Band of Brothers

Amazon.com

An impressively rigorous, unsentimental, and harrowing look at combat during World War II, Band of Brothers follows a company of airborne infantry--Easy Company--from boot camp through the end of the war. The brutality of training takes the audience by increments to the even greater brutality of the war; Easy Company took part in some of the most difficult battles, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. But what makes these episodes work is not their historical sweep but their emphasis on riveting details (such as the rattle of a plane as the paratroopers wait to leap, or a flower in the buttonhole of a German soldier) and procedures (from military tactics to the workings of bureaucratic hierarchies). The scope of this miniseries (10 episodes, plus an actual documentary filled with interviews with surviving veterans) allows not only a thoroughness impossible in a two-hour movie, but also captures the wide range of responses to the stress and trauma of war--fear, cynicism, cruelty, compassion, and all-encompassing confusion. The result is a realism that makes both simplistic judgments and jingoistic enthusiasm impossible; the things these soldiers had to do are both terrible and understandable, and the psychological price they paid is made clear. The writing, directing, and acting are superb throughout. The cast is largely unknown, emphasizing the team of actors as a whole unit, much like the regiment; Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston play the central roles of two officers with grit and intelligence. Band of Brothers turns a vast historical event into a series of potent personal experiences; it's a deeply engrossing and affecting accomplishment. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Based on the bestseller by Stephen E. Ambrose, the epic 10-part miniseries Band of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Drawn from interviews with survivors of Easy Company, as well as soldiers' journals and letters, Band of Brothers chronicles the experiences of these men who knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear. They were an elete rifle company parachuting into France early on D-Day morning, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and capturing Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. They were also a unit that suffered 150 percent casualties, and whose lives became legend.

DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Weblinks to the orignal Band of Brothers website and more!
Documentary:"We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company" - 80 minute documentary featuring interviews with the real men of Easy Company
Featurette:30-minute "The Making of Band of Brothers" The Premiere On The Beaches of Normandy - includes interviews with Easy Company vetrans and heads of state for the United States, Great Britian, France and Canada.
Interviews:Ron Livingston's Video Diaries - The experience of making "Band of Brothers" through the eyes of one actor.
Other:Interactive "Field Guide": An extensive reference feature that details the people, places and events associated with Easy Company's campaigns through Europe, and World War II as a whole, including sections such as: soldiers, timelines, maps, chain-of-command and glossary of terms.
Scene Access

Customer Reviews:

Must have!.......2007-09-14

This mini-series is a must have for anyone who enjoys war history. I have watched it through three times and still catch new details in each episode. The extras are very interesting and add a lot to the overall enjoyment of the DVD's.

One of the greatest latest........2007-08-28

Just what you would expect from Amazon... mine came with a little bend on the metallic case, but.. hey, it might have been a bullet.

God Bless Easy Company.......2007-08-27

"Band of Brothers" is an epic production. If you love America and all that we stand for(or stood for) you cannot possibly watch this without feeling like we have to find a better way to reward our veterans.

Although some characters may have been romanticised, the story depicts what history has already shown... that Easy Company accomplished an amazing feat that most could only dream of.

God bless the Easy Company

If you ever read a book ever again please make it, "The Biggest Brother: The life of Major Dick Winters".... you'll thank me!!!

.Biggest Brother : The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led the Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers DVD collectors set.......2007-08-24

The movie/series itself is absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend it. The problem is the packaging. The DVD's must roll around a little during shipping. The first set we got was scratched. We did not see the scratch until after opening and trying to play it. Amazon was very nice and efficient and replaced with a new one ASAP. The second one came with the tin dented and a DVD scratched. We fixed the box ourselves and this DVD did play ok so we just kept it. If the collectors tin was packaged better I would rate it a 5. This is not the fault of Amazon. It it the fault of the manufacturer. It needs to be packaged better.

Band of Brothers.......2007-08-23

A well written, well acted piece of history. Really enjoyed it and will watch it again and again.

The Blues Brothers (Widescreen 25th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great Movie!
Homage to a Classic
Another Classic !
They Broke My Watch
What can I say

The Blues Brothers (Widescreen 25th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Dan Aykroyd , John Belushi , James Brown , Cab Calloway , and John Candy
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009UC810
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Product Description

The Blues Brothers 25th Anniversary Edition comes to DVD with the never-before-released Theatrical Version hit, the Director s Cut and all-new bonus material!

Comedy icons John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in the outrageously funny musical comedy about Jake and Elwood Blues, two brothers searching for redemption with no money but a briefcase full of soul. Hit the road with musical performances by blues legends Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway in the action-packed spectacular from acclaimed director John Landis.

System Requirements:
Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Carrie Fisher
Directed By: John Landis
Running Time: 281 Min.
Copyright Universal Studios Home Entertainment 2005

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

After building up the duo's popularity through recordings and several performances on Saturday Night Live, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd--as "legendary" Chicago blues brothers Jake and Elwood Blues--took their act to the big screen in this action-packed hit from 1980. As Jake and Elwood struggle to reunite their old band and save the Chicago orphanage where they were raised, they wreak enough good-natured havoc to attract the entire Cook County police force. The result is a big-budget stunt-fest on a scale rarely attempted before or since, including extended car chases that result in the wanton destruction of shopping malls and more police cars than you can count. Along the way there's plenty of music to punctuate the action, including performances by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, and James Brown that are guaranteed to knock you out. As played with deadpan wit by Belushi and Aykroyd, the Blues Brothers are "on a mission from God," and that gives them a kind of reckless glee that keeps the movie from losing its comedic appeal. Otherwise this might have been just a bloated marathon of mayhem that quickly wears out its welcome (which is how some critics described this film and its 1998 sequel). Keep an eye out for Steven Spielberg as the city clerk who stamps some crucial paperwork near the end of the film.--Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie!.......2007-07-19

I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, hadn't seen it in many years but it was even better than I remembered it. If you like blues, this movie is a must have!!!!

Homage to a Classic.......2007-07-03

This 25th Anniversary Edition is a great way to say "Happy Birthday" to one of the all-time great movies. Well worth the wait!

Another Classic ! .......2007-06-03

Simply this is a great film, great cast, great story line, great music and it stars John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd what more could you want from a film ?.

They Broke My Watch.......2007-05-12

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel tired and alittle bored and depressed? You need a pick-me-up. If that is you, then don't waste anytime. Pop this in your DVD player and start feeling happy. This movie is the purfect cure for a bad day. It makes you laugh hysterical. It is just plain fun. The comedy, the music, the romance, the ridiculous car chases. It's got everything for everybody. And it's done perfectly. Dan and John have fantastic chemistry together and there both remarkably funny. the whole cast is grade-A. How can you go wrong with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, John Candy, Cab Calloway, and director John Landis? You can't. The music is so good, you can't help but dance alittle bit. It's way better then what they call music today. And how can I forget: the car chases. The car chases in this film are the best I have ever seen. THIS IS NOT EVEN A ACTION MOVIE! That shows you how great this movie is. It is wall to wall fun. It's gotta be the greatest musical ever. It's definetly in my top 5 for my favorite movies ever. Everytime I watch it, it makes me smile. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

What can I say.......2007-05-08

Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips! This is a great movie

Naked Brothers Band - Battle of the Bands

Average customer rating:

Naked Brothers Band - Battle of the Bands

Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video / Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000R7I3Z0
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Amazon.com

Join Nat, Alex and the Band in a one hour special, The Naked Brothers Band: Battle of the Bands, as they sign up for a battle of the bands charity event. As if battling one of the coolest bands around isn't enough, now Nat has to compete with the other band's lead singer for Rosalina's heart!

The Blues Brothers (Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great Movie!
Homage to a Classic
Another Classic !
They Broke My Watch
What can I say

The Blues Brothers (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Dan Aykroyd , John Belushi , James Brown , Cab Calloway , and John Candy
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 078322804X
Release Date: 1998-09-09

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie!.......2007-07-19

I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, hadn't seen it in many years but it was even better than I remembered it. If you like blues, this movie is a must have!!!!

Homage to a Classic.......2007-07-03

This 25th Anniversary Edition is a great way to say "Happy Birthday" to one of the all-time great movies. Well worth the wait!

Another Classic ! .......2007-06-03

Simply this is a great film, great cast, great story line, great music and it stars John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd what more could you want from a film ?.

They Broke My Watch.......2007-05-12

What can I say.......2007-05-08

Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips! This is a great movie

The Naked Brothers Band - The Movie (DVD Only)

Average customer rating:

The funniest movie I've seen in years!
UTTERLY HORRIBLE MOVIE!
the naked brothers band
Cute and fluffy
ADORABLE!!

The Naked Brothers Band - The Movie (DVD Only)
Starring: Cooper Pillot , Alex Wolff , Grant Monohon , Cicely Osborne , and David Levi
Manufacturer: Nickelodeon / Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000M343CG
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

The Naked Brothers Band is a kid rock band that performs surprisingly catchy original songs written by 9-year-old Nat Wolff and performed by Nat, his 6-year-old brother Alex, and young friends Cole Hawkins, Allie DiMeco, Joshua Kaye, Thomas Batuello, and David Levi. Contrary to its name, the band performs fully clothed. The Naked Brothers Band--The Movie is a mockumentary comedy that blends the story of Nat and Alex's sudden and sometimes difficult road to stardom with a satirical take on the popular rockumentary genre with its requisite focus on the stormy, sordid details of the lives of famous musicians. Produced by Nat and Alex's mother Polly Draper (thirtysomething) and jazz musician father Michael Wolff (The Arsenio Hall Show"), the movie follows Nat, Alex, and the other band members through home footage of the band's early preschool days (when they did indeed perform mostly naked and simply banged away on whatever was handy to make "music") to more professional footage of current day concerts which highlight a remarkably poised group of young musicians performing increasingly popular songs like "Crazy Car" and "Got No Mojo." Interview footage makes up the bulk of the program and is immensely satirical, featuring exaggerated scenes that detail Nat's uneasy habit of speaking to Rosalina (Allie DiMeco) with a fake accent to cover his attraction to her, Alex's development of a lemon-lime soda addiction that lands him in a rehabilitation Soda-holics at Sea program, and Alex's tendency toward inappropriate "potty-mouth" remarks. Obviously, guest stars like Arsenio Hall, Cyndi Lauper, and Uma Thurman found the parallels to the extreme behavior of famous adult personalities humorous, but what speaks to some as a funny spoof on the Hollywood rockumentary genre is so over-done that other viewers will find it distasteful, offensive, and/or inappropriate for children. (Ages 9 to 13) --Tami Horiuchi

Product Description

The Naked Brothers Band is a mockumentary that follows a world-famous kids' rock band as they struggle with superstardom, love, friendship, a band break up, and adolescence. It stars two real-life brothers, Nat and Alex Wolff, and is inspired by the real-life band they started in pre-school. The cameras follow Nat and Alex through their concerts, their rehearsals, and their private lives as they deal with the growing pains of having friends, having a band and having your friends in your band.

This package DOES NOT include the bonus CD. It was discontinued by the studio.

Customer Reviews:

The funniest movie I've seen in years!.......2007-08-12

I bought this movie after watching and thoroughly enjoying the series of the same name. In all honesty, I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as the show - and I turned out to be completely wrong! I loved it.
To be brief, The Naked brothers Band: The Movie is a rockumentary/mockumentary (a documentary based loosely, but not on actual real life) based loosely on the lives of nine- and six-year-old brothers Nat and Alex Wolff and their band. It follows the band through their rehearsals, concerts...and arguments! When the band, The Silver Boulders, breaks up, Nat and Alex attempt to form another band with the help of their funny, but clueless, accordion-playing father.
What makes this movie even funnier is the fact that Nat, nine, has a huge crush on band member Josh Kaye's 11-year-old step-sister Rosalina. He finds all encounters with her daunting to say the leats, and even more so when his fellow band members begin to tease him, leading to tension in the band and eventually their break-up. Alex is also hilarious - he is only six, and says many things Nat deems 'inappropriate', not to mention the fact that he behaves the way every child would like to if only they had the nerve!
However, the songs and the music are the highlight of the movie for me. They are catchy and definitely score high in my top 50 songs! Also, they are written by nine-year-old Nat himself (in true life, but just the movie)! The brothers are extremely talented. The ending was definitely the icing on the cake. It finished with a song, Crazy Car, and the whole band singing on a rooftop overlooking New York City.
I would recommend this DVD to anyone who has watched the TV series or would like a good laugh and some fun! It is perfect for children aged 3 - 13.
NOTE: Although there is a warning on the page about trying to play this DVD on DVD-Players outside of America/DVD-Players that are not built for Region 1 DVDs, I live in the UK and the DVD played fine on the second DVD-Player I tried, although it would not play on the first. Most DVD-Players will play it, although some, that are supposed to be multi-region (meaning that they should play DVDs from any country) will not.

UTTERLY HORRIBLE MOVIE!.......2007-06-26

Don't let the reviews fool you, because this movie is absolutely horrible. The music is horrible, the acting is horrible. Why buy something so horrible? Why not just save your money for an iPod, or put it in your bank account. The only reason you should buy this movie is either so that you can watch it and get a good laugh with your friends at how horrible it is, or you could buy it just to smash it. Also, Natt and Alex Wolff are ugly, and they are not funny at all. I bet they pay people to cheer for their horrible music and laugh at their corny jokes. You'd have to pay me a thousand $s to do that!!!!

*DON'T BUY THIS MOVIE!!!*

Well, I warned you, and if you buy it and hate it, don't blame me. And if this review changed your mind about getting it, that's great!

the naked brothers band.......2007-06-08

The dvd was in excellent condition and my daughter absolutely loves the movie...since I received it, she's watch it 10 times.

Cute and fluffy.......2007-05-30

Bought this at request of my eight year old daughter. The movie captures the TV debut of this totally engineered for TV band. It is humorous and appropriate for a pre-teen or older child, no mindless gore and violence/gratuitious sex and profanity. Very bubblegum, not that there's anything wrong with that. The kids are cute, and there are a few nice bits of visual interest with time lapsed action sequences, some music and slapstick routines. Nothing terribly surprising in this light fare.

ADORABLE!!.......2007-05-23

My 6 and 4 year old daughters absolutely adore Nat & Alex Wolff, and I must admit that I do too! They are both so stinking cute, I could squeeze them silly ;) I find myself watching the show/movie when my kiddos have left the room at times. Very clean, fun entertainment for parents and kids to watch together. I love the interaction between Nat and Rosalina, Alex & Jesse and the sheer goofiness of Michael Wolff and that accordian ;) So much fun. These kids are all TRULY talented at acting and music alike. Great songs that keep your toes tapping...very infectious. The impromptu nature of the "mockumentary" film is captivating. Order it today!! Only snafu is that the bonus CD is *not* included as previously offered with the DVD. You have to request a copy of the 5 song CD from Paramount. But it ships via UPS quickly and my kids have just about worn a hole in it from repeated use :) We all LOVE it!

Average customer rating:

It's for the music
"What kind of a man wears sunglasses in a room full of naked women?"
Blues Brothers 2000
music is life
not all bad

Blues Brothers 2000
Starring: Dan Aykroyd , John Goodman , Joe Morton , Nia Peeples , and Kathleen Freeman
Director: John Landis
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0783228058
Release Date: 1998-08-04

Amazon.com

It's hard to ignore the sad and conspicuous absence of the late John Belushi, but this long-delayed sequel to 1980's The Blues Brothers still has Dan Aykroyd--as Chicago bad boy and blues rocker Elwood Blues--to keep the music alive. Once again, Elwood's trying to reunite the original Blues Brothers Band, and this time he's got a strip-joint bartender (John Goodman) and a 10-year-old orphan named Buster (J. Evan Bonifant) joining him at center stage. Believing that Elwood has kidnapped the kid, the cops are hot on his trail as the reunited band hits the road for the Battle of the Bands in Louisiana and the All-Star Blues Jam that ends the movie in a rockin' blaze of glory. It's a shameless clone of the first film, and nobody--especially not Aykroyd or director John Landis--seems to care that the story's not nearly as fun as the music that's used to stretch it out. Of course there's a seemingly endless parade of stunts, including a nonstop pileup of police cars that's hilariously absurd, but what really matters here--indeed, the movie's only saving grace--is the great lineup of legendary blues musicians. Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Junior Wells, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jonny Lang, Eddie Floyd, and Blues Traveler are among the many special guests assembled for the film, and their stellar presence makes you wonder if the revived Blues Brothers shouldn't remain an obscure opening act. The collector's edition DVD includes production photos, the theatrical trailers, and a behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of the film including interviews with the principal cast. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

It's for the music.......2007-07-17

If you're looking for a film that Gene Siskel or Pauline Kael would approve of, then don't go near this. Just don't. The plot's been done a hundred times, including the first Blues Brothers movie.

What makes the thing worthwhile is the music. How hard do you think it was to get all these people together? The last scene alone is worth the $10 the DVD will cost you. B.B. King, Dr. John, and Clapton on the same stage? James Brown and Blues Travelers in the same movie?

Think of the film as a compilation album with lots of car crashes.

"What kind of a man wears sunglasses in a room full of naked women?".......2007-07-12

"Blues Brothers 2000" is a disappointing sequel, and yet for some reason I preferred it to the other disappointing sequel from the World of Aykroyd: "Ghostbusters II". Maybe it's because the greater amount of time that passed between films makes BB2K feel more nostalgic. Or maybe it's because, to the extent that BB2K is a retread of the original "Blues Brothers", the repetition feels more natural and logical than in GB2.

When Elwood is released from prison and discovers that Jake has passed on, what exactly do viewers expect him to do other than attempt to reunite the band? What else would he do to rediscover meaning and purpose in his life? Therefore it makes perfect sense that the first two-thirds of BB2K echoes plot elements from the previous film. Where BB2K falls down is in the third act -- the Battle of the Bands at Queen Mousette's -- which is a spectacular musical climax but leaves much to be desired in comedy-action terms.

I was surprised by how moved I was to see the character of Elwood in another movie, in particular when he plays his harmonica for the first time. But the most remarkable scene in BB2K is probably "Ghost Riders in the Sky", which combines American popular music, a supernatural manifestation, and the Bluesmobile doing something amazing. It's the perfect cinematic summation of Dan Aykroyd's interests and career.

Blues Brothers 2000.......2007-04-08

Not as good as the first movie, of course, but worth a look.

music is life.......2007-03-27

I have The Blues Brothers DVD and CD soundtrack
along with the VHS BB 2000 and CD-Gimme Some Lovin'

I prefer the sequal to the original but I wouldn't have one without the other. The original I just had to have in my inventory because of John Belushi.

At first I didn't think I'd like BB 2000 much but John Goodman's performance was tops; the best replacement for Belushi.

The music was fantastic [Cab Calloway-Minnie the Moocher/Aretha Franklin, Think and the song Sweet Home Chicago]

The stunts with the cars had me laughing [I've a quirky sense of humor] I am from Illinois and laugh at certain types of authoritarian stupidity.

If you're a blues fan musically, you just might enjoy this production. It's not the greatest story ever told but it does represent a moment in time. If all you want to do is enjoy watching without being a critic, this just might be as enjoyable to you as it is for me. I love it.

If Dan Aykroyd decides to make a 3rd movie for the Blues Brothers, I'll buy it. Some of the great artists have passed: it's a treat to see them as though they were still with us, providing the great music of their life.

not all bad.......2007-02-19

If nothing else, you gotta love the music. You just can't have the Blues Brothers without John Belushi.

Average customer rating:

Movie Review for Mambo Kings
It never gets old.
MAMBO KINGS
Beautiful Maria of My Soul
Loosely Based On The Hijuelos Novel

The Mambo Kings
Starring: Armand Assante , Antonio Banderas , Cathy Moriarty , Maruschka Detmers , and Pablo Calogero
Director: Arne Glimcher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0009S4IGU
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Amazon.com

This period drama is hot, hot, hot. Stylish and sexy, it is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, by Oscar Hijuelos, the story of two brothers who flee from Cuba in the early 1950s, heading for New York. Hoping to make a name for themselves as famous musicians, the duo face hardships and painful discoveries along the way. Armand Assante is the older of the two, with a smoldering Antonio Banderas as his younger, more impetuous brother. (In his first English-speaking role, Banderas delivered all of his lines phonetically.) The pulsating, sweaty energy of the first half of the film is not sustained throughout. Partly this is because a movie about the rise and fall of minor celebrities has been done to death. Even when the action slows down, however, the story does not bore. There is too much sensuality and vitality exuded by both Assante and Banderas. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Description

In the 1950s, two Cuban brothers come to America to seek fame and fortune as musicians.

Customer Reviews:

Movie Review for Mambo Kings.......2007-08-23

Movie came in real fast, in good condition. Could not find this movie at any local stores for purchase

It never gets old........2007-01-05

I recently purchased "Mambo Kings" on DVD. I've watched it many times on VHS and it was time to update and use my surround sound system so that I get the full effect of the music. If your into good looking men with a passion for latin music and women, you need to see this one. Makes me wish I was born earlier to participate in the dancing too.

MAMBO KINGS.......2006-07-03

I found this movie just average, but then I might have expected more from this film because of all the hype it had been given.

Beautiful Maria of My Soul.......2006-06-04

I rate this movie 3 stars and a half (or 7 out of 10), and I definetely recommend it to everyone. It is entertaining, the music is great, and the actors are good. I think this is the first movie Banderas did in America, and he was learning English while shooting the movie. He is a great actor, that caught the directors' eye for his roles in Almodývar's movies, and he did great. Jeremmy Irons did a screen test for that role, but Antonio got the job instead. The night club scenes are really good, and the best is the relationship between the two brothers, who leave Cuba behind searching for the American Dream (and trying to save Nýstor's life).
It is very interesting to follow the director's commentary after you watched the movie, because he tells you a lot of interesting things. I know the movie should speak by itself, but once you watch the movie, if you have time, give that extra a try. It is really worth it, and one of the reasons we should be thankful of the DVD format.
The best in the movie is the music (we get to see Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, both already passed away now), and the worst may be the plot, with some "holes" that in my opinion make the movie weaker. For example, the relationship between Dolores and Cýsar could have been developed deeper (I did not read the book, so I do not know if the movie is 100% loyal to the book). The DVD comes with a "Behind the Scenes" documentary, which is nice to see, but it is too short (sometimes they are too long, but this is too short) and you get to hear all maine actors and the director sepaking about the movie.

Loosely Based On The Hijuelos Novel.......2005-10-24

Oscar Hijuelos' great novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love forms the basis for this film although the movie version stops about halfway through Hijuelos' story largely ignoring the tragic second half of Cesar Castillo's life without his brother.

The brothers are played by Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas and both are extraordinarily well cast. Assante conveys the more hedonistic Cesar with greaat intensity and Banderas actually steals the film with a remarkable performance as the more sensitve brother Nestor.

Fine casting, including a fairly strong performance by the late Celia Cruz makes this movie a pleasure to watch. Marusckha Detmers plays Nestor's wife Dolores and while she looks great she poses more effectively than she acts.

Overall this is a fine entertaining film and while the plot is derived from the novel in order to translate it to the screen some obvious liberties were taken with the story that frankly do not detract much from the enjoyment of a film that stands on it's own merit.

The backdrop of 1950's Mambo-crazed NYC is also very cool and well done.

The Blues Brothers (Full Screen 25th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

I LOVE TO LAUGH!
this DVD malfunctions
5 stars Then, Now and Always...But Ammy...Please List The Features For This 25th Anniversary Edition
The Blues Brothers
Danny & John's Biggest Hit

The Blues Brothers (Full Screen 25th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: John Belushi , Cab Calloway , John Candy , Ray Charles , and Joe Cirillo
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UC81A
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE TO LAUGH!.......2007-08-10

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO REMEMBER THE FUNNY THINGS THAT BRIGHTENED UP OUR LIVES BEFORE 911

this DVD malfunctions.......2007-06-08

Like another reviewer, I found that the DVD freezes after about 1.5 hours. The DVD is two-sided, with the theatrical version on one side and the extended director's cut on the other. Both sieze up and just stop playing. The scenes that are ruined are: when Jake and Elwood meet that country band in the parking lot, the steam room scene with Steve Lawrence, and the run-up to the big fund-raising concert. The disc is poor quality and very disappointing. Unfortunately I did not save my Amazon receipt...

5 stars Then, Now and Always...But Ammy...Please List The Features For This 25th Anniversary Edition .......2007-04-23

"The Blues Brothers".....
Saturday Night Live Alum together with a Who's Who list of the greatest Rhythm and Blues artists ever assembled in one film, make for one very entertaining, funny, action packed musical.The hard part of this review is keeping myself from revealing every funny line, and all the classic scenes that came from this film(and also all the great cameo performances you'll spot throughout the story).For those too young to remember this classic comedy, or if you haven't seen it for a while let me just refresh your memory(just a little).....

Jake "Joliet" Blues(the late great John Belushi)has just been released from prison. Brother Elwood Blues(Dan Aykroyd) picks him up and they're off to fulfill a promise to visit "The Penguin". Sister Mary Stigmata(Kathleen Freeman), the head nun at the Catholic Orphanage where they grew up, informs them that the Orphanage will have to close down unless she can come up with the Five Thousand Dollars necessary to pay the property taxes.No problem for "The Blues Brothers", they'll have the money she needs by tomorrow. But NO! NO! NO!, she does not want their filthy bank robbery money, and they are not to return until they can "redeem themselves"!

While on a visit to church, where you'll find James Brown as The Reverend Cleophus James leading the congregation in song, Jake literally "sees the light!".They'll just put "The Blues Band" back together for one big night and raise the money for "The Penguin" and the Orphanage. Getting the band back together is easier said than done though.Along the way, we are treated to some musical performances by these great names..Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles and even Chaka Khan. The hysterical action also heats up as they make enemies all along the way. They are being chased by the cops,the Nazis(led by one very funny Henry Gibson), and a very angry ex-girlfriend(Carrie Fisher) who has a thing for Flame Throwers. They leave a path a destruction in their wake that is unsurpassed in chase scenes.

It's a riotous romp, directed by John Landis(Animal House/Trading Places), that will leave you wanting more..and luckily...there's a sequel! "Blues Brothers 2000", which has the terrific addition of John Goodman to the cast.

I have the Universal Widescreen(Digitally THX Mastered) VHS edition of "The Blues Brothers and it's is terrific. Not only does it have a great picture in the original widescreen image(1.85:1), but the sound is digitally mastered, and is excellent in the stereo surround. There are even a couple of bonus features on this VHS. There is the "Making Of" the sequel, talking with all the stars about coming back to do it again, and after the credits, you'll find the "making of" for the original, which clues you in on lots of little trivia details. But..I've had it for many years, and I'm looking to finally upgrade to DVD. Surfing around I see several different editions available, among them, the "collectors" edition and this 25th anniversary edition. I wish Amazon would list the features here, so we could decide if this, the most expensive, is worth the price. I see this one has 2 discs and 281 minutes, but what does it have that the 'Collectors" edition(1 disc) does not have? For me any extra time spent with John Belushi would be worth it. And why do full screen viewers have to pay more then widescreen viewers?

If you're looking for something really funny, something with a great music, a great script, and one that will be a terrific addition to your classic comedy collection, look no further, you've found it! And don't forget to look for all the great cameos along the way..(I think I restrained myself pretty well from giving too many away... don't you?) So the big question is which edition? Hopefully the features will appear soon.

Have a great time with this one and maybe you too will "see the light".......Laurie

The Blues Brothers.......2007-01-04

Purchased as a gift for a long time fan of this movie.

Danny & John's Biggest Hit.......2006-10-12

I've only really seen parts of the film, but when I saw the film as a whole, I was hysterical during the movie. The cussing surprised me, but the way Belushi and Danny used it was incredibly hilarious. The music was the big hook for me. Danny & John are so talented that they could sing and act. It brings back the memories of the original SNL days, when SNL was actually funny.

I suggest this movie for fans of the late, but great John Belushi and fans of good ole' fashioned blues.

PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Trapped under the Doobie spell
Good Tunes!
Not A Doobie Fan In The '70's; That's No Longer True
Terrific night of music from the Doobie Brothers.
Gift of Music

Doobie Brothers: Live at the Wolf Trap
The Doobie Brothers
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00064AEHY
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Trapped under the Doobie spell.......2007-06-27

This is an excellent dvd. At first, it went a little more towards their new stuff, than it ended up finishing with that good ole Doobie style. It is a must see!!!!!!!

Good Tunes!.......2007-05-12

Classic Doobies. Fun to watch. You'll miss Michael McDonald. His absence is noticed. It's still great music. Terrific quality.

Not A Doobie Fan In The '70's; That's No Longer True.......2007-03-22

In the 70's, I only heard a handful of Doobie Brothers songs. I liked "Long Train Runnin'" (in spite of the fact that in gym class, I heard it 5 times daily for a month while the girls' P.E. class learned pom pom routines to it). I was not as much of a fan of the other songs I knew were by them, that is, "Black Water" and "It Keeps You Running" (which is not on this project).

Let's jump ahead close to twenty years later. I heard a song by DC Talk called "Jesus Is Just Alright By Me", and loved it. Then, I discovered the Doobies were the original artists. I didn't really like the original as much as the remake, and I filed that in another reason I wasn't a Doobie fan. (I still wonder if that song originally was a profession of faith in Christ or just a comment that Jesus loves everyone and don't judge me by what I do.)

Another decade plus later, I heard "China Grove", "Taking It To The Street", and "Listen To The Music", and starting liking them better. (I also changed my mind on "Black Water".) As a result, I checked out this DVD. I watched the whole concert and the interviews. I'm now a Doobie fan.

One thing that positively impressed me is that this band both enjoyed playing and seemed to enjoy working together. In the interviews, they mentioned they work as a democracy, and it shows. They also shared the joy to the audience: I loved the audience participation encouraged on "Black Water", "Long Train Runnin'", and "Listen To The Music". Another is the eclectic influences; there were individual songs that could be called soul, country, blues, and rock. I enjoy this unique sound.

Let me compare the teamwork with a couple of other videos I saw. Talking Heads is technically a four person band, and on "Stop Making Sense" had an additional fivesome, but it clearly came across as David Byrne and his back-up. With the Doobies, Pat and Tom dominated the talking but they definitely shared the wealth. Also, I saw a Neil Diamond video recently, in which Neil didn't introduce the band (except for the female background singer, and that was because they did a duet), and the band was listed at the end of the credits after everything else. With the Doobies, the band was the first one listed. (One side note: Though the music is different, and though what I said above is better pictured by the Doobies, the Go Go's live concert available on VHS and DVD captures the same joy and team spirit, though drummer Gina Shock didn't seem happy in it.)

Terrific night of music from the Doobie Brothers........2007-03-15

This is a great DVD to own and a fabulous set list of their classics from the 70's. I highly recommend this DVD to any Doobie Brothers fan. Although it's an old cliche, they certainly do not make music like this anymore. This DVD is well worth the purchase. Would rate this 10 stars, if possible. This is 70's classic rock from a great classic rock group at its finest. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were stellar, as were all members of the band on stage and were enjoyable to watch on this journey of some great rock and blues tunes.

Gift of Music.......2007-01-18

It was well received by the person it was given to. He is enjoying it very much.

The Allman Brothers Band - Live at the Beacon Theatre

Average customer rating:

They still can jam!
Great Concert, Poor Sound Quality on the DVD
Still Solid After All These Years
The Allmans at their best.
Get over Dickey Betts & Allen Woody - then watch!

The Allman Brothers Band - Live at the Beacon Theatre
Starring: Allman Brothers Band , and Gregg Allman
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000C7PWI
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

The Allman Brothers' strong, occasionally startling set on this DVD may soften those intransigent purists who won't accept the band without its original (and now fired) guitarist, Dickey Betts. The group's classic dual-guitar sound is capably covered by returning member Warren Haynes and rising star Derek Trucks (young nephew of Allmans' drummer Butch Trucks), who sounds as if he's lived and breathed the late Duane Allman's playbook since he left the cradle. Derek's barbed riffs feed the textured funk of "Statesboro Blues" and get some mileage out of filler like "Come and Go Blues," but the blissful-looking fellow's supreme moment comes when he joins Haynes in a blisteringly beautiful attack on gospel stunner "Soul Shine." Some of the material here borders on the pedestrian, but vocalist-keyboardist Gregg Allman's grizzled mastery of the blues can still lead this legendary band through some epic mysteries. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

They still can jam!.......2007-09-13

The close-ups of the guitar playing really shows what this band is all about. There is so much talent and they still have the ability to pull in an audience, even without all the original band members. Derek Trucks makes it look so easy. He is truly amazing and Dickie Betts is the one who lost out by leaving this band. The audience are true winners. Sure, Greg's voice has more "maturity" now but that happens to all of us. One great product!

Great Concert, Poor Sound Quality on the DVD.......2007-08-18

The sound was wonderful when I saw it on cable, and that prompted me to buy it. The DVD soundtrack sounded as if it were in mono.

Still Solid After All These Years.......2007-05-29

Gregg Allman is in great voice. Butch and Jaimoe are steady and playful as ever. And at the risk of treading on sacred ground, I must say Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks recall Duane and Dickie peaking at Fillmore East, though, let's face it, nothing will ever match the freshness and fluidity of those early performances of high-octane blues. I was especially knocked out by the energy and good humor of Statesboro Blues. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to visit an old friend and appreciate the flowering of a virtuoso in Derek Trucks. The smiles exchanged by Allman and Haynes when the youngster plays say it all.

The Allmans at their best........2007-02-05

I don't care what anyone says, this lineup is every bit as good as the original. Now I know Some of you Duane fans out there will want to slam me in the face with a guitar, but I'd say after more than 30 years the grieving period is over. Plus, Hittin' The Note is one of the best albums they've ever released. Even Greg
Allman says it's their best since "Eat a Peach." There are so many songs on here, and many of them are very long. There's are good mix of hits and deep cuts. The sound quality is great and the graphics on the screen really enhance the experience. The highlights are Desdemona and Leave my Blues at Home.

Get over Dickey Betts & Allen Woody - then watch! .......2007-01-21

WOW! This one is gonna get watched quite a bit. The ABB Live at Great Woods (with Allen Woody & Dickey Betts) on VHS, aka 1990 rules. But, Live at the Beacon 2003 on DVD with all the trippy lighting & Derek Trucks playen lead with Haynes blew my mind. The audio/ video quality of this DVD is super too.

Oteil Burbridge does a good job on bass, but I still miss Allen Woody, he left us all in 2000. Also, it's gonna take awhile for me to get over NOT having Dickey with the band. Oh well, got to move on.

Old timers Gregg Allman, Jaimoe, and Butch Trucks, Warren Haynes & Marc Quinones are still with the band & play their hearts out. So anyways, if you like the ABB, GET THIS NOW. They haven't slowed down a bit. Un-fricken believable. This band is still one of the best around after more than 35 years.

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