Something Wicked This Way Comes

Amazon.com

Ray Bradbury adapted his own novel for Something Wicked This Way Comes, Jack Clayton's beautiful rendering of the turn-of-the-century fantasy of a mysterious carnival that literally blows into a small town to taunt and tempt the inhabitants. Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), the handsome but demonic proprietor of Dark's Pandemonium Carnival, preys upon the vanities, the delusions, and the regrets of the townspeople by granting their wishes at the expense of their souls. Jason Robards, as the meek librarian Charles Halloway, becomes his unlikely nemesis when his son Will, with his best friend Jim Nightshade (a deliciously dark name in its own right), discovers the secret of Dark's nightmarish carnival. When they become hunted by Dark's minions (including Pam Grier as the beautiful and mysterious Dust Witch), Halloway must confront his own fears and regrets to save the boys. Clayton captures the idyll of childhood in the fall with rich autumnal colors, his camera gliding along with the energetic boys as they tear through field and forests. The climax, however, gets lost in a cacophony of competing special effects, imaginatively visualized but never very terrifying, as if producer Disney resisted the uneasy undercurrent of the story. It's more dark fantasy than horror, a nightmarish adventure filtered through the memory of a man remembering his childhood in mythic terms. --Sean Axmaker

Description

One of Ray Bradbury's most popular and intriguing novels of good and evil comes to life in this spine-tingling motion picture. On a grim and gusty October day, two young boys encounter a distressed man who foretells of danger blowing their way. Soon after, the town is visited by a seductive stanger named Mr. Dark and his Pandemonium Carnival. Terrifying things begin to happen when the adventurous boys stumble onto the carnival's deadly and destructive secret! Beware: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES ... and frightening surprises follow!

Customer Reviews:

great adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book.......2007-05-16

this is a great sci-fi movie of good and evil.it is also disney and only rated a pg.

family movie.......2007-05-15

I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid, and was excited to see that it was in DVD. I got it and showed it to my own kids, and they love it as well. It's a good, somewhat scary, family Disney movie. I highly recommend it.

A fine tribute to one of the master's of 20th century fiction.......2007-02-14

When this movie came out in '83 I thought it was one of the most magical films I'd ever seen. I still do.

Almost a perfect film. . ........2006-12-06

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES has finally been remastered and reissued by Disney proper, and this is the only way you can see the film in its original 1:85 aspect ratio. Both Widescreen and Pan and Scan versions are provided on the disc. The picture and sound are outstanding, the beautiful October colors of Greentown and its valley well realized. Also included is the original trailer (which hit theatres before James Horner's wonderful score was ready, so other music was used. Pity.)

As for the film itself, it received an unfair drubbing on its original release. No film can truly capture Ray Bradbury's masterpiece of innocence and corruption, triumph and loss, joy and regret, light and dark. Bradbury's poetic prose is intended for the reader, not the speaker. And yet, his own screenplay (he is an accomplished screenwriter, too) comes close. The tone of the film is well balanced, hued in boyhood remembrance. The characters speak not in modern, colloquial English, but in the rich verbiage of the early twentieth century. Their Greentown is as much a creation of the heart as of the hand, where decent people live decent, caring lives.

Into this idyllic autumnal setting comes Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show (shortened for the film to Dark's Pandemonium Carnival). It arrives in a dead, black railroad train and sets up in a sudden flash of lightning. The carnival is here to grant your deepest, most special wish, but take care: there is a terrible price to be paid.

Jack Clayton (who was talked out of retirement and signed on as director due to his work on the classic film THE INNOCENTS) brings his sure hand to SOMETHING WICKED, performing a delicate balancing act. Kirk Douglas had been trying to make the film for years through his Bryna Company, and his son Peter brought the project to Disney, which in the early Eighties was trying to break away from its dull Seventies image.

They signed a magnificent cast: Jason Robards, Diane Ladd, Pam Grier, Ellen Geer, Royal Dano, Jack Dodson, James Stacy, Angelo Rossitto, Bruce Fischer and as the demonic Mr. Dark, Jonathan Pryce. As the boys Will and Jim are Vidal Peterson and Shawn Carson. All handle Bradbury's wordsmithing with aplomb, especially old pros Robards and Pryce.

And the music: this film is blessed with one of James Horner's most inspired scores (which, I believe, has never been issued on LP or CD).

Not a horror film as such, but a dark fantasy.

Now, some may argue that the film changes things in the novel, mostly to make it more cinematic. No novel comes to the screen untouched. Ray Bradbury knows that better than most, so when he adapted his own work, he kept the movie medium in mind. Granted, it was a troubled production, and there was much post-production re-editing, but SOMETHING WICKED, I feel, still stands as a rough gem, coming as close to the spirit of the novel as possible.

I like it. I recommend it. 'nuff said.

Very Good And Entertaining Horror Film!.......2006-10-14

This is one of those great horror films which children [not too young] can watch. There is a lot of suspense and thrills which will delight adults and keep children on the edge of their seats. When I first saw the film, I was a little disappointed. However, fast forward a dozen or so years, and I find myself liking this film. The main antagonist in the film is portrayed by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce does an excellent portrayal of Mr. Dark; the evil behind the carnival that has come to a small midwestern town: With promises and wishes that come with a price.

With Halloween around the corner; this is a very good choice for young ones to view a film without the gore so prevalent in so many other horror flicks. The film revolves around two young boys who discover Mr. Dark's secret about his carnival. [children will relate to the kid's]. As they try to thwart the evil, with the help of Jason Robards: one of the boys' father; the film takes off on an eerie and delightlful tale which adults and children will enjoy. Recommended!

Old Yeller 2-Movie Collection (Old Yeller/Savage Sam)

Average customer rating:

Old Yeller 2-Movie Collection (Old Yeller/ Savage Sam)
Outstanding Disney Movie
Wonderful, Clean Classic!!!
Old Yeller 2
Old Yeller/Savage Sam

Old Yeller 2-Movie Collection (Old Yeller/Savage Sam)
Starring: Dorothy McGuire , Fess Parker , Jeff York , Chuck Connors , and Beverly Washburn
Director: Robert Stevenson , and Norman Tokar
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000AJJNIG
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Description

OLD YELLER: Walt Disney's first and quintessential film about a boy's love for his dog is now an American original as much as it is a Disney classic. No film better portrays the powerful emotions of hope, courage, and friendship. When his younger brother adopts a frisky lop-eared stray, 15-year-old Travis (Tommy Kirk), acting "man-of-the-house," tries to shoo him away. But Old Yeller soon proves he is anything but "yellow" when he protects the family farm and saves Travis' life. From its charming simplicity to its gripping conclusion, the drama, humor and heart of OLD YELLER belong in everyone's collection. SAVAGE SAM: Now discover what happens next in SAVAGE SAM, the sequel to Walt Disney's classic adventure OLD YELLER, where adopting a new pup sets the stage for more thrills in the untamed West. With his two young masters Travis and Arliss Coates (Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran), gentle and true-blue Sam faces even greater dangers than Yeller. From the ferocious attacks of wolves and wildcats to tracking renegade wrongdoers, our four-legged hero proves his pedigree. SAVAGE SAM is a compelling story of love, devotion, and trust that is sure to win your heart.

Customer Reviews:

Old Yeller 2-Movie Collection (Old Yeller/ Savage Sam).......2007-08-16

My little boy watches it over and over it gives me time to clean my house. I loved this movie when I was growing up and I hope my children do also.

Outstanding Disney Movie.......2007-07-14

Yeller is a big yeller dog, he is for good like fighting off hogs, a mad cow.
Young Travis has to make a big.

Wonderful, Clean Classic!!!.......2007-06-28

I have always loved this story, ever since I was a child and it was read to us in grade school by a darling teacher.

This movie is classic Disney. It will delight generations of children and adults for years to come.

Old Yeller 2.......2007-06-08

If you're looking fore a superb "coming of age" family favorite, "Old Yeller" is it. Our kids, ages 5 and 10 LOVE this movie. My husband and I are delighted to share this childhood favorite with them. This is one movie that does the book justice. Get it and enjoy it!

Old Yeller/Savage Sam.......2007-05-09

Dorothy McGuire was the quintessential canine/boy mother of ther time. Both of these movies are tear jerkers, yet she helps the boy to understand, bear and deal with death.

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The Outlaw Josey Wales
One of the great westerns
Skip the politics, enjoy the movie
One of Clint Eastwood's best action movies
outlaw josey wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales
Starring: Sam Bottoms , Matt Clark , Royal Dano , Chief Dan George , and Joyce Jameson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005NTNW
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com essential video

Clint Eastwood fired the original director, Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff), and took over the reins of this project himself. He may have had a point: this brutal, thoughtful western, a near-tragedy about a Civil War veteran whose past comes looking for him, is probably Eastwood's most mature frontier drama prior to the Oscar winning Unforgiven. Hoping to build a quiet life in a cooperative community of settlers, Eastwood's Wales blames himself when his enemies attack the homestead, and he has to revert to his warrior instincts to help fend off the threat. The jittery intensity of Sondra Locke (who would be Mrs. Eastwood, at least for a while), and the screen-filling charisma of the late Chief Dan George harmonize beautifully with Eastwood, who had finally figured out how to add depth and texture to his stock-in-trade Man of Steel persona. This one may be too short on action to satisfy fans of Eastwood's Dirty Harry films, or of the Italian westerns he made with Sergio Leone, but it's an honorable effort. --David Chute

Description

Josey Wales is a farmer turned fugitive in the post-civil war south who is chased by the law after he avenges the murder of his family and friends.

DVD Features:
Introduction:Introduction by Clint Eastwood
Other:"Hell Hath No Fury" - 30:25 "Eastwood in Action" - 7:45

Customer Reviews:

The Outlaw Josey Wales.......2007-07-05

One of Eastwood's finest and most underrated directorial efforts, "Outlaw" leaves behind the actor's Man With No Name persona for a slightly more honorable, if no less laconic, hero out for vengeance. Though he's a wanted renegade with an agenda, Wales befriends a wry Cherokee, Lone Watie (George), and two settlers, old-timer Paula Trueman and sultry Sondra Locke. Cheated of his own family, Wales forms--and then must defend--a make-shift community where trust and respect are the founding pillars. Great acting, exquisite photography, and an engaging story about alliances make for a rousing, thoughtful Western. Open your door for this Outlaw.

One of the great westerns.......2007-06-07

Until Dances with Wolves and then Eastwoods own Unforgiven this was the best western post 1970. Eastwood plays the title role who is a certainly a match for the man with no name, but unlike that character Josey Wales is not amoral, in fact quite the contrary.

This is the first movie that Eastwood directed that made people sit up and notice him as a filmmaker rather than an action hero. Some classic trademark Eastwood lines are in this film, perhaps the best of which is:

Bounty Hunter - "You're wanted Wales"
Josey Wales - "Reckon I'm right popular. You a Bounty Hunter?"
BH - "A man's got to do something for a living these days"
JW - "Dyin' ain't much of a livin' boy"

The difference with this film (over say the spagetti westerns) is that Eastwoods character gradually becomes part of a family like gang of people. Most noteably an aging Indian (played by Chief Dan George) which makes for some wonderfully understated comic moments. One of the strengths of this film is you do care what happens. Yes there are gun fights and people are killed but in the end there is a sort of reconcilliation.

Already by this stage of his career Eastwood had a regular team around him to make the film. Standout amongst which is Bruce Surtees cinematography. This really is beautiful looking film.

Skip the politics, enjoy the movie.......2007-05-05

Reading many of these reviews you can't escape the infantile need so many dopes have to stake this movie with their own personal lingering issues about a variety of issues; U.S. foreign policy, the Civil War (or in their vernacular The War for Southern Independence), politically correct thinking and more. For the love of God, just enjoy the movie!
This is one of Clint's finer moments and is an irresistable blend of action, character, humor, and glorious Western eye candy. The dvd that I purchased was ten bucks and featured two documentaries about it, the first time I'd ever seen such behind-the-scenes bits about this great movie. A pretty good deal for the price.
Avoiding five stars because it is just a bit too long, due largely to the wholly cutting room floor scenes with the dreadful Sondra Locke and the credibility straining manner in which Josey avoids getting shot for the most part, it is still a highly enjoyable ride.
If you want to use this as a conduit for your own politics, spare the rest of us your armchair punditry and go start up a blog or start a thread on the Limbaugh website. For those who relish a great action packed Western, rent it, buy it, enjoy it. Clint doesn't get much better than this.

One of Clint Eastwood's best action movies.......2007-04-13

"The Outlaw Josey Wales" gets 4-bones, the highest possible
rating in the "VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever" book of
reviews. So it's up there in the same rarified atmosphere as
is Casablanca.

Although a little longer than most movies, it's rich
combination of action and pathos holds your interst. The last
scenes involving Josey's face off with indian chief Ten Bears
are vintage Eastwood.

outlaw josey wales.......2007-04-07

I enjoy a good western about the civil war and this is a great one to watch with a bowl of popcorn.

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn

Average customer rating:

A sensual joy
Better than the play . . .
Sound Quality
Historically significant
The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn
Starring: Margot Fonteyn , Rudolf Nureyev , David Blair (VI) , Desmond Doyle , and Julia Farron
Director: Paul Czinner
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003M5GE
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Amazon.com

It's not a stretch to call Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn the most sublime of all dance partners and Sergei Prokofiev the most gifted 20th-century ballet composer. And so it goes without saying that the 1966 film version of the Royal Ballet production of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet featuring Nureyev and Fonteyn as the star-crossed lovers is an absolute must-have for anyone who cares a whit about the art. Director Paul Czinner has made all the right moves, alternating between full shots of the performers with long shots that accentuate how Kenneth MacMillan's fastidious choreography is inexorably linked to the characters, their story, the elaborate sets, and the viewer. Nicholas Georgiadis's costumes are sumptuous without being overdone, the supporting dancers and ensemble are as exquisite as the leads, and John Lanchbery conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with just the right mixture of joviality and tragedy that Prokofiev's classic score needs but doesn't always receive. --Kevin Filipski

Customer Reviews:

A sensual joy.......2007-04-11

This is an extraordinarily enjoyable spectacle, a true feast for the senses. First of all, the sets and costumes are beautifully formed and colored. Then, the music by Prokofiev is perfect, exquisiely toned to evoke love, excitement, sorrow; it's as excellent as the play or the ballet. And the protagonists are perfectly cast, with an added poignancy coming from what one knows of their tragic personal lives, doomed lovers indeed: Nureyev dying from AIDS, Fonteyn descending into poverty and loneliness (see Tony Palmer's excellent bio), David Blair (the perfect Mercutio) dying suddenly at 43.

There are many truly memorable moments: the formal stepping out of the males and then the females at the grand ball, the High Renaissance itself; the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio, and the latter's dying moments; the exuberant mass dances in the marketplace. I especially liked the three harlots for their devil-may-care elan..

Better than the play . . ........2007-01-10

This film by Paul Czinner dates from 1966 and was the first time he used his new technique of filming a live performance. Although these roles became synonymous with the two legendary principals, this ballet was actually created on Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable, two of the Royal Ballet's rising young stars of the era. Seymour, however, took ill right before the premier and Fonteyn took over - and when she took over, Nureyev naturally became her partner. It was bitter for Seymour and Gable, but they had no choice but to become the second cast. Although Fonteyn was about 46 at this time her technique was still equal to the choreography, and although she does not look young, her ability to project the gamboling, youthful character of the young Juliet is remarkable. For this feat alone, the film is worth having. Nureyev was at the height of his powers, only 6 years past his defection from the Kirov Ballet, and his passionate response to Fonteyn is also one of the strengths of this performance. I must acknowledge here that he has never been one of my favorite dancers and his self-involvement on stage is one reason why, but here credit must be given where it is due. The blending of his passion and Fonteyn's dramatic and lyric gifts make this familiar story riveting. The supporting cast is no less extraordinary in dramatic conviction, and they could serve as a lesson in dance-theater to today's young dancers who seem to rely on mime and broad gestures when not moving on stage. Although past his technical prime, David Blair is superbly cynical as Mercutio, and Derek Rencher brings deadly purpose to Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Without exception, this is a cast that brings the characters to life and whose attention to dramatic values honors their country's literary as well as balletic heritage. I enjoyed Nicholas Georgiadis's sets, although they came in for some criticism at the time as being "heavy". This is most definitely worth seeing and keeping - it was probably one of the last performances of Fonteyn's where she was still fully in command of her technique and did not need choreography tailored to what she still could do. And as a personal note, I prefer this ballet version of "Romeo and Juliet" to all the others I have seen, and that includes the legendary one produced by the Kirov in the 1930s, for which Prokofiev wrote this score, and which starred the immortal Galina Ulanova (this is also available on film, I believe).

Sound Quality.......2006-03-13

The dancing was as expected wonderful, but, unfortunately the sound quality was not. I tried playing it over my amp,no way, so normal sound was called for, also very shakey, not what I had hoped for !!

Historically significant.......2006-01-29

Overal excellence by two of ballet's stars. Prokiev's music may be difficult for some to enjoy compared to Tchaikovsky. Choreography just so so.

The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me.......2005-04-30

Tonight I watched Romeo and Juliet again, this time with two of my granddaughters. I have seen it with my parents, with my wife and three children, and now with my grandchildren. I attended the movie in Washington, in Boston, and in Albany, NY many years ago. This version has become part of my life, as have its stars, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Why I have not reviewed it before, I do not know.

This Royal Ballet version of Romeo and Juliet is so fine, so spectacular, so moving, and so incrediblly beautiful that in my opinion there is no other ballet that can compare with it. First there is the poignantly tragic love story of Shakespeare. Add to it the hauntingly expressive, classic-yet-modern music of Prokofiev. Stir in Kenneth MacMillan's sensitive and exuberant choreography. And as the supreme touch, have it danced by the most exhilarating male dancer who every performed, in partnership with the most delicate and vulnerable ballernina of the past century. Here you have the masterpiece of all masterpieces. A ballet that puts other ballets to shame with their weak plots and lack of emotional substance.

My two favorite scenes are the balcony scene, and the scene where Romeo dances with a lifeless Juliet. The first exudes love and passion, as Nureyev and Fonteyn are transported by their new-found love to a height beyond all measure. In the second, your heart freezes and you strain to hold back tears as Romeo tries to coax the life back into Juliet by dancing with her limp but still graceful form. There are no touchingly valid moments such as these in any other ballet I have seen.

The superb costumes are worthy of a Zefferelli production, although this is not one, of course. The scenery is adequate but not impressive. But most important, all the dancers communicate a vitality that is convincing and contagious. The swordplay is amazing in its complexity and realism. Tybolt's death and his wife's grief are overdone with just the right touch of modernity.

But mainly, Nureyev and Fonteyn bring each scene they dance into brilliant flower. And when they dance together something of the mystery and tragedy of their two very different lives comes to the surface and animates their performance, giving it a realism that communicates their deep emotion for each other.

This is heartfelt and heart-wrenching art. When it finishes, one is exhausted and drained, but also inspired and delighted that this one-of-a-kind performance was recorded so that one may enjoy it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

if you are even a tiny fan of Tony Randall, this is it!!!
Very satisfied
Randall is great!
Strange, but a true original!
Illusions of life

Seven Faces of Dr. Lao
Starring: Tony Randall , Barbara Eden , Arthur O'Connell , John Ericson , and Noah Beery Jr.
Director: George Pal
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: 0790746115
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Description

A mysterious traveling circus unleashes a torrent of magic and mysticism in a dusty Arizona town. "In what may be the finest performance in a fantasy film" (Guide for the Film Fanatic), Tony Randall charms and spellbinds as ringmaster Dr. Lao and his multitude of faces, a virtuoso turn that earned a special Oscar for Outstanding Makeup Achievement. Step inside the tent...and marvel.

Customer Reviews:

if you are even a tiny fan of Tony Randall, this is it!!!.......2007-06-06

Tony Randall is this movie -- sweet, clean fun -- good for the whole family, a real lovely moral tale with the Master (Tony Randall) giving 7 different roles a most delightful spin. Enjoy!

Very satisfied.......2007-05-15

Easy to order, product delivered within a few days and I could take advantage of the free shipping offer. Top qulity DVD of one of my favorite old movies.

Randall is great!.......2007-05-14

I had seen this many times when my kids were young, and we loved it. Sure, it's corny and over the top sometimes, but it's thoroughly entertaining. Having read the book, I find they did a good job of conveying its flavor. A classic!

Strange, but a true original!.......2007-05-08

This is an unusual movie that teaches lessons in a manner unaccustomed to. It address' both basic human strengths and weakness, as well as American culture. It is movie that causes one to think about the state of humanity and the plank in their own eye. Excellent! And the whole family can enjoy it as entertainment as well.

Illusions of life.......2007-03-28

A magician who let the people of a town have a look in their heart and holds them a mirror, if the heart is vain and empty or jast deeply hurt through diaapointments.

Average customer rating:

King of Kings DVD
epic films
Maybe the finest life of Christ on film
An Americanized 1950's Idea of Christ and his Mission.
No Other Even Comes Close

King of Kings
Starring: Jeffrey Hunter , Siobhan McKenna , Hurd Hatfield , Ron Randell , and Viveca Lindfors
Director: Nicholas Ray
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00007K020
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Amazon.com

This 1961 version of Jesus' story gives historical context to the best-known Biblical tale and features many memorable moments, such as a moving Sermon on the Mount and a vixenish Salome dancing for her stepfather in a performance that rivals today's MTV video offerings. Orson Welles keeps the 168-minute film moving along with informative narration helpful to those who haven't read the New Testament in a while. Made with backgrounds that resemble Southern California more than Palestine and a European and American cast--including a blonde, blue-eyed Jesus and an Irish-accented Mary--this movie has the definite stamp of Hollywood. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Description

The life of Jesus Christ is powerfully chronicled in this intelligent, gripping epic starring JEFFREY HUNTER, ROBERT RYAN, RIP TORN and a cast of thousands. From the producer of the epic spectaculars El Cid and The Fall of the Roman Empire and the director of Rebel Without a Cause and 55 Days at Peking comes a vivid retelling of the world's greatest story.

Customer Reviews:

King of Kings DVD.......2007-07-24

This was a gift for my son and his family. It arrived new and in the condition promised. They tell me they enjoyed it.

epic films.......2007-05-14

this movie is following the bible in almost everything.
i consider it to be a very sincere movie with good actors - good screenplay - perfect scenes.
especially i enjoyed the second part of the film - very well done.
i can advice to purchase this movie - very well restored and 5.1 sound.

Maybe the finest life of Christ on film.......2007-04-21

I thought George Stevens' impeccably crafted and literate THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965) was the finest life of Jesus Christ on film. Then I took another look recently at director Nicholas Ray's KING OF KINGS (1961) and changed my mind. I don't know what the best life of Jesus is, but KING OF KINGS has a charismatic and sympathetic Christ (Jeffrey Hunter in the performance of his career), a great John the Baptist (Robert Ryan), the definitive Salome's dance (luscious Brigid Bazlen) and the ultimate Sermon on the Mount (with 7,000 extras on a Spanish hillside), a striking Last Supper with disciples sitting at a Y-shaped bench, a strong Crucifixion, and a reverent Resurrection. At 171 minutes (including ten minutes of Miklos Rozsa music), Samuel Bronston's production seems the ideal length to tell the story of Christ. The screenplay is by Oscar winner Philip Yordan.

I have often had trouble with Ron Randell as the Roman Lucius; he is a major character here and only a cameo in other Biblical epics. Same with Harry Guardino as Barabbas. They are, in actuality, the second and third most important characters in Ray's film. But both actors are magnificent. Lucius lets us inside the Roman power circle to understand the Roman way of thinking, so it is nice to have his role be big. And Barabbas answers the question a lot of viewers may ponder, namely who was this convicted killer whom the crowd chose to live while Jesus died.

The movie, narrated by Orson Welles, starts the story with Pompey in Judea in 63 B.C. This helps give us information on what Judea was like in the several decades before Jesus was born. Among a superb supporting cast are Siobhan McKenna as Mary, Royal Dano as Peter, Hurd Hatfield as Pontius Pilate, Viveca Lindfors as Herod Antipas' mistress, Frank Thring as Herod Antipas, and many more. The sets and costumes are gloriously colorful; what was the Academy thinking when they were not nominated for Oscars in 1961, along with no cast mermbers or screenplay? Rozsa's music is glorious. And the movie is presented on DVD in about a 2.2 ratio for 70mm Super Technirama.

KING OF KINGS is powerful, intelligent, colorful, and reverent. I think Jesus himself would be impressed by it.

An Americanized 1950's Idea of Christ and his Mission........2007-04-01

This film of course is now somewhat obscure considering all that has been done since the time of the film on the life of Christ. Jeffery Hunter is the most handsome Christ you will ever see on screen. The apostles are all clean cut. The movie features very colorful clothing to catch the eye. A great musical score by Miklos Roza, which is a particular favorite of classical music fans to request on the radio even today! The Gospel is rather compressed and the ministry of Christ in particular. However, that is not to say it is ineffective. The Sermon on the Mount scene is actually an encapsulated all comprehensive review of Christian philosophical points boiled down to one mass meeting. The movie is not adherent to Bible events and contains a lot of fiction, especially with respect to the activity of the aristocracy and the romans. It tries to tell several stories, such as Barabbas, a Roman Officer, Mary the mother of Christ, John the Baptist and definitely has the most beautiful Salome you will ever see dance on screen. The taking of the cross, the whipping, the death, are all handled very delicately. Not too much blood or grief. Jeffery Hunter is seen after the Easter rising and is shown symbolically at the end very well with the apostles gathered on the beach and his shadow overwhelms them as he tells them to depart to preach the Gospel and they leave 2 by 2. A really effective scene for a movie so entrenched in 50s culture. Having seen this movie as a child in the sixties and seeing it again now in this century, I think it should not be too criticized with our 20/20 perception now. Back then it was after all a different time and culture, one that does not exist today and should be viewed perhaps in a nostalgic way, worth a viewing, but don't depend on it for filling you in on Biblical truth.

No Other Even Comes Close.......2007-01-30

This is my absolute favorite Biblical Epic.I will concede to only one flaw and that is Jeffrey Hunter having blue eyes! I wish he had worn brown colored contacts.Otherwise he is the ONLY Jesus portrayed in film that I think exudes the kind of persona that I picture Jesus having. I know two others who feel exactly the same way,about King Of Kings. I love this movie from beginning to end,and I consider myself blessed to own it. Ok, it is also not 100% scriptural, such as does anyone still not know that the three wise men never saw the infant Jesus in the manager? They Saw "the child" Jesus in the home of Mary and Joseph! Matt 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. I have yet to see a single Biblical movie that IS 100% scriptural,however!

All other films that have attempted to portray Jesus have been a major disappointment for me,and I am now awaiting "The Jesus Film" to arrive at my library,to give it a chance. So far I cannot stand most such films,such as the horrible "Jesus Of Nazareth"(must be the most unlikeable Jesus ever portrayed) and the even worse,"The Greatest Story Ever Told,the Greatest Bore Ever)"!

The Robe,A Perfect Stranger,Ushpizin,The Miracle Of Marcellino,The Maldonado Miracle, and the biblical ones ones done by Turner such as Joseph, are wonderful,and highly recommended by this Christian,but for a movie about Jesus,King Of Kings has no competition,in my opinion.

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After 45 years,it's still great Christmas fun with Mr. Magoo!

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Starring: Jim Backus , Jack Cassidy , Royal Dano , Jane Kean , and Les Tremayne
Director: Abe Levitow
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000R7G6K4
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Description

Bah Humbug, Mr. Magoo! In this first-ever animated holiday TV special, the bumbling and loveable Mr. Magoo is Ebeneezer Scrooge in a hilarious and heartwarming musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol".

Customer Reviews:

After 45 years,it's still great Christmas fun with Mr. Magoo!.......2007-08-30

As a child I remember this Christmas special growing up. Now the new DVD version of this 1962 special is coming. I can hardly wait to receive the copy. This is a delightful animated feature with Magoo's re-enactment of the Dickens classic with some wonderful music too!! If you have not seen this in a while, maybe you should order a copy of this family Christmas favorite. I am writing this in late August and it's not too early to wish you "Merry Christmas"!

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The End of the Trail
A pretty darn good late John Wayne film
The critics are too harsh
Cahill - United States Marshal Review
An interesting idea for a western that does not pan out

Cahill - United States Marshal
Starring: John Wayne , George Kennedy , Gary Grimes , Neville Brand , and Clay O'Brien
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000O599Y4
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

After the late-career high of True Grit, only The Cowboys and The Shootist escaped the curse of half-baked scripts, recycled material, and lackadaisical filmmaking that characterized John Wayne's last half-dozen years in movies. Cahill is no exception, but it's more energetic than The Undefeated and Chisum (likewise nominally directed by Andrew V. McLaglen), with a certain Gothic tinge. Also, the theme of a dedicated professional who lets his job keep him from being part of his children's lives appears to have had some relevance for the producer-star. Marshal Cahill's two sons (Summer of '42's Gary Grimes and the preteen Clay O'Brien) are so unhinged by paternal "negligence" that they get caught up in a twisted bank-robbery scheme with a very bad guy, a veritable bogeyman (George Kennedy). Cahill has to sort his familial crisis and several outlaw crews, with the assistance of a sardonic half-breed scout (Neville Brand) who teases him mightily. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

Lawman J.D. Cahill can stand alone against a bad-guy army. But as a widower father, he's on insecure footing raising two sons. Particularly when he suspects his boys are involved in a bank robbery - and two killings. Filmed on location in the high desert of Durango, New Mexico, Cahill: United States Marshal offers a hearty helping of the stoic charisma that made John Wayne a lomg-time box-office champion. Summer of '42 discovery Gary Grimes - as Cahill's rebelllious older son - joins a cast of tough-guy favorites (Neville Brand, Denver Pyle, Harry Carey Jr. and George Kennedy) and such other Hollywood greats as Marie Windsor and Jackie Coogan in a deft blend of trigger-fast action and heroic sentiment.

Customer Reviews:

The End of the Trail.......2007-02-12

The film begins when Marshal Cahill goes to arrest five men for bank robbery. Resistance is futile. Back in Valentine Texas Cahill's boys are involved with Strothers, who leads them astray. Danny Cahill was drunk and disorderly. His younger brother sneaks into jail to free the prisoners while every man is fighting a barn fire. The boys soon learn there is no honor among thieves, but too late. The clever crooks burglarize the bank, then return to jail for a perfect alibi. Billy Joe will hide the loot, and no one will know anything if they keep their mouths shut. The posse searched the county but could find no strangers. [This is a strange story compared to earlier John Wayne films. The younger generation has gone awry.] Daniel seems to have a mind of his own. Marshal Cahill & son capture a gang who have new money, but can't provide a good explanation. They are arrested. What if the wrong men are punished for someone else's crime?

Back in Valentine the crooks can't find the buried loot and return to threaten Billy Joe. But he can't describe where he hid it. Somehow Marshal Cahill knows the truth! Late at night Danny and Billy Joe visit the graveyard to locate the burial place. The Marshal's surprise fails. [This serious business is played for laughs.] You can sense the double riding that mule. Cahill and Lightfoot track the wagon, and are ambushed by the gang. Why did they lack vigilance? At night the remaining gang members return to the old mine to collect their share of the loot. Cahill's boys are stopped by their father and told what to do. The bad guys return to get the rest of the loot, and get their reward. Cahill's boys learn to do the right thing; there is hope for them. The messy ending is not covered here, not even an deus ex machina would straighten out this mess.

Compared to his earlier films, this is more of a comedy than a drama. Was this to spare John Wayne from strenuous activity? It lacks the singing and dancing found in some old Westerns. A better story makes a better film. You almost know how it will turn out from the beginning of the film. At times there is a roughness to John Wayne's voice that suggests health problems.

A pretty darn good late John Wayne film.......2006-02-15

There is a group of people who love to feel superior by disdaining things that everyday people enjoy. One of those things is a John Wayne movie. I am one who really enjoys John Wayne movies. He had a great screen presence, even when he was older, as he was here, in the Rooster Cogburn movies, and especially in the great movie "The Shootist".

This movie is really about fathers and sons, and particularly absent fathers and sons who find the wrong path and try to get back to the right way. Wayne plays the title character, J. D. Cahill. The opening scene is him on the road taking on a band of five bad guys in a shootout that ends the way you would expect the hero to play in a John Wayne film.

Cahill is an older man and we learn that he has young sons, one, Danny, a young teen and the other, Budger, a young boy. Their mother died. In a touching conversation with Danny, regretting his not being around for them, he acknowledges that he has focused too much on his job. He does note that when Danny's mother (Cahill's dear wife) was dying her last words to Cahill were, "Go Get `Em!". And so, he has been ever since.

George Kennedy plays one of his best and menacing bad guys, Abe Fraser. I don't want to get into the plot, but he does suck Danny and Budger into his plans. And it is the boys trying to extricate themselves without letting their father in on their problems that ends up causing most of the problems. The crisis comes when some innocent men are facing death for the crimes the boys know they and Abe's gang committed and they have to get things right in time.

You expect things to turn out a certain way in a film like this. There aren't any big surprises, but there are some funny and some touching moments along the way. And Wayne is still quite good as he holds the screen with his unique presence. And Neville Brand as Lightfoot provides some very fine moments in the film.

I don't think it is one of the best things Wayne did, but it is still better then most films and suitable for families. It can provide some good discussion with your kids, as well.

And it is a John Wayne film.

The critics are too harsh.......2004-10-26

So the Duke is getting a little long in the tooth. His inimitable style, tough-talkin', swaggerin' self is as true here as his more famous films. After all, it IS John Wayne.

In this plot, J. D. Cahill, a widower and federal marshall has neglected the upbringing of his boys - one surmises because of his duty to his country and the wild, uncivilized territory. But in a youthful, rebellious spirit, his boys throw their lot in with some real outlaws. And it spells trouble. Big trouble. The kind of trouble that only Cahill - U.S. Marshall - can fix.

The movie is fun and entertaining. A couple of hours spent lost in a time when the west was young and the nation herself was immature and rebellious.

Cahill - United States Marshal Review.......2004-08-24

John Wayne begins to show his age in this film. On top of that, the story line has been in several other John Wayne westerns. However, this movie is still a good one to watch with the family.

An interesting idea for a western that does not pan out.......2004-07-18

The tagline for the 1973 western "Cahill U.S. Marshal" declares: "Break the law and he's the last man you want to see. And the last you ever will." But we know that because the title character is played by John Wayne, so it really goes without saying that he is as good as it gets. But this is the Duke near the end of his career and while he made a pretty good western the year before with "The Cowboys," he was now just coasting (e.g., "The Train Robbers," "Brannigan") before he actually had some fun making a movie with Katharine Hepburn ("Rooster Cogburn") and found an excellent coda to his legendary acting career with "The Shootist."

Wayne is J.D. Cahill, a tough U.S. marshal who is always on the trail of someone and never at home, which is why his sons Danny (Gary Grimes) and Billy Joe (Clay O'Brien) decide to teach the old man a lesson they go off with Abe Fraser (George Kennedy) and his gang to rob a bank. Actually they have a fairly complicated plan which involves being locked up in jail during the robbery so they have an alibi. Fraser promises no one will get hurt, but of course the sheriff and deputy are gunned down. The younger Cahill hides the loot and if either brother talks, Fraser will kill them both. With the sheriff dead, daddy shows up to track down the bank robbers and takes Danny along with him. They even capture a group of outlaws, who are sentenced to hang for the murders and the robbery.

The pivotal character in the film is actual Danny Cahill, who has to get the hidden loot to Fraser, avoid having four innocent men hung, and try and pray that his father never gets everything to add up. Of course he does, although how the dots get connected is not exactly clear. There was an opportunity for a really good scene here at the big moment, but it just is not there and then Wayne's efforts to make the best of a bad situation kind of gets lost in the film's end game. Basically whatever you think Cahill should do in that situation, he is not going to make you happy, which ever of the two opposing approaches you want him to take.

Description

Dynamic big-screen favorite Gabriel Byrne (GHOST SHIP) stars with Helen Mirren (GOSFORD PARK), Christian Bale (EQUILIBRIUM, REIGN OF FIRE), Kate Beckinsale (SERENDIPITY, PEARL HARBOR), and Brian Cox (X2: X-MEN UNITED, THE RING) in one of the year's most powerful looks at passion and betrayal among royalty. A young prince, after discovering that his father has been murdered, vows to avenge the death and regain the crown. Plotting his revenge, he cleverly bides his time ... waiting and watching -- and hoping -- for the precise moment to execute the deadly plan! Get ready for edge-of-your-seat suspense ... ROYAL DECEIT is riveting motion picture entertainment!

Customer Reviews:

What a complete waste of talent & source material.......2007-06-30

This movie could have been so good! Drawing from of Saxo Grammaticus rather than Shakespeare, the movie aims to present the Hamlet story in a more historical context. This is quite laudable, and certainly the producers had a more than talented cast at their disposal, but this was an opportunity completely squandered. I can only assume that this was done on a shoestring budget, since there seem to be only 2 dozen extras available at any given time & the battle scenes are nothing short of laughable. Still, one can tell a good story and manage to pinch the pennies. The story told her is disjointed, poorly constructed, and far too abbreviated. 85 minutes simply does not allow for the development of either plot or character, and the movie suffers badly as a result. This was a huge disappointment, and only the performances by Byrne & Mirren begin to salvage it. I suppose renting it wouldn't be a complete waste --- it certainly won't be a waste of time, since it's over almost as soon as it has begun --- but only a lunatic would spend money on this dud.

Castles and Kings.......2007-01-28

Features a younger Christian Bale (made in 1993). Gabriel Byrne is great, as usual, as the brother of the king, who murders the king. Bale is the son of the king, and feigns madness when his father is murdered-mainly to stay alive and let his uncle claim the throne. Revenge comes later. Based on legend. Different, and entertaining.

From the opening credits.......2006-03-17

featuring cookie-cutter travel log footage of Scandanavian scenery to the very last scene with 30 exhausted extras shouting "God Save the King" at three better than average actors standing ill at ease on a wooden platform, it was all pretty disasterous.

I knew that it was a no go at the first syllable of the "narration." Instead of showing us the murders of Amleth's father and brother, we were told about it. Instead of showing us the horror and mystery of Amleth's father's ghost appearing to him and telling him of his uncle's treachery, we were told about it.

The poor actors were given almost nothing to play. I imagine that they were pining for Shakespeare's genius for writing superbly playable scenes and dialog. He would never have left his actors so stranded.

The story and the actors deserved far better. What a total waste of celuloid.

Not Entirely Successful.......2006-02-28

This spare film is based on an original version of the Hamlet story. The makers of this film clearly wanted to capture the stark nature of the story and probably the character of life in early Medieval Northern Europe. The actors are a really impressive cast and their performances are quite good. The film is impaired by its limited budget which somewhat degrades the efforts at historical realism. As other reviewers comment, the use of voiceover narration to carry the narrative is not successful. A very good idea but not well executed despite its first rate cast.

A fine cast of actors, wasted........2006-01-21

After watching this extremely low-budget film of a tale based on the historical story of "Hamlet" it was easy to see where all the money went: to the cast members. The cast is loaded with potential. It includes Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Christian Bale, a youthful looking Kate Beckinsale (she has come a long, long way since this film), and a plethora of the kind of actors that make you ask, "What other movie did I see that actor in?" But the rest of the film fails to live up to this monumental promise. For much of the movie it looks and feels like a made-for-television romp through medieval times. It has a small cast of haggard-looking extras in peasant clothing, royalty that, if not for the crowns they wore, would be indistinguishable from the common herd, and some very predictable and flawed direction. The followers of the king, peasantry included, number about thirty in total and they all live in this small wooden village. The director makes the mistake of using a large amount of voice-over narration to propel the story, which by the end was whittled down to about 90 minutes of Masterpiece Theater shot in the countryside. One scene has Hamlet dashing from a buring hall, sword in hand, but when he rounds the corner of a building his sword is missing; cut to the following scene of Hamlet confronting the new king, his murderous uncle, and the sword reappears in his hand. That kind of blatantly poor film editing is unforgivable. The acting ranges from good to passable, but no amount of thespian zeal could have or did save this project from gradual diminishing returns. Except for the sighting of a schoolgirl version of Kate Beckinsale, prim and proper as all young lasses tend to be, this film is sadly a waste of time and money.

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Mesmerizing, Haunting Cinematic Tribute to Early 20th Century Gullah Culture
We Get What We Bring: Be a Guest at the Feast
Wonderful, exciting, historical and captivating
The Emperor is Buck Naked
Thick but good

Daughters of the Dust
Starring: Cora Lee Day , Alva Rogers , Barbarao , Trula Hoosier , and Umar Abdurrahamn
Director: Julie Dash
Manufacturer: Kino
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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