The Italian Job (Special Collector's Edition)

Amazon.com

Though it bears little resemblance to the original 1969 thriller starring Michael Caine, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honor and dishonor among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham, and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlize Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers play a pivotal role in director F. Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Great movie!.......2007-08-01

The Italian Job is an awesome movie! It's action-packed & is very clever. I had a copy of the movie, but the disc got scratched, so I bought another copy to replace it. It's one of the few movies you won't get tired of watching, even though you already know what's going to happen.

Fun stuff!.......2007-07-15

Incredible special effects that were done without benefit of CGI. Just really good escapist fare. I highly recommend it!

A classic, but..........2007-06-23

I love this movie, I had it on DVD and I got it on HD DVD recently. My only gripe is the quality of the video transfer. There is a lot of graining and artifact noise, especially on dark scenes. The blacks on the DVD version look better than the HD DVD version's blacks...

Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!.......2007-06-15

The Italian Job brings to the screen the story of a group of thieves bent on revenge on one of their own who betrayed them by murdering their leader and running off with the gold.
Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sunderland, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Seth Green, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are commendable to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few thrills, not to mention a few laughs.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all wonderful!
In short, The Italian Job is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!

The Italian Review.......2007-06-03

I live right around the corner from a Mini Coop dealership and I'm an Italian-American, so I thought it fitting that I finally rented this movie. It's a remake of the 1969 original starring Michael Caine. Whereas that film took place in Italy, the remake stays there only for the introduction and then swiftly moves to California.

I love heist films. Like Ocean's Eleven or Heat, it's all about the cast. You can see a pattern in the characters:

THE WHEELMAN: This is the guy who mans the getaway vehicle, be it helicopter, jet, or car. Handsome Rob (Jason Statham, my favorite action hero) plays a decidedly scrappy, suave wheelman. This also happens to be almost the exact character from The Transporter. Hopefully, Statham will move beyond this type of character, but it's a testament to action tropes that he can actually be typecast as "the wheelman."

THE TECH: This guy is almost always a nerd and usually the comic relief. Lyle (Seth Green) nails this role and actually steals the show with his jokes. One ad-libbed sequence of Lyle mocking Handsome Rob is the funniest part of the movie. Of course, the challenge with this sort of character is that he needs to be able to pull off seemingly magical feats of technological wizardry without overshadowing the expertise involved. When Lyle manages to take control of the entire traffic system, you really have to wonder if he couldn't be better off striking out on his own. He's almost too good for the movie.

THE DEMOLITIONIST: The demolitionist's job is to blow things up. Sometimes he's a homicidal maniac, other times he's cool and collected. Left Ear (Mos Def) is a cool customer. And he doesn't like dogs. He gives Lyle competition for the funniest line in the movie:

Left Ear: This dude got dogs. I don't do dogs... I had a real bad experience, man.
Charlie Croker: What happened?
Left Ear: I had. A bad. Experience.

THE OLD MAN: You've seen this guy before. He's probably the former leader of the group. He's seen too much, been around the block too many times, and he knows his days are numbered. He just wants one last, big heist so he can retire forever. He almost always dies in the film. That pretty much sums up John Bridger (Donald Sutherland).

THE HOT CHICK: A recent invention, the hot chick's purpose is to keep men interested. She can have a variety of roles (tech, wheel-err-woman, demolitionist). Sometimes she has her own unique set of skills as safecracker. That's John's daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron), who competes admirably in the sea of testosterone.

THE LEADER: Handsome, smart, a safecracker himself, this guy is the one who pulls off a sneaky job right under the bad guys' noses. Unfortunately, Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) is more narrator than anything else. He seems to have very little to do, and that's a shame, because Wahlberg's talented enough to do much more.

The villain is Steve (Edward Norton) a thief turned bad. He knows all of our protagonists' tricks, so he knows how to counter them. And since he stole the gold from the original Italian Job, he's the perfect foil. Norton plays him with just the right amount of shifty-eyed sleaze.

The Italian Job has lots of cool car chases, lots of near misses, and a lot of twists and turns (literally and figuratively) that make it a brisk, entertaining movie. You get quickly caught up in the machinations of the characters, which allows the film to get away with a lot of unbelievable nonsense. But who cares? From the funky flashbacks to the quippy asides, it's clear that Italian Job doesn't take itself too seriously.

Although it's more Job than Italian, the Italian Job is still a fun ride.

Average customer rating:

Awful
and more ******
a truly unforgettable film.........
Beautiful Story
Life is Beautiful is Beautiful

Life Is Beautiful
Starring: Claudio Alfonsi , Lidia Alfonsi , Gil Baroni , Massimo Bianchi , and Sergio Bini Bustric
Manufacturer: Miramax
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Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella)

ASIN: B00001U0DP
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Amazon.com

Italy's rubber-faced funnyman Roberto Benigni accomplishes the impossible in his World War II comedy Life Is Beautiful: he shapes a simultaneously hilarious and haunting comedy out of the tragedy of the Holocaust. An international sensation and the most successful foreign language film in U.S. history, the picture also earned director-cowriter-star Benigni Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor. He plays the Jewish country boy Guido, a madcap romantic in Mussolini's Italy who wins the heart of his sweetheart (Benigni's real-life sweetie, Nicoletta Braschi) and raises a darling son (the adorable Giorgio Cantarini) in the shadow of fascism. When the Nazis ship the men off to a concentration camp in the waning days of the war, Guido is determined to shelter his son from the evils around them and convinces him they're in an elaborate contest to win (of all things) a tank. Guido tirelessly maintains the ruse with comic ingenuity, even as the horrors escalate and the camp's population continues to dwindle--all the more impetus to keep his son safe, secure, and, most of all, hidden. Benigni walks a fine line mining comedy from tragedy and his efforts are pure fantasy--he accomplishes feats no man could realistically pull off--both of which have drawn fire from a few critics. Yet for all its wacky humor and inventive gags, Life Is Beautiful is a moving and poignant tale of one father's sacrifice to save not just his young son's life but his innocence in the face of one of the most evil acts ever perpetrated by the human race. --Sean Axmaker

Description

An inspired motion picture masterpiece, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL was nominated for 7 Academy Awards(R) -- winning 3 Oscars, including one for Best Actor Robert Benigni. In this extraordinary tale, Guido (Benigni) -- a charming but bumbling waiter who's gifted with a colorful imagination and an irresistible sense of humor -- has won the heart of the woman he loves and created a beautiful life for his young family. But then, that life is threatened by World War II ... and Guido must rely on those very same strengths to save his beloved wife and son from an unthinkable fate! Honored with an overwhelming level of critical acclaim, this truly exceptional, utterly unique achievement will lift your spirits and capture your heart!

Customer Reviews:

Awful.......2007-09-11

I was extremely disappointed with this movie. I read the raving reviews and thought it would be great but it wasn't. Some parts were funny but I don't think you can make light on something as dreadful as the Holocaust no matter how good the acting is. I think this is taking dark humor too far and I found it extremely offensive and over rated!

and more ******.......2007-09-10

Yes, I cried too. In a world, where we forget to appreciate our beloved ones, Guido gives the most strength to his beloved ones in the most difficult times. A smiling face, a loving heart, a courage to give that strength to his family in the most beautiful way. a sharp thinking capability... With his love, Dora and Joshua find the direction to survive and with his love, I am sure both Dora and Joshua find the way to move on... lovely...

a truly unforgettable film................2007-09-01

I had the privilege of seeing LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (LA VITA E BELLA) in the movie theater, right after star and co-director Roberto Benigini had won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Actor. There is no other word to describe it. This film is beautiful, and it definitely makes you appreciate and value life more.

I know some people have trouble picturing a film whose subject matter is the Holocaust that starts out as such a bubbly comedy. But, that is exactly the tone that the director and writers (Roberto Benigni and Vincenzo Cerami) developed, and it's brilliant. Guido (Benigni) is a young, Jewish-Italian man with a wonderful sense of humor and a gusto for life. He falls madly in love with Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a beautiful woman who he continues to pursue (even when she is engaged to be married to another man!). Of course, love conquers all. However, the second half takes a decidedly different turn when he and his son (Giorgio Cantarini) are placed in a concentration camp. This is when Guido's inventiveness and imagination become invaluable tools in shielding his son from the horrors they encounter there.

It is rare that I see a fillm that leaves me so breathless as this one does, ten years later. This is the film that Roberto Benigni will be most remembered for, and for good reason. I suggest that you watch this for your heart, your soul and your spirit. Be sure to have a box of kleenex and prepare to lose yourself in the spellbinding beauty of this movie.

Beautiful Story.......2007-08-09

The love of a man for his wife and son is remarkably touching. This is a very well done movie. I enjoy it every time I see it!

Life is Beautiful is Beautiful.......2007-08-03

My entire family adored this charming tragicomedy about life in Italy just before and during World War II. Director and star Roberto Benigni has created a fairy tale with an edge. An irrepressible Jewish waiter falls in love with a socialite, winning her away from her Fascist fiance with a mix of humor, coincidence, opportunism and whimsy. They have a son and find themselves in the midst of a Jewish pogrom that transports them to an unnamed concentration camp. Father "Guido" uses the same skill set that he used to win his wife to protect his four-year old son from the brutality that surrounds him, convincing him that the camp is an elaborate holiday and game in which the winner will receive a new tank.

Benigni's performance (which won a Best Actor Academy Award--rare for a foreign language film) is a masterwork--manic, touching, hilarious and affecting in about every possible way. The scene where he translates a German soldier's camp instructions for the benefit of his son is priceless ("No lollipops! Don't even think about asking!") His wife Dora is beautiful and bemused in the first act and exists more symbolically, but still powerfully in the second. The very young actor who plays son Joshua is amazing--portraying the wide-eyed enthusiasm of his father combined with a mistrustful wisdom well beyond his years.

Like the recent French film "Amelie", "Beatiful" has a whimsical soul. The concentration camp sometimes seems a little too smooth, a feature that Spielberg films on serious subjects are sometimes accused of. Still, the Germans were known for the their organization and order, and the story doesn't really need grisly depictions of much of what went on during the Holocaust to make its point. The production design also fits with the fairy tale feeling of the tale.

My wife doesn't much care for foreign films, but said she felt like she'd learned some Italian watching this one. My daughter doesn't like foreign films or period movies. Both loved "Life is Beautiful." You will too.

Average customer rating:

All the way funny
There's nothing to worry about until there's something to worry about
Is It Possible to Wear Out a DVD?
Brooklyn meets Alabama
What A Hoot!!

My Cousin Vinny
Starring: Joe Pesci , Ralph Macchio , Marisa Tomei , Mitchell Whitfield , and Fred Gwynne
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: 630592970X
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Amazon.com

When two Italian-American boys from New York are falsely accused of murder in a small Alabama town, they call for a lawyer--but the only lawyer they know is their cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci), who made six attempts before he passed his bar exam. My Cousin Vinny is a classic fish-out-of-water comedy; the flimsy plot about clearing the two boys and solving the murder is just a hook to support a lot of culture-clash humor. Thanks to the strong cast of character actors like Fred Gwynne, Austin Pendleton, and Lane Smith, it's pretty funny--even old-hat jokes about Brooklyn versus Southern accents come to life. Pesci has played a few too many schticky characters, but this time it works. There's just enough humanity in his caricature to make Vinny likable and entertaining. When the movie was released, there was controversy about whether Marisa Tomei, playing Vinny's big-haired and black-leather-wearing fiancée, deserved to win the best supporting actress Oscar (she beat out Judy Davis, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave); but seeing her performance on its own, it's a comic marvel and worthy of honor. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Two carefree pals (Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield) traveling through Alabama are mistakenly arrested, and charged with murder. Fortunately, one of them has a cousin who's a lawyer - Vincent Gambini (Joe Pesci, Lethal Weapon 3, Home Alone), a former auto mechanic from Brooklyn who just passed his bar exam after his sixth try. Vinny's never been in court - or in Alabama - and when he arrives with his leather-clad girlfriend (Marisa Tomei in her Oscar® winning Supporting Actress performance), to try his first case, it's a real shock - for him and the Deep South!

Customer Reviews:

All the way funny.......2007-05-23

Makes me glad I don't live in the south, but I'm glad I bought the movie

There's nothing to worry about until there's something to worry about.......2007-05-01

15 years after its release, My Cousin Vinny still commands the laughs it did after the first viewing. With a clever plot, great cast, and hilarious dialogue, the full two hours of My Cousin Vinny are laugh out loud funny.

When two young New Yorkers are falsely identified and accused of a murder they didn't commit, one of them calls his cousin the attorney to represent them in the Alabama courtroom.

Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei are perfect together and every scene they're in is perfect. Every premise is set up perfectly and the comedic timing is dead on. The styles have definitely changed, but even in their early 90s clothes they manage to look cool.

The DVD doesn't contain many extras, just a lot of trailers for the film, but with a classic like this, you'll be too busy rewatching the movie to need any special features.

Is It Possible to Wear Out a DVD?.......2007-03-15

Check back later for the answer - I love this movie and have watched it TOO MANY TIMES. Pesci and his fiancee are both hilarious in their low-key approach to saving Vinni's cousins from an erroneous murder rap.

Brooklyn meets Alabama.......2007-01-21

Possibly the best comedy of all time, this is one of those movies that is still funny and entertaining no matter how many times you watch it. And at less than 10 bucks, it is a bargain and well worth adding to your DVD collection. I still remember when this was first released on VHS and bought it then and couldn't wait to purchase it on DVD.
The are a couple of negative aspects of the DVD however. The sound overall is poor, the music score is dodgy and the volume of the sound is recorded a little too soft. And sadly there is limited special features on the disc, with only a commentary track from the director and two trailers.
On the positive side, the picture quality is excellent and looks great on a wide screen tv. This is a very solid movie with outstanding performances from the cast, especially Joe Pesci as Vinny and Marisa Tomei as his fiance Lisa. There was a rumour she only won the supporting actress oscar after her name was accidently read out, I don't believe that could be true, and even if it was, she definitely deserved it as this is her finest performance.

What A Hoot!!.......2007-01-13

Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei shine (Academny Award for Marissa for this role and well deserved!!!). Whenever we want to watch a movie for pure enjoyment, this is one of the ones we pick. We saw it at the theater, wore out the VHS, and recently purchased it on DVD. A must have for any collection.

Average customer rating:

A real keeper.
Very disappointed!
The Postman delivers!!
Postman to Postman
Best Acting Ever

Il Postino
Starring: Philippe Noiret , Massimo Troisi , Maria Grazia Cucinotta , Renato Scarpa , and Linda Moretti
Director: Michael Radford
Manufacturer: Miramax
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ASIN: 6305291403
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Amazon.com

Italian star and filmmaker Massimo Troisi was dying of heart failure even before this film, his dream project, began production, and he prevailed upon British director Michael Radford (White Mischief) to see him and the film through to the end. (The 40-year-old Troisi, a beloved comic actor in Italy, died the day production wrapped.) Based on true events, Troisi plays a shy postman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret). Through Neruda's example and tutelage, the hero learns to think of his Italian fishing village in lyrical terms, as well as how to talk to women and even find the strength to take his political stands. Sweet as it is, the film finally pushes beyond its charming borders to become an even more complex and poignant story about the pain of growing into one's destiny. --Tom Keogh

Description

Cheered by critics and audiences everywhere, IL POSTINO (THE POSTMAN) is the record-breaking Academy Award(R)-winning (Best Dramatic Score, 1995) romantic comedy that delivers heartfelt laughs! Mario is a bumbling mailman who's madly in love with the most beautiful woman in town ... and who's too shy to tell her how he feels. But when a world-famous poet -- Pablo Neruda -- moves into town, Mario is inspired. With Neruda's help, he finds the right words to win the woman's heart! This unforgettably funny comedy proves that passion ... with some artful deception ... can win the most improbable love!

Customer Reviews:

A real keeper........2007-09-05

First saw this film several years ago. Enjoyed it then. Still enjoy it now. Loverly.

Very disappointed!.......2007-08-30

After reading the reviews for this film, I had high hopes for an enjoyable evening--with popcorn and cokes at the ready. However, this move fails in many ways. It is not about Mario's romance (as described) but about his relationship with the famed poet. When Mario speaks, he mumbles, slurs his words, and often does not face the person listening to him. In addition, he speaks so slowly that all sympathy for him is lost. No one watching the film with me found anything funny in the film, yet it is described as a "romantic comedy." Other parts of the film are predictable and boring. One person with me fell asleep watching it. Another spent time petting the dog. As for myself, I was continually angry at the advertising deception used to market this film. Compared to U.S. films, it rates an 8 on a 10 scale. The plot is good, and of course the scenery is nice. As a watchable film, however, it rates about a 2, or perhaps 1.5 on a 10 scale compared to international films.

The Postman delivers!!.......2007-08-23

Have not seen this movie in a long time and loved it as much as the first time I saw it.

Postman to Postman.......2007-07-04

I see all Post Office related movies.I am a Mailman. This film,unlike Kevin Costners, is pure Quality. Terrific,heartwarming,touching. All that makes a perfect film. See it,soon.

Best Acting Ever.......2007-05-20

Wonderful movie, brilliant actor. A legacy to the world, left by a kind and gentle spirit. One of my all time favorite movies.

Average customer rating:

The haunting sound track , and the hats
The Grifter & the Rumpus
Miller's Crossing
cohen bros EPIC gangster flick "millers crossing"
bored me to death

Miller's Crossing
Starring: Gabriel Byrne , Marcia Gay Harden , John Turturro , Jon Polito , and J.E. Freeman
Director: Joel Coen , and Ethan Coen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B00008RH3L
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Product Description

Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (Barton Fink, Fargo) create a complex and graphic vision of gangsterism set during Prohibition and featuring a riveting rouges' gallery of killers and con men.

Leo (Albert Finney), a likeable Irish gangster boss, rules an Eastern city along with Tom (Gabriel Byrne), his trusted lieutenant and counselor. But just as their authority is challenged by an Italian underboss (J.E. Freeman), Leo and Tom also fall for the same woman. Tom, caught in the jaws of a gangland power struggle, walks a deadly tightrope as he tries to control and manipulate its violent outcomes.

System Requirements:
Starring: Albert Finney, Gabriel Byrne, John Turturro, Jon Polito, Marcia Gay Harden, J.E. Freeman.
Directed By: Joel & Ethan Coen.
Running Time: 115 Min., Color.
Copyright 2003 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Arguably the best film by Joel and Ethan Coen, the 1990 Miller's Crossing stars Gabriel Byrne as Tom, a loyal lieutenant of a crime boss named Leo (Albert Finney) who is in a Prohibition-era turf war with his major rival, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito). A man of principle, Tom nevertheless is romantically involved with Leo's lover (Marcia Gay Harden), whose screwy brother (John Turturro) escapes a hit ordered by Caspar only to become Tom's problem. Making matters worse, Tom has outstanding gambling debts he can't pay, which keeps him in regular touch with a punishing enforcer. With all the energy the Coens put into their films, and all their focused appreciation of genre conventions and rules, and all their efforts to turn their movies into ironic appreciations of archetypes in American fiction, they never got their formula so right as with Miller's Crossing. With its Hammett-like dialogue and Byzantine plot and moral chaos mitigated by one hero's personal code, the film so transcends its self-scrutiny as a retro-crime thriller that it is a deserved classic in its own right. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The haunting sound track , and the hats.......2007-09-03

This is one of my favorite movies, not least because of the haunting score that plays during the opening credits and recurs throughout. I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this.

The movie was filmed in New Orleans--I was there during its filming, and streets were constantly being blocked off--but I'd say it's intended to be New York or Boston. Note the Irish tenor of the gangs and the police chief.

I don't know what the symbolism of the hats is. Does anyone?

The Grifter & the Rumpus.......2007-07-29

Or the Rugs and the Hats. Finney wears both. At a lower level: the Gorilla meets Lars Thorvald. Hard-boiled is what they call these fictions. How come the simulacrum is better than the originals? Like the best cowboy song is: Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter pastiche), and the best song out of the Mexican Revolution is: Fernando (ABBA pastiche). This is better than any other gangster movie: it distils the essence of the genre. It fuels Tarantino and The Usual Suspects, mixed with wry twists and rye. Although I haven't read The Glass Key, I've read all Chandler; and the Byrne man is pure Chandler, on the other side of the tracks. He takes a lot of punishment, he feels like a sawn-off leg, he cools it with bootleg, he has a way with a semi-soiled maid, and a weakness for the ponies. Runyonesque. He's not sure where he's going, but he can figure. He's never cross, but he's crossing over. Like the private eye, he's not mean, and he's melancholy, but he's not soft-boiled. Hell, the grifter had it coming. You don't double-cross a man who saves your life. And you can't go with a man who rubs out your brother. Personal relationships are ambiguous. Why are so many of these guys gunsels?

Miller's Crossing.......2007-07-13

A sharp, innovative send-up of everything from "The Public Enemy" to "The Godfather," Joel and Ethan Coen's brilliant "Crossing" has enough surprising twists, gnarled plotlines, and double crosses to fill several noir movies. Byrne is excellent as Tom, a loyal, boozing mobster whose inveterate gambling and torrid affair with the boss's girl (Harden, in her debut), eventually land him in hot water with Finney's Leo. Coens fave Turturro also has a brilliant turn as the weaselly Bernie. Evocative, clever, and beautifully played, "Crossing" is an under-rated homage to the gangster movies perfected by Warners in the 1930s.

cohen bros EPIC gangster flick "millers crossing".......2007-06-27

i looked everywhere for this movie retail and amazon was the only one who didn't let me down. millers crossing is everything you need in a gangster movie. plenty of characters you love to hate (caspar, the DANE, the Shmatte) and characters you hate to love (verna, leo, and of course the rogueish Tom). this movie has firepower and surreality. the cohen bros. redefine the genre with a emotional tale of love, betrayal, loyalty and brutality and of course "ETHICS". BUY IT, WATCH IT AND WATCH IT AGAIN.

bored me to death.......2007-06-01

there's nothing i could say to this boring gangster movie, so cliched and deadbeat, lotsa blah, blah this and blah, blah that from several mouth-tough guys. the storyline couldn't be more boring. guys who played tough guys didn't bring out any credible toughness in this film, didn't know what those guys yammering about, didn't seem to be too big deal important and interesting. after tried 45 minutes with mucho yawns, still failed to get connected, so i ejected the dvd, cursed all the way to the video store and returned it. well, same as usual for a boring rental, lost money, time and gas again.

Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)

Average customer rating:

Superb Production - Superb Performances
Puccini knocks them dead
Great
Wonderful Opera
A great production of this superb Puccini opera

Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)
Starring: Eva Marton , Plácido Domingo , Leona Mitchell , Paul Plishka , and Hugues Cuenod
Director: Kirk Browning
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000094HMU
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

Superb Production - Superb Performances.......2007-08-03

The Zeffirelli production was absolutely breathtaking in its detail: lighting, costumes and staging were truly inspiring. The performances of the entire cast were top notch from the smallest role to the largest. All voices were in wonderful form and focused beautifully. This is a production to treasure for generations!

Puccini knocks them dead.......2007-07-30

This is one of the most spectacular opera productions ever, and it is done very well. Eva Marton was hard to beat as Turandot. Placido Domingo was in fine voice. Leona Mitchell does Liu with grace and dignity. The Met Orchestra under James Levine is always a treat. An added attraction: Hugues Cuenod making his Met debut at age 85 as the old emperor. He is now 105 and "still going strong." Franco Zeffirelli's scenery and costumes dazzle.

Whatever one's opinion on the ending, after the meddling by Toscanini and others, Alfano's version is what we are used to, and he does use Puccini's themes effectively.

If you can watch Act I and then walk away, opera is not for you.

Great.......2007-07-15

DVD comes in several languages - great for singers who want to practice their skills in german/italian/french. Great production, awesome singers. Levine is wonderful and the orchestra is perfect...

Wonderful Opera.......2007-06-27

The sets are magnificent -- saw it at the Met and now i have it preserved for me to see over and over again.

A great production of this superb Puccini opera.......2007-06-14

It's hard to imagine a better production of this great Puccini opera.

The Zefferilli stage production and set designs are excellent.
Domingo is in ringing voice as Calaf and his supporting cast including Eva Marton as the Princess and Leona Mitchell as the slave girl Liu are all very good.

James Levine and the Met Orchestra are in superb form - drawing all the drama and exoticism out of this dynamic score.

Sound and picture quality are all very good - especially given this is a filmed stage production.

Lovers of this opera will not be disappointed and it may even make a few converts to Puccini who dislike the "morbidezza" of his other operas.

Average customer rating:

Unbelievably BAD
Big Night
All that Italian food just made me hungry
Chef John at foodwishes.com says:
a delicious film (on many levels).....

Big Night
Starring: Caroline Aaron , Marc Anthony , Peter Appel , Andre Belgrader , and Larry Block
Director: Campbell Scott
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767802535
Release Date: 1998-04-07

Amazon.com

Critics tripped all over their big feet to praise Big Night, and in doing so performed a grave disservice to this fine little film. They fooled audiences into believing it was a "super movie" instead of a home movie buoyed by friends and family. Consequently, many viewers were disappointed. Big Night is an intimate look at the immigrant struggle to attain the American Dream, set in New Jersey in the 1950s. Its disproportionate success gave co-directors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, who also star in the picture, the green light to follow up with a smug, unsuccessful second venture called The Imposters. Tucci wrote Big Night with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, and they based the story on the experience of growing up in a large, proud Italian family. The brothers in Big Night--chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Tucci)--have come to New Jersey to open a bistro named The Paradise that serves the finest in traditional, authentic Italian cuisine. Their every move is foiled by rival restaurant Pascal's, which serves mile-high servings of spaghetti and meatballs and flasks of bad Chianti at exorbitant prices. Primo is disgusted by the fact that Americans want cheap pasta instead of risotto, so Secondo hatches a plan to boost business: rumor has it bandleader Louis Prima is travelling through and will dine at The Paradise that very night. Secondo gambles to bring the finest dinner ever cooked--at the risk of losing his shirt and being reduced to exile to the old country with his tail between his legs. Big Night is a film that will easily invite comparisons to other "food" fare like Babette's Feast and Eat Drink Man Woman but, though Tucci insists his story is "about the struggle between art and commerce and the risk of staying true to yourself," the media refused to let it stay a small, comparative work. The movie, and the buzz around it, became a parable for the essence of the film itself: art vs. commerce. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievably BAD.......2007-08-21

Billed as thought provolking, the only thoughts it provoked for me were: why did anyone waste their efforts making it? and what in the world compelled me to buy it?

This was such a tedious "exploration of the immigrant struggle" that I had to "struggle" to stay awake.

Big Night.......2007-07-11

"Big Night" is a small joy, whose success lies in its recreation of period detail, and in bravura turns by its ensemble cast, particularly Shalhoub, who steals the picture as brother Primo, the shy, eccentric, uncompromising chef. Minnie Driver and Isabella Rossellini offer memorable support, but the main course is, of course, the banquet--a coup for the brothers, if guest of honor Prima shows. Tucci's script, written with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, revolves around food and family, but it also involves a familiar quest: to realize the American Dream without selling out.

All that Italian food just made me hungry.......2007-06-07

Recommended by my good friend Dee, I thought I give this one a try. The pace of this film is like that of a wonderful meal, considered, not rushed, and with attention to detail. Hard-edged business people often use salty language and such is the case here, by both Pascal and Secondo. Pascal is cavalier because he feels in charge of the world and Secondo is trying to figure out how not to be crushed by the weight of it. In Pascal's restaurant, people are having a wonderful time eating what clearly mediocre food is served with great fan fair. At The Paradise, the work in the spotless kitchen is done with the best ingredients and where only a perfect plate is allowed to be taken to the dining room. As is the custom, it is presented with an understated elegance.

During this film Stanley Tucci, plays Secondo, who manages to have a fling with both Isabella Rossellini and Minnie Driver. (This is the movie where it is proved that she is nine foot tall and all the stuff in "Good Will Hunting" about how she can dunk) Tony Shaloub plays Stanley Tucci's brother, as Primo, who is less talented on the woman front but is, in compensation, the superior chef. Both of them have a mixed relationship with Ian Holm who I feel lets the side down rather by doing too much of the acting stuff with a forced "eyetalian" accent. Two points here, firstly, all the male leads also crop up in supporting roles in A Life Less Ordinary and take the opportunity to show off their talents in these bigger roles. Secondly, if a fine actor like Ian Holm is the only disappointment in a movie that is quite a distinction. As the Big Night approaches, we share the preparation and presentation of multiple courses of delicious dishes, where any one could be on the cover of Gourmet magazine. Having a good time and good food is special.

In addition to this, the script and the direction is good - the movie is a miracle of brevity considering that, on repeated viewing, one can see that it is shot on a budget that wouldn't buy two lemon polenta cakes at The River Cafe. "Big Night" is one of the three cool indie movies that came out of America in 1997. Miss it and you probrably deserve to eat at McDonalds for the rest of your life.

Also recommended "Eat Drink, Man Woman," "Like Water for Chocolate," and "Babette's Feast."

Chef John at foodwishes.com says:.......2007-06-03

When a chef recommends a restaurant you know that it's a good place to eat, and when a chef recommends a food film... Chef John over at Foodwishes.com has this to say about the movie:

"I've probably watched it over 30 times. I consider it the best restaurant movie ever made, and no movie that I've seen before or since has captured the experience of the food business so brilliantly as this one. The film is the story of two Italian brothers who own a restaurant called "Paradise". Primo (played by Tony Shalhoub), is an intense, passionate chef who can't cope with his customers' expectations of "real" (Americanized) Italian food. The other brother, Secondo (played by Stanley Tucci), is the restaurant manager, who is in a constant battle with his brother over the balance between making money, and staying true to their culinary roots.

This is a great movie, even if you are not a "foodie," as its very funny, sweet, sad, and has an amazing sound track of music from that period. Also, any movie with Isabella Rossellini is worth seeing, and try and see if you can identify the busboy who later (in real life) goes on to have quite a successful music career. Anyone thinking of going to culinary school and/or starting a restaurant, should be made to watch this movie first. It gives such a perfect study of the agony and ecstasy of the restaurant experience."

a delicious film (on many levels)............2007-05-27

BIG NIGHT is a great film and an equally great story, that really appeals to the senses. For starters, we see great Italian food shots, during the "big night" (for which the film derives its title). I am not much of an Italian food aficianado, but it makes me want to be! Everything from the colorful appetizers, to the main course-what I would describe as a pasta cake, loaded with sausage, cheese and other filling ingredients, just fill your senses and you can just smell the basil, cheese and tomato sauce. Secondly, the writing and what the actors do with that writing (thanks to great direction by Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, as well as a great cast) is just beautiful.

The plot is modelled on the hopes and dreams of many immigrants, arriving on the shores of 1950s United States, searching for a better life, determined to achieve something bigger and better than what they could ever have accomplished, back home (there is a poignance to this theme, especially at this time, where that dream is more and more fleeting, as we are all being pulled into a state of paranoia and disdain, particularly toward foreigners). Two brothers, Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Segundo (Stanley Tucci) own and operate a failing Italian restaurant. Though, Primo is an amazing and dedicated chef, Segundo is the more wily and crafty younger brother, determined to cut a deal and make them successful. When they get wind of an opportunity to bring in famous swing singer Louis Prima, to their restaurant, for one very big night, how can they pass up on this opportunity? This could either make or break their reputation, as well as their bank account.

BIG NIGHT is beautifully crafted, and another great actor (who we know better as a well-respected and very talented salsa star) featured here is Marc Anthony, in an understated role as their young, quiet and slightly bumbling waiter, at the restaurant. The women featured in this film are gorgeous, too. Minnie Driver is stunningly beautiful, as Phyllis, Segundo's American girlfriend, and Isabella Rossellini plays the "other woman." I don't want to divulge any more plot details. I will say that this is a film that you really can't compare to other "food movies," though many have anyway. It's really a very intelligent character study about the immigrant experience, with food as a very colorful (and flavorful) backdrop.

Average customer rating:

Cher
I'm stuck on Moonstruck
DVD Quality
A different romance
One of my all-time favorites

Moonstruck
Starring: Cher , Nicolas Cage , Vincent Gardenia , Olympia Dukakis , and Danny Aiello
Director: Norman Jewison
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792838963
Release Date: 1998-06-30

Amazon.com essential video

Remember the outfit Cher wore to the Oscars when she won an Academy Award for her performance in this 1987 film? Ay-yi-yi. The actress' more retiring character in this infectious comedy leaps several psychological hurdles just giving her hair a permanent. But then the original screenplay by John Patrick Shanley (Joe Versus the Volcano) is a wonderful, gently satirical tale of an Italian-American family dealing with repression and dissatisfaction against a backdrop of cultural expectations. Cher is focused and funny as a widow who feels she should marry an older fellow (Danny Aiello), but then falls for his black-sheep brother (Nicolas Cage). Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia are perfect as her parents, and John Mahoney (of TV's Frasier) has a memorable, small role as a middle-aged man on the make who gets a lecture from Dukakis's character. Shanley's dialogue is comically stylized in a way that makes one appreciate how much words can inform an actor's performance. Taking its cues from him and director Norman Jewison (And Justice for All), the cast immerse themselves in a pool of hilariously operatic emotion. --Tom Keogh

Description

Fall under the delightful spell of Moonstruck, the mesmerizing romantic comedy from director Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof) and OscarÂ(r) winner* John Patrick Shanley. Academy AwardÂ(r) winners** Cher, Nicolas Cage and Olympia Dukakis excel in this explosively funny tale which also features flawless performances by Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia and Frasier's John Mahoney. Cher is "devastatingly funny, sinuous and beautiful" (Pauline Kael) as Loretta, an unlucky in love Italian widow who finds romance through the intervention of the Manhattan moon. With her wedding to a close friend just weeks away, she meets and falls hopelessly in love with his younger brother (Cage)! Her dilemma and her equally passionate and hilariously eccentric family make for an unforgettable film you'll find "beguiling" (Time), "enchanting" (Newsweek) and "irresistible" ("Today Show").

Customer Reviews:

Cher.......2007-07-26

Cher is one of my all time favorite people and I can watch this movie time and time again.

I'm stuck on Moonstruck.......2007-05-19

This is a delightful romantic comedy. Cher does a wonderful job of changing from a frumpy, overworked fiancee to a glamorous, sexy girlfriend of Nicholas Cage. Good performances by everyone.

DVD Quality.......2007-02-14

The first disc was defective. Returned it for replacement. The replacement is very slightly out of sync of video and audio at the end of movie. Shows poor quality control.

A different romance.......2007-02-12

A very good yet different comedy romance. Cher and Nickolas Cage are a great team in this movie!

One of my all-time favorites.......2006-11-10

I love this movie so much that I've watched it countless times and enjoy it every time I've seen it. I wore through my VHS copy, so it was time for a replacement. A very funny romantic comedy!

Average customer rating:

Wild Fun. Higly Enjoyable.
A Tale About Tails
Venetians head to London!
Very nice and scenic movie
Grab some Cheek

Cheeky! (Unrated)
Director: Tinto Brass
Manufacturer: Cult Epics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000F0UUCS
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Description

Cheeky! (Director's Italian Cut Unrated)

Will you be able to endure the sexy hilarity as Carla (Yuliya Mayarchuk) visits London? She's a big hit with everyone - except for boyfriend Matteo, who seethes with jealousy. With her skimpy skirt conveniently blowing in the wind, Carla attracts the attention of one and all. As she is having adventures with her lesbian real-estate agent Moira and Moira's ex-husband Marion, Matteo jets over to put her in line. But finding himself surrounded by freelovers in Hyde Park who remind him of his own dalliances, he soon mends his ways.

Beautifuly shot and featuring a head banging soundtrack, Cheeky! is sure to have you glued to the screen. Cheeky! is Tinto Brass's manifesto for a new world order - a most erotic one. Cult Epics is proud to present the Uncut Italian Directors Cut which is the most explicit cut of the film.

Customer Reviews:

Wild Fun. Higly Enjoyable........2007-09-05

There's not much that I can sway about this movie that'll sway you one way or the other. If you want this movie I suggest you get this edition. You'll have to read subtitles but that's the least of the reasons you bought this movie. It's high fun. The story is thin but the visuals are definitely worth it. Not only does the movie look clean but the it's one very fun movie. I definitely enjoyed it.

Recommended.

P.S. This edition is one minute longer than the Producer's Cut. If you're willing to read subtitles, I suugest this one.

A Tale About Tails.......2007-08-02

Carla (played by Russian born actress Yuliya Mayarchuk) lives in Venice and is madly in love with her boyfriend Matteo (Jarno Berardi.) When the film begins, Carla recently arrived in London and is working as a receptionist at a London hotel. The couple plans that Matteo will travel to England where he will join Carla in a short period of time. Implementing this plan, however, becomes problematic - - First, Carla is incredibly beautiful, is easily aroused sexually, and has a penchant for dressing provocatively. The first time we see her, while walking through Hyde Park, she is wearing a see-through skirt, with no underwear -- at her next appearance in public, she wears unbelievably brief short shorts. It is therefore not surprising that nearly everyone she encounters attempts to seduce her. This includes her female real estate agent and the agent's former husband. At first, Carla resists, but ultimately she succumbs. Later, however, she makes clear to the female realtor that she is interested in males, not women.

Meanwhile, back in Venice, Matteo stumbles on evidence which suggests that Carla was unfaithful even before she traveled to London. He argues with Carla during a phone conversation and calls off his trip to London. Then, after reconsidering the matter, he appears unannounced at Carla's flat in London to bring matters to a head. This film examines the question of whether infidelity by a female partner, and then lying about it, can be beneficial to a relationship. I will not reveal the answer here to avoid spoiling your potential enjoyment of the storyline.

But alas, this film is not really about relationships - - it is soft core pornography and is focused on sex. Be aware, however, that this film is about as hard as soft core can go without crossing the line. No actual penetration is visible, but both female and male genitalia are shown throughout the film.

The movie is shot on "film" and the production values are high. It appears to have been filmed on location in both London and Venice. The transfer to DVD and the DVD sound (two channel stereo) are also very good.

Carla spends a very large part of the film wearing little or no clothing and the camera studies her perfect face and body in great detail. There is also a bevy of additional attractive females appearing throughout the film in various stages of undress and totally nude on multiple occasions. As the cover of the DVD case suggests, the director Tinto Brass pays special attention to the female derriere in his camera shots.

Watching Yuliya Mayarchuk (Carla) alone is worth the price of this DVD. Combining this with a credible semblance of a plot, high production values, and wall to wall nudity gives this film a five star rating, in my opinion. My only complaint is that the film is in Italian, with English subtitles, and reading the dialogue, which often proceeds at a fast clip, sometimes makes it difficult to keep up with the visual action. However, this is a DVD and the rewind button is designed to handle this kind of problem.

Venetians head to London!.......2007-06-11

Have you ever bought a DVD that delivered EXACTLY what you were expecting? It's a good feeling, huh? Well, that's what CHEEKY did for me. I bought it for a surplus of nudity, and that's what I got! In addition, the movie is also a lot of fun and has some comical scenes in it.

Yuliya Mayarchuk is absolutely stunning as the main character (Carla). She travels from Italy to London where she plans to wait for her boyfriend to arrive. Along the way, some mis-understandings lead to a thrill ride of sexual mis-adventures. Mayarchuk is nude thru most of the movie, which is just fine w/me. Sometimes there's no particular reason for her to be naked, but she is anyway. That's just fine w/me too! She is absolutely adorable.

In this day & age when it seems like the whole world is falling apart, DVDs like CHEEKY are extra-important as they form an avenue of escapism. If you want a movie that is full of mindless fun and lots of gorgeous naked women, then this one should be at the top of your wishlist!

Very nice and scenic movie.......2007-05-30

There is a lot to this movie to enjoy. The women are lovely, the scenes are well done, and it is a very enjoyable movie to watch with your partner. We watched it through twice in the first week, and we really had fun with it each time. The women are lovely, and the scenes are great. Enjoy!

Grab some Cheek.......2007-05-16

If your looking for sexual adventure, look no further. This even has a story line.

Average customer rating: