Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]

On the blu-ray release

disappointing blu-ray release

Lara Croft - We need more

Lara never looked better

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]
Starring: Chris Barrie , Daniel Craig , Iain Glen , Angelina Jolie , and Leslie Phillips
Director: Simon West
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000I0QLZU
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Product Description

A member of a rich British aristocratic family, Lara Croft is a "tomb raider" who enjoys collecting ancient artifacts from ruins of temples, cities, etc. worldwide, and doesn't mind going through death-defying dangers to get them. She is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, weapons training, and foreign languages - and does them all in tight outfits. Well, the planets of the solar system are going into planetary alignment (Which occurs every 5,000 years), and a secret society called the Illuminati is seeking an ancient talisman that gives its possessor the ability to control time. However, they need a certain clock/key to help them in their search, and they have to find the talisman in one week or wait until the next planetary alignment to find it again. Lara happens to find that key hidden in a wall of her mansion. The Illuminati steal it, and Lara gets an old letter from her deceased father telling her about the society's agenda (Her father was also the one who hid the key). Now, she must retrieve the key and find and destroy the talisman before the Illuminati can get their hands on it.

Format: BLU-RAY DISC

Customer Reviews:

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray].......2007-07-17

The Blu-ray is disappointed. The sound is 1.5 Mbps instead of 4.6 Mbps because of the bonus in it. The picture isn't so perfect as I expected because there's less color than other movies in Blu-ray and the definition is no so good. However, le main menu is great and the trailers in HD !!

On the blu-ray release.......2007-04-26

When the Lara Croft video game was released it was so ahead of its time, it influenced and changed the video game industry.
It would have been nice if the Lara Croft series could continue its revelutionary approach by producing a crystal clear version of this 7 year old movie. But seeing the way how they prepared the title for HD, its apparent that the producers dont have big expectancies from this old lady.
The movie is very much grainy, there are even scratches and glares. I am not impressed with the audio as well.
The HD version has absolutely Zero upgrade value.
There are many extras but as i dont have the DVD im not sure if they are special for this version or not.

disappointing blu-ray release.......2007-03-23

this is my 10th blu-ray movie, and it is one of the worst one I have seen, there is grain everywhere and colors are so saturated it made the picture look flat and plain. Definitely not for showing off your HD equipment.

Lara Croft - We need more.......2007-03-09

Great female action movie. We need more like this. It holds your interest.

Lara never looked better.......2007-01-30

When i played this for the first time on my blu-ray player i was instantly able to see the difference in quality. The image was crisp and felt as though i was seeing it back in the theaters again.

Average customer rating:

What a wonderful story to share with the world...
Worth the Wait
The most eloquently constructed, universally relatable digital home movie of all time
Searing, Paradoxical, and Riveting
I CAN'T BELIEVE A MAN MADE THIS MOVIE!!

51 Birch Street
Starring: Mike Block , Carol (Kitty) Block , Mina Block , Karen Block Engwall , and Ellen Block
Director: Doug Block
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000QFAFOU
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Description

Do you REALLY want to know your parents?

Documentary filmmaker Doug Block always thought his parents' 54-year marriage was a good one. But when his mother dies unexpectedly and his father swiftly marries a former secretary, he discovers a family history far more complex and troubled than he ever imagined. 51 Birch Street is a riveting personal documentary that explores a universal human question - how much about your parents do you really want to know?

Customer Reviews:

What a wonderful story to share with the world..........2007-09-09

Be aware that this movie is a documentary - not a hollywood type entertainment movie. Be ready to want to hear about life in what I would consider a typical family in the US. It's not always the Clever's and Mike Block does a wonderful job of capturing all of the individuals in his family and all of their perspectives on his family. I was captivated throughout the whole film - anxious to hear truth about the inside lives of his father and mother's relationship. I think it gives everyone great insight into family dynamics and why you are the way you are, because of your family or origin. I'm very greatful that Mikes father and step-mother and sisters were willing to allow their story to be told. A lot can be learned from this film! Thanks Mike!

Worth the Wait.......2007-08-29

Because of its limited theatrical release schedule I had to wait and buy this on DVD from Amazon. Most things in todays world are over-publicized and over-hyped. Please believe me, this film is neither. What a tour-de-force in storytelling and what a fine piece of movie making. Doug Block's "home movie" really serves up a good dose of emotion: love to curiosity to sadness, fear, doubt, pain, jealousy and redemption. And the beauty of it all is IT REALLY HAPPENED. I'm asking everyone who can to watch this film. Congratulations, Doug. Now, can I read the diary?

The most eloquently constructed, universally relatable digital home movie of all time.......2007-08-26

51 Birch Street is the family discussion that most families never have. But not only do the Blocks have that discussion, documentary filmmaker Doug Block has captured it all on film and expertly crafted an easily accessible documentary that is equally amusing and moving, stirring and reassuring. What begins as one man's investigation into his parent's past slowly morphs into the most eloquently constructed, universally relatable digital home movie of all time.

Ineterspersing decades of video footage, photos, interviews, and (most notably) his mother's journals, Block examines his parent's 54-year marriage looking for clues as to why his father may have remarried only three months after his mother's death. As Block slowly unearths information from his mother's journals and through interviews with his father and relatives, the film picks up steam, building towards the inevitably cathartic finale.

But 51 Birch Street isn't just an autobiographical film about Block's parents. It's also not just a study in marital fidelity (or lack thereof). What 51 Birch Street really does is examine the disconnect between parents and children, between generations, between siblings, and between friends and documents one man's journey in bridging that disconnect. 51 Birch Street is the rare film that is designed to open dialogue on many complex issues. As Block works towards his own resolutions, audience members can't help but think about questions they may feel the need to ask or to discuss.

Inevitably there are uncomfortable moments where both Block and the audience are wondering whether he should delve any further into the past, both for moral reasons and because, as the DVD cover asks: "Do you REALLY want to know your parents?" Time and time again Block asks himself this question, and time and time again the answer is yes. When the secrets are laid bare and the past has been discussed, what's most rewarding about the film is the heartfelt discovery that communication and discussion clearly do aid in understanding and happiness. 51 Birch Street is the surprise documentary of the year. At a time when the documentary form is increasingly being used to further political agendas, it is a digital breath of fresh air.

The bonus features here are as entertaining and revealing as the film. In a brief featurette entitled Who Knew? Block goes back to interview various members of his family, including his father and stepmother, and gets their reactions to the film itself. But the four-minute "I Flunk Adultery" music video steals the DVD as Block's uncle Josh Vogel shares the entire five verses to the song with the audience, accompanied by a clever music video.

Searing, Paradoxical, and Riveting.......2007-08-23

Outstanding work of art. If you are interested in living a life of superficiality, than don't bother seeing this. Otherwise, check out this indie gem that will keep you thinking for some time.

I CAN'T BELIEVE A MAN MADE THIS MOVIE!!.......2007-07-10

Don't let my subject title fool you, 51 BIRCH STREET, is not the Ani DiFranco or Sarah McLachlan of personal documentaries- meaning this is a film that men and women of all ages will enjoy (assuming that they like emotionally stirring portraits of American families!) Its just that I always find myself pleasantly surprised when I see a unflinching, emotionally accurate, and unwaveringly honest portrayal of a woman by a man. 51 BIRCH STREET is all that and more. The filmmaker Doug Block is clearly admiring of his mother, Mina, yet unafraid to show her character warts and all, in the ultimate testimony to the belief that love is being able to see someone's full character, but still really love them just as they are. Three months after her sudden death his father reconnected with a secretary from 40 years ago, Kitty (what names, Mina and Kitty!), within the year they've married and are moving to Florida! This was obviously was a bit of a shock to him and his sisters, and after decades of his mothers diaries were discovered during the move, Doug was inspired to make the film. Ultimately it is a loving portrait of the challenges of family. It's gripping and moving, a must see!

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

an action film that works
Tomb Raider - HD
A collector's Must Have
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
Visually stunning!

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Chris Barrie , Daniel Craig , Iain Glen , Angelina Jolie , and Leslie Phillips
Director: Simon West
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXZ1
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Amazon.com

Like the video game series it's based on, Tomb Raider is best enjoyed for its physical strategies, since even casual scrutiny of story details will induce a headache. It's more concerned with puzzles than plot, populated with characters that don't have personalities so much as attitudes. It's silly and somber at the same time, but as a franchise vehicle for Angelina Jolie in the title role of relic hunter Lara Croft, this is packaged entertainment at its most agreeable, ambitious in scope and scale, and filled with the kind of globetrotting adventure that could make Jolie the best thing that's happened to action movies since Indiana Jones. Could being the operative word here, because Tomb Raider can't match any of Steven Spielberg's celebrated joyrides, but the ingredients are there for an exquisitely cinematic meal.

Perhaps to distance himself from Lara Croft's video game origins, director Simon West takes things a bit too seriously; Tomb Raider handles its plot (involving a planetary alignment, the nefarious Illuminati, and coveted relics that hold the key to controlling the flow of time) with all the gravity of a championship chess match... minus the tension. If the movie had lightened up and been truly suspenseful (instead of being suffused with been-there, done-that familiarity), it would have been an instant popcorn classic. As it is, however, this is an elegantly mounted adventure featuring exotic locations (in Cambodia and Iceland) and an exotic star born for her role. Even without her padded bra, Jolie would be the living embodiment of Lara Croft, and that's enough to bode well for inevitable sequels. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

an action film that works.......2007-07-23

While I'm certainly not a fan of the Tomb Raider video games (because they're horribly designed and endlessly frustrating) I couldn't believe my sees at the sight of a really good Tomb Raider action movie. Sure, some of the lines were pretty silly and cheesy, and the action scenes were pretty predictable because you KNEW Lara would always escape danger is highly unbelievable ways. It doesn't matter though, because I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of this film. Good watch.

Tomb Raider - HD.......2007-05-10

Video transfer quality is great. Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtrack is very clean - I haven't listened to the DTS soundtrack, but it includes one. Special features are PLENTY, among which are both a trailer and a teaser trailer in HD.

If you enjoy this movie, I would say you get a great value for the money with the quality and all the features. If you've never seen this movie before, and you feel the same way as I do about some of the other movies I've reviewed here on Amazon, then you may feel the same way as I do about "Tomb Raider" as well.

My first impression - having all the bells and whistles of a great surround system - leads me to conclude that it's plenty "Tomb" but not quite "Raider".

The story is decent as far as "adventures" go, perhaps more on the unconvincing side, but the action seemed small to me: gunfire petite...explosions dainty...somewhat corny...Lara evades a gunman's barrage of bullets in the main lobby of her mansion like a schoolyard tetherball going around its pole, and I couldn't help but be reminded of writings I remember from the U.S.S. Alabama - "Lead Dammit, Lead!"

"Tomb Raider" may be more of (but not necessarily) a "chick flic" adventure (pardon the reference) strongly cashing in on the "daddy's little girl" theme, which could easily alienate some. However, do not assume me biased about a female lead: I found "Aeon Flux" to be an outstanding film - it too has a female lead.

It turns out I honestly just didn't like this movie. If you're a fan of the "Tomb Raider" videogame, or of Angelina Jolie, or of archeological adventures or of the aforementioned thematic structure, you might get a kick out of this film. If you're particular about your collection, you may want to be cautious about this one - but in its defense, it's all a matter of taste.

I neither recommend nor condemn this film - I just didn't like it.

A collector's Must Have.......2007-05-07

Jolie as an action figure just sits right. I am glad I have it to watch whenever.

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider.......2007-05-07

Love it came in great condition!and it shows GREAT!!

Visually stunning!.......2007-04-09

And the sets and scenery are nice too. Face it, the reason we're here to talk about this movie, is because of the star. It's all about Angelina Jolie, but unfortunately this film is rated PG-13, so you just don't get as much of her as you would like.

The main character, Lara Croft (Jolie) is the uber-sexy combination of the all the archeological nerdiness of Indiana Jones, the swashbuckling adventure of Robin Hood, the firepower of Rambo, the gadgetry of James Bond and the sexiness of, well, Angelina Jolie. Her humble abode, Croft Manor is meant to evoke some sort of combination of classic European aristocracy and 22nd Century technical marvel. Some weird combination of Palace of Versailles crossed with the Bat Cave and the deck of the Starship Enterprise. Why can't we all be born into this lifestyle? In fact I guess it really is a lot like Bruce Wayne's place.

The opening scene is a fantastic fight sequence between a barely clad Croft and some robot thingy we don't care about. It nearly kills her, but she comes through and destroys it and we all learn it's just some cheese ball training session, and a good excuse for her to wear a nice tight top and some revealing shorts. This is followed by a completely meaningless scene that serves no purpose what so ever , Croft in a shower. If they would have been brave enough to shoot for an R rating, or even an NC-17, it could have been the greatest scene in the history of filmmaking. As it is, just a naked wet Jolie throwing her hair about and posing as the water falls on her body. It really is quite magnificent, and yet somewhat disappointing.

The story revolves around some global organization bent on taking over the world, and their plans revolve around the planets aligning and some magic key they need to find to control time. Along the way we learn that Croft has daddy issues (Jon Voight, her real life father) since he's been missing for so long. And she is the uber-cool totally against the grain rebel that upsets any and all uptight class elitists she runs into along the way, even though she`s a rich snob herself. She has a geeky brainiac side kick/helper named Bryce (Noah Talyor) who is pretty funny actually, a nice little smart alec, and an opposing archeologist working for the bad guys named Alex (Craig, Daniel Craig).

The movie looks pretty, which is its main goal. There is some sort of story, plenty of action, a bit of intrigue and the constant presence and pleasure of Croft's breasts, which appear to be the main feature of this story, since the camera rarely leaves them and her outfits always ensure their prominent display. Also, there are enough references to the Illuminati (the bad guys here, bent on world domination, and definitely not wiling to wait another 5000 years for the planetary alignment before they can take over) and the all seeing eye on the pyramid to make a Da Vinci code buff have some sort of nerd-gasm trying to compare/contrast how those two symbols are used in the different films.

The movie is really just a whacky wild adventure in the pursuit of two halves of a magic mystery triangle so powerful that the evil Mecha-Streisand can be destroyed once and for all! Ok, that's not really what the triangle does, it gives the user the ability to manipulate time, which the bad guys will use to take over the world. As if they're not already in control of everything. Of course Lara prevents them from getting the triangle, actually gets control of it herself and does nothing spectacular with it before destroying it.

The parallels between Tomb Raider and Raiders of the Lost Ark are almost uncanny. A swashbuckling hero Croft/Indy is out to save the world by finding the triangle/ark before the bad guys Illuminati/Nazis are able to do so with their own archeologist Alex West/Renee Belloq.

With that, it's a visually stunning film, with the scenery and locals, the special effects, and of course the lead actress. It's entertaining, and worth the money. Pick it up. Enjoy it. You won't remember anything about it a week after seeing it. It's a good fun movie, that is completely forgettable.

As for the special features on this Widescreen Special Collectors Edition:

Digging Into Tomb Raider
Crafting Lara Croft
The Stunts of Tomb Raider
Visual Effects of Tomb Raider
Are you Game?
Commentary by Director Simon West
4 Deleted Scenes
Alternate Main Title Sequences
U2 Music Video, "Elevation" Tomb Raider Mix
DVD-ROM Features
Tomb Raider Timeline
Tomb Raider Chronicles Game

Some pretty cool stuff, worth checking out.

Average customer rating:

More of the Same- 2 1/2 stars
"Instead Of A Nose, I Was Born With An Appendage On My Face."
Sexual Comedy/Satire -ASSUME THE POSITION EDITION !!!
Horrible! One of the worst movies ever!
Its was alright

Deuce Bigalow - European Gigolo
Starring: Rob Schneider , Eddie Griffin , Jeroen Krabbé , Til Schweiger , and Douglas Sills
Director: Mike Bigelow
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BBOUCC
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Amazon.com

If the repeated use of the phrase "man-whore" is your recipe for hilarity, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo is your movie. Rob Schneider (The Hot Chick, The Animal) returns as the hapless male prostitute, in this case lured back into the man-whore lifestyle in order to investigate the killings of European man-whores. His former pimp T.J. (Eddie Griffin, Undercover Brother) has set up shop in Amsterdam, where he finds himself accused of both the man-whore murders and of being a homosexual. From this slender, ridiculous premise springs dozens of gags about flatulence, breasts, and male sexual organs--in fact, the number of phallus stand-ins (noses, swords, man-whore of the year awards) would seem excessive to Aristophanes. And yet, despite all things crass and tawdry, Schneider remains bizarrely innocent, and this movie, like the first one, feels inexplicably sweet. The fundamental ethos of Deuce Bigalow is that everyone, no matter how they look, deserves to be loved. Such a downright Christian sentiment is rarely packaged in a movie featuring a cat biting a man's testicles or a woman gushing wine out of her tracheotomy hole, yet that's all part of the ineffable mystery of Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. Also featuring Jeroen Krabbe (The 4th Man, The Living Daylights). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Comedy superstar Rob Schneider is back once more as Deuce Bigalow, the big-hearted male gigolo with the least down below. Fleeing to Europe following a near run-in with the Malibu PD, Deuce finds himself thrust back into the pleasure-for-pay profession when his former pimp (Eddie Griffin) is wrongly accused of murdering Europe's highest-priced man-whores. Working under-the-covers, Deuce seduces a bevy of super-freaky female clients (as well as Dutch supermodel Hanna Verboom) to learn the identity of the real killer in this outrageous laugh-orgy that will have you screaming with delight from start to finish!

Customer Reviews:

More of the Same- 2 1/2 stars.......2007-07-24

This is basically the same movie as the first, except it is moved to Europe, obviously the reason being that people would have caught on that this is the same movie if it was still set in America. The worst part is that some of the jokes used in the first movie are used again in the sequel, which was funny the first time but not the second. If you liked the first movie, you will enjoy European Gigolo, and if you haven't seen this movie yet-you're not missing anything. The two movies are so similar that they don't need a third if it's anything like this. There is no way that a third movie could be any different. Yeah, the jokes were funny but to tell the same jokes again, it doesn't work. The series definitely needs to die. With all that said, it was still a decent movie.

"Instead Of A Nose, I Was Born With An Appendage On My Face.".......2007-05-27

I was curious about this movie for one reason, and one reason only: the prominent position it holds in Roger Ebert's new (and wonderful) book "Your Movie Sucks." Ebert does not often mention his Pulitzer Prize, but did so in the introduction to his new book in defense of a fellow journalist with his extremely pointed and apt statement "Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks." There is a much longer story than that behind this statement, and I highly recommend you read the book for a full account of the happenings that brought it about.

As far as the movie goes, it is vile, disgusting, repulsive, and worst of all decidedly not funny: it utterly fails to live up to the standards Schneider sets in his other films.

The film begins with an explanation of how Deuce's wife was eaten on their honeymoon by a shark. To prove his undying love for her, he carries one of her prosthetic legs around with him wherever he goes (until the closing credits when an old woman makes it into a bong, anyway). Deuce (Schneider) is befriended by his old friend T.J. (Eddie Griffin) who now lives in Amsterdam. T.J. is the alleged straight man (sort of) and is wrongly accused of murder. He also eats French fries and fights off an eight pound housecat in what was but the first of many revolting scenes. Deuce falls for Eva, a fellow ichthyologist, and is entranced by her sketch of a "Sudanese Sweetlips," which actually is a real fish. In the meantime, we discover that Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is hilarious; this foreshadows the unpleasant case of dwarf tossing later in the film.

Deuce gets to date a variety of women in his undercover occupation. I will hit the highlights by mentioning that he gets to wear diapers for a giantess; he escorts a woman who has had a laryngectomy to a fancy restaurant, and is able to provoke a fountain of red wine to shoot from the stoma in her neck (do not inquire about her case of hiccups or the subsequent use of the stoma in the plot resolution...it is so heinous, I will not discuss the matter further); finally he escorts a woman wearing a veil who explains that she is from Chernobyl, and the her mother worked in the nuclear power plant while she was pregnant. She then elaborates further that she is wearing the veil because "instead of a nose, I was born with an appendage on my face." Need I say more? Do not even think about her sneezing fit on the dance floor. Really. Don't think about it.

The movie's alleged plot involves a killer of male prostitutes loose in Amsterdam, and the action peaks at an awards ceremony. The plot is resolved by the worst use of swordplay in screen history (and a special guest appearance by the stoma of fate.) The film then concludes with the worst ever "where are they now" vignettes ever committed to celluloid.

The DVD has many extras, including a "making of" short (see how the nasal appendage was created!), a casting reel, and an extra on the making of T.J.'s "Float Crib." It was more bearable than the film, but only marginally so.

After viewing this film (surely Schneider's very worst) I can only think that Roger Ebert was extremely generous in his appraisal. I would not recommend this film to any human being or other vertebrate of any kind.

Sexual Comedy/Satire -ASSUME THE POSITION EDITION !!!.......2007-03-26

Sexual Comedy/Satire-CANADIAN COLLECTIBLE ASSUME THE POSITION EDITION-AUDIO:English or Francais Dolby 5.1-Subtitles:English or Francais-WIDESCREEN-Deuce Bigalow (Rob Schneider), the big-hearted male gigolo with the least down below. Fleeing to Europe following a near run-in with the Malibu P.D., Deuce finds himself thrust back into the pleasure-for-pay profession when his former pimp (Eddie Griffin) is wrongly accused of murdering Europe's highest-priced man-whores. Working under-the-covers, Deuce seduces a bevy of super-freaky female clients to learn the identity of the real killer in this outrageous laugh-orgy that will have you laughing with delight from start to finish! BONUS:Deleted Scenes-Comedy Central's Reel Comedy Special-Featurettes:ManHo 101, A Burger & A Bently, T.J.'s Float Crib, Casting Lounge, 2-Part Making Of D.B.E.G.-So You Want To Be A Man Whore Commercials!Rated Canadian 14A for crude content ,coarse language.

Horrible! One of the worst movies ever!.......2007-03-25

If I had it my way, I'd give this movie "Zero" (0) stars! Unfortunately, I had to rate it! Rob Schneider is one of those actors that could be dropped in a pile of human feces and come out smelling like a rose without any ounce of shame! That's what I think of this movie! It is repugnant! Offensive! Disgusting! And above all, one of the worst movies ever made in the last 25 years! Not only was this sequel unnecessary, it was a total insult to the movie viewing public! Movie goers deserve beter! Much Better!

Its was alright.......2006-12-23

This movie had its funny moments but was not as good as the original.

Average customer rating:

Why haven't I seen this on HBO
Insightful!
inside the biz
Very Good

The Secret Lives of Adult Stars
Starring: Nina Hartley , Asia Carrera , Juli Ashton , and Chloe
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002I84I0
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Description

The top 30 performers in Adult Entertainment share their thoughts and fears about the industry. The stars discuss how they started, the reality behind the glamour, the threat of AIDS, and the nationwide controversy surrounding their profession

Customer Reviews:

Why haven't I seen this on HBO.......2006-01-30

I think this documentary is very good with showing real porn stars talking about the life of being a porn star, how scary it is and getting tested for AIDS, this should win an Oscar.

I also recommend y'all buy "Thinking XXX" the dvd.

Insightful! .......2005-08-30

Having always been fascinated with the adult film industry and the people not only in front but also behind the cameras; I must say that this is a pretty good film.

Lots of different interviews with people like Randy West and Nina Hartley, who have been around and working since the early 80's (at least!); as well as a lot of other interviews with the newer up and comers.

"The Secret Lives of Adult Stars" covers a wide range of topics and touches a lot of bases. Everything from views on penis size, AIDS, condoms, strippers turned porn goddesses, the role of the men, directors, couples in the biz, stalkers, fans... you name it...and there is probably a section of the documentary that deals with the subject.

If you interested in seeing lots & lots of interviews by some of the industries leading names.... and the subject matter & behind the scenes knowledge is something that interests you, then this reviewer would strongly suggest checking this movie out.

Just keep in mind...this IS a documentary - not a porno.

Recommended!

inside the biz.......2005-03-30

This documentary bombards you with so many opinions and facts that it takes effort to digest all of the information. You learn a lot about this industry that is usually secretive. They interview male and female stars, however, like much heteropatriarchal works, this shows lots of female nudity and no male nudity. This is true despite interviewees saying the business is trying to attract more (straight?) female viewers. Unlike many documentaries, this one included optional Spanish subtitles. For those who want to know about this business, this is a must-see. It may also be good to see along with reading Jill Nelson's anthology "Whores and Other Feminists." The topic of erotic labor is finally getting the serious attention that it merits. One Eurasian actress is interviewed, but this film shows no Black or Latino porn actors or actresses. It was very Eurocentric and doesn't discuss white privilege and the abundance of blonde actresses in this arena.

Very Good.......2005-03-11

Very good insight into the world of a real life porn star.
This DVD takes you behind the scenes like no other more from the down to earth human side.I would recommend this DVD!!!!

National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service

Average customer rating:

Inside The Secret Service
Worth the Purchase
Vince Palamara, Secret Service expert , deceived us
Some nice pictures.
Document or Recruit Spectacle?

National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service

Manufacturer: National Geographic Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002TT0O6
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Customer Reviews:

Inside The Secret Service.......2007-07-23

Very good presentation. As a retired Special Agent I saw many friends. The product is well done without jeprodizing security and procedure.

Worth the Purchase.......2007-01-12

I have always been fascinated with the world of the US Secret Service. National Geographic goes "behind the scenes" and explains it all to you. This video shows it all, from coverage of their intensive training, to pre-planning a "Presidential Arrival", Interviews with Special Agents and much more.

I most definitely recommend this video to anyone who is interested in becoming a member of US Secret Service or anyone who just shares the fascination that I have. "2 thumbs up"!

Vince Palamara, Secret Service expert , deceived us.......2006-01-08

As a proud former member of the United States Secret Service, I believe that this product is worth your time and money...and I also feel it is my perogative to inform everyone here that, while Vince Palamara is to be commended for his notable research acumen and getting many of my colleagues-and myself- to speak to him, he has also done so at the expense of many of their feelings, beliefs, and trust. In short, Vince Palamara believes the means justifies the ends.
So, imagine my horror when I turn on the television a few years back and I SEE the young researcher who promised myself and many others that he was not a journalist, stating facts, theories, and innuendo as the gospel truth. Emory Roberts, for one, cannot defend himself. I will concede that I have no good explanation for what transpires on the film Palamara shows-but does that have to lead to conspiratorial conclusions? Does it, Vince?
From what I gather, many members of the AFAUSSS, myself included, are quite upset with him, as well they should be.

Can we let sleeping dogs lie? Lee Harvy Oswald killed President John Kennedy, acting alone. Yes, my colleagues did not do their jobs as effectively as they could have or probably should have-but will that bring back the man? No. What useful purpose is served by defaming Kennedy's memory and all the still-living former agents with calling into question the very painful loss of said man, as well as their job performance.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
T.R., proud alumni/ past member of the folowing organizations:
MSU
Army 1957-1959
USSS 1961-1982

Some nice pictures........2005-09-07

I'm quite happy with the video. It has some nice photos of the presidential limo, Air Force One, and agents protecting the president. It has many neat historical facts and video clips. It doesn't reveal any juicy details about the Secret Service, as many of their operational procedures are classified. However, it is quite specific about some of their general procedures.

Document or Recruit Spectacle? .......2005-01-16

(First about rating: I would give 3 1/2 Stars to this document.)

I wonder why this it has been made in a first place / and to whom? I doubt about that SS would need a recruit movie, but the recruit was the first word that comes to my mind right now.

I found this document more as "American cream cake" (Nice looking, sweat but
not a real experience) than an informative document. I didn't learn anything that I wouldn't know or at least assumed already before. And I do not have any contact to SS or its counterparts. (I am not police or military person) my knowledge is pretty much based on general information from news papers, journals, magazines etc..

What comes to "a cream" the document was technically and artistically nicely done (A+) the "actors" (at least part of them were "real agents") know their stuff and they sounded professional. But somehow everything looked kind of a bit too good. Instead of watching good looking guys, shiny cars and nice scenes I would love to hear more about the history of SS, risk profiling/ risk assessment, training, educational-, gender-, racial back round of SS staffers (no mention at all), investigating frauds, List goes on:

It would be nice to get some kind of hint what everybody could do to help SS, e.g., what should I do 1 if my loopy 70 year old neighbor tells that she will kill the president while He is visiting in our town/ my neighbor with a army sniper training is angry at president after bad war injury compensation and he said to me that pay pack time is coming.... For the record I do not have such interesting neighbors and if I would have, I would consult a local police or SS field office....
Furthermore the document could have focused more to fraud investigation (what everybody can do to protect themselves and America from Frauds (now when there are more and more cyber frauds).. Now fraud investigation and protecting currency were only mentioned very shortly.

Document underlines a risky nature of being President's security man. It is a dead threat that one has cope with and work is so stressful that "everybody burns out (in five year)", tells one agent. First, with respect of physical dangers I would assume that working e.g. in an ER, or in tropical clinic in Africa would more dangerous than working in SS. Second, what comes to burning out: I wonder if this comment was said to make president's SS detail look sexy? (If some work place burns "everybody out in Five year" there is a problem... a big one!) When one agent says that while working in the detail he never slept more that 3 hour in a time, I wonder if he (his boss) hasn't heard how lack of sleep affect on individual's reaction time. It works like alcohol!

Finally, If you want to see \good spectacle this is a good for you. If you are happy with general information, this document is good for you too. To not sound too negative I admit that perhaps my expectations partly were unrealistic...
Document on president's security detail - or Recruit Spectacle
3 1/2 Stars

I wonder why this it has been made in a first place / and to whom? I doubt about that SS would need a recruit movie, but the recruit was the first word that comes to my mind right now.

I found this document more as "American cream cake" (Nice looking, sweat but
not a real experience) than an informative document. I didn't learn anything that I wouldn't know or at least assumed already before. And I do not have any contact to SS or its counterparts. (I am not police or military person) my knowledge is pretty much based on general information from news papers, journals, magazines etc..

What comes to "a cream" the document was technically and artistically nicely done (A+) the "actors" (at least part of them were "real agents") know their stuff and they sounded professional. But somehow everything looked kind of a bit too good. Instead of watching good looking guys, shiny cars and nice scenes I would love to hear more about the history of SS, risk profiling/ risk assessment, training, educational-, gender-, racial back round of SS staffers (no mention at all), investigating frauds, List goes on:

It would be nice to get some kind of hint what everybody could do to help SS, e.g., what should I do 1 if my loopy 70 year old neighbor tells that she will kill the president while He is visiting in our town/ my neighbor with a army sniper training is angry at president after bad war injury compensation and he said to me that pay pack time is coming.... For the record I do not have such interesting neighbors and if I would have, I would consult a local police or SS field office....
Furthermore the document could have focused more to fraud investigation (what everybody can do to protect themselves and America from Frauds (now when there are more and more cyber frauds).. Now fraud investigation and protecting currency were only mentioned very shortly.

Document underlines a risky nature of being President's security man. It is a dead threat that one has cope with and work is so stressful that "everybody burns out (in five year)", tells one agent. First, with respect of physical dangers I would assume that working e.g. in an ER, or in tropical clinic in Africa would more dangerous than working in SS. Second, what comes to burning out: I wonder if this comment was said to make president's SS detail look sexy? (If some work place burns "everybody out in Five year" there is a problem... a big one!) When one agent says that while working in the detail he never slept more that 3 hour in a time, I wonder if he (his boss) hasn't heard how lack of sleep affect on individual's reaction time. It works like alcohol!

Finally, If you want to see \good spectacle this is a good for you. If you are happy with general information, this document is good for you too. To not sound too negative I admit that perhaps my expectations partly were unrealistic...

In Search of History - The Knights Templar (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

Slightly disappointing
Don't buy this DVD twice by accident
Low value DVD
Informative yet also entertaining

In Search of History - The Knights Templar (History Channel)
Starring: In Search of History
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BF0CNE
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Product Description

Their fanatical courage struck terror in their enemies. Their fabulous wealth made them the most powerful men in Europe. Their secret rites inspired rumors of heresy. In the Crusades, these ferocious sword-wielding monks were charged with protecting the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In defeat, they were burned at the stake.

Journey from Middle Ages Jerusalem to modern day Europe to unravel the extraordinary story of the legendary Knights who some say survived their supposed execution at the end of the Crusades and have preserved their order to this day. Leading historians reveal their fantastic origins, and period accounts bring their legendary battles to life. Ancient documents and artifacts hint at the mysteries that surround them. Did they discover ancient secrets buried beneath Solomon's temple, and conspire to seize part of Europe for themselves? Explore the incredible history of the Crusade's mightiest and most puzzling warriors.

System Requirements:

Running Time 50 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Slightly disappointing.......2007-05-11

The dramatizations were not very good in this one. They also didn't present as many facts as I had hoped. I saw a different knights templar documentary on the history channel and it was far far better than this one. This one is ok. Mildly entertaining, and some decent info.

Don't buy this DVD twice by accident.......2006-05-18

WARNING -- this entire documentary is included as a bonus on disk 2 of "Crusade: the Crescent and the Cross", also made by the History Channel. Not only that, but at the time I am writing this review, "Crescent and the Cross" is selling for less than $15, for 2 disks, with bonus material, while this DVD, "Knights Templar" is selling for about $22 and contains no bonus material at all.

"Knights Templar" is a good, not great, documentary. The story is very good, if brief, but the film footage is definitely NOT up to the History Channel's usual quality. They use a lot of Black and White footage from what looks like a very low budget film -- people swinging weapons like they don't know what to do with them. No actual actors performing for the camera, just background footage with voice-over.

My recommendation -- if you are interested in the history of the Knights of the Temple of King Solomon, buy this DVD, but as the bonus disk in "Crusade: The Crescent and the Cross". That, by the way, is a GREAT DVD!

Low value DVD.......2006-03-22

DVD shows a lot the same images and there are no visits to remaining castles in the world or so. Its the whole time narrating with few asthonishing images.

Informative yet also entertaining.......2006-01-24

The history channel usually does a good job at mixing the informative side of history with the Hollywood side of visual effects and this episode is no different. With clips of fighting, knights on horseback, actual geographical video and their new technology of 3D maps, they do an outstanding job of giving you a full understanding of the terrain mentioned and the layout of the events covered. The Knights of Templar are very much shrouded in mystery so the daunting challenge was handled well in not just covering what is known but logical explanations to a lot of the unanswered questions left behind. I don't want to go into any detail and give anything away for those who have not seen it, but, from conception to their demise, from logical motive of their creation to how they fared in battle it is all covered in an easy to follow and informative way. These knights played such a huge part in history and it is all covered; first standing army since Roman times, first real bankers, historians, what did they find in their tunneling under the Temple of Solomon? And as I said, what they don't have legit answers for they have experts with logical explanations and hypothesis. I thought I knew a lot about them, but really learned a great deal. Recommended highly.

Average customer rating:

an action film that works
Tomb Raider - HD
A collector's Must Have
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
Visually stunning!

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [HD DVD]
Starring: Angelina Jolie , Jon Voight , Iain Glen , Noah Taylor , and Daniel Craig
Director: Simon West
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GTJT0C
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Amazon.com

Description

Lady Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) travels to exotic and dangerous locales in search of tombs and relics of lost civilizations. As the first interplanetary alignment in 5000 years approaches, Lara Croft faces her greatest challenge. Her mission is to recover two halves of an ancient metallic triangle hidden in underground chambers in Cambodia and Siberia. With the guidance of letters written by her late father, Lord Croft (Jon Voight), Lara sets out to recover the artifact which grants its holder the power to rule time. Along the way she faces dangerous opposition from of Manfred Powell (Iain Glen), an agent in the employ of The Illuminata, a sinister secret society determined top possess the artifact at any cost. And not even Bryce (Noah Taylor), Lara's erstwhile electronics assistant can help when the ancient forces are unleashed.

Customer Reviews:

an action film that works.......2007-07-23

Tomb Raider - HD.......2007-05-10

A collector's Must Have.......2007-05-07

Jolie as an action figure just sits right. I am glad I have it to watch whenever.

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider.......2007-05-07

Love it came in great condition!and it shows GREAT!!

Visually stunning!.......2007-04-09

Average customer rating:

interesting thriller involving a secret society
best of three parts
Great trash
[Three-and-a-half out of five] Updated attempt to copy Brotherhood of the Bell!
Ineffective copy of Brotherhood of The Bell.

The Skulls (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Derek Aasland , David Asman , Nigel Bennett , Leslie Bibb , and David Christo
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00004X13T
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Amazon.com

Think of the Skulls as a collegiate Freemason's society--an ultrasecret organization that opens the doors of power to a few lucky Ivy League students, including school rowing star Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson), a poor kid with a misspent youth. "If it's secret and it's elite, it can't be good," cautions his journalist roommate, but the lure of lavish gifts and cabal-like ceremonies in torch-lit stone chambers is too much to resist--until his roomie is murdered and his own Skull "soulmate" Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker) is the number one suspect.

There's a campy kick to the initiation ceremonies, ancient rituals in dungeonlike alcoves filled with haze and shadow, performed by enthralled frat boys, but as Jackson flounders at the center of a Skull conspiracy it spins into ludicrous melodrama. See the college president become a thug for the Skull godfather! See street punks become high-tech criminal masterminds! See the conspiracy collapse under its own absurdity!

Jackson is pretty much a dud as the well-meaning hero, but Walker, with flashing eyes under furrowed brow, is mesmerizing as a haunted rich kid torn between a ruthless, overbearing father (Craig T. Nelson) and his conscience. Director Rob Cohen drives the film at a galloping pace and fills it with foreboding images, but his humorless solemnity finally buries The Skulls in a heap of clichés. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

interesting thriller involving a secret society.......2007-07-31

People, people, people! Please! I was reading some of the reviews for this movie. Seems some people rented/got this movie to "discover" those ancient secrets of such secret society or the Skulls and Bones. You really think they'll reveal them here?

Anyways, Luke is offered a chance to join the Skulls. The thing is that Luke is different from the other pledge brothers. He isn't a legacy nor does he come from old money. So, this is a rare opportunity of a lifetime.

In the middle of pledging or initiation rites, Luke discovers that his best friend, a student journalist, has committed suicide. Or was he staged to look like he committed suicide. Immediately, he suspects the Skulls. In a freakish way, the Skulls seems to know what Luke is thinking and doing.

Luke wants to back out and report the society of its involvement of a friend's death to the police. However, wherever he turns, there's a Skull blocking his way. Will Luke be able to avenge his friend's death?

Think of *The Skulls* as a collegiate version of *The Firm*.

best of three parts.......2007-01-27

Think for some people this movie already become a kind of "classic" story.

Deep within the tarnished walls of the popular Ivy League campus lies a secret network. A society where power remains prominent. Only a select few are given the honour to join the prestigious society called, The Skulls.

When Luke (The lovely Joshua Jackson.) is offered the chance to join he jumps at the chance but little does he know how dangerous his life may become. This is not made known to him until his best friend is murdered. He is now searching for the truth. Nothing can get in his way any more.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed classic. Highlights include the luscious Paul Walker and a tense shoot out at the end with very surprising consequences.

Film deserves at least one-time watch.

Great trash.......2006-12-16

This film is great, trashy fun. Of course, it's impossible to take it seriously. Inspired supposedly by Yale's Skulls and Bones, the movie has such incredible, unbelievable situations, that to enjoy it one has to see it as an unintentional comedy. My best scene in that sense would be when Joshua Jackson is interned by the baddies in a madhouse. It's such a ridiculous scene that you can't help laughing at it. The second-best situation would be the duel, and the father, telling his son after being shot the immortal line "You're not worth the trouble". Take it easy and laugh out loud.

[Three-and-a-half out of five] Updated attempt to copy Brotherhood of the Bell!.......2006-06-29

Modern day attempt at old time expose
of Secret Societies / Fraternity and
not bad at all. Except for excessive
profanity in orginal print that will
keep some otherwise favorabley impressed
away. TV version has a bit cleaned up.
Supposed to be about Bush/Clinton/Gore/
Robertson cult known at Yale University
as Skull and Bones. Good bit of research
done by Hollywood Director, but nowhere
near as effective as Oliver Stone's JFK
or Michael Moore's best (Fahrenheit 9/11
or Roger and Me). Good effort nonetheless!
For a new generation, who better take this
as a warning. See also: Alexandra Robinson's
books!

Ineffective copy of Brotherhood of The Bell........2006-06-12

I've always loved the movie The Brotherhood of the Bell, so I assumed I would like The Skulls, which is basically a remake, only this time set in college instead of the real world.

It's about a secret society in an Ivy league university, where members are expected to put loyalty and service to each other above the law or any outside loyalties, secretly helping each other to advance in society with special favors. In the old version Glenn Ford was an adult who was called upon to repay his debt to the society, at a higher cost than he ever anticipated, and it's intensely suspenseful, as he keeps trying to find a way out but learns everyone he appeals to for help is either loyal to the secret society or threatened and controlled by them. It's a kind of paranoia suspense thriller, almost like Three Days of the Condor.

Unfortunately in this version about college kids, you just get the feeling that the protagonist can simply walk away from the whole thing - they practically tell him that he can, at one point. And the secret society, with corny props all over, seem more like a children's club, like something Opie would join on The Andy Griffith Show, rather than the realistic and subtly ominous organization of The Bell, reminiscent of old conspiracy theories about the Masons and such. Plus, Craig Nelson is just too much a light weight for the villain compared to Dean Jagger. Brotherhood of the Bell had a better cast all around, with great character actors like Will Geer and William Conrad.

So it's just because it was disappointing by comparison to that older movie that I can only give The Skulls 2 stars.

The Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

KuKlux Klan
Compelling view of racism and ignorance
Documentary?
They got it all wrong
A sober, disturbing history of the "Invisible Empire"...

The Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History (History Channel)
Starring: Ku Klux Klan
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B000AABL4Y
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Product Description

At times, it has been among the most powerful and largest fraternal organizations in America, boasting up to four million members. It has survived for more than a century by wrapping its doctrine of hate and intolerance around the sacred cloth of Christianity and the fabric of American patriotism. THE KU KLUX KLAN: A SECRET HISTORY goes beyond the flaming crosses and beneath the robes to reveal the dark heart of this controversial organization. Authors David Chambers (Hooded Americanism) and Wyn Craig Wade (The Fiery Cross) trace the history of the Clan from its birth in 1866 to the present day. Discover how it has adapted to changing realities and responded to ""crises"" like the Civil Rights Movement and affirmative action. In gripping interviews C. Edward Foster and Jeff Bary, the Klan's Grand Dragon and Imperial Wizard, talk about their organization and its ideals, while opponents like civil rights activist Julian Bond paint a very different picture. Rare footage captures Klan rituals and rites, and archival footage chronicles the pivotal moments in the Klan's long history. From the ashes of the Civil War to David Duke, this is a chronicle of 130 years of institutionalized hatred, violence and ignorance.

System Requirements:

Running Time 100 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

KuKlux Klan.......2007-05-07

Fine history, all Americans should be aware of the travesties of errors made in the treatment of Blacks/African-American in this supposed best country.

(I was born in and now live, retired, in North Dakota. I have traveled to
Wahington DC over 10 times for at least a week per visit. in the 1980s. I was a nursing home administrator in Milwaukee, WI and had more that 250 blacks work with, not FOR, me. I have been in gatherings of black folks where I was the only white male and I was as safe as walking down the street of Dickinson, ND. Just today, I complimented a Black nurse at the nursing home where my Dad is well cared for. I had observed her behavior of caring previouly but had not the chance to thank her. Which I did and told her of the fine folks I worked with in Milwaukee and that seeing her made my lonesome.)

I fail to know how I would have responded to the oppression of the Blacks, had I been born one. Being 1/2 German and the rest from Ireland in 1498, I KNOW that I cannot understand another culture, but I can appreciate it/ LEE

Compelling view of racism and ignorance.......2006-12-11

As a white Irish-Catholic, I remember stories that my dad, a member of the Knights of Columbus, told me about the K of C. Long before my lifetime, in the 1920s', the KKK had reached its pinnacle of power. While African-Americans were the most common targets of their hate crimes, they also made it clear that Jews, Catholics and foreigners were also in their cross-hairs. My dad explained that one of the reasons that the K of C grew both large and influential was, among other reasons, to combat the power of the Klan. They recognized the threat that they were to all decent Americans and worked to limit their power. My own perception of the KKK and others of their ilk, are of an ignorant and backward group of losers who seek to elevate their own perceived importance at the expense of others who they hold as inferior. This documentary shows today's Klan for what it is--poor white trash who would rather try to hold others back then raise themselves out of their own cesspool of crudity and ignorance. I was surprised that current members allowed themselves to be filmed for this documentary as it showed Americans how really dumb they are and reinforces why they deserve our contempt.

Documentary?.......2006-12-09

The production is interesting because the subject is. But in all honesty, it's not a documentary project.
How can one document.... without exploring firsthand accounts of those in the movement?
If you want to feel hate for the Klan, this is your DVD, if you want to honestly explore the issue, you will be disappointed.

Groups like the Klan, the Black Panthers and others that use race as the centerpiece will always be with us.
It's a shame this flick missed the opportunity to see not only the crimes costumes and violence but the "why".

They got it all wrong.......2006-02-21

This vidoe is worthless with regard to factual accuracy. It is presented from the black and jewish perspectives as usual. Had they done their research, and interviewed actual klansmen, a differnet picture would have evolved. The Klan today is soley a Christian Fraternal orgainization. They do NOT terrorize or threaten, they mearly try to enlighten and to correct the inequities that media such as this tries to propogate. Yes, they do believe in segregation, but one look at the country today will prove to even the most naive and politically correct individuals how necessary segregation is. Someone needs to do an ACCURATE portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan!

A sober, disturbing history of the "Invisible Empire"..........2006-02-05

To answer the reviewer's question below, I am a US History teacher who has used this video numerous times in my classroom. The video presents an objective (at least as objective as one can be about what is essentially a terrorist organization) look at what one history professor who is interviewed calls an "American-born terrorist group". Created by the History Channel, this video covers the history of the Klan from its beginnings in the post-Civil War, Reconstruction-Era South to modern-day variations such as David Duke and the Skinheads. In a sense the video is also a history of the civil rights movement in America, as it is during periods of activism for equal rights that the Klan has been the most active - and deadly - hate group in American history. The video argues that during its history the Klan has not been a stable or consistent organization. Instead, it goes through cycles - it rises up to oppose minority rights and promote "White Supremacy", then nearly dies out, then rises yet again out of its own ashes to oppose minority rights activists in another historical era. The Klan's first period of power was in the post-Civil War South, when whites felt threatened by the newly freed slaves and used the Klan to try and thwart their newly-won civil rights, with considerable success. The organization then died away until 1915, when it was reborn at Stone Mountain, Georgia. In the 1920's it spread across the USA, with "klaverns" in all 48 states and some 4-5 million members. It opposed not only blacks, but Jews, Catholics, and all "foreigners". They staged a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, and controlled the state government in Indiana. But the Klan self-destructed in a series of scandals, ranging from the brutal rape-murder of a white woman in Indiana, bribery and blackmail of politicians, and the embezzling of funds by the Klan leadership. By the thirties the Klan was again virtually extinct, yet it rose again in the fifties and sixties to oppose the civil rights movement with bombings, lynchings, assassinations of civil rights workers and leaders, and other acts of violence. However, the FBI and other federal law-enforcement agencies, backed by President Lyndon Johnson, went after the most dangerous Klan groups by bribing its members to turn in those who had committed crimes against civil rights workers and leaders, and using the IRS to destroy the Klan financially. In the 1970's the Klan tried to change its image by using men such as David Duke in Lousiana to promote the view of the "Klan next door" as Julian Bond, a prominent civil rights leader, calls him. Yet Duke is shown to be just as dangerous as previous, less-polished Klan leaders.

This video is not for the faint of heart - at its beginning and end the documentary shows a modern-day Klan rally in North Carolina, and the "n" word and other insults are used frequently. Yet my students (black, white, and Hispanic) have learned a great deal from this video about the nature of hate groups and racism in America - and I believe they'll be better-prepared to resist such groups in their own lives. If you want a factual yet deeply disturbing "inside" look at America's most famous native-born terrorist group, then this video is the best you can buy.

DVD:

DVD

DVD