The Sword in the Stone (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Amazon.com

Based upon T.H. White's beloved novel, this Disney-fied version chronicles the tutoring of the Once and Future King, Arthur, as handled by the magician Merlin. Sword was a portent of things to come, with slapstick upbraiding storytelling, and cultural in-jokes substituting for wonder. But there's much to enjoy here as Merlin shows Newt, the young Arthur, things that will help him become the ruler of the Britons. The transformation sequences, where the boy is turned into a fish, a bird, and a squirrel are vintage Disney. The oft-repeated scene of Merlin battling it out with the mean old Madame Mim still is worth a few chuckles, but it belies the problem with most of the film--the scenes are only there for the chuckles. References by Merlin to television and other items of modern life also mar the generally innocuous landscape. Children will like it, but they won't cherish it. --Keith Simanton

Description

Dazzling color and brilliant animation bring the medieval legend of King Arthur to life in THE SWORD IN THE STONE. With a forest full of charm, spectacle, and wizardry, Disney's classic tale conjures up delightful entertainment for all ages! England is in the midst of a dark age and without a proper king, Young "Wart," an orphan and squire-in-training, is content with kitchen duties in his foster home -- until he drops in on the extraordinary wizard Merlin and his articulate owl, Archimedes. Through three life lessons, Wart learns to set his "sights on the heights," armed with the most powerful forces on earth -- intellect, wisdom, and love. When it's time to contest who will be king, Wart must use his newfound knowledge to do what no mighty knight has done before! Join in all the magical marvels that make THE SWORD IN THE STONE a classic animated film and pure Disney gold!

Customer Reviews:

A fun, classic Disney film.......2007-08-23

I still know plent of people that have not seen this. Now, I know it is fairly old, but it is still a wonderful movie. I have seen it loads of times and I really wish more people would see it and not immedietly discard it. The animation is quite good and the voice acting is top notch. I love the story too, its pretty timeless and if you love the King Arthur Legend, then this movie is for you.

Great classic movie.......2007-05-13

My boys loved this movie. Most of the older Disney movies are about Princesses and this was nice for my boys who love knights and castles.

Classic.......2007-03-19

I grew up with this film, now i bought it for my 3 and 5 yo nephews and they watch it over and over. Classic Disney.

A good example of early Disney DVD........2007-03-19

When Disney released The Sword In The Stone onto DVD in 2001, Disney had only really gotten into releasing their movies onto DVD within the last two years, starting with their failed Limited Issue line. The Gold Collection followed, with some of the Limited Issues repackaged as Gold Collection titles, and more titles released. Most of these had decent, if not somwhat problematic DVD transfers and few, if any, bonus materials. However, a few of Disney's Gold Collection titles were given decent releases. Among those are the 30th Anniversary Edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Although not officially a Gold Collection title by many people's standards, it says Gold Collection on the spine.) and this 2001 DVD release of The Sword In The Stone.

First off, the film is given a nice transfer here. The DVD case boasts that it's ''fully restored and remastered.'' Although it's not up to par with the Platinum Edition restorations or the Masterpiece Edition of Alice In Wonderland's transfer, it IS far better than many of the other Gold Collection transfers. It's nicely cleaned up, although it's a bit grainier than one would like, and there's still a bit of dirt in the transfer. The colors have been punched up nicely, though. The video transfer here is very satisfying, as is the audio mix.

The disc also includes quite a few good bonus materials. A Sword In The Stone scrapbook features concept art for the film, production photos, character design, concept poster art, official poster art, and more. Two sing-alongs lifted from Disney's Sing-Along Songs video series provide fun captions for two of the film's more memorable songs. Film Facts is...well, basically that. Two animated shorts, ''Knight For A Day'' and ''Brave Little Tailor'' are very entertaining. ''Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers'' has the Shermans talking about songs they wrote for The Sword In The Stone, including a couple that were deleted. (The Shermans also did a Music Magic featurette for Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and that one WAS better, because it also gave a little info on the making of the film, as well as its 1996 restoration.) Finally, an episode of Walt Disney's Disneyland TV series is included - ''All About Magic'' from 1957. Although this isn't directly related to The Sword In The Stone, its inclusion is to be praised nonetheless.

My only disappointment in this DVD is the lack of any sort of theatrical trailer or TV spot. Come on, Disney!

Nonetheless, The Sword In The Stone is a fine example of Disney's earliest attempts to give their movies the deluxe treatment on single-disc DVD releases, reserving their 2-Disc DVD releases for Platinum Editions (This was the year that Snow White's Platinum Edition DVD was released.) and the DVD releases of their most recent animated features. I wholeheartedly recommend this DVD for fans of the film.

The Sword in the Stone.......2007-01-29

Recieved quickly, good condition, thank you for the great service

Average customer rating:

beautiful and gravity-defying......
I don't remember much
Best Martial Arts Film Ever
Disappointed...
Not The Best Martial Arts Movie

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Starring: Chang Chen , Chow Yun-Fat , Chang Cheng , Cheng Pei-Pei , and Sihung Lung
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00003CXR4
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei

Description

An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful and gravity-defying.............2007-08-12

In all honesty, it is really hard for me to review the DVD version of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON because I believe this film is really one that you must see in the movie theater to experience the full effect of its marvelously directed splendor. Ang Lee [EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN, THE WEDDING BANQUET, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY] did a brilliant job with this modern day masterpiece. Inspired by the wuxia genre of Chinese film, we see beautiful action sequences, featuring "flying" actors and actresses [suspended from seemingly invisible wire], fighting scenes high in the canopies of trees, and even a love story. This is truly eye popping entertainment and features a wonderfully dynamic and charismatic cast (including Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Chang Cheng). CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON began a tidal wave of wuxia style film releases in the United States--including THE HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS. For me, this was the best film of its kind and I am so glad that I saw it! I just hope that they re-release this film on the big screen, so, more people can come to appreciate the fine attention to detail and seamless direction that went into making it so extraordinary.

I don't remember much.......2007-07-12

I don't remember much but I remember thanking the person who recommended that I see this film and I loved the scene with the woman jumping from house to house. It was awesome.

Best Martial Arts Film Ever.......2007-06-22

Everything has already been said about this film, so I'll put only a short review here.

Why did I use the superlative in the title? Because it seems to be true for me. (The second place belongs to House of Flying Daggers [Region 99].) The story line is not very strong, but much better than you may see in this genre. The romantic threads do not make it too schmaltzy, and the visual design is simply excellent.

Disappointed..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi (as always), I didn't enjoy this movie hardly at all. I couldn't believe this was the movie that got such rave reviews and was Oscar nominated etc. I don't say that foolishly, stating that I dislike the movie when really I dislike the genre. That's not it. I just much prefer films like "House of the Flying Daggers" and "Hero" to this one.

Not The Best Martial Arts Movie.......2007-04-05

the cinemotography is pretty good i this movie, but the plot was raw. This movie was okay.

Dungeons & Dragons (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

Dungeons & Dragons is sure to disappoint fans of the game
This was a joke right?
Not as bad as most would have you believe.
This "movie" is truely awful
A setback to the genre

Dungeons & Dragons (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Lee Arenberg , Tom Baker , Thora Birch , Jeremy Irons , and Edward Jewesbury
Director: Courtney Solomon
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CXQM
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

There is trouble in Izmer. With the emperor dead from an assassin's poison, the 16-year-old princess Savina (Thora Birch) inherits not just the throne but also the royal scepter, which has the power to command gold dragons. With a youthful idealism, she decides all people should be equal, from lowly commoners to the ruling-class, magic-wielding mages. This doesn't sit well with the mages, so Archmage Profion (Jeremy Irons) leads a revolt in the Council against Savina's rule, forcing her to relinquish the royal scepter. In order to maintain her power, she decides she needs the rod of Savrille, which can control red dragons. To retrieve it, she hires two bumbling thieves, Ridley (Justin Whalin) and Snails (Marlon Wayans), and an apprentice mage (Zoe McLellan). The true trouble in Izmer is the fact that it's a poorly imagined world that cribs more from Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark than it does from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game that shares its title. Director Courtney Solomon optioned the rights to the game in 1991, when he was 21, and should have spent the years since then drafting a coherent script. Mediocre special effects take precedence over story, and the actors try to make up for that by hamming it up. Irons, in particular, covers his embarrassment by chewing the scenery and spitting it out. Often unintentionally funny, Dungeons & Dragons is that fun kind of bad movie, whose cult status would be all but guaranteed if it weren't for a slow second act mired in the boring bumbling of the awkward thieves. Still, there are plenty of laughs to be had. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews:

Dungeons & Dragons is sure to disappoint fans of the game.......2007-09-06

"Dungeons & Dragons" is sure to disappoint fans of the game. It is an okay movie but not a great one. The story is fairly weak and the adventure mediocre.

The story is about two thieves and a dwarf that stumble into a quest to get a magical staff that can control red dragons. This is in an effort to help the Empress so she can have more strength against the senators that disagree with her policy and want to overthrow her. The Empress already has the gold staff that controls gold dragons but I guess she wants all the dragons on her side.

As for the characters in the film, the best are the two thieves. Marlon Wayans, who plays one of the thieves, gives some comic relief with his squeals and witty remarks. The women in the movie were unattractive and are not the busty vixens from the artwork of the "Dungeons & Dragons" games and books. I found the Empress (Thora Birch) to be highly annoying, hardly the feeling you should get from the one running the land.

If you are not expecting too much and enjoy fantasy, you can give "Dungeons & Dragons" a try but don't say I didn't warn you.

This was a joke right?.......2006-12-03

This was almost as bad as those nerdy guys out in the park acting out scenes from the game in their cheaply made costumes. Well, actually I'd rather watch them than this movie. At least I can throw things at them. All I have to say for this movie is wow...I would not want this put on my resume if I had any involvement in it.

Not as bad as most would have you believe........2006-10-22

While not a masterpiece of any kind (the film barely exceeds mere competence) I didn't find D&D to be as bad as the negative reviews claimed. I put off watching it for so long for this reason, but it was enjoyable enough.

Comparisons to the LOTR trilogy are inevitable, so I'm not going to avoid it. I didn't really like the LOTR trilogy. It just seemed to be a bunch of movies that everyone was forced to like and if you didn't then there must be something wrong with you. Yes, they are much, much better made than the rather quaint D&D, but if you want a smaller, unassuming fantasy ride then don't completely rule this movie out.

The visual effects and production design of D&D are very similar to Paul Anderson's Mortal Kombat. Yes, it looks fake, but with just a little bit of suspension of disbelief you'll not even notice. I have a feeling that Courtney Solomon tried really hard to make it a good film but his talent doesn't extend as far as his enthusiasm.

In terms of character and story it is all pretty bland and generic. There's nothing in this movie that you haven't seen somewhere else. The actors do their best with the tepid dialogue and almost manage to not look embarrassed. The best thing about the film is it's surprisingly ferocious (maybe a bit too OTT) sound design. And the Dragon fight at the end was impressive for a medium budget film.

I was actually surprised to find Joel Silver's name on the closing credits. I will assume that without him the film would have been a REAL stinker. And what's with that ending?

Either way, I am still interested in the sequel.

The DVD is in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a very loud Dolby 5.1 sound design.

This "movie" is truely awful.......2006-04-09

I'm a big fan of the role playing game called Dungeons and Dragons. However, this pile of dung masquerading as a movie bears no resemblance to the game. Do not waste your time watching this atrocity. This movie is just plain bad, bad, bad!

A setback to the genre.......2006-04-08

Like everybody else... I feel the need to qualify the beginning of my review by saying that I have been a fan of DnD and fantasy for well over a decade. When I first heard this movie was coming out I was extremely excited, and friends and I went to see it on one of the first nights. When I left.... well, I wondered how, after soooo many years of waiting and finally getting a real big screen debut for the genre, they could drop the ball so very very badly. The worst part is, there was a really good movie in there somewhere, just dying to get out. They clearly did their work on the special effects, which were excellent, but they tripped very badly with the dialogue and storyline. Even the casting (take away the dialogue) wasn't all that bad. Everybody certainly looked the part, but it all ended up feeling very contrived. The comic relief was heroically unfunny, and the "serious" scenes turned out to be the true cause for amusement.

Now, several years (and viewings), later, I don't hate the movie.... I just look at it as a wasted opportunity. Had they really done their homework on this one, I truly think this could have launched the fantasy genre into the mainstream, but as it is I think it did more harm than good. It reinforced the idea that DnD is stupid, hokey, and a game played only by strange repressed teenagers. I had hoped that this could open the door for things like the "Dragonlance" Chronicles, or some of the "Forgotten Realms" storylines to make it into production (much like X-Men did for the comic book genre). Alas, such will have to wait.

All told, this is an average movie that fans of fantasy, with suitably low expectations, can enjoy. It could have been so much more, and I think that is where a lot of the fans venom is coming from. Try to enjoy it for what it is, because our movie options in the genre are severely limited, and despite its flaws there are some redeeming qualities that make it fun enough to watch.... that being said, I've also heard rumor that the movie gets that much better after a couple beers. Enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Humorous
typical 80's fantasy
This movie reeked
An action adventure movie whose faults (of which there are many) are now charming in their cheesiness

Conan the Destroyer
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Grace Jones , Wilt Chamberlain , Mako , and Tracey Walter
Director: Richard Fleischer
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0783225946
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

The dark, brooding tone of Conan the Barbarian is replaced in this rousing sequel by a lighter, more humorous tone and one of the campiest casts ever assembled. This time, Conan is assigned by a duplicitous queen (Sarah Douglas) to escort a virgin princess (Olivia d'Abo) on a treacherous trek to a crystal palace where they will retrieve a priceless gemstone. Basketball champ and self-described Lothario Wilt Chamberlain plays Bombaata, a warrior sent on a secret mission to kill Conan, and the androgynous Grace Jones plays Zula, a wild woman who becomes Conan's loyal ally. Some consider this sequel a disappointment, but the film makes no apologies for its silliness, and that's the key to its success as gloriously pulpy entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Conan the Destroyer.......2007-09-07

Not bad for your typical cheesy 80's flicks. The picture and sound isnt remastered though. Ehhhh it's only 5 bucks.

Conan the Humorous.......2007-07-03

"Conan the Barbarian" was an awesome Sword and Sorcery film. That movie is one of the few well-produced high fantasy movies in existence. The expectations for this movie were high given the success of the earlier movie. It was probably inevitable that this sequel was not going to be as good as the original.

Conan has gone back to being a thief. He is doing yoga or contemplating a rock or something like that while his annoying cohort in crime Malak (Tracey Walter, "Annie Hall," "Midnight Run" and "Batman") is counting the spoils. Armored guys intent on some nefarious purpose surround the pair and attempt to capture them. Conan is annoyed at having his yoga interrupted and decides to show his displeasure by hacking apart quite a few of the armored guys until Bombaata (basketball great Wilt Chamberlain in his only acting role) has the armored guys cease throwing themselves on Conan's sword. We then discover that one of the armored guys is actually Queen Taramisu - no, wait, that is a dessert, I think. I meant Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas, "Superman," "Superman II," and "Solarbabies"). Queen Taramis tells Conan that she can bring back Conan's beloved and dead Valeria if he will baby sit a hot blond while she seeks a phal...oops, I meant a HORN, which Queen Taramis needs to do something that we learn about later.

The rest of this movie is a relatively fun quest, interspersed with moments of humor. Conan gets drunk, ignores Princess Jehnna (Olivia d'Abo) because he is too busy killing people and thinking about Valeria, and tries to avoid having to think of witty one-liners. Grace Jones has a lot of fun as warrior Zula. Mako makes his second, marvelous appearance in a Conan film as the Wizard Akiro. One person who deserves mention is André the Giant's appearance as Dagoth. It is impossible to see André under the makeup. André made a more memorable appearance as Fezzik in "The Princess Bride."

This movie is flawed. The special effects are weak in some areas. Some of the acting is weak or obnoxious. The humor may have been excessive, and the rawness that marked the exuberance and honesty of "Conan the Barbarian" is lacking. In spite of these flaws, many of which appeared to help aim the movie toward teens and children, this movie has a lot going for it. Conan has a lot of non-stop action, and rarely does Conan take much of anything, except Valeria, serious. The outdoor sets are incredible. Conan wisely says little, relying on lots of facial expressions and bulky muscles instead. The action drives the plot and rarely gives a viewer time to focus on the flaws.

"Conan the Destroyer" is clearly inferior to "Conan the Barbarian." However, this movie is still a lot of fun and I enjoy it each time I watch it. The flaws in this movie may make the movie less than what it could have been, but the flaws are not enough to sink it. I give this movie a cautious recommendation to fans of the original, high fantasy, sword and sorcery, and Conan.

Enjoy!

typical 80's fantasy .......2007-01-24

I have seen this movie several times. While it does have a few good moments, it is not enough to save this film. So why do i own this? After the masterpiece that was the first film, why would i have bought this and subject myself to watching it again. The answer is simple. It's because of the score. And even that doesn't save this film. This film is a mere watered down take on the first that takes a great character and turns him into a mere shadow of his former self. All the moments in this movie intended to be funny really aren't. All the serious moments can only make me chuckle. I mean, who wants to see a basketball star (wilt chamberlin) trying to play some warrior. Or some singer (grace jones) trying to act when she should clearly be singing. How a song of hers wasnt on the score seems amazing. So be thankful that some corporate bigwig in some studio decided to not use rock music in this score. Be thankful that Basil Poledouris got the chance to make this score. Without it, this film would be even more of a monstrosity than it already is. But hey, i still have this film in my collection. But this movie is not for everyone. so if you want real gut wrenching blood and gore stick with the first film. Your eyes will thank you and so will your ears.

This movie reeked.......2006-11-19

How is it possible that 7 years after Star Wars and 3 years after Excalibur, Hollywood could still produce a movie of such pathetic special effects, nightmarish casting, and ugly, amateurish cinematography? What a mess.

An action adventure movie whose faults (of which there are many) are now charming in their cheesiness.......2006-06-07

Filming movies back-to-back is nothing new, the obvious savings and advantages on sharing production costs, crew and even marketing meant that the second and third BACK TO THE FUTURE films were filmed simultaneously in the late 1980s. Even today the two sequels to PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN are being filmed hand-in-hand and there are reports that the second Daniel Craig 007 movie will enter into production shortly after the crew have wrapped CASINO ROYALE.
So, it should be no surprise then that the second Conan movie was part of a similar back-to-back deal in the early- to mid-1980s. But what is surprising is that the movie that partnered with the rollicking adventure movie was a quirky science fiction blockbuster from David Lynch named DUNE.
That's right, as that big-budget turkey was roasting under the Mexican sun, a pre-Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger was working on a much more entertaining movie with a colorful cast of characters.
Based (rather loosely) on the series of novels by Robert E. Howard, this 1984 feature was a sequel to the much darker and more sinister 1982 movie CONAN THE BARBARIAN and saw Schwarzenegger reprise his role as the monumentally strong thief and adventurer.
The director of this entry, the veteran Richard Fleischer actually owed his hire for this movie to another movie he had made almost 30 years earlier, 1958's THE VIKINGS. Producer Raffaella De Laurentiis had commented that since they had tried to copy that movies style and look for the 1982 picture, why not hire that movie's director for this production - and so Fleischer was hired.
Once hired Fleischer set about shaping the movie to his liking. One of the most publicized, decisions he made was telling an incredulous Schwarzenegger that he needed to buff up a bit more. Fleischer said that at the time of the release of CONAN THE BARBARIAN he had been disappointed that Arnold's incredible physique had been covered up for most of the movie, Fleischer also consciously set about making this a lighter entry to the series. The Conan here has a number of genuinely comedic moments, from punching a camel, a horse and attempting to teach a beautiful princess how to wield his sword, Schwarzenegger shows early promise in a genre that would not fully be realized until movies such as TWINS and KINDERGARTEN COP.
Joining Schwarzenegger this time is Sarah Douglas (of SUPERMAN II fame) as the evil Queen Taramis who enlists Conan's help in retrieving a crystal and in turn a magical jeweled horn. Former basketball star Wilt Chamberlain is on board also as the towering Bombaata, who is charged with keeping the princess Jehnna, who is destined to bring back the mystical object (played by the impossibly beautiful Olivia D'Abo) a virgin so that she can be sacrificed. Along the way Conan's ragtag group meet up with Zula, played by Grace Jones. The scene that introduced Jones' character sees her wielding a stick against a group of tormentors and reportedly she landed a few strikes sending a couple of stuntmen in the hospital. It was in fact her role here that brought her to the attention of the James Bond producers that in turn led to her starring in Roger Moore's swan song as 007 in 1985's A VIEW TO A KILL. Far from a great acting display her character still provides a number of memorable moments and is one of the movie's highlights.
The special effects are very dated by today's standards and Pat Roach (veteran of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and the Indiana Jones movies) makeup as the wizard Toth-Amon guarding the crystal really is appallingly fake-looking. But the movie is a good popcorn flick that is both fun and fast-paced enough that you can easily forgive these lapses.
Interestingly in the audio commentary that accompanied CONAN THE BARBARIAN Schwarzenegger commented that he would be interested in making a third Conan movie. Sadly this has not been forthcoming and now that he looks intent on pursuing political goals it appears less and less likely. A shame.
This movie is nowhere near as good as its predecessor, but it's still recommended for those rainy Saturday afternoons.

Average customer rating:

What a fun movie!
DO NOT waste your time...
awsome!!!!!
The Lost Kingdom
Entertainment vs Accuracy

The Lost Empire
Starring: Thomas Gibson , Ling Bai , Russell Wong , Ric Young , and Kabir Bedi
Director: Peter MacDonald
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005COWD
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

This three-hour made-for-television epic based on the classic Chinese story Journey to the West is an engaging mix of fantasy and martial-arts adventure, and it features a veritable tsunami of special effects. The plot involves an American China scholar (played by Thomas Gibson) whose knowledge of Asian mythology becomes astoundingly useful when he is magically transported into other dimensions by terra cotta warriors who come to life. The American scholar soon finds himself face to face with a wisecracking Monkey King (Russell Wong), a mystical warrior whose martial-arts skills are matched only by his sarcastic one-liners. The mismatched heroes have only three days to find an ancient manuscript and thereby save the world from destruction, and they're assisted by the timely interventions of the Goddess of Mercy (played by Bai Ling). The rambling plot puts the characters into confrontations with tigers, dragons, and evil giants, and at times they're joined by such unorthodox allies as a human with the head of a pig. As his quest progresses, the scholar has to learn to think like a warrior, and there are innumerable obstacles put in his path. Even if the plot doesn't always seem terribly coherent, the computer-generated special effects are entertaining, and the film has no shortage of bizarre villains, flashy martial-arts scenes, and sardonic quips from the Monkey King. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

What a fun movie!.......2007-07-25

Chinese mythology, campy modernism, a bit of "stretching", an interesting story line and some not-bad acting combine to make this a movie that the whole family can enjoy. A favorite in our family for many years, we were pleased to be able to add it to our CD collection.

DO NOT waste your time..........2007-06-25

This movie was so bad and yet I watched it all just to see if possibly it would get better. It didn't. The only one that can act is the damn monkey and even then the character development is slim. I always buy Halmark movies, they've been great (10th Kingdom etc) but this one is the worst movie they've ever endorsed. I read all the reviews and decided to give it a chance-save yourself the dissapointment. The movie could have been so good. The plot is quite good but the screenplay, acting, effects, are not. A goddess having a drink at the bar...come on, even I won't watch something that lame. Mythology is something I love but the way these people portray it becomes laughable, and disrespects the story it's trying to tell. Most of all you can't even like the hero because he is so annoying! Buy the Snow Queen, Jack and the Beanstalk, DEFINETLY 10th Kingdom, but don't buy this movie!
(no, don't even think about giving it a chance because it has a cool cover)

awsome!!!!!.......2007-05-31

i liked this movie so much i don't know what to say about it other than it's friggin awsome!!!!! it has a great story line, i liked it so much i bought it. i originally saw it on the scifi channel but didn't get to see the whole thing. if you want something to make you laugh then you ought to get this movie.

The Lost Kingdom.......2007-05-27

Well done modern telling of a classic Chinese tale. Some special effects were not up to todays standards but that did not get in the way of a well done story.

Entertainment vs Accuracy.......2006-12-06

I picked 3 stars as a medium for this movie.

For those of you who enjoy mythical worlds for entertainment purposes, then you might rank this as high as 4 stars. Though the acting by Thomas Gibson (playing journalist Nick Orton, the Scholar) falls a bit flat, Russell Wong makes for an enthusiastic and entertaining Monkey King. The costumes are nicely done, particularly that of Pigsy, and the martial arts scenes are well choregraphed though a little cheesy sometimes. The special effects, while not perfect quality, give the movie character and a touch of humor.

For those of you who favor accuracy, this probably falls as low as two stars. (1 if you are an extremist, but then why did you even bother watching this?) The movie was created with little regard of the historical/modern origins of Buddhist religion. Issues of particular note are:
1. the Goddess Kwan Ying's deception/drunkenness at the begining of the movie and the romantic feelings throughout the film conflicting with the modern view of the holy figure Guan Yin (whom Kwan Ying is based on)**
2. the portrayal of Confucious as greedy and selfish instead of wise
3. (though not a religious issue) there seems to be a little bit of a dig at Chinese communism in the movie's second half which may be too much for the politically sensitive. There is some obvious emphasis on Western values such as individualism vs the collectivism of the Chinese.

** For those of you crying bloody murder over the portrayal of Guan Yin and looking for a warped version of a Christian holy figure, see the movie series 'Prophecy' by Gregory Widen. (Interestingly, Russell Wong is also a lead in Prophecy II as Danyael.) The archangel Gabriel has turned against the Christian God and the humans of God's creation. The warping of holy figures doesn't just happen to those of Chinese origin - it happens everywhere.

Note: THIS IS ***NOT*** A RECREATION OF 'JOURNEY TO THE WEST'!!!

Too many people seem to be expecting this. If you are looking for a retelling of 'Journey to the West', keep going as this is not for you. This is a Westernized story that pulls elements from the story "Journey to the West". You will not find a cast of all Asian characters. You will not find Buddhism or Confucionism presented here accurately. This is an entertainment piece and not a historical one. This was made for a the general American (and European?) audience and not an Asian one.

Scourge of Worlds - A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure

Average customer rating:

Scourge of Worlds, Interactive DVD
Happy memories
Entertaining and Fun
Fair...
Surprising entertaining...

Scourge of Worlds - A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
Starring: Dan Hay , Lester Rosenthal , Anna Deas , Caroline Lesley , and Jack Brown
Director: Dan Hay , and Dan Krech
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009KU8L
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com

Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons and Dragons Adventure is not a film sequel to Dungeons and Dragons (2000), but the DVD equivalent of an interactive role-playing novel. There are over 900 short digitally animated sequences, leading every so often to a choice to be made with the remote control, resulting after about 90 minutes in one of four possible endings. Just as the original D&D was inspired by The Lord of the Rings, the scenarios here are Tolkien rehashed: a newly arisen darkness is seeking an ancient ultimate weapon, against which stand a human warrior, Regdar; a halfling, Lidda; and an elven wizard, Mialee. The CGI is closer to Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles than the pseudo-realism of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, the electronic score is tiresome and the contemporary voice acting, using such expressions as "heads up" and "…or something," is laughable.

What of the interactive element? Essentially it offers two equally uninteresting paths at the end of every major scene--uninteresting because it's impossible to care what happens to the marionette-like stereotypes no matter what they do. While the adventure does offer plenty of well-choreographed cartoon-style action, interacting with Scourge of Worlds is ultimately about as much fun as watching someone else play a computer game--and that's just the first time through. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

Scourge of Worlds, Interactive DVD.......2007-08-29

Scourge of Worlds is a Dungeons and Dragons style of story with the main characters being a fighter, mage, and theif. They have the oportunity to join with a cleric or a druid. As the movie unfolds, the viewer is given many oportunities to decide which choice the characters will make thus changing the story each and every time you watch the movie. The graphics are very high quality, obviously computer generated not drawn. My only complaint about the movie was... it was too short! The choice we made the first time made the movie about 40 minutes long. We watched it a second time and had a totally different ending which surprised us. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and plan to watch it many times choosing different paths each and ever time.

Happy memories.......2007-05-13

If you enjoyed the old adventure books of flipping pages after making a decision, this dvd is a must have

Entertaining and Fun.......2006-09-04

If you're expecting a Lord of the Rings type Academy Award winning movie or a good ol' fashion slobber knocker gaming session, this movie/game are neither. However, it is a fun and entertaining blend of movie and role playing game action. The graphics, sound, and acting may not be Oscar worthy, but they are more than good enough to deliver an exciting and fun escape for the hour or so it takes to play through one of the many different scenarios.

I played it a few times through and tried making different decisions along the way. It was quite fun to get a somewhat different story based on those decisions each time. In short, the graphics, sound, and acting serve their purpose well and all in all this is just a fun piece of Dungeons and Dragons entertainment to own.

Fair..........2006-03-08

This is a nice item to add to a collection of D&D trinkets, but in NO WAY is good. It is lacking in story and acting. A lot of the scenes were pleasant, but I was never "compelled" by the story.

I would only recommend this to a hard core collector or a funny break from your current game...

Surprising entertaining..........2005-12-15

I purchased this with my Mom in mind but appears that I liked it and the options versus a video game. I have decided to loan to a few interested relatives. But I have not explored all the options of the game. The first time I played it, I made a few wise choices and ended up ending the game very quickly. I picked a longer road and still managed to make good decisions. I also made a few bad choices and the end result wasn't pretty at all. But it was worth the money spent and for people who don't video games this is perfect for those Fanstasy fans out there. I loved playing this game and movie. So, maybe I can some people interested in my miniatures games after playing this game.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (UMD Mini For PSP)

Average customer rating:

Awesome Movie!
Awesome Movie!
Awesome movie for the PSP

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Chang Chen , Chow Yun-Fat , Chang Cheng , Cheng Pei-Pei , and Sihung Lung
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Named "Best Picture of the Year" by over 100 critics nationwide! Two master warriors (Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh) are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen. A young aristocrat (Zhang Ziyi) prepares for an arranged marriage, but soon reveals her superior fighting talents and her deeply romantic past. As each warrior battles for justice, they come f

ASIN: B0009IOWGG
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Product Description

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon PSP UMD Movie MODEL- 11559 VENDOR- UMD MOVIE FEATURES- Crouching Tiger PSP Movie An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment. Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee took a break from making Western period dramas to fashion this wild and woolly martial arts spectacular featuring special effects and action sequences courtesy of the choreographer of The Matrix (1999), Yuen Woo Ping. In the early 19th century, martial arts master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) is about to retire and enter a life of meditation, though he quietly longs to avenge the death of his master, who was killed by Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei). He gives his sword, a fabled 400-year-old weapon known as Green Destiny, to his friend, fellow martial arts wizard and secret love Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), so that she may deliver it to Sir Te (Sihung Lung). Upon arrival in Peking, Yu happens upon Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a vivacious, willful politicians daughter. That night, a mysterious masked thief swipes Green Destiny, with Yu in hot pursuit -- resulting in the first of several martial arts action set pieces during the film. Li arrives in Beijing and eventually discovers that Jen is not only the masked thief but is also in cahoots with the evil Jade. In spite of this, Li sees great talent in Jen as a fig

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Movie!.......2005-09-07

Best UMD I've watched to date! If your into movies like Hero, or House of Flying Daggers you will love this one too!

Awesome Movie!.......2005-09-07

Best UMD I've watched to date! If your into movies like Hero, or House of Flying Daggers you will love this one too!

Awesome movie for the PSP.......2005-08-16

I first saw this Chinese-language film quite a while back on a rental VHS. Due to the poor tape quality I wasn't impressed. This time around, I simply fell in love with the PSP presentation. Great visuals (those lovely bamboo trees! and lovely Miss Ziyi), great soundtrack, pretty neat fighting sequences, and the PSP's beautiful screen makes all look so delicious. Now my coworkers who don't have a PSP want to borroww one from those of us who do have one, so they can watch this, too! Whether you are into Kung Fu or romance or just cute Oriental girls (or a Chow Yun-fat fan), this movie is totally for you!

Average customer rating:

Loved it
Merlin The Great
Only One Downside - Missing a Small Scene
Things that Legends are Made of.
THE MAGIC OF DVD

Merlin
Starring: Sam Neill , Helena Bonham Carter , Miranda Richardson , John Gielgud , and Martin Short
Director: Steve Barron
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 1574925628
Release Date: 1998-09-16

Amazon.com essential video

What kind of guy was the wizard Merlin, anyway? He lives a long time, raises a boy to be a king, props up a Utopian empire with his magic and wisdom, and then watches as it all crumbles under such banal forces as vengeance and betrayal. This four-hour miniseries re-tells the story of Camelot and King Arthur from the perspective of the magic man who sacrifices a great deal to guide mortals toward a better destiny. Sam Neill plays Merlin as an accessible, flesh-and-blood fellow of real passion, powerless to undo the spell of a rival (Rutger Hauer) who has virtually imprisoned Merlin's great love, Nimue (Isabella Rossellini), but gifted enough to counter the treachery of Morgan Le Fey (Helena Bonham Carter) and the wicked Queen Mab (Miranda Richardson). The battle sequences and special effects are striking and original, and it is great fun to see such art-house movie actors as Richardson, Carter, Neill, etc., in fantasy entertainment the whole family can enjoy. (An unrecognizable Martin Short must be singled out, however, for a wonderful, largely dramatic performance as Mab's sidekick, Frik.) Directed by Steve Barron (The Adventures of Pinocchio), Merlin is a nice bit of glossy revisionism of a beloved legend. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Loved it.......2007-08-14

Ever since i first saw this movie in history class, middle school during our time on legends and myths, i have loved this movie. I never could find it in any store but it always remained a movie that stood at the tops of my favorite movies lists. Good story line with abit of everything for everyone, can seem long and confusing at times but eventually you learn and understand it all. Definatly a must own for any who like medievalish movies with war, love, drama, conflict of any kind and of course arthurian themed times.

Merlin The Great.......2007-08-07

The service was great, and the delivery time was excellent. I am very pleased with this product, and the professional way that it was handled. Thank you so much for that.

Only One Downside - Missing a Small Scene.......2007-07-29

I remember watching this on TV, my mother recorded for me on VHS (how archaic!) and I watched it over and over until I had every line memorized. Then, when my father bought the VHS from the movie store I was told by the clerk that a few scenes were missing from the packaged version. He was partly right, there is only one scene that is missing and it is how Merlin escapes from Mab. The Lady of the Lake speaks to him while he's in Mab's lair and then you see a boat come into the lair which Merlin climbs into. Then you see it gently sail over the lake.

I am kinda sad that this scene was cut, but it doesn't really hurt the plot line too much. Anyway, the missing scene is why it only gets four stars.

Things that Legends are Made of. .......2007-07-14

As a lover of fantasy or in this case legends, I have enjoyed the tales of King Arthur and Merlin over the years, whether watching a movie or reading a book about the subject. Overall I enjoyed this version of the legend, and the DVD was of good quality. I'm not a critic of movies or editing, they should of done this or done that I don't know, I simply enjoyed the tale.

THE MAGIC OF DVD.......2007-06-01

The movie is amazing i could watch it agian & agian its amazing and now a magical dvd set just makes better. I first saw the movie when I was 6 years old and now I am 13.AND I STILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Sweet 'n' Sour
A Unique Arthur
Boring

King Arthur: The Young Warlord
Starring: Norman Bird , Brian Blessed , Donald Burton , Peter Firth , and Michael Gothard
Director: Patrick Dromgoole , Sidney Hayers , Pat Jackson , and Peter Sasdy
Manufacturer: Westlake Budget
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009OUAH0
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Description

King Arthur - The Young Warlord

In this abridged compilation of the popular British television series "Arthur of the Britons" (1972-73), the romanticized notion of Camelot is stripped away in the portrayal of a young Arthur (Oliver Tobias) and his struggles to unite the various scattered tribes of Britain's Dark Ages against the growing number of Saxon invaders. The legend of the future king is depicted with attention to historical accuracy as Arthur, the chief of a small Celt tribe, is aided by his adoptive father Llud the Silver Hand (Jack Watson) and his Saxon foster brother Kai (Michael Gothard) in brutally realistic armed battles.

Customer Reviews:

Sweet 'n' Sour.......2007-09-01

Well it's about time this rarely seen series finally made it to Dvd,a gritty portrayal of the legend which i loved as a kid. However its been largely ruined by a distracting voiceover, poor quality tranfer and a confusing mess of editing. The original theme music has also been lost to a terribly cheap sounding soundtrack and crappy title sequence.
Luckily for me i still have some complete episodes on VHS,however its about time this show had a digitally remastered full series release. Hopefully that UK based company Network Tv will get hold of it, as they have many other classic British Adventure serials of the 60's and 70's.
I award my three stars solely for the chance to see the show again, not for quality or enjoyment.

A Unique Arthur.......2006-03-28

This thrilling film throws out every traditional hollywood portrait of Arthur. Gone are the Knights of the Round Table, Guinevere and Lancelot, Mordred, the traditional drawing of the sword in the stone, and (sadly) even Merlin. Gone too are the flamboyant robes, roman armor, and well-lit scenes of previous (actually later) films.
What you get is an impressive attempt to paint life as it was: Camelot is a primitive village and Arthur has plenty to do as a shrewd and determined warrior-king among many such kings with whom he both allies and uses for his own ends (noble of course).
In keeping with history, the story is set during the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain after Rome has withdrawn (500 A.D. or so). In terms of storyline The Young Warlord does not follow a single plot, but is more episodes of Arthur's dealings with his people, the rival kings, and the Saxons.
In short if you want a historical view see this film; if you want hollywood there are plenty other films to pick from.

Boring.......2006-03-27

This movie is a reduction of the original show made by collecting some episodes and sometimes only screen-shots of episodes, kept together by a narrator who tells the story of Arthur and the Celts.

Maybe it is this puzzle like way chosen to present the show that makes it odd, but in any case it is a movie too much aged (in acting and colors) and the entire story is quite boring.

Scourge of Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Scourge of Worlds, Interactive DVD
Happy memories
Entertaining and Fun
Fair...
Surprising entertaining...

Scourge of Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Dan Hay , Lester Rosenthal , Anna Deas , Caroline Lesley , and Jack Brown
Director: Dan Krech
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007CNXWS
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Amazon.com

Description

In this special collector's edition, you will be presented with a seris of dilemmas and must decide the best course of action. But beware, for each path is fraught with angels and wraiths, druids and guardians, demonic beholders and bloodthirsty orcs. Now with 6 endings and 1100 possible story paths, this is the DVD experience Dungeons and Dragons fans have been waiting for!

Customer Reviews:

Scourge of Worlds, Interactive DVD.......2007-08-29

Happy memories.......2007-05-13

If you enjoyed the old adventure books of flipping pages after making a decision, this dvd is a must have

Entertaining and Fun.......2006-09-04

Fair..........2006-03-08

Surprising entertaining..........2005-12-15

DVD:

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