Reviews (28)

Low Budget But Worth Every Penny
Van Damme portrays a streetfighter who gets caught up in the middle of a raw fighting hard hitting circuit.He keeps fighting to raise money for his brothers family who needs the money or they'll become homeless.The storyline is cheap and the flick itself is low budget but the fight scenes are supurb and the acting on Van Dammes part is excellent.In my opinion of course this movie is the greatest low budget action film available on the market today,if you like martial-arts films instead of explosions and basic killing spree action films than lionheart is your ticket to everything you want to see...Enjoy!

Another amazing van damme movie...WHAT A SHOCKER!!!
Let me just say....this is one of VAN DAMME's cheeziest but amazing movies other than kickboxer, bloodsport, and double impact.. But cheezy is good in this case... Van DAmme escapes from a military base in North Africa...and arrives in L.A. To visit his dead brothers wife. Since he is broke when arrived to L.A. he has to fight in order to make a living....!!! WHat a great Plot...so far.... Later on in the movie he becomes close with his brothers wife...and stays in L.A. The Action is pretty cool with good fight scenes....IF ur a true Van damme Fan you would buy this even if u never saw it....I mean just look at the cover for goodness sake!!!

Great fight scenes
This is one of Van Damms best. After hearing of his brothers death in America, Van Damm escapes the legeon in Africa to head for Los Angeles were he becomes a fighter in a no-holds-barred underground fighting circuit to raise money for his sister in law an his neese. There are many fights in different settings, wearhouses, parking garrages, fitness studios etc. I love the fight were Van Damm and another in shape guy have to fight at a pool party with lots of beutifull women standing around wearing nothing but G-string bikinis. The two must fight in an empty inground swimming pool with just a couple of feet of water in the deep end. they fight in speedos and bare feet. After a good fight Van Damm finally knocks the poor guy out cold in the water and draggs his lifeless body out of the water so he wont drown as the crowd of onlooker surounding the pool cheer for him. Personally, I would have rather he left me in the water to drown than to have to wake up and face all of those beutifull bikini clad women that I just got my you know what kicked in front of. In the end Van Damm fights the champion for enough prize money to make his family financially secure for life. Great movie.

One of Van Damme's VERY BEST-The Legionnaire Avenger
Do not be misguided by the fact that this movie was shot back in 1989, and thus be led to assume that this is another one of the low budget, b-movies that Van Damme used to make in the 1980's.

AWOL/Lionheart, is arguably his best film ever.

The story begins in what is a typical modern Legion Etrangere camp somewhere in North Africa. Van Damme plays a ranker soldier, Leon, who is serving in one of the Legion's crack North African detachments. Here, we get the very rare glimpse of what is like to be a modern Legionnaire: Both the scenery and camp are very realistic, rigid discipline prevalent, with emphasis being put on the soldiers' perfect fitness through physical training and manual labour.

Suddenly, Leon receives a letter from his only brother's wife who lives in the USA, informing him that his brother was beaten to death by some villains, and that she needs someone both to avenge his death and take care of her and her little daughter.

Rigid almost inhuman discipline in the Legion is once again underlined, when Private Leon asks to see his Commanding Officer, an impressive blond Frenchman, every inch a soldier. After hearing the reasons why Pvt. Leon asks for a leave, his CO coolly denies on the grounds that he firstly needs him "down here", and secondly that Pvt. Leon's contract with the Legion excludes furloughs.

From here onwards, the movie ceases to be static, and becomes a fast paced action adventure, as we follow Van Damme's risky escape from the camp to some North African muslim seaport, where he seeks to obtain passage on one of the Merchant Ships there, to the USA. In the meantime, his French CO has reported him as AWOL, and he has ordered two of his best NCO's to locate and return the deserter back to his unit.

Van Damme evades his pursuers, and signs on a 1950's Steam Turbine General Freighter as a Wiper, in order to pay for his passage.

When he finally arrives in the USA, we see him wandering the streets of New York, dressed in Navy fatigues looking for a job. He finally makes his way under a bridge, where the odd black bookmaker is staging a no-holds barred street-fighting tournament of sorts. The bookmaker, seeing Van Damme's incredible physique, suggests that he should fight in the next match in return for a fee. Asking his name, Van Damme replies slowly in French, "LE-ON", whereupon, the bookmaker hears "Lion" and proclaims him the "Lion". Thus, a new street-fighter star is born.

Van Damme, keeps fighting for profit, and his successes attract the attention of a gorgeous Nordic-American female manager, who is organizing fights for the entertainment of the Jet-Set NYC citizens. She falls in love with him, and acting as his manager, arranges his participation in high-class private fighting matches for the rich. Van Damme wins fame and glory, but his mind is always with his dead brother, and his widow and daughter.

After doing a lot of digging, he finally manages to locate his brother widow and daugter, whereupon one of the most touching scenes of the movie take place, when Van Damme meets his brother's daughter and widow, amid hugs and celebration.

But, his pursuers from the Legion, follow close behind, looking for a chance to seize him. Finally, they manage to track him down, in some makeshift arena where Van Damme is about to meet the late World Wrestling Federation Champion Andre the Giant, in a match to the death, which would be the culmination of his career as U.S. fighter. As the match progresses, we see the two Legionnaire NCO's, formerly his bitter enemies, having changed into stalwart supporters of his, witnessing first-hand his bravery and fighting skill.

After the match is over, the French NCO's make themselves known, and take Van Damme into their custody, despite his brother's widow protests. Then follows the most touching scene in the film, with Van Damme hugging his brother's daughter, tears flowing in his eyes. The scene is so compelling, that even the tough French Legionnaires, after looking each other, cannot avoid to shed the odd tear.

After putting Van Damme in the car, the French NCO's drive only about half a mile down the road, when the car stops suddenly, and Van Damme is set free, in order to return to his dead brother's family.

A truly great movie, one of Van Damme's few movies, which I enjoyed seeing over and over again. The movie will be loved by, not only from those who admire the French Foreign Legion, but from martial arts fans as well, not to say anything of Van Damme's fans, who will absolutely love it. It is one of these rarest of the rare low budget movies that, having started with meager resources, by luck and hard work are turned into pearls.

The hero's devotion and love to his only brother, deeply touched me, and I think also struck a chord deep within the souls of all who saw it. I do not think that there is a single man, who would let his dead brother's wife and daughter suffer, no matter if one was half the planet away from the other. Sometimes, duty to the dead brother's family comes first from duty to country.

A truly outstanding movie:buy it.

Van Damme doing his thing
His earlier work is what has always appealed most to me and I was not disappointed with this one. It's kinda cheesy, but it's a Van Damme flick, so what were you expecting?
It's a lot like Bloodsport and Kickboxer in regards to the story line. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Humanity during times of war.
This is a must-see film for anyone who wants to even pretend to be 'up' on film history or attempt to pass pronouncements on current films. David Lean crafted one of history's best cinematic experiences with this 1957 film. Alec Guiness is great as the 'leader' of a group of British POW's under the supervision of a Japanese war camp superintendant. The prisoners have been forced to build a bridge over the river that bears the film's namesake. Less an action film than a drama, BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI gives us fascinating characters and shows us how they change over the course of the film. In the end we have learned much about each of them, and no one is quite what he seems to be at the beginning. While there is action, this is almost more of a character study in how humans bear up under extraordinary circumstances.

Highly recommended.

One of the all-time war movie greats.
"Bridge Over the River Kwai" is an Oscar winning World War II film, loosely based on a book by the French writer Pierre Boulle. However, Hollywood had to change the plot to make it more palatable to American viewers by introducing an American star into the cast. The plot was also modified to accommodate a greater role for women: one female beauty makes a brief appearance, and several Asian women absent from the original novel play a key supporting role towards the end.

What makes this movie a gem is not just the exciting plot, although that is an essential ingredient in making this a successful movie. A British contingent of soldiers in a Japanese prisoner of war camp are required to build a bridge across the river Kwai for the Japanese. But because this bridge is a threat to the Allies, they send in a troop of commandos to destroy the bridge. There is only one problem: the British commander (Colonel Nicholson) who built the bridge has taken so much pride in the construction work of his soldiers, that he does not want it destroyed. The tension rises to heart-stopping levels, with a thrilling climax. There is some violence in the movie, but it is minimal and only towards the end, and unlike modern war movies there is no focus on the gory details. The climax features stunning scenes that at the time were unprecedented in movie making history. And the ambiguity of the conclusion leaves plenty of room for after-movie discussion and contemplation.

But what really makes this movie so stellar is the characterization and the psychological conflict at the beginning of the movie. What the second half of the movie offers in terms of intrigue and action, is more than matched by the psychological conflict in the first half. The Japanese commander of the prisoner of war camp (Colonel Saito) requires British officers to perform manual labour. Colonel Nicholson insists that this is contrary to the Geneva Convention, and together with his officers refuses to comply. This battle of personalities is the feature of the first part of the movie and is compelling, gripping, and involves brilliant acting. The repeated notion of "madness" also hints at underlying themes about the futility of war, making this a profoundly anti-war movie. This is evident in the complete reversal of the British colonel's attitude to his officers working and the final lines of the movie about "madness".

Although not suitable for younger viewers because of the occasional intensity of the action and the themes of war, "The Bridge On The River Kwai" is generally a clean and wholesome movie when compared with modern movies. Given that the cinematography, characterization, and acting are all superb and thought-provoking (as well as the enduring whistling tune of the "Colonel Bogey March"), it is little wonder that this film rightly takes its place among the all-time war movie greats. In fact it's easily one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Certainly one of the great cinematic war epics!
David Lean's THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI is certainly one of the great war epics of the cinema. It might be an even better film than his equally celebrated LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. The latter film has, at the center of all the visual grandeur and epic scale, a character than is equally larger-than-life. The main characters of BRIDGE, on the other hand, are more humanly scaled, and I was grateful for that. Here is a cinematic epic that isn't just empty spectacle, but has intriguing characters and a literate thoughtfulness that is becoming a rarity in movies these days. In a lesser film, for instance, characters like Col. Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), Col. Nicholson (Alec Guinness, in a performance that won a deserved Academy Award---as did the movie itself), and Shears (William Holden) might have been reduced to one-dimensional stereotypes. Here, they have fascinating complexities that help drive the plot and serve its theme, which can pretty much be summed up by the final words of the movie: "Madness, madness!" The beauty here is that both Saito and Nicholson might be mad, but their madness isn't necessarily without justification.

Of course, all this character development, which may or may not necessarily be interesting by itself, serves as a backdrop for what is essentially an adventure on a grand scale, and on that level it also works triumphantly, delivering beautiful widescreen cinematography, lush settings, and genuine suspense, particularly in its tense final moments. A glorious epic adventure that also never skimps on the human element, indeed makes it almost an integral part of the story---that is the magic of THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI. Highly recommended.

The Bridge As It Should Be Seen
Like many people, I saw the BOTRK on television first, back in the media-challenged 1960's. Even through the pan and scan and low-res color of those ancient TV's, Lean's film riveted me to the screen. It wasn't until the late 1980's and hi-end VHS releases of films came out that I finally saw the widescreen version, and saw what I'd been missing for years. Lean was one of the few directors who could fill the widescreen and create drama without cutting a film to pieces in an attempt to generate excitement.

Alec Guiness etched himself into the ages with his performance as the pathological Col. Nicholson who abides by the letter of the law to the point of utter lunacy. When he and Sessue Hayakawa face off one sees the immovable object meeting the irressistable force. The whole attempt at breaking Nicholson plays like a prison/chain-gang film from the 1930's, but there is more at stake here - Nicholson's view is that order should be prevail regardless of circumstances, while Saito's view is that circumstances dictate order. The class and racial issues emenate from this conflict like waves of radioactivity.

William Holden appears in this film as a means of getting American finance - but he is nonetheless effective as the shirker, fraud, hero and cynic(his character from Sunset Boulevard onwards). Jack Hawkins is suitabily manipulative as the Oxford Don turned demonlition man.

But the real star of this film is the jungle matched to the widescreen. The sweep of green tangle in which this drama enacts strangles the life and sanity from the people enmeshed in the struggle. Lean knew how to create shots in depth, so his films are always more than what the characters are doing on the screen.

Like Apocalypse Now, another tale of Western soldiers in the jungle, this production was fraught with difficulties, the most damaging of which was a cameraman's failure to shoot the more important angle of the bridge's destruction. In the CGI world this could never happen, but in the awesome realtime destruction of BOTRK, Lean's crew had to rebuild the bridge, rescue the train, and redo the shot. It was worth it.

The DVD restores this film to it's proper aspect ration, sound, and probably has better color than the original, although, having never seen it in a theatre, I can't say.

For a real and disturbing look at what actually happened in Japanese POW camps, read "Prisoners of the Sun."

london bridges in Japan
The movie is about a Japanese prisoner of war camp, during World War II, and a British unit that enters into it with a commander who is determined to keep unity and professionalism during their imprisonment, a truly noble idea. However, he is faced with a POW camp leader who doesn't abide by the rules. At the same time there is another important character; this is one American leader who has been prisoner at the camp since it was built. He just wants to escape and look out for his own interest. The director does a good job of contrasting both the stubborn and proud British officer to the independent and cunning American leader, and this can be said to compare and contrast the stereotypical Americans and the British in general during World War II. I liked how these views came into conflict, but in my opinion it took to long to show the conflict and then too long to resolve it. Well, it's okay, maybe one to chalk up among the many World War II movies you should see but it's nothing special. ... Read more

Description

It’s the third and final season for reluctant superhero Ralph Hinkley (William Katt), his lawyer girlfriend Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca) and by-the-book FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp), but the high-flying fun is far from over! In this season, Ralph is reunited with the ‘green guys’ from space, stumbles into danger at his high school reunion, fumbles his way to his and Pam’s wedding, and tangles with doomed rockers, ruthless ranchers, strange gamers, killer magicians, the KGB, Central American revolutionaries, a genetic Nazi monster and more. Believe it or not, he’s still walking on air as THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO! This collection includes all 13 third season episodes of the action-comedy hit created by Stephen J. Cannell (THE COMMISH, 21 JUMP STREET, HUNTER) and features such guests stars as David Paymer, Bob Saget, Rick Dees, Tawny Little, June Lockhart, André The Giant and more. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei ... Read more

Reviews (982)

A Masterpiece
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is simply a masterpiece. A brilliant film with great performances by its stars, Michelle Yeoh, Chow yun fat, and especially Zhang Ziyi. Director Ang Lee along with his choreographer tell this epic story in a stunning and creative visual way that makes this film one of the greatest ever made. The action scenes in this film are jaw dropping, and are unmatched by any action film ever made. Along with the action, is a great story and great characters that reflect influences from Lord of the Rings, and parallel the Jedi of the Star Wars trilogy, but remain consistent with the eastern culture and philosophy which permeates throughout the story. In fact, the main characters, especially Jen, portrayed by the talented Zhang Ziyi , seem to question that philosophy and culture throughout the film, almost rebelling against it. This is foreshadowed in the beginning of the film when Yun-fat's character describes how his meditation leads him to a place of sorrow instead of enlightenment. In a later scene, Yeoh 's character questions the buddhist teaching of Fat's character in relation to their suppressed love, pointing out the touch of her hand is real,not an illusion, even though it is of this world. However it is also the discipline of this eastern spirituality that gives these knights their power. the main character Jen, abuses this power, along with the power given to her when she posesses the Green Destiny, a magical and powerful sword, owned by the wizard -like, or jedi- like, character portrayed by Chow Yun-Fat. The Green Destiny, much like the ring of power in lord of the rings, or the force in Star Wars, becomes a power that threatens to consume Jen. Throughout the film , Jen rebels against the traditions of the easten culture and philosophy. Even during the action scenes, as Chow Yun-Fat's character scolds her, she responds by telling him to stop talking like a monk and fight. Her rebellion is also reflected in her love for a barbarian that lives in the desert. Jen's rebellion is an extreme one, however, that leads to such deep despair, that it leaves the viewer to question if even the true love she found in the desert can save her. This movie has everything one wants in an epic, great story, acting, cinematography, directing, score. This film should win an Oscar for Best Picture... Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is truly a great film.

Deserved the Academy Award for "Best Picture"
When "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" first hit theatres in Asia in the summer of 2000, audiences were beyond pleased - because for the first time, what could be considered a kung-fu film included within itself a moving story. This film manages to be so philosophically deep that it subconsciously stirs emotion and feeling within the audience - without ever being corny. Not to mention that this is probably the best film ever that features the geography of China. Shots were absolutely stunning. Music was also beautiful, with one of the best cello performances given by Yo-Yo-Ma, and a smash hit song by Coco Lee - "A Love Before Time."

The film consists of various types of relationships - everything from forced-hidden love, children to parents, and disciple to a kung-fu master. Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, and Zhang Zi-Yi together made the best acting performances seen for years.

Cinematography was impressing. Each shot was meticulously perfected - exactly why "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" took two years for world-famous director, Ang Lee, to shoot. One shot of the rooftops for the film's previews itself took five months. The original version is much better than the dubbed, so take the time to read subtitles - it can't be that hard.

Get ready for flying kicks, tears, and beauty. Get "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" today. (Original version.) - Priscilla

Chic flick on speed or sublime flight of the imagination?
Call it what you will--archetypal fable with a feminist twist, exquisitely choreographed martial arts movie, balletic spectacle balancing image, action, poetry and music--"Crouching Tiger" is a distinctive variation on familiar genres. The words "ballet," "choreography," "Eastern" exotic myth don't quite do justice in describing the film. For one, the action sequences are lightning swift--reminiscent of American silent comedies and more suggestive of music than of formal dance. And certainly the tempo of this music and the pace of the film seem more Western than Eastern (as does the throbbing romantic cello of YoYo Ma). Some will single out the three female leads in this rite-of-passage archetypal story as the film's most distinctive twist. But even more novel is the way the form foregrounds allegory and approaches the theme of teaching and learning. Film is a medium that is normally "relentless" in his representation of the physical world, satisfying viewers' expectations of actions that are at least humanly plausible. But by making his characters fly all over the frame, director Lee keeps reminding the spectator that if you try to respond this film as another action movie you will not only miss the point entirely but be thoroughly disappointed. Sword play, flying, and fighting are metaphors for living, learning and loving. All of the 5 principals in the story are learners--and all are failures to greater and lesser degrees. In fact, the alleged villain, Jade Fox, is in some respects the most sympathetic of all the characters. She had access to the most masterful swordsman of all but not to his teaching because of her status as a woman. At one point sword play is compared with word play, or writing (through the picture-grams of Mandarese script). Whether the instrument is a sword, a pen, or a brush, the viewer of this enchanting parable is finally enjoined to fashion a personal narrative that rejects pride and selfishness in favor of a life sufficiently disciplined to give itself over to love.

One of the best -- ever
CTHD combines an exciting story, great stunts, beautiful cinematography, lovely women, and a complex story that is by turns mysterious, suggestive, and incomprehensible. Michelle Yeoh is a good actress in addition to her physical talents as a martial artist. Zhang Zi Yi is a sexy vixen. Chow Yun Fat is an aging warrior who seems to be going through a mid-life crisis. He loves Michelle Yeoh, but can't get around to telling her, and is attracted to Zhang. The unanswered question posed by Zhang is, "Did you want me or my sword?" The two women dominate this movie; their martial arts scenes are spectacular; Yo Yo Ma's cello is sad and fetching; the scenery is spectacular; the fate of Chow and Michelle is heart-rending; the fate of Zhang is puzzling and ambiguous. Great movie!

good and classy
ive seen this movie three times.the 1st time it was spoken in chinese with no words at the bottom.the 2nd was the same deal but with the english translation at the bottom.the 3rd was in normal english.thank god!in it,a thief steals a relic and some people go to get it back.it has breathtaking backgrounds like lord of the rings.beatiful music like amadeus and martial arts effects like a pre-matrix but similar.the kids could watch it.theres only one bad part.it is definately a artsy and classy type film.ang lee is the director.he also did the hulk.the hulk is better.it is not emotional per say but more inspirational.there are some chicks but they are not portrayed in a sexual way.one guy,in the less than apropriate part gets his hand down ones pants.i dont care what anyone says,if you get this in english,it is one of the best movies youll ever see.the special effects are cool.the fighting is outstanding! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The fundamental things--engaging characters, impeccable performances, and witty, literate scripts--apply in As Time Goes By, the beloved 1992 British comedy series starring Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as former lovers Jean and Lionel. He is a divorced ex-army officer. She is a widow who runs the Type for You secretarial agency. They had "a great romance" during the Korean War, but they lost communication. Thirty-eight years later, the two run into each other again and rekindle what had been started so long ago. This series follows the two--along with Jean's twice-divorced daughter, Judith (Moira Brooker); Jean's assistant, Sandy (Jenny Funnell); and Lionel's young trendy publisher, Alastair (Philip Bretherton)--and takes a wry look at love among the youth and the more "mature." The first three episodes of the series introduce the slightly cantankerous yet vibrant characters, set up their history, and lay the groundwork for Jean and Lionel to tentatively circle around each other, trying to decide at what level they should continue their friendship, that is, if they should even continue being friends at all. Mixing modern romance with nostalgia for yesteryear, writer Bob Larbey and director Sydney Lotterby create a delightful comedy and a touching love story.

At the beginning of the series' second season. Lionel has written a dry memoir, My Life in Kenya, and reluctantly prepares for the book launch. As the date approaches, the tentative couple have a too-close encounter with Penny (Moyra Fraser), Jean's former sister-in-law, who invites them to spend the weekend at her country home. Finally, My Life in Kenya is published and Lionel steels himself for the book signing, while an anxious Jean buys up 140 copies herself. These episodes bring the second season to a touching and satisfying conclusion. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Just wonderful!!
I don't even remember when I first saw this show, but I fell in love in that instant! The premise of the show is touching, and those who are only familiar with Judi Dench's movie performances will be delighted by her comic timing. All in all this is a fantastic series and I cannot wait for the whole series to be issued on DVD so I can own each one!

Visiting with Good Friends
"As Time Goes By" is warm and entertaining, having no need to resort to low comedy, sarcasm or smut to be funny. Real people
with real problems, good supporting friends and quirky relatives
complete the "day in the life" routine which most of us face.
Alistair Deacon (Phillip Bretherton) is my favourite character.
A little off-the-wall but always fun and a much needed safety
net for the Hardcastle household, Alistair is a full dimensioned
character brilliantly portrayed by Mr. Bretherton. You get the
feeling that things are going to "pop" when Alistair is around!
We are collecting all the series and we can hardly wait until the
remaining three are released. You won't find better at any price!

A Fantastic Britcom !
This DVD is one of the best and successful British Situation Comedies of all time. It mixes the excellent acting of Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.

It is an old fashioned comedy, that is completely harmless and brings back what comedy used to be like ! Easy and VERY Funny.

If you like Series 1 & 2. I recommend getting the other series' as well.

Buy Now !

Where is my Lionel?
Okay,I have never met a British TV series that I didn't like,so it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I own Sets 1-V of As Time Goes By. It is a gentle, civilized comedy about two lovers separated by a undelivered letter forty years before the series opens in c. 1992. Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, as Jean and Lionel, are the perfect middle age lovers: Jean has lines on her face, is not a stick in a size 0 dress, and Lionel has jowls and thinning hair. It matters not! They adore each other and we adore them! The supporting cast is excellent -- especially the young women who portray Judy and Sandy, Jean's daughter by her first marriage, and her assistant respectively. Nothing very profound can be resolved in 30 minutes, but what is is interesting is the process of rediscovery, falling in love, and learning to love and accept each other, "warts and all," that the viewer sees in episode after episode. It is refreshing to see that someone believes that love is just not for the under 30 set. Jean and Lionel are never treated as "cute," as in "how cute that people that age can be in love." Why they even have sex -- always implied and never seen -- and it is treated as a natural and normal state of being for a middle aged couple. Buy the series -- you won't be sorry!

Warm and Witty
The entire "As Time Goes By" series is brilliantly acted by Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer with a superb supporting cast. "As Time Goes By" is a warm and witty comedy of a love lost and found in the golden years. ... Read more

Reviews (179)

You mean you haven't SEEN Swingers?!!
Have you ever been afraid to talk to a member of the opposite sex? Have you ever been nervous about your career or future? Have you ever just wanted a drink to wash it all away? Then check out this film, which centers around two best buds: Vince Vaughn's Trent, the smooth-talking L.A. ladies' man and Jon Favreau's Mike, the broken-hearted nice-guy.

Mike, six months out of a serious long-term relationship and not making any progress in the recovery process, is a struggling comedian/actor in Los Angeles and he's hating it. The savior of his sanity is Trent, who likes to think of himself as a big brother type mentor to the girl-shy Mike. They and their friends eek out an existence in day jobs, trying to score acting gigs. At night, they hit the swingin' 1990's L.A. lounge scene--with a stint in VEGAS, BABY, VEGAS! as well.

Trent's glassy smooth player schtick will make women giggle with delight and make the guys high five while Mike's romantic misadventure will make everyone cringe as he sulks over his loss, wallows in self-pity, and gets shot down when he does try to move on. If you want to laugh, if you want to care about a movie character, and if you want to be inspired by HOW MONEY YOU ARE, then GET THIS MOVIE!

TOP 10 REASONS TO WATCH THIS MOVIE
Swingers could be a hip movie, a Guys movie, great-sagacious-advice movie, a warm-amusing movie, this-is-what-friendship-is-about movie, or simply one of the most facetious for-a-lark flicks of the 90s. But whatever tag you wish to stick on it, this honest, low-budget humdinger from Liman is very very "money"!

Top 10 reasons to get your hands on this movie now:

(1) It's fast-paced, well edited (not one wasted scene) and frequently laugh-out-loud funny. If you hear people dismiss this as an inconsequential narrative about a "bunch of losers trying to get laid", I'm afraid they just have not watched the entire movie. I am not into the "Spy who shagged me" genre of humor, but this movie will truly grow on you.

(2) It'll ring a bell with almost anyone, particularly guys. Mike -- a crestfallen loverboy (Jon Favreau) is in the throes of a breakup, and his confidence has hit rock bottom. (Sidenote: Favreau is a very ordinary looking guy, which in fact imho is the power of his character.) Under the aegis of his friend Trent (Vince Vaughn, in top form, a lot better than his controlled acting in, gulp, The Psycho) Mike re-learns how to get back up on his feet and take reins of his life/emotions again. While this happens, we are treated to a bunch of every-day faux pas that we all can identify with in a blink. Interested yet?

(3) The boys' camaraderie is infectious. If you watch this movie with friends -- and this indeed is the best way to watch it! -- you'll know what I mean. This has to be one of the most honest portrayals of relationships between friends -- both the lover and the platonic variety.

(4) Call me weird but I loved the sound track, a delectable blend of underground jazz and triphop.

(5) Some of the "get back on your feet" dialogue for Mike is truly marvellous, and makes for better, more down-to-earth, more inspiring advice about life and relationships than Dr. Ruth and Oprah put together.

(6) An interesting look at the Los Angeles we never see in films, the underground life of the struggling actors and writers and less glamorous people, not living in Malibu opulence as seen in other weaker films.

(7) Some great Sega Genesis NHL ice-hockey "footage" (to use a dignified term) and an unusual preview of seeing Gretzky's head knocked.

(8) This is to men what "Sex and the City" is to women. (Ok, SATC has had a lot more time than Swingers to entice us with the workings of the Modern Woman, but you get the idea)

(9) A wide assortment of one-liners for you to conveniently plagiarize from. Not seen in a single movie since Roxanne with Steve Martin.

(10) Oh, and it's so laid back, its horizontal. No spiffy visual FX, no crash boom bang, no cheap frills. But still a high handsome homerun.

Required Viewing.

Lame
To borrow a "witty" line from the movie, this movie is so NOT money. Tries to be too hip, too cool, too indy. People don't act this way.

Shallow and less than exciting. I know some people want to go buy this movie and watch it like 50 times or something, but not me.

Mickey 's the Winner.....
Very funny movie, basic concept of the movie lots of friends who are actors just party. You follow the guys around town and hanging out drinking but there also more drama about getting over an EX.
Just watch the scene where Vince Vaughn and the guys are have a meal after a heavy night of drinking. Haaa it was very "Saturday Night Liveish".... It is a dry pan comedy,it has many classic lines in the movie and Heather Graham is in it. What more can I say..
Very under rated movie but tons of fun.

Men`s Night
This hip, somewhat witty movie about two guys living the LA nightlife is amusing and clever at parts bue as a whole it`s not too convincing. John Favreau and Vince Vaughn play two twentysomethings friends who move to LA in order to get a life and find a girl. One of them (John Favreau) is still struggling to forget his ex-girlfriend while trying to face new situations, meet new people and avoid a depression. Director Doug Liman presents a stylish, mildly entertaining movie with fine acting, good dialogue and some funny scenes, yet this isn`t quite enough and still seems like an empty, shallow picture. The plot is almost nonexistant, even if the mid-nineties zeitgeist is well captured.

"Swingers" is nothing more than an average guy flick, quotable enough and with its share of hipness, yet not too memmorable or captivating. It`s watchable and all, but it lacks a point. There are better movies of its genre around ("About a Boy", "High Fidelity" or, for something edgier and more original, "Fight Club"). ... Read more

Description

Nothing was going to stop Roy Hobbs from fulfilling his boyhood dream of baseball superstardom.Robert Redford stars in this inspiring fable that begins when 14-year-old Hobbs (Redford) fashions a powerful bat from a fallen oak tree.He soon impresses major league scouts with his ability, fixing his extraordinary talent in the mind of sportswriter Max Mercy (Duvall), who eventually becomes instrumental in Hobbs' career. But a meeting with a mysterious woman shatters his dream. Years pass and an older Hobbs reappears as a rookie for the New York Knights. Overcoming physical pain and defying those who have a stake in seeing the Knights lose, Hobbs, with his boyhood bat, has his chance to lead the Knights to the pennant and to finally fulfill his dream. ... Read more

Reviews (97)

Coulda Been Great
THE NATURAL has some truly great elements, especially the much copied score, good cinematography, and some moments that almost capture the mythical quality of baseball. Unfortunately, it falls short of the greatness it should have achieved. Nevertheless, THE NATURAL is arguably one of the better films about baseball (along with "Pride of the Yankees"), and it's worth a look.

Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a man who truly loves baseball. All his life, he's been poised for greatness, but life has thrown him for some loops. He returns to the game in his late 30s and gets a final shot. Redford is pretty good in the role, although he's really too old for the part. Barry Levinson directs, and his direction is unusally ham-fisted...he and the actors telegraph every plot twist. Glenn Close was nominated for an Oscar, but she really isn't that good as Hobb's long-time love interest. Ultimately, the movie is too melodramatic and unfocused with cardboard characters, especially the villianous judge.

Extras: The only real DVD extra is a documentary on the movie featuring Cal Ripken Jr. It's pretty good, more affecting than the movie!

A Classic Baseball Fairy Tale!!
This fictional 1920s fairy-tale-style film is about a guy named Roy Hobbs (played by Redford) who is a great baseball hitter... thanks to the bat which he made as a kid from a tree that was hit by lightning. Hobbs' career gets sidelined for about 15 years due to an "encounter" with a mysterious woman. The tragic results cause a dark spot in Hobbs' past. Now older, and considered over-the-hill by the baseball community, the sports press, and his soon-to-be manager (wonderfully played by Wilford Brimley), Hobbs unpacks his "Wonderboy" bat and proceeds to decimate ballfields at seemingly every at-bat! Filmed in a retro 1920s style, this is one of the best baseball films ever made. It's not a true story obviously, but you won't care. Was it his "Wonderboy" bat that made Hobbs a star?? Great music by Randy Newman too (high praise coming from me, since I can't stand Randy Newman). If you are undecided on purchasing this one, definitely rent it and check it out... you'll be coming back to watch this one again and again! A great film to curl up and watch with the kids too. END

The Greatest Baseball Film Ever
THE NATURAL, based on the book of the same name by Bernard Malamud, is probably the greatest baseball film ever produced. Why? Because it contains no magical realism, no "tricks," no "gimmicks." It's just a film about second chances and redemption, in this case, redemption through the game of baseball. THE NATURAL is not nearly as dark as the book on which it is based and it's not totally factual in its portrayal of baseball, but who cares? This film gives us something better than facts. It gives us the poetry and lyricism of the game, the magic that made baseball "America's Pastime."

THE NATURAL is the story of Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford), a Midwestern boy who dreams of being "the best" in the world of baseball. Roy's dreams aren't just "pie in the sky." This kid has talent, talent like no one's ever seen before. But, as he's making the trip to Chicago to try out, he encounters Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey), an enigmatic and dangerous woman, and Roy's life changes forever. Sixteen years later, though, Roy Hobbs is given what most people can only long for, a second chance. Yes, this second chance requires a stretch of the viewer's imagination, but not so much that it becomes an impossibility.

I know many people didn't care for Robert Redford's portrayal of Roy Hobbs, but I thought he was perfect. He really makes us believe in Roy and in his dreams and in his principles. I can't think of any other actor who could have carried off this role and carried it off so perfectly. Wilfred Brimley is perfect as Pop Fisher, Hobbs' manager. Robert Duvall as Max Mercy is also perfectly cast as is a very young Kim Basinger as Memo Paris, the woman who wants to be Hobbs' nemesis "the second time around." I didn't particularly like Glenn Close as Iris, but that's just personal preference. Close did a very good job with her role but not quite as good as did Basinger and Basinger's was far more demanding.

There are few mistakes in the continuity of this film. At one point, while playing for the mythical New York Knights at Wrigley Field, Hobbs' hits homeruns in the bottom of the ninth. What? He wasn't traded to the Cubs, so this has to be an oversight on the part of the production crew since the Knights, as visitors to Wrigley Field, would bat in the top of the inning. There are a few other such oversights, but I don't feel they're worth mentioning.

THE NATURAL works, and works so well, I think, because it relies so heavily on mythology, most notably the myth of the Fisher King. It romanticizes the game of baseball. Sure, it's been romanticized before, quite possibly more than any other sport, but THE NATURAL does it so well that we do believe and we do root for Roy Hobbs and all he stands for. Make us believe? This film makes us believe like no other.

Levinson has changed Malamud's ending considerably, but I feel that's for the best. Had there been no departures from the book, Hobbs wouldn't have been a sympathetic character and the film would have been too dark and contained too much despair. As it is, we're left with the promise of better things to come and hope for the future, just what baseball gave us in the "good old days."

THE NATURAL may be dismissed as "hokum" by some but I think it's an American masterpiece and pure magic.

Redford to the rescue

Director: Barry Levinson
Format: Color
Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios
Video Release Date: September 26, 2000

Cast:

Robert Redford ... Roy Hobbs
Robert Duvall ... Max Mercy
Glenn Close ... Iris Gaines
Kim Basinger ... Memo Paris
Wilford Brimley ... Pop Fisher
Barbara Hershey ... Harriet Bird
Robert Prosky ... The Judge
Richard Farnsworth ... Red Blow
Joe Don Baker ... The Whammer
John Finnegan ... Sam Simpson
Alan Fudge ... Ed Hobbs
Paul Sullivan Jr. ... Young Roy
Rachel Hall ... Young Iris
Robert Rich III ... Ted Hobbs
Michael Madsen ... Bartholomew 'Bump' Bailey
Jon Van Ness ... John Olsen
Mickey Treanor ... Doc Dizzy
George Wilkosz ... Bobby Savoy
Anthony J. Ferrara ... Coach Wilson
Philip Mankowski ... Hank Benz
Danny Aiello III ... Emil LaJong
Joe Castellano ... Allie Stubbs
Eddie Cipot ... Gabby Laslow
Ken Grassano ... Al Fowler
Robert Kalaf ... Cal Baker
Barry Kivel ... Pat McGee
Steven Kronovet ... Tommy Hinkle
James Meyer ... Dutch Schultz
Mike Starr ... Boone
Sam Green ... Murphy
Martin Grey ... Additional Knight
Joseph Mosso ... Additional Knight
Richard Oliveri ... Additional Knight
Lawrence Couzens ... Additional Knight
Duke McGuire ... Additional Knight
Stephen Poliachik ... Additional Knight
Kevin Lester ... Additional Knight
Joseph Charboneau ... Additional Knight
Robert Rudnick ... Additional Knight
Ken Kamholz ... Additional Knight
Sibby Sisti ... Pirates Manager
Phillip D. Rosenberg ... Pitcher Youngberry
Christopher B. Rehbaum ... Pitcher John Rhoades
Nicholas Koleff ... Umpire Augie
Jerry Stockman ... Umpire Babe
James Quamo ... Memorial Game Umpire
Joe Strnad ... Final Game Home Plate Umpire
James Mohr ... Al
Ralph Tabakin ... Al's Customer
Dennis Gould ... Carnival Boy
Joshua Abbey ... Home Plate Photographer
Gayle Vance ... Maid at Party
George Scheitinger ... League Official
Peter Poth ... Dr. Knobb
Bernie McInerney ... Hospital Doctor
Elizabeth Ann Klein ... Stern Nurse
Charles Sergis ... Newsreel Narrator
Edward Walsh ... Newsreel Presenter
Darren McGavin ... Gus Sands
Brian Reingold ... Baseball Fan

This film made quite a stir when it was released. One of Redford's better ones.

Roy Hobbs (Redford) loves baseball. He played in high school and the semi-pros, and was picked up and given a contract by a scout for the fictional big league team, the New York Knights. Of course, he is the best! A natural.

He has a problem with his past, which he is close mouthed about, but a corrupt club owner, the Judge (Robert Prosky), tries first to pay him to lose in the playoffs, and then tries to blackmail him, and to subject him to the wiles of a femme fatale. And, of course trouble comes in threes...it is also discovered that he had a bullet in his gut that could be fatal if he keeps playing ball. So, guess what? He keeps playing ball.

This is a good, entertaining story. Redford has a huge following, and for good reason. Normally, I'm not enamored of baseball films, but this is a good one. I recommend it to you.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre Great Movie
The Natural is the best baseball movie ever made. Great for everyone in the family. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Great movie
This was my first "Ang Lee" movie and I am impressed. I like foreign movies because most of them do not follow the Hollywood standard of relying heavily on famous movie stars to make cash for the studios at the sacrifice of a good plot, skillful acting, and good storytelling.

This movie is a slice of Tawainese life. Master Chu is a renowned chef and a widower who raised three beautiful daughters. The movie observes the lives of the members of this family and the poeple around them. The storytelling is simple and sweet. Ang Lee has us observing the character's lives as forces around them change the circumstances they find each other in. The film is engrossing and satisfying as we watch the conflict of tradition and modernization affect Master Chu and his loved ones. I'm sure I would've enjoyed it ten times more if I spoke chinese, but the subtitles are better than dubbed. Never watch a dubbed foreign movie. The language will be lost.

I made the mistake of watching this movie with an empty stomach. Never do that. The cooking scenes are fantastic. The food Master Chu prepares are a feast for the eyes, and an empty stomach would only make you yearn for a taste.

Tantalizing Cuisine and Family Drama in Taiwan
Sunday dinner at master chef Chu's home resembles a spectacular banquet you would only expect at a gourmet restaurant. He works tirelessly to prepare a feast for his daughters who hardly seem to appreciate his culinary skills.

Jia-Jen (Kuei-Mei-Yang) is a chemistry teacher who has discovered Christianity, Jia-Chen (Chien-Lien Wu), is an airline executive who is in love with a man who will never marry her and Jia-Ning (Yu-Wen Wang) has her eye on a friend?s boyfriend.

The basic plot centers around a father who is not only trying to find a new life but is watching all his daughters leave and start their own lives.

Indirectly we also learn a great deal about men through the relationships the daughters pursue. We have a man who is living the bachelor lifestyle, a naive lover who is just learning about the games women play and a man who is willing to change religions to get the girl of his dreams.

This movie is deliciously dramatic with some deeply religious themes. I was pleasantly surprised with the light humor which was not at all offensive. You also see three lifestyles presented by the daughters showing how they each deal with their libidinous whims. The most unexpected twists and turns appear, making the plot entirely entertaining.

While chef Chu finds ways to show his love to his daughters, he is especially estranged from one of his daughters who only communicates with him through criticism of his food. There is a scene later in the movie which shows the father using this same tactic to communicate his love to his daughter.

Some of the comedy is all in the facial expressions. I especially loved the part where chef Chu is trying to eat the inedible lunch and where the children in his adopted granddaughter's classroom are all placing orders for lunch. As a woman, I could not help laughing when he pulls out the nylons and bras all tied up together in the washer.

I?m always complaining about the lack of chef themes in movies. If you are hungry for movies with cooking themes, add this movie to your must-see menu. You almost have to watch this movie twice. Once with the subtitles and the second time just to view all the tantalizing dishes master chef Chu (Sihung Lung) prepares.

This movie reminded me of "The Scent of Green Papaya" (1994). However, "Eat Drink Man Woman" excels in the presentation of the cuisine, while "The Scent of Green Papaya" was more poetic in its presentation. This movie is a visual feast. All I want to know now is where is the cookbook so I can learn how to make that dragon?

Playful romance, creative cuisine, deep rivers of emotional drama and original comedy are the ingredients that make this movie a satisfying feast for the heart and soul.

Three words to take Very Seriously "before" watching this movie: Order Chinese Food!

Don't say we didn't warn you. ;)

Also look for: Babette's Feast, Like Water for Chocolate, Simply Irresistible and Chocolat.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Loved the cooking
This movie has the same story and is the basis for the film "Tortilla Soup." If you want to see the more accesible and entertaining of the two, see "Tortilla Soup" in which the Chinese culture is swapped for Hispanic-American culture. The culture differences and dry sense of humor in "Eat Drink Man Woman" kept me from identifying with the characters. It was still a wonderful movie and is worth watching for the cooking sequences alone. It was also interesting as a Chinese cultural study.

A DELICIOUS SERVING OF LIFE, LOVE AND LAUGHS
Apart from a fabulous peep into the Chinese culinary worlds and its delectable blend of touching yet hilarious screenplay (a natural, unfolding rhythm), this movie for me represents Ang Lee's peak.

A bit like a Chinese version of Woody Allen's "Hannah and her sisters", the film traverses through the lives of three sisters and their father. Lee manages to tell each character's story with care and humor. There are some hearty laughs, a number of touching dramatic moments, and towards the end even a couple of startling twists.

There are a handful of movies that employ cooking as a metaphor of life. But Lee doesn't stop there -- he uses the *preparation* of food as a motif of life's experience as a whole, to include friendship and familial devotion, as well as desire, passion and love. On occasion, food also represents a substitute to all that.

Ultimately, what makes a movie like this work is how much you care for its characters, each one wholesomely well-drawn and glibly multi-dimensional. With the possible exception of a family friend, who comes across as a bit cartooney, there are no caricature villains. Everyone is complex and human.

A terrific offering from China that I highly recommend. You may leave with a craving for some noodles soon after..

DVD Review
Eat Drink Man Woman is a joyous film that celebrates family, love, and food. Sure to evoke smiles, laughs, and tears. The film is wonderfully entertaining as the lives of three sisters and their father go through changes due to unexpected events. Throughout we are treated to breathtaking photography that caress and studies the art of food perparation. The film is sure to make anyone hungry.

Video: (1:85) A great transfer from MGM, good sharpess and shadow detail.

Sound: Clean and clear, very good audio track.

Extras: Trailers and an interview with Ang and his co-writer. Do not watch the interview if you haven't seen the film, it gives away all the pleasant surprises in the film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every series of British sitcom As Time Goes By is an astonishingpleasure. Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer star as Jean and Lionel, twolong-ago sweethearts who fell out of touch during the Korean War,then--due to a chance re-meeting--rekindled their romance in their latemiddle age. Series 6 mostly revolves around Jean's reluctantlyretiring from her business, along with the stumbling romance of herdaughter Judith (Moira Brooks) and their friend Alistair (PhilipBretherton, particularly strong this series). The plots of the show areoften gossamer-thin--one entire episode revolves around circumventing thenosiness of Jean's sister--but it doesn't matter. The rapport betweenDench and Palmer holds a treasure trove of alternating comfort andprickliness. It only takes a half-finished sentence and a disgruntled lookto be screamingly funny. They're as attuned to each other as dancers;their waltz through As Time Goes By is a pleasure to behold.--Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

We need the rest of the series!
We need the rest of the years on DVD!

The most wonderful TV experience
The story of Lionel and Jean is the single best experience one could have on TV. During a visit home my mother got me hooked on this show and I can't thank her enough. I fell in love with the characters and the story. Judi Dench and Geoffery Palmer are perfectly cast as are the others. Rocky and Madge are endearing as are the others. It is so well written that it makes one believe in true love again. My only regret is that they've stopped producing new shows.

A Great BBC Sitcom!
"As Time Goes By" is one of the best sitcoms that the BBC has ever produced. The humor is gentle, warm and always completely believable. It is well written, well directed and perfectly cast. I have seen every episode a number of times and I never get tired of it.
The show is consistently a cut above the standard sitcom. It is always firmly grounded in reality and the characters are all immensely likeable. Sometimes it seems less like a television show than it does a pleasant visit with friends.
Don't miss this one!

A Surprise For Jean
"As Time Goes By" is the gentle, funny story of Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, two people who used to be in love in the early fifties. When Lionel went off to fight in the Korean War, the two lost touch. They meet again 38 years later, quite by accident, and what is at first an awkward friendship slowly morphs into a warm romance.

In Series 6 of "As Time Goes By" (originally aired in 1997), we are treated to some of the best episodes yet. It is a near-perfect season. Some fans have even pontificated that this could very well have been a great way for the show to have ended. I count myself in that crowd. It is true that some of the supporting character's plot lines are still left at loose ends, but the romance of Jean & Lionel -- the true story arc of the series -- pretty much resolves itself in series 6, and in such powerful, sweet, and meaningful ways.

There are 7 episodes in all on this set. Episode 1 is a cute, slightly suspenseful story about someone stalking Sandy (Jean & Lionel's lodger). We get to meet 'Nails', one of Alistair Deacon's associates. And another interesting addition to the "As Time Goes By" list of memorable guest characters.

Episode 2 takes up one of the last real threads of the Jean & Lionel story arc: Jean's retirement. Lionel is becoming bored without her home during the day, and the issue is pressed. Jean visits a psychotherapist, because leaving work behind makes her feel somewhat purposeless.

With Jean slightly depressed over becoming "semi-retired", and Judith & Sandy dating new, perhaps questionable men, episode 3 centers around a most unwanted visit from Jean's nosy sister-in-law Penny, and her husband Stephen. It features one of the most hilarious evening banter sessions in any sitcom -- ever.

Episode 4 is a cozy little story set at Jean & Lionel's country house. Mrs. Bale, the housekeeper, is grumpy. Lionel gets sick and must be nursed in bed. A grim doctor visits. And Alistair arrives out of the blue from London. It all makes sense in the end. Sort of.

Alistair announces his engagement in episode 5 -- to a woman named 'Mercury', no less! This puts Judith out of sorts, although she tries not to admit it. The scene in the restaurant makes for one of the best of entire series.

Penny & Stephen pop up again in episode 6, this time because they're interested in buying the house next door to Jean & Lionel's. Needless to say, this does not go over well with our star couple, and this entire episode is priceless simply because of the looks on Jean & Lionel's faces.

Episode 7 is truly a classic. Some fans affectionately call it "The War Museum" episode. Lionel takes a trip to the War Museum, and makes a startling, wonderful discovery which he shares with Jeans at episode's end. Their romance has truly come full circle at this point, and a more touching moment you'd be hard put to find. This episode also deals with Lionel attempting to plan a surprise get-a-way for he & Jean, with everyone's help, and their efforts are absolutely hilarious.

With Series 6 of "As Time Goes By", the show is really running like a well-oiled machine. Chapters begin to close (in the best possible ways) for our main characters: Jean 'semi-retires', and the star couple makes a most welcome discovery. The prime story arcs of the series are completed. Jean & Lionel are married and living comfortably & lovingly with one another, ready to sail into the rest of their life together. Now all that really remains is to see if Judith & Alistair will ever decide to make a go of it, and if Sandy will ever find the right man. Perhaps a certain policeman, first seen in episode 6 of this series, can be of some assistance in that regard?

Series 7, 8 and 9 await... ... Read more

Amazon.com

To finance Disneyland he wanted to build, Walt Disney turned tothe new medium of television. As host Leonard Maltin notes on this two- disc set of televised specials for the amusement park, Disney used theseries to promote it, "and no one seemed to mind." ABC agreed to investin return for a weekly one-hour program. The "Disneyland" TV showpremiered on October 27, 1954: "Disneyland Story" introduced the parkand its various lands, which would be the subject of future programs.The opening-day special, "Dateline Disneyland" (July 17, 1955),attracted an estimated audience of 90 million--virtually everytelevision household in America. Hosted by Art Linkletter, RobertCummings, and Ronald Reagan, the live broadcast includes such unplannedmoments as Linkletter searching frantically for a microphone inFantasyland. The Tenth Anniversary show (January 3, 1965) featurescameos of Mary Blair and Marc Davis, two celebrated animation artists.Home movie footage of Walt pacing off distances at the barren site inAnaheim is intercut with peeks at forthcoming attractions. "DisneylandAfter Dark" (April 15, 1962) offers performances by Annette Funicello,Bobby Burgess, Bobby Rydell, Louis Armstrong, and a prepubescentquartet of Osmond Brothers. A must-have set for Disneyland buffs,Disney collectors, and nostalgic baby boomers. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Perfect for Disneyland Devotees
If you're a Disneyland fanatic, you'll love this DVD! If you're not, then don't bother. That isn't meant to be a criticism of this set at all. However, if you're thinking about buying this DVD, make sure you know what you're getting.

This fine collection includes four hour-long broadcasts from the original "Disneyland" TV series on ABC in the 1950s and 1960s. There are no "in-depth" documentaries on the park today, or any sort of Travel Channel-esque behind-the-scenes looks.

The original television broadcasts include a show filmed before Disneyland was built, "Dateline Disneyland" - the show broadcast live the date Disneyland opened, a show celebrating Disneyland's 10th anniversary, and a show about Disneyland after dark.

These four shows are absolutely fascinating for those interested in the history of Disneyland and the Disney company. Walt Disney is the host for all but the "Dateline Disneyland" episode, which is co-hosted by Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and other Hollywood stars. The first show takes viewers to an orange grove west of Los Angeles, the site of the future Disneyland. It also features Walt Disney introducing his park with maps, drawings, and models. "Dateline Disneyland" is a lot of fun as you watch the park on opening day - including the broadcasting snafus. Art Linkletter runs around for a few minutes in search of a microphone, many rides break down, and other problems arise to be documented in this important historical collection.

Disneyland After Dark showcases the happenings in the park during nightime. This is a fun look at the park, also hosted by Walt Disney. The last broadcast, Disneyland's 10th anniversary, might be the best of the set. It too is hosted by Walt, just a year and a half before his death. At one point, Walt shows off Disneyland's newest idea, a ride called "Pirates of the Carribean". The ride hasn't opened yet, but Disney shows some of the audio-animatronics that will be used.

If you're looking for a DVD that takes you behind-the-scenes at Disneyland and gives you a comprehensive look at the history of the park and the status of Disneyland today, look elsewhere. If you're a fellow Disneyland aficionado interested in some fascinating and important historical broadcasts, get this great set now.

Looks to be a great package
If you are planning on buying this you probably want to know what's on it. Despite the title "Disneyland USA" it doesn't include the short feature "Disneyland USA but has 4 great TV shows on Disneyland. The first is "The Disneyland Story"(B&W) This premiere episode of the "Disneyland" television series features Walt giving a brief tour of the studio and discussing the format of the series. Also included: a brief look at Mickey's career and clips from various Disney films. This was released 10/27/54 and is 49 minutes long. The second feature is "Dateline Disneyland"(B&W) hosted by Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan; the live opening of Disneyland includes the opening ceremonies and a visit to all park's "lands." Highlights of the coverage include visits with Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Danny Thomas, the Mouseketeers and Governor Knight of California. This was released 7/17/55 and is 1 hour 30 minutes. The third feature is "Disneyland After Dark"(Color) Walt Disney hosts this look at live entertainment in the different sections of Disneyland at night. In Tomorrowland Annette and Bobby sing. In Advertureland a fire dance is performed. On the Mark Twain steamboat Louis Armstrong plays jazz. At the Plaza Gardens the Osmond Brothers make their network television premiere. This was broadcast 4/15/62 and is 1 hour long. The final episode is "Disneyland Tenth Anniversary"(Color) Walt Disney hosts behind-the-scenes look at some new exhibits and talks with exhibit designers as they create new features for Disneyland's tenth anniversary. The second part of the show features production numbers performed in the park; a parade down Main Street. Clips from initial park construction are shown. This was broadcast 1/3/65 and is 52 minutes long. This looks to be a great collection and also has a featurette with Leonard Maltin and a few other extras. This is all packaged in a tin case and comes with a lithograph. For any Disneyland fan this is a must!

Disneyland USA: One to Really Look Forward To!
Walt Disney Treaures Review 4 of 11
Sorry, no easter eggs on this set. (hidden DVD features)

Disneyland USA, the fourth and final volume of wave 1, is probaly the most important. Here, as with all the others, the DVD is enclosed in a numbered tin, along with a lithograph of the poster for Autopia, and a program booklet with a list of features and a letter from Leonard Maltin, the host of the series. On disc 1, we trace the early years of Disneyland with two complete episodes from the original TV show. Each have an intro by Maltin

The Disneyland Story: The very first episode of the Disneyland Television series, which give clips of whats to come in each section of the Disneyland television series anthology. There is a sneak peek of Disneyland, a peek at the new Davy Crockett series, and a tribute to Mickey featuring two entire cartoons.

Dateline Disneyland: Join your hosts Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings as they cover live, the inagural day at Disneyland, with the late Reagan covering the dedication. This is the most important of the set, and is a treat for Disneyland film buffs and fans alike.

On disc two, there are two more shows in full color, with intros by Maltin.

Disneyland After Dark: Here, we get to meet amazing stars from the sixties, journey through Disneyland after dark, and meet a couple of the famous "Mouseketeers," including Annete Funicello.

Disneyland 10th Anniversary: This piece has two parts. One showing new attractions at Disneyland, mainly the then in progress Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Manision and Its a Small World. Then the history of the park, during construction, new attractions and a lot of other juicy stuff.

Finally there are the bonus features.

The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television: This documentary gives a short history of the park and the Disneyland TV Show with Leonard Maltin

Gallery: A gallery of photographs and posters, as well as merchandise.

The smallest of the four in wave 1, Disneyland USA could have a little more material. However, that is a small price to pay for the historical broadcasts in this wonderful set. I'll write the reviews for Wave 2 tomorrow. See you then.

List of Reviews of Walt Disney Treasures:

Silly Symphonies
Mickey Mouse in Living Color
Davy Crockett
Disneyland USA
Mickey Mouse in Black and White
The Complete Goofy
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studios
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2
The Chronological Donlad Volume 1
On Front Lines
Tomorrowland

All with the complete list of features, including Easter Eggs! (hidden DVD features)

For Whom Ever LOVES Disneyland
This is a good DVD overall. I enjoyed the t.v shows. I would have, however, like to have seen more of "the making" of the rides and maybe even some more current Disneyland on this.

Heavy, Tear-Jerking Nostalgia For the Disney Fanatic
This set wasn't created for the typical Disney fan, it was created for folks like me: Disney ADDICTS. We fanatics tend to be more demanding, but I always pride myself in being able to appreciate the good points, while still realizing the flaws, in all Disney products. I've managed to get my hands on all the Disney Treasures sets so far, and so far they've all been wonderful, but this review is about the unnecessarily weakest one, Disneyland, U.S.A.
There are 4 feature programs and 2 extras in this set. Disc 1 contains The Disneyland Story and Dateline Disneyland, both black and white. The Disneyland Story is the 1st ever episode of the Disneyland TV series. This milestone from 1954 begins with Walt Disney telling us of his plans to build the Disneyland Park, then switches to a discussion about the TV series and how it will tell stories from the various areas of the theme park, such as Davy Crockett's story from Frontierland. The 2nd half of this feature is a tribute to Mickey Mouse (by way of cartoon clips), as Walt expresses that he wants everyone to remember that, "It all started with a mouse." The 2nd feature on Disc One, Dateline: Disneyland, is the live ABC Broadcast of Disneyland's opening day in 1955, hosted by Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings. This features the hosts in the various "Lands" of the park, explaining the themes and rides of each of them. We are treated to celebs like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. riding rides, and live performances by the likes of Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. We also see Walt's own, live dedication ceremonies of the Park and its various lands. It can really bring a tear to the eye of a true fan.
Disc 2 contains two more features, Disneyland After Dark and Disneyland 10th Anniversary, both in color, and this time from the 1960s. Some time has passed, and now the park is an established American treasure! Disneyland After Dark is a collection of live performances from musical celebrities of the time, such as Annette Funicello and Bobby Rydell in Tomorrowland, the Osmond Quartet at the Plaza Gardens, and the highlight for me, Louis Armstrong aboard the Mark Twain! We also are treated to hula dancers and a fire dance in Adventureland. In Disneyland 10th Anniversary, we see some of Walt's last work on the park as he gives Miss Disneyland Tencentennial (some sort of Disneyland 10th Anniversary Beauty Pageant Winner) a tour of the Imagineering Department to fill her in on future park plans before she goes on tour. Here we get to see Disney attractions in early production stages, such as a 1/8th inch to a foot scale model of It's A Small World and miniature versions of some elements of the Haunted Mansion. Walt also explains audio-animatronics, showing the work being done for Pirates of the Caribbean, and treating us to a sample of the Enchanted Tiki Room show. We also see various clips of early park production and a parade down Main Street. Also on the 2nd disc are the extras; a gallery of some of the Disneyland ride poster art over the years, and a short Leonard Maltin featurette on Disneyland.
The set comes in a lovely snap case with a small litho, and is in a very nice tin box with serial number. If you are a nut for Disneyland and Disney history in general, this set is for you. Be warned though, if it's a tour of the park you are looking for, you won't find it here. Many of us were disappointed that the actual film, "Disneyland, U.S.A.," was not in this set. Strange, considering the title. That short film actually IS a tour of the park, and hopefully will find its way to DVD SOMEDAY. My other complaints? Well, the DVD set is missing scenes involving the original Mousketeers, as well as certain Tiki Room sequences. All I can say is I HATE it when I buy a DVD and find out it's been edited, but especially when it's classic Disney, as was the case with Melody Time and Make Mine Music! That's just unacceptable, especially in these Deluxe sets! Also, the "do not try this at home" warnings added onto the fire-dance and fire-walk sequences were totally unnecessary and annoying. Lastly, there was the problem of simply not enough stuff. C'mon, there is a ton of material they could have included! I would have been satisfied if they had at least included Disneyland, USA. They also could have included some of the Birthday specials of the past years, like that Disneyland Birthday that had Tony Danza, Charles Fleischer, Ernest, etc... That would have been nice! But, despite these complaints, I do love the set, I just hope this is not the only time we'll ever see this material on DVD, because we definitely require unedited releases, not to mention releases of the other episodes of the Disneyland TV show, from day one to today; from Swamp Fox to Fluppy Dogs, from The Scarecrow to Mickey's 60th Birthday. Not to mention all the other stuff on the parks, like Disneyland, U.S.A., Gala Day At Disneyland, and Disneyland Showtime. Let's hope we see another Disneyland set for these shows, and some sets for my favorite place, Walt Disney World! But unless you are incredibly easily disappointed, I encourage any fans of Disney history, or Disney park history, to pick up this set and check out the other Disney Treasures collections! Even with its disappointments, this set is still a hit! ... Read more

Amazon.com

P.G. Wodehouse's much-loved stories about Bertie Wooster and his brilliantly clever valet, Jeeves, were brought faithfully to life in Jeeves and Wooster, starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as master and servant. The scripts of this perfectly cast production retain all the sparkling wit of Wodehouse's prose, and it's hard to see how any future adaptation of his work could surpass this wonderfully funny series.

This boxed set contains the entire first season of Jeeves and Wooster. In "Jeeves Takes Charge," young man-about-town Bertie Wooster employs a new valet called Jeeves, and not a moment too soon. Thanks to his Aunt Agatha, Bertie faces the terrible prospect of marriage to the statuesque Honoria Glossop, and only Jeeves can save the day. "Tuppy and the Terrier" finds Bertie in trouble again when he loses Aunt Agatha's dog. Further aunt-related complications arise when Bertie's chum Tuppy falls for our hero's cousin Angela. Aunt Dahlia is not amused. An uncle in love with a waitress, a trip to the country, a speedy choirboy, and a secret betting syndicate all lead to trouble in "The Purity of the Turf." Jeeves, of course, is the only one who can put things right.

Jeeves and Wooster really hits its stride in the final episodes of the first series, "The Hunger Strike" and "Brinkley Manor." When Bertie visits Aunt Dahlia, he is called upon to solve the romantic problems of his friends Tuppy Glossop (in love with cousin Angela) and the delightful Gussy Fink-Nottle (in love with Madeleine Basset, a young lady who believes the stars to be God's daisy chain.) Unwisely, Bertie decides to cook up his own plan and before long disaster strikes. Aunt Dahlia's superb chef Anatole gives his notice, and Bertram is to blame. Thank goodness for Jeeves. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Best in british humor (and thus the best all-around)
The 5 episodes of this set appeared previously under different titles: "Jeeves' Arrival", "Golf Tournament", "The Gambling Event", "Hunger Strike" and "The Matchmaker".

Two memorable characters are introduced: the ever-amiable, charming and foppish gentleman of the '30s, Bertie Wooster, and his stately, cultured and dignified valet, Jeeves. Bertie (and his helpless friends) finds himself in trouble all the time, and only the priceless Je