Reviews (7)

ONE OF TV'S BEST MINI-SERIES
Having already mastered RFK in 1975's THE MISSLES OF OCTOBER, it was only logical that Martin Sheen step up to the role he was seemingly born to play in what has proved to be one of the best mini-series ever produced. KENNEDY is a believable docu-drama that stays true to the 1000 day historical record. What's very commendable is Jim Goddard staying away in mass from the soap opera element of JFK's now much publicized adultery and the blind eye turned (to it) by his wife, staff and family. Vincent Gardinia offers memory burn as J. Edgar Hoover, just as Sheen does with JFK. The final ride through Dealy Plaza is horrific.

best Kennedy impersonation ever
Martin Sheen plays an excellent John Kennedy in the 1983 mini-series, Kennedy. he's got the voice of John Kennedy down almost to perfection.

the DVD version is great. you get additional footage such as JFK's Inaugural Address, One Day in Berlin, One Week in October, and The Last Two Days.

throughout the mini-series you see the tension between Hoover and both Jack and Bobby, you go along on the campaign trail with JFK, right up until the shots are fired in Dallas.
good mini-series.
i surley enjoyed watching all of it.

History and Entertainment
It's wonderful to have this five-hour mini-series complete and on DVD. Prior to this release, a VHS version of the program (squeezed onto one tape) edited out at least half an hour of the show. This presentation is a two-disc release that has parts one and two on disc one and part three and the 75 or so minutes of documentary footage on disc two. The mini-series itself is very well done and surprisingly poignant considering it was first broadcast in 1983. Martin Sheen's accent, while at first startling and seemingly exaggerated, is actually brilliant and spot-on 99% of the time. He is the best "John F. Kennedy" I have ever seen portrayed, hands down.

My only complaint (and this might be isolated to my own Sony DVD player) is that the picture occasionally slows and then speeds up. This is not like a dual-layer pause but an actual slowing of the film and then a burst of speed to "catch up." It is only slightly irritating and does not warrant you not purchasing it, since it is only a minor problem. Overall, I was quite surprised to see the film and audio to be as crisp and vibrant as it appears. I can't help but guess that this DVD is a great deal better than having watched the original broadcast in 1983. And yes, it is expensive...but you are getting over six hours of material.

For JFK Fans, A Must-have Product!
This 2-disc DVD set is outstanding. I recall seeing this mini-series when it originally aired in November 1983, exactly 20 years after JFK's tragic assassination. It's now great to have it available on DVD. All the major elements that made up the presidency of John F. Kennedy are explored very nicely during this five-hour series, including the Bay Of Pigs invasion of April 1961 and the ultra-frightening Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. For me, a major reason I purchased this product was due to the extra bonus features included on Disc 2. Here, we get to see the real JFK in action, in a series of documentaries. These extras total 75 minutes, making this 2-disc package a completely absorbing and satisfying experience for anyone who wants to look back into history at one of the most popular men ever to occupy The White House.

Excellent account of one of our greatest presidents
This movie, first shown on NBC in Nov. '83 to coincide with the anniversary of of JFK's death, is a great tribute to the man, his times and his legacy. Brilliantly portrayed by Martin Sheen, JFK comes to life on the small screen, and Blair Brown gives a great performance as First Lady Jackie. This DVD is the COMPLETE version of the 3 part miniseries that was originally aired on tv.
All in all, GREAT release for the DVD format. From Election Night to Assassination, the film tells the whole story of Kennedy's presidency. Not to be missed!
... Read more

Reviews (7)

Interesting look at the SS' rold in Nazi Germany.
It's an interesting persprctive, looking at the SS from the points of view of two brothers: one in the SS, and one who ran afoul of the SS. The actors playing Heydrich and Himmler did their roles excellently, and the depiction of SS reaction to certain events (Night of the Long Knives, Krystalnacht, and the July 20 Bomb plot) was also well done. The only thing obviusly inaccurate was the assasaination of Heydrich (he was assasinated in Prague, not in the countryside outside the city).

An interesting perspective on a familiar topic
This movie views the rise of the Nazi regime from the perspective of two brothers, who are very ordinary people. At first each brother views the Nazis as just another political party. One brother becomes a full-time SS officer working for Heydrich, the other (who actually became a Nazi before his brother did) sees the evil of the Nazis sooner, and suffers for his outspokeness. The strength of the movie is its portrayal of ordinary Germans during this time period, and how they become caught up in the ugliness of the Nazi regime.
The acting is so-so, but not bad if your expectations are not high. Jose Ferrer plays only a modest role in this movie--he is not the star. Overall an entertaining movie that is worth a try. The quality of the DVD video is slightly below average.

Did you see that movie - Maybe you can help me!
P>...The movie is great because of the intensity of the determination the SS organization had back in the 30's. The actors are great and the music is unique. What is sad about the end of that movie is the same pitfall as other movies. Too much emphasis on concentration camps. In good objectivity, anyone that talks about concentration camps should also learn about the causes of the creation of the SA and the SS. The Germany of 1880 until 1933. This is the period to learn and read about. Stay objective and be a good judge. Like in the movie:"Who needs a revolution, when the revolution already been achieved?"

CHSimon
This fictional dramatization of the life of a typical middle class German family and the effects of the third reich and Adolf Hitlers 12 year reign of terror, does an excellent job in humanizing what must have been a horrile dilhemma for German people in the 30s and 40s. David Warner is terrific as the heartless Reinhardt Heydrich whose influence on the oldest son in the family changed the boy from skeptic and cynic into fulfledged believer. Tony Randall is also excellent as a "Joel Grey" type emcee at the local Night Club who dares to criticise the NAZIS and pays the ultimate price for his performances. All in all the performances are believable if you can get past some of the heavy British accents which are mixed in with bland American accents like that of Carrol Baker who plays the mom. The sharp contrast in accents is kind of distracting.

A Historian with an Opinion...
I have viewed this title a few times. I think this is an excellent movie. Many movies from the World War II era commonly tell a small portion about the people's lives in NAZI Germany during the Third Reich. This movie collected all the bits and pieces and showed how different people from the start had their lives affected throughout this time. This is an excellent movie and I wish it received more publicity to exploit what it does best... inform people about life in the Third Reich. It also shows the innocence of the German people and how they were brainwashed and tricked by the NAZIS. Clearly documenting the civilians at this time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Why not all ?
A Sherlock Holmes turn of the century series from the 1960s but a gentlemanly pair with a twist - Raffles is the gentleman thief and Bunny, his sidekick, is the bumbling accomplice.

Lovely sets, wry humour, Anthony Valentine at his best - he IS Raffles.

I waited many years for this to come out on DVD and my only complaint is that this 2 volume set does not have all the episodes of the Raffles saga - but only 6 episodes! And episodes seemingly chosen at random!

We await the full set of this series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A particularly gritty and tough episode from Ruth Rendell's Inspector Reg Wexford series, Simisola begins with the bearish Scots detective receiving some good medical news from his Nigerian physician. Unfortunately, Wexford can't do the same when the doctor and his wife report the disappearance of their daughter. Seemingly related murders of two women, and the severe beating of a third, in Wexford's Sussex country town of Kingsmarkham do nothing to clarify what happened to the missing girl and, much to Wexford's dismay, exacerbate racist tensions rumbling beneath the investigation. Actor George Baker, who has been playing the civilized and often unflappable Wexford in television dramas since 1988, is wonderful here, counterpointing the detective's natural politesse with droll asides and clipped impatience with self-important witnesses. Rendell's attack on a loophole in British immigration laws (essentially sanctioning modern slavery) is startling but does not overwhelm Simisola's entertaining police procedural. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (1)

you can't go wrong!
a fantastic programme! Wexford has to deal with political correctness and racism in this very gripping movie. He is personally brought into this when his Nigerian doctors' own daughter Melanie disappears off the face of the earth. Her disappearance un-earths a much more disturbing and horrifying custom at work than even he realised in todays modern times.
well worth watching - put the kids to bed at 7.00pm and settle down for the night with this one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Baby Seal Brings People Together
A warm, inviting story presented in a super interactive DVD. The menu items give additional information that is useful for discussion. Wonderful camera work, breathtaking scenes. "A great experience for the whole family to see and share experiences." The children watched it attentively, and were interested in DVD features. "The index made it easy to find your place." "It has good color and sound. It made everything look real." "I liked it when the seal was 'singing' with the women." Best for ages 8 to 12. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

you can't go wrong!
a fantastic programme! Wexford has to deal with political correctness and racism in this very gripping movie. He is personally brought into this when his Nigerian doctors' own daughter Melanie disappears off the face of the earth. Her disappearance un-earths a much more disturbing and horrifying custom at work than even he realised in todays modern times.
well worth watching - put the kids to bed at 7.00pm and settle down for the night with this one. ... Read more