Brazil - The Criterion Collection - (Single Disc Editon)

Customer Reviews:

Christmas In Dystopia.......2007-08-11

Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is an extremely ambitious effort brimming with socio-political criticism. It is filled with intense, chaotic images of a highly centralized, technological, authoritarian society gone horribly sour. It is 1984 brought to flesh, and done with the Gilliam touch where dreams are the only way to escape a reality that is completely insane. What is disturbing is that this world looks so familiar...the endless paperwork to do the simplest things...the failure of gadgetry to make life easier...bureaucracy failing to take into account people...nepotism, vanity, the constant threat of "terrorists" to unite people in fear...mindless consumerism as religion...yes, Gilliam's kinetic visuals are indeed center stage, but much of the world in this film is a prophecy and funhouse refraction of our own world. Welcome to fascism: welcome to Brazil.

I would have loved to see the look on face of the studio execs who had to confront this mindfreak when perhaps expecting something more along the lines of "Time Bandits".

Essential film genius: Gilliam's Brazil........2007-08-06

Inspired by Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Terry Gilliam's (1940) black comedy, Brazil (1985), sets the human imagination at odds against the totalitarian bureaucray of the Ministry of Information. Set in a dystopian society "Somewhere in the 20th Century," Brazil tells the story of Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), a lonely government employee in a dead-end job, who habitually escapes into his fantasy world of romantic adventures (accompanied by the 1939 Brazilian song, "Aquarela do Brasil"), and his quest to find happiness in that impersonal, industrial, oppressive society. Unlike Sam, most of the film's other characters seem oblivious to the labyrinth of bureaucracy in which they live, and seem content merely doing their meaningless jobs in order to avoid a bad credit rating. Katherine Helmond plays Sam's vain mother, Robert Deniro plays a rebel heating engineer, and Kim Greist plays the woman of Sam's dreams, Jill.

Brazil is among my all-time personal film favorites. Criterion has remastered Gilliam's work of genius in both single and three-disc versions. Both include a 142-minute director's cut of the film drawn from both the European and American footage (supervised and approved by Terry Gilliam), with a remastered Dolby stereo surround soundtrack and an audio commentary by Gilliam. The three-disc edition also includes a 30-minute on-set documentary, "What Is Brazil?;" rare behind-the-scenes footage; video interviews; and a 94-minute "Love Conquers All" version of Brazil. Sure to appeal to the Sam Lowry in all of us, this film is highly recommended.

G. Merritt

Dancing Between Dream States: A Dark, Disburbing, and Still Controversial Beauty.......2007-07-22

Swirling together ideas from such writers as Kalfa and Orwell and artists like Escher, Terry Gilliam's 1985 BRAZIL is visually stunning--and so disorienting, disturbing, and disconcerting that Universal refused to release it. A very public battle eventually forced the studio to recant, but by the time the film reached theatres public interest in the film was past the crest. The film did not really come into its own until it began to reach the home market, and this remarkably fine DVD from Criterion is the result.

Some people describe BRAZIL as science-fiction; some describe as future prophecy; in actual fact it is a bit of both and lots of other things as well. Although the film has an odd Anglo-Latin quality, it might be set at any time and in any place. Whatever the case, it presents us with a society collapsing under the weight of its own technology, a world in which beaurocracy has run amuck, terrorists challenge the status quo, and the general public is largely indifferent to the whole thing as long as it doesn't affect them personally.

When a bug is splattered inside a computer, it results in the wrongful arrest of an innocent man--and through a series of odd circumstances plunges a low level and unassuming government employee into a series of romantic but ultimately nightmarish adventures expose the truly sinister nature of the ruling government, adventures that range from bombings to hideous torture, from beautiful surfaces to grotesque underpinnings.

The film has a unique look, dancing between dream states and the stark world against which they occur; it is often beautiful, but it is all a bit off-kilter, and as the film progresses that off-kilter edge grows and grows into a profound paranoia all the more unnerving due to the visual beauty of the film. The script is interesting, the story is intelligent and ultimately frightening, and the performances are very sound indeed.

BRAZIL is one of those "either-or" films that you love or hate, that you get or don't get. I find that I tend to admire the film more than I actually like it--but no matter your reaction, there's no escaping the fact that this is one of the "must see" films of the 1980s. Criterion's DVD is excellent. Hardcore fans will likely want the three disk edition, but this will do the trick for most viewers. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Another prediction of the future proven wrong.......2007-06-22

Every century has spawned its own genre of art and literature. The 20th century saw the rise of many genres; the most notable being works about the future. Many of these have become respectable mainstays of popular culture and include the likes of The Time Machine, 1984, Blade Runner, I Robot, and this cult classic by Terry Gilliam; Brazil. Based in the early 21st century, it is a paean to the common man's fight against bureaucracy, red tape, and an intrusive government whose powers have no limits. Overall, this movie is a more tragic and more comedic version of 1984.

This movie can be viewed in two ways. If one approaches it as pure entertainment, it is a very good movie. The acting is good and the plot line is interesting and very original. The comedy is funny and unique; not quite British in style, but more of a synthesis of many forms. The action scenes and special effects look real enough, and the ending is unexpected.

If one views the movie as social commentary, as a prediction of what the future might be, then this movie fails on many accounts. First of, the primal point of this movie; the rise of an overarching and all-powerful government, is totally misplaced. If anything, government agencies in modern industrial societies are often weak and serve the whims of the private market. The US provides many great examples. The US Department of Agriculture is nothing more than a communal office for multinational food product corporations. Likewise, most national legislatures are run by corporate lobbyists.

Second, the movie portrays government as highly responsive to any threat real or imagined; one phone call and government agents are at your door in 5 minutes. Ask anyone who has filed a complaint to their city about a water main leak, or an open manhole, or a downed electricity line; and chances are they waited for hours or days, not minutes. Even the 9/11 attackers left tons of clues that were reported to authorities, but nothing ever happened. So the image portrayed by this movie of a lightning fast government that can disappear its citizens at will is utterly false. Third, the character played by Robert DeNiro is totally unreal. His character is a plumber - janitor, and leads an underground resistance to the government. Political revolutionaries have historically been either close to the power base or are academic thinkers; not blue-collar workers. Last, this movie is presumably commenting on the future of Western society. A visit to any Western city will reveal a melting pot of races, ethnicities and languages. If anything, cities are only going to become more heterogenous with time. Yet somehow everyone in this society is white; Western European white most likely.

The point is that the social commentary provided by this movie is all wrong. Overall, an entertaining movie, but not too accurate in its portrayal of the future.

Rating for the DVD, not the movie........2007-05-30

Let's be clear on one thing: The movie Brazil gets SIX stars out of FIVE in my book. This review is not about the movie, but the DVD.

I already owned the standard Brazil DVD but wanted the Criterion Edition because I'd heard good things about their releases. I am very disappointed because there isn't a dime's difference between the Criterion and the regular DVD. All I can see from the box cover is a slightly different widescreen aspect ratio and the time is a bit longer (perhaps some added scenes?). The sound is still in lame 2.1 stereo, not 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS . I see no excuse for this; Even the H.G. Wells' "First Men In The Moon" DVD, a movie filmed in 1964, is in 4.0 discrete surround.

Brazil, excellent movie, but buy the regular release and a couple of other movies instead of the Criterion version.

Suspense Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection

Average customer rating:

Again, value for your dollar!
ITS JUST FINE
On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection is rated: 4.7
suspense classics 50 moviepack collection
I won't resell this because...

Suspense Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection
Starring: Dennis Hopper , Robert De Niro , and Kathy Baker
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
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ASIN: B000A2X4PQ
Release Date: 2005-09-01

Product Description

Get ready for nail-biting suspense and white knuckle thrills in this incredible collection of suspense features. You get 50 full-length feature films that have been carefully selected and digitally re-mastered to deliver maximum value.

System Requirements:
Suspense 50 Movie Pack -

A Dangerous Summer
A Killing Affair
A Tattered Web
Bailout
Beyond Justice
Black Raven
Born to Win
Boxer
Cape Town Affair
Cat O' Nine Tails
Code Name Zebra
Cold Blood
Cold Room
Corrupt
Crime Boss
Cross Mission
Cry of the Innocent
Death Collector
Death in the Shadows
Dominique
Door to Door Maniac
Escape From Sobibor
Forest
Hollywood Man
Julie Darling
Kill Cruise
Lady Gangster
Lucifer Complex
The
Manipulator
Master Touch
Midnight Cop
Millions
Mitchell
Murder Once Removed
Mysteries
Night of the Sharks
Night They Took Miss Beautiful
Paco
Paper Man
Power
Passion and Murder
Rogue s Gallery
Seducers
Sellout
Seven Doors to Death
Squeeze
The Stoolie
TSwap
TTarget of an Assassin
The Sphinx
Woman Hunter

Running Time 75 hrs 30 mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Again, value for your dollar!.......2007-08-18

I purchased this along with the 50 Mystery set and got free shipping. For $34 I received 100 movies to watch in my retirement spare time. I love old movies, and some of these are newer but are interesting. Again, some clinkers but boxed nicely and a good value! I'll be looking at other sets in the future!

ITS JUST FINE.......2007-05-08

IT'S WAS OK. IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS THE HORROR MOVIE COLLECTION BUT WORTH WHILE TO SEE IT.

On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection is rated: 4.7.......2007-04-06

(AMAZON rating: 2½ stars)

SUSPENSE CLASSICS 50 MOVIE PACK is a nicely mixed collection of lesser known thrillers, both domestic and imported. Half of these are foreign productions, while a small percentage were originally made-for-TV. Video quality of MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT products tends to be good and for the price you definitely can't go wrong with their SUSPENSE CLASSICS set.

The current average 1 to 10 scoring for these 50 titles (as voted on by users of a film data website) is: 4.7.

Program list is alphabetized and includes individual movie ratings, original titles (in parentheses), years of release (and country, if other than USA) as well as principal actors.

(3.9) Bail Out ("W. B., Blue And The Bean") (1994) - David Hasselhoff/Linda Blair
(4.1) Beyond Justice (Italy-1992) - Rutger Hauer/Omar Sharif/Elliot Gould
(5.3) The Black Raven (1943) - George Zucco/Wanda McKay
(5.6) Born to Win (1971) - George Segal/Karen Black/Robert De Niro (in support)
(4.3) The Boxer (Italy-1972) - Robert Blake/Ernest Borgnine
(4.8) The Cape Town Affair (So. Africa-1967) - Claire Trevor/James Brolin/Jacqueline Bisset
(6.4) Cat O' Nine Tails (Italy/France/W Ger-1971) - James Franciscus/Karl Malden
(2.2) Code Name Zebra (1984) - James Mitchum/Frank Sinatra Jr. (minor role)
(5.0) Cold Blood (W. Germany-1975) - Rutger Hauer
(5.1) The Cold Room (TV-UK-1984) - George Segal/Amanda Pays
(5.5) Corrupt ("Copkiller") (Italy-1983) - Harvey Keitel/John Lydon
(4.4) Crime Boss (Italy-1972) - Telly Savalas
(4.7) Cross Mission (Italy-1988) - Richard Randall
(5.8) Cry Of The Innocent (TV-Ireland-1980) - Rod Taylor/Nigel Davenport
(3.2) A Dangerous Summer (Australia-1981) - Tom Skerritt/James Mason (in a minor role)
(4.5) The Death Collector (1976) - Joseph Cortese/Joe Pesci
(???) Death In The Shadows (TV-Netherlands-1985) - Maayke Bouten
(4.4) Dominique (UK-1978) - Cliff Robertson/Jean Simmons/Ron Moody
(5.7) Door-To-Door Maniac (1961) - Johnny Cash/Pamela Mason/Ron Howard
(7.4) Escape From Sobibor (TV-Yugo/UK-1987) - Alan Arkin/Rutger Hauer
(3.1) The Forest (1982) - Dean Russell/Gary Kent
(3.7) Hollywood Man (1976) - William Smith/Jennifer Billingsley
(5.8) Julie Darling (W Ger/Canada-1983) - Anthony Franciosa/Sybil Danning
(4.8) Kill Cruise (W. Germany-1990) - Jurgen Prochnow/Elizabeth Hurley
(5.7) A Killing Affair (1986) - Peter Weller/Kathy Baker
(5.9) Lady Gangster (1942) - Faye Emerson/Jackie Gleason (in support)
(3.3) The Lucifer Complex (1978) - Robert Vaughn/Keenan Wynn/Aldo Ray
(1.9) The Manipulator (1971) - Mickey Rooney/Keenan Wynn
(5.5) Master Touch (Italy/W Ger-1972) - Kirk Douglas
(4.0) Midnight Cop ("Killing Blue") (W. Germany-1988) - Morgan Fairchild/Frank Stallone/Michael York (in support)
(3.6) Millions (Italy/Spain-1991) - Billy Zane/Lauren Hutton
(2.8) Mitchell (1975) - Joe Don Baker/Martin Balsam/John Saxon/Linda Evans
(5.8) Murder Once Removed (TV-1971) - John Forsythe/Richard Kiley/Joseph Campanella
(4.6) Mysteries (Netherlands-1978) - Rutger Hauer
(3.1) Night Of The Sharks (Italy/Spain/Mexico-1987) - Treat Williams/Janet Agren
(3.8) The Night They Took Miss Beautiful (TV-1977) - Gary Collins/Chuck Connors/Phil Silvers (minor role)
(4.1) Paco (Colombia-1976) - Jose Ferrer/Allen Garfield
(6.2) Paper Man (TV-1971) - Dean Stockwell/Stefanie Powers
(4.6) Power, Passion And Murder ("Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson") (TV-1987) - Michelle Pfeiffer/Hector Elizondo
(5.1) Rogues' Gallery (1944) - Frank Jenks/Robin Raymond
(4.8) The Seducers ("Death Game") (1977) - Sondra Locke/Seymour Cassel
(4.7) The Sell-Out (1976) - Oliver Reed/Richard Widmark
(5.6) Seven Doors To Death (1944) - Chick Chandler/June Clyde
(5.2) The Squeeze (Italy/W Ger-1978) - Lee Van Cleef/Karen Black/Edward Albert/Robert Alda
(5.6) The Stoolie (1972) - Jackie Mason/Marcia Jean Kurtz
(3.3) The Swap ("Sam's Song") (1969/1980) - Robert De Niro/Jennifer Warren
(4.8) Target Of An Assassin (So. Africa-1976) - Anthony Quinn/John Phillip Law
(5.6) A Tattered Web (TV-1971) - Lloyd Bridges/Broderick Crawford (in support)
(6.2) The Sphinx (1933) - Lionel Atwill/Sheila Terry
(5.0) The Woman Hunter (TV-1972) - Barbara Eden/Robert Vaughn/Stuart Whitman

suspense classics 50 moviepack collection.......2007-03-18

have seen the 4 movies and liked three out of four, judging by quality of contents, picture and sound...and NO commercials...
Evelyn

I won't resell this because..........2007-01-27

I would not want anyone else to be subjected to these choices of movies. Upon afterthought of when I read the reviews before I made the purchase, I began to wonder if maybe some hadn't been paid. The sellers(Mill Creek)could certainly have offered ten people a hundred dollars each + or - to write a seemingly regular person review, but make it reasonably positive enough to cause people to try out the DVD set. Hence, a simple $1000 advertising budget. So without emotion or fanfare, I will itemize my experience with this set.

I saw 41 of the 50 movies. The nine I did not see were because the write-up of them already told me the content was not something that I wanted to fill my mind with. Most of them were European/Italian made. Out of those, about 1/2 dozen had such bad sound I was unable to understand them. (If just the sound had been fixed a little, I would have been willing to pay a couple dollars more.) Three were so hokey, I did not continue viewing them. Four had content that was on the verge of sick. And the most surprising of all, ten had nudity from complete to partial. For those who value the beauty and sanctity of the created body and its intimacy in marraige, and prefer not to degrade it by exposure and abuse, this information would be appreciated. For those who don't care, so be it. That leaves seventeen that range from bearable to a few good. Even with the good ones, however, the sound was not great.

Now for the itemization of costs. New, at $19 (including S&H), 50 movies would be around $.38 each. Sorting through the trashy ones to get the possible 17 viewable movies makes each one around $1.11. I won't argue that is an okay price, but to find the 17, who wants to fill their mind with what I've just done? I wish I'd never seen the images I did, and I did turn off several after I found out what they were about, but that did not take care of having to be surprised and see them in the first place. That is why I will not resell this set. I am now going to throw the entire set into the garbage

Meet the Parents / Meet the Fockers (The Circle of Trust Collection)

Average customer rating:

Meet the Parents / Meet the Fockers (The Circle of Trust Collection)
Starring: Ben Stiller , and Robert De Niro
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000QEIOTE
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Brazil - The Criterion Collection (3-Disc Boxed Set)

Average customer rating:

Simply Amazing
Brazil DVD, 3-disc boxed set
Essential film genius: Gilliam's Brazil.
excessive to say the least
One Line Review of "The Love Conquers All" version

Brazil - The Criterion Collection (3-Disc Boxed Set)
Starring: Roger Ashton-Griffiths , Jim Broadbent , Anthony G. Brown , Virginia Bruce , and Patrick Connor
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000G8NXZK
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Customer Reviews:

Simply Amazing.......2007-09-03

I had heard about "Brazil" and was familiar with Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. I figured that there were a lot of possibilities with this movie but I never expected what I watched last night. I am still trying to sort it out but I know enough to know that I watched a great movie.

Frankly, I had toyed with getting this movie several years ago but I held off due to the steep prices I kept finding. I bought a used copy at a more reasonable price and found that I got the three CD set. I generally just watch the movie with little or no regard for the extras. "Brazil" is unique enough that I may make an exception with this set.

My first impression is that "Brazil" is a film that looks like what the movie version of "1984" might have looked like if it were made with the film technology of its' title (1984) but with all other technology limited to the year it was copyrighted (1949). I hope that makes sense because I was bewildered by the amazing sets and, to a lesser extent, the special effects. Yet I kept seeing the technology of my parent's era (and I'm 55). As the movie went on I began to enjoy this retro-science fiction movie that shows the real and imagined dangers of the world Orwell tried to warn us about. The over-welming bureaucracy, the signs of Big Brother everywhere, the paranoia of the opressed as well as the opressors, etc... The story swims around in a variety of directions in a world where to think, say or do anything out of the ordinary becomes dangerous. However, it may not be quite so bad given what passes for "ordinary" in this world.

I admit to sensing a time or two that "Brazil" may be too long. If so, I will likely prefer the Producer's cut rather than the 142 minute Director's cut I watched last night. I had started by stating that I had heard of "Brazil" before. After watching it, I can't believe that I haven't heard MORE about it.

Brazil DVD, 3-disc boxed set.......2007-08-09

This was a gift. I have not viewed the contents, but the recipient was very pleased with the movie and information on the other DVDs. He rated it 5 stars.

Essential film genius: Gilliam's Brazil........2007-08-06

excessive to say the least.......2007-04-18

first off, the movie Brazil..aka the first disc or disc 1 is an easy 5 stars. i saw this movie when we rented it and immediately fell in love with its quirky weirdness.

now i would recommend this set to 4 types of people. 1.) completist criterion collectors 2.) someone doing a research essay on this 3.) people who can throw around 50 dollars like it is 20...or 4.) someone who lives, breathes, and worships brazil and/or Gilliam movies.

otherwise, in my honest opinion, the single disc is all you need...it has commentary, a nice booklet, and the superb transfer. disc 2 is excessive to the max...aka more than i want, care, or need to know...and the "love conquers all" ending thing could have been added as a deleted scene on disc 1 or something.

anyways, brazil is a great movie and worthy to be in any collection, but the single disc, in my opinion is all you really need.

One Line Review of "The Love Conquers All" version.......2007-03-01

Whoever thought that this beautifully dark movie could ever be glossed over is delusional to the point of madness.

Martin Scorsese Collection (After Hours/Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore/Goodfellas/Mean Streets/Who's That Knocking At My Door?)

Average customer rating:

A representative set from the master
A collection that will show you how Scorsese started and how he became a legend
The BEST Scorsese box set on DVD!
The Best
Marty is God, no, not good, God !!

Martin Scorsese Collection (After Hours/Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore/Goodfellas/Mean Streets/Who's That Knocking At My Door?)
Starring: Martin Scorsese , and Robert De Niro
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000286RR0
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Amazon.com

Almost by accident, these five Warner Brothers films represent key moments in Martin Scorsese's career. Three of the films debut on DVD; all have excellent presentations plus new commentaries from Scorsese. The black-and-white Who's That Knocking at My Door? (1968) was Scorsese's first film, an episodic tale of growing up in Little Italy. Mean Streets (1973) put him on the map. After taking a bit of Hollywood bait (Boxcar Bertha), mentor John Cassavetes put Scorsese straight to find his true vision, and this nervy look at New York friends who border the gangster life is the result. This new special edition has the commentary track and a big improvement in its home video presentation.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) put Scorsese in the mainstream. This tale of a single mom (Ellen Burstyn in an Oscar-winning performance) finding second chances in the arid Southwest proved the New York City kid could tell other types of stories. After Hours (1985) saved Scorsese. The drain of big movies and his unsuccessful first attempt to make The Last Temptation of Christ left the auteur doubting his talent. The nightmarish comedy starting Griffin Dunne is a love-it-or-leave-it for many Scorsese fans, but the fast shoot schedule and claustrophobic story rejuvenated Scorsese and won him Best Director kudos at Cannes. The highlight of the collection is a two-disc edition of his masterpiece, GoodFellas (1990), complete with a remastered print and a dynamite commentary by several key talents (recorded separately) including Ray Liotta, author Nicholas Pileggi, and even Robert De Niro. Even with an extra disc of three featurettes, it's the film on which we hear the least from the man himself, but perhaps all we need to know is on the screen. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

A representative set from the master.......2007-03-17

This set only contains one of Scorcese's great films - Goodfellas, more of that later. I haven't seen Alice doesn't live here anymore, but it is supposed to be very good.
After Hours is an entertaining black comedy with Griffin Dunne trapped in a yuppies nightmare worthy of 4 stars.

Whos that knockin' is effectively a dry run for Mean Streets. However, Scorcese was still learning his craft in the 60's and whilst there are cinematic references to many classic films you do feel that Scorcese hadn't quite found his own voice at this stage of his career.

Goodfellas is a magnificent film. Only the first two Godfather films are on the same level in modern gangster films. This film has pace. It moves from one classic scene to the next. I remember Scorcese in an interview saying "you want it fast let's make it really fast" - this was his reaction to the 80's trend in fast cutting etc, but he does it with class.
The three lead roles are all marvellously played, and for me if I had to pick one, Joe Pesci would just steal the acting honours. This is a 5 star film.

The box is just cardboard with four DVD's in it. Goodfellas is the special edition which is much superior to the early double sided edition.

A collection that will show you how Scorsese started and how he became a legend.......2005-12-08

An excellent collection, starting at Scorsese's debut feature taking you all the way to his masterpiece goodfellas.

Who's that knocking at my door - Scorsese's film debut out of NYU funded by NYU and Scorsese's agreement to use the doors song the end over a sexy fantasy scene. The film is about falling in love, how the little moments in the beginning of a relationship are so wonderful. The fantasy scene is still groundbreaking today, great on showing how men desire sexual women but fear whores. A must see for any fan of scorsese or anyone who enjoys realistic filmmaking.

Mean Streets - Today, it remains of Scorsese's best and one of the best of the 70s. Mean streets is about a small time hood named Charlie who constantly has sinning on his conscience while attempting to help his crazy friend Johnny boy played by De Niro which led to the role of Don Corleone and an oscar! Wonderful film, beautiful cinematography, and beautiful, personal filmmaking! One of the best I've seen.

Alice doesn't live here anymore - You might think Scorsese sold out working with a major studio and a star but all the elements from his previous films are there. Ellen Burnst won an Oscar for her amazing portrayal of Alice, a widow trying to raise her snotty son while also trying to find a decent man a long the way. This is an excellent movie, one of the most important films of the 70s finally showing the women as the hero.

After Hours - After failing to get his Jesus picture funded and the failure of his dark gem The King of comedy Scorsese resorted to a college kids script called After hours. This is pure 80s filmmaking and pure Kafka esque. Showing a man in a nightmare he had no idea he was getting into with no idea how to get out. Definitely a must see. One of the best dark comedies ever made!

Last but not least GOODFELLAS - Not much to say here. Just the greatest mob film ever made. Goodfellas shows the rise and fall of a group of gangsters from the 60s on. Scorsese directs the film with insight and he puts his electric trademark in every scene. One of the best of all time, this puts the icing on the cake of an excellent collection. It's a Great DVD and an amazing movie that you will appreciate more and more each time.

There you have it, my long review on a great collection. 5 essential films in Scorsese's career. A must own. 5 OUT OF 5!!!

The BEST Scorsese box set on DVD!.......2005-07-22

This is a brilliant collection of Scorsese's films, an even better collection than MGM's Scorsese Box Set! It gives us a Special Edition of "Goodfellas", Scorsese's first film (finally on DVD) "Who's That Knocking At My Door?", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", a Special Edition of "Mean Streets" and (another finally on DVD) "After Hours".

The gems of this collection are Mean Streets, After Hours, and Goodfellas. These three films are considered to be among Scrosese's best! Pick this up today if you're a Scorsese fan, or a film buff, or if you're trying to get into Scorsese's work. Recommended.

The Best.......2005-03-20

Think of a world with out Martin Scorsese....... I don't want to, he's the best, and the only!

Marty is God, no, not good, God !!.......2004-12-03

This collection is the must have of any Marty fan and for that matter of any proper cinephile. Through 5 movies it traces the greatest part of Scorsese's stellar (until gangs of NY) carreer. It is extremely precious since it brings us "Who's that knocking at my door?", his first film shot when he was still studying in NYU, for the first time (to my poor French knowledge at least). The box really gives a wonderful overview of the themes that obsessed him in his young years (sex and religion, duty and punition) pictured in WTKAMD and Mean Streets, the film that made him big enough to introduce him to Hollywood, first in B-Movies ("Boxcar Bertha"), then to Oscar winning projects: "Alice doesn't live here anymore". This movie is extremely odd since it could seem to be a "feminist" film, and Scorsese as anyone will tell you is a guys' director (except for last temptation of Christ, the age of Innocence, Kundun... have I said enough to kill the cliché?). This woman "road movie" is nothing like "Thelma and Louise" but is still a very poignant portrait of a woman trying to put her life back together, but carefull, it's not a women's weepie, it's a strong, nuanced work. Which brings us to "After Hours" (one of the projects that ended MS's walk through the desert, along with Raging Bull), this Cannes festival prized movie reconciled MS with the critics and is one of the strangest movies in his carreer, you'll be surprised. And then, possibly his masterpiece, "Goodfellas", I don't think I need to say anything, the movie speaks for itself: WONDERFUL WONDERFUL and, oh, I forgot, WONDERFUL!!!
The DVD's all have commentaries and all of them have other featurettes on the making of the films, or trailers, and Goodfellas is actually the 2 DVD edition. In a word, u NEED to own this !

America - A Tribute to Heroes (Telethon Broadcast)

Average customer rating:

Remember!
An appropriate and well-performed tribute.
A somber time capsule with great performances
Extremely moving
Beyond stunning

America - A Tribute to Heroes (Telethon Broadcast)
Starring: Keith Richards (II) , Bono , Kurt Russell , Christine Taylor , and Dennis Franz
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller , and Joel Gallen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005T31Q
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Amazon.com

Tribute albums and concerts come and go, but America: A Tribute to Heroes may well stand the test of time. Recorded just 10 days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the two-hour telethon has an appropriately somber tone; it's also refreshingly unpretentious and ego-free, with no audience and no onscreen identification of the musical artists or the actors and others who speak between songs. There are some passionate and moving performances by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Limp Bizkit and friends, Neil Young (the much-praised "Imagine"), and several more, easily eclipsing the couple of outright turkeys (the overwrought theatrics of Enrique Iglesias and Mariah Carey). To watch the program now, as the horror may have started to fade, is to be reminded of the extraordinary emotions the tragic events of 9/11 aroused; and while pop music may be superfluous in the big picture, its power to inspire and perhaps even heal is something to behold. --Sam Graham

Description

The unprecedented broadcast of the live, star-studded, two-hour entertainment spectacular America: A Tribute to Heroes on Friday, September 21, 2001, served to both raise money for the victims of the September 11 tragedy and to bring our nation together to salute the American spirit. All net proceeds of this DVD will be donated to the United Way's September 11th Fund. Songs: My City of Ruin (Bruce Springsteen), Love's in Need of Love Today (Stevie Wonder featuring Take 6), Walk On (U2), There Will Come a Day (Faith Hill), I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Hero (Enrique Iglesias), Imagine (Neil Young), Someday We'll All Be Free (Alicia Keys), Wish You Were Here (Limp Bizkit with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls), New York State of Mind (Billy Joel), I Believe in Love (Dixie Chicks), Everyday (Dave Matthews), Redemption Song (Wyclef Jean), Hero (Mariah Carey), Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi), Safe and Sound (Sheryl Crow), Fragile (Sting), The Long Road (Eddie Vedder), Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon), God Bless America (Celine Dion), America the Beautiful (Willie Nelson). 120 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Remember!.......2007-03-28

We all watched this!! Now I can watch and NEVER forget the people
to whom this makes tribute!!

An appropriate and well-performed tribute........2004-12-03

I'm a New Yorker who witnessed the 9/11 attacks first-hand, and experienced the aftermath. I watched this tribute live when it first aired and I felt at that time that it was very respectfully produced, with some standout performances and very little in the way of "marketing" or promotion going on from any of the performers (with a few exceptions), as there so often is in these kinds of compilations.

The performance I remember most is actually U2's rendition of "Peace On Earth/Walk On", at which point during the live telecast I admit that I completely lost it. There were other moving performances but this is the one that affected me, and the one that I remember - not only is the version on this DVD better than what was recorded on their CD "All That You Can't Leave Behind", the lyrics summed up the whole experience perfectly for me, and it was obvious that U2 as a band was deeply moved by the experience themselves. The montage set to their song "One" also greatly affected me, although this was not a live performance.

As a tribute, this is probably the best that anyone could have done - the music is varied and the performances generally very good, and the tone is right given how close it was to 9/11. For me, it's a must-have reminder of that day, as I consider it part of my experience of going through 9/11's aftermath. It was a terrible tragedy but it's not one that we should forget.

A somber time capsule with great performances.......2004-10-26

Although this DVD is almost two hours long, it seems to end too fast.

An all star cast of celebrities weave stories which capture the tragedy, courage & heroism of September 11, 2001 in between a number of great musical performances. Although it's presented in a telethon format, this is a very touching concert and tribute.

The brief stories, which are both tragic and inspirational will bring tears to your eyes while the musical performances are delivered with a somber intensity which vividly captures the essence of the mood of America during this very difficult time.

The musical performances are just awesome. Most of the artists reworked their songs just for this telethon and the result is a creatively touching musical tribute.

Extremely moving.......2004-09-11

As a 34 year old man, there will never be (God willing) a more significant, historical event to ever take place in my lifetime, than the events of 9/11. A couple of weeks after that tragic day took place, the telethon broadcast took place. It was carried on many, many channels and surely, the vast majority of Americans watched the program, and contributed to the fund. I cried and cried, as did my wife. While all segments were moving, the images I will always remember were those of Neil Young playing "Imagine" (which sparked a true, sincere spirit of an eagerness for peace everywhere), Tom Petty singing "I Won't Back Down" (which the title alone speaks volumes about this moment), and Julia Roberts honest, warm message prior to introducing an act. Thank you George Clooney for organizing such an amazing, historical event.

Beyond stunning.......2004-09-07

I saw this telecast live, and was literally stunned. There were performances that I really got into, some that were awesome, and a few that didn't do much for me. But the music was the secondary part of this performance, really. The sheer depth of emotion shown by the speakers made it very clear that this was NOT just a commercial extravaganza.

Most potent of all was Clint Eastwood - he literally sent chills thru me. He is never a glib guy, and is always in control, but he wore his emotions all over this night. From his "Unforgiven" coat to his words. Especially his words. He almost rambled, almost babbled from the overpowering rage he felt. Sheer, utter emotional honesty.

This DVD is beyond compare.

The Robert De Niro Collection (Analyze This/A Bronx Tale/Goodfellas/Heat/Wag The Dog)

Average customer rating:

Here's the deal
Very good actually
Bizarre collection...
Disappointed
Well...

The Robert De Niro Collection (Analyze This/A Bronx Tale/Goodfellas/Heat/Wag The Dog)
Starring: Robert De Niro
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JSJR
Release Date: 2000-09-15

Description

This great collection of award winning actor Robert DeNiro includes five of his best-selling films on DVD--- Anayze This, A Bronx Tale, Goodfellas, Heat, and Wag the Dog.

Customer Reviews:

Here's the deal.......2005-05-12

A lot of people have complained about this collection because they claim it doesn't house De Niro's best films. Let me break it down this way: Warner Bros. released this box set (as well as an Al Pacino version) and they are only allowed to include films licensed through WB. Therefore, most Martin Scorsese/De Niro classics such as Raging Bull (MGM), Taxi Driver (Columbia), Casino (Universal) etc. cannot legally be included. They'd have to make some sort of deal with all the major movie studios, and that's practically impossible.

So, for what's included here, it's a great place to start a De Niro collection. You can usually find it on the market for $59.99 -- divide it by five... yeah, it's a pretty cheap deal when you consider the fact that these DVDs by themselves cost around $11 - $12 in the average video store.

ANALYZE THIS -- Not a great film, but De Niro is very funny and it's an essential De Niro movie as it's not only one of his best comedic performances, but one of his most popular films. If you're a De Niro buff, and you don't own this, you might get some skeptical glances from other fans.

WAG THE DOG -- An underrated, sharp satire with a great ensemble cast, well directed by Barry Levinson ("Rain Man"). I can see why some might not like it, but if you enjoyed "Bulworth" and similar political satires, you'll like this. (For the record, I thought it was far subtler and more intellectual than "Bulworth" was, although they're both fine comedies.) Dustin Hoffman is actually better than De Niro in this in my opinion - he's really funny.

GOODFELLAS - This has since been released on a Special Edition DVD but this standard-disc version is still good enough... it's got the same transfer as the SE version and the trailers as well... it doesn't have the commentary or the documentaries, but I heard the commentary -- split into different sections -- is a waste of time and the docs are only so-so... at $10 it's a pretty good deal and one of the top five De Niro films of all time. You can always upgrade letter.

HEAT -- This has also been re-released recently but nevertheless this disc is pretty good for an older DVD release... the movie itself is awesome. The new DVD is better, but again, you can always upgrade if you enjoy it enough.

A BRONX TALE -- Robert De Niro directed this and in my opinion it's one of the greatest gangster/Mafia films ever made, and unique because it deals with different aspects of the genre that even Martin Scorsese doesn't touch upon in some of his films. De Niro is excellent in it and he does a terrific job behind the camera. I'm thrilled to hear he's directing a film next year -- after seeing this I was in awe of just how talented he is behind the camera.

So overall if you're new to De Niro this is a good place to start, and if you're building up a collection there's a good chance you're going to want most of these films sooner or later... at a pricetag of $60 it's a pretty good deal and I'd recommend it to anyone. The only other De Niro film I know of that WB had the rights to and should have included here was "Sleepers," also directed by Levinson ("Wag the Dog")... you should seek that out after buying this, it's a good movie.

Very good actually.......2004-01-02

Although the collection is of films from many places everyone one of them is great. Analyze This - one of the most dramatically funny films of Deniro's carrer since Midnight Run. A Bronx Tale - which he directed and was also fine. Goodfellas - a very good true storie of the mafia. Heat - one of the last successfull action drama films of Deniro before Casino in 1995. And Wag the Dog-although different from his other films proves to be a winner with Dustin Hoffman as co-star and should be enjoyed by all fans of Deniro. If you are a Deniro fan then I definitely reccomend this collection.

Bizarre collection..........2003-03-28

What a weird selection of an actor's work. It would have made more sense if they did a Scorsese/De Niro compliation. Now there's a winning collection: Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, and The King Of Comedy.
But if you're a fan of everything De Niro, this is a cost effective means of expanding your collection.

Disappointed.......2002-10-26

For such a great actor, I expected to see his best films-not a collection of his so-so films. The movies are good, but it's a huge diappointment to true De Niro fans.

Well..........2002-09-14

Too good of an actor to not have put his better movies.

Average customer rating:

The Godfather Collection [HD DVD]
Starring: Al Pacino , Robert Duvall , Diane Keaton , Robert De Niro , and John Cazale
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000NU2M6C

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DVD

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