Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon.com

If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The STAR WARS saga continues on DVD with Episode II Attack of the Clones. Anakin Skywalker has grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice, and he faces his most difficult challenge yet as he must choose between his Jedi duty and forbidden love. Relive the adventure the way it was meant to be seen in spectacular digital clarity, including the climactic Clone War battle and Jedi Master Yoda in the ultimate lightsaber duel. Experience this 2-disc set that features over six hours of bonus materials, and see how Episode II unlocks the secrets of the entire STAR WARS saga.

Customer Reviews:

Poor Acting and Dialogue Hurt An Otherwise Entertaining Movie.......2007-09-09

"Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace" was one of the most hyped movies of the late 1990s, yet managed to disappoint countless Star Wars fans. With the annoying Jar Jar Binks, a child actor who was in over his head, poor pacing, and wooden acting and dialogue, I was less than impressed, despite being a big Star Wars fan. Apparently, so many others were let down that it somehow resulted in "The Matrix" being lauded as the "new hope" of epic sci-fi, despite that movie falling far short of the standards set by Star Wars. When George Lucas promised (or threatened?) that Episode II would be "Titanic in space", my interest waned even more. However, as the promotional media emerged, my interest picked up again as it appeared that there would at least be some good action sequences. So how did the unfortunately named "Attack of the Clones" fare?

First the bad news, and it's not pretty. The dialogue is, for the most part, not good at all, with some terribly blatant exposition that is not needed at all. The acting doesn't fare well either, generally speaking. Anakin Skywalker(who is now 10 years older) is now played by Hayden Christiansen, instead of Jake Lloyd. Unfortunately, while his efforts are commendable, Hayden obviously is ill at ease in this role, and co-star Natalie Portman exhibits zero enthusiasm during the movie. As these two are supposed to be the "romantic leads", the resulting lack of chemistry cripples the emotional core of the movie. Samuel Jackson's performance as Mace Windu is similarly off, and there is some other poor acting by various bit players. Thus, the weight of the movie ends up having to be borne by the acting chops of Ewan McGregor, Temuera Morrison, Ian McDiarmid, and Christopher Lee, who all do manage to perform in a professional manner. (Of particular note is the initial terse face to face meeting between Obi-Wan and Jango Fett). Still, there are also some lingering pacing issues, most notably related to scenes surrounding Anakin and Padme in the middle of the movie.

The good news is that the movie works on a "macro" level, as far as the over-arching Star Wars storyline and universe are concerned. Helping this aspect are several dynamic action and set pieces, which include a "car chase" in the skies of the city planet of Coruscant, a trip to the rain-drenched water planet Kamino, complete with a faceoff between Obi-Wan and bounty hunter Jango Fett, a spaceship chase through the rings of Geonosis, a confrontation between a couple hundred Jedi and an army of droids, and a massive battle sequence between the Separatist droid army and an army of clones. Topping off the movie is a lightsaber battle involving Christopher Lee's Count Dooku and Yoda.

The movie's primary strength is developing the events which lead to the much stronger Episode III. In the 10 years since the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo was foiled, a Separatist movement has gained traction among hundreds of worlds in the Republic, fueled by the enigmatic Count Dooku. While Chancellor Palpatine presides over a divided Senate, assassination attempts against former Queen (now Senator) Padme Amidala lead the Jedi to assign Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to protect her. A bounty hunter's failed attempt on Padme's life leads Obi-Wan to the distant world of Kamino, where he finds a surprising development: an army of clones is being raised for the Republic, as per the orders of a now-dead Jedi Council member. Meanwhile, Padme and Anakin head to Naboo, where Anakin's nightmares eventually lead him to take Padme to Tattoine with him to find his mother. Anakin's search leads him to the Lars homestead, where his mother's husband tells him that the Tusken Raiders kidnapped her. When Anakin finds his mother dying after being tortured by the Sandpeople, his anger results in a wanton act of mass murder. Obi-Wan's investigation leads him to the world of Geonosis, where he discovers that Count Dooku has enlisted the forces of an old foe, among others, to help the Separatists prepare for war on the Republic. With this threat looming, the Chancellor is given emergency powers (proposed in the Senate by none other than Jar-Jar Binks, who is mercifully absent for most of the movie), and the available Jedi scramble to Geonosis to try to stop Dooku. The final 40 or so minutes of the movie manage to make up for the shortcomings liberally sprinkled throughout the proceedings.

Visually speaking, this movie is incredible, albeit a bit artificial looking. The live action characters don't always seem to mesh with the computer-generated backdrops, but the color saturation is brilliant, and sets the tone well. The transfer to DVD was done very well, apparently being a direct digital print. The music alternates between magnificently appropriate, and ridiculously purile. The sound effects are fairly standard Star Wars, although there are a couple of really bizarre and out of place sounds. The DVD release itself has the typical wealth of Star Wars extras, including deleted scenes and trailers. The commentary track is remarkably boring, to the point that a friend of mine actually said it literally puts him to sleep.

It does pain me to give this movie only 3 stars, as I enjoyed it, especially when the Battle of Geonosis erupted. The slow unfolding of the plot to turn the Republic into the Empire is an important arc in the Star Wars saga. But objectively speaking, the acting and dialogue were bad enough to cripple the film in a number of ways, and I have to try to be honest with viewers. If you're a Star Wars fan, you probably should get this, if you haven't already. For everyone else, it will be a matter of whether they can deal with bad acting and dialogue in exchange for the excellent visuals and rich universe the film presents.

Enjoyable. Even though It's Politic Heavy........2007-09-05

I did enjoy this movie. I may be the only person who enjoyed the first a little more but I did enjoy this one. Being a fan I was pumped to see this. I even read a book based on the movie beforehand. The movie is faster paced than the first one but the simplistic nature of the first one really intrigued me.

What I did like about this is the action scenes, a definite upgrade from the first, secondly, the characters (except for Hayden Christensen) really matured with this movie. I loved Liam Neeson in the first but the others made up for the loss. The inclusion of shots like the Death Star and Count Dooku really made this special.

The DVD itself is a definite must have. A busy commentary track, deleted scenes just for this release and plenty of featurettes for your liking.

Definite Must Have.

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable........2007-08-29

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.

I enjoyed 'Star Wars' (a.k.a. Star Wars IV: A new hope) when it came out and I was 7 yrs old and I still love all the Star Wars Movies today. My son has loved all the Star Wars movies as well

Attack of the Clones is worth seeing (once).......2007-08-23

I'll start off with the positive. This is a significantly better film than Phantom Menace. That's because Jar Jar is what he should have been all along: a minor character that we see very little of and hear even less.

The action sequences are as good as always. My favorite part is, like usual, the big lightsaber fight at the end. Yoda with a lightsaber may seem out of place to some but he was refered to as a "great warrior" in The Empire Strikes Back. Now we get to see why. And the end is enjoyable (save the stupid R2D2/C3PO "losing my head" skit).

Now for the bad stuff. There are parts of this film that are no where near pleasurable to watch (and these parts take up a big junk of the movie). The most painful thing to watch in this film (for all the wrong reasons) is the "love" story between Anakin and Padme. Hayden Kristen is, I believe, the worst actor in the Star Wars movies (old and new). There is basically no chemistry between Anakin and Padme even though they're supposed to be madly in love with each other by the end of the movie. There are some lines between these two characters that are just embarrassing to quote ("your skin is softer than sand").

The banal dialogue, the worst supporting actor "winner" Hayden Kristen, CGI in basically every scene, the botched love story between Anakin and Padme, R2D2/C3PO's "comic relief", and on and on and on. This film is, at best, a mixed bag. Though it's worth seeing at least once (and some parts more than once), my advice is to buy the first trilogy (if you haven't already), pray that someone someday remakes the prequels, or buy The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!.......2007-08-09

It's Binks-ian fun for the whole family as George Lucas empties the contents of his brain onto film one more time! This go around, the part of the annoying kid is explored more deeply by a new annoying kid, Hayden Christensen, in a performance so jaw-droppingly wooden and laughable it's got to make Keanu Reeves feel pretty darned good about himself. Ewan McGregor returns as that one guy who was once played by that other British guy, and he's apparently become comfortable enough with his green screen acting that he no longer even pretends it matters whether he puts in effort or not. And returning for the role of Padme Amidala is Natalie Portman, looking cute but losing her bid to keep her voice from grinding into her audience's skull like a buzz saw.

All of this would be a RiffTrax dream come true - but making it even dream come true-ier is that Mike and Kevin are joined by none other than Chad Vader, brother of Darth and star of his own colossally successful internet series. It is quite simply a RiffTacular RiffStravaganza!

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Poor Acting and Dialogue Hurt An Otherwise Entertaining Movie
Enjoyable. Even though It's Politic Heavy.
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.
Attack of the Clones is worth seeing (once)
MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Christopher Lee , and Samuel L. Jackson
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006HBUI
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

Product Description

The Star Wars saga continues on DVD with Episode II Attack of the Clones. Anakin Skywalker has grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice, and he faces his most difficult challenge yet as he must choose between his Jedi duty and forbidden love. Relive the adventure the way it was meant to be seen in spectacular digital clarity, including the climactic Clone War battle and Jedi Master Yoda in the ultimate lightsaber duel. Experience this 2 disc set that features over six hours of bonus materials, and see how Episode II unlocks the secrets of the entire Star Wars saga.

System Requirements:

Starring Ewan McGregor,Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by George Lucas

Running time: 142 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Poor Acting and Dialogue Hurt An Otherwise Entertaining Movie.......2007-09-09

Enjoyable. Even though It's Politic Heavy........2007-09-05

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable........2007-08-29

Attack of the Clones is worth seeing (once).......2007-08-23

MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!.......2007-08-09

Average customer rating:

Based on actual event
OK, but not particularly realistic
good "old" memories
Poor acting and unbelievable battles
Hard To Top

The Bridge at Remagen
Starring: George Segal , Robert Vaughn , Ben Gazzara , Bradford Dillman , and E.G. Marshall
Director: John Guillermin
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792843576
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Amazon.com

Fine casting, rugged characters, and authentic military detail make The Bridge at Remagen one of the best World War II action films of the 1960s. Based on actual incidents during the final Allied advance on Germany in March 1945, the story focuses on the U.S. Army's exhausted 27th Armored Infantry, assigned to seize the bridge at Remagen, on the Rhine River, to prevent 50,000 German troops from retreating to safety. Lieutenant Hartman (George Segal) leads the mission, while a Nazi major (Robert Vaughan) defies orders by attempting to hold the bridge instead of blowing it up. With strong emphasis on war's harsher realities, the film features compelling characters who illustrate the camaraderie of survivors and the heroism of mavericks in the thick of battle. Segal and Ben Gazzara effectively convey a hard-won friendship, and the film's dynamic action (filmed in Czechoslovakia and Italy) never overwhelms the story's emotional impact. Highly recommended. --Jeff Shannon

Description

An all-star castincluding George Segal, Robert Vaughn, Ben Gazzara and E.G. Marshallbrings all the glory and agony of war to stunning life in this intense and exhilarating, but uniquely human, look at a struggle widely regarded as the most strategic coup of World War II. "Excellent special effects, spectacular photography and fine action sequences" (Motion Picture Exhibitor) put you on the front lines of the battle and with the courageous soldiers who fought it. 1945: The Allies are making their final advance into German territory, and only one strategic bridge on the Rhine River remains in Nazi hands. Both sides have much to gain: the Germans, the lives of 50,000 soldiers stationed on the wrong side of the bridge; and the Allies, a quicker end to the war with fewer lives lost. Though both armies would fight valiantly, only one could win the heart-rending battle for The Bridge at Remagen.

Customer Reviews:

Based on actual event.......2007-07-18

Although an actioneer, the movie sticks pretty close to the historical facts concerning the taking of the Remagen Bridge. Action fans will love all the tanks, jeeps and machine guns; but what sets the movie apart from being routine is the character development of both the American and German soldiers.

OK, but not particularly realistic.......2007-03-21

Back in the sixties and early 70s Hollywood made a lot of war movies. Not all of them were good, though some were very good. Bridge at Remagen is one of those that's not perfect, but has its moments. Ben Gazzara and George Segal as a pair of American soldiers (Segal's the officer) who are pushed by their superiors (Dillman and Marshall) to capture the last bridge standing that crosses the Rhine river and therefore leads into Germany in the last months of the war. The senior German officer in charge of defending the bridge is played by Robert Vaughn. Vaughn is probably the best of the cast, though all of the actors do reasonable jobs.

If there's a difficulty with the movie, it's in the scenes of combat. The director seems to have decided that blowing things up and showing the rubble after would convey the horror of war, so that's basically all the battle scenes are, for the most part. There's one scene in particular that makes no sense, where the Germans' anti-tank guns are attacked by a bunch of American tanks. The tanks are lined up across the river in a fashion that's completely unrealistic, and they simply outshoot 88s at a range where there should have been burning tanks everywhere. It's also not clear how the tanks got onto the field they're shooting from, and lined up in a neat line, before the Germans started shooting.

As another reviewer noted, the tactics utilized by Segal and Gazzara seem more suited to drive-by shootings than serious combat, though they do approach the Germans from multiple angles. One good point of the movie was the use of smoke while crossing the bridge, which is very realistic, and not often shown in a Hollywood movie. Another is that at various times the Germans use panzerfausts or panzerschrecks, and they blow up whatever they hit. Most Americans back then didn't know that the Germans copied our bazooka, or that they had a disposable single-shot version of it, which was more effective.

So you get a lot of hokey 60s war movie dialog, a rousing (but not that good) soundtrack, and some very uneven combat scenes. This isn't the best war movie of the era, but it's fun, and I would recommend it if you're into this sort of thing.

good "old" memories.......2007-02-03

The Bridge of Remagen brings me lots of beautiful memories of my youth. This movie, Bridge of Remagen, was actually shot in former Czechoslovakia and very close to my little village of Trnova where I went to school. In fact, my dad was working on that bridge when it was built, I believe it was early 1930 and bridge crosses river Vltava. Great movie, great actors, great panorama, great memories on good old times. Strongly recommend this movie for us, 80+ years youngsters.

Poor acting and unbelievable battles.......2006-09-30

I disagree with most of the other reviewers on this one. To start with the Germans all speak English with hoaky German accents! One reviewer said that Robert Vaughn's portrayal of a German officer was the best acting in the movie. I would probably agree and say that just shows how awful the rest of them were. For another thing most of the battle scenes are very unrealistic. The American armored infantry tactics seem to have been borrowed from 1920's era Chicago gangster flicks. They pile into a half track and then race by the Germans at top speed shooting from the car! They also never bother to call for artilery, air strikes, or armor. There are many better (both from an acting and acuracy stand point) WWII movies I would recomend over this one: A Bridge Too Far, Midway, The Battle of Britian, and of course Patton.

Hard To Top.......2006-07-28

This film has a grand scale to go with realistic characters.It probably was less popular than it should have been due to the contempt the lesser ranked soldiers show towards the officers. Such disrespect was not tolerated in those days. The battle sequences are terrific. It easily is one of the top five war movies ever made.

Average customer rating:

Not the Monkees I knew
"Bless It's Pointed 'Head'"
Monkees archivist sez it's not pan n' scan!
Wonderful movie - lousy DVD production
It's Psychedelic! It's the Monkees!

The Monkees - Head
Starring: William Bagdad , Timothy Carey , Carol Doda , Micky Dolenz , and June Fairchild
Director: Bob Rafelson
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305038694
Release Date: 1998-07-21

Customer Reviews:

Not the Monkees I knew.......2007-08-09

The foursome got in trouble doing this movie. The slapstick group wasn't that funny in this film. Guns don't belong in a Monkee's movie.

"Bless It's Pointed 'Head'".......2007-07-30

(3 1/2 *'s) The Monkees only movie, `Head', is definitely a period piece. Written and produced by Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, the movie is a seamless web of absurdist nonsense. In contrast to their TV series where it was just simply nonsense, this Monkees' adventure is trippy but not as random as first impressions may suggest. The visuals are fairly interesting and impressive. Sometimes it comes off as snippets from 'Laugh-In,' except the editing is often edgier. Conceptually sound, 'Head' is above the Beatles' predecessor `Magical Mystery Tour,' but significantly before their animated adventure `Yellow Submarine'. The acting is at about the same level as their television show, but the songs are substandard for either their show or their career. Despite this fact, most of the montage is not done as a musical.

The scenes are vignettes and only episodic in a dream-like fashion. Nevertheless, staple hippie themes are presented throughout. "Make love, not war," the contrast between past and present, and the dominance of scientific and corporate culture are given the counterculture treatment. They even poke fun at altered consciousness.

While certainly a product of its times, there's nothing quite like it. Some of the Western shorts predate Mel Brook's `Blazing Saddles,' and the how the scenes wrap around one another comes as close to David Lynch's `Inland Empire' as the sixties got. Going into the movie, don't expect to laugh nearly as much as the TV series, but although it was considered a commercial failure and an epitaph for the group, 'Head' is one strange and engaging experience. (Guest stars include Ray Nitschke, Annette Funicello, Frank Zappa, and the debut of Terri Garr.)

Monkees archivist sez it's not pan n' scan!.......2007-07-22

From an online post in a discussion of whether the full-screen version of Head (what's available on this DVD) cuts off images from the film's original aspect ratio or not. Despite the fact that this is one of my all-time favorite movies, I've avoided the disc for that reason, thinking a widescreen disc would follow someday. But this post by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval, who oversees Rhino's reissue program, seems to set the record straight:

andrewsandoval
09-05-2006, 03:03 PM
Everyone brings the aspect ratio up and often disputes that the DVD is correct. However, I sat for a week while they did the transfer and color correction and was told that was all that was on the neg (as far as info). Nothing was cropped in any direction. In one of the early scenes you can see the black mat slide up when Micky is falling (they were going to blow this up to take away the mat, but I told them to leave it as proof this was the full screen). As you can see in the Ditty Diego part, all the screens fit perfectly on the screen.

It is possible they lied to me, but there would be no reason why they should. People just seem hell bent on seeing everything with letter box bars. Like the Kids Are Alright where the new DVD has all the old TV stuff letterboxed that was never widescreen to begin with (such as Shindig!). What is the point? The people who did the restoration told me that to make it letterboxed they would have to cut off information to stretch it out. I just wanted it to be like the original. I can assure you it is not pan and scan. I can't speak about the Rhino VHS, which I had nothing to do with.

[end quote]

OK then, I'm finally ordering this DVD! One of the definitive films of the '60s, and very innovative -- check out the use of the TV remote control as a metaphor for the dissolution of contemporary society -- way a"head" of its time! This movie can be enjoyed on many levels: musically (some stuff you'll be shocked to discover is played by The Monkees!), kitchily (play spot-the-cameo with Zappa, Teri Garr, Annette Funicello, Sonny Liston and more), and more deeply as a comment about mass media and society -- Marshall McCluhan would have loved it!

Wonderful movie - lousy DVD production.......2007-06-22

The trailers are wonderful. The menus are decent - better than some of the ones they've done for MST3K discs then or since. But there are so many things wrong with this issue it makes everyday without a "double-dip" a shame.

Even when this DVD was issued "pan and scan" was a dirty word. This DVD actually brags that it's going cut the picture off on either side so that your aren't traumazied by seeing (gasp) BLACK BARS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN! I guess having half of Dolenz's face cut out of the picture during "Circle Sky" is worth it to some people. I consider it unforgivable (and not just because he's my favorite Monkee).

Rhino then proceeds to give us chapter stops based on the songs and the celebrity cameos - but none having to do with the actual storyline of the movie. As if to say you couldn't possibly be watching this because you're interested in seeing The Monkees or the work that they did on this film.

Head is known among some of us First Generation Fans as "The Monkee Suicide Festival". It is a highly symbolic auto-biography/commentary on their lives since the TV show and the times. Micky's physical "suicide" is followed by a military suicide mission. They go in front of an audience to be torn apart. Davy commits artistic suicide by giving up the violin to go into the ring (TV?) for the money. Peter commits a suicide of his personal ethics by hitting a woman for a scene. Mike commits social suicide by telling people what he really thinks - especially about Xmas.

And then there's all the bits about their real lives while making the TV series - the search for Davy (when he had to go underground to avoid being drafted), the "Stop" telegram, the issues with the studio commissary...I'm still finding things in this movie after all these years.

The guys themselves have varying opinions of this movie. I think it's proof that you can unknowingly create a (modest) work of art.

Rhino needs to turn this film over to whoever produced the DVD sets of the TV series for them. Do an anamorphic transfer of the film. Round up the guys (seperately at this point would probably be best), Raefelson, a movie historian, a Monkees historian...maybe even Jack Nicholson would do it for a laugh....for commentary tracks. Put it in a plactic case.

Something you rarely hear from the public but...."Double-dip" this movie!!!! PLEASE!!!

It's Psychedelic! It's the Monkees!.......2007-06-17

The Monkees television show was terminated at the end of its second season. The reasons are complex, but one reason was that the Monkees, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, were dissatisfied with the format of the television show and they wanted to appeal to a more adult audience. Once the television show ended, the Monkees decided to declare their freedom with a movie, which eventually was called "Head."

The movie has no opening credits and no plot. Some have called the movie a visual "stream of consciousness." Others have called it psychedelic, anti-war, and anti-commercialism. In fact, the movie is all of the above as well as a uniquely artistic film. Elements of "Head" can be seen in some later films; perhaps most notably in the Mel Brooks film "Blazing Saddles."

The movie is free-form movie-making, with writer Jack Nicholson and director Bob Rafaelson tying together vignettes focusing on key images and concepts throughout the film. Some of the concepts are quite complex. The box seen in several places in the film represents the room built for the boys at the studio, but also represents the trap the boys felt they were in while making the Monkees television show. In another aspect, the box also represents the constraints of commercialism and being pigeon-holed by fans.

There are several songs used in this movie that count as some of the best ever made by The Monkees. "The Porpoise Song" is easily one of the best Monkees songs recorded. The live version of "Circle Sky" is another winner. Other good songs include "Can You Dig It" and "Do I Have to Do this All Over Again." There are some weak songs as well, and the soundtrack for this movie is definitely a mixed bag of quality.

Another interesting feature of this film is the cameos. Actor Annette Funicello, boxer Sonny Liston, Actor Vitto Scotti, football star Ray Nitschke, famed musician Frank Zappa, actor Teri Garr, and actor Victor Mature all made appearances. Jack Nicholson can be seen briefly in one scene. Gossip queen Rona Barrett appears. Toni Basil performs as a dancer. The list of cameos includes many more well known individuals.

This movie also contains a strong link to another ground-breaking film, "Easy Rider." Many of the people involved in the making of this movie participated in "Easy Rider" the following year, and the gold helmet used in that film came from this movie.

The question that one must inevitably face in any review is who will like this film and who will not. The people who will like this film fall into two groups. People who considered the Monkees a serious group and empathized with their desires to break out of the cookie cutter mold created by television will enjoy this film. Students of cinematography and avant-garde film techniques will see a rare example of a studio produced experimental film. Those students will also immediately see the inspiration for later films. Fans of the Monkees television show have had differing opinions about this movie. I was a fan of the show and I enjoyed the movie. However, others have felt that the movie is worthless. If you like experimentation and you enjoy psychedelic movies from the late 1960's, particularly if you ever liked The Monkees, you might wish to give this film a try.

The Monkees were a cultural phenomenon. The group was originally meant to capitalize on the success of the Beatles, but they ended up being much more. The four boys of the Monkees showed that just because they were chosen to be on a comedy show, they still had talent and they had an incredible amount of influence. The Monkees refused to be placed in a niche by television, even if it meant that they gave up an award-winning and successful television show to do so.

"Head" remains a unique film that would be impossible to imagine making today. We are fortunate that The Monkees were able to stay with this project long enough to see it made, and more fortunate that Jack Nicholson and many of the other people involved in the film were sufficiently enthused about the film to keep working on it even though several of the key individuals involved lost interest while it was being made. Though not for everyone, this film is special and belongs on the extremely short list of influential, experimental rock films.

Enjoy!

Invasion Earth - The World War Has Begun

Average customer rating:

Painfully disjointed
Good Solid Drama
Yawn
Invasion Earth -The world has begun
Great Story Telling - Part 2 (of three) is the most powerful

Invasion Earth - The World War Has Begun
Starring: Vincent Regan , Maggie O'Neill , Fred Ward , Phyllis Logan , and Anton Lesser
Director: Patrick Lau , and Richard Laxton
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AYEIUY
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Description

The time is the 1990s. The place is the fabled Scottish highlands. The players hail from different worlds. The dimensions are countless. At stake is the planet Earth. From the BBC and the Sci Fi Channel comes INVASION EARTH, an ambitious, thought-provoking sci-fi epic on DVD for the first time. When an ace pilot and a beautiful scientist investigate a UFO crash, they discover two alien races at war with each other, the peace-loving Echos and the dimension-hopping nD's. It seems Earth is the battlefield and Time (another dimension) is running out. It's up to a small band of humans save us all. INVASION EARTH is sci-fi of the highest order, filled with inventive plots, startling special effects and gut-wrenching cliffhangers. Starring Vincent Regan (Troy), Fred Ward (The Right Stuff) and Maggie O'Neill (Under Suspicion) in all six episodes of the original hit miniseries. DVD Features: Production Notes; History of Alien Invasion Films; Cast Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Painfully disjointed.......2007-04-19

I hate giving bad reviews and generally avoid it, but I think this one deserves mentioning. I should start out by saying that I am a huge fan of the genre.

The characters were not compelling to me. The plotline was very contrived. The romance unbelievable. I could not imagine why anyone would want to be with either of these two. Perhaps that was intended - a sort of nod to the idea that there is someone for everyone.

However, it is the plot holes that really spoiled it for me. We have a civilian consultant who has apparently unrestricted access to a military base. In one scene she is in the military hospital being examined and the general in charge demands to know from the doctor what she has found wrong with her (she's been changed by the aliens) as if knowing that is the key to the mystery. The doctor replies that she'll keep him informed of each new batch of tests, saying that they only have two hours (or somesuch) of data. It is very intense, and I got the impression that they are drawing blood every hour or so. Then, they cut to the village where the patient in the last scene is now walking freely about helping to look into the problems there. Apparently they did not need her in the hospital to keep running the tests as ordered.

The show was full of things like that, where I was left going 'huh?' Perhaps it was meant to be a few hours longer and had to be edited down? Either way, poking fun of it became a way to make it bearable - like our own Mystery Science Theatre... We managed to sit through the entire thing, simply because my husband is the sort that has to know how a story ends.

Good Solid Drama.......2007-02-14

An RAF pilot shoots down a UFO and the pilot is recovered. This sets in motion an escalation of a war that had been going on for fifty years without humans being aware. There are two alien races. The Echo are peaceful and want to warn the Earth about the dimension-hopping NDs. A NATO General gets put in charge of the escape craft and its occupant. While he is quickly convinced of the existence of aliens, there is no real hard proof that his superiors accept. But if the General is right, the NDs have been tainting the Earth's water supplies for the past fifty years but with the downing of the Echo craft, they are stepping up the campaign.

The NDs civilization is based upon the manipulation of living matter. They take over worlds where life is present. Earth may have an intelligence but that means nothing to the NDs. They will go about harvesting humans as they need them. Finally the extent of their plans is revealed and NATO command accepts the existence of the alien threat. But it is still up to a small handful of people to develop the strategies against the aliens and carry them out.

Although the plot is similar and the title is identical to Harry Harrison's novel INVASION: EARTH, there is no credit given and the story soon deviates drastically from Harrison's. While the special effects are good, it is the solid acting and drama that drives this mini-series. I really enjoyed the acting and the way the plot unfolded. The way some people bought into the alien story and some did not seemed very plausible to me. I was just a little disappointed in the ending although it made a lot more sense than many movie endings. If you like your science fiction filled with solid drama then this one is for you.

Yawn.......2006-12-12

I guess if you find British Sci-Fi to be exciting and you think Dr. Who is the peak of their talent then this might entertain you. Mr. Ward is out of place in this movie and by the end I was hoping the Aliens would have their way with all the cast members and put me out of my pain. Not a good movie if you want original ideas, acting, or even basic special effects. The series "Tri-Pods" was more orignal and entertaining...where did they go wrong with this one?

Invasion Earth -The world has begun.......2006-08-23

This was shown in Australia a few years ago on late night T.V.Times and days were always changed and never saw the ending.What i saw was fantastic and gets you hooked on this show.I love SciFi and this was very different to watch.Its a shame there is no sequal and longer series.I was waiting for this to come on on dvd(Not released in Australia at all)and got a copy of Amazon.Now i have a copy I can watch again and again.
It could have had more special features but i am happy now its on dvd(Finally)
I recomend this show - 100%
Paul Haigh (Melbourne, Australia)

Great Story Telling - Part 2 (of three) is the most powerful.......2006-04-24

This was a creative and well produced miniseries. The use of location, props, makeup, etc. were well handled. The second part of the three parts is by far the most powerful and best story telling in the series. It could have been better as part three leaves you a little down with weak character resolutions, but the truth is that these situations are more real-life than fantastical and over dramatic. Very intelligent, realistic and well acted. Any fan of serious science fiction and story telling should give this a try because its great qualities by far make up for its detractors.

Average customer rating:

No separate peace
Explosive war cocktail: Brando and Brynner
As tense as they come
Water, water everywhere and no Stella.
a classic wwII sea adventure

Morituri
Starring: Marlon Brando , Yul Brynner , Janet Margolin , Trevor Howard , and Martin Benrath
Director: Bernhard Wicki
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001NBMI0
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

Marlon Brando plays a world-weary, conscientious objector to all wars in the tense, thoughtful Morituri, an adult drama about wartime ethics and the price of commitment to a cause. Brando plays Robert Crain, a German deserter who escaped the Nazis with his fortune intact, happy to be sitting out the battle in British-governed India. His comfort is challenged when an intelligence official (Trevor Howard) essentially blackmails him into going undercover, posing as an SS officer taking passage on a German ship carrying tons of rubber for munitions. Crain's mission is to deliver the ship into Allied hands, but once he's aboard, he becomes a target of derision by the proud, anti-Nazi captain (Yul Brynner) and suspicion by a handful of Resistance members planning to scuttle the voyage. The dramatic irony in this film by German actor-director Bernhard Wicki is that Crain, who claims to take no sides and believes in nothing worth killing for, becomes a catalyst for a great deal of sacrifice and the underscoring of others' convictions with bloodshed. Janet Margolin has a memorable role as a half-mad, Jewish doctor who puts her life on the line to help Crain, and Brynner nearly steals the show in a tremendous performance as a man who has lost faith in everything. Some spectacular scenes give Morituri a certain electricity, including a complicated, unbroken shot taken (one presumes) from a helicopter that swoops in on the ship from a distance to catch a few lines of dialogue and a bit of action. --Tom Keogh

Description

Suspenseful action highlights this film in which Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner team up to defuse a Nazi freighter, poised to explode upon capture.

Customer Reviews:

No separate peace.......2007-01-12

In this brilliant espionage action drama, two men are seeking a separate peace with fascism - one through attempting neutrality, one through attempting blind nationalism, both by avoiding a clear decision for either side. Neither seems willing to be honest with themselves. They both must face their denial and the fact that they must choose. Two cynical realists have to decide what is worth believing in. Along the way is edge-of-your-seat action, intense drama, and thrilling espionage.

Explosive war cocktail: Brando and Brynner.......2006-09-01

I've never seen this movie before, and it engaged me from the begining. I remember some comments from my father, (a Mr. Brando's fan) many years ago about Morituri and the strong perfomances of both actors there.
My father passed away in 2003. He was right about Morituri.
Now, talking a little bit about the DVD, it'll satisfy all your quality requirements, even when the sound is not so good as you'd like. All the features are good enough, at least for me. Morituri deserves to be bought by every war films fan or, even more, for every Mr. Brando's or Mr. Brynner's fan.

As tense as they come.......2006-09-01

Few films have me sitting on the edge of my seat for a full two hours, but this is one of them. Brando is superb, Brynner is great, his Nazi subordinate is excellent: no one lets this picture down. The story is implausible, and you have to suppress your disbelief, but the twists and turns, the bluff and double-bluff are so gripping that it's not hard to do. Beautifully shot in moody noir and white it is also directed with a terrific sense of sustained excitement, and certainly kept me guessing --- every cliche was side-stepped. I had no idea how it was going to end. The plot line is so convoluted that at times it seems almost shapeless, but what holds it together are the extremely well-written individual scenes, where the dialogue is razor-sharp and exceptionally well-delivered by the performers --- Brando especially. It's sad to think that these kinds of adventure tales are no longer made: almost all we get now are monotonous TV-style bang-bang-bangs; or overblown blockbusters aimed at morons. Presumably the reason it didn't do too well at the box-office is that a small group of Americans are shown as little better than their Nazi counterparts.

Water, water everywhere and no Stella........2006-04-29

This movie alone makes for all those "Guys and Dolls" dribble that exposed Marlon Brando's frail ego and talent.This is a variation on the plot of "Counterfeit Traitor," (true story), nonetheless, this is a treat to watch for WWII spy yarns.The Latin title refers to the precious human cargo aboard the tanker Brando's character is blackmailed to sabotage a German tanker. Told it would be carrying rubber, this poses a problem for awhile.The cast is international, Yul Brynner as the tanker captain, Janet Margolin,(David and Lisa), Trevor Howard and others. More comfortable in the German accent, Brando is captivating throughout and convincing, with the piercing,probing eyes of Brynner, who lets no one up-stage him. The actual tanker is wonderfully shot from bridge to bilge areas,as it follows the double-dealings of the crew. The tension mounts with unexpected visitors who could expose Brando's artifice and sink the boat and plot. A U-boat appears. What to do? She-bang,She-bang. No, my friend. To find out, you must see this under-rated cat-and-mouse WWII yarn. A Vinner. Yah. Das first Boat.

a classic wwII sea adventure.......2005-10-11

This is one of the best WWII films i Have seen. It really boggles my mind that this film flopped at the box office and with the critics.

Brando and Brynner are amazing to look at and the screen crackells with their chemistry.

The film has serious drama, dialogue and the plight of the concentration camp vicitms is poignantly handled.

Brando is amazing to look at and his command of the accents is great to watch. He is just brilliant and Brynner stands up to him very well..

The direction is tight and the cinematography is one of the best i have ever seen.

The movie should be reevaluted and get its rightful and much deserved appreciation.

a 21 gun salute to the movie. Another slap on the critics who ssaid that Brando did nothing great in the 60s.

The only hitch that i can see is that there should have been extra features besides the trailors in the dvd.

all in all, great fun.

Average customer rating:

All the King's men
semi factual film
All the King's Men
Moving Drama
haunting story of a lost regiment

Masterpiece Theatre: All the King's Men
Starring: David Jason , Maggie Smith , William Ash , Sonya Walger , and Stuart Bunce
Director: Julian Jarrold
Manufacturer: WGBH BOSTON
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000A7DW8U
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Amazon.com

In 1915, during World War I, a doomed campaign was fought by the Allies against German-affiliated Turkish forces in the Dardanelles. (This devastating conflict was also the inspiration for the 1981 Australian film Gallipoli.) The Fifth Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, composed wholly of servants, grooms, and gardeners from King George V's estate at Sandringham, was sent into the fray and, legend has it, vanished without a trace into a mysterious mist. This deeply affecting Masterpiece Theatre production, All the King's Men, tells the horrifying true story of what really happened to these men. From paradise on an English country estate, we follow them into the chaotic hell of war on blistering foreign shores. The pathos of the innocence and optimism of these boys, some as young as 14, as they march off to battle is tremendous. Before shipping out, Sergeant Ted Grimes (William Ash) celebrates a joyous wedding to his childhood sweetheart, plucky Peggy Batterbee (Emma Cunniffe), assuring her of his swift return. Gallant Captain Frank Beck (David Jason) has trained his boys well in the principles of loyalty and duty. Tragically, they soon learn that these niceties are worse than useless during wartime. Performances by a large ensemble cast are superb in this engrossing TV film. Dame Maggie Smith is a standout, exuding marvelous warmth and wisdom as the Queen Mother Alexandra, who mounts an extensive inquiry to determine the real fate of her beloved lads. --Laura Mirsky

Description

The true story of England's vanished regiment is revealed. It is one of the most compelling and curious legends of the First World War. Led by Captain Frank Beck (David Jason), a favorite agent of King George V (David Troughton, Madame Bovary), Sandringham Company was comprised entirely of servants, grooms and gardeners from the King's Norfolk Estate. On August 12, 1915 the unit marched into battle against the Turks in Gallipoli and simply vanished, never to be heard from again. Queen Alexandra, played by Dame Maggie Smith (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, A Room with a View), was the driving force behind the investigation into the real fate of the battalion. But despite her extensive inquires, no trace of the men was ever discovered. Now, All the King's Men brings the details of what really happened in 1915 to the screen for the first time. It tells the story of these amateur soldiers, the idyllic life and loves they left behind in the quintessential English country estate and the horrors of an ill-prepared campaign to which they were subjected.

Customer Reviews:

All the King's men.......2007-05-07

A thoughtful speculation on one of the great mysteries in WWI's forgotten war in the Dardanelles.

semi factual film.......2006-02-25

I must say a lot of this film is pure fiction and is definitely sensationalised such as the young bride who has to have sex with the nearest man!

Captain Frank Beck was a real person, and I was brought up with the story about him, as his 3rd daughter was my grandmother.

I feel it shows his nephews as quite pathetic characters but in fact they were very brave men(as were a lot of soldiers of their time) and they were later decorated with military crosses although sadly none of them survived the war.

As fiction its ok as fact, take it with a pinch of salt-loosely based on fact

David Jason did a much better job than I expected from an actor more known for comedy

All the King's Men.......2003-01-31

Slightly stuffy and fractured, but that really doesn't change this PBS miniseries' special qualities at all. Maggie Smith is quite good in her role, and adds humour to it as well. The other cast members are excellent, with direction and writing at tops.
A must if you enjoy Masterpiece Theater.

Moving Drama.......2002-04-12

A very well made, moving drama about the Estate workers at Sandringham who volunteer during The First World war to fight the Turkish in Gallipoli. Unlike the Mel Gibson Film, this focuses purely on the British contingent at the Dardanelles and the suffering and losses involved.

The legend of the Sandringham soldiers has it that a mist descended on them as the marched into battle and that they were never seen again. This actually shows the reality of battle, the distinct lack of glory and the shambolic reconnaisance which leads in turn to the inevitable result.

As the drama unfolds, we are introduced to the characters and have enough time to get used to them and start to understand and like them.

If war films are not your thing, believe me, this is very different. Worth a watch, especially the ever-dependable David Jason.

haunting story of a lost regiment.......2002-03-25

"All the King's men" is the story of the lost Sandringham regiment during the First World War at Gallipoli. The workers on the Sandringham estate wanted to do their bit to help in the war, and convinced the Queen to let them join their fellow soldiers at Gallipoli. The regiment disappeared, much to the puzzlement of the families they left behind. Of course, the men were killed, but since there were no letters, no word from the War Office, no witnesses, no returned mementos, there was a strong interest in finding out what happen