Picket Fences - Season 1

Amazon.com

While Ally McBeal garnered more attention, Picket Fences garnered more acclaim. It was justified. Set in Wisconsin, the Emmy-winning drama plays like The Andy Griffith Show by way of The Commish. The focus is on small-town life from a law and order perspective. The action revolves around Sheriff Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerritt), his physician wife Jill (Kathy Baker), and their children, Kimberly (Holly Marie Combs), Matthew (Justin Shenkarow), and Zack (Adam Wylie). Storylines alternate between personal issues, like puberty and pre-marital sex, and criminal cases. As Matthew quips, "Things happen around here." At city hall, Jimmy works with officers Kenny (Costas Mandylor) and Max (Lauren Holly), dispatcher Ginny (Zelda Rubinstein), and coroner Carter Pike (Kelly Connell), who likes to exclaim, "Let me exhume the body!" Judge Henry Bone (Ray Walston) and attorney Douglas Wambaugh (Fyvush Finkel) dominate the courthouse. Cases include such tragi-comic crimes as a serial bather ("Frank, the Potato Man") and a cupid killer ("Be My Valentine"), but serious issues also come into play, such as assisted suicide ("Sacred Hearts") and incest ("Nuclear Meltdowns"). Unlike Twin Peaks, to which it was sometimes compared, Picket Fences could be heavy-handed, but piety never trumped entertainment, and Baker, Skerritt, Walston, and Finkel all won Emmys for their work.

Notable guests are a hallmark of every David E. Kelley production, from Chicago Hope to Boston Legal (and beyond). The first season attracted Carnivále's Michael J. Anderson ("Mr. Dreeb Comes to Town"), Evening Shade's Michael Jeter ("Frog Man"), and Man of La Mancha's Richard Kiley ("Thanksgiving"). The series also features one of the last of the old-fashioned orchestral scores, Stewart Levin's distinctive piano theme. Picket Fences ran for four seasons on CBS (when Kelley left between seasons three and four, ratings took a nosedive). Afterwards, Combs joined Charmed, Baker joined Kelley's Boston Public, and Holly joined NCIS. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

PICKET FENCES Season 1 is the first season of the critically acclaimed series from creator David E. Kelly ("Ally McBeal", "Boston Legal") starring Tom Skerrit and Kathy Baker, in the story of a sherriff and his family in Rome, Wisconsin, a town where things never seem to be business as usual. This long-awaited fan favorite is available on 6 discs.

Customer Reviews:

A great show from the golden age of Drama.......2007-09-12

Prior to the rise of reality TV, America watched shows that had scripts. ok seriously, this show is great. i have been waiting for it to come on DVD for years. Lauren Holly, Holly Marie Combs and an great task, perfectly cast for each roll make Rome Wisconsin come alive as they address the political concerns of the day, which oddly enough 15 years later are still the same concerns. this is a well worth purchase.

It sure is great to be able to go back to wacky Rome, Wisconsin once more.......2007-08-30

It is amazing in watching Season 1 of David E. Kelley's "Picket Fences" how much I remember about most of these episodes. But then who could ever forget the Tin Man dropping dead during the town of Rome, Wisconsin's production of "The Wizard of Oz"? On the other hand, this time around I was shocked to realized that it was a very young Elisabeth Moss (later Zoey Barlet on "The West Wing") who turned to Zack after the family had caught Kimberly in bed and utters the immortal words: "Yes, that was sex. Naked nude sex" ("High Tidings"). Those words stuck with us for some time. Nobody was ever just naked or just nude, they were always naked nude, and as for sex, it was never just sex it had to be "naked nude sex." Talk about your walk down memory lane, finally having this show out on DVD provides one of the best examples of that particular experience in quite some time.

I love dramedies and "Picket Fences" certainly counts as one. Time and time again Douglas Wambaugh (Fyvush Finkel) shows up for the defense of everybody from "the serial bather" ("Frank the Potato Man") to "the polygamist bride" ("Nuclear Meltdowns") and just when you think he is a complete clown he turns and levels somebody with a scowl and a pointed remark. It always seems to be the latter I remember better. I find nothing much has changed when I watch these episodes again. Carter Pike drives me crazy with his incessant demands to be deputized or dig up a corpse, but then his lousy love life ("Sightings," the only episode in Season 1 that does not have Kelly as at least a co-writer) renders him human again. Deputy Maxine Steart (Lauren Holly) is almost as bad as she sees serial killers around every corner, except she was right about "The Green Bay Chopper" and Cupid ("Be My Valentine"). Then there is her partner Kenny Lacos (Costas Mandylor) dating those twins ("The Body Politic"). And these are just the supporting characters.

At the heart of the show is the family Brock, where Sheriff Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerrit) give voice to Kelley's conservative impulses and his wife Dr. Jill Brock (Kathy Baker) usually gets the liberal positions (both Skerrit and Baker won Emmys for that first season, as did the series for Best Drama). The contrastive viewpoints are necessary because Kelley clearly scanned the headlines for controversial issues to write about, from mercy killing ("Sacred Hearts") and transsexuals ("Pageantry"), to menopause ("Bad Moons Rising"), an HIV-positive dentist ("The Body Politics"), and using fetal tissue to treat Parkinson's Disease ("Fetel Attraction"). Actually, I was surprised that although the issue episodes stand out, there were more dealing with solving crimes, from a 10-year-old suicide ("Remembering Rosemary") to a more recent one ("The Snake Lady"), and all the other weird cases involving "Frank the Potato Man," "The Frog Man," and the Chippewas who take over the courthouse because the city wants to put the 18th hole of the golf course over an ancient burial ground ("Rights of Passage"). Seeing Kenny in the lockeroom after the standout talking about the man he killed was just as powerful the second time, as was the whole bit with Max adopting a baby ("The Lullaby League"), and who can forget guest star Dellas Reese calling Zach (Adam Wylie) "little bittie thang" in that one? Which reminds me, Jimmy and Jill should trust Kimberly (Holly Marie Combs) and not freak out everytime she kisses a girl ("Sugar and Spice") or whatever. The kid has a good head on her shoulder and the Brocks should be open to the idea that maybe they were good parents in raising her.

There are some regrets with this DVD in that the cast does not have more of a hand in the extras found on "Picket Fences: Season 1," like with some nice commentary tracks. In the featurette on the final DVD, David E. Kelly does most of the talk but all of the other principles chime in during an all too short look at how the show came together. The show's creator expresses surprise that Judge Henry Bone became the voice of the town, but that seems absolutely inevitable given Ray Walston's virtuoso performance. Sometimes the actor is so damn good that what they are doing so effortlessly does not constitute scene stealing. Judge Bone simply commanded your attention every time he opened his mouth in his courtroom. Which reminds me: not only is there a reference to "Jimmy Berluti" early on in Season 1 ("Remembering Rosemary"), in the pilot episode I swear that Costas Mandylor as Kenny Lacos sounds just like Michael Badalucco on "The Practice." So I have the feeling that there really is a Jimmy Berluti out there in the world that Kelly is channeling through these characters.

Stands the test of time.......2007-08-29

Put in the first show/disc and within the first 60 seconds a person playing the Tim Man in the towns version of the Wizard of Oz is found dead back stage, someone leans over him and says...maybe it is his heart.

If you can't find the humor in that then you will miss the best parts of Picket Fences. There are so many huge issues taken on but also so many small gems that you can watch each show over and over and find something new.

Wonderful show, great package, bring on the next season. Soon please!

One of the greatest shows finally on DVD.......2007-08-27

Picket fences is one of the best shows ever on TV. Full of quirky yet lovable characters and some very offbeat stories that manage to force you to deal with some very important social issues. The DVD transfers are superb except for the first episode. Incidentally I'm never "Pre-Ordering" anything ever again. Shelled out $40 bucks for this and now it's going for $25.... Sigh. Can't wait for the rest of the seasons.....

Great show...a classic.......2007-08-26

I loved this show when it was in its original run on TV, and I'm finding I am enjoying it even more now that it's out on DVD. It's quirky sometimes, funny sometimes, serious sometimes...overall it's well worth the price. I'd recommend "Picket Fences" to anyone who wants to watch something a little different from the boring norm of most of today's TV shows.

Average customer rating:

Sense and Sensability
Sense And Sensibility
IF YOU LIKE JANE AUSTEN MOVIES
A Social Commentary
Sense and Sensibility

Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition)
Starring: James Fleet , Tom Wilkinson , Harriet Walter , Kate Winslet , and Emma Thompson
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | 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: 0800141660
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Amazon.com essential video

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvelous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as one of the Dashwood sisters--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister. Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar, and 1995 was a fine year for Jane Austen all around: Persuasion was made into an excellent picture, and Emma became the spritzy high school comedy Clueless. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Sense and Sensability.......2007-09-11

An amazing film at an amazing price. Product came in perfect shape except the plastic on the cover had been sliced (probably while opening the box).

Sense And Sensibility.......2007-09-09

If you are a fan of Jane Austin or like me, new admirer of her works, this is a great movie. It captures the romance and the atmosphere of this time and place. I really enjoyed the characters and the story.

IF YOU LIKE JANE AUSTEN MOVIES.......2007-09-06

I love Jane Austen, I love well-done 19th Century Brit Lit classic productions. The actors are fun...Emma Thompson, as always, is superb and Hugh Grant, of course, is the bad boy one just loves to hate. This movie is really multi-purpose: a great way to spend some time if you are home with the sniffles, a great escape on what might be the end of an all too modern day, or just cozy to watch curled up by the fire.

Definitely worth owning...sort of a "little black dress" DVD. ENJOY!

A Social Commentary.......2007-09-06

The worst thing a person can do is underestimate Jane Austen. Though it is true that her stories center on young women and their romantic struggles, her works are not mere romance novels. This film does a wonderful job of demonstrating that.

Emma Thompson is a wonderful actress and she really brings Elinor to life. At times she seems almost cold and unfeeling but she is actually a woman who keeps her own counsel and who is very aware of how society views young women. Better to be thought a cold woman than to make a mockery of herself in the eyes of others. Thompson is at her best in those brief moments when Elinor is alone, when she is gazing sadly at her sister while she plays pianoforte, when she is alone in her room and running her fingers over the monogram embroidered on a handkerchief. Elinor is actually quite a complex character, a woman who loves deeply and wholly but who is also very self and socially aware.

Her polar opposite is her sister Marianne and Kate Winslet is simply perfect in the role. She captures Marianne's youthful exuberance and the blissful lack of awareness that she has for what others think of her. In this day and age, such individuality would be encouraged but in Marianne's time it is seen as a fatal flaw, one that risks making her the target of ridicule of others. She follows her heart over her head, unlike Elinor. As the title indicate, Marianne is all sensibility while her sister is all sense.

Hugh Grant does a nice job of portraying the somewhat socially awkward and very shy Edward. He always looks uncomfortable in his skin and only seems to relax when he is with Elinor or when he is brushing up on his sword wielding skills with Margaret. Edward exemplifies the plight of the younger sons of the era, the need to please the family in order to maintain his position. This was not a time when going it alone was encouraged or even feasible. It is Edward's sense of honor and duty that are almost his undoing and, in some ways, his situation is no better than that of the women. Though he is ostensibly free to choose his profession, he is actually quite subject to the whims of his mother and his vicious social-climbing sister.

The most surprising and rewarding bits of casting lie with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. His world weariness and deep sadness are visible in every line of Rickman's face. He has seen what society can do to a young woman determined to follow her passions as Marianne is and it has left a deep impression upon him. Though Elinor has a good grasp of the world, Brandon understands it even better and one of the finest scenes of the movie is the one in which he chides Elinor not to wish for her sister to become acquainted with the ways of the world.

Emma Thompson did a fine job of writing the screenplay for this movie, cutting out some of the less essential bits and lifting quite a bit of the dialogue directly from the text. Ang Lee's direction is lovely and his shots are framed with such care. Often his cast doesn't even need to speak, they simply need to observe and Lee does a wonderful job of capturing the characters' emotions in their quieter moments.

Sense and Sensibility.......2007-08-24

We love this movie. The acting in it is great and you'll come to love each character like an old friend. It is a movie we watch over an over again, enjoying it everytime.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter 2 Chamber of Secrets
Harry in the Chamber.
Better than the first
Harry Potter's great
A series of incidents without any real storytelling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson (II) , Richard Griffiths , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00008DDXC
Release Date: 2003-04-11

Product Description

The next installment in the Harry Potter series finds young wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and his friends Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) and Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.
Running Time: 161 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter 2 Chamber of Secrets.......2007-09-08

This movie too was wonderful. Full of magic, and excitement through and through. These movies are a must see by all ages. I've read all the books and I have been so enjoying the movies. My grand children love them too. Great work to jk rowlings for a job well done. Hate to see the books come to an end, but so worth every penny to read and see movies.
Thanks to jk rowlings for giving us these great treasures to keep and enjoy over and over.

Harry in the Chamber........2007-08-31

For Harry Potter fans, this continues the story and develops the characters more. Excellent quality dvd.

Better than the first.......2007-08-27

This was a pretty fun film. I liked it better than the first one and the acting definetely improved in regards to the younger adults. The story was pretty interesting and it follows the book pretty nicely which was surprising. All in all, if you are a HP fan, you will love this film.

Harry Potter's great.......2007-08-23

I love the movie. It was really great. I think Fluffy is really funny name for three-headed dog. Great movie!

A series of incidents without any real storytelling.......2007-08-20

I can't understand the fascination with Potter! First of all, I took two Children's Literature courses in college when I was studying to be an English teacher, and was forced to read the first book. I never read it because I couldn't make it through the first page as it was the most boring page of words I'd ever read before. During the open-book test on the book, because I was FORCED TO, I painfully read through almost the entire book in one sitting in order to come up with the answers, this is how ridiculously easy the book is to read. I was horrified that I didn't like the book either, even after I did read it during testing; I was horrified because like another reviewer said: "I don't quite understand this Harry Potter phenomenon." You see, that makes me believe that either I'm crazy and everyone else is sane, or that I'm sane and everyone else is crazy! Anyhow, when I was young we didn't read books this stupid. Really. Even if they were childrens' books, we read classics, like Alice in Wonderland, which is much more complex, imaginative, and meaningful. To sum up, I did watch the first film and I didn't think it was bad; however, this one really bored me, especially near the end. I could not force myself to watch the ending, even after wasting time by watching most of it to begin with! I commented to my husband that the movie seemed to be one series of "surprises" and "coincidences" that kept it going, no real plot, just a series of occurences. I can't say this is storytelling, although to some it may be -- it's cheap storytelling, not masterful in the least, and it's hardly got any redeeming qualities to it. I'm just sorry in the end that such stuff is being revered by children today when great classics are being ignored.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter 2 Chamber of Secrets
Harry in the Chamber.
Better than the first
Harry Potter's great
A series of incidents without any real storytelling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson (II) , Richard Griffiths , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B00008DDXL
Release Date: 2003-04-11

Amazon.com

Description

DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Over 15 animated puzzles, sliders, screensavers, matching challenges and magical trading cards.Keep track of events withthe Hogwarts official animated timeline
Deleted Scenes:19 additional/extented scenes
Interviews:Exclusive interviews with author J.K. Rowling and screenwriter Steve KlovesInterviews with actors who play Harry, Ron, Hermione and other students and professors
Other:Escape the Forbidden Forest, sneak into the Chamber, visit Lockhart's class.Crystal-clear self-guided tours of the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore's Office and Diagon Alley, including places never shown in the film.

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter 2 Chamber of Secrets.......2007-09-08

Harry in the Chamber........2007-08-31

For Harry Potter fans, this continues the story and develops the characters more. Excellent quality dvd.

Better than the first.......2007-08-27

Harry Potter's great.......2007-08-23

I love the movie. It was really great. I think Fluffy is really funny name for three-headed dog. Great movie!

A series of incidents without any real storytelling.......2007-08-20

Average customer rating:

The Patriot
The script needed a rewrite
Blu Ray Perfect for "The Patriot"
quality
Blu-Ray version

The Patriot (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: René Auberjonois , Adam Baldwin , Chris Cooper , Jason Isaacs , and Tchéky Karyo
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000PAAJVA
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Amazon.com

Aimed directly at a mainstream audience, The Patriot qualifies as respectable entertainment, but anyone expecting a definitive drama about the American Revolution should look elsewhere. Rising above the blatant crowd pleasing of Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla, director Roland Emmerich crafts a marvelous re-creation of South Carolina in the late 1770s (aided immeasurably by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel), and Robert Rodat's screenplay offers the same balance of epic scale and emotional urgency that elevated his earlier script for Saving Private Ryan. Unfortunately, Emmerich embraces clichés and hackneyed melodrama that a more gifted director would have avoided. Instead of attempting a truly great film about the most pivotal years of American history, Emmerich settles for a standard revenge plot with the Revolutionary War as an incidental backdrop.

On those terms, the film is engrossing and sufficiently intelligent, especially when militia leader Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) cagily negotiates with British General Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) in one of the most rewarding scenes. For the most part, the story concerns Martin's anguished quest for revenge against ruthless redcoat Colonel Tavington (played with snide relish by Jason Isaacs), and the rise to manhood of Martin's eldest son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), whose battlefield honor exceeds even that of his brutally volatile father. At its best, The Patriot conveys the horror of war among innocent civilians, and the epic battle scenes, while by no means masterful, are graphically intense and impressive. And although Ledger's love interest (Lisa Brenner) is too bland to register much emotion, the focus on family (which frequently relegates the war to background history) provides a suitable vehicle for Gibson, who matches his achievement in Braveheart with an effectively brooding performance. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

In 1776 South Carolina, widower and legendary war hero Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) finds himself thrust into the midst of the American Revolutionary War as he helplessly watches his family torn apart by the savage forces of the British Redcoats. Unable to remain silent, he recruits a band of reluctant volunteers, including his idealistic patriot son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), to take up arms against the British. Fighting to protect his family's freedom and his country's independence, Martin discovers the pain of betrayal, the redemption of revenge and the passion of love.

Customer Reviews:

The Patriot.......2007-09-07

I am sure it is great. However I can't watch it since I don't have HD!
Please label the products in clear language that anyone cam understand.

The script needed a rewrite.......2007-08-29

Because it had too many sub stories that does not propel the overall plot. And the endless slooooooow mooooooootioooooon all over the place, ack! Great Bloody action throughout to give it four stars. The only thing I don't like is that they don't have an option for me to be taken to those blood soaked splattered moments to relish. Come on! You telling me you came here to learn some American History?! On a Hollyweird production?! By a tree hugging hippie director from the euro side of delusion?!!! This is like trying to get Paul Verheoven(sp) to do a period pic. All he'd do is insert nazi asides to show you how corrupt those American/Euro/Romans where in the way back past.

Blu Ray Perfect for "The Patriot".......2007-08-09

The Patriot is another very good movie by Gibson ... entertaining, good plot, action, character development, and believable acting.
Blu Ray adds greatly to this movie with superior definition, color, depth, and much better audio and soundtrack. The extended cuts in this movie are value-added.
Certain movies are good candidates for Blu Ray; this is one of them.

quality.......2007-08-04

the picture and sound is woooooooooow.
In the battlesceen you think your in the battle.
An disc to let see the true potentieel off blue ray

Blu-Ray version.......2007-07-20

I really enjoy watching this movie and now it is on BD it is truly a vision of splendor. The clarity and sharpness makes the picture gorgeous to look at. The audio transfer is also extremely good.

I am thankfull that the version that made it to BD was the extended version which I think adds a greater depth to the movie.

Overall this BD title is just brilliant and definitely top tier 1 level.

Average customer rating:

A classic
Greatest movie ever?
Independent Cinema's Forebear
Top ten favorites
Movie Buff

Harold and Maude
Starring: Harvey Brumfield , Eric Christmas , Bud Cort , Cyril Cusack , and Gordon Devol
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 6305882592
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Amazon.com essential video

Black comedies don't come much blacker than this cult favorite from 1972, and they don't come much funnier, either. It seemed that director Hal Ashby was the perfect choice to mine a mother lode of eccentricity from the original script by Colin Higgins, about the unlikely romance between a death-obsessed 19-year-old named Harold (Bud Cort) and a life-loving 79-year-old widow named Maude (Ruth Gordon). They meet at a funeral, and Maude finds something oddly appealing about Harold, urging him to "reach out" and grab life by the lapels as opposed to dwelling morbidly on mortality. Harold grows fond of the old gal--she's a lot more fun than the girls his mother desperately matches him up with--and together they make Harold & Maude one of the sweetest and most unconventional love stories ever made. Much of the earlier humor arises from Harold's outrageous suicide fantasies, played out as a kind of twisted parlor game to mortify his mother, who's grown immune to her strange son's antics. Gradually, however, the film's clever humor shifts to a brighter outlook and finally arrives at a point where Harold is truly happy to be alive. Featuring soundtrack songs by Cat Stevens, this comedy certainly won't appeal to all tastes (it was a box-office flop when first released), but if you're on its quirky wavelength, it might just strike you as one of the funniest movies you've ever seen. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A classic.......2007-09-10

Great movie with awesome soundtrack. No violence or nudity. My teenagers loved it too. Very Quirky.

Greatest movie ever?.......2007-09-08

I've loved this movie ever since I was first introduced to it in college 15 years ago. It's filled with very funny scenes, terrific acting, and the most PERFECT movie soundtrack. Buy it! Watch it until you have every line and musical note memorized!

Independent Cinema's Forebear.......2007-08-15

What can be said about Harold and Maude? Beautiful love story of two cosmic souls brought together by death. Hilarious black comedy with a heart of gold. I could think of more cliches but I digress.
Harold is a lonely lost young man, he stages suicides for his mother's benefit in a fruitless attempt for her attention. Upon attending a funeral he meets Maude, an elderly jovial woman so full of life she radiates happiness. Their friendship blossoms and Harold leans how to live instead of just existing. It is amazing how just one person could free him from his mental prison and realize that life is worth living.
Maude is really the muse of this film. Her philosophy is so clear and truthful that all the (explitive deleted) of the world just melts away and she is truly free. It is still is a very fun movie not heavy handed, just a pure delight.

Top ten favorites.......2007-07-21

From beginning to end, you will be blown away by this movie. Hilarious yet moving, creative and real, full of imagination. Excellent acting, directing and filming...Would rate it higher then 5 stars if possible.

Movie Buff.......2007-07-19

One of the funniest "off-beat" comedies I have seen. This will be a cult classic for years to come.

Average customer rating:

The toxic power of lies
Perfect for July 4th viewing!
WITCH TRIALS, PART I
Excellent Adaptation Of The Pulitzer-Prize Winning Play. Star-Studded Cast & Written For The Screen By Arthur Miller Himself.
Years later, better appreciation for movie's direction

The Crucible
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis , Winona Ryder , Paul Scofield , Joan Allen , and Bruce Davison
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

4-for-3 Drama | 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

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

ASIN: B00013F2S6
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

The Salem witch hunts are given a new and nasty perspective when a vengeful teenage girl uses superstition and repression to her advantage, creating a killing machine that becomes a force unto itself. Pulsating with seductive energy, this provocative drama is as visually arresting as it is intellectually engrossing. Arthur Miller based his classic 1953 play on the actual Salem witch trials of 1692, creating what has since become a durable fixture of school drama courses. It may look like a historical drama, but Miller also meant the work as a parable for the misery created by the McCarthy anti-Communist hearings of the 1950s. This searing version of his drama delves into matters of conscience with concise accuracy and emotional honesty. Three passionate cheers for Miller, director Nicholas Hytner, and costars Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Description

The Salem witch trials of 1692 are brought vividly to life in this compelling adaptation of Arthur Miller's play, directed by Nicholas Hytner ("The Madness of King George"). A group of teenage girls meet in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony. While the other girls attempt to cast love spells, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) wishes for the death of her former lover's (Daniel Day-Lewis) wife. When their ceremony is witnessed by the town minister, the girls suddenly find themselves accused of witchcraft. Soon the entire village is consumed by cries of witchcraft, and as the hysteria grows, blameless victims are torn from their homes, leading to a devastating climax.

Customer Reviews:

The toxic power of lies.......2007-08-08

Since playwright Arthur Miller used the Salem witch trials as a metaphor for the Communist witch hunts of the House Un-American Activities Committee, you might expect this film version of "The Crucible" to be too awash in symbolism to be entertaining, but it's fairly riveting throughout.

Although it's primary concern is the toxic power of lies, it touches on the belief that the Puritans were convinced of the devil's presence.

Winona Ryder is the protagonist, a girl whose love for a married man (Day-Lewis) leads her to implicate his wife (Allen) as a witch. Well-acted by a first-rate cast. Screenplay by Miller.

Brian W. Fairbanks

Perfect for July 4th viewing!.......2007-06-19

I have no in-depth review. I'd just like to say that THE CRUCIBLE would provoke maybe a shudder or two if it were not based on fact! I've made a ritual of viewing this film every July 4th for the past several years as I believe it's a perfect illustration of why we needed our independence from England and the CONTINUED need for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM and the SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!

WITCH TRIALS, PART I.......2007-06-07

This film, based on the infamous Salem witch trials of the 1690's that New England still has not lived down, was written by Arthur Miller in an earlier period in American history, the 1950's, when hysteria over the alleged internal "Communist menace" dovetailed with the opening of the coldest part of the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The dramatic tension of the play cannot be understood except as a parable on that then current atmosphere. Miller draws parallels with the earlier period of hysteria, in this case the irrational hysteria over witches in the isolated, inward-looking Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts. The comparisons in reaction to the witches and `reds under the bed' are startling as far as the response of the societies and individuals in those societies community were concerned. Obviously in the play one needs a hero, even if it is the flawed and `fallen' John Proctor who will stand up, in the final analysis, even unto death for his principles. We will always find a few, even if reluctant, fighters. What is more compelling, and frightening, is the reaction of the `honest' town folk. Then, as in the case of the Cold War hysteria, those `good' folk turned the other way, joined actively in on the action or in some way justified the trials. As we are again in a period when the new hysteria is over Islamic fundamentalists and their motives this remains an extremely powerful cautionary tale. Read the play and/or watch a movie version of it.

Excellent Adaptation Of The Pulitzer-Prize Winning Play. Star-Studded Cast & Written For The Screen By Arthur Miller Himself........2007-05-25

Adapting his own Pulitzer-Prize winning play for the silver screen and enlisting a top-notch star-studded cast, Arthur Miller creates a cinematic masterpiece. Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis (Best Actor
for "My Left Foot") and Academy Award nominee Winona Ryder ("Bram Stoker's Dracula"; another excellent adaptation of the vampire novel penned in 1897) star in this classic film version, supported by Academy Award winner Paul Scofield (Best Actor for "A Man For All Seasons") and Academy Award nominee Joan Allen. Well worth viewing. Rated PG for brief nudity.

Years later, better appreciation for movie's direction .......2007-05-12

The film version of Arthur Miller's The Crucible is quite a satisfactory visualization, especially for anyone who is looking for a good supplement to the play.

Being a film, the traditional play can be a little loose in its translation, usually a negative trait in transferring a work from book to film; but in this case it definitely gives the work a little more intensity. What the work loses in its claustrophobic atmosphere of being primarily in a courtroom, it gains in its hysteria-laden tone. Sometimes this works (Abigail's chilling screams in the courtroom have an eerie mood to them), and sometimes this goes to excess (case in point: Mrs. Putnam's screams are overtly hysterical to the point of overkill).

Still, bringing the play to film does have its advantages over all. We get to see the Puritan town of Salem, and the people who move about through place to place. The few scenes between Abigail and Proctor make their past history a little more apparent, and this helps in illustrating Elizabeth's cause for concern and her lack of trust in the initial part of the film. And, other parts of the play just work well outside, one of the best being Mary Warren screaming wildly after the girls turn on her, in which she frantically runs to the water and screams out against Proctor.

I had viewed this movie once before, thinking it quite mediocre at film's end, but, years later, watching it again, have a better appreciation for it. The film's intensity really picks up in the second half of the movie, particularly in Daniel Day Lewis' portrayal of John Proctor. One of the film's climactic moments, when Proctor gives his "Because it's my name!..." speech to Danforth, is perhaps the most impressive and dramatic of all the film's scenes.

Written as a reaction to the McCarthy trials, The Crucible's literal witch hunts are somewhat bizarre and somewhat chilling, and this film successfully and succinctly captures this mood. While this film is not a work of art, and certainly has some "Hollywood" in it, it is a satisfactory retelling in the long run.

The DVD version also includes an interview and behind the scenes between Arthur Miller and Daniel Day Lewis. If you aren't familiar with the story, you should check this part out.

3 ½ stars

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Worth watching, but flawed
Mixed Emotions
Amadeus my review
Stunning

Amadeus
Starring: F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hulce , Elizabeth Berridge , Roy Dotrice , and Simon Callow
Director: Milos Forman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 6304712936
Release Date: 1997-12-17

Amazon.com

The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's hit play about the rivalry between two composers in the court of Austrian Emperor Joseph II--official royal composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), and the younger but superior prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). The conceit is absolutely delicious: Salieri secretly loathes Mozart's crude and bratty personality, but is astounded by the beauty of his music. That's the heart of Salieri's torment--although he's in a unique position to recognize and cultivate both Mozart's talent and career, he's also consumed with envy and insecurity in the face of such genius. That such magnificent music should come from such a vulgar little creature strikes Salieri as one of God's cruelest jokes, and it drives him insane. Amadeus creates peculiar and delightful contrasts between the impeccably re-created details of its lavish period setting and the jarring (but humorously refreshing and unstuffy) modern tone of its dialogue and performances--all of which serve to remind us that these were people before they became enshrined in historical and artistic legend. Jeffrey Jones, best-known as Ferris Bueller's principal, is particularly wonderful as the bumbling emperor (with the voice of a modern midlevel businessman). The film's eight Oscars include statuettes for Best Director Forman, Best Actor Abraham (Hulce was also nominated), Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-26

An excellent story (though not necessarily factual!) well told. F. Murray Abraham's Oscar-winning performance is remarkable. And with Mozart as the soundtrack composer, you simly can't go wrong. It is a classic that every one, particularly classical music lovers, should own.

Worth watching, but flawed.......2007-08-25

What it is:
1. Fascinating story of talent, "you think that all men are created equal?", classical music, history, interesting character actors (especially M Abraham), my exwife effectively introduced our children to an appreciation of classical music through this film.
What it does not do:
Somehow, the mixture of Americana with European story and themes just does not seem to work for me in a credible way. There are elements over the top. It is difficult for me to really understand either of the two historical characters through this film, but perhaps that is what Hollywood sacrifies for the sake of a film with mass appeal?
That being said, definately worth seeing.

Mixed Emotions.......2007-08-16

The regular cut of Amadeus is very hard to improve upon; indeed, it was the regular cut that won eight Academy Awards. I have viewed both the Regular and the Director's Cut recently. Yes, there additional scenes in the latter, but I am not sure whether they really add that much to the movie except for more length and more of that glorious Mozart music. One of the the added scenes does give a better understanding of Salieri's disdain for Mozart's wife. Disc B of the Director's Cut offers interesting facts about the making of the movie, although I found it shocking to see what 17 years of post-production time had done to the looks of the actors who played Mozart and the Emperor. The most interesting part was F. Murray Abraham's description of the make-up applied each day to turn him into the old Salieri.

Amadeus my review.......2007-08-11

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was achild prodagy, a great mucisian and rivals Beethoven for greatest clasical composer. Tom Hulce captures the sense of humor and overall goodness of Mozart. Milos Forman does great getting the most out of this cast. The costumes and sets are pleasing,The opera and concert scenes show what it was really like Mozart liked to entertain people rich and poor. Amadeus is a great film about a great likable legend, a breath of fresh air for his time.

Stunning.......2007-08-07

I was first shown this movie in the 8th grade at Bethany School, during our very last few music classes before graduation. That was 1992. Since then, I have devoured this masterpiece of cinematography time and time again. I am very well aware that this is not an accurate documentary of Mozart's life, and there is indeed much outright fiction in this plot. This does not diminish the power of the film.

I won't dock any stars, but if I have one complaint about this Director's Cut, it is that we have no choice but to see the added scenes during the watching of the movie. They should have given these extra scenes a separate spot on the special features menu, perhaps with an option of turning the scenes on or off while viewing the entire movie. The scenes, while interesting if you are an Amadeus buff, are definitely extraneous and were originally cut out with good reason. The topless Constanza scene where she gets double-crossed by Salieri is good for the obvious, but little more. The scene with the dogs, and other additional scenes of dialogue, simply cause the movie to run for too long. Also, the second DVD with the interviews is excellent and warrants an extra star.

This film, along with "Mr. Holland's Opus," remind me what classical music, indeed music *period*, is all about. It also reminds me of how stupid and unproductive jealousy is. I don't say this as a moralistic preacher; I am a professional classical violinist myself, and while I am highly talented and can play most (but not all) music ever written for the violin, I was by no means a prodigy, I didn't receive any kind of first-rate training until the college years, and at the moment I face a maelstrom of competition just to win a section position in, say, the Richmond Symphony in Virginia (in other words, an honorable and professional but not-top-5 orchestra). During my late undergrad and Masters degree years, I met a number of violinists who WERE full-blown prodigies. Some of these people were easily able, it seemed, to win a job with a major orchestra like the New York Philharmonic. I can completely sympathize with Salieri's jealousy, particularly towards Mozart the Child, who received nothing but the best of the best of the best training, mostly from his highly musical father. Many musical prodigies I have known in my own life are so perfect precisely because of error-free training early in the childhood years, something I most certainly did not receive.

With regard to my own personal circumstances, it's so easy to be consumed with jealousy over these prodigy-darlings, but when I watch "Amadeus," I think to myself: "Gee, Salieri, just imagine if you had chosen to be Mozart's friend instead. What if you had refused to allow jealousy to get the upper hand? Think of the great friendship and wonderful musical projects the two of you could have collaborated on!"

Then one day, while watching this film again, I said to myself: "Come on, now, Adam. Look in the mirror."

Average customer rating:

Elizabethe I come alive!
Well Done!
Gore and sex don't make up for inaccuracies
God save the Queen and Helen Mirren
Dull and slow moving

Elizabeth I
Starring: Helen Mirren , Jeremy Irons , Patrick Malahide , Toby Jones , and Hugh Dancy
Director: Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $7.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B000FO0AHO
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Amazon.com

Helen Mirren's Elizabeth I could almost be cousin to her Jane Tennison. Like the dedicated detective chief inspector, Queen Bess is not without a heart, but work comes first and any romantic entanglements are doomed to fail. Fortunately, she has her friendships. Directed by Tom Hooper (Prime Suspect 6), this two-part HBO/Channel 4 tele-film begins in 1579. The Virgin Queen has been on the throne for 20 years, but has not married. Her closest relationship is with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester (Jeremy Irons), whom the council will not allow her to wed. Because Robert wishes to produce an heir, he marries another, garnering Elizabeth's disfavor (and nor is he all that thrilled about her dalliance with Henry, the Duke of Anjou). In time, he'll return to her good graces. As she explains, "Friendship outlasts love and is stronger than love." Then, as his health begins to fails, she'll turn to his stepson, the dashing, if duplicitous Robert Devereaux, the Earl of Essex (Hugh Dancy, the Hooper-directed Daniel Deronda). Meanwhile, Mary, Queen of Scots (Barbara Flynn) plots against her Protestant cousin. Even after Mary makes her exit, plenty of other powerful Catholics will stop at nothing to seize the crown. Marked as much by triumph as tragedy, the role of Elizabeth I has been catnip for many illustrious actresses, notably Bette Davis, Glenda Jackson, and Cate Blanchett. Mirren's multi-faceted portrayal of the queen's golden years is a worthy addition to that canon and Irons is a particularly formidable foil. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons star in Elizabeth I, a two-part HBO Films miniseries event that explores the intersection of the private and public life of Elizabeth I (Mirren) in the latter half of her reign, offering a personal look at her allies, her enemies and her suitors as she struggles to survive in a male-dominated world. Part 1 explores Elizabeth's tempestuous relationship with the Earl of Leicester (Irons) as it survives a French suitor, war, treason, and illness. Part 2 follows Elizabeth through her later years, during which she had an equally passionate affair with the young, ambitious Earl of Essex (Hugh Dancy), who had been raised, ironically, by his stepfather Leicester. In the end, Elizabeth I sheds light on one of the most popular members of the monarchy who held abso