Description

Set against some of the most spectacular scenery ever seen on film, Himalaya tells the story of a generational struggle for the leadership of a tiny mountain village between its proud old chief and a headstrong young caravaner. The balance of power shifts uneasily as they make their annual salt trek across the Himalayas.

Director Eric Valli is a photographer and an author whose work is regularly published in National Geographic, Geo, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and Life. He has been living in Nepal since 1983 and his first journey through the Dolpo (northwest region of Nepal) dates back to this period. He wrote several books about this country before shooting HIMALAYA in 1997. In 1992, he was awarded the Gurka Dakshin Baho award from His Majesty the King of Nepal for his body of work on the country. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Simplified culture
"The Scent of Green Papaya" tells the evolution of Vietnamese society in its 1950s through the story of Mui, a girl from the rural area, from being a servant in an upper class family to her marriage with a westernized pianist. The focal point of the movie is very much on the cultural richness of Vietnam. You can easily feel that each frame is very carefully set and shot. The camerawork is slow, but sometimes very formularized, and so is the acting.

The director Tran An Hung has been living in Paris for years. His dream of his parents' culture makes Vietnam the obvious choice for his film. The seemly artistic presentation of Vietnamese society received a lot of recognition in the West (Oscar nomination for the best foreign movie). But in my humble opinion, this acclaimed movie depicts a Vietnam that exists in this westernized director's fantasy rather than the Vietnam in the ordinary native Vietnamese's heart. The real Vietnamese culture has to be way beyond just a simple collection of symbolized exotic items presented in this movie.

A hauntingly beautiful love story
It is hard to imagine a more beautiful movie than Tran Anh Hung's "The Scent of Green Papaya". With a bare minimum of dialogue, Tran brings to the screen the story of Mui, a 10 year old Vietnamese girl who comes from the country to Saigon in the early 1950's as a live-in servant to an upper-class family whose wealth is being squandered by the dissolute and womanizing head of the house. Mui is a simple soul who finds delight in things most of us take for granted; the exquisite cinematography in this film brings out the beauty in the most ordinary objects and lets us share in Mui's sense of wonder and discovery. Ten years later, when the family's wealth has been dissipated to the point where they can no longer afford a live-in servant, Mui is sent to work for a wealthy young pianist, Khuyen, the friend of the eldest son of her former employers. Khuyen is engaged to be married but in Mui he finds the peace and serenity that is lacking in his shallow and materialistic fiancee. In very basic terms, "The Scent of Green Papaya" could be called a Vietnamese Cinderella story, except for the lack of a wicked stepmother. Despite the almost total lack of dialogue in the second half of the film, the movie is so beautifully crafted, and techically and emotionally so satisfying, that you come away awed with how Tran was able to do so much with so little. This film is living testimony to the fact that sometimes less is more. It's a beautiful, unforgettable story of a young woman's coming of age.

Highly Recommended!
Absolutely phenomenal! This is, by far, my favorite Vietnamese film. Rather than repeat what other reviewers have said, I will just say that I can not recommend this film highly enough. It really stays with you. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Unbelievable foreign film!
I remember the first time I had ever seen this movie. 4-5 years or so ago I was surfing through my parents' digital cable movie channels hoping to find something that interested me. When I read the info for 'The Scent of Green Papaya', I thought to myself, that sounds like a good movie, so I tuned in to watch. Honestly, the first time I watched it, I thought it was good, but after the second and third time, I thought it was fantastic. It's a charming story about a 10-year-old servant girl growing up in the 1950's in Saigon. As you're watching the movie, you feel sorry and perhaps a bit angry at the mother who's husband is cheating and leaving the house for days with all the family's hard earned money. You learn to spite, yet love the youngest son for his devilish and mischievious tricks he plays on the young servant girl.

It's a wonderful movie, but not necessarily family oriented. Perhaps for those interested in forgein films with a bit of comedy and romance attached. Still, it is definitely a must see!

Yes, this movie is slow
I will not lie and say this movie filled with car chases or explosions. If you expect an action flick, look elsewhere.

I understand people's reaction to the slowness of this movie because when I saw it, I thought the same thing. However, over time I came to appreciate it. What this movie lacks in plot, it makes up in beautiful scenes and images. There are not many movies that leave you thinking about it years later. ... Read more

Description

All bets are off in London's gambling world when struggling writer Jack Manfred (Gosford Park's Clive Owen) accepts his father's offer of a job as a croupier, out the cards of fate and fortune each night to casino patrons. As his relationship with his girlfriend, Marion (Notting Hill's Gina McKee), suffers from the strain of his new job, Jack finds his eye roving to a seductive gambler, Jani (ER's Alex Kingston), who lures him into a dangerous robbery scheme with Jack positioned as the inside man. A critical and commercial smash, this delicious British thriller from director Mike Hodges (Get Carter) and writer Paul Mayersberg (The Last Samurai) is a solid winner from start to finish! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Yes, Virginia, there really is film noir past the 1940's !
Stylish British flick. Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) has run out of money while struggling to write his first novel. (Shades of Sunset Blvd!)

He has experience as a croupier, a job he loathes, thanks to the influence of his father, a perennial flake who never runs out of big dreams, currently eking a living as a hotel bartender.

Jack is barely on speaking terms with him, alternatively disgusted and bemused by the old man's sleazyness. Nevertheless, he needs a job badly and so when his father informs him of an opening, he re-enters the nightlife world of London casinos, dealing cards to posh, well dressed suckers. "Welcome to the house of addiction." As Jack puts it.

However, unlike his father, Jack NEVER gambles , it's a point of pride with him. So what could possibly go wrong?

The answer of course is everything.

Starting with his first night on the job when he meets his half dressed sultry co-worker, Bella.

Bella: "How do I look?"
Jack : (Voice Over) LIKE TROUBLE!
Jack : "Fine."

We've got three (count 'em !) femme fatales, endearing and deadly in their own way, and cynically beautifull noir-loner speeches that sound as if they came out of Double Indemnity or The Maltese Falcon:

" The world breaks everyone. And afterwards, many are strong at the broken places. Those that will not break, it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave, impartially. If you are none of these things it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry."

And the plot twists on. . .

Clive Owen's debut finally re-released in the US!
I've been looking for a commerically available Region 1 version of Croupier for quite some time now. I was so excited to see that its being re-released that I had to check other sources to make sure its not a glitch. But, yes indeed, Croupier is scheduled to be re-released March 9, 2004!

As for the film itself, this film introduced Americans to Clive Owen. It opened the doors for Clive's recent film roles in the BMW Films "The Hire," "Gosford Park," "Bourne Identity," "Beyond Borders" and upcoming starring role in "King Authur" (not to mention the James Bond rumors. I've also heard good things about the Brit TV miniseries "Second Sight.") Don't expect a Hollywood thriller here. This modern update of the film noir genre is shot to create disconnect and confusion, and the characters are gritty and flawed. The film centers around Jack Manfred, a struggling-writer-turned-card-dealer. Jack moves through his life like a ghost, detached and disinterested in the events of his own life. Alex Kingston's character Jani de Villiers enters his life and adds color to Jack's dark world. Jani is the femme fatale to Jack's postmodern hard-boiled hero, but I love that Jack and Jani's relationship does not develop in the way you would expect. Overall, an enjoyable film for indie film lovers and a must for Clive Owen fans.

Cool, Ironic, Understated Mayhem
A struggling writer who's a talented cardsman gets a job as a croupier, thanks to his father, in a London casino. From there the film moves into a complicated scheme to rob the casino, with violence and double dealing along the way. The one unexpected bit of retribution that hits Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) has emotional power. The ending is not exactly nihilistic, but has more than a bit of irony.

Mike Hodges, who directed the first-rate Get Carter with Michael Caine, brings the same cool approach here. Owen is perfect in the lead, and the rest of the cast is excellent. Croupier is a very good story very well done.

The DVD transfer also is excellent. There are no extras.

Quintessential Guy's Movie.
Well, of course their are no car chases (that's a joke) but this is a film most men will love. What there is in the film is an excellent plot that's so clever it ought to have a PhD from Harvard. I guarantee that the ending will surprise you. The lead character's travails are fascinating and will cause many a man to feel envy. I personally never thought much about what it would be like to be a dealer, or croupier, before I saw it but I gained an honest appreciation for what their jobs entail by watching it. Its also a film for writers.

Nice British character study
A nice British character study of a struggling writer, Jack Manfred, who goes back to his former love, being a croupier. He gets a job at a low-scale casino and decides to write a book about his own experience. His wife does not want him to lead the life of a croupier and, spurred on by an affair he is caught in, leaves him. Jack gets attached to a shady customer, who makes him an offer that might change his life.

Manfred has a priviledged perspective on gambling, being able to discern the psychological flaws of everyone around him, much like Matt Damon's character in Rounders (a cliché but interesting movie precisely because of that). In the same way, Croupier goes beyond the relatively simple story by having Manfred always narrating the events as he sees them in his own worldview. It provodes a lot more depth in his character and the movie in general.

Manfred is not a cruel character, but his love of croupier work, and how it intimately relates to his own life, gives him a detached quality. I would say he is definitely an egoist character, and has no qualms in examining moral issues dispassionately. Very refreshing. ... Read more

Description

Two restless young men (Sami Frey and Claude Brasseur) enlist the object of their desire (Anna Karina) to help them commit a robbery--in her own home.French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard takes to the streets of Paris to re-imagine the gangster genre, spinning an audacious yarn that's at once sentimental and insouciant, romantic and melancholy ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Godardian aesthetic reaches its apex...
Jean-Luc Godard has long been the darling of the French New Wave, beginning with the 'stereotypical' nouvelle vague film, "Breathless." While "Breathless" is the film that everyone regards as 'the one,' the true beauty in Godard's filmmaking is expressed with "Band of Outsiders." Once again featuring Godard's beautiful wife Anna Karina, "Band of Outsiders" is the kind of crime film that you're not entirely sure if you like or not. You know it's good, and you understand the mocking nature of it, but you're not sure if you like it.

Godard puts the viewer in a state of euphoria by spinning a tale of intrigue involving two 'criminals' and their female counterpart. This part of the story is the crime drama that we know and love. But at the same time, Godard is letting his imagination run wild, filling our minds with life's little pleasantries and random absurdities.

While Truffault's films as a whole are more widely recognized around the world, Godard truly is the grandfather of the French New Wave. Truffault's films are easy for average film viewers to watch, as he spoon feeds us one situation after another. Truffault is the Zemeckis of the French New Wave. Not a bad director, in fact a very competent one, just not one who is on the cutting edge, as is Godard. To begin to appreciate Godard, one must watch the master at work. And the best place to start is right here, with the relatively unknown and certainly underappreciated "Band of Outsiders."

Dancing the Madison in glorious black and white!
If there are any films that offer a wonderful sense of love for the cinema, they are the films of Jean-Luc Godard. But, as he explains in a brief interview from 1964 that is included with this fine DVD, he was also against film; that is, against the conventions and rules that predominated French cinema. So he introduced unconventional methods of telling stories and making movies and decided to include elements that films typically left out. "Band of Outsiders" is a playful, unconventional, mesmerizing tale of small-time gangsters and young love set in 1960s Paris. Its source material runs the gamut from the pulp crime novel on which it is based to the American B-movies and film noir that inspired its look. It's Godard's best love letter to Paris since "Breathless," and also one of the last of his true New Wave films.

The story might be simple enough: Arthur and Franz enlist the help of the young, beautiful Odile to stage a robbery. But if the story is simple, everything else around it is not. Here we find allusions and homages to Arthur Rimbaud (the poet whom one of the characters is named after), Franz Kafka, film composer Michel Legrand, "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," T.S. Eliot, Shakespeare, American cartoons, Jack London, Charlie Chaplin, Andre Breton, Andre Malraux, and numerous others. That's Godard doing his thing, and even if we miss those allusions, there's so much more to be cherished: the famous minute of silence, the running visit through the Louvre, the dance scene, the glorious closeups of Anna Karina, riding on the underground metro, the trio driving through the streets of Paris.

"Band of Outsiders" is playful, wondrous, hilarious, breezy, but at the same time melancholic, dark in its undertones. Raoul Coutard's photography gives it a stark look, but its playfulness is its most alluring aspect, along with Godard's wonderfully appealing, inventive visual language. It might not be the finest example of the French New Wave, nor is it as perfect as a work of art as "Breathless" and "My Life to Live," but in its flaunting of cinematic invention, its richness, and its embodiment of pure cinema, it's in a class by itself and certainly a film that should be seen, if not owned, by lovers of cinema. Its most memorable moments will remain in your mind forever.

Many Godard fans, myself included, have been waiting eagerly for this Criterion edition of "Band of Outsiders." It's a remarkable digital transfer; the images and contrasts are crisp; the mono soundtrack is as clear as possible. The additional features are worth the price of the DVD alone, including a visual glossary that explains many of the film's allusions and a brief interview in which Godard explains the philosophy behind the New Wave. Criterion has really outdone itself with this disc, and that's saying something.

I recommend that, even if you do not know French, you should watch this film at least once with the subtitles off since they sometimes obscure the closeups that make this film so memorable. When the camera is on Anna Karina's face, believe me when I say you don't want anything to stand in its way.

Line Dance
Saw this the other day. Didn't know it was Godard classic. The Dance Scene, I didn't want it to end. It was so flakey, kind of a line dance to French Pop sound of 1964, hard to describe. Anna Karina is sutle knock out, frumby in most scenes, but she Ann Margaret's in dance. The rest of the movie is a playful romp, a nonsensical take off on American heist movies of the 40's. Not totally successful, but worth it for sophisticated.

Classic Godard!
This is classic Godard here. This is a very fun and entertaining film.

There are a few scenes in the film that are quite famous and it's a delight to have seen it.

If you love true cinema, experience Band of Outsiders.

DVD Review
Band of Outsiders is easily Godard's most accessible and most enjoyable film. This is early 60's New Wave spirited, movie convention bashing Godard, not the abstract inpenatratably political Godard of the late 60's and on. Spontaneous and joyful the picture has that wondeful feel of Paris in the early 60's. Godard punctuates the film with brilliant witty asides that are among his finest. The Louvre tour and Madison dance are some of the coolest moments on film. In fact the entire movie conveys a great sense of cool, a quirky cool. For me the film is especially notable because it introduced me to Anna Karina. This is one of the seven films she made with Godard and with this film I became captivated by her prescence as icon of the New Wave.

Video: Thank you Criterion for providing a gorgeous transfer of the film. Extremely clean, perfectly sharp, nice contrast and this film is nearly 40 years old!

Extras: Way to good, this is cheap for a Criterion disc and has more extras then most. A fun bonus identfies several in jokes and literary references, although the narrator is annoying. A short documentary actually has footage of Godard directing on set and is great for historic purposes. A recent interview with Coutard is interesting, but the highlight for me was an recent interview with Anna Karina. My college term paper on Karina took a lot of material from this. Another great bonus is a short silent film starring Karina and Godard. This short is in the film Cleo 5-7 and is lots of fun is you know a thing or two about Karina and Godard's relationship. Godard's own trailer for the film is wonderful and as I write this I notice their is a lengthy booklet which I didn't get around to reading. Awesome job Criterion one of your best DVDs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Child and expertise for rent," reads the banner flying from the wooden cart of rogue samurai Itto Ogami (Tomisaburo Wakayama). With his infant son and a baby carriage stocked with a veritable arsenal in tow, Ogami rents his services for 500 pieces of gold while awaiting his revenge on the corrupt clan that murdered his wife. Director Kenji Misumi draws his distinctive graphic style from the legendary manga series written by Kazuo Koike (who adapted his own work for the screen) and adds an inspired cinematic device: when Ogami enters battle, the world falls silent, literally, until his sword strikes. The fights are savage--blades slash, limbs fly, and blood spurts like geysers--yet the film relaxes in moments of serenity and tenderness as the cooing baby boy marvels at the wonder of the world. An essential of Japanese action cinema, it launched a classic six-film series. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Fun movie, faithful to the manga
What a great, great movie. I've been getting back into samurai flicks after a long hiatus. I wanted to see this after having seen Kill Bill v.1 -- you can see the influence after watching Lone Wolf and Cub -- and boy, this movie and its vol. 2 sequel (baby cart on river styx) -- great!

Clean picture, clean sounds. This is an awesome DVD. I also read the manga before the DVD and can say: it is very faithful to the manga, doing a wonderful job of bringing the Kojima's artwork to the screen. Readers of Dark Horse's manga series, vol. 1 will recognize the care taken to adapt the manga.

I showed this film to a bunch of friends and they hooted and hollered. Great fun.

The film is excellent, the DVD transfer is...brilliant!
The DVD transfer is trash? Um, yeah...For everyone who owns an old VHS copy of the film, throw it out the window and purchase this version. The movie has NEVER looked and sounded better than it has on this brillant DVD transfer. You can't tell the film was made over 30 years ago. Animeigo did a great job restoring the film. The sound is great, the colors are vibrant, the subtitles are improved and easier to read; complaints do not apply here. You also get trailers for other LWC films and some Zatoichi films. And the liner notes are very long, but informative. You'll learn a lot about the setting of this film from the liner notes.

Lone wolf and cub fans need not hesitate to pick this one up. If you've never seen the series before, you're in for a treat. Any lover of samurai films, gorehounds (blood shoots out geyser style), or if you just want to see great action films with a great story and a lot of depth (style AND substance) you need to see these films. Pick it up before the rumored remake is released, although really the film has been "remade" several times ("Shogun Assassin," "Road to Peredition," "Kill Bill" etc.). But nothing beats the original. The "Lone Wolf and Cub" series takes "homage" films like "Kill Bill" to school.

(At the time of this writing Amazon doesn't offer the series, so check out Animeigo's website for even more samurai titles.)

Subtitles different than the VHS
The subtitles for the DVDs part with all established format for subtitles. The subtitles are placed higher on the screen, in the actual film image (!). On the tapes the subtitles are as they should be, in the black lower portion of the widescreen matte. Also, the subtitles' typeface has black borders, therefore increasing the amount of image intruded upon, and making the subtitles an irritating distraction. For some reason this company has completely trashed their excellent product. The graphic design of the DVD packaging makes the films look like B-movie rubbish.

LW&C DVDs are full widescreen
Just so there is no confusion, the AnimEigo LW&C DVDs (and all our samurai DVDs) are full widescreen in the original aspect ratio. NOTHING has been chopped off or pan and scanned.

NOTHING!

The DVDs are 16:9 anamorphic encoded, and since the original films are have higher aspect ratios than this, they are letterboxed.

The confusion arises from the fact that if your haven't configured your DVD player and TV correctly (in particular, widescreen TVs), the image can appear either squashed (the Toho logo at the start will be oval) or have the sides clipped off.

What you have to do to get the best video quality is

1) if you have a widescreen TV, configure the DVD player so that it knows this, and configure the TV so it knows it is getting widescreen video. Be careful about TV modes where it displays a 16:9 image in 4:3 with the edges clipped.

2) If you have a regular 4:3 TV, make sure the DVD player is configured this way, otherwise it'll send out a 16:9 signal which will appear squashed on the TV.

Excellent quality - but not Shogun Assassin
This must be one of the best quality DVD transfers I've ever seen for an "old school" martial arts movie. The picture is crisp and excellent.

"Sword of Vengeance" is part one of the "Shogun Assassin" version of the Lone Wolf and Cub movie that was released back in the 1980's and may be the version that most of us are familiar with. Shogun Assassin was dubbed in English, was faster paced, had a nice, energetic soundtrack and was frankly more entertaining. Sword of Vengeance is of course the Japanese original and is a great movie by itself. However, for those of you out there who are hoping to have "Shogun Assassin" on DVD will be disappointed. Sword of Vengeance is much slower paced and I found myself skipping ahead to the fighting scenes. Still a classic and a must have for any martial arts library. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Gerard Depardieu stunning as Cyrano
I've always deeply loved the character of Cyrano de Bergerac and was already familiar with Edmond Rostand's play before I watched this wonderful movie. This superb version directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau brings to the screen the story of Cyrano's unrequited love for his lovely cousin Roxane with all its tragedy and depth. In a certain way one could say that with Cyrano another version of the Beauty and the Beast story is played out, but a truly great one.

Gerard Depardieu is one of my favourite actors and he absolutely rises to the challenge of playing Cyrano's character. Which is an eerie sensation for the viewer, because Depardieu completely becomes Cyrano! He brilliantly portrays the complexity and many facets of this character thus giving us an unforgettable cinematic experience. I also loved Anne Brochet's witty and tender performance as Roxane, the lady of Cyrano's heart. Further an excellent supporting cast here as well.

A truly fast paced, excellent, poignant movie, with great costumes and a beautiful music score. Directed with intelligence, filled with many unforgettable scenes and sparkling wit.

But first and foremost of all, it's Gerard Depardieu's superlative performance which carries this version of Cyrano for me!

The definitve version of the Edmond Rostand play.
Cyrano De Bergerac has been performed countless times on film and stage, but no actor brings the character to life more so than Gerard Depardieu. All the things I loved about the play since I read it in junior high, have been transformed into movie magic. Cyrano is a heroic tale of a man who has been cursed with a large nose, but blessed with the wit and sensitivity of a poet. More importantly though, its a love story. A story about a 17th century Gascony cadet, who cherishes words and wit, excells to be the best at everything, and strikes fear into the hearts of men who dare stare at his nose. He is in love with his cousin Roxanne, who to has a great love for words and wit. However, she is in love with another cadet named Christian, who is handsome, also in love with Roxanne, yet tongue-tied. Cyrano, feeling fate is against him, decides to help Christian become a mighty hero of romance. With Cyrano's words Roxanne falls deeper in love with Christian. So in love that she forgets how handsome he is and now loves him for his soul. Cyrano, knowing this, and Christian also knowing that Cyrano is madly in love with Roxanne, decides to tell all to Roxanne. But again fate denies Cyrano the chance, for Christian dies during a siege by the Spanish army. With Christian dead how can Roxanne believe Cyrano? Roxanne goes into mouring and not until 14 years later, she finally realizes that it was Cyrano's words and soul that captivated her. She passionatley confesses her love to him, but alas fate mocks Cyrano again for death is but a moment away. The film is acted with such grace, that you feel the characters words in your heart. Filmed in beautifull 17th century French settings with great attention to detail and a score that would make John Williams envy. Its easy to see why this version is the definitive version of the famous play. It would be a 5 star DVD if it were not for the lack of special features.

Magnifique!
This film was absolutely brilliant; it was beautifully shot, superbly cast, and the acting . . . suffice it to say that if you've only seen Depardieu in garbage like Green Card, you've no idea how gifted this man is. He is amazing, and the final scene is just something that has to be seen; it can't be described. For my money, you can never get too much Vincent Perez (again, stick to his French films), and Jean-Claude Petit's score is breathtaking; it's available on CD, but only as an import.

"my elegance is interior"
Sumptuous and poetic, this is a fabulous telling of Edmond Rostand's blank verse play, adapted for the screen by director Jean-Paul Rappeneau, with English subtitles by Anthony Burgess that are superb; This is not only a great film to watch, but a great one to read.
Gerard Depardieu is perfect as Cyrano. One of the most versatile actors alive, here he gives a many-layered, robust performance, with lots of sword fights, lots of wit, and lots of heart.
A winner of numerous international awards, "Cyrano" was a lavish production by French filmmaking standards, and we get authentic looking costumes and sets depicting 17th century Paris (the theater, with its chandeliers full of candles, is an amazing re-creation), cinematography that is a visual delight by Pierre Lhomme, and a lovely score by Jean-Claude Petit.

Roxane, played by the stunning Anne Brochet, is in love with Christian's form and Cyrano's soul, so typical of women throughout the ages, ever yearning for "the perfect man", both sensitive poet, as well as impetuous lover; she goads Christian into speaking and writing his love for her, and does not realize it is Cyrano who is responding. Vincent Perez is excellent as Christian...this part was what put him on the cinematic map, which he cemented two years later as the romantic lead in the extraordinary "Indochine", another film that should not be missed.
This is a film that has many marvelous aspects, but two that tower over everything, the language, and Depardieu. Total running time is 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Disappointment in long-awaited release.
I'd been waiting years for this to be released on DVD, it's a fabulous movie, my absolute favorite adaptation of the original play - however, MGM messed up.

This edition is a matted letterbox, which means that it's actually a 4:3 TV image with the full image reduced to fit on the screen of a traditional TV screen and has black mattes on the top and bottom.

However, it should have been presented in anamorphic widescreen - which gives the same presentation on a 4:3 TV but also fits a widescreen television set.

As it is, it will not display properly on a widescreen tv - the image is either stretched out (so that everyone and everything is flat) or is enlarged beyond the border of the tv screen - thus cutting off the subtitles! My wide television has 6 separate display formats but I cannot format a full image on my screen that is not warped or severely cropped. Extremely disappointing.

I'm hoping for a new true anamorphic widescreen edition to be released eventually, but at least I have the film for now. ... Read more

Description

Based on the classic novel by Gunter Grass, this drama of a young boy who beats a tin drum to combat his feelings of desperation and anger during the rise of the Third Reich is as dark and disturbing as it is utterly compelling. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Amazing!
I saw this movie back in 1983. I was only 9 years old but the movie to this day left an indelible impression on me. It was sad, yet humorous. Some parts make you go a little bug-eyed but that's all part of the surrealism of this movie. The young actor who played Oskar was amazing. Obviously you could tell he was just a child but I could actually see him as an adult as the movie goes on. I'm not in the habit of seeing foreign language films. In fact, I can honestly say that I've seen only a handful of them. This was my first German language film and I can safely say it was my favorite. Buy this video. You will not regret it. Its that amazing.

When do we get the Tin Drum part 2 ?
I was attracted to this film (DVD version) having read the book. Inevitable the movie cannot accurately portray every aspect of the book and particularly this book with it's masses of minor detail and it's continuous stream of consciousness.
It does have it's moments though and the movie is as true to the book as a movie can be. Thankfully, unlike Hollywood the German moviemakers don't add syrrupy touches or a happy ending. I particularly liked the scene where Oscar's drumming hilariously disrupts the Nazi party rally. The scene begins with a miniature Nuremberg rally and culminates with the assembled storm troopers waltzing the blue Danube !
My only criticism of the overall thrust of the movie is that the rise of the Nazis and their early persecutions against the Jews are portrayed rather mildly. There is hardly any tension or any feeling of menace. Was this the intention given that the narrators and principal characters were all Germans (alongwith the moviemakers themselves) ?
My major disappointment was with the ending. We are left with a short narrative bemoaning the fate of the Kasubians "too German for the Poles, not German enough for the Germans", and then nothing. For a non-German audience details like this need some explanation. The Kasubians spoke a German dialect and were the descendents of early German settlers and Germanised Poles. In 1939 there were app 250,000 Kasubian speakers in the Danzig / East Prussia region. Grass mentions the "changing of names" by neighbours in Dog Years (no 3 in the Danzig trilogy). These people were literally making themselves become more German in the certain expectation of a Nazi victory. After the defeat the Germans of Danzig alongwith the Kasubians were forced westwards to make room for Polish newcomers.
We do not see any of Oscars's post war adventures, for me this was the best part of the book. A Tin Drum sequel is required (and at least another two and a half hours !).

One of the supreme jewels from the german cinema!
Bitter metaphor abou Oskar a three years old who decides by himself not to grow anymore just when the Nazis take the power in Germany . He beats in his drum and cries in a fierce loud crashing the windows every time he's in an anger mood. Gunter Grass literally broke the walls about the dark shadows about Germany's literature . That thought was in the mind of too many people after finnishing the WW2.
Therefore this novel reveals not only a deep conviction about the role of the artist in the world but it became a big slap in the face to many people .
The artistic movement after the WW2 in Germany was born with the guilty's syndrom . Think in music , literature and cinema world .
Karl Heinz Stockhausen, Heinrich Böll , Fassbinder , Alexander Kluge and Wolker Schlöndorff among other important voices and artists had to carry that weight on his shoulders and his mind .
However the art reacted in a brave way and gave important statements about their spiritual wounds.
This film deserved widely the Academy Award as best foreign film , being the first german movie that got it . Besides this work won the Palm'd or prize in Cannes Festival 1979 .
Add to this long list of triumphs, the splendid acting of the twelve years old actor David Bennent and countless reflections all along the film .
Simply mesmerizing!

Fantastic acting
is about all I can say in favor of this film. David Bennent, the child star, in particular gave a magnificent performance. Unfortunately, the film itself left a bad taste in my mouth.

To those reviewers who keep claiming that Oskar deliberately chose to stop growing in protest to Hitler and his Nazis, what film were YOU watching? It seems to me that people are grasping at straws to come up with the idea that Oskar was staging some sort of heroic, idealistic protest, when he did nothing of the sort. He was a sociopath. More than once during the movie, I kept thinking of Children of the Corn, or Chucky. Oskar was a creepy, sinister character, and it amazes me how people will persist in ignoring the facts and convincing themselves that he was a bright, innocent hero, just because he was a small child with big eyes.

The film had its charms and I can truthfully say that I was fascinated by it, but in the end I can't say I've gained anything from it but disturbing images and nausea. Just when you think you can't be phased by anything anymore, considering all the violence and sex in the media these days, you come across a movie like this. It seems like the director's gone out of his way to come up with things so disgusting, your mind would never have been able to imagine it on its own. And to add insult to injury, I still can't begin to fathom a meaning behind it all. If I'm going to be shown such things, I'd at least like them to have a point; in the Tin Drum, a lot of the more disgusting scenes seemed purely gratuitous.

I have a hard time believing this movie won an Academy Award. Either the competition was truly horrible, or it's come to the point where bizarre and grotesque = high art. I realize that some people think art should be subtle and cryptic, but at the same time, slapping an artsy label on something doesn't make it acceptable.

Brilliant Cinematic Experience!
Oscar Matzerath has prenatal memories as he can recollect how his grandmother and grandfather met and how his mother was born. When Oscar is born in 1924 in the free city of Danzig, based on the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the only thing that prevented him from crawling back into the safety of the uterus was hearing the promise of a tin drum on his third birthday. When Oscar's third birthday arrived he discovered adult pretense and lack of responsibility. Oscar refuses to embrace this hypocrisy as he stages an accident that prevents him from growing up. Stuck in the body of a three-year-old Oscar observes the world continue to grow mad to which he raises his objections by glass-cracking screams and frenetic drumming. Tin Drum cleverly depicts notions and ideas through allegorical visualizations such as the the drum, dead horse heads with eel and Oscar's mother overeating on fish. Many of the visual representations in the mise-en-scene are simply brilliant as they enhance the aesthetics as well as augment the intuitive thinking of the audience. However, it is the story itself that is captivating as it offers a philosophical view of mankind and history through Oscar's eyes and his constant drumming for attention when something was about to go wrong. Schlöndorff directs a brilliant film that elevates the audience's worldly awareness and forces the audience to ponder actions in regards to family, society, and the world. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Zen as It Really Is, and Great Entertainment As Well
I finished watching this film last night, and found it wonderful. Afraid that, since it's in German with English subtitles, and about Japan and Zen, it might not get the boost it truly deserves in English-speaking areas, I decided to write my first review of anything here ever.

I was delighted to find a bunch of great and well-written reviews already here, so I don't need to say as much as I thought I might.

I am an American with European links who has lived in Japan several times for some years. I am a professor and I teach Japanese culture, lit., film, etc. In my opinion, this film lets you know how things really are in Japan now, and how the Zen temple tradition manages very well to coexist with a pretty materialistic and Americanized culture in Japan today.
It's also an account of what it's really like to come into contact with Japanese Buddhism, and later to find oneself somewhat changed by the encounter, in unexpected but good ways.

I have also been in Germany now and then, and the German scenes in the first part of the movie seem to me to ring very true in terms of what life is actually like there--since the makers are German, that is to be expected--though sometimes both Japanese and European directors create movies that are less realistic and cater to American stereotypical impressions instead.
Buy this DVD, get your friends to watch it, and perhaps you'll be transformed in your daily life as a result of seeing it--in the sorts of small ways that last and really count, as Gustav and Uwe are in the film.
The German dialogue in the film is clear and concise, like regular educated conversation, so it's easy to follow if you know some German. The subtitles are also well written and get the humor across too.
I hope Ms. Dorrie and her colleagues will make another one like this soon. Whether it's set in Japan or not, it's sure to be good. Ms. Dorrie's comments are also a good special feature, with some interesting points about how to make a good film on a budget of just one million dollars these days.

One last thing. By accident, I watched the first part, set in Germany, about the lives Gustav and his brother led there, and then I stopped for the evening a bit after they got to Japan. I figured the film was almost over, and I'd spend maybe a half hour watching the rest the next evening.

The Japan experience turned out to be in fact the most important part of the film, and and I had a great time watching it for another hour or so, because it was so absorbing, authentic and true to real life. It was like getting two films for the price of one--both really good. I think it may be good to watch the film in two sittings this way, but that's up to you.

One of the Greatest Films Ever Made !
Enlightenment Guaranteed - The film that will inspire you to become a better person !

It's one of those things that is so great, it cannot be put into words.

Enlightenment Indeed!
ROXANNE CRIDER

"ENLIGHTENMENT GUARANTEED"

"Too much enlightenment dazzles me."

Combine a German movie with English subtitles about Zen meditation in a Japanese culture and you have all the basic ingredients necessary for a very entertaining and 'enlightening' movie. At the onset, chaos and mayhem ensues as a typical couple with four small children face yet another hectic start of their day. The husband and father, Uwe, is seemingly unconcerned and uninvolved in the children's needs as the morning ritual turns into a crying and screaming match where everyone is miserable. Switching scenes to his brother Gustav's home, there is peace and tranquility, with an underlying, hard to detect tone of the same nature. The movie flashes back to Uwe's home, as Petra, disgusted with her husband's belittling attitude and lack of assistance, packs the children and moves out of their home. Discovering their absence upon his return home from work, Uwe panics and grieves, then visits his brother who is packing for a vacation to a monastery to study Zen meditation. Begging to go along and promising not to be of any trouble, Gustav agrees to allow Uwe to come with him. The distain Uwe initially feels toward his brother's beliefs quickly turns to compete acceptance of the strict discipline enforced upon them during their stay. Not until the loss of their possessions as well as the directions of the hotel where they stay in Tokyo, Japan do they realize the inner peace that can be obtained by peace and understanding of the beliefs of the monks. The trip causes both brothers to reevaluate their lifestyles and attitudes, promising to make their lives better upon their return to Germany. It was so appropriate that, as the brothers have always had their differences, they share a common thread. It was a clever move by director Doris Dörrie to have the brother's trades reflect an uncanny tie-in with the Zen meditation beliefs before their journey even began. Uwe is employed as a kitchen countertop salesman with an aesthetic eye for form and balance and is as polished as the products he sells. This constrasted and blended perfectly with Gustav's job as a neurotic, compass-dependent feng shui consultant. I enjoyed the movie very much, and would honestly have a difficult time choosing my favorite scene. Their unforgettable rendition of "I Will Survive" stands out as one of my favorite scenes, and is a turning point in the film as a kind, young German woman recognizes the language and helps them on their way. The comments filmed with Uwe's home video camera were hilarious, revealing, tragic and entertaining all at the same time. I thoroughly recommend this film to anyone who would open their minds up to a foreign film and open their hearts as well to these two very fine actors and the amazing director who put the entire endeavor together with style, respect for differing cultures, and 'enlightenment'.

Meaning and enlightment where you least expect to find them
On the surface, this movie appears to be about two brothers who are searching (often in very different ways) for meaning in their lives. One of them decides a trip to a Japanese monastery will further his steps toward enlightenment and peace. The other brother begs to go along because his wife has suddenly abandoned him. He is bereft and at loose ends and hysterical with grief. Against his better impulses, the other brother gives in -and the adventure begins.
Once they arrive in Tokyo, the brothers struggle to cope with the difficulties of being in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language They find even the smallest parts of everyday life difficult - getting taxis, ordering food, etc. But they think that they know how to find their way back to their hotel, using two large buildings as landmarks. Unfortunately, at night, the lights of the "landmark" buildings are turned off, which leaves the men disoriented and totally lost. Even worse, they have no money.
And that's when they are forced to fall back on their own resources, hitting rock bottom, panicking...and then finding their way up again (I won't go into detail here because the pleasure of this film comes in watching the experiences of the brothers).
By the time they get to the monastery, they have come a long way from their old life. Not that life is easy at the monastery but they are ready to change, ready to start the real struggle ahead of them.
If I've made this film sound very serious or intellectual, it isn't. There is humor, grace and plenty of surprises in this charming film as well as an exploration of what makes life meaningful - and why. One of those rare films that pushes the viewer to think... and well worth the time spent watching it.

For any traveler who's ever been lost
If you have ever traveled, ever been out of your element, not spoken the language, not been familiar with the culture... this is the movie for you. On that level alone, this film is a gem.

In addition, there is a wonderfully gentle but transcendent Zen message lying underneath. These two hapless German brothers prove that when you've hit rock bottom, the one thing that is guaranteed to help is looking at things differently. Watching two middle-aged German men achieve a certain degree of Buddhist enlightenment is not only hilarious, it's also heartwarming.

When you first start watching the movie, you will think to yourself, "man, these are cruddy production values. It looks like it's on video tape." But by the end of the journey you will understand. And you will love it all the more for its untraditional production values. Because ultimately, the value of the film is not determined by the film's budget.

You only have to fall into one of the following categories to love this movie:
1) anyone who's traveled abroad
2) anyone who's looking for the answer to life's riddles
3) anyone who's interested in Buddhism
4) anyone who likes German movies
If you fit more than one category, you'll be in cinematic heaven. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

A tour de force!
Why haven't this film been praised in America? It is one of the best films I have ever seen! I know that most people don't like watching foreign films with English subtitles, which is why they miss out on great stories and actors.

La Femme Nikita is the story of a street-smart woman (played by Anne Parillaud) who is kidnapped and trained to become a professional assassin. She has to give up her identity and become the big Government secret. The film has a lot of interesting action scenes -- enough to satisfy the James Bondesque film era. The difference, of course, is that we get to watch a great heroine in action for a change. Also, you will enjoy the strong Pygmalion theme in the film.

I know of people who have seen The Point of No Return (the American version of this film) with Bridget Fonda and the USA Network series based on this film, but the original is always the best. Give this amazing French film a whirl and embark on the experience of great foreign films.

A very different French Foreign Legionnaire
Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is a drug-addicted street urchin who commits murder during a robbery attempt. She is convicted, imprisoned, and executed by lethal injection. Nikita awakens in a Government facility, learns that her family attended her burial, and learns that she has a choice -- become a (disposable) Government agent/assassin or die. Nikita reluctantly chooses life. Nikita is trained in weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and charm. Nikita accepts all of her training with apathy and disdain, but Nikita survives her training and becomes a Government agent/assassin. And Nikita's missions continuously tear her life apart ...

French director Luc Besson's film "La Femme Nikita" is the basis for the American remake "Point of No Return" starring Bridget Fonda, and also for the "La Femme Nikita" television series. Luc Besson's version is *superior*. Anne Parillaud grows throughout her transformation from hostile street urchin to reluctant Government agent/assassin, combining toughness with *fragile femininity*. Jean-Hugues Anglade plays Nikita's friend Marco who loves and emotionally supports his woman of mystery. Jean Reno ("The Professional") plays 'The Cleaner', the assassin who arrives when one of Nikita's missions goes horribly wrong.

Eric Serra's wonderful jazz score, the European setting, the flowing French dialogue, and Anne Parillaud's tough but fragile femininity combine to make "La Femme Nikita" a memorable film.

Nikita
After a bloody shootout at a pharmacy where all of her gang memeber friends are killed, Nikita (Parillaud), high on drugs, kills a policeman in cold blood and is captured and judged for the murder. However, instead of the gas chamber, she gets recruited to a top secret government agency to be trained as an agent.

At first, she's confused with the situation, but soon enough she's back to normal, not caring for anything around her and acting like the social misfit she is. All the while there's Bob (Karyo), the agent assigned to her case. He treats Nikita like he couldn't care less for her, yet finds her rather amusing and interesting. Even when his superior tells him that she'll never make it, he insists that she has the stuff to be a good agent.

After a while, Nikita comes around and accepts her fate. She continues her training up to the point that three years pass. She's now ready to go back to the real world and Bob chooses her birthday to take her out to a restaurant on what turns out to be more of a mission than a date.

Once outside, Nikita meets Marco (Anglade), who works as a cashier at a supermarket. They fall in love and move together, but their happiness is continuosly interrupted by Bob and the missions he sends Nikita on.

Will Nikita be able to balance her double life? Will Marco figure the whole thing out?

Besson threads an interesting story using well developed characters (the movie revolves around these three characters basically) and interesting set ups for Nikita's missions. The action scenes are well crafted and the acting is really good.

There's a brief appearance by Jean Reno (The Crimson Rivers, León) as another hit man.

This film was the basis for the Peta Wilson TV series and also for an American remake starring Bridget Fonda.

Riveting Action
Director Luc Besson gets it. Besson, a Frenchman no less, understands what separates a juvenile, mindless action movie from a truly smart, devilishly suspensful cinema experience. Using a clever hybrid of European sensuality and sophistication, along with American notions of wild gunplay and bloodshed, Besson weaves an absorbing tale of murder and betrayal. His characters are chilling and relatively simple, while the world they inhabit is explicitly cosmopolitan in its cross Atlantic treachery. Besson sees the tools this setting offers and pushes them to the figurative hilt.

The intriguing story centers around Nikita, a lithe and skillful street urchin played by the violently harried Anne Parillaud. An urban nomad, Nikita is picked up by the mysterious Rico, a role assumed by the ashen faced operator Marc Duret. Rico's motives are unclear at first, but it soon becomes clear that he is not some agent of charity, he is dedicated to molding Nikitas mind in a certain, deadly way. Using her own isolation and his own psychological tricks, Rico, with the help of others in the "group", Rico begins to train Nikita in the arts of death and stealthy assassination. Benefitting a shadowy branch of the French government, Nikita will become an undercover killing machine, moving in and out of various international locales and dispatching her targets ruthlessly. Along the way, Rico must break her spirit, an extremely difficult task, and then rebuild her, teaching her the suave arts of high society and the brute tactics of international murder.

Although Nikita resists, she soon gains a reliance on her new teachers, especially Rico, who has a feeling about her. His support is rewarded as Nikita takes to the field for the first time, and the audience is treated to a ripping good action scene. Nikita assumes a somewhat normal life, striking up a relationship, living a life unknown to her. Of course, as she gallavants around the continent, she is forced to pull off daunting and extreme hits, which are portrayed lovingly by Besson. The strange connection between Nikita and Rico begin to strain as Nikita feels the emotional considerable stress of living two lives at once. Her position becomes more untenable as she becomes wrapped up into a violent spiral of severely unethical murder, including the murderously adriot personage of Jean Reno, who wields his 9mm like some kind of quasi-mythical broadsword. His extreme mission and its repercussions soon toss Nikita into a very dangerous position, and theres only one way out. You guessed it, shooting.

La Femme Nikita is one of those movies that just never stops impressing the viewer with its sheer audacity. The spirit it conveys, one of shady slaughter and grand stage is just mesmerizing, and the simple but layered characters bring their own murderious tint to the whole spectacle. A great example of what a smart action movie can be.

sensitive and dangerous
Sensitive, sophisticated, violent, and exquisite are some of the adjectives that could best describe this tour de force movie by Luc Besson. Unlike most action movies which depend on high body counts and explosives, this movie moves carefully forward as Nikita is transformed from a drug using criminial to a controlled killer. Besides the story, I especially enjoyed the view of french culture. Parisian restaurants, apartments, and gritty streets are beautifully filmed by Besson. Most importantly, the movie contains a female lead character which contrasts Hollywood's obsession with testosterone filled actors who can never enunciate their words. Nikita is played brilliantly. In fact, Nikita hardly speaks throughout the film, yet the viewer can still observe her true character. In my opinion that is an example of brilliant film making. Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

That adorable Audrey Tautou from Amélie plays the central role in this deceptive story of a rather unusual romance. It would spoil the film's clever design to reveal what happens halfway through He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, so let's just say that Tautou plays a winsome girl in the sunny town of Bordeaux, whose relationship with a married doctor has more layers than first it seems. Samuel LeBihan, from Brotherhood of the Wolf, plays the doctor, but it's the casting of cutie-pie Tautou that sets up the movie's gradually sinister undertow. Director Laetitia Colombani's inventive structure plays a satisfyingly tricky game with the audience, and may have some viewers going back to the beginning to make sure they saw what they thought they saw. Just don't go in expecting Amélie part deux, and you should find this an ingenious little number. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A fun movie experience
When I rented this DVD, I simply did so because I loved Amelie and I loved Happenstance, so I figured I would love this too. When I started watching it, I believed I was watching a fluff romance, and kept waiting for the predictable, light-hearted laughs.
In the beginning, Audrey Tatou is picking out a rose for her boyfriend in a florist. It then goes on to show her days, sometimes elated and sometimes disappointed by her distant, married cardiologist boyfriend. She sends him gifts, he stands her up. They plan a weeklong trip, and he leaves her at the airport. When he and his wife finally DO split up, she is elated, but he is unfortunately pining for his wife. She decides her life is over, and turns on the gas. As soon as her heart stops beating though, the whole movie rewinds and starts from square one.
All of a sudden, everything you saw from her point of view is seen from his, and it's so different than what you'd expect. This shocking movie goes on to reveal a dark side of the characters, and a strangely sinister plot. Once your mind gets wrapped around what's really going on, you cannot wait to see what happens. This is not at all a fluffy romance, but more of a mind-bender (think Vanilla Sky) and actually quite suspenseful and emotional. A great movie, but don't watch it unless you want to think.

Great Foreign Film With A Twist
This little gem of a movie is unexpectedly wonderful. It seems like a beautiful French love story at first and twists into something quite different.....But I won't give it all away.

Audrey Tautou is perfect as the young student who falls in love with an attractive Doctor. Her innocence sucks you in and she is absolutely believable as a youthful exuberant woman in love. But beauty is what it is and sometimes it is what it isn't, be prepared to be taken on a surprising ride. Sometimes love takes on new meaning, especially for the young and easily influenced.

This film is artfully directed with beautiful colors surrounding the scenes. It is all things French.....and highly recommended!

Great head fake and wonderful surprise of a film
"He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not" is a wonderful piece of misdirection by director Laetitia Colombani. It starts all saccharine sweet with flowers, perky songs of Spring and love, and a smitten Audrey Tautou.

It's all a great head fake. As the film turns slowly, inexhorably darker and more malevolent, you're faced with the reality that your sweet little Amelie maybe isn't what she appears to be in this outing. It's a great against-the-tide career choice by Tautou and the masterstroke of the trap Ms. Colombani's sets for her audience.

Where Colombani's film elevates itself vs. others of this genre is in its unique, impressively designed story construction. Others on these pages have alluded to the technique. I'm not going to repeat it here. It came as a surprise to me during my viewing, and it was like a special treat - my mouth dropped open suddenly as Colombani delivered her unexpected wallop. Everyone deserves that pleasure. I suggest you try to avoid extensive reading about this one before you take it in. Your lack of preparation will be well-rewarded.

two sides to every romance, whether it happens or not
Audrey Tatou plays Angelique, an art student in France who sends a rose to Loic, a doctor, to celebrate their first meeting. Loic is married, but he plans to leave his wife, insists Angelique.

The extent of Loic's involvement with Angelique is greatly exaggerated, as viewers will find. The movie shows fist Angelique's side of the story, and then Loic's. For those Tatou fans used to her playing adorable elfin creatures, they will not be disappointed, but this one has a severe twist to it.

It is well-played, and it's good to see Tatou in a different type of role, it shows her range more fully and that she is very capable as an actress of tackling different types. Bravo! Magnifique!

This is a got to have movie!!
You will have to see it. i agree with most of the reviews so wont rewrite it myself. but it is an amazing movie. Its actually better if you dont know too much about it before watching so you can be surpized by what happens. The actors were great and it really made you feel for them. The story line fills in blanks as it goes so during the movie your wondering and at the end you understand, which makes a great movie in my opinion. GET IT! ... Read more

Reviews (220)

from Bond 6 to Bond 20
This is the 6nd Bond film in the Series starring George Lazenby.

Here is some info on Bond 20 starring Pierce Brosnan

Latest news on Bond 20, no name yet, but here is the cast list

JAMES BOND - Pierce Brosnan
Gala Brand - Rosamund Pike
Jinx - Halle Berry
Jack Wade - Joe Don Baker
Miss Moneypenny - Samantha Bond
M - Dame Judi Dench
Q - John Cleese
Tanner - Michael Kitchen
Nurse Warmflash - Serena Scott Thomas
Robinson - Colin Salmon
Admiral Roebuck - Geoffrey Palmer

Some of the cast does not have confirmed roles

Produced by Michael G Wilson & Barbara Broccoli
Music by David Arnold
Production Designer Peter Lamont
SFX supervisor Chris Corbould
Action Unit Director Vic Armstrong
Executive Producer Anthony Waye
Costumes By Lindy Hemming
Directed By Lee Tamahori

Currently being made by EON productions, at Pinewood Studios in London
Will be released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer & United Artists
Christmas 2002

It was ok
From the other reviews that I have been reading, I disagre. Sure, I admit the movie had a good plot and good characters, but Lazenbe was definatly the wrong choice. If they had chosen someone else, anyone else, this Bond film would have been consitered a great Bond as Dr. No, or Gold Finger. Good ol' George was so bad, and unbilevible as Bond, they would not let him to do another one.(A disision in which I agree!!) The producers also made a bad choice with Timithy Dalton, but that is another review.

ON HER MAGESTYS SECRET SERVICE
THE BEST BOND MOVIE
THE BEST BOND STORY
THE BEST BOND ACTION
THE BEST BOND (GEORGE LAZENBY)
THE BEST BOND GIRL (DIANA RIGG)
THE BEST BOND VILLAN (TELLY SAVALAS)
THE BEST BOND DIRECTOR (PETER HUNT)

THE best Bond flick!
Best Bond leading girl (Diana Rigg); Best Bond Villain (Telly Salvales as Blofeld); Best Bond cars; Best Bond women (at the ski resort, including a pre-Space 1999 Maya); Best Bond locales (Portugal and Switzerland); Best Bond chase sequences (through the snow); the longest Bond movie (2hrs.22mins.); and the Best Bond action and entertainment in one flick. So what if George Lazenby isn't the best Bond, the above mentioned reasons speak for themselves. No other Bond movie does it better.

An always underestimated Bond film!
With the departure of Sean Connery as James Bond, the
producer found an interesting replacement for him:
Australian model George Lazenby snuck into the
office of Harry Saltzman, to apply for the part
James Bond. And after a while he got it!
To understand that this film received 5 stars and
still is not as good as Goldfinger, is not easy to explain.
First George Lazenby, who tried as hard as he could,
wasn't bad as James Bond, in fact director Peter Hunt
earns most of the thanks for that. As a matter a fact
this time the director is really the star of the picture.
In addition, the cast and crew surrounding Lazenby was
just unique. First of all, the spendid Diana Rigg who brought
the Tracy character to life, second, Telly (later Kojak) Savalas
as the evil main villain Ernest Stavro Blofeld, the best Blofeld
ever. Third the crew, the cinematography of Michael Reed and
the stunning ski chase sequences from top-notch Ski pro, Willy
Bogner (he returned for 3 more Bond films). Supplemental the
aerial photography from Johnny Jordan (he lost a leg during
filming "You only live twice" the prior Bond).
Fourth the editing by John Glen (who later would direct five
blockbuster Bond films) and of course fifth, the score by
John Barry, actually equal with the Goldfinger score.
And last but not least sixth, the amazing twist in a Bond
film, Bond fells in love and marries!! Only low point for
any Bondfan, the very sad ending...
Otherwise due to cast and crew (who really gave their best
of the best) a highly entertaining, action packed and exciting motion picture...
Outstanding and "different" 007 picture! ... Read more

Reviews (26)

'Nico and Dani'
When viewing 'Nico and Dani' I was keeping in mind:'This a foreign film'...This is a foreign film'...It has some trademark 'roadtrip buzz scenes' found in American movies.However, the little moments between Nico and Dani make
up for routine--'I got a secret, I gotta tell somebody,' independent films have to offer. Teenage crushes are usually more exciting
to watch because younger people are more opened minded about sexuality than most adults. I think that is why not too many adults appear in the movie.
The movie gives you insights like if someone was narrating their diary to you of what happened one summer and not leaving out those 'juicy details'your younger sibling was dying to read,and the emotional rollercoaster ride that goes with this age group.
It has good cinematography values; interesting/private conversation topics between best friends; and uptempo music from the country it was shot in--Spain and beautiful it is.

i mean what i say
a really sweet coming of age story from a different culture's perspective. set in sunny barcelona, its cast of characters are two boys and two girls hanging out at the beach (and bars where the fourteen year old gets served!), with the intent of one day getting it on. i found them all to be extremely beautiful people in their honesty and openess, and the depth of emotion that the director conveyed was astonishing. he took his time developing the characters in a curious way, i feel like i have four new friends. okay, i went and saw the thing twice, i loved it. i usually like movies that challenge my mind, but this one was totally different than anything i've seen. the feelings this film conjure up are what make it. the soundtrack is extremely well placed, with some songs in english. there are subtitles, but if you know a little spanish, the movie can be quite endearing.

Frank, honest, and realistic and a story to identify with
If you had asked me what I had thought of the movie half way through, I would have said I was slightly uneasy with it as a whole. What I mean to say is that there are just a few parts that you might catch your mind rejecting as too frank. I found myself identifying completely with the characters on my screen, and yet at the same moment feeling uneasy for some reason...

Luckily, I didn't stop half way through and the story worked itself out and developed into something to be remembered. As soon as the credits began to roll, I realized the reason I had an uneasy feeling was because the acting was so natural and real that I felt as if I was there, and since this is a coming of age story it brought back the same feelings I felt when I was going through the things I saw on screen.

The story is well written as a whole and portrays every character as actual people, even those with a smaller role. Nothing is over dramatized, and nothing is boring. It's life, shown in a way you usually don't see on film and showing an important part of life.

Another reviewer didn't see much in the cinematography, but I enjoyed it. Many times, the unique "set ups" and irony that you see when a play is performed on stage is lost when it is made for cinema, but the director did an excellent job of preserving it. Make sure and watch the "Special Features" after the film and you'll see what I mean. Not necessarily things you will consciously notice while watching the film, but they work to make the film what it is.

Others have said it is homophobic, which is true to a point. But I -like most- don't look back on my experiences as an adolescent and think how reaffirming everyone was and how sure I was about everything that I did. Homophobia is a reality for many people in their life and this movie doesn't brush that under the carpet for atmosphere.

If you've seen a lot of gay cinema, you will be pleased to know this is anything but the "same old thing" and I recommend it with 4 stars. If you're just exploring gay themed movies, you might should add this one to your wish list and check back after you've seen Beautiful Thing, The Priest, The Trip, etc.

oddly homophobic story of gay love
Dani, who belongs to an affluent family somewhere on the southern coast of Spain, gets a summertime visit from his old friend Nico. They hit on some girls at Nico's insistence without giving up their old pastime of krampack. When Dani realizes that he is in love with Nico, he begins acting like an idiot: he grabs at Nico's privates when he is having sex with a girl, tells the girl that Nico is really a maricon, then pushes himself onto the local mature, sophisticated writer but runs out before they hit the bedroom.

What I find insulting about this film is that the boys never say the "gay" word, but they express their hatred of "maricones" quite often. I don't mind the director trying to pretend that gay history and culture don't exist, but it is offensive to tell a story about same-sex love that simulataneously preaches hatred of gay people.

thoroughly enjoyable
there's nothing bad about this movie. the actors are adorable, and they bring an honest feel to their characters. the plot's not much, but the emotions are genuine. there are moments for every imaginable reaction. i laughed, smiled, and teared-up. i believe that the most fulfilling thing about this film is reaffirming that american teenagers don't set the standard for teenagers everywhere (thank god - i AM an american teenager, and even i don't like us), and american movies don't set the standard for movies everywhere. if you can find this movie, see it. otherwise, rent it. or buy it. whichever you prefer. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

wow!
this is a great movie for anyone with the patience to watch it develop. at the same time cheerful and ominous, it is deeply moving. the acting is superb - menshikov and the two mikhalkovs form a brilliant trio. though it moves slowly and it takes some time to figure out how all the characters are related, it is more than worth the wait. i don't speak russian, but i forgot i was reading subtitles by the first half hour. "burnt by the sun" is extremely accurate when it comes to the many arrests ordered by stalin. some background of the bolshevik revolution is needed, but even without it, the movie captures viewers. the emotions come through clearly, and the sets are beautiful. oleg menshikov isn't so bad looking either . .

A Pretty Movie
"Burnt by the Sun" is a nice movie, quite similar in thematic content to the recent "Life is Beautiful", and shot on snazzy, high-quality, expensive film (those of you who have seen earlier Russian films will heave a collective sigh of relief). Ah, the advantages of capitalism. It's just too bad that the fall of communism in Russia had to bring along some less auspicious consequences. Unlike their predecessors, films made in Russia after 1991 had to actually make money. This resulted in an overall "Westernification"--a slicker package at the expense of complex themes and poetic photography. "Burnt by the Sun" is a perfect example of this. You won't be struggling to comprehend all of the different levels of meaning in "Burnt by the Sun" the way you might in "Andrei Rublev". Things are spelled out quite clearly here, and the plot is easy to follow and takes precedence (somewhat of a rarity in "highbrow" Soviet films--compare this one to "The Color of Pomegranates"). There's also very little of the wonderful symbolism you find in the earlier films--in "Burnt by the Sun", water is just water. It is by no means a bad movie--in fact, quite good by Hollywood standards--but I can't help but wonder what might have become of it had it not been made under the commercial pressures of capitalism. If you're in the mood to be entertained (and, perhaps, made to cry) by a good foreign film that doesn't require an inordinate amount of mental input, "Burnt by the Sun" is for you; if you want to see Russian film at its height, better go look up Tarkovsky or Eisenstein.

Under the Shadow of Stalin
Mikhalkov always had a flair for Chekhovian drama, and he doesn't disappoint the viewer in this movie, which essentially updates "The Cherry Orchard" to Stalinist Russia. What we get is a tumultuous day in the life of a theatre group in a tranquil rural community, lorded over by the proud Commander Kotov, as the small town prepares for the celebration of Stalin's first ride in an air balloon. Mikhalkov deftly mixes humor with pathos, the hallmark of all his movies, as the bucolic life is broken by the return of Mitya (impeccably played by Oleg Menshikov). We slowly get to learn of Mitya's mission with a profound sense of foreboding. The acting is purposely staged to give the scenes their rich theatrical air, yet there is a naturalism too, as Mikhalkov has such a fine eye for detail. To reveal too much of the movie is to give away its stunning climax. It was one of the first films to emerge from the post-Soviet era and gave Mikhalkov a broader international audience, earning him an Oscar in 1994.

Heartbreaking
This is one of the most powerful movies I can remember seeing. In many movies about the Holocaust or the gulags, the focus is on the suffering in the camps. This movie shows the idyllic life ripped apart by the paranoia of Stalin and his overwhelming cult of personality. The whole movie rings true with everything that i have read about the Soviet Union during the purges.

The pace is slow, but the acting is brilliant, the cinematography gorgeous, and the ending packs a punch.

Uh... I thought this was the band, burnt by the sun!
Okay, i bought this thinking it was about burnt by the sun the grind/metal band...Well, i was wrong ! Anyways, i got a change to actullie read the book & i was quite impress better then any other book i've read before. Interesting plot and it has the best ending! Buy it now ! ..