The Lives of Others

Amazon.com

Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, this is a first-rate thriller that, like Bertolucci's The Conformist and Coppola's The Conversation, opts for character development over car chases. The place is East Berlin, the year is 1984, and it all begins with a simple surveillance assignment: Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe in a restrained, yet deeply felt performance), a Stasi officer and a specialist in this kind of thing, has been assigned to keep an eye on Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch, Black Book), a respected playwright, and his actress girlfriend, Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck, Mostly Martha). Though Dreyman is known to associate with the occasional dissident, like blacklisted director Albert Jerska (Volkmar Kleinert), his record is spotless. Everything changes when Wiesler discovers that Minister Hempf (Thomas Thieme) has an ulterior motive in spying on this seemingly upright citizen. In other words, it's personal, and Wiesler's sympathies shift from the government to its people--or at least to this one particular person. That would be risky enough, but then Wiesler uses his privileged position to affect a change in Dreyman's life. The God-like move he makes may be minor and untraceable, but it will have major consequences for all concerned, including Wiesler himself. Writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck starts with a simple premise that becomes more complicated and emotionally involving as his assured debut unfolds. Though three epilogues is, arguably, two too many, The Lives of Others is always elegant, never confusing. It's class with feeling. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Beyond The Lives of Others

Films from Germany
Other Cold War Films

More Arthouse Selections

from Sony Pictures Classics

Stills from The Lives of Others (click for larger image)

Product Description

This critically-acclaimed, Oscar®-winning film (Best Foreign Language Film, 2006) is the erotic, emotionally-charged experience Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) calls "a nail-biter of a thriller!" Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's population was closely monitored by the State Secret Police (Stasi). Only a few citizens above suspicion, like renowned pro-Socialist playwright Georg Dreyman, were permitted to lead private lives. But when a corrupt government official falls for Georg's stunning actress-girlfriend, Christa, an ambitious Stasi policeman is ordered to bug the writer's apartment to gain incriminating evidence against the rival. Now, what the officer discovers is about to dramatically change their lives - as well as his - in this seductive political thriller Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) proclaims is "the best kind of movie: one you can't get out of your head."

Customer Reviews:

The Lives fo Others.......2007-09-16

This movie is a must-see for anyone who is concerned about the erosion of our civil liberties today. In the final analysis it is human beings that can and must make the difference.

Interesting Outing.......2007-09-16

This movie creates a stillness, the hollowness that arises when all joy, spontaneity, and happiness are sucked out of life. The great strength and great weakness of this film is an all encompassing remoteness that makes it seem a mental exercise as it intellectualizes but fails to make felt emotionally the utter ruin of several generations under communist rule. These stunted people are like fish in a drying pool of water that will soon forget how to breathe, but carry on anyway. Or kill themselves.

There are other weaknesses - the only female is poorly realized. It's as if the writer[s] felt they needed one, but were at a loss to as to what she would be like. Maybe they don't know any. She is presented as an unfaithful drug addict who has no idea where her own self-interest lies, but of whom we are repeatedly told is a great talent. Unfortunately they let us see her act and we see that she isn't very good at all. The same goes for the 'great playwright' whose great [and it would seem only] play seems no more than laughable, who damning article in Der Spiegel is primitive. This is all forest for trees stuff - exactly what happens 99.99% of the time when writers write about writing. They really don't have a clue and think the whole process is a good deal more fascinating that it is. Regular folk make practically no appearance in this movie.

All that said, this movie isn't boring, although everything about it screams that it must be. Perhaps because few movies about this time period are available in the US [or I am just ignorant of them] and the novelty allows you to watch 132 mins of non-stop non-action. Even the torture scenes are boring - but this is merely German, not due to stilted writing. While Hollywood would have us believe the GDR was a terrorist state, this movie would have us believe it was toothless - hurting mainly willing victims. Maybe it was somewhere in-between?

Anyway, kudos to West Germany for having the courage to lift their stunted brethren out the which ever circle of Dante's hell they found themselves in. It could not have been easy. Maybe it still isn't.

5 Star Movie.......2007-09-16

This was one of the best movies I have ever seen!
Everyone I know who has seen it agrees.

A++ Film.......2007-09-12

... a reminder that film is an art form!! This is a classic film with a powerful content!!!

The mechanisms of dictatorship.......2007-09-12

The Lives of Others is a splendid film that touches the very heart and soul of the viewer. A Cold War film that takes on a timeline that leads up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, it never lost my interest. Nothing with this film is even mediocre attempt, from the script and superb acting right down to using the actual machines that the Stasi used to investigate (spy) on possible threats to the party.

One does not know how good they have it until they see how people in other parts of the world have lived, and this film brings it home with all the gray bleakness it can muster. This is not a typical spy film so if one is hoping for wispy sounds emitting from a silencer in the dead of night and horrendous crashes that result from violent chase scenes, you would have to look elsewhere. It shows how restrained someone of an artistic nature could be in this environment, while also showing how one on the other side of the listening device can do some soul searching and take the high road, although the high road during this time and place could ultimately be one's demise, and often times that did not mean death by a bullet, but further solitude by destroying one's career path with a stroke of a pen.

Monumental in scope, the film encompasses a passionate love for people and the arts, and a gripping fear of a strict, straightforward system that left no leaf unturned when striving for ultimate power.

Average customer rating:

The Final Installment Of "Prime Suspect" Is A Great Tribute To One Of TV's Best Characters And The Incomparable Helen Mirren
Jane Tennison's Last Hurrah
Just fantastic

Prime Suspect 7 - The Final Act
Starring: Helen Mirren , Stephen Tompkinson , Laura Greenwood , Eve Best , and Gary Lewis (III)
Director: Philip Martin (IV)
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000R349HU
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Amazon.com

Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) has dedicated her life to pursuing criminals and, as she nears retirement, the stresses of the job and of proving herself in the man's world of law enforcement have taken their toll: she has virtually no life of her own as well as a serious alcohol problem. Ever dedicated to her job, Tennison is determined to solve one final case, that of a 14-year old girl Sallie Sturdy (Maxine Barton) who's gone missing, before she retires. Even as Detective Superintendent Tennison's father takes seriously ill and alcohol-induced blackouts hinder her investigative capabilities, Tennison remains resolute in her determination to solve the case. As the investigation progresses, Tennison develops an unusually close relationship with the missing girl's young friend Penny Phillips (Laura Greenwood), seeing much of her younger self in the headstrong girl, and struggles to maintain her focus and use her crime-solving instincts and sharp eye for detail to bring Sallie's killer to justice. In the end, Tennison must also find a way to come to terms with her own alcoholism and impending retirement.

Prime Suspect was a groundbreaking British television series because of its portrayal of a powerful woman who dared to aspire to a leadership role in the man's world of police detective work. In the 15 years the series ran (1991-2006), every season tackled politically volatile subject matter, from sexism to racism and homophobia, while maintaining an intense attention to detail and a steadfast commitment to the accurate portrayal of law enforcement's investigative process. It was, one could argue, the precursor to modern crime series like CSI and Law and Order. Fittingly, these final episodes in the Prime Suspect series deal head-on with the controversy of inappropriate relationships between minors and adults. Oscar-winner Helen Mirren gives an incredibly strong performance and is backed by the considerable talents of Laura Greenwood, Stephen Tompkinson (as Sean Phillips), and the rest of the cast. Bonus features include a 45-minute behind the scenes featurette about the entire series, photo gallery, and cast filmographies. --Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act

Essentials by Actress: Helen Mirren
British Mystery Theater
The Prime Suspect series

Stills from Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act (click for larger image)

Product Description

"Perhaps the greatest role and performance of a female police detective, ever"--San Francisco Chronicle

In yet another subtle, powerful performance, Oscar® winner Helen Mirren truly inhabits the role of Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison. The Final Act finds her searching for Sallie Sturdy, a 14-year-old girl presumed murdered. Facing the hospitalization of her father, descending deeper into alcoholism, and resisting pressure to retire quietly, Tennison vows to bring Sallie's killer to justice before ending her career. Along the way she forges a surprising friendship with Penny Philips (Laura Greenwood), the missing girl's best friend. In the teenager's longing and fierce independence, the aging cop sees something of her younger self.

Jane Tennison emerges as a deeply flawed but ultimately sympathetic human being--one who accepts responsibility for her choices, knowing full well the price she and others have paid for each. The Final Act serves as the perfectly fitting conclusion to what some critics have called the best crime series ever televised.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE 50-minute behind-the-scenes feature, photo gallery, and cast filmographies.

Some coarse language and graphic content

Customer Reviews:

The Final Installment Of "Prime Suspect" Is A Great Tribute To One Of TV's Best Characters And The Incomparable Helen Mirren.......2007-07-14

"Masterpiece Theater" has long been a benchmark in bringing quality British TV to American viewers. With a prestigious history, some legendary programs--including "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "I, Claudius"--have found acclaim, awards, and international audiences. Of late, "Masterpiece Theater" has been showcasing some ambitious literary adaptations with mixed results. Last season's high point, and a must for any lover of film, was the flawless adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House." A triumph in every regard, and featuring Emmy nominated turns by Charles Dance and Gillian Anderson, this program should be essential viewing for those that value literate, classy and wildly entertaining TV. This season's offerings have included "To The Ends Of The Earth" (an adaptation of William Golding's seafaring trilogy--'Rites Of Passage,' 'Close Quarters' and 'Fire Down Below'), a robust new version of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," a reimagining of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," and the swan song of Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison in "Prime Suspect 7-The Final Act."

Unlike most entries in the "Masterpiece Theater" library this year, "Prime Suspect 7" is not a literary adaptation of a classic work. Instead, it is the final installment of the wonderful "Prime Suspect" series which began 15 years ago. In 1992, audiences were introduced to Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison who was the only woman in a London homicide squad. Passed over for promotion due to her gender, her big break came when another DCI suffered a heart attack. Stepping up as the leader of the squad, she encountered disdain and ridicule from the men of the unit--but through the years has garnered a grudging respect due to her investigative skills. Now, in "Prime Suspect 7-The Final Act," Tennison faces her final case and her impending retirement after a cumulative 30 years working for the police.

When a high school girl goes missing, police are quick to question possible suspects--from her parents, to a coach she may have been involved with, to a secret boyfriend. Learning more about the girl, it seems as if she was not the innocent most people believed her to be. Tennison befriends another young girl, a potential witness in the case who happens to be the victim's best friend. As Tennison faces retirement, she is still battling many demons--an estrangement from her family, a father in the hospital, and her alcoholism. Her friendship with the girl is a way for her to grasp the remaining part of her humanity, and to get some kind of understanding for the hard choices that she has made to further her career. Not to be dismissive of the actual police procedural--but in all honesty, it's not that hard to figure out. But you know what? Doesn't matter in the slightest.

This program, more than any other in the "Prime Suspect" series, is a love letter to Helen Mirren. Tennison is easily one of TV's most difficult female characters--she is a mass of flaws and an absolute mess in most regards. Mirren has evolved with this character, so it's fitting that the final installment features Tennison at her most vulnerable. In a year where Mirren has won every award conceivable for both "Elizabeth I" on TV and "The Queen" at the movies--this, to me, (although not a royal) is her crowning achievement! It's a fitting tribute to a complex character and an opportunity for Mirren to grace us with another tour de force performance (she has previously won Emmy accolades for prior "Prime Suspect" installments). Recommended highly (but 4 stars due to the rather routine resolution of the film's central mystery), I will miss not having Jane Tennison to look forward to any more. A great series, a great good-bye. Buy them all right now! KGHarris, 02/07.

Jane Tennison's Last Hurrah.......2007-06-10

The best Prime Suspect was definitely saved for last. In Prime Suspect 6, Jane Tennison rose to an entirely new level as she fought insubordination and calls to retire, while solving a complex international murder. In Prime Suspect 7, Jane Tennison faces new challenges, but most of these challenges come from within, as she struggles with alcoholism and the death of her father, all while trying to solve her most challenging case yet. The drama and suspense of Prime Suspect 7 is as great as we have seen in the past, but what makes this Prime Suspect the best yet is the extraordinary depth of Jane Tennison. Helen Mirren delivers yet another brilliant and masterful performance in the role that has defined her career.

Just fantastic.......2007-06-10

I've just seen this episode in french and it's fantastic.Helen Mirren is a gem.The suspense is gripping.I'm looking forward for the release on DVD.I have the other six episodes.It's a shame this is the last one.Bravo Dame Helen.

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

painted into a corner
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.
Fan :-(
A Masterpiece
Middle ending.

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ahmed Best , David Bowers (II) , Silas Carson , Keisha Castle-Hughes , and Hayden Christensen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JLXH
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Product Description

The Star Wars saga is now complete on DVD with Episode III REVENGE OF THE SITH. Torn between loyalty to his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the seductive powers of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker ultimately turns his back on the Jedi, thus completing his journey to the dark side and his transformation into Darth Vader. Experience the breathtaking scope of the final chapter in spectacular clarity and relive all the epic battles including the final climactic lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan.

System Requirements:
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee
Directed By: George Lucas
Running Time: 140 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Ending the most popular film epic in history, Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith is an exciting, uneven, but ultimately satisfying journey. Picking up the action from Episode II, Attack of the Clones as well as the animated Clone Wars series, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), pursue General Grievous into space after the droid kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).

The Star Wars Family Tree (click for larger image)

It's just the latest maneuver in the ongoing Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist forces led by former Jedi turned Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). On another front, Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) leads the Republic's clone troops against a droid attack on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. All this is in the first half of Episode III, which feels a lot like Episodes I and II. That means spectacular scenery, dazzling dogfights in space, a new fearsome villain (the CGI-created Grievous can't match up to either Darth Maul or the original Darth Vader, though), lightsaber duels, groan-worthy romantic dialogue, goofy humor (but at least it's left to the droids instead of Jar-Jar Binks), and hordes of faceless clone troopers fighting hordes of faceless battle droids.

But then it all changes.

Star Wars Time Line (click for larger image)

After setting up characters and situations for the first two and a half movies, Episode III finally comes to life. The Sith Lord in hiding unleashes his long-simmering plot to take over the Republic, and an integral part of that plan is to turn Anakin away from the Jedi and toward the Dark Side of the Force. Unless you've been living under a rock the last 10 years, you know that Anakin will transform into the dreaded Darth Vader and face an ultimate showdown with his mentor, but that doesn't matter. In fact, a great part of the fun is knowing where things will wind up but finding out how they'll get there. The end of this prequel trilogy also should inspire fans to want to see the original movies again, but this time not out of frustration at the new ones. Rather, because Episode III is a beginning as well as an end, it will trigger fond memories as it ties up threads to the originals in tidy little ways. But best of all, it seems like for the first time we actually care about what happens and who it happens to.

Episode III is easily the best of the new trilogy--OK, so that's not saying much, but it might even jockey for third place among the six Star Wars films. It's also the first one to be rated PG-13 for the intense battles and darker plot. It was probably impossible to live up to the decades' worth of pent-up hype George Lucas faced for the Star Wars prequel trilogy (and he tried to lower it with the first two movies), but Episode III makes us once again glad to be "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." --David Horiuchi

DVD features
Say what you will about the new Star Wars films--and plenty has been said already--but the DVDs continue to set the standard for technical excellence. From the opening of the first scene, the Dolby 5.1 EX sound is thrilling, and the picture, transferred directly from the digital source, is fantastic. A commentary track is again provided by a combination of people, including George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Roger Guyett. Lucas admits that the film is political and that he was influenced by Vietnam, but makes no mention of the Bush administration, as is widely speculated.

The main documentary on the second disc is probably the most granular DVD feature ever. "Within a Minute: The Making of Episode III" takes 67 minutes to deconstruct one minute of the film, an excerpt of the duel on Mustafar. The idea is to cover all the aspects that go into creating that minute, from writing to set construction to accounting. Fortunately, many of the concepts such as costumes apply to the movie as a whole, but having producer Rick McCallum tell us the importance of food seems a bit overkill. Two other featurettes are "It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III," an 11-minute discussion focusing mainly on the lightsaber duels, and "The Chosen One," a 14-minute examination of Darth Vader's evolution over the six films.

The six deleted scenes were no great loss from the film but are all worth watching. Natalie Portman in particular gets some much-needed screen time as one of the co-plotters of an anti-Palpatine movement, and an early action scene ties in to the Clone Wars animated series. There's also a 15-part series of 5 to 7 minute Web documentaries on topics such as the creation of General Grievous and Ewan McGregor, and an Xbox sampler of Battlefront II (if you're lucky, you can play as Obi-Wan Kenobi cutting through an army of droids) among other supplements. --David Horiuchi

The Complete Star Wars Saga

Episodes 4-6 Trilogy (widescreen)
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episde II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1
Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 2
The Star Wars Store

Stills from Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (click for larger images)

Anakin turning to the dark side
When Wookiees attack

Yoda, Jedi master
Mr. and Mrs. Vader

Saber training with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen
The cast

Customer Reviews:

painted into a corner.......2007-09-05

This Star Wars movie is the worst since Episode V
when Luke's face was in bad shape from the bike crash
between films. The special effects remind on more of a Japanese
anime than a Lucas film.
You get the feeling this film was completed
because it had to be,
not for the fun or worth of it.
It got in all the "stuff" it had to,
but compared to Episode I or II is is a failure.
I find myself not "believing" Anakan's turn to the dark side:
the creation of Darth Vader.

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable........2007-08-29

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.

I enjoyed 'Star Wars' (a.k.a. Star Wars IV: A new hope) when it came out and I was 7 yrs old and I still love all the Star Wars Movies today. My son has loved all the Star Wars movies as well

Fan :-(.......2007-08-08

Yes the acting was good and the special effects where excellent. But it lacked any feeling of reality. Any Star Wars fan (Who's not?) should watch this movie and if they are a collector, add it to their collection. Like its predecessors, it is not as good as the originals (despite the bad acting). I think that this is a prime example of CGI gone wild.

A Masterpiece.......2007-07-30

Words don't describe how wonderful this movie is. It is a masterpiece. Everything in this movie is perfect. The acting, the special effects, everything comes together so beautiful, so perfectly, and so tragically. We open in the biggest space fight in history as the Separatists are attempting to leave Courscant with the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin and Obi Wan fly in assigned with the task of rescuing the chancellor. Both are even better looking then in Attack of the Clones. Upon arriving on the ship they immediately realize it's a trap set by Dooku. As Obi Wan says so well "Let's spring the trap." They find the Chancellor and Dooku starting the first awsome lightsabre duel. Obi Wan is quickly knocked out of the fight leaving Anakin and Dooku. Anakin defeats Dooku using the dark side of the Force. At Palpatine's urging Anakin kills him in coldblood taking another step towards the dark side which Anakin immediately regrets and is horrifed by his actions. I love the way Hayden Christienson played Anakin so well from his cold blood murder to being confused by his actions.
This are not the ways of the Jedi. Palpatine tries to assure Anakin that it was all right and that Dooku was too dangerous to keep alive. He then tells Anakin they need to get off the ship and to leave Obi Wan behind. This time Anakin refuses Palpatine's order and goes to retieve Obi Wan. I love the way Anakin looked at Palpatine and told him "His fate will be the same as ours."
After an exciting crash landing back on Courscant Anakin is reunited with Padme who tells him she's pregnant. Anakin's over joyed but that's quickly destroyed when he has a premontion that night of Padme dying in childbirth. Similar to the dreams he had about his mother before she died. Anakin's determined not to let this premontion come true. Anakin goes to Yoda first to seek advice who gives Anakin the typical Jedi response after all the Jedi aren't suppose to have attachments. The scene between Yoda and Anakin is very well played. Here's Master of the Jedi order and the Chosen One in Yoda's small room both of them almost completely cloaked in darkness with only a little light illustrating how neither one of them is truly seeing the other person.
Anakin's relationship with Jedi Council has become difficult to say the least. His close relationship with Palpatine has the Council concerned especially now that the Jedi are growing suspicious of Palpatine. They don't like the way he keeps finding ways to stay in office even thought he's term has expired or how he keeps getting more power voted to him through the Senate or the way Palpatine interferes with Jedi affairs. Including putting Anakin on the Council as Palpatine's personal representitive. While trying not to be controlled by Palpatine the Jedi in fact end up doing exactly what he wants by denying Anakin the rank of master knowing it'll create more cracks between Anakin and the Jedi. The Jedi have their suspicious about Palpatine but they have no proof so the Council ask Anakin to spy on the Chancellor who inturns ask Anakin to spy on the Jedi. Which side will Anakin chose?
Palpatine being his helpful self offers Anakin an answer when during that incredable opera scene Palpatine mentions a Sith legend about how a Sith was able to keep those he cared about from dying knowing full well this was exactly the answer Anakin was looking for. At least a glimmer of hope that there was away to save Padme. Ian plays the role of Palpatine flawlessly as he insidiously moves all the pieces into place for his endgame. He's got to be the best villain I've ever seen.
Back that the Jedi Council Obi Wan is chosen to be sent off to defeat Grevious and hopefully put an end to the war over Anakin once again this is exactly what Palpatine wanted. Its such a tragedy watching the Jedi Council scenes knowing these Jedi are trying so hard to stay out of Palpatine's manuiplations and bring an end to the war and get Palpatine office without them realizing that they are in Palpatine's trap. That's really the hard part for the Jedi is that their enemy Palpatine knows them so well that he knows exactly what move they will make even before they make it. I mean its like watching a football game where one side has the other team's play book.
Obi Wan goes off to face Grevious but not before the beautiful and emotional pack of his last conversation when Anakin apologizes for his behavoir and Obi Wan gives him praise. You know this is the last time they'll be friends which makes even more emotionally packed. I'm usually pulling out the tissues at this point in the film.
Once Obi Wan is gone Palpatine reveals himself to Anakin who turns him into the Jedi Council. Mace takes four Jedi to arrest the Sith Master but orders Anakin to stay behind because of his mixed feelings. Mace and the Jedi arrive in Palpatine's office and attempts to arrest him. What follows completely surpised me. Palpatine leaps from his chair and kills three of the Jedi leaving only Mace. Now I know Palpatine's a Sith and Sith use lightsabres despite that I was shocked that Palpatine had one. The dueling being Palpatine and Mace is amazing.
Back at the Temple Anakin's contomplating things and he has Palpatine's voice (literally) in his head warning him dies all hope Anakin has of saving Padme dies with him. Anakin gets up and looks out the window out at Padme's apartment. Padme sensing Anakin gets up and goes to her window. This is one of the best non-speaking scenes I've ever seen. You see the emotion and love between the two while Anakin makes his decision.
Anakin arrives at Palpatine's office to find way appears to be a very similar seen to him and Dooku. A Jedi about to kill an unarmed person. Of course Palpatine set it up to look just like that unlike with Dooku, Palpatine's playing possum. When Anakin cuts off Mace's arm Palpatine hurls lightening at Mace which sends him out the window and to poor Mace's death. Samuel L. Jackson did an awsome job of protraying Mace from his frustrations with Palpatine over not stepping down from chancellor to conflict with Anakin to Mace's conversations with the other members of the Council. I like how Mace did originially intend to simply arrest the Chancellor and was unprepared for how powerful Palpatine was to his attempts to get Anakin to realize that Palpatine was the traitor.
This is Anakin's irreversionable step to the dark side of the Force. I love Anakin's horror of what he just done, that he made the wrong choice and realization that he can't go back. Anakin kneels in front of Palpatine/Sidious to become a Sith and receive his name of Darth Vader. Its an emotional and powerful scene at the same time. The intercut to Yoda on Kaskyyyk clutching his chest in confusion while this was going on was amazing.
Anakin now Darth Vader marches up the steps of the Jedi Temple leading a legion of clonetroopers while we go from planet to planet through the galaxy to watch the heartbreaking scenes of the Jedi being gunned down by their own troops. Its heartbreaking, devastating and so sad to watch people who devoted their entire lives to the Republic being gunned down and declared traitors of the Republic and the Jedi in the Temple being killed by one of their own. Yoda dropping his cain as he felt the pain of the Jedi being killed was very well done.
This is where Senator Organa, Leia's future adoptive father shows up at the Jedi Temple demanding to know what was going on only to be turned away by Clonetroopers at gun point. Organa leaves but not before witnessing a Youngling attempting to escape gunned down. Jimmy Smits plays his part every well. I love his line "And so it is." At being told it was time for him to leave. It was the line and the expression of someone who's worse fears had just come true. Organa leaves Courscant to find surviving Jedi he finds of course only Obi Wan and Yoda. They decide to return to Courscant Organa to attend a special session of Congress where Palpatine declares himself Emperor to the sound of applause. Its an amazing scene caped off with Padme's perfect line "So this is how liberty dies, to thunderous applause."
Intercuting this scene is Anakin/Vader slaughtering the Separatists. Indeed the Republic's dead. At the Jedi Temple Obi Wan's shocked at the finding even the Younglings were killed and wants to know who's behind it. How wonderful and yet tragicly fitting that Obi Wan doesn't realize it was Anakin until he goes to the security holograms. Ewan McGregor who's all ready been putting in an incredable preformance as Obi Wan Kenobi pleades with Yoda to send him to kill the Emperor so he wouldn't have to go and face Anakin. You can see in his eyes and words of desperation he doesn't want to be the one to kill Anakin. But Yoda wisely and rightly knows that he must be the one to take on Palpatine/Sidious.
Obi Wan hides on Padme's ship after to follow her to Anakin after informing her of Anakin's turn. Natalie Portman who's also been putting in an incredable preformence gets even better as she goes to Anakin. This scene between them is so perfect. Padme wants him to say that it wasn't him or that Obi Wan's claims were crazy. But Anakin doesn't. He tells Padme that he's becoming more powerful then any Jedi could ever hope to be and he's doing it for her to protect her. He tells Padme of his plans to over throw Palpatine and they can rule the Galaxy Anakin says this in a tone of desperation, of insanity, of unstablity, irrational and Hayden completely sells it..that in this moment of craziness Anakin truly believes this. Padme slowly begins to back away from Anakin realizing that Obi Wan was right that even though she loves Anakin and would follow him any where she can't follow him down this path. She tells him that you can see a switch in Anakin/Vader as Padme pleades with him to come back but Anakin/Vader's not seeing her anymore he sees Obi Wan behind her and is outraged believing that Padme bought Obi Wan with her to kill him. Padme's protests are silenced when Anakin/Vader force chokes her. I love the way Obi Wan advances on Anakin/Vader ordering him to let her go. Anakin does and she falls. Obi Wan and Anakin circle each other slowly Anakin clearly consumed by the dark side and Obi Wan trying to get Anakin see that. You can see Obi Wan's trying not to end up fighting Anakin but realizes after talking with Anakin that there's no other way. They begin the amazing Obi Wan and Anakin duel we've been waiting thirty years to see and weren't disappointed. They fight through the buildings and around fiery lava. They both know each other so well they know each other's fight and it a long time before Anakin's defeated. I love how Obi Wan tried to get Anakin not to make that fatal jump which severs Anakin's remaining arm and legs. Obi Wan's emotional cry to Anakin before picking up Anakin's lightsabre and leaving.
Intercut is Yoda and Palpatine/Sidious fight which is just as incredable. The two masters of their orders battling it out light vs. dark winner takes all duels in its well done. Palpatine hurling Senator pods at Yoda who sends them back. Even thought Yoda ends up being the one to withdrawl from the battle I say it was a draw. Yoda realizing that withdrawls from the battle and is rescued by Organa. The they meet up with Obi Wan who's carrying Padme. Intercut between Anakin being reborn in the black suit Padme gives birth to Luke and Leia and dies but not before telling Obi Wan that there's still good in Anakin something which we know Luke will take to heart. Padme's body is sent back to Naboo for her funeral while Leia and Luke are sent to their respective homes. We actually get to see a glimpse of Alderaan and Leia's adoptive mother. The final second with Ben, Beru, and Luke standing where Luke will eighteen years later is a beautiful way to end this emotional roller coaster of a movie...and a great way to end the series.
Everything in this movie was perfect. All of the actors played their rolls perfectly. The special effects was perfect. Little details like Governor Tarkin with Palpatine and Vader on the Star Destroyer looking at the Death Star. Return of Tantive VI, the ship Leia will be captured on to Padme holding Anakin's gift to her from The Phantom Manace during the funeral prosession. Revenge of the Sith was everything I wanted it to be but even better.
Although it the deleted scenes and not the actual movie I did like the scenes with Padme and the Senators you could see the beginnings of the Rebellion. I love how it was started by Padme and these Senators and would lead to Empire's defeat by her daughter Leia. I have seen this movie a hundred times and I'm still blow way with how amazing it is. Its truly a masterpiece.

Middle ending........2007-07-29

And so the StarWars story has come full circle. I sat in the theater when A new Hope was released in 1977. The awesomeness of that Star Destroyer chasing down the Blockade Runner was like nothing ever befor seen in movies and changed the way movies have been made ever since. Everyone who saw A New Hope in '77 knew that StarWars was going to be big! Who knew it would be 20 years BIG! All of the StarWars saga should be seen on the big screen, that is the medium it was made for. This DVD is a wonderfull way to bring the story home, and I digress by saying it was much better to see it in the theater. I love the story line and I am glad to have been able to see it complete. The action shots and special effects are the pinnical of all the years George Lucas has devoted to his dream.

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

My son loves it.
A small review of the DVD image quality, not the movie
Use The English Subtitles - It Will Help Make The Movie Better
the child, Anakin Skywalker
It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable.

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Pernilla August , Kenny Baker , Brian Blessed , Ralph Brown , and Anthony Daniels
Director: George Lucas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CX5P
Release Date: 2005-03-22

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"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.

Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.

Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson

Description

Feature-Length Audio Commentary
The creators of Episode I give you insight into the film like no one else can. Hear from: writer/director George Lucas, Producer Rick McCallum, sound designer and film co-editor Ben Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires.

"The Beginning"
Making Episode I Documentary Film
Culled from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, this all-new hour-long documentary film takes you inside Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic during the making of The Phantom Menace. Sit in on the film's production process including: pre-production, casting, principal photography, editing, rough-cut reviews, visual effects meetings and other events that few people have had access to before.

Exclusive Deleted Scenes and Documentary
All-new documentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum and guests discussing the painstaking process every director must go through in determining what scenes make the final cut. View seven exclusive deleted sequences that were created specifically for this DVD and learn why they were eliminated from the final version of the film.

Multi-Angle Animatics
Discover the amazing techniques used to create two memorable sequences (Submarine and Podrace Lap 1) from storyboards to animatics to final composites.

Featurettes
Five mini-documentaries give you an insider's look at The Phantom Menace's Storyline, Design, Costumes, Visual Effects and Fight sequences through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

Web Documentaries
Originally released on starwars.com during the production of Episode I, this award-winning twelve-part web documentary series gives you a fly-on-the-wall perspective into the making of the film as it was happening.

Exclusive Production Photo Gallery
Scroll through a never-before-seen gallery of candid cast and crew shots, each with captions.

"Duel of the Fates" Music Video
One of the most popular music videos during its release in May 1999, the "Duel of the Fates" video intertwines live footage of John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with behind-the-scenes clips and dramatic footage featured in Episode I.

Posters and Print Campaign
Examine the Episode I theatrical posters (Teaser and Launch) and the International Outdoor advertising used to support the release of Episode I around the world.

Trailers and TV Spots
Watch the theatrical teaser and launch trailers, plus seven TV spots (including the five original "Tone Poems" along with "The Saga Begins" and "All Over Again").

"Star Wars: Starfighter-The Making of a Game" from LucasArts
This featurette offers insight into the making of the popular flight action combat game along with information on other Star Wars games from LucasArts.

Exclusive DVD-ROM Content
Your Episode I DVD is a key that unlocks exclusive Star Wars content only available through a special DVD-ROM website.

Customer Reviews:

My son loves it........2007-09-14

My five year old son is a huge Star Wars fan. We have watched this DVD many times and he never gets tired of it.

A small review of the DVD image quality, not the movie.......2007-09-10

After putting off this purchase for years, I finally walked to the store and got my copy. I was disappointed.

The image was transfered from film, which makes no sense to me. It has the typical dust, scratches, overexposure and over-sharpening problems of a scan from film. I guess back in 2001 when everyone had small TVs no one noticed, but I have a 70" screen and, compared to the Episode III DVD, the image quality in this one sucks.

I know Episode I was the last Star Wars flick shot with film instead of digital cameras, but, come on, it was edited in computers! It makes no sense to further degrade the image by transferring it from digital to film and then back to digital... unless you are planning to re-release it as a "Digitally remastered" version for the 10th anniversary (Which I hope they do, along with the HD DVD and Blu-ray versions)

Use The English Subtitles - It Will Help Make The Movie Better.......2007-09-05

I believe George Lucas said he was inspired by the chariot race in the 1959 epic Ben-Hur, and thought of it often when he staged the big pod race scene in this movie.

So, when I watched the film again the other day, the third or fourth time I've seen it, I kept looking for comparisons. Well, suffice to say nothing will surpass that chariot race, which had no benefit of any special-effects while this was almost all computer-generated. Nevertheless, the pod race in here was a lot of fun to watch, had excellent surround sound, was exciting and the highlight of the film. Oddly, in this movie instead of a man you have a small boy as the good guy- driver, so to speak. Young Jake Lloyd who plays "Anakin Skywalker." He's the key character in this Star Wars saga, the boy who later becomes the father to Luke Skywalker and winds up being revealed as Darth Vader. But....this is long before that

This movie, the first Star Wars movie after a long hiatus (16-years) disappointed a lot of fans but I thought it was entertaining overall. My main complaint was trying to understand "Jar Jar Binks," but on the DVD I can use English subtitles and thus understand all the strange things he says with his Caribbean accent. It makes the movie more enjoyable and I strongly recommend doing that.

As usual, there is a ton of astounding visuals in here, all kinds of strange characters and excellent "effects." Yes, the action gets hokey in spots, especially near the end, but what modern-day action film doesn't?

People who are really "into" this Star Wars saga, and take it seriously, were, as mentioned generally let down with this movie. I guess they expected a lot more after waiting so long for the next installment. I just watch it for the enjoyment of an escapist film and as someone who usually enjoys good visuals. I repeat: put on the "English subtitles." That helped a lot, believe me.

the child, Anakin Skywalker.......2007-09-04

This is a decent movie. it could have been better on a lot of levels but it is definitely a good movie to check out. If you're looking for A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi, this ain't it.

It's a different movie. Not as action packed as those but definitely worth a look. I actually prefer this to Attack of the Clones, mostly because of Hayden Christensen, Jar Jar Binks is an annoyance but you'll learn to live with it. If he didn't talk as much it'd be a very good movie.

Alas, I still recommend this movie. The DVD is great. A commentary from George and others and a few features on the second disc make it all the worthwhile. The deleted scenes are a must watch. Definitely for the fans. If you aren't a fan, you won't appreciate it as much.

It's not my favorite, but still very enjoyable........2007-08-29

The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971

Average customer rating:

WOW! Can't wait for this one!
Great collection of hippie-era country and pop
Here We Go Again
found this at pitchfork review
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION!

The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971
Starring: Johnny Cash
Director: Michael B Borofsky
Manufacturer: Sony Columbia Legacy / Reverse Angle Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000TLMWMY
Release Date: 2007-09-18

Description

DISC 1 Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
Bob Dylan - I Threw It All Away
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - Girl From The North Country
Kris Kristofferson - Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash - Blue Yodel #9
Stevie Wonder - Heaven Help Us All
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising
Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash - I Will Never Marry
George Jones - Medley (White Lightning with Johnny Cash, She Thinks I Still Care, Love Bug, The Race Is On)
Johnny Cash - Hey Porter
Waylon Jennings - Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line
Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash - The Singing Star's Queen
Waylon Jennings - Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man
Marty Robbins - Medley (Big Iron, Running Gun, El Paso)
Johnny Cash - Come Along And Ride This Train
Johnny Cash - As Long As The Grass Shall Grow
Johnny Cash - Man In Black
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash - Cripple Creek, Worried Man Blues
Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down
Johnny Cash - Old Time Religion
Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and The TennesseeThree - Daddy Sang Bass
Mother Maybelle and The Carter Sisters - Wildwood Flower
Neil Young - The Needle And The Damage Done
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three - Tennessee Flat Top Box
Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash - The Long Black Veil
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three with Carl Perkins - Big River
DISC 2 Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
June Carter Cash - A Good Man
Derek And The Dominos - It's Too Late Derek And The Dominos with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins - Matchbox
Charley Pride - Able Bodied Man
Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys - Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Loretta Lynn - I Know How
Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Johnny Cash - Ride This Train (America The Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land)
The Everly Brothers with Ike Everly and Johnny and Tommy Cash - That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine
Ray Charles - Ring Of Fire
Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue
Conway Twitty - Hello Darlin'
Mother Maybelle Carter - Black Mountain Rag
Tony Joe White and Johnny Cash - Polk Salad Annie
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
Ray Price - For The Good Times
Roy Orbison - Crying
Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash - Oh, Pretty Woman
Johnny Cash - Wanted Man
Chet Atkins and Johnny Cash - Recuerdo De La Alhambra
Chet Atkins - Medley (Country Gentleman, Mister Sandman, Wildwood Flower, Freight Train)
June Carter Cash with Homer And Jethro - Baby, It's Cold Outside
Merle Haggard - No Hard Times
Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash - Sing Me Back Home
Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers - The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago
Roy Clark - Medley (In The Summertime, 12th Street Rag)
The Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall
Johnny Cash - Working Man Blues
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash - Jackson, Turn Around, I Love You Because
Hank Williams Jr. - Medley (You Win Again, Cold Cold Heart, I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You, Half As Much)
Johnny Cash - A Wonderful Time Up There

Customer Reviews:

WOW! Can't wait for this one!.......2007-09-15

I've been waiting to see these shows for, well, forever! Up until now the only way to see these performances was on bootleg video (although I believe the CMT Network ran some of these at one time)and YouTube. This is some amazing music from a man who simply loved playing good music. And good musicians, young and old, black and white. It's a shame it lasted barely 2 years. But it's a blessing that someone had the smarts to preserve these wonderful shows. This will be worth it for the Clapton and Dylan footage. There is precious little performance footage of his tenure with Derek and the Dominos, and here he really shines. You can tell by his face how amazed he is to be onstage jamming with both Cash and Carl Perkins. I've never seen Dylan's performance but this was (arguably) his first ever live tv performance, he'd been out of the spotlight since his 1966 motorcycle accident and gone back to his folky roots while the rest of the world turned up the volume. So this is prime Dylan with one of his idols. As well as seeing CCR at their peak. The Neil Young footage can also be seen on the special edition of his "Live at Massey Hall" CD. Can't wait!

Great collection of hippie-era country and pop.......2007-09-09

This two-disc set collects highlights of Johnny Cash's short-lived musical variety show, which aired on network TV between 1969-71. At the peak of the hippies-vs.-straights culture clash, Cash boldly invited guests from across the American musical spectrum -- longhairs, country traditionalists, Nashville insiders, jazz musician, rock stars, pop tunesmiths and folkies. The guest list is truly astonishing, given the tensions of the times. Bob Dylan -- one of Cash's favorite artists -- was on the first show in '69, tipping viewers off that this wasn't gonna be your typical country TV show. Appearances by Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder and John Fogerty followed, as well as master entertainers such as Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. And of course, there was the cream of the country crop -- Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Loretta Lynn and Johnny's crew from his road show -- June Carter Cash & the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and others. In the wings were some amazing sidemen: keep an eye out for Norman Blake plucking acoustic guitar, as well as the wealth of up-and-coming talent that Cash went out of his way to promote (notably Kris Kristofferson, who reminisces about the old shows in interview segments added in this DVD set...)

This is a great collection, generously programmed (the set list on the Menu goes on for page after page...) and many of the performances are pure gold (George Jones is awesome!) Some fans will complain that they'd rather see the original shows as broadcast at the time, and while I agree that that would be fun, I don't see any reason to give anything but praise to this set. The documentary format, with various Cash crew and compatriots interviewed and introducing different segments, is kinda cool, and for the most part they know when to get out of the way and let the music play. It's a pity they didn't shoot the whole TV show on film -- some of the video stock gets kinda flared out (the Dylan clips, in particular) but, hey -- that's history for you. Personally, I'm glad to see whatever stuff like this there is -- it's a great look back at an interesting cultural moment, when mainstream country was still pretty traditional, although the walls were starting to fall and new influences were coming into play. Cash fans and country fans alike will want to check this one out! (DJ Joe Sixpack)

Here We Go Again.......2007-08-23

I'm so tired of these "Best Of" compilations. I've been waiting almost 40 years to see these shows and, once again, they get chopped up. Why can't somebody (finally) get it right and issue complete variety series in there entirety? Geez, it only lasted two years! You could probably fit every episode in one or two boxed sets with double-sided DVDs, which so many companies do nowadays. Instead, we get all complete seasons of Friends when all one needs to do is turn on the TV at any given time of the day and see the same episodes in syndication - as bad as seeing I Love Lucy continuously until we have the complete dialogs memorized! Shame on you Columbia/Legacy for doing this. It's like a teaser of something we'll never have. This may be the "best" for you but not for me and, therefore, I will not be purchasing it.

found this at pitchfork review.......2007-08-08

On September 18, CMV/Columbia/Legacy will release The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show, a 2xDVD compiling 64 live performances from the 58 episodes of Johnny Cash's 1969-1971 "The Johnny Cash Show".

Kris Kristofferson hosts the DVD, which features performances from Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Louis Armstrong, Loretta Lynn, Neil Diamond, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Derek and the Dominoes, Roy Orbison, the Carter Family (inluding June Carter Cash), and Johnny Cash himself, among many others.

The set also features new interviews with John Carter Cash, Tennessee Three bassist Marshall Grant, Hank Williams, Jr., musical arranger Bill Walker, and hairstylist Penny Lane.

There will also be a single-disc CD version of the compilation available on the same day as the DVD.

The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show (DVD):

01 Johnny Cash: "Ring of Fire"
02 Bob Dylan: "I Threw It All Away"
03 Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan: "Girl From the North Country"
04 Kris Kristofferson: "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)"
05 Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash: "Blue Yodel #9"
06 Stevie Wonder: "Heaven Help Us All"
07 Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Bad Moon Rising"
08 Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash: "I Will Never Marry"
09 George Jones and Johnny Cash: "White Lightning"
10 George Jones: "Medley: She Thinks I Still Care / The Love Bug / The Race Is On"
11 Johnny Cash: "Hey Porter"
12 Waylon Jennings: "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
13 Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash: "The Singing Star's Queen"
14 Waylon Jennings: "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
15 Tammy Wynette: "Stand by Your Man"
16 Marty Robbins: "Medley: Big Iron / Running Gun / El Paso"
17 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train"
18 Johnny Cash: "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow"
19 Johnny Cash: "Man in Black"
20 James Taylor: "Sweet Baby James"
21 Pete Seeger: "Cripple Creek"
22 Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash: "Worried Man Blues"
23 Johnny Cash: "Sunday Morning Coming Down"
24 Johnny Cash: "Old Time Religion"
25 Johnny Cash: "A Wonderful Time Up There"
26 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three: "Daddy Sang Bass"
27 Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters: "Wildwood Flower"
28 Neil Young: "The Needle and the Damage Done"
29 Johnny Cash: "Tennessee Flat Top Box"
30 Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash: "Long Black Veil"
31 Johnny Cash: "Big River"
32 Johnny Cash: "I Walk the Line"
33 June Carter Cash: "A Good Man"
34 Derek and the Dominoes: "It's Too Late"
35 Derek and the Dominoes With Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins: "Matchbox"
36 Charley Pride: "Able Bodied Man"
37 Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys: "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
38 Loretta Lynn: "I Know How"
39 Jerry Lee Lewis: "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
40 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train (America the Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land)"
41 The Everly Brothers With Ike Everly and Johnny Cash: "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine"
42 Ray Charles: "Ring of Fire"
43 Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"
44 Conway Twitty: "Hello Darlin'"
45 Mother Maybelle Carter: "Black Mountain Rag"
46 Neil Diamond: "Cracklin' Rosie"
47 Ray Price: "For the Good Times"
48 Roy Orbison: "Crying"
49 Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash: "Oh, Pretty Woman"
50 Johnny Cash: "Wanted Man"
51 Chet Atkins: "Medley: Country Gentleman / Mister Sandman / Wildwood Flower / Freight Train"
52 June Carter Cash With Homer and Jethro: "Baby It's Cold Outside"
53 Merle Haggard: "No Hard Time Blues"
54 Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash: "Sing Me Back Home"
55 Carl Perkins: "Blue Suede Shoes"
56 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family and Carl Perkins: "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago"
57 The Statler Brothers: "Flowers on the Wall"
58 Roy Clark: "Medley: In the Summertime / 12th Street Rag"
59 Johnny Cash: "Working Man Blues"
60 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Jackson"
61 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Turn Around"
62 Johnny Cash: "I Love You Because"
63 Hank Williams, Jr.: "Medley: You Win Again / Cold Cold Heart / I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You / Half As Much"
64 Johnny Cash: "Folsom Prison Blues"

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION!.......2007-08-08

I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who just appreciates good music. I caught a sneak preview of this amazing disc on my local PBS station in August of 2007, and it was one of the greatest things I had seen on television in a long time. Johnny Cash's prime time televion show aired from 1969 - 1971, and featured both prominent rock and country artists of the day. Groundbreaking television for sure, considering at the time that most rock artists were associated with the peace, drugs, free love and the anti-war movement by a conservative segment of American society, just when the war was really starting to sour. Filmed live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee (with a few exceptions), in front of a mostly Southern country music audience, all the artists seemed to be warmly embraced by the crowd, with Johnny Cash's blessing and support. The first hour consisted of rock and popular music performers that Johnny Cash was an admirer or fan of, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Diamond, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The highlight was Derek and the Dominoes featuring Eric Clapton, and following their performance none other than Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash himself joined Derek and the Dominoes onstage for a raucous version of Perkins' Matchbox. Simply amazing.
The second half was Johnny himself performing solo, with his wife June Carter Cash, and with the Tennessee Three. Prominent country artists also featured were George Jones, Tammy Wynette, a young, short-haired and beardless Hank Williams Jr., young Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Charley Pride (possibly the only black country artist ever). These are only the performances shown on the PBS special preview. There were literally hundreds of great performances on this show over its two year run. There's no lip synching nonsense here. Every artist actually performing and singing live. This is priceless television and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of any of the artists I mentioned. You will not be disappointed. It won't be available until September of 2007, and I will most definitely be purchasing it.

Average customer rating:

Crazy Life with KISS
Still Rockin'...
An Excellent Sequel !
Kiss: Kissology Volume II 1978-1991
PHANTOM OF THE PARK/ ATTACK OF THE PHANTOM

Kiss: Kissology Volume II 1978-1991
Starring: Kiss
Manufacturer: VH1 Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000SAAPG6
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Amazon.com

KISS have always had an approach to their fans that on the one hand could be seen as ridiculously crass and on the other as truly generous. And this release, with its three expertly mastered and crammed DVDs--issued with three separate bonus discs--could easily support either view. The second installment in KISS's Kissology DVD series will sort out the casual fans from the true members of the KISS Army. The material included here, after all, begins in 1978, when the band released four separate solo albums at once and their massive popularity began to wane. It continues on through the controversial makeup-free period and ends in '91, as KISS struggled to cope with the ascendancy of grunge over the hair metal style they'd experienced a second boom with. The concert films are pretty great, but the full-length Tom Snyder Tomorrow show appearance is flat-out brilliant, as is their live performance on the short-lived sketch comedy show Fridays. And the highlight of the set has to be the "European theatrical version" of their made-for-TV film KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. All those who've suffered through poorly degenerated video bootlegs will glory at this wonderfully restored piece of rock and roll camp. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Crazy Life with KISS.......2007-09-15

Hail to the gods of R'R from Germany. Waiting for decades finally our prayers have been heard. Kissology is simply larger than life it is a shrine to get down on your knees.

Volume 1 was great and Volume 2 is even greater with so many ever wanted clips and don't forget to mention the legendary Phantom project. Remember watching in the 70's with my father in a small movie seems like a timewarp back to yesterday. Still missing some more from the Elder Time.

Kind regards and waiting to see you finally in Europe.

Still Rockin'..........2007-09-13

Very good follow up to last year's first set of Kisstory. Worth owning. Of course, if you have the first Kissology, this goes without saying. One thing, however, I would have liked to see more of is 1978. That was the year KISS absolutely ruled the world, yet the time they give it in the second set is minimal. Still, informatative, flashy, loud and all things KISS are on this second set. God bless Eric Carr. Can't wait til the third one...

An Excellent Sequel !.......2007-09-12

First let me start by saying I attended my first KISS concert in 1975 at the age of fifteen. This is an important sidebar to this review. If you are an older KISS fan and was skeptical of a review of the "No Make Up" years, relax. The footage on this collection is priceless. The concert footage is great considering the amount of time that has passed. There are way too many highlights to mention them all but the 1990 concert really stands out amongst the rest. On both of the Kissology collections I am always excited to listen to the audio commentary tracks. They are a virtual rock n roll kisstory lesson! My final thoughts are about the late Eric Carr. This DVD is a loving tribute to a very underated talent. In retrospect the non-make up years are entertaining, informative and in the case of "Attack of the Phantom" pure fun! I highly recommend this to all KISS fans both young and old.

Kiss: Kissology Volume II 1978-1991.......2007-09-11

I will try and give a different perspective of why this DVD is just solid gold instead of a blow by blow account that the other reviewers have given (which aren't bad by the way).

I own both vol 1 and 2 of the kissology series and I must say that when you watch them both you get a really clear perspective of the events that launched the band to super stardom, the deterioration of the original line up, and finally their rebirth in the non make up era. No other band in history had such an intense and complex history as do Kiss.

Vol 1 was a great snap shot of key performances that lead to the bands ultimate success. Vol 2 was equally as great if not better. The largo gig which was presented as one of the three optional bonus gigs in the package clearly displayed where the band was at in 1979 distracted and going through the motions. The Tom Snyder's interview really illustrated how dysfunctional the band members were becoming which finally led to the departure of Peter Criss.

The unmasked gig in Sydney Australia was very tight and the band seemed more like a solid unit with the addition of Eric Carr on drums. I was fortunate enough (and old enough) to go to the Melbourne gig of this tour and I must say that this concert had the same level of intensity as I remembered it all these years later, all the stuff from the elder and creatures of the night were just great. I wasn't fortunate enough to have any of this stuff in bootleg form so this box set had nothing but new material for me. I found the years between love gun through to creatures of the night to be the most fascinating era of the bands history, both musically and historically.

The non make up years were good and the musicians such as Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick were great as you will see in some of there performances, but the band was going through an identity crisis and failed to deliver anything that was truly memorable, still they managed to pull off some good shows and is well presented in this video.

This box set is a testament to the bands long and Controversial history as you will clearly see neither one of the band members were ready to deal with the level of success kiss were able to achieve in such a short space of time, but were experienced enough to pick themselves back up with a new image and musical style and still sell platinum albums and fill arenas. now that saying something......................................

PHANTOM OF THE PARK/ ATTACK OF THE PHANTOM.......2007-09-08

HEY! KEEP YOUR VHS OR DVDR BOOTLEG OF THE US PRINT OF "KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK". THIS EURO THEATRICAL VERSION "ATTACK OF THE PHANTOMS" IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CUT THAN THE US VERSION. DIFFERENT SCENES, EDITED & UNEDITED DIALOG, DIFFERENT MUSIC, ETC. I WAS REALLY ANGRY THAT THEY CUT OUT ALMOST ALL OF ACE FREHLEY'S "ECK!" RESPONSES, AND THE CLASSIC POOLSIDE CHATTER!. ANYWAY, I'M NOT A KISS FANATIC, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL MOVIES EVER MADE. OH YEAH - THE PICTURE AND AUDIO ARE EXCELLENT TOO. THE REST OF THE DVD'S ARE COOL, BUT WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE MORE PROMO / INTERVIEWS OF THE '79 - '82 PERIOD - ESPECIALLY "THE ELDER". ALL HAIL ACE FREHLEY.

Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

Lady and the Tramp 1955 (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)
IT'S A DOGS WORLD IN 'THE LADY AND THE TRAMP'
Lady and the Tramp
It's Lady And The Tramp And We Love It!
Memories

Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Starring: Peggy Lee , Barbara Luddy , Larry Roberts (II) , Bill Thompson , and Bill Baucom
Director: Hamilton Luske , Clyde Geronimi , and Wilfred Jackson
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000B8QG4A
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Amazon.com

It's still one of the sweetest kisses onscreen, up there with Bergman and Grant, Bogey and Bacall: the moment when pampered purebred Lady and streetwise mongrel Tramp, sharing a moonlit plate of spaghetti in an alley behind an Italian café, unknowingly slurp the same strand, and suddenly find their mouths meeting in surprise and tenderness. Ah, puppy love. Lady and the Tramp is a delight of animation and surprisingly deep character development, given that the stars are all dogs. Lady, an adorable Cocker Spaniel, feels neglected when her owners become distracted by the pending birth of a baby. But the last straw is clueless Aunt Sarah's appearance with her conniving Siamese cats (among Disney's most creatively evil villains), who wreak havoc on Lady's blissful home life. Soon Lady is off on an adventure in the streets, where the savvy Tramp takes her under his paw. The lessons of friendship and loyalty, of integrity--not to mention trusting in the kindness of strangers--ring true to delighted children and adults alike. And unlike many Disney films, there's no real violence, only challenges that smart dogs (including a tough-talking vamp named Peg, voiced sublimely by Peggy Lee, who also wrote the songs), banding together, can tackle. The animation is terrific; the scene where we first meet Tramp shows him rinsing off under a pipe, and his subsequent shaking-off of the water follows the detailed rippling up and down his back that any dog lover will recognize. And is there any song more romantic than "Bella Notte"? Bellissima! --A.T. Hurley

Description

Walt Disney's LADY AND THE TRAMP, filled with memorable music and purebred fun, now shines like never before with an all-new digital restoration! Embark on a thrilling adventure with the most unforgettable characters: Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel; Tramp, a mutt from across the tracks with a heart of gold; Jock and Trusty, Lady's best friends; and Si and Am, two of the most devious cats to prowl across the screen. The happiest of endings takes place on a lovely bella notte as Lady learns what it means to be footloose and leash-free. Unleash all the fun and excitement in this 2-Disc Special Edition, including never-before-seen deleted scenes, 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, all-new games, making-of secrets, and much more!

Customer Reviews:

Lady and the Tramp 1955 (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition).......2007-08-26

Walt Disney's (1901-1966) Lady and The Tramp (1955), filled with memorable music and purebred fun , now shines like never before with all-new digital restoration ! . Embark on the thrilling adventure with the most unforgetable characters: Lady , a loving pampered cocker spaniel , Tramp a mutt from across the tracks with a heart of gold ; Jock and Trusty , Lady's best friends and Si and Am , two of the most devicious cats to prowl across the screen . The happiest of endings takes place on a lovly "Bella Notte" as lady leans what means to be footloose and leash-free . Uleash all the fun in this 2-disc Special Edition , including never-before-seen deleted scenes , 5.1 Disney Enchanced Home Theatre Mix , all-new games , making-of-secrets and much more ! . A truly family entertaiment . High Quality transfer . Recommended .

IT'S A DOGS WORLD IN 'THE LADY AND THE TRAMP'.......2007-07-26

FIRST OFF:

Beautiful, soft, colorful animation with incredible detail brings this character driven doggie-tale to life. The songs, like all great animated classics work into the plot and are a great aid in telling the story, making the film entertaining and making children of all ages happy.

BUT THERE IS MORE -- MUCH MORE: DOG'S TELL THEIR OWN TALE!

Dog's tell their own tale in this one. Unlike "101 Dalmations", which Disney also made several years after this film, the humans are basically not substancial characters. The humans' role is simply as a background setting for the tale of the Lady and the Tramp, which is completely appropriate for this kind of tale.

WHAT MAKES "THE LADY AND THE TRAMP SO DARN GOOD"?

1]- The 9 "Old Men" were really at the top of their game when they animated the major characters of the film. In the featurette, in the 50th anniversary edition, we see exactly what these very talented guys were aiming for and some of the interesting stuff they came up with for Walt Disney.

2]- The music and lyrics are well timed, entertaining and really help set up the many varying moods of the individual scenes. The soundtrack also furthers the plot, and helps us to really like who and what we are seeing on the screen. In short, the tunes help to humanize the doggies, and in that way assist in telling a multi-level tale that means something to kids, something to adults, and something collectively to everyone. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "The Incredibles" also clearly illustrate that multi-level trait.

3]- The story itself is well constructed with clever while appropriate dialogue, and a very eclectic blend of characters with dogs and humans both being from a very broad and diverse background.

The small town, on the verge of the modern age, still is a special and desirable place to be in this film. Things like telephones and early automobiles are just barel

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Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1	Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 2	The Star Wars Store

Anakin turning to the dark side	When Wookiees attack
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