God Grew Tired of Us

Average customer rating:

Its all about pespective

Quite Moving

Footprints of an Exodus

heartwrenching and ultimately uplifting

God Grew Tired of Us
Starring: John Bul Dau , Panther Bior , and Daniel Abul Pach
Director: Christopher Quinn
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
All Sony Pictures Titles | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

God Grew Tired Of Us: A Memoir

A Journey to Darfur

POV: Lost Boys of Sudan

Darfur Diaries: Message From Home

Miss Potter

ASIN: B000R8YC22
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Product Description

An award-winning, critically acclaimed film, narrated by Nicole Kidman, God Grew Tired of Us explores the indomitable spirit of three "Lost Boys" from the Sudan who are forced to leave their homeland due to a tumultuous civil war. The film chronicles their triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities and a relocation to America, where the Lost Boys build active and fulfilling new lives but remain deeply committed to helping friends and family they have left behind.

Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John Bul Dau, Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Blor were among the 25,000 "Lost Boys" (ages 3 to 13) who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. Named by a journalist after Peter Pan's posse of orphans who protected and provided for each other, the "Lost Boys" traveled together for five years and against all odds crossed into the UN's refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. A journey's end for some, it was only the beginning for John, Daniel and Panther, who along with 3800 other young survivors, were selected to re-settle in the United States.

Customer Reviews:

Its all about pespective.......2007-09-10

I picked up this movie as an after thought at a video store. To be honest I thought it was going to be a regular movie and was disappointed when I realized that it was a documentary. But all of that changed after a couple of minutes of listening to these remarkable boys/men. A very good friend of mine said that the best way to appreciate your country is to leave it for a while.

In this case we get the perspective of those that have never been here and come from such a tragic history. It really brings perspective to yourself.

One thing that stuck in my mind was a lady's question to one of the men at a community pool. She asked him if he noticed that he had more "freedom" here than there. I think in America we are somewhat ignorant of what goes on "out there". Not everything is about "freedom" like freedom of speech or fear of being wrongly prosecuted, or freedom of religion. That is true with respect to communism or dictatorships. These boys may have had greater "freedom" of opportunity, but they were not persecuted while living in Kenya. Yet most Americans must think that everything out there is about freedom and it is not. Most freedom people seek is freedom from poverty yet I bet you that is not what she meant.

That is not a criticism on the movie however. The movie is fantastic and I highly recommend it.

Quite Moving.......2007-08-24

In America we keep being informed about what type of tragedies have happened and still do, in Africa, whether because of diamonds or religious disputes. This documentary takes it much further, I think. It portrays, what is possible, on top of the past, through help of others and through ones love for his own culture. Positively educational.

Footprints of an Exodus.......2007-08-19

The American experience takes on a whole new meaning when it is embraced by another culture. If necessity is the mother of invention, then America is the modern inventor of the immigrant nation with open arms. Immigrants have fled their countries out of want and persecution for nearly two centuries. What makes `God Grew Tired of Us' so captivating is that it traces the footsteps of refugees fleeing war, poverty, and persecution ravaging Sudan since 1983. Due to the keen editing of Johanna Giebelhaar and Geoffrey Richman, this nearly flawlessly paced documentary zeroes in on three male refugees who make their way to America and find a bewilderingly different life. ("The good-hearted people of America asked us to be there.")

Using footage of the aftermath of the civil war between northern Muslim Arabs and the beleaguered southern Christians, we are shown long lines of refugees taking what little they have to Kenya where ghostly, emaciated figures wait warily in new lines for relief. Displacement adds to their anxiety as relatives become unaccounted for. Always concretely laying down the foundation of history, the film unflinchingly gives one a front seat to their predicament.

Enter Daniel Abol Pach, Panther Bior, and John Bul Dau. They are the movie's central focus. Like a few others, they are invited to the United States and offered the amenities of an apartment, a chance at employment, and the perks of our material benefits. Daniel and Panther live in Pittsburgh; John lives in Syracuse. It is a fascinating culture shock, one that shows their innocence in the face of our technology and their resolute determination to retain their culture. (As one example we see almost quiet awe as their guide explains indoor plumbing.) Always taking steps forward in opportunity, we see them work, experience bigotry, and come to terms with our way of life. ("America is a very strange place...[but] if you can manage, it`s a land of opportunity." --John Bul Dau)

While they thrive materially, they also experience separation anxiety. Much of the time is spent showing their efforts to improve conditions for their relatives and countryman of Kenya. Interviewing each man at key times is at the core of the movie. Each man is articulate about his anxieties and aspirations throughout. Visually the men's testimony is backed up by footage that is poignantly presented.

Writer/Director Christopher Quin has assembled a flowing presentation that lives up to `The National Geographic' name. 'God Grew Tired of Us' is profoundly titled for John's reflection of the Armageddon qualities of their native plight while he buried the dead at the tender age of ten. It is also our ticket to a broader horizon and better understanding. (Nicole Kidman narrates.) Fascinating.

heartwrenching and ultimately uplifting.......2007-08-18

This movie blew me away. Words cannot convey how meaningful this movie was. I will be buying copies for friends and family this Christmas. Please see it and prepare to be moved.

Average customer rating:

Classic Carey Grant movie
A movie the whole family can enjoy....
CLASSIC MOVIE
Classic Cary Grant
Great Movie!!!

Father Goose
Starring: Cary Grant , Leslie Caron , Trevor Howard , Jack Good (II) , and Sharyl Locke
Director: Ralph Nelson
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Romantic Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00005N910
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Amazon.com

Cary Grant's penultimate feature before retirement was this cheerful 1964 effort to overturn his career-long image of urbane sophistication. As the unshaven, messy misanthrope Walter Eckland, a World War II-era beach bum who monitors Japanese air activity for the Australian navy in exchange for booze, Grant makes a convincingly hard-bitten, hard-drinking antihero. Until, that is, a pretty French schoolmistress (Leslie Caron) and her seven little charges (all girls) survive a nearby plane crash and invade Eckland's raunchy isolation. Directed by 1960s hit-maker Ralph Nelson (The Lilies of the Field, Charly), Father Goose is a glossy comedy that also does justice to its more suspenseful scenes (a deadly snakebite suffered by Caron's character is especially memorable) and leaves plenty of room for Grant to indulge in some entertaining if atypical screen behavior. All in all, this is a minor treat in the actor's magnificent filmography. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Classic Carey Grant movie.......2007-08-23

I loved this movie! I saw it as a kid when I was 12 or so and it was the first Carey Grant movie I saw. Only later as an adult did I get the humor of that scene with him teaching her how "to fish." That was a riot!
Love this movie, it's a comedy classic.

A movie the whole family can enjoy...........2007-07-13

This was the first film my parents took me to see as a kid. It was funny to me then and it still makes me laugh today. Cary Grant plays this boozed up guy just kicking back on a South Pacific Island during WWII. He reluctantly signs on as a lookout for the allies watching for the enemy. He answers a distress call which turns out to be Leslie Caron and her 7 girl students. What happens next is fun and entertainment for all to enjoy--a great romantic comedy and probably one of Grant's funniest. I believe the scene where Grant teaches Leslie Caron how to fish with her bear hands was the first "wet t-shirt" scene, tastefully done. A classic romantic comedy. This 1964 film won an Academy Award for Best Story and Best Screenplay.

CLASSIC MOVIE.......2007-06-24

A FINE MOVIE IN THE STYLE OF THE GREAT ARTISTS, NOW SADLY GONE TO BE REPLACED BY UNWHOLESOME FILTH.

Classic Cary Grant.......2007-05-30

This is one of Cary Grant's finest movies. Hilarious fun for the entire family.

Great Movie!!!.......2007-05-16

I was practically raised on this movie. I have so many memories of watching it with my grandpa, and the movie never loses it's sense of excitement for me. While not sure if I am truly a Cary Grant fan, I still absolutely adore this film. It's one of those things that I can't get out of my system. I could watch this movie repetitively until I die, and still never get enough!!!1

Average customer rating:

Heartbreaking
Award Winning Performance by Cheadle...
A film that is worth repeated viewing
Hutus & the Blowfish
EXCELLENT FILM! WELL DONE!

Hotel Rwanda
Starring: Xolani Mali , Don Cheadle , Desmond Dube , Hakeem Kae-Kazim , and Tony Kgoroge
Director: Terry George
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0007R4T3U
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Amazon.com

Solidly built around a subtle yet commanding performance by Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda emerged as one of the most highly-praised dramas of 2004. In a role that demands his quietly riveting presence in nearly every scene, Cheadle plays real-life hero Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in the Rwandan capital of Kigali who in 1994 saved 1,200 Rwandan "guests" from certain death during the genocidal clash between tribal Hutus, who slaughtered a million victims, and the horrified Tutsis, who found safe haven or died. Giving his best performance since his breakthrough role in Devil in a Blue Dress, Cheadle plays Rusesabagina as he really was during the ensuing chaos: "an expert in situational ethics" (as described by critic Roger Ebert), doing what he morally had to do, at great risk and potential sacrifice, with an understanding that wartime negotiations are largely a game of subterfuge, cooperation, and clever bribery. Aided by a United Nations official (Nick Nolte), he worked a saintly miracle, and director Terry George (Some Mother's Son) brings formidable social conscience to bear on a true story you won't soon forget. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Once you find out what happened in Rwanda, you'll never forget. OscarÂ(r) nominee* Don Cheadle (Traffic) gives "the performance of his career in this extraordinarily powerful" (The Hollywood Reporter) and moving true story of one man's brave stance against savagery during the 1994 Rwandan conflict. Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things) co-stars as the loving wife who challenges a good man to become a great man. As his country descends into madness, five-star-hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Cheadle) sets out to save his family. But when he sees that theworld will not intervene in the massacre of minority Tutsis, he finds the courage to open his hotelto more than 1,200 refugees. Now, with a rabid militia at the gates, he must use his well-honed grace, flattery and cunning to protect his guests from certain death. *2004: Actor, Hotel Rwanda

Customer Reviews:

Heartbreaking .......2007-08-29

What a powerfuly well done movie to tell the story of people and the country that were ignored.
Aching for the suffering children.

thank you for producing such a powerful film.

Award Winning Performance by Cheadle..........2007-08-08

This gut wrenching movie is based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a five star assistant hotel manager in Africa who spent his life being accommodating to the rich, famous and powerful clientele of the hotel Mille Collines in hope that one day he could call on them to help his family.

All hell breaks loose in 1994 just before the president is assassinated. Following this begins the unbelievable genocide raged against the Tootsis people. Paul has to think fast on his feet to keep his wife and children alive (they are Tootsis, he is Hutu). His actions surprise even himself. Without expecting it, Paul becomes a humanitarian, saving over 1000 refugees by hiding them in the hotel while over 800,000 Tootsis were being slaughtered.

The act of killing so many people seems incomprehensible. Hotel Rwanda's disturbing content deals with the dark side of humanity. It did not try to over shadow the horror with flying limbs and splashing blood like they could of. It focuses instead on the emotional and psychological turmoil of the main characters and those within the hotel. This is one of the best films I've ever seen. Don Cheadle is superb as Paul Rusesabagina and this important story is something that you'll remember and want to talk about. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

A film that is worth repeated viewing.......2007-07-20

This isn't a perfect film, but it does come very close. It makes a few unnecessary changes to the actual event, such as the identity of the commander of UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda. The fictional Colonel Oliver comes across as rather dry and emotionless, which bears no relations to the actual commander in charge of the peacekeeping mission, Romeo Dallaire. As a study of a man who changed from bystander to rescuer however, the film is very useful. Comparable to some of the lessons I have learnt about rescuers during the Shoah (Holocaust).

Hutus & the Blowfish.......2007-07-05

Or, "Sir, would you like some DEATH with during your stay?"

Yes, Don Cheadle owns, quietly, every scene in this flick.

Yes, director Terry George & vet cinematographer Bob Fraisse (who served up the kinetic street warfare in "Ronin") cook up a little deadly cinematic ghoulash. They evoke, vividly, the feral sink of depravity that was Rwanda in 1994, when more than a million Hutus & Tutsis were slaughtered in an orgy of ferocious destruction, turning the land into a reeking abattoir.

But in the end, so what? What is the point here?

If the point is that something Horrible happened in Africa---well, folks, get over it. Something horrible is always happening in Africa: ask the Sudanese in Darfur, where a brutal genocide against the south is carried out by the Muslim Janjaweed militia, who have slaughtered nearly a million in the last two years, who take delight in refining their tactics of rape and carnage.

Or ask the Cambodians, whose skulls their former God-Emperor Pol Pot used to stack by the millions, as if building little bony towers to heaven, even as liberal lion Noam Chomsky apologized for him.

Or dial up the thousands of Iranian students huddled in broomclosets in Iran, who are regularly beaten, abducted, tortured, and killed for daring to voice dissent to the Mullahocracy's iron rule there.

I'm sure you would have heard outrage had you parachuted into Iraq before April 2003---muted, because an Iraqi expressing his revulsion for Saddam's death camps, torture factories, & rape rooms would have been in danger of apprehension by the hated secret police---and maybe had his tongue pulled off for his troubles.

What happened? The UN dithered & stalled (just as it did with Rwanda, as it does with the Sudan), despite Saddam's violation of more than 13 separate sanctions over the past decade. Eager to remove Saddam---for his atrocities, for the threat his intransigent regime posed the US, and for his probable secret WMD program (moved to Syria while the US waltzed with the UN for fruitless months)---the US took action, and deposed the tyrant in weeks.

Did the US mishandle post-war Iraq? Absolutely. But for its troubles, the US, and particularly President Bush, received nothing but international vilification: for saving millions of Iraqis from torture & tyranny, Bush was branded "a new Hitler". Liberal 'experts' now assure us we have no place remaining in the middle of a "civil war".

You know, a 'Civil War'. Just like in Rwanda. Or in the Sudan.

Which is why this type of movie, however beautifully acted, however balefully true, however illlustrative of the savagery of Man at his worst---its appeal eludes me. Does it make you feel righteous, weeping over the long-buried dead, while ignoring those about to be shoveled into the charnel pit? Does it make you feel oh-so-sweet-sanctimony?

Remember this, then: the next time you weep into your popcorn over cinematic bloodshed: when another tribe, another people, face the cameras with tears in their eyes and bayonets in their backs & beg rescue from a weary West, the answer will likely be: "Sorry, it's none of our business. Try the UN."

JSG

EXCELLENT FILM! WELL DONE!.......2007-07-04

I did not know much about this movie before I watched it. I was completely engrossed in the story and characters. A well made folm that probably hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. The DVD transfer is very good.

Average customer rating:

Actor Activists share the drama of Darfur

A Journey to Darfur

Manufacturer: The Nostalgia Network, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

ASIN: B000TA1L54
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Amazon.com

In April 2006 veteran journalist Nick Clooney was asked by his son, George, to accompany him to the troubled region of Darfur. The goal was to shine a light on the modern day genocide occurring in this remote and desolate region of Africa. They went unannounced; without press, without escort and without security, just Nick, George and cameraman, Mike Herron, a personal friend. This documentary is an account of their journey, the stories of unimaginable violence that have befallen the Darfurians and the courage of the aid workers who struggle to provide relief to two hundred thousand refugees. The documentary also provides background on the crises and the efforts of individuals and groups to stand up and say, "Not on our watch!"

100% of AmericanLife TV's proceeds on the sale of this DVD go to www.notonourwatchproject.org. NOOW was created by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Jerry Weintraub to support existing humanitarian relief efforts and to ensure the protection of civilians in Darfur.

Customer Reviews:

Actor Activists share the drama of Darfur.......2007-08-23

As is typical, we are skeptical of actors turned activists: visions of Angelina Jolie or Madonna in Africa promoting their careers by doing "Good" and so on. In "A Journey to Darfur" we see George Clooney and his father visiting the camps in Chad and Darfur and sharing the heart wrenching story of the camps with American viewers. This short, yet powerful film is well done and can easily be used in classrooms across America to help explain the problems facing this region. Clooney's star appeal is used to truly do go and shed light on the tragedy. It is my hope that because of Clooney's participation in this project many more will know, understand and then act to help the people in Darfur and end the Genocide.

Average customer rating:

Into The Heart of the Darkness...
Tears of the Sun Cries for Action!
Apalling racist claptrap
Solid Entertainment
A Better Version

Tears of the Sun (Special Edition)
Starring: Bruce Willis , Monica Bellucci , Cole Hauser , Eamonn Walker , and Johnny Messner
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Jungle Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000095WW8
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com

While it offers nothing new to the military action genre, Tears of the Sun distinguishes itself with fine acting, expert craftsmanship, and seriousness of purpose. Its familiar "extraction mission" plot is essentially similar to that of Black Hawk Down, involving a crack team of U.S. Special Ops commandos struggling to rescue innocent missionaries amidst the bloody horror of Nigerian ethnic cleansing. With Bruce Willis as their grizzled, no-nonsense commander, the skillful team enters a hot zone that gets even hotter when their "package"--an American national (Monica Bellucci) who runs the isolated mission--demands that 70 Nigerian villagers be included in the rescue. Willis's uneasy conscience leads him to defy orders and expand his mission, and in an ambitious follow up to Training Day, director Antoine Fuqua escalates tension and strike-force with considerable emotional impact. Originally considered as a potential entry in Willis's Die Hard series, and released on the eve of America's war with Iraq, Tears of the Sun admirably avoids jingoism with its rousing story of personal good vs. political evil. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Into The Heart of the Darkness..........2007-08-25

2003's "Tears of the Sun" was released just prior to the start of the current war in Iraq; the timing and its setting in a civil war-torn Nigeria probably denied it the attention this well-crafted and tough-minded movie deserved.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, "Tears of the Sun" features Bruce Willis as a Navy SEAL team Lieutenant and Monica Belluci as the American missionary doctor his team is sent to rescue. The setting is yet another non-combatant evacuation of American citizens from a troubled African country. As with any military mission, there are rules of engagement. Willis's boss, a crusty Navy Admiral nicely played by Tom Skerrit, tells the SEALs to get in, rescue the American, and get out without becoming involved in the local conflict.

Willis's team saddles up, enters the jungle by helicopter, locates the mission and the American doctor, and encounters their first complication. The doctor refuses to leave without the Nigerian refugees in her care, who will be slaughtered by rebel militia if left behind. The war-weary but compassionate SEAL leader elects to defy his orders and try to escort the refugees to safety at the nearest land border.

Thus begins a grim journey, as the SEALs shepard the refugees through a gauntlet of jungle infested by murderous rebel militia, repeatedly betrayed by a traitor among the refugees. The SEALs will demonstrate their combat skills in a series of battles with the militia, motivated by their growing empathy for the refugees.

Fuqua's direction is fast-paced; the action sequences are often brutal but adroitly staged. Willis is stoic and entirely believable as the SEAL team leader; the sarcasm of "Die Hard's" John McClane would have been inappropriate here. The conflict between Willis and his boss over the rules of engagement looks contrived in the face of the admiral's repeated efforts to help the SEAL team, but the real message may have been intended for those political leaders who averted their eyes from bloodbaths like Rhwanda in an earlier time.

This movie is well-recommended as an above-average action thriller with emotional content.

Tears of the Sun Cries for Action!.......2007-07-29

Tears of the Sun ranks as one of my favorites in my DVD collection as being one of the most beautiful filmed movie and action/adventure thrill ride with well casted Good and Bad guys that never lets up. Well written and directed by the director of Training Day and the newer Shooter, the screenplay was above average too.

But I didn't give it a 5-star rating becuase I wanted to see more of the Bad guys. They looked mean and colorful, but they were never delved into. I like books and movies where the bad guy's characters are covered, making them more interesting.

But Tears of the Sun will not only thrill you, but also horrify you at how realistic the approach is to the reality of this situation in Africa.

Apalling racist claptrap.......2007-07-18

Having chosen to set it in a real country, Nigeria, the movie then proceeds to play Nigerians as 'bad, evil' people who will commit atrocities because they can; the breakaway Igbo people as inherently good, but in need of protection from Americans; the last member of the Igbo royal family (the Igbo do not have a royal family) as a snivelling coward, until given a stiff talking to by Bruce Willis, helping turn him into a man; the Igbo desperate to assure the Americans that they are good people who will never be forgotten; and the Americans defenders of right against wrong.

Solid Entertainment.......2007-06-15

This was a good enough movie - pretty solid acting, entertaining in most spots. However, I noticed this movie wasn't filmed anywhere near Africa -it was filmed on the island of Kauai (pretty tough eh?)

A Better Version.......2007-06-13

This Director's Extended Cut is much better than the theatrical release. This version places the film in a more understandble political context in Nigeria than merely rebel troops running after "indigenous" personnel. The Director's cut added scenes which explains how the story unfolded as oppose to a mere military action flick in the theatrical release.

Average customer rating:

"Sometimes in April is the book-Hotel Rwanda is a chapter"
Excellent, bone-chilling movie.
Powerful and moving film
Never again?
Beats the pants of Hotel Rwanda

Sometimes in April
Starring: Idris Elba , Carole Karemera , Pamela Nomvete , Oris Erhuero , and Fraser James
Director: Raoul Peck
Manufacturer: HBO Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $7.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0007R4SYU
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Amazon.com

A clear-eyed look at the Rwandan genocide is offered in Sometimes in April, a frank take on the 1994 slaughter that claimed upwards of 800,000 lives. Some overlap with Hotel Rwanda is inevitable, and this HBO feature does have similarities, but without the strong suspenseful storyline of Hotel. Its protagonist (the strong Idris Elba, from The Wire) pieces together the past tragedy from the perspective of a decade-later war-crimes tribunal, where his brother is on trial. It's hard to know which is less bearable--the depiction of atrocities, such as mass murder at a girls school, or the second-guessing of the international community, which largely stood by while the horror was unfolding. (Like Hotel Rwanda, this film zeroes in on the U.S. government's distinction that "acts of genocide" occurred in Rwanda rather than "genocide," a Joseph Heller-like absurdity.) The plain style of director Raoul Peck, shooting on location in Rwanda, works for the subject; his film Lumumba was also a direct, blunt account of a tragedy in Africa. The approach doesn't work as well in the U.S. scenes, which feature Debra Winger as a concerned official; these just look clumsy. But the subject itself remains worthy of close attention. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

"Sometimes in April is the book-Hotel Rwanda is a chapter" .......2007-08-27

A couple of years ago, Paul Rusesbagnia (sp?), the gentleman whose story
inspired "Hotel Rwanda" spoke at a local college. Afterwards at the reception, I asked him what he thought of this film in comparison to his biopic "Hotel Rwanada" and he replied in his usual eloquent fashion, "Sometimes in April is the book-Hotel Rwanda is a Chapter."

Anyone who has seen both films to compare will agree.

Essentially, this is a slightly fictionalized tale of two brothers during the Rwanda massacre that began in April 1994 (thus the title). The evil brother agitates tribal genocide over the radio and the good brother risks his life to shelter victims of the madness that follows. In comparison to Hotel Rwanda (and not taking anything away from that film), this does a better job of explaining the backstory of what led to the Rwanada massacre for those who aren't familiar.

In either case, this is a fine (albeit occasionally heart-wrenching-as it should be) story of the dangers of listening to demagogues and man's inhumanity to man. The scene with the little girls pleading for their lives in the church will truly change your life, as well as this movie itself. Watch this film and heed it's warning.

Excellent, bone-chilling movie........2007-08-25

This true "reality" movie is a vivid portrayal of a devestating time in a former peaceful,beautiful land and people. It should remind us that genocide can happen to any group anywhere. If we are not watchful, history will once again be repeated while good people look the other way.

Powerful and moving film.......2007-08-23

Having spent a month in Rwanda this past year, and having a decent background on the genocide, I thought that the film did an excellent job of capturing Rwanda (in terms of appropriately using Kinyarwanda language) and in capturing the horrors of the genocide without dwelling too much on the blood and gore. The scenes that jumped from the past to the present were a nice way to release the tension of the killings while still continuing the storyline. I have been told by friends in Rwanda that Sometimes in April is a more accurate account of the genocide than Hotel Rwanda, but both are worth watching.

Never again?.......2007-08-15

Butchers everywhere (and yet a part of the human spirit is redeemed). A memorable film about, yet again, another late 20th-century genocide.

Beats the pants of Hotel Rwanda.......2007-06-16

Hotel Rwanda leaves you feeling upbeat, like "Thank god, someone did something." This movie makes you feel like shit. You end up disgusted with humanity. It is realistic, and there is no bright spot at the end of the tunnel.

For Love or Country - The Arturo Sandoval Story

Average customer rating:

Flawless
for the love of country
Terrific movie
Emotional journey
worth it for the hotties!

For Love or Country - The Arturo Sandoval Story
Starring: Andy Garcia , Mía Maestro , Gloria Estefan , David Paymer , and Charles S. Dutton
Director: Joseph Sargent
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $5.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00005ALS5
Release Date: 2001-04-17

Amazon.com

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story chronicles the life of a man torn between his home and his devotion to his music. In a Golden Globe-nominated performance, Andy Garcia portrays the gregarious, passionate, and obstinate Arturo Sandoval, the Grammy-winning Cuban trumpet player.

This HBO film shows how Sandoval's life in revolutionary Cuba is affected--beginning in the early 1970s--by his zeal for his music and by the limits placed on him by his homeland. Representing his torn loyalties are Dizzy Gillespie (the enigmatic jazz musician played by Charles S. Dutton) and Sandoval's wife, Marianela (played by the beautiful Mia Maestro). Gillespie embodies the freedom to follow one's dream, while Marianela represents family loyalty and the ideals of the Castro revolution. Yet, the same regime his wife embraces forces Arturo to play government-imposed music instead of the jazz that he loves. Sandoval travels the world, and while the Cuban government profits from his success, he is exposed to a freedom that eventually draws him to the difficult and life-changing decision he and his family feel compelled to make.

Against a backdrop of beautiful scenery and exceptional music, For Love or Country provides a harsh depiction of revolutionary Cuba, its outmoded lifestyle, and the restrictions placed on its people. --Mindy Ruehmann

Customer Reviews:

Flawless.......2007-08-22

A great movie to be seen time and time again. One of the best you'll ever see.

for the love of country.......2007-04-12

This is a very touching true story played beautifully by Andy Garcia.
If you are cuban, you will have a special interest in this film.

Terrific movie.......2007-01-18

This movie reveals a poignant love story as developed under the repressive regime of Fidel Castro. The music and development of characters provides excellent entertainment as well as education
into the worlds of music and Communist politics. Andy Garcia is
not only a talented actor but an excellent trumpet player as well.

Emotional journey.......2005-10-30

Since I have been unable to locate an address in which to write Mr. Garcia to explain how this film touched me, I thought this might be the next best thing. As a "natural born" citizen of the United States, I often feel overwhelming guilt for the suffering of the people who live in countries ruled by dictatorships and tyranny, while I enjoy innumerable freedoms here. Mr. Garcia has brought us a film that inspires hope, courage of conviction, and raises our awareness of the suffering still going on in his birthplace without bringing the stinging guilt that such a movie usually instills in me. I cried, then paced my apartment, then searched the Web for hours trying to find a way to contact Mr. Garcia to tell him that his message is received and appreciated.
The story is so amazing, it is almost difficult to believe that Mr. Sandavol not only lived it, but managed to see his whole family emigrate to the U.S. Thank you, HBO and Mr. Garcia, for telling a story that deserved to be told.

worth it for the hotties!.......2005-05-22

This movie deals with the fascinating subject of Cuba-US relations. Like Navratilova (sp?) and Baryshnikov (sp again?), Sandoval is a star from a Communist country who defected to the US. But more importantly, this film has the following hot actors of color in it: Charles Dutton, Stephen Bauer, Miguel Sandoval, and Andy Garcia.

Average customer rating:

Somber film noir mystery
Solid Suspense that Keeps Us Wondering: Paranoia or Real Peril?
Lady in the dark
Good stuff.
Rebecca's gaslight suspicions revisited (recommended)

House on Telegraph Hill (Fox Film Noir)
Starring: Richard Basehart , Valentina Cortese , William Lundigan , Fay Baker , and Gordon Gebert
Director: Robert Wise
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B000CNE08I
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Description

House On Telegraph Hill is an intriguing cliffhanger set in a spooky Victorian mansion below Coit Tower in San Francisco.

Victoria Kowelska (Valentina Cortese) has lived through World War II bombings and relocation camps, and has finally emigrated to America. Now, she should be blissfully happy with her devoted husband (Richard Basehart) in their mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, but Victoria is not who she seems, her child belongs to someone else, and her husband and housekeeper are frightening her half to death.

Customer Reviews:

Somber film noir mystery .......2006-12-28

Using contrasted black and white cinematography director Robert Wise created the proper mood for a film noir theme in "The House on Telegraph Hill". Noir femme fatale Victoria Kowelska played by Valentina Cortesa was an unfortunate Warsaw born native who endured the horrors of WWII and incarceration in the Belsen concentration camp. Upon her liberation she assumed the identity of her closest friend who had passed away in the camp, Karin, who had sent her young son Chris to relatives in San Francisco prior to the war.

After a hard life in refugee camps she made her way to America where she learned that Karin's and now her great aunt was the matron of a huge family fortune. The son Chris was the sole heir seeing that the old woman had recently died. Ambitious and unctuous relative Alan Spender played by Richard Basehart was appointed the young boy's guardian. In a whirlwind romance Basehart and Cortesa are soon married and move into the palatial Victorian mansion atop Telegraph Hill. Cortesa and the the boy Chris played by Gordon Gebert hit it off but all is not well.

She befriends Basehart's longtime acquaintance Marc Bennett played by William Lundigan who is his lawyer and actually met Cortesa as a major involved with repatriating European refugees. She needs a friend because she almost immediately butts heads with the sinister and sketchy Margaret, the young boy's governess, played by Fay Baker. Cortesa also is becoming paranoid that Basehart is trying to kill her when the brakes in her car fail.

It all turns out well in the end as a righteous twist in the plot rights all that was wrong.

Solid Suspense that Keeps Us Wondering: Paranoia or Real Peril?.......2006-09-20

"House on Telegraph Hill" is a gothic suspense loosely based on Dana Lyon's novel "The Frightened Child". Sometimes categorized as film noir, this film is only vaguely so. It's very much in the mold of "Gaslight" or Hitchcock's "Rebecca" and "Suspicion" in placing a possibly paranoid woman in an imposing house with an inscrutable husband and a series of suspicious accidents. Is she the victim of foul play or simply neurotic? The film was conceived as a vehicle for Italian actress Valentina Cortesa, who struggled with her English but gives as strong a performance as the script allows. The art direction by John De Cuir and Lyle Wheeler was nominated for an Academy Award. The façade of the "house on telegraph hill" that appears to overlook the San Francisco Bay was assembled over top of real buildings on that very site. The interior of the house is a set, but the antique Victorian furnishings are real.

In 1939, Victoria Kowelska (Valentina Cortesa) lost her home and husband to the German advance. In a concentration camp, she befriended a fellow Polish woman named Karin de Nakova whose infant son was sent to live with a rich aunt in the United States before the war. In spite of Victoria's efforts to keep her friend healthy, Karin died before the camp was liberated. Victoria assumed Karin's identity and tried to contact her aunt in the US, only to learn that Aunt Sophie had died. Four years later, Karin arrives in the US and finds that Aunt Sophie's American nephew Alan Spender (Richard Basehart) adopted young Christopher (Gordon Gebert) and lives in the aunt's grand mansion on San Francisco's Telegraph Hill. Alan romances Karin and proposes marriage, which she happily accepts. But, between Christopher's possessive governess (Fay Baker) and odd occurrences around the house, Karin begins to suspect that Alan wants her dead. She turns to sympathetic ex-Army officer Maj. Marc Bennett (William Lundigan), whom she knew in Germany, for advice.

We know that Alan married Karin/Victoria in order to secure his inheritance. And Karin married Alan for wealth and security. We can hardly blame them for this mutually beneficial arrangement. Alan is always polite and generous toward his wife. He seems to be concerned about her happiness. Could he be a cold-blooded killer with no regard for life, not even a child's? Or have Karin's constant struggles for life in the deplorable conditions of the concentration camp made her pathologically fearful? We don't know if the danger Karin sees is real or imagined. She doesn't either. And this really works. The film's ability to keep us guessing is its strength -along with the spectacular house. Valentina Cortesa has a warm, appealing presence. Richard Basehart is charmingly ambiguous. I think that Karin's confused emotions could have been stronger. "House on Telegraph Hill" is not the caliber of "Rebecca", but it is a solid suspense nonetheless.

The DVD (20th Century Fox 2006): Bonus features include 4 still photography galleries (5 posters, 38 production stills, 52 behind-the-scenes, and 9publicity stills), a theatrical trailer (2 ½ min), and a good, nearly constant audio commentary by film noir historian Eddie Muller. Muller provides some interesting tidbits about the cast, points out what footage was left out of the film, and comments on the art direction. Muller also offers some criticism of the film's early scenes and weak aspects of the script. His observations of what would have made this film stronger and also more "noir" are spot-on. Subtitles are available for the film in English and Spanish. Dubbing available in Spanish.

Lady in the dark.......2006-06-19

Intent on making a star with this vehicle out of the unusual Italian actress Valentina Cortese, Fox opened up its coffers for THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL and also used some of their finest technical talent: the gowns, the sets, and the cinematography are absolutely first-tier, and the director, Robert Wise, does his usual intelligent tricky work with editing to make this woman - in - jeopardy film extraordinarily compelling. The script seems to be a mélange of several 40s melodramas, including REBECCA, GASLIGHT, DRAGONWYCK and (most of all) SUSPICION, but the film's excellent use of its San Francisco locale helps tremendously, as does Cortese's extraordinary performance as the guilt-ridden concentration-camp survivor who steals another woman's identity.

Good stuff........2006-06-11

The story is a little convoluted and Richard Basehart's main asset is his voice. But this is a good and entertaining little period piece with great San Francisco views. I was amused to discover the house was actually a made over version of a restaurant I'd eaten in on several occasions.

Let me also mention that what makes these Fox Film Noir DVDs so good is Eddie Muller's commentary. This guy knows everything about these films, actors and directors.

Rebecca's gaslight suspicions revisited (recommended).......2006-06-07

This is a reminder of man's inhumanity and the suffering caused in WWII. When one has lost all family and personal possessions, desperation can move one to take liberties with the truth for survival's sake. But what is one to do when such deception has been trumped by the people living in one's own HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL? With a torturous concentration camp background, it is plausible that others may be easily convinced that the immigrant is cracking up. When help is needed, who can be trusted while personally living a lie in a new country?

The viewer sees events through the eyes of the immigrant Victoria Kowelska (Valentina Cortese). Following a bit of early over-dramatization in the concentration camp, Victoria assumes the identity of a wealthy benefactor named Karen. After her marriage to Alan (Richard Basehart), Karen/Victoria attempts to prove a murderous cover-up is taking place and her own life is in danger. At the same time, others are either trying to make her believe that everything is normal or that she is delusional.

Mrs. Danvers' contempt in REBECCA, the "murderous" attempts in SUSPICION, and the effort to convince Paula she was going insane in GASLIGHT find corresponding scenes in HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL. As events unfold, subtle twists may catch you off guard but the history of prior classics may render some conclusions obvious. Nevertheless, the presentation does not borrow to such an extent to make it a rehash. It is more like a tribute to favored classics with sufficient new settings for a good degree of suspense.

I do have some minor criticisms. A few unresolved scenes, like the reaction to obvious scrapbook tampering and why evidence of an explosion remains for years, are left to the viewer's imagination and logic. Deathbed confessions in closing scenes attempt to sew up most loose ends. Major Marc Bennett (William Lundigan) seems too friendly too quickly and appears nonchalant about every twisted development.

Film transfer is very good but not great. (Specs and occasional posterization/pixelization in dark tones.) With these factors and the aforementioned plot borrowing I deduct a star from an otherwise entertaining suspense movie.

Movie quote: "I make no excuse. I felt Alan was attracted to me and I was prepared to take advantage of it."

Average customer rating:

Beyond The Gates

Beyond the Gates (Unrated)
Starring: John Hurt , Louis Mahoney , Dominique Horwitz , Nicola Walker , and Jack Pierce
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000RW3VDY
Release Date: 2007-09-18

Description

Based on true events during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, an exhausted Catholic priest (John Hurt) and a young idealistic English teacher (Hugh Dancy) find themselves caught in a literal and spiritual crisis. They have to choose whether to stay with the thousands of Tutsis about to be massacred or to flee for safety.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond The Gates.......2007-08-09

Of all the dramatic films on Rwanda out there, not that there are so many, but this one blends well the elements of story and drama that are found in Hotel Rwanda and Sometimes in April. I think the balance given in this film is the best. However, I still think we need a film that stars African actors and allows them to give greater feeling to the situations. Even still, Beyond the Gates, known in UK as "Shooting Dogs" does well to bring across the horrors of genocide.

Average customer rating:

John Wayne vs. Chinese Communists
:)
Blood Alley
John Wayne does The African Queen--in China
Blood Alley

Blood Alley
Starring: Lauren Bacall , George Chan , W.T. Chang , Anita Ekberg , and Paul Fix
Director: John Wayne , and William Wellman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

1950s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000O599XU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Description

An American merchant marine captain ferries a group of Chinese refugess down the Yangtze River to escape the Communists.

Customer Reviews:

John Wayne vs. Chinese Communists.......2007-06-14

In the 1950s, patriotic, conservative actor John Wayne joined the bandwagon of those who believed that Communism was a serious threat to the U.S. These were the days of the cold war and McCarthyism. While some, such as Senator McCarthy, used the "Red Scare" for political purposes, there were those, such as Wayne, who were sincerely concerned about Communist threats. Historians are still debating whether the threats were real or not. It didn't matter to John Wayne or studio head Jack Warner, who agreed to make a series of films dealing with the perceived dangers of Communism.

Some of the anti-communist films Wayne made for Warner Brothers, such as "Big Jim McLain," seem very dated and even silly at times, but "Blood Alley" remains a good action adventure film with some real twists. Wayne again worked with veteran director "Wild Bill" Wellman, who had directed one of Wayne's most popular films, "The High and The Mighty," the previous year (1954). Wellman, who had directed the first film to win a Best Picture Oscar way back in 1927, "Wings," was nearing the end of his career. Although Wellman's energies were clearly diminishing, he still managed to put some exciting touches into the film, along with charm and humor, as he depicted how Wayne led a group of Chinese villagers to freedom on a battered, aging ferryboat, from the People's Republic of China to Hong Kong (then still a British crown colony).

Wayne was paired for the first time with Lauren Bacall, who was then married to the legendary Humphrey Bogart. (Years later, they again worked together in John Wayne's final film, "The Shootist.") While the romantic elements are shaky in the film, they clearly worked well together. Bacall often played strong, determined women and this is one of her better performances. Wayne and Bacall were joined by a mostly Chinese cast, along with an emerging young actress named Anita Ekberg, who would later achieve some notoriety in her famous wading scene in "La Dolce Vita." Try and spot Ekberg in the film; she is heavily made-up as a Chinese villager. Another non-Chinese actor in the film is beefy Mike Mazurki, who often played heavies or sidekicks in films; this is one of Mike's more likeable characters, as he assists Wayne on the ferryboat.

Of all of Wayne's anticommunist films, "Blood Alley" is probably the best because it is entertaining and exciting. Underscoring the action is a very enchanting musical score by Roy Webb, who benefited from the excellent Warner Brothers studio orchestra.

:).......2007-04-10

This is so cheesy and hammy, that I love it. Also, it helps that is was shot quite beautifully. "The bleeding heart of China--you can pin one on me, baby." Or something to that effect. Delightful cheese.

Blood Alley.......2007-02-12

I enjoyed the movie, even though I have seen it many times, it is still an excellent movie to watch. Lauren Bacall and John Wayne are some of my favorite actors.

John Wayne does The African Queen--in China.......2006-06-20

This is probably one of Wayne's lesser-known films, but it's still a good thrilling adventure. He plays Tom Wilder, an "old China hand" who has been knocking around the seacoast of China in just about anything that will float for most of his adult life--until the Chinese Communists took over, confiscated his old freighter, and imprisoned him for two years. All that has kept him sane and unbrainwashed is his imaginary companion, "Baby," to whom he talks throughout the film. Without warning he gets a mysterious note advising him on escape. Provided with a Russian uniform and a handgun, he slips out of the prison and is ferried by sampan to the village of Chiku Shan, whose people, led by elder Mr. Tso (Paul Fix) and their American friend Cathy Grainger (Lauren Bacall), daughter of a doctor who has recently been shanghaied off to treat an important commissar, have made up their collective mind to defect en masse to Hong Kong. What's more, they have a plan: hijack an ancient sternwheel ferryboat (on which Tso's nephew, the American-trained Tack (Henry Nakamura), is Chief Engineer) that plies the straits to Amoy. But, with no charts, they need a captain/navigator, and that's where Wilder comes in.

The creativity with which Wilder and the villagers carry out their program is perhaps the best part of the film. (Watch for the way they trap and cripple the local patrol gunboat to give themselves time to get away.) But even before they set out, there's peril from the Reds (a detachment of their soldiers searches the village for Wilder, who bayonets a straggler when he attempts to assault Cathy) and the necessity of working out from memory a crude chart of the course the boat will have to follow (which Wilder does on the back of one of Dr. Grainger's anatomical charts, furnished by Cathy's maid SuSu (Joy Kim)). There's also the issue of the Fengs, the local collaborationist family, who have to be taken along because the Reds would blame them for the escape of the village and probably kill them all--"even the little ones." The ferry herself--a 19th-Century vintage craft manufactured in Sacramento and named after their abandoned home by the villagers--is almost as much a character as any of the people, and they too make the movie worth a look: SuSu, who tries to get Wilder interested in "Missy Cathy" and, when he jokingly turns the tables on her and claims it's she who sets him afire, indignantly tells Cathy that "Captain Sailor-Man" is "clazy...full of ginger;" Tack, a slangy, cigar-smoking expert who can make his ship do things she wasn't designed for and has trained a "black gang" (engine-room crew) consisting entirely of his own cousins right under the nose of his Communist captain; Old Feng, who persuades his family to poison the refugees' food supply; scholarly Mr. Tso; and tough, loyal Big Han (Mike Mazurki), whose cheerful presence brightens several scenes. There's an "African Queen"-ish sequence in which the villagers, male and female together, literally cordelle the ferry through the reed marshes like a keelboat in order not to betray her presence by burning fuel, and a thrilling battle in the wheelhouse in the midst of a raging thunderstorm when two of the Fengs try to overpower Wilder at the wheel, only to be foiled when Tack, in the engine room, hears the ruckus through the speaking tube and sends up a couple of his cousins as reinforcements. And the sequence in which the villagers come aboard--bringing with them all their goods and chattels, from pigs and goats and poultry to carved furniture and golden household Buddhas to several small machine guns acquired Heaven-knows-how--is reminsicent of a similar scene in Heston's "Ten Commandments." Though no longer Politically Correct in these days of official recognition of "the Mainland," it's a good adventure film and one families can enjoy together.

Blood Alley.......2006-03-23

One of John Wayne's best. If you like "The Quite Man," this should be part of your collection too!

DVD:

DVD

DVD