Description

Historical drama exposing the famous love triangle in King Arthur's Court. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Exciting and Lush Arthur Tale
1953's KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE was MGM's first wide-screen motion picture (filmed in CinemaScope in England). What the film lacks in scripting is made up by spectacular and brilliant cinematography by Freddie Young, colorful art designs by Alfred Junge and Hans Peters and an exciting score composed by Miklos Rozsa (a prelude to his majestic EL CID score). Robert Taylor looks good as Sir Lancelot of the Lake. Mel Ferrer is King Arthur. Ava Gardner is Queen Guinevere. (Sir) Stanley Baker comes off best as Sir Modred who plots to undermine King Arthur. There are large-scale battles and much swordplay throughout the adventure. The sword fight between Sir Lancelot and King Arthur is well filmed and the most dramatic which sets the stage for the relationship between these two men. There is another sword fight later in the film between Sir Lancelot and Sir Modred's men. This is a well-staged and choreographed duel which takes place on the steps outside Lancelot's quarters in the castle. Despite all this swordplay the story is somewhat static and does not really evoke that much emotion from the viewer. However director Richard Thorpe is successful in conveying Guinevere's love, through a restrained but effective performance by Ava Gardner, for Sir Lancelot. Ultimately it is a solid film in the old Hollywood traditions of storytelling.

GENERALLY STILTED PRODUCTION - NICE LOOKING DVD
"Knights of the Round Table" was MGM's first feature in the newly christened widescreen format of Cinemascope and the studio's inexperience with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio, in retrospect, is rather obvious. The audience is treated to drawn out battle scenes (that are thrilling) and lavish spectacle. But the whole look and feel of the film is very theatrical, like Shakespeare on stage. Robert Taylor, usually so natural, is uncomfortably stiff as Lancelot, while Mel Ferrer fairs slightly better as King Arthur. Ava Gardner is wasted as Gueneviere. Sets and rear projection are glaringly obvious. Over all, for its historical context in the early days of widescreen film, more than entertainment value, "Knights" is a worthwhile movie.
Warner Home Video has given us a generally good looking print. No attempt has been made to remove age related artifacts from the negative. Overall, the quality of the transfer is very smooth though, at times, it can seem somewhat digitally harsh. Exterior footage tends to suffer from a considerable amount of film grain while interiors are well balanced. Black levels are perhaps a bit weak and fine details are lost in the darker scenes. Close ups look gorgeous. Long shots suffer from pixelization. Fades between scenes tend to suffer from a sudden grainy quality that is customary for all Cinemascope film stock of this period. The audio is stereo surround and amply provided for considering the limitations in the original recording.

EXTRAS: Mel Ferrer comments on the film's production. There's a featurette movietone trailer and the film's original theatrical trailer too.
OVER ALL: Not a bad movie but an incredibly dated one, "Knights of the Round Table" nevertheless offers up a good example of vintage Cinemascope film making from the 1950's.

Calvary Charges, Fierce Battles and Pageantry
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE is a movie about the classic tale of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot's ill-fated love for Guinevere is played out against a background of cavalry charges, fierce battles and pageantry. The plot is amplified by the rivalry between Lancelot and Mordred as well as Sir Percival's quest for the Holy Grail. Merlin appears in the film as an advisor to Arthur and Lancelot's wife dies while giving birth to the future Sir Gallahad.

Robert Taylor as Lancelot and Mel Ferrer as Arthur are both superb. Ava Gardner makes a beautiful Guinevere but her acting seems to be a little flat. The strong supporting cast includes Stanley Blake, Felix Aylmer and Robert Urguhart.

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE received Academy Award nominations for Best Color, Art Direction and Sound. The main competition for Oscars in 1953 came from STALAG 17, ROMAN HOLIDAY and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

Richard Thorpe also directed Robert Taylor in IVANHOE in 1952.

The Age of Chivalry
A very enjoyable movie about the legend of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. Robert Taylor is perfect as Lancelot... noble and chivalrous, although human at the same time. Colorful and full of heraldry, if you like stories of the age of chivalry, you'll enjoy this.

Knight of the Round Table
I've always like a Robert Taylor movie. It's one of those movies, you could add to your video collection, and watch it again periodically. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great movie, but truly lousy MGM DVD transfer
This '60s heist movie sparkles, dazzles, and charms with its strong international cast, story adapted from an Eric Ambler mystery novel, and typically great direction from Jules (Rafifi) Dassin. Dassin gets a truly captivating performance from his wife Melina Mercouri as a thief obsessed with stealing the Topkapi emeralds, and an Academy Award-winning comic turn from Peter Ustinov. This was my favorite movie of all time when watching it on tv as a child. I waited a while to see it on DVD. Sadly, MGM seems to have transferred the movie through a vat of mud. The source print is faded and looks lousy. The movie is great, as is the theme song.

Wonderfully entertaining, with great Ustinov performance
One of my favorite films, and quite possibly the most entertaining caper movie of all time. A jewell thief (Melina Mercouri) has her heart set on a fabulous emerald-encrusted dagger. The priceless object is being kept at the high-security Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. Mercouri enlists the aid of sometime lover (and professional thief) Maximilian Schell to devise and execute an intricate plan of stealing the dagger. Schell assembles a team that includes Robert Morley as an inventor and electronics expert, and Peter Ustinov as a small-time con man who doesn't realize that he's part of the scheme. Ustinov is persuaded to spy on Mercouri's group by Turkish authorities who think the gang members are terrorists, but he is eventually made aware of the actual intentions of the thieves. The first few minutes of TOPKAPI may lead you to believe that you're in store for one of those hopelessly fluffy "comedies" of the 60's. But don't be fooled. From the moment the jovially frantic music score is played over the opening credits, rest assured that you're about to be treated to a light-hearted, fast-paced movie that expertly combines humor, suspense, and thrills. The international cast is great, but Peter Ustinov is especially delightful to watch in the role that won him the 1964 Oscar for best supporting actor. As Arthur Simpson, a shifty yet sympathetic character who gets used by just about everyone in the film, Ustinov easily steals the movie (although Akim Tamiroff also has his share of funny moments as a drunken cook). This film has all the elements for a first-rate piece of entertainment: an engaging cast, exotic locales, good dialogue, and artful direction by Jules Dassin whose earlier work in RIFIFI partly inspired this movie. TOPKAPI is a wonderfully entertaining motion picture that should appeal to everyone.

DVD Widescreen Transfer Is Perfect
I must elaborate more on the reviewer who said that the transfer to DVD looked like it had been dragged through a vat of mud. I had the movie on VHS tape and knew what to expect of it. The reviewer may have only noted the first 6-7 minutes of the movie which I would call a dream sequence with shades of different colors around the screen. Once this sequence is over, the movie is normal and the transfer to DVD which I rented was perfect. The movie was just as it is on my VHS tape but of better quality, of course.

Topkapi
This is in the end a good caper movie and maybe worth watching because its possible a lot its elements have been emulated in other films like the Pink Panther, Mission:Impossible and Entrapment.
It is a jewel theft caper involving a hypersensitive floor security system, where you drop in from the roof. I am not giving anything away that isn't in the trailer. But it is stuff you have now seen many times before. The gymnastics and plotting of how that is carried out is the variance. There is some pretty good tension in pulling off the crime.
As in any movie like this, whether you like it depends a lot more on whether you like the characters. And this is the point where the film gets a little iffy for me. This is the first Melina Mercouri I have seen. So I don't have the perspective of years prior knowing what a great beauty she was. I am going to get in trouble for calling it as I see it her. Melina Mercouri is an attractive enough older woman but well past her prime and trying and failing to hide it behind hair died from silver gray to blonde and heavy mascara and eyeshadow. But perhaps she is merely past her prime and just unapologetic and sassy about it.
The effect is the same. She is a little grotesque.Maximillian Schell on the other hand is a truly handsome and suave as the organizer of the plot.
Peter Ustinov is cute. As a fairly early role you see him here developing a lot of his most popular affectations that will serve him well in future roles. This production seems a little low budget and doesn't show off his distinctive voice and mannerisms as well as a film with more deft camera direction and better sound can. The stalwart British character actor Robert Morely as the inventor is very good. Also on the team is a brutish strong man who seems to have little purpose in the film who is partnered with an acrobat who cleverly mimes most of his part because he is a mute.
Ordinarily I don't have much trouble making allowances for the style of films of the various decades but Topkapi has a style that to me seems particularly dated and tips the hand of its minimal budget badly. There are many filler shots of the marketplace and locals of Istanbul that aren't particularly interesting and slow the pace of the film down. Also the image and sound is of marginal quality and frequently dubbed though it is an english speaking film.Its not out of synch but it has that odd unnatural feel to it. If you mind has the mental alacrity to make allowances for this its a clever enough film to keep you entertained. But I can't imagine anyone under 25 raised on modern production values not being a little antsy and impatient deciphering some of the slightly muffled heavy accents of the international cast.

Certainly a better film than Entrapment. I think overall the film is merely OK. Either of the Ocean's Eleven films does has a more entertaining ensemble cast and are more fun to watch in this genre.

rififi....
A band of thieves, assembled by a deliciously intent Mercouri, attempts to steal a fabulous emerald-encrusted dagger from the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. The utimate theft is depicted in a long sequence reminiscent of his earlier heist scene-but this time with considerably more levity. Dassin assembled a flawless cast of charming rogues and charlatans, including Peter Ustinov in an especially humorous performance that earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. If you are not a WT, then it is a very nice movie for you.... ... Read more

Description

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, the moving and inspirational drama Mask, starring Cher, Eric Stoltz and Sam Elliott, is the extraordinary award-winning film based on the real-life story of Rocky Dennis, a disfigured teenager who overcomes pain, loneliness and prejudice through fierce determination, emerging as an outstanding young man and an inspiration to his classmates and teachers.

The Mask DVD includes the Directors Cut of the film, and as a special bonus, the original Bruce Springsteen soundtrack, which was created for the film but never released in theaters.It contains several of his top hits, such as "Badlands," "Thunder Road" and "Born in the USA. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Real and Moving
Mask is one of those rare "true story" movies that remains that way when it hits the big screen. It also houses an absolutely fabulous performance by Cher, as well as by Eric Stoltz.

Mask is about a boy named Rocky Dennis who is well above average in every way. If it weren't for a degenerative disease that horribly disfigured his face since birth, the world would probably see him that way. At first, those that meet him are understandably nervous and scared, but with an airy confidence, he wins his classmates and peers over.

That confidence comes from his mother, played by Cher. She is an attractive, drug addicted single mother with an on again, off again fling with Gar, played by Sam Elliot. Cher convincingly and movingly plays a mother riddled with insecurites, but in love with her son, who represents to her all she wishes she could be. She was born with the huge advantage of being beautiful, she dropped out of school and got pregnant. She lookes at Rocky and sees someone who was born with every disadvantage (a disfigured face and a short life) and who is confident, responsible, hardworking, and happy. He is also valedictorian of his high school class.

Ever since she had Rocky, she has been strong and tough, making it clear that Rocky will not be treated any differently than anyone else. Rocky takes from that confidence and gives it back to his Mom with the way he lives his life...getting up every morning, facing the world, being happy, taking care of himself, and preparing for and dreaming of a future that he may never have. Her hatred for herself is transcended only by her pure love and open admiration for her son.

I have seen Mask a number of times over the years, but I have to say it gets me every time. It is a movie that deals, realistically and truthfully with a disease that seems almost unreal. But the lessons learned and the topics raised have little to do with the "Mask" and more about the connection between a mother and her son.

Will tug at the heart-strings
Even someone with a heart of stone will feel for the characters featured in this film, which is based on a true story.

Both Cher & Eric Stoltz give moving performances, as a biker babe mother 'addicted' to drink and drugs, and a son, who can't get a girl, and is severely facially deformed.

I originally saw this movie quite a few years, and only remembered the scene where he's in high school, and he talks about being from Planet Vulcan.

Of course, the facial disease Rocky Dennis has is fatal, so obviously, you know what the ending will be. And the tears ended up tripping me - this is another film that I can add to my "Films I Cry At" list. My mum grabbed it, as she loves true stories, and it's not a film I will ever watch again - I hate crying at films!!! It's only a story is what I keep getting told, but it doesn't work. But you feel for the characters so much.

The real Rusty Dennis apparently was a consultant to the great Cher on this movie, and is now rumoured to be battling a drink & drug addiction - and can you blame her? The Cher gave when she found Eric Stoltz had died in his sleep, was almost too realistic.

Cher gives a great performance in this movie. It's one of the very rare movies where she isn't wooden - although she does advertise her plastic surgeon a lot. This is a movie to watch purely for Cher, to see her before she overdone the plastic surgery, and is does a farewell tour every couple of years.

Eric Stoltz is unrecognisable in his role of Rocky. He must have had a very boring time sitting for so long in make-up!

A very moving film, and totally worth watching!

I like this movie but it is pretty sad
I think its pretty sad like he dies at the end.Me and my 3 other 11 year old friends watched this movie and we first couldn't look at his face because it looked so weird.And we thought he only had a mask on.But I like this film.His mum has a angry managment and takes drugs.Well but I still recomend this for all ages.

unforgetable
IN 1987 i sat,totally engrossed,watching the heart-wrenching story of a boy suffering with facial deformity, a boy who was not expected to live beyond a teenager. At least that was the write up. What i saw,was not only his torment,but his mothers. Cher played this role so believably i still feel the character when i see her now. Her heartbreak,her own battle with drink and drugs, and her stuborn determination and humour when faced with authority. Also this was the point in time that i fell in love with Sam Elliot,and his voice. The man is a god. His character as Chers biker boyfriend was brilliant. Supposedly tough,but a sweetheart with a reassuring and patient relationship with the young man with dreams for the future. The three of them carried this film through every emotion you could think of. Shock,disbelief,laughter, tears, heartbreak and horror to name a few. Truly one of the most memerable films i ve ever seen. In fact here we are 16+ years on and i can remember it as vivdly as if i'd seen it an hour ago. How long is it since i ve seen it? Well i met my husband in 1988 and some 6 months after he ''borrowed'' the reel from inside the video case and never rebuilt it! The other reel with the film on?????? That was ''placed somewhere safe!'' So, i have looked for a replacement for a long time,and thought i'd found it here. Except i'm in england and your vhs wont play on my vhs. I'll just have to keep digging. In fact ''I COULD DIG SO DEEP I COULD END UP IN F¬`*=^+G CHINA!!!!!!'' Good night x

High schoolers find Mask moving
I recently showed Mask, based on the true-life story of Rocky Dennis, to my high school English class. Even today's teen-agers found the relationship between the disfigured Rocky and his blind girlfriend to be sweetly touching. The two sides of Rocky's biker-chick mother (in an outstanding performance by Cher) led to fruitful writing assignments about a parent struggling with addiction who can also be an incredibly supportive mother to her son. The students were also impressed with Rocky's exemplary personal qualities. Not only was Rocky Dennis an intelligent and sensitive human being who copes with his rare disease with humor and courage, he often has to "parent" his mother, and sets challenging goals for himself despite the death sentence hanging over his head. This film gives a strong message to teens (and adults) that -- despite bad examples sometimes from parents and peers -- having a strong sense of respect for oneself, nurturing long-range personal goals and healthy interests, being kind and decent to others, and maintaining a sense of humor can get us through even the worst challenges life deals us. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After the huge, lavish spectacles of previous tours, U2 decided to tonethings down a bit for Elevation, which accompanied their All That You Can't Leave Behindalbum. Just as the album marked a return to a simpler more stripped-downsound, the live shows returned to smaller venues and a more intimate show, andfrom start to finish Elevation provides a welcome reminder of what agreat band this is. Recorded in Boston, the show features a healthy mix of newand old songs, which were written over the course of two decades but sound asfresh and relevant as ever. From classics like "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Wherethe Streets Have No Name," and "I Will Follow" right up to instant favoritessuch as "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation," every track is stunningly executed. Ifyou saw the concerts, this is a worthy and lasting souvenir; if you didn't,watch this and you might be kicking yourself. --Helen Marquis,Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (206)

It's U2's Concert Masterpiece!
Shot over 2 nights in Boston just months before 9/11, this concert is unlike any I've seen on DVD. As noted in the "The Making Of...." on the main concert disk, this show is shot and edited as if it were cinema. Brilliant editing. But it's not a movie. It's a true live concert, just filmed with a vision for something entirely different. The entire show was set up for the purpose of filming the show. The sound is great in any setting - 2 channel, Dolby DTS and 5.0.

You will be drawn into the performance of Bono, The Edge, Larry and what's him name. ( Just kidding). Great song selection. The staging is stripped down compared to some of the other live shows filmed in the past but is still awesome. I wasn't much of a fan of Zoo TV.

The two disk set is also designed to see what it took to film this event. You can watch the show and hear the direction coming from the truck in one channel. Great if you're into that kind of thing.

Just love this concert. A must buy and an honest 5 star DVD.

Just like being there!
After seeing 7 of the Elevation Tour shows on this tour, I thought that seeing it on tv would lose the excitement of seeing it live and in person. Not so! VH1 aired a "watered down" version, with only current radio favorites (although the pre-show countdown was way cool) that was rather disappointing. However, U2 fans won't be let down with the dvd. The look is vibrant and the sound is loud and rich and you really do feel as if you're there. Director Hamish Hamilton really outdid himself here and ended up with a fantastic concert movie! I sat at just about every angle of the arena in my 7 shows, but unless you were in the very first row, the dvd offers a view that few were privilaged to see. The little camera in Bono's glasses is a nice surprise too. You see what he sees and it adds to the concert experience in a way I've never seen on any video or dvd for that matter. I like the second disk too, especially with the "Beautiful Day" video on the roof!

If you didn't catch U2 live, this is the next best thing to being there!

This DVD Changed My Life
This is the DVD that started it all. The obsession, the admiration, the adoration, the motivation and the inspiration. I was a neutral U2 fan before. Loved the songs With or Without You, Stay, Staring at the Sun, but it ended there. When my sister received this DVD for her birthday, I was the first to watch it (Since I 'had nothing better to do, and I'm bored'. Anyone guess where that line's from?) and was hooked. I was floored, literally, since I was sitting on the floor when I was watching it.

The first thing that struck me was the amazing directing of the video. The scenes are so beautifully executed! The stretch of songs from Bad to With or Without you will leave you breathless. On the DVD, U2 werenn't merely a great rock band performing their greatest songs. They were the world's best rock band merging, blending, becoming one with their fans. The crowd interaction, the intensity of emotion, everything! The director and editors captured the moment perfectly, and I was stuck in the moment that I didn't want to get out of. And I've watched the concert through and through around 8 or so times. No other live concert comes close. (Not even the Led Zeppelin one I own) The DVD also comes with a documentary on the making and filming of the concert. Interesting stuff. The director seems ultra quirky and nervous but that probably added to his artistic brilliance in the creation of the footage.

Get this DVD. You must. It changed my life. Gave me renewed inspiration to carry on in my country's dead end music scene.

U2 forever!

Honestly, not a good DVD
I bought the 2 DVD set edition, and it was a waste of time. The second DVD is just filler stuff, I think U2 included that just because wanted to make more money easily. A shame. The DVD concert contains great sound, great picture... but horrible performance. This was the first U2 DVD and is clearly a big mistake, it's like rattle & hum of the DVD era. The performance is just an average one, with horrible Bono's vocals. Also the setlist is not so good. Now all fans know this performance was edited. Several songs are presented here as a mix between 2 nights in Boston, and don't contain the whole concert. If you're a fan who wants to have a U2 DVD, go with The best of 1990-2000 or Slane Castle instead. Sadly, this is not the first time U2 release a bad performance on video. Pop Mart live From Mexico City was an average performance, and U2 should have released really great filmed shows like Buenos Aires or Santiago 1998.
Overall, this DVD is not a must have. Average performance, shortened and edited concert, bad Bono's vocals, etc. Don't buy it.

Good, But U2 Slane Concert is Better
Great musical performances, but Bono's voice is a little hoarse on some tracks. The mixing emphasizes bass too much overall, and the voice is drowned out a little on a few songs. The Slane concert is much better overall. Bono's voice is really fresh on that one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Brady Bunch Movie
The big-screen version of the hugely popular 1970s television sitcom takes an original angle: instead of simply re-creating the old series, the film spoofs it by presenting the merged family as blithely unaware that fashions and customs have changed in the '90s. Shelley Long and Gary Cole are hilarious as the ultra-square yet libidinous Mr. and Mrs. Brady, Christopher Daniel Barnes is an ideal Greg, and Christine Taylor seems practically cloned from the original Marcia. But director Betty Thomas (Private Parts) shifts the emphasis away from comparisons between old and new Bradys and concentrates on quasi-surreal parodies and set pieces featuring the Brady kids doing their spirited, singing thing for a disbelieving public. Smart, sharp, and happy to share its conspiratorial mood with an appreciative audience, The Brady Bunch Movie is a kick.

A Very Brady Sequel
This second ironic send-up of the old Sherwood Schwartz sitcom is even funnier than The Brady Bunch Movie. Shelley Long and Gary Cole return as the married heads of the merged family known as the Bradys, and Christopher Daniel Barnes and Christine Taylor reprise their roles as eldest stepsiblings Greg and Marcia. As with the first film, the clever premise finds the Brady clan caught in a kind of '70s time warp, while the rest of the world has moved well into the '90s. Greg is still looking for a "groovy girlfriend," Mr. Brady thinks the idea of a cable that sends 50 channels to one's TV set must be a joke, and Mrs. Brady spends hours at the beauty shop only to look exactly the same as she went in. There's a plot involving an imposter (Tim Matheson) who claims to be Carol's long-lost husband, but the real charge in this comedy comes from the way these pseudohip characters deal with sexual taboos (is there any real reason that Greg and Marcia shouldn't get it on?) and the incredulous reactions of other people. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Two Great Movies, I will Gladly Put Down The Money
I personally think that these two movies were very very underated. They were both a dead on spoof to the actual tv show. I think the person who casted the actors for this movie deserves a huge award, they did an absolute wonderful job. The second is actually a little bit better than the first. My only dream is that they would come out with a third one, I belive that it is a dismal wish however since the second one came out a while a go, and there has been no talk about a third. Do yourself a favor and watch these you won't be displeased. ... Read more

Description

When a mysterious wave of killings sweeps the Mafia underworld, it's Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan who answers with Magnum Force. Despite a demotion by Lt. Neil Briggs for his questionable methods, Harry will stop at nothing to find the killers. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

"A man's got to know his limitations."
Who can forget that line from Magnum Force? It has more than one meaning here and definitely sets the theme. Dirty Harry says it a few times in the film but it has the most impact right after Hal Holbrook meets with an unfortunate accident in his car...priceless scene. This is my favorite line Eastwood says to Holbrook in the movie, with the second being when he throws a shell casing from evidence at him saying "eat it!". Magnum Force (1973) is the sequel to Dirty Harry (1971) and this time Harry is still an outsider with his own brand of justice, but he's got nothing on the 4 young motorcycle patrol cops who don't even bother with arrests and paperwork (the criminals don't make it that far!). In Dirty Harry, Callahan chased Scorpio, the mad sniper, but in Magnum Force he doesn't have to go far to find the criminals...they work with him! Action packed and stylish, Magnum Force is essential in the Dirty Harry/Eastwood Collection. The film is directed by television director, Tim Post (Baretta, Combat!) and written by Michael Cimino (director: The Deer Hunter, Thunderbolt & Lightfoot). The cast is great: Felton Perry plays Harry's unfortunate partner who just had to open his mailbox. Look for several familiar faces before they made it big: David "Hutch" Soul, Robert Urich, & Tim Matheson. Also look for a topless Suzanne Somers (uncredited) getting blown away in a swimming pool! I can imagine Joyce DeWitt from Three's Company laughing maniacally when she saw that scene.

"A man has to know his limitations".
"Magnum Force" from 1973,the follow up to "Dirty Harry",(a movie many consider to be a classic) is not as good.Of course sequels rarely are. It does have more action and laughs.You could call it a kind of black comedy,because it is kind of far fetched. The screenplay was cowritten by Michael Cimino,(who wrote and directed "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges in 1974,which was a good flick),and John Milius,who had an uncredited hand in the original "Dirty Harry". Milius wrote the now famous line,"This being a .44 magnum,...."Do you feel lucky?". It turns up again here right after the opening credits for "Magnum Force". It came out just two years after the original,both were Christmas releases, and it was just as big a hit.They both made about the same amount of money.

The producer and writers had in mind to answer the critics who called Harry Callahan a fascist and a vigilante.Clint Eastwood said in an interview in 1997 about him being called a fascist,"that was just nonsense.Harry was just very concerned about the rights of the victims.What's the matter with that?" The late Gene Siskel also disagreed with those critics. He said "if Harry were to encounter Mussolini or Hitler,he would have popped them to".The critic Roger Ebert calls Harry "extremely fair, he'll shoot anybody". "Magnum Force" is well paced,has some good action sequences and a good chase scene and it does get intense.But,the plot is hokey and it's a little too violent at times.This is not a movie for the kiddies. The cinematography isn't nearly as good as in the original. It doesn't make very good use the San Francisco locations. Lalo Schifrin's score is good though not as inspired as in the original. It's still better than many so called cop movies that have come out since.Like certain bloodthirsty,sadistic mayhem released in the '80's and '90's. In the funny book "Real Men Don"t Eat Quiche" from 1982, the author Bruce Feirstein put "Magnum Force" among those movies real men will pay hard cash to see. Feirstein had a couple of dozen on the list including "Patton","Rocky",some of the James Bond movies,only the ones with Sean Connery,"North Dallas Forty" among others. All these movies are for men only.

Some trivia,Clint Eastwood said in an interview that this story was inspired by the Brazilian death squad of the 1950's.Actor Robert Urich appears as one of the rookie motorcycle cops,this was Mr.Urich's movie debut.Also,a then unknown Suzanne Sommers appears in the swimming pool party scene.Ms. Sommers scenes have her showing off a ring she just received and where she takes her bikini top off in the pool.(Not so shocking since she did do a layout in PLAYBOY about ten years later).Her name didn't get mentioned in the credits.And,Ms.Sommers gets blasted along with the other unfortunate people at the party.And,remember "a man has to know his limitations".

My Favorite Dirty Harry Sequel
Okay... before I begin, I must tell you I am a bit prejudice. I actually saw a scene from this movie being filmed. I lived in San Francisco and in 1973 was walking up the hill to Lafayette Park as they shot some scenes in a high rise apartment building.
I was fascinated as they shot the scene over and over to get the "tension" just right.

Now it is on DVD 30 years later. It has never looked better. Color corrected true wide screen picture, and a soundtrack that is crystal clear.

2 of the vigilante officers are played to perfection by "pre-Starsky" David Soul and, in his first role, the late Robert Urich. The scene in the darkened garage is still powerful in it's quiet threatening tone. It is SO CLEAR the cops enjoy wearing their elegant uniforms and tall boots, leather creaking and chrome gleaming in the dark... an awesome and memorable moment when those who are sent to protect and defend, go over the edge so confidently, quietly and in their minds, logically. It is still very frightening.

Tell Warner Brothers to release the WHOLE film!
The people who assembled this DVD should be ashamed of themselves - the whole film is not there!

One of the most hilarious scenes in the original version of Magnum Force was when the crooked cops are chasing Harry around inside the (very dark) hull of a ship. Every time a shot was fired down there, there would be at LEAST six or seven loud, cartoon-like ricochets. The fact that this might really happen when all of the walls and ceiling are solid steel does not take away from its comic effect. Well, when they remastered the film for DVD, they took all of the ricochets out!

They also cut out some of the sting operation where three hoodlums hold up a convenience store.

Magnum Justice
This is the second of five "Dirty Harry" films in which Eastwood stars as a San Francisco police detective. By the time the last appeared (The Dead Pool in 1988), Eastwood had aged and times had changed but Callahan's non-negotiable values and unorthodox methods had remained essentially the same. In this film, directed by Ted Post with a screenplay co-authored by directors John Milius (e.g. Conan the Barbarian) and Michael Cimino (e.g. The Deer Hunter), the essential premise is that the same legal systems and law enforcement systems to which Callahan so strongly objects have encouraged others to become vigilantes, four of whom serve as police officers under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Briggs (Hal Holbrook). They target and assassinate those whom the "system" has failed to keep off the streets. Of course, Callahan has no sympathy whatsoever for those eliminated. However, he is uncomfortable with the vigilantes' methods (if not their motives) and with what the ancient Greeks -- but not Callahan -- would characterize as their hubris. Eventually, there is the inevitable and obligatory confrontation with them. (Guess who wins?) Those who enjoy this film should also check out The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970), Death Wish (1974), and The Star Chamber (1983) in which Holbrook also appeared. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Intermittently funny, but generally inane and faux chic
"Full Frontal" is built on a remarkably juvenile screenplay by performance artist Coleman Hough; it's pretty amazing director Steven Soderbergh saw anything in it. It's literate enough, but about all the neurotic, postmodern things we've grown to loathe: weird sexual fetishes, the debate of "reality" vs. "unreality", that two-degrees-of-separation-in-LA material, and, finally, unnervingly, Hollywood mechanics. We did not need another ludicrous, didactic structural analysis of Hollywood.

Boy do we get it. "Full Frontal" begins with an introduction of the characters through series of random, purposeless monologues drawn from different points in the film, then the opening scene of what looks like a big budget romance movie between an actor (Blair Underwood) and a journalist (Julia Roberts), just staged and false enough to let you know it's winking, before commencing with seemingly unrelated subplots that wink like an old creep with a pocket of butterscotch candies.

Another journalist (David Hyde Pierce) is clinging to his magazine job and his marriage to a human relations executive of some kind (Catherine Keener) who is quite clearly deranged or a descendant of the inquisition: She conducts interviews, all day it seems, by throwing a plastic blowup globe at her applicants and demanding the names of all the countries in Africa. This story is intercut with the opening of a second-rate stage comedy about Hitler, with a lead actor (Nicky Katt) channeling Cary Grant and quoting Peter Ustinov; and a massage therapist (Mary McCormack) who eventually crosses the paths of all the characters. David Duchovny appears in a cameo as a kinky movie producer that proves he's pretty hard up in life after "The X-Files."

Soderbergh is usually pretty savvy with a variety of film styles and camera lenses, but using cheap digital cameras mutes the small victories of comedy Hough's script does deliver. The hand-held jitter is agonizing as well. There's only so much of the follow-the-globe cam we can take.

Mostly, though, "Full Frontal" is a painful (and refreshing) reminder that not every chic, self-absorbed New Yorker like Hough can waltz into LA and force audiences to acknowledge her obvious highbrow wit and trendy verbal gymnastics by inserting bizarre non-sequitors like vampires, marijuana brownies and guys crawling along hotel floors. Keener especially rants and moans her way into the pantheon of grating personas. It could be said that Roberts acquits herself in a small role - Roberts seems to be doing a lot of that lately - while Pierce most closely approaches a performance of resonance.

Based on its less-is-nothing marketing campaign, Soderbergh and others basically knew "Full Frontal" was inside baseball, pertinent to the few, aimless for the rest. That knowledge doesn't excuse the film, particularly the ridiculous final scene that pulls back and back and back to reveal a couple of artists an hour past being "on it" and hip.

Excruciating, but not absolutely worthless ;-)
There is a style, or class, or school of comedy characterized by something bad, or lame being repeated over and over until it becomes funny. There is something like this going on here with "Full Frontal". I saw this picture in a theater with six other people, and three of them walked out after twenty minutes. Too bad, really, since the chuckles only started to occur after the proceedings had worn you absolutely down, and twenty minutes into the picture you were only JUST starting to get exasperated. Could be that this film works better on the small screen, which I found to be the case with Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut", another excruciating experience. Warning! By no means see this movie with another recent Soderbergh picture "Solaris", or you may subsequently need therapy.

Experiment? Ensemble Drama? The Film Doesn't Know it.
Though "Full Frontal" boasts of its great casts including Julia Roberts, the film is rather an experimental indie film, mostly shot in 18 days with a digital camera (which cost only $ 4,600). That is not a problem if the film is interesting -- I mean, interesting characters, interesting techiniques, interesting stories, or anything. No such luck, sorry. Though some actors are giving their best efforts, the film looks more like a self-indulgent film-school student's work.

The film follows the events that happen to the characters (whose profiles are revealed in the introductory part). Journalist Julia Roberts is interviewing TV star Blair Underwood; Cathrine Keener is doing the most uncomfortable job of the human resorce office (that is, firing the employees); her sister Mary McCormack is talking about the guy she met on the net; David Hyde Pierce (who shows uncanny resemblance with director Soderbergh himself) is rehearsing the stage drama for the always quizzical Nikky Katt. When the day comes close to the end, these assorted people find themselves strangely entangled in the web of human relations, which is represented by the dinner party for "Gus," powerful Hollywood producer played by one star from "X-Files."

The film also includes 'film within film" device (and even "film within film within film" devide, too), which might confuse some of the viewers. Fortunately, the device is not overused, and soon you will understand what is doing on.

The trouble is, except for some moments including talented Keener, none of the characters can really grab your attention. They are facing the critical moments of life, the film implies, but strangely we do not care. And as the experimental film, "Full Frontal" is not as innovative as "Schizopolis" (in which Soderbergh himself starred).

Possibly, here is the reason for its half-baked result: first, incredible you might say, but Soderbergh's use of digital camera is so poor like someone's home movies. At one scene, you see Sandra Oh very briefly. Well, but I couldn't see whether it was her or not because of a blurred image (I knew her voice, and saw her name in the credits), and I was thinking -- what is the point of doing that? The poorly shot images just detract our attention to the characters which should not be sacrificed for the dirctor's unnecessary "experiments."

Some parts of the film might interest you (if you're a film buff). You see many cameos -- Brad Pitt, Terence Stamp, and David Fincher (as the perfectionist director who needs 49 takes for one breif shot). But they are not enough for us to keep being interesting in the story which should really count. The conculsion is this; you just cannot use this great cast just because you want to be experimantal. Life is too short to do that, especially with this cast.

Don't buy this DVD--don't even spend $3 to rent it
The only reason this movie gets one star is because there's not an option to choose zero. This is, unbelievably to me, given Mr. Soderbergh's other credits, one of the WORST movies I've ever seen. The "documentary" style filming is grainy and extremely distracting, and even more so because it's such an over-used technique. I'm an avid independent film viewer and like the unusual and the avant-garde, but this film is a poseur which fails in every way.

If you come to the story without knowing it's supposed to be imbued with skewering cleverness and satire, it's confusing, unengaging and boring, and, come to think of it, now that I know it's supposed to have those elements, it's STILL confusing, boring and unengaging. The character development is so poor that you don't care about anybody nor understand what's motivating them. David Hyde Pierce is a horrible choice for the main character--he has no depth or emotional range which, unfortunately, keeps us half wondering if Kelsey Grammer's going to come through the door at any minute. Catherine Keener has the kind of charisma that transcends shoddy screenwriting, but how her character behaves makes the least sense of all.

I think the only reason to rent this movie would be if you want to get a few second "full frontal" view of David Duchovny, albeit a grainy one shot from a distance so you really can't see anything, or if you're the VP of HR and you need to show your managers how NOT to conduct an HR interview.

Watching Paint Dry
This is quite a short film, around ninety minutes, long but it seems longer as it is extraordinarily tedious. It's a Hollywood movie about Hollywood and the movie business and I guess it's intended to have a certain ironic, satirical edge to it. But it's not much of an edge and what Soderbergh has made is a smug and tedious exercise in navel gazing. I think Soderbergh probably thinks he has made a wry black comedy but it's a very safe, pale shade of black and, though it sometimes tries hard, it is never remotely witty. It has a decidedly overwritten and theatrical feel to it like a rather pretentious and forgettable off-broadway play. There are six main characters, three of each sex, none of whom there is the remotest reason to care about in the slightest. The gimmicky postmodern film-within-a-film trick is getting pretty tired by now and, where this film is concerned, has little or no apparent point beyond courting a certain spurious arthouse credibility. One or two fairly decent performances, notably from Catherine Keener and Mary McCormack, constitute a slender redeeming feature. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Boring travesty of Le Carre's work.
I love Le Carre and was looking forward to this film. But what a mess! The plot is a mishmash -- after about an hour I no longer cared what might happen to the protagonists. Excellent actors like Ralph Richardson and Anthony Hopkins are wasted in secondary roles. Other reviewers say that this movie was edited to death and I believe it. Save your money. Maybe they'll release Spy Who Came In From The Cold on DVD some day.

Could have been . . . .
This movie was edited to death and dullness. Crucial scenes were obviously cut which threw the plot out of joint and into inaction. It could have been, and probably was before editing, a dandy cold war spy flic. It is worth three stars for historical value.

Cold War performance from Christopher Jones
This is an excellent cold war film competently acted, well scripted and neatly directed. It is a superb adaptation of John Le Carré's best-selling novel. Paranoia runs rampant here. Christopher Jones is brilliant as the civilian turned spy. Christopher Jones should have gone on to greater things. His pinnacle as an actor came in David Lean's epic "RYAN'S DAUGHTER." Anthony Hopkins and Ralph Richardson are also featured.

Good Acting
Looking Glass War gets you hooked the minute beutiful Christopher Jones comes on screen. Fortunately he's in almost every scene! He is not only more beautiful than his co star (Pia Degermark) but he is also excellant in the role. He is really American but his Polish accent is flawless. Movie has some exciting moments & intrigue. Worth watching if only for Jones' performance & a bit w/Anthony Hopkins.

Classic British Cold War Fare
What does a classic cold war movie need? To my mind, a shot of the West End of London, some cynical, dead-pan British spies, a plot from a Le Carre novel and a few shots of Eastern Europe (probably filmed in Essex or some such place). Add a dashing youngster to offset the cynics and, of course, a nasty ending leaving little room for faith in human nature. You have a classic.

If you like Harry Palmer of the Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin and the Billion Dollar Brain, chances are you'll love this. If you are a James Bond fan, maybe not. This is for the lover of the anti-hero spy rather than the dashing secret agent.

Two thumbs up as far as I'm concerned. ... Read more

Reviews (515)

A must see film!!!
If anyone says that this film is boring, dull, or anything else like that, I ORDER you to shut them up. Scream plays with you like 'I know what you did last summer' or 'Halloween' never could. This movie IS the original teen slasher, a mix of humour and suspense, that will leave you terrified all night. Although it is not as good as its sequel, Scream 2, I feel that Scream is much funnier, and more clever.

The movie is about a group of teenagers, and one by one people in their high school are being brutally murdered. Neve Campbell plays the starring role as Sidney Prescott, a teenage girl who is being stalked by the killer that murdered her mother. The movie also includes Countney Cox, as annoying and persistent News reporter Gale Weathers, and David Arquette as the dim-witted cop, Dewey. The film also features a cameo performance from Drew Barrymore, who's appearance made the film a smash hit, even if she was only in it for 10 minutes!

All in all, this film is a masterpiece from horror director, Wes Craven. You HAVE to see this film. I INSIST!

Make Sure to Watch This Movie With The Lights On!
Scream is one of my favorite, not to mention scarest, movies I've ever seen. It's about a group of five teenage kids, who are all obsessed with scary movies, find themselves in a situation where they are being prayed on by an unknown killer. EVERYBODY'S A SUSPECT, states Randy (Jamie Kennedy) geeky, fifth wheeler of the group. This movie's cast was picked very well. The starring role for Scream is:

starring:

Deputy Dwight "Dewey" Riley: David Arquett Sydney Prescott: Neve Campbell Gale Weathers: Courtney Cox Stuart Maker: Matthew Lillard Tatum Riley: Rose McGowan Billy Loomis: Skeet Ulrich

Co-starring:

Casey Becker: Drew Berrymore Kenny the Camera Man: W. Earl Brown Randy Meeks: Jamie Kennedy Cotton Weary: Liev Schreiber Sheriff Burke: Josheph Whipp

Which one of these 11 people will survive, which of these will die, which one of these 11 suspects are the killer, because tonight, SOMEONE HAS TAKEN THEIR LOVE OF SCARY MOVIES ONE STEP TOO FAR.

Tips to survive: -Don't have sex -No Drugs/Alcohol -Never Say, "I'll be right back" Cause you won't be back -Never answer the phone -Never answer the door -DON'T TRUST ANYONE...EVER!

"Thank you Randy" Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich)

Good luck!

Do u like scary movies?
When I first saw the movie I was totally in love with it. But that was in like what? 1997. Anyways, I still think its a really good movie, but not scary at all. The first time I saw it i did think it was, but after that I was like " and why did I think this was scary?" But the plot in the movie is really good and original. I also like how they make fun of other horror movies. This is one of the best teen/slasher flicks though. The Sequals are pretty good. I read someone else's review and I totally agree with them on how the third one probably wasnt the way Kevin wanted it to be. I would have like to see what he came up with as the last installment. But whatever, the guy who wrote it still came up with a good idea.

Scream, ahhh.
If seeing a guy running around in a cheap coustome that he got from party city killing teens and every one's craking jokes all the wile entertains you, there's nothing wrong with that. If seeing all that scares you, well, you better get some help. Scream is a movie that tries hard to scare you but fails. I don't know if it was that cheap costume, the jokes, or the fact that it's amazingly not scary, Scream is a falire. If you want to be scared, go see Halloween. Speaking of Halloween, I was hoping that Michael Myers would come and beat up the killer in this film by the end.

Scary
Scream is an extremely scary movie, but when it isn't scary, it's funny, and that's what makes it so good. The story is Drew Barrrymore's character is murdered one night, so everyone at her school is being questioned by the police. Later that night, Sydney Prescott the main character is attacked by the killer, until her boyfriend Billy comes to rescue her. Sydney then notices that Billy has a cell phone[the killer called her first], which leads Sydney to believe that Billy is the killer. After this accident, Billy is sent to jail, but Sydney gets called again. After that happens, Sydney believes Billy isn't the murderer, and after what happened to Sydney, school is canceled, which leads up to a party that the killer is attending, so in turn, many deaths follow, making this a very scary movie. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Full Track List/Features for DVD case edition
This is the Full Track List/Features for DVD case edition. (Be aware the 'jewel case' edition may not contain same contents.)

Tracklisting:
- Performance from Slane, 1st September
1. Elevation
2. Beautiful Day
3. Until The End Of The World
4. New Year's Day
5. Out Of Control
6. Sunday Bloody Sunday
7. Wake Up Dead Man
8. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
9. Kite
10. Angel Of Harlem
11. Desire
12. Staring At The Sun
13. All I Want Is You
14. Where The Streets Have No Name

15. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
16. Bullet The Blue Sky
17. With Or Without You
18. One
19. Walk On

- The Unforgettable Fire documentary (28 minutes)

The DVD includes a bonus track ("Mysterious Ways"), and DVD ROM special features include U2 calendar, screensavers and weblinks plus three songs shot on 'Spincam' allowing the viewer an interactive, 360 degree view of the concert. U2 Go Home is presented in PCM Stereo, DTS and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. Aspect ratio 16:9.

Info about the DVD
Filmed on the 1st September 2001, U2 Go Home is the first ever release to feature U2 playing to a home crowd in Ireland.

Following an 80 date sell-out world tour, U2 headed home for two extraordinary outdoor shows at Slane Castle in Ireland, where the band played to more than 160,000 people.

This homecoming concert will be released on DVD by Universal Island Records on November 17th.

U2 Go Home charts an emotional return for the band: in 1984 it was at Slane Castle where the band had recorded their landmark fourth album, an event which was captured in The Unforgettable Fire documentary. The documentary is released with the new DVD, re-mastered and re-graded for the first time.

The Elevation shows also marked the 20th anniversary of the band's first appearance at Slane, supporting another legendary Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, at the inaugural Slane Castle Festival.

The new DVD includes a bonus track, and DVD ROM special features include U2 calendar, screensavers and weblinks plus three songs shot on 'Spincam' allowing the viewer an interactive, 360 degree view of the concert.

Capture a U2 concert
I'm pretty critical of music and concerts. I currently don't care for the state of U2 or Bono. I am more in the generation that played my WAR cassette out and bought the CD when it first came out. With all that being said....this DVD simply captures U2's transformation from an incredible young energetic band to the current commercial juggernaut they have become. Even with all of that....the sound, the picture, the energy is top notch in this. The only reason I wouldn't rate this as good as Red Rocks is because of the songs covered.
Is a must have for anyone that has ever liked U2 from the Boy albumn to the current state.

A Sort of Homecoming
About half of this show appeared on CBS-TV in the USA months before the DVD release in a documentary titled "U2's Beautiful Day". In this documentary we learn that on the day of this concert Bonos father has passed. The second of two huge sold-out shows at Sloan Castle a crowd that MUST have topped 6 figures wait enthusiasticly in the rain for arguably the best performance the band has ever given. The 5 channel DTS mastering on the DVD is amazing, the video unfortunatley is a bit over compressed. During a heartfelt speech during "Out of Control" Bono talks about the 500 pounds his father loaned him to record their first demo and thanks the fans for the 500 pounds they each have given the band over the years. Unlike the Boston video recorded a few months earlier the set is complete and relatively un-doctored and truly captures the energy of the bands live performance.

I haven't stopped watching this long enough to put it in my PC and check out the DVD-ROM features, But I did watch the "Unforgettable Fire" documentary which seems longer than the one I had on VHS, Admitedly its been a few years since I have watched it so I could be mistaken.

U2 Rocks Ireland!
This is the first video by U2 that I have ever purchased and I must say it is amazing. I was knocked out by this one! The sound quality is awesome, but U2 is what knocks me out. They are awesome live and Bono's voice is flawless here. Wake Up Dead Man gave me chills. The scenery is awesome with the Slane Castle in the background. Sometimes the castle glows orange and sometimes it glows blue. My only complaint would be that the camera got too close to Bono's face and nearly inside his mouth during a couple of songs. If I were Bono, I don't think I would have approved some of the camera shots in this DVD, but I guess he wasn't bothered by it. After watching this DVD, I plan to buy some more DVDs by U2. U2 Rocks! ... Read more

Amazon.com

While it lacks the baroque, fantastical quality of the previous Flash Gordon serials (which also starred Buster Crabbe), the Buck Rogers serial still exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of pulp-magazine space opera of the 1930s. Crash-landing in the Arctic in the 20thcentury, Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) use a specialgas to induce suspended animation, only to be awakened 500 years later when the world is ruled by the evil Killer Kane. We are told that Kane's ascendancy is a direct result of the 20th century's failure to solve the problem of crime. But luckily, Buck Rogers is here to fight Kane's evil domination of mankind, which involves making obedient robots out of folks by strapping an"amnesia helmet" on their heads. (The helmet looks like the sawed-off end of a cheesy rocket ship, complete with fins.) Most of the episodes deal with invasion forces from the planet Saturn and whose side they're going to take, Killer Kane's or Buck's, affording plenty of opportunity for spaceships to zip back and forth, propelled by sparks and rising smoke. All the trappings and tropes of space opera abound: ray guns, space travel, villainous political figures, alien civilizations. In a way, the flaws seem quaint--the wooden acting, the cheesy costumes and sets, the flimsy space crafts, the similarity between the surface of Saturn and certain California deserts, and the way Buck needs no learning curve after traveling 500 years into the future. It's great adolescent fun. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (8)

VCI edition just fine
As I've been trying to collect some classic serials, I've been frustrated by the lack of specific information on the various editions. So let me first say that while the print is far from pristine, for the price this VCI edition is hard to beat.

Second, let me say that I am astonished--to the point of feeling like my 10-year old self was had--how much of "Star Wars" Lucas lifted almost whole-cloth from this serial. Even the prologue as a steeply pitched crawl comes from Buck Rogers, not to mention countless scenes in the Millennium Falcon as the ship is chased by an evil-empire-like force of villains.

So here's the advice I would have been happiest to have had a few days ago when I was trying to decide whether to buy this disc: if you love science fiction on film, or are interested in the popular culture of the late 30's and early 40's, BUY THIS DISC.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
I think the whole sereise should come out on DvD do you have any ideas westher they are trying tro get permission to bring out the whole sereis please write me back at Silverdolphine@comcast.net.com

Worthwhile follow-up to the FLASH GORDON serials
Buck Rogers was the earlier space hero, first appearing in two featured novellas in Hugo Gernsbach's AMAZING STORIES, the earliest science-fiction pulp magazine. Then of course, he became a comic strip hero who was quite popular until the FLASH GORDON comic strip with superior illustrative art started competing.

Universal did well with Buck, though the serial didn't have the appeal of the Flash Gordon serials. It's not as imaginative, but it is a good action serial. Buster Crabbe shows a little of the calmer nature of the hero, compared to Flash Gordon's impetuousness.

If you don't have any of them, get especially FLASH GORDON: SPACE SOLDIERS and FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE first, but then be sure to get BUCK ROGERS.

A True THRILL-O-RAMA
The 12 chapter BUCK ROGERS serial, was shot between the Flash Gordon serials "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars" and "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe." Audiences seemed indifferent to it, so the plans for a sequel were scrapped in favor of continuing the Flash Gordon series. While the Flash Gordon serials are probably better, I really enjoy the Buck Rogers serial too.

Buck Rogers has STYLE. Not to say that Flash didn't, but the Buck Rogers serial has:

The Art Deco Headquarters of Killer Kane, with it's convenient topiary shrubs for hiding behind.

The swirling mirror pool monitor screens.

The equally Art Deco space ships, with sparklers as exhaust and that sound, something like a microwave oven and a car missing a muffler. These ships were so advanced, all they needed was a simple door with handle.

A future full of wimps. Flash and Buddy easily push away or tackle anyone who they clash with.

The groovy De-Gravity belts and the transporter.

The Saturnian tram system.

The exotic terrain of the planet Saturn, which in no way looked like a California desert.

The Saturnian MUGGS, who should have all been nominated for academy awards.

Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic. But I really do have a great love for this serial, even with all its many flaws. Terrible performances by some of the supporting characters, a few cases of severely bad stunt doubling, and the effects, well......they did their best with what they had to work with. I love the little dolls in the Saturnian tunnel trams.

And Buck himself--Larry "Buster" Crabbe was so handsome. That wavy hair and that killer smile were all he needed. I wonder if the producers ever realized what kind of confusion they would cause in the years that followed, by casting the same actor for both Flash and Buck. It's always interesting to see a VHS version of Buck Rogers with a picture from Flash Gordon on the cover, and vice versa.

Buck Rogers is a true pleasure to watch. It's so much fun, and it's the perfect length. It's over before it has worn out its welcome. And if you want more, then watch the next chapter. The menu screens are fun too, with the ships swinging around on visible wires. If only they would have included a booklet instead of advertising.

This is well worth checking out, especially if you enjoy the Flash serials. Like the cover proclaims, it's a 12 chapter Thrill-O-Rama!

'Buster' Crabbe was a Superhero
This takes me back to Saturday mornings as a ten year old, in the early 80's, when I first remember seeing Larry'Buster'Crabbe as Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers on the BBC.

So the wooden actors made local amateur dramatics look professional and the space ships looked like something made on Blue Peter, but it didn't matter because 'Buster' Crabbe WAS a Superhero.

Who cares about comparisons of productions and making analysis between Buck & Flash, they weren't meant for that, they're just pure fun and were made to be watched and enjoyed.

So anyone who saw these and enjoyed them, buy the DVDs, you'll be ten all over again. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Good film, not great
Walken revises his role in the Deer Hunter here, playing a mercenary involved in one of those politically torn countries down yonder. Its a good movie, from the early 1980's, but if you have the Deer Hunter already, you wont need this. I am a big Walker fan- i think he is brilliant, but otherwise there isnt much to this film. Still, its one of only a hundred films that I hand picked for my life-time collection.

'Vive Le Mort, Vive La Guerre, Vive Le Sacre Mercenaire!!'
While Dogs of War is not as exciting and crowd-pleasing as the gold-standard in mercenary movies, The Wild Geese, it is certainly the most thoughtful. It starts off slow, spending over two-thirds of the film setting up the characters and the situation. While the pace occasionally lags, the events are realistic (in terms of a 1970s mercenary operation) and there are occasionally interesting quotes like the one serving as this review's title. Christopher Walken's character is fleshed out and given depth which makes his actions in the climax the logical payoff to his development in the movie. The real problem with this film is the big action finale. It simply isn't exciting enough and is far too brief. There are one or two nice flourishes, but the bottomline is that you expect more payoff with all that build-up. Dogs of War is still a good film but it may leave you a bit unsatisfied. Try the aforementioned 'The Wild Geese' as well as 'Men of War' (1994) if you want more exciting mercenary action.

my favorite book in film
this could have been the superhit with a better script and higher budget. its still a good movie, but not even remotely close to the quality of the book.
if u liked this movie read forsyth's books the r extremely well written and researched.

Dogs of War
This is a great movie! Lots of action, well crafted production.
I read the book first and prefer its ending to that of the film.
However, it is still a fine tale and well worth seeing several times.

Cry Havoc...
From start to finish, this is the kind of movie that most young actors would kill to star in; smart, with a good script and enough character actors to anchor the film firmly into your subconscious.

I should admit I'm a huge Chris Walken fan from way back, so of course I'm biased, but if you watch the film carefully, you'll see that it warrants repeated viewings.

If I have any complaints at all, it would be the video quality, which is why the DVD is a much better bet. Still budget priced, and due to its age, the movie doesn't have much in the way of extra features, but that doesn't detract from it one bit. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST
No program of this type is going to please EVERY music fan - music is too much of a subjective passion for the listener, and some viewers are inevitably going to feel that their favorites were slighted in some way - but this series, produced by the Irish television network, goes a long way in giving widespread, attentive coverage to those acts who were innovators and groundbreakers, inspiring and enabling others to follow in their footsteps, certainly not as imitators, but as fellow-travelers on a never-ending adventure in music, art, culture and politics.

Beginning in the 1950s with the show bands, and moving through the 1980s, the three episodes contained on this DVD release (by the way, FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM and OUT OF IRELAND seem to be the same material with a different title and cover, the latter being the newer release) cover an amazing amount of musical ground - and, valuably, give the viewer lots of valuable background information on the Irish culture and atmosphere that contributed so vitally to the music documented here.

There's plenty of rare, historical footage to be seen here - Planxty, from (I'm guessing) around 1972; Clannad (including a bit of the video featuring Maire NíBhraonain and Bono duetting beautifully on 'In a lifetime'; Horslips (a great band that mixed traditional tunes with electricity, sadly unknown in the rest of the world); a great live segment with legends Moving Hearts performing 'Hiroshima-Nagasaki Russian roulette'; and much, much more. More toward the rock end of the spectrum, the programs deal extensively with U2 (of course), Bob Geldof's Boomtown Rats (including a nice section on the Live Aid concert that Geldof organized), Thin Lizzy (there's a touching tribute to Phil Lynott), Rory Gallagher (with and without his band Taste), the great Van Morrison, Sínead Ó Connor - and the list goes on and on.

Some of the archival footage is a little rough - but that's to be expected, and it actually adds not only a feeling of authenticity to the programs, but a sense of the true history of the subject as well. For too long, Ireland has been thought of as a piece of the British empire (of course, the North is still...), both politically and culturally. The programs explore the problems experienced by bands attempting to make a name for themselves in the 60s - scoffed at, and worse, by the powers-that-be in the UK music industry, until by sheer talent and determination, they made the world take heed and listen to them.

This is a great documentary - and I was touched to receive it as a gift from my best friend. She really knows me well, and was right on target with this choice. Highly recommended to anyone who takes their music - rock & roll as well as traditional - seriously.

This one is EASY!
If you are thinking about making this purchase...DO IT! You will not be disappointed. This is not a film about U2 although they are prominently featured. This is an outstanding documentary covering all facets of Irish music culminating with the status of Irish Rock circa 2000. Fantastic interviews with a reflective Van Morrison, still intense still burning Bob Geldolf, and a suprizingly humble Bono, along with several pilars of Irish music. I've learned so much about the music I love and discovered more wonderful artists to explore. I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea who Rory Gallagher was (his name has every right to be mentioned in the same breath with Page, Hendrix, and Clapton...Guitar God? Hell Yeah!) until viewing this DVD. Now I can't get enough of his music. Thanks to Amazon.com for making so much of his catalogue as well as the other artists available. I haven't explored any special features on the DVD and don't even know if they exist at the time I'm writting this...but...who cares! This disc ROCKS! The sound and picture quality are there. Everyone I've shown this to are just stunned by what they are seeing and hearing. The only complaint is that the music clips are too short but again, it's a great way to learn more about not just Irish rock, but Rock and Roll period.
To sum it all up...crack a cold one, pop the disc in, kick back, and ENJOY!!!

A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
Warning, this documentary might be disappointing to the average fan because the performance clips are painfully brief. But if you are more intererested in a deeper knowledge and understanding of Irish rock and it's place in rock..indeed in the full spectrum of Irish music, then this video should be your cup of tea.

The influence of The Beatles as well as such American rock as Chuck Berry is traced along with the influence of traditional Irish music, even that of the legendary operatic tenor, John McCormick. Most important though is the very Irish nature which flavors the music.

All music is interwoven, and the relationship between Irish rock and the dance spectacular, "Riverdance", is brought out.

Performers such as Van Morrison, Clannad (and Enya), The Cranberries, U2, and The Corrs are all highlighted, but performers lesser known or even unknown outside of Ireland are all given their due, and the credit they deserve.

If you want a comprehensive overview of Irish rock, and are NOT looking for the entertainment value of long performance clips, then this video is definitely for you.

A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
One caution...the average rock fan probably would be dissatisfied with this DVD because the music clips, though numerous, are so brief.

But for the person looking for more depth and understanding, this documentary is tops. The very roots of Irish Rock & Roll are explored, including the influence of The Beatles and of Chuck Berry as well as that of traditional Irish music and even the Irish operatic tenor, John McCormick. Foremost of course is the Irish character itself which flavors Irish rock.

Irish rock's place and influence on international rock is spotlighted, as well as the genre's place in the whole spectrum of Irish music.

Performers such as Clannad (and Enya), U2, the Corrs, the Cranberries, Van Morrison are highlighted, but many other notable groups less familiar or unfamiliar to those outside of Ireland are given their dues.

There's even a relationship shown between Irish rock and "Riverdance".

If you are a serious student of rock, and seek understanding of Irish Rock's unique importance, this DVD is indeed for you. ... Read more

Description

Major League:Back to the Minors

On this team they don't just throw screwballs, they put them in uniform!Scott Bakula plays a minor-league manager on the spot to turn a squad of sad sacks into title contenders in another hit sequel featuring Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert and the inimitable Bob Uecker. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

It has its moments
This