The Jungle Book (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)

Amazon.com

A classic 1967 Disney animated film that's loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name, Jungle Book tells the story of a young boy Mowgli who was raised by animals in the jungle. When tiger Shere Khan threatens to return to their part of the jungle, the other animals decide that Mowgli must return to the man village in order to ensure his safety. Panther Bagheera has difficulty convincing Mowgli to follow him to the man village and recruits the help of a big lovable bear Baloo. Mowgli's journey is one of wit, song, and many surprises. A timeless film populated by strong characters bursting with personality, great music like "Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You," and inspiring animation by Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and other master animators, Jungle Book captivates audiences of all ages.

This Platinum Edition includes everything from the standard bonus features like interactive games, music videos, and deleted songs to exciting and sometimes rare commentaries by everyone from modern day animators to Walt Disney himself, multiple featurettes about specific aspects of the film and its production, and a lengthy deleted scene featuring lost character Rocky the Rhino. Especially interesting for adults and Disney fans are "The Bare Necessities: The making of The Jungle Book" featurette, which explores Walt Disney's commitment to developing strong characters and his insistence that writers, animators, and song writers create a light version of Jungle Book that followed his own personal interpretation of the story, and the "The Lure of The Jungle Book" featurette, which discusses Frank Thomas' and Ollie Johnston's amazing contribution to the film as prolific animators and the inspiration and influence that their work provided for future animators including Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Andreas Deja (Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King), Sergio Pablos (Tarzan), Will Finn (Home on the Range), and Eric Goldberg (Fantasia 2000). The full length commentary by Bruce Reitherman (voice of Mowgli), animator Andreas Deja, and composer Richard Sherman with its interspersed archival commentary of Disney greats from the original creative team (Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Woolie Reitherman, and others) is also very interesting and insightful. --Tami Horiuchi

Description

One of the most popular Disney films ever, THE JUNGLE BOOK is a song-filled celebration of friendship, fun, and adventure set in a lush and colorful world. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's "Mowgli" stories, Disney's 19th animated masterpiece was the last animated feature that had Walt Disney's personal touch. The jubilant adventure begins when Mowgli, a little boy raised by wolves, is urged by his friend Bagheera, a wise old panther, to seek safety in the man village. Feeling very much at home in the jungle, Mowgli resists and runs off. Much to Bagheera's dismay, Mowgli meets a new friend with a happy-go-lucky philosophy of life -- Baloo the Bear, a lovable "jungle bum." Together, the three buddies find the journey back to civilization anything but civilized! They encounter a crazy orangutan, the hypnotic and sly snake Kaa, and the menacing Shere Khan! Fully restored for this 30th anniversary edition, this enduring classic swings with jazzy toe-tapping music, including the Academy Award(R)-nominated "The Bare Necessities," and the freewheeling "I Wan'na Be Like You"! A thrilling story for all ages, THE JUNGLE BOOK is an absolute necessity for your video collection.

Customer Reviews:

A review for parents.......2007-07-17

With so many Disney DVDs to choose from, is "The Jungle Book," even a new "Platinum" version, really a must buy?

Absolutely. Just 64 minutes long, this unpretentious adventure is full of imaginative characters, charming song and dance routines, interesting themes and innocent good humor. Unlike many Disney films, "The Jungle Book" doesn't strive to be high art and has no groundbreaking special effects, but it's still one of the company's best animated films. And now the film has now been "digitally enhanced," with a brighter contrast and cleaner colors. I've seen some clips from this new release, and they really look good.

Telling the tale of Mowgli, a human boy brought up in the jungles of India, the movie is a freewheeling adaptation of some Victorian-era short stories by British writer Rudyard Kipling. Rescued as an infant by a protective panther named Bagheera, the boy is raised by wolves and adopted by a carefree bachelor bear, Baloo. Disney punches up the stories with Western jokes and music (the pop soundtrack includes Baloo's and orangutan King Louie's infectious scat duet "I Wanna Be Like You" and Baloo's perky prickly pear primer, "The Bear Necessities"), but wisely eliminates Kipling's patronizing overtones.

"The Jungle Book" teaches children a number of good life lessons. It demonstrates that the world includes enemies as well as friends, and that enemies sometimes disguise themselves as friends. It argues that though its fun to pretend you're someone you're not, it's best to accept the person you are. Finally, the film teaches young viewers two lessons about love. First, as Baloo learns when he realizes he must finally return Mowgli to the "man village," that true love is unselfish. And second, as Mowgli learns in the final scene, that the ultimate male fulfillment is romantic love -- or, as some cynics view the segment, the pursuit of a cute, wide-eyed flirt.

Parents can take note of a classic Disney touch: the acceptance of both religion and science. The film begins with the infant Mowgli lying in a basket along a riverbank, a reference to Moses that's not in the Kipling stories. Later, however, there's a nod to Darwin, as the orangutan King Louie greets the human boy with an outstretched hand, saying "Shake hands, cousin."

If nothing else, adults can enjoy identifying the distinctive character voices (Kaa is voiced by Sterling Holloway, already known as the "Alice in Wonderland" Cheshire Cat and soon to be famous as Winnie the Pooh), laughing at the chorus of Beatle-like vultures (one looks just like Ringo), or wonder just what a large, furry bear is doing in a tropical jungle in the first place.

If you're a fan of the story you may also want to check out Disney's live-action (and non-musical) version, 1994's Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Though it's a little violent for younger kids (one soldier is sucked under a pond of quicksand and dies a slow death), this PG film is not really scary and quite the exotic adventure. Its stars include Sam Neill and, in a bit part, John Cleese.

-- By Julie Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.

A Gem Repolished!!!!.......2007-03-27

It cant get any better than this. Disney beloved animated classic "The Jungle Book" finally gets the long overdue Platinum treatment. This new 40th Anniversary release will include an all-new digital restoration of the film and for the very first time ever, this release will feature the movie in 1.75:1 widescreen aspect ratio (Please be aware that "Jungle Book" was filmed in 1.37:1 aspect ratio and was cropped for its theatrical screenings. The movie loses a little from top and bottom here in this restored version so think twice before selling off your old copies which featured the movie in its original fullscreen ratio). Along with a 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix soundtrack, this edition includes a restored original theatrical soundtrack too. French and Spanish language tracks will also appear on the disc. According to dvdtimes, extras on this platinum edition will include:

Audio Commentary - Combines comments from current animators with audio from the original creative team who made the film

The Lost Character: Rocky The Rhino - For the first time ever, the near-sighted, short-tempered rhinoceros named Rocky is brought to the screen using original storyboards and original voice recordings by Frank Fontaine.

The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book - A comprehensive look at the last animated film that Walt Disney produced using existing archival footage in addition to new interviews with Richard Sherman, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Eric Goldberg, James Baxter, Will Fi'nn, Andreas Deja, Burny Mattinson Ted Thomas, Bruce Reitherman, John Culhane, John Canemaker and Neal Gabler--plus a never-before-seen collection of artwork and treatments from the film

Disney's Kipling: Walt's Magic Touch on A Literary Classic - A discarded film treatment from 1963 includes scenes from Kipling's "Mowgli Stories" and more are used to illustrate Walt's interpretation of the literary masterpiece

The Lure of The Jungle Book - Many of today's biggest names in animation were inspired to pursue their careers after seeing The Jungle Book; this feature examines this phenomenon and features new interviews with Brad Bird, Andreas Deja, Sergio Pablo, Will Finn and Eric Goldberg.

Mowgli's Return to the Jungle - Learn about nature filmmaking and the experience of making The Jungle Book firsthand from Bruce Reitherman, the voice of Mowgli.

Baloo's Virtual Swingin' Jungle Cruise - Join everyone's favourite bear in this set-top and DVD-ROM game on an adventure through the jungle: enjoy fun activities and musical challenges, but keep an eye out because there's no telling what's on the other side of the river bend!

English Learning Feature
Still Frame Art Gallery

Like all other Platinum editions, even this one will be available for a limited time only. So bring home Mowgli, Baghira, Baloo and Shere khan and all the lovable characters we've all grown up with, before they go back to Disney vault again!

Average customer rating:

Pretty Damn Funny
This movie is sooo funny!
Funniest Movie I've Seen in a Long TIme
Crazy Monkey
Grandma's Boy

Grandma's Boy (Unrated Edition)
Starring: Linda Cardellini , Allen Covert , Peter Dante , Shirley Jones , and Shirley Knight
Director: Nicholaus Goossen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EMGJAO
Release Date: 2006-05-09

Description

Gamers, grannies and stoners unite! From Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions comes a raucously funny, "fish-out-of bongwater comedy" (Playboy) that'll have you rolling with laughter! Life is sweet for 35-year-old video game tester Alex (Allen Covert), until he's forced to move in with his overbearing grandmother Lilly (Doris Roberts) and her two roommates: oversexed Grace (Shirley Jones) and overmedicated Bea (Shirley Knight). To save face with his much younger co-workers and super-sexy new boss (Linda Cardellini), Alex brags about the "three hot babes" living with him, but soon that cat's out of the bag?and the real party at Grandma's house has just begun! If you love footie pajamas, techno-talk and karate-chopping chimps (and who doesn't?), grab your buds and watch Grandma's Boy!

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Damn Funny.......2007-09-17

This movie is pretty funny. Its a "run of the mill" comedy in sorts. Fart jokes, potty humor, nudity, wild animals, half naked men, violence, old ladies, and of course harsh language. But its more than that too. Its pretty damn funny. It takes the best of a lot of those things and makes an awesome movie out of it. Its just fun to watch. I bought this at a low price from Amazon, and it came with a tag from WalMart, which I found humorous too.

All in all, buy this movie, its a good time waster with some good laughs too. Also, it's pretty cheap, so you really wont be wasting your money if for some reason you dont like it.

I gave it a four because there is a certain "cheese" factor to the main character's stoner friend, but one can over those scenes fairly quickly.

This movie is sooo funny!.......2007-09-01

This movie is a riot. I've watched it over and over, and it just gets funnier. Some may find the "crude" humor offensive, but personally, I think it's one of the best stoner movies of all time!

Funniest Movie I've Seen in a Long TIme.......2007-08-25

My sister happened to catch this on cable one night just for something to watch. No one had ever heard of it but by the next day she was telling everyone this was the funniest movie she's seen in a long time. She had said that if I happen to catch this on cable I should take the time and wouldn't be dissappointed. The humor is silly in nature but it's done really well. It reminds me more of classic comedy from the 80s rather than some of the stuff they come up with today. I laughed out loud watching this movie. After my initial viewing of this movie it seemed that I'd always have to watch it if I came across it on cable just "flipping through". I decided I'd miss it once it was out of it's rotation on cable and purchased it to add to my DVD collection. I've told numerous people about this movie all who have seen it (or borrowed my DVD) have to agree it was pretty funny.

Crazy Monkey .......2007-08-24

This is one of the funniest movies from this genre. I loved the characters and the plot was hilarious. The cameos from the regular greats, Spade as the gay vegan, and Rob Schnieder as the landlord were great...Get this and some buds together and party on dude!

Grandma's Boy.......2007-08-24

Product was in great shape... and delivery was on time...

Thank you

Average customer rating:

It worked! I potty trained my child in one day :)
Worked like a "charm" on our Princess!
Worked for us!
Good Job Good Potty Potty
This DVD would not work if your child is still small

Potty Power - For Boys & Girls
Starring: Potty Power
Manufacturer: Consumervision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002B55DO
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Customer Reviews:

It worked! I potty trained my child in one day :).......2007-09-11

I used this DVD along with the book Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day by Teri Crane. I found the book which appealed to me- after long, drawn-out potty training battles with my girls, I was not looking forward to doing that again. I read the book and planned my son's "potty party". This DVD was one of the library resources I checked out. We followed the instructions in the potty training book and things were starting to look a little hopeless. My son (3 1/2 yrs old) was NOT interested in sitting down to read potty books and the other 2 videos didn't catch his attention. I was afraid all our effort was going to waste... Then we popped Potty Power in the DVD player. At first, he acted as if it didn't interest him either, then I caught him sneaking peeks at the TV.

I could tell the songs were catching his attention, so I waited for a while, then played the DVD again. This time, when the other kids on the screen proudly displayed their potty chairs, he ran into the bathroom and hauled his new winnie the pooh potty chair out and yelled "This is MY potty chair!"

By the time the video was winding down, my son was trying to sing "I'm proud to wear my underwear" and marching back and forth just like the other kids on the video.

Later on that night, he discovered 2 diapers in his room and his sister helped him throw them away while he shouted "No more diapers for me!", making the same hand movements the girl on the video does. He's constantly singing the songs on the DVD all day long and he asks to watch Potty Power several times a day.

I do have to agree that this may not work for all age ranges, but my son just happened to love it. I also agree with another viewer that it can get on the nerves a bit, so put it on for them while you're doing something else. Personally, I can't stand the jester in the "Princess and the Potty" story, but hey, it worked, so I just bought it. :) This video worked perfectly and covered almost every obstacle mentioned in the book we used. My son did have a little trouble with going number two and was starting to hold it in, but we found the solution in the book: get his potty doll to have a poo accident and instruct the doll (My son named his doll "Bob" with the help of his sisters.) that he's not supposed to poop in his big boy underwear, poop goes in the toilet. That worked too. :) It's been a week since his potty party and my son hasn't had any accidents at all in the last 2 days. :D

Worked like a "charm" on our Princess!.......2007-09-08

Our two year old daughter borrowed this from a friend who was recently potty trained. She had been going on the potty for quite some time, but never really made the connection about going on her own. Until she watched Potty Power five times in a row! After watching it she wanted to wear underwear and has not gone back to pull ups or diapers since! She especially loves the princess story at the end. This is why I have to buy our own copy! Even though it seems to be geared more towards girls, I would recomend this to anyone.

Worked for us!.......2007-09-08

My 3 year old daughter wasn't the least bit interested in being potty trained. She liked being a "baby" but, she hated the way diapers felt too! I was going crazy with her complaining about diapers yet not wanting to wear panties either. I bought Potty Power as a last resort and 2 weeks later she was potty trained. She's been in her big girl underwear for 2 months now and still enjoys watching this DVD.(She is watching it now)Bet it will work for you too!

Good Job Good Potty Potty.......2007-09-06

We tried a lot of things to help my son learn to be potty trained, and this helped a lot. It is well done and keeps even younger childern's attention. It does not scare them into going(like their is a monster inthe potty that wants to eat your poopy, it makes it a positve experience.

This DVD would not work if your child is still small.......2007-09-04

This DVD will only work if you child is at the age where he/she wants to be a big kid. Since my child is only 2 and still thinks that she is a baby, it didn't do anything to her. I would not recommend this if you want to train your child while he/she is still small.

Secondhand Lions (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

Excellent & Entertaining
Secondhand Lions
Secondhand Lions Review
If you liked Phenomenon and The Princess Bride, you'll love Second Hand Lions!
A Rare Jewel

Secondhand Lions (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Michael Caine , Robert Duvall , Haley Joel Osment , Kyra Sedgwick , and Nicky Katt
Director: Tim McCanlies
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000YTP02
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

If you can get past its thick layer of syrup and molasses, Secondhand Lions reveals itself as a thoroughly decent family film that anyone can enjoy. It gets a little sappy sometimes, but there's something to be said for a movie in which Michael Caine and Robert Duvall play eccentric old brothers who take the easy approach to fishing: instead of a peaceful rod and reel, they use 12-gauge shotguns. When 14-year-old Walter (Haley Joel Osment, teetering on puberty) spends an eventful summer with his great-uncles on their vast Texas farmland (he's been dumped there by his delinquent mom, played by Kyra Sedgwick), he soon discovers they've lived lives full of adventure, excitement, passion, and mystery. Either that or they're old-time bank robbers with a long criminal record, and writer-director Tim McCanlies (who invested similar warmth into The Iron Giant) does a nice job of concealing the truth until the very end. Full of enriching lessons and homespun humor, Secondhand Lions has more substance than most family films. If you enjoyed Holes, you'll probably enjoy this movie, too. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This comedic and touching family film follows the adventures of a shy young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who is sent to spend the summer with his eccentric uncles (Michael Caine, Robert Duvall). At first shocked by his uncles' unconventional behavior that includes ordering African lions through the mail, the boy soon becomes enthralled with unraveling the mystery that has followed the uncles for years. Hearing tales of their exotic adventures involving kidnapped princesses, Arabian sheiks and lost treasure, not only brings him closer to his uncles but also teaches him what it means to believe in something... whether it's true or not.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Audio Commentary
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes
Documentaries
Easter Eggs
TV Spot
Theatrical Trailer:30 Minutes of Deleted / Alternate Scenes with Optional Filmmaker Commentary Secondhand Lions: One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood - (documentary) On The Set with "Secondhand Lions" (documentary) Haley Joel Osment: An Actor Comes of Age - (documentary) Filmmaker Commentary with Director Tim McCanlies Visual Effects Comparisons Theatrical Trailer 7 TV Spots

Customer Reviews:

Excellent & Entertaining.......2007-08-28

Two wealthy, eccentric old timers who hate salesmen inherit a boy who changes their lives! Unique concept. Excellent portrayal. Funny and so different you do not know what to expect!

Secondhand Lions.......2007-08-23

I loved this movie. It is great entertainment. Everyone in the family will enjoy it. A must have in your dvd library.

Secondhand Lions Review.......2007-08-08

This film is great for everyone - young and old. It's funny but has a few sad moments, and some action (without the use of lots of special effects). I laughed (everytime) and cried (at least the first time). It's a wonderful film!

If you liked Phenomenon and The Princess Bride, you'll love Second Hand Lions!.......2007-07-25

My title says it all. I can't say much more than what anyone else said, other than anyone who enjoyed PHENOMENON and THE PRINCESS BRIDE will surely enjoy Second Hand Lions. And of course, Robert Duvall in also in PHENOMENON. You either get it or you don't! If you like these, try POWDER too.

A Rare Jewel.......2007-07-24

I loved this movie when I saw an edited version on TV so I had to buy my own copy. I loaned it to my niece at Christmas for her boys (8 and 10) because so few movies out there are suitable anymore. They loved it and still watch it over and over. I am buying myself a new copy so that I can watch it over and over.

Cinema Paradiso (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

Views from a jazz fan
Truly Affecting, Romanticized View of Cinema in a Sicilian Village
Cinema Paradiso is Fabuloso!!
A story of life, frienship, love, boyhood and the emotions we carry deep inside
Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Antonella Attili , Enzo Cannavale , Isa Danieli , Leo Gullotta , and Marco Leonardi
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000I0RNV6
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Amazon.com essential video

Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful 1988 film about a little boy's love affair with the movies deservedly won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Philippe Noiret plays a grizzled old projectionist who takes pride in his presentation of screen dreams for a town still recovering from World War II. When a child (Jacques Perrin) demonstrates fascination not only for movies but also for the process of showing them to an audience, a lifelong friendship is struck. This isn't just one of those films for people who are already in love with the cinema. But if you are one of those folks, the emotional resonance between the action in Tornatore's world and the images on Noiret's screen will seem all the greater--and the finale all the more powerful. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com

Cinema Paradiso's complex, interwoven tales of wartime Italy, a boy's coming of age, and the history of cinema can be viewed in their entirety on the Director's Cut included in this Deluxe Edition. Director Giuseppe Tornatore's additional 50 minutes of footage provides closure for the saga's detailing Alfredo's death, and Salvatore Di Vita's lost relationship with his teenage love, Elena. Most of the 50 minutes serves as a continuation of the story, rather than as previously deleted scenes. The original, already celebrated Cinema Paradiso follows Toto (Jacques Perrin), a Sicilian boy who persuades the town projectionist, Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), to teach him how to show films. Spanning nearly 50 years, the film craftily draws parallels between Toto's life and those lives he sees on screen. As Toto matures into Salvatore, a successful Italian filmmaker, the Cinema Paradiso ages as well. Salvatore's return home for Alfredo's funeral is also a goodbye to his Paradiso, demolished to become a parking lot. The film's heightened sense of nostalgia subtly mirrors our humanistic love of movies, making it a tribute to cinema as an artistic genre. The Director's Cut can be fulfilling if one felt unsatisfied by the more ambiguous ending of the theatrical release, but it also feels slightly overwrought. Two documentaries in this package feature fans and critics praising Cinema Paradiso, proving its endurance as a classic. However, as Salvatore discovers over the course of the film, there is no need to improve a masterpiece. --Trinie Dalton

Description

A famous film director returns home to a Sicilian village for the first time after almost 30 years. He reminisces about his childhood at the Cinema Paradiso here Alfredo, the projectionist, first brought about his love of films. He is also reminded of his lost teenage love, Elena, ho he had to leave before he left for Rome. Cinema Paradiso is one of the most beloved Foreign films of all time! Winner of the 1990 Oscar for Best Foreign Film!

Customer Reviews:

Views from a jazz fan.......2007-09-15

An outstanding and creative movie. Production, acting, dialogue and music are all first rate. A marvelous creation and one that every movie and music lover should see more than once.

Truly Affecting, Romanticized View of Cinema in a Sicilian Village.......2007-09-11

Before watching this on DVD just now, I had not seen director/screenwriter Giuseppe Tornatore's internationally renowned hit movie - at least the 123-minute version - since its initial 1990 release in the U.S., but I remember having mixed feelings that ran the gamut between being moved by its genuine poignancy and being resentful about what I felt at the time was its shameless heartstring tugging. Nearly two decades later, as I have gotten older and closer to the adult Salvatore's age, I have softened considerably in my opinion of the film, an open-hearted tribute to cinema and its transcendent impact on people's lives. Granted it is awash in sentimentality, but with its unique combination of storytelling elements inspired in equal parts by Chaplin and Fellini, there is a burnished, nostalgic glow to the whole venture as most of it is designed as a flashback.

The plot begins with Salvatore ensconced in middle age as a successful film director based in Rome. Unexpectedly, he makes plans to return to his hometown in Sicily for the first time in almost thirty years. The reason is two-fold: the funeral of Alfredo, the projectionist who first introduced Salvatore to films, and the demolition of the Cinema Paradiso theater where they showed films to the enthusiastic denizens every Saturday night. This triggers memories of Salvatore's childhood at the old theater with Alfredo and then his adolescence and young adulthood when he falls in love with a beautiful local girl named Elena. In true Romeo and Juliet fashion, he is separated from his one true love by her disapproving father, a wealthy banker, and I have to admit this is the part of the film I still find a bit predictable with Tornatore's Baroque sense of romanticism in high gear. The scenes that really have enduring impact are those between the young, energetic Salvatore, nicknamed "Toto", and the surly but lovable Alfredo. Tornatore captures the magical bond between the two, including a tragic episode that forces them to reverse their roles in the projection room.

Interestingly, the 174-minute version presented on the second disc of the 2006 two-DVD set fills in the blanks about Elena's fate. The older Salvatore is reunited with Elena and finds out the truth behind their separation. While I enjoyed and appreciated the longer director's cut, I feel overall the additional scenes don't add as much dimension to the story as the nearly three-hour running time warrants. I think my preference for the heartwarming Alfredo-Toto scenes gravitate me more toward the 123-minute version presented on the first disc. The central performances are memorable with the obvious standouts being Phillipe Noiret (Il Postino) as Alfredo and cherubic Salvatore Cascio as Toto. Looking like a Neapolitan Josh Hartnett, Marco Leonardi (Like Water for Chocolate) takes over as Toto and brings youthful, hormonally-driven fervor to the role, and Agnese Nano brings the requisite dreamy quality to Elena.

As the older Salvatore, Jacques Perrin (Z, The Young Girls of Rochefort) bears so little resemblance to his younger counterparts that his performance feels somewhat removed. In the longer version, his performance resonates more, especially as he shares the screen with Brigitte Fossey (Forbidden Games) as the older Elena. The famous screening room ending is in both versions - the showing of Alfredo's gift to Salvatore, a reel of film clips highlighting kissing scenes excised by the local priest - though I find just as touching the theater demolition scene with the now-aged villagers looking on in a most resigned manner. Blasco Giurato's cinematography is stunning throughout, and enough cannot be said of Ennio Morricone's memorable music score, one of cinema's most beautiful in evoking the movies aura of romantic nostalgia.

Beyond the director's cut of the movie, the 2006 Limited Collector's Edition DVD has several extras of note, the best being an informative, somewhat academic commentary track from Italian film historian Millicent Marcus interspersed with periodic personal recollections from Tornatore, as well as a fifteen-minute retrospective featurette, "Exploring a Timeless Classic". Of more anecdotal interest are a four-minute short on how Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood has embraced the film with an annual outdoor showing encouraging more than a few romances; two theatrical trailers - the original and the director's cut released in 2002; and most inconsequentially, a Food Network show with Napa chef Michael Chiarello with recipes inspired by the movie.

Cinema Paradiso is Fabuloso!!.......2007-08-23

Great movie to watch.... one that you never get tired of watching over and over again. Will be remembered forever...

A story of life, frienship, love, boyhood and the emotions we carry deep inside .......2007-07-17

A msterprice by Tornatorre and Morricone! The critical acclaim is fully deserved - the performances are strong (particularly that of Philippe Noiret in what is one of his best roles), the music is wonderful, the cinematography memorable.

Yes, the film is ostensibly about the role that movies play in our lives, but in reality Tornatorre is using the "cinema" as another one of his vehicles (as the ship in "The Legend of 1900") through which he tells us the important story of how important and charater-forming our early friendships, loves, fascinations and disappointments are. As the years are going by, the main character has all grown up, but part of the little boy is still alive insde and it does not take much for the memories to flood the silver screen accompanied with the poignant Morricone music.

This movie is a gem for those who like Tornatorre, Italian cinema and a "must see" for all seirous movie fans!

Cinema Paradiso.......2007-07-11

Shot on location in Tornatore's hometown of Bagheria, Sicily, this gorgeously nostalgic semi-autobiographical film pays tribute to the magic and wonderment of movie-going while spinning a bittersweet wartime tale about love and lingering disappointment. A masterly evocation of time and place, mood and feeling spiced with Fellini-esque humor, the decades-long story gingerly unfolds alongside well-chosen clips from Lang, Renoir, and Welles. Tornatore's bold direction of spunky young actor Cascio and Marco Leonardi, who plays Toto as a lovestruck teen, adds to the ease with which we identify with his predicaments. And Noiret is superb as the humble but soulful Alfredo. Winner of an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, "Paradiso" will capture your heart and imagination.

Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom

Average customer rating:

I Have never felt better!
Minna Lessig's DVD review
Good Workout
Good video to target certain areas
Perfect workout!

Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom
Starring: Minna Lessig
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MDH5JO
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Product Description

"Tank Top Arms" will target the areas many women complain about most, just in time for the spring and summer seasons. Minna's program include exercises that not only sculpt muscles but help women with their everyday lives.

Customer Reviews:

I Have never felt better!.......2007-09-13

I am getting married in April and I wanted to really kick it in high gear! This DVD has been so great! The DVD is set up into three individualized circuits for the body. I usually do one or two circuits a day along with the "Total Body Toning Circuit" at the end. I have never felt so good while I was doing a workout! I smile the whole time and the instructor, Minna, gives great instructions! If you are looking for an excellent work out, this is one that truly delilvers!

Minna Lessig's DVD review.......2007-09-10

I enjoyed all aspects of this DVD. Minna explains simply how to properly do each exercise before beginning each set. Once you feel familiar, you can just do a few extra reps. I like the way it is broken down into short sections so you can do just what you can do each time. The music is fun and enjoyable. Minna is encouraging but not over the top. Fun and motivating.

Good Workout.......2007-08-28

Based on a recommendation in Shape magazine and the reviews online I decided to purchase this DVD. The workout targets all the rights areas, but be prepared to be sore the next day! The moves are not new moves but Minna adds a new flare to make them fun.

Good video to target certain areas.......2007-08-19

I really like this video to target the arms, which gives different moves than previous DVDs and other DVDs to target the same area. She is motivating and energetic and that's why I like her so much as an at-home instructor!

Perfect workout!.......2007-08-16

I really like this DVD. I can target certain areas on some days, rotate thru the different workouts or do an all over cardio workout. And it was very easy to follow and used familiar moves ard positions but is a slightly different way that kept it fresh and not a boring repetition of the same old exercises.

The Sword in the Stone (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Average customer rating:

A fun, classic Disney film
Great classic movie
Classic
A good example of early Disney DVD.
The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
Starring: Sebastian Cabot , Rickie Sorensen , Karl Swenson , Junius Matthews , and Ginny Tyler
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman , and Les Perkins
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004R9A0
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Amazon.com

Based upon T.H. White's beloved novel, this Disney-fied version chronicles the tutoring of the Once and Future King, Arthur, as handled by the magician Merlin. Sword was a portent of things to come, with slapstick upbraiding storytelling, and cultural in-jokes substituting for wonder. But there's much to enjoy here as Merlin shows Newt, the young Arthur, things that will help him become the ruler of the Britons. The transformation sequences, where the boy is turned into a fish, a bird, and a squirrel are vintage Disney. The oft-repeated scene of Merlin battling it out with the mean old Madame Mim still is worth a few chuckles, but it belies the problem with most of the film--the scenes are only there for the chuckles. References by Merlin to television and other items of modern life also mar the generally innocuous landscape. Children will like it, but they won't cherish it. --Keith Simanton

Description

Dazzling color and brilliant animation bring the medieval legend of King Arthur to life in THE SWORD IN THE STONE. With a forest full of charm, spectacle, and wizardry, Disney's classic tale conjures up delightful entertainment for all ages! England is in the midst of a dark age and without a proper king, Young "Wart," an orphan and squire-in-training, is content with kitchen duties in his foster home -- until he drops in on the extraordinary wizard Merlin and his articulate owl, Archimedes. Through three life lessons, Wart learns to set his "sights on the heights," armed with the most powerful forces on earth -- intellect, wisdom, and love. When it's time to contest who will be king, Wart must use his newfound knowledge to do what no mighty knight has done before! Join in all the magical marvels that make THE SWORD IN THE STONE a classic animated film and pure Disney gold!

Customer Reviews:

A fun, classic Disney film.......2007-08-23

I still know plent of people that have not seen this. Now, I know it is fairly old, but it is still a wonderful movie. I have seen it loads of times and I really wish more people would see it and not immedietly discard it. The animation is quite good and the voice acting is top notch. I love the story too, its pretty timeless and if you love the King Arthur Legend, then this movie is for you.

Great classic movie.......2007-05-13

My boys loved this movie. Most of the older Disney movies are about Princesses and this was nice for my boys who love knights and castles.

Classic.......2007-03-19

I grew up with this film, now i bought it for my 3 and 5 yo nephews and they watch it over and over. Classic Disney.

A good example of early Disney DVD........2007-03-19

When Disney released The Sword In The Stone onto DVD in 2001, Disney had only really gotten into releasing their movies onto DVD within the last two years, starting with their failed Limited Issue line. The Gold Collection followed, with some of the Limited Issues repackaged as Gold Collection titles, and more titles released. Most of these had decent, if not somwhat problematic DVD transfers and few, if any, bonus materials. However, a few of Disney's Gold Collection titles were given decent releases. Among those are the 30th Anniversary Edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Although not officially a Gold Collection title by many people's standards, it says Gold Collection on the spine.) and this 2001 DVD release of The Sword In The Stone.

First off, the film is given a nice transfer here. The DVD case boasts that it's ''fully restored and remastered.'' Although it's not up to par with the Platinum Edition restorations or the Masterpiece Edition of Alice In Wonderland's transfer, it IS far better than many of the other Gold Collection transfers. It's nicely cleaned up, although it's a bit grainier than one would like, and there's still a bit of dirt in the transfer. The colors have been punched up nicely, though. The video transfer here is very satisfying, as is the audio mix.

The disc also includes quite a few good bonus materials. A Sword In The Stone scrapbook features concept art for the film, production photos, character design, concept poster art, official poster art, and more. Two sing-alongs lifted from Disney's Sing-Along Songs video series provide fun captions for two of the film's more memorable songs. Film Facts is...well, basically that. Two animated shorts, ''Knight For A Day'' and ''Brave Little Tailor'' are very entertaining. ''Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers'' has the Shermans talking about songs they wrote for The Sword In The Stone, including a couple that were deleted. (The Shermans also did a Music Magic featurette for Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and that one WAS better, because it also gave a little info on the making of the film, as well as its 1996 restoration.) Finally, an episode of Walt Disney's Disneyland TV series is included - ''All About Magic'' from 1957. Although this isn't directly related to The Sword In The Stone, its inclusion is to be praised nonetheless.

My only disappointment in this DVD is the lack of any sort of theatrical trailer or TV spot. Come on, Disney!

Nonetheless, The Sword In The Stone is a fine example of Disney's earliest attempts to give their movies the deluxe treatment on single-disc DVD releases, reserving their 2-Disc DVD releases for Platinum Editions (This was the year that Snow White's Platinum Edition DVD was released.) and the DVD releases of their most recent animated features. I wholeheartedly recommend this DVD for fans of the film.

The Sword in the Stone.......2007-01-29

Recieved quickly, good condition, thank you for the great service

Average customer rating:

Imaginative story that keeps our child's interest
Neverending Enjoyment
Love this movie, but where's the special treatment
Great movie
They don't make movies like this anymore....

The NeverEnding Story
Starring: Barret Oliver , Gerald McRaney , Drum Garrett , Darryl Cooksey , and Nicholas Gilbert
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LKHZ
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com essential video

Wolfgang Petersen (In the Line of Fire) made his first English-language film with this 1984 fantasy about a boy (Barret Oliver) visualizing the stories of a book he's reading. The imagined tale involves another boy, a warrior (Noah Hathaway), and his efforts to save the empire of Fantasia from a nemesis called the Nothing. Whether or not the scenario sticks in the memory, what does linger are the unique effects, which are not quite like anything else. Plenty of good fairy-tale characters and memorable scenes, and the film even encourages kids to read. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Imaginative story that keeps our child's interest.......2007-08-25

This movie is great for kids who have no problem with imagination and who like to READ. Our four-year old can get bored with some movies since they are not as good as a book (his words!) but this movie keeps his attention just fine. It does have some rather scary parts in it but nothing graphic or poor language and as long as you are watching TOGETHER and explain what is happening, there should be no problem with fright or nightmares. We bought the three-part movie series to our delight.

Neverending Enjoyment.......2007-08-24

The Neverending Story has been a perfect childhood movie since it's induction into the greatest kids' movies of all time. I've watched this movie growing up and continue to share it with the younger friends and family.

Love this movie, but where's the special treatment.......2007-08-17

This was a seminal movie for me in my childhood (along with The Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Goonies and others) and I love it to this day. The only thing I'm disgrunteled about is it's poor treatment on DVD. I want a special edition: with a making of documentary highlighting the whole process from the actual book to the script, character sketches and concepts, set design, creature design and building, and all the goodies real film enthusiasts love to watch. And interviews! I mean, even if there is no older footage of the process of making the film can't the people responsible put something together to honor this film. Atleast a director's commentary or something. I love this film and I will continue to watch it from time to time...I just wish that the DVD editions had just a lil' bit extra for all the fans and enthusiasts of this wonderful fantasy.

Great movie.......2007-07-28

Great movie, one that you can watch over and over for many years. But if you want the full experience, you should read the book by Micheal Ende.

They don't make movies like this anymore...........2007-07-06

Remember that moment at the end of Wizard of Oz when the Good Witch tells Dorothy she's had the power to go home all along? Remember the collective "What the (BLEEP)..." from everyone watching, regardless of their age?

I had a very similar reaction when I reached the end of this movie.

That's not to say I was disappointed. Quite the contrary. It was like a slap in the face of "why didn't I think of that?" Often times the best endings are so obvious you overlook them and this movie is a testament to that fact.

That having been said it's also one of the best fantasy rides you'll ever take in 2 hours. A turtle whose shell is an island. A talking wolf. A luck dragon. Two sets of sphinx like characters, both offering riddles. A horse whose own sadness nearly is is undoing... oh and a rock biter.

These are just a few of the fanciful elements that make this very under-celebrated movie worth high praise!

If you saw it as a child and you now have children, show it to your children. Make it something you share for generations. You'll be glad you did.

They don't make movies like this any more. The more we can teach our children to have imaginations, the more likely they are to dream big dreams... and the more likely they are to turn those dreams into reality.

Average customer rating:

teacher to father
One of my favorite movies of the 80's
YAWP!
Absolutely Timeless
Good for class

Dead Poets Society (Special Edition)
Starring: Robin Williams , Robert Sean Leonard , Ethan Hawke , Josh Charles , and Gale Hansen
Director: Peter Weir
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000B8QG1S
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com essential video

Robin Williams stars as an English teacher who doesn't fit into the conservative prep school where he teaches, but whose charisma and love of poetry inspires several boys to revive a secret society with a bohemian bent. The script is well meaning but a little trite, though director Peter Weir (The Truman Show) adds layers of emotional depth in scenes of conflict between the kids and adults. (A subplot involving one father's terrible pressure on his son--played by Robert Sean Leonard--to drop his interest in theater reaches heartbreaking proportions.) Williams is given plenty of latitude to work in his brand of improvisational humor, though it is all well-woven into his character's style of instruction. --Tom Keogh

Description

In an age defined by crew cuts, sport coats, and cheerless conformity, he not only broke the mold ... he reinvented it. Academy Award(R) winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, GOOD WILL HUNTING, 1997) delivers an extraordinary performance in one of the most compelling motion pictures of all time. Williams stars as English professor John Keating, a passionate iconoclast who changes his students' lives forever when he challenges them to live life to the fullest and "Carpe Diem" -- seize the day! Keating's unconventional approach meets with irrepressible enthusiasm from his students, but the faculty at staid, exclusive Welton Academy prep school is, to put it mildly, not amused. Featuring a star-marking performance by Ethan Hawke and over three hours of never-before-seen bonus materials, this Special Edition of DEAD POETS SOCIETY will captivate and inspire you again and again.

Customer Reviews:

teacher to father.......2007-08-07

Interesting film. I saw this when I was young and I emphasised with the teacher who was bold, interesting full of life and passionate about what he believed was right. Now I am nearly 40 I find myself emphasising with the father who was basically playing the averages in the knowledge that this probably was best for his son. This is a brilliant film and one of my favourites of all time. I wonder what I will think when I am 70...In fact I know...Dreams make us alive and Robin reminded me of that.
Thanks.

One of my favorite movies of the 80's.......2007-07-25

This movie tends to grow on you. It is shameless on its manipulative stance on free thinking, poetry, and living poetically. I loved it.

Carpe Diem...Seize the day, gather ye rosebuds while you may.

YAWP!.......2007-07-06

There are a number of movies about a teacher who inspired his or her students. There are a number of stories about prep schools and students that learn to appreciate art and the classics as a way of helping them find themselves.

This movie is sort of the captain of them all. It is the leader. If there is a starting point, this is where it all began. If there is a measuring stick by which all other similar movies are judged, it would be this one. Robin Williams is simply amazing. While his actions are deemed controversial in the times in which he lived, watching the film today, many might think "what's the big deal?"

But it was a big deal. The character Williams portrays brings a boring class to life. He brings a bunch of bored prepschool boys out of their funk. He teaches them to love not only literature but life itself. A lesson that is echoed in many movies that will come after it....

I love this movie and rate it as a MUST SEE!

Absolutely Timeless.......2007-06-16

Some of the more cynical movie critics out there have been quick to slam 'Dead Poets Society', mistaking its beauty and idealism for over-sentimentality. In my view these critics simply need to open themselves up a little more.

The arrival of John Keating in a strict boys boarding school, blows open the lives and minds of all his young students. Perhaps this is where the film finds a place in the hearts of so many viewers. Many people will have spent their schooldays mired in tedium and waiting for someone to truly engage them. This is the gift that Mr. Keating bestows upon his students. The movie is a subtle, beautiful and moving examination of human relations.

The movie works heavily with the idiom that still waters run deep. Todd Anderson is new to the boarding school and extremely quiet. His shy nature is what guides him into the purview of Mr. Keating and allows him to become a sort of poetic protegé. The relationship between these two is one of the most touching parts of the movie and is sure to reach even the hardest of cynics out there.

To any potential viewer of this film, all I would say is open yourself up. This is a beautiful fim and will perhaps show what those schooldays could have been, given a little inspiration in the faculty.

Good for class.......2007-05-07

I used this in my class after reading several of the poems. Outstanding! Gave students a lot to think about.

Sixteen Candles (High School Reunion Collection)

Average customer rating:

To nerds everywhere!
Floopy disks
A flame from the 80's
Favorite movie
EXCELLENT 80'S TEEN MOVIE!

Sixteen Candles (High School Reunion Collection)
Starring: Molly Ringwald , Justin Henry , Michael Schoeffling , Haviland Morris , and Gedde Watanabe
Director: John Hughes
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008438T
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com essential video

Molly Ringwald established herself as the teen queen of the '80s in this fresh comedy. The movie is a day in the life of Samantha, whose 16th birthday is turning out to be anything but sweet. All the traumas of teendom come down on one long day, which sees Samantha surrounded by dithery relatives, mooning over a high school hunk, and pursued by a sawed-off Lothario. Sixteen Candles marked the directing debut of John Hughes, and its goofy energy displayed a promising talent with a great ear for high school lingo ... a promise neglected since Hughes became, after Home Alone, a one-man entertainment industry. There are some pretty crass moments (Why the stereotype of the foreign-exchange student from Asia?), but Ringwald's steady appeal smoothes over the rough spots. As the pubescent, self-styled lady-killer, Anthony Michael Hall turns in a hilarious portrait of a young swinger; he and Ringwald would reteam with Hughes for The Breakfast Club, another key teen picture of the decade. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

To nerds everywhere!.......2007-08-31

Sixteen Candles is still a classic like The Breakfast Club. Sixteen Candles is the story of a girl who's parents have forgotten her birthday, and to make it worse she is followed helplessly by a nerd played by Anthony Michael Hall. Molly Ringwald plays the truly tortured Sam, this film still gives me belly laughs everytime. Sixteen Candles is priceless and one of John Hughes's best films to date. I highly recommend this teenage romp out. Enjoy!

Floopy disks.......2007-08-03

They run pricey for a dude like me, can I borrow your underwear for ten minutes?

A flame from the 80's.......2007-07-03

If you enjoyed the Brat Pack in the 80's, you will LOVE this movie as much as I do =)

Favorite movie.......2007-05-27

We had lost our copy of this movie and were so happy to get a new one. It is a great movie with laughs and tears.

EXCELLENT 80'S TEEN MOVIE!.......2007-04-11

This is one of my wife's favorite 80's teen movies. I am a fan, but it isn't as high on my list as hers. The film is very funny and Hall is hilarious as the geek. The DVD transfer is great and a worthy purchase.

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