Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

Masterful Hong Kong action director John Woo (The Killer, Face/Off) turns in this exciting and pyrotechnic tale of warring gangsters and shifting loyalties. Chow Yun-fat (The Replacement Killers) plays a take-no-prisoners cop on the trail of the triad, the Hong Kong Mafia, when his partner is killed during a gun battle. His guilt propels him into an all-out war against the gang, including an up-and-coming soldier in the mob (Tony Leung) who turns out to be an undercover cop. The two men must come to terms with their allegiance to the force and their loyalty to each other as they try to take down the gangsters. A stunning feast of hyperbolic action sequences (including a climactic sequence in an entire hospital taken hostage), Hard-Boiled is a rare treat for fans of the action genre, with sequences as thrilling and intense as any ever committed to film. --Robert Lane

Description

A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to bring down a gun smuggling ring. Features some of the most amazing and influential action set pieces in cinematic history.

Customer Reviews:

Important film that didn't age well..........2007-08-12

When Hard Boiled came out as a theatrical release I was blown away. It was utterly unlike any other film I had seen up to that point. Now though it's been imitated so many times, both by Hollywood and by Woo himself, it just doesn't hold up. It plays almost as a parody of itself.

It's worth seeing because it is such an important milestone, but don't be surprised if your memory of the film is stronger than the film itself.

A good introduction to the "Heroic Gun Play" genre.......2007-08-12

This was my first experience with a movie from the "Heroic Gun Play" genre. I'm not a fan of American action pictures, so I had always shied away from John Woo's Hong Kong action flicks. I now see that I have definitely missed some great movies (I'm female, so a bunch of guys shooting guns at one another was never something I thought I would get into). I decided to give the movie a look because Tony Leung is my favorite actor at the moment and I knew that he co-starred in the film. Actually, Leung and Philip Kwok Choy (the killer Mad Dog in the film AND the action director) steal every scene they share with Chow Yun-Fat. Now I want to check out some of the Shaw Bros. films Kwok Choy was in to see more of this martial arts actor.

Maybe it is the surprising emotional complexity Leung brings to the film and the exhilerating action sequences (and that the killing looks so fake), but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. As a neophyte, the commentary and 3 interviews added to my understanding and enjoyment of the film. Since this is a cult film, I understand that die-hard fans of Woo and this particular film might be disappointed in various aspects of the presentation (this isn't a Criterion 2-disc premium treatment, afterall). But, as an introduction to this film, to Woo 's heroic gun play pictures and to the world of Hong Kong action films, it is as good a place to start as any. I am definitely looking forward to viewing other John Woo HK films.

Not the "Ultimate" but Awesome Nonetheless.......2007-07-31

For those of you lucky enough to own the Criterion Collection edition of this movie, you might want to hold onto your copy as none of the extras from that edition are included on this one. That being said, the video and audio on this version easily surpass any previous Region 1 incarnations making this edition a must-have for fans of the movie.

The first disc features an audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan. He shows off his impressive knowledge of HK geography by pointing out which locations in the film don't exist anymore and their significance in the country's culture. Logan also dishes out interesting factoids, like the teahouse in the opening sequence was going to be demolished and this happened right after they filmed the last scene in the place! As with other commentary tracks that he has done his encyclopedic knowledge about the film and HK cinema in general is quite impressive, making for an informative track.

Disc two starts off with "A Baptism of Fire: A Featurette with Iconic Director John Woo." He was a big fan of Steve McQueen in Bullitt and Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and with Hard Boiled; he wanted to create his own Dirty Harry. Woo wanted to make Chow Yun-Fat like Eastwood's iconic character but with the Asian actor's warm charisma.

"Partner in Crime: An Interview with Producer Terence Chang." He talks about how he met Woo in the late 1970s but that they didn't start working together until ten years later. Chang also talks about the genesis of the film which was originally a psycho who kills baby (?!). Fortunately, after they filmed the teahouse shoot-out, Chang convinced Woo to discard this idea.

"Art Imitates Life: An Interview with co-star Philip Chan," the actor who played Tequila's boss in the film. He was real policeman before getting into film and brought that authenticity to his role. He actually ran a team of undercover cops and speaks admiringly of working with Woo.

"Mad Dog Bites Again: An Interview with Leading Villain Kwok Choi." He talks about working with Woo on the film. Originally, he was hired to only design the action sequences but Chow Yun-Fat recommended him to play the villain's right-hand man.

"Hard Boiled Location Guide": takes us on a fun, fascinating tour of many of the locations from the movie. Some places, like the teahouse (which is now a mall), don't exist anymore and a little historical background is given to some of the places.

Also included are two trailers, the U.S. and Hong Kong versions.

Finally, there is "Stranglehold Video Game Mini-Making Of." This is the John Woo-approved sequel to Hard Boiled that allows you to play Tequila. This extra shows how deeply involved he was in the game's production with Chow Yun-Fat returning to provide the voice for his character!

One of the greatest action films of all time.......2007-07-29

Undoubtedly one of the finest action films ever made, Hard Boiled tops every single slam bang, big budget, mainstream action film you have ever seen. Chow Yun-Fat stars as a super tough cop on the trail of the murderous triad, only to learn that an up and coming triad soldier (Tony Leung) he has his sights set on is an undercover cop who gives the term deep cover new meaning. As loyalties shift and the bullet and body count rise, the two team up and help provide some of the most dynamic and exciting action scenes ever put to film, including a standoff at a hospital that concludes in a barrage of blood, bullets, glass, and incredible carnage. Before he came over to America and helmed watered down mainstream action films like Broken Arrow, Mission: Impossible 2, and Paycheck (personally, the only film of his I've liked that he's made over here is Face/Off), John Woo crafted the amazing action scenes that you've heard so much about with this film. This double disc Ultimate Edition released under the Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label features a nice selection of extras (yet no commentary from Woo or Chow Yun-Fat) including an examination of how much Hard Boiled has influenced the action genre over the years. To this day Hard Boiled remains a masterpiece, and if you're an action junkie who has never seen the film before, you need to pick this up immediately.

Nice enough release of this Hong Kong classic........2007-07-25

Forget the reviewer claiming that they cropped the picture and then stretched it back out. He probably doesn't know how to work his wide screen TV or hasn't set his DVD player to enhance anamorphic DVD's. Cropped and stretched? What a silly notion. And as for the subtitles, they seem to be pretty much the same as the Criterion version which wasn't bad, but not anamorphic. Unless you speak fluent Cantonese, how in the hell could you ever know which version was the most accurate? This release has the best transfer of the film to date, and I've owned four copies of it including this Dragon Dynasty edition. The colors are rich and the the images are sharp. This is the best version for your money, unless you want to wait for the Blu-Ray edition. I hate it!!!

Average customer rating:

Robin Trower Living Out Of Time
BEST
If you're a Trower fan, DO NOT MISS THIS ONE
Excellent Dvd for Robin Trower fans
Excellent

Robin Trower - Living Out of Time: Live
Starring: Robin Trower
Manufacturer: Ruf Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B000BPK2MA
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Product Description

LIVING OUT OF TIME:LIVE (TROWER,ROBIN)

Customer Reviews:

Robin Trower Living Out Of Time.......2007-08-16

Finally Trower On DVD! He's not a young man any more ,But he still sounds great.Davey Pattison does a fine job on vocals . This is one any Trower fan would be glad to have . I Know I am .

BEST.......2007-07-01

If you like music....if you like guitar...if you like loud rock....then quit reading and buy.

If you're a Trower fan, DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.......2007-06-15

He's only gotten better as he's gotten older (and wiser). This is a pretty intimate club show in Europe (Germany?) recorded for television, but the production quality is pretty good and the audio outstanding. He's flawless, through new material and old, and the trio is tight for all but one very brief couple of measures on one tune. I've always been a huge fan of his music, but have had limited exposure to video of it. I'm even more of a fan now, having seen this. There is a pretty interesting interview segment after the show as well.

Excellent Dvd for Robin Trower fans.......2007-05-25

Robin is older, but still rockin out. He plays some old and new music.

Excellent.......2007-05-23

Sound, Vision, and Song-List are all great. Well balanced 5.1 sound and 16 x 9 widescreen. New songs and old favorites all sound fantastic. The singer is well matched to the sound of the 1970's live album.

Robin Trower is in my top 10 guitar legends, along with Gilmour and Clapton.

Average customer rating:

classic Bronson
Bronson plays "The Streetfighter" during the Depression in New Orleans
hard times
Hard Times - full screen UGH !!!
Excellent Film

Hard Times
Starring: Charles Bronson , James Coburn , Jill Ireland , Strother Martin , and Margaret Blye
Director: Walter Hill
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Sports | 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: 0767824555
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Amazon.com

Walter Hill's colorful directorial debut has quite a cult following for its toughness and violence; it may well be his best film, in fact. Charles Bronson plays a silent street fighter in New Orleans in the '30s managed by the cool James Coburn. Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, and Michael McGuire costar in this spare existential Depression dirge. It owes a lot to its noir origins that Hill adores so much, yet there's something very fresh and vital about its subject and approach. That's really what made so many of these films from the '70s so endearing. An added bonus is the love and affection displayed by the real-life husband and wife team of Bronson and Ireland. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

classic Bronson.......2007-07-16

Great movie about a middle aged man doing what he has to do to survive in the great depression.

Bronson plays "The Streetfighter" during the Depression in New Orleans.......2007-06-28

"Hard Times" was Walter Hill's 1975 directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay. His preferred (more accurate and better) title was "The Streetfighter," as it was/is known in Europe. Hill went on to do more popular films like "The Warriors" (1979) and "The Long Riders" (1980). The reason I was interested in checking out "Hard Times" is because it had garnered a bit of a cult reputation over the years (although not as cult-ish as "The Warriors").

THE PLOT: Charles Bronson plays a poor drifter/loner (Chaney) during the Depression who travels by boxcar to New Orleans. He spies an illegal bare-knuckle fight in a warehouse and offers his fighting talents to a fast-talking gambler, James Coburn (Speed). Bronson proves himself a formidable and profitable fighter, but Speed can't hold on to money because of his gambling addiction and is in constant trouble with the mob.

One thing that's amazing is that Bronson was 53 freakin' years-old when the film was made, yet physically looks better than most guys half that age. Bronson's beautiful wife, Jill Ireland, plays his love interest (as usual) and was 39 years old at the time.

Although very little is revealed in the film about Chaney's past (we know he had experience as a coal miner), it becomes fairly certain that he had a lot of experience with bare knuckle fighting. We know this because he is supremely confident of his skills despite his age. Chaney is not big or ultra-muscular, but he's fearless, calmly self-controlled, doesn't bleed easy and expertly knows how to READ other fighters. Chaney's weakness is that he's a loner and doesn't talk much, hence he NEEDS Speed to do the talkin' for him and set up matches in order to make money from his uncommon skills.

I first saw "Hard Times" two years ago and thought it was good, but I didn't quite get the 'great cult film' hoopla. Perhaps I wasn't prepared for the ugly/dirty Depression era sets and New Orleans locations; or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a fight film. I just saw it again, however, and all I can say is, NOW I 'get' it.

"Hard Times" has numerous memorable scenes, lines and characters. I was highly entertained throughout its 90 minute runtime -- grinning, frequently busting out laughing and even clapping (huh?). Speaking of the runtime, I love it when pictures aren't needlessly overlong.

Here's one sample of some of the great dialogue: Chaney's date asks him what he does for a living. Chaney simply responds that he makes money by knocking people down. She mockingly asks, "What does it feel like to knock somebody down?" He brilliantly replies, "It makes me feel a hell of a lot better than it does him."

Although Chaney is depicted as a likable, honorable, bold and compassionate person, his downfall is that he is unable to make long-term commitments, preferring to be "free" and mysterious. [SPOILER ALERT! -- THE REMAINDER OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND THE NEXT TWO] Because of this flaw he ultimately loses his beautiful girl to someone else. He then leaves New Orleans as mysteriously as he came, albeit now a streetfighting legend and carrying a lot of cash.

The ending leaves many questions to ponder: What prompts Chaney to change his mind and try to save Speed by taking on an expert fighter from Chicago? Didn't Speed dig his own pit? Chaney himself angrily told Speed that he didn't owe him anything. Perhaps, as Chaney laid on his bed under the ceiling fan in his dump of an apartment, he realized that maybe he DID owe Speed for granting him the opportunity to utilize his talents and make money. In other words, without Speed he wouldn't have had his success. Perhaps he decided he wanted to make even MORE money in one final fight before leaving New Orleans. Possibly, it dawned on him that, although Speed is certainly to blame for his own problems, Chaney realized that he had fallen into his OWN-dug pits in the past and needed someone to help him get out. Or maybe he realized that, in all the world, he had less friends than can be counted on one hand and felt it was his duty to help Speed (and Poe) out.

Regardless of his reasons, the ending expertly shows Chaney's loyal and generous character. He may be a man of few words, but he certainly CARED about those connected to him, even if they were severely flawed addicts and con-artists. Heck, he even LOVED his cat!

[END SPOILER ALERT]

FINAL WORD: "Hard Times" is truly worthy of its cult film status. Enjoy!

hard times.......2007-01-11

I returned the one purchased in October 2006, because I ordered a VHS
at $4.99 and you sent me a DVD at over $18.00 for which you gave
me a credit.

I ordered a DVD last December at $7.99 plus $2.59 delivery which I
received, but why do I have to pay over $17.00 for it????????

Hard Times - full screen UGH !!! .......2006-11-04

DO NOT BUY THIS DVD ! Although I throughly enjoy this movie and the characters are as good as they get in movies...Hard Times in the "full screen" format does not do this movie the justice and appreciation it deserves.

Excellent Film.......2006-11-03

"Hard Times" is an excellent piece of work by director Walter Hill. The cast is excellent and it is one of the few good films Charles Bronson made with his wife Jill Irelend.

The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)

Average customer rating:

The Charles Dickens Collection
Dickens Package 1
Dickensian Delights
opinion
lovely , region 1 only

The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)
Starring: Ben Rodska , Scott Funnell , Eric Porter , Frank Middlemass , and Lysette Anthony
Director: Gareth Davies , Pedr James , and Ross Devenish
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B0009PVZMS
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Amazon.com

As can be clearly seen from the care lavished on these six BBC adaptions of Charles Dickens' novels, the British love their Dickens! And why not--Dickens is ideally suited to television, with his elaborate but vigorous plots, each a compendium of comically odious personalities (and one or two nice folk, just to keep things from getting too awful). Actors dig into these meaty roles with zeal, delighting in the hairpin turns from macabre horror to sweet sentiment. The more popular (and most frequently adapted) of the books at hand--Great Expectations and Oliver Twist--are the most conventional. The 1981 mini-series Expectations (in which young Pip learns the pitfalls of wealth through his relationship with the rich and bitter Mrs. Havishamand and her warped ward, Estella) is dutiful to its source but not adapted with much inspiration. Twist, from 1985, fares better; it's a zippy treatment of this tale of childhood deprivation and juvenile delinquency, and the horrors of Victorian orphanages will raise your hackles. The adaptation is capable but a little flat--still, any story where an undertaker observes, "Every tear is another shilling in the till," is clearly not lacking in wicked wit.

Fortunately, the others are considerably juicier: Martin Chuzzlewit, a lesser-known but richly satirical book, has a star-studded production from 1994, featuring Paul Scofield, Tom Wilkinson, Pete Postlethwaite, and Julia Sawalha, among others. The wealthy Martin Chuzzlewit, deeply suspicious of all mankind due to being hounded by greedy, grasping relatives, threatens the happiness of his ward Mary and his namesake grandson. In addition to the sterling and energetic cast, Chuzzlewit has outstanding production values, as does the 1998 version of Our Mutual Friend, which goes to great lengths to evoke the textures of life in Dickens' London. The mysterious death of a man about to inherit a great fortune sets in motion a complex plot that intertwines two love stories (it's one of Dickens' most romantic works), social scheming, and murderous obsession. The names aren't quite as famous (such as Paul McGann, Timothy Spall, Anna Friel, and Keeley Hawes), but the performances are top-notch and the script is particularly dynamic.

Bleak House, a Kafka-esque story of young innocents caught in an all-consuming, multi-generational lawsuit, cultivates a rich and potent Gothic horror; the 19th century seems like an unnerving alien world, through which lawyers and policemen stride like cruel predators. Diana Rigg is the most famous face in this 1985 production, but strong performances abound. The final component of this box set is the most curious: A 1994 version of Hard Times starring Alan Bates and Richard E. Grant, which turns this dark story--about a schoolmaster/politician who raises his children on reason at the expense of all feeling and finally reaps the bitter rewards--into a compact, theatrical feature film that's so swift it's almost jaunty. Adapted and directed by Peter Barnes (writer of The Ruling Class), it's the most stylized production of the bunch, and while lacking the depth and narrative detail of the others, it effectively cuts to the essence of Dickens. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

The Charles Dickens Collection .......2007-08-31

Great condition. brand new! Wonderful product and great stories.

A must see and definitely "family friendly".

Dickens Package 1.......2007-06-27

This collection is an embarassment of riches. Each story is divided into several episodes which take time to view and absorb. So far we have only viewed "Bleak House" and "Our Mutual Friend". Both are excellent and capture the steamy world of Dicken's London. I think I am constantly amazed at the attention to detail that the Brits recreate in historical drama. And of course there is the wealth of character playing for which Britain has always been famous. A really excellent series.

Dickensian Delights.......2007-06-02

This collection is wonderful, you can "watch" these novels over and over, faithful to Dickens in tone, plot and spirit -- Highly recommended.

opinion.......2007-06-02

I've just bought the collection, I've seen 3 movies so far, they're great, faithful to the books I've read. They come with cc(closed caption)so it helps the understanding. I watch a film and read the book. They're perfect for those who are really into literature. I highly recommend them.

lovely , region 1 only .......2007-05-08

The dark stories about the impossible lives of the unfortunate makes it a kind of films that will glue anyone to the chair. BBC serieses are not like any other film, and I simply escape to anothr world every time I watch.
Had to watch it in my computer though, since it was not my region( not even after I changed the region in my "region free" DVD player ) which also means I had no subtitles either. A good computer screen is needed for that purpose.

Average customer rating:

More fun that it should be
This movie was dragged out
Thoughful action movie with a likeable cast! Great Rental!
Hard Rain!
A lame, predictable movie

Hard Rain
Starring: Morgan Freeman , Christian Slater , Randy Quaid , Minnie Driver , and Edward Asner
Director: Mikael Salomon
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Disaster Films | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | 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

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

ASIN: 6305222894
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Amazon.com

It may not be a disaster movie, per se, but this terminally silly thriller is certainly disastrous, and would be pointless without the novelty of its setting in a flooding Midwestern town during a torrential rainfall. Physically impressive but idiotic in every other respect, the movie pits an armored truck courier (Christian Slater) against a smart leader of thieves (Morgan Freeman) and a corruptible town sheriff (Randy Quaid) who are vying for possession of $3 million in cash. A waterlogged game of cat and mouse, the plot is so contrived that even the most impressive action sequences--such as a jet-ski chase through flooded high-school corridors--are robbed of their already tenuous credibility. Before long you'll be yawning as incompetent accomplices are systematically dispatched by their own stupidity, in the kind of movie where the use of power boats inevitably leads to at least one death by outboard motor. What's impressive here is the physical production itself--the effect of flooding was created by building a huge replica of downtown Huntington, Indiana, in a huge, watertight aircraft hangar in Palmdale, California! --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

More fun that it should be.......2007-03-14

While this isn't a great movie it tries so hard to keep you involved that it becomes much more fun than it should be. Christian Slater has always been someone that is fun to watch and here he proves it. Here he's an armored car guard, who with his uncle Ed Asner is taking money from banks around a town that is flooding very fast. Enter Morgan Freeman(always good no matter what) as a very friendly(?) thief who "just want the money" and throw in Randy Quaid as a not so Andy Taylor small town sheriff and then add more water than "Titanic" and "Poseidon" and you have silly but action packed fun. Sit back , turn off the brain , and enjoy "Hard Rain"

This movie was dragged out.......2007-01-16

The movie was not horrible but I would not watch more than once.

Thoughful action movie with a likeable cast! Great Rental!.......2006-05-01

A great, action movie for a Friday night with a likeable cast! Christian Slater is actually a very good choice for this movies' lead. Mainly because he's kind of like an everyman, regular guy like Bruce Willis' character in "Die Hard" (ironic that Hard is in both titles), who's forced into incredible situations. He does the best he can using his wits and cunning along with above average physical strength,without having or using the advantages of huge, bulging biceps and pecs like Arnold or Sly's characters seem to have in equally similar movies. Minnie Driver is at her most beautiful in this one!! If you fell in love with her intelligence, combined with the refined beauty she displayed in "Good Will Hunting", then this is the movie for you!! You should rent it just to see her at her peak of perfection! Her relationship to Christian Slater is very believable and they play off of one another very well. Randy Quaid is a believable sheriff and Morgan Freeman is a decent bad guy but, it's the constant threat of rain and the Dam breaking that gives the movie its constant tension. The action is extremely good and it's just an all-around good flick to watch on a Friday or Saturday night! Highly recommended!!!

Hard Rain!.......2005-10-09

What a dandy of an action film! Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Minnie Driver and especially Randy Quaid were all very good! Edward Asner, Ray Baker, and Betty White were good! Cool action! Beautiful rain and lighting! Great music by Christopher Young! Hard Rain is a must see.

A lame, predictable movie.......2005-08-12

I saw this at Blockbuster for rent and saw Morgan Freeman's name on it so I decided to rent it. I thought it was going to be a solid thriller but boy was I wrong.
This movie is an action movie, and one really unrealistic movie. Morgan Freeman is great as usual and there is some fun. But, the movie is predictable, unrealistic, dumb and has bad acting. Christian Slater's acting was horrible and Morgan Freeman can't save the movie. The plot is neat, in which an armored truck transports a lot of money in a huge flood. But, some crooks hold it up to steal the money. The problem is that the officer in the truck won't let them off so easy and tries to bring the money to where it's supposed to go.
I had the movie predicted 10 minutes into it and the movie had no suspense or anything. All it was, was Christian Slater beating everyone up. It had some good chases but besides that and some ok action, it was a bad movie.
It's not even worth renting because of its terrible acting, predictability, and basically everything about it.
Morgan Freeman is good but this movie degrades him. This movie is mindless junk but not good mindless junk. Commando is good mindless junk but this isn't. Forget this movie and just act like it doesn't even exist. This movie isn't interesting at all and I recommend never watching it.

Dream Theater - Images and Words Live in Tokyo / 5 Years in a Live Time

Average customer rating:

interesting footage, bad quality
Excellent - worthy for fans, essential for diehards.
2 Priceless DT Dvd's...for the Price of 1. Hmmm, lemme think about it.
Muy Bueno
Good 2-in-1 pack.

Dream Theater - Images and Words Live in Tokyo / 5 Years in a Live Time
Starring: Dream Theater
Manufacturer: Warner Strat. Mkt.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000286SCO
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Description

With their progressive metal style and exceptional musicianship (learned at the Berklee School of Music) Dream Theater grew to prominence with their MTV hit "Pull Me Under" in 1992. During that time Dream Theater developed a rabid fan base that remains with them today - especially when it comes to their mind-blowing live shows. This 2 DVD set, Images And Words: Live In Tokyo/5 Years In A LIVEtime, is a must-own for any Dream Theater fan. The 2-DVD set is jam-packed with over 3 hours of footage: live performances along with 6 music videos and memorable behind-the-scenes interviews.

Customer Reviews:

interesting footage, bad quality.......2006-06-19

This is a good DVD. It contains lots of rare performances, music videos, and 3 hours of band commentary. The only problem is the sound quality, which is dreaful. Because of the EQ, John Petrucci sounds paper thin, Myung can barely be heard, and James sounds horrible (partly because he "screams" half the songs and partly because of the way it's mixed in). For fans who have a genuine appreciation of Dream Theater, this DVD is worth it. For mere casual fans or new fans who are just getting to know the band now, I'd recommend "Scenes From NY" or "Budokon" instead.

Excellent - worthy for fans, essential for diehards........2006-02-06

It's a great proposition all around: two videos that had been waiting for a DVD release for years, from one of the most intelligent metal bands around, remastered for stellar sound and combined for a good price. 5 Years in a Livetime is almost a nostalgia trip as Dream Theater goes - Jordan Rudess hadn't entered the picture yet - but the definitive Images & Words is as great now as it was in 1992, and the Live in Tokyo video captures that brilliance magnificently. If you're already a fan, this package recommends itself.

The I&W video alone is worth buying this set for, even if some stretches suffer from MTV-style editing with rapid shots. It's nice to have some footage from the recording of I&W and life on the road, plus videos for a couple songs, but they're interwoven with the live stuff rather than kept separate. (Do we really need "Pull Me Under" twice in the course of one video? Couldn't it be an extra?) Not that this should stop you of course. "Wait for Sleep" alone is worth hearing because it gets the full-band treatment, "Surrounded" sounds even more magical than the original and "Ytse Jam" seriously burns. A couple tunes from their debut album are also much improved here, esp. "A Fortune in Lies."

5 Years might not merit repeat viewing as much, but there's still some great musical content here, including some live songs from Falling Into Infinity (still their most underrated disc) and a killer "Metropolis pt1." There's some footage from their all-covers 1994 show, with stellar performances from Steve Howe and the two Steves from Marillion. (Bernie from Napalm Death also drops in for a cameo, although they could have gotten almost the same result from simply plugging in a blender.) Even better is the stuff from a special unplugged show in '95, since we get some rarities: "Cover My Eyes," "Speak to Me," "To Live Forever" and an incredible "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream."

Highly recommended for the good stuff. The rest is still a bonus.

2 Priceless DT Dvd's...for the Price of 1. Hmmm, lemme think about it........2005-10-23

If this ran through your mind after seeing this deal, and you are, to some degree, a Dream Theater fan, than you need to set your priorities straight. Heh. Just kidding, but this dvd is a must for all Dream Theater fans-to-be, or existing ones. I've been a fan of the band since I was hit with the impervious album, Scenes From A Memory, and have bought 6 more of their studio albums since then, and now...this baby. But my point exactly is, you don't have to be this familiar with their material to enjoy this DVD. Both are absolute gems in their own rights, and now that they've released this package deal for such a low price, there is no reason not to buy it at all.

Here is why:
First of all, the Dvd, 5 Years in a Livetime, is pretty long, but not too bad. Just a few hours of concert footage, about another hour of precious behind-the-stage coverage, bonus information, historical facts, some of their music videos, coverage of each bandmember's instruments, and then some more footage of fun little things you'll want to play over and over and over for kicks, adding up to about 30 hours of watching and re-watching. Not too bad, right? Right? I mean, Geez. Just take a glance at the song list, and prepare to poo in your pants. Actually, wait. I meant to say: "Prepare to poo in your pants, and THEN look at the song list." That makes more sense. Then, before you start crying tears of utmost joy, take look at the second Dvd. What a great way to top off the whole package, huh? Well worth the money, I'd say.

This stuff is amazing. The band players have all mastered their instruments. They play like gods, they write technically impossible music, they have some of the most emotional and powerful lyrics I've seen these days, and somehow, in the end...they pull it off flawlessly- and not just in the studio, but on the stage as well. I can't stress enough how much you will enjoy this Dvd combo, man. I really can't. So, once you've massed up the money (I believe it's about 15 dollars or so), treat yourself to a great Dvd, and enjoy it for a long time. Or, do what I do sometimes, and pretend to buy it for my parents, and then "borrow" it for a few years. (Just kidding).

Lastly, I want to thank you for reading my review, and thank you for supporting Dream Theater, my favorite band in the world. I hope you were able to stay awake in the process. And ALSO: before I shut up, here are a few of their other works I highly recommend, just in case you aren't planning to stop at these Dvd's: Scenes From A Memory, Octavarium, Images and Words, Awake, and both of the Liquid Tension Experiments (The Theater without James Labrie and a different bassist).

Thanks again for reading my review. See ya later, dude.
-Lazzerothe

Muy Bueno.......2005-08-09

Esta bien entretenido. Solo deberia tener un poco mas de orden.
Por el resto lo recomiendo para los fans.

Good 2-in-1 pack........2005-06-25

5 Years in a Live Time surely was a good documentary/concert dvd, with enough live presentations, rarities and video clips to enjoy. Now with the extra addition of the always-wanted-in-dvd-format Images and Words Live in Tokyo this pack becomes a must for the collectors and DT fans, and a great presentation card for those interested in knowing this prog-metal band. Most important, you'll never get bored with these Dvd's, watch'em over and over.

Average customer rating:

A Chinese Die Hard
A classic
New Re-Release on the way
THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great action, messy plot...

Hard Boiled
Starring: John Woo , Chow Yun-Fat , Tony Leung Chiu Wai , Teresa Mo , and Philip Chan
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00004W458
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A Chinese Die Hard.......2007-06-28

Hard Boiled was the last film John Woo did on location in Hong Kong before his eventual move to Hollywood. Part reaction to the escalating violence Hong Kong was experiencing at the time, the film pays homage to the Hong Kong Police.

Starring Chow Yun Fat and Tony Lueng as two policeman out to stop an arms smuggling triad. The two actors exhibit all of the characteristics of any actor in Woo film. Woo also uses his trademark filmmaking style and ulta violence to make his points. Look for freeze frames and Sam Peckinpaugh like slow motion throughout the film.

This is not for the squeamish or those not fond of gun violence. Approximately 100,000 blanks were fired making the film and the body count tops 200. Part of the point here is that violence affects us all. Bystanders are not spared by Woo. The only hope may lie in the next generation. Woo states in his commentary track that this is why he often employs infants in his films. Woo says that he was angered with the Hong Kong situation at the time of filming and his anger shows.

The version I viewed was the Winstar edition. The quality of the transfer was fine but the subtitling could have used some improvements. However, we find out in the commentary that Woo is not too concerned with dialogue he would rather have images tell the story. The sound is also adequate. We have a mono track that would really be improved by at least a stereo remaster. This is not the best edition of the film out there but unless you are willing to shell out the big bucks for the out of print Criterion this is the best you are likely to get.

This edition has production notes and filmographies, trailers for Hard Boiled and The Killer and an excellent commentary track by Woo and Terrence Chang.

Worth seeing.

A classic .......2007-03-28

This movie truly is a classic action movie. Chow Yun Fat at his best. I loved it. Be warned, Dragon Dynasty is re-releasing a 2 disc edition in July with all new bonus features.

New Re-Release on the way.......2007-02-24

I love this movie so much. I haven't watched it in a while mostly because I have a widescreen TV and the old Criterion version is non-anamorphic. The good news is that Dragon Dynasty will be re-issuing this John Woo classic in May. I cannot wait and those of you who can't find it, stop wasting your money on ebay and stop spending way too much. You'll be able to get your own very soon. Start the countdown...

THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-01-27

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER MADE! JOHN WOO IS A MASTER DIRECTOR. CHOW-YUN-FAT IS THE MAN. THIS MOVIE HAS THE BIGGEST BODY COUNT IN ANY MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIS IS ACTION FILM-MAKING AT ITS UTMOST FINEST. DEFINATELY ONE FOR ANY HARD-CORE ACTION FANS COLLECTION.

Great action, messy plot..........2006-12-27

This was the last film John Woo made in Hong Kong before he left for Hollywood (which has royally screwed him over, but that's another review). Many people debate whether Hard Boiled or The Killer are Woo's best. My money is on The Killer, but I still really admire the hell out of this film. It has some of the most amazing action sequences ever committed to celluloid. Are they realistic? Absolutely not. One of the funniest things about Woo films is that the characters rarely, if ever, reload their guns. The teahouse shootout is a great example. Yun-Fat picks up the bad guys' guns, and fires at least 40 rounds or so with each gun. Automatic guns hold 10 bullets or so in a clip, so where Yun-Fat found the extra clips is unknown at this point. The plot of this film leaves quite a lot to be desired. The film was a troubled production. The original script had Tony Leung's character as a pyschotic killer who was planning on poisoning little children by tampering with baby formula. After shooting the teahouse shootout, the film shut down for a month, and a major rewrite took place. They ended up making Leung's character an undercover cop. This was due to the fact that Chow Yun-Fat thought the Hong Kong public would find a baby killer too disturbing. Woo agreed, and shut down the film (Hong Kong films are quite similar to Hollywood in that respect). A lot of this film doesn't make an ounce of sense when Leung's character kills many people, just in order to stay in character. I'm not really sure about that. Thematically, the film is a mess. But the opening shootout at the teahouse, the warehouse raid, and the utterly amazing shootout at the hospital (it lasts nearly 45 minutes, including an unbroken take of 2 minutes and 42 seconds) make this film worthwhile. This film didn't have as much depth as Woo's other Hong Kong work, but it still manages to outdo all Hollywood films in terms of character and depth.

Average customer rating:

Doesn't Come Close to "OZ" ...but
Doing Hard Time
Unrealistic, but worth a look ;>)
Pretty Boy Boris Visits Oz
An "OZ" rehash movie - but a very good one!

Doing Hard Time
Starring: Boris Kodjoe , Michael K. Williams , Sticky Fingaz , Reagan Gomez-Preston , and Jazsmin Lewis
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00061I28U
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't Come Close to "OZ" ...but.......2007-04-09

OZ, in the opinion of someone I know who was in prison, was closer to reality than most of these American-made prison flicks which are so afraid of REALITY and sex, and usually brush over or totally leave out the one thing that is VERY IMPORTANT to every man in jail.

I've been told there is so much sex in prison, men get more of it there than they get in real life. Funny how hetero males "transfer" so quickly behind bars and suddenly don't find male/male sex so "disgusting."

I liked this movie, regardless, but I'm a reality freak. Give me ALL of it and tell it to the young so they'll know what to expect. It might just keep them from breaking the law.

The acting here isn't anything special, but Boris Kodjoe proves that he SHOULD take more acting lessons, perhaps he can cross over and become as big as Denzel Washington. There aren't many black "matinee idol" types gracing the screen these days. In America, they'd rather put Flava Flav in a big movie than someone like Boris Kodjoe.

Doing Hard Time.......2006-07-10

Really good movie Starring Boris Kudjoe. Impressive preformace for Kudjoe going outside the box doing a film about a professional brotha taking the law into his own hands after the death of his son. Wow I really enjoyed Mike Williams from the show, The Wire (HBO). The movie Doing Hard time was a good drama which should have gone to the theatres. I am glad I saw and brought the movie. I recommend this as a must see.

Unrealistic, but worth a look ;>).......2005-03-01

The only thing that made this movie "credible" was the acting from the dude with the cornrows from "The Wire" -series by Hbo-.
He plays that H-mo thug on that show, although he is constantly typecasted as a "knuckle-head-grimy individual" he does it superb,he kept this movie gangsta when it was "soft".

Story goes like this,Boris Kodjo loses his son in a gangwar crossfire and Kodjo's character "Michael Mitchell" starts to lose it sort of mentally and just can't cope. He eventually loses his wife too when she can no longer deal with his constant drinking and giving up on life mentality as a result of his son's death. There is a a supposedly "dramatic" scene where he is ying in a bubble filled bathtub crying and drinking himself into a "stupor" ala a bottle of jack Daniels..but the scene looks more like he was awaiting his wife to come and join him in the tub and get busy...and Boris (sorry to say)
CAN'T ACT his way out of a paperbag! I mean the crying scenes looked like he was laughing, no tears, oh god!
People like him fall into the "Lucky" territory,
you have no talent but just got "lucky" and it never hurts to
get by on looks neither.

He then plans his revenge on doing research on how to make a "paper machaey" gun???? that blows fire when you attach a rubberband to it??? like a sling-shot...I'm sorry I didn't get that part..they got too "MacGuyer" right there.
He gets pulled over one day for drunk driving,gives the cop a WICKED beatdown with an 8-ball in a sock...then sent to jail....the SAME jail that the gangbangers responsible for his son's death are at. And then the movie turns into "Bad Boys"...the Sean Penn version...you know the rest.

Anyways Boris Kodjo co-produced this movie so that's why he's on the cover art to lure the chicks in...but he is honestly bearly in the movie until towards the end (he was apparently too busy calling the shots as co-producer)ALOT of the time was taken up with the gangbangers he was after with them doing some drug deals with "Dirty" played by Sticky fingers from the rap group onyx, the movie was turning into "OZ" for about 1 hour of the film and made you forget about the original plot of revenge..I was getting so deep involved in the subplot of "who is trying to get dis money" or "you workin' for me now!" dialogue that when the real plot came back I lost interest.

There are ALOT of men's butt nudity scenes in the film including kodjo's, the ladies'll like that one.
Overall the movie is worth a look though even though it's
predictable and poorly acted by Kodjo.

Pretty Boy Boris Visits Oz.......2005-02-28

I was at first intrigued at the possibility of Boris Kodjoe showing some diversity as a tough guy in this role, however after viewing the first few minutes I came to the conclusion that Mr. Kodjoe is lacking in acting ability.

If you are looking for a low budget Oz replacement then you will enjoy this film. Their are many shots that will satisfy the ladies, but overall the movie is predictable in it's genre.

Of course a few turn in some pretty good performances, but otherwise I suggest renting or buying the season of Oz because the plot and storylines are better.

An "OZ" rehash movie - but a very good one!.......2004-12-13

One of the recurring motion picture subjects that resurfaces yearly (at least) is the inside prison movie. The public's curiosity about what happens behind locked bars is endless. The long running HBO series OZ added to the numbers of that audience and that seems to be what spawned DOING HARD TIME.

Director Preston A. Whitmore II understands this genre of films and has taken a rather simple story and told it well. Strapping young Boris Kodjoe is devastated when his young son is accidentally killed during a drug deal between two thugs who are arrested and jailed for drug crimes but not for the killing of Kodjoe's son. Revenge blooms during Kodjoe's growing escape through alcohol and on one drunken night he assaults a police officer and gains his goal of arrest and jail time in the same prison where the perpetrators are doing hard time.

How this revenge ultimately plays out is the gist of the film. In the prison we meet all the usual prisoner types and they are actually well crafted and acted by a crew that includes Michael K. Williams, Sticky Fingaz, William L. Johnson, etc and the other side of the bars by Steven Bauer, Giancarlo Esposito and Jazmin Lewis. Not a great or an important film, but a tightly directed and convincingly portrayed prison flick. Grady Harp, December 2004

Average customer rating:

A Chinese Die Hard
A classic
New Re-Release on the way
THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great action, messy plot...

Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
Starring: Bobbie Au-Yeung , Philip Chan , Yun-Fat Chow , Michael Dingo , and Jun Kunimura
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

International | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

Action | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 1559408677
Release Date: 1998-06-10

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Violence as poetry, rendered by a master-brilliant and passionate, John Woo's Hard Boiled tells the story of jaded detective "Tequila" Yuen (played with controlled fury by Chow Yun-fat). Woo's dizzying odyssey through the world of Hong Kong Triads, undercover agents, and frenzied police raids culminates unforgettably in the breathless hospital sequence. More than a cops-and-bad-guys story, Hard Boiled continually startles with its originality and dark humor.

Customer Reviews:

A Chinese Die Hard.......2007-06-28

A classic .......2007-03-28

This movie truly is a classic action movie. Chow Yun Fat at his best. I loved it. Be warned, Dragon Dynasty is re-releasing a 2 disc edition in July with all new bonus features.

New Re-Release on the way.......2007-02-24

THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-01-27

Great action, messy plot..........2006-12-27

Social Distortion - Live in Orange County

Average customer rating:

One of the Best Live bands, one of the worst DVD's
MUST BUY
PLEASE FIND MY GIRL
Awesome!
I liked Social Distortion at one time!!!

Social Distortion - Live in Orange County
Starring: Social Distortion
Manufacturer: Time Bomb
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0002I83UE
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best Live bands, one of the worst DVD's.......2007-08-09

I love Social D. However, the editor of this film should go back to school. I am a video editor, and I couldn't even watch this DVD the whole way through. The cuts don't make sense, the black and white crap for no reason. If you want to watch Social D, go grab Another State of Mind... or go actually see them live.

The only person who could love this is someone so blinded by love for Social D they have complete ability to overlook the worst editing I've ever seen... and I've graded student projects before!!! (If I wasn't a video editor I'd probably be one of the blinded ones)

MUST BUY.......2007-01-10

I've never had the chance to see Social Distortion live ( yet ) but I've been listening to them for about 14 years now and this dvd was really good. There were a few songs I would have liked that weren't played, but if you're a SD fan you will definately want this dvd.

PLEASE FIND MY GIRL.......2007-01-05

The necessary first DVD of Social Distortion is a vivid concert filled with the songs that every punk-rocker carry in his heart when comes the inevitable separation. The absence of Denis Darrell, died a couple of years back, does not seem to cloud a Mike Ness always hunger for more. Excellent choice to remember and also to confirm SD power.

Awesome!.......2006-11-05

First of all the transaction was prompt and perfect! The dvd itself is one of the best I've ever seen. 100% recommendation!!!!!!

I liked Social Distortion at one time!!!.......2006-10-02

I never seen social D. in concert so I picked this up today at a record store. I should,ve bought the Agnostic Front video. Oh well, I think maybe because I havent seen social D. perform in the old days that I just really didn't care too much for this live shoW. I seen Rancid live a few weeks ago in concert and they straight up kicked a.., without Tim mumbleing pointless political bullsh.t. Rancid's performance was really amazing and the singer Tim didn't have to include anything about our president and all. If someone doesn't like the president that's perfectly kewl, but don't bring it up at a rock show please. I feel Mike Ness was either stoned or drunk during this show or maybe even plain arogant. I lossed respect for him, but not the band. He even disses Guns n Roses (one of the best rock bands around). What the hell was he thinking? Social Distortions music is good and their new stuff I think is laid out well, but until Mike Ness gets an attitude adjustment, I might have to not waste any more money on these guys and just stick with buying an item from a more appreciated band like Rancid. Rancid in my opinion is a hell of alot better than Social D., also Guns n Roses should be more recognized for their powerful impact on 80's/ 90's rock n roll, actually rock n roll in general. Any artist to go on stage and bash other bands to me must be jealous or feel bad for themselves. I thought Mike Ness got off drugs and the feeling of angst toward society. I honestly think he is a hypocrite and a liar after I watched this video. Shooks, He still might be shooting up for all his fans know, since he isn'e up front at all in this video with anyone, but stuck on himself it seems. I wasted $15 and want my money back, but oh well, at least I know that Mike Ness has made an A.. of himself to a once called fan like myself. Save your money, don't buy.

DVD:

DVD

DVD