Stand By Me (Special Edition)

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A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book Different Seasons); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches, and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes, and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family, and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain, and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, The Princess Bride. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Great movie but horrible sound quality.......2007-09-17

Stand By Me is a great movie with solid performances all around including several future stars like Kiefer Sutherland and River Phoenix, in one of his final roles. It is truly a excellent adaptation of Stephen King's "The Body". However, I can't believe they even bother making DVDs (especially "Deluxe" editions) without including a 5.1 dolby digital audio track or even better, a DTS digital audio track. This edition of the movie only qualifies as a 2 star because of the ridiculous mono soundtrack. What were they thinking? What a joke, the soundtrack CD has better quality sound! A fun movie which would have been 4 stars with a decent audio transfer.

A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off.......2007-09-01

Rob Reiner and Stephen King collaborated on this classic and the wealth of their talent resulted in the sort of movie that's good every time it's seen. Based on The Body, one of King's novellas from his early `80's collection Different Seasons, and staying mostly faithful to the King tale (with the inexplicable exception of changing the setting of Castle Rock from Maine to Oregon) Stand By Me features a gifted cast of young actors who get the most out of a story that was already rich and multi-faceted. Concerning itself with a quest undertaken by four boys moving through the gray zone between childhood and adolescence, all of them seeking to locate the body of a missing local boy whom they know to have been struck and killed by a passing train, Stand By Me, as with The Body before it, is actually so much more than its surface plot, and is nothing short of a coming of age masterpiece that examines loss, destiny, and the journey toward a deeper understanding of human life. This is one of those movies that captures the story on which it was based, learns from it, and becomes something great indeed. At times funny, awkward and carefree, at others frightening, poignant, tragic, and starkly realistic, Stand By Me Is probably the best adaptation of a Stephen King work that's ever been done.

The Emotional Ride.......2007-08-10

Stand by Me, was the second film, directed by Rob Reiner, son of Carl Reiner, known best for his television work in the US and for launching the career of one Steve Martin.

Reiner was faithful to what Stephen King wanted, he was familiar with the material that could work and wouldn't. He made subsquent trimmings on the novel, so that the most important things for example, outlying the real friendship between Chris and Gordie being dominant, the way they communicate and approach their troubles in white-collar broken families with hard drinking fathers, which they refer to as "their old men". The film does not detact from Gordie's nostalgic narration as an adult, it is in some ways, tighter and easy to follow than the novel in this case.

A good tip, i will offer is, it is better to read the short story, The Body upon what the material is based on. There you will understand deeper the character of Chris Chambers; his father's binges; why his brother was known as "Eyeball" Chambers; his discontent for School; also indulge in Will's ambitious writing talent and their continuing friendship long after this episode which is very benefital as important. You will really enjoy it more, honest, i have.

Stand for Me, follows in particular, a young boy known as Gordon "Gordy" Lacha, who after losing his brother to a tragic accident, goes on an adventure with his best friend, Chris and the two pals they hang around with, Teddy and Vern, to retrieve the body of Ray Brower, a missing boy out for a raspberry picking.

This is effectively a character driven piece, with a great stunt piece, the runaway train sequence, the confronations between the friends, trying to abine and then drift apart as friends do, when they feel they have nothing left to prove and the jokes shared and the mere messing around.

This is Phoenix's shining performance, that makes this one. He plays Chris Chambers, who knows he is "able" to make a difference, when Gordie's anxiety with his parents wears him down, he is more than eager to show him, that if he doesn't listen to what is right, then he could lose his most valved dream of all. Chambers on the other hand, knows he has to help, but doesn't know how to do it properly, he is frightened he could hurt Gordie and that was point, he was making.

Stand by Me is also a film, where youngsters have to face up for their future, in a world of uncertainy, dreams broken and lies discussed, people who have to grow up on their own with or without their friends.

Stand by Me was a sleeper hit, it did manage to reach number tweleve on the top box office receipts of 1986 in the US, but in recent years, since Phoenix's passing, the film has become a reminder of how sad life can be and so unfortunate to so many people, it has hence become more powerful, it's popularity has continued to flourish on it's dedicated cult base and will continue to do so, as long as people have a dream for desire.

Bravo.......2007-07-19

Like Shawshank Redemption, this is a great film based on some of Stephen King's best work. It is poignant, nostalgic--and hilarious at times. (And some of us may never wade in ponds again because of it!)

Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!.......2007-07-12

We've all been there. It's summertime, when you're with a few, great friends and wanna go on a big adventure. Well, that's what "Stand By Me" is about; a brilliant mix of laugh-out-loud humor and introspective moments of awe, it's a movie that never wears thin.
The overall plot is that four boys, from ages twelve to thirteen, hear of a dead body and go searching overnight for it. There's plenty of summer adventure in it, big laughs among friends, and that feeling of living in the wild, if only for about forty-eight hours. And then, there's that feeling of change that, for at least one point in our life, we get nervous about. That necessity of holding onto friends even as you get separated from there. It puts you in such a state, as it's displayed in such an honest, realistic way that it captivates you all the way through.
What impresses me a lot about "Stand By Me" is how it just seems to carry on at full speed. There never seems to be a dull moment and by the time it's over, you may feel astonished that it's already done with. Like with a lot of other, great movies, this one has many, sub-situations the four guys get themselves into, and if it's not enough that they're racing a gang of older guys and outrun a junkyard dog, need I say more than such things as "campfire stories" or "a lake of leeches"? *shudders*
Without revealing the resolution, the ending shows the adult Gordie, who has been narrating the whole thing. The ending is very powerful and moving, and as the credits roll, the '61 song "Stand By Me" plays.
This is an excellent summer movie that goes by quickly, but leaves such an impression on you that you'll remember and love it forever. But through all the drama and action, it's a definite work of art that's sure to please anyone who sees it.

Average customer rating:

A solid part of the "Cavalry Trilogy"
A Quite Musical Western
Classic Western Movie with an outstanding actor.
Rio Grande: The start of a great pairing
The most sentimental of Ford's movies...

Rio Grande
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Ben Johnson , Claude Jarman Jr. , and Harry Carey Jr.
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
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ASIN: 0782010059
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Amazon.com

The last and least memorable of John Ford's famous cavalry trilogy (following Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), Rio Grande nonetheless has an interesting continuity about the gentlemanly rules of military conduct. Here the focus is on the family. While creating a heated controversy over his handling of the Apache war, John Wayne must also contend with disgruntled wife Maureen O'Hara and estranged son Claude Jarman Jr., a new recruit trying to earn his father's love and respect. Ford seems to suggest that there are two conflicting codes of honor in every cavalry officer's life, the personal as well as the professional, and that it takes an act of heroism to maintain both. It's fascinating to observe Wayne's progression throughout the trilogy, as his personal stakes intensify. Also, this is the first of five onscreen appearances between the Duke and O'Hara, each filled with a competitive spirit and stormy sexuality. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

A solid part of the "Cavalry Trilogy".......2007-09-04

John Ford's so-called cavalry trilogy includes "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (absolute classic), "Fort Apache" (a terrific movie in its own right), and "Rio Grande" (sometimes looked at as a lesser movie). However, "Rio Grande" holds up nicely on its own.

The protagonist, York, has the same name as Henry Fonda's subordinate in "Fort Apache," also played by John Wayne.

York's son, after failing at West Point, is assigned to his command. His mother, played by Maureen o'Hara, tries to get him out of the service. Of course, the son refuses.

After that, the movie addresses the issue of Native Americans in the United States crossing the Rio Grande to avoid the American Army. General Phil Sheridan (not too well depicted as an oversized figure--Sheridan himself was a small person in stature) empowered York to cross the River--unofficially. Thus, if any problems came up, York would be the fall guy.

Neat scenes: riding horses as "the ancient Romans," young York getting in a fight, the wonderful rescue of the children in Mexico.

Although some see this as the least of the trilogy, it captures a feel and generates some powerful emotional responses. All in all, a fine movie.

A Quite Musical Western.......2007-05-24

One characteristic of this old black-and-white flick is the singing of old folk songs by the men of the US Cavalry. There is also a display of various cavalry skills. For instance, the mounted men must jump over a 6-foot fence.

Lt. Colonel Yorke (John Wayne) has his son in the cavalry unit, but pledges to treat him equally to everyone else. Yorke's son had failed West Point, and now wants to redeem himself in the US Cavalry. His mother (Maureen O'Hara) comes, and tries to have him removed from the unit. The other soldiers think that the son is privileged, and this leads to a fistfight.

The US Cavalry is fighting against the Apache Indians. Yorke is limited by the fact that he is forbidden to cross into Mexico to pursue the Apaches. The Mexicans have the opposite problem. This becomes obvious when Yorke meets with his Mexican counterpart on an isle in the middle of the Rio Grande.

In time, there is a savage Apache attack, and some children are kidnapped and taken across the border into Mexico. Yorke decides to disobey the directive and to cross the Rio Grande in pursuit of the Apaches and their hostages. Will his unexpected move catch the Apaches by surprise? Will he succeed in freeing the hostages? During the operation, he takes an arrow in the chest. Will he live?

Classic Western Movie with an outstanding actor........2007-03-11

This John Wayne Western movie is great.
I intend to make it a part of my DVD library
including other Western classics.

Rio Grande: The start of a great pairing.......2007-03-08

Rio Grande was conceived as a movie to pay for the making of another film. John Ford wanted to make a little film called "The Quiet Man" but Columbia Studios wanted a quick money maker to pay for the next production. The result was "Rio Grande." A classic in its own right, one that should not be missed. Directed by John Ford and starring Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne together for the first time. The story is what hyou should expect from Ford, good action and get characters. Look for many familar faces in this film, like Victor MacLagen, Chill Wills, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. This film is part of the fabled cavalry trilogy. It is rousing and exciting. Atrue classic, don't miss it.

The most sentimental of Ford's movies..........2006-11-08

Ford's cavalry trilogy is, in its way, just as much Victor McLaglen's trilogy, for he appears once again in 'Rio Grande', still superbly filling the tough-soft sergeant part, still providing the Ford horse-play comedy element with just a touch of parody, still, one might add, probably fulfilling Ford's own particular vision of revering the heroes who have helped conquer the West...

The McLaglen sergeant seems drawn on the spreading of lines, but in retrospect, one realizes that somehow, paradoxically, he has inspired a remarkable degree of realism into the three motion pictures... (They would be not the same without him.)

'Rio Grande' has a very strong domestic flavor...

John Wayne - a casualty of the Civil War - is a cavalry officer, under strict orders, with great family problems... He's a northerner who, not surprisingly, has left his wife, a southerner, because he obediently did his military duty and burned several southern plantations - including the one owned by his wife's family... Maureen O'Hara - bringing a fitting maturity to her stereotyped assignment in the film - never forgives her husband for burning her plantation, and abruptly takes their son and goes away, effectively ending their marriage...

Fifteen years later, Wayne, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Cavalry officer, attempts to maintain the truce calm at his southwestern post, which is besieged by marauding renegade Apaches who are continually using the border with Mexico as an escape route after their raids, a lost cause since the U.S. and Mexican governments agreed that their military forces will not cross the Rio Grande under any circumstances...

He hurries to put down an Indian uprising when his past and his wife cross his path again... He is confronted by a new recruit: his West Point dropout son (Claude Jarman Jr.) and, later, the arrival of his frigid wife, desperate to buy her son out of the cavalry...

Everything, domestically and militarily is, of course, resolved successfully and, indeed, predictably, but it is the texture of the film that gives it its enjoyment - the gentle study of the reconciliation of a colonel and his estranged wife; the interplay of a father compelled to send his son on a dangerous mission; the peculiar supporting contributions of the 'beloved brute sergeant,' or the cavalry side-kicks, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr.

The three films (even considered singly) give a feeling of frontier military life, however colored by a director's highly personal viewpoint, that has hardly been approached, let alone surpassed...

There's a beautiful scene in which Wayne and Maureen are serenaded by soldiers of his troop... We can observe a husband meditating about all that went wrong with his marriage, and watch the inclination and desire that exist in his longing sideways brief look at his wife...

With first rate acting and lushly sentimental score, 'Rio Grande' can never be missed... It is the last of John Ford's cavalry movies and the most sentimental...

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Maybe the funnest thing EVER!
Funny as ever
Pryor at His Absolute Best
Richard Pryor - Master Storyteller
His best stand-up...ever

Richard Pryor - Live in Concert
Starring: Richard Pryor , Jennifer Lee , and Patti LaBelle
Director: Jeff Margolis
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
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ASIN: B000FL7CBE
Release Date: 2006-08-01

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Watching Pryor go from imitating a drinking deer to a woman debating about going in the woods gives just a hint of the comedic genius of the man. Crude, foul, and real, this is the first and best of his concert films. Pryor does dead-on impersonations of the respective races, cussing, trying to act tough, getting kicked in personal spots. But it's his imagination that elevates him to a different level. He gives his impressions of what animals think, from his own animals (a monkey, a Doberman) to police dogs, and it seems so exact, so prescient. Not to mention the fact that he is self-deprecating in the extreme, and has as much fun skewering himself as any other subject. Still vibrant, still funny. --Keith Simanton

Description

Crude. Foul. Real. In a word, that?s Richard Pryor: Live in Concert. In this, the funnyman?s first and best concert film, Pryor does dead-on impersonations of the respective races, cussing, trying to act tough, getting kicked in privates. But it's his imagination that elevates him to a different level and hints at the comedic genius of the man. He gives his impressions of what animals think, from his own animals (a monkey, a Doberman) to police dogs, and it seems so exact, so precise. Not to mention the fact that he is at his self-deprecating best, skewering himself as much as any other subject.

Customer Reviews:

Maybe the funnest thing EVER!.......2007-08-07

When asked for an example of something to "hot" to be included in the National Recording Registry, Gene DeAnna, the director of the recorded sound division at the Library of Congress, immediately replied: "The example that comes to mind, to me, is a Richard Pryor record." He continued, "I think out of context, the language and often edgy, racial overtones of the recording could be put against the library and it could hurt feelings." Given a chance to see "Richard Pryor - Live in Concert", you'll be laughing to hard to find your feelings hurt!

According to Former Kennedy Center President Lawrence J. Wilker, "Richard Pryor was selected as the first recipient of the new Mark Twain Prize because as a stand-up comic, writer, and actor, he struck a chord, and a nerve, with America, forcing it to look at large social questions of race and the more tragicomic aspects of the human condition. Though uncompromising in his wit, Pryor, like Twain, projects a generosity of spirit that unites us. They were both trenchant social critics who spoke the truth, however outrageous." To get an impression of the wide ranging scope of his talent, search out a biography and note the list of performers and writers that he worked for and with - it's truly amazing!

Richard Pryor is possibly the funniest person ever, and this is a masterpiece. His storytelling at it's best, and the improvisational banter with the audience is incredible. A must-have for anyone (everyone!) who enjoys a thought provoking, mind expanding, belly laugh!

Funny as ever.......2007-03-15

it was funny then and more than 20 years later its still funny

Pryor at His Absolute Best.......2006-10-21

Released in 1979, Richard Pryor's first concert film is a landmark of comic brilliance that he never could surpass -- though "Live on the Sunset Strip" certainly has its moments. Pryor sets the Long Beach theater ablaze with a rapid-fire array of personal and social observations that made him one of America's most incisive humorists. "Live in Concert" remains the ideal showcase for his unique talents and the best way to remember him.

Richard Pryor - Master Storyteller.......2006-09-30

You know it kind of bothers me when folks label others. Especially when the label minimizes a person's worth. Ask just about anyone to describe Richard Pryor and most likely you'll hear - he was a funny dude, a comedian. While of course both are very true it's also an incomplete and unfair assessment of Richard Pryor because he was much more than that.

Along with being the quintessential stand up comedian, he was an incredibly talented writer, actor, cultural scribe and comedic visionary. But, one of Mr. Pryor's most overlooked talents was that of Master Storyteller.

When Richard Pryor talked about events from childhood through adulthood or shared an observation it was more than just a bunch of funny anecdotes strung together. He carefully, skillfully recreated the moment, the mood, the scene and the context of that story. You weren't just hearing a simple recollection of his experience; he actually took you there and was almost able to witness it firsthand. Richard Pryor tells his stories by bringing together special elements and ingredients and expertly mixing all into an amazing experience. You can say it's like watching a tapestry being made - all the parts big and small, no matter how inconsequential that they may appear to be individually, combined with a master's touch you have a fine work of art.

This 1979 release of Richard Pryor in Concert is a wonderful film that illustrates those talents and more. Seeing this movie again made me realize how nice it was to have someone so talented as Richard Pryor to entertain us and make us laugh until we wet ourselves, but yet sad that he's gone and there will probably never be someone as talented or as remarkable again.

His best stand-up...ever.......2006-02-17

If you've never seen Richard Pryor's stand up, then watch this one...it's the best he's ever done.

Average customer rating:

Great movie but horrible sound quality
A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off
The Emotional Ride
Bravo
Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!

Stand By Me (Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Wil Wheaton , River Phoenix , Corey Feldman , Jerry O'Connell , and Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B0007G89G4
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com essential video

Description

In a small woodsy Oregon town, a group of friends--sensitive Gordie (Wil Wheaton), tough guy Chris (River Phoenix), flamboyant Teddy (Corey Feldman), and scaredy-cat Vern (Jerry O'Connell)--are in search of a missing teenager's body. Wanting to be heroes in each other's and their hometown's eyes, they set out on an unforgettable two-day trek that turns into an odyssey of self-discovery. They sneak smokes, tell tall tales, cuss 'cause it's cool and band together when the going gets tough. When they encounter the town's knife-wielding hoods who are also after the body, the boys discover a strength they never knew they had. STAND BY ME is a rare and special film about friendship and the indelible experiences of growing up. Filled with humor and suspense, STAND BY ME is based on the novella 'The Body' by Stephen King.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie but horrible sound quality.......2007-09-17

A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off.......2007-09-01

The Emotional Ride.......2007-08-10

Bravo.......2007-07-19

Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!.......2007-07-12

Average customer rating:

Onions & Tea Leaves?
Ignore the Historical Flaws: Solid Drama
A romantic pastiche that stands the test of time
The Legend of Custer and the 7th Cavalry lives on
A Gourmet Popcorn Movie

They Died with Their Boots On
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Arthur Kennedy , Charley Grapewin , and Gene Lockhart
Director: Raoul Walsh , B. Reeves Eason , and Robert Clampett
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007OY2OY
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Amazon.com essential video

Bert Glennon, who shot Stagecoach and seven other John Ford classics, has given this Raoul Walsh biopic of George Armstrong Custer a burnished glow--an evocative interplay of raw sunlight and elegiac shadow like no other vintage Warner Bros. Western. Glennon's artistry and Walsh's trademark gusto sustain enthusiasm even as the screenplay beggars belief. The flamboyant Custer (Errol Flynn), rushed into Civil War service straight from West Point, did get promoted overnight to general and establish a spectacular record for "ride to the guns" leadership. However, Custer as defender of Indians' rights--to the point of willing his own Last Stand so he could accuse corrupt Indian Commissioners from the grave--is historical rewrite of such sweeping chutzpah as to shame DeMille. Flynn and Olivia de Havilland make an even more appealing couple than usual, and the big supporting cast is unflaggingly energetic above and beyond the call of duty. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

Onions & Tea Leaves?.......2007-06-14

I love our country and the excellent military establishments that has come along way to being more disciplined than back in Custers' days of skull-dabbery and malicious exploits!

"You can take glory with you"! Sounds like a very accurate portrayal of another false one that will cause confusion and trickery like this, Son of the Morning character seen in Gen. George A. Custer.

Good intentions are the surest road to hell and a lot of people were blinded by his deception.

Ignore the Historical Flaws: Solid Drama.......2007-04-20

When filmmakers decide to take actual events to place them on the screen, they face the difficult decision of to what extant they will tinker with the truth to score some dramatic points. In the case of THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, the producers totally abandoned any semblance of truth to present a vision of the life and death of General George Armstrong Custer that was then fully resonant with the burgeoning militarism of 1941 Hollywood. I know that it is difficult for current moviegoers to possibly envision an artistic elite that supports and glorifies traditional American values, but back in pre-Pearl Harbor days, political correctness meant flag waving, not flag burning. What Hollywood wanted was a flashy dashing hero who could be both charming and heroic at the same time. In Errol Flynn, America could see a distorted version of the egotistical and megalomaniacal glory hunter that Custer truly was, but Flynn's interpretation played down that part of him and emphasized an altruistic side that is so breathtaking in its centrality to Custer's film persona, that movie audiences could see in Flynn-Custer a hearkening back to the frontier hero that America was to need to buttress itself for the looming war. Director Raoul Walsh essentially films a vastly entertaining war cartoon that allows Flynn to pair with Olivia DeHavilland to maintain a love interest that forms the background for the many action scenes. And what action scenes there are. Flynn is seen attacking Confederate positions in cavalry charges with more than a little tongue in cheek. But in the second half, the mood and tempo change when Flynn takes his militancy out west to fight Indians. The smiling Flynn of the Civil War becomes the serious Flynn of the Far West. As Custer, Flynn is prepared to sacrifice his entire 7th Cavalry to save the greater body of troops of his commander, General Terry. The climactic massacre at the Battle of the Little Big Horn shows a more megalomaniacal side to Custer than what Director Walsh probably intended. In the hours preceeding the battle, Flynn's facial expression and voice well indicate a man who is stoically resigned to die merely for a higher cause. When the film's villain, played by Arthur Kennedy, asks him why he is doing this, Custer replies: "For glory or to hell. It depends on your perspective." My perspective was that Custer chose both at the same time. It is this odd pairing of wildly divergent viewpoints that make this gross distortion of history an entertaining film--even if I had to wonder whether Custer cared a hoot about the 198 troopers under his command.

A romantic pastiche that stands the test of time.......2007-02-25

If one is looking for an accurate history of Custers life this is not the movie for you. However it it a wonderful film that totally stands the test of time. When ever I see it it makes me laugh one minute, and move me to tears the next. It is very powerful. Raoul Walsh as director is excellent.
It is a movie full of action,comedy, drama, pathos and romance, only in the way the golden age of Hollywood could have portrade it.
Especially is the unforgettable last scene of De Havilland and Flynn. It was the last time they would ever work together. These two people though never personally involved truly adored each other. The electricity of their performance is proof to that, and one of the most heart rendering scenes ever made on film.
Buy it, Just seeing Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland together is worth the price of the DVD

The Legend of Custer and the 7th Cavalry lives on.......2007-02-21

I Know many people remark about the historical inaccuracies of this film, but if it is a history lesson you seek-go to school. This is a movie and an excellent one at that. True, many of the characters represent real people, but as I said it is a movie. It has good writing and a well acted plot. Most of all, it has Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHaviland in their last appearnce together. As was typical of Flynn's movies, you can expect humor, romance, and a whole lot of action. Look for Anthony Quinn as Geronimo. Enjoy this for what it is, an Errol Flynn movie, not a history lesson

A Gourmet Popcorn Movie.......2006-10-15

"They Died With Their Boots On" is a classic gourmet "popcorn movie" that film students should study, so as to understand that movies made solely for entertainment purposes (even if the historical facts are fudged quite a bit) don't need to be dumbed down for the masses to enjoy; that they can be brilliantly made; and if they are approached in an artistically creative way, will be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come (Spielberg KNOWS this!).

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 05 (Episodes 17-20)

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CAN I CALL YOU MAMA AND PAPA?
America's got nothing on this!

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 05 (Episodes 17-20)
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka , Osamu Saka , Akio Ôtsuka , Kôichi Yamadera , and Yutaka Nakano
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Manufacturer: Manga Video
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ASIN: B000ERVKNK
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

CAN I CALL YOU MAMA AND PAPA?.......2006-06-22

The first two episodes of Volume 5 are a little bit uncharacteristic of the usual Ghost in the Shell emotional range. In episode 17, the Major travels to Taiwan in search of more info about Kuze, but instead surrenders to her maternal instincts by stepping in between a teenage boy and a local gang war. The next episode features Batou as the main star as he and the Major are taken away from the Kuze case to help an international effort succeed in nailing an infamous terrorist bomber. Batou begins to become attached to a young handicapped girl who mysteriously seems to be looking right at him, even when he's in camouflage mode, which should render him invisible to the naked eye. Even though Kuze was a member of the Individual Eleven, which wanted to drive all refugees out of Japan, it seems he's switched sides now, and is the main driving force of the rapidly escalating insurrection of the refugees. When Section 9 gets wind that Kuze wants to get his hands on atomic weapons, the stakes get dramatically higher!

This series gets better and better, even outshining the first season since 2nd Gig is dealing with an issue that is really upfront and center in the US right now. If you've made it this far, then you'll know just how amazing the writing is on this show. Even after all the years spent with these characters, you can still find nuances in their reactions and be charmed that no matter how mechanized their bodies become, their "ghost" still remains and makes them human, even the Major, whose body is full prosthetic! The art and animation is the best I've ever seen in a TV anime, and you have to marvel at how they pulled off the budget to make it. Classic stuff.

Extras: Interviews with Japanese voice actors who play Motoko, Batou, Togusa, Borma, and the director Kenji Kamiyama.

America's got nothing on this!.......2006-06-03

I'll start by saying all those people who think that american animated series are as good as it gets animation wise have been living under a rock since this series started 11 DVDS ago, and it continues with this volume. As for the episodes themselves, They were a good addition to the season because with the next two discs, everything comes to a head and resolves. Looking back on the four episodes, the only perceivable problem was that there was no real explanation as to why the major and batou were compelled to go to berlin with everything that was going on at home in Japan. This was not enough for a point deduction. At the end of the day, anyone who likes a good series or animation that is technically perfect shoud buy this discs and all of the discs from both seasons. You will not be disappointed.

The Police - LIVE - Ghost in the Machine

Average customer rating:

Good, not great
More PLEASE!
Good DVD for big fans...
Only a Transitional Period for The Police!...
For Die-Hards Only

The Police - LIVE - Ghost in the Machine

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BRSH8E

Product Description

One of the greatest rock bands ever, The Police are at their very best in a RARE Live concert performance recorded at Gateshead, England on July 31, 1982. It features Sting on bass guitar and lead vocals, Andy Summers on lead guitars, and Stewart Copeland on drums. Over 90 minutes of Live Footage!! TRACKS: 1) Message In A Bottle; 2) Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; 3)Walking On The Moon; 4) Spirits In The Material World; 5) Hungry For You (J'aurais Toujours Faim De Toi); 6) When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around; 7) The Bed's Too Big Without You; 8) De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; 9) Demolition Man; 10) Shadows In The Rain; 11) Driven To Tears; 12) Bring On The Night; 13) One World (Not Three); 14) Invisible Sun; 15) Roxanne; 16) Don't Stand So Close To Me; 17) Can't Stand Losing You - Reggatta De Blanc- Be My Girl, Sally 18) So Lonely. ++++ DVD FEATURES: This officially released DVD from South Korea is All-Region NTSC Code 0 (plays worldwide), provides Full Screen display and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) Korean subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

Good, not great.......2007-09-15

Ghost in the Machine is my favorite album, but unfortunately Sting decided to use horn section instead of hiring a decent keyboard player for this tour and that was a huge mistake. The horns are annoying most of the time and add nothing to the songs.

However, there are some songs that work: "Bring on the Night", "Demolition Man" and "Shadows in the Rain" are all enjoyable and its the Police after all so even an average show by the Police is not to be missed.

I am still waiting for the day they release the "Shea Stadium" 8/18/83 as it was their most historic concert.

And instead of watching a DVD go see them in concert! They are touring after all... :)

More PLEASE!.......2007-09-02

With the Police reunion in full swing (albeit unaffordable for me, even on a physician's salary!) those of us who worshipped the Police in the 80's can only hope that Sting and the boys will dig into the boxes for some old live footage and bring us some new DVD's. A redone "Police Around the World" would be nice and some pre-Synchronicity live shows would be awesome. I have a poor quality recording of the Police in Chile from the Ghost in the Machine tour that is just awesome from a concert standpoint, though the quality is awful (I compiled it from YouTube videos and burned it myself). Which brings us to this DVD...the quality is pretty good. I agree with others that the instrument mix was a failed experiment...the horns and Sting's footpedal organ are more distracting than helpful to the music. Sting was obviously tired of what he could accomplish with a 3 piece band, and trying to see what he could come up with. My Chile concert shows that he could make it work...and it certainly worked fine when I saw them in Greensboro during this tour. Speaking of annoying, Sting takes a bite of something like a powdered donut during the show and the lingering powder at the corner of his mouth is funny and annoying. Even rock gods can look silly. Then again, maybe this is why this video is not in wide production...I'm sure Sting was quite pissed that they payed for a video crew for this show and ended up with powdered sugar on his face! Overall, with no other DVD's readily available, I am glad to have this one. While I thought the Synchronicity concert was awesome when I saw it live, looking back at the DVD, the earlier iterations of the Police were much more organic in terms of the music and the band's interactions on stage.

Good DVD for big fans..........2007-08-04

This probably wouldn't be the biggest hit with the more casual fans, but it is a nice show to have for the bigger fans who want as much as they can get from a favorite band. Being one of the people who want to see and hear all that I can, I loved it. However, if you're more of a casual Police fan, go for the Synchronicity concert first, and then try to catch the bootlegs and such.

Only a Transitional Period for The Police!..........2007-07-27

It's been said that The Police is coming in August to play again in Mexico, but the first time was in 1980 when I saw a concert of The Police Live in the city of Mexico, playing the songs of their then latest album "Zenyatta Mondatta". The gig was a real spontaneous magical moment. Everybody were exited as the songs gone bye with the high driving energy of a ¡trio!: Stewart Copeland, a maravellous rhythmic drummer owner of a great technic; Andy Summers, a creative guitarist who's powerful cool chords where the perfect asset for the band's arrangements; and Gordon Summer (who is known better as "Sting") with an enigmatic personality, amaze for his bass lines that gave good melodies to the Rock Genre.

The Ghost in the machine concert is a transitional musical stage for The Police Guys; it's a little strange gig for the way that sting performs in the stage while he's eating a pineapple or playing the taurus pedals out of time in the first track "Message In A Bottle" (the Taurus pedals' idea is good) or the adition of a keyboard next to Andy Summers' side that he almost never played, but overall the music is really fantastic and well played by the band. The horn section is a great asset for the support of the songs, and it's a more natural way to enrich the music of a Rock group. I really prefer to see The Police this way than in the last Atlanta's concert with less Rock and roll feel. I'm not a die hard fan, but at least in this concert their effort is more apreciated in songs like "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "Spirits In The Material World" or "Invisible Sun", where we can realize about the difficulty to present and perform overdubbed studio material that It's not the same in a live situation. Great!... By the other side the perform of songs like "Don't Stand So Close To Me", "When The World Is Running Down..." or "The Do Do Do The Da Da Da" are amazing without forget the classic songs of their first and second albums like "Roxanne" or "Walking in the moon". So Good Luck!...

For Die-Hards Only.......2007-03-28

I was actually at a show from this tour and it seemed a lot better than represented here.

This is cool for a time capsule, and there are some okay performances of some songs, but they're undercut by the bad mix and iffy camera work.

Oh, and then those horns. Thank God THAT idea never took hold after this tour. Eeesh.

The only thing worse than the horns was Sting's foot-synth which he uses on a couple of songs. The effect, in a word: tragic. It sounds more like a car alarm than a good musical idea.

Far, far superior is the Synchronicity concert--buy that.

AND wait for "Police Around the World" to come out on DVD. That is the best document of early Police and has killer performances from all over the world.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 07 (Episodes 24-26)

Average customer rating:

GITS owns us
good series
Inspirational
Amazon mistake, makes me more of a fan
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 7

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 07 (Episodes 24-26)
Starring: Ghost in the Shell
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GI3RHE
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

The Prime Minister is taken into custody, but her removal from office is being kept secret. Aramaki and Togusa work to get to her so they can prevent a nuclear attack. In Dejima, the military begins its assault. The Major and some of Section 9 try their best to defuse the situation, and the injured Ishikawa tries to deliver the rest of the plutonium to the authorities to prove their case. During the fighting, the Major and Kuze become trapped beneath the rubble together. The Tachikomas inform her that there is a nuclear submarine just out of sensor range. Batou, meanwhile, gets the rangers who are pursuing them to stop fighting and listen to him. Things are starting to go Section 9's way, but the nuclear missile is still being prepared for launch! The explosive second season of Ghost in the Shell ends now!

Customer Reviews:

GITS owns us.......2007-05-23

GITS is perhaps my fav. anime of all time. and this dvd is perhaps the best of them all. of course you need to see the rest of the sieries to get to this dvd, but let me tell you. once you get here. it was all worth it! I've been known to just watch this dvd over and over with out bothering with the rest of the sieries.

not like any of the other dvds are bad though....

good series.......2007-03-15

I was scared when i heard that Ghost in the shell would be animated. But if you love the original movie you will love the continuing back story here!

Inspirational.......2007-01-20

Most animes are not inspirational. That doesn't mean they're not good, they can be really good but to be inspirational is yet another optional step to connect with a certain audience. The reason I like SAC 2nd Gig is because there is really no one "bad guy" that must be vanguished for the world to make sense again and morality to be reinstalled. The world never makes sense from the very beginning, and it continues to be enigmatic up until the very end. Some people would call this an unresolved story. I call it a genuine emulation of the real world. A world where even though teamwork and communities work hard to bring about a better world, individuals still feel very lonely. Isn't that everyone's real dilemna? Even with so many friends, why are we so lonely? The fact that our behavior is fueled primarily by neurochemical stimulation and plasticity does not make this existential crisis any better. What do we do? Some of us resort to fables and fairy tales to get some sleep at night. Others become megalomaniacs (Kuze, Gouda). Others try to restore (install) some sense of justice to the world (Motoko, Batou and Section 9). Others put all their efforts into worshipping and following a hero (refugees). Believe it or not, some people just withstand it and go on with life disregarding all injustices and just attempting to live a life of comfort and security. (Japanese citizens, Nietzche's Last Man). It is very evident solitude is a key theme in SAC 2nd Gig. It is also evident the writers of this show are very erudite. In a way, 2nd GIG is like a pastiche of real life and various existentialist works (I detected abit of Nietzsche, Sartre, Dostoevsky, and Kierkegaard).

If you're a fan of overthinking plotlines and creating structures and comparisons that never existed in the first place. This is a gold mine. If you just want a good anime, this is also a good anime. But I urge you to let it tickle your brain a little. Let it create a spark.

Amazon mistake, makes me more of a fan.......2007-01-17

I actually bought whole set of 2 Gig, collectable edition, because I enjoy the show and thought of it as an investmet. As it turns out, I was shipped all of 2 gig, except vol. 7, which was actually vol. 7 of the first season. I watched the 1st season for the first time, and really enjoyed it too. It is somewhat different from 2 gig.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 7.......2007-01-05

If you love the rest of the Ghost in the Shell series, than this is definitely a must have. It's a good finish to the second season.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 06 (Episodes 21-23)

Average customer rating:

Ghost in the shell.
Philosophically heavy sure, but then thats GITS
IS IT REAL OR IS IT ATOMIC?

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd GIG, Volume 06 (Episodes 21-23)
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka , Osamu Saka , Akio Ôtsuka , Kôichi Yamadera , and Yutaka Nakano
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FA57VM
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Description

The revolutionary leader Kuze manages to elude Section 9 once more. There's no time for Section 9 to recover though, because soon the threat of a nuclear weapon has the entire city of Nagasaki evacuated. Section 9 must then rush to the scene and determine the true origins of the bomb. The government declares Martial Law, and sends in the Self-Defense Forces to restore order. As the group from Section 9 works to prevent a nuclear explosion and unravel the truth behind these events, one random shot escalates the conflict to new heights!

Customer Reviews:

Ghost in the shell........2006-12-04

Would have been 4 stars if it wasnt only 3 episodes.

Philosophically heavy sure, but then thats GITS.......2006-08-06

The entire GITS universe, whether it be the original manga, motion pictures, or the adapted TV series, are all heavily philosophical so I'm not sure why the last reviewer bothers to complain. These next episodes set up the confrontations later with Kuze to illustrate his true intentions as a radical reformist but needs the cover of a terrorist to strike fear into the government. The episodes are consistent, driven, and well acted so I can't see giving this less than five stars. If you're not able to unweave the philosophical web of dialogue that GITS (or The Matrix) lays before you then I suggest you find a brainless action film that the general public is used to having explained for them...you'll only get frustrated with this kind of complicated thinking.

IS IT REAL OR IS IT ATOMIC?.......2006-08-03

As Volume 6 opens Batou finds himself pursuing and confronting Kuze by himself in an attempt to capture him and the plutonium he just recieved. But did he really get the plutonium or was he cheated in the deal? What does it matter, because the Japanese government cannot ignore the threat and take a chance. Kuze plans to use the plutonium to arm a bomb with which the refugees can blackmail the government for their independence. Even if it's a fake, Gohda will still be able to use the situation to start a war against the refugees. The Major and Section 9 must find some way to tie in the nuclear device to Gohda and CIS unless they want to be the fall guy like in the first season.

You would think the last episodes of a show would be the best, but this sixth volume of 2nd Gig suffers a bit from a talking head disease which had been kept relatively in check for most of the season. You could have just taped the audio and listened to it and got the same experience as watching. It's like three episodes of Keanu Reeves' conversation with the designer of the Matrix in Reloaded in which you only comprehend about 20% if what is said. With only one more volume to go, hopefully the final episodes will be a return to form for this show. The only interesting bit from these episodes is that Motoko is beginning to understand that Kuze is someone she knew in the past. Someone that was very close to her. The origami birds that Kuze leaves behind are clues.

Average customer rating:

Boring, pretentious junk
Movies don't get much more disturbing than this
Go Inside the Mind of an Ordinary Man Driven Nearly Mad by Circumstances and See what He Thinks
Not What I Expected...
Not even worth a rental.

I Stand Alone
Starring: Philippe Nahon , Blandine Lenoir , Frankie Pain , Martine Audrain , and Jean-François Rauger
Director: Gaspar Noé
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005K9O8
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Customer Reviews:

Boring, pretentious junk.......2007-09-15

Once again I have been suckered into wasting my time on boring, pretentious junk.

I like small, independent, even foreign films, when done right. This was not.

It was a mind-numbing, boring, pathetic attempt at film making. Violent? Ummm.. no. Shocking? Please. Horrifying? My God, Pocahontas was more horrifying. Yes, a porn clip in the middle of the film is the only thing that made me sit up and take notice. Awful, awful junk.

Forget all the rave reviews here and skip it, unless you need some sleep. This will induce it in spades.

Movies don't get much more disturbing than this.......2007-09-01

As this story unravels, it shows a flurry of clips that give you a quick understanding of the main character's entire life. He was a struggling butcher that made a tragic mistake and went to prison. This scene is actually a recap of the director Gaspar Noe's previous film, a 40-minute shocker that won him some awards. This story pretty much begins with his release from jail.
This disturbing movie also has some common elements with Noe's following film, Irreversible. Besides the graphic sexual content, there is an overbearing sense of despair, revenge, and rage. Another tie-in I noticed with Irreversible is the infamous tunnel. Yes, THAT tunnel. It looked exactly the same to me anyway. The butcher walks with his young daughter down that evil passageway, which made me uneasy the entire trip.
I Stand Alone unmercifully traps the viewer inside the mind of this jobless butcher. All of his random thoughts are constantly strewn forth, which is both brutally captivating and just flat-out appalling. He spirals further and further into his lonely and depressing world, and it's clearly evident that some sort of catastrophe is inevitable.
There's even a scene late in the movie where the viewer is warned to leave the room, turn off the TV, do something besides watch what is about to happen(A 30 second timer actually starts ticking). Of course at this point it was impossible for me to turn back, but many viewers probably won't want to even make it that far.
So understand, THIS IS NOT A HAPPY MOVIE!! Many people will not recover from watching it. So I'd think twice before watching this one, unless you are as demented as me. You're welcome.

Go Inside the Mind of an Ordinary Man Driven Nearly Mad by Circumstances and See what He Thinks.......2007-05-09

I Stand Alone

Gaspar Noe's SEUL CONTRE TOUT is a cinematic masterwork. Though this film is clearly not for the faint-hearted, it offers those willing to go where it takes them into a stark, ultra-violent, ultra-real world where truth is painful, but is a kind of truth that perhaps we need to hear and see. With exceptional mastery, Noe's style of film-making literally explodes in each frame of I STAND ALONE. The 16 mm, anamorphic vision is punctuated by gunshot sounds and quick, hard jumps into close-up shots. Violence, it seems, underlies each scene, but it is repressed. This leads us to feel tension of an unparalleled kind, and we wonder when this violence might explode. The film is 85 minutes of character study of one man, the Butcher, whose unedited, uncensored thoughts are put forth without pomp or circumstance. The Butcher's thoughts are the entire crux of the film and are exposed in long internal monologues. The thoughts we are allowed to "overhear" are disturbing, no doubt, but some, though not all, of these thoughts are similar to those we might have actually had at one time or another. This is troubling because no one wants to admit that they have these kinds of ideas. What is even more troubling is that we find ourselves compelled to see where all these repressed thoughts of loathing and hate lead to. We know it will be harsh, but we want to see it just the same. If you're looking for easy answers and simple truths sugarcoated for your pleasure, this is not a film for you. If, however, you're looking to see an original film that thrusts itself deep into your psyche and asks you hard questions without giving you the answers, you need to see this.

Not What I Expected..........2007-05-04

Maybe I'm jaded, I have seen a few "extreme" films, though I have been powerfully affected by more than a few (usually NOT the most violent or goriest). I did not find this film particularly shocking. Yes, the XXX clip is graphic for non-porn film --think Human Anatomy 101, and the final violent "fantasy" sequence is prolonged to the point of discomfort.

Still, those looking to see the envelope pushed will be disappointed. This is not "Ichi the Killer" or "The Devil's Rejects".

In fact, all the hype about how "shocking" this film is obscured the fact that the main character is well-drawn, wonderfully portrayed and though he's full of rage and violence, it's hard not to pity the dumb brute as he bludgeons his way hopelessly through the bleak slums like an enraged, tormented bull, soon to be put out of its misery . This film is ultimately a tragic character study. It is mature and thoughful.

The butcher is definitely not a sympathetic character, but like Keitel's cop in the Bad Lieutenant, he is doomed, trapped by his self-hatred and misanthropy. The Butcher's "redemption" is as twisted and illusory as his values. Like a Kafka character, he is lost in a world that he cannot understand or control.

It's a great, bleak look at alienation in Western society. If that appeals to you see it!!!
If you want action, over-the-top-violence or some sort of neat Hollywood moral or resolution, avoid this film.

Not even worth a rental........2007-03-23

Unless your french and speak the language don't bother with ths drawn out boring movie. Many critics have praised this stale and boring excuse for a movie but don't take the rotton bait. Don't bite like a sucker fish, it's a complete waste of time. Not even worth a rental.

DVD:

DVD

DVD