Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition)

Description

This 15th Anniversary celebration of PRETTY WOMAN is even more irresistible than ever with all-new, never-before-seen special features you'll love at first sight. Academy Award(R) Winner Julia Roberts (Best Actress, ERIN BROCKOVICH, 2000) is a spirited, streetwise diamond in the rough when she meets a no-nonsense billionaire played by Golden Globe winner Richard Gere (Best Actor In A Motion Picture -- Musical Or Comedy, CHICAGO, 2002). It's a chance encounter that turns a weeklong business arrangement into a timeless rags-to-riches romance. This Special Edition will seduce you with all the comedy, charm, and passion you remember about this classic -- plus more!

Customer Reviews:

Roy Orbison should be proud.......2007-09-14

Pretty Woman begins with corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) impulsively picking up a streetwalking prostitute named Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts). He ends up hiring her for the week as an escort so that he can have a date for certain business dinners that are very important to him. While she is intelligent, she is also unaccustomed to living the life of luxury and there is a fair amount of humor that flows from her "fish out of water" status. It's a fairly silly setup for the movie and if you want to pick it apart, it's no great challenge to do so. It does, however, provide a very entertaining backdrop for a Cinderella love story.

This was not the first part in Julia Roberts' career, but it is certainly the one that made her a star. She is funny, sexy, and has a great warmth and vulnerability that makes it easy to believe that any man could fall in love with her, even a hotshot corporate raider. Gere does his usual solid acting job. Hector Elizondo steals the show as the stuffy hotel manager who helps Vivian learn etiquette and softens considerably in the process. Actually, the cast is very strong from top to bottom with small roles by Jason Alexander and Ralph Bellamy going a long way to making this film worth watching over and over.

Pretty Woman is certainly never going to win any awards for the most intellectually stimulating film of all time, but that's okay. It's funny when it wants to be and touching when it tries. And despite the silly story, there are some underlying themes that all of us can relate to and that feel very real. This one belongs in any DVD library.

Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition).......2007-08-24

I have always loved movies starring Julia Roberts and/or Richard Gere. I suppose the whole world has seen this funny, wacky, loveable couple try to work out the problems of being a "call girl". The "1-900-Babe" by Gere just cracks me up!

Story of respect, love, and compassion.......2007-07-20

While I was skeptical about this movie before watching it, I was completely taken aback by its wonderful story and enduring lessons. It was the appropriate combination of romance, comedy, and drama which made this movie, while still a chick flick, one that is heart touching and emphasises the importance of judging a person by their character and not simply thier professions. It also emphasises the importance of not making assumptions about people in order to figure out the essence of the true person. A heartwarming film - much recommended!

GREAT MOVIE.......2007-05-13

GREAT CHICK FLICK, THE CINDERELLA STORY WITH RICHARD GERE, WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT??? -SMILE-

Best Romantic Comedy of All Time.......2007-03-18

This 15th Anniversary edition has some deleted scenes inserted into the movie that has had some "purists" howling, but for me, I think it adds a new dimension to the relationship between Edward and Vivian. Aside from that the commentary from Garry Marshall was fun (of course, hearing from Julia Roberts and Richard Gere would have been great, but whatever). The wrap party is a joke; they shouldn't have bothered inserting that. The "Pretty Woman Tour" which takes you to the actual places where the movie was filmed was also informative. But all that aside, it's about the movie and it is a movie that still seems fresh and original all these years later. It's well worth owning because this a is a movie that will surely get more than one viewing.

The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Poor -Unable to view
Wonderful!
Wonderfull!!!
Movies
Holds true to the Broadway musical

The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Emmy Rossum , Patrick Wilson , Miranda Richardson , and Minnie Driver
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0007TKNL0
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).

Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.

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Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties.

DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.

The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi

More on The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD)
The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD)

Evita (DVD)
Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD)
More Broadway DVDs

Description

Musical Drama based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musical phenomenon. The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes:"No-one Would Listen" Approx. 4 Mins.
DVD ROM Features
Documentary:Behind the Mask - The Story of the Phantom of the Opera
Easter Eggs
Featurette:The Making of The Phantom of the Opera in 3 Spellbinding Acts: Preproduction, The Director, Production

Customer Reviews:

Poor -Unable to view.......2007-09-17

Disappointing. This was our first purchase through amazon and unfortunately we are unable to view the movie; it comes up "bad disc" on all comp and players. We had thrown out the return slip for shipping and had not yet contacted amazon about an exchange. So any assistance would be appreciated to rectify this situation.

Wonderful!.......2007-09-16

Wow...the music, the sets, the acting...I loved this DVD! After hearing Brighton and Crawford on the original soundtrack my expectations were high, but they really pulled it off with this DVD. Rossum is no Brightman, but she does have a beautiful voice and Patrick Wilson, wow! What a beautiful tenor voice he has!

I liked the way the movie starts out when Raoul is old and remembering, and ends that way, too. Great touch. This retelling of the story is a little different, but again, they really pulled it off and did a great job. There has never been a more beautiful score than The Phantom of the Opera. Andrew Lloyd Weber is a genius.

Wonderfull!!!.......2007-09-12

First,I have to say that I have not seen the Broadway version of The Phantom of the Opera. However, I have listened to the CD of the Broadway version many many times. I checked this movie from my library. I absolutely loved this movie. The opening scene draws you into the story. I loved Gerard Butler's acting and singing in this movie. I think he did a wonderful job with the part. Emmy Rossum also did a wonderful job as well.

Movies.......2007-09-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I love musicals and this one touched my heart. I gave it four stars only because I didn't want it to end.

Holds true to the Broadway musical.......2007-08-29

I've seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway production and traveling production of this play. The movie holds true to both and actually makes the play easier to understand. The storyline is strong, the music well done, and the acting superb. Even though this is a love story, this isn't a chick flick. I thoroughly appreciated it. And you will too.

Oh, and the video quality is second to none. I compared this version with the version that came on HBO HD, and the picture was superior on the HD DVD. It was a clear-cut improvement, but the edges were more well-defined on the HD DVD version. The sound quality is also superior. A big bonus when you consider all the singing going on.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Sick Willy
super
one of the best movies ever made
Wilder makes this movie worth it.
This is a great movie that your entire family will surely enjoy time and time again.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Gene Wilder , Jack Albertson , Peter Ostrum , Roy Kinnear , and Julie Dawn Cole
Director: Mel Stuart , and J.M. Kenny
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0009FGWLW
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Amazon.com essential video

Having proven itself as a favorite film of children around the world, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is every bit as entertaining now as it was when originally released in 1971. There's a timeless appeal to Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, which was playfully preserved in this charming musical, from the colorful carnival-like splendor of its production design to the infectious melody of the "Oompah-Loompah" songs that punctuate the story. Who can forget those diminutive Oompah-Loompah workers who recite rhyming parental warnings ("Oompah-Loompah, doopity do...") whenever some mischievous child has disobeyed Willy Wonka's orders to remain orderly? Oh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves ... it's really the story of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other kids and their parental guests, wins a coveted golden ticket to enter the fantastic realm of Wonka's mysterious confectionery. After the other kids have proven themselves to be irresponsible brats, it's Charlie who impresses Wonka and wins a reward beyond his wildest dreams. But before that, the tour of Wonka's factory provides a dazzling parade of delights, and with Gene Wilder giving a brilliant performance as the eccentric candyman, Wonka gains an edge of menace and madness that nicely counterbalances the movie's sentimental sweetness. It's that willingness to risk a darker tone--to show that even a wonderland like Wonka's can be a weird and dangerous place if you're a bad kid--that makes this an enduring family classic. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A poor little boy wins a ticket to visit the inside of a mysterious and magical chocolate factory. When he experiences the wonders inside the factory, the boy discovers that the entire visit is a test of his character.

Customer Reviews:

Sick Willy.......2007-08-24

"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" is not a child's movie. Not even close.

It's more like an Express Elevator to Hell. Let's be clear on that: whatever it is---aperture to Hell, gateway to a parallel dimension, portal to an alien universe full of diaper-wearing baby-eating carnivores---whatever it is, it's not a childrens' movie.

"Willy Wonka" seethes with Faustian menance and a lurking sense of something sinister afoot, just behind the scenes. It's a kind of cinemo-genetic splice of Pol Pot, Josef Stalin, Satan, and the Teletubbies, with a little shark blood, cobra venom, & curare thrown in for variety.

"Willy Wonka" traumatized me as a child. No kidding. I went to it with my parents, who were under the misconception that this was a fun, light-hearted childrens' romp at the local drive-in; I was digging my nails into my mom's headrest about 10 minutes into the thing. By the time the fat chick turned blue & was about to explode, I'd had it. My Ultra-Conservative, Vaguely Pious Little Boy Instincts had had enough.

My parents practically had to do a bootlegger reverse in our whale-like family Oldsmobile to get me out of there, skirting the puzzled & the damned on their way back to the Horror with their popcorn and junior mints. Even then, on the verge of escape, my fingers clasped over my eyes, I was terrified at what hellish horrors the flickering blue-hued mountain-sized silver screen might burn into my young brain. Why did I look, you ask? Why look, on the verge of escape?

Because I had to watch.

That's the grim, ghoulish secret of "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", director Mel Stuart's cinematic Weapon of Mass Destruction & a screed advocating genocide against naughty children.

Don't believe me? Yeah, well, they didn't believe the guy who said the alien diplomatic manual "To Serve Man" was a cookbook, either.

"Wonka" is nothing less than the incarnation of what every parent wishes, secretly, to inflict on miscreant children: the Torments of Hell. Oh, and brutal, violent, gory death. And then little men in big-hipped pants come and haul your carcass away.

For one, there is the Chocolate Factory itself, a kind of gingerbread Auschwitz with looming smokestacks to match. The River of Chocolate is actually blood red: not brown, or caramel, or black, but red. Like blood. In fact, I think it is a river of blood, nourishing by way of strange caverns the vile, fleshy plants that fasten themselves along its unclean banks.

Or take the little troglodyte Oompah Loompahs, who shuttle miscreants into the Factory's Death Traps, after which they're never seen again. Where did they go? Wonka glosses this over like the hardened war criminal he obviously is: don't worry, he coos, the Oompahs (the Stasi? the Gestapo? The SS?) are "helping them" get better.

Even as a child I knew better. The Little Fat Blue Girl, for one? Yeah, sure, they're "helping her"---helping mop her bright pink guts off the factory walls after she exploded. Or how about the little boy dragged into a chocolate tube & doubtless suffocated, or Charlie & his grampa's brush with whirring steely death in the Decapitator?

Or what of the hellish topography of Wonkaland itself, where candy vats bubble like Yellowstone paint pots, bubbling, spitting, hissing, ready to snare and clutch and catch the unfortunate, usually a child, who gets too close & is scalded.

This flick doesn't even bother disguising its real agenda: consider its psychedelic tunnel boat sequence, complete with hallucinatory glimpses of a writhing Conqueror Worm, dead birds, ambulatory guts, & the licking fires of Hell, accompanied by a nearly spastic Wonka yammering about Rowers rowing & "the Fires of Hell a-Blowing (a film addition not found in the book).

Or best of all, consider the character of Willy Wonka himself, played by comic genius Gene Wilder. Wonka is obviously deranged. Wilder surpasses himself in bringing a kind of spastic, deranged, dangerous manginess to the persona of the affable old Dickensian eccentric imagined in Roald Dahl's truly childish children's classic (itself a work of pure unbridled whimsy). To a child, Wonka isn't endearing, he's dangerous. He's the Mad Stranger. You don't talk to him.

And why would you, when Wonka looks to be, and let's face it, probably is, a drug addict. Just look at the wretch: the ill-modulated voice, rising from sibilant to screech in seconds. Or the unkempt wispy hair jutting out from the moldy top hat, or the yellowish cankered clothes, or the wild, jerky, drug-addled mannerisms.

Is it so difficult to imagine this candy-coated Mengele with his syringe full of lethal blueberry custard, his vivisections done for the day, dispatching a troop of Waffen Oompah Loompahs to haul the latest batch of child-sized black bodybags out the back door of his Gingerbread Dachau while he retreats to the privacy of his miserable, woeful office to break out the syringe, the needle, and the spoon?

A child, rightly, recoils from such a Monster.

If you let your child be influenced by this tomb-rat, be prepared when he proceeds to torturing small dogs with a cheese slicer in the shed, and from there to trolling the seedier night clubs in search of boyfriends to bring home for sedation, dismemberment, and storage in the refrigerator (or perhaps a chemical vat, in a true homage to the original Sick Willy).

It is instructive to learn that Dahl, horrified by the cinematic adaption, filed a lawsuit against the producers and director Stuart, thus preventing them from using his characters again, and thereby scuttling sequels---and perhaps stoppering up a gate to the Land of the Damned.

Show this infernal concoction of slow death to the impressionable only if you want to literally carry out Christ's injunction: "Suffer the little Children."

JSG

super.......2007-08-23

great movie that teaches kids to behave or "you'll get whats coming to you!"....God Dammit anahow!!

one of the best movies ever made.......2007-07-10

wonderful, beautiful, charming, funny, entertaining, will make you long to be a child again, and most of all, be in Willy Wonka's candy world (instead of this crummy world!)

Wilder makes this movie worth it........2007-06-27

Don't let the star rating fool you. Despite this movie having an absurd plot, largely unlikable characters, particularly Charlie's family, and repetitive singing from the loompas, this is a fantastic movie. But wilder and the boy who plays charlie are the ones who really makes this movie a classic. ill leave the explanation of whats in this movie to the editors and other reviewers.

the reason for the 1 star deduction is because of the transfer quality. some scenes are quite bad. such as the sketchiness of when charlie runs home after finding the golden ticket. since its been ages since i've last seen this movie i have no idea if anything was removed.

Overall, this is a good buy. They're are interviews with cast and directors included on this too which makes even more valuable.

This is a great movie that your entire family will surely enjoy time and time again........2007-06-20

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is an awesome movie. I used to watch this over and over again as a child. My favorite character is Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) because she was so mean and spoiled. I loved how Veruca always seemed to get her way, it was so funny. This is a great movie that your entire family will surely enjoy time and time again.

Average customer rating:

Made Me Want To Go Back Again!
Je t'aime!

Paris, Je T'Aime
Starring: Natalie Portman , Elijah Wood , Juliette Binoche , Steve Buscemi , and Catalina Sandino Moreno
Director: Alexander Payne , Wes Craven , Gus Van Sant , Tom Tykwer , and Vincenzo Natali
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
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ASIN: B000UVV26A
Release Date: 2007-11-13

Description

In PARIS, JE T'AIME, celebrated directors from around the world, including the Coen Brothers, Gus Van Sant, Gurinder Chadha, Wes Craven, Walter Salles, Alexander Payne and Olivier Assayas, have come together to portray Paris in a way never before imagined. Made by a team of contributors as cosmopolitan as the city itself, this portrait of the city is as diverse as its creators' backgrounds and nationalities. With each director telling the story of an unusual encounter in oe of the city's neighborhoods, the vignettes go beyond the 'postcard' view of Paris to portray aspects of the city rarely seen on the big screen. Racial tensions stand next to paranoid visions of the city seen from the perspective of an American tourist. A young foreign worker moves from her own domestic situation into her employer's bourgeois environs. An American starlet finds escape as she is shooting a movie. A man is torn between his wife and his lover. A young man working in a print shop sees and desires another young man. A father grapples with his complex relationship with his daughter. A couple tries to add spice to their sex life. These are but a few of the witty and serendipitous narratives that make up PARIS, JE T'AIME.

Customer Reviews:

Made Me Want To Go Back Again!.......2007-08-21

It was amazing how each director in 5 minutes pulled you into each story so fast! We had just returned from an actual trip to Paris and it was amazing how they got each area of Paris and its different nuances!

INCREDIBLE! I never right reviews, but had to share my thoughts about this, can't wait to buy it!

Je t'aime!.......2007-08-15

Paris is a city of light, lovers, art and beauty. And "Paris, Je T'aime" explores all the sides of the city in in eighteen brief fiolms, all set in various arrondissements of Paris, and directed by some brilliantly underrated directors. And they seem to be about love -- often it's a person, but each one is also an ode to Paris itself.

A somewhat lonely Denver mailwoman (Margo Martindale) makes her first trip to Paris, and recounts how "I fell in love with Paris, and Paris fell in love with me." A mime spreads colour and mischief on his way to love. Two strangers fall in love in a bar. A medic learns that a dying man is in love with her, and seeking her out inadvertantly led to his death at the hands of a racist gang.

A young boy leaves his misogynistic pals behind, to seek love with a young Muslim girl. A pair of British people visit the tomb of Oscar Wilde in Pere-Lachaise, an American actress falls for her drug dealer, and a young nanny's dismal living conditions are a stark contrast to that of the people she works for. All these -- and more -- are intertwined gently in the finale.

But two stand out especially. Tom Tykwer's includes a young blind man (Melchior Beslon) receiving a call from his American actress girlfriend (Natalie Portman). She tells him, "Our spring was wonderful but summer is over now and we missed out on autumn... our love fell asleep, and the snow took it by surprise." In his sorrow, he thinks back to how they met, and how their relationship continued... and gets a surprise.

And Vincenzo Natali turns in a bloody, gothic love story. A young American tourist (Elijah Wood) is walking alone at night, when he steps in a pool of blood. He follows the blood to where a beautiful vampire (Olga Kurylenko) is slurping someone to death -- only to have a sudden attraction bloom up between them. When he has a fall, what will happen?

"Paris Je T'aime" has it all -- comedy, tragedy, romance, racial tension, religion, vampires, sunlit vacations, glamour and cliches. Okay, there's the occasional dud -- "Tuileries," about an American tourist by the Coen Bros., is just lame. But since all the directors are given only about five minutes, most of them are tiny, polished gems without any extraneous material.

Natali's is colourless (except for blood) and eerie, Gurinder Chadha's is shyly sweet and sunny, Richard LaGravenese's is adorable, Craven's is syrupy, and Tykwer's is a delicate web of camera tricks and blurred glimpses. Sylvain Chomet even charms us with mimes zooming through the streets. And each brings another dimension of Paris to life, from lush green parks to bars to the Eiffel Tower itself.

And the acting is just as great -- the great Juliette Binoche, Seydou Boro, Catalina Moreno, Marianne Faithfull, Fanny Ardant, Gérard Depardieu, and the adorable Melchior Beslon. Martindale deserves special praise for her sweetly realistic portrayal of an American tourist, and Portman is brilliantly vibrant as a girl who yells a lot. And Elijah Wood turns out a brilliant performance in total silence, managing to convey fear, mischief, eroticism and love.

"Paris Je T'aime" is a collection of little gems, with the occasional dull pebble thrown in -- brilliant directors, emotionally charged stories, and great acting. Enchanté!

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Poor -Unable to view
Wonderful!
Wonderfull!!!
Movies
Holds true to the Broadway musical

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Emmy Rossum , Patrick Wilson , Miranda Richardson , and Minnie Driver
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007TKNIS
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties. --David Horiuchi

Description

Customer Reviews:

Poor -Unable to view.......2007-09-17

Wonderful!.......2007-09-16

Wonderfull!!!.......2007-09-12

Movies.......2007-09-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I love musicals and this one touched my heart. I gave it four stars only because I didn't want it to end.

Holds true to the Broadway musical.......2007-08-29

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Music To Hear, And To See - Great Concert!
peggy lee of the 21st century
Excellent
MAJESTUOSA! no hay otra palabra
Great DVD!

Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Starring: Diana Krall
Director: David Barnard
Manufacturer: Eagle Eye/Pioneer Entertainment
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ASIN: B00005Y3ZM
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Does it get any better than this? Canadian torch singer and pianist Diana Krall is in perfect form in this two-hour Paris concert, recorded in December 2001 shortly after the release of her CD The Look of Love. In her band, guitarist Anthony Wilson and bassist John Clayton get the lion's share of attention, but the entire ensemble (including lush strings from the Paris Symphony Orchestra) provides flawless support for Krall, whose skill on a Steinway is as impressive as her smoky interpretations of vintage standards and ballads. Inspired by guest conductor-arranger Claus Ogerman, Krall can surprise with subtleties (like a delicious hint of the Beatles' "Day Tripper" in her closing of "All or Nothing"), or glide into solos with a master's flair. Matching the music beat for beat, the camera coverage and editing are intimate without being obtrusive, making this a bit of jazz heaven here on earth. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Recorded live at the Paris Olympia on December 1, 2001, Krall's classic style blends equal parts artistic vision, hard work and determination. The British Columbia native began playing piano at the age of four and now has five stunning albums behind her. She made her debut with the critically acclaimed Only Trust Your Heart and the album topped the Billboard jazz charts for the most of 1998, earning Krall a Grammy nomination. She went on to win a Best Jazz Vocal Performance Grammy for 1999's platinum-selling When I Look in Your Eyes and became the first jazz artist in 25 years to be nominated in the Album of the Year category.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Music To Hear, And To See - Great Concert!.......2007-09-08

The Canadian jazz singer and pianist gives about a two-hour concert in Paris and all two hours are very worthwhile to watch and hear. This is good stuff - and I'm not really a jazz fan. Krall is accompanied by five other jazz musicians and a European symphony orchestra, conducted by Alan Broadbent.

This is simply good music by real pros in the jazz business and led, of course, by Krall, who has a wonderful voice and is a terrific pianist. It doesn't hurt that she looks great, too! (Actually, the whole concert is filmed beautifully.) To Krall's credit, she lets her band get a lot of solo time and she's generous with the compliments. I found guitarist Anthony Wilson a particular standout. However, you can see Krall is partial to longtime musicians John Clayton (bass) and Jeff Hamilton (drums.) She speaks of them like old buddies, which they probably are.

The first selection is the most upbeat of the concert and gets things rolling. All of it is first- class and gets better and better with each viewing.

peggy lee of the 21st century.......2007-08-06

When you get Diana Krall, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton playing the great standards, you could never never ask for more! She is the Peggy Lee of the 21st Century! With the Orchestre Symphonique Europeen backing her, this makes "Live in Paris "the very best of the best .
Now if only she doesn't get influenced with Elvis's style and sticks with the standards.......

Excellent.......2007-03-10

This DVD is a must for Krall fans. This is a timeless performance and shows her amazing gift, along with the outstanding pros alongside her.

MAJESTUOSA! no hay otra palabra.......2007-02-07

Ya de por si cualquier disco de Diana Krall es excelente, ahora esta presentación en vivo que hizo en Paris junto a extraordinarios músicos como Jeff Hamilton, Anthony Wilson y John Clayton es un verdadero deleite de principio a fin. La calidad de audio, vídeo y dirección de cámaras es simplemente de lo mejor, es una compra con 200% de satisfacción garantizada.

Great DVD!.......2007-01-16

We bought this for my grandfather for Christmas since he's a big DK fan, but the whole family watched and loved it. She's such a talented artist and has an incredible voice!

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To understand people who are different, you have to be one
Increasing Probability
Stand and Deliver "stands and delivers"
Stand and Deliver
A wonderful affirmation of both individual human worth and the value of knowledge

Stand and Deliver
Starring: Edward James Olmos , Estelle Harris , Mark Phelan , Virginia Paris , and Mark Eliot
Director: Ramón Menéndez
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305161917
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Amazon.com

Based on a true story, this inspiring American Playhouse production stars Edward James Olmos as a high school teacher who motivated a class full of East L.A. barrio kids to care enough about mathematics to pass an Advanced Placement Calculus Test. Not exactly a variation of To Sir, With Love, the film concerns itself with assumptions and biases held by mainstream authorities about disadvantaged kids, and Olmos's efforts to keep his students coolheaded enough to prove them wrong. Olmos, virtually unrecognizable as the pudgy, balding instructor, gives a career performance in this fine piece directed by Ramón Menéndez, and written by the director and Tom Musca. --Tom Keogh

Description

Edward James Olmos's Oscar-nominated performance energizes this true-life story of a Los Angeles high school teacher who drives his students on to excellence at calculus.

Customer Reviews:

To understand people who are different, you have to be one.......2007-06-08

Along with Music of the Mind, Dangerous Minds and Radio and others, this is the message. Real people are making real differences and it is on DVD. Play this at home, often. It has enough threat of violence to meet the average American mind, then slips the fact that an effort invested pays great social dividends;

Increasing Probability.......2007-04-17

'Stand and Deliver' is a ground-breaking true-life tale of determination and innovation. The film is based on Jaime Escalante (James Edward Olmos), a financially successful man who trades his profession to teach school in L.A. Not accepting failure, he earns the trust of his students whose cynicism is unmatched by everyone except the teachers. Using colorful tactics, toughness, and humor, he wins his mostly hispanic classes by bridging the gap between what they can learn and what they've despaired of ever learning. Using his own dedication to build confidence, he catalyzes his students to use the educational ticket out of despair and poverty.

Comparing Olmos performance to real videos of Escalante, the actor hit the nail on the head. All the young performers bring such likable and identifiable students that they make us forget the groundbreaking nature of "The Sweat Hogs" (from TV's 'Welcome Back Kotter'). Endearing from start to finish, the story and characters are especially lovable. Even the hard-boiled shell of students like Angel are particularly charismatic. (Lou Diamond Phillips became an overnight sensation for his performance here.) Similar movies like 'Freedom Writers' today wouldn't have been conceivable without it.

Stand and Deliver "stands and delivers".......2007-04-10

I like this movie because it reminds me of AP Calculus and how hard that test was. I got a 5, but only because I took Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus in the years previous to that. I can't imagine having to basically learn all the way from remedial algebra to Calculus in a 2 year span.

I was in a pretty low-income area too, but luckily the school wasn't so bad, and just as the movie suggests, Calculus is the key to move on to bigger and better things, and more interesing schoolwork, like University Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.

It also gives you ability to improve your SAT Math score because you reinforce all the algebra trickery you may have missed in the previous years, because they are used in calculus too.

Even if you don't get credit for it at your college, having gone through the class helps to breeze through it in college. Even if you are not going to major in math and science, at least this will take care of any math requirements for your major, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you know way more (in terms of analytical skill and thought process) than the college remedial algebra they would otherwise place you in.

I highly recommend this to anyone in high school or eigth grade. When in doubt as to whether to take the AP class versus the Honors level class, I ALWAYS recommend to choose the AP level course; but take that with a grain of salt, that's just my humble opinion, and your situation may be different.

However, I think if the school's paying for the test, you may as well save the time and money in college it would require to take the course, and if it's too hard you can always not take the AP Test until next year.

Stand and Deliver.......2007-01-25

I remember reading several years ago of a schoolteacher, new to a school, who was given a list of all her pupils' names. Next to each name was a number. These numbers were high ones, and assuming that they were a list of her new pupils IQ's, the teacher realised that she was to be teaching exceptionally bright young minds.

She upped her teaching accordingly. The students all responded and received exceptionally high marks at the high level set for them. It was later revealed that they were only average students, and what the teacher had taken to be IQ's were their locker numbers.

Stand and Deliver reminded me of this story. I think it is a fine film, the `true' story being beautifully acted by a talented cast. They are all good but Edward James Olmos deserves special praise as the teacher. If there were more teachers like him we should all rejoice.

If you sometimes think that the human condition is beyond saving see this uplifting account of triumph over adversity.

A wonderful affirmation of both individual human worth and the value of knowledge.......2007-01-22

Although there are many movies and television series set in high schools, lamentably few celebrate the joy of learning and the sense of empowerment and achievement that it can generate. As much as any film ever made, STAND AND DELIVER does precisely that. Based on the true story of Jaime A. Escalante, the film toys, as most biopics do, with many of the details of Escalante's actual story, but it definitely gets at the heart of his story. The film implies that Escalante instantly began teaching college AP Calculus to his students, whereas in fact he had been teaching at Garfield High School for almost a decade. But timing aside, he is justly celebrated as one of America's best known educators, helping the students of largely Hispanic Garfield enjoy exceptional success in its math program.

Despite the liberties the film takes in the story of Escalante's story, this is easily one of the great films about education ever made in the United States. It is also a deeply subversive film, because it essentially argues that race and class is not a genuine impediment to academic success. It demonstrates that kids from remarkably poor households can excel in school if given both the opportunity and a teacher who cares. The overall story in the film is simple: Jaime A. Escalante arrives at Garfield High School and begins to teach math. Against all odds, he finds students who turn out to be high achievers despite the obstacles placed against them. Most of the narrative focuses on his 1982 class, in which 18 students passed the AP Calculus exam, but 14 were asked to retake the exam following accusations of cheating. 12 of the 14 did and passed a second time.

What makes this such a wonderfully rich film are the strong performances by the central characters. Edward James Olmos, who I have long considered one of the finest actors in America, won a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance as Escalante (he lost to Dustin Hoffman in RAIN MAN). The rest of the cast centers on the young actors who portray his 1982 class, the best-known being Lou Diamond Phillips. Most of the kids were and are unknowns (with a couple of exceptions), but all do a great job. But Olmos dominates the film, just as his Escalante dominates his class.

By the way, fans of the Sci Fi Channel should notice not one but three familiar faces from staple shows from that network. Edward James Olmos has, of course, for the past three years starred in the critically acclaimed BATTLESTAR GALACTICA as Admiral Bill Adama. Fans of that show might, however, have missed in STAND AND DELIVER Olmos's real life son Bodie, here playing Escalante's young son. On BATTLESTAR he appears as the Viper pilot Hot Dog. The school principal is played by Carmen Argenziano, who is familiar to fans of STARGATE SG-1 as Samantha Carter's father, Jacob Carter.

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like a set of chinese finger cuffs!
Kevin Smith's best film...
An almost mature film from Kevin Smith...
A must own DVD
Kevin Smith in a nutshell.

Chasing Amy - Criterion Collection
Starring: Joey Lauren Adams , Ben Affleck , Casey Affleck , Matt Damon , and Dwight Ewell
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CX9D
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Amazon.com

Writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks) makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relationship is attacked, however, by his business partner (Jason Lee), who pulls a very unsubtle Iago act to cast doubt over the whole affair. The film has the same sense of insiderness as Clerks--this time, Smith takes us within the arcane, funny world of comic-book cultism--but the themes of jealousy, deceit, and the high price of growing up enough to truly care for someone make this a very satisfying movie. --Tom Keogh

Description

Chasing Amy is the third installment in the "New Jersey Trilogy" from award-winning writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma). Cult comic-book artist Holden (Ben Affleck) falls in love with fellow artist Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), only to be thwarted by her sexuality, the disdain of his best friend Banky (Jason Lee), and his own misgivings about himself. Filled with Smith's unique ear for dialogue and insight into relationships, Chasing Amy offers a thoughtful, funny look at how perceptions alter lives, and how obsession and self-doubt skew reality.

Customer Reviews:

like a set of chinese finger cuffs!.......2007-09-12

Chasing Amy, Kevin Smiths 3rd film, has much more dramatic tones than any of his other films in the "jersey chronicles." that doesnt take away from the greatness of Kevin Smith's Filmmaking though. to be honest the first time i saw Chasing Amy i didnt like it at all. i went into it with a closed mind because at the time all i interpreted from Kevin Smith movies was some weed content and sex jokes. over the years of seeing all his films countless times ive learned about so much more beyond all the F--ks and s--ts. dont get me wrong, thats all good stuff, but he addresses a lot of facets of sexuality and religion.

Chasing Amy is no stereotypical, fake love story. to me, its a look at love from different points of view, how we all interpret it, and how it affects different people. in most films the protagonist is perceived as he/she can do no wrong. Chasing Amy is full of so many variables and emotions. i dont think Kevin Smith was saying Ben Afflecs character was truly in love with Joey Lauren Adams character. He thought he was, and that was enough for him. that small glimpse of satisfaction and light was enough for his character to think it was real. sometimes the illusion of love is amazing in itself. however fleeting it may be.

Kevin Smith's best film..........2007-05-18

Chasing Amy, the third film in Kevin Smith's classic New Jersey trilogy (along with Clerks and Mallrats), just might be the best of the bunch. It packs Smith's usual envelope-pushing dialogue about sex, relationships, etc. and showcases some great comic performances. If you're feeling tired of boring Hollywood fare, Chasing Amy provides a refreshing slap in the face.

Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Bounce) plays Holden McNeil, a comic book artist who's still looking for the right woman. While attending a comic-book convention with his roommate and Bluntman & Chronic co-creator Banky (Jason Lee, Almost Famous), he meets Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), and they quickly hit it off. Holden is convinced that he's met future girlfriend material. However, there is one minor problem: She's lesbian, a fact that's conveyed in a hilarious bar scene.

After he gets over his initial shock concerning her lesbian preferences, Holden enters into a fast frienship with Alyssa. Their close bond is a source of tension between Holden and Banky, who believes that she's bad news (and perhaps is a bit jealous). As Holden and Alyssa's relationship becomes more intimate, he must also come to grips with her wild past. Whether or not you buy into the film's surprising resolution, there's no denying that it's a ballsy one.

Smith's writing is so sharp that almost any actor (or non-actor) can come off looking good. That said, Jason Lee gives a classic comic performance, spouting off numerous un-PC lines, whether introducing a young toddler to his collection of porn magazines or asking Alyssa about her lesbian habits: "Since you like chicks, do you just look at yourself naked in the mirror all the time?" Affleck delivers solid work in a gutsy role. How much you like or hate Joey Lauren Adams will depend heavily on how you cope with her nasal, high-pitched voice.

Of course, a Kevin Smith film wouldn't be complete without the presence of Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith himself), and their scene is a keeper. While dining with Holden at a restaurant, the two offer relationship advice that's alternately poignant and hilarious.

With a writer/director as daring as Kevin Smith, odds are there will be some scenes in his films that you won't like. However, that's a small price to pay for the many hilarious scenes you do get, and it's also part of the reason that Chasing Amy rewards repeat viewings.

An almost mature film from Kevin Smith..........2007-04-04

This is Kevin Smith's best film. It isn't perfect, but it has a lot of real emotion in it, even though Smith nearly ruins it with his usual oversexed, Generation X schtick. I think the reason this film works well for the most part is that it's really quite sincere in its best moments. Kevin Smith was dating Joey Lauren Adams (the lead actress here) at the time, and had problems dealing with her past. So he made this film as a cathartic experience, and maybe that was good for him to do so (even though him and Joey broke up, so it kind of all was for naught...oops). Anyway, you really believe Ben Affleck falls in love with Joey here, and his scene where he declares his love feels very real and sincere (something Gen X types like Smith are NOT known for). But when Joey just gives up being a lesbian right away for Affleck, it doesn't really feel authentic. Her character was a bit of a whore when she was young, she found lesbianism, now Affleck brings her back to straightdom? It's not entirely believable, but Affleck (in probably his only decent performance before he became a celebrity) is rather believable in this scene. And in the scenes immediately following it, Joey's character seems to be really in love with Affleck. Unfortunately, Smith throws in too many over the top sexual references (the scene where Joey Adams and Jason Lee talk about oral sex injuries is ridiculous and just there to be "in your face"), and the scene where Ben Affleck proposes a menage a trois between Jason Lee and Joey is ridiculous. Affleck somehow gets the idea in his head that Jason Lee has been in love with him his whole life (despite Lee talking about his oral sex injuries with women earlier on), which is completely out of place with his character. Affleck proposes this in front of a TV playing "video aquarium" for some reason. But I really like the ending of this film. It's left totally open, and Smith should be commended for ending the film like that. The film is a bit of a mess, with some questionable character motivations, but it has its good moments, and it's Smith's best film in my opinion.

A must own DVD.......2007-03-16

This is one of my all time favorite movies; I have probably seen it over 10 times and I still don't get bored with it. Great dialouge and very believable and beautifully flawed characters. Joey Lauren Adams shines in this and it's the only movie I like Ben Affleck in. But be warned, this movie might break your heart.

Kevin Smith in a nutshell........2007-02-27

It perfectly blends his potty mouth with sensitivity and good dialogue.This one and Jersey Girl is widely hated by the typical fans,but they're missing out.It's an unpopular formula that turns many away.You get the ones who like dick and fart jokes who don't appreciate the romance,and you get the other half who like the romance but hate the off-color jokes.For those of you with a taste

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