The Fountainhead

Amazon.com

Exhibiting a darker edge to his hero persona, the strapping Gary Cooper has the (Frank Lloyd) Wright stuff as architect Harold Roark, a "fool visionary" who refuses to conform his artistic ideas to popular taste. His inflexibility makes enemies out of a tabloid architecture critic and a tycoon (Raymond Massey), who proclaims, "All men can be bought... there are no men of integrity." Keating (Kent Smith), a former classmate, urges Roark to take "the middle of the road so it's sure to please everybody." But Roark will not compromise, and when one of his building designs is radically altered without his consent, he resorts to drastic measures. Adapted for the screen by Ayn Rand from her towering and controversial bestseller, The Fountainhead is about as subtle as that phallic drill Roark wields so impressively, which catches the frenzied eye of the formidable Dominique Francon (Patricia Neal in her film debut). She recognizes Roark's nobility, but fears he has no chance "in a world where beauty, genius and greatness have no chance." Rand did little to dilute her polemics for the screen, resulting in melodramatic scenes that border on high camp, such as Roark and Francon's rather sexually charged discussion about limestone. Rand practiced what she preached. According to a bonus featurette about the making of the film, she refused to trim Roark's then-unprecedented six-minute courtroom speech in which he defends his actions. Even for those who don't adhere to her philosophy, The Fountainhead does offer something rarely seen on screens these days, a man of unshakable principles. And Hollywood could sure note Rand's object lesson about the perils of mediocrity and catering to "the mob." For Cooper fans, The Fountainhead is an essential addition to your DVD library. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Based on the novel by philosopher Ayn Rand, this is the story of architect Howard Roark. An idealist, Roark believes he can balance his values with the needs of society. His mentor disagrees - encouraging him to compromise his integrity rather than suffer for his artistic goals.

Customer Reviews:

Uncompromising Libertarianism.......2007-08-06

I've never read Ayn Rand's source novel but I thoroughly enjoyed the film of "The Fountainhead". I think one has to put the film in perspective of it's time. I came out in the wake of what some perceived as the excesses of the New Deal and may have been a refreshing challenge to the accepted norms. Watching the film I can't help to think that it anticapated the philosophy of Barry Goldwater. Personally, I came of age under Ronald Reagan which I found to be a more satisfying compromise. That is to say the rights of the individual are respected but informed by Judeo-Christian values. Rand's uncompromising philosophy does not seem to be informed by a godliness. That's where I differ with in that I think one can be true to oneself withouting eschewing altruism. In a nutshell I respect this film without accepting all of the tenets it espouses. This had to be a difficult film to make because of it's philosophical nature. Director King Vidor pulls it off brilliantly working from a script by Rand and some stunning visual work. The entire cast is terrific with a towering performance by Gary Cooper as Rand's everyman(Superman?). Some would dismiss this film because of it's philosophy. I think one has to take a page from Howard Roark and agree to disagree but respect the right of the individual to express themself.

You don't have to like Ayn Rand (even a little bit) to appreciate this movie........2007-07-23

And if you LOVE Ayn Rand to the point where you feel that you have to defend her and her ideas, please just stop reading now. My opinion should be of no importance to you. (If you act like it is, you deserve to be laughed at.)

Most of this review was adapted from the end of my review of Ayn Rand's novel, on which this was based - a book that I ended up throwing in the trash after getting more than two thirds of the way through it. My verdict: "`The Fountainhead' is rather like `Jonathan Livingston Seagull' as conceived for bitter masochists." I wouldn't recommend such tedious, self-important twaddle to line the bottom of a catbox with. If I sound hateful, it is not because I view Rand as the devil incarnate, or as some kind of threat to freedom and humanity - it is because there was just enough of an interesting grain of an idea to keep me reading and wasting my precious time until I finally saw through the emperor's clothes to the wounded little egocentric bore beneath. By that time it was too late to demand those hours of my life back.

However, oddly enough, I highly recommend King Vidor's 1949 film from Rand's screenplay - which proves my long held belief that a mediocre (or, in this case, worse) book will often make a better movie than a good or great one. To be sure, a lot of the silliness is still there, as well as some of the logic holes that you could fly a 747 through. But part of the beauty of the cinema is that you can get away with a lot of nonsense that would fall flat in most any other medium, provided you know how. Also, the demands of the format keep some of Rand's sloppiness in check, forcing her to streamline her narrative and eliminate a lot of those long, dry self-indulgent stretches in the novel where nothing of interest happens.

If there is anything worth taking away, it made it into the film - and the ideas seem stronger here because they are not so easily compromised by Rand's worst excesses, which are given full sway on the page. Rand's philosophical ideas comes off much better here because she doesn't really have the space to flesh them out in the ways that made them seem patently idiotic and offensive in the book, where she appears to be nothing more than an extremist reactionary (and a pretty bad writer).

The film is unexpectedly exciting visually (appealingly and appropriately hyperbolic in style), with wonderful cinematography and some great fantasy architecture. It also has some nice performances - particularly Patricia Neal as Dominique, perfectly incarnating as human a character that isn't believable for even one second on the page, while remaining absolutely true to that character. (Neal has a great entrance.)

This enterprise does better by Rand than she does by herself - but strident extremism is much better suited to cinematic entertainment than to "philosophical literature" (if one dares to call it that with a straight face). (One might even say that it is the novel "as it might and ought to have been.") That an engaging, and even admirable film (approching the inspiring) could be made of a book as wretched as `The Fountainhead' is hard to believe - but it's nice to know some small good came of it.

One hell of a movie!.......2007-07-19

What a movie!

This one transcends most over-the-top potboilers of its -- or any -- era. In some circles, it's a near-classic film. What we have is the story of Howard Roark, a man of principle who cannot get work as an architect because he will not compromise his skills by conforming to meet only what has been done before. He will not allow his work to become a committee project.

Patricia Neal is Dominique Francon, a spoiled woman who is determined she will never love anyone because no one will ever be worthy of her love, a love that only a man of principle could aspire to. Since, in her experience, there are no such men, she is determined to be cold-hearted and removed.

One day, though, she sees Howard Roark in a granite quarry. Her attraction to him, it seems, is purely animal magnetism. She storms and stews. She frantically paces in her bedroom. She seethes with unbridled angst and determination. In an act of lustful desperation, she smashes a beautiful marble hearth in order to get Roark into her bedroom in order to make a connection with him.

He measures the hearth and orders the marble. When the marble arrives, he sends a mason to install it. Dominique takes this as an act of indifference on Roark's part, and it infuriates her. She chases him down and whacks him across the face with a riding crop.

The rest must be seen to be believed.

Raymond Massey is very good as the editor of The Banner, the newspaper that tries to destroy everything that is good and noble, etc.,etc.,etc.

It has one of the most glorious Max Steiner scores EVER.

This is one of those movies that goes on and on, and, yet, there is NEVER A DULL MOMENT.

I don't recall the novel of "The Fountainhead" being this brassy and -- for lack of a more-appropriate word -- trashy.

Thus, I can highly recommend "The Fountainhead" as both a novel and as a movie, both of which exist independent of the other...with the movie getting the 'you'd never imagine this in a million years' award for its adaptation, especially given that it's Ayn Rand, herself, who scripted the film.

This is one hell of a movie that everyone ought to see!

Selfism 101.......2007-07-06

I almost can't help but come away from a viewing of The Fountainhead thinking this was a fine film for reasons other than its screenwriter and author, Ayn Rand, might have wanted it to be. Whereas the twentieth-century's most severe defender of a singular concept of self-interest and personal expression probably saw in her work a manifesto for the salvation of the creative caste in humanity's mostly wasted population, I liked The Fountainhead for the strength of its visual effects. If this means I "didn't get it" then so be it.

This is an impressive movie with sound performances filled with anger, arrogance, megalomania, and an intentional stoical woodenness that was extreme even for Gary Cooper. I liked the shots of buildings worked into existing cityscapes, and the trouble the makers of this motion picture went to to bring Rand's visions to the screen. What I didn't feel was a lot of affinity for Rand's message or for the occasional melodrama that was exhibited by nearly all. This production was often like Citizen Kane meets Brave New World. Some of my friends say Ayn Rand is the greatest writer and visionary the planet has ever produced. I am less generous in my evaluation of her, but I still don't hesitate to say this is a good movie, worth seeing, in no way a waste of time, just not the classic I was led to expect it would be.

Magnificent!!.......2007-06-08

I don't remember how many times I have read the book, but I do remember the first time I watched this movie many years ago and the impression it left in me. Many years later, my daughter in law gave two presents on a father's day, the book and a rental copy of the movie. A few years later I purchased it on DVD to last me forever.
This movie is 100% a copy of the book.

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly good and hysterically funny
The circle of life
BAD in-between movie!
RUINS THE FIRST FILM! I hate it.
Surprisingly wonderful!

The Lion King 1 1/2
Starring: Nathan Lane , Ernie Sabella , Julie Kavner , Jerry Stiller , and Matthew Broderick
Director: Bradley Raymond
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animals | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000E32WJ
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Amazon.com

The Lion King 1½ is an ingenious sequel that retells the original film's story from the perspective of best pals Timon the meerkat (voiced by Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella). Anyone who has wondered how this odd couple met will find out here, beginning with Timon's flight from home following disgrace and his chance encounter with the sweet but lonely Pumbaa. With the arrival of young Simba (Shaun Flemming), The Lion King's familiar tale is reborn via a fresh angle, fleshed out by returning characters Rafiki the wise monkey (Robert Guillaume), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), and Simba's love interest, Nala (Moira Kelly). While the retooled narrative proves a novel experience, The Lion King 1½ is really a vehicle for voice actors Lane and Sabella, whose comic performances are shamelessly, broadly funny. Matthew Broderick, Julie Kavner, and Jerry Stiller are also in the vocal cast. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good and hysterically funny.......2007-05-24

I didn't expect much from this movie, and really only got it for my son. I was so glad that I watched it with him, though. During a couple of sequences I was laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe, which is pretty rare for me.

As far as repeat viewings, my 4 1/2 year old son, who only likes about 1/3 of the movies he sees enough to merit a second viewing, watches this constantly, and I definitely don't mind watching it with him again and again.

If you're looking for a movie with the drama and emotional impact of The Lion King, this isn't it. It's much lighter overall, and enjoyable in a different way.

The circle of life.......2007-03-21

First came the Lion King. Then came Lion King 2; Simba's Pride. Then Disney stepped back a bit and made this movie, which retells the original Lion King, except from the viewpoint of Timon and Puumba, the Meerkat and Warthog. Funnier than either Lion King 1 or 2, it strips away the romance and drama and is pure comedy; a combination of slapstick, wit, irony, sarcasm and bad singing. More than the other two movies, this is perfect for kids as there are no scary moments, and nobody dies. All told, a great way to spend an hour+ of time.

BAD in-between movie!.......2007-03-13

Why put this out... don't waste your money... it's a narrative of the first lion king. not intertaining to him or i. Have watched this DVD ONCE in the 2 yearsish I've had it.

RUINS THE FIRST FILM! I hate it........2007-03-12

A few interesting concepts here and there, but crappy and terribly done execution to the point of utter stupidity. No offense to the actors, I really like them, it is not their fault. Avoid this and stick with Lion King films 1 and 2.

Surprisingly wonderful!.......2006-08-26

Normally, one wouldn't expect a "straight-to-video" film to be watchable more than once. However, LION KING 1 1/2 is funny, witty, and adds some great new music to the Lion King repertoire. Many of the original voices are back; they join together to tell a fun, new story that focuses on what Timon and Pumbaa were doing while the action of the first film was taking place. For those of us who know the first Lion King quite well, this movie is all the more enjoyable, as the pieces fall into place, and we see how the two fit together. I recommend it as an entertaining way to spend about 90 minutes.

The Lion King 2 - Simba's Pride (2-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

THIS MOVIE IS SO ROMANTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very rushed childhood
A great sequel thats as good as the first and my personal favorite.
the best lion king ever!
the best lion king ever!

The Lion King 2 - Simba's Pride (2-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Matthew Broderick , Moira Kelly , Neve Campbell , Liz Callaway , and Michelle Horn
Director: Rob LaDuca , and Darrell Rooney
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animals | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0001I55W4
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Amazon.com

This two-disc presentation of the popular sequel delivers a better sounding DVD and looks a bit better than the initial release (although the original was pretty sharp). There are no changes in the film except a pop-up viewing mode with facts--fun and otherwise--about the film. The second disc is for the kids, including games, a cute documentary on African animals, and another installment of the Virtual Safari. This "ride" puts you in a jeep with Timon and Pumbaa as they race the jungle and pride lands bumping into various obstacles, all in booming Dolby 5.1 sound. The best extra is the new short "One by One" a modern day tale of Africa and the finest short from the studio since 2000's "John Henry." --Doug Thomas

Description

All the power and majesty of THE LION KING return in this final volume of THE LION KING trilogy! This Special Edition features an all-new vibrant picture presentation from the digital master. Meet Kiara, Simba's headstrong daughter and heir to the Pride Lands. While on the prowl for adventure, she encounters the mischievous Kovu, a young member of the banished Outland Pride chosen to walk in Scar's paw prints. As they seek their proper places in the "Circle Of Life," Kiara and Kovu find that they may be the only hope for healing the rift between their prides! THE LION KING 2: SIMBA'S PRIDE Special Edition includes original cast members, stunning Disney animation, and six spectacular songs. Complete your family's LION KING collection with this enchanting film!

Customer Reviews:

THIS MOVIE IS SO ROMANTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-07

I don't know what movie the people who are saying that this is a bad movie were watching!!! I agree that they should have spent more time in Kiara's childhood, but they had to keep the plot moving and they had the crucial meeting when they were cubs. To certain people who ask how Scar has his own pride of lions, and it was "implied" in the first one that he died. They implied nothing of the sort. Really, tell me what you saw. You saw the shadows, the SHADOWS of the hyenas and flames and Scar going down into them. It couldn't really be a Disney movie if there wasn't a happy ending with Scar being MOBBED by the hyenas, I repeat, MOBBED!!!! Also, do you know how hard it is for him to start a pride of lions? As easy as it is for a guy to have three kids at once (and I'm not talking about triplets, either). I love the fact in this movie that Simba hates these people and it's just like the Warriors series by Erin Hunter (everybody read them they're great!), in the fact that Bramblekit/paw/claw is haunted by his father's past (Tigerclaw) who hated the current leader of the Clan, Firestar, and so he has to prove himself over and over and over again because of that! He has to overcome his father, and that is what Kovu (Brambleclaw) has to do to over come Scar (Tigerclaw) and prove himself to Simba (Firestar) so he can marry Simba's duaghter, Kiara (Squirrelflight)
This is a heart wrenching story that has great songs--definitely buy it and watch it over and over!

Very rushed childhood.......2007-04-01

I'm ----, using the kid's review cause it's so much easier.

Better than most disney followups, though as another reviewer stated, TLK 2 spent too little time on Kiara and Kovu's childhood. When watching TLK2 I could not help but feel that the cubhood was just "thrown in" so as the audience would get what was going on in the "real" half of the story. In fact, Kovu and Kiara only spent about 20 to 25 percent of the movie as cubs, which actually kept them from gaining that endearing appeal that Simba and Nala had.

Now, as for the considerably longer second half of TLK2, I must give Disney credit for hiring some mediocre directors/screenwriters for this one, instead of the usual slapped together sloppy crap that has to this day become typical of disney direct-to-video followups. When compared to other DTVs, TLK2 is very impressive. But when compared to real disney films like the original Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Bambi, it completely flops. Just a little more effort, disney, and this could have been yet another one of your classic films.

A great sequel thats as good as the first and my personal favorite........2007-03-11

I love this film. It and the first are really good movies. The actors + animation are great in this, plus it picks up just about where the first film left off. This is one ofe the much better Disney sequels. Recomended highly.

the best lion king ever!.......2007-02-26

lion king 2 is the i think most romantic lion king ever!I love the music especially the song (love will find a way).lion king 2 is also a hilarious new story with you know who timon and pumbaa.once kiara gose out to play,she sneks of from timon and pumbaa and starts to run off to the outlands.once she is in the out lands ,she mets a firce lion cub named kovu.when kovu and kiara get older they fall in love.but simba dose not trust him when zeira attacks so simba makes kovu leave the pride lands .but than kiara gose out to find kovu and dose find him.then just in time kiara and kovu stop simba and zeira from fighting .so the out landers come back to the pride lands to join simbas pride with kovu, kiara,simba,nala,timon and pumbaa.i relly liked the lion king 2 and i hope you will to.

the best lion king ever!.......2007-02-26

lion king 2 is the i think most romantic lion king ever!i love the music especially the song (love will find a way).lion king 2 is also a hilarious new story with you know who timon and pumbaa.once kiara gose out to play,she sneks of from timon and pumbaa and starts to run off to the outlands.once she is in the out lands ,she mets a firce lion cub named kovu.when kovu and kiara get older they fall in love.but simba dose not trust him when zeira attacks so simba makes kovu leave the pride lands .but than kiara gose out to find kovu and dose find him.then just in time kiara and kovu stop simba and zeira from fighting .so the out landers come back to the pride lands to join simbas pride with kovu, kiara,simba,nala,timon and pumbaa.i relly liked the lion king 2 and i hope you will to.

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Collection must have
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
awesome movie
The ring
Purchased out of curiosity

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0001VL0KC
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure, and ends on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation.

After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo and Sam journey to Mordor with the creature Gollum as their guide in The Two Towers. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy.

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. The trilogy could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as Frodo and Sam continue their mission to Mordor to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn, endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf, Frodo and Sam must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation. Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship and remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon and David Horiuchi

Description

This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron.

Customer Reviews:

Collection must have.......2007-08-28

Having the three movies plus all bonus material contained on the extra dvd's is definitelly a must have for LOTR lovers like me. You really get a full understanding about the movie, and everything regarding to Tolkien's books. I recommend everybody to get this, soon I'm getting the extended version dvd's with scenes never showed on the original movies.

"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20

Follow in "The Lord of the Rings" creator's (J.R.R. Tolkien's) footsteps. Project a malevolent universe. Invent a world and animate it with creatures in conflict. Make the conflict a battle between good and evil, but don't identify clearly the moral value or purpose of either side. In fact, remove morality's essence altogether by eliminating the power of choice for your characters. Emphasize the corruptibility of men. Glamorize the supernatural. Dwell interminably on the preparations for and the wreaking of violence and destruction, on the fragility of hope and happiness. Name the scene of action: Middle-earth. Sound like an environment you'd care to envision? Would you "live" there? If so, fate alone will decide its survival and your own. You can visit this predetermined "paradise" by watching/enduring/suffering Peter Jackson's elaborately filmed adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which concludes with "The Return of the King."

I hold it is true that what is not worth contemplating in life is not worth contemplating in art. For its dismaying lack of meaningful moral definition, its pervasive pictorial ugliness, the quantity of its scenes of mind-numbing graphic violence, and its minimizing of the value of happiness, "The Lord of the Rings" films--including this one--ought to be shunned and damned.

awesome movie.......2007-06-12

really great movie. once you start you cant stop watching untill you finish them all.

The ring.......2007-06-02

I think this is one of the best movies made and the game is a whole lot of fun.

Purchased out of curiosity.......2007-05-18

Purchased b/c it was a great deal! And had never seen them. NOT as good as Harry Potter thought. I think they are a bit dragged out, but really good stories. Lots of fighting and blood....I could do w/o half of it.

Average customer rating:

Awesome Movie !!!!
Romance
A movie worth watching!
Wonderful!
tristan & isolde

Tristan and Isolde (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: James Franco , Sophia Myles , Rufus Sewell , David O'Hara , and Mark Strong (II)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000EPFCPE
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Luscious cinematography and even more luscious stars make Tristan & Isolde a feast for the eyes. Adapted from the medieval love story, the movie begins with with young Tristan (played as a child by Thomas Sangster, Love Actually) as he sees his parents killed by the tyrannical Irish, who ruled over a fractured Britain after the Roman occupation. Taken in by Marke (Rufus Sewell, Dark City), who rules one of the British tribes, Tristan (James Franco, Spider-Man) grows up to be a young prince and a mighty warrior--and when he's believed slain in battle, he's given a royal funeral, which sends him out sea in a burning boat. But the fire goes out and Tristan washes ashore on Ireland, where Isolde (Sophia Myles, Art School Confidential), the daughter of the Irish king, nurses him back to health. Being a lovely pair of young folk bursting with hormones, they fall madly in love... and set in motion a tragic tale that's lasted for centuries in many variations. Some reviewers have criticized Tristan & Isolde for deviating from the most common classical version, but the movie's storyline--though certainly altered to appeal to modern audiences--is fairly strong. Myles and especially Sewell turn in strong performances; Franco, however, though surprisingly persuasive as a warrior, never burns as a lover. Nonetheless, the loving shots of Franco's muscular physique will make this a must-have for his fans. --Bret Fetzer

Description

From executive producer Ridley Scott (Gladiator) comes a sweeping, action-packed saga of epic battles, political intrigue and forbidden passion, set in a time when the lines between heroism and savagery were etched in fire and carved out with broadswords. After the fall of Rome, visionary warlord Marke (Rufus Sewell) seeks to unite the squabbling English tribes to form one strong nationand defeat brutal Irish King Donnchadh. But when Lord Marke?s greatest and most loyal knight, Tristan (James Franco), falls in love with Isolde (Sophia Myles), a beautiful Irish woman, it threatens to destroy the fragile truce and ignite a war. In the spirit of Braveheart and A Knight?s Tale, TRISTAN+ ISOLDE is a rousing tale of trust and treachery that will leave you breathless!

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Movie !!!!.......2007-08-09

A coworker lent this movie to me yesterday evening and I watched it and thought...Brilliant! I've never been a fan of James Franco (even though I've seen flashes of him in the Spiderman advertisements, didn't even know who he really was to be honest & didn't care to find out, until now ;). What a gorgeous man! I'm buying a copy of this movie & Annapolis (another movie I heard he's in) to add to my collection right now. This movie is definitely a KEEPER !

Romance.......2007-08-08

I bought this movie on the recommendation of my daughter, it's now become a part of my permanent movie library. If you want a great romance movie, this is it.

A movie worth watching!.......2007-08-04

Tristan and Isolde brings to the screen the forbidden love between a young Irish princess and one of her father's British prince vassals.
The Dark Ages have settled over the British Isles following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
Among the roman ruins, various factions like the Britons, the Picts, the Angles, and the Saxons are striving for supremacy all under the watchful eyes of the Irish King.
James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara, Thomas Sangster and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows!
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the fight/battle scenes, and the music are all wonderful!
In conclusion, Tristan and Isolde will surely provide for an evening's entertainment. It is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection. 4.5 Stars

Wonderful!.......2007-08-02

I absolutely LOVED this movie. I had never heard of the story of Tristan & Isolde. I had also never heard of James Franco before I saw this. Sure, I had seen plenty of movies with him in them, but as it turns out, he's such an awesome actor that he becomes the character he's playing & as a result went without being noticed by myself, until now. As a result of this movie, I have become a HUGE James Franco fan :-)

tristan & isolde.......2007-06-29

If you enjoy a good love story, I would highly recommend the haunting & little known story of Tristan & Isolde. There are several versions of this tale, & the movie picks a powerful one in which Isolde takes center stage. Truly, Sophia Myles (as Isolde) commands every scene that she is in. Not that James Franco (as Tristan) doesn't make a strong appearance. He just seems more like the strong, silent type here. His emotional depth is found in what he does more than what he says. Franco can give some powerful looks. His "stalking" of Isolde & King Marc at the market is particularly haunting (almost disturbing really). Both of these young actors portray a passionate love, one that the viewer becomes rapped up in. Add the sympathetic King Marc to the mix, & you've got a love triangle in which you can believe.

The time honored theme of love vs. loyalty to one's country is the conflict that makes this film so interesting. It's not your typical love story; you can't see where this one is going. On another note, I found the scenery beautiful, and the ending is. . . . well, I won't ruin it, but don't miss this film if you are a fan of period pieces or just a good romance.

King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

Pointless, really
King Kong sized absurdity
She Never Gets Whiplash
Pretty exciting movie
Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars

King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Extended Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000H30B2C
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

The extended version of Peter Jackson's King Kong adds 13 minutes to the running time--fortunately those 13 minutes include two dynamic action scenes and no material has been added to the movie's belabored set-up, which tries to give depth to these quintessentially b-movie characters with a clumsy patchwork of melodrama and in-jokes. But once movie-maker Carl Denham (Jack Black, School of Rock) and his crew finally arrive at Skull Island, the movie kicks into gear with spectacular action, technical wizardry, and genuine feeling. Though Kong seems crafted to dazzle the eye on the giant screen, the overlong structure improves when you can take an intermission at will. At home, each scene can be approached on its own terms, be it the insanely choreographed battle between Kong and three T. Rexes or the subtle and multi-layered interplay between Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts, Mulholland Drive) and Kong (played, through motion-capture technology, by Andy Serkis, who previously played the similarly animated Gollum in Jackson's Lord of the Rings). The addition of a rampaging ceratops and an underwater race with what the movie's crew dubbed a "piranhadon" not only add more eye candy, but provide some valuable moments of character development. But in the end, that's frosting on the cake; when the movie's weaknesses and strengths are weighed, the emotional power of the fantastical relationship between a woman and a giant ape is a real cinematic achievement. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Pointless, really.......2007-09-16

This version of King Kong is so similar to the original, it was pretty much pointless to go to all the trouble of remaking it. Peter Jackson, by all means, is a decent director. But with his previous films, there was something ultimately no other director could capture, like with Dead/Alive and Heavenly Creatures. Even the Lord of the Rings trilogy will be really hard to surpass by directors fifty years from now.

But King Kong is a bunch of fancier scenes and lines from the original movie, then a ton of extra nonsense just to make it seem a whole lot different and original. This version would have been good if time on the boat, on the island, and in New York afterwards would have been cut in half. It's a drag to watch.

I did give it two stars, though, for the special effects and some of the action scenes were pretty cool. I also like Jack Black, so seeing his face in the midst of this was refreshing.

King Kong sized absurdity.......2007-08-27

It's strange, but looking at the reviews this movie seems to be a love/hate movie. I can't imagine what makes it so polarizing. I found it cringe-worthy.

My biggest gripes: nearly every action scene is cartoonish. A stampeding horde of brontosauruses not only can't outrun humans... it runs with them, over top them, without stepping on anyone. For several minutes. The same problem happens with the rest of the crazy dinosaur/island creatures... they don't seem to adhere to any principle of physics and motion, but gnash and crash and fall down all over the place while magically avoiding the main characters.

Another problem is the love story. Why would a woman care about a freaking monkey? One that has eaten human sacrifices for decades, and that destroys everything whenever he feels like cutting lose. She doesn't recognize that part of him, just that he's a big sweet monkey who has love in his heart too. Awwww. Not only that she doesn't just seem to like him as a friend. She seems to want to marry him. A 30 foot tall, man eating monkey. Of course, that's the original story, but they failed to help explain it any better.

One more gripe: Jack Black. Great guy, very funny. He screws up this movie because it's not a comedy. Sorry Jack but you don't belong in a dramatic action movie where everyone's waiting for you to crack jokes. He doesn't crack any, by the way, but there's the problem. He's not one of those guys who acts well outside his comedy, and as an important personality in this film it's almost embarrassing to watch him have no dramatic presence.

The one good thing is the visuals (for the most part, sometimes the CG feels disconnected from the actors), there's a lot of beauty shoved into some scenes.

She Never Gets Whiplash.......2007-08-26

Even after suspending disbelief to get into this movie's world, you have to keep on going. How she keeps from breaking her neck, or even getting whiplash, is amazing. Why can't Kong get around the wall with all of his amazing abilities? What do the natives do for a living -- that is, when they aren't offering people who drop by as sacrifices to Kong? Farm? Do embroidery? (And the scenes with them doing a sort of drugged dance was really worth a chuckle.) All that said, it's entertaining. And most of the unbelievable (in the movie's own world) stuff is in a way fun to see. So I gave it 3 stars. It's worth about $5 to see. (I'm very glad Peter Jackson was much more careful with The Lord of the Rings movies.)

Pretty exciting movie.......2007-08-23

I have seen the original and thought it was good but to me it seemed ancient and not 'classic'. Perhaps I am too young to see it that way. But at least I have seen the movie, on more than 1 occassion. Anyway, I love Peter Jackson and I loved this film. Yes, it was a tad overlong but I dont mind long movies as long as they keep my interest. The effects and acting were wonderful and amazing. Peter Jackson and his Weta team are genuises in that department. In this, I actually felt sypathy when King died, as opposed to the original where I felt nothing. Naomi Watts is quickly becoming my favorite actress. She can truly do anything. Kong Himself was by far some of the best effects in film history. There is no way anybody can complain about that. I saw it in the theaters and it was an awesome experience. That is probably the best way to see this, on a very big screen.

Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars.......2007-08-22

This film delivers what it is suppose to deliver: FUN. This isn't serious drama, this is cartoon type fun. Jack Black was terrific as Carl Denham, Adrien Brody was okay as the hero and Naomi Watts was great as Ann, the beauty loved by the beast. That said, the star of this film is the giant ape and a wonderful job they did bring the beast to life. I did not care for the scene on the frozen pond in New York. That really was dull and contrived, but the rest of the movie moved along well and it did not seem three hours long. The supporting actors were also very good, including the cameraman, the captain and of course the male movie star. Was it better than the original? Well, I loved the original and I was prepared to be disapointed by a remake. I was not however. If only all remakes could live up to this standard.

Average customer rating:

Ray
One brilliant musician.
Very uplifting
Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience...
Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend

Ray (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Kerry Washington , Regina King , Clifton Powell , and Harry J. Lennix
Director: Taylor Hackford
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005JND5
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Product Description

Jamie Foxx (Collateral) stars as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. Ray is the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America s true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American music charts, Ray s inspirational journey is a tale of hope, redemption and the power of the human spirit. "Ray is Electrifying" hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.

BONUS MATERIALS:
Feature Commentary with Director Taylor Hackford
Deleted Scenes
Extended Musical Scenes
Stepping into the Part
Ray Remembered
A Look Inside Ray
Theatrical Trailer
Cast and Filmmakers

System Requirements:

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few dramatic embellishments of actual incidents (such as the suggestion that the accidental drowning of Charles's younger brother caused all the inner demons that Charles would battle into adulthood), the film does a remarkable job of summarizing Charles's strengths as a musical innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who recorded some of his best songs while flying high as a kite. Foxx seems to be channeling Charles himself, and as he did with the life of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, director Taylor Hackford gets most of the period details absolutely right as he chronicles Ray's rise from "chitlin circuit" performer in the early '50s to his much-deserved elevation to legendary status as one of the all-time great musicians. Foxx expertly lip-syncs to Ray Charles' classic recordings, but you could swear he's the real deal in a film that honors Ray Charles without sanitizing his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon

More on Ray Charles

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (CD)
The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)
Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)

Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)
Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)
More Albums by Ray Charles

Customer Reviews:

Ray.......2007-08-27

It's Ray this movie is one of the all time great with this special edition which you can't find anywhere, once I knew they had it on DVD I hurried up and purchased it, it a great deal what more can I say I would buy from him anytime!!!

One brilliant musician........2007-08-26

This 2004 movie is about the life and career of Ray Charles, the blind musician. Ray was not born blind, but became blind at 6 after having glaucoma. We are shown that Ray got his strength from his mother who never babied him and made him do things on his own. Ray's struggle through life was hard--fighting off people who ripped him off, and a long time heroin addiction. Ray was also, himself a ruthless businessman at times. Ray Charles marries his "B" and they were together for many years, despite his many affairs. I am not a big fan of his music, but this film held me. It truly is a great movie! It shows that no matter how handicapped one is, you can do what you dream of as long as you believe in yourselve.The performance of Jamie Fox is excellent! He truly showed how good an actor he can be. They movie was a little long (a little over 3 hours), hence the 4 stars, not 5--- I was getting a little impatient. Overall a must see film!

Very uplifting.......2007-07-07

Really good. Jamie Foxx comes into his own here. Very enjoyable. Definetely deserved the oscar it got.

Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience..........2007-06-21

A lot of love circulates around Jamie Foxx's Oscar winning performance here, and yes he did do a wonderful imitation of the real thing, but to me `Ray' has a lot more deserving areas to give consideration and appreciation. For one, the set designs are brilliant, the lighting and mood of just about every scene is fantastic and the musical numbers, while all actual recordings, are choreographed in such a way that you could swear Foxx did all his own singing. Case in point, there is a scene where Ray is singing in a club and in the recording some of the first words out of his mouth are mumbled and so to make it authentic Jamie knocks the microphone off balance for a moment. It's the little touches like that one that make this movie authentic, accurate and worth while.

I did enjoy Foxx, so don't get me wrong, but I did feel that his work in `Collateral' was more deserving of the praise. The main problem I have with Foxx's performance is that he invests so much time and energy into getting Ray down that he forgets to infuse enough of himself into the performance to make Jamie the actor stand out aside from Ray the character. But, with that little jab of criticism I will admit that he's a force on screen and demands you pay attention.

That said, to me the real star of this film is the man behind the camera, Taylor Hackford. His acute eye for detail is fantastic here, and is a huge step up from his previous work. Technically `Ray' is far from my favorite biopic, even in the year of the biopic it falls short of perfection and or utter brilliance, but when `Ray' hits its mark it hits it with such beautiful depth and clarity that it makes up for its minor shortcomings. Did it deserve a `Best Picture' Oscar nomination? Not really, but I'm not going to whine about that too much.

Another aspect of the film that shines like a diamond among pearls is the impressive female supporting cast, all of which deserved any and all recognition and praise for they all were essential in not only developing the man that was Ray into a full blown character study but they were also pertinent in making `Ray' the film a film entertaining and relatable from beginning to end. Kerry Washington, an actress I've just fallen in love with over the years, gives such a brutally honest performance as Charles wife, the woman who stands by her man and supports him despite his addictions to drugs and loose women. Regina King gives probably the most explosive performance of the bunch as Margie, one of Ray's backup singers and his obsessive secret lover. Her brilliance on screen is matched only by her spunk and heart and it's a true pleasure to watch her chew each and every scene she encounters. Sharon Warren also does a splendid job as Ray's mother and is sure to stand out as a remembered favorite.

The life of Ray Charles was a hard one, full of deceit, drugs, women and pressure. He was abused, taken advantage of and used and on the other side he abused, took advantage of and used others in the process, but the true story of Ray Charles is a story about overcoming our weaknesses and growing into the person we knew we had in us all along, the person who has been dying to come out but just needed to opportunity. My one big disappointment with this film is that it never truly shows us the recovery Ray made. We see his struggles, his problems and his faults. We see him finally realize he needs help but we never see him truly change, we just read about it in a montage of newspaper clippings that litter the final frames of the film. It's a small quaral I know, but it's one I'm not ready to let go of. If the ending had only added as much depth as the beginning and middle had then maybe this would have been a more deserving film to me, but in the end, even with my issue included, `Ray' is still a wonderful biopic, one that I'm happy to have seen and will most definitely see again.

Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend.......2007-06-06

The movie "Ray", directed by Taylor Hackford, is a compelling drama about the journey of a man battling against poverty, racism, and of course, overcoming his blindness, in order to express his talent. It is based on a true story about the life of a black musician named Ray Charles.

Ray Charles' youth was filled with tragedy, from watching his younger brother drown to losing his sight at the age seven. His mother taught him to take care of himself and not to depend on anyone for help. Ray grew up strong and independent, and his passion for music, which was a strong influence in his life before the loss of his eyesight, never faded. As a teenager, Ray set out on his own shortly after his mother's death and made his way across the United States from Florida to Seattle. Soon after arriving in Seattle, Ray's real journey of making himself renowned began.

Jamie Foxx holds the challenging role of Ray Charles and greatly depicts the latter's life in this movie. "Ray" is an interpretation of the extraordinary life of Ray Charles who, in spite of his inability to see, became a wonderful musician and internationally renowned performer. The task of playing the role of a person the whole world knows is very difficult, but doing so and playing the role of a blind person at the same time seems impossible! Well, Jamie did it. During the whole span of the movie, it feels as if Ray Charles is really back with us. As the movie unfolds, we discover a character so full of life and passion that it seems real. Foxx's musical abilities further complete the portrait, not imitation, of Ray Charles. Indeed, the film features many of Ray Charles songs and it does a good job of tracing his music career.

However, Jamie Foxx's acting skills are overshadowed by the length of the movie, which is 150 minutes long and holds a lot of repetition. Also, we are under the impression that the director is trying to cram every important fact of Ray's life into the whole 2 ½ hours. It would have been possible to remove from 10 to 20 minutes of scenes that render us impatient and seem unnecessary, however this would have made it hard for the director to input many of Ray Charles' hits in the movie, which somewhat makes up for the waiting.

In addition to the lengthiness of the movie, the large emphasis on Ray's personal life, instead of showing us more of the making of his music, was exasperating. Alright, it doesn't hurt to know that Ray was a womanizer who often got high on heroin, but brutally showing a side of Ray Charles that is unknown to most people may not be what every audience is looking for. What's more the film is supposed to captivate our attention, not bore us. A lack of suspense and drama would certainly be the cause for that: I felt my attention weaving on and off during the whole movie.

As a whole, I think that "Ray" is an excellent movie which reveals many of the problems our society faces today and shows the competitiveness present in the world, notably in the music realm. The long length of the movie is forgiven thanks to the outstanding acting of Jamie Foxx. However, I still believe that naming "Ray" as best movie of the year 2004 is a stretch. At least we were able to relive the numerous hits that Ray Charles wrote during his successful career.

Average customer rating:

I Love "Finian's Rainbow"
Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow
Francis Ford Coppala's first musical
A Truly Great Movie!

Finian's Rainbow
Starring: Fred Astaire , Petula Clark , Tommy Steele , Don Francks , and Keenan Wynn
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0007939M0
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Amazon.com

A funny thing happened to Finian's Rainbow in between its debut as a Broadway musical in 1947 and its appearance as a film in 1968. After 21 years, its theme of racial tension in the American South was no longer cutting edge, and the fact that its heroes are a group of sharecroppers called the Rainbow Valley Tobacco Cooperative dates it even further. Add a number of subplots and the heavy hand of a 29-year-old Francis Ford Coppola directing his first and only musical, and the two-and-a-half-hour running time feels bloated. Hermes Pan (best known for the classic Astaire-Rogers movies) is credited with choreographing the overbusy musical numbers, but he was reportedly overruled by Coppola at every turn. Still, there is a lot to enjoy in this movie, most notably Fred Astaire in his last lead role in a musical. Fred plays Finian McLonergan, an Irishman who has traveled to America in hopes of planting a pilfered pot of gold near Fort Knox and watching it grow. Even at 69, Fred shows he is still capable of a sprightly step and warbling "Look to the Rainbow." Another plus is the casting of '60s pop icon Petula Clark as his daughter, as she sings with an unaffected loveliness. Finally, the score by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg includes two of the best Broadway songs ever written--"Old Devil Moon" and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?"--as well as the comic ditty "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love." --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

I Love "Finian's Rainbow".......2007-07-13

Movies are to us Americans what opera was to the Italians or what the great nineteenth-century novels were to the English: the most dynamic expression of our culture. Like other art forms, movies have expressed, interpreted, and shaped our values, our interests, and our beliefs.
The movie "Finain's Rainbow" was made in the late 1960s, and is based on a moderately successful but long-forgetten stage musical of the late 1940s. Francis Ford Coppola's brilliant direction brought this tale up to date in a way that resonated with audiences in 1970. The original play was rather daring in its time, combining a direct attack on racism with a lighthearted populist-style socialism. By 1970, when the movie hit the big screen across America, racism was no longer respectable, and the attack on it no longer controversial. Most of the socialist theme in the original was expunged from the movie, and what was left was treated very lightly.
What remains is a delightful(for my taste) fantasy about an Irishman (Fred Astair) who comes to America with his daughter (Petula Clark) in search of a place to bury a pot of gold he has stolen from a Leprechaun in the old country. Fred Astair's character is not quite a con man, and yet not quite of this earth, either. Petula Clark is radient, and Tommy Steele as the leprechaun is a delight. "The Mclonergan theory of economics" as only Fred Astair can tell it is one of the best scenes in any movie, in my opinion.
The anti-racist element in the movie is almost a subplot until the final few minutes, when all the story lines are brought together. Finian finds himself in a sharecropper community in Kentucky, in which a fantasy version of full racial integration is practised. Those of us who saw this movie in 1970 knew very well that no such community really existed; but it encouraged us to ask ourselves, "why not? Can't we do better as a nation?" For me, that was an uplifting message.
The one thing that modern audiences will not relate to is the sharecropper community's goal of achieving prosperity by growing better tobacco. All I can really say in defense of that part of the story is this: I hope audiences today can see the tobacco experiment in the movie as a holdover from an earlier time, and as a metaphor for better community improvement.
Give "Finian's Rainbow" a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Finian's Rainbow.......2007-06-08

This movie is a modern version of "Brigadoon" set in the 60's.

It is light with good songs and dancing sequences.

It is very much a family movie, however probable politically incorrect in todays enviroment because the story line is centered around the production of smokeless tobbacco.

Its a long movie but if you like musicals and old fashioned values you will enjoy this movie.

Finian's Rainbow.......2007-05-18

This was a good overall movie. I think there was a touch too much leprechan time though. Some numbers where a little long. But........Fred Astaire, 69, dancing up and down boxes...Hurray for him! Nice Dancing!

Francis Ford Coppala's first musical.......2007-04-17

Coppala was right out of college when he was asked to do "Finian's Rainbow". It had been a big hit on Broadway in the 40's but predated the civil rights movement. Coppala had the task of updating it for 1968.

Fred Astaire is 69 in the title role and this was his last role dancing and singing. This was the first times since the beginning of Astaire's career that he didn't have control over the direction of his musical numbers. Coppala was an inexperienced director and fired Hermes Pan, Fred's chorographer. He admits that it was his fault that Fred's big number in the film didn't come out the way should.
Petula Clark is wonderful as Astaire's daughter. Tommy Steele who was also in "The Happiest Millionare" and "Half a Sixpence" plays a part typical of his personality.
There is very little chemistry between Petula Clark and her love interest, Dan Franck.
PLOT: Finian(Astaire) is an Irishman that steals a pot of gold from Og (Tommy Steele). He heads toRainbow Valley, which is right next to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he thinks burying the gold will multiply his riches. He meets some people, Woody and Silent Sue, and gives them money to save their land from the bigot senator (Keenan Wynn). In return he wants part of their land to secretly bury the gold. Og follows Finian to get his gold back. He is turning into a mortal because he has lost his pot of gold. Meanwhile, Finian's daughter(Petula Clark) is falling in love with a local, Woody (Dan Franck).

Nicely restored with great special features. Includes a commentary with Coopala that actually has a mini documentry before it. Featurette is the world premere with interviews with the stars.

A Truly Great Movie!.......2007-01-24

Finian's Rainbow (1968) is one of the truly great movies of all time!

Unfortunately it was produced at the beginning of the reign of terror instigated by the Liberal Thought Police, and labeled "racially discriminatory."

Nothing could be further from the truth. It attacked racial bigotry in a most delightful way.

Check it out. I'm sure you will like it!

Average customer rating:

Physicians and Integrity
Before "Peyton Place" there was "Kings Row"...powerful, small-town melodrama...
Kings Row
The score is GREAT
Dark side of "Our Town"

Kings Row
Starring: Ann Sheridan , Robert Cummings , Ronald Reagan , Betty Field , and Charles Coburn
Director: Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000FTCLS0
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

It's a quaint turn-of-the-century small town of shady streets, swimming holes and the Sunday afternoon clip-clop of horse and buggy. But that peaceful exterior conceals human lives twisted by cruelty, murder and madness. Kings Row is one of Warner Bros.' most distinguished productions, highlighted by an outstanding cast, haunting James Wong Howe cinematography and a somber, emotion-laden Erich Wolfgang Korngold score. Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Betty Field, Claude Rains and Charles Coburn give indelible performances ? and Ronald Reagan's portrayal of Drake, a cheerful ne'er-do-well shattered by tragedy, has been hailed as his career best. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards? including Best Picture,* Kings Row is a powerful American saga of dreams, despair and triumph.

Customer Reviews:

Physicians and Integrity.......2007-08-25

Anyone who has ever dismissed Ronald Reagan as a "B-movie" actor has only to see him in "King's Row" to realize that he was perfectly capable of being an "A-movie" actor. In Reagan's case, I do not think that it was a question of mediocre talent but rather of having the right material and the kind of director who could command a superb performance. Sam Wood was one such director, and the 1942 film, based upon Henry Bellaman's novel of the same name, afforded the dramatic setting in which Reagan could shine.

Set in a small Missouri town in the early 1900's, "King's Row" explores many issues which have come to haunt modern times, specifically the power and authority of the medical profession over people's lives. It emphasizes that being a physician is a vocation in which the highest integrity is absolutely indispensable. Without a moral compass, the medical profession is doomed to barbarity.

In spite of the idyllic appearance of the town, it is haunted by a sadistic doctor who sees himself ordained to punish sinners, as long as the sinners in question are too poor and obscure to defend themselves. Ronald Reagan portrays "Drake," the charming, lackadaisical rascal of the town, whom the sadist Dr. Gordon (Charles Coburn) chooses to castigate in a particularly grotesque manner. Reagan's interpretation of Drake's response to the horror which befalls him is one of the most powerful moments in classic cinema.

Drake is the boyhood friend of the protagonist "Parris," played by Robert Cummings, and the brotherly bond between them is a beautiful portrayal of true friendship. Meanwhile, the neurotic women in their lives bring with them situations fraught with dark secrets, except for Parris' grandmother (Maria Ouspenskaya) and Drake's girlfriend (Ann Sheridan) who bring hope and balance. The Ann Sheridan character "Randy Monaghan" is supposed to be Catholic, and the scene in which she murmurs "O Blessed Mother of God!" is profoundly moving.

Ultimately, Parris, who becomes a doctor himself, is faced with a moral dilemma in which he must choose to use his medical credentials to save or to destroy. His new friend, a lovely Viennese girl, leads him to the light, and the darkness which threatens to overwhelm the characters is overcome.

Before "Peyton Place" there was "Kings Row"...powerful, small-town melodrama..........2007-07-29

Kings Row is perhaps the granddaddy of all small-town epics--a strong story line, an excellent cast and all of it punctuated by one of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's most melodious background scores.

Considering this was done in the early '40s, the subject matter is handled honestly but with the kind of discretion it would never receive by any of today's filmmakers. Instead, you are asked to connect the dotted lines on the subject of incest, insanity, sadism and moral corruption behind closed doors and come up with your own observations.

Two outstanding leads are Ann Sheridan (never more heartbreakingly honest and moving as the girl from the wrong side of the tracks) and Ronald Reagan as the carefree man she loves and sticks by when fate deals him a hard blow. Robert Cummings is too weak in the central role of Parris--he was always much more suited to comedy than strong drama. But the rest of the large supporting cast are extremely effective--Nancy Coleman (on the brink of insanity after her doctor father's horrific act), Judith Anderson, Charles Coburn (as the sadistic doctor), Claude Rains and Betty Field.

Wonderful black and white photography by James Wong Howe, excellent script by Casey Robinson, meticulous production design by William Cameron Menzies and, of course, that pulsating Korngold score--all create one of the most powerful films of the '40s. Ann Sheridan was never better--and Ronald Reagan is fully up to the requirements of a difficult role as the handsome, carefree young man who falls into the clutches of a doctor with a twisted soul.

Korngold's score can't be praised too highly. It adds an emotional depth to the poignant and powerful scenes and is a remarkable piece of work.

Kings Row.......2007-06-25

Rediscover the lost art of melodrama with Sam Wood's peerless "Kings Row". The film's strength lies in its subtle transformation from wholesome Americana into a dark tale of madness and evil, transcending any sentimental, dated attributes. Unquestionably, our 40th President did his finest screen work here, and Cummings fits the stolid, noble Parris to a tee. This combined with Sheridan's star-wattage and a top-notch Warners supporting cast (including Claude Rains, Judith Anderson, and Charles Coburn) makes Kings Row a town well worth visiting.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (CD)	The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)	Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)
Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)	Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)	More Albums by Ray Charles