Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)

Amazon.com

Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También, director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted building in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. With his best friends, Harry masters advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and changes the course of more than one life. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and based on J.K. Rowling 's third book, this wondrous spellbinder soars with laughs, and the kind of breathless surprise only found in a Harry Potter adventure.

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
Challenges:Three great interactive challenges! Test your memory with "Magic You May Have Missed", help Crookshanks "Catch Scabbers", and go on an unexpected quest with Sir Cadogan.
DVD ROM Features:Wizard Trading Cards.Hogwarts Timeline.
Deleted Scenes:A selection of mystifying exclusive never-before-seen footage
Featurette:Conjuring a Scene - an in-depth look at the making of key scenes from the filmMeet the animal trainers from the movie in Care of Magical Creatures.
Interviews:Raucous interviews with the cast lead by Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken HeadCreating the Vision - a revealing interview with J.K. Rowling and the filmmakers.
Other:Self-guided iPIX tours into Honeydukes and Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Choir Practice - sing-along with the Hogwarts choir.Hogwarts Portrait Gallery - get a closer look at the various portraits lining the walls of Hogwarts castle. Electronic Arts game preview.
Theatrical Trailer:Harry Potter 1, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter 3

Customer Reviews:

Alfonso Cuaron's genius works with Harry Potter.......2007-09-06

I enjoyed the first two Harry Potter movies that Chris Columbus directed, but this movie blew those two out of the water completely. Director Alfonso Cuaron transformed the entire series with this movie, making it darker, more artistic, and overall a better movie-watching experience than the other Potter films. A lot of fans are annoyed because of all the differences between the movie and the book, but I think the changes were done in a manner that truly makes Prisoner of Azkaban the best film out of the 5 we've seen so far.

All packaging correct, but wrong movie.......2007-09-05

I purchased the first 4 Harry Potter movies, of which this was one. My review would be positive with one huge exception. The movie that actually appeared when I pressed was The Polar Express. The product arrived quickly. The packaging was in excellent condition. And for my part, my payment was prompt. It's just too bad that quality control missed this one.

As Awesome as Ever.......2007-08-28

This is a replacement DVD for one that was lost several years ago. I had forgotten how good this movie is. Definitely a classis to have in the DVD library.

Great !.......2007-08-27

This 3rd movie is a great addition to the collection ! I wasn't a huge fan but made me consider buying the other released movies soon !

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly..........2007-08-26

My favorite BOOK of the series and my LEAST favorite movie of the series so far. I know movies can't always follow the books they're based on EXACTLY-- however, this movie left out some pretty important stuff. Not only that, but things were added to the movie that were not in the book. So here's the good, the bad and the ugly about "Prisoner of Azkaban"...
First-- the good: It's not a bad movie. The acting's good overall. There's a lot of action and a good storyline with a couple of twists and turns toward the end. The scenery is beautiful and you see a lot more of the grounds surrounding Hogwarts than in previous movies...and there's a beautiful scene of Harry's ride on the hippogriff. If you've not read the books but you've seen movies 1 and 2 (or at least know the Harry Potter basics), I think you'll enjoy yourself even if you don't know what the heck is going on all the time. (It IS the third of a series so you DO need to know something of the first two to really know what's going on.)
Now-- the bad: If you really liked the first 2 movies, there are some major changes in this one that are hard to get used to. First, many of the sets are completely different. Now Hagrid's hut is far away from the castle across a long bridge and down a steep hill... and the Whomping Willow (that nearly destroyed the Weasleys' car in movie 2) is out in the forest-- not near the school. (These sets are also used in movies 4 and 5.) Also, many of the faces of other students you're used to seeing in the background (like Susan Bones, Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood) have been replaced by new unfamiliar actors-- some with speaking parts but you can't identify them with characters in the book. (Neville, Dean, and Sean are there, but there's a strange unidentified boy running around with Draco.) Then there's Dumbledore... When Mr. Harris died, they understandably had to find a relacement. But Mr. Gambon plays a much different Dumbledore than Mr. Harris did. He's not bad-- just different. He looks different, dresses differently, moves around quicker and just doesn't have that powerful calm presence that is associated with the character and which Mr. Harris achieved so well. Also, it's a little weird that Professor Flitwick, who was portrayed in the last movies as an old grey haired wizard, is now much younger with short black hair and a moustache! Some people enjoyed the "new look" of the movie... others (including myself) didn't.
Okay-- now for the ugly: For those who've read and enjoyed Book 3, I think you'll be anywhere from 'somewhat' to 'severely' disappointed. There are (of course) a lot of nitpicky things I could mention (like Lupin's moustache, or dementors flying instead of floating above the ground, etc.), but there are some major problems. First, there are things that are not in the book but came right out of the director's head:
1. Talking shrunken heads (with Jamaican accents for some reason) that seem to be everywhere.
2. Tom, who tends the Leaky Cauldron and is described as stooped and toothless in the book, is now bald with a hump and a limp and acts like some freakish Igor in an old Frankenstein movie.
3. Then there's the infamous first seconds of the movie where Harry is using his wand to practice magic at the Dursley's-- which I don't have to tell anyone who's familiar with the books OR the previous movies is a BIG no-no! Considering the penalty Harry receives in Book 5 for using his wand outside of school... well, let's just say that a little research would have gone a long way.
4. Then there's the "Fat Lady"... It isn't the film time that was wasted having the Fat Lady refuse the students entrance to the Gryffindor common room until she could break a wine glass with her voice that's the problem... it's the fact that the SECRET entrance to Gryffindor Tower is (according to Cuaron) right off the main staircase where everyone can see it!!
5. And even though the hippogriff in the movie is as it's described in the book, the other important magical beast towards the end of the movie is absolutely NOTHING like JKR described him (and it would have been a lot scarier if he he had been)!
And now it gets REAL ugly: Without giving away the ending or twists in the story-- key important bits of information that are revealed in Book 3 are left out! For instance, the Marauder's Map is given to Harry, but its origin and inventors are never mentioned. Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban, but how he was able to do it is never revealed. No mention is made of what James Potter (Harry's dad) and his friends were doing while at Hogwarts or why. The reason for the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow is never explained. Why Harry's patronus manifests as a stag is also never explained (even though it does appear as such in the movie). Such information would have given this movie more depth and is one of the reasons the book is so popular. It gave a peek into the life of Harry's dad and broadened Harry's world a little. Without James Potter and his friends doing what they did all those years ago, all the events in Book 3 never would have happened and Harry's third year at Hogwarts would have been as boring as my 8th grade year in Junior High. Why none of this was included is beyond me. Had it been, it would have been a much better movie.
**My recommendations: If you want depth and explanation and a good background story that ties everything together... get the book and read it. If you just want a good action/adventure movie that you can watch with the kids and not be completely bored out of your mind... get the DVD.
**Parental note: This movie is rated PG for violence (monsters and ghouly dementors and such) and may be a bit too scary for the little ones.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-Disc Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 3)

Average customer rating:

Alfonso Cuaron's genius works with Harry Potter
All packaging correct, but wrong movie
As Awesome as Ever
Great !
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-Disc Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Richard Griffiths , Pam Ferris , Fiona Shaw , and Harry Melling
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002TT0NW
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Product Description

Running Time 142 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Alfonso Cuaron's genius works with Harry Potter.......2007-09-06

All packaging correct, but wrong movie.......2007-09-05

As Awesome as Ever.......2007-08-28

This is a replacement DVD for one that was lost several years ago. I had forgotten how good this movie is. Definitely a classis to have in the DVD library.

Great !.......2007-08-27

This 3rd movie is a great addition to the collection ! I wasn't a huge fan but made me consider buying the other released movies soon !

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly..........2007-08-26

Average customer rating:

Michael Cimino's Vietnam Masterpiece
Who is cooler?
lasting impact
Great Performances
Good film

The Deer Hunter
Starring: Robert De Niro , John Cazale , John Savage , Christopher Walken , and Meryl Streep
Director: Michael Cimino
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Vietnam War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Anti-War Films | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 0783225997
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, The Deer Hunter is simultaneously an audacious directorial conceit and one of the greatest films ever made about friendship and the personal impact of war. Like Apocalypse Now, it's hardly a conventional battle film--the soldier's experience was handled with greater authenticity in Platoon--but its depiction of war on an intimate scale packs a devastatingly dramatic punch. Director Michael Cimino may be manipulating our emotions with masterful skill, but he does it in a way that stirs the soul and pinches our collective nerves with graphic, high-intensity scenes of men under life-threatening duress. Although Russian-roulette gambling games were not a common occurrence during the Vietnam war, they're used here as a metaphor for the futility of the war itself. To the viewer, they become unforgettably intense rites of passage for the best friends--Pennsylvania steelworkers played by Robert De Niro, John Savage, and Oscar winner Christopher Walken--who may survive or perish during their tour through a tropical landscape of hell. Back home, their loved ones must cope with the war's domestic impact, and in doing so they allow The Deer Hunter to achieve a rare combination of epic storytelling and intimate, heart-rending drama. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Michael Cimino's Vietnam Masterpiece.......2007-09-07

There have been plenty of films made about the Vietnam War, Platoon (Collector's Edition Steelbook), Apocalypse Now - The Complete Dossier (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition), Full Metal Jacket (Deluxe Edition). But there's something about The Deer Hunter that stands out as one of the best. Not only does it have the distinction of being the first, it's a movie that deals with the effects of the war, more than the war itself.

There's not much actual fighting, but the scenes are definitely intense. The Russian Roulette scene, which many peole have commented on, is absolutely superb. But I want to focus on the wedding. Grand in scale and long in length, this scene makes the movie. Although it is long, it is a wonderful scene, one that sets up the movie perfectly. It lets you get a feel for the characters before you see the gruesomeness of war effects them.

One of the most underrated movies about Vietnam and of the 70's when you compare it to others that came out in that decade.

Also, the cast is phenomenal. Robert De Niro is the headliner, followed by Best Supporting Actor winner Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, and John Cazale in his very last film role.

This release, the two disc Universal Legacy Series releases, features a commentary with the cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and film journalist Bob Fisher. Also included sre a few deleted and extended/alternate scenes and a few production notes.

A Definite Must Have in any collection.

Who is cooler?.......2007-08-27

Who is cooler DeNiro or Walken? The best scene in the movie is the Russian roulette scene.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

lasting impact.......2007-08-12

Unforgettable motion picture. Saw it more than twenty years ago and it haunts me to this day. One of the most amazing scores ever. Terrific direction, not to mention fine performances by all the actors. Puts Coppola's
Apocalypse Now to shame.

As someone else pointed out: You truly give a damn about the people in this film, as opposed to the cold fish of a character in Citizen Kane, etc.--and when you don't give a damn about the characters in a movie...guess what? Your audiance just might be left feeling indifferent about it.

Regarding the single star reviews (not that many, actually--so that ought to tell you plenty), they come across as being too young (read: shallow), with a possible touch of ADT--to appreciate anything this worthwhile.

Go live through a war, any war, surive combat--and then tell me a powerful film like THE DEER HUNTER does not move you, better yet: Go sit through something as idiotic as SpiderMan vs. Doc Oc., or maybe that animation flick about the rat who wants to be a chef. There you go. How about Ocean's #39? Die Hard #56? While we're at it, let's not forget Tarantino's latest shallow/mindless (they all are) Death Proof!

Entertainment for the easy to please.

Great Performances.......2007-08-03

Excellent performances by Streep, De Niro, and Walken. It's a long (3 hours) and slow movie, but well worth the time. You can't go wrong with a Academy Award Winning movie for Best Picture. The russian roulette scenes are by far one of the most intense and memorable moments in cinema history.

Good film.......2007-08-01

What probably struck me the most is the length. Its 3 hours long. It starts slow and there are many slow stretches in between. This might be a test of patience but it has its rewards. In the first hour, we see six friends horsing around and hamming it up. I understand the purpose but it could have been much more concise.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is redundant and plain. Interesting dialogue would have been an improvement.

I liked the overall concept. Here is a short synopsis:

Life is good among six friends living in a small, blue collar town. 3 of the 6 men leave to fight the war in Vietnam. They undergo change. In the aftermath, things will never be the same. 2 of the 3 men return home where they have difficulties adjusting. Meanwhile, those that stayed home, by contrast, have, for the most part, remained the same.

I also liked the use of metaphors that run throughout (deer hunting, russian roulette, wedding, etc.). These resonate with the meaning.

This is a story about the ramifications of the Vietnam war in the lives of a handful of characters. It contains little in the way of combat which wouldn't serve this story.

Had the story been condensed into 2 hours, it would have had greater impact, in my humble opinion. I give it 4 stars.

Average customer rating:

Revisionist History of Camp 16
awesome
William Holden on the River Kwai
Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character.
The bridge on the river kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai
Starring: William Holden , Jack Hawkins , Alec Guinness , Sessue Hayakawa , and James Donald
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004XPPC
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

Director David Lean's masterful 1957 realization of Pierre Boulle's novel remains a benchmark for war films, and a deeply absorbing movie by any standard--like most of Lean's canon, The Bridge on the River Kwai achieves a richness in theme, narrative, and characterization that transcends genre.

The story centers on a Japanese prison camp isolated deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where the remorseless Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) has been charged with building a vitally important railway bridge. His clash of wills with a British prisoner, the charismatic Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), escalates into a duel of honor, Nicholson defying his captor's demands to win concessions for his troops. How the two officers reach a compromise, and Nicholson becomes obsessed with building that bridge, provides the story's thematic spine; the parallel movement of a team of commandos dispatched to stop the project, led by a British major (Jack Hawkins) and guided by an American escapee (William Holden), supplies the story's suspense and forward momentum.

Shot on location in Sri Lanka, Kwai moves with a careful, even deliberate pace that survivors of latter-day, high-concept blockbusters might find lulling--Lean doesn't pander to attention deficit disorders with an explosion every 15 minutes. Instead, he guides us toward the intersection of the two plots, accruing remarkable character details through extraordinary performances. Hayakawa's cruel camp commander is gradually revealed as a victim of his own sense of honor, Holden's callow opportunist proves heroic without softening his nihilistic edge, and Guinness (who won a Best Actor Oscar, one of the production's seven wins) disappears as only he can into Nicholson's brittle, duty-driven, delusional psychosis. His final glimpse of self-knowledge remains an astonishing moment--story, character, and image coalescing with explosive impact.

Like Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai has been beautifully restored and released in a highly recommended widescreen version that preserves its original aspect ratio. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Revisionist History of Camp 16.......2007-08-29

The film shows a tropical jungle, then we see a railroad. There are graves along the railway. There is a settlement, these workers are captured British army men. A new group enters the camp whistling a song. The Japanese Colonel Saito welcomes them and tells how they will build a railroad from Bangkok to Rangoon. Escape is impossible. "Be happy in your work." There will be no escape committee, the odds are against it. The British commander will cooperate with the Japanese since they were ordered to surrender.

There is a crisis when the British commander Colonel Nicholson refuses to order the officers to perform manual labor, even after a deadly threat. They are left standing in the hot sun without water or food until they are sent to the punishment hut. But a few try to escape across the river. Their bodies are brought back, except for one man who fell into the river. Trees are cut to build a timber bridge. The project is behind schedule, Colonel Saito blames the workers. Saito makes an offer to Colonel Nicholson: cooperate or the hospital will be closed.

Commander Shears makes it to a village and is rescued. Colonel Saito proclaims a holiday and gives the prisoners Red Cross parcels (saving them from starvation). There is a problem in building the bridge. Colonel Nicholson is brought to meet Colonel Saito, and they reach a "proper solution" after a dramatic confrontation. An amnesty ends the stalemate. Work will continue with the British officers in charge. [The film claims the British could do a better job than the Japanese through organization and efficiency. The future would tell more about this.] New plans are adopted.

British Force 316 asks Shears for help with their project. Major Warden explains their use of "plastic". This force will parachute a team to destroy the bridge. "Commander Shears" explains himself, and gets another unexpected surprise. "Good Show!" Back at the prison camp they are all happy in their work, morale is high because they are doing a proper job. [Sarcasm here?] Force 316 parachutes into the jungle, but there is a problem. They must take a roundabout route to their destination. [This is also safer than a regular path.] Colonel Nicholson is totally devoted to finishing the bridge, he even asks patients from the hospital to volunteer! Birds fly into the air, the unexpected happens. They arrive at the bridge and plan its destruction. They must wait until the scheduled train arrives on the bridge. The sentries pacing over the bridge add to the suspense. Nature presents a complication. Colonel Nicholson sees a strange object and follows the lead to an ironic ending.

Pierre Boulle wrote many novels. What changes were made for this film? Does the bridge resemble the famous railway bridge on the Firth of Forth?

awesome.......2007-07-31

This is what my husband wanted and he loves it. I thought it was a little pricey.

William Holden on the River Kwai.......2007-07-14

The movie is just as I remembered it. A wonderful movie that won many academy awards. A must see.

Best Film Ever, Test Of Wills & Character........2007-05-06

This unique film had everything you could want except romance. Action, suspense, special effects, an intruiging story, themes, cinematography, diection, & locales. This is the story of a Japanese POW camp in Burma in World War two. Commanded by Colonel Saito {Sessue Hayakawa}, the mainly British captives are being used as slave labor for the construction of a railroad bridge that will link malaysia to Rangoon over the river Kwai. The Japanese commander's life depends on it's successful completion. Colonel Nicholson the British commander is a stickler for rules & when Saito declares that officers will work as well as enlisted men, he sites the Geneva Convention restrictions on officers doing manual labor. When they refuse to work, Saito has them thrown into ovens, metal containers that bake in the tropical sweltering heat. After much angst Saito relents since the bridge is behind schedule. There's a fine mix of camera shots from all possible angles showing the grinding heat draining the overworked & malnurished men, as well as breathtaking panoramas. Above all positives of this excellent film were the performances by all concerned. Alec Guinness as Col. nicholson was beyond "PERFECTION." He totally absorbs the characters essence & then manifests it. I can't think of any actor who deserved his/her OSCAR more. William Holden is also superlative in his scenes, as were stern Sessue Hayakawa & the enigmatic Jack Hawkins. The destruction of the bridge & train was a one shot chance done very well. I saw this film on TV as a young boy. Now seeing it again on DVD, it was as enthralling as ever. Buy it, you won't be disapointed.

The bridge on the river kwai.......2007-04-02

Classic movie and glad it finally came on DVD

The Prisoner - Complete Series Megaset (40th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

A "Genius", Two "Prisoners", And A "Dope" 60's TV Series!
Great show with bizarre ending, shown in wrong order.
the best of the best
2007 A&E - 40th Anniversary Edition review
Still Number One

The Prisoner - Complete Series Megaset (40th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Fenella Fielding
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FOQ03C
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Amazon.com essential video

If a top-level spy decided he didn't want to be a spy anymore, could he just walk into HQ and hand in his resignation? With all that classified knowledge in his head, would he be allowed to become a civilian again, free to go about his life? The answer, according to the stylish, brilliantly conceived 1960s British TV series The Prisoner, is a resounding no. In fact, instead of receiving a gold watch for his years of faithful service, our hero (played by Patrick McGoohan) is followed home to his London flat and knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a picturesque village where everyone is known by a number. Where is it? Why was he brought here? And, most important, how does he leave?

As we learn in Episode 1, Number 6 can't leave. The Village's "citizens" might dress colorfully and stroll around its manicured gardens while a band plays bouncy Strauss marches, but the place is actually a prison. Surveillance is near total, and if all else fails, there's always the large, mysterious white ball that subdues potential escapees by temporarily smothering them. Who runs the Village? An ever-changing Number 2, who wants to know why Number 6 resigned. If he'd only cooperate, he's told, life can be made very pleasant. "I've resigned," he fumes. "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own." So sets the stage for the ultimate battle of wills: Number 6's struggle to retain his privacy, sanity, and individuality against the array of psychological and physical methods the Village uses to break him.

So does he ever escape? And does he ever find out who Number 1 is? "Questions are a burden to others," the Village saying goes. "Answers, a prison for oneself." Within this complete 17-episode set (which contains the entire series), all is revealed. Or is it? --Steve Landau

Description

Patrick McGoohan's classic 17-episode British TV series, THE PRISONER, has been mesmerizing American viewers since its CBS debut in the summer of 1968. Now, just in time for its 40th anniversary A&E presents this definitive collector's edition of the cult classic series. Fully restored and digitally remastered, THE PRISONER is presented in the fan-preferred episode order, offering a chronological interpretation of perhaps the most unusual and challenging television series ever filmed. After resigning from a top-secret position, a man is abducted from his London home and taken to a mysterious place known only as The Village. Residents of The Village, known only by numbers, are held captive on account of their valuable knowledge. The Prisoner--Number Six--must protect his mind in order to preserve his humanity while he struggles to discover the identity of Number One and achieve freedom by escaping from the repressive grasp of his captors. Set includes all 17 complete color episodes: Arrival / Free For All / Dance of the Dead / Checkmate / The Chimes of Big Ben / A, B, and C / The General / The Schizoid Man / Many Happy Returns / It's Your Funeral / A Change of Mind / Hammer Into Anvil / Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling / Living In Harmony / The Girl Who Was Death / Once Upon a Time / Fall Out DVD Features: Ultra-rare original footage of the 1966 location shooting, accompanied by commentary with Bernie Williams; Bonus Program: THE PRISONER VIDEO COMPANION; Rare, Alternate Version of the Episode "The Chimes of Big Ben"; Rarely Seen "Foreign File Cabinet" Footage; Rarely Seen "Textless" Intro & Outro; Original Broadcast Trailers; Original Series Promotional Trailer; Gallery of Original Production and Promotional Materials; Production Stills Galleries; Interactive Map of the Village; Prisoner Trivia; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection NEW LIMITED EDITION COLLECTOR'S BOOKLET: 60 Fully Illustrated Pages; Hidden Mysteries Surrounding THE PRISONER; Complete Series Guide of All 17 Episodes; Detailed Color Fold-out Map of The Village

Customer Reviews:

A "Genius", Two "Prisoners", And A "Dope" 60's TV Series!.......2007-09-01

To say that The Prisoner is a "Science Fiction" series, or some kind of psychadelic "Surreal Fantasy", or that it was a dated "Sixties Commentary" would all be dead wrong! The underlying issues that were so ingeniously covered in several of the storylines of Mr.McGoohan's "Masterpiece" are absolutely factual, occurring in reality, and unfortunately are happening in our "Courts of Law" and in our "Government" to this very day, (Trust me - I know whereof I speak!) And upon revisting "No.6", and "The New No.2", and "The Village" many years later, after similarly nightmarish experiences I've had recently, both the cleverly hidden messages and the overt morality plays smacked me right in the face, and I finally "got it"! And I'm not talking about getting the ridiculously obvious clues as to who "No.6" is, ("D-6?"), or what it really means when "Drake" asks his captors "Who is number one?", (the "Ratings Game", the "TV Industry", and an illogically placed "Camera Crane" in the middle of the "Green Dome" all scream that the whole thing is going on inside a man's mind... Patrick McGoohan's mind, in fact... The "TV Actor & Star" in particular!) What I'm talking about was lost on the young man I used to be when I saw "The Prisoner" as a Sci-Fi/Spy series like others made by ITC, the same people responsible for the fab, fun, flighty adventures of "The Saint" and "The Avengers". This time around I "got it" with regards to the meaning of things like first learning to "distinguish between the blacks and the whites" in a "life-size chessboard", and the true costs of being a "free man", who is "free to speak", and who now feels more strongly than ever that "My life is my own!" This strange old "Cult TV Series" alone has provided me with more hope, and confidence, and inspiration to be strong and to keep on fighting for my "inalienable" rights and ethical goals, and when necessary, being totally "unmutual" in the process of revolting in my own "rage against the machine" than had a thousand written quotations from many of the finest "minds" the world, (we know of), has ever known. And as such, I would not only have to, but would WANT to include Patrick McGoohan among the likes of Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., and all the other Poets, Prophets, and Proletariats who once stood up for the "rights of the little man", (The Butler?), and the "freedoms" every man needs yet takes for granted on a daily basis, ("Everyman Films, Ltd."?), and tried drawing some attention to all the moral values of a "civilized society" that have been systematically tossed by the wayside in an un-concious, technology obsessed, fast-food culture which has grown so cold-hearted, self-interested, profit-based, and vainglorious it has all of us turning a "mutual" blind eye to injustices occurring around us every day! And in such a "Village" as the one we've created for ourselves it's very nice and truly fortunate to have once had a quirky little series on the tellie with a heart, a soul, and a "mind" - God bless you, Paddy Fitz! Thanks in no small part to your inspirational courage and intellectual vision, I am "a free man" who will not be "numbered" either! "Be seeing you." - The New #6

"Du Musst Amboss Oder Hammer Sien." - Goethe
"And you see me as The Anvil?" - No.6

Great show with bizarre ending, shown in wrong order........2007-08-07

I will confine my comments to the order of the episodes; if you want to read about what the show is about, see the editorial review.

The show is presented in what is known as the "Six of One" order, which is the order recommended by the fan club of that name. This differs from the original broadcast order in the UK, which also differs from the original broadcast order in the US. But all of those orders are wrong. There are various clues to the correct order that can be found within the series, such as Number 2 (who is the same person in "The General" and "A. B. and C.") saying, in "The General", "I am the new Number 2", and in "A. B. and C.", "I am number 2". Obviously, this means "The General" precedes "A.B. and C.", because he cannot be "new" in the second episode in which he appears. The only ordering that I have seen that gets this right (as well as all of the other clues that I have noticed) is called the "KTEH order", named after the PBS station that broadcast them in that order. The KTEH order, by the way, is also reportedly approved by McGoohan himself. (I would provide links for you, but Amazon doesn't like links in reviews, so you must search for yourselves to verify this information.) The KTEH order is as follows:

Arrival
Dance of the Dead
Checkmate
The Chimes of Big Ben
Free For All
Many Happy Returns
Schizoid Man
The General
A. B. and C.
Living in Harmony
It's Your Funeral
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
A Change of Mind
Hammer into Anvil
The Girl Who Was Death
Once Upon a Time
Fall Out

There are other clues, such as a reference to "The General" in "Schizoid Man" that is such that "Schizoid Man" must precede "The General" (I will not explain the reference here, as the explanation would involve a "spoiler" of the ending of "The General"; watch the episodes carefully for yourselves to observe this clue). This is yet another proof that the "Six of One" order (the order A&E chose to put them on the DVDs) is wrong.

Anyway, I think the show is best if viewed in an order that makes some sense, particularly as people find the show confusing enough on its own. Too bad A & E did not bother to get the order right.

the best of the best.......2007-07-22

everything you ever wanted to see about the PRISONER is included in this perfect collection ... highly recommended!

2007 A&E - 40th Anniversary Edition review.......2007-07-17

This was released by A&E in late 2006, and is basically the same version as their previous "The Complete Prisoner Megaset/Collection" DVD release. The packaging is new(it's now in a 'thinpack' format), and there are a couple of new extras(an illustrated map of The Village and an introductory booklet/episode guide).

Still Number One.......2007-07-09

This has been my go to title for being the all time BEST television show ever. Having not seen it in a decade, I was a little concerned that time may have weakened the premise. I am happy to say that, if anything the show is even more pertinent today. The question of identity theft and security of countries and the safety of their espionage agents or betrayal by the leaders of their governments is still in the headlines.

Relevance of subject matter aside, the show is action packed and the writing is sharp and many layered. Fans of 24 will enjoy the depth of the storyline and the original arc structure.

Don't be put off by the incongruities. Remember this was a show made in the 1960's when all phones were attached to the wall and television came in 3 maybe 4 chhannels. The prevailing wisdom then was, "Why do people need a computer at home?"

The mini-pack system of DVD's is a welcome extra for those of us who live in smaller places and need to watch the size of our DVD collections.

The extras are sometimes fun and sometimes a bit not so fun, but it is the show that stands out. If you are a fan of well scripted movies and TV this is the best. I have been saying that since I first saw the show in the 60's and after viewing the box set my opinion is still that the Prisoner is Number One.

Average customer rating:

VERY BAD DELIVERY SERVICE
The Great Escape...
Great Classic
One of the Best Movies Ever Made
Classic

The Great Escape
Starring: Steve McQueen , James Garner , Richard Attenborough , James Donald , and Charles Bronson
Director: John Sturges
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: 0792838408
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

The Great Escape image of Steve McQueen (as "The Cooler King") astride his motorcycle has entered silver-screen iconography, alongside Brando on his bike from The Wild One. Based on a true story about a group of POWs who mount a daring breakout from a supposedly inescapable Nazi prison camp, this rousing and suspenseful WWII epic features an all-star cast, including James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. The DVD also includes a 24-minute documentary about the making of the film. --Jim Emerson

Description

In 1943, the Germans opened Stalag Luft North, a maximum-security prisoner-of-war camp, designed tohold even the craftiest escape artists. In doing so, however, the Nazis unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military historybrilliantly portrayed here by Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson and James Coburnwho worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted. One of the most ingenious and suspenseful adventure films of all time, The Great Escape is a masterful collaboration between director John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven), screenwriters James Clavell (Shogun) and W.R. Burnett (Little Caesar), and composer Elmer Bernstein. Based on a true story, The Great Escape is epic entertainment that "entertains,captivates, thrills and stirs" (Variety).

Customer Reviews:

VERY BAD DELIVERY SERVICE.......2007-09-11

I have ordered 2 DVDs on August 9, 2007 and today is September 11th 2007 but yet I have no clue about my DVDs. This is pathetic and very shameful thing for a name like AMAZON. I ask everyone not to buy anything before they commit you fast delivery.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY DVDs YET.

The Great Escape..........2007-08-19

1963's "The Great Escape" is Director John Sturgis' big screen adaptation of Paul Brickhill's World War II account of the biggest Allied escape attempt from a German prisoner of war camp. The movie version features an outstanding cast, a suspense-filled storyline, and superb direction.

In 1943, the German Air Force consolidated many of their "escape artist" POWs in a single POW compund. If the German intent was to put all their bad eggs in one basket and watch the basket, the effect was to pool some remarkable talent for the staging of a huge escape operation. Led by "Big X" as portrayed by Richard Attenborough, the POWs organize themselves to dig escape tunnels while fooling the Germans about their activities.

The movie is really two stories. The first is the struggle by the POWs to dig tunnels out of the compound under the noses of their captors. The second is the aftermath of their breakout, as POWs flee in all directions across Germany. Their respective fates are captured in gritty detail.

The huge cast and length of the movie (almost three hours) allows the director to explore a number of individual story lines. Among these: "Big X" perseveres in escape planning, knowing he faces almost certain death if captured. A tunnel expert played by Charles Bronson struggles with claustrophobia. A forger of escape documents played by Donald Pleasance discovers he is going blind as the escape attempt nears. A "scrounger" played by James Garner comes up with innovative ways to find materials for the escape. Perhaps the highlight of the second half of the movie is Steve MacQueen's famous run for the Swiss border on a stolen motorcycle.

The DVD includes a number of special features, most notably a documentary of the making of the movie.

This movie is most highly recommended as a highlight of the movie-making art and a classic thriller of the World War II genre.

Great Classic.......2007-08-09

One of the best WWII escape movies (based on some truth) ever. Spectacular stunts with Steve doing a lot of his own riding. Just a great action movie.

One of the Best Movies Ever Made.......2007-02-24

The Great Escape is my favorite movie of all time. It is an excellant movie and follows the book it is based on very well. This movie shows the courage, strength and fighting spirit of these men. And it is truely dedicated to the fifty who were murdered.

Classic.......2007-02-06

What else can I say about a classic? McQueen's motorcycle jump is the unforgettable part for me.

Harry Potter Years 1-4 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / Chamber of Secrets / Prisoner of Azkaban / Goblet of Fire) (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter, Years 1-4
How Could You NOT
Harry Potter Years 1-4 Movie Set
A Harry Potter Fan's Dream!
Convenient set brings all Potters to date together

Harry Potter Years 1-4 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / Chamber of Secrets / Prisoner of Azkaban / Goblet of Fire) (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Richard Harris , Maggie Smith , Robbie Coltrane , Saunders Triplets , and Daniel Radcliffe
Director: Chris Columbus , and Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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ASIN: B000E6UZZK
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Description

The Harry Potter Years 1-4 includes each of the four 2-disc sets of Harry Potter 1, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter 3 and Harry Potter 4 (all widescreen versions).

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter, Years 1-4.......2007-09-05

A "must" for Harry Potter fans. Not only is the story's progress better by having all four films at hand, but the continuity errors are also easier to detect!! A few examples: Hagrid's hut changes location between films 2 to 3 (although it had been in the same place for the previous 50 years!), and the terrain leading to it becomes more hilly. The Patel sisters are suddenly both members of Griffindor, though one of them had been originally sorted into a different house. The collection also includes background details on Hogwarts and the professors, interviews and other links. Film 4 DVDs include a segment on Ralph Fiennes and Lord Voldemort's conception. Terrific!

How Could You NOT.......2007-08-23

How could you not love these movies?

They come at a time when you can still get good quaility movies without alot of sex, drugs......Movies that you can watch with the whole family.
The books are better, but they have tried to keep as much of the story line as possiable.

Harry Potter Years 1-4 Movie Set.......2007-08-23

loved the movies however I didn't like the fact that I had ordered "new" product and that the Goblet of Fire movie that was in the set was not new but used. GOF movie was missing the scene info along with other info I wanted to save with the movie. not real happy with my purchase....

A Harry Potter Fan's Dream!.......2007-08-23

If you like movie marathons, this set is for you! I watched all four movies in one day and was left wanting to see more! I can't wait until the final two movies come out on DVD.

Convenient set brings all Potters to date together.......2007-08-23

Nice trip down memory lane to Hogwarts, lots of great extras for each film. We particularly liked the interviews with groups of the actors following Goblet of Fire.

Average customer rating:

We'll never have the true film , so this will have to do
A Peckinpah Film
Review of Major Dundee
Major Dundee
very satisfied

Major Dundee (The Extended Version)
Starring: Charlton Heston , Richard Harris , Jim Hutton , James Coburn , and Michael Anderson Jr.
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B00083FZFY
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Amazon.com

This restoration of Sam Peckinpah's 1965 western Major Dundee is nothing short of magnificent, a noble attempt at restoring a famously wrecked masterpiece. When Peckinpah went over budget and over schedule during the Mexico shoot, unshot scenes were canceled and the footage rudely cut by the studio. The director disowned the results. In 2005, surviving footage was patched back in, and a new musical soundtrack commissioned to replace the score Peckinpah hated. This raises some legitimate questions about interpreting a director's intentions, and about messing with film history, but Major Dundee--The Extended Version is such a rousing, mysterious experience, one feels grateful.

Major Dundee (Charlton Heston) is a vainglorious officer busted to the decidedly inglorious job of overseeing prisoners in a fort in New Mexico. An abduction gives him the excuse to mount an expedition into Mexico, chasing the perpetrators and perhaps a shot at greatness. His ragtag posse includes Confederate POWs, notably one Captain Ben Tyreen (Richard Harris), whose intense former friendship with Dundee is tainted with a sense of betrayal on both sides. (Heston and Harris, two actors not known for subtlety, are splendid.) Part Ahab, part Alexander the Great, Dundee leads the expedition away from its purpose and into a near-mythic kind of wandering.

Peckinpah gets everything right--the landscapes, the sneaky humor, the code of men. He also takes time to distinguish the supporting characters, such as Jim Hutton's awkward young officer and Senta Berger's stranded widow. The Peckinpah stock company of amazing character actors is in place, too, including James Coburn, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, L.Q. Jones, and Slim Pickens. It will never be exactly what Peckinpah envisioned, but now Major Dundee rides suspiciously close to greatness. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

We'll never have the true film , so this will have to do.......2007-07-13

It was a shame that Sam Peckinpah was interfered with in the making of this film , but at least this release goes some way toward making an effort to honestly show what he had in mind .

It is a good action film with solid acting and worthwhile special features which highlight the fact that this film should not be forgotten .

Any film student should have this DVD .
Recommended .

A Peckinpah Film.......2007-06-12

The only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of a 5 star is the length of the movie with a slow middle. Sam Pechinpaw movies are always action packed. Heston plays a tought Major who's only purpose was to hunt down some murdering Apaches, but falls in love along the way.

Review of Major Dundee.......2007-05-24

The disk arrived in a timely manner and was in excellent condition.
The film, although of course dated, was very interesting and enjoyable. I much prefer Charlton Heston in dynamic roles such as this to in his "epic" roles such as Moses in The Ten Commandments. He seemed a real person in this film. Richard Harris is also excellent, as are the supporting cast. All in all I enjoyed the film very much and am glad that I bought it.

Major Dundee.......2007-05-17

One of the finest western genre movies ever made...complexity of the characters interaction coupled with fine acting and action scenes make this movie a must see

very satisfied.......2007-05-10

I am very satisfied with the dvd movie Major Dundee. It was well worth the money. Very enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

Mesmerizing
The Deer Hunter
HD transfer acceptable

The Deer Hunter [HD DVD]
Starring: Rutanya Alda , Chuck Aspergren , John Cazale , Jr. Christopher Colombi , and Paul D'Amato
Director: Michael Cimino
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Military & War | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000K7VHUA
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Description

Winner of 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Cimino) and Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), this critically acclaimed, extraordinarily powerful film tracks a group of steelworker pals from a Pennsylvania blast furnace to the cool hunting grounds of the Alleghenies to the lethal cauldron of Vietnam. Robert De Niro gives an outstanding performance as Michael, the natural leader of the group. The Deer Hunter is a searing drama of friendship and courage - and what happens to these qualities under hardship. It is a shattering emotional experience you will never forget.

Customer Reviews:

Mesmerizing.......2007-09-01

I've watched over 100 movies in HD-DVD. Some movies are marginally enhanced by HD but this isn't one of them. HD takes DH up to another level. It is easy to be consumed by this drama because it's moving story and arguably has the best ensemble cast ever put together for a movie. In HD presentation the visuals almost steal the show. This is an incredibly beautiful looking movie. I was mesmerized from the get go. The opening scenes of wide shots of the steel town and then going into the steel mill with sparks flying, gargantuan machines in motion, and molten lava frothing and flowing creates an immediate intimacy with the movie before any dialogue is spoken or actors seen. This movie is about intimacy, the struggle to find it and the struggle when you lose it. It's about the importance of intimacy in small towns life. These steel town men, all they have in life is their way of life. When that is taken away and disrupted there is a chain reaction that is felt throughout the community and it underscores the old saying, "you can't go home again". In HD all the details you didn't notice before bring you in that much closer to the characters, you become one of the group as a viewer, sharing in their joys and miseries. The wedding scenes are phenomenal. The priests vestments and the gothic interior of the russian orthodox church, the bar where they drink, the mill where they work, the little trailer house where they meet, the white caddy they pile into for their bonding rituals, hunting in the Adirondacks, HD allows you to see all the marvelous detail that exists in these scenes. The Vietnam scenes are effective but don't quite live up to the visual splendor of the steel town.