End of the Spear

Description

"End of the Spear" is the remarkable journey of a savage Amazon tribesman who becomes family to the son of a North American man he kills. Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) is a Waodani warrior who leads the raid that kills Steve Saint's father and four other missionaries. Through a suspenseful series of events Steve Saint (Chase Ellison) is able to visit Mincayani's tribe. Steve tries to learn which warriors killed his father, but has to leave with his question unanswered. Steve returns to the Waodani as an adult (Chad Allen). Together Mincayani and Steve confront the true meaning of the life and death of Steve's father, and the other men who were killed.

Customer Reviews:

In-depth doco on this amazing story!.......2007-09-16

Hey, if you need info about this story and lots of details then this is the film to see...

I thought this was well done!.......2007-09-13

This was a great movie! You have to watch it about 4 or 5 times to truly understand what is going on. That's how deep this movie is. My favorite line is "you did't take his life he gave it" I WISH THEY HAD MORE CHRISTIAN VERBAGE. BUT THE POINT COMES ACROSS THAT THEY WERE MISSIONARIES!
Jesus Saves! as the Wiadoni show.

Beautiful and dynamic.......2007-07-24

End of the Spear draws the viewer into the world of Ecuador's rain forest. Based on an true account, this movie fascinated me. The scenery is beautiful, and the occasional subtitles are weaved into the movie in a manner that does not distract from its action. I enjoyed the clips of the actual people involved as the credits closed the movie. Excellent choice for anyone who is interested in cultural anthropology, indigenous socities, or in Christian themes. This movie does not preach; it shows the love, loss, and restoration of two families. I will watch it again soon.

Mixed blessings mission.......2007-07-13

In 1956, 5 naive American missionaries (of unnamed sect) dragged their young families to the back of beyond in order to make contact with and proselytize the Huaorani, a minuscule tribe of incredibly violent jungle savages. Upon finally discovering the whereabouts of this elusive tribe, the 5 missionaries land their plane in the middle of Huaorani territory and, because they were unarmed and did not speak a word of the Indians' language, promptly get themselves speared to death. I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but I would have been embarrassed to dramatize this story if one of these men were my father. All their foolish deaths accomplished was to be a lesson as to how_not_to run a mission or make contact with primitive peoples. Their subsequent actions of the widow and sister of two of the men were considerably more prudent, as they at least had a translator and some language skills when they went to make contact with the Huaorani. I know I should have been judging the movie on its own merits, but I just couldn't get past my problems with the central purpose and methods of our protagonists.

In the first place, I just can't understand why- in a time when a rapidly de-Christianizing Western world and an atheistic Soviet Bloc were on the verge of obliterating the planet in a nuclear cataclysm, these people felt the need to drag drag their wives and children to the middle of the Ecuadorian jungle and spend so much time and energy trying to convert such an insignificant portion of humanity. Surely there were more desperate fields for evangelism back in North America, a place where these hapless missionaries at least spoke the language and could have made a bigger difference. I'm not saying the Huaorani didn't deserve to hear the Gospel, but these folks should have gone where they could have had the most impact; St. Paul went to Athens and Rome, not the North Pole. More locally attuned missionaries would have reached the Huaorani eventually; were our protagonists afraid the Catholics would get there first? Secondly, I just can't get over the pathetic manner in which these men threw their lives away, or at least how it was depicted in the movie. They brought a gun but didn't use it, even to scare the Huaorani warriors. They didn't speak the Huaorani language but somehow expected to convert them with funny faces, hand gestures and airplane rides. Whoever let these men conduct such an immature and ill-prepared venture should have been put in jail.

It's also unfortunate that we couldn't see the disastrous aftermath of Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Eliot's admittedly brave missionary efforts. With the support of the Ecuadorian government and US oil companies, these women helped herd the Huaorani onto a reservation where they were remade into good little American evangelicals. (I wonder how they've taken to blue blazers and khakis). Western disease has reduced the Huaorani population to around 2,000 today (from 25,000 after WWII), their cultural identity has been obliterated and their former lands have been exploited by the government and the oil companies. An interesting back story would have been the reason why Rachel Saint was ordered to retire by the SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics, the evangelical group which sponsored the mission) and why the SIL itself was subsequently expelled from the country. The American evangelical movement however, with its ever-increasing transformation into a Republican PAC, is so desperate to hang on to its eroding spiritual identity that it latched unto this story as its own, edited and mythologized it into the whitewashed version portrayed in this movie.

As for the film itself, it was a beautiful thing to watch, with the native people and their lush natural environment being captured quite exquisitely, if at a slow pace. I give it a third star for the excellent cinematography.

Touching, awe inspiring.......2007-07-02

I was simply touched by this film even after seeing it twice. Regardless of any religious beliefs you may or may not have, the lesson taught in this film is that love, forgiveness, and asking for forgiveness (repenting) will keep you from a wasted life of hatered and bitterness. Harboring those two things will eat you alive from the inside out.

Go Diego Go! - The Great Dinosaur Rescue

Average customer rating:

Great for Diego lovers!!
Diego is great
Interactive and Educational
Big Hit!
Very Enjoyable!!

Go Diego Go! - The Great Dinosaur Rescue
Starring: E. Austin Valentine , Rosie Perez , Sebastian Arcelus , Jake T. Austin , and Gabriela Aisenberg
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BYRCCY
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Amazon.com

Like his free-spirited cousin Dora, the Explorer, eight-year old animated character Diego Marquez makes his film debut, an animal rescue extravaganza based on Nick Jr.'s show, Go, Diego, Go!. The preschool program focuses on animal exploration and discovery while incorporating Latin American culture, Spanish vocabulary, and plenty of audience participation. Based on the sweeping success of the series, The Great Dinosaur Rescue applies the same winsome elements to an original storyline that starts in a dinosaur museum with some fun facts about the fascinating reptiles. When Diego, Dora, and Baby Jaguar hear Alicia tell a story about a Maiasaura who got separated from her family, they know it's time for a rescue. With a little help from viewers, the team jumps back in time to the age of the dinosaurs to find Maia and return her safely to Egg Island. But the journey has some obstacles to overcome--including muddy pits, rocky cliffs, and a rumbling volcano--which require teamwork, cool gadgetry, and Diego's unique ability to communicate with animals. Preschoolers are invited to interact with the story as Diego rouses them--often in Spanish--to "Stand up!" and stretch, stomp, and jump. Integrating repetition, music, and movement, the film (like the series), is a standout for teaching problem-solving skills along with an appreciation of the animal kingdom. The 50-minute VHS ends with a computer-like game offering a question/answer review of the story; the 92-minute DVD includes two bonus episodes, "Diego Saves Baby Humpback Whale" and "Rescue The Red-Eyed Tree Frogs." (Ages 3 to 5) --Lynn Gibson

Product Description

"It's Diego and You to the Rescue!" From the creators of Dora the Explorer comes a whole new adventure - Go Diego Go! This animated, preschool, action adventure series stars Diego Marquez, an 8-year-old bilingual, Latino, animal rescuer with in intense love of nature and the animals around him. In each episode Diego partners directly with the view on a high stakes animal themed adventure.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Diego lovers!!.......2007-06-10

This DVD is worth ever penny. My two sons love to watch this on road trips. Not only do my kids like Diego, but they love dinosaurs. If your kids like Diego this is the video for them!!

Diego is great.......2007-05-07

I purchased this DVD based on other peoples' recommendations here on Amazon. My granddaughter absolutely loved it. (She is 31 months old.) She is really fascinated with Dinosaurs and I didn't even know that she had just been introduced to Diego. I can highly recommend it.

Interactive and Educational.......2007-04-18

My 2 year old son is enjoying this interactive dvd. The content prompts the toddler to respond via words and actions rather than just passively watching the visual content. It also introduces concepts like helping others in trouble, working in a group, solving problem and various others. I am happy to see my son enjoying this dvd.

Big Hit!.......2007-03-21

My grandson is a big Diego fan! He love's this show. Entertaining for him and grandma too! Don't miss this one!

Very Enjoyable!!.......2007-02-25

My 2 year daughter absolutely love Diego. At first she was into Dora but she loves and dances to all the Diego songs and I find myself singing along with her at times. So this disc is definitely a thumbs up.

Average customer rating:

Excellent entertainment
Highly Educational
Great DVD!
My Boys & Daughter Love Diego

Go Diego Go! - The Great Jaguar Rescue
Starring: E. Austin Valentine , Rosie Perez , Sebastian Arcelus , Jake T. Austin , and Gabriela Aisenberg
Manufacturer: Nick Jr. DVD/Paramount DVD
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JBXP2A
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Product Description

This DVD includes two main episodes, two bonus episodes, and tons of fun-filled special features.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent entertainment .......2007-08-23

...and educational, as well. My daughter learns about animals, working together, and a foreign language. I recommend this 100% to anyone with young children.

Highly Educational.......2007-05-10

It is highly educational with lots of interesting facts about the animals and their habitat. The way the facts were presented in this DVD makes learning easy and memorable.

My 3YO daughter could remember the number of toes a jaguar have, the types of animals who sleep in the day and the features of a macaw, by just after watching the DVD once!

This show is a good extension to Dora. Now i'm convinced that i should get the whole series of Go Diego Go!

Great DVD!.......2007-05-07

Both of my kids, [..], enjoy watching this video. It has cute stories and they learn a little about animals and there habitat while watching. The DVD has entertainment and some educational value.

My Boys & Daughter Love Diego.......2007-02-22

So I have Diego fans. All 3 of my kids love this movie. I actually don't mind watching this movie with them. The great thing about this video is it has a few different episodes on it. We own quite a few Diego items. Great expansion of Dora which my kids love as well. Definitely recommend this DVD.

Average customer rating:

DVD learning and entertainment

Go Diego Go! - Wolf Pup Rescue
Starring: E. Austin Valentine , Rosie Perez , Sebastian Arcelus , Jake T. Austin , and Gabriela Aisenberg
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FZETL6
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Description

"Go, Diego, Go!" is an animated, preschool, action adventure series starring Diego Marquez, an 8-year-old bilingual, Latino, animal rescuer with an intense love of nature and the animals around him. In each episode Diego encourages his viewers to participate in his high stakes animal themed adventures.

Customer Reviews:

DVD learning and entertainment.......2007-01-04

My granddaughter loves Diego and Dora. Seems there is some controversy about them, but our family loves them. They are colorful, well thoughtout, with great different characters and different animals. Always positive outcomes with showing the desire to help. The interactive part is very entertaining for the young ones and educational.

Average customer rating:

Excelente!!

Go Diego Go! - Diego Saves Christmas!
Starring: E. Austin Valentine , Rosie Perez , Sebastian Arcelus , Jake T. Austin , and Gabriela Aisenberg
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000GTLB4E
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Product Description

This release contains 4 New-to-DVD episodes, two main two bonus episodes.

Customer Reviews:

Excelente!!.......2007-01-10

Es una estupenda compra. Se la compre a mi hija de 2 años y medio, esta encantada! La recomiendo, es muy buena inversion, mi hija ha aprendido mucho con Diego, es mas, es su caricatura favorita.

Average customer rating:

Badly Edited
wrong language sent -- can't review
Wonderful!
great novela... check out the website for the complete novela
la usurpadora

La Usurpadora
Starring: Gabriela Spanic , Daniela Spanic , Fernando Colunga , Libertad Lamarque , and Chantal Andere
Director: Karina Duprez , and Beatriz Sheridan
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006Z2NOK
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Customer Reviews:

Badly Edited.......2007-07-18

By chance I came across "Amor Real" at a drugstore a few months ago. Out of curiosity I bought it. Fell in love with Fernando Colunga n became addicted 2 the DVD versions of telenovelas. Have bought several n have been mostly contented until I bought "La Usurpadora" no English subtitles, badby edited n overal bad acting except 4 Fernando Colunga.
Couldn't wait 4 it 2 be over so I could just shelve it.

wrong language sent -- can't review.......2007-07-11

i ordered the english version and got the spanish. what do i do? i do not speak spanish and sub-titling is not enabled on the dvd.

Wonderful!.......2007-06-10

Wonderful story that empowers woman! It is a very fresh, fun, an inspiring story! The acting of all the characters is incredible. I love to see Fernando Colunga! The editing is very well done, excellent job!

great novela... check out the website for the complete novela.......2007-04-06

I loved this novela when I was younger... and when I found out that I could buy the DVD set I was ecstatic. But when you buy this much shorter version, you lose a lot of detail. I decided to surf the net and I found a great website "Novelas R Us" that contains the complete novelas. I just bought Corazon Salvaje (on 20 DVDs) and am going to buy this one (on 19 DVDs). The best thing about it is that they are only 65 dollars each (considering that you get only a few hours for 20 bucks). I can't wait to receive it.

Although, some people prefer the shorter versions, I like the longer ones because of the details that are missed in the shorter ones. This novela should be enjoyed in detail and I am certainly going to shop for other favorite novelas of mine.

la usurpadora.......2007-03-21

well i ve watched it before bat i didnt finish watchin da hole series???

Average customer rating:

hopeful story, lackluster and tired telling of it
Cute and Funny
Very Enjoyable..
A Fun, Fluffy Indulgence

30 Days Until I'm Famous
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery , Camille Guaty , Alanna Ubach , Udo Kier , and Mindy Sterling
Director: Gabriela Tagliavini
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007WFXLW
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Description

A Latina working in Los Angeles as a messenger is randomly discovered and fashioned into a pop music star

Customer Reviews:

hopeful story, lackluster and tired telling of it.......2007-09-10

This is good for young teens. Even though everyone acts well, and it's full of people we like the intricacies of the story lack surprise as was the deft hand that could weave this more artfully. It was predictable and plodding.

Cute and Funny.......2006-08-29

This movie is so much better than you would think you'd get from vh1.It's cute and funny with some pretty good music.Sean Patrick Flanery makes every minute worth watching.Although I have to admit I've had a thing for him for quite some time.I think that anyone who likes light romantic comedies won't be disappointed.

Very Enjoyable.........2006-08-24

I'll have to agree with Sarah. I too have a thing for Sean Patrick Flanery and he is part of the reason I have even watched this more than once. I enjoy Cole and Maggie's onscreen chemistry. I especially love Mindy Sterling's character as the 'cultural identity faciliator'...she's a hoot. It's a nice 'escape' movie and yes, very much like a romance novel on film. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

A Fun, Fluffy Indulgence.......2005-06-20

I'll admit that I have a thing for Sean Patrick Flannery, but he is only one reason I love this movie. This is like a paperback romance bundled up into a lowbudget TV movie. LOVED IT!

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary!!
The Romanticization of Failure
Jane Fonda As A Spinster? You Gotta Be Kidding Me!
Engrossing, Haunting and Beautiful
Unlikely Romantic Triangle Set in Pancho Villa's Mexico

Old Gringo
Starring: Jane Fonda , Gregory Peck , Jimmy Smits , Patricio Contreras , and Jenny Gago
Director: Luis Puenzo
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000067D25
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary!!.......2007-04-13

Few movies are better than the book that contains the history that inspires them. Old Gringo is an example. Carlos Fuentes wrote Gringo Viejo and in my opinion, this is his more successful work; but Fuentes is lazy and some chapters of his books are unconnected. Nevertheless, the movie has a perfect rhythm. Each personage has an extraordinary evolution during the whole film.

There cannot be the slightest doubt: Gregory Peck was the perfect actor for to be Ambrose Bierce.

The Romanticization of Failure.......2007-01-16

Gregory Peck, Jane Fonda, Jimmy Smits, are politically left of center. Their involvement in the filming of leftist novelist Carlos Fuentes' "Old Gringo" almost certainly expresses their own infatuation with radical politics. How tragic. This film is nothing more than a romanticization of a failure. Do you want to know why Mexico is today a poverty stricken nation? Why so many of its citizens desperately desire to escape to the United States? Much of this has to do with the murderous activities of Pancho Villa and other so-called revolutionaries in the early part of the twentieth Century. They left the Mexicans unable to form a viable government. The rule of law was rejected in favor of revolutionary dictators claiming to represent the wishes of the common folk. Gregory Peck portrays Ambrose Bierce who naively considered Villa to be another George Washington. What can I add concerning the infamous Ms. Fonda? She has, in real life, even praised Communism. In this particular role as Harriet Winslow, Fonda is far too old. Another reviewer correctly pointed out that she looks every bit of her fifty one years---and the part calls for a woman who is much younger. Fonda could literally be Jimmy Smits' (Gen. Tomas Arroyo) mother. I was unable to take seriously their romance.

Ambrose Bierce is trying to make sense of his long life before passing onto the great unknown. The spinster Harriet Winslow is an existential mess. She is a true believer type easily seduced by the utopian fantasies of a better world---which usually end up causing substantially more misery in the real one. Bierce is trying to get the trigger happy Arroyo to kill him. Will he succeed? Should we care? The answer: we should not.

David Thomson
Flares into Darkness.

Jane Fonda As A Spinster? You Gotta Be Kidding Me!.......2006-09-23

In this movie we have the Real Life Of Oft Married Jane Fonda looking every one of her 51 years and trying to convince the viewer that she is a "spinster" which is a euphenism for the girls in my High School Class . Then we have the Academically Jaded Gregory Peck who bids farewell to his life of books and heads to Mexico. At the time this film was released I saw an interview with Ms. Fonda who seemed to have a Mutual Admiration Society going on with Mr. Peck and she was in rapture at Jimmy Smits being the next BIG star which didn't happen.The peasant women of loose moral character in this movie discover the Joys Of A Corset through Ms. Fonda which they feel gives them lots of power in getting the Mexican Soldiers to be willing to fight, get blown up and die. They are kind of like the Mexican Version of Cheerleaders from what I can gather. I don't know where all the big bucks went in the making of this movie but the scenery is quite pretty which is why I give it 5 stars.

Engrossing, Haunting and Beautiful .......2005-10-12

This movie was a surprise to me and a pleasant one and I would actually rate it four and a half stars. While I have never read the book on which it is based, I found it a haunting and memorable work of art in itself. The figure of Ambrose Bierce, as played by Gregory Peck, is quite fascinating but unless you are familiar with the writer (and even if you are)you may find the characterization rather hard to comprehend. However, Peck's performance is strong enough to carry you along despite this and his interaction with the other two characters--the frustrated spinster, played beautifully by Fonda, and the volatile and sexy rebel general played equally well by Smits--is totally engrossing. The love triangle, which seemed more of a father-daughter-lover relationship, could have been fleshed out more but was still pretty riveting. However, the real pull of the film is the beauty of the cinematography in battle scenes, love scenes and interiors, equally; the passion and brutality of the revolutionaries and at the same time their humanity, and the connection between the rather wildly different three central characters based on that humanity and despite the brutality, all during an epic era in the history of Mexico. I have watched this film several times now and each time I find new reasons to admire it, not the least of which is that it is just a wonderful story about characters who are electric, vibrant and mesmerizing in their search for meaning in their lives. It is fast becoming one of my all-time favorites.

Unlikely Romantic Triangle Set in Pancho Villa's Mexico.......2004-11-26

Argentinean director Luis Puenzo seems like a smart choice to helm this epic drama since his specialty seems to be offering probing character studies in the face of larger sociopolitical issues. But this 1989 movie falls short of expectations, especially if you've read Carlos Fuentes' 1985 novel upon which this movie is based. All the elements for success seem present - a fascinating historical setting (the Mexican Revolution); rather flamboyant characters (both fictitious and fictionalized); explosive battle scenes; dramatic executions; and a romantic triangle with gauzy love scenes. Indeed, the problem is that the elements don't quite add up to a cohesive whole that induces any heartfelt passion. Set in 1913, the story focuses on an American spinster named Harriet Winslow, who has been hired to be a governess for a wealthy Mexican family on their grand hacienda. The beginning of the story shows great promise as the period detail is vivid, and the set-up of the characters promises some intriguing interactions. However, when the three primary characters come together on the hacienda, the plot seems to narrow in scope, and the story's initial gallop slows to a cant until the conclusion.

I was afraid that at 51, Jane Fonda would be at least a decade too old to play Harriet, but she actually looks right most of the time, slightly worn but constantly engaged with the swirl of activities around her. However, with a stellar career spanning three decades, she just doesn't surprise with this performance (unlike, say, her alcoholic has-been actress in 1986's "The Morning After"), and after one more film, she retired from the big screen for the next fifteen years. Granted she is playing an uptight woman on the verge of a political and sexual awakening, she just comes across as too mannered and frankly too wizened to draw the carnal attentions of two completely different men. On the other hand, it's a joy to see the relish with which Gregory Peck plays Ambrose Bierce, the real American journalist who disappeared into Mexico at this time. His charisma intact, he makes palatable his romantic overtures to Harriet and brings a realistic blend of gusto and frailty to his constant philosophizing and his slow march toward death. As the virulent General Arroyo, one of Pancho Villa's men, Jimmy Smits has to maintain a delicate balancing act between quick-tempered, violent revolutionary and smitten romantic hero. He succeeds up to a point, especially in expressing his obsession with past injustices through firepower, but there is little chemistry between him and Fonda, which leaves the ending scenes oddly hollow. The one exception is the firing squad scene, which is sufficiently shocking. The film is not a complete misfire, but given its interesting mix of historical fact and fiction, I wish it was much more than it is, even though in Peck's case, it is.

Todo el Poder / La Ley de Herodes (Spanish)

Average customer rating:

Todo el Poder / La Ley de Herodes (Spanish)
Starring: Demián Bichir , Cecilia Suárez , Luis Felipe Tovar , Ximena Sariñana , and Rodrigo Murray
Director: Fernando Sariñana , and Luis Estrada
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000GETTJI
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Average customer rating:

AN AUTHENTIC CZECH PRODUCTION
EXCELLENT VOCAL ENSEMBLE WITH COLORFUL STAGING
Sheer delight
Superb Smetana
Bartered Bride on set

Smetana - The Bartered Bride
Starring: Gabriela Benackova , Peter Dvorsky , Richard Novak , Miroslav Kopp , and Zdenek Kosler
Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FDIZOK
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Customer Reviews:

AN AUTHENTIC CZECH PRODUCTION.......2007-05-31

First, I happen to be Czech. Second, I was in a production of this opera when Pittsburgh Opera did it in the early 70s. We even used the Duquesne University Tamburitzens for all the dances; and yes they were on stage for most of the opera just as in this production. This production brought back many happy memories. The costumes, dances, and sets are the real thing. It's a studio production that got it all right. Benackova and Dvorsky are superb! Only Fritz Wunderlich and Pilar Lorengar on the EMI recording conducted by Rudolph Kempe have a slight edge on this superbly sung, played, conducted, and directed production. The sound is very good for its age. The orchestra is excellent in all the dance sequences and especially the overture. IT DOESN'T GET MORE AUTHENTIC THEN THIS! Don't miss this Czech gem!

EXCELLENT VOCAL ENSEMBLE WITH COLORFUL STAGING.......2007-04-13

It is not easy to find Romantic period opera sung as beautifully as the best Mozart opera productions, placing this DVD at the top of my list of great romantic opera recordings. The singing is precise, accurate, expressive and powerful. I could not ask any more from the orchestra or conductor. Everyone is fully commited. Ensembles are perfectly in tune and balanced almost all of the time.

Costumes are very colorful and as far as I know, authentic. The inclusion of an outdoor market full of bright toys and decorations is a nice touch.

Some will fault this opera for the large number of dance segments, but this is a comic folk opera. No effort was spared in filming this essential element.

Nit pickers will find several things to fuss over, but the sum total of these defects is not enough to knock off a star, in my opinion.
First, this is a lip-sync opera film based on an existing recording from 1980. There is slight distortion on occasion. Dynamic range has not been compressed to any great degree, which is rare for a Supraphon recording of this vintage. The sound overall is better than many much newer DVDs. Turning down the treble and turning up the bass helps warm up the sound as Supraphon recordings tend to be bright.

Second: There are numerous small sync errors as the picture gets ahead and behind the sound. The technology just was not perfected in 1981 when the cast was recalled to do the lip sync. There is so much to watch that this is not as annoying as it would be in a minimalist staging, where the viewer has nothing but the singer's faces to hold their attention.

In conclusion: Eastern Europe has a different way of doing things, but this DVD overall is a pleasure to see and hear.

Sheer delight.......2007-02-18

I was fortunate to see this opera in the National Theatre in a very subdued Prague in 1969, and bought this version on CD as soon as I became aware of it. I was delighted to see that it was available on DVD, and the visual images are up to standard, apart from the singers' lips appearing to be slightly out of synch! I recommend it enthusiastically.

Superb Smetana.......2007-01-14

This is a charming, beautifully sung production of an unfairly overlooked Czech masterpiece. Peter Dvorsky is a lovable and endearing Jenik. The magnetism between the handsome Dvorsky and his sweetheart Marenka, sung by Gabriela Benackova, is believable and heartfelt. Even the children are unusually adorable. This is a highly recommended performance, warm and uplifting, culturally authentic and very well-directed. I found myself watching it over and over again.

There is another beautiful Bartered Bride with Lucia Popp and Siegfried Jerusalem (in German) that may one day be released which is on an equal or even higher level than this because of Lucia Popp's singing and her partnering with Jerusalem. With the recent flood of re-released historic opera performances on DVD we may be fortunate to have two brilliant Bartered Brides in the near future.

But this Czech DVD alone can introduce viewers to an inappropriately and unjustly overlooked opera which deserves to be appreciated for its warmth, humor and especially, its ravishingly beautiful music.

Bartered Bride on set.......2007-01-07

Mr Pfeffer pretty much has it right with this DVD. The performance takes place in some kind of studio set. Also, Smetana's forte in this work seems to be the overture & dances. This is a voice-over with the audio part coming from an early eighties Supraphon recording. The singing, however, is at a very high level, and I am giving it an additional star. The critics felt the same when the LP was released. I have seen Dvorsky at the Met and He is an excellent tenor. Benackova can be found on DVDs of "Faust" and "Mefistofele" to good avail.

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