When the Levees Broke

Amazon.com

Director Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke is the definitive document of he unmitigated disaster that was, and is, Hurricane Katrina. It's also a contemporary manifestation of an ancient tradition: an oral history, told by the people who lived it, with no narration and only the occasional use of archival cable and broadcast news footage in addition to Lee's own film. And a grim tale it is, an "American tragedy" subtitled "a Requiem in Four Acts," each of them about an hour long ("Act V," appearing on the third of the set's three discs, is a lengthy epilogue with new material not included in the original HBO broadcast) and focusing almost exclusively on New Orleans, as opposed to the Gulf Coast region in general.

Act I sets the scene; as the hurricane nears the Crescent City, some residents leave town, while others stay behind, figuring they'll just ride the storm out (Mayor Ray Nagin's "mandatory evacuation" order rings fairly hollow, as there's no public transportation provided for the many who don't own vehicles and thus couldn't get out even if they wanted to). The real problems begin after Katrina makes landfall on August 29, 2005. Displaced New Orleaneans crowd into the Superdome, soon to become a living hell for those stuck there; the incredibly poorly engineered levees break, flooding some 80 percent of the city; and people start dying by the hundreds, victims of drowning, lack of food, water, and medicine, and other causes. And so it goes. Act II finds the survivors struggling to keep it together while the federal, state, and local assistance they've been promised fails to show up; Act III traces the dispersal of these so-called "refugees" (as one man puts it, "Refugees? You mean they took away our citizenship, too?") all over the country, not knowing where their families, friends, and neighbors are, or even if they're still alive; and Act IV deals with the slow rebuilding of the city while insurance companies refuse to pay claims and money keeps going toward the Iraq war effort instead.

Several themes predominate here. One, of course, is the appalling performance of authorities on nearly every level, who ignored specific warnings about the levees and then professed ignorance after the fact; Lee doesn't have to go out of his way to make George W. Bush, FEMA chief Michael Brown, and other members of the Bush administration (not to mention his own mother) look bad, as they do an excellent job of that themselves. Another is the shameful ineptitude of the response; it's hard not to be disgusted when it's pointed out more than once that while we were able to provide supplies and assistance to Indonesians within two days of the 2004 tsunami, American citizens were virtually ignored for five days or more. Most of all, When the Levees Broke (which includes optional commentary by Lee for all four acts) leaves us feeling the sheer rage of the poor and dispossessed of New Orleans, where the population is 70 percent African-American. Confronted with the ignorance, arrogance, and callousness of the people whose job it was to protect them, they can point to just one cause: racism. --Sam Graham

Description

One year after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, director Spike Lee presents a four-hour, four-part chronicle recounting, through words and images, one of our country?s most profound natural disasters. In addition to revisiting the hours leading up to the arrival of Katrina, a Category 5 hurricane before it hit the coast of Louisiana, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts tells the personal stories of those who lived to tell about it, at the same time exploring the underbelly of a nation where the divide along race and class lines has never been more pronounced.

Customer Reviews:

Hurricane Katrina.......2007-09-15

Spike Lee's documentary on the Hurricane Katrina victims is heartfelt, informative and a do not miss! If the US Government didn't see it, they should to see just how embarrassing they really are. It should make them wonder how they can sleep at night & call themselves Americans!
Watch this....

Spike Lee Gets It!.......2007-09-12

This is the most awesome account of the people who were (and are) victims of Katrina and the US Government. Spike Lee speaks to people of all races and socio-economic groups in this film. He also documents some of the heroes who did what they could while trying to get around governmental interference.

Props to Spike!

Stark, Subjective, Personal and Overwhelming.......2007-09-03

To me this was the definitive documentary on the personal tragedy in New Orleans. Forget the spin, THIS is what happened to the people of New Orleans - just the existential experience of levees breaking and flooding an ancient city, the facts told from a very personal viewpoint. Put the camera in their face and let them talk.

I've always enjoyed Spike Lee's keen camera eye and the stories in his films but this 3-CD set is overwhelming and in a tragic way, very beautiful.

SPIKE LEE IMPRESSIVE.......2007-07-31

THE COVERAGE ON HURRICANE KATRINA IS VERY INFORMATIONAL AND BRINGS THE VIEWER INTO CONTACT WITH THE DEVASTATION FELT BY THE VICTIMS. A GOOD FILM FOR REFERENCE OF A HISTORIC DIASTER

Impressive.......2007-07-25

A very impressive documentary which keeps you wondering: where was and is the federal government and what does New Orleans look like two years after?

Average customer rating:

a cult movie in the making
not new, not good
Fantastic, interesting, original horror film! Don't miss it.
unique and entertaining
Something lost in the translation

The Host (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Manufacturer: Magnolia Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000PKG8TW
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Customer Reviews:

a cult movie in the making.......2007-09-16

***1/2

Reportedly the biggest box office hit in South Korean movie history, "The Host" is a fun monster-movie parody that is also a touching family drama and an indictment of the evils of modern science at one and the same time.

The trouble begins when a U.S. Army mortician orders his reluctant lab assistant to pour mass quantities of spoiled formaldehyde down the drain directly into Seoul's Han River. In no time flat, the toxic waste has mutated into a massive sea creature that can live both on land and in water and which devours any hapless human unfortunate enough to wander onto its path. It also captures certain individuals and drags them to a sewer where he keeps them for later feeding. One such victim is a young girl named Hyun-seo, whose family members - a kindly grandfather, an aunt and an uncle, and her own childlike father - after receiving no assistance from the governmental authorities, are forced to make a desperate attempt on their own to rescue her.

Directed by "Memories of Murder"'s Bong Joon-ho, "The Host" is not a laugh-a-minute parody in the scattershot mold of the "Airplane," "Naked Gun," "Scary Movie" franchises. Instead, it mocks the conventions of its genre while at the same time treating those conventions with seriousness and respect. The characters may act in ways that are silly and goofy, but the threat posed by the creature is always real, so that we laugh at the same time we are awaiting the next suspense-filled jolt to come our way.

The movie, in many ways, is really more about the dynamics of this one family than it is about a city coping with a man-eating monster. Of particular interest is Hyun-seo's father, Gang-du, a kindhearted man who lives with his dad, sleeps most of the day at the store they run, and seems never to have fully grown into adulthood. His idea of good parenting skills is playing video games with his daughter while handing her a freshly opened can of beer. This puts him in direct conflict with his younger brother and sister, who continually berate Gang-du for being an irresponsible parent. It is only in the midst of an intense crisis such as the one the family is facing that Gang-du finds the fortitude, courage and maturity he needs to be a true father to his daughter.

As in most films of this nature, the scientists and governmental authorities in "The Host" are viewed with suspicion, if not downright hostility. They spend most of their time lying to the general public in an attempt to hide their own inadequacies and incompetence. The Americans come in for a particular black eye in this film, which prompts one to wonder just how favorably the United States government is viewed by the people (or at least the filmmakers) of South Korea.

The performances are good, though "The Host" might have been a better film with a few minutes shaved off its running time. As it is, it runs a little long for a movie of this nature, with most of the best laughs occurring in the front portion of the film. It also has a tendency to take itself just a bit too seriously in its final half hour, blunting its satiric edge somewhat as a consequence.

Still, this is a clever, entertaining film with cool special effects and an appealingly self-mocking tone.

not new, not good.......2007-09-03

is a new version of the monster of the lake. With better
effects but without an argument to see.

Fantastic, interesting, original horror film! Don't miss it........2007-09-01

Thank god, FINALLY a horror film that doesn't simply follow all the rules, doing the paint by numbers routine that Hollywood has developed. The Host is refreshingly original, moving, sometimes hysterical, and other times terrifying.... I like to describe it as Jurassic Park meets Little Miss Sunshine. You've got your monster (which, even though the CGI is sometimes lacking, the animation, movement, and personality of the monster is brilliant), and then you've got your (sometimes funny, sometimes sad) dysfunctional family trying to get through the disaster and be there for each other.

Note 1) Do not watch the English dubbing, it is awful.

2) For those reviewers who mention the anti-American slant, it's not quite true - the opening scene (the origin of the monster), where a Korean is told by an American general to dump tons of formaldehyde into the Han river is NOT anti-American propaganda, it is a recreation of an actual event that happened in 2005. So, uh... yeah.

3) It is very different from American monster movies... this is a good thing. The characters and their relationships to each other are actually fairly engaging.

Check out The Host, go in with an open mind, and have a great time.

unique and entertaining.......2007-08-31

i really enjoyed the characters in this movie, and found them to be quite humorous in a realistic sort of way. american horror movies are usually pretty lacking these days, so it's always nice to see something with a little panache.
i also liked the scattered american characters in the movie because they were so true to form.

Something lost in the translation.......2007-08-31

I rated this a one star, just because there was no 'bomb' selection. To be fair, it is not as bad as say 'Plan 9 from outer space', but just barely. If you can get by the poorly translated dialogue and bad acting, you might like the special effects. More like a bad environmentalist and anti-establishment propaganda film along the lines of the '50's B roll, but without the good story line. It is worth a look, but not something I would have added to my library had I known.

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 (Special Edition)
Starring: Scott Beach , Marshall Bell , William Bronder , John Cusack , and Dick Durock
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00003CXIP
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com essential video

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:

Not on a par with other Mel Brooks movies
Tired, obvious jokes and fourth-wall humor
A classic
Believer in the Force? Trekkie? ...then watch THIS!
This movie was a gift to sci-fi fans

Spaceballs
Starring: Leslie Bevis , JM J. Bullock , John Candy , Ronny Graham , and Sandy Helberg
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0792844890
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com

Mel Brooks's 1987 parody of the Star Wars trilogy is a jumble of jokes rather than a comic feature, and, predictably, some of those jokes work better than others. The cast, including Brooks in two roles, more or less mimics the principal characters from George Lucas's famous story line, and the director certainly gets a boost from new allies (SCTV graduates Rick Moranis and John Candy) as well as old ones (Dick Van Patten, Dom DeLuise). Watch this and wait for the sporadic inspiration--but don't be surprised if you find yourself yearning for those years when Brooks was a more complete filmmaker (Young Frankenstein). --Tom Keogh

Description

The farce is with you in this "uproarious salute to science fiction" (The Hollywood Reporter) that teams comedy legend Mel Brooks with an all-star cast of cutups including John Candy (Splash), Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters) and Bill Pullman (Ruthless People)! When the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) attempts to steal all the air from planet Druidia, a determined Druish Princess (Daphne Zuniga), a clueless rogue (Pullman) and a half-man/half-dog creature who's his own best friend (Candy) set out to stop him! But with the forces of darkness closing in on them at ludicrous speed, they'll need the help of a wise imp named Yogurt (Brooks) and the mystical power of "The Schwartz" to bring peaceand merchandising rightsto the entire galaxy!

Customer Reviews:

Not on a par with other Mel Brooks movies.......2007-08-27

I have seen this movie a number of times, and while it has some funny scenes, it is not at the genius level of other Mel Brooks movies (The Producers and Blazing Saddles come to mind). The acting seems ordinary, without great delivery or presence. Mel Brooks has 2 major roles, giving a much-needed boost to the movie.

Tired, obvious jokes and fourth-wall humor.......2007-08-09

A friend of mine was raving about this movie, so I finally decided to check it out. I could not even watch the whole thing, I got so bored and fed up with the cornball attempts at humor. ("We're gonna jam their radar!" and the spaceship shoots raspberry jam at the radar dish. Give me a break. Or how about all the dumb jewish jokes (the "Druish Princess") and weak plays on words - "May the Schwartz be with you"? Character names like "Pizza the Hut"? Mel Brooks has always had a weakness for obvious plays on words, but rarely are they as flat as this.)

Equally hackneyed are the "jokes" that rely on breaking the fourth wall (i.e. the actors acknowledging the audience) - there are several scenes where the characters make a big to-do about being in the middle of a movie called "Spaceballs" and it's all just pointless and obvious. I tried really hard to get into the "zaniness" of the Star Wars spoof, but it was just ... not funny.

The problem with this movie is that it tries way too hard to be funny and it is way too self-aware. The best parodies are the ones that are completely serious in delivering utterly absurd scenarios. But this movie felt like Mel Brooks was almost reminding the audience over and over that something funny was going on. If you have to be reminded to laugh, it ain't that funny.

A classic.......2007-07-24

Spaceballs is a wonderful movie that you can watch over and over. It is a great movie to watch on a plane or train. You will soon learn and repeat many lines from this film and each watch will gove you many laughs.

Believer in the Force? Trekkie? ...then watch THIS!.......2007-07-06

Listen up Star Wars, Star Trek, Bug Rogers, and Planet of the Apes fans. This DVD is a must-have for every fan of the previous mentioned movies who does not take his "fan-ship" to serious.

This movie is a well-done "persiflage" (I hope my French was right hehe) of all of them. It is the best Mel Brooks movie ever.

(Original review December 30, 2001)

This movie was a gift to sci-fi fans.......2007-06-12

I have been a Star Trek fan since I was 4 years old and a Star Wars fan ever since I was 7. Both TV/film franchises hold a special place in my heart. I was also a fan of Mel Brooks (I had seen History of the World: Part One countless times as well as Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, etc.)

Then, at the wonderful age of 17, I saw Spaceballs at the theater.

OH.....MY.....GOD!

From the opening scene when the gargantuan spaceship flies across the screen and keeps going and going and going and going, I knew I was in for a treat. For the first few seconds, I took the scene for what it was, but after I realized what Brooks was "saying" with the scene, I burst out laughing. How ingenius!

During the run of the film, I laughed so hard that my stomach and face muscles were sore for days afterward. Obviously, a lot of love went into this film. Great attention to detail was made when it came to the names, costumes, special effects, music, etc.

Much of the humor is juvenile, but that's what's so damn endearing about Spaceballs. The movie makes no aplogies for itself and attacks almost all popular sci-fi venues.

Obviously, the biggest influence of the film was Star Wars, but Spaceballs also pokes fun at Star Trek, Alien, Planet of the Apes, Transformers, and even the old classic Bugs Bunny cartoons.

At the price this DVD is going for, you can't afford to pass up a classic film like this. Comedy fans will enjoy it, but sci-fi fans will love it that much more.

"May da schwartz be wit youoooooo.....oh, what a world! What a world....."

Average customer rating:

Revisionist History of Camp 16
awesome
William Holden on the River Kwai
Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character.
The bridge on the river kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai
Starring: William Holden , Jack Hawkins , Alec Guinness , Sessue Hayakawa , and James Donald
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004XPPC
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

Director David Lean's masterful 1957 realization of Pierre Boulle's novel remains a benchmark for war films, and a deeply absorbing movie by any standard--like most of Lean's canon, The Bridge on the River Kwai achieves a richness in theme, narrative, and characterization that transcends genre.

The story centers on a Japanese prison camp isolated deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where the remorseless Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) has been charged with building a vitally important railway bridge. His clash of wills with a British prisoner, the charismatic Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), escalates into a duel of honor, Nicholson defying his captor's demands to win concessions for his troops. How the two officers reach a compromise, and Nicholson becomes obsessed with building that bridge, provides the story's thematic spine; the parallel movement of a team of commandos dispatched to stop the project, led by a British major (Jack Hawkins) and guided by an American escapee (William Holden), supplies the story's suspense and forward momentum.

Shot on location in Sri Lanka, Kwai moves with a careful, even deliberate pace that survivors of latter-day, high-concept blockbusters might find lulling--Lean doesn't pander to attention deficit disorders with an explosion every 15 minutes. Instead, he guides us toward the intersection of the two plots, accruing remarkable character details through extraordinary performances. Hayakawa's cruel camp commander is gradually revealed as a victim of his own sense of honor, Holden's callow opportunist proves heroic without softening his nihilistic edge, and Guinness (who won a Best Actor Oscar, one of the production's seven wins) disappears as only he can into Nicholson's brittle, duty-driven, delusional psychosis. His final glimpse of self-knowledge remains an astonishing moment--story, character, and image coalescing with explosive impact.

Like Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai has been beautifully restored and released in a highly recommended widescreen version that preserves its original aspect ratio. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Revisionist History of Camp 16.......2007-08-29

The film shows a tropical jungle, then we see a railroad. There are graves along the railway. There is a settlement, these workers are captured British army men. A new group enters the camp whistling a song. The Japanese Colonel Saito welcomes them and tells how they will build a railroad from Bangkok to Rangoon. Escape is impossible. "Be happy in your work." There will be no escape committee, the odds are against it. The British commander will cooperate with the Japanese since they were ordered to surrender.

There is a crisis when the British commander Colonel Nicholson refuses to order the officers to perform manual labor, even after a deadly threat. They are left standing in the hot sun without water or food until they are sent to the punishment hut. But a few try to escape across the river. Their bodies are brought back, except for one man who fell into the river. Trees are cut to build a timber bridge. The project is behind schedule, Colonel Saito blames the workers. Saito makes an offer to Colonel Nicholson: cooperate or the hospital will be closed.

Commander Shears makes it to a village and is rescued. Colonel Saito proclaims a holiday and gives the prisoners Red Cross parcels (saving them from starvation). There is a problem in building the bridge. Colonel Nicholson is brought to meet Colonel Saito, and they reach a "proper solution" after a dramatic confrontation. An amnesty ends the stalemate. Work will continue with the British officers in charge. [The film claims the British could do a better job than the Japanese through organization and efficiency. The future would tell more about this.] New plans are adopted.

British Force 316 asks Shears for help with their project. Major Warden explains their use of "plastic". This force will parachute a team to destroy the bridge. "Commander Shears" explains himself, and gets another unexpected surprise. "Good Show!" Back at the prison camp they are all happy in their work, morale is high because they are doing a proper job. [Sarcasm here?] Force 316 parachutes into the jungle, but there is a problem. They must take a roundabout route to their destination. [This is also safer than a regular path.] Colonel Nicholson is totally devoted to finishing the bridge, he even asks patients from the hospital to volunteer! Birds fly into the air, the unexpected happens. They arrive at the bridge and plan its destruction. They must wait until the scheduled train arrives on the bridge. The sentries pacing over the bridge add to the suspense. Nature presents a complication. Colonel Nicholson sees a strange object and follows the lead to an ironic ending.

Pierre Boulle wrote many novels. What changes were made for this film? Does the bridge resemble the famous railway bridge on the Firth of Forth?

awesome.......2007-07-31

This is what my husband wanted and he loves it. I thought it was a little pricey.

William Holden on the River Kwai.......2007-07-14

The movie is just as I remembered it. A wonderful movie that won many academy awards. A must see.

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character........2007-05-06

This unique film had everything you could want except romance. Action, suspense, special effects, an intruiging story, themes, cinematography, diection, & locales. This is the story of a Japanese POW camp in Burma in World War two. Commanded by Colonel Saito {Sessue Hayakawa}, the mainly British captives are being used as slave labor for the construction of a railroad bridge that will link malaysia to Rangoon over the river Kwai. The Japanese commander's life depends on it's successful completion. Colonel Nicholson the British commander is a stickler for rules & when Saito declares that officers will work as well as enlisted men, he sites the Geneva Convention restrictions on officers doing manual labor. When they refuse to work, Saito has them thrown into ovens, metal containers that bake in the tropical sweltering heat. After much angst Saito relents since the bridge is behind schedule. There's a fine mix of camera shots from all possible angles showing the grinding heat draining the overworked & malnurished men, as well as breathtaking panoramas. Above all positives of this excellent film were the performances by all concerned. Alec Guinness as Col. nicholson was beyond "PERFECTION." He totally absorbs the characters essence & then manifests it. I can't think of any actor who deserved his/her OSCAR more. William Holden is also superlative in his scenes, as were stern Sessue Hayakawa & the enigmatic Jack Hawkins. The destruction of the bridge & train was a one shot chance done very well. I saw this film on TV as a young boy. Now seeing it again on DVD, it was as enthralling as ever. Buy it, you won't be disapointed.

The bridge on the river kwai.......2007-04-02

Classic movie and glad it finally came on DVD

Average customer rating:

Widescreen please
Why No Widescreen?!
Return to Snowy River
Great Movie.
Very Good Movie

Return to Snowy River
Starring: Tony Barry , John Bird , Tom Burlinson , Peter Cummins , and Brian Dennehy
Director: Geoff Burrowes
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Romantic Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005JLHX
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Description

Australia's breathtaking Victoria Alps set the backdrop for this spectacular epic saga. Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton, two of Australia's brightest film talents, star in a fast-paced, action-packed story of a stormy romance caught up in a violent feud between landowners. Acclaimed actor Brian Dennehy (LEGAL EAGLES, COCOON) gives a gripping performance as the powerful patriarch determined to keep them apart. Visually unforgettable and packed with rugged adventure and masterful stuntwork, RETURN TO SNOWY RIVER is a thrilling and memorable film!

Customer Reviews:

Widescreen please.......2007-08-15

Great story. As soon as the DVD is released in widescreen I'll buy it.

Why No Widescreen?!.......2007-06-30

This is a great movie, but it was originally shown in theaters in the 2:35:1 Widescreen format. I know some people like the full screen format over widescreen, but so much of the beauty and landscapes are lost in pan and scan full screen. Why can't this film be released with both pan and scan & widescreen. I know I am not the only person who would like to see it released in widescreen. Please consider a re-release Disney for the widescreen audience. Thanks

Return to Snowy River.......2007-06-08

Gotta watch both to get the full affect of the Man of Snowy River... Great love story...

Great Movie........2007-05-13

The ladies love this! Pop it in, and watch 'em cuddle right up into your arms.

Very Good Movie.......2007-05-12

I have the first movie and the second on video and Dvd and I do enjoy them very much.

Average customer rating:

tom selleck rides again
Last Stand at Saber River
Last Stand at Saber River
The first of Tom Selleck's excellent TNT Westerns
Well I'll Bow!....

Last Stand at Saber River
Starring: Tom Selleck , Suzy Amis , Rachel Duncan , Haley Joel Osment , and Keith Carradine
Director: Dick Lowry
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0007OY2OE
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Amazon.com

Tom Selleck shows a harder side of his persona as a disillusioned Confederate who returns home in the waning days of the Civil War in this adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel. His wife, Suzy Amis, isn't ready to forgive him for leaving his family behind for the "adventure" of war, and his children hardly remember him. Haunted by his actions in the war and caught in a power struggle in the Arizona territory, Selleck's soul-scarred survivor makes a last stand to protect the only thing left that matters to him--his homestead and his family. The film has its share of gunfights, showdowns, conspiracies, and Civil War rivalries, and even a runaway stagecoach, but its power lies in the somber exploration of how misunderstandings and conflicts tear at a marriage during such a volatile time, when ideals are set against duty to family. Director Dick Lowry's lean style makes the most of the gorgeous landscapes, and he creates a strong dramatic tension in the bubbling undercurrent between Selleck, who leaves behind the jovial character of his Louis L'Amour Westerns for a man hardened and embittered by war, and Amis, an excellent actress who brings to life a woman who shoots, speaks her mind, and harbors resentment just as well as any brooding male hero. Keith and David Carradine costar as Union wranglers who hold a grudge against the Confederate veteran. One of the most mature TV Westerns ever made. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Tom Selleck rides into Western adventure in grand, gritty style as Paul Cable in Last Stand at Saber River, from the novel by Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Sight Customer Reviews:

tom selleck rides again.......2007-06-19

my husband a big western lover really liked this film. in typical tom selleck fashion he leaves the civil war after witnessing a massacar of innocents. the resulting story will please ater fans.

Last Stand at Saber River.......2007-05-12

It is an outstanding movie. It goes back to what we grew up with. A hero who is fighting against odds, but wins out in the end. Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are the top western "story tellers" of our time. You can tell they love it.

Last Stand at Saber River.......2007-02-14

The movie was excellent and is typical of a Tom Selleck Western. It's to bad he is type-cast as Magnum PI, because he is a great portrayer of the Westerns and I would love to see him star in more of them.

The first of Tom Selleck's excellent TNT Westerns.......2006-11-04

"Last Stand at Saber River" was the first of three excellent Westerns that Tom Selleck made for TNT between 1997 and 2003 (and I'm still hoping there'll be at least a fourth one some day). Selleck has starred in five made-for-TV Westerns total, three of which are based on Louis L'Amour stories. This one, however, is based on a book by Elmore Leonard, and the difference is obvious in both the lack of idealism and in the extreme violence.

Selleck is Paul Cable, a Confederate cavalryman who has come home from the Civil War (only slightly) early. He knows the war is lost for the South, he is worn out, and he only wants to take his family back to their homestead in Arizona to live a normal life. His wife, who was told that he was dead, is less than thrilled to have him back home because she is resentful that he left to fight in the war in the first place. Suzy Amis does an excellent job as Martha Cable. She is not the stereotypical beauty who runs around in a bustle under fancy dresses. She is a tough frontierswoman who has experienced many hardships and gets her husband out of some tight spots as the movie progresses.

While the majority of the movie is good at depicting the divisions between North and South that caused the Civil War and which the Civil War then exacerbated, the subplot of the inner struggles that Paul and Martha Cable face is far more interesting. It's a great movie until the end, when we get the additional time-worn subplot of a Confederate soldier who just can't give up the Lost Cause. No, it's not Selleck's character who has this problem, but Selleck already had covered this territory in 1982's "The Shadow Riders" (though it wasn't his character who wanted to keep fighting in that movie either); John Wayne's "The Undefeated" is another well-known film with the Lost Cause plotline.

In spite of the needlessly melodramatic ending, this is a strong Western. Selleck and TNT kept getting better and better with "Crossfire Trail" and "Monte Walsh". Check out all three, and you'll join me in wishing for number four.

Well I'll Bow!...........2006-06-26

Tom Selleck takes on a serious role in this made for TV western. He stars as Confederate soldier Paul Cable, realizing the war is lost, returning to find his wife and family...hoping to pick up the pieces of a life he left behind. His wife Martha(Suzy Amis) isn't so happy to see him..she had thought him long dead..and was trying to get on with her life. With family, daughter Clare and son Davis(Haley Joel Osment), they leave Martha's father(Harry Carey Jr.) in Texas and head for Arizona and their ranch home. Upon arriving in Arizona, they find that the Union sympathizers(Keith and David Carradine) have confiscated their land..everyone still thinking he was dead. This requires them to fight for their home and for their acceptance in the rebuilding of life after the Civil War.

This is a well put together movie with good continuity. Not only does it have the western action but it also effectively shows the rebuilding of the marriage relationship between Cable and his wife. Susy Amis does a great job in portraying a wife that is ready to make her stand for family and home. Selleck puts in one of his better performances and shows that he can seriously act. Well worth adding to any western collection.

Average customer rating:

The Man from Snowy River
The Man from Snowy River
excellent movie
A Winner
Australian Romance

The Man From Snowy River
Starring: Tom Burlinson , Terence Donovan , Kirk Douglas , Tommy Dysart , and Bruce Kerr
Director: George Miller
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Westerns | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000062XG0
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Amazon.com essential video

A conventional boy-and-his-horse story set against the red rocks of remote Australian mountains. (If there's a wide-screen edition, grab it. The scenery is one of the movie's strongest features.) Tom Burlinson is Jim Craig, a young man left stranded after his father's death who is struggling to save the family farm. He proves his manhood during a hair-raising hunt over the wooded slopes in search of an escaped stallion. The great, grizzled, Australian character actor Jack Thompson (the idealistic lawyer in Breaker Morant) is the tough, older horseman who takes the lad under his wing. The director, George Miller (not to be confused with the action-master who made the Mad Max films) allows costar Kirk Douglas to mug and grimace and prance far too much in a duel role as a pair of lovable old coots who hate each other's guts. Luckily, one of the coots has a handsome daughter (Sigrid Thornton, an Elizabeth McGovern-type with grit), who also has a way with horses. So it isn't all rocks and pine trees. --David Chute

Description

With its unforgettably heroic story, its stunning cinematography, and acting performances that are uniformly excellent, THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is one thrilling adventure you won't want to miss. Set during the 1880's, when the Australian frontier was as wild and dangerous as the American West, the film follows the exploits of a handsome youth (Tom Burlinson) who sets out to tame a wild herd of horses. Taking on a challenge many men had attempted before him, he rides deep into the treacherous and untamed wilderness of his native timberlands where boys become men fast - or die trying. Featuring Kirk Douglas in a remakable dual role and highlighted by a climactic chase involving 40 horsemen and 90 wild stallioins thundering across snow-covered peaks, THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is destined to become a legendary film!

Customer Reviews:

The Man from Snowy River.......2007-07-10

For lovers of horses and the outdoors, it's hard to beat this title. Yes, old Kirk hams it up shamelessly as Spur, but hey, it's still Kirk Douglas! Other performances are uniformly excellent, particularly Burlinson, Thornton, and Jack Thompson (the defense lawyer in "Breaker Morant") playing the leathery Clancy, a revered expert horseman who quietly mentors Jim. Grand, old-fashioned story-telling.

The Man from Snowy River.......2007-06-08

Great sags about a Austrial cowboy wants to prove his is as good as his dad and get the girl, Jessica

excellent movie.......2007-06-02

For the people who loves riding horses in the nature, work with cattle or horses, they should watch this movie. Excellent action scenes.

A Winner.......2007-05-27

I love horses, always have. And I love this video. It's one of very few that I would choose to own, rather than rent.

Australian Romance.......2007-05-13

This is an excellentwestern romance with all the thrills of fast horses anda
great cliff hanger at the end.

Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection (Seven Year Itch / Gentlement Prefer Blondes / Niagara / River of No Return / Let's Make Love / Marilyn: The Final Days)

Average customer rating:

A Great Compilation!
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection
Marilyn Monroe at her best
I love this lady!

Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection (Seven Year Itch / Gentlement Prefer Blondes / Niagara / River of No Return / Let's Make Love / Marilyn: The Final Days)
Starring: Marilyn Monroe , Joseph Cotten , Jean Peters , Max Showalter , and Denis O'Dea
Director: Henry Hathaway , Billy Wilder , and Patty Ivins Specht
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000EMGJAY
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Description

Collection Includes the following Titles:

**SEVEN YEAR ITCH **GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES **NIAGARA **RIVER OF NO RETURN **LET'S MAKE LOVE **MARILYN: THE FINAL DAYS

Customer Reviews:

A Great Compilation!.......2007-07-17

I love this set! It is a really nice display item as well, as it sits nicely on a shelf and has a wonderful picture of Marilyn on there.

Marilyn Monroe.......2007-01-10

While this set doesn't have all the Marilyn Monroe movies, it is a good set to have. Marilyn is beautiful in all of the enclosed movies. She acted various parts and did so in different ways. This set is a good start for anyone beginning a Monroe collection!

Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection.......2007-01-10

I bought this DVD set for my father for his birthday. He just turned 83 years old and he absolutely have always adored Marilyn Monroe and he was so thrilled when he got the set and he said the color on the DVD cover was absolutely beautiful and he (my parents and I are deaf) was happy that the movies was subtitled and he was able to fully understand everything which in back of old days, the movies were not captioned and he would just guess what the stories were about but now he does not have to play guess anymore.

Marilyn Monroe at her best.......2007-01-09

I bought this as a gift for my 15 year old neice! Marilyn is at her best in these classics! She never goes out of style! I would recommend this set to any one that either wanted to start collecting all of her movies or just the best ones.

I love this lady!.......2007-01-03

great movies!. I think she made a great suductress, also she has an awesome body, not a twig like the ladies of today.

Average customer rating:

Sneakers on DVD
A Must See!!
This one deserve more playing time....
Both suspenseful and funny
good movie

Sneakers (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jo Marr , Gary Hershberger , Robert Redford , Sidney Poitier , and David Strathairn
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00008OE4W
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Product Description

Robert Redford leads an all-star cast in one of the most satisfying suspense films! Computer expert Martin Bishop (Redford) heads a team of renegade hackers including a former CIA employee (Sidney Poitier), a gadgets wizard (Dan Aykroyd), a young genius (River Phoenix) and a blind soundman (David Strathairn) who are routinely hired to test security systems. But Bishop s past comes back to haunt him when government agents blackmail the sneakers into carrying out a covert operation: tracking down an elusive black box. Along with his former girlfriend (Mary McDonnell), Bishop s team retrieves the box and makes a stunning discovery the device can break into any computer system in the world. With factions from all sides willing to kill for the powerful box, Bishop and his team embark on their most dangerous assignment ever in this exhilarating high-tech caper from Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams).

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

This enjoyable thriller, written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson (the screenwriter of Field of Dreams), follows a raggedy group of corporate security experts who get in over their heads when they accept an assignment poaching some hot hardware for the National Security Agency. Robert Redford plays the group's guru, an aging techno-anarchist who has been hiding from the feds since the early 1970s; his companionable gang of freaks includes Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, the late River Phoenix, and Sidney Poitier, as a veteran CIA operative turned "sneaker." The technological black box that everybody is after, an array of computer chips that can decode any encrypted message, isn't a very plausible invention, but it's a serviceable McGuffin, and the megalomania of the master plotter played by Ben Kingsley has more resonance than most. Modest inferences can be drawn about the very latest high-tech threats to civil liberties. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

Sneakers on DVD.......2007-08-30

My husband and I are always on the lookout for movies that we both like, as well as our adult children, who like to have occasional movie nights at our house--movies that are not full of profanity or lewdness or terrible violence and are immensely enjoyable. This is a tricky combination to satisfy. We saw "Sneakers" recently on TV and realized how really clever and fun a movie it is--definitely one that filled the above criteria. When we decided to try to purchase the DVD for our collection, we went straight to Amazon. How quickly we had this entertaining movie in our home! It is in great condition. We immediately planned a movie night and watched it (again). Thank you for being there and doing such a great job of providing good stuff!

A Must See!!.......2007-08-25

If you have not seen Sneakers, where have you been hiding?

Robert Redford leads this all star cast, an emsemble that blends effortlessly for so much talent in one room.

Sneakers combines good character with interesting plot, suspense, humor, and romance.

I never get tired of watching this movie again and again, it's just a great movie!

This one deserve more playing time...........2007-07-17

This is such an entertaining film, but how often do you stumble across it on one of the movie channels, or any channel for that matter? Great ensemble cast, lots of humor, but still enough plot and drama to satisfy a wide range of movie watchers. Each of the characters (the "good guys") has his or her quirks that makes each one memorable, and also invaluable in some way to getting the job done. One premise, that decisions that we make can stay with us for the rest of our lives and influence so many other decisions that we make, is well illustrated by Redford's character. Great interactions and witty banter among the lead actors. Enjoy!

Both suspenseful and funny.......2007-07-10

"Sneakers" is one of my favorite watch-again movies, and I think it has the elements needed to become a classic: numerous stars; a tight, suspenseful plot; enough laugh-out-loud humor to make it lots of fun to watch; and plenty of action and intrigue. The star-studded cast includs Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, the late River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, and David Strathairn, and each of them brings an excellent performance. This quirky combination of stars plays well in the movie, with Aykroyd channeling his brother, who believes every conspiracy theory ever devised and Redford as the guy who gets all the dangerous tasks, or--as Poitier puts it--"all the fun stuff." Ben Kingsley as the maniacal Cosmo with his two cold-blooded operatives, Timothy Busfield and Eddie Jones, is just scary enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, while the other performers all add humor to the suspense. Stephen Tobolowsky as Dr. Werner Brandes is comical as Mary McDonnell's computer date, yet menacing when he finds out her true identity. This is an engaging and entertaining movie that lets the viewer into the inner sanctum of a group of exceptionally talented computer gurus with the boyish charm of high school geeks. It has a warmth and vibrancy that are a bit unexpected for a movie of its genre, and there are few "slow" moments in the film; the action keeps moving. The scene where Robert Redford unexpectedly encounters the mathematician's paramour is hilarious, and the one where Whistler drives the van is hair-raising and funny at the same time. It's fun to watch for details such as Redford's using a Popeil Pocket Fisherman to retrieve something, right in the midst of a suspenseful moment. "Sneakers" is still appealing after all these years, and someday when all the impressive technology in it starts to look dated, the movie will still be a good time.

good movie.......2007-04-14

Delightful caper flick enhanced by its deft handling of a rather preposterous plot. Great characters and terrific casting (Dan Aykroyd's conspiracy theorist perpetually sparring with ex-CIA agent Sidney Poitier, Ben Kingsley brilliant as usual, etc.) plus a really good score. The technology in the movie is completely dated but it holds up anyway. One of my favorites.

This DVD comes with a clever and insightful though not earthshattering director's commentary.

DVD:

DVD

DVD