A Soldier's Story

Amazon.com essential video

Director Norman Jewison's (In the Heat of the Night) 1984 adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores the ramifications of racism and loyalty through the prism of blacks in the military, revealed through a murder mystery set in the 1940s deep South. Howard E. Rollins (Ragtime) plays a military investigator assigned to the murder of a drill instructor (Adolph Caesar) in charge of a black platoon. Under pressure from his superiors to wrap his investigation up quickly, Rollins instead delves deeply into the relationships between the despised drill instructor and his men, uncovering lies and animosity, and confronting the question of what it means to be black in a white man's world. Rollins is a riveting, stoic, and emotional lead, and Denzel Washington makes an early appearance as a soldier with a deep grudge against the drill instructor and a deep mistrust of Rollins' investigator. A powerfully written story that makes the most of its large and impressive ensemble cast, A Soldier's Story is a deeply affecting and worthwhile film. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Great service.......2007-09-03

I'd been looking for this film everywhere and I finally checked on amazon and not only was it a great price, but I had it in my hands in no time.

A Soldier's Story.......2007-07-06

Cerebral mystery story operates on several levels. We get to know the murdered man through flashbacks and see how many people had a motive to kill him. Set on top of this is the condescension with which investigation is treated by the white brass. All ingredients make for a meaty, involving murder tale shedding light on racism of the time. Young Denzel is particularly strong in a pivotal role, and Caesar was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the loathsome Waters.

Great Movie.......2007-02-13

Just so happens this is one of my all time favorites and I got it at a very reasonable price in a short amount of time.

a terric play ; a better film.......2007-02-10

this is so very timely. it's about blacks striving to get ahead w/in the military- it's still a place where a black american can rise in the ranks. the key here is the plot. it's got a doozy of an o'henry ending. do see it. charles sullivan

did not get it.......2007-02-07

I haven't received my merchandise. It was sent to Miami and I have moved. My new address is:
p.o.b. 73335
providence, RI 02907

phone number:(401) 461-7991

Average customer rating:

Plenty of creepy potential, but the film just fizzles in the last half hour
Very enjoyable
Very worthwhile for horror / suspense fans.
an immature work
Great creative low-budget movie

The Bunker
Starring: Charley Boorman , Jason Flemyng , Christopher Fairbank , Jack Davenport , and Andrew Lee Potts
Director: Rob Green
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00020X90G
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Product Description

It is 1944. A platoon of German soldiers, battle-weary and torn by tension and dissent, take refuge from advancing Allied forces, within the confines of an underground bunker system. As night closes in, a series of increasingly bizarre and horrifying events begin, leading ultimately to a deadly cat-and-mouse game of psychological warfare in a maze of tunnels. Are the soldiers being stalked by enemy soldiers, or have the demons from their past finally caught up with them...

Features:

Widescreen Format

Behind The Scenes

Interactive Menus

Deleted Scenes

Scene Selection

Trailers

Optional Spanish Subtitles

System Requirements:

Running Time 88 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Plenty of creepy potential, but the film just fizzles in the last half hour.......2007-01-01

Have you ever put a puzzle together, only to discover that a couple of pieces are missing in the end? It's a bummer, right? You can still see the puzzle image with a good understanding of exactly what it is depicting, but it's still incomplete, and you're left feeling frustrated. That's basically the way I feel about The Bunker. I know what the film is trying to express, and I even understand the story, but I can't get past the missing pieces that would have made the story much more effective. Maybe I shouldn't have started watching it at 3 AM, but I just didn't feel that The Bunker made complete sense toward the end, as it never really threshes out some of its characters and ideas.

The pieces seemed to be in place for a pretty creepy film. It's 1944, and you've got a ragtag group of German army survivors holed up in an anti-tank bunker, with - presumably - American forces all around them and a mysterious, unfinished tunnel system below. Into this mix you also have some disaffection among the troops and some important questions as to what really happened out in the field just before these guys retreated into the bunker. Trapped between an enemy without and an enemy within, the viewer is basically poised to find out just what or who will get to these desperate soldiers first. The fact that two of these soldiers are an old man with a habit of getting things mixed up and a young teenager eager to prove himself just makes things more interesting. As for those tunnels beneath the bunker, all we know is that they were never finished and that there's something decidedly not good about them. The old man tells the story of how a large number of bubonic plague victims were rounded up, slaughtered, and buried there on what then became cursed ground.

Naturally, someone disobeys orders and heads down there, and it's not long before the others are down there seeing what they can find. Soon enough, things start to get really weird. The men hear strange voices, get separated, and begin to lose it - especially one really gung ho soldier. Some of them think the Americans are already in the tunnels and are trying to screw with their minds, while others fear they are being punished by the dead for their sins - for reasons that are gradually revealed in a series of flashbacks to the events immediately preceding their retreat into the bunker. Of course, the dark souls of those once slaughtered there also can't be ignored completely.

With so much going for it, though, the film just sort of fizzles in the final half hour, leaving the viewer with something that barely manages to rise above the level of a bunch of guys wandering through some creepy tunnels. With all of the hard work that went into the film, especially in terms of generating the creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere, you expect a much bigger payoff that you actually get.

This was not a big-budget film, and it is sort of strange for a bunch of German soldiers to speak English with the queen's accent (but much stranger to see a seemingly random mix of English and German signs displayed at different times), but these issues could have been overcome by a really effective storyline. Unfortunately, though, The Bunker just doesn't deliver the goods in the end. It's a good try, though, and is certainly worth watching by anyone with an interest in psychological horror.

Very enjoyable.......2006-12-28

I throughly enjoyed watching this movie. It give a little twist on horror films being produced today. It was set back in Germany about a haunted bunker during war time. Very scarey and the atmospheric effects were great for a B horror flick. But, I am a B horror fan that loves a good twist once in a while. I highly recommend this film to all horror fans!!!

Very worthwhile for horror / suspense fans........2006-10-13

"The Bunker" is a horror film which tries, and mostly succeeds, to be more complex, more "meaningful," than most mainstream horror films. That's not to say it's pretentious (it's not). Nor is it to say there is anything wrong with mainstream horror that is simply trying to entertain (there's not); but "The Bunker" is more theme-driven than most horror flicks. Other Amazon reviewers have already talked about the diverse characterizations, which are excellent for the most part, so I won't repeat those comments. Nor will I spoil the plot for those who haven't seen it. Suffice it to say that, among other things, the characters all inform the film's study of human conscience and guilt. To further this purpose, the war is treated not as a mere setting, but also drives the characters and the thematic development: The past seems to literally haunt the soldiers. The bunker itself thus becomes a classic haunted house setting, and is used very effectively to create that visceral sense of "scariness" we horror fans love. Also, though, the bunker setting could easily be read as an externalization of interior horror -- a defining characteristic of classical gothic horror. In addition, the film is very successful at evoking a sense of supernatural foreboding, but the viewer can't really be sure whether anything supernatural is actually happening at any given moment. In this sense, "The Bunker" reminds me of some of Val Lewton's excellent RKO horror pics from the 1940's ("Cat People," "I Walked With a Zombie," et al).

I agree with other reviewers that "The Bunker's" low budget is sometimes apparent, but this point is irrelevant to the film's quality. Lewton's films show their low budgets too. So does Carpenter's "Halloween." But this fact doesn't make them any less effective. Bottom line: "The Bunker" is a creepy, effective, if somewhat imperfect horror flick. (I could only name two or three prefect horror films anyway.)

an immature work.......2006-06-04

A group of German soldiers finds safety from a U.S. ambush in a spooky shelter in Rob Green's THE BUNKER. The film has a great deal of build-up with its potential supernatural underpinnings, fleeting flashbacks of past horrors, and hints of mistruth. However, THE BUNKER lacks sufficient payoff for the high suspense. It left me dumbfounded and disappointed by the easy answers and quick conclusion.

Populated with a good group of actors whose craggy faces speak to the tough times they've been through, standout performances include Jason Flemyng as a Corporal who may be guilty of the crimes for which he executed others and Andrew Tiernan who recalls the ferocity of Adam Baldwin's Animal Mother from FULL METAL JACKET.

THE BUNKER could have been a claustrophobic tale of the personal demons faced by soldiers who may be projecting their fears and the atrocities of war into the darkness beneath their protective chamber. It might have been a good close-quartered study of the personalities of this group of soldiers. Director Rob Green could have even went in the other direction and created a full out horror tale. Instead, the film feels like an immature work that, while never fully realized in its early stages, rushed headlong into the breach.

I'd recommend skipping THE BUNKER and going for a better war film/character study such as A MIDNIGHT CLEAR or, if you're more in the mood for horror mixed with your tightly-wound characters, rent John Carpenter's THE THING again.

Great creative low-budget movie.......2005-12-13

Why the negative reviews? Two reasons.

First, the cover makes it look like a zombie movie, but it's not, so people are majorly upset when it's not what they expected. Blame that on some brainless executive who took over when the brilliant filmmakers were desperate to get their unique movie distributed. But don't pass it up if you like suspense - there are indeed people getting killed by who-knows-who/what.

Second, it's low budget as heck. That means inaccurate uniforms and markings (though most people wouldn't know) and whatever british actors were good and close by. Americans make movies all the time with people speaking with American accents (yes there is such a thing) playing characters of other countries. Being british actors doing the same, it sticks out like a fire hydrant to American audiences. It may be a bad thing to do with a movie, but this one isn't nearly as bad as it seems.

What this movie does have is good acting (from most anyway) and a variety of unique characters. Each one represents some possible type of person that could have been in the German army during the war. They range from smart to crazy, aggressive to pacifist. It is not expected that a random handful of people would have such an even variety (only one of the characters would be close to an average person), but that's part of what makes this movie interesting - you see the interaction of so many character types.

You also get to see things from the main character's point of view. Not literally all in first person, but through good directing. A couple of scenes are cleverly arranged to have more than one interpretation when seen alone, making a character's incorrect interpretation seem more plausible, even though the audience knows what is going on. The movie starts out uncertain, and becomes more clear at the end with a what I think is a stunningly brilliant shot that really sums up the theme of the movie if you know what is going on.

Average customer rating:

Great for class, great for anyone!
Incredible for Educators!
Illuminating

Afghan Stories
Director: Taran Davies
Manufacturer: Vanguard Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008V61L
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Customer Reviews:

Great for class, great for anyone!.......2006-12-27

This movie is a vivid, moving documentary about Afghans living in and out of Afghanistan in the period shortly following September 11th. The filmmakers visit people in the US, Canada, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan to get a picture of what life is like for Afghans with a variety of perspectives to share. I showed it in my high school humanities class paired with the novel Kite Runner and the students loved it; even they were no match for an emotional scene with a small child singing about wanting to return to Kabul. I recommend this for educators as well as anyone looking to see the more personal side of war-torn Afghanistan.

Incredible for Educators!.......2004-06-20

This is a wonderful documentary. I highly encourage educators to use this film. Out of a list of documentaries on Afghanistan that I teach in my undergraduate course, my students always list this as the most influential film for them. It is both informative, humorous and very human. It presents such a wide variety of Afghans from the diaspora and in Afghanistan that it deconstructs any one image or stereotype of Afghans. Walied Osman, the Afghan American lead, certainly makes the navigation through these two seemingly different worlds easier. My students, New Yorkers, have connected with him and it is his guidance through Afghanistan that touches them deeply.

Illuminating.......2004-01-17

This documentary film seeks to open up a side to Afghanistan previously unseen by Western viewers. It's a personal film, the story of the director and an Afghan friend traveling around the country, seeing if they could unearth some sign of life in places destroyed by over twenty years of war. That alone was a revelation. Before seeing Afghan stories, it was easy to think of the nation as a terrorist state, but this films dips far enough into the past to unravel private histories, allowing us to get to know a handful of Afghans. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't symbolic of the rest of their people, but an obvious humanity is on display, as well as the danger and confusion of a people simultaneously suspicious and welcoming of the American bombardment that continues throughout the filming of this documentary. I actually saw this on the Sundance Channel, so I can't vouch for any extras in the DVD, but there's more to be learned here than in a hundred hours of network news.

History's Mysteries - The True Story of Braveheart (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

A dose of reality to balance against Hollywood
A FINE COMPANION PIECE TO "BRAVEHEART!"
Best William Wallace documentary ever screened

History's Mysteries - The True Story of Braveheart (History Channel)
Starring: William Wallace
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AABKZ4
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

The film "Braveheart" brought the name of Scottish hero William Wallace to the world's attention. Now, we disclose the true story of the man who rallied his people in the Scottish Wars of Independence from England. After his capture in 1305 and execution, King Edward I tried to destroy his reputation, but created a martyr instead.

Customer Reviews:

A dose of reality to balance against Hollywood.......2007-08-06

William Wallace is to be respected and revered for what he was..a patriot to Scotland as were our patriots here during the American Revolution. This dvd tries to take him out of legend a little and paint a more accurate picture of his origins, his education, the political turmoil and harshness of that period. He fought and gave his life for his country as our soldiers do and this tries to give as much reality to that as is possible. Many things are just unknown regarding details in his past and the narrators point this out. It's also interesting to hear the various historians give their 'take' or opinion of what we know.

My only complaint is them using that horrid 'hollywood/Mel Gibson' Braveheart statue that stands outside the Visitor's Centre. I've been there several times and given what that man did for Scotland, that statue is an insult. The majesty of his legend is better reflected on the Wallace Monument itself. I know maintaining tourist sites requires funding and more tourists can relate to Mel Gibson & Hollywood rather than the true Scotland but I sincerely wish they hadn't even shown it. Its the one factor that blemished an otherwise great dvd. If you like Scottish history and seek additional information, this will give it to you but only parts so don't expect a dissertation. Very good. I enjoyed it.

A FINE COMPANION PIECE TO "BRAVEHEART!".......2006-05-06

This is a fine program about the true story behind Mel Gibson's criticallly-acclaimed epic "Braveheart." Here, you learn about the true legend of William Wallace, and of the liberties that screenwriter Randall Wallace took with the historical facts while crafting the screenplay. If you're a fan of "Braveheart," or just enjoy historical documentaries, then this is one to own, as it is one of the best out there.
Grade: A

Best William Wallace documentary ever screened.......2002-12-12

This is best of all the post-Braveheart documentaries on the life of William Wallace. It combines strong attention to the historical details, with an excellent grasp of the passion that drove Wallace in his own time, and influenced events in Scotland and elsewhere ever since. There is a good balance between narration and talking heads. If you enjoyed Braveheart, and want a straightforward and entertaining way to find out more about the life and legacy of Wallace, then this is for you.

Average customer rating:

famous Mexican dude

Biography - Pancho Villa: Outlaw Hero
Starring: Pancho Villa
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BF0CL6
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Product Description

He led the first raid of a foreign force onto U.S. soil since the war of 1812. Outlaw, soldier, general and politician, he led a life that ended in violence but left him a legend. Pancho Villa is one of the most compelling figures of the century. A notorious outlaw, he rose to the rank of general during the Mexican Revolution and later was governor of Chihuahua. This comprehensive BIOGRAPHY. uses extensive archival material, interviews with leading historians and location footage to trace the life and legend of Pancho Villa. Get a first person view of his famous raid on Columbus, New Mexico from survivor Jessie Thompson, and examine the retaliatory strike by American general "Black Jack" Pershing, which pushed Pancho back 500 miles. Extremely rare film footage shows the famous rebel in action, and an interview with his granddaughter provides an intimate view of him. BIOGRAPHY. heads south of the border for this definitive portrait that examines the fact and folklore of a man who gained fame and infamy in Mexico and America.

System Requirements:

Running Time 50 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

famous Mexican dude.......2006-06-03

This documentary covers a Mexican figure that led a raid on U.S. soil. I don't recall reading about this in American history class. I guess tensions between the two nations cannot be summed up by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
This documentary had diverse interviewees: men and women; white Americans, Mexican Americans and Mexican nationals; English speakers and Spanish speakers. There were so many photographs and footage from Villa's time that this work did not depend upon cheesy reenactments.
The work states that Pancho Villa is rapped in myths. He was one part anti-classist equalizer and another part murderous polygamist. Still, it was hard to distill the myth from the facts in this work. He may have "robbed the rich to give to the poor," but his class consciousness did not seem influenced by Marxism. Though Mexican leftists like Rivera and Kahlo may have been book-oriented, Villa was not.
This documentary was made at least five years before Antonio Banderas' film on Villa was released. This work says nothing about Villa collaborating with America's Hollywood. Did the film lie or does the documentary purposely exclude facts that Americans would have found interesting? This work discusses American war tactics that American battle enthusiasts may love to hear.
There is one photo of Villa and Emiliano Zapata. However, the narrator just states that the latter was a southern version of the former. Seeing the two men together reminded me of seeing Malcolm X with Dr. King or Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. This was an important pair that was not discussed enough.
Unlike other Biographies, I knew nothing on this subject. I have to admit it bored me at times. However, if I knew more about Mexican history, maybe it would have been more appealing.

Heroes of War Collection - Soldier's Stories (Men of Honor / Courage Under Fire / Tigerland / The Thin Red Line)

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Heroes of War Collection - Soldier's Stories (Men of Honor / Courage Under Fire / Tigerland / The Thin Red Line)
Starring: Denzel Washington , Meg Ryan , Lou Diamond Phillips , Michael Moriarty , and Matt Damon
Director: Edward Zwick , George Tillman Jr. , and Terrence Malick
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000EMGJG8
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Description

Episode Description: GiftSet Includes the Following Titles:

Product Description

This contains 56 minutes of the PBS production and 12 episodes from Gettysburg & Stories of Valor - Civil War Minutes III. Includes: Bravery at Gettysburg, Mystery at Devil's Den, Hallowed Ground, Hancock athe Superb, Lost Drum of Will Mayo, Our Wm is no More, Caught in the Crossfire, John Burns Patriot, Culp's Hill, Destruction at John Fortney's Farm and Pickett's Charge.

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Story of a Three Day Pass
Starring: Harry Baird , Nicole Berger , Pierre Doris , and Christian Marin
Director: Melvin Van Peebles
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000BT997A
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Description

An exploration of contrasting European and American attitudes towards race, Taking place in the 60's, Turner is an African-American soldier stationed in Europe. His Captain gives him a promotion and a three-day to take the weekend off because he thinks he's an exceptional black man. Over the course of the three days, Turner meets a beautiful white Parisian woman and a love affair ensues. Racial misunderstanding and real prejudice complicate the weekend and its aftermath.

Average customer rating:

What on earth was this?
this is the worst movie i have ever seen
Karisatk
TERRIBLE !
Pure P.O.S.

Skeleton Man
Starring: Michael Rooker , Casper Van Dien , Sarah Ann Schultz , Nils Allen Stewart , and Jerry Trimble
Director: Johnny Martin
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BCKFHK
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Customer Reviews:

What on earth was this?.......2007-09-09

A piece of crap, that's what it was. I can't believe even the scifi channel put out something this bad. Coming from me this is almost horrifying since I love scifi's B-rated bombers. I couldn't even laugh at this awful film because I couldn't even figure out what the hell was going on!

this is the worst movie i have ever seen.......2006-11-22

this is the most stupid and most annoying film ever!!!!!!!

the skeleton man is a stupid character

explain to me why despite hundreds of guns shooting to him and he still never got even 1 shot

you dont get scared but you get annoyed

never buy this stupid film

Karisatk.......2006-07-12

This movie was the worst movie and a complete waste of time to watch. Do not buy !!!! ( Buyer beware!!!!) .
There was not plot . The outfits , Skeleton Man, and music were very cheesy !! There was a lot of unnessary death and destruction !!
It was so stupid and meaningless that it will become part of the Hall of Fame of Movie Flops !!!

TERRIBLE !.......2006-06-05

How the H*** could someone get funds to make a movie and not be able to do a little better than this. IDIOTS!The skeleton mans costume looks just like something from a cheap costume outlet. Almost everything about this movie is lame. AVOID AT ALL COST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pure P.O.S........2006-05-02

My god this is so bad and could have been good if it had a plot. The bad dude looks like something off H.R. Puff and Stuff and about as dumb as the smiley face at wallmart, witch is were I bought this P.O.S. for $5.50 and that was $5.40 to much.
Stay away.
Barry

American Short Story Collection: Soldier's Home

Average customer rating:

Best Hemingway on Film

American Short Story Collection: Soldier's Home
Starring: Tom Kubiak , Lisa Essary , Mark La Mura , Nancy Marchand , and Mark Hall
Director: Robert Young (III)
Manufacturer: Monterey Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AXWGS6
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Description

Written By: Teleplay Robert Geller, based on the Ernest Hemingway classic

Starring: Richard Backus, Nancy Marchand

Directed By: Robert Young Harold Krebs ( Richard Backus) went off to fight World War I. Then he came home and found himself wishing it had never ended. To Ernest Hemingway (Pulitzer Prize Winner), the hardest part of the war was coming home. This is the essence of "Soldier's Home" a story with many similarities to the recent experience of our veterans.

Harold finds he doesn't fit in anymore. He's outgrown his old life and now needs peace and quiet to work things out for himself. Yet he's pressured by his loving but misunderstanding mother (Nancy Marchand, The Sopranos) to rejoin a community in which he feels alien. An intense and personal character study from the giant of American Literature, Harold discovers going home is never easy-and maybe isn't even possible.

DVD Features: Author Bio, Actor Bio, Printable Study Guide, About the American Short Story Collection, Audio Interview - Robert Geller, Henry Fonda Intro

Seen on PBS

Customer Reviews:

Best Hemingway on Film.......2005-10-01

While there is a movie of almost every novel Hemingway published in his lifetime, this gem is heads above any other film version of his fiction.

Soldier's Home is a short story based on a World War I veteran's homecoming to his small Oklahoma town, but most recognize the town as as Hemingway's Oak Park, and some of the familial tension as based on his own. The Nick Adams stories of the same period were more identifiably autobiographical; the transposition to Oklahoma with a differently named veteran may have been to erect a second veil of privacy.

But all of this matters little except as orientation. The economy of Hemingway's fictional method included, as a major technique, the witholding of explanatory background and baggage. The problem with most Hemingway films is that they attempt to put back in what he cut. This one does not. It leaves the story straight as Kentucky whiskey, bitter as pickle brine -- effects Hollywood would never likely produce given its commercial demands (public television made this film). The effect is quite startling -- not only the costumes and speech, but the whole invisible aura of the time transmitted as clean as if they had color film and sound back then.

To say much more would spoil the story, except that it effectively explains how the lost generation got lost.

DVD:

DVD

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