Five Easy Pieces

Amazon.com essential video

This subtle, existential character study of an emotionally distant outcast (Nicholson) forced to confront his past failures remains an intimate cornerstone of American '70s cinema. Written and directed with remarkable restraint by Bob Rafelson, the film is the result of a short-lived partnership between the filmmaker and Nicholson--the first was the zany formalist exercise, Head, while the equally impressive King of Marvin Gardens followed Five Easy Pieces. Quiet and full of long, controlled takes, this film draws its strength from the acutely detailed, nonjudgmental observations of its complex protagonist, Robert Dupea--an extremely crass and frustrated oil worker, and failed child pianist hiding from his past in Texas. Dupea spends his life drinking beer and sleeping with (and cheating on) his annoying but adoring Tammy Wynette-wannabe girlfriend, but when he learns that his father is dying in Washington State, he leaves. After the film transforms into a spirited road movie, and arrives at the eccentric upper-class Dupea family mansion, it becomes apparent that leaving is what Dupea does best--from his problems, fears, and those who love him. Nicholson gives a difficult yet masterful performance in an unlikable role, one that's full of ambiguity and requires violent shifts in acting style. Several sequences--such as his stopping traffic to play piano, or his famous verbal duels with a cranky waitress over a chicken-salad sandwich--are Nicholson landmarks. Yet, it's the quieter moments, when Dupea tries miserably to communicate and reconcile with his dying father, where the actor shows his real talent--and by extension, shows us the wounded little boy that lurks in the shell of the man Dupea has become. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Classic.......2007-08-27

It was a bit odd seeing sweet Sally Struthers behave so 'naughty', but she played it well. I also loved the ranting hitchhiker. So many great actors! An angry young man who can't love himself has trouble relating to those who care about him, including his family. Shallow on the surface, he's actually a storm of emotions inside, having been unable to please his father who wanted him to have a music career as a pianist. This is a must-have for classic lovers.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

70s zeitgeist and some of Jack's finest moments.......2007-08-18

Jack Nicholson does some of his finest work in this quiet, thoughtful character study of a man who can never be satisfied with work, family, friends, lovers, music or anything else. He leaves a job to check on his ailing father, is unable to make amends with him, and does not grow any closer to his siblings in the process, though he has an affair with his brother's wife that goes nowhere. Karen Black shines as his ditsy but sweet girlfriend, whom he eventually abandons for good; his leaving his jacket behind in cold weather mirrors the coldness inside of him in one of the best and most effective film endings. This is a movie with plenty of 1970s zeitgeist, from the confrontation with the waitress to the two female hitch-hikers.

Bobby Dupea: " "I move around a lot, not because I'm looking for anything really, .......2007-08-11

...but 'cause I'm getting away from things that get bad if I stay."

"Five Easy Pieces" (1970) directed by Bob Rafelson - is one of the real gems that needs to be seen and admired but is sadly not known enough to the viewers. The film is build as a road movie around Bobby Dupea, a middle-class intellectual turned truck driver and working in the oil fields. Playing a once promising pianist (his full name is Robert "Eroica" Dupea - he was named after Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, Op. 55, The Eroica Symphony - no more, no less) who chose to abandon his musical family ("Five Easy Pieces" refers to five pieces by Chopin), Jack Nicholson has rarely been better. It is one of his performances that I truly love and admire. If you only saw Nicholson in his later films where he often plays the same character over again, the combination of Daryl Van Horne and Col. Nathan R. Jessep, find "Five Easy Pieces". Bobby's fully shaded character with its outbursts of emotions, insecurities, and poignancy of wasted intelligence is wonder to follow. Karen Black as Bobby's girlfriend Rayette, Tammy Wynett's admiring waitress, is outstanding. Laszlo Kovack's cinematography is gorgeous. The chicken - salad scene in a diner is a classic and pure delight to watch.

4.5/5

A Little Slow But Not Bad.......2007-08-09

It's a little slow and hard to follow but has some of Jack's best early work. Especially the chicken sandwich.

Frederic Chopin and Tammy Wynette.......2007-07-28

I knew nothing about FIVE EASY PIECES beyond the famous diner tantrum scene that is often shown on movie specials. Yet from the soundtrack of the opening scene featuring Tammy Wynette singing STAND BY YOUR MAN I was involved in this absorbing character study. We first meet Jack Nicholson's Bobby in Bakersfield, California where he is working in the oil fields and living with his beautiful but silly diner waitress girlfriend Rayette. At first Bobby seems like a typical blue collar laborer hanging out at the bowling alley and being none to nice to his loyal and possibly pregnant girlfriend. Soon we find out he comes from a much more privileged and cultured background as he and Rayette travel to an island in Washington state where Bobby was raised. There we meet Bobby's mute stroke victim father whom we guess was once a musical tyrant, his eccentric but sweet pianist sister, his physically awkward violinist brother, his father's nurse and his brother's musician girlfriend. This film is all about relationships and character development and is well acted as is vital in such films. Look for several 1970's television stars in supporting parts including Sally Struthers playing a bowling alley bimbo, Fannie Flagg a trailer park housewife and Ralph Waite as Bobby's literally stiff necked brother. The ending of the film is surprising yet fits with Bobby's pattern of choosing the "easy piece".

Pablo Francisco - Bits And Pieces: Live From Orange County

Average customer rating:

very funny comediant
Woo hoo
a kneeslapper
Outstanding
Extremely Funny

Pablo Francisco - Bits And Pieces: Live From Orange County
Starring: Pablo Francisco
Manufacturer: Shout Factory Theatr
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00028G6MQ
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Description

Pablo Francisco adds his brand of comedy to the Ad Lib Breakout Comedy Series with Bits And Pieces, taped in Southern California in early 2004.

The DVD, complete with a bonus CD, sends you into the whirlwind comedy of this rising star. The show features explosive material that tears apart everything from love songs and psycho chicks to Viagra and American justice. With his uncanny talent for creating visceral images using strikingly authentic, off-the-wall sound effects, Pablo keeps the laughs coming.

DVD Extras:
- Hilarious commentary track
- "Inside The Comic's Studio" featurette
- Beans & Rice screen saver
- Bonus CD

Customer Reviews:

very funny comediant.......2007-07-23

Pablo is so funny that after watching his video several times we still laugh our heads off. This performance is packed with great material. Even though he looks like a *%#@ing monkey, we love him.

Woo hoo.......2007-05-13

His comedy is right on, I first saw him on the Comedy channel and then on You Tube. I found myself playing his bits over and over for family and friends. Finally I decided I had to see his whole show, you will not be diappointed.

a kneeslapper.......2006-10-20

despite his rude sexual humor, Pablo is definetly one of the funniest guys in stand up comedy. His sound effects are legendary and his face expressions are hilarious! Great DVD, you will have fun listening to it.
Although Pablo isn't 100% funny throughout the whole show, he get's pretty much all of your attention anyways.

4 out of 5 stars, cuz I'm sure he can be even funnier! Other than that, great DVD!!!

Outstanding.......2006-03-12

Greate standup. For the price is just excelent you get a dvd and a cd. Pablo is hilarious and his impretions are probably the best thing on the dvd. If you don't like comedians that use a lot of profanity then probably this isn't for you. Great Buy.

Extremely Funny.......2006-03-04

All I got to say is this guy is hilarious! His ability to imitate people, music, and other sounds is what really makes him funny in my opinion. If you like laughing, then buy this dvd.

Eight Simple Qigong Exercises For Health - The 8 Pieces of Brocade

Average customer rating:

Good exercise for health inside out.
Excellent Qigong exercise
A very good Qigong beginner's introduction DVD
Qigong for Health
Works great

Eight Simple Qigong Exercises For Health - The 8 Pieces of Brocade
Starring: Jwing-Ming Yang
Director: David Silver
Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

Fitness | Fitness & Yoga | Genres | DVD | Video

Tai Chi | Fitness & Yoga | Genres | DVD | Video

Stretching | Fitness & Yoga | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00016USR8
Release Date: 2003-12-23

Description

In this best-selling video, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming instructs and demonstrates "the Eight Pieces of Brocade", one of the most popular sets of Chinese healing exercises. These gentle breathing, stretching and strengthening movements activate the Qi energy and blood circulation in your body, helping to stimulate your immune system, strengthen your internal organs, and give you abundant energy. With both a sitting and standing set, anyone can practice these simple and effective exercises in as little as 15 -20 minutes a day.

"...thousands of illnesses vanish into dust..."

Known in China as the Ba Duan Jin, the Eight Pieces of Brocade has been practiced for over 1,000 years. Also included are the `secret words' - poetry that has been used to pass this knowledge down from generation to generation, which contains the key to each of these ancient medical qigong movements.

This DVD edition includes a detailed and fascinating qigong lecture by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, with over an hour of additional explanation and instruction of each of the qigong movements, and the history of the Eight Pieces of Brocade.

• Two complete sets of exercises • Time-tested, traditional Chinese healing art • Modern scientific explanation of healing principles • Multi-Language Edition- Narrated in English or French, with original Chinese poetry narrated by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

Special Features: Over 50 Scene Selections • Menus in English or French • Language: English, French and Chinese • Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch • Interactive YMAA Product Catalog • Chinese Glossary • Biography: Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming • History: YMAA

"8 Simple Qigong Exercises" • Written & Performed by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming • Edited by David Silver and Media Manic • Video Production Supervision by David Silver • DVD Production by Media Manic • Directed by Dr.Yang, Jwing-Ming and David Silver

195 minutes - color/ DVD9 - NTSC -All Regions © Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming 2003

Customer Reviews:

Good exercise for health inside out........2007-05-13

I started this exercise for 1.5 months and see some result,since I'm overweight,it's not a weight loss(for now) but my neck & back aches were gone and more energy. I started with the same repetitions as in DVD (6)then build up to 9 and now 12 will be 24 as Dr. Yang said soon. The exercise need quiet time to do.

Excellent Qigong exercise.......2006-10-17

I probably own four or five books on the 8 Pieces of Brocade, a Qigong exercise that at first does not appear to be complex or difficult to learn. After reading the various books on this exercise I felt that I had a pretty good grasp of how to do the exercises and what to expect. Watching this DVD was very enlightening and corrected some misconceptions I had about the exercises. The book by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming is excellent, but as suggested by the author, using the DVD and the book together is a very effective technique for obtaining accurate and effective results while doing this form.

The DVD offers both the Sitting and Standing versions of the 8 Pieces of Brocade exercise. Dr. Yang starts off the DVD with a history of the 8 Pieces of Brocade, which was created approximately one thousand years ago.
The 8 Pieces of Brocade is presented in two main sections, the sitting version and the standing version. First shown is an analysis of the steps in the sitting version.

Throughout this analysis the DVD uses multiple angle shots to display the front, sides and rear of Dr. Yang as he demonstrates each of the movements. Additionally, the added benefit of sound helps the student to realize for example how hard to tap the teeth, or when to breath in and out. Even the tapping of the fingers on the back of the skull during one of the exercises helps the student to do the movement correctly by listening to the sound that is made when Dr. Yang demonstrates the movement.

Following a very detailed and clear presentation during the analysis of the 8 Pieces of Brocade, the form is then shown in its entirety. With the convenient chapter markers available on the DVD, the student can easily follow along whatever section they choose. The movement to DVD for the YMAA products has made learning much easier by allowing this convenient and instant access to any part of the material.

After the analysis of the sitting form of the 8 Pieces of Brocade, the DVD then presents the analysis of the standing form of the 8 Pieces of Brocade, followed by a continuous demonstration of the form.

The student is then treated to a lecture by Dr. Yang on the 8 Pieces of Brocade. This lecture is approximately 50 minutes and has a wealth of information about the form. Clever use of animation helps to illustrate the flow of chi that occurs while doing the form.

In my opinion, the way to learn martial arts successfully is to employ the following tools:

Instruction from a teacher

Studying printed material

Visualization in your mind

Self practice and study while doing the forms

Writing a journal to record what is learned or taught during each lesson
Watching videos of the teacher

Filming yourself and comparing it to the image you had in your mind of how you were doing the form

Socialize and share your knowledge with other students and work on the principles together

Try teaching one of the concepts, moves, techniques or applications to a person who has no knowledge of Taijiquan. In the process you will easily learn as much as the person you are trying to teach.

This DVD is one of the above mentioned tools, and a wonderful addition for the serious student to learn and practice properly the 8 Pieces of Brocade.

A very good Qigong beginner's introduction DVD.......2006-03-22

This DVD lives up to its promises - it introduces you to the world of Qigong. I have personally practised some Qigong exercises before - from some books - but after watching this DVD I realized that I was doing them somewhat wrong. I didn't see any of what I had been practising in this video, however, doing Qigong is like a poem (actually, it was a poem for ancient Chinese), like a moving meditation, it's soft and smooth, whereas I had a rigid and strict execution. This DVD presents two sets of exercises - sitting (on a bed, let's say) for elderly and weak people, and standing - for everyone else. There is a track presenting the history of Qigong, specifically this set, and detailed explanations of each exercise, including medical benefits (e.g. what internal organ you would be massaging by doing them). Granted, you need more information (e.g.on breathing - it is only briefly touched), but then again, a beginner could only get so much or else (s)he becomes scared of so many new things. Still, Dr. Yang has a book with the same title, I've ordered and received mine (but haven't started reading it yet), that should explain more things. The book and the video complement each other - the former has more information, but the latter shows you the execution. Get them both.
I'm also a beginner, and have no teacher, but apparently, looking at customer reviews for Qigong beginners, this is the course path that I recommend (that is what I am going to order and study, even if I get a teacher in the meantime):
- Stick to 8 Pieces of Brocade until you execute it well, and by that I mean not only physical execution - which you will probably get soon, it's very simple, but also mental - you master it when you are able to focus on it from beginning to end, or sort of.
- Get "Chi Kung: The Way of healing" by Master Lam Kam Chuen, those exercises should prepare you for the next stage
- Get "Chi Kung: The Way of energy" by Master Lam Kam Chuen and "Opening the energy gates of your body" by Bruce Frantzis Kumar, those books complement each other. Note that apparently all the exercise in "Way of healing" are actually easier selections from "Way of energy", so don't be surprised. I guess, because of this you could skip the "Way of healing" phase completely.
When all the above is done - you should have greatly improved your energetics, but it could take years or even a lifetime without a teacher. You are then ready to study Dr. Yang's other books - I won't write the relevant ones here (although I had started too, but removed the paragraph), by then you should know which they are, they don't belong in this beginner's review. Anyway, at that stage you should probably get a teacher.
In short, this is a nice beginner's introduction, short of having a teacher. Did I mention to get a teacher?

Qigong for Health.......2006-02-24

I highly reccommend this DVD for interested beginners and experienced Martial Arts practitioners alike who wish to learn a set of Qigong exercises designed to improve health. The DVD is thoughtfully produced and has a lot of interesting background and historical information. A novice will be able to learn a complete set of breathing and movement exercises in a very short time.

Works great.......2006-01-24

I have had this a while, but haven't used it since it's so easy, it's boring. Therefore, I only use it when I'm not feeling well.
Recently I had a severe allergic reaction & used this. I have been using herbs & acupuncture, but I really felt so much better faster using this to build up my energy. Even when I was very dizzy & felt horrible, I went very slowly on the standing exercises & felt much better after, more energy deep down & was able to fall asleep faster then I had in days.
The sitting ones are even more easy for those who cannot stand.
In the demonstration/how-to area, there is an English or American narrator while they show a clip of Dr. Yang doing the exercises a few times. In another section, the practice is Dr. Yang shows you the complete exercises about 3-20x each which only takes about 10-15 min. Unfortunately on mine, in this section, the sound seems to be faster/off by 3-5 full seconds.
Like almost all Qi Gong videos, they all say once you start, you must complete it & I always do a return to chi motion.
There are A LOT of extras. There is a nice amount of lecture about the basics of energy flow & how Qi Gong works. This dvd is almost two hours long, so you are getting your money's worth. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is one man any serious martial artist I have ever talked to knows & has read about.
There are trailers on his site at ymaa.

A Piece of the Action / Uptown Saturday Night

Average customer rating:

2 the hard way ;-)
I love it!
One of the best comedy teams of all time
The Best Actors
P PEICE OF THE ACTION/UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

A Piece of the Action / Uptown Saturday Night
Comedy Double Feature
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BPL2H4
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Description

The ideal comedy for any night is Uptown Saturday Night, a breezy joy pairing Sidney Poitier (who also directs) and Bill Cosby as pals out to recover a stolen wallet and the winning lottery ticket it holds. Henry Belafonte, Richard Pryor and Flip Wilson are also in this "fast, funny immensely likable film" (Chicago Daily News). It's Poitier and Cosby again in A Piece of the Action, portraying wily crooks who rip off the rip-off artists exploiting the poor. James Earl Jones is the cop who pushes the duo to give time to ghetto kids or do time in the pen. Join the fun as these reluctant Robin Hoods get hip to giving instead of taking!

Customer Reviews:

2 the hard way ;-) .......2007-05-09

I grew up watching these two. this was a treat to find it on DVD. I love a piece of the action!! buy them both!

I love it!.......2007-05-07

These are some of my most favorite movies.I have them on VHS but some of my old VHS don't play well anymore. Thanks.

One of the best comedy teams of all time.......2007-03-23

I was very pleased that these films are now available on DVD.I must say that they may be even more enjoyable now that I am older as they were when I was just a kid in the 70's.I feel that Bill Cosby and Sidney Poiter should be mentioned in discussions concerning the greatest comedy teams of all time.

The Best Actors.......2007-01-19

These two movies are my favorites, if you enjoy Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier you will absolutely enjoy yourself!!!

P PEICE OF THE ACTION/UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT.......2006-03-25

BOTH MOVIES WE VERY FUNNY AND KEPT MY ATTENTION.

Average customer rating:

Pieces of April
If only more movies were like this.
spectacular low budget movie---a must see
A rare Thanksgiving treat
Katie Holmes does something right.

Pieces of April
Starring: Katie Holmes , Derek Luke , Oliver Platt , Alison Pill , and John Gallagher Jr.
Director: Peter Hedges (II)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000VV4OK
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Amazon.com

The plot of Pieces of April, a sweet independent film, couldn't be simpler: As a raffish young woman named April (chipmunk-cute Katie Holmes, Wonder Boys, Dawson's Creek) struggles to cook Thanksgiving dinner in her dingy, cramped New York apartment, her estranged family slowly drives toward the city, stopping now and then to question why they're going to a meal they expect to be not only bad to eat, but awkward and unhappy. The writing, acting, and directing of Pieces of April ranges from straightforward to clumsy--and yet the movie builds to a surprisingly potent emotional conclusion. Much of the credit goes to wily Patricia Clarkson (High Art, The Station Agent), who plays April's cancer-ridden mother with a compelling mixture of sadness, rebellion, and wistful hope. Also featuring Oliver Platt (Funny Bones), Sean Hayes (Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), and Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Katie Holmes is "terrific" (People) as the quirky black sheep of her family in this delightful comedy-drama that "sparkles with acerbic wit, original characters and genuine heart" (Variety). Academy AwardÂ(r) nominee* Patricia Clarkson gives "a career-making performance" (Boxoffice), and "the entire cast is inspired" (Film Threat) in this "moving, hilarious comedy" (People). Rebellious daughter April Burns (Holmes) has offered to host an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner for her suburban clan in her grubby Lower East Side apartment. But her attempts to create an unforgettable feast go awry when she discovers that her oven doesn't work. Now, asher weary family makes its way to the city, April must rely on the kindness of strangers to pull off the perfect meal and the perfect memory. *2003: Supporting Actress, Pieces of April

Customer Reviews:

Pieces of April.......2007-07-23

"Pieces of April" is a little picture with a big heart, both funny and sad--one of those movies that sneaks up on you. The frenzied comic shenanigans involved in pulling off this meal belie a deep yearning, as we realize April wants to use the occasion to mend fences with her family, and in particular, her ailing mother. Both Holmes and veteran Clarkson shine in their roles, with Oliver Platt also excellent as a loving father quietly coping with the prospect of losing his wife. "Pieces of April" is a quirky, bittersweet valentine to family.

If only more movies were like this. .......2007-06-27

A wonderful story, wonderfully acted. If more films were like this then I might be bothered to go to the cinema again.

spectacular low budget movie---a must see.......2007-06-06

Although plenty of directors morph family dysfunction into humour, this movie is hardly a comedy, but more of a voyeristic and amusing drop-in on someone's Thanksgiving meal. Pretty Katie Holmes is believable as the angry, rebel daughter who, on the most stressed out of all holidays, decides to reach out across the cavernous divide of familial relations gone astray for that big one: approval from the family.

The claustrophobic, gritty and low-budget filming during a gray November is the key for the viewer to make the leap of faith past the comedic possibilities and upscale cast and submit to a sense of bleakness tinged with only a shred of hope. In fact, had the movie been expensive and slick, it might have had an oil and water combo of comedy and drama that equals another ho hum Hollywood soon to be forgetten flick. Not so here.

The characters are interesting and faulted in their own right, but for all their downfalls it's possible to have a sense of forgiveness for them. Patricia Clarkson does a beautiful job as the ascerbic, dying mother battling chemotherapy nausea and resignation in between glazed donuts. Although the movie does not succumb to sentimentality, better get out the tissues for the ending.

A rare Thanksgiving treat.......2007-05-27

The transition from teen TV actress to movie star is fraught with difficulties. Katie Holmes, longtime lead actress for the WB's "Dawson's Creek," is the latest to attempt the move. Her early efforts showed a knack for picking quality material ("Wonder Boys," "Go"), although most of these films featured her in supporting roles.

With the ultra-low-budget "Pieces of April," that changed. Holmes plays April, a problem child who rarely sees her parents (played by Patricia Clarkson and Oliver Platt) or younger siblings. Now, she's trying to clean up her act, dumping her drug-dealing boyfriend for the more upstanding Bobby (Derek Luke) and inviting her family to her NYC apartment for Thanksgiving dinner.

Despite April's recent efforts to clean her act up, her family remains skeptical and less than eager to make the trek to April's abode. But, perhaps buoyed by the terminal illness of one family member, they reluctantly make the trip. The film primarily alternates back and forth between the family's rather eventful road trip and April's equally eventful attempt to cook Thanksgiving dinner. April's trials and travails include a frantic search for a working oven to cook the turkey in, a search that eventually leading her to an eccentric neighbor's home (played by "Will & Grace" star Sean Hayes).

"Pieces of April" veers wildly between offbeat humor and poignant drama. It's an uneasy mix, largely because some of the bizarre scenarios seem forced. Worse yet, some of the comedic scenes are downright unfunny. Still, writer Peter Hedges ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "About A Boy"), making his directorial debut, compensates with some genuinely funny and touching moments. The film's gritty low-budget look also works to its advantage, adding a feeling of realism to the proceedings.

The cast, working for virtually no pay, is solid all around. It's a kick to see Holmes in a gritty low-budget indie shot on video. She accepts the challenge and thrives, giving her best film performance to date. Clarkson, who won a special jury prize at Sundance for her role, shines as April's mother, alternating between bitter rage and love for her family. Luke, who burst onto the scene in Denzel Washington's "Antwone Fisher," continues to show that he's an acting natural. Finally, how can you not like a film that finds an amusing part for Sisqo (of "Thong Song" fame)?

"Pieces of April" was truly a lavor of love for Hedges. Shot for only $150,000 and partly inspired by his mother's battle with cancer, it was a hit at Sundance. An often funny, poignant story about family dysfunction, it's packed with a sense of intimacy missing from most of the hollow big-budget behemoths crowding the theaters. And we should all give thanks for that.

Katie Holmes does something right........2007-04-10

I think I may have just seen a perfect movie. Very, VERY rarely does this happen for me, and when it does, I feel great. Pieces of April is a movie that I was putting off on watching for the longest time. Be it to watch some newer movie that I was interested in for a while, or some "classic" that only ended up disappointing me, PoA kept getting pushed to the side. After seeing it tonight, I'm ashamed to have done that for so long, as like I said in the first sentence, I really feel like this is a perfect movie. Not THE perfect movie, and not the best movie of all time by any means, but one that doesn't do anything wrong, or have a single useless scene. Off the top of my head, I can only say that about maybe two other movies, so this is obviously a very rare thing. I really didn't think I'd ever say that about a movie where Katie Holmes is the star. Now, I'm not the kind to dismiss a movie just on who's in it, even if the person is someone like Chris Tucker, but with Katie Holmes' choice of roles in the past few years, I wasn't expecting much here. It's about time I get blown away by something. Do yourself a favor and skip all reviews for the movie, and just give it a shot if you're interested at all in a fantastic feel-good movie, especially one of the few out there to revolve around Thanksgiving (without making it the main focus), you can't go wrong with Pieces of April.

April is a young woman leading what most would consider an "alternative" lifestyle. She's making Thanksgiving dinner for her family, who's coming down to visit her for the first time in a while. With the way she dresses, decorates her home, etc. compared to the rest of her family, it's easy to see why they don't think very highly of her. Her mom, Joy, has just returned from the hospital after surgery on her breast cancer, and with the way everyone else acts around her, it's clear that she doesn't have much longer to live. Joy may seem uppity, but it's mostly because she's sick of how jumpy everyone is around her. Her and her husband have two other kids- a son and another daughter. The son's into photography, and is sort of chronicling what could be their last family Thanksgiving, while the other daughter requires a pat on the back any time she does something good, and feels the need to correct memories that others think involved April when they were really regarding her. To make this even better, they're taking their very senile grandmother along with them, someone who doesn't know the names of anyone in the same car as her. While the family journeys to April's home, they bump into some trouble several times, mostly emotional. At the same time, April and her boyfriend Bobby are just running along a string of mishaps. For starters, her oven's shot, so she needs to find another to cook the turkey. When she finally does find one, she can only use it to halfway cook the turkey, and then needs to find another. Similar things happen, and only get worse for her. Bobby on the other hand, wanting to make a good first impression, is out looking for a nice outfit, but just as the others, he doesn't have an easy time. What's to become of this would-be car wreck?

While the plot doesn't sound too original at first, it's everything that happens after it's set up that proves to be gold. While April may look different, she acts "normal", and I couldn't see any reason not to like her/side with her parents. The series of problems she gets into with the turkey is hilarious in how bad they get. The first people to let her use their oven greet her with something that would normally be a dead joke. April knocks on their door, only to be answered by a woman who laughs when she hears that April has problems. Her husband asks who's at the door, and the woman proceeds to say that it's a young white girl with her whole life ahead of her, then mentions how she's going to love hearing about her so-called problems. We immediately cut to the same woman reaching for tissue and crying. Her husband proves to be an equally great character- he acts offended when April tells him that she's using store-bought cranberries and boxed stuffing. Just the way he questions her choices had me laughing out loud, which is something I don't do often when watching a comedy that's intended to be a comedy, if that makes any sense. The interaction between all the characters is what pulls this movie together so much to the point where I almost wish I had this sort of thing with my family when we were all together. I thanked god on the director/writer's choice to not make the senile grandma be the butt of a lot of jokes. Normally in movies, they'd beat the subject to death. Here, she's used only a few times, and when she is, it's not the typical stuff you'd expect. Only once does she repeat "who are you?" to Joy, her daughter. Joy tells her who she is, but then gets a response that was a bit painful to hear- that she knows who her daughter is, and that she's kind and wouldn't act like the way she is to everyone. And again, not a single scene in the movie is a waste. While I wanted to say that my only problem with Pieces of April was the short running time of 80 minutes, I have to take that back. No scene begs to be touched upon any more than it already is. I just wish it hadn't ended. I loved these characters.

With such a small budget, there's no way the movie's going to get some crystal clear transfer, but it looks pretty good still. There's some grain, giving a few scenes a gritty look, but I guess it helps the movie at the same time somehow. That's the only problem with the print I could see, but it's also worth mentioning that a few scenes were VERY jumpy, almost to the point where it was ridiculous. Just look at the scene where Joy goes back for the snacks for her family and you'll see what I mean. The audio is center focused since the movie's consisted of talking for the most part, and barely has a soundtrack. Everything is balanced and clear here.

There's not much in the way of special features here. First up is a commentary with the writer/director Peter Hedges. He does a fairly good job talking about everything from April's clothes to the number of times the movie fell apart before it got going. It sounds like he's reading off a piece of paper or something, saying some pretty precise things without much emotion, but I can look past it since he talks enough. I didn't appreciate him calling Alison Pill "The Canadian Meryl Streep" though. Comparing Meryl to her is silly. All the Pieces Together is your average making-of featurette, going over the inspiration for the movie, interviews with the main actors and more. After seeing the cast in the movie, then watching this immediately after, it was cool to see how different some of them look, namely Patricia Clarkson and Katie (even if we constantly see her in the news these days). While it's nice to hear the back story, this featurette is filled with too many clips for my taste, and is probably only about 6 minutes long with the rest being clips. Other than those, all we get are the trailer and some previews for other MGM releases. It would've been nice to see what scenes were deleted, even if I feel everything was perfect, or even longer interviews with the cast, but what we get's good enough. More extras would've pushed the overall rating to 4.5 stars easily.

The fact that the movie was shot in just 16 days and turned out as great as it did is really something. Add in a perfect cast of actors obviously comfortable in their roles, with a script that should've net this thing a few awards, and you have one of the better family-oriented comedies to come out in a very long time. It's hard to believe that this is Hedges' first film too. I look forward to seeing his other work, because this sure left me with an outstanding first impression. And hearing him say that he hoped people talk about life rather than the movie after seeing it, I gotta say, that's exactly what my girlfriend and I did after watching it. The man's got a gift.

Average customer rating:

Once the shooting starts, it's great
Excellent
Piece of cake is good realism
Thinking about the war 30 years on
Squadron life

Piece of Cake
Starring: Tom Burlinson , Neil Dudgeon , Jack McKenzie , Tom Radcliffe , and George Anton
Director: Ian Toynton
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004W5P1
Release Date: 2000-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Once the shooting starts, it's great .......2007-06-12

If I could describe "Piece of Cake" in a single phrase I would use "off-centered." As noted by other reviewers, a good deal of the story unfolds in the Phony War period. This is not altogether boring, but frankly, the series should have concentrated on the 1940 Battle of France and the Battle of Britain (the latter of which gets dealt with rather peremptorily).

This being said, the flight scenes and combat are first-rate. For me, a particularly haunting bit was the last flight of the squadron commander Rex. The notion of a badly wounded man high as a kite on morphine trying to lead a squadron of fighters into the buzz saw of the Luftwaffe is sobering and pathetic to say the least.

So for anyone who rents or buys this, I would say if you get bored in the first several hours start fast forwarding it to the combat. You won't be bored watching that.

Excellent.......2007-05-28

I recalled watching this series many years ago and am delighted I now own the set of episodes. All WWII aviation buffs need to see this series.

Piece of cake is good realism.......2007-05-14

Let me say it was good - and why. I thought it was a movie and found it was a collection of a series of stories set in WW2. The realism was excellent in that it was not a modern day romance, but factual in how people related to one another a half a century or more ago.

Friends who have watched the movie with us liked it too...even though one said that she probably wouldn't.

My husband's only critic of the movie was that the Spitfires that they used were Mark 9's and not Mark 1&2's..as was the case in the time period of the movie.

The air combat scenes were excellent.

Thinking about the war 30 years on.......2007-02-13

Years ago I had a boyfriend whose dad had flown with the RAF. As we were in the midst of the VietNam War I'm ashamed to say that I viewed his stories with disdain. Thirty years and a lot of experience later, I realize that he and his companions sacrificed a lot and movies like Piece of Cake show that, while they were by no means paragons of virtue, what they did deserves our admiration and yes, our thanks. Like others, I was fascinated by the storyline and with every episode I tried to figure out who out of the original squadron was still left. And again I was reminded of my friend's dad and the few friends that he said came home with him. I agree with the person who wrote how frustrating it was not to be able to figure out who was shot because we often weren't sure, outside of the main characters like Rex and Moggy and Fanny and Chris, who was who. I do have one question which is who was the other flyer who was left? I think it was 'Haggis' but I thought that Haggis had been shot down in Episode 3 or 4. Oh and thanks to the reviewer who mentioned that 'Flash' became 'Inspector Lynley'!! It had driven me crazy trying to think where I'd seen him before!

Squadron life.......2007-01-11

A nice serie. Can enjoy the life of a Squadron in the times of War. Different caracters enjoyable. Flew Spitfires a little too early in time.

Average customer rating:

Pass it forward!
some funny stuff but not her best
Good clean
Chonda Pierce: Apiece of My Mind
Chonda Pierce: A Piece of My Mind

Chonda Pierce: A Piece of My Mind
Starring: Chonda Pierce
Manufacturer: Integrity Music/INO Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EHQ8HI
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Customer Reviews:

Pass it forward!.......2007-07-23

Chonda Pierce is a scream! Her show is a beautiful collection of jokes, songs, and pieces of her, her brother's and her sister-in-law's testimony. If you don't have the opportunity to see her concert in person, or if you just need a refresher, watch this DVD. She will move you every which way there is, especially closer to God. God bless Chonda!Laughing in the Dark: A Comedian's Journey through Depression

some funny stuff but not her best.......2007-05-08

got this for my mom who LOVED it but when i watched it, i found her laughing at herself more than i was. it has some funny stuff but not as much as i had hoped.

Good clean .......2007-05-08

fun. Chonda brings laughter out in a way that needs to be a practice for other comedians. You will want to watch this over and over!

Chonda Pierce: Apiece of My Mind.......2007-04-12

Great DVD. Chonda is a very funny lady. She keeps me in stitches.

Chonda Pierce: A Piece of My Mind.......2007-03-28

I purchased this for a gift so I haven't watched it myself, but I know that anything featuring Chonda Pierce is excellent. After hearing pre-views of this DVD on the radio I wanted it for myself!

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

Average customer rating:

Great look back to the slasher boom
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
Highly Inspirational If You love Old School Slasher Flicks
A fond look at the glory days of the slasher film (1978 to 1986)
Very well done tribute to the slasher film..

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
Starring: Stan Winston , Melissa Sue Anderson , Donald Pleasence , Jamie Lee Curtis , and Lilyan Chauvin
Manufacturer: Velocity / Thinkfilm
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000LAZDOW
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Description

Every fear you've ever felt. Every evil you've witnessed. Every nightmare you've ever known… have come together for the first time in one film. Going to Pieces is the ultimate anthology that takes you on a horrifying journey through your favorite slasher films including Halloween, Psycho, Friday the 13th, Prom Night, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream and When a Stranger Calls. Interviews with horror icons John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Rob Zombie, Tom Savini and many more guide you through a series of gruesome scenes from classic films and recent hits. Watch as the history of the slasher film comes alive…if you dare!

Customer Reviews:

Great look back to the slasher boom.......2007-05-22

Being a fan of horror movies, slasher films included, I popped in GOING TO PIECES: THE RISE & FALL OF THE SLASHER FILM one night in the hopes of getting a comprehensive view of one of my fave sub-genres. Stupid teenagers and boogeymen, here I come!

The result? A full 45 minute genre romp through the years 1979-1981, and then another 45 minutes spent on everything else. A tad unbalanced.

Focusing on the birth of the slasher film, the directors hone in on the Granddaddy and Golden Child of all slasher flicks: PSYCHO and HALLOWEEN, respectively. Then they use HALLOWEEN as a launching pad to review the glut of slasher flicks that followed its release, unloading a torrent of obscure titles that you've probably forgotten about. Factor in copious interviews with the original directors and other knowledgeable horror critics, and the first half of GOING TO PIECES is a real treat for the hardcore genre fan.

The movie's biggest flaw? They don't dedicate nearly enough time to the flicks that followed the original boom of the early `80's. The deepest we get after 1981 is an analysis of ELM STREET and how it revitalized the genre. They touch on SCREAM and SAW at one point, but otherwise it's pretty anemic. Perhaps if they had trimmed down some of the interviews they could have dedicated more time to 1982-2006.

Needless to say, when the film concluded I was hungry for more documentary on the other titles in the slasher library. Thus, I'd recommend GOING TO PIECES for what it's worth: An excellent trip down memory lane to the years 1979-1981. The first half is sirloin steak. Just be prepared for the fluffy cotton candy of the second half.

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film.......2007-05-10

If you love horror films this is a must see. This documentary provided valuable input from the creators of classic slasher films that to explain slasher films are not only about killing teenagers, they can have social messages, and often illustrate female power

Highly Inspirational If You love Old School Slasher Flicks.......2007-05-06

if u love slasher films i highly reccomend this. there were alot of movies i havent ever seen talked about in this with clips from them. i've bought some that were shown on there because of seeing them on it and thinkin they looked interesting. i've bought ''The Burning'' and ''Madman''. both are great rare old school slasher flicks. if u love old school slasher films and are interested in tha history buy this.

A fond look at the glory days of the slasher film (1978 to 1986).......2007-04-29

First of all, how on earth did I ever miss "Sleepaway Camp"? I mean, not only did I not see this particular slasher film, I do not remember hearing anything about it let alone the fact that it is clearly an antecedent to "The Crying Game." I am not even sure if I have even heard of that particular film before, although titles like "Sleepaway Camp," "Slumber Party Massacre," and others tend to meld together in your mind over the years. But after watching "Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film," I am going to have to track that puppy down, and I imagine other fans of this horror genre will also see a title or two that they have missed along the way that they will want to track down as well after watching this 2006 documentary.

The documentary is based on Adam Rockoff's book, "Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978 to 1986," and while that particular time frame is not explicitly mentioned in the film version it explains why it essentially begins with "Halloween" and ends with "April Fool's Day." At the start we go back to the birth of the Grand Guignol theatre and how a pair of 1960s films, Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom" and Alfred Hitchock's "Psycho" laid the foundation for the slasher film. But there is no effort to connect the dots until John Carpenter's "Halloween" bursts on the scene 18 years later and it was not until I saw the book's title that I felt better about this gap. The same thing applies at the end, when the rebirth of the genre with "Silence of the Lambs" giving horror a new sense of legitimacy in the movies and the success of "Scream" quickly turning to the extremely violent but commercially successful films like "Hostel," "Saw," and "Wolf's Creek." Again, there the link is not established from the past to the present either, which is why the true scope of this documentary is all about the glory days of the slasher films (the name just does not make sense in describing the current crop of ultra-horror films).

The fun here are the clips of memorable moments from these films, with attention being paid to not only obvious biggies like "Friday the 13th" but also one of my personal favorites in "My Bloody Valentine," the controversial "Silent Night Deadly Night," and pretty much anything they could get a clip from to show, which is not everything, but most of the movies that come to mind for this genre and several that do not. In terms of the talking heads you will find that in addition to big name directors like Carpenter and Wes Craven there are also lesser names such as Amy Holden-Jones ("Slumber Party Massacre") and current hot shots like Rob Zombie (I recognize more of the movies than I did the directors). Makeup and special effects guru Tom Savini shows up a lot as a talking head and actress Betsy Palmer relishes her notoriety as Mrs. Vorhees, but one of my favorites ended up being Jeff Katz, the director of development at New Line Cinema, who talks about these films while walking through an alley somewhere (I thought for sure he was Rockoff). Memories trump analysis, but there is a nice argument made for how Jamie Leigh Curtis was pivotal to the success of "Halloween" that jump started the genre, a look at how the slasher flick formula developed and then ossified, and the strange way in which the promotion of the tongue-in-cheek "April Fool's Day" put the genre into hibernation for a decade.

Overall, "Going to Pieces" is not a comprehensive documentary on the subject and I have no doubt fans will find a lot more information in Rockoff's book. But the book does not have the movie clips that this documentary can offer and the net result is more than a nostalgic walk down memory lane (Remember when Michael Myers was the first villain to keep getting up? Remember the last time you saw a horror film where that did NOT happen?). Just have one of your favorite slasher flicks from this period on hand to watch afterwards, because "Going to Pieces" is just going to whet your appetite and it will take a while to get your hands on the films covered here that you have never seen. For extras on the DVD there are some more interviews with the likes of Stan Winston and a trailer for the documentary. Adam Rockoff includes a "message," but you have to read it. There are a pair of Slasher film trivia games, regular and advanced, that should prove rather challenging (You should already know "How many couselors and campers did Jason kill in 'Friday the 13th'," but can you handle it when they ask the same question about his mom?).

Very well done tribute to the slasher film.........2007-03-27

Going To Pieces: The Rise and Fall Of The Slasher Film takes a look at one of the most maligned sub-genres of the oft misunderstood horror genre. While the slasher film undeniably dominated the box-office of the early to mid-eighties, it was almost universally dismissed by film critics as a low-brow and misogynistic form of entertainment appealing mostly to the immature and unsophisticated tastes of a generally male teenage audience. Going To Pieces:The Rise and Fall of The Slasher Film is an informative and entertaining look back at those blood soaked, gore dripping cinematic excursions.
The film begins with a brief historical perspective on the bloodlust of audiences by providing the examples of Roman spectacle and the infamous Grand Guignol Theatre established in France (1897-1962) which featured excessively violent plays that revolved around elaborate and gory set pieces of murder and torture. The Grand Guignol Theater is credited with birthing the modern day slasher film which began with the British films Peeping Tom(1960) and Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho(1960).
The documentary provides a chronological and near exhaustive history of the genre spending a significant amount of time on John Carpenter's Halloween(1978), but strangely ignoring the mega influential Bob Clarke directed film Black Christmas(1974) which employed much of the same stylistic and thematic approach featured in Halloween(1978) four years later. Given the amount of praise Black Christmas(1974) usually garners from genre fans and an actual mention of the title on the dvd cover art I found this exclusion quite bizarre, as was the failure to mention Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre also released in 1974. Even though brief clips are shown from both films, no analysis of their impact is offered.
Halloween(1978) is hailed as the genre defining template that paved the way for dozens of inferior imitators. Rightfully so, as this modestly budgeted suspense film grossed millions and spawned a never ending flood of sequels.
The documentary also devotes ample time to Friday The 13th(1979) credited with introducing graphic gore to the genre. The film features special effects expert Tom Savini (Dawn Of The Dead, Friday The 13th) and his insights and recollections are amongst the highlights of the film.
A multitude of slasher films are mentioned, no matter how obscure or abysmal, and reliving those clips and unforgettable gory moments is a thrill. A clip of particular worth was the raft attack scene from The Burning(1981), a moment often excised from prints of the film due to its brutal and graphic nature.
Topics covered include moral outrage by both critics and parents, with most of the venom directed at Silent Night, Deadly Night(1984) for its portrayal of a Santa Claus killer. Also, the influence of Mario Bava's Italian classic A Bay Of Blood(1971)-the murder set pieces in that film are mirrored almost identically in Friday The 13th Part II(1981). The shocking twist ending of Sleepaway Camp(1983) featuring an interview with original star Felissa Rose. The eventual downfall of the genre due to the lack of originality and wealth of crappy efforts such as The Prey(1984) and The Initiation(1984) and the genre's rebirth with Wes Craven's supernatural slasher Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare On Elm St.(1984).
The film for me consists of two sections: the slasher glory years that culminated with A Nightmare on Elm St.(1984) and the mercifully brief analysis of the teen friendly slasher phenomenon that began with the Scream(1996) franchise.
The bulk of the film is thankfully devoted to those low budget but always entertaining films that filled my youth such as The Burning(1981), Sleepaway Camp(1984), He Knows You're Alone(1980)...With a cornucopia of slasher luminaries interviewed including Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Tom Savini, Felissa Rose, Stan Winston, Rob Zombie and others, the film is always engrossing and never dull supplemented by a wonderful assortment of clips from the films featured.
A warning to those who may not have seen many of the films featured though as several key plot points and endings are revealed.
The dvd features bonus interviews and a slasher trivia game which was much tougher than I expected.
In closing, Going To Pieces:The Rise and Fall of The Slasher film is a must see documentary for fans of the genre and stands up to repeated viewings.

Average customer rating:

One Piece, Vol. 10 - Baroque Works
Starring: One Piece
Manufacturer: Viz Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000PE0GZK
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Description

The Straw Hat Pirate crew finally sails into the Grand Line, where the water is treacherous and treasures abound. Their first stop, the hospitable town of Misty Peak, turns out to be full of bounty hunters after the price on Luffy's head. But wait, is there more to this company of backstabbers than meets the eye? Perhaps something about the big secret that involves the fate of a kingdom?!

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Titanic
A Real Eye Opener

Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces
Starring: John Chatterton , Richard Kohler (III) , David Concannon , Parks Stephenson , and Simon Mills
Director: Kirk Wolfinger , and Melissa Jo Peltier
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000F0UUSC
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Titanic.......2007-07-11

I have always been a keen observer of the history on the Titanic, and this DVD just adds to the majesty of its history. I'm always looking for more information on what really sunk the Titanic, and so when this video explored the prospect of the bottom being ripped open, and the evidence of that happening being displayed for the first time, it was something that just adds more to the real causes of her sinking. It had to be more than just the starboard side being ripped open, there had to be more internal damage, and this video does an excellent job of supporting that speculation. I whole heartidly endorse this history, and this video. It's very well produced, the photography is exceptional, and the theories and facts leave you wanting more information. I hope more is done to prove what happened to Titanic, but I also hope other explorers will leave this behemoth and her captive souls to rest in peace, undisturbed from further exploration.

A Real Eye Opener.......2006-05-24

I am here on this beautiful Island of Curacao in the Carribean.
There's an international Dive Festival Going on from May 20th, till May 26th 2006.

And John and Richie are here!!

Premiering the release of their DVD!! They showed it too us in 2 parts and all I can say is that it's the best thing on titanic I've ever seen !!

If you've never heard of Titanic, then where have you been living? One of history's most captivating tragedies, the sinking of the Titanic draws countless numbers to learn more about the catastrophe. That fateful trip is absolutely fascinating, and I've watched a great many documentaries about that famed ship. A glorious super liner, Titanic is perhaps more famous today than it was in 1912.

As a result, most of us know what led to its sinking, either from the movie or from documentaries. This latest entry into the fold from The History Channel, Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces has a new postulation on the now generally accepted theory of the ship's demise. That current theory states that Titanic saw an iceberg straight in its path. It tried to turn to miss it, but the big ship clipped the side of the iceberg, tearing a gash or a series of small gashes along its side. Water flooded in, filling enough watertight compartments to cause her to go down. As remarkably shown in Titanic, the nose of the ship went under first, causing the stern to rise above the water. At some point, something caused the ship to split in half, causing the stern to crash back to the water. The nose then quickly went under, pulling the stern deep down to the bottom of the Atlantic.

Five years ago, an expedition to explore the wreckage made an interesting discovery south of the stern's debris field. They said they found "long strips of metal." Unfortunately, the submersible's camera equipment malfunctioned and they had no proof of what they saw. But this set in motion a new theory. Maybe these long strips were from the bottom of the ship. If so, then Titanic just didn't graze the side of the iceberg, but it actually ran over part of the iceberg too. We learn that an iceberg does not go straight down below the water (like a cliff); instead, the water causes the iceberg to form a shelf below the water. Hence, it's now theorized that Titanic somewhat ran aground on the iceberg. If so, in addition to the gashes on the side, maybe there was also significant damage on the bottom, explaining how the ship sank in less than three hours. If that were true, it could also explain why the front of the ship is relatively intact while the stern is crushed upon itself.

Now that I've told you all that, is there any reason to watch the special? Hell yeah!! The two-hour special shows you the 2005 expedition to look for these strips of metal to add proof to the theory. It's an interesting journey, one that's fun to watch to see what is or isn't found/learned. The expedition, once we get to the bits where the "long strips of metal" are either found or not found, is the most exciting piece on the DVD.

I liked the special. It is well done, just sit tight and keep your eyes open for on of the most exciting journeys down to explore the titanic.

Included on the disc are two bonus items. Starting things off is the wholly unforgettable, PR fluff piece "History in the Making: Titanic" (5 minutes). This is one of those filler pieces probably shown on The History Channel to get people to watch the show when it premiered.

Faring infinitely better is the second item, "History's Mysteries: Doomed Sisters of the Titanic" (42 minutes). This is a complete episode of History's Mysteries that details the unfortunate careers of the White Star Line's trio of sister ships, Olympic, Titanic, and Brittanic. This episode, without as much historical repetition, is fascinating and I learned much about the apparently cursed ships.

All in all, you get your money's worth, and it's surely some thing you'd like to add to your DVD collection!!

DVD:

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