Sleeping Beauty (2-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon.com

Disney's 1959 animated effort was the studio's most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Things almost but not quite turn out that way, thanks to the assistance of some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here. And Malificent's castle, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke

Description

Heralded by audiences and critics alike, SLEEPING BEAUTY was the final fairy tale to be produced by Walt Disney himself. Now fully restored with revolutionary digital technology, its dazzling colors, rich backgrounds, and Academy Award(R)-nominated orchestrations shine brighter than ever. When an enchanted kingdom and the most fair princess in the land fall prey to the ultimate mistress of evil, the fate of the empire rests in the hands of three small fairies and a courageous prince's magic kiss. Their quest is fraught with peril as the fellowship must battle the evil witch and a fire-breathing dragon if they are to set the Beauty free. From spectacular action to the breathtaking pageantry of the princess and her kingdom, SLEEPING BEAUTY has something to charm every member of your family.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN TO WATCH + 10.......2007-07-01

SLEEPING BEAUTY IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN.THERE IS NO VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN TO SEE IN THIS MOVIE.LIKE OTHER DISNEY MOVIES THAT ARE COMING OUT NOW.I HAVE THIS MOVIE BOUGHT 2 OF THEM ONE FOR MY DAUGHTER ONE FOR HER GIRLFRIENDS BIRTHDAY.I AM SO PICKY AND MAD OVER SOME OF DISNEY'S REMAKES THAT HAS SO MUCH VIOLENCE IN THEM.NOT GOOD FOR ANY CHILD TO WATCH.I HAVE NOT BOUGHT MANY OF DISNEYS NEW MOVIES DUE TO THIS REASON.THERE IS ENOUGH VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLD" OUR CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TO SEE IT IN DISNEY MOVIES"WHAT IS DISNEY THINKING MAKING THESE VIOLENT MOVIES FOR KIDS. CHARACTERS HITTING EACH OTHER CALLING NAMES IS IT FOR THE MONEY? THE WAY OF THE WORLD NOW? ALSO TEACHING CHILDREN ITS OK TO HIT EACH OTHER AND CALL NAMES YELLING AT EACH OTHER" BEST MOVIES FOR CHILDREN TO SEE ARE, JUNGLE BOOK LIMITED ISSUE,PETER PAN LIMITED ISSUE,PINOCCHIO LIMITED ISSUE, 101 DALMATIANS LIMITED ISSUE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, SNOW WHITE, I GIVE ALL THESE MOVIES 10 STARS.************************** I DO NOT EVEN RECOMMEND CINDERELLA THE NEW RELEASE ANYMORE" ALSO MANY MORE NEW RERELEASES, DISNEY RUINED THE OLD TARZAN DVD WITH A NEW REMAKE" TARZAN IS SUCH A WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS I HAVE THE LIMITED ISSUE MY FAMILY LOVES THIS MOVIE SO HEARTWARMING TO WATCH" ALL THE DISNEY LIMITED ISSUE DVDS ARE THE BEST FOR ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO WATCH''FORGET THE 2 DVDS NEW EDITIONS" JUST CHEAP REMAKES"
ALL OF DISNEY'S
LIMITED ISSUES FIRST RELEASED ARE THE BEST ONES TO BUY" BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE FOR GOOD''''

Once upon a DREAM . . . Good & Dark Fairies, Kings & Princes, Fire Breathing Dragon & a Golden Beauty.......2007-06-16

Once upon a Dream, many moons ago, when I was a child; I viewed this Dark Disney Fairy Tale and became instantly mesmirized by all fairy folk and tales to be told. Dear Walt gave us little gals the imagined lore of pretty Princess's or Princess's to be. As well as the Tom boy in me, the warrior Princes with sword and shield fighting for the greatest cause . . . defending ones kingdom from evil overbearing forces.

My undying luv for the winged serpents of old - Dragons, is all given credit due to my favorite Walt Disney villian . . .
Malevolent Maleficent, considered a Dark Fairy (more suitable in Disney standards of the time than a witch) who transformed her being into the statuesque purple fire breathing dragon in the ending battle together with Prince Phillip and the delightful fairies; Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to save the realm from darkness.

MALEVOLENT MALEFICENT, THE DARKEST FAIRY - notable quotes:
"The Forest of Thorns shall be his tomb!
Move through the skies on a fog of doom!
Now go with the curse, and serve me well!
Round Stefan's Castle, CAST MY SPELL!"

"She is indeed, most wondrous fair.
Gold of sunshine in her hair,
lips that shame the red red rose.
In ageless sleep, she finds repose.
The years roll by, but a a hundred years to a steadfast heart, are but a day.
And now, the gates of a dungeon part, and our prince is free to go his way.
Off he rides, on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall!
To wake his love with "loves' first kiss"! And prove that "true love" conquers all! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

SLEEPYING BEAUTY is most intoxicating, hilariously funny, beautiful artistry, classical music and captivating characters immortalized. Both an enchantment and fulfilling destiny, from a prickling finger to a long awaited magical kiss.

Other Disney's to see in the realm of Princess Fairy tales:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Platinum Edition)

Walt Disney has been adored and admired by many generations since his beginning in the movie animation industry. Sir Walt has become a part of movie making history and his Disney kingdom will continue to grow, and for future generations, his legend will live on evermore.

LadyGray quote:
"The last in Sir Walts time, a Fairy Tale to be told;
The setting of the stage is a unique Dark Disney mold.
This adventurous stunning musical for all to see and believe;
A long quest to save a kingdom and release Sleeping Beauty free."

LadyGray
Author of the Yuletide Tale - White Holly

One of the best.......2007-05-31

I purchased this DVD at a used bookstore for $14.95 and I was expecting it to be damaged in some way, but it wasn't!

Anyway, this is the classic Disney movie about a jealous witch, a beautiful princess, three bumbling fairies, a handsome prince, and the spell.

I highly recommend that everyone watch this movie with their children.

A+++

Sleeping Beauty.......2007-05-08

It took really long for delivery, however, it's a great classic and worth it! I'm glad that even though it was sent back into the Disney Vault, I was still able to get it on Amazon!

GREAT.......2007-04-13

GREAT FLICK FOR THE LITTLE PRINCESS IN YOUR LIFE, A CLASSIC, IT WILL NEVER LOSE IT'S VALUE OR POPULARITY

Average customer rating:

"The Quiet Man"
The Quiet Man
Great flick, poor video -- but still worth a try
The Quiet Man
The best

The Quiet Man (Collector's Edition)
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Barry Fitzgerald , Ward Bond , and Victor McLaglen
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | 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

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

ASIN: B00006JMRD
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Amazon.com essential video

Blarney and bliss, mixed in equal proportions. John Wayne plays an American boxer who returns to the Emerald Isle, his native land. What he finds there is a fiery prospective spouse (Maureen O'Hara) and a country greener than any Ireland seen before or since--it's no surprise The Quiet Man won an Oscar for cinematography. It also won an Oscar for John Ford's direction, his fourth such award. The film was a deeply personal project for Ford (whose birth name was Sean Aloysius O'Fearna), and he lavished all of his affection for the Irish landscape and Irish people on this film. He also stages perhaps the greatest donnybrook in the history of movies, an epic fistfight between Wayne and the truculent Victor McLaglen--that's Ford's brother, Francis, as the elderly man on his deathbed who miraculously revives when he hears word of the dustup. Barry Fitzgerald, the original Irish elf, gets the movie's biggest laugh when he walks into the newlyweds' bedroom the morning after their wedding, and spots a broken bed. The look on his face says everything. The Quiet Man isn't the real Ireland, but as a delicious never-never land of Ford's imagination, it will do very nicely. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

"The Quiet Man".......2007-09-11

I think this is my favorite John Wayne movie--he & Maureen O'Hara are magic together & this movie has it all. It's a love story w/ action scenes as well, plenty of 'characters' played by very capable actors & the scenery is breath-taking (it IS Ireland, after all). I highly recommend it.

The Quiet Man.......2007-09-08

Another great movie by John Wayne and John Ford, what a pair and the cast was great and unforgetable

Great flick, poor video -- but still worth a try.......2007-08-30

This raucously tongue-in-cheek, grand old movie has survived for what seems an eternity. The performances are so wonderful that every moment outshines a great many other classic films. So it seems a shame that I can't give TQM the 5 stars it deserves. But Artisan's Classic Edition DVD has far too many visual transgressions. The gorgeous bursts of color that won an Oscar for the 1952 release are almost totally absent in this third-rate digital print. The jacket blurb claims this is a "remastered" version; in fact it looks as if it were played on a cheap VCR; blurry, too dark (almost grimy and gritty at times), with no shadow detail whatever, color registration problems, badly oversaturated reds and blues, obvious flicker (odd for a "remastered" print), and with noise and digital artifacts galore. The blur and noise extend even into many segments of the added features. Looks out of focus on a good CRT monitor, and extremely annoying on highend LCD sets. On cheaper gear, it's nearly unviewable. I've seen comments in Amazon reviews saying that this edition looks better than earlier ones. Not true -- visually, they're all the same. On top of that, I have always had a problem with some oddities of John Ford's sense of humor: two big guys blasting each other with bare fists for the better part of an Irish afternoon isn't very funny, IMHO. In real life, these two would have spent a year in an IC ward recovering from wounds. It's likely that TQM will be one of many memorable films, like "The African Queen", that may never be seen in its original Technicolor glory. But it's to the movie's credit that despite the poor print, it remains an exceptional cinematic experience. The acting is superb in every way; Barry Fitzgerald and Ward Bond steal every scene they're in. Victor Young's music is beautiful, and the audio has the sweep and sweetness that I rememeber from 1952. Now, if only someone could give us a true and more conscientiouse visual restoration . . .

The Quiet Man.......2007-08-23

Come On ---All John Wayne movies are great --you just watch them over and over

The best.......2007-08-23

This is an absolutely great movie. Funny, moving and very entertaining. A must see for John Wayne and/or John Ford fans.

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Exceptional Movie
nice one
Pristine
Theatrical edits happen all the time...
Perfect HD Transfer!

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Orlando Bloom , and Liam Neeson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000ICLRIE
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here, grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city) and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood. There are good and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and the people. The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive: his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain). An excellent supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Many critics pointed out that Bloom doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe in the lead (then again, who does?), but it's the underdeveloped character and not the actor that hurts the film and impacts its power. Balian isn't given much more to do than be sullen and give an occasional big speech, alongside his perplexing abilities for warfare tactics and his wandering moral compass (whose sole purpose seems to be to put a love scene in the movie). Note: all the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are heavily fictionalized. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD
The Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut is truly a DVD set of biblical proportions. If you are familiar with Ridley Scott's excellent, albeit massive, extended DVD sets for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, you have a pretty good idea of what you are in for with this set. The biggest difference--unlike the Gladiator Director's Cut, which had some nice new scenes that really didn't add much to the film--is that this cut of Kingdom of Heaven is a drastic improvement over the theatrical release. This extensive 194-minute version brings the film back to Scott's original vision, maintaining an impressive balance of history, plot, and believable period reenactments and battle scenes. The best way to describe the improvements on the extended version is the film is now able to breathe a bit more, it's less choppy, and it has stronger character development. In addition to the extended scenes (which now span two discs in a clunky Road Show presentation), there is an exhaustive three-hour, six-part documentary detailing every aspect of filmmaking from the development of the "idea" through post-production and release. Also included are three feature-length commentary tracks, the best being the first with Ridley Scott, writer William Monahan, and actor Orlando Bloom. Included on the original release but missing from this set are the A&E/History Channel documentaries, the theatrical cut of the film, and "The Pilgrim's Guide," the fantastic text commentary which pointed out the historical anecdotes as the film played. Fans of the film and completists will probably want to hold onto both versions. However, those picking up Kingdom of Heaven for the first time need only to look to this definitive version. --Rob Bracco

Description

Among the best directors of our time, Ridley Scott (Gladiator), contributes generously to this extraordinary Collector's Edition of Kingdom of Heaven. Featuring his Director's Cut of the film and hours of fascinating extras ? including a six-part tour from conception to completion of filmmaking ? this definitive set makes what Variety called a "genuinely spectacular" film even more so!

An epic marvel that's as beautifully acted as it is visually awesome, Kingdom of Heaven stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a Jerusalem blacksmith who has lost his family ? and his faith. But when his father (Liam Neeson) shows him his destiny, Balian vows to defend his country, and in the process, falls in love, becomes a formidable leader, and steps forever into history

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional Movie.......2007-09-01

The extended DVD set is definitely more than worth the price. The acting, sets, and action are exceptional. Its a pity that the studio decided to shorten this movie for the cinematic release. But this extended version does justice to Sir Ridley Scott's brilliant creation. We have enjoyed this version immensely and we cannot say enough good things about it.
Leonor Muller & Jose Muniz.

nice one.......2007-08-10

the BD version had a very nice and clear HD vision, it's really good about the physical side, but I am not quite like the story. it's just like other history movies.

Pristine.......2007-08-06

The blu ray version of this film is pristine! This is the director's cut version and well worth the price! This feature explains the story and background much better than the theatrical version. Plus you get the best possible sound there is. All in all this movie entertains and is historically accurate! Very nice eye candy!!!

Theatrical edits happen all the time..........2007-08-02

Theatrical edits happen all the time, the result often being that we feel a little lost. The story might make an abrupt jump from scene A to scene D, skipping B and C because those scenes just didn't make it into the time budget.

In most cases, I wait to buy the extended version or Director's Cut for that very reason. In this case, though, I'm glad I bought both. Together, they let me see what I believe is the most masterful theatrical edit ever done.

When you watch the Director's Cut, you'll discover a story arc completely left out in the theatrical release. It's not a trivial, throwaway story, either. It's absolutely critical to understanding the context and motivation for Guy de Lusignan's machinations and his obsession with marrying Sibylla.

That the story fell out in the edits does not surprise me. I am awed, though, by how surgically Scott handled things without leaving a glaring hole in the film. He stitched together dialogue, scenes, and transitions seamlessly, removing a line's original meaning while twisting it in the edit, bridging a gap so solidly that you don't notice its absence.

Even -after- watching the Director's Cut, I go back to the theatrical release and see it as its own movie, not just an incomplete, botched studio edit.

If you are only willing to buy one copy of this movie, buy the Director's Cut, by all means. It is worth every dime, and then some. If you're a student of film (amateur or professional, either one,) then I -urge- you to buy both and study them as an exemplar of the "graceful degradation" concept applied to cinema.

Perfect HD Transfer!.......2007-07-29

Although this Blu-Ray edition does not have the supplements as the normal DVD version, it is still worth the buy. If you are just getting into the Blu-Ray family, this movie will make you proud. Not only is the picture & sound quality amazing but the movie itself is great. I have notice not all Blu-Ray movie tranfers are amazing due to which studio is doing the transfers. So far in my experience, 20 Century Fox Blu-Ray movies look the best hands down! And this movie is by that studio. So do not be shy, get out there Blu-Ray family and purchase this film, well worth the Buck!

Average customer rating:

Greatest love story of all time!
Very teen-friendly
A gotta have
Authentic!
Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet
Starring: Leonard Whiting , Olivia Hussey , John McEnery , Milo O'Shea , and Pat Heywood (II)
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 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

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 0792165055
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com

Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was unique in its day for casting kids in the play's pivotal roles of, well, kids. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting and 15-year-old Olivia Hussey play the titular pair, the Bard's star-crossed lovers who defy a running feud between their families in order to be together in love. Typically played on stage and in previous film productions by adult actors, the innocent look and rawness of Whiting and Hussey resonated at the time with a burgeoning youth movement from San Francisco to Prague. The tragic romance at the center of the story also clicked with anti-authority sentiments, but even without that, Zeffirelli scores points by validating the ideals and passions of strong-willed adolescents. Less successful are scenes requiring the actors to have a fuller grasp of the text, though the best thing going remains the unambiguous duel between Romeo and Tybalt (Michael York). Lavishly photographed by Pasquale de Santis on location in Italy, this Romeo and Juliet brought a different tone and dimension to a story that had become tiresome in reverential presentations. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Greatest love story of all time!.......2007-08-21

I've seen this movie so many times and never get tired of watching it, again and again and again ... Believe it or not, one's life is controled by Destiny. No matter how hard we try to fight against it, Destiny (or Fate) still conquers and decides our life! Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey are like born to portray, respectively, Romeo and Juliet, the greatest couple blinded by the doomed word "Love". Their love story is even enhanced by great music and marvelous costumes. This movie is true piece of arts!

Very teen-friendly.......2007-07-25

My class loved the movie and asked for a second viewing. Superb! sparked a lot of discussion.

A gotta have.......2007-07-25

The only reason I gave this 5 stars is there is no provision for 6.

Authentic!.......2007-07-13

My sister was a teenager when this movie was made, I was pre-elementary, but I remember the impact it had on her generation. As my own daughter approaches high school and the reading of this work, I found this to be the most closely authentic portrayal, in both language and setting. The mood of this film transports the viewer back hundreds of years, allowing you to bask in the poetic discourse of how we imagine Shakespeare's days. Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are still as attractive and suited for the roles of the passionate pair; my daughter thought Whiting was as hunky as her generation's beau, Zac Efron.

Romeo and Juliet.......2007-06-28

My favorite version of this oft-filmed classic is Zeffirelli's Oscar-nominated version. Starring two unknowns in the title roles (17-year-old Whiting and 15-year-old Hussey), the movie remains true to Shakespeare, while making the language more accessible to modern audiences. Both Michael York (as Romeo's nemesis, Tybalt) and Milo O'Shea (as Mercutio) lend strong support, while Zeffirelli's unabashed romanticism is enhanced by magnificent period detail and a sweeping score from Nino Rota. The story of youthful rebellion also spoke to basic issues arising in the restive sixties. A top-notch rendering of an eternal classic.

Average customer rating:

Too Cool!
One of my Favorites
Cool Hand Luke
Yet Another Newman Masterpiece!
A must see

Cool Hand Luke
Starring: Paul Newman , George Kennedy , J.D. Cannon , Lou Antonio , and Robert Drivas
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: 0790731509
Release Date: 1997-06-25

Amazon.com

Paul Newman gives one of the defining performances of his career, and cemented his place as a beautiful-rebel screen icon playing the stubbornly tough and independent title character in Cool Hand Luke. And before he became familiar as a sidekick in 1970s disaster movies (Earthquake and the Airport movies), George Kennedy won an Oscar for playing Dragline, the brutal chain-gang boss who tries to beat loner Luke's cool out of him. It's a classic rebel-against-the-repressive-institution story in the line of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest or The Shawshank Redemption. Certain moments have become classics--particularly the hardboiled egg-eating contest, and the immortal line (drooled by Strother Martin, as a sadistic redneck prison officer), "What we have here is a failure to communicate." And don't forget, Luke is also the source of the oft-quoted driving ditty, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I have my plastic Jesus, right here on the dashboard of my car..." He is cool, all right. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen and digital stereo. --Jim Emerson

Description

A defiant chain-gang prisoner suffers a "failure to communicate" in this searing drama. Paul Newman Shines in the title role, George Kennedy as his sidekick won an Oscar(R). Year: 1967 Director: Stuart Rosenberg Starring: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon

DVD Features:
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Too Cool!.......2007-09-10

This is a classic movie that I enjoyed very much. It's one you'll watch over and over. YOu must love Paul Newman, he really is cool........

One of my Favorites.......2007-09-09

This, the story of a Southern chain gang in the post-WWII South, is one of my top ten favorite movies. Growing up, it had legendary status in my household. My dad, my brother, and I quoted from it all the time. Even today, I can break into a Strother Martin impersonation ("When a man's mother dies....") that gets my dad laughing. Simply put, this is just about a perfect movie. It contains the classic eating of 50 eggs scene (where, if you didn't get the Jesus symbolism by then, is made pretty obvious). But the car washing scene is pretty classic, too (even if the woman looks more "60s" than the rest of the movie). The script is fantastic, the locations are evocative of the time and place, and the actors all put in great performances. George Kennedy won an Oscar for his turn as the prison fixture, Dragline; and unfortunately, they don't make them like Strother Martin (dead) and Harry Dean Stanton (still acting) anymore. The cast is so good that Joe Don Baker and Dennis Hopper appear, though only on the margins. And as for this movie's star, well, Paul Newman gives his best performance as Luke, who epitomizes the American rebel. Think James Dean goes to prison and you have Cool Hand Luke. It's hard to believe Newman was around 40 when he made this movie. He looks a lot younger. The book the movie is based on was written by an ex-con safecracker, who had served time on a chain gang. The movie certainly has authenticity (even though it was filmed in Stockton, California, not the Deep South). For me, this is Newman's best movie, a great story about a man's self-destructive rebellion against authority.

Cool Hand Luke.......2007-06-27

"Luke" is a work that transformed Newman from movie star to anti-authoritarian folk hero. Clearly the actor was attracted to the dispossessed, in life and in film. His Luke is two things at once: a loser whose drunkenness lands him on a chain gang, but also a tough individualist equipped with personal courage and a defiant spirit. Top-notch support comes from Martin as Luke's wormy nemesis, and Kennedy, who won an Oscar for his turn as Luke's loyal pal, Dragline.

Yet Another Newman Masterpiece!.......2007-06-23

If you haven't seen this film yet, by all means, go out and rent it today! Hell, you might as well purchase it, because it is definitely worth every penny and I promise you won't regret it. It is a true classic and a movie you will want to see over and over again. God knows I must have viewed this one at least a dozen times now. The acting, directing, writing, score, etc... is top notch. Am I the only person out there who constantly poses this question - WHY DONT THEY MAKE FILMS LIKE THIS ANYMORE? Then again, there has never been, nor will there ever be, an actor quite like Paul Newman. And if ever there was a role in which Newman was born to play, this was it! Seriously folks, could you even imagine another actor playing the part of Luke? It's definitely one of his finest performances ever. The man has charm oozing out of every pore in his body.

Along with the outstanding, understated work of Mr. Newman, this film also contains several wonderful performances by a fine supporting cast - George Kennedy (Best Supporting Actor Winner as Dragline), Strother Martin, Robert Donner, Morgan Woodward, Wayne Rogers, Ralph Waite, Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper and Jo Van Fleet as Luke's mother Arletta. By the way, the scene in which Luke confronts his dying mother Arletta is one of my favorites of all-time. It redefines the word POIGNANT and I can almost guaranty it will melt your heart.

There are so many famous lines and scenes in this movie that make this film completely unforgettable. I have yet to meet one person (male or female) that didn't thoroughly enjoy this film from begining to end. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, you are in for a treat. I still remember the first time I saw this film and how much I enjoyed it. In fact, the very next day I went to the video store (sorry Amazon, you weren't around yet) and immediately purchased it. Trust me folks, this is one EXCEPTIONAL film.

Finally, I think we sometimes forget just how many classic films Paul Newman has been in - "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", "The Hustler", "Hud", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Sting", "Abscence of Malice", "The Verdict", "The Color of Money", "Nobody's Fool", etc... etc... etc... The man is a living legend and one hell of a good human being to boot! At 82 years old, he just announced his retirement from acting. I don't know about the rest of you out there, but I for one feel like I am losing an old, dear friend.

A must see.......2007-05-15

This is by far one of the greatest movies of all times. Paul Newman is amazing, the ultimate rebel. Who else would cut the heads off parking meters because "Small town, not much to do in the evenin."

Average customer rating:

This DVD is flwed
Glad it's Mad
It's a funny funny funny funny movie
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad... It's a Must... !
Love the laughs, but I agree the format needs improvement

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Starring: Spencer Tracy , Milton Berle , Sid Caesar , Buddy Hackett , and Ethel Merman
Director: Stanley Kramer
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0000CBY1C
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

Stanley Kramer's sprawling 1963 comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that Hollywood hasn't made in many years. (Another example from around the same time is Blake Edwards's The Great Race.) After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some bits and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they'd have a place in Airplane! Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis (who had called Kramer and asked him why he hadn't been invited to participate). --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

This DVD is flwed.......2007-09-01

Like many of you, this is one of my favorite movies of all times. I bought the DVD a couple of years ago, and although it wasn't a 'perfect' copy, it was suitable for my needs. Missing was the overture, color timing, and a number a 'jittering scenes' probably due to the conversion to DVD process. The extra 'behind the scenes' feature is well worth the price of the DVD, however, if you are looking for perfection- you will not find it here. Last week, 8/25/07, Turner Classic Movies Cable Channel did present the "PERFECT" COPY. Why this copy didn't make it to the DVD, I would like to know. This had the overture, intermission & exit music- along with all of the extra scenes that had been chopped out of the movie years ago. Colors in the opening credits were vibrant and changes as when presented in the theater- and is in Wide Screen. And although this was shown on the Cinerama Screens, it was not filmed in Cinerama- but in Ultra-Panavision (which is a different film technology altogether). I 'DVR"ed this copy and plan to transfer it to a DVD soon. If you love this movies as an event, as much as I, make sure you DVR this movie the next time it's on Turner Classic Movies. This is the 2nd time I've seen it so they probably run it again. Please check out this link for more info- and scrool down to VERSIONS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Mad,_Mad,_Mad,_Mad_World#Versions

Glad it's Mad.......2007-08-10

If it isn't already, this is certainly destined to be a cult film.

Some of my favorite scenes:

Jerry Lewis running over Spencer Tracy's hat. Lewis' facial expressions are a delight.

Phil Silvers waving bye-bye in the rear view mirror to Jonathan Winters
after ditching him in the desert.

Jonathan Winters wrecking the service station.

A heavily hung-over Jim Backus on the pool table as Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett try to revive him.

And of course, beatniks Dick Shawn and the dead-pan Barrie Chase shakin'
it up to the Shirelles' kooky lyrics:

"Got a baby who can give me 31 flavors,
and we like tutti-frutti best,
I call him Ice Cream Joe,
he is the most delicious boy I know,
everytime his tasty lips are kissing mine,
he gives me 31 flavors,
and we like tutti-frutti best,
I just love him so,
he's my confectionary Ice Cream Joe,
everytime I kiss him I feel mighty fine,
I love his 31 flavors,
and we like tutti-frutti best,
pineapple fruit - coconut and banana, some of the fruit,
chocolate too, and tell him right that when we kiss,
he give me 31 flavors,
and we like tutti-frutty best..."

A truly Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad scene. Gotta love it!

It's a funny funny funny funny movie.......2007-08-09

Think of a huge ensemble of the major comics of the day, throw in Spencer Tracy (in his last - a comical - role), situations that defy the imagination and you've got a great comedy. Never a dull moment and you get to see where some of the greats of the genre came from.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad... It's a Must... !.......2007-08-04

Although there are a few excellent Comedies made in the fifties and sixties, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" is unbeatable, unforgettable and a remarkable movie production identifying the many traditional American life and family values besides those not so respectable ones. Behavior, Ambition, Consciousness, Cheat & Trick... they are all there. A very funny story made in a very intelligent way. Does it sound too serious? Couldn't be so easy and amusing, yet fast going with something new and unexpected at every second scene!
Undoubtless my favorite movie ever!

Love the laughs, but I agree the format needs improvement.......2007-08-01

I agree with everyone here, this is one of the funniest movies ever made. I'm with the other guy who said there was originally 192 minutes in the 1963 premiere - and the aspect ratio was 2.76:1. I have never seen a video release that was ever done correctly, with this running length and aspect ratio. MGM, let's do a full-on correct release finally of this great classic, with every frame restored and packed with special features. Maybe even a featurette on Cinerama and the overall history of widescreen movies would be a good addition on Disc 2. Hey fellow fans, how do we get a letter-writing campaign started at MGM? It worked for Superman II!

Average customer rating:

Important film that didn't age well...
A good introduction to the "Heroic Gun Play" genre
Not the "Ultimate" but Awesome Nonetheless
One of the greatest action films of all time
Nice enough release of this Hong Kong classic.

Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Kwan Hoi-Shan , Cheung Jue-lin , Tsang Kong , and Philip Kwok
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Dragon Dynasty
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | 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

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

ASIN: B000N4SHNK
Release Date: 2007-07-24

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:

Sergio Leone's Greatest Western
The greatest cowboy "art film" ever made. I cried.
One of the Best Westerns Ever Made.
pants
The definitive Western film

Once Upon a Time in the West
Starring: Henry Fonda , Claudia Cardinale , Jason Robards , Charles Bronson , and Gabriele Ferzetti
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Epic | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Spaghetti Western | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0000AUHPG
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Amazon.com essential video

The so-called spaghetti Western achieved its apotheosis in Sergio Leone's magnificently mythic (and utterly outlandish) Once upon a Time in the West. After a series of international hits starring Clint Eastwood (from A Fistful of Dollars to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly), Leone outdid himself with this spectacular, larger-than-life, horse-operatic epic about how the West was won. (And make no mistake: this is the wide, wide West, folks--so the widescreen/letterboxed version is strongly recommended.) The unholy trinity of Italian cinema--Leone, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Dario Argento--concocted the story about a woman (Claudia Cardinale) hanging onto her land in hopes that the transcontinental railroad would reach her before a steely-eyed, black-hearted killer (Fonda) does. (The film's advertising slogan was: "There were three men in her life. One to take her ... one to love her ... and one to kill her.") Meanwhile, Leone shoots his stars' faces as if they were expansive Western landscapes, and their towering bodies as if they were looming rock formations in John Ford's Monument Valley. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Sergio Leone's Greatest Western.......2007-09-05

What else can be said about Once Upon A Time In the West? Sergio Leone released his greatest western with this movie. It's a fun from the opening credits to the end credits. A wonderful movie at that.

Finally, on this Two Disc collection we get a commentary track, three featurettes, they can be split. And the movie looks absolutely gorgeous.

It's a definite must have.

My other favorites from him (Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition) and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)) are also must haves.

The greatest cowboy "art film" ever made. I cried........2007-09-05

I'm not a big fan of western movies...... but this is nothing short of an "art film" masterpiece that has no equal. Morricone's music actually brings tears to my eyes. It is arguably Leone's masterwork. Georgous scenery and incredibly beautiful cinematogophy. This film is a stunning work of beauty and art. I still can't watch it without a tear welling up. Yes, it's terribly slow moving compared to today's "I want explosions, fireballs and laser beams every five seconds" type of films. If you want that kind of film, stick your head inside a strobe light for two hours. "Once Unon a Time" is still the greatest piece of cowboy western cinema ever made.

One of the Best Westerns Ever Made........2007-09-02

Cast, story, locations, can't ask for anything more! Had one problem with my DVD package in that the spoken dialogue was at one sound level but ALL music performed was WAY louder. I had to ride the volume control to watch this great movie, and that is not right. I can't understand how/why they could have screwed things up so much with the audio and still released it for sale. Too bad that they are not forced to have recalls for product problems that are this bad. Do I have the only DVD set with this problem?

pants.......2007-08-25

this version is missing the qoute "why would you wear suspendoers and frank shoot's him. Paramont should be ashamed.

The definitive Western film.......2007-08-23

Together with "Once upon a Time in America" this is to be considered the best tribute Sergio Leone could pay to the United States in its growth to become the power it is now by means of a film. I always loved western films (since black and white, I'm 61).I think that our Italian Director gave a deep psychological view of all the characters and I put at the top of the list a very bad Henry Fonda - especially thinking that he seldom played negative roles (Grape of Wrath, perheaps).
The music of Ennio Morricone is something sublime and I really don't understand why he never won an Oscar in his outstanding career as a composer.
As for the book prefaces it is highly recommended to view in anticipation the DVD with Documentary and Interviews.
Fulvio Arman, Italy

Slap Shot (25th Anniversary Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Slap shot
Slapshot
Slap Shot
Hockey Hilarity
Classic...

Slap Shot (25th Anniversary Special Edition)
Starring: Paul Newman , Strother Martin , Michael Ontkean , Jennifer Warren , and Lindsay Crouse
Director: George Roy Hill
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sports | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00005V0XF
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Amazon.com essential video

Paul Newman and his Butch Cassidy director, George Roy Hill, made a very original comedy in this 1977 story of an over-the-hill player/coach (Newman) for a lousy hockey team who gets results when he teaches his players to get dirty. One of the most hilariously profane movies ever to come out of Hollywood, this is the kind of film that makes its own rules as it goes along. Newman is very good, and while Hill goes for the gusto in terms of capturing the violence of this world, his instinct for comedy has never been sharper. Great support from Strother Martin, Paul Dooley, and the rest. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Slap shot.......2007-08-13

It is still as funny now as it was the first time I watched it. It's a sport classic. One liners you use every day.

Slapshot.......2007-07-15

One of the best hockey movies ever made. Even those who are not huge hockey fans will find entertaining.

Slap Shot.......2007-07-04

This wildly profane film is consistently funny, and often side-splitting. And Newman's Reggie adds an element of poignancy; he's a perennial rogue with plenty of charm, but hardly a responsible adult, evidenced by his failed marriage to Francine (Jennifer Warren), for whom he still carries a torch. Veteran character actor Strother Martin makes the perfect weasel as smarmy team manager Joe McGrath, and Andrew Duncan is memorable as a radio announcer with the worst toupee on the planet.

Hockey Hilarity.......2007-05-07

Crude in parts, but hilarious bush league hockey! Many "laugh out loud" sceens sure to amuse fans of "ole time hockey." The Hanson brothers add great Canadian humor.

Classic..........2007-04-06

I don't even like hockey, and I love this movie. It's the perfect sports movie - vulgar, funny, with great, quotable dialogue.

Average customer rating:

Classic
Wonderful!
Beautiful soul searching movie
Heartfelt but unmoving and slightly disappointing
A disappointment

The Mission (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , Jeremy Irons , Ray McAnally , Aidan Quinn , and Cherie Lunghi
Director: Roland Joffé
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B00003CXBH
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Amazon.com

Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields) directs this fuzzy effort at a David Lean-like epic without David Lean's sense of emotional proportion. Lean's most important screenwriting collaborator, Robert Bolt, in fact wrote The Mission, which concerns a Jesuit missionary (Jeremy Irons) who establishes a church in the hostile jungles of Brazil and then finds his work threatened by greed and political forces among his superiors. Robert De Niro is briefly effective as a callous soldier who kills his own brother and then turns to Irons's character to oversee his penance and conversion to the clergy. The narrative and dramatic forces at work in this movie should be more stirring and powerful than they are--the problem being that Joffé is too removed from them to allow us in. --Tom Keogh

Description

Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DE NIRO) was a violent soldier-for-hire in 1750s South America. Now he is a man of peace serving the Rain Forest Indians he once enslaved. But armies of Spain and Portugal threaten the lifestyle and safety of the native peoples. Now Rodrigo may have to pick up his sword and musket once again. From the producer of Chariots of Fire and the director of The Killing Fields comes a powerful epic co-starring JEREMY IRONS and graced with dazzling Academy Award-winning cinematography, set to a memorable music score and scripted by the Oscar-winning screenwriter of A Man for All Seasons and Doctor Zhivago.

Customer Reviews:

Classic.......2007-09-14

Classic, moving, theatrical, spectacle of a movie. I only wish I had a flat screen TV to watch it with. Excellent, little known movie. Doesn't get much publicity due to it's religious significance, but it is a classic non the less.

Wonderful!.......2007-08-16

This is the third time I have purchased this movie. I love it! The music i