers over-the-top performances. Separately, the DVD extras rate at least three stars, the film barely one.

William Flanigan, Ph.D.

New DVD is somewhat disappointing.......2007-08-26

The much awaited DVD release of the classic 1935 Warner Brothers production of `A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM' is something of a disappointment, in spite of the blurb on the keep case about its "sparkling restoration from original film elements".

This film, one of the most remarkable projects of 1930s Hollywood, was released in October 1935 in a 143 minute roadshow presentation. This was trimmed back to 132 minutes for general release (with the overture & exit music removed) and trimmed again to 117 minutes for its October 1936 re-release.

Apparently, only the original nitrate camera negative of the 117 minute version survives, which means that Warners discarded the trims. However, there is also a nitrate positive of the long version, and a nitrate dupe negative of same. I believe that they also have a nitrate fine grain of the short version, which was used as the basis for the very first Laser Disc and subsequent VIDEO release in the late 80s.

So, the team assembling this DVD had a number of excellent source materials from which to work and to produce a definitive version at last. Regrettably, they didn't and unless I am mistaken, no frame-by-frame digital restoration has even been attempted. Given all these choices, I would have thought they could have made a better job. Clearly WB just wouldn't spend the money.

Indeed, the team that was responsible for assembling the materials made some pretty poor decisions. This film is one of the most beautiful, visually, of the entire era and deserves better. Hal Mohr's spectacular photography (he deserved his Oscar) and wonderful lighting produces some breathtaking effects. While for the most part, we can enjoy a cleaner, crisper and finer image than ever before, sometimes, the image deteriorates greatly with excessive grain and serious frame damage with marks, lines and other blemishes that really should have been sorted out. A particularly crucial example is perhaps one of the most famous sequences in the entire film - the Awakening of the Elves (at Chapter 7 on the DVD) where the fairies slowly emerge from the mist and run UPWARDS along the moonbeam.

In the old VHS Video version, this entire sequence was in perfect condition and looked terrific, not a mark or a scratch anywhere. On the new DVD it is very poor with continuous lines marring the image. Given that this scene appears in all the various prints, and especially the nitrate camera negative, any damage could easily have been repaired and/or digitally removed. For the Video & Laser Disc versions, they obviously used the best material available for this sequence.

There are several other places where similar damage occurs.

As the film has been bundled with other Shakespeare movies, Warners presumably didn't think it would sell on its own and nobody wanted to commit the resources to restore it properly - a great opportunity missed.

On the plus side, the soundtrack (and especially Korngold's marvellous music score which he ingeniously based on numerous works by Felix Mendelssohn) is in much improved audio and there are also some nice extras. Chief among these is an excellent, highly informative and very entertaining commentary by historian Scott McQueen, who has made a special study of this movie over many years and provides copious facts and figures, anecdotes and excerpts from the extensive production memos that fortunately still survive at the Warner Archive at the University of Southern California.

There are the several teaser trailers, and a reissue trailer (previously released on the Laser Disc version) and most importantly, the first ever release of the special short subject A DREAM COMES TRUE which, as well as providing unique footage of the Hollywood Premiere on Oct 16 1935, also includes behind the scenes shots of the production and the only known footage of Erich Wolfgang Korngold playing the piano. This little film was not available when the Laser Disc was made and I think probably came from a private collection. It's great to finally see it available for all of us to see.

In addition, there is Olivia De Havilland's 1936 screen test for a film that was never made - DANTON - which was to have been Max Reinhardt's follow-up picture after DREAM, to star Paul Muni with a score by Korngold. Ms De Havilland donated the reel of film (which she had owned since 1936!) to the Motion Picture Academy Archives last year, when she came to Los Angeles to attend a special tribute evening organised by the Academy. She deserves our profound thanks!

But come on Warners! Couldn't somebody have written up a brief title card to explain what this TEST actually is? Or listed it correctly on the menu and slipcase? Or even thanked Ms De Havilland and explained its provenance? Instead, it is just thrown onto the disc with no explanation or correct title. Such cheap and sloppy behavior, as if nobody gives a damn!

I would have liked to see a stills gallery (there are hundreds of these, plus behind-the scenes- shots, all preserved at George Eastman House in New York) and in addition, surely some of the extensive radio material that surrounded the various premieres of this film could have been traced for an `audio vault` extra? Because the original nitrate optical tracks for this movie were discarded in the late 1970s (when Warners shamefully destroyed its entire sound archive), no audio out-takes survive - a pity, as there would be plenty to hear. The extant score materials contain numerous songs and other pieces arranged by Korngold that were recorded (with Dick Powell and others) and subsequently cut.

It was very nice to see the long-unseen animated Intermission card (only included for the initial road-show presentations) which was apparently on a separate negative roll. However, WHY the DVD producer could not put a brief pause after this - instead of slamming into the opening of the second half, I just do not know. Again, no thought, no care.

While I am pleased that the film has made it onto DVD, I guess we are still some way off from the definitive restored version. At least as long as these precious archival materials survive intact, there is a chance - but nitrate will not last forever, and time is running out.

Perhaps the Library of Congress might consider A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM as a major priority for its film preservation programme. It is a classic one-of-kind film, unlike any other produced in Hollywood and a unique record of the genius of Max Reinhardt and Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

BRENDAN CARROLL

A glittering disappointment...not a critical or box-office success..........2007-08-23

Warner Bros. was looking to improve their image during the '30s when most of the studio product consisted of crime melodramas starring either Cagney, Robinson or Bogart.

Jack Warner was impressed enough with the Hollywood Bowl version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (which he attended to catch the performance of Olivia de Havilland as Hermia), to give Max Reinhardt the green light to produce it as a major film.

Unfortunately, much of it looks like a museum piece and not just because it's in glorious B&W. Some of the performances are pitched towards stage acting while others (notably Dick Powell and Ross Alexander) fail to give their lines any depth or meaning. Victor Jory (as Oberon) and Anita Louise (as Titiana) do the most acceptable acting jobs with Ian Hunter coming in a close third.

James Cagney struts around as Bottom but it seems a hopelessly foolish role for him to be playing. Mickey Rooney as Puck looks the role but becomes irritating after his first few shrieks of laughter, as if to remind one and all that this is supposed to be a comedy of errors.

Olivia de Havilland, while lovely in her film debut, has flashes of temperament that at least give us the impression that she knows what the part is all about.

Not one of my favorite Warner films, to put it mildly. The special effects give everything a totally artificial look which others find "dreamlike" and the forest scenes with the use of glitter give this viewer a claustrophobic feeling. Overlong and stagey, this is a product of filmmaking only barely acceptable to 1930's audiences, appearing to be a film that was dated when first released.

Sorry, thumbs down on this version of the Bard.

Trivia note: The DVD features "the Olivia de Havilland screen test" which is actually footage shot for "Danton", a film that Max Reinhardt was going to direct but was cancelled after the box-office failure of this one.

Buy the Film for the Visuals........2007-08-10

A great production of Shakespeare overwhelms us with its oral perfection and sensational visuals. In this case it is the latter, the remarkable stage visuals, that astonish us, as opposed to the elocution of the actors and actresses.

Max Reinhardt was a superstar theatre producter of the Berlin twenties.
(Being Jewish, he had to flee the Nazis, once they assumed power). He has created a German High Romantic version of the play. For example, the film has a spiritual glow, a soft-focus radiance when the fairies are in display. Even the palace in Athens has dreamlike, amorphous spires. At moments, I thought I was experiencing a religious vision of the Virgin and Child when Titiana and Bottom were in the forest. Other times, the spiral of fairies ascending in the air reminded me of a William Blake painting of Jacob's Stairway to Heaven.

Regarding the actors, the undisputed star of the film is Mickey Rooney. In this movie, he communicates a manic energy, a malevolent laugh, a force of nature in his peformance. I thought the other actors were substantially weaker...so if you are primarily interested in the language, go for the Peter Hall version of Midsummer Night's Dream.

Nevertheless, the film is so overwhelmingly stunning that it must belong in anyone's list of the top 1000 films anywhere. It's so ironic that with the development of movie special effects in the last 70 years, today's filmmakers cannot replicate the truly magical effects that Max Reinhardt delivers. Go for the experience, forget the weaknesses, and appreciate this photographic masterpiece for what it is.

Average customer rating:

Excellent story line. Excellent special effects. Excellent HD DVD.
Great movie; HD didn't improve picture that much
A MUST OWN EXPERIENCE!
Pleasantly surprised
Not the greatest HD-DVD, but still good

Apollo 13 [HD DVD]
Starring: Tom Hanks , Bill Paxton , Kevin Bacon , Gary Sinise , and Ed Harris
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B000FA57NK
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Customer Reviews:

Excellent story line. Excellent special effects. Excellent HD DVD........2007-08-14

There is nothing that this movie is missing. It has great acting, great directing, great special effects, and the HD DVD transfer is flawless. More movies like this need to be released in the HD DVD format.

Great movie; HD didn't improve picture that much.......2007-04-07

This is a very good movie, but if you are thinking about double-dipping and buying it on HD DVD to replace your DVD, don't. Yes, it does look better, but not much better. If you don't have it, then buy it on HD DVD.

A MUST OWN EXPERIENCE!.......2007-03-31

To view and relive this cinematic retelling of the astronauts' odyssey in HD is purely a sight to behold. The space scenes make you feel like you're really out thre with them. A little grainy sometimes in scenes involving the families of the astronauts or other "non-space" stuff, but you have to remember that this film is actually quite old now, so I believe the transfer is as good as can be expected, with little to gripe about. I would have appreciated a Dolby True HD sound track, but the dolby digital plus does the trick for that sonic "oomph" you're looking for. All in all, the film itself excels at what it tries to do. A great film and great HD-DVD material.

Pleasantly surprised.......2007-02-18

I'm not a videophile, so don't expect any technical jargon.
Overall, this is a stellar HD DVD from Universal yet again.
Nice detail, particularly during the space sequences...the clarity is spectacular. Slight film grain, possibly intentional.
Overall, a must-have for fans of the film.

Note: contains ALL special features of the previous version, except the IMAX version.

Not the greatest HD-DVD, but still good.......2007-01-12

Apollo 13 is my first HD-DVD purchase (well it came free with my HD-E1), and I can say it is a HUGE improvement over DVD, HUGE...but after watching for a good 10mins, i noticed it could have been much better.

PICTURE QUALITY: 7/10

Picture Quality is AVERAGE all the way up to AMAZING, depending on the shots. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible by any means, it's just not what you consider DEMO material. There's alot of noise on the image ie. BG walls and white shirts, but maybe this was an intentional aesthetic choice by Ron Howard, who knows. On the good side, there are some amazing shots that TRUELY take your breath away, and you can just FEEL how 3-Dimensional the image is. It was moments like these that even WOWED my folks, who immediately noticed the difference on my Panasonic 50" plasma.

SOUND QUALITY: 7/10

On the sound front, it's not bad. Not as IMPACTFUL as my old DTS DVD, as it feels alot lower in volume and lacks that oooomph on the LFE front. But it's a still satisfying experience and far from terrible by any means. Overall, it's a very clean mix.

-zallapo

Apollo 13 (Full Screen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

Proof that Hollywood sometimes gets it right
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 is a gripping tale of moon travel
Review
Keep It Honest !

Apollo 13 (Full Screen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Tom Hanks , Bill Paxton , Kevin Bacon , Gary Sinise , and Ed Harris
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006Z2LP6
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Proof that Hollywood sometimes gets it right.......2007-08-13

Apollo 13.......2007-07-11

Apollo 13 is a gripping tale of moon travel.......2007-05-19

Review.......2007-05-07

Keep It Honest !.......2007-04-29

Average customer rating:

North to Alaska
North To Alaska
My favorite John Wayne movie
John Wayne at his Best
Makes me laugh...

North to Alaska
Starring: John Wayne , Stewart Granger , Ernie Kovacs , Fabian , and Capucine
Director: Henry Hathaway
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008MTW6
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

Even people habitually hostile to John Wayne movies tend to cast an indulgent eye on this rumbustious comedy-Western--partly because the Alaska gold rush setting seems more exotic than, say, Texas or Arizona, and because there are no Indians to discriminate against and no macho gunplay to fret about. As for John Wayne as all-purpose icon of male chauvinism, Big Sam McCord (the Duke) spends much of North to Alaska in a state of growing discombobulation because he has fallen in love with, and is thoroughly flummoxed by, "Angel" (Capucine), the woman he's brought back from Seattle to marry his heartsick partner George (Stewart Granger). Henry Hathaway directs in a broader vein than usual, but he hits pay dirt. Even Fabian, the latest pop music idol to be dragooned into supporting the elder roughnecks, is fun, and Ernie Kovacs is droll casting as chief "villain." --Richard T. Jameson

Description

John Wayne and Stewart Granger strike it rich in this sprawling, brawling comedy-adventure set in the rowdy heydey of the Alaskan gold rush. When prospectors Sam McCord (Wayne) and George Pratt (Granger) finally hit the mother lode, George asks Sam to go to Seattle and fetch his sweetheart, Jennie, but she's already married someone else. Heartbroken for his buddy's sake, Sam visits a saloon, meets dancer (Capucine) and invites her back to Nome as Jennie's replacement - the plan goes perfectly until Sam falls in love with her too!

Customer Reviews:

North to Alaska.......2007-07-17

Received it quickly and in good condition. A delight to watch again after so many years.

North To Alaska.......2007-07-05

Great Movie. Hard to get in australia.

Prices are good and the service is great.

Having a new region free DVD player
means that I can get movies from anywhere in the world

My favorite John Wayne movie.......2007-05-13

This has always been my favorite John Wayne movie, and being able to have it on DVD now has furthered my enjoyment of the film as I can watch it anytime I want.

John Wayne at his Best.......2007-05-09

I really enjoyed all the actors in this film, eventhough Fabian was a bit understudied. The backdrop of Alaska's '49 Gold Rush was excellent, and overall the film provided the entertainment I thought it might.

Makes me laugh..........2007-03-26

This was a great movie. While not my favorite John Wayne movie, it is still a good one! I always laugh at the scenes where his character is getting jealous about his friend being with Angel. Nobody does it like John Wayne. Love the song too!

When It Was a Game - Triple Play Collection

Average customer rating:

Great Video
When it was a Game-Triple Play
Triple Play! But Not Quite An Unassisted One
When It Was a Game - Triple Play Collection
Best Baseball DVD...Ever

When It Was a Game - Triple Play Collection
Starring: Joe DiMaggio , Robert W. Creamer , Bill Dickey , Billy Herman , and Lou Gehrig
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Sports | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005B32G
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Amazon.com

This HBO documentary is based on a highly original idea: tell the story of baseball from the Great Depression era through the late 1950s using footage from home-movie cameras shot by fans and players. The result is a marvelous look at baseball in America as seen from the ground--the culture of stadiums, the ritual of afternoon games, the spiritually sustaining rivalries. Among the truly unexpected sights is color footage of the 1938 World Series, not only from inside the stadium walls but from the street as traffic cops, crowds, and vehicles amassed. It also covers World War II's impact on the game, and, of course, the heroes, often caught in relaxed, unselfconscious moments.

Arguably more defined and even more lyrical than its predecessor, When It Was a Game 2 moves from a general celebration of baseball culture in America to a specific focus on various facets of the game's history, including the special relationship between game announcers and fans and the farm-team system during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. Brooklyn's assimilation of the Dodgers into their community identity is covered quite winningly as is the heartbreak of the team's desertion to California. Last, the film takes us on a tour of some of the game's legends and presents a touching tribute to the extraordinary Babe Ruth. --Tom Keogh

When It Was a Game 3 focuses on the 1960s, a time of change for all of America. Through sharp, incredibly clear color footage of players and fans, the film shows how Major League Baseball slowly but surely evolved from pure sport to moneymaking entertainment. Covering the mighty Yankees, the western expansion of both leagues, the increasing inclusion of black players, and the rise of free agency and increased salaries, the film shows the growth of baseball from adolescence to adulthood. --Rob Lightner

Customer Reviews:

Great Video.......2007-09-04

Bought this product for my Dad for Father's Day. He really loved the trip down nostalgia lane.

When it was a Game-Triple Play.......2007-07-16

Great collection of DVD's showing all the old time baseball parks. Great time to buy since it is Baseball season. Home videos are priceless!!

Triple Play! But Not Quite An Unassisted One .......2007-07-04

An engrossing three pack of DVDs that shows color film of stars from the Thirties thru the Sixties - there were a few too many "odes to baseball" for me and not enuff ID of the players in the first two DVDs, which made the last disc the most enjoyable for me because more players were identified (and I guess I recognized them better, too) - it would've been even better if HBO had taken the time to identify the other players in the film - sure, we all know Babe and Mickey and Ted, etc. when we see them but it would've been great to see identification of "lesser" players (by "lesser" I mean players we dont recognize right off). But still, plaudits to HBO for doing this series when they did - much better than anything that Burns series did for baseball, which had far too many "odes to New York" for my tastes.

When It Was a Game - Triple Play Collection.......2007-05-13

One of the best baseball documentaries every put together. If you love the game you will not want to leave this out of your dvd lineup.

Best Baseball DVD...Ever.......2007-04-18

You'll be amazed at some of the footage here..a nearly ivy-less Wrigley, a ad-filled monster at Fenway, infielders tossing their gloves onto the outfield grass after the 3rd out, and on and on and on. Legends you've only read about or seen still photographs of in living color, many in the prime of their careers. Some of the commentary is a little syruppy, but that's baseball...a must for any fan, regardless of age.

Average customer rating:

For me it's a classic!
Rejects Rally!
Great movie!
format information is incorrect
A Boys' Adventure

Toy Soldiers (1991) (Full Sub)
Starring: Sean Astin , Wil Wheaton , Keith Coogan , Andrew Divoff , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: Daniel Petrie Jr.
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006JMQ3
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com

Toy Soldiers is a slick dose of high-concept absurdity, and lots of fun if you don't think about it afterward. Adapted from a novel by William P. Kennedy, it's got the swift momentum that's a specialty of screenwriter David Koepp, whose later credits include Jurassic Park and Spider-Man. Matching Koepp's narrative energy is director and cowriter Daniel Petrie Jr., who wrote Beverly Hills Cop, and whose big-screen career stalled after this crowd-pleasing debut. The hokey plot involves a class of prep-school misfits (led by Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton) who use their rebellious ingenuity to foil Colombian terrorists who've taken over their school. The lead villain (Andrew Divoff) demands the return of his extradited drug-lord father (one of the prep students is the residing judge's son), and the inevitable showdown provides a heady mix of nonsense, graphic violence, and military muscle. It shouldn't work but it does, especially if you've got a tolerance for Die Hard clones that barely pass inspection. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

For me it's a classic!.......2007-08-23

I saw this movie years ago and after watching recently on DVD, I'm still convinced that it's a great movie...I will watch this one over and over again.

Rejects Rally!.......2007-06-20

I hadn't seen this in years, but I am glad I went ahead and bought it. I watched it again last night and found it was still as entertaining as the first time I saw it. Good cast, story, effects, and music make it a good buy. The scary thing with this movie is the reality factor. Considering the problems we have had with foreign relations, drug cartels, and the Virginia Tech incident with Cho, you have to give this story some credibility. I had forgot Ermey was in this, so it was a pleasant surprise. Astin and Gossett turn in great performances. I like this movie because it takes regular students and shows how their ingenuity and determination helps them to save all but one student from terrorist. Perhaps that is melodramatic, but at least it shows a plan and action and not just posturing. I recommend this to fans of action movies.

Great movie!.......2007-01-31

Good movie to add to your action section- I would let my kids watch it - not all blood & guts like most out there!

format information is incorrect.......2006-06-14

Just FYI, the movie format is listed as both widescreen and fullscreen/pan and scan, making it seem that this contains both versions. It is infact fullscreen only and has a lack of any additional bonus features. Still a great flick, but if you're looking for the niceities, you might want to wait for better version to be released.

A Boys' Adventure.......2006-03-13

Well, when I was a kid you had the Hardy Boys, but by the 90s even the updated Hardys (no more tooling around in 'roadsters') were pretty passe. TOY SOLDIERS has been described as a teen version of DIE HARD, and filmmaker Daniel Petrie was certainly savvy enough to realize that since it was largely that very age group that was responsible for the success of high action films starring macho actors approaching (if not already well into) middle age, how could he go wrong if he adhered to the basic formula but made his heroes rebellious teens instead of wiseacre adults?

And for what it is, it does work. Younger viewers are not likely to realize how derivative and formulaic this movie about terrorists taking over a private school for rebellious kids really is. TOY SOLDIERS is definitely a teen film for the 90s (and beyond) in its relatively frank use of profanity, casual mentions of masturbation and its depiction of a prank phone call to an adult service. Contemporary teens will likely find this an "authentic" touch. Their parents may be surprised--and some a bit disconcerted--to see how far beyond the Hardy Boys we've come. Frank and Joe never used the "F" word.

But some things never do change, and the film's basic appeal to young viewers is the same as that of boys' action adventure tales from time immemorial. Or at least as long as there have been boys' action adventure stories. The fantasy of kids being able to competently and heroically maneuvre in the adult world will always hold an appeal for younger audiences. Hey, movies about rebel teens being able to put one over on the headmaster are cool enough. But when they can subdue a gang of terrorist thugs, hey, that's waaay cool.

Average customer rating:

my favorite romantic comedy
A really wonderful romantic comedy
Ahead of its time...
Great Movie
chances are dvd

Chances Are
Starring: Cybill Shepherd , Robert Downey Jr. , Ryan O'Neal , Mary Stuart Masterson , and Christopher McDonald
Director: Emile Ardolino
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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Heart and Souls