Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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David O. Selznick wanted Gone with the Wind to be somehow more than a movie, a film that would broaden the very idea of what a film could be and do and look like. In many respects he got what he worked so hard to achieve in this 1939 epic (and all-time box-office champ in terms of tickets sold), and in some respects he fell far short of the goal. While the first half of this Civil War drama is taut and suspenseful and nostalgic, the second is ramshackle and arbitrary. But there's no question that the film is an enormous achievement in terms of its every resource--art direction, color, sound, cinematography--being pushed to new limits for the greater glory of telling an American story as fully as possible. Vivien Leigh is still magnificently narcissistic, Olivia de Havilland angelic and lovely, Leslie Howard reckless and aristocratic. As for Clark Gable: we're talking one of the most vital, masculine performances ever committed to film. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The type of film that old Hollywood did so well...........2007-09-17

This is one of the greatest films ever made, one of the greatest epics ever made, and it's the signature film of David O. Selznick, one of the great, old Hollywood producers (similar to Irving Thalberg and Darryl F. Zanuck) who are as much auteurs as directors are. The film is 4 hours, yet it never feels long, it's so well made. There are no dull stretches at all in the film, which is amazing, considering the production was rather turbulent at times. The credits say "written by Sidney Howard, produced by David O. Selznick, and directed by Victor Fleming", and that is rather deceptive. Selznick was really the creative force behind this film, as there were nearly 8 writers on the film, and Victor Fleming was one of three directors. Fleming had 2 nervous breakdowns during filming, and he was replaced by Sam Wood and George Cukor. Selznick himself directed some scenes as well. The Technicolor photography is wonderful, and the performances are some of the greatest in cinema. Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable show why they are considered 2 of the greatest actors to ever grace the Hollywood screen. The film is a bit romanticised at times, and it doesn't really go into the major causes of the Civil War, but it's still very entertaining and so well done you don't mind. This is the type of film that old Hollywood could do in their sleep.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE BUT, FRANKLY.....................!.......2007-09-16

I have seen this film only two times prior to this viewing. My mother saw this film at the movies in 1939 and it is her favorite movie! My parents are up for a visit and I decided to break out my 4 disc edition of this American classic and watch it with my parents! This film is made for a larger screen and my home theater was just what the doctor ordered. First off the print and transfer on this 4 disc edition is exceptional! I was amazed at the tight crisp picture and clear audio. The extras are also above and beyond. The movie itself holds up extremely well and moves along much faster than the you would think for a film that is almost four hours long! My mother still thinks this is the best picture ever made and I must admit it is excellent. I may agree that it could be the greatest film from that time period, but not of all time. A masterpiece in story telling that is almost like reading a book. A must see film!

Awesome considering when it was made.......2007-09-06

There are a few silly mistakes in the film, and I was suprised to see they were using blue screen already. However this is a classic drama with great strong performances. Hope someone remakes it someday.

Forever a Favorite.......2007-08-24

Have loved this movie for at least 20 years! Finally took-on the book this summer... if you haven't read it and you feel like conquering something then definitely get your hands on the book! It's a shame so many things were left out of the movie, but once you read the book, so many things are answered and it all comes together. Still, a great classic.

Nice movie.......2007-08-04

First off, I had to write a review of this because currently there are 666 reviews, and that is bad. Mine maked it 667, hurray!

Well, I liked this product. The box smells kind of nice (like anchovies a little). It came in the mail by a nice man who rang my doorbell. It was in a bigger box them and came with lots of styrofoam that came as a free gift. There are 2 discs in the box. They have different pictures on them. They can make good frisbees. Buy this product it will give you a happy day. (And the styrofoam can make a good substitute for popcorn)

Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

The type of film that old Hollywood did so well....
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE BUT, FRANKLY.....................!
Awesome considering when it was made
Forever a Favorite
Nice movie

Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Clark Gable , Vivien Leigh , Leslie Howard , Olivia de Havilland , and Thomas Mitchell
Director: Victor Fleming , George Cukor , and Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002V7TZ6
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com essential video

Description

DVD Features: Disc 1 & 2 (The Film)
* Commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer
* 5.1 Dolby Digital Soundtrack
* Original Mono Soundtrack

DVD Features: Disc 3
* The Making of a Legend: Gone With The Wind the acclaimed 1989 documentary made by Selznick's sons and narrated by Christopher Plummer (125 Minutes, Never-before-available on DVD)
* Restoring a Legend- An in-depth look at the restoration and Ultra-Resolution process utilized by Warner Bros. For this new DVD presentation
* Footage from 1939 Atlanta and 1961 Civil War Centennial Atlanta premieres
* The Old South - Fred Zinnerman directed this historical 1940 theatrical short, which was shown by MGM in theatres prior to the release of Gone With The Wind

DVD Features: Disc 4
* Melanie Remembers: Olivia de Havilland Recalls Gone With The Wind - All new documentary produced especially for this new DVD set, features Ms. de Havilland's personal recollections of the film
* Clark Gable: A King Remembered - A Portrait of the legendary actor's long and distinguished career as M-G-M's most famous leading man
* Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond hosted by Jessica Lange, this is an insightful look at Leigh's short and troubled life
* Mini documentaries covering lives and careers of the most prominent cast members

Customer Reviews:

The type of film that old Hollywood did so well...........2007-09-17

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE BUT, FRANKLY.....................!.......2007-09-16

Awesome considering when it was made.......2007-09-06

Forever a Favorite.......2007-08-24

Nice movie.......2007-08-04

Essential Classics - Romances (Gone with the Wind / Casablanca / Doctor Zhivago)

Average customer rating:

3 classics in one
Excellent Value for the Money.
Essential Classics

Essential Classics - Romances (Gone with the Wind / Casablanca / Doctor Zhivago)
Starring: Clark Gable , Vivien Leigh , Leslie Howard , Olivia de Havilland , and Thomas Mitchell
Director: Victor Fleming , George Cukor , and Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MV9O54
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

This four-disc set, part of Warner's Essential Classics series, collects three truly classic films--Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, and Doctor Zhivago--in one inexpensive package. The drawback is you don't get the bonus second discs of the movies--or, in the case of the deluxe version of Gone with the Wind, the third and fourth discs (the movie of Zhivago is still on a two-sided "flipper" disc)--so if you're a documentary junky or if you simply have to see the Casablanca TV show, you'll want to stick with the individual releases. But this set does include the commentary tracks and any other material that was on the movie discs of those sets, and best of all, they have the great remastered pictures of the previous releases. So if you just want the movies looking better than ever with some bonus features thrown in for good measure, the price per movie makes this set an attractive bargain. --David Horiuchi

Description

Discs 1 & 2: GONE WITH THE WIND Disc 3: CASABLANCA Disc 4: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

Customer Reviews:

3 classics in one.......2007-08-24

I love the quality of the reproductions. Gone with the Wind is 2 disks, that is good, Casablanca is one disk, and why would they put Dr. Zhivago on a 2 sided disk? Couldn't the producers of this set put Dr Z on 2 disks also for those of us who store our disks in a machine?

Excellent Value for the Money........2007-08-05

This set is a bargain. Three of the finest movies of all time in one set for about $30.00. Packaging is done well, with a nice cover. For those who complain that "Gone With the Wind" is not in widescreen format - please understand that there is NO widescreen version of "Gone With the Wind" as widescreen didn't appear until the 1950's and GWTW ("Gone With the Wind") was filmed in 1939! Great performances in all three films and GWTW's cinematography is so excellent that nearly every scene is a painting. So tragic that Leslie Howard, who played Ashley Wilkes in GWTW, was killed only a few years later in World War Two. Great movies all, and a great package deal.

Essential Classics.......2007-03-10

These are three of my favorite movies with some of the best performances I have seen.

Clark Gable was great in "Gone with the Wind", but Vivien Leigh was magnificent and made me a lifelong fan with this movie.

Humphrey Bogart and the beautiful Ingrid Bergman, who could ask for more? In "Casablanca" you also get a great script and "As Time Goes By."

"Doctor Zhivago" gave me my first look into the Russia of the early 20th century. It is also a passionate love story.

The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition)

Average customer rating:

Theatrical version is great
Five Stars For Bold Originality, But...
Will altar your mind...
Change Your Life, Change Everything
GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition)
Starring: Ashton Kutcher , Melora Walters , Amy Smart , Elden Henson , and William Lee Scott
Director: J. Mackye Gruber , and Eric Bress
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0001Z52RU
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Amazon.com

Despite box-office dominance during its opening weekend, The Butterfly Effect is better suited to guilty-pleasure viewing at home. When writer-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber (who penned Final Destination 2) aren't breaking their own haphazard rules of logic, they're filling this sordid thriller with enough unpleasantness to make eternal damnation seem like an attractive alternative. In a role-reversal from his That '70s Show persona, Ashton Kutcher plays a college-age psychology student who discovers, by re-reading his childhood journals, that he can revisit his past and alter traumatic events, hoping to improve their previously unfortunate outcomes. Instead, this foolhardy experiment in chaos theory (the titular "butterfly effect," popularized by Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park) results in a variety of nightmarish permutations, each having dire consequences for him and/or his friends. This intriguing premise is explored with a few interesting twists and turns, but with subplots involving child pornography, animal cruelty, and profanely violent children, it's a stretch to call it entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A young man struggling to access sublimated childhood memories finds a technique that allows him to travel back to the past. Occupying his childhood body, he is able to change history. But every change he makes has unexpected consequences.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes:included in the Director's Cut Version of the film
Alternate endings:included in the Director's Cut version of the film
Audio Commentary:with Director and Screenwriters Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber
DVD ROM Features:Script-to-Screen Link to original Website Exclusive On-disc ROM Content Exclusive content at infinifilm.com
Deleted Scenes:with commentary
Documentaries:--The Science and Psychology of the Chaos Theory --The History and Allure of Time Travel
Featurette:--The Creative Process --Visual Effects
Other:infinifilm Fact Track DIRECTOR'S CUT OF THE FILM--only on DVD (120 minutes) DTS ES 6.1 Sound
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Theatrical version is great.......2007-09-01

I really liked the Theatrical version of this movie. The ending being the major difference between the two versions. The Theatrical ending I found more thought provoking and interesting than the Director's Cut version. One of the reasons I kept thinking about this movie days after I saw it was due to the Theatrical version's ending. I recently saw the Director's Cut version and it did not leave the same effect on me. I thought it still an interesting version but if I could only see one version or only know one story, it would be the Theatrical version.

Five Stars For Bold Originality, But..........2007-08-30

The Butterfly Effect abounded in creative plotlines, but I found the first third of this movie so slow-moving I almost gave up, and I'm someone with a surplus of focusable attention. It was nice to see Ashton Kutcher making the leap to the big screen and I give him full credit for putting his all into a difficult role. I liked the idea that by going back in time and trying to make things better, tiny deeds can set off unforeseen changes to everything that might come after. (Ray Bradbury used this theme well in his classic short story A Sound of Thunder.) In The Butterfly Effect, Kutcher's character returns again and again to his own past in order to try to right the wrongs that ruined the lives of a girl he loved, that girl's emotionally-unstable brother, and a third friend, who also goes on to a pathetic future that can be directly traced to the same key moments. The catch is, of course, that with each interference into the timeline, ripple effects occur and while certain areas of the existence of the four might improve, overall there are unacceptable consequences that inspire yet another trip backward. One weakness to this film was that there was little explanation or exploration of exactly how Kutcher's character was undertaking these jaunts into the past. That was left wide open and wasn't covered very well at all. I can respect saying that something "just is" and going on from there, but it still would have been nice had the means of his ability been fleshed out just a bit more. I also wondered why if the flashbacks to childhood were set (as revealed on a tombstone) in 1995, a relatively recent year, the hairstyles and fashions of the kids looked more like they were from the early `80's. Maybe a subtle effort to give the impression of distance between the latter-day events and the tragedies of once upon a time? Overall The Butterfly Effect was neither great science fiction nor a moving love story but it wasn't visual junk food either. I'll give it five stars for intention, three for what this production ultimately pulled off.

Will altar your mind..........2007-06-22

Many people had mixed feelings about this film when they heard that Ashton Kutcher was to play the lead role. Could he manage to pull of such a dramatic role, profoundly different from his normally comedic role on "That 70's Show?" The answer...yes, without question!

The plot of this movie centers around the subject of time travel and what altering the past can do to the future. However, unlike many other films that deal with the same topic, this keeps an aura of dark reality about it. Not only does it deal with changing future events, it also delves into a deeper meaning than that.

Aside from the obvious premise, this film also shows that your life is your life and you are dealt the cards you are dealt. There is no need to change past events because no matter what you change, there will always be elements of your life you will not be happy with. Also, not to give anything away but unlike many Hollywood movies, this one doesn't necessarily have a happy ending which in my mind is a good thing and perfectly justifies the movie as a whole.

I must say I also felt a lot of good chemistry between Kutcher and Amy Smart. To me, Ashton has proven himself a worthy actor in not only the comedic genre, but also the dramatic roles. Amy Smart seems very natural in this role and doesn't seem to force anything.

Overall this movie is well worth owning and truly shows the potential Ashton has in becoming a serious actor. I have not and don't intend to see the sequel. This is the only "Effect" you'll need to see.

Change Your Life, Change Everything.......2007-06-19

My oppinion: The Butterfly effects is a outstanding sci-fi drama movie. This movie is awesome.

about The Film: The butterfly effect is about a colleage student Evan(Kutcher) who re-reads his childhood jurnals and seems to have the power to re live his life while reading them. most of his childhood was bad so he goes back and tries to fix it. and everytime he does it everything gets worse than What it was.

My second Oppinion: The butterfly effect is a motional trip that people will never forget i recomend this awesome movie to everyone.

if you liked this movie also check out, The Butterfly Effect 2, The Butterfly Effect orginal motion picture soundtrack andt The Butterfly effect movie novel.

GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.......2007-06-08

I first saw previews for this movie while watchin another in the theater, and was fairly interested(reminded me of Jacob's Ladder-GREAT FILM). However, upon release the critics slammed it so I waited for it to come out on DVD. The critics don't know sh**t. This was a great film!! I was mad at myself for listening to dumbass critics and not seeing it sooner. On the flip side seeing it on DVD was A good thing because I got to see the original ending that New Line would not allow. This movie is about how our decitions effect ourselves and the people around us, as well as sacrifice(wich is why the original director's cut of the movie is far superior). The movie starts with a young evan, who after visiting his friend, starts to have blackouts. After the first blackout, A doctor tells Evan's mother that he should keep a journal to help him remember events that occur during the blackouts. The movie shows Evan at different parts in his life, all dealing with very traumatic events followed by a blackout. Flashforward years later, after a rocky visit to his childhood friend, she commits suicide. After her funeral he finds that by reading his journals he his able to mentally time-travel to the point of the blackouts(did he cause the blackouts himself by projecting his mind? interesting paradox). Evan then proceeds to alter the past to save Keyliegh, but with every change, he alters the present to unexpected and disasterous consequences(hence the term "Butterfly Effect"-from The Chaos Theory). The time travel is used in the background and to compliment the very emotional drama. fans of Jacob's Ladder, Twelve Monkeys, and the Sixth Sence will love this movie. cult classic!!!

Average customer rating:

The type of film that old Hollywood did so well....
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE BUT, FRANKLY.....................!
Awesome considering when it was made
Forever a Favorite
Nice movie

Gone with the Wind
Starring: Clark Gable , Vivien Leigh , Leslie Howard , Olivia de Havilland , and Thomas Mitchell
Director: Victor Fleming , George Cukor , and Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004RF96
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Vivien Leigh is Scarlett to Clark Gable's Rhett in cinema's greatest epic of passion and adventure. With its immortal cast, magnificent cinematography and sweeping score, this cherished classic continues to thrill audiences today. Year: 1939

Customer Reviews:

The type of film that old Hollywood did so well...........2007-09-17

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE BUT, FRANKLY.....................!.......2007-09-16

Awesome considering when it was made.......2007-09-06

Forever a Favorite.......2007-08-24

Nice movie.......2007-08-04

Average customer rating:

fine Ethel Waters vehicle with more stars than there were in the heavens to support her...
Cabin In The Sky
Excellent package of a piece of history
Historical Gem
Old Time Religion

Cabin in the Sky
Starring: Ethel Waters , Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson , Lena Horne , Louis Armstrong , and Rex Ingram
Director: Vincente Minnelli , and Busby Berkeley
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000BNTMAA
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com

The first film directed by Vincente Minnelli (who directed the original Broadway version), this musical offers its pleasures, but also may make you squirm at the racial stereotypes that were considered both acceptable and entertaining in 1943. A story of the struggle between good and evil for the soul of a man named Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson), the film plays with the same kind of racial notions that made Stepin Fetchit a star. Still, there's much to recommend it, particularly performances by some of the greatest musical stars of the day: Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, among others. The film also includes a terrific score, a combination effort by Ellington, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, and E.Y. Harburg that includes the song "Taking a Chance on Love." --Marshall Fine

Description

Hollywood's first all-black film since The Green Pastures tells the vibrant fable of rascally Little Joe, torn between the love of his good wife Petunia and the wiles of good-time bad girl Georgia Brown...and caught in a tug-of-war between emissaries from the Lord and Satan. How can virtue triumph over evil? Well, as Petunia says, "Sometimes when you fight the devil, you gotta jab him with his own pitchfork." Debuting movie director Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris, Gigi) and stars Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are more than a match for the devil in this musical treasure. With a soundtrack of dazzling standards including Taking a Chance on Love and Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe, Cabin in the Sky is a joyous classic.

Customer Reviews:

fine Ethel Waters vehicle with more stars than there were in the heavens to support her..........2007-09-04

Cabin In The Sky was only the third or fourth film to be made with an all African American cast after "talkies" were introduced. MGM bought the film rights to the stage play of the same name and gave the project to first time director Vincente Minnelli. Wow, how wonderfully it all worked out!

The action begins with Little Joe Jackson (Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) and his wife Petunia (Ethel Waters) going to church on a Sunday morning. Trouble is, the very religious Petunia worries that Little Joe won't make it to heaven because of his gambling problems. Although Joe goes into the church with Petunia, he soon sneaks out to meet up with his old gambling buddies. They remind Joe of his gambling debts to them; and they convince Joe to come with them and gamble just one more time at Club Paradise.

Well, at The Paradise Club Joe is mortally wounded in a shooting; and then the action REALLY begins. Back at home, Joe fights for his life; but there's also another struggle beginning. Lucifer, Jr. (Rex Ingram), the son of the Devil who wants Joe to go to hell for gambling, becomes entangled with The General (Kenneth Spencer), an agent of the Lord, who wants Joe to get into heaven. It is decided that Joe can live another six months so that they can determine where Joe will go--heaven or hell.

The Devil's agents throw the "temptation" of money and the remarkably attractive Georgia Brown (Lena Horne, seen here in her screen debut) at Joe to make him gamble and womanize as he cheats on Petunia. Meanwhile the agents of God stay equally close to Joe, coaching him all the way to help him stay the course and be a good man.

Will Joe manage to prove himself to the Lord that he is worthy of heaven--or will he be sent to hell for his sins? What happens between Petunia and Joe when Petunia sees Joe with Georgia Brown? How will the agents of both God and the Devil fight amongst themselves over which side gets Joe? No spoilers here, folks; you'll just have to watch the movie to find out.

The choreography couldn't be better; the dancing and the crowd scenes are extremely well done. The cinematography is equally good. The plot moves along at a good pace; and the musical performances by Ethel Waters stun me with her sensitive delivery of each ballad. Look for Ethel to sing "Taking A Chance On Love" and "Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe." Duke Ellington also happens to perform at The Paradise Club; they make awesome music! Louis Armstrong makes a brief cameo appearance as one of the devil's agents; his talent was completely wasted in this movie. Butterfly McQueen, who plays Lily, a friend of Petunia's, also gets a role much too small for her. Sigh.

The film has many talented actors and performers in it; but truthfully it belongs to Ethel Waters who gives a riveting performance as Petunia Jackson.

The DVD extras include commentary and audio outtakes with still photos while you listen to what was left out of the movie. You also get outtake footage of Lena Horne performing "Ain't It The Truth."

Cabin In The Sky remains a fantastic motion picture jammed full of remarkable talent from an all African American cast. The morality concept of the struggle between heaven and hell is somewhat dated; and the racial stereotypes that were considered "OK" when this movie was made are practically embarrasing.

Despite the flaw regarding racial stereotypes, I still highly recommend this film for fans of African American cinema because it is one of the first movies to have an all black cast. In addition, people who enjoy classic MGM musicals will love the numerous musical numbers in this film as well.

Enjoy!

Cabin In The Sky.......2007-08-26

So, what do you do when the cable goes out on a stormy night? Pop in the DVD of one of those old movies that has been sitting on your shelf for months, collecting dust and just waiting to be watched. A wonderfully done tale of a man's struggle to get on and stay on the straight and narrow while being tempted into the ways of the wicked and evil. Ethel Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson are perfectly suited as Petunia and Little Joe, Rex Ingram is great (as always) in the role of Lucifer Jr. Lena Horne, stunningly beautiful but underused in her role as the temptress Georgia Brown.

An all Black cast, interesting dialogue, great performances - a really good film for its time.

Excellent package of a piece of history.......2007-08-26

The merits and weaknesses of this film are documented thoroughly - the merits include the legendary performers, a couple of superb Harold Arlen songs, stylish direction from Vincente Minnelli and great black and white photograpy; the weaknesses include a plot of painful piety and a rich display of black stereotypes; but this is the 21st Century and the preservation of this film is important, weaknesses included.

The DVD contains a superb print and a very good commentary which explores all the subtexts and the context of the film. The commentary correctly summarises the value of the film - preservation of the performers at their peak and a visual document reflecting a period in the evolution of the Afro-American. The commentary includes Lena Horne herself adding a few observations - invaluable. Only Drew Casper grates with his usual breathless repetitive delivery.

The DVD also contains a lengthy audio outake of Louis Armstrong which is great listening, an MGM short which contains Horne's version of "Ain't it the Truth" sung in a bubble bath (far too sexy for public consumption at that time) and the original theatrical trailer. This is an excellent package.

Historical Gem.......2007-05-07

Thank God this film has been saved as a historical reference for African-Americans in film. It is a treasure, a gem and a legacy.

Old Time Religion.......2007-04-09

This is a sweet and funny tale about the dangers of sin and the way of redemption.

Average customer rating:

It's as bad an adaptation as they get.
Not an great adaptation
A brief historical document
A must know history
good movie

In the Time of the Butterflies
Starring: Salma Hayek , Edward James Olmos , Mía Maestro , Demián Bichir , and Pilar Padilla
Director: Mariano Barroso
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000063K0I
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

In the Time of the Butterflies tells the real-life story of the Mirabal sisters, courageous revolutionaries known covertly as las Mariposas ("the Butterflies"). The sisters' years of dissent during the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic led to their eventual murder in 1960, a brutal crime that signaled the beginning of the end for Trujillo. Told through the eyes of Minerva Mirabal (Salma Hayek), the story follows a somewhat predictable plot line as the sisters progress rapidly from naive to idealistic to victimized and on to resolved as they become leaders in an elaborate plot to assassinate the dictator. As with so many biographical depictions on film, even though this one is based on a highly acclaimed novel by Julia Alvarez, the narrative shifts from past to present are clumsy and excessively sepia-toned; the script delivers its life-was-better-before-sequence with little to no grace before quickly connecting the dots of history. Nevertheless, Edward James Olmos, as Trujillo, does a remarkable job of conveying the unique mixture of political intuition and ruthlessness needed to maintain a dictatorship for 30 years, while Hayek delivers a spirited lead performance. --Fionn Meade

Description

Academy Award® nominee* Salma Hayek gives a powerful, passionate performance as an idealistic young woman who wages a daring struggle for freedom against a murderous dictator (Academy Award® nominee** Edward James Olmos) in this moving thriller that, "with brutal simplicity, dramatizes the personal toll of political tyranny" (San Francisco Chronicle). For generations, General Rafael Trujillo (Olmos) has ruled the Dominican Republic with a mixture of terrorand savagery until Minerva Mirabal (Hayek) dares to oppose him. Inspired by her love for a rebel leader (Marc Anthony), Minerva and her sistersknown as Las Mariposas ("The Butterflies")endure unimaginable hardships in a battle for the very soul of a nation. But as their acts of bravery gain notoriety, Trujillo's forces close in, determined to put an end to Minerva's heroics. *Actress, Frida (2002) **Actor, Stand and Deliver (1988)

Customer Reviews:

It's as bad an adaptation as they get........2007-08-09

This is a poor adaptation of the book... I mean really bad. The book was great... this movie on the other hand is NOT worth buying.

Not an great adaptation.......2007-04-04

Although the film was entertaining, it was in no way an accurate adaptation of Alvarez's novel. I'm very disappointed.

A brief historical document.......2007-03-13

I think this is a good briefing for foreing people to understand the kind of life the Dominican Republic lived and why dominican appreciates democracy and try to defend the road to a steady democracy. Although there are some details a little bit unreal, most of the movie is good for it purposes.

A must know history.......2006-07-31

The historical interpretation of the movie was on target. It portrays the atrocities commited by the dictator of Dominican Republic, Trujillo. The movie captured the essence of the life of Dominicans at the time. It is definately a must see movie because it is a part of history that we must not forget.

good movie.......2006-02-24

I love Selma Hayeck and Marc Anthony. They did a great job. I wish the movie would have shown more of the prison scenes. But all in all it was a good movie.

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell

Average customer rating:

5 Star movie 4 star opera.
Madam Butterfly -- the movie
A SHAME I COULDN'T GIVE IT FIVE STARS
Two reservations
A long time coming.

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell
Starring: Ying Huang , Richard Troxell , Ning Liang , Richard Cowan (II) , and Jing Ma Fan
Director: Frédéric Mitterrand
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UVDM
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Amazon.com

Like the finest of film scores with its fluid beauty and succession of intensely romantic tunes, Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly has a surprisingly cinematic feel. In 1995 director Frederic Mitterand exploited this quality of the story, exposing a young woman's disillusionment against a backdrop of cultural chasms. Shot on location, with Tunisia doubling convincingly as a turn-of-the-century Nagasaki, this Butterfly shines with fragile beauty. The house becomes a brilliantly used set, at once airy and full of the scent of flowers and at the same time a cage for the trapped woman. Archive footage of bygone Nagasaki is used skillfully to underline the distance between the 15-year-old bride and Pinkerton.

Purists may prefer a more traditionally robust, stage-bound Butterfly, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more visually heartbreaking interpretation. Chinese soprano Ying Huang doesn't rock the rafters with her vocal power; hers is a tender, delicately observed performance. Tenor Richard Troxell's self-seeking Pinkerton is well sung. Overall, this is a haunting cinematic treatment of an enduringly popular opera. --Piers Ford

Description

Madame Butterfly is the heartwrenching story of a beautiful young geisha who sacrifices her family, her religion and, ultimately, her life for her American husband. Butterfly is the young bride of Lieutenant Pinkerton, who buys Butterfly's love while stationed in Japan and with no intention of ever taking her home to America. Martin Scorsese presents this award-winning film based on the popular opera. 133 minutes. Cast:

Ying Huang: Cio-Cio-San
Richard Troxell: Pinkerton
Ning Liang: Suzuki
Richard Cowan: Sharpless
Jing Ma Fan: Goro
Christopheren Nòmura: Prince Yamadori
Constance Hauman: Kate Pinkerton

Customer Reviews:

5 Star movie 4 star opera........2007-07-17

If you are an opera lover this may not quite be up to your standards, but for someone who has not been to an opera it would be a great "First Opera" to preview and see live. The realism of the set leaves no detail out about the plot, although (I won't give it away), the last 10 seconds are not quite what most Opera Companies do or Puccini intended. (See the cover).

Madam Butterfly -- the movie.......2007-05-13

The film rendition is beautiful, although visibly low budget. It is so difficult to translate the artificial settings of the opera to film, but this production succeeds very well. Cho cho San and Pinkerton are much more convincing in appearance than in most operatic productions, so I will probably be spoiled for any live productions in the future. The extra materials make it clear how their voices are so perfect throughout despite outdoor scenes and lots of wandering. Oh, the wonders of film! Yet, you are never aware of the lip-syncing.

My only criticism of this film is in the editing. It was unfortunate that in the interest of dramatic continuity some of the original music was edited out.

A SHAME I COULDN'T GIVE IT FIVE STARS.......2007-03-23

To me, this is the best presentation of Madame Butterfly. The singing is excellent and Miss Huang's portrayal of the tragic heroine is heart-breaking.The interior sets and outdoor photography are pleasing to see, and so are the costumes.What I didn't like has been said before. Why the director chose to have Butterfly's uncle crash the wedding celebration via the air like a character out of Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon is a great puzzlement to me. It jars the realism shown up to this point. The insertion of old Japanese martial film during the singing of the beautiful humming chorus is a terrible disservice to the music and the plot, not to mention the film's distraction to the viewer. Close your eyes at this point and concentrate on the lovely music. The omission of the orchestral interlude and bird songs from the waiting scene bothered me. One more small complaint. During the love duet at the end of the first act, the director has the singers sing facing front instead of to one another. This is practical in an opera house so the voices can be heard better, but in a film where the voices are recorded electronically, this is unnecessary. I would love to give this 5 stars, but I can't for the reasons cited.
But, Hey, 4 stars ain't chopped liver!

Two reservations.......2007-03-17

Ying Huang, especially, acts touchingly, but both she and Richard Troxell have, by operatic standards, disappointingly thin voices, although she modulates hers quite beautifully.

Unfortunately I stopped watching before the end after a gratuitous scene where a small bird in a tiny cage is tormented with a stick. I would like to think this was clever computer graphics, but I don't think so.

A long time coming........2007-01-19

This was the first time I experienced an Opera in full. I was fifteen (ten years ago...) and it has stuck with me ever since. It was, for me, the perfect choice for an introduction into this art. Other versions I own can be garish in both sight and sound. This production was melodic and made me into a lover of Opera. Very well done!

Puccini - Madama Butterfly / Freni, Domingo, Ludwig, Kerns, Senechal, von Karajan

Average customer rating:

"He'll call `Butterfly' from the distance"
Butterfly dies...but NOT soon enough...
Come on, people...it isn't that bad
Shame,Shame,Shame!!!
Karajan magnificent in unique treatment of familiar tragedy

Puccini - Madama Butterfly / Freni, Domingo, Ludwig, Kerns, Senechal, von Karajan
Starring: Mirella Freni , Plácido Domingo , Christa Ludwig , Robert Kerns , and Michel Sénéchal
Director: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007P0LO8
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

Of all Puccini's major operas, the intimate tragedy of Madama Butterfly is least in need of elaborate staging and might therefore benefit most from the close scrutiny of film. The story is domestic, the setting Spartan, the incidental characters kept to a minimum. This 1974 version, however, demonstrates that Butterfly still needs a healthy injection of proscenium arch melodrama. Director Jean-Pierre Ponelle's production strives for realism but remains unfortunately studio-bound, having neither the benefit of location filming nor the heightened reality of an opera stage. The exterior is a perpetually fog-shrouded heath of indeterminate locale; the interior is cramped and unadorned. The setting is just too prosaic to contain the epic emotions of grand opera.

Thankfully, the cast is a superb one, headed by Plácido Domingo's rakish Pinkerton and Mirella Freni's rubicund Butterfly. Their singing is incomparable, as is Herbert von Karajan's musical direction of the Vienna Philharmonic. The singers mime to prerecorded music, which is occasionally disconcerting since when film demands close-ups, opera provides broad gestures. Musically, this Butterfly is impeccable. Visually it adds nothing that could not be seen to better effect in a stage version. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews:

"He'll call `Butterfly' from the distance".......2007-04-22

It is the late 1800's. An American naval captain, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton (Plácido Domingo) is stationed in Japan. As is tradition he has a girl in every port. That is except Japan. So he is matched up with a poverty stricken teen Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly (Mirella Freni.) Butterfly dumps her old religion (which infuriates her relatives) and clings to Pinkerton. Naturally the day will come when Pinkerton will need a proper American wife. So how does Cio-Cio react? (Puccini music at his best.) The story based on John Luther Long's novella about the relationship between an American navel officer and a former geisha.

At first this looks like a 60's movie with voiceover. Placido looks a little like an Italian Hercules. But as time grows on you realize that they actually did a pretty good job of staging. There are plenty of implications that are not in the songs; so the story is better fleshed out than many of the stage versions. Naturally this film can not compete with live performances but it defiantly is worth it for the music and they are not dressed up in bug suits with antenni. This movie does gibe the impression that Puccini did not like Americans.

Butterfly dies...but NOT soon enough..........2006-06-27

I have a large collection of opera dvds. Many people only prefer to purchase staged versions, but I don't mind movie versions as well. They give you an entirely new prospective to the story...if its done well. This production of Butterfly is one of the worst productions of ANYTHING that I have ever seen. Once you see the opening scene, when Domingo begins running through a random field, you should brace yourself, because it only goes downhill from there. The singing is quite good, but the cinematography and the staging is absolutely attrocious. The camera angles are just bad and the sequence from Act 2 to Act 3 (which is all done as one act in this production) looks very, very, STUPID. The best part of this production is Butterfly's death, which leaves Pinkerton in a state of...well, you just have to see it. That is the only promising piece of staging in the whole production. If you want to save some money, I would not suggest buying this production unless you want to get a couple of opera friends together, and have a nice laugh...

Come on, people...it isn't that bad.......2006-05-30

I can't understand all this carping about how rotten Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's film is. Okay, this isn't Orson Welles. The film is certainly flawed, with a few cheesy moments, most of which have been mentioned in other reviews(the opening, with Domingo in a T-shirt comically running through a paper wall, the bizarre dream sequence, Goro as a bucktoothed stereotype). These flaws are what prevent me from giving the film a five star rating. But there are also some very beautiful moments, and besides, from an aural standpoint, you aren't going to find a better performance of Madama Butterfly ANYWHERE. Get a grip, folks. To hear Freni and Domingo at their prime singing what is arguably Puccini's greatest score(it is certainly his most beautiful) conducted by Herbert von Karajan, and for under twenty dollars, I would be willing to put up with the singers running around in clown makeup for two-and-a-half hours. The music making on this disc is simply too good not to be recommended just because the filmmaker's ambitions occasionally tax his reach.

For me, a good opera film captures the mood of the music. Butterfly is probably Puccini's most atmospheric, lush, and dreamy score(although La Fanciulla del West is stiff competition), and Ponnelle's film is appropriately dreamlike. Let's use the marvelous love duet that ends the first act as an example. For me, this duet, along with Liu's death scene from Turandot, represents Puccini at the very height of his musical-dramatic brilliance. The music is rapturous and erotic, delaying the crescendo until the moment becomes almost unbearable. Ponnelle paints this music in dreamlike images of ever-increasing passion. Granted, this film was made in 1974, so some of the more trippy moments might seem a little dated, but if you take that into account, the moment is beautifully filmed, haunting and evocative, just like the score. The image perfectly matches the music...isn't that what opera on film is all about? If this were the only example of this perfect union of sound and vision, then I would be less enthusiastic about the film as a whole, but throughout most of Madama Butterfly, Ponnelle manages that lush, languorous tide of images that matches Puccini's flowing music.

Regarding the sound portion, as I said before, you won't hear Butterfly performed better, that is a guarantee. Mirella Freni IS Cio-Cio-San, the innocence, the passion, the self-delusion, the heartbreak. Oh, and she sings the role to perfection, capturing the character's timidity and strength. Butterfly's entrance is probably my favorite musical entrance in all opera, and hearing Freni's singing, quiet at first and from a distance, gradually building as she and her bridal party make their arrival, is a breathtaking moment, outclassing any staged production I have ever seen. A very young Placido Domingo is in prime voice, and is ideally cast as the rake B.F. Pinkerton, initially cavalier to the point of being cruel, later violently regretful(too little, too late). He does look somewhat risible running in slow motion with his arms flailing about in his handlebar mustache, but overall he is a fine romantic lead. Robert Kerns has a strong and compassionate baritone voice, which matches his character's best qualities, the voice of reason, Pinkerton's disregarded conscience. Having Christa Ludwig in the role of Suzuki might be considered luxury casting, since her character is less prominent, but she makes the most of her time onstage as the matronly confidante to Butterfly, she is definitely at her prime vocally at this point in her career. Von Karajan's conducting is also in its prime, not as slow as it sometimes is, or else I didn't notice it because the slowness matches the languid tempo of much of the music. The sound quality is clear and full-bodied enough that hardly any of the notes are obscured.

Forget the negative reviews. If you love Butterfly, give this a chance. There are flaws, but considering the strengths of the performances and of much of the film, those flaws are easily overlooked.

Shame,Shame,Shame!!!.......2006-05-07

How can a respected company like DG can issue a DVD with such a poor film quality?

Karajan magnificent in unique treatment of familiar tragedy.......2006-05-05

I completely disagree with some of the reviewers. How easy it is to misunderstand a fine director's intentions!
The story of "Butterfly" is one of the most sordid tragedy in all opera repertoire. Think about it. An innocent 15 year old girl to escape poverty, thru a profit-hungry marriage broker, marries an opportunistic and unscrupulous American sea captain who seduces and abandons her.. She is cursed and abandoned by society, robbed of her child and driven to suicide.
So what do the reviewers want? Pretty Japanese scenery with Fujijama in the background?
The director created a unique film that's atmospheric, surrealistic, colorless to suit this story. The set: a nondescript cottage surrounded by a depressing barren field. Characters are well drawn, even the secondary ones. (eg. the grotesque but frightening Goro or the terrifying Bonzo).
It is unfortunate that the 15 year old Cio-Cio San is played by a much older singer which is illusion destr