Average customer rating:
- Finally
- What if a Simple Plot and Poor Acting Are in the Same Movie?
- Opening the eyes..
- The Celestine Prophecy
- There still room for hope
|
The Celestine Prophecy
Starring:
Matthew Settle ,
Thomas Kretschmann ,
Sarah Wayne Callies ,
Annabeth Gish , and
Hector Elizondo
Director:
Armand Mastroianni
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B000JBWWQ0
Release Date: 2006-12-19 |
Amazon.com
The Celestine Prophecy is an action-adventure adaptation of the hit novel by James Redfield, a film that moves so swiftly it can be difficult at times to absorb the New Age philosophy tucked into Redfield's multiple, so-called Insights. Matthew Settle plays an American history teacher who travels to Peru to look into the discovery of an ancient manuscript that foretells the arrival of a new spirituality. The Peruvian government and Catholic church, threatened by something that might supplant traditional religion and mainstream values, harass and arrest the scientists and enlightened souls who discovered the manuscript. Our hero becomes involved in a dangerous effort to keep the document from official hands; along the way, he's introduced to the prophecy's major principles, which arouse his dormant spiritual abilities. Annabeth Gish, Hector Elizondo, and Jurgen Prochnow are a welcome presence in this light and sometimes confusing, if casually engaging work that requires repeat viewings to fully hear its interesting message. --Tom Keogh
More Celestine Prophecy on Amazon.com
Stills from The Celestine Prophecy (click for larger image)
Product Description
Based on James Redfield's worldwide best-selling novel, The Celestine Prophecy is a spiritual adventure film chronicling the discovery of ancient scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy and its nine key insights predict a worldwide awakening, arising within all religious traditions, that moves humanity toward a deeper experience of spirituality.
Customer Reviews:
Finally.......2007-09-06
There are many who don't like to read or who don't have the time. So this Dvd is great for those who are on a spiritual path with one foot still stuck in the rat race. This dvd gives excellent examples of synchronicity, and a wonderful visual example of energy fields and how we can amplify our energy with others. It is good for parents who are introducing their children to the world of spirituality.
What if a Simple Plot and Poor Acting Are in the Same Movie?.......2007-08-28
Have you ever seen a movie with a plot so transparent that you can predict several scenes out? Do you enjoy films performed by people that make you long for the relatively high quality acting of 1980's television shows like the "A-Team"? If so, then this movie is for you.
Serioulsy, I would suggest that if you want to explore other exotic cultures and spirituality, that you save your money for a trip to South America instead of purchasing this film.
Opening the eyes.. .......2007-08-25
Though slightly skewed against a particular sect, this ideal can be applied to any group or persons willing to control others for their betterment..... eye opening... must buy for those wonderning what next......
The Celestine Prophecy.......2007-08-24
I have to say I was quite disappointed with this film. It was very, very different to the book. It was quite shallow and didn't go into any of the prophecies with any degree of depth. If you hadn't read the book you couldn't possibly understand the message. Overall, very disappointing. Some lovely scenery at times though.
There still room for hope.......2007-08-23
I like the story very much. If I hadn't read the book first might have not watched the hole movie. I felt the movie was a little vague in developing the story. It moved a little fast and would be easy to miss what was happing. I did like it. I am goimg to watch it again. The message is uplifting for a change.
Average customer rating:
- Night Watch
- The New BloodLine
- Russian Rubbish
- Accidents Speak Louder than Words
- Unrecognized
|
Night Watch
Starring:
Konstantin Khabensky ,
Vladimir Menshov ,
Valeri Zolotukhin ,
Mariya Poroshina , and
Galina Tyunina
Director:
Timur Bekmambetov
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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Night Watch
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Twilight Watch
ASIN: B000FFJ81C
Release Date: 2006-06-20 |
Amazon.com
Night Watch is that rare film that--like The Matrix--is not only visually dazzling but creates an intriguing, seductive, and thrilling alternative world. A young man named Anton, after dabbling in black magic to bring back the wife who left him, discovers that the world is populated by fantastical Others (vampires, shape-shifters, witches, and more) who have chosen sides--Light or Dark--in an epic battle. A truce has been declared; both sides watch the other to ensure the truce is maintained. But a prophecy has predicted that a powerful Other will tilt the balance, and Anton--who is himself an Other--finds himself crucial to the prophecy's fulfillment. There's no question that Night Watch has weaknesses. Numerous plot holes get glossed over by pell-mell pacing, the visual conception of the apocalyptic battle between Light and Dark is curiously pedestrian (a bunch of knights fighting a bunch of guys in fur with swords--what happened to their various powers?), and more--but, much like similar problems with The Matrix, it doesn't matter.
The alternative world Night Watch presents is so rich with possibilities that it takes on a life of its own, both as an imaginative universe and as a vivid metaphor for the moral complexities of our own lives--for example, though the forces of Light claim to be good, their often brutal actions call their virtue into question, and the forces of Dark make some compelling moral arguments on the topic. The movie is so overstuffed with ideas that many don't get fleshed out, but that only contributes to the sense of vitality and unexplored dimensions. Even the subtitles are used creatively. The impending sequels (this is the first film of a trilogy) may--like The Matrix--take all the stimulating possibilities Night Watch raises and drag them into the toilet, but for the moment, this is the sort of electric excitement that blockbuster movies promise but so rarely deliver. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day, the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, try to control them and limit their outrage.
Customer Reviews:
Night Watch.......2007-09-04
This is an amazing freaky hard to get movie. The actiona nd story line is so awesome. I own 'Day Watch' and it's a freaky vampirish movie. The graphics and actions are great and hilarious. But still have that keeping you on the edge feeling. I tottally thinks it's a must see or must have.
The New BloodLine.......2007-08-26
Whatever you thought was real is not, but Night Watch brings everything into perspective between Good Vs. Evil. This movie wasn't just about Vampires that bite in the night, but it was everything you love about the vampire story rolled into an original movie. Night Watch cinematically was so original, it was like watching the Vampire version of the Matrix. This movie is that good. I'm waiting for the sequel Day Watch was in the North American markets for like a hot minute, and I can't wait to get that on DVD too. The dub of the movie was actually a high quality dub unlike the Anime dubs we know and love, but watching it in its original Russian language, made the movie superior than anything. The acting will blow you away and so will the plot. It will leave you wanting more.
Russian Rubbish.......2007-08-21
Night Watch is about the worst sci-fi action movie that I have ever watched. The story makes no sense. It is about the century old war between good and evil, although I have difficulty telling which side is good. CG was way overdone. The few action sequences are ridiculously derivative. It makes Ultraviolet looks like a masterpiece.
Like others, I got sucked into this for 2 reasons.
1. Hey it is a foreign movie. It took studios a great deal of effort to import it, then it's gonna be good. WRONG! It is beyond my rational understanding why Americans choose to bring over these foreign trash.
2. The movie gets great press reviews and endorsements from Tarantino. It must be good. WRONG! (As a matter of fact, stay away from any Tarantino endorsed movies. 9 out of 10 times, they are garbages.)
Accidents Speak Louder than Words.......2007-08-18
There are creatures amongst us, some light and some dark, committed to a truce to end an otherwise catastrophic form of eternal conflict. Enter the Night Watch, the guardians that keep the Dark in check, and the Day Watch, that do the reverse. Both sides await the coming of a prophesized "other" who will choose his prospective side and shift this otherwise eternal variation of static warfare, however, and the time seems to be coming soon. Enter Anton, a seemingly innocuous man with a love he wants to preserve, who is told that his love is pregnant - that the child is not his - and that the only way his love can be preserved is through the death of an innocent. Reluctantly Anton agrees to this but, in the midst of the witchery, the Night Watch comes in and stops the procedure. In the middle of that, Anton finds out that he is what is referred to as one of The Others; that things are happening around him, that he can see things that were previously unseen and do things in conjunction with either the light or the dark, and that he is changed.
And the story begins building from there.
While the DVD version of the movie isn't very popular, this is actually a really unique take on the world of the supernatural. Vampirism is explained here, shapeshifters are seen, and some of the strangest clashes between Light/Dark cultures are explored by Anton and the characters around him. This makes for a great story that keeps on keeping on, dragging itself deeper and deeper into a world that seems so alien when setting side-by-side with our own. I liked that; there was a lot of time spent building a world inside the world but there wasn't a lot of time spent dumbing it down so a viewer could watch it. It simply is the way it is, it has the rules it has, and the "why" isn't always explained. This, combined with the fact that we see the coming of the other and w also witness how the ripples of one action melds into a forest of other actions, really makes a person watch.
As Anton himself says, "curse" isn't simply a word.
The other thing about the movie is the visuals, which are absolutely mindblowing. Some of the things that happen are simply amazing, either by conflict or by the traversing of something called "the gloom," and then there is the bigger saga that simply looks good while the movie plays out. The whole of the movie looks good, too, from the beginning shots that explain the battle between the forces to series where Anton is simply "looking" at a boy while trying to follow him. Perhaps it was because the movie was Russian or perhaps it was because some people found the format of the tale unappealing - it was more of a chapter than a complete tale, but the chapter was self-contained and told a story all its own - or the unheralded release of the movie made it unappealing. Whatever the reason, this movie should have gotten a lot more acknowledgement than it did because the storyline and the visuals combine to make something grand.
Again, this is a really interesting tale and would be good for anyone that wants something different from the obvious stories set to supernatural tones. The one thing to keep in mind is that the disc is double-sided and one side is dubbed and the other side is in Russian (with subtitles). I'm personally a fan of original language movies so I'm glad I noticed the Russian side of the movie, but I could see how this could confuse (and turn people off to the movie). The disc also comes with an extended ending with optional commentary and "sneak peaks" of the sequels.
It really is worth the watch - and a bit more.
Unrecognized.......2007-08-15
It's pretty annoying when you find a really good film that went straight to DVD, and movies that are worthless actually make it to the big screen.
I enjoyed the film, it's not for everyone. (Hence some of the crappy reviews)
Full of witches, wizards, Vampires and Others...
A battle between Light and Dark, Good and Evil.......
I saw the preview for this film on
<"Pathfinder" (which was an excellent film as well) and I am thankful that I did.
I'm anxious for October 30th to arrive so I can watch the second installment "Day Watch" in this amazing trilogy.
Average customer rating:
- Not quite as good as I had hoped, but much better than I expected
- Not Perfect, But the Best So Far
- great!
- frank herberts dune
- Frank Herbert As High Literature Complete With A Blue-Eyed Messiah And The Requisite Giant Carnivorous Worms
|
Frank Herbert's Dune (Sci-Fi TV Miniseries) (Special Edition Director's Cut) (3-Disc DVD Set)
Starring:
William Hurt ,
Alec Newman ,
Saskia Reeves ,
James Watson (IV) , and
Jan Vlasák
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John Harrison
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ASIN: B0000639EV
Release Date: 2002-06-11 |
Amazon.com
It's a mixed blessing, but Frank Herbert's Dune goes a long way toward satisfying science fiction purists who scoffed at David Lynch's previous attempt to adapt Herbert's epic narrative. Ironically, director John Harrison's 288-minute TV miniseries (broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2000) offers its own share of strengths and weaknesses, which, in retrospect, emphasize the quality of Lynch's film while treating Herbert's novel with more comprehensive authority. Debate will continue as to which film is better; Lynch's extensive use of internal monologue now seems like a challenge well met, and Harrison's more conventional approach is better equipped to convey the epic scope of Herbert's interplanetary political intrigue.
This much is certain: this Dune is a sumptuous treat for the eyes, with sets and costumes that were conceived with no apparent limits of budget or creativity. In terms of architecture alone, this is one of the most impressive films in science fiction history. And although the special effects fall short of feature-film quality, writer-director Harrison (who rose from an extensive background in TV) admirably tames the sprawling narrative that pits the opposing houses of Atreides and Harkonnen in a struggle to control the lucrative market for the spice melange. This is as accurate as any Dune adaptation is likely to get (i.e., there's no need for another attempt), and even then, it can be tricky to keep track of who's doing what to whom. Unfortunately, the film's biggest flaws are the casting of a nearly comatose William Hurt as Duke Leto, and a wooden Alec Newman as the messiah-to-be, Paul Atreides. These are regrettable shortcomings, but this Dune remains altogether respectable. That Frank Herbert would be impressed is perhaps the biggest compliment one can pay. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Not quite as good as I had hoped, but much better than I expected.......2007-09-05
I read the novel when it first appeared back in the `70s, and I saw the originally movie when it came out in 1984. You're not supposed to buck the critics, but I rather enjoyed David Lynch's film, even with its obvious shortcomings. (But then, I'm a Lynch fan.) Its biggest problem, to my mind, was the inability of any screenwriter or director to cram all the major themes and characters of the book into a two-hour flick, which greatly confused viewers. This miniseries solves that problem up front by running four-and-a-half hours -- lots of time to explicate what Frank Herbert had to say. Even so, this being a visual medium, the emphasis is on the revolt of the Fremen against the Harkonnen, as led by Paul Atreides, a/k/a Muad'Dib. Only William Hurt among the cast is very well known, and he played the duke as a very downbeat character. But the duke's character is much better developed. P. H. Moriarty's portrayal of Gurney Halleck (an ex-slave, don't forget) is much truer to the book's character than Patrick Stewart's boy scout impersonation in the original movie. On the other hand, Linda Hunt was a much more impressive Shadout Mapes in the original. Ian McNiece provided a nice over-the-top rendition of the Baron -- very similar, actually, to Kenneth McMillan's version in the movie. The sets were gorgeous, the effects were . . . well, . . . adequate, and the costumes varied between interesting (the stillsuited Fremen and the cavalier Saudaukar) and laughable (the Bene Gesserit's Easter bonnets). Well, fans will argue the two versions, and both versions against the book, for some time to come. But the miniseries is very much worth watching.
Not Perfect, But the Best So Far.......2007-08-01
It may be impossible for even a three-disc production to approach the depth of Frank Herbert's Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1). David Lynch's 1984 adaptation (Dune (Extended Edition)) was interesting, but failed to capture the spirit of the book. This 2000 attempt from the Sci-Fi Channel comes closer, though it still falls short. There are many themes and characters in the book that would have to be sacrificed in a shorter treatment that are given their due here. And even minor characters are fleshed out more fully here than in Lynch's version. On the other hand, many details are changed from the book for no apparent reason. The cast does a fair job--no one actor is outstanding, but all do their job in a way that leaves the viewer free to focus on the story. Alec Newman is not as convincing in the role of Paul as Kyle MacLachlan in Lynch's version, and William Hurt is a puzzling choice for Duke Leto; but P.H. Moriarty fits my vision of Gurney perfectly and Barbora Kodetová is bewitching as Chani. The special effects are below industry standard, but given that the story is the point of the movie, that's not a big concern. Unfortunately, while the movie is a reasonable first approximation to the book, the DVD release wastes an opportunity to enrich our experience: there are many "extras", but only a few are worth watching. So, while I recommend this version of Dune, it's no substitute for reading one of the great epic novels of the 20th century.
great!.......2007-07-23
the item came as reqested. It plays great and I am happy about the transaction!
frank herberts dune.......2007-07-17
After watching this movie i am very pleased to say well done
amazon top marks .
fist class service and i will use you again anytime.
thanks heaps .
Ray Ryan
Frank Herbert As High Literature Complete With A Blue-Eyed Messiah And The Requisite Giant Carnivorous Worms.......2007-07-14
The multi-nuanced tale told in Dune was never one of my favorites until I saw it here, given a Masterpiece Theater treatment in the small screen version of this much-acclaimed sci-fi heavyweight. By comparing this 2000 release to Masterpiece Theater I refer to the similarities in the way all those classic British novels receive a chapter by chapter breakdown and re-telling on Masterpiece Theater, and the way Dune was unveiled in exactly that detailed format. But I'm saying this in a good way and I'm glad Dune was handled as it was. I have always really enjoyed this re-telling of Frank Herbert's novel, and feel the way it layered its storylines to create depth was admirably reverential. This is a no frills, no superstars production that puts the plot ahead of all else, and as a result this version of Dune is all the better for it. In fact "balanced" is a nice way to describe the final product of this movie: performances, special effects, scenery, story, it all came together very nicely, and I was and am impressed by the result. A film can never match a novel for weight of detail, but here a film does come close.
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- Soulful ...
- Simply Perfect
- outstanding!
- Magnificent
- Pure Smut
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Angels in America
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Meryl Streep ,
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Mike Nichols
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ASIN: B0001I2BUI
Release Date: 2004-09-14 |
Amazon.com
Tony Kushner's prize-winning play Angels in America became the defining theatrical event of the 1990s, an astonishing mix of philosophy, politics, and vibrant gay soap opera that summed up the Reagan era for an entire generation of theater-goers. Post-9/11 would seem to be too late for a film version--philosophy and politics don't always age well--but this 2003 HBO adaptation, ably directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate), provides a time capsule of the '80s and reveals the deep emotional subcurrents that will give the play lasting power.
The story centers around Prior Walter (Justin Kirk) and Louis Ironson (Ben Shenkman), a gay couple that falls apart when Prior grows ill as a result of AIDS. But cancer is not the only thing invading Prior's life: He begins to have religious visions of an angel (Emma Thompson, Sense and Sensibility) announcing that he is a prophet. Louis, who doesn't cope well with disease and suggestions of mortality, leaves and starts a relationship with Joe Pitt (Patrick Wilson), a closeted Mormon who works for Roy Cohn (Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon)--the real-life right-wing lawyer, notorious for his ruthless behind-the-scenes machinations. Add in Joe's depressed and hallucinating wife Harper (Mary Louise Parker, Fried Green Tomatoes), his determined but open-minded mother Hannah (Meryl Streep, Adaptation), a fierce drag queen/nurse named Belize (Jeffrey Wright, Basquiat, reprising his celebrated performance from the Broadway production), and you've still only begun to discover the wealth of characters and storylines in Kushner's ambitious work.
The powerhouse cast (also featuring James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, and Simon Callow) is uniformly superb. The script has its weaknesses--some of the fantastic elements, including Prior's journey to Heaven towards the end, fall flat--but even what doesn't work is bristling with ideas and a ferocious desire to capture human existence in this time and place. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Academy Award-winners Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson lead an all-star cast in a 6-hour HBO Films Event. Directed by Mike Nichols and written by Tony Kushner based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning play: Angels in America.
Customer Reviews:
Soulful ..........2007-09-02
Mike Nichol's adapts Tony Kurschner's award-winning play for this 6 hour HBO series ( presented here on 2 discs ). Like a lot of plays adapted to film, sometimes the parlance of the speeches seem a bit stilted or "play-like", but somehow that doesn't detract much from the film, as it is a film about communication both said & unsaid. My major complaint about the film is that Pacino, Streep and Thompson get top billing in the film - when in fact that they're all essentially secondary characters - which is not to say that each wasn't brilliant in their roles ( and sometimes multiple roles - particularily Streep who surely outdoes herself in the film & certainly deserved an Emmy for her multi-performance ). Justin Kirk plays the lead Prior Walters - with a mix of love, pathos, fear and joy, yet doesn't even get listed in the box credits - for shame I say. Jeffrey Wright - also outstanding - deservedly won awards for his part in the film. Anyone looking for a film with great writing, pro-calibre perfromances and an occasional set of whimsy that most Python films - will find this film a good friend to spend 6 hours with.
Simply Perfect.......2007-07-14
This is simply one of the best, well done, immaginative, insightful films I've seen in a long time. I recommend everyone watch it or at least try to make it thru the 5 hours, well well well worth it. I can't wait to see the play in person, I think that would be something quite awesome to see. I'm going to make my mom watch the DVDs.
outstanding!.......2007-03-25
If I could rate it 10 stars I would. Heart-Wrenching, Funny, Appalling, Spiritual, Sexual, Powerful. Evoking Anger, Laughter, Sadness, Joy, Hope, Love for fellow human beings who have been discarded and ignored instead of included and cherished. Amazing Film Adaptation.
Magnificent.......2007-03-03
I have seen many hundreds of movies, and this is only the third that I rate 5 stars. The acting was beyond superb, the screenplay and story line truly outstanding. I saw the play many years ago and totally enjoyed it. The DVD was even better.
While reading the reviews, it becomes obvious folks get different things out of the movie depending on their frame of reference. As a straight man working in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s, I watched the devastation this disease wreaked on friends, colleagues and strangers while the world ignored the issue. This movie gave me an insight into some of the emotional and spiritual struggles of the human beings affected by AIDS. I also loved how the lives of the characters intertwined in unique and sometimes outlandish ways. For me, a truly satisfying film. Most of the reviews express my thoughts better than I. A must see, but schedule 3 hours for each of the 2 DVDs.
Pure Smut.......2007-02-21
I don't recommend this movie. Not sure why the title has the world "angels" in it. Didn't watch the entire movie as it was very depressing and profane. There is a lot of language in it and there is a scene showing two men humping- absolutely nasty.
Average customer rating:
- The Play's The Thing!
- Not High School friendly
- disappointed
- A test for great theatre
- Definitive Macbeth
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Macbeth / McKellen, Dench (Thames Shakespeare Collection)
Starring:
Ian McKellen ,
Judi Dench ,
John Bown ,
Susan Dury , and
Judith Harte
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Philip Casson
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ASIN: B0002TVWYW
Release Date: 2004-11-16 |
Product Description
Murder, prophecy, and witches! MACBETH returns, starring Academy Award®-nominee Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Academy Award®-winner Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love), on DVD for the first time anywhere. First broadcast on Britain's Thames Television in 1978, this stark, compelling performance of Shakespeare's MACBETH retains the entire cast of the original 1976 Royal Shakespeare Company production, directed by three-time Tony Award®-winner Trevor Nunn (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, Cats, Les Mis rables). When a trio of witches prophesize Macbeth's (Ian McKellen) ascension to the throne, Lady Macbeth (Judi Dench) pushes her husband into a murderous spree. But once crowned king of Scotland, Macbeth sees ghastly visions, fueled by guilt and a new prophecy, that ensure his ultimate downfall. Also starring John Woodvine (Wuthering Heights) as "Banquo," Ian McDiarmid (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi) as "the porter", and Bob Peck (Jurassic Park) as "Macduff."
System Requirements:
Running Time 1316 Min
Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
Two of England's greatest actors, Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, electrify in this lean, stripped-down production of Shakespeare's darkest tragedy. In the wake of a battle, the Scottish warrior Macbeth (McKellen, Gods and Monsters, Lord of the Rings) receives a prophecy from a trio of witches: He shall be king. When fate doesn't unfold quickly enough, Macbeth and his even more ambitious wife (Dench, Shakespeare in Love, Iris) decide to give it a push. McKellen sweats anxiously and oozes a creeping lust for power, while Dench is hypnotically vicious from her first moment. For audiences used to their film careers, this grand pair will seem young as pups (this TV movie is from 1979, adapted from an acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production)--but that only gives them an added edge of sex and vigor. Extras include the older McKellen thoughtfully commenting on the play and this classic production. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews:
The Play's The Thing!.......2007-09-15
When it comes to filmed versions of Shakespeare's plays, directors seem to think lavish production values will carry frequently poor acting or miscast actors. In this bare-bones production of Macbeth, you'll see Shakespeare's play and hear Shakespeare's words without fancy camera work, overblown costuming, or editing (read "dumbing") down the play. This production is dazzling in its simplicity and overwhelming in its sheer power. Made in 1978, before either of its stars were really "stars," this Royal Shakespeare Company production is a must for any afficiando of the Bard on film (or DVD, in this case).
Sir Ian McKellen gives a nuanced performance, making the title character both menacing and yet never losing sympathy as the drama unfolds. Is he fated to become a monster, or do his choices make him such--or is it a combination of both? Dame Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth superbly understates the role, delivering glimpses of madness and guilt in place of the usual melodrama and histrionics most actresses succomb to in this role. In this scaled-down production, the acting is the drama. The witches' scenes are deliciously minimal. The "battle" scenes convey the struggle without resorting to scores of extras being "killed" in grusome cinematic gore for the sake of cinematic gore. This is a production to watch over and over, to puzzle over, and to enjoy for the sheer enjoyment of master actors at the top of their artictic and creative powers doing what they do best!
Not High School friendly.......2007-07-25
Not exaclty what I had wanted for my high school class. It was a bit too sophisticated and did not have the colorful and vivid quality so craved by high school students. I would recommend it, though, for junior college and for serious Shakespere fans.
disappointed.......2007-05-09
I was disappointed that the description of this DVD stated that it was closed captioned, but it is not. Since the captioning was the main selling point for me, it was a useless purchase.
A test for great theatre.......2007-03-30
This version of Macbeth probes that for having the greatest theatrical experience all you need is a superb text, real actors and an IDEA. Trevor Nunn produced an unique experience, and the McKellen/Dench duo is simply perfect. Specially her... no one else can stand besides Dame Judi daring to be called "Lady Macbeth".
Yes, the quality is not as we could wish (it is 1978 and for TV!) but nevertheless the whole film blows up any big studio production of Shakespeare`s bloody text.
Again: master text, great actors and someone with an idea. That`s theatre!
Definitive Macbeth.......2007-01-22
I liked this DVD very much. I watched several versions of that play, but this one is my favourite now, I can't imagine a more brilliant and powerful Macbeth & Wife than sir Ian and dame Judi. Unforgettable.
Average customer rating:
- Christian views
- A Fair Result From A Difficult Text
- A Must for Biblical DVD collectors.
- The Apocalypse
- A "Sword and Sandal" Classic!
|
The Apocalypse
Starring:
Richard Harris ,
Vittoria Belvedere ,
Benjamin Sadler ,
Christian Kohlund , and
Erol Sander
Director:
Raffaele Mertes
Manufacturer: Gaiam
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Paul the Apostle
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Peter & Paul DVD
ASIN: B0001HAHNM
Release Date: 2004-04-27 |
Customer Reviews:
Christian views.......2007-07-17
This is a very good movie that's all I can say other words will just repeat what I'm saying now that it's an awsome movie see it then you'll wish you'd bought it.
A Fair Result From A Difficult Text.......2007-05-15
TNT hit a home run with their BOBLE COLLECTION, based exclusively on the Old Testament. This was their first attempt at a New Testament book, the Revelation of John. That is a tough one to attempt the first time out but I can imagine while it would be appealing. There is much imagery that would be a natural for the screen. This film, however, falls short of that.
The early church is facing a time of persectution. That is the official policy of the Roman Empire. People of faith are worried and are encouraged on receiving letters from John, one of the original 12 disciples. John himself is in hiding, in a Roman prison. The story is one of keeping the faith in the face of sever hardships.
The film takes some liberties but they seem reasonable. It is not as tight an effort as the OT film but it is respectable. One can learn from it but do not expect any great joy.
A Must for Biblical DVD collectors........2007-02-20
Great movie, loyal to the events that happened to the first Christians, to the book of Revelations and how St. John might have received those visions from God and great messages for us all. Well casted and directed movie. Highly recommended.
The Apocalypse.......2007-01-11
Movies are true to bible scripture, A+++ acting, moves your heart emotionally and captures your attention through out the entire length of the movie.
A "Sword and Sandal" Classic!.......2006-11-06
If you are a history buff, and a "sword and sandal" film guru, like myself, you will enjoy this film. It is an historically accurate account of the book of revelations[Bible], as it was visually imparted to John[Richard Harris], the last living disciple of Christ. Even if you are not religiously-inclined, you will no doubt be entertained, and impressed with Harris's well-earned command of the silver screen.
Average customer rating:
- It's a Theological War Film
- Check Your Haloes At The Door...
- witty, intriguing
- Great movie, transfer not so good
- Gabriel played by Walken is priceless, Viggo Mortensen as the Devil, wow
|
The Prophecy
Starring:
Christopher Walken ,
Elias Koteas ,
Virginia Madsen ,
Eric Stoltz , and
Viggo Mortensen
Director:
Gregory Widen
Manufacturer: Dimension
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Warlock
ASIN: 6305268819
Release Date: 1999-02-09 |
Amazon.com
A prime candidate for cult status (it even spawned a sequel), this apocalyptic 1995 horror flick belongs in the darker corners of the comedy-horror sub-genre that includes Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mimic, and Phantoms--and like those movies it's a mixed blessing with some highlights worth savoring.
This one's got Christopher Walken in its favor, starring as the Angel Gabriel, who's really mad at God for allowing humans into heaven (because, you see, humans have souls and angels don't, and God plays favorites). Gabriel takes his anger out on the human race, coming to Earth to capture the soul of the most evil human alive in an effort to defeat the "good" angels that remain in God's good graces. One of the good angels is played by Eric Stoltz, who captures the evil soul before Walken does and transfers it into the body of a little girl. Are you with us so far? Don't worry if you're not, because writer-director Gregory Widen filled The Prophecy with so many wild ideas that he didn't bother to connect them to a coherent plot.
Add Viggo Mortensen as the devil and Elias Koteas as a priest-turned detective who's tracking Walken and it's clear that Widen was attempting something ambitious here. He nearly succeeded, since The Prophecy jumpstarts its heaven-and-hell rivalry with enough action, humor, and intelligence to make the movie sufficiently entertaining. It was enjoyable enough to entice Walken back for the sequel, so if you're into this kind of thing, this one's a keeper. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Big-screen favorite Christopher Walken (PULP FICTION, BATMAN RETURNS) heads an all-star cast in this chilling and suspenseful thriller! At the scene of a bizarre murder, L.A. homicide detective Thomas Dagget (Elias Koteas -- EXOTICA) discovers a lethal heavenly prophecy now being fulfilled on earth! Yet in his fight to stop the forces of evil -- led by the powerful angel Gabriel (Walken) -- Dagget finds an unlikely ally in an elementary school teacher (Virginia Madsen -- CANDYMAN). Together they race against time and terror to save the world as we know it! Also starring Eric Stoltz (PULP FICTION) -- critics everywhere praised THE PROPHECY for its high-powered thrills and knockout performances -- don't miss it!
Customer Reviews:
It's a Theological War Film.......2007-06-10
Horror? Bah, I say. It asks the question "Why does God love us the most, and why doesn't he love the angels as much?" Of course, you don't really get an answer, because who can really know the mind of God? Christopher Walken is fabulous (this actually might be his iconic role, once we look back on everything). Well worth the time and the thought. Highest rating.
Check Your Haloes At The Door..........2007-05-24
Christopher Walken (The Dead Zone, Sleepy Hollow, Pulp Fiction) is the angel Gabriel, here on earth in mortal form, in order to find and acquire the darkest soul to ever live. Walken is his usual mixture of good / evil / funny / scary. He plays Gabe like a cool hitman w/ angelic abilities. Virginia Madsen (Candyman) is believable in her schoolteacher role, as is Elias Koteas as the ex-priest turned cop, Tom Dagget. We even get Eric Stoltz (Pulp Fiction, The Fly 2) as the angel Simon, and Adam Goldberg (Saving Private Ryan) as Gabriel's human slave! Even Amanda Plummer (another Pulp Fiction alum) pops up as a servant for Gabriel's use! If that's not enough, we even have Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn himself) as satan! All of these folks combine to make THE PROPHECY a classic! The little girl, Mary (Moriah Silver Dove Snyder) is convincingly innocent, and NOT a whiny brat or a trash-talking smarta$$, breaking w/ the usual hollywood idea of childhood as a time for being utterly annoying! How refreshing! Spiritual themes like God, heaven, hell, angels, immortality, souls, etc. are treated w/ respect and dignity, while keeping things exciting, frightening, and mysterious. I don't think I've seen a movie do that since THE EXORCIST and THE OMEN back in the 70s! Highly recommended...
witty, intriguing.......2007-01-19
Christopher Walkin was made to play Gabriel. He has some great dialogue to work with. The plot is riveting. Viggo was amazing as Satan.
Great movie, transfer not so good.......2006-11-26
I won't go into the movie's worth as entertainment here - suffice to say that I think it's awesome and well worth 5 stars. But in this review I'm focusing on the technical aspects which I feel detract from the DVD.
This DVD (ASIN: 6305268819) features a transfer that is known as 'matted widescreen' which works fine on smaller 4:3 TVs, but which looks awful on larger screen or widescreen TVs. I believe that every DVD today should be made in 'anamorphic widescreen' format so that the image is enhanced for viewing on a larger screen. If it's not then I think that the low image quality should be clearly marked in some way, as the lack of an anamorphic transfer makes a big difference in quality. In the case of this particular movie the image is very poor mostly due to the matted widescreen format that results in what's known as 'gutterboxing' (black bars all around the image) when the movie is played on widescreen TVs. Some TVs allow zooming in to fill the screen in cases like this, but then the image becomes very grainy - so much so that it's probably better to watch it in the 'gutterboxed' mode.
So in conclusion, those with the older standard 4:3 TVs under 30 inches probably won't notice any loss of resolution. But for folks like me with big screen TVs I advise waiting until this movie gets an updated DVD treatment. Alternatively, if you own a DVD player that can play region 2 discs, the British version (ASIN: B000069JE7 available from Amazon.co.uk) is an anamorphic transfer.
Gabriel played by Walken is priceless, Viggo Mortensen as the Devil, wow.......2006-11-11
The movie in itself is lacking or rather the story is cheesy. So setting that aside it is, however creative and amusing, a must own. Its about the never ending war between heaven and hell, angles have come down both fallen and still in service to God to walk the earth hunting down a recently dead evil soul that Lucifer wants for his side. One angle found it and hid it inside a small girl. An ex priest to be now detective is following this case because of a past connection and chasing down the clues only to be slowed down by Gabriel who wants to start his own war. In turn a deal with the Devil was made.
Its a fun movie, I enjoy watching it over and over again.
Average customer rating:
- not as bad as everyone wrote
- Are you kidding me?
- Not that bad for a Sci-Fi Channel movie
- Extremely dissapointing
- Abomination
|
Earthsea
Starring:
Shawn Ashmore ,
Kristin Kreuk ,
Isabella Rossellini ,
Danny Glover , and
Sebastian Roché
Director:
Robert Lieberman
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Other Wind (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 6)
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Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King
ASIN: B00077BPA0
Release Date: 2005-03-08 |
Amazon.com
Originally broadcast as Legend of Earthsea in December 2004, the Sci-Fi Channel's four-hour miniseries of Earthsea rides the coattails of the Lord of the Rings trilogy with its quest-driven story of humble blacksmith Ged (Shawn Ashmore), a wizard-to-be who is mentored by the magical Ogion (Danny Glover) as he seeks to preserve the realm of Earthsea from the evil King Tygath (Sebastian Roché). Ged's adventures lead him to the priestess Tenar (Kristen Kreuk, from Smallville) and with secrets shared by High Priestess Thar (Isabella Rossellini), they gain the power to prevail over Tygath. As presented by Robert Halmi Sr. (producer of Merlin, Gulliver's Travels and several other fantasy miniseries), this skeletal rendering of Earthsea boasts a wealth of digital effects and semi-lavish set design, but Ashmore's lack of charisma hampers a production already fraught with problems. It provoked the wrath of fantasy fans and a firm rejection by author Ursula K. Le Guin, who had watched helplessly (she wasn't involved or consulted) as her classic novels A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan were racially "whitewashed" (in Le Guin's words) nearly beyond recognition. As TV fantasy goes, Earthsea is admirably ambitious, but best enjoyed by those with no awareness of the classic books it is very loosely based on. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Based on Ursula K. Le Guin's multiple award-winning classic tale comes this richly imagined epic mini-series. In the magical world of EarthSea, the Amulet of Peace has ensured harmony between humans and dragons for centuries. But when the Amulet is broken and a piece of it disappears, it's up to a neophyte wizard to restore balance and stop a nefarious king from conquering EarthSea's islands.
Customer Reviews:
not as bad as everyone wrote.......2007-08-14
ok its no lord of the rings... but no one expected it to be. to be honest i liked it. it has ok acting and ok special effects.. so it was ok overall.... it drifted from the book alot.. and thats where they kinda did wrong... but over all it was a decent try. lol.. i cant belive that DANNY GLOVER plays Ogion! haha ... they story is about a young weizard that releases a terrible evil... in the magical land of earthsea... but it for something to do yes... get any oscars... NO
Are you kidding me?.......2007-07-27
Did the film makers even read the Earthsea books? I really had my hopes up because of the SciFi Channel Dune movies. This movie was pure torture. Even Ursella LeGuin disowned it after she saw what her story had become.
Not that bad for a Sci-Fi Channel movie.......2007-05-30
Maybe I've just learned to keep very low expectations for anything the Sci-Fi Channel produces and I did expect to loathe this movie. Instead it had moments of charm, a few small laughs (not always intentional) and some good acting. It has been a very long time since I read the books but I did recognize that several key things were omitted, glossed over or barely touched on. But that was also true of Lord of the Rings when they omitted one of my favorite characters, Tom Bombadil.
Comparing this film to the Lord of the Rings is very unfair since almost nothing does compare to those epics. I'd rather compare it to the David Lynch version of Dune - so different as to hardly resemble the book other than place and character names and events. If you can manage to overcome those differences you can enjoy either movie, though I'd have to say Lynch's Dune is immensely better than the Earthsea movie.
If they did take liberties with the souce material, that's hardly new, no matter how regrettable it is. Every author has experienced this when their material goes to celluloid. I can't imagine how Heinlein would have reacted to the way they mangled Starship Troopers, yet that movie was entertaining enough despite that.
Overall, for a rainy day movie when there was nothing else on tv I found this to be adequate. Just don't expect anything like the books and remember, it's a Sci-Fi Channel production and they're responsible for some monumentally bad films. This isn't one of them fortunately, at least in my opinion and it has forced me to dig out my dog-eared copies of the original Earthsea books again.
Extremely dissapointing.......2007-05-08
If you are a fan of the books and expecting anything even remotely resembling the source material, step away from the keyboard now. Do not buy this DVD. It will anger you beyond words.
If you are looking for a rainy day, made for TV time killer, it's probably worth the $10...barely. In a nutshell the acting is serviceable (at least by the leads), the effects passable, the plot predictable and familiar, but the dialog is painful and the casting is absolutely horrible.
I am a huge fan of the books and bought this without reading the reviews first. Suffice to say that I wanted to throw my TV out the window within a half hour. But I was determined to watch it end to end, and once I was able to emotionally separate the original story from what I was watching, it became ... bearable.
All things considered, I can't recommend that anyone shell out their hard earned money for this product when so many vastly superior alternatives exist. If I didn't love the Earthsea books, it might have warranted two stars. As is, I can barely give it one.
Abomination.......2007-04-26
Imagine if Uwe Boll had made the Lord of the Rings trilogy instead of Peter Jackson. That's about the quality of film you get here. This pathetic effort to bring Ursula Le Guin's first two Earthsea books (A Wizard of Earthsea / The Tombs of Atuan) to the small screen is an abomination, a disgrace, and in insult to the author in every way. Any thinking person who has respect for the original works will have nothing to do with this production. Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books rank among the greatest works of fantasy ever written. They are also among the most unique and intellectual. The Sci-Fi production turned those books into generic fantasy that any hack could have written. There may be one compelling reason to see this production: It will show you exactly how not to adapt a book to film. It also might tell you something about how dumbed down American culture has become, that the people behind this production thought an eviscerated version of Le Guin's books were all the public could handle.
Why do I react so negatively to this production? Here are the major reasons in outline form:
1. Race is a central theme of LeGuin's Earthsea books. That theme was totally removed from the movie for no apparent reason. It would be like removing languages from Tolkien's work. In the books, the only white people in Earthsea are the Kargs. Everyone else is non-white, which is how Le Guin constructed her world for very specific reasons. She has called this production a "whitewashing" of Earthsea, and I personally think it was a gutless decision on the producers' part to do so.
2. The stories have been altered arbitrarily to create a generic adventure / fantasy movie at the expense of the book's main themes. Gender is also an issue in Le Guin's writing, and it not to be found here. Ged's entire maturation experience (a huge theme of the first book) is made meaningless by the plot changes in this movie. He never has to pay the price for what he does. The lesson that there is a price or a reaction for everything you do is largely forgotten. The producers show now respect for the book by rearranging seemingly small details at will. They even get Ged's name wrong! His true name is Ged, not Sparrowhawk.
3. Even in technical terms this is a bad film. The acting, with maybe the exception of Danny Glover, is wooden. The dialog is unnatural. The settings are generic. The effects are substandard (the dragon is nearly laughable). The characters (not Le Guin's...the film's) are not believable and give the audience little reason to care about them.
I could go on, but you probably get the idea by now. Look up Ursula Le Guin's personal website, and read what she has to say on the subject. She says it far better than I can.
Amazon.com
Karas: the Prophecy (2005) is the first installment in an OVA marking the 40th anniversary of Tatsunko Productions, the studio that made Speed Racer, Gatchaman, and Generator Gawl. Karas was obviously a big-budget production, and the English dub features Jay Hernandez, Matthew Lillard, and Piper Perabo. Karas ("The Crow") is the guardian spirit of Tokyo, but the city is thrown into disarray when Eko, a former Karas, returns and attempts to seize power. Yurine, an entity who embodies the will of the people, summons Nue, a sort of Karas-in-training, to defeat Eko. The two-part fantasy saga borrows from numerous animated and live-action sources, including Ghost in the Shell II, Demon City Shinjuku, Spider-Man, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Action fans may enjoy the aerial combats, sword fights between armored foes, 2-D/3-D transformations, explosions, monster attacks, and car chases, but director Keiichi Sato's nervous camerawork and choppy cutting rob what should be show-stopping scenes of their punch. Although highly anticipated, Karas is an overproduced mess. (Unrated, suitable for ages 17 and older: graphic violence, grotesque imagery, profanity, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
Stills from Karas - The Prophecy (click for larger image)
Description
MIKURA IS ON THE RISE AGAIN... Tokyo - a city populated by both humans and by ghostly beings. They exist in both dimensions, seen and unseen: spirits, apparitions, demons. The balance between these two dimensions has long been upheld by the city's guardian raven Karas and his masters. But that balance has been thrown into disarray as Eko, a former Karas, has attempted to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. The entity Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in his way with her newly risen Karas. Now an ageless battle stretching across both dimensions and killing humans and spirits alike is in progress between the two sides and their armies. Karas is humanity's last hope.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best anime.......2007-08-23
This is a great movie!!!! I can't wait for the 2nd one to come out. A must BUY!!!!!
What does the animation matter if there isn't a story.......2007-07-31
I spent the entire movie in utter confusion over the storyline. It wasn't even clear who Kara's was until halfway through. Sure, it got clearer toward the end and I'm sure the next chapter will sum things up, but what's the point of that! A better story would have wrapped the veiwer up in the first five minutes. Sure the animation was good, but there was no character development and no other reason to watch. Definitly not fit to be lumped in with the clasics like Nija Scroll, Vampire Hunter D, Akira. If I hadn't purchased it, I would have turned it off after the first 15 minutes.
some of the budget should've been spent on story and editing.......2007-07-28
KARAS is a highly produced, beautiful piece of work, packed with action, CG, effects, and exquisite design. But perhaps too much, as KARAS comes across like a pent up teen orgasm. It's an unfocused mess spilling everywhere, without any intent. It's all about the action. No foreplay, no cuddling afterwards, just a hyper-heated kettle letting out pressurized steam. Was there a story somewhere in this? The CG guys forgot to render out a coherent plot and character development! It's as if a rabid director with intense visions (and a lot of money) escaped from prison and molested a top notch animation studio.
If they took 30% of the budget out of the visuals and put it into a real story department, it STILL would have been great looking, and it would have had a good story... a watchable story, too.
But alas, it was not meant to be. What a shame.
Fast forward through this mess. You'll see all the great work, without having to bother trying to decipher the bad script.
Starts out strong and ends even better!.......2007-07-05
As soon as this anime began I knew I was going to like it. It was instant action with organic and dynamic camera work. The camera really gives you the feeling of speed that the characters are moving at! The story is very well written and is complemented by great voice acting! I can not wait for September when the second set of 3 episodes of this OVA are suppose to be released! I went down and pre-ordered mine directly after watching this first set.
This dvd is a great buy if you love action oriented animes with a great story line too boot!
A Must See.......2007-07-04
This beautiful film is candy for the eyes and mind. The traditional animation is flawlessly blended with the CGI, giving a wider variety of visual effects that are unique and ingenius in their creativity.
The story itself is a bit confusing the first time around. It mixes the modern day world with otherworldly happenings. A basic knowledge of Japanese mythic and supernatural beings and their cultural standings would be helpful, but not neccessary.
I really like the animation style and character designs. The movie is beautiful and extremely interesting. Hopefully the sequel will answer so many questions left over from this film.
Average customer rating:
- Heads are spinning
- Slow-Moving But Decent
- Does The Future Already Exist ?
- It's All a Bit Muddled.
- Could have been a lot better
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The Mothman Prophecies
Starring:
Nesbitt Blaisdell ,
Dan Callahan ,
Shane Callahan ,
David Eigenberg , and
Ron Emanuel
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
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Mystery
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General
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General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Blaisdell, Nesbitt
| ( B )
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| Stores
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Gere, Richard
| ( G )
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Jenney, Lucinda
| ( J )
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Linney, Laura
| ( L )
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Patton, Will
| ( P )
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All Sony Pictures Titles
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Sony Pictures Horror
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( M )
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Similar Items:
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Stir of Echoes (Special Edition)
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What Lies Beneath
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The Mothman Prophecies
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Dragonfly (Widescreen)
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The Others (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
ASIN: B0000648X0
Release Date: 2002-06-04 |
Amazon.com
Described by director Mark Pellington as "a psychological mystery with naturally surreal overtones," The Mothman Prophecies begins like an ambitious episode of The X-Files. Richard Gere brings adequate torment, portent, and ambiguity to his role as a Washington Post reporter and grieving widower plagued by a mysterious, unseen urban legend known as the Mothman. Pellington develops subtle doom and gloom that's as effective as the paranoid streak he brought to Arlington Road. As the Mothman terrifies a West Virginia town, he remains an enigma, glimpsed almost subliminally. This--along with a magnificently creepy soundtrack--amplifies the movie's surreal overtones while keeping everything else (unsettling phone calls, prophesied disasters, suggestions of the afterlife) completely unexplained. With Laura Linney and Debra Messing in underdeveloped roles, The Mothman Prophecies feels a bit underdeveloped itself (and ends in desperate need of Mulder and Scully). But if you like your weirdness open-ended, this moody thriller's worth a look. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Heads are spinning.......2007-05-15
Richard Gere plays a husband who can't figure out how his life was suddenly turned upside down by an unidentified, winged creature in this Science Fiction/Thriller. When his wife sees a strange image that causes her car accident, husband and wife are both haunted by an entity that appears to have 'noticed it's been noticed'. The question is, what does this entity plan to do about it and why? Gere stars as a reporter who must seek the answers to these strange questions, but in doing so will he destroy his own sanity?
Chrissy K. McVay - Author
Slow-Moving But Decent.......2007-02-01
I liked The Mothman Prophecies but I think it was a mistake to try to tie this movie in as much as it was with the hysterical tall tales that arose after the Silver Bridge collapse at Kanauga, Ohio/Point Pleasant, West Virginia in December 1967. In doing that, filmmakers unintentionally detracted from their genuinely eerie plot and instead left themselves open to constant, kvetching criticism that "none of that happened!" Of course it didn't. This is a movie. Duh. Leaving all that behind, The Mothman Prophecies is a fun film to watch even if it could have sped its pace up a bit. The "Chap Stick" scene was one part giggly funny and three parts chills down your back spooky, and it was little moments like those that made the supernatural elements work when they could easily have been overpowered by the investigative overtones that held the story together. I also felt the entire movie was somehow a subtle homage to The X-Files, with Richard Gear coming close to playing up on the old "Wow, David Duchovny looks like him" talk, but he was ultimately so upstaged by Laura Linney's performance that it's easy to miss that. This is a good movie but not a classic. It's well worth seeing once or twice, and it will probably give susceptible people the creeps. Not quite four stars but a little better than three.
Does The Future Already Exist ?.......2007-01-28
This story gets involved with the issue of 'precognition' which is the ability of someone (or some 'thing' in this case) to be able to see and foretell the future.
This is an interesting subject.
Some people believe that it is possible not only to see other times but to travel there physically.
One theory is if you travel back in time and for example kill your parents we wouldn't notice the effect of your actions in this time but you would have created an alternate history. A 'parrallel' time.
What does this mean ? I have no idea.
But it raises the question of how can it be possible to see the future unless the future already exists in some form ? Otherwise it wouldn't be possible to see the future now because something could happen to change it.
This is all far beyond human comprehension but anyway the hero of this story is involved with some sort of force or creature who can predict the future.
The creature has been interacting with the population of a small town using telephones, visions, dreams, apparitions, etc.. The usual bridges to other dark dimensions.
But the moth man creature never comes out and says exactly what's going to happen. It just gives small clues and glimpses. That's where the 'adventure' comes in.
The opening credits indicate the story is based on actual events. Doing that in and of itself creates problems with this type of story.
Like many horror / new age type movies this story walks a fine line between being suspenseful and being utterly rediculous.
Supposedly the mysterious Great Pyramid tells the destiny of our human race encoded in the markings on the walls inside the pyramid.
Perhaps our future is really 'written in stone'.
Jeff Marzano
The Philadelphia Experiment ~ Michael Paré, Nancy Allen, Eric Christmas, and Bobby Di Cicco (DVD - 1984)
The Outer Limits - The Original Series, Season 1 ~ Outer Limits (DVD - 1963)
The Outer Limits - The Original Series, Season 2 ~ Outer Limits (DVD - 1963)
It's All a Bit Muddled........2007-01-24
I've never read the novel that THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES is based upon. I am, however, familiar with the events that took place between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. I first heard about The Mothman when I was in the second grade and read a book about monsters in the United States. The story scared me so much that for days I had nightmares and was afraid of looking out of windows. I soon conquered my fear, but in doing so, forgot about Mothman. That was until I saw a special about the creature and Point Pleasant on the Sci-Fi channel a couple years ago. It was through that show that I learned a movie, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES had been made about the events surrounding the 1966-1967 events in Point Pleasant. I finally got around to watching the movie recently.
The movie takes place in a modern setting and revolves around a man named John Klein (Richard Gere), a successful journalist for the Washington Post. John and his wife Mary (Debra Messing) finally find and agree to purchase their dream home. On their way home after the meeting, Mary sees a winged creature with red eyes jump at her and swerves off the road onto a sidewalk. John is fine, but Mary sustains a severe head wound which leads doctors to discovering a tumor in her brain. Not long after, she dies.
Two years later, John is driving out of D.C. and in less than two hours discovers that somehow he's traveled over 400 miles and is outside the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. When he approaches a nearby house, he is held at gunpoint by the home's owner until the police arrive. It seems that a man looking just like John has been knocking on their door for the past two evenings at 2:30am. A local police officer, Connie (Laura Linney) arrives on the scene and calms the situation. Connie isn't surprised by John's story because in the last few months in Point Pleasant a lot of strange things have been happening: strange lights, vivid dreams, haunting voices, bizarre physical illnesses, etc. T