Description

The Golden Age of Television lives again with this treasure-trove of TVfavorites . DIGITALLY RESTORED ON DVD!!!JACK BENNY, BURNS and ALLEN,Eve Arden in OURMISS BROOKS, RED SKELTON and OZZIE and HARRIET willkeep you laughing . DRAGNET'S Sergeant Joe Friday, MR. & MRS. NORTH andRACKET SQUAD will keep you guessing who-done-it . You'll deep-sea diveinto danger with SEA HUNT and ride with THE LONE RANGER and Tonto onanother thrilling adventure of the old west and more!!!This collectionof "family-friendly" programming includes 4 complete TV shows on each ofthe 3 DVDs - 12 shows in all - 5 hours of viewing fun!

DVD #1

The Jack Benny Program 10-31-54 "How Jack Found Mary" w/ Jack Benny .Dragnet 09-09-54 "The Big Crime" w/ Jack Webb . The Burns and Allen Show10-09-52 "Free Trip to Hawaii" w/ George Burns and Gracie Allen . TheLone Ranger 12-29-49 "Cannonball McKay" w/ Clayton Moore

DVD #2

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 02-13-53 "Valentine Show" w/ Ozzie &Harriet Nelson . Sea Hunt 1956 "Mark of the Octopus" (pilot) w/ LloydBridges . The Red Skelton Show 01-25-55 "Trailer home" w/ guest, MaryMcCarty . Suspense 06-29-54 "The Hunted" w/ Ward Bond

DVD #3

Our Miss Brooks 05-13-55 "Here is Your Past" w/ Eve Arden . Mr. & Mrs.North 12-05-52 "The Comic Strip Tease" w/ Richard Denning and BarbaraBritton . The Life of Riley 04-24-53 "Riley's Operation" w/ WilliamBendix . Racket Squad 02-28-52 "Hearse Chaser" w/ Reed Hadley ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great looking DVD of 1950s favorites
There are plenty of DVDs out on the market today with episodes of television shows from the 1950s and 1960s that have fallen into the "public domain." Many of them are cheaply put together and, visually, look it. Not so with releases from the Falcon Picture Group. By and large, their releases look better than the vast majority of DVDs with older television shows. The reason for this is that they have done digital restoration of the prints included on this set.

What I like about this DVD is the great variety of shows included. Yes, some of the shows, like Dragnet, the Lone Ranger, Red Skelton, etc., are available on other DVDs, but they have also included some shows like Racket Squad, Mr. & Mrs. North, and Sea Hunt that are either rarely or never seen on video/DVD. I hadn't seen Sea Hunt since its syndication run in the 1960s. What a great show and, to the best of my knowledge, this is the only episode available anywhere on DVD (wish there were more episodes of Sea Hunt on DVD).

While this disk is more of a "potpourri" of different types of television shows from the 1950s, Falcon also offers three other DVDs, including ones with television Detectives, Westerns, and Comedies. If you are nostalgic for this great era in television, these DVDs are the way to go. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Educational
if you have the time to sit through 4 disc of non-stop educational film about lost civilazation,do-it.I found it relaxing and my girlfriend also enjoyed it,even better than the series on lost egyptian tombs.It's international culture references and scenery made it a great series ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code should prepare to have their minds blown all over again watching The Da Vinci Code Decoded, a mesmerizing documentary featuring several authors whose research provided the basis for Brown's bestselling novel. Henry Lincoln (Holy Blood, Holy Grail), Dan Burstein (Secrets of the Code), and Margaret Starbird (The Woman with the Alabaster Jar) are among interviewees who can tease from Da Vinci's few paintings sometimes spooky references (e.g., the disembodied, knife-wielding hand in "The Last Supper") to the artist's heretical convictions about Christ. Much evidence is presented to support the view that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and that the latter's flight to France with Christ's child is the real basis of the Holy Grail legend. Exciting, persuasive stuff, shrouded in mystery and possible conspiracies. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without question, 3-D technology has come a long way since the days ofred and green cardboard glasses, and The Ultimate 3-D Collectionis ample proof. Included in the set are three roughly 30-minuteanimated features (AlienAdventure, Encounter in the ThirdDimension, and Haunted Castle) andthe H3D "i-glasses" hardware you need to enjoy them: a small processingbox to insert between your DVD player and your TV, two sets of viewinggoggles, and all the cabling you need to put it together. By and large,the sense of real depth conveyed by each feature is astoundinglyconvincing, especially during the many point-of-view fantasy sequences;crags and dinosaur limbs seem to jut halfway between the screen and yourviewing position. Be warned, though, that the discs' image and colorresolutions vary from poor (Alien Adventure) to mediocre(Encounter in the Third Dimension) to quite good (HauntedCastle).

Encounter, originally produced to showcase "large-format" 3-D(i.e., a towering IMAX screen), features fun snippets of old films andeven a few stereographic still photos. None of these fills the screen orlasts very long, however, and the process reverts to standard 2-Dimaging in pause mode. While more live-action footage would have beengreat, Haunted Castle is a real treat. The only disc with anactual story line (a rock & roll reworking of the Faust tale,with credible music to boot), Haunted Castle creates the mostconvincing sense of depth through real-life elements like trees andtorches. The sound on all discs is excellent, enhancing the sense ofdepth with seamless DTS surround mixes that work well even inheadphones. This is an impressive set, and with 3-D technology thisgood, there's a strong chance the included goggles and processor willsee more 3-D action going forward. --Michael Mikesell ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Nothing Else Like It!!!!
Turn out the lights, don your 3-d glasses, and get ready for an AMAZING experience that is unlike anything you have ever seen in your living room! Let me start out by saying the glasses are top-notch technology...complete shutter 3-d glasses...no old-fashioned red and blue cardboard here! And for those of you that are amusement-park goers, darkride fanatics, and basically fans of blockbuster entertainment...you will LOVE this box set!! Start off with the introduction to 3-d with "Through the 3rd Dimension" and let your eyes relax and start focusing on how 3-d brings the illusion to reality! Although it's got some corny dialog and b-movie acting, you'll be treated to oldtime movies and clips from when 3-d was invented, some clips from theme park attractions like T2 and Mine Cart, and a whole simulator ride that lasts for a few minutes!! Next you've got "Haunted Castle", a 3-d visual darkride! Now ignore the pointless story and look at the incredible visuals because this is an adventure that truely brings you INTO the scene...once you step through the door after hearing the "devil" give you his offer of fame and fortune GET READY for breathtaking graphics, loud 5.1 surround sound, and twists and turns that take you through everywhere from haunted churches, spooky caves, and dungeons filled with 3-d realistic skeletons that are locked in cages that actually LOOK like actual cages...the depth is there and everything!! Over 25 minutes of dropdead 3-d visuals and maybe 10 minutes of lame filler...still an AMAZING RIDE!! And then last but not least is "Alien Adventure" where once again the story is stupid but the actual simulator rides are INCREDIBLE! You are treated to 4 different rides at this new high-tech amusement park...an Artic ride that shoots you down a crazy tobaggan ride through the snow...a Magic Carpet ride that takes you through a magical journey inside of dark tunnels and Indiana Jones-type passageways complete with incredible 3-d effects and splendid music...a simulator ride on a kid's roller coaster that he built in his room complete with toys, loops, MASSIVE details, and lift hills with realistic inclines and stomach churning drops...and finally an underwater ride that is complete amusement park real! Starting in an actual amusement park complete with lights, a ferris wheel, carousel music, and signs on both sides of the car! After dropping into the water you'll experience a trip through a pirate ship, bubbles that can FEEL, a tiki island with a roller-coaster-like hill, and 3-d DETAILS that bring you into the scene...there is so much amazing visuals on these dvds that you can watch them over and over and see different little details you missed before!! PLUS all in computer-generated 3-d theme park style!! It's quite an amazing journey and the glasses just make it even better...if you lift them during one of the rides and take a look at the screen you'll see just how flat the regular tv screen looks! This is a 3-d adventure that everyone out there should experience and it's somewhat pricey but the visuals you'll watch more than make up for it!!! Pick this up and get ready for an INCREDIBLE 3-D RIDE EXPERIENCE!!!!

3D or not 3D that is the question
I first saw "Encounters..." at the local Imax 18 months ago and was so impressed by the 3D that I swore that "one day I would have this at home". Now I have and (apart from not having a 3 storey high TV) am thoroughly satisfied. It is a bonus that the kit works with more than the supplied DVDs :)

The movies are little more than a showcase of the talents of a 3D ride company - which is openly acknowledged in the extras. Accepting the nature of the software, you can't fail to be impressed by the quality of the mainly CGI images rendered in screen popping 3D.

But where is the scene with the owl and the police car from the Imax "encounters..."?

One tip I will offer...

Most people sit quite close to the screen to get a more immersive feel - after all exceeding your field of vision is the whole idea of the Imax originals.

Everyone I've shown this to has agreed that the 3D improves with distance. So get a headphone extension lead, dim the lights and sit further back. Yeah the picture is smaller, but it's also deeper ;)

Six to Eight Foot (two to three metres) works brilliantly on my 28" TV.

Incidentally, one addendum to the review by megadume and the comment on the official site of the glasses that shutter glasses Don't work with 100hz and/or digital TVs.

I own a Sony KV-28WSU 100hz Digital Plus TV (it says so on the front) and the 3D works brilliantly - the above comment delayed my purchase by a few weeks until I had checked it out.

A brilliant pack, a brilliant price, now we need more films!

P.S. There is another.... Ultimate Gs is the fourth 3D DVD

A quality product
The first thing you should understand about this package is that it's not a set of videos of cheezy 3d movies using red/blue 3d glasses. The package includes a pair of LCD shutter glasses which enable you to view full color 3D on your TV, and a synchronization box which connects the glasses to your DVD player. The glasses are attached by wire. (The wires were nicely long and an extension was included in my pack.) You may find that things look a bit darker than usual while viewing through the glasses... increasing the brightness of your TV and turning down the lights should make things look normally bright again.

The 3D effect is excellent. The enclosed three DVDs were essentially designed to show off the 3D more than anything else. "Encounter in the Third Dimension" is a pseudo-documentary about 3D technology. It's not very interesting, but has nice visuals. "Alien Adventure" is strictly an excuse to have lots of nice 3D animated scenes of an amusement park. "Haunted Castle" has a frame story to make an excuse to have a long stream of animated scenes of a haunted house. Of the three, Haunted Castle is the best, with superb animation and excellent 3D effects.

This set is a great way to get started with 3D video. I found the hardware to be a quality product as well. I liked it enough that I sent a set to my cousins for christmas.

Fantastic
Astonishing. You have to see it to believe. Just turn off the lights, seat back and have fun. And Amazon delivery is realy great.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Ultimate 3-D colection is 3-D right in your face!My favorite DVD is Encounter in the Third Dimension with Elvira - Mistress of the Dark{Casandra Peterson} and Stuwart Patkin.There is a part where a bug comes right at you.Plus you get to see part of T2:3D.Alein Adventure is full of amusment park rides.Tip:If you live in Arlington,TX,you'll know Kid Coaster{it's on the DVD!}. Haunted Castle is about a rock star{and opera singer}named Jonny.You have to get this collection NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Part three is a mixed blessing
Like its predecessor films, this is an exquisite blend of sight and sound, featuring eye-popping imagery and gorgeous music. Once again, composer Philip Glass (accompanied by master cellist Yo Yo Ma) brings his minimalist stylings to bear on a score that is almost perfectly married to the visual content. (The soundtrack is available, and I highly recommend it). It is the music that ultimately distinguishes this film, because director Godfrey Reggio comes very close to sabotaging an otherwise excellent effort. The message here--that the forces of information, technology, and violence are threatening the continued existence of life on this earth--is almost drowned in a sea of flashy graphics and hyperactive camera work, processed imagery and synthetic visuals, all connected by sometimes thin narratives. It borders on overkill, like an MTV video gone mad, and there are points where the message gets lost in a sea of graphic imagery. That's a shame, because Reggio's previous efforts ("Koyaanisqatsi" and "Powaqqatsi," both highly recommended) made extraordinary statements about social justice and humanity's place in the world. This one does as well, but comes very close to missing the mark.

In addition to this trilogy, I also recommend Ron Fricke's "Baraka," another mesmerizing blend of sight and sound.

Great End to A Great Trilogy
I bought the Naqoyqatsi DVD yesterday and have watched it two times since. My first impression was that this third in the Qatsi Trilogy was a lot like the first film only more hectic. I watched it a second time and it seemed a lot slower and not just a jumble of flashy digital images. On first viewing, I found the ending a bit disappointing but on the second viewing I was allowed to look more into the images. The film is great piece of art but still isn't as coheisive as Koyaanisqatsi. The music is probably what holds Naqoyqatsi together so well. The marriage of image and music is perfect.
The DVD has a extremely short clip of Steven Soderburg and Godfrey Reggio talking about the film which isn't all that important. There is a conversation with Yo-yo Ma and Phillip Glass which is nice to have on the DVD but really doesn't give that much insight on the movie. Probably the best extra of the DVD is the NYU Panel Discussion with Godfrey Reggio, Phillip Glass, and Visual Designer Jon Kane.
Some could call this just one long MTV video but I think it holds more substance than that. The message of the film could definitely be different for everyone but, I find that the message of the movie is that life is a stuggle, a struggle against technology, society, religion, and the future. Personally this is my second favorite "qatsi" film, second only to the first film. This is a great conclusion to a wonderful trilogy and should not be missed by fans of the Qatsi trilogy.

Psychonatigated blissfulness of the holly allah [gati]
A Journey for the minds eye, portal to the unknow. This shows you nothing and everything. Projecteed in a way to let you interpret the data in your own way. To view in as they say [eye candy] A psychodelic exploration of our world as a whole, a raw naked experience of our existence and fetish love. Or as a vissual interpretation of the spectrum of our world and what we do to it and or create. I do not believe in any way that watching all three of the films you are missing much that is out their in terms of what everything is catogorized in all of our american lives. Corperate greed, lusk, ideals, growth, poverty, raw, over stimulization, love beauty, hate, audio and visual awakenness, To really show us who we are and what we saposidelly need. The film is pressented in an all visual scences, some things we can just see to fully comprehend, some things are better unspoken. If you get tired of the current sound track change it feel free to breath new life into it everytime you watch it, our world changes why shouldnt this. Jah Wobbles solaris works very well, Or any Bill Laswells records. This Is by far the most raw psyconavigated piece of work ive ever come in contact with. Be awaken by this reality dream of beauty and dismay. Dont be afraid the future is hear now.

Effective
Reggio has been lambasted to no end regarding this film, with most arguments against it more or less in opposition to his use of digital tools and technology in the creation of the visuals, the necessary bi-products of a digital, commodified age, a dehumanising practise which he is ostensibly critiquing. That criticism notwithstanding, the unending parade of seemingly arbitrary and/or obvious visual signs which are thrust at the viewer without much differentiation or care seems to frustrate viewers of Reggio's "art". I think that it is quite a stroke of genius to do this; in this film the form closely matches the content. It reflects the dreary, non-individualised, cyber/hyper consumer world very well, a world where the arbitrary image of a giraffe/zebra (on, say, a nature programme) can be set alongside an ad for coca-cola. There is no necessary link between the two, but we, as unassuming consumers of signs and imagery, do not notice this problem, it has become 'natural'. I believe that the imagery has been modified, warped (etc) to scare us into a realisation of how un-natural many of the ways we consume and see the world are. The critique proffered here has to be looked for. It is all on the surface. There is, necessarily, no depth to the film and its imagery.

Last Thoughts on a Thirty Year Long Polemical Effort
Director Godfrey Reggio and Composer Philip Glass, in 1975, began work on a trilogy of films, that collectively take on as their dominant theme, the disintegration and fragmentation of modern civilized life. The trilogy begins with 1982's "Koyaanisqatsi", which deals with the "way of life" of the peoples of the northern hemisphere. 1988's "Powaqqatsi" speaks of the influence of that way of life on the more primitive peoples of the Southern Hemisphere. This 2002 film, "Naqoyqatsi", both explores and attempts to predict, what life will be like in the globalized world of the future.

All three films form an abstract wordless narrative structure, achieved solely through the use of traditional or digital cinematography, accompanied by a musical soundtrack from composer Philip Glass. The titles of these films come from Hopi Indian philosophies, yet the vision of the films is not that of the Hopi peoples, but primarily that of director Godfrey Reggio, who left a Christian monastic life during his teenage years in order to better engage with the world.

It is difficult to determine what influence that monastic upbringing had on Reggio's vision, however. In Christian apocalyptic literature, such as in "The Book of Revelations", a story is constructed "in which the secrets of the heavenly world or of the world to come are revealed by angelic mediation within a narrative framework". "Naqoyqatsi" is not properly a part of that tradition, though it's dominant theme still seems to be the disorder of a world which is rapidly approaching a tragic end.

Extreems of love and despair both achieve their psychological power in a person's mind by denying contradictory evidence of their opposite. Extreems of love deny any quality of flaw in the beloved, while extreems of despair deny any possibility of a future communion with goodness. Clearly, the theme of "Naqoyqatsi" is a kind of "totalism" of despair, which utterly denies any of the fragile joys we experience in this life.

The images we see in the film are all true, yet a viewer is compelled to make some sense of their own personal journey within this contemporary life. Indeed, one feels obligated to seek a meaning beyond the "Naqoyqatsi" message. Ultimately, that is why this reviewer does not find Reggio's vision to be personally satisfying, even though these films are an astonishing artistic success. Within the qatsi world view, Reggio leaves the audience with little hope of finding eventual solace. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Relive one of the greatest journeys of all time
With trips to the summit of Everest now quite routine, there are no more places on the surface of the Earth left to explore. The greatest feat of exploration of the past century was the manned landing on the moon. However, it was more a feat of technology than a voyage of discovery. In the nineteenth century, the greatest feat of exploration in North America was the journey of the corps of discovery, where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a small expedition up the Missouri river and over land to the Pacific ocean. Sent by President Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, their mandate was to map, gather scientific data on the wildlife, search for a Northwest passage to the Pacific and to make contact with the native American inhabitants. Amazingly, they did all three, being more successful than even the greatest of optimists could have foreseen.
Retracing their journey and interspersed with dramatic reenactments, this tape is truly history in action. With no possibility of relief arriving for years, they were required to live on what they could carry as well as what they could find on the land or obtain from the natives. What was most interesting about the tape is the descriptions of their relationships with the various tribes they encountered. Truly, without the active assistance of several tribes, they would have starved to death or have been forced to turn back. In fact, a Shoshone woman named Sacagawea traveled with them for most of the journey, carrying her infant son every step of the way. It is a tribute to Lewis and Clark that they kept such accurate and honest journals. From them, we can learn what happened, and there is no hint of personal embellishment in their writings. In hearing these accounts, you cannot help but wonder if the native tribes understood that their world had changed forever, and of course not for the better.
I have traveled most of their route by vehicle, and when you move up the mountains, you cannot help but be impressed by how difficult it was for them to move over them by horseback. Keep in mind that they were also carrying extensive munitions, goods for trade and other miscellaneous necessities. Furthermore, there was only one fatality among the members of the corps, and that was most likely appendicitis, something that no medical person on the planet could have successfully treated.
The journey of Lewis & Clark irrevocably changed the social structure of half of what is now the continental United States. This tape is an accurate historical account of their adventure and should be a requirement for graduation from high school.

Ken Burns does it again!
I am a HUGE Ken Burns fan and absolutely love his other works that I've watched: Civil War and Thomas Jefferson. This one is top notch in bringing history alive and all its current signifigance in an enjoyable fashion.

I had read about Lewis and Clark in grade school...everyone has...but it's not until I'm 40 years of age watching these Ken Burns movies do I finally understand the context and the signifigance of the events.

Highlights in this movie for me include:
1) The portrayal of Sacagawea. I am going to have to biography of this strong and fascinating woman to learn more and satisfy my curiousity.
2) The comments by one of the historians named Duncan. At one point his lip is quivering and he is on the brink of tears as he describes Lewis' suicide several years after the journey. I am going to have to find a book or two by this historian on this topic.
3) The DVD extras. There are some interviews with Ken Burns and the making of this DVD that are excellent. After seeing several of his movies I had no idea what Ken Burns was like, his life, his motivation...and these shorts gave me some insight.
4) The beautiful scenery and music.

I watch one of these movies and I invigorates my enjoyment of history and I end up adding 2 or 3 related books to my reading list. If this is your first Ken Burns movie, you'll love it and this is a good one to start with. If you're already a Ken Burns fan, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

I am watching this for the 10th time. At least.
Ken Burns has pulled me into this story like nothing else could have. This presentation combines stories told in a most compelling way, readings from the journals, pictures and paintings, and music in a way that makes the Lewis & Clark expedition come alive. It's an adventure story that transcends time. I was so blown away when I first saw it on PBS that I bought the book, the VHS video, and now the CD/book combo. I am watching it now for the 10th time, and I still cry when I get to Grinder's Stand. My son is now writing a report on Lewis and Clark for school, and he is using this DVD as his primary source. He chose the topic, and it's one of the few stories that has captured his attention other than Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. (Thank you, Ken Burns!) This is a real-life adventure story that is expertly told. (I would love to get the soundtrack that PBS used to sell, but they apparently no longer sell it.)

Visually beautiful with fine narration of an important story
The expedition of Lewis & Clark is one of the great events in American History and is all but unknown today. This wonderful program is a great way to become more familiar with this fascinating story and that great band of explorers (including the woman on our Golden Dollar: Sacagawea). Hal Holbrook is a great narrator and the writing is quite good. The visuals are even better. It is stunning to view and brings some real appreciation to what the Corps of Discovery accomplished. Just taking that boat upstream for so many miles is stunning, let alone all the cataloging they did in the face of a very real struggle for survival.

It is also amazing to see how many vistas Burns and crew were able to find in such a seemingly pristine state. One of the real shocks to me was to understand how nearly deadly the Great Plains were to the Corps because of the lack of wood. Growing up in Michigan with trees everywhere, we take wood for granted. On that expedition, its lack was a real hardship.

While not as dramatic as war and without and the lack of contemporary illustrations requires a different presentation style than Burns normally provides, this is still a visual feast and good solid food for the brain. Worth viewing many times for many reasons.

Don't forget to read Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" as well.

PBS Video has a quality control problem
I bought this video as a gift, and so far Amazon had sent me two defective copies. Neither copy will play all the way through on any DVD player we have tried. The problem on both is shortly before "The Portage" begins. I have never had a problem with any other DVD, so I was extremely surprised that PBS Video has failed twice. I would love to be able to give this gift permanently, as the narrative is interesting, and the scenery is beautiful, and I would otherwise give 5 stars. Amazon's customer service also deserves some of the star deductions. I've never had to test the return policies of any other DVD distributors. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trinity and Beyond
In the salad days of nuclear-weapons testing, the United States detonated 331atomic, hydrogen, and thermonuclear bombs. Many of those explosions appear inTrinity and Beyond, which utilizes a lot of declassified footage, most ofit in color. Standouts include the United States' South Pacific detonation of anatom bomb 90 feet below the water to study the effects on a fleet of ships.Surprise, surprise, they sink! If that wasn't enough, the navy also loaded thedecks with sheep to study the effects of the blast on life forms. Surprise,surprise, they die! Glowing leg of lamb anyone? This film will alternately amuseand horrify you at the rampant irresponsibility of the Soviets and Americans intheir quest for nuclear domination. The Russians have the honor of havingdetonated the largest nuclear bomb ever at a whopping 58 megatons. The Hiroshimabomb was barely a kiloton. Of course, after the U.S. and Russia ceased theiractivities, the Chinese decided to get in on the act. But that's a differentstory for a different documentary. --Kristian St. Clair

Nukes in Space: Rainbow Bombs
Boasting material that was recently declassified, this documentary presents somestartling information about how the United States detonated a number of atomicbombs in space during a top-secret cold war weapons program. The history ofmilitary rockets is detailed, beginning with the Nazi V2 rockets that attackedEngland late in World War II. The problems encountered in America's cold warrocketry program are dramatically illustrated with a film montage of U.S.missiles spectacularly blowing up on their launch pads. After the Sovietslaunched Sputnik, America's resolve to be able to wage war in space stiffened,and test detonations of atomic weapons in space began. The effects of theselittle-known tests were bizarre and included electromagnetic disturbances thatblew fuses in Hawaii while creating beautiful, if dangerous, artificial aurorasthat gave the tests the nickname of the "Rainbow Bombs." Of particular interestin this documentary are tapes of White House meetings at which President John F.Kennedy and his top science and military advisers discussed the atomic tests inspace. The bomb detonations caused radiation problems in space, damagingfledgling communications satellites, and the government eventually called an endto the program. This is an entertaining and very informative look at a piece ofcold war history that seems like vintage science fiction, yet it's all real.--Robert J. McNamara

Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
Our atomic heritage resides in sites all over the country--from the Trinity testarea to natural-gas wells in Colorado--and many of them are open to the public.Plan your vacation with Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero, a blastthrough memory lane narrated by the perfectly suited William Shatner. Never-  before-seen footage of test explosions and top-secret work labs exploresthe history of America's nuclear programs, and interviews with current andformer atomic scientists and engineers give depth to sights such as "the mostbombed place on Earth" in Nevada. Learn about nonmilitary uses of nuclearweapons, the rationales behind the different programs, and where you can findthese strange places. The musical score is a special bonus, performed by theMoscow Symphony Orchestra in a goodwill gesture of post-cold-war cooperation.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Bomb Set
This set of 3 documentaries is both visually stunning and very engaging. All 3 movies are very interesting, but i would say that Trinity And Beyond is the coolest of the bunch. It is a little more sweeping than the others, and covers a more broad amount of general information on the history of nuclear weapons. It also has the most actual bomb footage, and the DVD extras- like the 3D short movie on a Nevada test site, are fantastic.

Nukes In Space has some startling footage of atmospheric nuclear testing which resulted in rainbow auroras and electromagnetic disturbances. It also dives into the space race and how it was connected to the nuclear arms race, very interesting stuff. Atomic Journeys is pretty cool too, but just not quite as exciting. The movie returns to ground zero at several different nuclear sites, and then proceeds to dive into the history of the site. Both Nukes In Space and Atomic Journeys have great DVD extras as well.

All in all, this set contain 3 great documentaries with some truly spectacular and frightening footage. All 3 DVDs are presented wonderfully- from the way cool DVD menus to all the extras they packed on, Goldhil Home Media and Peter Kuran have presented a wonderful addition to anyones DVD collection.

great documentary
I have only seen TRINITY AND BEYOND straight through recently enough. It is a great movie--fascinating. The background musical score by John Morgan and Bill Stromberg is especially dramatic.

Recommended!
If atomic bomb explosions fascinate you, then this is a must-have collection. There are three DVDs:

1. Trinity & Beyond
2. Atomic Journeys
3. Nukes in Space.

Trinity & Beyond documents the history of the A-Bomb tests from
July 16 1945 (Trinity test) to the last atmospheric Test (by China in 1964)

Atomic Journeys visits numerous US & a few Soviet Test sites and there is plenty of footage of explosions at each site.

Nukes In Space deals with among others the Rainbow series of space atom tests - some of which knocked out communications (and worse) in the USA for many hours afterwards.

This collection would have gotten five stars from me but for a couple of minor niggles.

1. Particularly in Trinity & Beyond, the DVD could have done with being an extra half-hour longer to allow longer footage of the various A/H-Bomb tests. As it stands some of the sequences appear very hurried. For instance, the footage of the first H-Bomb test (Ivy Mike) is butchered to hell and the superb original soundtrack is ruined, which IMO spoils some of the most spectacular footage of a nuclear test ever shot. And on occasions the original footage of some tests has been dubbed with CGI enhancements which don't enhance but detract from the viewing experience.

2. There is a heavy USA bias and at times a slightly nauseating USA patriotism portrayed in the DVDs. Understandable I suppose considering they are made in the USA!

But don't let these gripes put you off buying. This is on the whole a well-made, informative and strangely compelling set of DVDs which contain a lot of atom test footage that has never been shown elsewhere. The collection comes highly recommended!

Essential Viewing
This collection is essential viewing for anyone interested in this subject.

I live in England and had heard of these DVDs but was never able to find them. I finally found them... and ordered them. Boy was it worth it.

The images of the detonations are spectacular, beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. Couple this with superb narration, research, and extra features, and you have probably the best all-round documentary on the history, science and politics of nuclear warfare around.

The definitive story of our atomic weapons program
In what is probably the most dramatic look ever at the U.S. atomic weapons program, the Atomic Bomb Collection is a stunning and oftentimes frightening realization of what man can create. Using declassified footage from government archives, you can now view material never shown or reported to the public.

The material shown on all the discs is remarkably clear, well defined, and visually impressive. The audio for all programs are in Dolby 5.1 surround sound and, believe me, will give your home theater system a serious workout. Each disc also contains a large amount of special features that make this set a very worthwhile value.

Trinity And Beyond is the starting point of it all. You are treated to the inside story of our atomic program from it's infant stages at the Trinity site in Alamagordo, New Mexico and continuing on to designing, making, and producing hydrogen thermonuclear weapons. The footage of hydrogen bomb testing in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific ocean is truly astonishing and disturbing both at the same time.

Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero is probably the most outstanding of the lot showing dozens of bomb detonations in startling detail. Much footage is relegated to the Nevada Test Site which was openly known in those days to conduct such tests. What wasn't widely known to the public is that subterranean detonations were also performed in Mississippi and Alaska and some other areas. This footage is featured also and is quite unbelievable. One subterranean detonation in Alaska was so large (incredible footage here), it permanently changed the landscape of the surrounding area.

Lastly, we have Nukes in Space: The Rainbow Bombs. This is the least interesting of the 3 discs but still has good material to offer. You are shown nuclear detonations, performed by the U.S. and Russia, in our upper atmosphere. Whatever the intentions were by our scientists, this was probably not the best of locations to test atomic weapons especially considering the bombs affected radiation belts around our planet. Pretty scary.

If you're interested in the entire history of our atomic program from start to finish, look no farther than here. This is the premier collection that won't ever be matched. Highly recommended to everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Priceless Video
Of all the video studies I have seen this one is most accurate and most priceless, taking the viewer on a tour of the artist's life from his illegitimate birth to his death at a very old age. Orginally produced in Italy with Italian and British actors, this movie which spoke Italian has the same dialogue well translated into English, allowing the viewer to understand the true depth, drama, wry wit, and humor of Italians.

Leonardo Da Vinci was a tragic figure to whom painting came as natural as breathing, giving his portraits a life like quality that was niether equalled nor excelled even by his contempory, Michaelangelo. Da Vinci's fascination with mechanics, anatomy, the weather, flight, and all are well presented in dramatic fashion, allowing the viewer to share in his inpiration and lament in his sorrow at not having accomplished all he had hoped to with his brilliant mind. Leonardo Da Vinci's competition with Michaelangelo is all well documented.

Questar's presentation is well worth the money spent on it. In my opinion it is priceless and should be viewed by all who love and study the Renaissance and Leonardo Da Vinci.

For all Fans of the Maestro
How can anyone capture the complexity of such a staggering and legendary figure as Leonardo da Vinci? This massive docudrama gives its all, and will probably never be surpassed. It is an excellent treatment of Leonardo's tulmultuous life, both highly informative and entertaining. The device of having the narrator himself step into the scenes to give context and anecdotal information works very well in counterpoint to the dramatic illustrations of episodes in his life. The narration makes a point of separating the legends (started by Vasari and others) from the facts, the acting is good, and there are many added, startling touches that are fantastic.

Perfect
Made in Italy in 1972, with superb acting from Philippe Leroy and supporting cast. What is most fascinating, however, are the reconstructions of Leonardo's many artistic and mechanical masterpieces, some of which have been lost. The costumes, the sets and camera are all flawless. One of the best documentaries of all time.

I've seen better...
After reading The DaVinci Code, I wanted to watch a biography about DaVinci, so I purchased this movie. It was made sometime in the 1970's and the screen quality (even on DVD) is horrible. What's worse is the awful overdub. At the beginning of the movie an announcer explains that there is not a lot of information on the childhood of Leonardo DaVinci, but this is what could have happened...and they create little childhood for DaVinci. I thought this would have had biographers and mini dramatizations on DaVinci's life...not a full movie recreating his life.

Fascinating!!!
This DVD is focused more on the historical aspect of Da Vinci's life. It is very comprehensive and will give you great detail about his life. I really recommend this DVD to any Renaissance fan or anybody that want to witness our true potential as human beings. Da Vinci invented the parachute before people could fly or even thought about it...
I was in particular fascinated about the extra material in this two DVD package, offered a more artistic information about his masterpieces.
Any Da Vinci fan will love this DVD although I think it still does not truly reflect the maestro's legacy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Story of the Twelve Apostles
This documentary from the History Channel does a fine job examining the lives ofthe 12 disciples chosen by Christ to carry his teachings to the world. Beginningby providing an historical overview of life in Jerusalem under Roman rule, itgoes on to cogently explain the circumstances by which Jesus, having becomerecognized as a teacher, was able to recruit his apostles. Intelligently handledreenactments provide dramatizations of significant events in the lives of thedisciples, and their diverse personalities and individual relationships withJesus, as well as their lives following the crucifixion, are covered in somedepth. Biblical scholars, including university professors and priests, appearthroughout in interview segments to offer their insights, and the narration byactor Martin Sheen is understated but always interesting. The issue ofseparating fact from myth is dealt with at some length, and a discussion of howsome accounts of the lives of the apostles came to be judged as the Apocrypha isof particular interest. The Story of the Twelve Apostles is a commendablelook at some of history's most intriguing figures, 12 men who were consideredoutlaws but whose influence is today felt around the world. --Robert J.McNamara

The Story of Paul the Apostle
The impassioned life work of the devout Jew who persecuted Christians until heheard the voice of God is thoroughly examined in this 66-minute History Channeldocumentary. Drawing on the biblical writings of his friend Luke, his ownEpistles, and the meager additional writings of the time, this film begins withPaul's conversion and follows his three decades of traveling missionary work,imprisonment, trials, and eventual martyrdom in Rome. Biblical scholars andhistorians augment Martin Sheen's narration of this secular look at his life.Lavish illustrations include artwork (stained glass, mosaics, paintings,sculpture), old black-and-white movies, contemporary reenactments, and footageof today's ruins of many of the temples and landmarks where Paul preached fromIsrael to Turkey to Athens. Always controversial in his day, Paul gets his duehere, being credited as the single most influential person in takingChristianity from a fledgling sect to a worldwide church. --KimberlyHeinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply a Powerful Historical Angle
I completely disagree with Robin E. Simmons (a.k.a. "Top 1000 Reviewer") review of 3/24/03; I believe she has become bias in all her "reviewing"; perhaps you need to slow down Robin. I did not see ANY political or religious bias in this AT ALL - that's what, not only made this fascinating, but very informative. It is raw and it is very powerful; I felt it cuts straight to the heart of the history surrounding the Apostles. It certainly put the flesh on the skeleton for me. Definitely check them out!!

THE MEN WHO MARKETED CHRISTIANITY
A two disc set from the History Channel, THE APOSTLES includes "The Story of the Twelve Apostles" and "The Stoy of Paul the Apostle." Narrated by Martin Sheen, it's hard to disassociate the material from his high-profile Catholic and political bias. That said, the material is an OK primer on Jerusalem under Roman rule 2000 years ago and the fascinating identity of the men who promulgated what was to become the Christian religion, now embraced by well over a quarter of the world's population. St. Paul's message was simple: The free gift of God's grace to a broken world that needs healing and that "all are one in Christ." Look around; it's still a volatile message. ... Read more

Description

A courageous and startling film, Peter Davis' landmark documentary Hearts and Minds unflinchingly confronts the United States' involvement in Vietnam. Using a wealth of sources-from interviews to newsreels to documentary footage of the conflict at home and abroad-Davis constructs a powerfully affecting portrait of the disastrous effects of war. Explosive, persuasive, and shocking, Hearts and Minds is an overwhelming emotional experience and the controversial winner of the 1974 Academy Award® for Best Documentary. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

PLEASE Watch this film.
It's interesting that so many of those who have reviewed this film have included information about when and where they first saw it. But I understand. In 1974 we had cowardly withdrawn our promised assistance to our Vietnamese "friends." The riots had stopped. We stopped caring about a war that continued unabated; the evening news no longer led with stories of American vs. "bad guy" bodycounts. I saw the film in a theater located on one of the very streets where the most bottles had been thrown by students and other youth, and where the most heads had been bashed by Seattle's finest (gee, some things never change!) When the film ended there was absolute silence: no one spoke; no one moved from their seat; it seemed no one even breathed. After almost a minute you could finally hear some muffled sobs only. There were, and are, no words to express the darkness of men's souls; there is only art. And, besides being a good documentary on the Vietnam war,
(by "good" I mean it will anger both sides, and provoke much conversation and debate,) this film is art, of the most important kind.
A late-blooming "child of the 60's" I am oft-dismayed that more recent generations neither know nor value the cultural icons of our youth, many of which I still hold dear. But the single most true thing about our generation was growing up in the shadow of a news machine that fed us war and hate on a daily basis. A shadow that was sometimes our own hatred, and sometimes our fear of oncoming nuclear missles (which fortunately never came,) or the fear of a loved one in a body bag.

Please watch this film. You'll gain a better understanding, not just of part of the war, but of a part of the soul of America . . .my part.

Good documentary indeed but don't think...
...that it gives you the "ultimate truth" about the Vietnam War.

Hearts and Minds (1974) talks about the US's involvement in Vietnam and takes a critical stance toward it by portraying devastating effects of the Vietnam War. It uses many sources such as interviews from the US officials, war veterans, and victims of the war, and newsreels and actual war footage add more visually striking experience to the viewers. The documentary was excellent indeed and addressed clearly about why the war was unjust and inhumane, but there was no doubt in my mind that it had many biased and false views as well. To me it was a propaganda film in a subtle sense that reminded me of Fahrenheit 9/11, which was released in theaters recently. People might disagree with me about the word "propaganda" that I put, but as indicated the Oxford dictionary, it means "ideas or statements that may be false or exaggerated and that are used in order to gain support for a political leader, party, etc," and the documentary clearly does all that. It was used as a political tool by anti-war protestors to end the further US involvement in Vietnam, full of overgeneralizations.
I realized that the documentary tried to make those involved in the war look like ignorant people. On many occasions, Peter Davis-the director of the film-deliberately made all the war veterans either fools or victims who were misguided by the government. There's a scene that one guy who supports the war tells the US is fighting for "North Vietnam." Why did Davis put this in his documentary? He's saying as if all "pro-war," "war-loving" people are all fully unaware about the situations in Vietnam like that guy. Then were "all" anti-war protesters fully aware about the persecutions by North Vietnam that were far greater than what the US did? Also, the documentary shows one war veteran who is hostile toward the VCs and freely uses the word "gook." I agree that it certainly offends Asian people but this is another trap set up by Davis to prevent viewers from having "rational" thoughts. Although he's a racist, I also understand his frustration that the North Vietnamese cowardly used children, the elderly, and women as suicide bombers. Military law indicates that civilians who use arms are considered combatants and subject to be killed.
Although it clearly is an excellent documentary, Hearts and Minds offers only a one-sided narrow view toward the causes and effects of the Vietnam War. Yes, war is indeed chaotic and no one certainly wants to experience it because many people die and suffer. But is it possible to have a war that has no civilian casualties and everyone lives happily? I haven't heard a single war like that before. It never addresses all the atrocities done by the communist government after the US irresponsibly withdrew its troops from Vietnam, abandoning the South Vietnamese. And what about millions of innocent people executed and sent to prison and the boat people who had to risk their lives and migrate to other countries to escape socio-political persecutions? People don't seem to realize that not only the North Vietnamese fought for their nation, but the South Vietnamese did too. But Davis is saying as if all Vietnamese supported the communist government backed by the Soviet Union (ironic) and united as one to fight off the US, the evil empire that tried to take over the galaxy. He should've instead been more honest by telling the viewers that we should not involve in other country's affair because we don't want waste our tax money and just ignore all the atrocities committed by the communist government because it has nothing to do with us. I want honest opinions like that instead of sugarcoated facts that are exaggerated to serve for certain interest groups.

Propaganda "Documentary"
Hearts & Minds is edited to make America look more evil than the communist North Vietnamese. The juxtaposition of scenes and images, the out of context sound bites, the carefully selected individuals for testimonials are all put together to make Vietnam Vets look like cripples, crazies, shells of human beings. Peter Davis' shameless exploitation of the family who lost a son to the war to advance this films agenda is sickening.

There is no balance to this film. There is nothing there to show you the brutality the North Vietnamese Communist Army inflicted on the South Vietnamese people during the war. There is no political look inside the North Vietnamese government. No North Vietnamese version of Clark Clifford and Daniel Ellsberg to interview. And then for Peter Davis to compare what happened in Vietnam to the American Revolution is ludicrous and scholarly dishonest.

When I saw this movie I had learned enough about film editing in the film classes I had taken to know the tricks of the trade to get to the emotional side of the audience. This film works. I too remember a quiet audience. However, there was some hissing when Westmoreland said we had beaten the enemy at Tet 68. Everyone in the theater thought Westmoreland was telling a lie because Walter Cronkite had said Tet was a defeat for us. We now know Westmoreland was right and Cronkite was wrong. The facts show we lost this war not on the battlefield but politically at home.

It is interesting to note that this DVD gets released in time take its place with other liberal diatribes against our country.

This film is worth watching if you want to see how to make an excellent propaganda "documentary" like Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 4/11.

An Essential Historical Document
These days, much is made of media outlets who are accused of focusing only on the violence and downsides of armed conflict. In many ways, this movie pioneered that genre. For all the people wrapped up in the contraversey of Michael Moore's Farenheit 9/11, this movie should prove a usefull historical example.

This movie, as contreversial as it once was, with time has emerged as a greater and greater historical document. Fewer people are politicaly invested in propping up myths about the Vietnam War, and fewer people feel politicaly threatened by admitting wrong-doings. Case in point, Robert McNemaira has honestly appologized for his failings, but only years after the fact. With the distance of time, we can grow more and more objective. People now feel pressured to defend things which are obviously wrong, because they feel that if they don't they jeapordize their President. The lies and rationalizations can only protect a person so much. Eventualy, the do more harm than good.

What is more, this movie is an essential document in the portrayal of war. It is a key counterpoint to the necessarily rosy depictions of combat that are projected by those who have a vested interest in seeing the war justified. The truth is that war is never justified, as I've said before, we can never pat ourselves on the back for killing children and bombing innocent civilians. Anyone who thinks war is cool or fun should see this movie. The footage is real, and the violence is horrific. It is important that people realize that war isn't as fun as it may look in the action movies and on conservative cable news chanels (who set footage of bombings to classical music!)

I have always believed that the truth can hurt no one, at least more than it has already. Those who wish to perpetuate fantasies about the romance of combat or the chivalry of Cold War politcial agendas will only cause more damage, more harm to the people who those mentalities ultimately put in harms way, and even to themselves, as it will hurt all the more when these fantasies inevitably fall apart.

To understand war, civilization, and our own savage society, this is an unflinching look that anyone should see.

the reality of war
I saw this a few days before we invaded Iraq, and it shocked me. I am angry that this film was never shown to me when I was in high school and studying the Vietnam period: it drives home the terrible effects of war in a professional but searing manner. Much of the film allows video from the times to stand without commentary.

Some of the most iconic scenes -- that we mostly know from photographs -- are in this documentary on video, including the street execution by Nguyen Ngoc Loan. What strikes you over and over again is the horrific brutality that accompanies even the actions of the "good" when ordinary people are sent into war.

If more of "us" -- young people who grew up after Vietnam ended -- had seen this, perhaps we would have been less willing to support the current war.

If you are a high school teacher, you should show this film to your students. There are some sexually explicit parts -- depicting the sexual exploitation of women during the war -- but you can skip over them if you wish. If you are a high school student, you should see this for yourself, although some prior knowledge of the chronology of the war would be helpful. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The extra star is for the Time Capsule.....
Movie is really a "loose term" here, there's not much of a linear story going on, but it is excellent for capturing a exciting time period for NYC.

Enjoyed seeing the different groups, Kid Creole and Deborah Harry a/k/a Blondie in their respective primes. I bought it for Basquait, but it was decent. Yeah, the dialogue sucked, watch it on mute and turn up the musical #'s... I don't blame the filmakers though, apparently the original sound was lost.

KID CREOLE ROCKS
This movie is totally not what I expected, and I am very glad it is not! It is a funny story with good screen shots of Jean-Michel and his co-stars. Not a documentary but a movie worth watching again and again. You will be pleased.
one might take notice of the Kid Creole performance...looks very familiar to the Talkin Heads "stop making sence" concert performance video of 1984. well, Creole did it in 1981! David Byrne obviously saw it and got away with it...till now! Kid Creole ROCKS!!!!

A trippy almost surreal peek into the 80s New York art scene
If you can bypass the bad,out of sync dialogue(It seems the original master audio might have been lost and recreated solely for the re-issue)this is a really good ,dare I say it, art movie. It's a rare treat for anyone to see classic No Wave bands like DNA,Tuxedomoon & James White and the Blacks on film,hands down. And who can ever say even one bad word about the Japanese band the Plastics? My only slight beef with the film was that it sometimes tried to drive the point too much in the premise that "This is New York,baby!!! We're the center of the world!" Also,it vacillated between Basquiat,his syntax art and the bands so often you weren't sure what was the film's true focus. Still,for a 21 year old lost movie(that survived only by the master negative being locked away and forgotten)it's a gem of a period piece. The special appearance by Debbie Harry makes things even more quirky. Very definitely an excellent companion video to the Basquiat biopic.

a time and a place
important film for documenting a great time and place. the music scenes make it worthwhile as well as getting to see basquiat in action, only downside is the kid creole stuff which was is and shall always be awful. if they could delete kid creole i'd give it 5 stars. the extras are pretty good.

A look back...
A window into NYC in 1981 and the short, fast life of Jean Michel Basquiat. The movie is choppy, edgy, and sometimes just weird, but so were the times. The music scenes at the Mudd Club (Max's KC) were great!
If you know his art, and are interested in the period of time, Downtown 81 is a good illustration of what the scene was like. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Both a classic documentary and a vital pop-cultural artifact, D.A. Pennebaker's portrait of Bob Dylan captures the seminal singer-songwriter on the cusp of his transformation from folk prophet to rock trendsetter.Shot during Dylan's 1965 British concert tour, Don't Look Back employs an edgy vérité style that was, and is, a snug fit with the artist's own consciously rough-hewn persona. Its handheld black-and-white images and often-gritty London backdrops suggest cinematic extensions of the archetypal monochrome portraits that graced Dylan's career-making early-'60s album jackets.

Pennebaker's access to the legendarily private troubadour enables us to witness Dylan's shifting moods as he performs, relaxes with his entourage (including then lover Joan Baez, road manager Bob Neuwirth, and poker-faced manager Albert Grossman), and jousts with other musicians (notably Animals alumnus Alan Price and Scottish folksinger Donovan), fans, and press. It's a measurement of the filmmaker's acuity that the conversations are often as gripping as Dylan's solo performances. Grossman's machinations with British promoters, Baez's hip serenity, a grizzled British journalist's surrender to the fact of Dylan's artistry, and the artist's own taunting dismissal of a clueless sycophant are all absorbing.

With the exception of the studio recording of "Subterranean Homesick Blues," the live performances (including five newly restored, complete audio tracks excised from the original film but included on the DVD version) are constrained by crude audio gear.Their urgency, however, is timeless, as is Pennebaker's film, a legitimate cornerstone for any serious rock video collection. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (59)

The Mystery Behind the Enigma
Don't Look Back is the best documentary about a musician on tour that I've ever seen. I can't say enough good things about it, and it is all I can do to imagine how D. A. Pennebaker simultaneously made himself so ubiquitous and so unnoticed as to capture the remarkable footage that he got on Dylan's British tour. From the incredible sequence of Joan Baez warbling the then-unreleased "Percy's Song" even as Dylan is pounding out the lyrics on his typewriter, to the revealing moments where Dylan manager Albert Grossman quite literally strong-arms the BBC into a high-paying deal for a tv appearance, to Dylan himself, at the most accessible he would ever be in his long career, alternately jousting and jesting with the British press, most of whom seem completely ignorant as to which is the jest and which is the joust. Dylan again, talking with a fan who doesn't like "Subterranean Homesick Blues" because "it just doesn't sound like you," (which was the whole point of the song), and Dylan's gritted-teeth reply: "Oh, I see what kind of person you are right away." Dylan yet again, in an astonishingly unguarded moment, bawling out everyone in his hotel room over a wineglass Alan Price dropped out of the window, acting like the only responsible adult in a kindergarten class...and when a drunken Price admits the deed, Dylan lets him have it with both barrels and finally kicks him out, despite Price having been Dylan's best friend in England throughout the entire film. In fact, a lot of this movie is about Dylan shedding elements of his persona, entourage, and his music. Bringing it All Back Home had just been released when Don't Look Back was being filmed, and the album served as a harbinger of the rock and roll shift Dylan's music was about to take. It's far more noticeable in hindsight, of course, but in this film you see Dylan breaking his ties with his folkie past. "Subterranean Homesick Blues" being shown right up front is a dead giveaway, but you may miss some of the more subtle signs: His growing disenchantment with being pegged as a folkie, evidenced by both the abovementioned reaction to his fans and his jests/jousts with the press, both harbingers of the surreal "anti-interviews" Dylan would give over the next few years. Then there is the slow disintegration of his relationship with Baez -- there is a moment about midway or 2/3 of the way through Don't Look Back where Joan walks out of Dylan's hotel room...and though she appears later in the film through the judicious use of editing, Baez has since admitted that that was the moment she walked out of Dylan's life. Another folk-music tie broken, as much by Dylan as by Baez (his near-indifference to her through much of the film is chilling...). There is also Dylan's discomfort with the "Donovan issue", both in being compared to Donovan and in meeting the guy. You can see the uncertainty all over Bob's face during this sequence, and the nicer he tries to be to Donovan -- who quite honestly sholdn't even be in the same room with Dylan -- the funnier the whole thing gets. Then there is Dylan's meeting with the President of Dylan's British fan club -- the bespectacled weedy fellow who looks like he just stepped whole and breathing out of the nightclub scene in A Hard Day's Night. Dylan's conversation with this guy is polite on the surface, but again, there are undertones of discomfort, even dislike, so palpable that they make you want to cringe. Dylan is so clearly disenchanted with some aspects of his career, even though he puts on a game face and acts satisfied with what he's doing, that it's a wonder he didn't completely telegraph his shift to electric music. (Actually, he did -- it's just that most people were too blind to see it coming at the time.)

As I said above, the footage in this film is incredibly revealing. Never again would Dylan be so accessible, so honest and forthright, as he was in Don't Look Back -- and even here, as I've said, you can sense his withdrawal from that accessibility begin. How Pennebaker managed to capture all this intense, remarkable, human footage of Dylan and co., without his subjects noticing or caring about how they came across, is beyond me. Few music documentaries, before or since, have had such verve, or such nerve, as to show their subjects in such a potentially-unflattering light (the only two I can think of that come anywhere close are Gimme Shelter, the Maysles Brothers' astonishing Stones/Altamont document, and Let It Be, the Beatles' on-film disintegration (and final live performance) which stupidly remains out of print). Don't Look Back does all that and more, never cheating, never prevaricating or retreating, always telling the truth. It was a rare achievement for its time, and a film that could never be made today.

(FINAL NOTE: All right, Messrs. Dylan and Pennebaker -- now that Don't Look Back has been remastered and rereleased, how about doing the same with the long-missing and much-missed 1966 followup, Eat the Document? It's no less raw, revealing, and astonishing than its predecessor, and is richly deserving of a rerelease. Here's hoping!)

Trying to be hip, and actually being hip in spite of it
There's no doubt this film was an influential piece of cinema verite for subsequent rockumentaries. With little ado, it follows Bob Dylan and his small entourage (including Joan Baez) around England on an acoustic concert tour in the spring of 1965, in delicious black-and-white (mostly with hand-held cameras.) Much of the time we are in cars and hotel rooms, with occasional footage of Bob onstage performing alone with his guitar and harmonica. On a certain level we get a gritty version of the carefree fun of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" - Bob and friends mostly hang around, seemingly without a care in the world, not appreciating how fleeting is this era of anyone's youth. At the same time, Dylan spends much of his time in pointless debates with journalists and others who are hanging around, keeping up a self-centered patter that I trust would embarrass an older man looking back on his cocky youth. It's argument for the sake of argument. His insouciant bravado has always been maddening; Bob shows little of his true self to the public in interviews and encounters, but then...he goes onstage, and those songs speak directly to our hearts, now as then. It's a weird contrast between the backstage kiss-off artist and the onstage genius. However, snatches of the real Dylan do slip through in this footage too. He seems wary and insecure around peers such as Donovan. Before going onstage at the Royal Albert Hall, the man who has just spent a long time telling a reporter that Time magazine is meaningless stops to carefully check himself in the mirror before going on. After the same concert, he seems genuinely upbeat and glad about the performance. In these and a few other glimpses, we see chinks in the armor of the self-conscious rebel, and behold, there is a human being beneath. No wonder the songs are so good. (The sound quality of the live performances isn't great in this film, but then it probably wasn't in real life in those days either.)

Vintage Bob...a classic
It would be impossible for me to say all I wanted about Bob Dylan in a short review, so I will just say I'm a huge fan. Don't Look Back is a classic, a must-have for Dylan fans. This fly-on-the-wall film shows Bob at just 24, ready to turn the music world on its head by "going electric." Dylan is shown doing what he does best (besides writing songs): toying with reporters and would-be interviewers like a cat would toy with a mouse. There is the infamous run-in with the Science Student (my favorite part of the film). Dylan turns every question the poor kid asks around and fires them right back with honed precision, leaving the young Englishman confused and babbling. There is the hilarious part at the end of the film where Dylan insists "I am just as good a singer as Caruso. Have you ever heard me sing? You have to listen closely, but I hit all those notes. And I can hold my breath three times as long, if I wanted to." Dylan is poking fun at himself, but the befuddled reporter doesn't get it. And then there are the intimate, silent shots of Bob on a train, removing his trademark sunglasses and revealing visible exhaustion, reminding those watching of the enormous pressures being placed upon him. Add all this to the concert footage and the classic opening to the film, in which a deadpan-looking Bob is filmed holding cue cards with lyrics to "Subterranean Homesick Blues" printed on them, and you've got a wonderfully entertaining look at one of the world's greatest artists. Included are supporting players like Joan Baez (slightly obnoxious in this film), Donovan, and Bob's manager, Albert Grossman. All Dylan fans, and fans of rock-oriented films, should see Don't Look Back. You won't regret it.

So good it hurts
This film gives the viewer a candid view of an incredibly talented, precocious, irreverent, and actually quite beautiful young Dylan revealed in wonderful concert and behind-the-scenes footage. After seeing the film I felt that Dylan's legendary arrogance has been perhaps misunderstood -- actually he was pretty humble and engaging with school kids and fellow musicians -- more interested in learning from them than in showing off his own talents. What comes off as arrogance is his almost allergic aversion to simplistic, cliched, or hypocritical concepts imposed upon him by clueless, syncophantic journalists and fans. His trenchant verbal sparring with a reporter from Time magazine, in which he argues that the readers of Time are settling for secondhand drivel and that Time has too much to lose by telling the truth, is one of the most refreshing and amusing interviews I've ever seen. Likewise, one can appreciate his struggle to avoid being pigeonholed as either a political activist or a folk singer; certainly his political sensibilities are profound, but he understandably chaffed at the attempts to turn him into a mouthpiece for any single cause or established movement. His instinctive fight to keep the doors of perception ajar has proven well founded; it is precisely his protean shape-shifting and incessant search for new levels of meaning and musical expression that have made him such a timeless icon. The one sour note in the film was his obviously strained relationship with Joan Baez, not only a brilliant singer in her own right but also a witty mimic and comic, whom he relegates to groupie status and mostly ignores. Given the fact that she invited Dylan to share her stage when he was virtually unknown, one would have expected Dylan to have invited her to sing a song or two. What a waste of talent -- but then, apparently their romantic relationship was in its death throes, so it may be unfair to judge. Ultimately, this film made me sad simply because it shows the sheer brilliance of a person at a moment in time that is now forty years in the past. We can look back, but we do so at the risk of having our hearts broken.

Bob's an ass, but that's ok.
If that's who wrote the songs, then that's who's supposed to 'star' in the movie. {Roger Ebert had to check his archives to see if he orginally noticed what a jerk Dylan was,(he was happy to find that his current opinion hadn't been contradicted in his 60's review).} The funny thing is, the journalists who
Bob is so rude to were giving him good writeups.(ps,for whatever reason, Amazon 's been post-scripting this review as being for the vhs version, is it, in fact, for the dvd.) ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Unique Masterpiece
Rickson Gracie "Choke" is more than just a fight video - it captures the anxiety, preparation, and visceral intensity behind the competitors as they prepare for competition. View at the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a much deeper background.

The video captures the preparation for, and competition in Vale Tudo Japan 1995, a mixed martial arts competition where almost anything goes. ("Vale Tudo" is Portuguese for "Anything Goes", but the rules are not quite that extreme.)

The video takes an in depth look at 3 of the participants.
1 - Todd Hays is an all around gifted athlete, with a background in kickboxing. His mixture and fear are apparent as he attempts to use this event to pay for his Olympic bobsleading dreams.
2 - Koichiro Kimura is a Japanese amateur shootfighting champion, who wants nothing more than to test himself against the best. You get to meet his parents, who are affraid he'll die in the ring.
3 - Rickson Gracie is the defending champion, as well as the best of the famous Gracie family. It's no suprise that he gets the lion's share of the publicity.

In addition to the gritty reality of the fighting, you're introduced to some humorous back scene footage: Rickson's desire for a belt in addition to a trophy brings some chuckles, as does his last minute desire to hit the restroom. A near blind Yuki Nakai is both valiant and funny when he screams, "Rickson, I'm coming for you!"

If you're looking for a technique video, this is not it. If you're looking for 2 hours of fighting from the best guys out there today, again this is not the video. If you're looking to understand the mind of the fighter, in the context of the ring, this is the only DVD out there. I was rivited from start to finish.

Must buy for any MMA fan!
Any true fan off MMA cannot go without this documentary! Most people when they hear the word "documentary", think "boring". That is the exact opposite though in this case! Choke offers an interesting and entertaining look at the lives of three fighters leading up to Japan Open Vale-Tudo '95. It's main focus is on Gracie family champion, Rickson Gracie. You will get a look at his unique training methods that have made him the man he is today, and he will offer his philosophies of jiu-jitsu and how jiu-jitsu is his life. The movie ends with the tournament, and what can be some rather hilarious backstage happenings.

great movie
great movie gets to the heart of what theiir all about

A Way of Life
This superb documentary shows the why Rickson Gracie is such a
successful and impressive martial artist. An examination of the