Blood Diamond [HD DVD]

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Leonardo DiCaprio puts a handsome face on an ugly industry: In parts of Africa, diamond mining fuels civil warfare, killing thousands of innocents and drafting preteen children as vicious soldiers. DiCaprio (The Departed) plays Danny Archer, a white African soldier-turned-diamond-smuggler who gets wind of a large raw jewel found by Solomon Vandy, a native fisherman (Djimon Hounsou, In America) recently escaped from enslavement by a brutal rebel leader. Archer offers a deal: He'll help Vandy find his war-scattered family if Vandy will share the diamond with him. Drawn into this web of exploitation is journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly, Little Children), who agrees to help if Archer will tell her the details of how conflict diamonds make their way into the hands of the corporations who sell them to the Western world. DiCaprio is compelling because he never flinches from Archer's utter ruthlessness; Archer ends up doing the morally justifiable thing, but only because his desperate greed has led him to it. Hounsou and Connelly, though saddled with all the moral and political speeches, rise above the cant and keep the movie's treacherously formulaic plot rooted in human characters. But in the end, the story won't stick with you as much as the dead stillness in the child soldiers' eyes; the horror of African civil strife refuses to be contained by Blood Diamond's uplifting message--and the movie is all the more potent as a result. --Bret Fetzer

Description

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio). A Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou). Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed across the alternately beautiful and ravaged countryside. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai), this urgent, intensely moving adventure shapes gripping human stories and heart-pounding action into a modern epic of profound impact.

Customer Reviews:

Hoo Boy !!.......2007-09-09

When you have anyone like DiCaprio playing a lead in a movie like this then you know that someone was out to lunch in the casting department. Leo's baby face does not fit the character. The beautiful journalist type female is not realistic and screams Holywood too. Awful storyline - too much graphic violence ( have'nt we had enuff ? ), and some bad casting. Another 2 hours of your life wasted if you see this one. Another way you can tell this is bad ? There are 132 of these USED at $5 on AMAZON !! Get it ?

Better Than The Book.......2007-09-08

My job takes me to Africa, and I travel there for pleasure as well, so my B.S.-radar was "on" throughout the film, watching for Western cliches and the liberal drivel that tainted the book. But the movie delivered as both entertainment and is a more reasoned presentation of the problems caused by the African diamond trade.

DiCaprio, Connelly, and Hounsou were all excellent in their roles, but it is definitely DiCaprio as the Rhodesian exile that makes this film compelling. Also, the outrageous chase scenes that many movie-goers are so tired of are well done and more palatable in an African setting where gunfights are a believable occurance. Being stopped at a checkpoint by ten year-olds armed with AK-47s is not Hollywood fantasy.

There remains an underlying message condemning the world's diamond trade. It's a political statement that has some merit, but is overblown (as it was in the book) in identifying its true culprits. DiCaprio's character delivers some lines that give more than lip-service to other reasons for the bloodshed; his dialogue with an American reporter knocks the book's overly-simplistic views back on its heels.

Exciting, political --- a movie with a message............2007-09-05

It is hard not to have some sympathy with the current trend of making political issues palatable by grafting a star and a story on to a real-life cause for concern. Give us a thrilling story, good acting, pretty people to look at, and we can get the message out to millions. In recent years, Nicolas Cage has tackled gun-running ( Lord of War) and George Clooney the Middle East ( Syriana). Now it's the turn of DiCaprio and the illegal diamond trade, which has funded civil wars in Africa.
Very good movie......

"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand".......2007-09-02

I think that this movie is the perfect blend of a documentary and an action-drama. Clearly the intent was to bring to the forefront the issue of conflict diamonds in Africa. But instead of going for a factual film, the creators decided to throw together a group of great actors and a set of interesting sidelines to the story, polishing it into a magnificent jewel. The issue at hand is the brutal slaughtering in several parts of Africa, especially Sierra Leone, related to the control of diamonds. The situation in the movie is best described as TIA (This is Africa), a political mess, where those that govern only want to steal for their own benefit, and where there is no way to help, not even for the peace corps.

Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) is a fisherman that dreams of his son, Dia, becoming a doctor and moving on to better things. This dream is stopped in its track when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) comes to his village and brutally slaughters most of the inhabitants. Luckily, Solomon's family escapes, but the RUF captures him and takes him to work on the diamond fields as a slave. Meanwhile, politicians in the industrialized world are aware of the problem resulting from diamonds from conflict zones and there is an agreement not to buy them anymore. The big diamond houses in Europe and the US agree, but you probably know by now that they will go around it in one way or another.

Then there is Danny (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is a local from Zimbabwe that gives arms to different guerrilla groups in exchange for diamonds and then smuggles them to Liberia, from where they can be imported into the consumer countries as conflict free rocks. When he is captured during one of his diamond operations, he is thrown in jail, where he meets Solomon. Solomon was in jail as a result of a raid of the RUF camp, but not before finding a big pink diamond that he hid underground. When the greedy Danny finds out about this, he makes sure that his future path is linked to Solomon's.

Besides the greedy and unscrupulous Danny, and the moral Solomon, who just wants his family back, we have Maddy (Jennifer Connelly), a journalist that is frustrated by the situations she witnesses all around the globe and that wants her work to be effective in stopping the destruction. The three characters go through a journey of self-discovery while everyone around them is out to kill each other for the control of the diamonds. The situation is so bad that the different revolutionary groups kidnap and train children to join them. Seeing the transformation these young minds go through in a short time breaks your heart.

The film definitely achieves its purpose of making people aware of the issues, and even though the story is gut-wrenching and some portions are extremely violent, I think that it was needed to convey the message clearly. What I did not expect before watching this movie was the outstanding performances I was going to witness. This is definitely DiCaprio's best. He even altered his accent to make it sound like a local and he does this very well. But he also has to play a character with multiple facets and that goes through somewhat of a transformation, and his performance really helps to make this believable. I have never heard of Hounsou before, but was impressed by the emotion he put into his role, and I am sure there will be many starring roles for him in the future. Jennifer Connely is the one I expected the best from, and she did not disappoint, since she delivers a performance on par to the one she gave us on excellent "The House of Sand and Fog". This is definitely one of the best releases of 2006, and if you can stomach the violence I believe you will agree.

The Horrible Wars of the 1990's.......2007-08-31

Just as "Missing" captured the horror of the Chilean coup of the 1970's and "Salvador" the 1980's civil war in "El Salvador" in the 1980's, "Blood Diamond" reflects the terror of so-called rebels in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990's.

Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant as a Rhodesian mercenary caught up in the diamond trade that kept the rebels armed and fighting, with the connivance of the international diamond industry. The film depicts how the rebels kidnapped boys and brainwashed them into soldiers willing to slaughter innocents. What it doesn't show is how girls were also taken, to serve as sex slaves and help bind the boys to their enslavers.

The guerrillas and terrorists of today have obviously not read Che or Regis Debray. The film shows how they could just drive into a village, killing everyone in sight, except those who they kidnapped as slaves and canon fodder. Che wrote that the purpose of guerrilla warfare is to win the hearts of the population. This isn't done by widescale slaughter, and is probably one reason why the rebels in Sierra Leone and Liberia lost their wars.

Average customer rating:

Great Movie - something different
Great Movie
great movie
Violent & Boaring Movie
Blood-ray

Blood Diamond [Blu-ray]
Starring: Leonard DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , and Jennifer Connelly
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000N0WCLC
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie - something different.......2007-08-09

Just an overall great flick. I originally saw this on DVD, and then saw it again on blu-ray. Remember something folks, it's not about the disc content, it's about the movie. I remember when I used to be so excited about special features, or a re-release with tons of added bonuses. After a while, it's becomes boring and annoying. It's about the movie.

Great Movie.......2007-07-23

I had my doubts about this movie since I'm not a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, but this is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Great story and awesome action sequences. This movie is a must buy for blu-ray owners.

great movie.......2007-07-21

a movie everyone must see. very disturbing that this sort of thing happens. this movie makes me feel bad that im from western society, even though i owe no diamonds of any sort.

Violent & Boaring Movie.......2007-07-15

Gosh how I hated this movie. The biggest problem is that you just don't care what happens to any character in the movie. So what you have left is HD blood and gore. My advice, rent the movie if you must and if you still want to watch it over-and-over, then buy it.

Blood-ray.......2007-07-09

This movie was released for HD DVD and Blu-ray and is available for the same price in both formats. For the same price, the HD DVD had more content, high def audio tracks, full length picture in picture documentary tracks, exclusive extras, and web enabled interactivty. I was able to go on line and see map locations of the conflict locations, take polls on this movie and others, see availble and comming soon movies etc... You definitely get more for your money in the HD DVD version

Average customer rating:

Hoo Boy !!
Better Than The Book
Exciting, political --- a movie with a message.....
"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand"
The Horrible Wars of the 1990's

Blood Diamond (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , Jennifer Connelly , Kagiso Kuypers , and Arnold Vosloo
Director: Edward Zwick
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MZHW40
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Hoo Boy !!.......2007-09-09

Better Than The Book.......2007-09-08

Exciting, political --- a movie with a message............2007-09-05

"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand".......2007-09-02

The Horrible Wars of the 1990's.......2007-08-31

Big Trouble in Little China (Single Disc Edition)

Average customer rating:

You're not a real American unless you love this movie
One of my favorite movies of all time.
Best. Movie. Ever. Period.
Cheesy but entertaining!!
One of the greatest movies ever made!

Big Trouble in Little China (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Kate Burton , Kim Cattrall , Chao Li Chi , Dennis Dun , and Jade Go
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000067J1G
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Amazon.com

Once you settle into the realization that this 1986 John Carpenter (Halloween) film is not going to be one of the director's more masterful works, Big Trouble in Little China just becomes a full-tilt comic blast. Kurt Russell is hilarious as a drawling, would-be John Wayne hero who steps into the middle of a supernatural war in the heart of Chinatown. While kung fu warriors and otherworldly spirits battle over the fate of two women (Kim Cattrall and Suzee Pai), Russell's swaggering idiot manages to knock himself out or underestimate the forces he's dealing with. The whole thing is dopey, but it's supposed to be dopey and Russell's game performance brings an ironic edge. Carpenter directs some nifty spook effects (the sudden arrival of three martial arts demigods from out of nowhere is worth applause), and he also wrote the music. --Tom Keogh

Description

Directed by thrill master John Carpenter, this edgo-of-your seat adventrue stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a tough-talking, wisecracking truck driver whose hum-drum life on the road takes a sudden supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancee is kidnapped. Speeding to the rescue, Jack finds himself deep beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, in a murky, creature-filled world ruled by Lo Pan, a 2000-year-old magician who mercilessly presides over an empire of spirits. Dodging demons and facing baffling terrors, Jack battles his way through Lo Pan's dark domain in a full-throttle, action-riddled ride to rescue the girl. Co-starring Kim Cattrall, this effects-filled sci-fi spectacle speeds to an incredible, twist-taking finish.

Customer Reviews:

You're not a real American unless you love this movie.......2007-08-21

Big Trouble in Little China is easily one of the best movies ever made. John Carpenter is a genius and Kurt Russell plays his part perfectly as a completely rough neck truck driver. The characters are fun, well defined, and the movie is definitely humorous.

Tons of witty dialogue with a ridiculous and stereotypical Chinese mythical feel... and as a bonus it even has the really hot girl from Mannequin! Wow

If you haven't seen this movie you haven't lived life!

One of my favorite movies of all time........2007-07-16

This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Incredible sense of campiness and cheesiness with a beautiful delivery.

My friends have endless in-jokes from this movie. We say 'indeed' like Lo Pan, and often speculate on what could be better than a six demon bag. This movie is still funny after countless viewings.

Best. Movie. Ever. Period........2007-06-12

Just listen to the old Porkchop Express, alright? When you want to get the buddies together on a dark and stormy night and have a great time, all you need is some brews, some grub, and a copy of Big Trouble in Little China. This has got to be one of the greatest examples of a hilarious, great fun, buddy comedy-action flick ever devised. You will not be able to stop laughing. Your significant other will consider dumping you because you won't stop quoting it. You will never be able to stop doing the kung fu hand sign the good guys flash at each other during the flick. The greatest characters, most absurd dialogue, this one has it all. Go to the store right now and tell 'em old Jack Burton sent you for a copy. 'Nuff said.

Cheesy but entertaining!!.......2007-05-14

Cheesy but very entertaining. Very 80s. Not Curt's best stuff but very worth while viewing. His best work.............Captin Ron!!!

One of the greatest movies ever made!.......2007-04-11

Funny, action packed, martial arts, magic, monsters, great (but cheesy) dialogue - truly representative of the Golden Age of Movies (aka, the 80's). The first time I saw this flick, I watched it once a day for 30 days. Did I mention that this is one of many of great John Carpenter films?

Get with it, 'cause for this price, you'll be thanking me for your trip through nostalgia!!

Predator (Widescreen Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

There's only one man who can take on Predator: The Govonator
Just as good tweny years later.
MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!
One of the Best Movies Ever Made!
A top-notch,suspenseful action film

Predator (Widescreen Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Carl Weathers , Elpidia Carrillo , Bill Duke , and Jesse Ventura
Director: John McTiernan
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000244EMO
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com essential video

Rambo meets Alien in this terrific science-fiction thriller from 1987, directed by John McTiernan just a year before Die Hard made him Hollywood's most sought-after director of action-packed blockbusters. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite squad of U.S. Army commandos to a remote region of South American jungle, where they've been assigned to search for South American officials who've been kidnapped by terrorists. Instead they find a bunch of skinned corpses hanging from the trees and realize that they're now facing a mysterious and much deadlier threat. As the squad is picked off one by one, Arnold finds himself pitted against a hideous alien creature that's heavily armed and wearing a spacesuit enabling the creature to render itself invisible. The title says it all in describing the relentless, escalating action that follows, maintained by McTiernan with an abundance of visual flair. The film's special effects are still impressive, and stunning locations in the Mexican jungles create a combined atmosphere of verdant beauty and imminent danger. The plot doesn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie's so exciting and tightly paced that its weaknesses seem irrelevant. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The ultimate hunter meets the ultimate adversary?in the ultimate Collector?s Edition DVD! Arnold Schwarzenegger wages an all-out war against an unseen enemy, a force more powerful and deadly than any on Earth?because the Predator is not of this Earth. Now, you can explore the depths of the Predator jungle with this all-new 2-disc set packed with over 5 hours of out-of-this-world extras, including an in-depth documentary, director?s commentary, never-before-seen bonus footage, revealing featurettes and more!

Customer Reviews:

There's only one man who can take on Predator: The Govonator.......2007-09-07

We, Sid the Elf, wanted a real nice B to kick the weekend off perfectly, so we picked up Predator. Well, Sid was stunned. Predator was a perfectly done action flick. Don't take us wrong, anytime Arnold is teamed with Jesse the body Ventura, Apollo Creed, and the immortal Chink Webber from Lockup the B will be flowing like wine. There was an ample ammount of explosions, totally awsome guns, and the toughest lines around.(We're not even going to mention anymore that anytime Arnold talks the possibility for hillarity is there) With that said, Predator was the perfect guy movie, the only thing that was missing was smokin hot chicks. Yeah awsome. But, we found ourselves saying no less than 10 times during the screening, "This movie is killer!" or something comperable.

So, Sid would have to say, if you're looking for a B action to laugh at stay away from Predator. However, if you want to get totally pumped and watch an all-time killer action flick, Predator is your Vehicle baby.

Just as good tweny years later........2007-09-05

After twenty years this is still one of the quintessential action movies. Better than it's sequel and far, far superior to AVP. I place it right next to Aliens as one of the best sci-fi movies ever. With few exceptions the FX are on par with those seen in today's films. The casting is nearly flawless, I not talking about great actors here, what I mean is they are perfectly cast in these roles. Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Sonny Landham really make you believe in these guys. Sure they're over the top and comic book like with bulging muscles but the way they are portrayed makes you actually give a damn about what happens to them. Even thought Arnold wins in the end it costs him his entire team to achieve victory, if you can call it that.

The DVD itself has a lot of great behind the scenes stuff. The transfer of the movie could have been better but it is twenty years old so I can't expect it to look perfect. Great film.

MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!.......2007-08-24

Something lurks in the dense jungle. Something horrible and cruel, a creature from beyond our world. His name is Arnold Schwarzenegger. He lurks next to another unspeakable creature named Jesse Ventura. And another, goes by the handle Carl Weathers. Who himself lurks next to a monstrous slab of flesh known as Bill Duke. Together, they face down a creature who, quite understandably, hunts them for their skulls, hoping to fetch a fair price for them at the many Open Skull Markets that dot the galaxy. (If you haven't been to one, you must go. Take the kids, because the markets are very family friendly and they have these great Hawaiian Ice stands. And, of course, there's the skulls.)

Predator unseals a whole tin of whoop-bottom, trotting out cliches like so many, well, like so many boiled human skulls at the terrific Open Skull Market on Nespus VIII (honestly, I know I sound like I'm raving, but it really is just a great way to spend a Saturday, and it's fairly reasonable, too.)

Finally, a good use for your Predator DVD that isn't "propping up that one corner of the entertainment stand, the one whose castor you snapped off when you were moving out of that place on Spring Street because you just couldn't hack sharing a place with Beezer anymore, on account of his socks."

One of the Best Movies Ever Made!.......2007-08-20

Almost everyone has seen or herd of the movie Predator, and if you haven't then you must be living under a rock. This movie is assume, I watch like every time it is ever on TV! A must have for any Arnold Schwarzenegger fan! Get this two disc collectors edition!

A top-notch,suspenseful action film.......2007-08-10

Alan "Dutch" Schaefer(Arnold Schwarzenegger)is a major in the United States Army,with a successful and respected career behind him. So,this makes Alan Schaefer's assignment to fly to a Central American country to rescue hostages held by guerilla fighters simple,right?

Wrong!!! Shortly after Alan Schaefer and his friend/colleague Major George Dillon(Carl Weathers)have arrived to their destination with a small army(Bill Duke's character of Mac,Jesse Ventura's character of Blain,Sonny Landham's character of Billy,Richard Chaves' character of Poncho,and Shane Black's character of Hawkins),things turn out to be difficult and untruthful. They only get worse when Alan Schaefer,George Dillon,and their army encounter something much more worse than they expected.

What is that something? An alien predator("portrayed" by the late actor Kevin Peter Hall--RIP)is present,and his ready to demolish Alan Schaefer,George Dillon,and their team of men. Alan Schaefer,George Dillon,and their army may have experience. But,the alien predator they are up against is much more of an enemy that they were ever prepared for. Stopping him and saving themselves isn't going to be an easy.

"Predator" may be an action film,but there is not a thing keeping it from being perfect. The plot may be far-fetched,but the script has an edge of darkness that saves it from that. "Predator" delivers richly executed suspense from top to bottom,with a beauty that few other films have. That beauty? That beauty is that while watching "Predator",you really do not know who will win--the good side,or the bad side. The action is entertaining and goes along well with the plot,while it succeeds in not being violent just for the sake of violence. All of that,alongside good chemistry between the characters in "Predator" brought to life by good acting,as well as astounding special and visual effects,allow "Predator" to fully come together,and be the good film that it is.

If you like action films and have time to watch a film,give "Predator" a try. It is one of the most well-constructed action films ever made,and you can't go wrong with the special feautures on this DVD,either.

Average customer rating:

Why Not Ten Stars?
The Professionals
Men who will endure
The Professionals
The Professionals - A classic that gets sweeter with age

The Professionals (Special Edition)
Starring: Burt Lancaster , Lee Marvin , Robert Ryan , Woody Strode , and Jack Palance
Director: Richard Brooks
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007MAO0C
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Amazon.com

Before The Wild Bunch, there was The Professionals, Richard Brooks's marvelous ode to friendship, loyalty, and disillusionment. It may not have the stylistic bravado or fatalistic doom of the legendary Sam Peckinpah film, but Brooks's storytelling is simple and steady and just as insightful. The difference is Brooks is a lot more optimistic. Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster are buddies who have drifted into oblivion after fighting together in the Mexican Revolution. Marvin, the principled loyalist and munitions expert, lost his wife and his heart. Lancaster, the dynamite expert and unprincipled adventurer, keeps losing his pants. They team up with wrangler Robert Ryan and archer Woody Strode to rescue the beguiling Claudia Cardinale, who has been kidnapped by their old revolutionary buddie Jack Palance. So it's back into bloody Mexico they go on a "mission of mercy" for railroad tycoon Ralph Bellamy, who's paying handsomely for the return of his wife.

But nothing is what it seems in this exciting, existential adventure, which was beautifully shot by Conrad Hall. Sarcastic quips, philosophical musings, and heart-rending reversals underlie Brooks's humanistic sentiments. These are tired, world-weary men who somehow find the strength and the will to pull together for the sake of love and commitment. Through it all, Brooks seems to be lamenting a decline in professionalism much deeper than his story. He's decrying Hollywood and the society at large, anticipating Peckinpah's later strategy. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Why Not Ten Stars?.......2007-07-23

Oh, my, oh, my: where have the Westerns gone? This is a masterpiece of nonchalance. Everyone is so cool, you'd think they were going to freeze on screen. Remember when they used to churn out one little masterpiece after the other? Well, this is one of them, made years ago at a time when nobody even noticed. They didn't make $50m, just enough to pay for the next one. Here you have a fabulous cast: Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and then, because God loves us all, Claudia Cardinale. It's an ensemble of the sort they put together nowadays for these $200m movies like "Oceans 11" - they probably made "The Professionals" for less than $1 million. This film is a wonder of ensemble acting, superb direction, great cinematography. The setting is fantastic: Mexico, with those great red and brown hues of desert land as far as the eye can see. Liberals have been denying that Hollywood ever harbored communists, but this film proves them wrong. This film is about as subversive as they come (which come to think of it, may be the reason you've never heard of it). Ralph Bellamy plays a classic American movie bags type who wants to destroy the Mexican revolutionary who has stolen his gal. The 'boys' have been offered a king's ransom to bring her home, only the guys can't bring themselves to support the rich capitalist, so they take the revolutionary's side instead. This is the sort of film Joe McCarthy was trying to prevent. Well, win some, lose some, as they saying goes. This is a big win for film lovers, because this one has it all; communist or capitalist, you can't knock great acting and great story-telling.

The Professionals.......2007-07-02

Brooks's self-penned, high-energy Western, set in the waning years of the Mexican Revolution in 1917, is as gritty and colorful a horse drama as you could ask for. The teaming of Marvin and Lancaster, playing Raza's disenchanted ex-amigos, works brilliantly, while Strode and Ryan offer fine support as talented sidekicks. Italian bombshell Cardinale, in her first English-speaking role, provides plenty of fiery va-va voom, too, especially in league with Palance's rough-riding Raza, who proves to be quite a romantic himself. Filmed on location in Nevada and enhanced by Conrad Hall's exquisite cinematography, "The Professionals" is a rousing, thoughtful action movie that deals with questions of money versus morality, and the last gasp of noble frontier idealism.

Men who will endure.......2007-06-21

Great, straight, linear narrative. Clear and uncluttered. Immaculate camera-work sweeping over a merciless terrain. Tough, rugged, dauntless men. Brave and beautiful women --- Claudia and Maria are worth far more than $100,000 each. No weirdos, no weeping (only a little female tear, quickly brushed away); and the only narcotics are traditional and ancient --- honest, old-fashioned hooch and cheroots. Do or die: with no foul language, a smattering of folksy truths and food for thought. All the twisty issues resolved the way they should be. Perfect dialogue, delivered with power and conviction. Just masterful, no-nonsense telling of an unusual story: a heist with a difference. At the end we know who the good guys are, and only the bad guy is a true bastard. This is nostalgia for the way it was, and what we could do with more of. Buy and digest at leisure. With pleasure.

The Professionals.......2007-01-06

Strong principal cast as well as supporting cast.Ruggard scenery and enternaining story line.

The Professionals - A classic that gets sweeter with age.......2006-12-30

The Professionals is a must have in any Western DVD based collection. Strong actors backing up a stout story that is filled with action, adventure and humor. Aside from that, its also strong in its portrayal in themes of friendship, trust and just flat out ironic consequences that are fueled by the common strands of greed and lies that often find themselves intertwined within stories stemming from the western genre.

Filmed in some parts of Death Valley in 1966, The Professionals is a story that takes place in 1917. A wealthy individual named Grant hires a group of men to rescue his kidnapped wife from a desperado named Raza. This particular group of men are mercenaries of sorts, each possessing a viable trade to apply in their mission, which, if successful, will garner each of them $10,000. Hollywood standout Lee Marvin plays Rico, a stalwart gunslinger that joins up along with a witty munitions expert named Bill Dolworth (played by Burt Lancaster). Robert Ryan plays horse trainer Hans Ehrengard and when you throw in a scout and longbow warrior in Jake Sharp (played by Woody Strode) you have all the ingredients for a team of men ready to take on the searing desert and all the dangers it can throw at them.

The movie is coaxed with fine dialogue that pushes the character development to another level. Some of the men once fought with Raza, and find it hard to believe that he would kidnap Grant's wife (played by the lovely Claudia Cardinale). Arguments abound on their trip as human nature battles instincts and logic all in a fine mesh of right and wrong, do or die battle plan. Setbacks abound as we follow the men to their destination with Raza. It won't be easy, the desert is grueling, and around every boulder and through every mountain pass, their problem solving skills as well as their sanity for what they are risking for the cash often comes into question.

Jack Palance plays Raza, and does so with the intensity and leadership that is required for such a character. Another plus about this movie is the ingenuity that is used throughout some of the fight scenes. There is much more substance to it in terms of "thinking" than simply having men alternate pot-shots at each other from across the face of a boulder.

When the showdown happens, there is a startling discovery that not everything is as it appears, and soon the group of men who are to take Grant's wife back to him are suddenly met with yet another obstacle to negotiate.

I'm not an expert when it comes to reviewing Western Classics, but I have to say I absolutely loved The Professionals. A superb story with great acting as well as an authentic desert landscape makes it a gem of a movie. The special features section of the DVD is also fun as we get to go behind the scenes and listen to interviews with the cast and learn more about the efforts of fine filmmaking that made "The Professionals" a Western Classic.

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Hoo Boy !!
Better Than The Book
Exciting, political --- a movie with a message.....
"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand"
The Horrible Wars of the 1990's

Blood Diamond (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , Jennifer Connelly , Kagiso Kuypers , and Arnold Vosloo
Director: Edward Zwick
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000MZHW4A
Release Date: 2007-03-20

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Description

Customer Reviews:

Hoo Boy !!.......2007-09-09

Better Than The Book.......2007-09-08

Exciting, political --- a movie with a message............2007-09-05

"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand".......2007-09-02

The Horrible Wars of the 1990's.......2007-08-31

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High Plains Driffter
Psycho-western
High Plains Drifter
Eastwood's first masterpiece as a director....
Clint's Homage to Sergio Leone

High Plains Drifter
Starring: Walter Barnes , Verna Bloom , Paul Brinegar , Richard Bull , and Billy Curtis
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783225725
Release Date: 1998-02-24

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Clint Eastwood's second film as a director (and his first Western) is a variation on the "man with no name" theme, starring Eastwood as the drifter known only as "the Stranger." He rides into the desert town of Lagos and is quickly attacked by three gunmen. Recovering with the aid of a local dwarf (a memorable role for Billy Curtis), the Stranger is hired by the intimidated townsfolk to fend off a band of violent ex-convicts. After teaching the citizens self-defense and instructing them to paint the entire town red and rename it "Hell," the Stranger vanishes. He reappears when the marauding criminals arrive, and delivers justice and teaches the townsfolk a harsh lesson about moral obligation. Is he a figure from their past or a kind of supernatural avenger? Combining humor with action, High Plains Drifter is both a serious and tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Westerns that made Eastwood a household name. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

High Plains Driffter.......2007-08-14

One of Clint's best westerns. This ranks right up there with Jose Wales and Unforgiven.

Psycho-western.......2007-07-20

Disquieting and unique, High Plains Drifter is not your grandfather's western. Eastwood's sophomore directorial effort borrows from many sources and Clint pays his respects to the styles of both Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone for this offbeat western. Part western, part psychological treatise, and all Clint, this is a unique vision of the western that delivers a sharp commentary on fear, guilt, revenge, and greed. The acting is very good with highlights including Geoffrey Lewis as head bad guy Stacey Bridges and Verna Bloom as the lone conscience of the town. Eastwood's Stranger character is a mixed bag of misogyny and righteousness delivered in his trademark laconic style.
This movie forces us to confront our own moral ambiguity and is a highlight of the revisionist westerns of the time.
The dvd offers little in the way of special features save a trailer, some filmographies, and a brief write-up about the making of the feature.

High Plains Drifter.......2007-07-03

Eastwood's eerie, magnificent "Drifter," his second effort in the director's chair, turns the final showdown cliché of the Hollywood Western on its head: Instead of confronting the killer posse alone, for money or out of brute contempt, The Stranger teaches the cowardly townsfolk how to defend themselves--then promptly disappears. And where else but in an Eastwood flick would the protagonist, for the purposes of intimidation, have a town literally painted red and renamed Hell? Such flashes of dark humor animate the story, as do The Stranger's haunting flashbacks, the austere sets, and the cast of irregulars. Enigmatic and violent, "Drifter" reworks the Man With No Name persona into a mystical folk hero, and the effect is riveting.

Eastwood's first masterpiece as a director...........2007-06-16

This is Clint Eastwood's first masterpiece as a director. This was Eastwood's 3rd film (after Play Misty for Me and Breezy), and it still remains one of his best films. Misty and Breezy are excellent films, but this one is far better than both of them. Many critics have said this is a tongue in cheek Western. I digress strongly. Yes, there are humourous elements in it, but it's a morally complex, eerie, and brilliant piece of filmmaking. Eastwood's character doesn't really have a name, but this isn't an extension of his work with Sergio Leone. It has a lot to do with revenge, karma, greed, and what small town America in the west was really like. It wasn't like the idealised, "God-fearing" folk (that cliche gets a real takedown in this film) you see in typical Hollywood westerns. The ending is downright surreal, but it works brilliantly. Even the supporting players (especially Billy Curtis) are excellent here. A decent number of Eastwood's films have some bad acting in them in the supporting roles, but here that doesn't happen. Eastwood shot this masterpiece in 24 days, and under budget too. This was Clint's first great film.

Clint's Homage to Sergio Leone.......2007-06-03

Clint Eastwood starred as the "man with no name" in many of Sergio Leone's "Spagetti Westerns." Here, Eastwood directs his own similar-type western, although, at the end of this flick, we find out that Eastwood's character really does have a name.

After Eastwood rides into the town of Lago and kills the three hired guns who were the village's protectors, he is hired by the townspeople as a replacement gunman. They hope that Eastwood will protect them from a ruthless gang that was sent to jail on trumped up charges by the townspeople. The gang members have done their time and are now coming back to get their revenge. But it turns out that Eastwood has his own reasons for wanting some revenge too.

"High Plains Drifter" ranks with the best of Leone's westerns. It is an excellent film and a classic of the genre, with a supernatural twist.

Eastwood's forgettable "Pale Rider" was a sort of remake of "High Plains Drifter." In "Pale Rider," however, the individualistic message of "High Plains Drifter" was replaced by a communitarian one.

Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Hoo Boy !!
Better Than The Book
Exciting, political --- a movie with a message.....
"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand"
The Horrible Wars of the 1990's

Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Djimon Hounsou , Jennifer Connelly , Kagiso Kuypers , and Arnold Vosloo
Director: Edward Zwick
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005JPGO
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

Description

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler (Leonard DiCaprio). A Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou). Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed across the alternately beautiful and ravaged countryside. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai), this urgent, intensely moving adventure shapes gripping human stories and heart-pounding action into a modern epic of profound impact.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary with Director, Edward Zwick (A revealing look at a filmmaker?s personal journey.)
Documentary:Blood on the Stone (RT: 50:00) Follow the path of a diamond from the ground to the store.
Featurette:1) Becoming Archer (RT: 8:29) - A profile of Leonardo DiCaprio and how he trained for the war; 2) Journalism on the Front Line (RT: approx 6:07) - Jennifer Connelly on Women Journalists at war; 3) Inside the Siege of Freetown (RT: 10:28) - See how Ed Zwick tackled the pivotal scene.
Music Video:"Shine On Em" by rap artist Nas

Customer Reviews:

Hoo Boy !!.......2007-09-09

Better Than The Book.......2007-09-08

Exciting, political --- a movie with a message............2007-09-05

"People back home wouldn't buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand".......2007-09-02