300 (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.

More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi

Description

The epic graphic novel by Frank Miller (Sin City) assaults the screen with the blood, thunder and awe of its ferocious visual style faithfully recreated in an intense blend of live-action and CGI animation. Retelling the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, it depicts the titanic clash in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. Experience history at swordpoint. And moviemaking with a cutting edge.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurette
Other
Photo gallery

Customer Reviews:

Worth it!.......2007-09-16

This is one of my favorite war movies ever created. This movie is a must see for all! It is very original and has great dialouge. I bought this with being very happy with what I purchased.

Amazing.......2007-09-16

One of the best movies ever made. It's right up there with Gladiator and Braveheart. A must have in your DVD collection.

Worth every penny! Excellent!.......2007-09-16

The movie is incredible, one of the most remarkable epic movies of all times. It is Frank Miller's book in motion. Do not expect it to be a documentary about Thermopylae, remember it's Frank Miller we're talking about! The facts are twisted in order to bring the most spectacular story possible. If you like action and epic movies you will not be dissapointed!
Special features include: Additional Scenes, Frank Miller's vision realized on Film, 300 Spartans - Fact or Fiction?, Who were the Spartans (how the actors built their characters based on spartan customs), Webisodes (go on set with the cast and crew) and Commentary by Director Zack Snyder.

Not as good as the hype........2007-09-16

The fight scenes are spectacular. BAR-NONE. Some of the rest was a little to drawn out for me. I know that was kind of the point, but it still was a little boring.

Superb Action, But a Far Cry from the Graphic Novel.......2007-09-15

Long before this film came out, there was Frank Miller's superb graphic novel (still in print, by the way, and well worth the read), and I was a great fan of it. Thus, when I caught wind that a motion picture version was coming out, I was quite excited. Naturally, I expected the film to deviate (as so many comic book films do) from the original source material. While 300 keeps the tone (and the look, by golly!) of the graphic novel, it takes too many liberties with the source material to make it a reverent adaptation.

Taking place in 480 B.C., 300 tells the tale (as retold by Frank Miller) of the battle of Thermopylae, in which a small confederation of Greeks (including 300 Spartans) held off the army of the Persian emperor Xerxes for three days - the largest army of its time. In the end, the Spartans stayed behind at the site and were all slain. Miller's graphic adaptation was an artistic and narrative triumph, creating a great deal of care for the characters and setting the work in a golden, rocky version of the Greek countryside. Much of Miller's artistry is reproduced here - costumes, colors, even individual panel illustrations are featured with loving care and dazzle the eye. Additionally, the fight scenes are brilliant and rival any previously filmed. 300 seems to have been filmed in a manner similar to Sin City, and thus digital wizardry abounds, to good effect.

However, the film delights too much in violence and we find that we have no care whatsoever for the characters. Gerard Butler, who is the spitting image of Miller's rendition of the Spartan king Leonidas, while he cuts an impressive figure, cannot make the dialogue (much of it taken from the graphic novel) poignant and simply spits the lines out through bared teeth. Additionally, a tacked-on and pointless sub-plot with Leonidas' queen, Gorgo, goes nowhere and seems to have been added simply to pad out the time. Overall, a fine action film, but it falls far short of the grandeur of the graphic novel.

Average customer rating:

Not What I Expected!
300
Very Good Product
This is Sparta!
Real Spartans Don't Eat Quiche - THEY DINE IN HELL!!!!

300 [Blu-ray]
Starring: Gerard Butler , and Lena Headey
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000Q6GX5Y
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Product Description

Warner Brothers 300 (Blu-ray)
The epic graphic novel by Frank Miller ("Sin City") assaults the screen with the blood, thunder and awe of its ferocious visual stylefaithfully recreated in an intense blend of live-action and CGI animation. Retelling the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, it depicts the titanic clash in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. Experience history at swordpoint. And moviemaking with a cutting edge.

Customer Reviews:

Not What I Expected!.......2007-09-17

All the reviews of 300 have elaborated on its extensive CGI, and I'm someone that thinks computers are used way too much in movies already. But this one is different. Rather than using CGI to make things hyper-real, the approach here was to achieve an artistic vision. The "look" of the film is difficult to describe, and previous attempts to do so fail to explain how it perfectly suits the historical setting. Unlike many recent films, the CGI in 300 doesn't give the impression that it was used as an "easy way out". Far from it, the fabulous environment couldn't have been done any other way. A beautifully crafted film that looks great on Blu-Ray!

300.......2007-09-15

One of the best movies of the year, both graphics and over-the-top acting. You gotta give Snyder and the whole crew credit for the effort put into this. Plus the transfer onto Blu-ray is amazing.

Very Good Product.......2007-09-14

Very good quality Blue-Ray, the spirit of the movie is the same as in the cinema version, beautiful images. Great movie!

This is Sparta!.......2007-09-09

If this movie doesn't get you in the mood to strap on armor and pickup a sword and shield then you have something wrong with you! This adaptation of Frank Miller's depiction of the Battle of Thermopalye is guaranteed to get your heart pumping with its stirring battle scenes and talk of "Freedom". For you historians, some winking and nodding must be done to Miller's version, but it is still a a lot of fun. Enjoy it for what it is, a loose adaptation of a classic story. Contrary to what the queen says, you will enjoy this!

Real Spartans Don't Eat Quiche - THEY DINE IN HELL!!!!.......2007-09-08

300--director Zack Snyder's faithful, if controversial, adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel--is a visually striking, though loosely interpreted, telling of the now-immortal Battle of Thermopylae.

Over a three-day period in 480 BC, King Leonidas and his three hundred Spartan bodyguards--with the assistance of about seven hundred Thespians and few thousand volunteers from other Greek city-states--fought the massive armies (estimated in most ancient accounts to have exceeded one million) of Persian Emperor Xerxes I at the Pass of Thermopylae on the Gulf of Malis. Through martial skill, fearlessness, and sheer audacity, Leonidas and his warriors held off the Persians long enough for the Athenians to prepare their navy to defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis, and thus save Greece.

The Battle of Thermopylae is a timeless tale of valor and honor. It takes its place in history with other legendary military standoffs--such as the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where a few hundred Texans held off the Mexican army for thirteen days, and the 1939 "Winter War," the World War II battle in which Finnish forces repelled over one million Russian invaders. Why, then, would a cinematic retelling of this remarkable event of so long ago prompt argument and debate today?

Historical film epics are rarely contentious enterprises nowadays, precisely because they portray events long since past. The ones that do spark heated debate tend to have religious themes, such as The Passion of the Christ and The DaVinci Code. If there's any blasphemy to be found in 300, it's against oracles and deities long since relegated to the dustbin of piety. Certainly there was little controversy in 1962 when Miller's original inspiration, director Rudolph Maté's The 300 Spartans, was released. So what's happened in the forty-five intervening years to make Snyder's remake-of-sorts so controversial?

In a word: multiculturalism.

Just as in the days of the ancient Greeks, the theme of saving the civilized West from barbaric Asiatic hordes is made quite explicit in 300, and given voice by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler): "A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that three hundred Spartans gave their last breath to defend it . . .The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many."

But unlike the days of the ancient Greeks, it's now verboten to suggest the superiority, let alone the preferability, of Western culture to any other--including, presumably, Persian culture. And therein lies the controversy over this film. As "civilized people," we're not supposed to like war, much less relish military victory or the enemy's demise. Hell, we can't even use the word "enemy" anymore to describe the enemy. These days, when Hollywood goes to war, our fighting men are represented--at best--by that ubiquitous fixture of modern cinema, the "reluctant warrior."

In contrast, Leonidas's Spartans are hardly reluctant: Born and bred since childhood to fight for their military city-state, they're professional soldiers who revel in the sting of battle. Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) sends an officer to present an ultimatum to his vastly outnumbered foe: "Spartans, lay down your weapons!" Rather than accommodating the Persians (as, say, the British Navy did circa 2007 AD), Leonidas roars back: "Persians, come and get them!"

In all of battle lore, Thermopylae stands as the ultimate "David versus Goliath" confrontation of civilizations. To most people familiar with Italian Renaissance art, this legend conjures in their minds the great statues by Donatello and Michelangelo. Both are nude figures of the young Hebrew warrior. Donatello's David is but a boy. Without a care in the world, he leans on his sword with one hand, his other hand resting effeminately against his hip. Think of the eternally boyish Leonardo DiCaprio or Elijah Wood. More famous is Michelangelo's manlier David. He's muscular and stands erect, gazing off in serene contemplation. But, while Michelangelo captures David's physical beauty and agility, his is a static, motionless fighter; the sculpture merely hints at the decisive moment ahead. Think Brad Pitt in Troy.

Any David who would have a chance of felling the monstrous Philistine had better be credible--one tough s.o.b. Baroque-era sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini depicts just that kind of David--not naked, but clothed in soldier's tunic, coiled back to fling the rock at Goliath. Bernini freezes his hero in motion: Taut, fierce, and grimacing, Bernini's magnificent figure conveys both the intent and the execution of his bold, violent act.

The genius of 300 lies in Snyder's and cinematographer Larry Fong's ability to dramatize that same highly stylized sense of kinetic energy and unfreeze it. In particular, as Leonidas, the burly, bearded Scottish actor Gerard Butler is Bernini's David brought to life.

Many reviewers have touted 300's "comic book" visual sensibility. To me, it doesn't look like a comic book at all, but rather like an oil painting set in motion. In fact, anyone familiar with Frank Miller's striking illustrations will note the same qualities in those works. Using a color scheme of burnished tones, 300 manifests a sophisticated visual unity that owes much more to Jacques-Louis David's painting The Oath of the Horatii (1785) and Akira Kurosawa's film Ran (1985) than it does to Spider-Man or The Fantastic Four. The rich, gorgeous Technicolor prints further intensify the viewing experience.

This visual stylization is one reason why 300 seems more real than the more historically accurate The 300 Spartans--even though the original was shot on location in Greece, while Snyder filmed his entirely on soundstages in Quebec. For example, the new, stylized Spartan is divested of his breastplate in favor of a uniform that makes him look like a cross between Kirk Douglas in his Spartacus get-up and wrestler Hulk Hogan in leather briefs. But the 1962 movie was filmed mostly from a distance, and the actors' stiff performances were even more distant. The battle scenes looked like re-enactments; you could tell those Spartans were just a bunch of extras holding spears and shields.

Not so with this crew: While the scenery in 300 may have been rendered by CGI artists, the six-pack abs and bulging biceps on these Spartans are real, the product of a grueling five-month-long exercise regimen in which the actors also got Marine Corps "Oorah!" attitude training. And instead of remote, set-piece battle scenes, Snyder gives us relentless, in-your-face combat--beautifully choreographed bloodletting. He conveys with blinding clarity how the Spartans could pull off such a sustained, concerted defense against a numerically superior force. When they go into their phalanx battle formation, you immediately realize why individual soldiers became such a deadly weapon when they fought in unison, something the 1962 film barely depicted.

I could tell 300 was going to be a smash hit when the intelligentsia descended upon this movie, unleashing all the sneering invective their vocabularies could muster--from "militaristic" and "fascistic" to "testosterone-laden" and "jingoistic." Typical was Andrew Sarris, reigning "dean" of American film critics, writing in the New York Observer:

"300 was as pathetically puerile as I had expected. Yet I can't say that it wasn't at least minimally entertaining. Indeed, there was a subtextual strangeness about the spectacle that would have made the ghost of Leni Riefenstahl nod in recognition."

Fortunately, the attempt to cut this superb picture down to size is more of an uphill battle than the one that Leonidas and his men fought. What repelled so many of our literati is also the source of its unexpected devotion among mainstream movie fans, (to the tune of $421 million in gross receipts, as of this writing): Miller and Snyder invest 300 with the stuff of mythical legend.

Butler's Leonidas is a defiant figure with a bit of Phaeton and Sisyphus in him. He ignores the counsel of the Oracle (Kelly Craig), who orders him not to confront the Persians. "Trust the gods, Leonidas," the governing council cautions him. Leonidas counters, "I would prefer you trust your reason." Well aware that the very future of reason and democracy lies with his Spartans, the ascetic Leonidas faces down the decadent god-king Xerxes, proclaiming, "We wrest the world from your mysticism and tyranny!"

The epic tone of the story is further realized through the narration of Dilios (David Wenham), the one-eyed warrior who returns to Sparta to relate Leonidas's story of courage and bravado to his own soldiers, firing them up to do battle again with the invading Persians. Mere days after his death, Leonidas is already elevated to the status of Epic Hero.

As Leonidas's wife, Queen Gorgo, Lena Headey gives a stirring performance. When the movie opens, a Persian messenger (Peter Mensah) rebukes Leonidas: "Why does this woman think she can speak amongst men?" The queen fires back, "Because only Spartan women give birth to real men!" In a quiet scene before Leonidas heads off to war, she bolsters her king's confidence: "Spartan: Come back with your shield--or on it." It's a lesson in honoring the spirit of a fallen loved one that's completely lost on the Cindy Sheehans of our age.

History buffs and armchair philosophers have come out of the woodwork to chide viewers for buying into the movie's inaccuracies. Just as common are complaints that the Greeks had slavery, that Sparta practiced infanticide, that the Spartan army was filled with conscripts, and that they--by gladly laying down their lives in a suicide mission--were hardly rational exemplars of individualism.

With all due respect to the Borg, however, resistance to 300 is futile. Its grand sweep and awesome storytelling had me cheering Leonidas's fearless warriors. What can't be denied is the movie's premise that the seeds of individualism (which is a later, Enlightenment notion, anyhow) were planted in the Greek soil they so gallantly defended.

And, to anyone laboring under the misconception that soldiers are the opposite of individualists, I beg to differ. Over my years of military service, I've come to know many Airborne Rangers, Special Forces Green Berets, infantry grunts, Marines, and psychological operations specialists. To a man, these hardcore warriors personify the qualities of character exemplified by Leonidas and his hoplites: heads held high, rigorous discipline, physical prowess, intransigent certainty, moral courage, the ability to face reality at its most grim--and the willingness to think. When it comes to individualism, these guys walk the walk; everything else is just talk.

Through its images of crushing brutality, 300 reminds us that the bounties of civilization that we take for granted are a gift passed down through time from men like Leonidas. Or, in words famously (though perhaps mistakenly) attributed to George Orwell: "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

With 300, Frank Miller and Zack Snyder have concocted an antidote to the steady diet of cynicism and derisive irony that Hollywood has been feeding our youth for decades. If you thirst for a tale that extols honor and reveres gallantry, in which the good guys are great and the bad guys are evil, then look no further than this stupendous cinematic achievement.

300 (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

Average customer rating:

Great production, but.....
Spectacular movie, better in HD or Bluray
Great features and sound, Picture just like the teather, (The grain look)
great flick, its a must have
Good movie, disappointed with the format

300 (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Starring: Gerard Butler , and Lena Headey
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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

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ASIN: B000Q6GXW2
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Great production, but............2007-09-14

The technical producion of this film was outstanding, and the HD DVD version gives it an immediate presence that effectively complements the graphical nature of the visual composition. The picture and audio quality of this disc are on a par with the best I've seen to date in home video. On top of that, I think that Butler and Heady do a great job of conveying the Spartan image being defined by the writer.

However, there are just a few too many enhanced blood-spatters and other graphical 'devices' for my taste. This is understandable, given the original basis for the script, but I think that if it had been toned down just a bit, it would have been slightly more effective. It is a great story and they had a solid cast to work with; less might have been more.

Spectacular movie, better in HD or Bluray.......2007-09-13

300 is a spectacular action flick, one of the best movies to come along in a long time. I'd be the first one to admit I'll look for any excuse to watch it again and again. It is that good. My only disappointment with this pricier HD DVD is its a 2-sided disc with standard DVD on one side and HD on the other. My 2-sided discs always seem to get dings on one side or the other.

Great features and sound, Picture just like the teather, (The grain look).......2007-09-11

300 is a great action flick for anyone and is a must movie if you like action. The plot and story is good and I'm about sure everyone has seen this flick before. The features of this HD-DVD are bar none great. The audio track supports True Dolby HD and Dobly Plus (tho if you dont have a surround sound that can decode this, it useless)The picture of this movie is just how it was in the teather, (Grainy, due to the way the film was shot). HD-DVD does conserve its clarity and shows this film just as it was in the teather. the combo disc is great because you can watch the movie if you have a portable dvd player when you travel or watch it high def in you living room. If you have HD-DVD or blu-Ray, i highly recommend this version over Blu-ray.

great flick, its a must have.......2007-09-11

if you love the theater version you will love the HD DVD version even more. awsome extra features. true HD DTS sound amazing.. its a must have in your DVD collection.

Good movie, disappointed with the format.......2007-09-09

This is a great movie for anyone who has not seen it. This product disappointed me because I thought I was getting the HDDVD and DVD in a two disc set. Instead it is the same disc with the one format on each side.
Hope this is helpful.

Average customer rating:

Horrible Gladiator Ripoff
Great action film.
The movie 300
Another misrepresentation of history?
Good Story, Horrible Visuals

300 (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Lena Headey , Dominic West , David Wenham , and Vincent Regan
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QXDED6
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

Customer Reviews:

Horrible Gladiator Ripoff.......2007-09-17

First this movie is so long and boring, I almost turned it off twice! It focuses more on the slow motion kill scenes and the back drops than the acting or story line, which is weak anyway. This movie tries so hard to be another Gladiator! Even down to the wife and child in the wheat field at the end of the movie! Totally inaccurate historically and downright dumb. Only a few would enjoy this type of movie. Honestly this movie just sucked. Very disappointed in the acting and the story. Only one star. Avoid! Don't even rent it!

Great action film........2007-09-16

I can see some blockbuster films going to be released in spring, and yes, they get a DVD release in the summer, when school is out. Maybe it's because the filmmakers didn't really care about releasing it on DVD in December, or they may have enough money to avoid that kind of stuff. Or maybe, the filmmakers want an action film for everyone to watch on DVD during the summer in order for it to be more entertaining.

"300" has lived up to the hype as much as summer blockbuster films go. This talks about the Spartans, the Persian Empire, and a totalitarian country. When this movie came out in theaters at the time, I was learning all about Sparta. I'm not yet capable in seeing R-rated films at the movies, but watching "300" was really interesting when I saw it on Movies OnDemand.

I have to admit that "300" was a bit much like last spring's release, "V For Vendetta." They both talk about totalitarian governments, have plenty of action sequences for a Global History movie. And yes, they're both rated R. I also can consider "300" to be like "Sin City," which also is a pretty cool movie. For that hype, I enjoyed "300" as much as I enjoyed "V For Vendetta."

In "300," King Lenoadis (Gerard Butler) faces against many of the 300 Spartans in order to fight for freedom and peace. The 300 Spartan warriors want to fight against the million-strong Persian army on an eve of an invasion. It is based on a true story, but it's also a comic book movie. It's highly intense for a true story to be turned into a comic book movie, so you'll be entertained with the story.

I also have to admit that "300" is much like a superhero movie. Not a superhero movie like "Spider-Man," more like "Sin City" and "V For Vendetta." With Zack Snyder, the director of the "Dawn of the Dead" remake. He utterly fits well into directing an action film like this. The story is much better than bizarre movies that are made by Robert Rodriguiz or Queen Taratino.

The cast is filled with unknown names, who I hear are B-listers. But Gerard Butler was easily one of the bests in the market. He makes an excellent Lenoadis. Lena Heady is really good as the Queen, and some of the other actors definitely fit for the Spartans for this movie. Director Zack Snyder, director of the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, takes a good look into making the film, and that's what totally puts him onto the right track.

"300" has lots of action. It's very bloody, and I'm nowadays mature for bloody violence. But if you like bloody violence, you should fit for this movie. However, if you are not into this type of bloody violence with heads chopped off and too much bloody sword fights, this isn't the right thing for you. It's pretty entertaining, but the bloody violence wouldn't be seen from my eyes too many times. However, it does fit well for a 2 hour movie, and has a great story with all the action and bloody sequences.

Overall, "300" is the definite version for an epic movie. If you want to see a really good epic movie, you should then enjoy "300." It will definitely work for you, so you should see it. It's got plenty of action and a whole lot of fight sequences that will keep you entertained for 2 hours.

The movie 300.......2007-09-13

Stirring epic which brings to gut-level view the heroic resistance
of 300 Spartans against the Persian hordes, led by colorful Xerxes
himself. The comraderie, discipline, fighting skills, etc. exhibited
are truly wonderful; so too is the background story: the festival
days preventing the sending of the entire Spartan army; the pain
of Leonidas' wife as she acknowledges her soon-to-be widowhood.
The special effects too are extraordinary and must be seen to
be believed. I could go on. Just watch the movie!!

Another misrepresentation of history?.......2007-09-13

I really thought I would like this but sadly did not.If it was not a film about something that suppose to of happened it might of been better,say a film of fantasy?No it was still flat.No character development,I did not have any feeling toward anyone in the film.Truth turned into myth,yes.I have to disagree with another reviewer,in that I liked Braveheart a lot better.At least it brought out my emotions more.This would make a good video game,that is about it.Maybe I just wasn"t in the right mood at the time?Heck-I liked King Arthur with Clive Owen better than this.This is only my opinion.

Good Story, Horrible Visuals.......2007-09-11

"300" tells the amazing story of how an informal Spartan army of only 300 men held off the massive Persian military force until they were betrayed and decimated by King Xerxes. The story was incredible, and told very well. Several of the battle sequences really whet the appetite of the armchair war tactical strategist. But the flat, fake, chrome-like colors of the film (which make this almost look like a comic book), really take away from the experience. The slow-motion photography also detracts from the credibility of the film - I can only guess that this technique was used to simulate a 3D effect, which it accomplished to a certain degree, but not enough to make this movie visually appealing. Also, the "look" they chose for King Xerxes was awful! From the research I've done on this individual, I don't believe the costume to be historical - perhaps this was just another of the filmmaker's surreal visuals for shock value?

The Monster Squad (Two-Disc 20th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

It is a classic
Not Up To The Goonies
Welcome back 'Monster Squad'. We've missed you.
A "Universal Classic" not made by Universal Studios...
Great family movie

The Monster Squad (Two-Disc 20th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Andre Gower , Robby Kiger , Stephen Macht , Duncan Regehr , and Tom Noonan
Director: Fred Dekker
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000Q6GUKM
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Description

Count Dracula adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and the Gillman. The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes - the Monster Squad are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

Customer Reviews:

It is a classic.......2007-09-17

If you remeber this movie then you will know that you had to love it when you were young. It is a classic and a must have for any cult film fanatic.

Not Up To The Goonies.......2007-09-16

If you really like The Goonies, you'll find this only a fair movie. It consists of poor attempts at slapstick, unsuccessful suspense, and unnecessary foul language and humor about virginity, all delivered by some B-grade acting. It is not really appropriate for young children, and anyone else should find it unsatisfying. (I can't account for any rave reviews.)

Welcome back 'Monster Squad'. We've missed you. .......2007-09-15

If there is one thing good thing you can say about the advent of the DVD age, it's that a lot of forgotten -- or downright ignored -- films are getting a second life. While not classics necessarily, these films are nonetheless beloved and - many times - important films. 'The Monster Squad' is one of those films. Released to a general `meh' in 1987, the film has since generated a lot of fan support and love over the years (thanks mainly to its VHS release and Cable showings) and with the support of a strong, ever-growing, core fan group, the film has at last made it to DVD. We couldn't be happier.

The forces of evil (Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, the gill man, the wolf man, and a mean old mummy) have gathered again after 100 years of dormancy. They have returned to take possession of a magical amulet that will shift the scales of the balance of the world to the dark side should they be successful. Famed vampire hunter Van Helsing had been working to put an end to the monsters completely 100 years earlier but had failed and now it falls to five kids to do what he could not. Calling themselves the Monster Squad, (after their love of all things monstrous and scary), this band of misfits, with the aide of a `scary old German guy', and hopefully the help of a suspected virgin, set themselves up as the only defense against these monsters and the possibility of the end of mankind.

An average film with a heart of gold, the magic that makes it all work is the honesty in which it is made. It clear that 'The Monster Squad' was never meant to be a classic - what film starts out with those ambitions? - But it certainly is a fun throwback to a - now sadly - bygone era. The modernized humor works within the confines of its decidedly old fashioned story (it's patterned after the classic Abbott and Costello films with just a pinch of 'The Little Rascals' thrown in). The language - which can be coarse - is never forced, and feels true to the characters and moments. (Sorry Mom and Dad. It is a sad truth that even in the PC world we live in, your young ones may still talk like this when you aren't around.) There are scares of a PG-13 variety, but this isn't just a kiddie film. Thanks to a very dark portrayal of Dracula, and some good acting the film plays very well to all ages. It's a welcome reminder of a bygone era of kinder, gentler filmmaking.

This little gem is blissfully packed with extras: Commentaries, deleted scenes, an extensive documentary, and some odds and ends that will certainly make it a must-own for it's many ardent followers. And the new DVD transfer looks stunning too! If you enjoyed the film as a kid -- you'll be amazed as an adult at the beautiful job director Fred Dekker did with the direction and camera work.

It's fantastic to be able to re-visit this old friend. Welcome back 'Monster Squad'. We've missed you.

A "Universal Classic" not made by Universal Studios..........2007-09-15

"Monster Squad" is a good movie, if solely for the fact that it combines all the Universal Monsters and a bunch of kids who swear. This is not the kind of movie you would see on the Disney Channel (for good reason) and it hearkens back to a decade I can barely remember, but who cares. It has some great one liners and some modest performances. With memorable characters such as "Scary German Guy" (there is a great holocaust reference in the movie with him that I never understood before when I was 11).

The special features for this 20th anniversaet edition are quite enjoyable. They go through most aspects of the movie including sepcial effects, character makeup and design, I would say the most interesting part is the cast interviews from Duncan Regehr (Dracula), Andre Gower (Sean), Ashley Bank (little 5 year old Phoebe all grown up!), Ryan Lambert (Rudy) and Tom Noonan (Frankie) . I was hoping for more cast interviews (because it is always great to see actors 20 years after the fact getting all misty eyed and nostalgic right along with you).

Bottom of the line: This movie is worth the buy for any kid or adult that grew up on this movie or the Universal Classic Monster movies. I would dub this movie part of the nostalgic, feel-good, where-was-I-then movies. You don't buy this one for academy performances. It does what a good movie should do, especially the ones that have a legacy: they engage and entertain.

Great family movie.......2007-09-13

Rented it was a VHS when it first cameout, a classic kids movie,fun scary and moves at a good pace. Now older it has lost none of the charm and enjoyment, they should make more like this,it's good to be a kid again.

Average customer rating:

This isn't my idea of Bond
Great
Bond on bluray!
Blu-ray is the way to watch this great film!
Great Movie

Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Starring: Daniel Craig , Jesper Christensen , Isaach de Bankolé , Judi Dench , and Jeffrey Wright
Director: Martin Campbell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MRA5NS
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

The most successful invigoration of a cinematic franchise since Batman Begins, Casino Royale offers a new Bond identity. Based on the Ian Fleming novel that introduced Agent 007 into a Cold War world, Casino Royale is the most brutal and viscerally exciting James Bond film since Sean Connery left Her Majesty's Secret Service. Meet the new Bond; not the same as the old Bond. Daniel Craig gives a galvanizing performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, yes, but also a "blunt instrument," reckless, and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. In classic Bond film tradition, his global itinerary takes him to far-flung locales, including Uganda, Madagascar, the Bahamas (that's more like it), and Montenegro, where he is pitted against his nemesis in a poker game, with hundreds of millions in the pot. The stakes get even higher when Bond lets down his "armor" and falls in love with Vesper (Eva Green), the ravishing banker's representative fronting him the money.

For longtime fans of the franchise, Casino Royale offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, Casino Royale is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, now I know what I've been faking all these years. --Donald Liebenson

Stills from Casino Royale (click for larger image)

Beyond Casino Royale on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Why We Love Daniel Craig

The Amazon.com James Bond Store
Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?
Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale Book

Product Description

Casino Royale introduces James BOond before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status. "M" (Judi Dench), head of the British Secret Service, sends the newly-promoted 007 on his first mission that takes him to Madagascar, the Bahamas and eventually leads him to Montenegro to face Le Chiffre, a ruthless financier under threat from his terrorist clientele, who is attempting to restore his funds in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. "M" places Bond under the watchful eye of the Treasury official Vesper Lynd. At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond's interest in her deepens as they brave danger together. Le Chiffre's cunning and cruelty come to bear on them both in a way Bond could never imagine, and he learns his most important lesson: Trust no one.

Customer Reviews:

This isn't my idea of Bond.......2007-09-12

When I got this blu-ray disk I had very high expectations. It delivered when it comes to special effects and the outstanding clarity that blu-ray delivers.

However, I was sorely disappointed by the new "Bond". Instead of the incredible charm displayed by previous Bond characters, this guy seems to be more of a cold-hearted killer. I found it hard to care much about what came of him. In my opinion, this is the worst Bond movie I have ever seen.

Perhaps I would have liked it better if the movie had been titled something like "Agent X" since that way I wouldn't have been trying to imagine this guy as being in the same role as the classics starring Sean Connery or Roger Moore.

In a nutshell, I found this to be heartless and generally lacking in class.

Great.......2007-09-10

Great picture quality, and a good movie to boot. The movie has a bit of a dark cast, so still not the optimal test disc for a new system, but still quite good. People say "wow" when they see it.

Bond on bluray!.......2007-09-07

Casino Royale is definitely one of the better Bond films. Part of the wow affect comes from it's awesome bluray video quality. A solid choice for all you Bond fans out there.

Blu-ray is the way to watch this great film!.......2007-08-12

I first watched the 2006 release Casino Royale in the theater. I was very impressed. The movie was unlike any Bond film I had seen before. In fact, the movie is gritty in a way that resembles the very well made Bourne movies. I recently watched the movie again, and found that it was even more enjoyable the second time around. The changes, in my opinion are for the better. I was a fan of Pierce Brosnan in the role of James Bond. I thought that he had been the best Bond since Sean Connery. I thought Roger Moore was okay, while timothy Dalton did nothing for me. Craig made for a very compelling and very human Bond.

The visuals in this film are stunning. The usual opening scenes are - true to form - pretty spectacular. Bond shows little mercy when it comes to resorting to violence. He also gets hurt and bleeds on numerous occasions. He seems ill at ease in a tuxedo, but seems to adapt to the role. The primary setting for the movie is an incredibly picturesque Venice. The film features really stunning scenes with some excellent stunt work. The Blu-ray version is without a dount the version to watch. Clocking in at 144 minutes, the movie seems to fly by with its fast paced story. The only downside to the film is that the villain came across as pretty tame for the most part. There probably could have been a bit more done to make him really evil and dislikable.

Overall this is a strong 4 star movie that is well-worth the price of the movie.

Great Movie.......2007-08-07

This is how you keep a movie franchise going. Great story, great acting and a fast paced movie that almost never slows down(except when James is with the ladies!!)

I have watched it several times now and the more I watch the more I like.

The Fifth Element (Remastered) [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Great Movie, Great Quality
Excelente!!!
Total let-down
Splendid film, highly recommend
WOW

The Fifth Element (Remastered) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Bruce Willis , Gary Oldman , Ian Holm , Milla Jovovich , and Chris Tucker
Director: Luc Besson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000QTD368
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Product Description

New York cab driver Korben Dallas didn't mean to be a hero, but he just picked up the kind of fare that only comes along every five thousand years: A perfect beauty, a perfect being, a perfect weapon. Now, together, they must save the world. Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman star in acclaimed director Luc Besson's outrageous sci-fi adventure, an extravagantly styled tale of good against evil set in an unbelievable twenty-third century world.

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie, Great Quality.......2007-09-14

Having been a huge fan of this movie since I first saw it on DVD I was delighted to get a chance to see it in HiDef Blu-ray. I had read an earlier release of The Fifth Element on Blu-ray was lackluster at best, not having seen it myself I can't personally comment. However, this Remastered release on Blu-ray is incredible. The action is certainly not missing in this Bruce Willis flick, but just as much there's the comedy. Chris Tucker plays his character (Ruby Rhod) spot-on. Luc Besson does a phenomenal job putting so many "elements" together in this movie. This movie is not one-dimensional like most Action or Comedy movies. Well worth the time and money.

Excelente!!!.......2007-09-13

Qualidade de imagem e áudio espetaculares! Realmente um Blu-ray autêntico e remasterizado, conduzindo à melhor alta definição disponível no mercado. Parabéns à Sony pela correção do re-lançamento desta versão!

Total let-down.......2007-09-10

The video quality is horrible. The Super Bit release on standard DVD was superior. Sad, as it is one of my favorite movies for picture quality and testing out a new system.

Splendid film, highly recommend.......2007-09-10

Uncompressed audio track is clear, dynamic and and natural. Picture is not the best I've seen in Blu-ray but good nonetheless. The movie is of course one of the best scifi movies ever made. Humor is cracking, main characters deep and the traditional story of all triumphant love is well put out.

WOW.......2007-08-23

They really did work on it! All i can say is AMAZING!!! Love the movie!

Flash Gordon (Saviour Of The Universe Edition)

Average customer rating:

Flash Gordon Savior of the universe
FLASH GORDON is FUN !
So bad... It's good!
Flash Gordon, Finally
a classic

Flash Gordon (Saviour Of The Universe Edition)
Starring: Sam J. Jones , Melody Anderson , Max von Sydow , Topol , and Ornella Muti
Director: Mike Hodges
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PMGS8G
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Customer Reviews:

Flash Gordon Savior of the universe.......2007-09-14

I haven't seen Flash since I was a kid in junior high.I recently purchased the DVD and it brought back a lot of memories,the show itself is a classic the soundtrack is one of my all time favorites.I recommend this DVD to all the rockers of the 80's.

FLASH GORDON is FUN !.......2007-09-12

Flash Gordon (Savior of the Universe Edition) is FUN to watch. We consider it a Sci-Fi Classic. There is 1 episode of the old black and white series of Flash Gordon on the DVD, which was cute to see, but would have been much better if they had the whole series to compare with the movie. Love the campy movie, very colorful version. Of course, music by Queen is fantastic ! Can watch it over and over. It's GREAT !

So bad... It's good!.......2007-09-12

There are so many things to criticize in this movie. The acting is atrocious, the lines are bad, and the special effects are brutal, but it is still fun and entertaining to watch. It is a classic!

Flash Gordon, Finally.......2007-09-09

I'm very glad to see this awesome camp favorite finally out on DVD. I would have been happier to see it in HD or Blu-Ray.

Many people have already expressed their disappointment with the extra features, so I won't go there.

Overall, this is the movie you wanted to own on DVD, on DVD. It is what it is. Nothing special, nothing horrible.

a classic.......2007-09-06

I remember watching this movie when I was 8 years old on HBO and to me it is still one of the coolest films ever made. Flash Gordon had very colorful special effects that made it stand out.Though they were not of the Star Wars quality they did make the picture viual. Ulike the Ming in the new Flash Gordon this Ming is the true Ming.With the attitude, the costume, and the head gear and berd that is what Ming is all about it think.And finally the women are more exotic in this version such as Aura and Dale which were so hot that they lid up the picture.I reconmend this film for those who have never heard of Flash or are wanting to see it for the first time.

Average customer rating:

Pathetic
300 Full Screen DVD
Ordered wide screen, got full screen
Captivating Dramatization
Pure Testosterone Action

300 (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Lena Headey , Dominic West , David Wenham , and Vincent Regan
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QXDEDG
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

Customer Reviews:

Pathetic.......2007-09-10

No matter how much money, special effects, or pretty women they can throw at this pathetic venture, it's all worthless if there is no TALENT. This movie is a joke, trying to cash on the "Lord of the Rings" type of visual effects and story line. Unfortunately, it doesn't even come close.

300 Full Screen DVD.......2007-09-08

A great action film - could have had a little more love interest involved to balance it out. But, a must see for anyone who loves sword fighting/action movies. I liked the scene in particular where they battle the man giant. Great stuff.

Ordered wide screen, got full screen.......2007-09-08

I ordered 300 widescreen edition. I didn't realize they sent me full screen until I started to watch the movie. By then it's too late, I already opened it. I really wanted to see the movie as soon as it arrived so I probably would've opened it anyway. Sure wish I would have got what I ordered. No more online movie shopping for me, i'll go to the store so I get what I want.

Captivating Dramatization.......2007-09-06

As the title for this review suggests, this movie is high on hype. However that makes it far from being a poor cinematic piece. The Spartans have been fabled as some of the best strategic and well trained soldiers in all of Greek history.

To bottom-line it, this really brings you into their way of life. They live to die essentially, you will see how brutal Spartans are and how even against enormous odds their life-training is really what helps them fight against a massive force of Persians.

Anyways should you get this movie?

- If you like to watch dramatized historic events captured on screen. Then Yes.
- If you don't like mild to moderate gore. Then no.
- If you're expecting something that will just blow you away with superb acting, deep characters and a thick and juicy plot. Look else-where.

In short, this is a very energetic revival of the fabled Spartans with a lot of help from 21st century technology.

Pure Testosterone Action.......2007-09-04

Have you ever watched a movie with an epic battle and said to yourself, "wow that was great I wish it were abit longer though." ? I always thought that with the battles in Return of the King and Gladiator. This movie is that question answered and then some. There are so many just pure raw sword fighting, spear slashing scene in this it's almost pornographic the violence. Do not sit down to this movie thinking you will get a history lesson about the intricacies about Spartan culture.

300 is very stylized, very graphic, very slick in it's presentation. I almost gave it 4 stars because of it being so stylized but man this movie delivers enough action for a few years. You can almost turn the audio off and turn up a Tool album to this thing and it would be just as much fun. If you have not seen this movie get ready for a wild ride. Cheers.

Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

wonderful story for kids and adults...
great for kids and grown up
Why does any story have to start with the death of the parent?
The Best Pixar
DO NOT BE CORRUPTED BY THIS MOVIE!!!

Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Eric Bana , Nicholas Bird (II) , Albert Brooks , Willem Dafoe , and Ellen DeGeneres
Director: Stanton, Andrew
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JM02
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Amazon.com

A delightful undersea world unfolds in Pixar's animated adventure Finding Nemo. When his son Nemo is captured by a scuba-diver, a nervous-nellie clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) sets off into the vast--and astonishingly detailed--ocean to find him. Along the way he hooks up with a scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who's both helpful and a hindrance, sometimes at the same time. Faced with sharks, deep-sea anglers, fields of poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans, and much more, Marlin rises above his neuroses in this wonderfully funny and nonstop thrill ride--rarely does more than 10 minutes pass without a sequence destined to become a theme park attraction. Pixar continues its run of impeccable artistic and economic success (their movies include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters, Inc). Also featuring the voices of Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, and Allison Janney. --Bret Fetzer

Description

From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of TOY STORY and MONSTERS, INC. (2001, Best Animated Short Film, FOR THE BIRDS), it's FINDING NEMO, a hilarious adventure where you'll meet colorful characters that take you into the breathtaking underwater world of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to Marlin (Albert Brooks), his worrisome father, and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly but forgetful regal blue tang fish, to make the epic journey to bring Nemo home. Their adventure brings them face-to-face with vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more. Marlin discovers a bravery he never knew, but will he be able to find his son? FINDING NEMO's breakthrough computer animation takes you into a whole new world with this undersea adventure about family, courage, and challenges. Take the plunge into FINDING NEMO, a "spectacularly beautiful animated adventure fo

On Blu-ray	CD Soundtrack	Why We Love Daniel Craig
The Amazon.com James Bond Store	Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?	Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale Book