Baron Baptiste Live!: Soul of Strength

Customer Reviews:

Baptiste: Decent workout, but too chatty to leave you calm. .......2007-07-22

The Good: The moderate pace keeps you in some poses for a while, adding a nice challenge to the practice. Real students demonstrate pose modification. At about and hour, the workout is pretty good for beginners and some intermediates.

The Bad: The shaky camera work bothered me as I watched to get prepped for the practice. Baptiste doesn't always call out poses, and unnervingly never stops talking. The flow feels stunted at times, as some simpler poses take just too long to get into.

The Verdict: Baptist, like Kest, delivers a good workout-though one full of chatter and silly euphemisms ("Angels fly because they take themselves lightly"). You'll get a good workout, though I doubt you'll feel calm and refreshed after listening to Baptiste's non-stop commentary.

Full Review: Baptiste holds a real, in-classroom yoga practice. The variety of students range from somewhat-new to experienced, though most are pretty toned. Baptiste introduces a decent variety of poses, and the flow is moderate to slow. During the practice, he uses constant commentary, and a "hands on" approach with his students-something not everyone will appreciate. He doesn't consistently call out the poses by name, something that bothered me as I tried to keep the flow going without looking at the screen.

On the plus side, he does present modifications for poses-something beginners will appreciate. Moving into some basic poses seemed to take much longer than necessary, stunting the flow. The workout starts slow with some salutations, moves on to some strength and balancing poses, some back-bends, and finishes up with a (disappointingly) brief hip-opener section.

If your considering this video, I suggest you borrow it from the library first. While I had high expectations, there really wasn't anything new here. Your going to have to gauge whether Baptiste's voice will wear on you, since you hear it constantly. For now, I'll keep working with Rodney Yee-who's videos leave me feeling like I should after a practice: clear, calm, and refreshed.

great dvd.......2007-07-20

This dvd was one of the closest to the classes I used to attend. It actually feels like a workout when I push myself. Sometimes he talks too much though. At times, I'd like to be able to focus on holding a pose rather than listening to him ramble.

not my favorite.......2007-05-30

I guess maybe I am a little spoiled by studio yoga, but I don't really like Baron on video. I have tried all of his videos, many of which I own, but I just can't get into him. I guess going to a yoga studio and taking Baron workshops has got me used to the personal hands on attention and the addicted to the energy in the room by my sweat mates. I think this is a good video if you are just getting started, so you can get the feel of a class and the pacing of a class. But if you are experienced, you will enjoy a real class much more, or should be able to 'yoga play' on your own. I also thought it should be a little longer.

Overall, great to build balance and strength.......2007-05-13

I wanted a yoga DVD to help increase muscle stability, and this one is great for that. I like that he does a lot of balance work which helps me build correct foot posture as well as leg strengthening which also helps with my knee discomfort. Overall, a great yoga workout for the body. I wish the atmosphere was a little more serene, but the class setting is great to show variations and posture corrections. One other thing, he does talk alot. My husband is a beginner and found it hard to follow the cues to change moves with all the fluff in between. You do get used to it and I will try another of his DVDs.

wonderful for beginners.......2007-03-24

Baron is such a good teacher. He exudes warmth, humility and kindness and experience as he has been doing yoga since he was a child. I learned a lot from this dvd and a year and a half later I still hear his comments as I have developed my own practice. My practice has taken bits from here and there to develop my own style and Baron has been a huge influence. I have two favorite dvds for yoga. This one and Shiva Reas "Yoga Shakti". I also recomend Baptiste's "Yoga Bootcamp Box" It is a super value and the 70 minute flow cd is helpful in getting started with out the aid of a dvd if that is your desire. It really becomes more personal without the tv so once the basics are mastered I suggest trying cd's and books for a home practice if you have the time and motivation. Namaste.

Average customer rating:

sorry, but it just doesnt deliver a knockout punch
The Rocky Road of Boxing
Soul-less Transfer and Editing
By unanimous decision: one of the best boxing movies ever
The Winner And Still Champion

Body and Soul
Starring: John Garfield , Lilli Palmer , Hazel Brooks , Anne Revere , and William Conrad
Director: Robert Rossen
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005YUP0
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Customer Reviews:

sorry, but it just doesnt deliver a knockout punch.......2007-04-07

john garfield gives a worthy performance in this otherwise dated boxing film from director robert rossen. the movie manages to embrace nearly every cliche of the boxing movie, tho its mercifully shorter than the typical sylvester stallone opus. perhaps its just that this is a genre of film im just not a fan of (my favorite boxing flick is the parody "movie movie"), but i just dont much care what happens to these people. interestingly, there IS a sidelight to this particular movie -- but it has nothing to do with boxing: scads of the cast & crew would be caught up in the next few years in the red scare and the black list" most notably its star (driven to a premature death) and its director (who saved his career, if not his self-respect by naming names). add a star if youre a fan of boxing movies.

The Rocky Road of Boxing.......2007-03-03

Body and Soul, 1947 film

A man in a rural area gets into a car and drives to a city. Charley Davis is a boxer, and he visits his mother. Peggy is not happy to see him. There will be a fight the next day. Charley was told to make the fight last 15 rounds. The bets are all in. Then Charley recalls his past life, when he first met Peg, a model and painter. Charley's parents did not approve of prizefighters. Some gang attacks a neighboring speakeasy, there is collateral damage at his parent's candy store. The story shows the hard times for ordinary people. Charley's Mom wants to get a loan so Charley can get an education, but Charley refuses. Charley will fight to make big money. But Mr. Roberts controls the fight game in New York.

After a year Charley is near the top. He has a lot of money now, and drinks. Mr. Roberts demands that Ben, injured in his last bout, fight Charley. Mr. Roberts also makes a new deal to split the winnings. In the fight Charley knocks out Ben, the champ. At the celebration party some facts come out, and Shorty leaves them. Peg decides she doesn't want that life. Charley continues with his good times. Then a new challenger appears. The deal is for Charley to go 15 rounds for a decision (the fix is in). A big fix like this is a lush opportunity in a lifetime. Charley thinks of ending his career, this will be his last fight.

But there is a complication in his life. Ben the trainer had stayed in the fight game too long. The title fight goes on. Charley isn't doing so well, he is knocked down but saved by the bell. Charley does worse in the next round. There is a KO in the last round, Charley pulled off a victory!

[This happy ending seems to contradict the story. This film tells how bouts are manipulated, like in other show businesses. Does it remind you of things in the real world?

Soul-less Transfer and Editing.......2006-07-06

Don't let the stars fool you, I love this movie and if I were reviewing the movie itself on its merits alone, it would get 6 stars. My love for this classic is the reason I can give this DVD version only two stars. The print is very poor - the lighting in some scenes is too dark to pick up some details. There are skips and jumps in the frame. The sound transfer is also very uneven. In fact my 20 year-old VHS tape is STILL better quality than this DVD. But all those technical faults could be forgiven were it not for the most egregious cut of all - a few lines of dialogue. In a pivotal scene where the grocer delivers to the Davis house, Charley has just told Peg that he needs his money to bet on the fight. The grocer comes in and talks about everyone betting on the fight - Charley says anyone who bets is foolish. The grocer disagrees. The words that were cut out of this print, essentially the heart of why the neighborhood loves their champ, are very simple "In Europe, the Nazis are killing our people, but here Charley is Champeen! No, it's not about the money." I have no idea why these lines are missing, but it was the final straw before I returned the DVD for a refund.

Unfortunately us movie fans lose out again. We can't get a decent transfer or an unedited copy of a great film. Many lesser films released in the last 5 years have several editions available, with added footage, interviews, alternate endings, "director's" cuts and other gimmicks to drive sales. It's a good thing I haven't given away my VHS tape or dumped my VCR, otherwise I'd never again see this movie in a facsimile of its intended presentation. I guess the simple grocer was wrong, it's always about the money.

By unanimous decision: one of the best boxing movies ever.......2005-11-28

The quintessential fight movie, starring John Garfield as the boxer who works his way up to becoming the champ, but sells his soul (and body) to sleezy promoters along the way. He does whatever they tell him to do, as long as he gets his money. In his last fight he's supposed to take a dive so a new champ can be crowned (Garfield even bets against himself), but at the last minute he gains his self-respect and wins the bout.

As a boxing movie there is the usual fare offered up: corruption, sleezebag fights, money grubbing - but the cast does a superb job all around and makes the picture top-notch entertainment. The whole movie has an uncommon sense of realism about it. Lili Palmer as Garfield's true love and Anne Revere as his mother are real standouts. The scenes with black actor Canada Lee (who was also a professional fighter) are also on the level for once. The script is excellent, and the photography, especially of the fight scenes, is eye-popping. And, of course, the haunting theme song occurs throughout the movie, to great effect. An excellent movie in every way; definitely worth a watch.

The Winner And Still Champion.......2005-10-02

With the arguable exeption of "Rocky" and "Raging Bull" BAS is the greatest boxing film of all time -- perhaps one of the greatest films of any kind. To a young viewer, it may seem riddled with cliche's, (which is part of the fun) but realize, BAS was the prototype for such cliche's. It literally wrote the book of using boxing as a metaphor of the struggle of life itself . The depiction of the sleezy promoter, the allure of money and fame, the glorification of violence, the betrayal of those who are no longer useful, and the ultimate fall from grace caused by the cruelest of enemies -- age. It's all here. It's the most basic of morality tales -- everybody loves a winner, but nobody stays a winner for long. And in a touch of blue collar existentialism, the most profound statement of all reverberatates throughout -- "everybody dies". This was the role Garfield was meant to play. A combination of tough guy swagger with a touch of self doubt. Garfield also insisted on a scene (often cut out on television presentations) where the characters address the fact that " people like us are being persecuted in Germany." This was heavy stuff for Hollywood to handle at the time, and it makes its point more powerfully than a 3 hour documentary on the holocaust. The final fight scene is devestatingly gritty. But throughout the entire film there isn't a false step in the direction or the performances and even the score is magnificant. (People who thought Million Dollar baby was a masterpiece, take note...THIS is the way it's supposed to be done). But what I think is the most powerful aspect of this film is also what is most misunderstood. The ending of BAS is often viewed as an act of redemption, when it is not. It is an act of SPITE. (Stop here if you don't want to know the ending) Charlie fights to win not for glory or out of a sense of duty. But because he's been betrayed and would rather lose it all that to let the "evil" prosper at his expense. That is humbris times ten! And that is the action of a pure, unadulterated,prideful, arrogent, politically incorrect, "don't let them make a monkey out of you" American man from the middle of the 20th century -- the kind they don't make anymore. As is this movie. It's a must. Enjoy.

Intensati: Intention and Power - A High Energy Workout for Body Mindand Soul

Average customer rating:

Movement Meditation
I Do Not Get It
Fast-paced aerobics & toning w/affirmations
She does it again!
I LOVE PATRICIA!

Intensati: Intention and Power - A High Energy Workout for Body Mindand Soul
Starring: Inten-Sat
Manufacturer: Living Arts
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KC6SX6
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Customer Reviews:

Movement Meditation.......2007-09-11

If you are seeking a "killer workout" you must look elsewhere. This is no more killer than a brisk walk. Also, if you do not feel comfortable with affirmations such as "every day in every way I am, I'm better, I'm better yes!" then look elsewhere. So why the five stars? Because it is an excellent motivational movement meditation.

I am an advanced home exerciser. I use Jari Love's Get Ripped! series Get Ripped! with Jari Love: Get Ripped 1000 and the Firm for weight days, Gin Miller's Intense Moves Step Reebok: Intense Movesand Karen Voight for cardio and Shiva Rea and Brian Kest for Yoga three days a week. I love them all but I did not have great results until I started using this DVD once a day. This DVD inspires me and gets me motivated so that when I am doing my other workouts I can remain focused on the task at hand by using the affirmations. It also helps me in my personal life since I can call upon the affirmations when I am working towards my personal goals.

I love this DVD because although I want to meditate and do have meditation DVD's, I just cannot sit there and think. I get fidgety and uncomfortable. By integrating movement and meditation (or affirmations) I can start my day focused, refreshed and positive.

I Do Not Get It.......2007-07-21

I didnt like this workout at all. I read all the reviews and dont understand all the high ratings. Not at all what I was expecting.

Fast-paced aerobics & toning w/affirmations.......2007-07-15

I loved Patricia Moreno's energy on her two dance dvds: Dance for weight loss & Dancer's body. She gives great cues, detailed, never misses a single important thing to teach & patient teaching. She always show you slow at first so you can understand, then she goes into hyper speed.
This dvd, though I love her, I dislike the moves, they seem to 80s aerobics style with only a hint of yoga, fighting moves, etc. The moves do stretch, but I feel they don't do anything but burn calories.
The 5 min warms up has simple hand movements & a lot of reaching up & down.
The upper body 15 min, has a lot of hand movements, hand jive, fake jump roping, shoulder circles & luckily nice amount of punching though she doesn't give cues on proper punching technique. This is done at hyper speed once learned which means you will drip with sweat like Patricia & the backup men & women do.
The lower body, 20 min, has some balancing, simple kicks (not martial arts kicking) some modified yoga warrior poses, lunges with yoga mudra hands. This is done more slowly for toning & since you'd have to have great balance & coordination of a yoga teacher to do it fast paced.
The end Yoga stretch has triangle, shoulder stretch, wide legged standing fwd bend, twisted sitting pose, butterfly, boat & ends in corpse, meditation with her giving affirmations the entire time. She gives great cuing for proper foot/body placement for all poses.

I love her energy, but she seems a little too earnest & never has any quiet time w/just the music even for 10 seconds. The music is beautiful tribal beat with spiritual harmonics but it kinda only melts into the back of your mind from trying to pay attention to Patricia's constant speaking. I love the words she chooses, but it is better to allow the person to assimilate what you say before speaking more.

If you want to increase your body's energy with affirmations & increase your constitution, try Tantra Toning or Kundalini yoga.
Since it's obvious she's experienced in martial arts & yoga, I'd love to see Patricia do this idea with a little less talking & more emphasis w/o it being watered down of healing arts like yoga, qi gong, kundalini or kick boxing with attention to good posture/technique.

You can see a preview at collagevideo com
She also has a site at intensati com

She does it again!.......2007-04-15

Love, love, love Patricia Moreno! This video is excellent! Intensati is an amazing workout, though a little cheesy/corney at first. But, once you get into the affirmations (even if you don't believe them wholeheartedly), the workout gets easier and is really fun. Patricia Moreno is an excellent instructor, and she really helps you get into the chanting and movements. And the moves, though they are uncomplicated, really work (they left my muscles sore the day after!) And if you haven't checked out her other two videos, I would highly recommend doing so - they are my favorite workout videos, and I use them regularly to stay in shape, have fun, and escape from my hectic life. Patricia Moreno is awesome, and I highly recommend any video she comes out with!

I LOVE PATRICIA!.......2007-04-14

This is a great DVD and I've used it for a while now. Patricia is one of the few trainers I like--and I love her positive spin on working out (Lord knows I need all the help I can get!)

I love her dance DVD too! After reading her feature in Fitness this month, she's even more of an inspiration!

Average customer rating:

Good workout in my opinion
An Intro to Getting Back In Shape
Refreshingly Different!
Good for a bit of variety and down days
Good workout for light days

Power Zone: Mind, Body, Soul
Starring: Denise Austin
Director: Cal Pozo
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009YXEV
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Product Description

Treat yourself to an amazing workout that awakens your body from the inside out!

Mind
Fitness expert Denise Austin has designed an exciting new blend of yoga, Pilates and deep, focused breathing that will leave you feeling energized, strong and serene. You'll begin with yoga poses and instruction on proper breathing techniques to stimulate your mind and banish tension.

Body
In this segment, Denise guides you through an innovative standing Pilates approach that stabilizes the spine for a stress-free lower back while toning the tummy and firming arms and legs.

Soul
In Soul, this refreshing workout is devoted to rhythmic moves and stretches that will energize your spirit and set it soaring!

40 minutes is all it takes to connect your mind, body and soul!.

Approx. Feature Running Time 95 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Good workout in my opinion.......2007-03-24

I have 4 of her tapes(Yoga Buns,Pilates for Everybody, and Power Yoga/Pilates, that I rotate with Rodney Yee. This tape uses yoga stretching, standing pilates( basically all the things you do on the mat, you do standing),a bit of ballet, and a dance type sequence at the end. I found it had that cardio component in it that was different from my other tapes. I like to use her tapes due to her positive attitude. If you don't like alot of chatter, then don't do her tapes as this is her personality.

An Intro to Getting Back In Shape.......2007-03-08

I'm slender but not fit. I bought this DVD upon its debut and have used it on and off for the past 3 years. This DVD is great for easing you in to a fitness regimen. It's not tough, although it has its moments. There's a point where she has you do lunges, wall sits, and yoga lifts but there are few repetitions. Thus it feels like an introduction to what you should aspire to when you are ready for the next level. Overall, it's a great DVD to loosen up your tight joints and to be able to feel your toes again. As for her presentation, I enjoy her positivity because I really hate working out.

Refreshingly Different!.......2006-07-18

I think that Denise Austin fans will find this video to be a little bit different from her other videos, but in a good way. This video combines some yoga, standing pilates and ends with a fun little 10-minute dance workout just to loosen you up. This video is good for those days when you want to exercise but you're just not up for traditional cardio or toning routines. A good "rainy day" video!
I would also like to add that I'm very surprised by all the comments that I've read about Denise being "annoying." She doesn't annoy me at all. I have videos from other instructors but I still find her to be my favorite. Anyway, this is agood alternative workout to add to your collection.

Good for a bit of variety and down days.......2005-06-26

Denise Austin has motivated me to make exercising a habit, although I expected a bit more of a workout from this DVD.

Nonetheless, I have wimped out of a few other workouts when I just haven't felt up to a strenuous aerobic session or don't have the energy for an intense, lengthy yoga or pilates session.

MIND: This 10 minute section should really be renamed 'spine'. It places less emphasis on connecting your mind with your body and more emphasis on stretching your spine. It uses some Yoga poses; if you practice yoga you should recognise poses such as Warrior 2, Triangle, Balancing Stick and Pose of the Dancer.

BODY - 1: This is the first of two 10 minutes segments of 'Standing Pilates'. This is what it sounds like, taking classical Pilates matwork and transposing them to be executed while standing. Most of the exercises are straightforward, although there are some challenging exercises in plank towards the end of the 10 minute segment.

BODY - 2: The second 10 minute Standing Pilates segment involves the assistance of a wall that you use for balance. Firstly you use the wall for balance while you do one legged exercises like leg circles, leg kicks and leg beats. Then, you use the wall for strength exercises such as wall squats and wall pushups.

SOUL: This 10 minute segment is a salsa-inspired dance segment, that was less effective as cardio but more effective as a cool down. I certainly didn't appreciate the cameraman's obsession with Denise Austin's stomach during the hula segment, talk about rubbing it in, argh!

Denise is her enthusiastic self, although I am not a huge fan of the carribbean/very fake leafy palm tree set, and one thing that I noticed was that the music played in the background was recycled from Denise Austin's other DVD, 'Fat Blasting Yoga'. Jeez, was it really that difficult to find a new music track to play in the background?

All in all, I am glad that I purchased this DVD, although it is not something that I could use regularly since it does not provide enough of a challenge or room for development. It is something that I'll use when I'm a bit down in the dumps or had a rough day. I would not recommend it for people who are looking for one all-purpose workout, but I would recommend it for people who want to do something different some days of the week.

Good workout for light days.......2005-02-26

I love Denise Austin. She is very motivating and I enjoy her talk thoughout the video. She does get cheesy at times, but for some reason I am not put off by it.
That being said, this workout won't really get you sweating, but it does tone and make you feel better after you do it.

This video features a lot of relaxing stretching, some floor pilates, a lot of standing pilates, some ballet work with a chair and a wall and some dancy cardio at the end. It is approx 40 minutes long. It is not a terribly hard workout but a relaxing workout that will help you tone.

Average customer rating:

What a shame!
Joss was great!! Camera angles sucked.
Awful
mind, body & soul sessions...
Pure Joy

Joss Stone - Mind, Body & Soul Sessions
Starring: Joss Stone
Manufacturer: S-Curve
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00069PDTI
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Amazon.com

Mind, Body & Soul Sessions features R&B phenom Joss Stone live in concert in 2004. Recorded at New York's Irving Plaza, the show begins with an introduction by the legendary Betty Wright, who co-produced the Brit's stunning debut, The Soul Sessions, and co-wrote several songs on the second, Mind, Body & Soul. The barefoot singer then gets down to business, performing a solid selection of material from both albums, including "Super Duper Love" from the first and "You Had Me" from the follow-up. Stone receives strong support from a tight band, distinguished by powerful drummer Caesar Griffin. As a performer, she's vivacious and her soulful voice is in fine form, but she may want to tone down the giggles in the years to come. That said, Stone is still just a teenager--as hard as that may be to believe while listening to the sophisticated recordings of this old soul. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Additional content: Music videos for "Fell In Love With A Boy", "Super Duper Love" and "You Had Me." Mini-documentary filmed while traveling the US and Europe in 2003 & 2004. "Mind, Body & Soul" documentary video.

Customer Reviews:

What a shame!.......2007-06-08

A great performance, Joss is talented beyond her years. She has a real presence. Unfortunately with the video editing you get ZERO of that and it really distracts from the music, BIG TIME. EVERYONE I have played this for (without any prompting from me) from my 20 year old daughter, to a 60 year old friend, have similiar reactions, usually before the first song is finished. The sound quality is very good and the performance as I have already stated is really great. I set it up with the TV on so I can use the menu and then I turn off the TV and treat it like a CD. The performance and sound are so good I rate it three stars but it's a CD to me.

Joss was great!! Camera angles sucked........2006-08-05

Joss Stone has one of the most mature voices on a young person I have heard in ages! Totally an old school feel, like back in the 60's when people could actually SING. Her sultry, deep voice brings to mind a mix of --- a young Teena Marie, Mavis Staples, Janis Joplin --- and you just know she's got some skat in her like Ella Fitzgerald.

It's cool that she got to write songs with Betty Wright, Lamont Dozier and other greats. How this girl from the UK got so much soul....well, she just belongs. I love her composure on stage when she puts her full passion into a performance. And then you get to hear her giggle inbetween nearly every song. Her slow delivery on "The Chokin' Kind" was beautifully haunting. I can't wait for future projects from Joss because she can only get better. AWESOME VOICE!!

I give Joss 5 stars but I gave this DVD only 4, because as a lot of the other viewers mentioned --- the camera production totally sucked! It's like they had 60 cameras and wanted to get shots in from all of them, so the angle kept changing every few seconds. I bought the DVD to SEE JOSS. A music DVD should make you feel like you were at the concert, with "some" added effects. But they seemed to want every shot to be a special effect. Totally, totally annoying. I chose this DVD over her other ones because this included songs from 2 albums.

I did catch Joss Stone's performance on Austin City Limits. Even though it was only 30 minutes or an hour (Michael Mc Donald had the other half), it was easy to watch and an incredible performance. I hope they will release it soon. That performance was what made me look her up on a DVD.

Awful.......2006-02-24

I have never reviewed a product before but this time I have to. Joss Stone is a great singer and artist but this DVD is absolutely unviewable. The camera never stays on anything for more than 3 seconds and it is almost never on the artist the camera shakes and it is truly impossible to view. Do yourself a favor and buy the CD because the music is great but the DVD is useless.

mind, body & soul sessions..........2006-01-06

This DVD includes some great performances by Joss in concert in New York, and she sounds amazing. But I always like live performances better because there is just something very raw and amazing about them, and Joss's are just that. And she's so cute. Before almost each song she goes "I hope you like it". I really loved the performances of "Don't Know How", "Don't Cha Wanna Ride?" and "Jet Lag". The music videos for "Fell in Love with a Boy", "Super Duper Love" and "You Had Me" are included on the DVD, which is nice since I hadn't seen the videos before and I never seem to catch them on TV.

Pure Joy.......2005-09-06

Joss Stone channels the best in soul and blues with unbelievable vocal maturity and performance skill for her age. If she can keep herself healthy, we're in for many years of joyful listening.

Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist (The Emperor Jones / Body and Soul / Borderline / Sanders of the River / Jericho / The Proud Valley / Native Land / Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

An excellent collection of an important man
An excellent release

Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist (The Emperor Jones / Body and Soul / Borderline / Sanders of the River / Jericho / The Proud Valley / Native Land / Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist) - Criterion Collection
Starring: Paul Robeson , Henry Wilcoxon , Wallace Ford , Kouka , and John Laurie
Director: Thornton Freeland , Kenneth MacPherson , and Zoltan Korda
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KRNGOA
Release Date: 2007-02-13

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Paul Robeson is today known for little more than singing "Ol' Man River" in Showboat, but this hefty and potent collection from Criterion (seven movies and a rich trove of documentary features and commentaries) should return Robeson to much-deserved cultural awareness. An imposing, charismatic black actor who demanded respect when most black actors were trapped in mammy and minstrel roles, and a singer whose deep, rolling voice won him acclaim on the concert stages of Europe, Robeson was among the most significant performers of the 20th Century--until the 1950s, when the U.S. government suspended his passport out of fear that Robeson's commitment to social progress and civil rights would project a negative view of America. But even before then, Robeson's career took place outside of the establishment channels of Hollywood. Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist includes two silent films (Body and Soul, a melodrama railing against the hypocrisies of the church, made by the pioneering black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux; and Borderline, a startlingly inventive story of an interracial love rectangle, made by film theorist Kenneth Macpherson), both given additional vitality by contemporary jazz scores; three movies from Robeson's rich period in England (Sanders of the Valley, Jericho, and The Proud Valley, which chart both Robeson's rising social conscience and his increasing clout in the industry); Robeson's most significant Hollywood film, The Emperor Jones, adapted from the Eugene O'Neill play that shot Robeson to stardom in the first place; and the movie that probably reflected Robeson's social beliefs more than any, the remarkable and riveting semi-documentary Native Land, which Robeson narrated.

Robeson is one of those rare actors, like Bette Davis or Humphrey Bogart, whose performances drive his movies as much as the director or the screenplay. Much is made of Robeson's powerful voice and intimidating physique, but just as impressive are his piercing eyes; in every role, a questing intelligence bursts through, looking at the world and cutting through charades and illusions. Criterion packages always have phenomenal extras, but Portraits of the Artist is unusually complex because Robeson's life is as important to his stature as his movies. These excellent features capture the world around Robeson, a world that both raised him up and tore him down. Far from a musty historical document, this is a film package that matters, which will reward and surprise viewers used to conventional notions of Hollywood and America. --Bret Fetzer

Description

All-American athlete, scholar, renowned baritone, stage actor, and social activist, Paul Robeson (1898-1976) was a towering figure and a trailblazer many times over. He made perhaps his biggest impact, however, in the medium of film. The son of an escaped slave, Robeson managed to become a top-billed movie star around the world during the time of Jim Crow America, always striving to use film to educate viewers about equality, democracy, and the rights of workers. Though he eventually left movies behind, using his international celebrity to speak on behalf of those denied their civil liberties and ultimately becoming a victim of ideological persecution himself, Robeson left a film legacy that continues to speak eloquently of the long and difficult journey of a courageous and outspoken African American.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent collection of an important man.......2007-08-17

Semi-terse comments on this box set:

Here is a set that is more historically important than aesthetically interesting or artistically elegant (with the exception of Borderline). It is nice to see Criterion put out a set (like the Monsters and Madmen collection) that is not director focused. Paul Robeson is such a captivating character that he (usually) rises above the flawed material he is in. It is interesting how music made way into most of his films even when it seemed out of context of the movie. His philosophy of getting early roles for Black work fell way to good roles for African American or nothing at all which is why he stopped acting in the early 40s.

The Emperor Jones (1933): A strong characterization from Robeson (reprising his stage role from Eugene O'Neill's play) as a power hungry and conniving Pullman porter who eventually becomes emperor of a Caribbean island. Dated and a lot of racist language that has been cut out for past edits of the film, but the movie is still interesting to watch. The first two-thirds of the film are so strongly presented by Robeson that his eventual collapse seems unconvincing. Jones is a good early example of an anti-hero. One scene with a lover of Jones refuses the money he gives her after breaking up, but she eventually picks it up reminds me of the similar scene in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing". Excellent commentary by Jeffrey C. Stewart, Professor of History and Art History at George Mason University and author of Paul Robeson: Artist and Citizen, who discusses the context, mise en scenes, actors and comparisons to the stage play. He does not discuss too many biographical details of Robeson though.

Body and Soul (1925): so far the only film I've seen by Oscar Micheaux in one of four extant silent films from this director. Robeson is decent in this silent-film (Robeson's first film) playing two different characters of Isaiah T. Jenkins and his better brother (though he is stiff in his performance). This movie is a strong commentary on the hypocritical aspects of religious leadership. This movie does make you wonder if the mother could have been ignorant enough to ignore the daughter and her cries against the pastor. I wonder if the ending was considered cliché then because it is certainly now though it could have been the fault of the many edits that were forced upon Micheaux to get this film played. This is discussed in the good commentary by Micheaux author/historian Pearl Bowser. She also discusses a variety of topics including the "Race" movies of the time, Micheaux during this time and the actors that are in the film.

Borderline (1930): Beautiful use of editing and montage (Criterion labels this as Eisensteinian) in this film about an interracial love affair (including Robeson's wife Eslanda) and its consequences. There is not much use of intertitles so it forces you to concentrate on the performances and the particular meanings of each countenance. Paul Robeson is not the focal point of the film. Too bad Kenneth Macpherson did not make another film.

Sanders of the River (1935): this film is embarrassing especially for Robeson who still puts in a strong performance. It is a very pro-British imperialistic film. Some beautiful footage of Africa though (mentioned in the extras that several hours were taken).

Jericho (1937): Robeson's had more artistic control (especially how he worked the end and his characters became more utopian and less realistic) but I the film is a bit too simplistic and ends up a little dated -- though still entertaining. Roberson plays Cpl. Jericho Jackson a top notch military man who saves several men but kills a superior. This forces him to go AWOL where he eventually becomes an important leader to Bedouin in northern Africa. It does a nice job to juxtapose the stereotypical black/white duo with comic relief played by Henry Wilcoxon.

The Proud Valley (1940): slow moving idealistic tale of Welsh coal mineworkers (wayward American played by Robeson does make the coal choir club though) during WWII. Proud Valley deals with the dangers of coalminers but more with the Welsh spirit of continuing life even after a calamity (the mine collapsed and the miners had to fight the government to get it back running again). Heartwarming, but ultimately its ending is too naive. An early Ealing production.

Native Land (1942): very biased pro-union film (the union appears almost as a perfect solution) that reminds me of Michael Moore's work. The characters are so one-dimensional and so extremely polarized that the film seems an exercise in finding the logical fallacies. Paul Robeson does the voice-over well though with his booming, brilliant baritone/bass voice in this quasi-documentary.

The extras are good especially the Academy award winning short "Paul Robeson: Tribute To An Artist" (1979), but are far from complete; not much is made on his pro-Stalin comments (especially the written eulogy for Stalin published in the New World Review, April, 1953). It would have been nice if Criterion put out Robeson's last film "Tales of Manhattan" with this set. I am interested in reading his son's (Paul Robeson Jr.) main book on his father, The Undiscovered Paul Robeson, An Artist's Journey, 1898-1939, where he does talk about Paul's career, his political troubles and his long-term affair with an actress. Paul Robeson Jr. was instrumental in getting this set together. This set is long overdue because other than his rendition of "Ol Man River" for "Show Boat" much of Paul Robeson's legacy has been forgotten because of age and political persecution in the 50s.

An excellent release.......2007-02-25

This Release of Paul Robeson films is a great release from Criterion. Released for Black History Month, this set includes 7 feature films and two documentaries.

Each disc contains two fims and select special features

"The Emperor Jones" is about a black man who escapes from a chain gang and flees to the West Indies.
"Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist" is a biographial documentary about Robeson narrated by Sidney Poiteir.
"Body and Soul" is about a corrupt preacher.
"Borderline" is about a group of interracial lovers
"Sanders of the River" is about an African tibesman
"Jericho" is about a black World War I soldier who deserts and heads to Africa,
"The Proud Valley" is about a coal miner in Wales
"Native Land" is socialist documentary film about labor unions.

Disc one contains commentary for "The Emperor Jones" by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart, "Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson" a retrospective containing interviews various black filmmakers and performers including James Earl Jones, and an interview with Robeson's son, Paul Robeson Jr.

Disc two contains commentary for "Body and Soul" by Micheaux historian Pearl Bowser. Also included are new scores for both films on the disc

Disc three contains "True Pioneer: The British Films of Paul Robeson" a progarm featuring interviews with Robeson Jr. and other persons

Disc four contains "The Story of Native Land," an interview with cinematographer Tom Hurwitz, and a1958 radio interview with Paul Robeson.

Also included is a booklet with various other materials

Average customer rating:

Now my leon issac kennedy collection is complete
'SOME BODY' & Lots Of Soul To Boot!
over all a very positive movie
over all a very positive movie
it was a good movie

Body and Soul
Starring: Leon Isaac Kennedy , Jayne Kennedy , Perry Lang , Nikki Swasey , and Michael V. Gazzo
Director: George Bowers
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006GAO40
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Description

Based on the 1947 classic of the same name, this "entertaining" (The New York Times) rags-to-riches tale about a vivacious young fighter from Chicago pulls no punches in its portrayal of boxings dark side. Featuring the always-animated Muhammad Ali as himself, Body and Soul is "a rousing good time" (LA Herald-Examiner)! Golden Gloves champ Leon (Leon Isaac Kennedy) has no interest in becoming a pro boxer; instead, he wants to be a doctor. But when his little sister requires immediate and expensive medical treatments, he decides to go for the title and all the money it will bring. On his way to the top, however, Leon succumbs to the temptations that come with success: money, flesh, ego. As a result, he begins to lose everyone and everything he used to care about. Can Leon pull his life back together, or is he too far gone to be redeemed?

Customer Reviews:

Now my leon issac kennedy collection is complete.......2005-03-18

I remember this one very big movie for leon issac kenndeys it was a big movie back then, they pulled all the punches for this one .It even had big stars showed up for this one.Like rat packer peter lawford,and muhammad ali.I can remember this playing at the movie to a packed house.What I really liked about it was that it has a good story line and some funny scenes like the mexican boxer when he threw the baby on the ground ,that was some funny stuff back then buy this one for the memories.

'SOME BODY' & Lots Of Soul To Boot!.......2005-02-14

This '81 remake of the boxing classic with Leon Isaac Kennedy in the lead role was long overdue for DVD release. Why we even get Muhammad Ali to climb onboard for several scenes. The ring legend is a natural here & my guess is he offered his expertise as well in making the fight sequences come off as realistic as possible. L.I.K. has always been linked with this genre- witness the release of two of the three PENITENTIARY flicks. It seems to be his forte 'cause he certainly has THE BODY to bring the house down. And he doesn't lack the charisma & arrogance needed to make LEON THE LOVER credible. But getting back to THAT BODY-he's decided (he wrote the storyline) to come at us 'hot & heavy' from all angles with his magnificent physique. Buffed to the max & cut & chiseled beyond belief, his approach from the film's outset is 'in your face.' The plot theme is a good one. You see this guy really would rather be a doctor than box for a living but taking on a good samaritan role there are doctor bills to be paid for a sick relative- a rather cute little actress I might add. Jayne Kennedy plays the girlfriend here but in case you didn't know she's his significant other in real life. Of course- who wouldn't enjoy this guy's firm grasp & manhandling abilities in the bedroom. Bet there are also plenty of TASTE TESTS. Anyway,she can't hold a candle to the other chocolate dream girls peppered throughout the film. They can't match her looks & charm but more than make up for that in other ways if you get my drift. Check out the first babe presented 'round the thirty minute mark. Blessed with humongous knockers she gets & keeps Leon's attention. TOP HEAVY is puttin' it mildly. For me the color & lighting has to be perfect when we're talking about presenting constant dizzying displays of flesh. Here a bronze hue seems to come through with many of these shots & that suits Kennedy's ADONIS LIKE TORSO to a T. With his pointy perfect pecs, washboard abs & potent pipes he's well armed for all comers. It's hard to imagine anyone layin' a whuppin' on this dude & they don't. All the opponents are chumps. Peter Lawford plays a shady promoter who keeps trying to buy him or get his girl jealous. In fact my favorite scene is when she finds him with not one, but three luscious ladies who need their chimes rung. As they argue in the parking garage, L.I.K.strikes his best pose standing shirtless/almost statuesque with his already massive chest expanded & huge guns dangling. He seems rather annoyed. I was annoyed I couldn't have him for my very own. This black cat has always had it 'going on' real good all over his body. His God-given definition is incredible- bulges & ripples everywhere with even the slightest movement. It was a joy watching his ribcage area spring to life as he paused to take deep breaths in the various bouts. In closing it's a shame Hollywood typecast Leon. In the 80's & 90's not much came his way & when it did it was quite forgettable. If you like WELL CARVED black males served up with nary an ounce of fat, BODY & SOUL will more than satisfy those insatiable taste buds. SCRUMPTIOUS INDEED. Buy it & REPORT BACK TO ME!

over all a very positive movie.......2000-12-20

I think that it was a positive movie. Leon the Lover started out doing what his family wanted him to do and that was to be a doctor. Instead he became a boxer and succeeded against the odds and got the beautiful reporter played by his then wife Jayne Kennedy. She was excellent as well playing the nieve reporter out to interview the champion boxer and falling in love.

over all a very positive movie.......2000-12-20

it was a good movie.......1999-04-10

I thought it was a good movie even though i never saw the origional

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Body & Soul (1993) (2pc)
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas , John Lambert (II) , Patrick Allen , Helena McCarthy , and Renny Krupinski
Director: Moira Armstrong
Manufacturer: Questar
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000V1OUPE
Release Date: 2007-10-02

STOTT PILATES: Body & Soul - Pilates-Infused Yoga

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STOTT PILATES: Body & Soul - Pilates-Infused Yoga
Starring: Stott Pilates
Manufacturer: STOTT PILATES
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ASIN: B0006GC3MG
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Average customer rating:

Wow!!

Body&soul Fitness Dynamite Legs

Manufacturer: allegro corp.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MMOBQK

Customer Reviews:

Wow!!.......2007-04-17

Bought this at Dollar Tree,so not sure what to expect. Tried it yesterday and Nice leg workout with a great bonus section! My legs are actually sore today-The Firm doesn't even give me sore legs.

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