Reviews (4)

If I Had Known This Was Coming Out I Would Have Waited!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite television show but I didn't start watching Angel until this year. Just a few months ago I watched the reruns of season 1 to 4 on TNT and some episodse of season 5 on the WB. Angel is now one of my favorite television shows and seasons 1 to 3 are my favorite seasons and when I finished watching the reruns on TNT I bought the First Season on DVD but since I bought it this box set of seasons 1 to 3 was released and I wish it had been available before I bought the first season individually. If you haven't started buying Angel on DVD yet I highly recommend buying this season 1 to 3 pack instead of buying them individually! BTW: I can't believe that the WB gave this show the axe! Why would they cancel one of the two best shows in their lineup? Now they only have one good show left!

Season 2, wide or full?
Great show at a great price.
One question though. Does anyone, who has bought this set recently or not, know if the second season of Angel is in Widescreen or Full screen?

The reason I ask is because on Amazon and other sites, its listed as being in Widescreen, yet on back of every season 2 box at every retailer I've been to, its listed as Full Screen.
I have a feeling that if I buy this set, season 2 will come in full screen and if the widescreen version is available somewhere else, I'd rather have that version.

Thanx for any information anyone can provide me.
-nw

DVD much? Stake 3 Vamps With One Set...
As long as they keep the prices cheaper than buying the sets individually, this is a fine way for fans of the show or newcomers to catch up on it. Having 3 DVD sets at once ensures, 18 discs of Joss Whedon's great spin off from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Darker, and a bit more liberal when it comes to the whole demon thing, the show succeeds and stands on it's own. There are 66 episodes to watch...better be on vacation or sabatical!

For those new to either Buffy or Angel, I suugest the seasons of Buffy as well. Watch the first 3 seasons of Buffy, then alternate Buffy Season 4 episode, Angel Season 1 episode, Buffy 4, Angel 1...as the shows at times do intertwine if you really want to be complete.
Bottom line...great DVD's. The Angel sets have commentary on numerous episodes, and all the extras that the Buffy sets have been known for. Good stuff this.

"Numfar, do the dance of Joy!"
(...)To be honest, Season One is fuzzy in my mind so I can't legitimately review it - heck, I'm buying so I'll remember it all - but Two and Three alone have me sold.(Also, from this point forth, there be spoilers; I try to avoid revealing major plot points though.)

Season Two ushers in one of, in my opinion, the greatest exposition-conventions employed in Angel, by way of none other than the dreaded Karaoke Bar. Watching Angel sing "Mandy" is like watching a trainwreck: it's the most painful thing in the world yet you cannot tear your eyes away while rolling on the ground laughing. Ahhh, beautiful. Also great (but this time, really) are the unexpected and wonderful vocals of both Lindsay and Darla, which among other things convinces me that everyone actor involved in the Buffyverse is multi-talented, and we're lucky to have had 'em for as long as we did.

But I digress. One of my personal favorites of the season is episode 2, which sees Angel in the 50s. I've always loved the various scenes of Angel's past, and this particular one is delivered wonderfully by Boreanaz. Interesting themes of the time are raised, and there are moments both chilling and heartbreaking, particularly toward the end of the flashback.

This season also sees the return of Angel's vampire kin, which is at first intriging, then at time poignant yet hopeful, and then again tragic as we see Angel reveal a side that had until now been left untapped. Yet the darkness does not swallow the season whole, as the later episodes reinject priceless comedic moments, including Lindsay's "evil hand issues" (heh) and Joss Whedon's lovely little dance. Yes, he dances.

Season Three arguably is just as dark - and honestly I can't think of how to review without completely revealing plot points, so I won't. >P Suffice to say the writers of Angel are sadistic - the one thing that I've come to expect from this show is that everytime things start going well you know something terrible is about to happen. And so it does.

In any case, if you're a fan and you haven't purchased the first 3 seasons yet, this is a great bundle at a great price. If you snag this, as they say in Pylea, it is time for Numfar to "do the dance of Joy!" ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Hey Dipsh*t. Yes, you Mr. Howard Marks
This forum is not the place for your anti-American propaganda bullsh*t. This forum is for the discussion of the film, "Idi i Smotri" (Come and See).

You sit in you high and mighty UK and bash the US while conveniently leaving out the 3 centuries or so of oppression and genocide comitted BY YOUR BRITISH EMPIRE all over the globe.

Half of my family is from Russia, were this film is set; and I can tell you that we are happy to live in a country such a America. Is America's past perfect? Absolutely not. But neither is England's, Germany's, Russia, France, Japan, China, etc...

Get off your high horse and take a deep breath of the fresh free air- which is brought to you via hundreds of thousands of dead American GI's thoughout two world wars.

Excellent account of WWII on the Eastern Front . . .
4.5 Stars

Although initially sceptical regarding this movie's historical accuracy as it was a Soviet era production, after watching it I thought this film to be a very honest and sobering portrayal of the war on the Eastern Front, between Hitler's Germany and the Soviet Union during WWII. The movie depicts an often overlooked facet of the war, specifically the activites of the SS "Einsatzgruppen," or special action police units, whose task was to liquidate Jews, communists, and any potential threats to the Nazi regime behind the front lines of the actual fighting. These SS police units travelled behind the army's advance, and in addition to conducting mass executions of Jews and suspected communists, were also employed to "pacify" occupied regions that were suspected of taking part in, or aiding, the growing underground resistance. The activites of such an SS unit provides the background to the movie as the main character, a young teenage boy, loses his parents and survives the razing of a Russian village - a scene quite unpleasant to watch, yet very well depicted and brutal in its realism. Of mention was the role played by local Russian militia in carrying out these executions and "reprisal" raids - as this is a Soviet film, and was subject to state oversight, I was surprised that such unpleasant reminders of Russian collaboration were incorporated. Large numbers of volunteers from the occupied territories were accomplices to the SS in their cleansing actions, a fact documented in this movie.

"Come and See" also provides an interesting glimpse into the role and activities of the Soviet partisans, the insurgent groups fighting the Nazi occupation behind the front. Furthermore, the suffering and harsh conditions endured by Russian civilians living under Nazi occupation is not lost upon the viewer. Although there are definitely stark Good vs. Evil undertones throughout the film (all Germans are essentially portrayed as cold, sadistic, Nazi killers - the Soviet partisans as heroic, beleaguered freedom-fighters), it must be remembered that this movie offers a mere snapshot of the war at its most horrifying level. SS actions such as the ones depicted were commonplace on the Eastern Front - as was the willing, and often enthusiastic participation of anti-Soviet / anti-Semitic elements in the USSR, whom the Nazis depended on for support.

Excellent camera work and photography, in my opinion the quality of filmmaking rivals the most recent Hollywood productions. This film is highly recommended to those interested in watching an accurate account of World War II in the eastern theater, and the war as experienced by the Soviet population.

Shocking.
4.5 stars. This film is shocking in many ways. The only negative aspect is that for the first half of the film I was battling a serious case of culture-shock. I raised my eyebrows in consternation more than once. However, by the end of the film I was stunned. There are some graphic and intense sequences, many of which linger long after the film is over. I just finished watching it for the first time and I am overwhelmed and haunted by the horrifying images I have seen. Some of the scenes of Nazi brutality are unnerving and evil; their debauchery and slaughter are unforgivable. Seriously, there are scenes in this film I have never seen before and will probably never see in any future films. The camera work is amazing, being a worthy film for study by any aspiring cinematographer, and the direction is outstanding. The main reason I watch foreign films is that I hope to see and experience something I never have. This is one of those experiences. Highly recommended.

DVD Technical Considerations
Equally important to me in reading reviews about a film are the technical aspects/production values and quality of the DVD itself, particularly re-releases of older films. From what I've read about the overall DVD quality of "Come and See" there is controversy, to say the least.

My intent here is to delineate the technical aspects of the current DVD issue and leave prophetic wisdom and insite of the film to other eager reviewers. But I will say that as a long-time war film fan I found "Come and See" easily one of the best with some of the most stunning visuals ever committed to film. If you've seen and appreciated such films as The Winter War, Das Boot, Stalingrad or Die Brucke (The Bridge) you should be quite pleased with this effort.

The current DVD package is no longer two DVDs, but one (thankfully) and contains all 142 uninterrupted minutes of the original film. The special features are scant and consist of a theatrical trailer with no oral commentary and a written appreciation of the film by Sean Penn.

The movie is full frame (aspect ratio 1.33:1) and NOT in original widescreen. It is in Russian with English subtitles giving the viewer adequate time to read each line. Each chapter is delineated on your DVD player, so you can stop anywhere you like and pick up where you left off later. I have a decent home theatre system and found the picture quality very good and likely similar to that which was released for theatres. The audio is in stereo and the sound quality is good and on a par for the era in which it was produced.

The DVD is still produced by Kino Video, issued in a hard case and contains the same art cover and interesting film descriptions as the former two DVD version.

In summation, a monumental motion picture (and a favorite of mine) and top quality production, not withstanding modest extra features.

SO BRILLIANT NOT EVEN A MEDIOCRE DVD CAN DETER
This film made under the old Soviet cinema system back in 1985 makes SCHINDLER and RYAN seems like THREE MEN AND A BABY!!

TOTAL GENIUS.

I do however find the other reviewer's remarks so typical of the American mind when he asks reviewers to imagine a fictional world where Kansas is over-run by Nazi terror. To which I have two responses. The American Indian tribes of Kansas don't have to imagine a fictional senario they lived it at the hands
of Washingtonian Manifest Destiny...same difference.

From the early stages of this film I began to imagine a remake of this movie set in Vietnam during the American invasion and genocidal conquest of Indochina. What the German Nazis did and are showing doing in BeloRussia in this film you Americans did two decades later in Vietnam. Near the end of the film a title comes on the screen saying that 628 villages were burnt to the ground along with their inhabitants. Well in South Vietnam the portion of Vietnam the USA was claiming to the world it was defending from Northern commie aggression, 12000 out of the 15000 hamlets were burnt to the ground by the American army with murders and rapes committed by Americans in the 100's of thousands. In Saigon there was a CIA administered interrogation prison where 50,000 people were tortured. In the end 4 million Indochinese were murdered by the USA. The parallels between the two experiences are undeniable.

This brilliant piece of Soviet era cinema contains none of the Hollywood niceities that we are all programed to expect from movies. This is the real deal and it is IN YA FACE. If you think you can handle it BUY IT!

(...) ... Read more

Reviews (212)

Comedy For All Eternity
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a comedy for all eternity. This is one of those big box, big budget, long-running-time, cameo-loaded, expensive, broad-canvas farces of the 60's that I love so much. Released in 1962, this was one of Stanley Kramer's greatest and last movies. This award-winning movie is a timeless masterpiece for the whole family.

After a bouncy, splashy Saul Bass animated title sequence, the story begins with a brief car chase in the California desert. Bank robber Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) wrecks his car, and with his dying words reveals a secret about buried treasure to the seven strangers who stopped on the roadside. 'Look for the big W' in Santa Rosita, he says, and then he kicks the bucket.

After a brief attempt at cooperation, the treasure hunt is on and it's every man for himself, in four teams. Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett decide to take to the air but their pilot, Jim Backus, gets hammered on Old Fashioneds. Husband-and-wife Sid Caesar and Edie Adams can only find a biplane cropduster. The lone truck driver, Jonathan Winters, can't get gas. And his mother-in-law Ethel Merman fatally hampers Milton Berle, with his wife Dorothy Provine.

So all four teams scamper across the landscape, across the broad canvas of this movie, wound tight by desperate greed and calmly monitored by a Sergeant Culpepper, Spencer Tracy. This is the framing story for an amazing string of billed appearances and unbilled cameos so many that at last your senses are sort of dulled. Oh, it's Carl Reiner in the control tower. Oh, look, it's Stan Freberg, yeah. The best cameo, hands down, is Jerry Lewis, who comes barreling down Long Beach Boulevard in a moment of exuberant stupidity and runs over Spencer Tracy's hat.

Probably my favorite, I have so many, co-star was Terry Thomas who plays a vacationing Englishman in a rattling station wagon, who picks up Milton Berle. He's talkative. He prattles away (accurately) about why it is that the American male is positively preoccupied with booo-sums, and says things like, "I'll wager you anything you like, if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight!" This sequence, within the context of the movie so far, has a single funny moment when this whole vast farce might come alive, find its voice, and this circus might make sense - Terry-Thomas finds the tone for the rest of the movie. I find it compelling that the aesthetic success of all this footage, all these appearances, all this thoroughly American spectacle, suddenly pivots around a few fussy syllables about breasts. But once the moment passes, Terry-Thomas is efficiently neutralized and dismissed by Ethel Merman, and on we go.

The array of challengers eventually reach Santa Rosita, and several unexplainably humorous events occur. These I will not reveal to you and allow you to view the movie on your own time. I must add though, that if you do see this movie, reserve several hours. Like most from its decade its LONG... VERY LONG... But allow me to assure you, you wont be disappointed.

Madness is Genius
Eight traveling vacationers witness the sudden car-crash and slow final death of con-man Smiler Grogan in the hills above Palm Desert, Cal.. Grogan's dying words reveal the secret location of $350,000 hidden in Santa Rosita Park, near San Diego. This sparks a wild, hectic race for the dough. Pure greed,buried treasure, and car crashes. It's all here. "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad, Mad World" was the most successful movie directed by ace Stanley Kramer. All of the famous television and film comics from 1963 appear in this wild comedy. Only Bob Hope is missing. The cast includes Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Joe E. Brown, The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, and Spencer Tracy. Ernest Gold composed an original booming, wonderful soundtrack you'll be humming for days. At two hours and 41 minutes, "Mad World" is too long, but an incredible cast and mad-cap action propel the story along. This new MGM DVD is presented in widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect. The colors are crisp and vibrant. The "Mad World" DVD includes an excellent 1991 documentary with all the major surviving cast members. There's also 1 hour of "out-takes", faded and damaged, from the original Cinerama 70mm release. And there's two trailers. The year 2001 produced an obvious remake of "Mad World" called "Rat Race", a modest hit. Stanley Kramer and Spencer Tracy made 4 classic films together. The last was the inspiring "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" in 1967. In ill health, sadly, Tracy died just days after shooting ended. Stanley Kramer himself died in Feb. 2001. His genius is now gone. His legacy lies before you.

It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad DVD
I would give this DVD 5 stars if all the movie was here, but it isn't, hence 3 stars. There's no excuse for this considering that no major restoration has been attempted here, the storage capabilities of DVDs are huge, and MGM has already released the full-length movie on VHS. The deleted scene feature is a mess. Watching the scenes seperately is tedious and not much fun. The least they could do would be to put the deleted scenes in the order that they appeared in the original film. The third and fourth scenes appear to be exactly the same as do others later on. Sometimes the scene appears the same only zoomed in. Others scenes have no sound. Some of the last scenes go on and on up to 10 minutes and contains everything that is included in the feature except for very minor snippets of dialogue. Sometimes you can't detect anything new, like in the money dividing proposal scene.

I can see why MGM would want to keep their pristine 35mm print whole and transfer that to DVD but perhaps they should have included a 2nd disc and a 2nd version that patched together all the missing scenes, no matter what condition, and reconstructed the film as best as they could to the longest originally released version.

MGM, when you finally "Special Edition" this movie offer a rebate with the proof of purchase from this inferior edition!

Best, Most Memorable Comedy Ever Made !!
I originally saw the movie in '63. I was 8. Dad started my Birthday party with it. After the movie, Dad drove the route of the Santa Monica portion of the car chase(yes, there really was a "Big W").
Just finished watching the movie on Turner TV. The narrator came on after the movie and said that THE ORIGINAL WAS 5 HOURS long(Just too much "good stuff"). The movie studio had it edited to the shortened current version of three hours.
Back in '63 it was a terrific movie-In '04 it is still a terrific movie.

An all star cast of comics, great comedy

Director: Stanley Kramer
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: September 26, 1995

Cast:

Spencer Tracy ... Capt. T.G. Culpeper
Milton Berle ... J. Russell Finch
Sid Caesar ... Melville Crump, DDS
Buddy Hackett ... Benjy Benjamin
Ethel Merman ... Mrs. Marcus
Mickey Rooney ... Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Dick Shawn ... Sylvester Marcus
Phil Silvers ... Otto Meyer
Terry-Thomas ... Lt.Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne
Jonathan Winters ... Lennie Pike
Edie Adams ... Monica Crump
Dorothy Provine ... Emeline Marcus-Finch
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson ... Second cab driver
Jim Backus ... Tyler Fitzgerald
Ben Blue ... Biplane pilot
Joe E. Brown ... Union official
Alan Carney ... Police sergeant
Chick Chandler ... Detective outside Chinese laundromat
Barrie Chase ... Sylvester's girlfriend
Lloyd Corrigan ... The Mayor
William Demarest ... Police Chief Aloysius
Andy Devine ... Sheriff of Crockett County
Selma Diamond ... Ginger Culpeper
Peter Falk ... Third cab driver
Norman Fell ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Paul Ford ... Col. Wilberforce
Stan Freberg ... Deputy sheriff
Louise Glenn ... Billie Sue Culpeper
Leo Gorcey ... First cab driver
Sterling Holloway ... Fire Chief
Edward Everett Horton ... Mr. Dinckler
Marvin Kaplan ... Irwin
Buster Keaton ... Jimmy the boatman
Don Knotts ... Nervous man
Charles Lane ... Airport manager
Mike Mazurki ... Miner
Charles McGraw ... Lt. Matthews
Cliff Norton ... Reporter
Zasu Pitts ... Switchboard operator Gertie
Carl Reiner ... Tower controller at Rancho Conejo
Madlyn Rhue ... Secretary Schwartz
Roy Roberts ... Policeman outside Irwin & Ray's Garage
Arnold Stang ... Ray
Nick Stewart ... Migrant truck driver
Joe DeRita ... Fireman
Larry Fine ... Fireman
Moe Howard ... Fireman
Sammee Tong ... Chinese laundryman
Jesse White ... Radio tower operator at Rancho Conejo
Jimmy Durante ... Smiler Grogan
Roy Engel ... Patrolman/Police radio voice unit F-14
Nicholas Georgiade ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Stacy Harris ... Police radio voice unit F-7
Don C. Harvey ... Policeman in helicopter
Allen Jenkins ... Police officer
Tom Kennedy ... Traffic cop
Harry Lauter ... Police dispatcher
Ben Lessy ... George the steward
Jerry Lewis ... Man who runs over hat
Bob Mazurki ... Eddie (miner's son)
Jack Benny ... Man in car in desert
Eddie Ryder ... Air traffic control tower staffer
Paul Birch ... Policeman
Doodles Weaver ... Dinckler's Hardware Store clerk
Stanley Clements ... Detective in squad room
Bobo Lewis ... Pilot's wife
Minta Durfee ... Bit Part

Intended to be the comedy to end all comedies, with a cast including virtually all the name comedians at the time.

Jimmy Durante plays a guy who is in a fatal auto accident, but before he dies, tells 5 bystanders where there is $350,000 hidden under a "W", whuch leads to a chase to find the money.

Meanwhile, Capt. T.G. Culpeper (Spencer Tracy) is aware of the stolen money and he and his policemen observe the chase with interest through the desert, mountains, and along the California coast, with the contestants using aircraft, cars, trucks, a bicycle and every method of transportation in their attempt to be first to reach the money.

Tracy was ill when the film was shot, and so only worked four hours per day. The long shots and physical stuff was performed by stand-ins.

This is a fun movie. If there is a criticism, it is that the comedy is perhaps overdone. With so many top comedians, there is certainly no dearth of funny lines, pratfalls, and laughs--that's for sure.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

... Read more

Amazon.com

When Ally McBeal premiered on the Fox network in 1997, the series was already riding high on critical praise, with its upscale mix of savvy humor and hot-topic legal drama. Created, produced, and written entirely by the amazingly prolific David E. Kelley, the show immediately found an appreciative audience of women drawn to the title character's frank perspectives on dating, sex, and career objectives, and men lured by a cast full of attractive, outspoken women with vibrant personalities and flattering wardrobes. (If you think that's a sexist observation, you haven't tuned in to the show's brilliant balance of male chauvinism, feminist attitude, and hilariously turbulent office politics.)

This two-disc compilation of episodes from the show's first season is aptly titled, because Ally McBeal--a Boston lawyer played by Calista Flockhart--is defined by her seemingly perpetual singlehood, her sexual and emotional yearnings, her professional passions, and--by one of Kelley's creative masterstrokes--her flights of imagination (often visualized via amusing computer-generated effects) that give the series a constant, unpredictable edge of humor and emotional depth.

These well-chosen episodes offer a comprehensive summary of the first season's major developments, including the emotional history shared by Ally and her now-married colleague Billy (Gil Bellows); the notorious "dancing baby" (in "Cro-Magnon") symbolizing the insistent ticking of Ally's biological clock; the amiable quirks of John "the Biscuit" Cage (Peter MacNicol); and the dubious pearls of wisdom known as "Fishisms." Here we witness the sublime chemistry of the ensemble cast, and each member is given ample time in the spotlight. Regular guest star Dyan Cannon is strongly featured in "Silver Bells," prior to the second-season addition of Nelle (Portia DeRossi) and Ling (Lucy Liu). That leaves plenty of room to establish Ally McBeal as the lively focus of the series--confused, opinionated, sexy, neurotic, frustrated, ecstatic, intelligent, emotional... and never, ever boring. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Do you want every bit of Ally? Come to the UK!!!
Ally McBeal is an American TV show so I do not understand why Americans have only been given this small bundle of episodes when over in my home country England we have ALL the seasons available with special features!

For you hardcore Ally fans I'll give you some handy advice. Save up for a multi-region dvd player or a computer that plays dvds. Go on over to amazon.co.uk and purchase the season box sets!

Good luck!!!

UPSET!
I love the show Ally Mcbeal, and I am upset that there is only one season released here in the US! I ordered three seasons from the UK website only to get them in the mail and find out that they are not compatible with the systems of the U.S. so either way I am still with out any of the episodes!It cost me $32.00 to send it back to the U.K., and I'm not even sure amazon.uk will refund the cost of the sets! So I am out of over $100.00 trying to buy the series of this wonderful show. I am upset at the entire situation!

What an insult!!
While I might be inclined to believe that the seris was a cult fav, it still was extremely popular. This DVD release is an insult to all the faithful followers and just a tease to those who are unfamiliar with the ironic yet hilarious humor. There is a bit of Ally in all of us. Does Fox even know how frustrating it is to know that Ally is available in just about every country but the U.S.? I had to buy season one off a jerk on ebay and it was burnt and it sucked! I did get season four from a fabulous person in another country. Expensive song rights or not, give your loyal fans what they deserve and make it good with deleted scenes and lots of special features!!!!

ally mcbeal boxed set PLEASE
i am a fan of ally mcbeal and would love to be able to buy the entire series of episodes on dvd. i see sex and the city, friends, buffy, etc...there are so many people that love ally mcbeal, i would LOVE to see this set put out.
becky

Where's the rest of the seasons???
I was planning on buying this cd as a gift for an Ally Mcbeal fan but after reading the reviews I changed my mind! This show was great, I cannot believe the entire collection is not out on DVD, I'm going on amazon.co.uk to see what I find? ... Read more

Description

Shelley Long discovers that when the going gets tough, the tough go camping in Troop Beverly Hills, a comedy about lifestyles of the rich and outrageous. Flamboyantly wealthy Phyllis Nefler (Long) has everything money can buy--a drop-dead Beverly Hills mansion, a classic Rolls, furs, jewelry and designer gowns. The one thing she doesn't have is her husband Freddy (Craig T. Nelson), who's leaving her for good. Maybe. Determined to prove she's still the creative, energetic woman Freddy once loved, Phyllis throws luxury to the wind and becomes leader of her daughter's Wilderness Girls troop. But how much can this chic cookie take before she crumbles? Is saving her marriage really worth trading Gucci bags for sleeping bags-–not to mention actually touching bugs? Featuring cameos by Robin Leach, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pia Zadora, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and Cheech Marin, Shelley Long blazes new comic trails in this hilarious trial-by-campfire that leaves the wilderness wilder than ever. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

True 80's cheese.!
Story: Troup Beverly has once aginst lost its troup leader because they can't handle the little rich snobs. And then it is taken over by Phyllis Nephler, a high maintenance high class soon-to-be Beverly Hills Divorcee. She's doing it for her daughter at first, but soon wants to help all the girls beat the odds(The Red feathers in particular) and show the rest of the wilderness girls what they can do. Watch the movie to find out the rest.!

Why its so awesome: Its hilarious, its cheezy, its got some groovy tunes, some touching scenes, and Shelly Long... hehe What else more can you ask for? If you're looking for something to brighten your spirits then "Troup Beverly Hills" is EXACTLY what you're looking for, it the "Perfect" pick-me-up.

*enjoy*

God Bless ~Amy

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!
This movie absolutely rocks! Ive watched it soooo many times and i cant help acting it out everytime i watch it, since I know it word for word :) My friends and i watch it every time we have a sleepover! Its the best movie for people of all ages since it relates on all levels. You will laugh hysterically everytime you see it, and wont be able to stop quoting lines from it! TROOP BEVERLY HILLS ROCKS! AND IF YOU DONT LIKE IT.. THEN... "EXCUUUUSE ME OFFICA!" (sorry i had to) Just watch the movie and you'll see what i mean!

Beverly Hills, what a thrill!
Although I did not get to see this movie until I was about 13 (I'm 18 now), I have to say that this is an absolutely hilarious movie! How can you not love seeing these spoiled Beverly Hills girls doing what they consider "roughing it" by sleeping at the Beverly Hills hotel, or making a dress-rack backpack for the craft fair? In the end though, they show that money may buy you the world, but it's true spirit that wins the race. A funny movie, with an excellent message. Buy it, watch it, you won't be disappointed!

And it rains there...
Stereotypical yes. But anyone who has actually been through the Girl Scout experience will appreciate this movie for what it is. Anyway the best, if only, movie about girl-scouting ever made. I was nine and when it was released, and a sleep-over fave definitely. I was rather disappointed w. my sister's troop's "I wish our leader was like that" but this movie really hits the nail on the head with Velma. Do the Freddie!

One of the best movies of all time!
I love this movie! I was excited to see it on DVD finally. I also enjoyed the extra scenes on the DVD. It doesn't bother me that it is not widescreen. This is a classic movie that needs to be preserved. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An indictment of the British class system dressed up like a Ralph Lauren ad, Another Country is the movie that made a very young and very gorgeous Rupert Everett a star. Whatever other ideas it has knocking around its head (and there are quite a lot of them), director Marek Kanievska's adaptation of Julian Mitchell's play is first and foremost a star vehicle for Everett, who played the openly gay main character with a vigor, flair, and smoldering appeal that was rarely seen onscreen in the early '80s. Everett is Guy Bennett, a charming, confident schoolboy in 1930s England who yearns to climb to the top of the social strata at his Eton-like school. His ambitions, however, are waylaid by the young and equally gorgeous James Harcourt (Cary Elwes), with whom he begins a passionate yet secret affair. Soon, however, Guy finds that balancing his love and his ambition is a no-win situation, and that no matter how hard he bucks against it, the ages-old traditional structures of British class and etiquette won't yield in his wake. Added to all this E.M. Forster-style drama and romance is the fact that Guy later on becomes a spy for the Russians against England; it's a weighty theme to drop on the movie, and the fact that it's a true story just shows how less than artfully the film unfolds. Still, holding it all together is the sublime Everett, who took this persona of the classy, beautiful, passionate, British gay man and ran with it throughout the '80s and '90s. With Colin Firth as Everett's Marxist (and heterosexual) compatriot. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas make a delightful duo in this comedic Western in which Wayne seeks revenge on a ruthless mine owner (Bruce Cabot) who had him framed and sent to prison. Upon his release, Wayne recruits Douglas in a scheme to raid and rob one of Cabot's gold-laden wagons, despite the fact that Douglas had been offered good money to kill Wayne. He joins Wayne instead (the potential profits being much greater), and they set out to ambush the War Wagon, so named because it's heavily armored, mounted with a Gatling gun, and guarded by a dozen gunmen on horses. Costarring Keenan Wynn and Howard Keel as a wise-cracking Indian, The War Wagon was a Western precursor to the action buddy films of the 1980s and '90s, serving up plenty of exciting action and constant comic relief. The interplay between Wayne and Douglas is sharp and sarcastic, and their motley crew of accomplices provides yet another source of character-driven humor. Not one of the greatest Westerns ever made, but certainly one of the most lightly entertaining. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Mission Impossible in the Old West.
Gunfighter Taw Jackson (John Wayne) recruits a motley crew of sidekicks to rob ruthless mine owner, Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot). Pierce routinely transports a fortune in gold dust in an armored stagecoach called "The War Wagon." Complete with a small army of guards and a Gatling gun, The War Wagon is formidable. Taw figures to settle old scores by devising a complex plan to steal the gold. John Wayne was good at big budget B pictures. This flick is very different from a John Ford masterpiece, but so what? This movie is a typical Batjac action-adventure flick with comic overtones. Wayne trades verbal barbs with Lomax (Kirk Douglas), a too-cool hired gun. Howard Keel is Levi Walking Bear, a comic and politically incorrect Indian. Robert Walker is a drunken explosives expert. Keenan Wynn is a sadistic teamster. They each play a role in the carefully timed execution of the robbery. Unaware of their thieving alliance, Pierce hires Lomax to kill Taw, setting up several tense situations. The supporting cast includes members of Wayne's Batjac production company family. Look for Bruce Dern, Gene Evans, and Sheb Wooley in small roles. Throw in colorful outdoor locations, a saloon brawl, lots of hard-riding action, and it's great fun for Western movie fans. It's well worth the price. ;-)

A Good Shoot'em Up Western
Taw Jackson, played by John Wayne, is out on parole and building a team to heist a shipment of Gold dust. The problem is, the town where he's planning his heist is filled with his worst enemies. Kirk Douglas as Lomax, is one of Taw's partners. Together they study to work out every detail to commit their crime. All they got to do now is do the deed. Will they make it? Lots of fancy gun slinging, fighting, and a really neat Saloon fight add to the flavor of this movie. Oh, and you gotta see the way Kirk Douglas mounts his horse, it's Peachy! One of the most suspenseful scenes is where Taw and another of his cohort's line a bridge they plan to blow up with nitroglycerin. Also, look for a very short role by Bruce Dern . He, as he has in most films, plays a bad guy, and when he's confronted by Taw Jackson he quickly learns what "BAD" really is.

It's like "Oceans Eleven" in the West
This is a movie about revenge. It's about the quest of one man, Taw Jackson (Wayne), to get even with the man who set him up and stole his ranch. To get his vengeance, Taw puts together a small group of men, including a gunfighter who's been hired to kill him (Douglas), to help him rob the "War Wagon," so named because it is an iron stagecoach complete with a gattling gun and a large complement of mounted guards. The five men scheme, plan, and concoct a plan to steal the wagon, and Taw and Lomax (Douglas) try to refrain from killing each other in the process.

This is not meant to be a completely serious Western, and in fact it is quite lighthearted. It is also funny, with just enough comic relief to keep things lively. Douglas and Wayne are absolutely fabulous together, and the rest of the cast works well too. This is a great all-around Western.

Entertaining comedy western
The War Wagon is a good comedy western starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglass as two men attempting to steal a shipment of gold. Wayne stars as Taw Jackson, a man recently released from prison after being framed, who wants to get revenge on the man who put him in jail(Bruce Cabot). Kirk Douglass is Lomax, Wayne's greedy, cocky partner. These two are perfect together as they try and figure out how to rob the "war wagon." Their dialogue is sharp and cutting with insults being handed back and forth.

The movie is very entertaining to watch. Excellent cast backing up Wayne and Douglass including Howard Keel as Levi Walking Bear. There is enough action and humor for everybody in this western. DVD presentation is good in widescreen with a trailer included even though it is a little pricey. Well worth it for Duke fans!

A get even movie
well it's a good movie some light humor a get even type movie.Enjoyable intertianing but you've to know one thing I
am a big JOHN WAYNE FAN. ... Read more

Reviews (567)

More like A Clockwork Tangerine!
Some consider this to be Kubrick's masterpiece. In my opinion Dr. Strangelove was his masterpiece, but Orange is a master work, nonetheless. It's a dark tale of prophecy, a vision of a bleak future, violent and vicious in the extreme, which some might also say we're living in today, judging by the headlines.

So this is a great movie, but this DVD is a great disappointment! Despite what the details above say and what it says on the disc snap-case, the film is not in widescreen letterbox format, but is in full screen format! And the image quality is only fair-to-good. The sound is OK on my mono TV speaker but evidently is not Dolby multi-channel. And the theatrical trailer freezes at various points during playback. There's a chapter index and a list of awards the movie won or was nominated for, and that's about it for bonus features! One can only hope that the next release of this movie on DVD will do it justice, and make it a true Kubrick collectible!

Substance and Style!
Perhaps the greatest irony in "A Clockwork Orange" occurs in the scene where Alex is reading the Bible in prison. He informs the viewer that he loves the violence and sex contained in the first part, but really has no use for the preaching in the latter half. I've come across a lot of folks who have seen this flick and it never fails- there are many out there who, like Alex and the Bible, love the brutality of the first hour of the film, and cannot abide the preachy second half. If you are one of those, stop reading this review.

"A Clockwork Orange" is an ingenious comparison of two theories of punishment- retributivism and utilitarianism. Debate has raged over the proper role of a criminal justice system. Is the goal to punish the criminal according to the old eye for an eye standard (retributivism) or to reform the criminal into a useful, law abiding citizen (utilitarianism)? At the outset, many people dismiss utilitarian values as a lot of liberal silliness: soft on crime. A more important question is whether we should reform criminals whether they desire to be reformed or not for the good of society. One of the more interesting aspects of this film is that is shows utilitarianism can be a far more brutal method than retributivism, contrary to popular thought.

Here we have the debate crystallized as if the proponents of both, Kant and Bentham, were debating the merits before our very eyes through the characters on screen. Alex is unquestionably rotten to the core; he maims and rapes helpless victims for laughs. The first hour of the film is dedicated to underscoring this point. When Alex is apprehended by the authorities, he is dealt with in the old fashioned Kantian way- punishment.

Alex then volunteers for a special treatment that will "cure" him, in exchange for freedom. The cure is a form of conditioning that causes Alex to become terribly ill whenever any inclination towards sex or violence surfaces- he now has a reflexive aversion toward evil, and "ceases to be a being capable of moral choice". The final act of the film deals with the consequences of being "cured" in such a way.

By now you probably get the idea- go see this film (but not as a "date"). To further entice you, it's one of the most visually exciting movies ever made, with vibrant images that will burn themselves into your mind. If you've never seen it on DVD, the transfer is great, and you will see things you've missed before. And as a final bonus, look for the guy who plays Darth Vader as a bodyguard.

I'm laughing at clouds
"A Clockwork Orange" is screenplay writer/director/producer Stanley Kubrick's interpretation of the book of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The dialog includes some of Burgess' made-up language from the book.

The plot revolves around Alex de Large and his group of friends who are very violent, and get their kicks by raping and assaulting people. After Alex and friends commit various crimes, Alex is finally arrested and put in prison with a sentence of 14 years. Eventually, his sentence is commuted in exchange for him undergoing experimental aversion therapy which makes him physically ill at the thought of sex or violence. However, it also makes him hate Beethoven's 9th Symphony which was played as background music to some aversion films during treatment. After an attempted suicide, Alex is re-treated with apologies by the government for inhuman treatment, and Alex appears he will resume his old ways.

This movie is highly stylized, including wardrobe, hairdo's (mom has purple hair, another woman had dark blue hair), set dressing, location and props. There is a fair amount of full frontal nudity of both sexes, and some stylized and slow-motion violence. Kubrick has made some good and bad movies, but this is his most stylized and over-the-top effort. Not for everyone.

DVD has chapters, English or French spoken language, several subtitle languages, a trailer and list of awards.

MUST SEE!!!
Amazing portrayal of the effects of a violent youth on society, and the effects of society on the violent youth in turn. Not enough can be said for Malcom McDowell's genious, artistic performance as the lead character "Alex". This character would be despised if played by any other actor, but Mr Mcdowell's rendition somehow finds us leaving the film with an almost endearing "fondness" for the boy.Fabulous must see art film, but definitely not for sissies!

gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh
With this provocative, amusing and beautiful tour-de-force Stanley Kubrick established himself as the most audacious and original directors of his time. Though the are thoses who despise it, no one can deny the power of this film to spark impassioned discussions on the film's sudject matter. And I for one feel this is an achievement all on its own. This stirring classic, I hope, will endure and inspire generations of young film enthusiasts like myself. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

the Wicked versus the Tender
Shortly after Blanche Dubois (played by Vivien Leigh) moves in with her sister Stella for temporary shelter, Stella's husband (Stanley, played by Marlon Brando) begins to suspect that Blanche is a fallen woman who's on the run and masquerading as a respectable lady. Stanley then decides he'll stop at nothing to destroy Blanche's hopes for a normal life. What happens in this movie will have you glued to the screen from start to finish. ASND has realistic , powerful acting from Leigh, Brando, Malden and Hunter .......This film makes my Top 5 Movies of All Time. If you consider yourself a "tender" person (as opposed to wicked/ruthless) then do yourself a favor and watch ASND. It's a primal reminder that the Gentle/Tender should always be watchful of their archenemy, the Wicked! It's no wonder ASND won so many Oscars. Blanche is a highly demanding role for any actress and Vivien Leigh steps up to the plate and hits a grand slam with her perfect performance ...and yes, Leigh won the Oscar for Best Actress. Even more amazing is the fact that Leigh is from the U.K. and Blanche is pure Mississippi ex-plantation debutante

AFI's Great Love Stories: #67 A Streetcar Named Desire
In "A Streetcar Named Desire" Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski gives what is clearly the best acting performance not to win an Academy Award (he lost to Humphrey Bogart in "The African Queen"). Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois, Kim Hunter as Stella Kowalski, and Karl Malden as Mitch all won in their respective acting categories. Years later, with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" this same thing happened, with both of the ladies winning that time around.

Tennessee Williams' play is one of the major works in American drama, especially after the Second World War, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1947 (with Jessica Tandy as Blanche the only cast change from the film; although I should point out Leigh opened the play in England on stage). Although Brando's performance is riveting, representing the new "modern" method of acting at its best, the play is really about the mental and moral disintegration of Blanche, a neurotic former Southern belle whose genteel illusions are no match for the brutish realities of her brother-in-law, Stanley. The fact that Hollywood changed the ending to reflect conventional morality remains one of the great sins in movie history, but I have always thought the fact Brando's legendary stage performance was essentially preserved on film offsets that in the final judgment. Leigh's performance is often seen as an extension of the Scarlett O'Hara role that made her famous, but of course now we know her personal life was as tortured as the character she was playing.

I heard an argument once that "A Streetcar Named Desire" was, at least on some level, a reponsible by Tennessee Williams to Eugene O'Neill's play "The Iceman Cometh" (then again, I have heard the same argument made, more forcefully to be sure, regarding Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"). O'Neill's classic play deals with the human need for illusion and hope as necessary weapons against despair. If you are teaching American drama in the 20th century, then using these plays in any combination you might like could be quite provocative for your students.

Personal aside: I was in New Orleans once and actually saw the bus named "Desire," which had replaced the city streetcars. There was certainly an odd little moment.

Most significant line: It does not seem right to talk about romantic lines with any of these characters, but there is a line that is one of the greatest character epitaphs ever. Of course, this is at the end where Blanches says to the doctor, "Whoever you are, I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers." I have usually found that at some point in a play there is a line that defines the character so well it could serve as their epitaph. This line is as clear an example of what I am talking about as you could ever hope to find.

If you like "A Streetcar Named Desire," then check out these other films on the AFI's list of 100 Greatest Love Stories: #48 "Last Tango in Paris" and #89 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Why? The former give you Brando in another sick love relationship and the latter is the other great American drama on this list.

some of the best the screen has ever seen
Vivien Leigh, well-known for her portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in 1939's "Gone With the Wind", plays Blanche, a Southern belle as fragile as Scarlett is strong. In a way, Blanche is what Scarlett would have become if she had watched her mother die. "Death is very pretty compared to dying," she tells her sister Stella, who only came home for the funeral.

Stella is pregnant and married to Stanley (the inimitable Brando) who both abhors and is fascinated by his sister-in-law Blanche (and not just in a platonic manner.) Blanche in turn is interested in meeting new gentleman callers, as her great love once killed himself (as she tells us in one of the most riveting scenes in movie history.) Interesting note: the delivery boy she flirts with is Mickey Kuhn, who once played Leigh's nephew Beau in GWTW.

Blanche is so fragile that she has no choice but to break. Unfortunately, others hurry her down that path. Perhaps the worst thing one can do, it seems, is depend on the kindness of strangers.

Brando at his finest
With obvious rekindled interest because of the recent death of Marlon Brando, this "one of a kind" film is making a deserved comback. Always thought to be a classic, the comparisons to Brando's acting then, and what we get now from most stars makes this film even more intense. Vivien Leigh digs deep for her emotional performance, and she's miles ahead of anything she did in Gone With the Wind. The rest of the cast is superb also.

Intense and Sexy
This is a perfect date movie. It is intense, sexy, and packed with intellectual and emotional whallop. The actors are interesting and beautiful to look at, and the subject matter is mature and provoacative. It is the perfect setup for getting to know someone better, and a great warm-up for intimate activities to follow, or for super-intense action like you get when you put into practice the teachings of the "New Sex Now" dvd.

God bless you Marlon, you were a true subtle hunk! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even though one can view each segment of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy on its own, it seems absurd to do so; why buy the slacks instead of the entire suit? Created by Kieslowski and his writing partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz for France's bicentennial, the titles--and the themes of the films--come from the three colors of the French flag representing liberty, equality, and fraternity. Blue examines liberation through the eyes of a woman (Juliette Binoche) who loses her husband and daughter in an auto accident, and solemnly starts anew. White is an ironic comedy about a befuddled Polish husband (Zbigniew Zamachowski) who takes an odd path of revenge against his ex-wife (Julie Delpy). A Swiss model (Irène Jacob) strikes up a friendship with a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who eavesdrops on his neighbors in Red. The trilogy is a snapshot of European life at a time of reconstruction after the Cold War, reflected through Kieslowski's moralist view of human nature and illumined by each title's palate color.

The DVD set has numerous extras spread throughout the three discs; the end result is a superior collection. Each disc has a short retrospective, culled together from new interviews with Kieslowski's crew, plus film critic Geoff Andrew, biographer Annette Insdorf (who also does the commentaries), and fellow Polish director Ageniska Holland. Producer Marin Karmitz also reminisces about the experience. There's an exceptional effort to show the magic of Kieslowski (who died two years after the trilogy) through a discussion of his various career phases, interviews with the three lead actresses, four student films, and archival materials including simple--and wonderful--glimpses of the director at work. Excellent insight is also provided by Dominique Rabourdin's filmed "cinema lessons" with Kieslowski. Without viewing any of his other films, this set illustrates the uniqueness of Kieslowski. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (45)

One of the GREATEST trilogy ever made!!!
This is just beautiful, beautiful master film making from one of the best director of films of any country (Kieslowski). The movies are rightly understated, smart and well crafted. I highly suggest watching them in order BLUE, WHITE, and RED and watch how things just comes perfectly together in RED. Kieslowski excellent use of music in BLUE is nothing short of amazing and is also acts and an unseen character. Plus Juliette Binoche is amazing to watch. She is extremely convincing as a woman in real grief. White starring another well known French actress, Julie Delpy and polish actor Zbigniew Zamachowski is more comedic and the actor plots his revenge on his French ex-wife and then there is the magnificent of Red starring Irene Jacob, as a young model who discovers an ex-judge has been listening on the conversation of those around him. I don't speak a lick of french and the films are in French with English subtitle, but after awhile, you will forget you are reading and become engrossed in just good story tellling. It is not for those who are looking for the type of drama, we here in America are use to, but this is CLEARLY the best foreign films ever made. I recommend this only for older audiences (over 25) probably over 30. There may be a few younger folks who may get into this, but this film is for people who appreciate a nicely even, perhaps slow paced film. I am not trying to be an elitist, far from it. I wish that everyone would view these films for themselves because they are crafted so well and the filming is so smart. The colors represent the color AND meaning of the colors of the French flag. I was sooooo excited when they FINALLY realeased these films on DVD. For you true film fans out there, this is a must own collection.

Visually engaging
The RED, WHITE and BLUE trilogy refers to the colors of the French flag. This must be a declaration of patriotism or admiration from the films' director, Krzysztof Kieslowski, since the various storylines mostly take place outside France. Go figure.

In BLUE, Julie (Juliette Binoche) mentally recuperates from the loss of her family in an auto accident, of which she was the only survivor. In WHITE, Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski) emotionally recovers from a humiliating divorce and shabby treatment by his ex. In RED, Valentine (Irene Jacob) copes after injuring a dog with her car.

Though each film is a complete story in itself, BLUE and WHITE must be viewed before RED. At RED's conclusion, a most improbable happenstance brings together the major characters of all three films. The trilogy's lesson appears to be that life is a series of coincidences, and the potential for personal growth from any connection between one or more individuals is a mine of great richness if one cares to work it. Humans are reputed to be a social species. However, the set is perhaps best appreciated by a "people person", who relishes the interaction of daily encounters whether random or not. I'm not that sort (much to my wife's perpetual disgust), so my regard for the series is somewhat muted.

RED, WHITE and BLUE also make the point that there's commonality in the experiences of varied individuals. In each film, the major character observes an old person struggling to insert an empty bottle into the elevated aperture of a large, curbside container for recyclables. Only in RED does the protagonist (Valentine) give assistance. Perhaps the director had more in mind here, but it only indicated to me that Valentine was the more generous and less self-absorbed of the three, and, on a larger scale, that reaction to a set stimulus is not uniform among individuals.

I recognize the ability of the trilogy to inspire opinionated discussion, which, as long as it doesn't degenerate into name-calling and fisticuffs, is a swell thing, especially over pizza and beer. I liked the series for its visuals - it continually held my interest - but I'm not such a deep thinker as to regard it as the Greatest Cinematic Achievement Ever. Sometimes, I think, symbology can be overwrought to the point of detriment. And, as I'm beginning to sound pretentious, I'll stop here.

A work of art
to correct a correction in the review from the lady in texas, Juliette Binoche loses her daughter in Blue, not Red.

A must have.
Do you study at USC, NYU or AFI?

Save your tuition and watch these movies.

Filmschool for only 30 $.

And watch them again, and again, and again...

Enthralling
It's amazing that the editorial review from amazon.com should have a mistake, albeit small, regarding the first film of the trilogy. In Red, Juliette Binoche loses her daughter Anna..not her son according to the review. I emphasize this because detail is very important in Bleu, Blanc, Rouge. If you pay attention and put all three movies together, you will understand something about the trilogy that you most probably didn't catch the first time watching it.

I highly recommend this collection in particular because firstly, it's complete. Secondly, the quality is amazing. And thirdly, all three movies can be seen separately but in watching and rewatching the three together, I keep rediscovering the beauty of Kieslowski's work and appreciate it far more than when I first fell in love with it 7 years ago. I highly recommend it to any aficionado of true cinema. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

The Story of God's Love
The Robe

An epic in its time due its being the first motion picture in Cinemascope, it remains a great testimony to the values and morals of its producers and director. I remember watching this movie as adolescent. Victor Mature, as Demetrius a Greek slave, stood out for me in this movie and in other movies (Demetrius and the Gladiators, Samson and Deliah) as the epitome of Christian virtue. Ironically, however the story plot was not about him, but he did play a very important supporting role, his story is in the sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators. Given that this film was an epic in its time 1953; it still has not lost the inspiration and awe of the strength of the test of faith, at least for me, that it inspired when I first saw it.

This epic film was directed by Henry Koster, a German who also is known by the name Herman Kosterlitz. His works include A man called Peter (1955), Harvey (1950), and The bishop's Wife (1947). I believe that major premise that Koster was portraying to the public was that faith in Christ is worth both searching and dying for. No matter who you are there is hope for you in finding the Jesus of the Cross.
The Robe is based on a fiction novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. The story is full of life's major issues that most of us have to work through jealousy, anger, betrayal, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the progression of and test of personal faith.

While titled the Robe, the story really evolves around Marcellus (Richard Burton) a tribune in the service of Rome. He was ordered to crucify Jesus. He wins the robe while gambling at the foot of the cross, but when he touches it he becomes tortured in his mind. When overcome, he cries out "Where you there.?" Ironically the best that anyone can do for him is to send him on a quest to find the robe and destroy it, thinking that will bring his mind to rights. When he finds the Robe he finds peace of mind, through reconciliation to God through belief in the Christ who wore the Robe. Instead of destroying the Robe he instead joins the Christians in declaring God's love for humankind. The ending of the movie is magnificent! When brought to trial by Caligula (Jay Robinson) Marcellus is ordered to pledge allegiance to Rome and renounce his faith in Christ on the penalty of death. He does renew his pledge to Rome but refuses to renounce his faith in Christ. He is sentenced to death for his faith.

The beginning of this story starts before Marcellus has to crucify Jesus, yet the cross, signified by the Robe itself is central to the story. Without it there would be no new life and faith in Christ to die for. Some have called it another story of the Crucifixion, yet I would say no. It is the continuation of the reality of the meaning of the crucifixion... i.e. the Love of God for humankind.

Wide Screen Classic
The first film to be released in the CinemaScope process, The Robe is a fairly interesting fictionalization of Roman life after the death of Christ. Richard Burton stars as Marcellus, the centurion in charge of the crucifixion. Marcellus's life is never the same after he wins Christ's robe in a gambling game. Consumed with guilt and the haunting belief that Jesus was perhaps the Son of God, Marcellus almost goes mad. With the help of some Palestinian Christians, he gets his sanity back and charts a new and dangerous course that puts him at odds with the Roman emperor. A beautiful production featuring an all-star cast including the beautiful Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, and Michael Rennie, The Robe is still enjoyable entertainment some 50 years later. The DVD quality is good and if you have a home theater, the surround sound is quite impressive. Too bad they didn't add any extras, like a commentary by Jean Simmons (the only major star still living). You would think a documentary on the development of CinemaScope would have a least been in order. After CinemaScope, all major studio productions were produced for the wide screen, and The Robe's success helped pave the way for this new process.

Jesus Christ Never Existed.
'The Robe' is a famous film some people have seen or at least heard about. Most people fail to realize all of that doesn't matter because Jesus Christ never existed!! Jesus Christ is a mythological figure the church has exploited for hundreds of years and now the film industry has for almost a hundred years. There is absolutely no archeological or historical evidence that Jesus Christ existed. Even if he did exist, it would be highly unlikely he would have received that kind of punishment.
It is a shame that con artists like these filmmakers are using this mythological figure to make millions of dollars. People have to start swaying away from the manipulations of the church and the filmmaking industry and start looking at the hard facts. Jesus Christ and his crucifixion never happened.

"as for me, I have found another king"
A marvelous epic melodrama, with portions that are emotionally stirring, and with two exceedingly attractive stars, this film ranks high in the "sword and sandals" genre.
This is prime-time Richard Burton, at age 27, heavenly to look at and even better to listen to; his crisp enunciation makes the English language shine, and though some of his scenes are a little "over the top", he carries them off with charismatic presence. Jean Simmons is exquisite as Diana, the woman who has loved Marcellus (Burton) since childhood, and their screen romance has a rare depth and spark.
Other notable performances come from Victor Mature as Demetrius the slave, with a mute but moving scene at Christ's crucifixion, and Michael Rennie is grand as Peter. Jay Robinson is wonderfully rotten as the vicious Caligula.

I always like a good fight sequence, and there is a brilliantly choreographed one between Marcellus and a centurion. It is the kind of swordplay great Shakespearean actors have perfected, and it is a delight to watch.
Directed by Henry Koster, it has an exceptional score by Alfred Newman, and vibrant Technicolor cinematography by Leon Shamroy. I like the way the night scenes have a deep blue glow to them, and the costumes are wonderful. Oscars went to Best Art Direction/Set Design (color) and Best Costume design (color). It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography (color), and was the first film to be released in CinemaScope.
I saw this film many years ago, and had thought it a little silly, but we have both aged well; I can now watch it repeatedly, and appreciate the depictions of courage, and the beauty and humanity of it. Total running time is 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Great Cinemascope Epic
Richard Burton gives a good performance as his soul contorts his mind after being given divine inspiration. The story and photography are well done. The finale is very moving. Great score by Newman. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second batch of eight episodes from the wonderful Monarch of the Glen series picks up precisely where Series One left off. Young Archie MacDonald, the London restaurateur forced to assume his role as Laird of Glenbogle--i.e., head of the MacDonald family's 400-year-old, 40,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands--has finally taken to his immense responsibility with seriousness of purpose and no little family pride. His cantankerous father, Hector (Richard Briers), long estranged from Archie and once bitter about asking his son to save the financially strapped estate, has gracefully accepted his own change in fortunes but now runs little ploys to maintain a semblance of aristocratic privilege. (In one near-slapstick episode, Hector and his old friend Kilwillie, played by Julian Fellowes, try to hide a valuable barrel of malt liquor from Archie, who is trying to profit from every MacDonald asset.)

Archie's efforts to keep Glenbogle solvent include turning the estate into a sprawling museum and renting the place out for weddings. The tricky bit is that Glenbogle is also a home and touchstone for the MacDonald's appealing staff and friends, and there will always be someone upset about changes in the status quo. Monarch continues to be as much about lovable, boneheaded Duncan (Hamish Clark), the MacDonald's all-purpose assistant; the sexy, strong-willed Lexie (Dawn Steele); grizzled Golly (Alexander Morton); and schoolteacher Katrina (Lorraine Pilkington), whose dodgy, romantic ambivalence toward Archie wears a little thin but finally settles into a promising groove.The radiant Susan Hampshire (The Forsyte Saga) has more to do in this set of stories and thus shines brighter as Archie's intriguing mother. Equally lovely are spectacular views of Highlands scenery: amazing castles, romantic vistas. One wants to stay forever. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Monarch of the Glen series
This British series is fantastic! I can't wait for season 3 and 4 to be sold in America. It is very funny, has romance, beautiful scenery, great characters that you get to know in depth. People of all ages will love it. My college age niece, my 80 year old mother, myself, my brother-in-law and sister all enjoyed watching it equally. Now that is something ot talk about! I wish they would show this series on A and E TV so more people would be exposed. It ranks up there with my favorite miniseries, "Pride and Prejudice".

even better
The second season of MONARCH is just as good as, if not better, than the first. This is one of those rare series where you care about every single character, so no matter which character is the focus of the episode you are right there rooting for them. Hector is as cantakerous and lovable as ever, and even surprising at one point. Molly is another surprise, as usual, shrewd one minute and air-headed the next. When she is around, you know everything will be all right. Archie, one of the few sane ones in the bunch, struggles and stumbles along, like most of us. The romantic obstacles get to be a bit much between him and his love interest(s). I guess they would have been easier to take once a week than all at once. All the 'supporting players' are strong enough to be the stars of the show, and sometimes they are. And there are some new people added in. I especially like the expansions into the village. It rounds out the story, placing it in a larger context. These are people you would love to know, to be friends with and to revisit over and over, which is why this DVD, along with its first season, is a definite keeper. ... Read more

Description

"(David) Jason gives Frost the iciness needed for the role…"-- The Los Angeles Daily NewsA Touch of Frost is one of Britain’s most successful detective series and stars award-winning actor David Jason as Detective Inspector Jack Frost, a policeman with a knack for attracting trouble. Set in the dreary town of Denton, Frost approaches each case with his characteristic dry wit and a sense of moral justice. A Touch of Frost Season 6 includes: "Appendix Man" – Reeling from the loss of his former partner, D.C. Barnard, Frost resigns from the force. But, he soon returns to investigate the suspicious death of a reclusive art collector. "One Man’s Meat" – To pay the bills, Frost takes in a renter with a dog. Next, while Frost investigates the death of a homeless teenager, the dismembered arm of a health officer, washes up on the shoreline on the other side of England. "Private Lives" – A peaceful village isn’t all it appears to be. Frost’s new partner checks out a hit-and-run accident that injures an elderly woman. Frost squares an account with an old adversary. "Keys ToThe Car" – A golf club paramour leaves behind a trail of satisfied golf widows, unpaid bar bills and stolen cars. When a drug dealer’s body is found inside the trunk of one of the vehicles, Frost tries to find the connection between the gigolo, the drug dealer and the owner of the stolen car. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Personal involvement
I enjoyed this movie for two reasons. One, I was stationed in West Berlin during the final years of the Cold War and had personal involvement with Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, and watching Mig aircraft flying overhead. Number two, we watched them film some scenes with Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino (hubba hubba!) on Mehringdamm right below the windows to our barracks rooms! It was really cool watching the movie at the Air Force theater across the street and recognizing scenes where they filmed. This is a fun movie, and it makes me wax nostalgic for the "good ol' days" when we knew who the enemy really was...

GOTCHA!!!
Gotcha stars Anthony Edward of ER and Jsu Garcia of Wildcats and Nightmare of Elm Street as two high school kids who go to Europe for vacation.

Garcia, thinking he's a player, leaves Edwards to himself where he meets with up Sasha, played by Linda Forientino, who comes off as a very mysterious person with an awsome accent who takes interest in virgins.

she seduces and uses Johnathan (anthony edwards) into going with her to the commuinst East Berlin for some business that she has to tend to. Edwards, being blinded by love, doesn't know what's going on, but soon will, in a hard way.

Gotcha is an awsome movie with rich cinemetography as the film was shot in Europe.

excellent movie!! i recommend it.

YAY!!
What a flashback! My cousin and I watched this movie the summer I was 13, and we spent the rest of that month constantly quoting the scene from the restaurant (avec de l'eau!) and laughing hysterically! This is just a great fun movie, and I am so happy to see it's finally on DVD. I'll be sending it to that cousin for his birthday and I know he'll love it!