The Greatest Game Ever Played

Amazon.com

You wouldn't think a movie that uses the game of golf as a metaphor for class struggle could be so entertaining. The Greatest Game Ever Played stars the charming Shia LaBeouf (Holes) as Francis Ouimet, a golfer who, in 1913, rose from caddy to U.S. Open champion at the age of 20--despite the resistance of the powers that be, who thought it unseemly for a lower-class plebian to play the sport of gentlemen. Ouimet's main competitor is Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane, The Hours), a British professional, still considered one of the greatest players of all time, who fought his own class battles. The two go head to head in a genuinely gripping match, deftly balanced against the juxtapositions of their personal struggles. Is it sentimental and formulaic? Is the outcome a foregone conclusion? Yes, but it doesn't matter--formulas exist because, when executed with verve and dexterity, they work. Bill Paxton, best known as an actor (One False Move, Apollo 13), steps into the director's chair and hits all the right notes, aided by an excellent cast playing colorful characters, a vivid recreation of the time period, glowing cinematography, and an expert pace. The Greatest Game Ever Played works. --Bret Fetzer

Description

From Walt Disney Pictures comes THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED . . . the crowd-pleasing underdog epic that's based on an inspirational true story! Young amateur golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf -- HOLES, I ROBOT) has nothing but talent and a seemingly impossible dream to challenge the world's greatest player, his idol Harry Vardon. Soon, with the help of his spunky 10-year-old caddy Eddie, Francis boldly breaks down all barriers with a thrilling display of unrivaled drive, skill, and heart . . . and challenges the golf pro for the U.S. Open Championship!

Customer Reviews:

Another Outstanding Film Centered Around Golf.......2007-09-17

Wow, here is another great golf movie. That's at least three in the past few years that I've really enjoyed, that were well-done, beautifully-filmed and inspirational. The other two were "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius" and "The Legend Of Bagger Vance."

This is a true underdog story, if there ever was one. To have an amateur defeat all the professionals and win the United States Open Golf Tournament - which really did happen - is an unheard-of feat. Francis Ouimet's victory over golf legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is fact. It is an amazing story and the filmmakers did a super job in presenting it here. It isn't something just for golf fans; this is a fun movie. Kudso to actor-turned-director Bill Paxton for an outstanding job.

Shia LaBeouf is winsome as Ouimet as is Steven Dillane as Vardon. For those who don't know, Vardon was like the Tiger Woods of his day, maybe even more unbeatable. In the film, Vardon is pictured as a warm, nice guy; a genuine human being. the other major competitor, Ray (Stephen Marcus) is shown as somewhat of a brutish nasty guy.

The fourth main character of this golf story might be the coolest person in the film: a fifth-grade boy who winds up being Ouimet's caddie in the Open. He (Josh Flitter) brings a lot of humor and charm to the movie.

As with another sports film of 2005 - "Cinderella Man" - here is another excellent movie that got unjustly ignored when it came to awards. I guess nice films don't win awards.....just the hearts of their viewers.

Good family film.......2007-09-06

Good family film with lessons for parents and children to pursue their dreams but remember reality.

Awesome movie.......2007-08-30

It was a great movie, if your friend, spouse, boyfriend ,or girlfriend enjoys golf this is a great gift. I gave it to
my husband as a surpirse and he was thrilled. It was very entertaining and interesting and well done.

Forgotten story of how it all began..........2007-08-17

This is an inspirational true story that sports fans, especially golf fans should see. It has been quoted as the first "underdog success story in American sports".

If you are interested in the movie, I strongly urge you to read Mark Frost's book by the same name. The book has much more details and spends a great deal of time explaining the historical context and the birth of modern golf. I found the movie disappointing after reading the book, but that is to be expected since the movie must omit many details (the book is 475 pages).

Without having read the book, I would have definitely missed some of the details of the movie such as Vardon's wrist twitching. Furthermore, I am a bit confused as to why Vardon doesn't have a mustache in this movie when he did in real life? There are some innacuracies between the movie and the book such as the scores of the final round. It is also a shame that Walter Hagen is completely absent from the movie, since he plays an important part in the book and is an instrumental player in the birth of golf in America.

All in all, this is a truly memorable story and the movie is entertaining. Those who seek to dig a little deeper and to make sure they get the facts straight should also read the book.

The Greatest Game Ever Played.......2007-08-05

This movie is a little heavy handed on the social-economic class issues. At times the story drags because of this. However, the casting is solid, and the cinematography is lovely. Best of all is the real life story of Francis Ouimet. Inspite of knowing almost nothing about golf, this movie has inspired me to research the real person. The Greatest Game Ever Played: A True Story The Bonus feature showing the interview with the real Mr. Ouimet is a definite plus.

Average customer rating:

Interesting and taboo
DISTURBING MOVIE ... BUT EXCELLENT
Weird movie... got me thinking
Kinky
What the?

Close My Eyes [Region 2]
Starring: Alan Rickman , Clive Owen , Saskia Reeves , Karl Johnson (II) , and Lesley Sharp
Director: Stephen Poliakoff
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001KZN92

Customer Reviews:

Interesting and taboo.......2007-05-07

Very interesting film on a taboo topic. Intense and well acted.

DISTURBING MOVIE ... BUT EXCELLENT.......2007-02-16

This movie, because of the subject matter, was done very well, and I really got wrapped up into it. I thought it was very good and am glad I got it for my movie library.

Weird movie... got me thinking.......2007-01-27

cdset said "The film is a study in contrasts and opposing forces: Alan Rickman's controlled, restrained performance is in total contrast to the fiery passion of the two lovers and the film's direct confrontation with taboos (incest, AIDS, open passion itself)slams against polite society's prevailing opinions."
Good point there. The woman seduces her player type brother... who is all over her like a rash. But in the sack with her older husband Alan Rickman she is doing all the work so to speak ... she is on top of him. No fireworks there.
The brother disapproves of her new middle class lifestyle and insinuates that her husband is dominating her, squashing her true personality. BUT when the husband works out she is having an affair, the husband gets hot. The wife decides to drop brother,now hubby is making an effort. I feel that top Billing should have gone to Clive Owen as he gets much much more screen time than Alan Rickman. Owen acted his part very well. It sort of hints at a happy ending but the woman must be some kind of kook having sex with her own brother. Will hubby ever trust her again.Will she stray again.
I found it amusing that they track down Hubby on a Saturday to see if he is really at work and when he isn't they think that he is having an affair... he is innocently stuffing his face at a local cafe. Also the fight between brother and sister at the end was amusing.

Kinky.......2006-11-23

Not only because I am Clive's biggest supporters, but this film blew me away!!!! I bought a copy and I love watching this particular movie many many times. The story line was intense and I sure would not have said no if he were my brother! OMG I got to see my sexy man nude! This movie has it all as far as I am concerned. Excellent cast and a nice story ending too.

What the?.......2006-10-22

Ok, first let me say, the reason I bought this movie was because I have come to really like Clive Owen. The first I saw him in was the BMW 'shorts' on the internet as 'The Driver'. Then in The Bourne Idenity in a small role as an assassin who was trying kill pumpkinheaded uber assassin Matt Damon. Then I saw Closer and The Inside Man and really enjoyed him in both of these movies. So, I decided to look up some of his other work. I came across Close My Eyes. I also like Allen Rickman so I thought I would check it out. It started out pretty cut and dry, I thought. I mean here is womanizing Clive comforting his 'female friend' who is depressed from being jilted. He tries to cheer her up and I am thinking "ok, now they are going to realize that they are made for each other." Well, they share a passionate kiss and then.... "I'm sorry. You're my kid brother..." WHAT THE ****?!!! Ok, so now I am passed the shock and this movie goes from year to year or several years of the brother and sister and their 'relationship'. Allen Rickman is the man she falls in love with and eventually marries. It is certainly a tangled web and a strage story. I thought it was ok but it was... just an ok movie with a weird twist.

Franklin (20 Pack) Mr. Fix-It Franklin/Franklin and the Green Knight The Movie/Franklin and The Robot/Franklin and The Swimming Party/Franklin Goes to Camp/Franklin Goes To School/Franklin In The Dark/Franklin Plays Hockey/Franklin The Bus Patrol/Franklin The Fabulous/Franklin's Birthday Party/Franklin's Hockey Hero/Franklin's Homemade Cookies/Franklin's Magic Chritsmas/Franklin's Reading Club/Franklin's School Play/Franklin's Soccer Adventure/Franklin's Valentine/Back To School With Franklin/Franklin's Halloween

Average customer rating:

Franklin (20 Pack) Mr. Fix-It Franklin/Franklin and the Green Knight The Movie/Franklin and The Robot/Franklin and The Swimming Party/Franklin Goes to Camp/Franklin Goes To School/Franklin In The Dark/Franklin Plays Hockey/Franklin The Bus Patrol/Franklin The Fabulous/Franklin's Birthday Party/Franklin's Hockey Hero/Franklin's Homemade Cookies/Franklin's Magic Chritsmas/Franklin's Reading Club/Franklin's School Play/Franklin's Soccer Adventure/Franklin's Valentine/Back To School With Franklin/Franklin's Halloween

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B000EX3IY8

Product Description

1 Franklin - Mr. Fix-It Franklin 2 Franklin and the Green Knight The Movie 3 Franklin and The Robot 4 Franklin and The Swimming Party 5 Franklin Goes to Camp 6 Franklin Goes To School 7 Franklin In The Dark 8 Franklin Plays Hockey 9 Franklin The Bus Patrol 10 Franklin The Fabulous 11 Franklin's Birthday Party 12 Franklin's Hockey Hero 13 Franklin's Homemade Cookies 14 Franklin's Magic Chritsmas 15 Franklin's Reading Club 16 Franklin's School Play 17 Franklin's Soccer Adventure 18 Franklin's Valentine 19 Back To School With Franklin 20 Franklin's Halloween

Average customer rating:

Knight Club
Starring: Glenn Plummer , Lou Diamond Phillips , and Lochlyn Munro
Director: Russell Gannon
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B0009QTRN6
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Description

to get past the doorman. When it comes to the hottest clubs in L.A., the bouncers are called Knights. This is the story of the best of the best, and how their ruthless manipulation gets out of control when they combine celebrities, drugs and sex. Drunk with newfound power, things get out of control and they soon become targets

Average customer rating:

Club Jenna's Casting Couch
Director: Dic Tracy
Manufacturer: Club Jenna
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Part 1 only (Part 2 available separately)
FOR ADULTS ONLY

ASIN: B000SWUFNM

Average customer rating:

Mission to Mars in 1958!
nice
Great but Less Than Perfect
The story of Miss China's Ring comes to life in this anime.

Spirit of Wonder: The Movie
Starring: Hirohiko Kakegawa , Yutaka Shimaka , Tamao Hayashi , Michio Hazama , and Hiroyuki Shibamoto
Director: Hongo Mitsuru
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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

Space Adventure | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000AC8OO
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Amazon.com

Spirit of Wonder is not a feature, but a pair of linked 1992 OVAs based on Kenji Tsuruta's manga, combined with two shorts involving the voluptuous restaurant owner Miss China. The fragmentary plot evokes the stories of Jules Verne and boys' science-fiction novels from the original "Tom Swift" series to the juvenile yarns of Robert Heinlein. The overage delinquents of the Boys' Club dream of going to Mars and finally achieve their goal in 1958, using the unorthodox physics of the brilliant, endlessly patient Miss Windy. Light oscillating through "ether" powers their dirigible-like ship across interplanetary space. The graceful lines and pastel colors in this disjointed but visually- rich sci fi adventure recall the look of European graphic novels. Unfortunately, Spirit of Wonder is marred by a weary sexism that was already a cliché in 1992. (Rated 16 and older: violence, nudity, risqué humor, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Description

Brand new adventures awaits those who seek a new 'Spirit of Wonder'. As young boys, Cooper, Gordon, and Shepherd were enchanted by the theories of life on Mars published by Percival Lowell. Forming a group club called the "Scientific Boys Club" the trio will embark upon their long-time dream of traveling to Mars! And while the town of Bristol may be small, it's always exciting! What'll happen when the town's very own Miss China is shrunken to the size of a pea? Take a new voyage with two very special short stories "Shrinking of Miss China" and "Planet of Miss China."

KEY SALES POINTS:
The classic anime release of the early 90's is back as a brand new feature!
A whimsical journey that will spark adventure and a new spirit of wonder!
Spirit of Wonder manga available from Dark Horse Comics
Contains 2 BONUS OVA episodes of Miss China
Genre: Action/Adventure

DVD FEATURES:
Interactive Animated Menus
Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English/Japanese Language
English Subtitle Option

DVD EXTRAS:
Miss China Mini Poster
Art Gallery
Interviews
Trailers

Customer Reviews:

Mission to Mars in 1958!.......2006-09-27

Spirit of Wonder has one two episode story about the Scientific Boys Club and their plan to visit Mars. the club has only three members, Cooper, Gordon and Shepherd. Jack is the son-in-law of one of the members and Windy is his wife, the daughter of Gordon. She also happens to be the mind behind the theory of ether currents. In other words without her knowledge going to Mars isn't going to happen.
There is also two shorts featuring China and friends. SHE is the main character of the manga and, frankly, I don't know why she has become a side show.
At first I thought China's voice actress was Carrie Savage but it turned out to be Carrie A. Daniels (Angel Tales). Jim is played by Crispin Freeman (Hellsing, Howl's Moving Castle) while Windy is played by Tricia A. Dickson (Read Or Die, Hellsing) and Jack is played by Justin Gross (I MY ME! Strawberry Eggs, Ikki Tousen).
The stories have humor and a touch of old fashion Victorian scientific romance but are too short. The extras don't make up for the lack of material.

nice.......2006-05-18

A very different yet interesting yet loveable piece of work. Not your usual anime. I liked how this one had very real emotions and themes in it. Not to mention the artwork and animation for this piece was very beautiful. Very nice indeed.

Great but Less Than Perfect.......2006-03-30

So why 5 stars? As a stand alone story in VHS or DVD format this is a terrific fantasy! The only reason I consider it less than perfect is because I was spoiled on the original comic book series (five or six issues called Spirit of Wonder, published by Dark Horse comics I think) in the early or mid 1990's. This is a terribly whittled down version of some of the best Manga I ever laid my eyes on. But again, it's well worth it, especially if you do not have the benefit of the original comics.

There is some mild adult content, as with almost any anime out there. The fiesty old Doctor Breckenridge grabs poor Miss China's breasts a time or two, and attempts to peak at her panties. It has been a while since I saw the film, but I think he also slapped her on the butt once. There are a few instances of mild adult language: the word d**n is used. But these instances are fairly quick and isolated and are certainly not the strong selling points of this wonderful tale.

What is the strong selling point is the purely unique Japanese imagination. Somehow or other Japan's cartoonists seem to think a little more abstractly than do Westerners and Miss China's Ring is a grand example of that. The characters are lovable and easy to warm up to. There's Doctor Breckenridge, the dirty old man who is a raging mad scientist, then Jack, the mild-mannered assistant who supplies the mad doctor's needs via a beautiful fair-skinned blonde with petite features and who runs a flower stand that peddles black market items on the side. Finally we have the beloved little star of the show, Miss China, a young girl who owns the Ten-Kai Chinese restaurant on the coast of Australia. Yes, the setting for the story is actually "down-under," hence all the white sailors and the lack of anyone remotely Asian except Miss China.

Basically, the flower stand girl is in love with Jack. Miss China is also in love with Jack. Jack loves Miss China but more like a little sister or maybe a puppy. Dr. Breckenridge is unaware of the existence of any female except Miss China. The scheming doc is living with the notion that if he cannot go to the moon, then he will bring the moon to him. His idea is to cleverly carve a message in the moon's surface that can be seen from earth, without actually touching it. He endeavors to do so with his space refracting telecope invention. Things do get a little out of hand and the moon is terribly effected by it but in the end Miss China and Jack manage to find innocent romance while the rest of the world looks into the night sky to find something they never expected.

The second DVD in this series, titled Spirit of Wonder Part 2, is a fairly recent release. I am unsure of the authoring company. It is clever in it's own right but falls very short of Miss China's Ring.

You might still be able to find DVD copies of Miss China's Ring (The Spirit of Wonder Part 1) by Animeigo but it will take a little looking since it was a limited production.

In all, I would say that this is a great story to view on an inclement day or later in the evening when you just want to relax and forget the rest of the world. This film could never fall into the category of smutty and really only scrapes the line of adult (being slightly more child oriented), but it's not quite appropriate for young children. That must be why the original plastic wrapper had a 13 and up label. They were accurate in their summation. I hope I am accurate in mine by saying that you would enjoy it: highly recommended!

The story of Miss China's Ring comes to life in this anime........1998-04-21

In a small town lives a girl named Miss China, the owner of the local tavern and her friends. In an unexplained phenomenon, a message appears on the night of a full moon and she wants to know how it got there.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2001-11-06

I liked this movie. Its interesting and not predictable. Gabriel Byrne plays an alcoholic father returning to his children after being away 4 years. His wife has recently been killed and he tries to resume his position as head of household. This causes problems for his oldest son who is struggling with guilt over his mother's death, and mixed emotions about having his father back again. Good performances with a non-typical ending.

Had potential, but failed in the last half........1999-03-23

"Empire Records" star Johnny Whitworth plays a misguided youth in this 1996 Martin Donovan directed family drama. Gabriel Byrne and Nastassja Kinski are good, but the last half is so junky. Sadly, this movie failed.

Average customer rating:

Knight Club
Starring: Glenn Plummer , Lou Diamond Phillips , and Lochlyn Munro
Director: Russell Gannon
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000KC6T2G
Release Date: 2006-11-03

Average customer rating:

What can I say?
Definitive
Magnificent in every way
Makes the Peter Brooks version look bad
King Lear

King Lear [Region 2]
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Colin Blakely , Anna Calder-Marshall , Jeremy Kemp , and Robert Lang (II)
Director: Michael Elliott
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009P9PI

Customer Reviews:

What can I say?.......2007-09-11

What can I say? This version of "King Lear" was absolutely perfect.
Minimal scenery to be sure, but that left me to actually SEE and HEAR Shakespeare and the inimitable Mr. Olivier without the any trappings.
Marvelous production! A "must see" for Shakespeare enthusiasts.

Definitive.......2007-05-08

This is by general consensus one of Shakespeare's two greatest works, Hamlet being the other. (Which one you think is best is purely a matter of taste; you can generate passionate arguments either way.) No matter where you come down on that debate, King Lear is indisputably a top masterpiece by the greatest writer in the English language.

This production features a cast that is consummately superb, from the title role on down. Every character is played by an actor who ranks near the top of the profession, including such luminaries as Diana Rigg, Leo McKern, David Trelfall, Jeremy Kemp, and on and on and on. And, of course, there is Olivier, who is at the very peak of his powers here. There isn't a weak, or even ordinary, performance anywhere.

A teacher I once knew used to describe Shakespeare's language as "opera for people who can't sing." This company makes the language crystal clear, but beyond that, they make it sing. If this production doesn't make Shakespeare accessible for you, no production ever will.

Magnificent in every way.......2007-02-17

This is the first Lear I ever saw and so it will always be dear to me as it touched me so deeply way back when it was first shown on TV as it still does now when I pop my video in the player. I can't imagine any production topping this one as each character is played so thoroughly true and with such amazing skill and clearness of language. Every student or lover of Shakespeare must watch this and is highly recommended to purchase it for repeated viewing throughout your life. To me, Shakespeare's plays are so rich because they can be performed successfully innumerable ways. So it is absurd to expect any one performance to encapsulate everything a play can offer. You can't do it all in one production. However, I could easily be satisfied with this one Lear without ever seeing another. All the actors here, even the bit parts, play their parts essentially to perfection. I suppose my favorites are Lear, Gloucester, Edgar, Cordelia and Regan, but that is not to diminish anyone else. My only complaint about the play in general is that it is too difficult to believe that the others (excepting perhaps Lear himself since he is so old, nearsighted, half-mad/senile) do not recognize Kent for who he is merely because he has shaved his beard and put on ragged clothes. But, of course, if they did, or he revealed himself, the plot would be ruined and it would become a very different play altogether. I say enjoy the magnificent acting, the beautiful poetry and insights into human nature, and let Shakespeare sweep you away. You can't help but be moved when Lear realizes he has "ta'en too little care" of the homeless wretches, or when Lear is reunited with Cordelia and she so tenderly speaks to him, or, alas, when Lear is overcome with grief as he carries the dead Cordelia onto the battlefield and desperately tries to will her back to life before succumbing himself. One final note: the violence of the play, though horrible to contemplate, is presented in such a way as to be believable but also watchable (not for small children of course). Obviously, they couldn't be TOO REAL about it or someone would really get hurt!

Makes the Peter Brooks version look bad.......2006-11-25

If you want to see King Lear presented the way it should be, then this is for you. If you want to hear the lines spoken with total clarity and intelligence, the story presented with total understanding, almost every part played with total mastery, then this is for you. If you want to see special effects, expensive scenery, kung fu fight scenes, graphic killings, quirky direction imposed on the text Shakespeare wrote, go elsewhere. This is not for semi-literate mental adolescents panting for eye-candy, but for people mature enough to value the lessons of life and to accept its injustices and paradoxes. This work is a 400 year old play, written for the stage, perhaps the greatest of its kind. It speaks to those who are capable of listening, concentrating, absorbing its marvellous composition; who can recognize great acting, who can allow themselves to be drawn in by a performance built on a long, long lifetime of superlative achievement, supported to the hilt by every other player. I could find a few petty flaws to complain about and carp at, but I'm not going to lower myself to a high-school level of crass stupidity.

King Lear.......2006-08-22

I gave it 3 star because of my own inadequacy - I am Filipino and we are more familiar with the American english. At first I had difficult time following the "British english" accent. Otherwise I would have rated it highier. It is very good because while it is a movie, you can still feel that it as if it was stage play. I recommend it for all students of Shakespeare

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