Description

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection contains the DVD debut of 8 Hitchcock classics including "Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Special Edition," and the following 7 new single-disc DVDs: "Dial M For Murder," "Foreign Correspondent" "Suspicion," "The Wrong Man," "Stage Fright," "I Confess" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The previously released "North by Northwest" is also included in the 10-disc Signature Collection. Each of the 9 films in the collection shows why Hitchcock is regarded as one of Hollywood's most esteemed and important directors, and also brings legendary stars to the digital front including Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Montgomery Clift and many others.

Strangers on a Train - En route from Washington, D.C., champion tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets pushy playboy Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker). What begins as a chance encounter turns into a series of morbid confrontations, as Bruno manipulates his way into Guy's life. Bruno is eager to kill his father and knows Guy wants to marry a senator's daughter (Ruth Roman) but can't get a divorce from his wife. So Bruno suggests the men swap murders, which would leave no traceable clues or possible motives. Though Guy refuses, it won't be easy to rid himself of the psychopathic Bruno. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia appears in this film. The extra features included on the DVD are: Alternate 'preview' version of the film; Commentary by director Peter Bogdanovich, Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stephano, Strangers on a Train author Patricia Highsmith and biographer Andrew Wilson; New making-of documentary Strangers on a Train: A Hitchcock Classic, with Farley Granger, film historian Richard Schickel, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell and other Hitchcock family members and colleagues recalling the making of this suspense landmark; Three intriguing featurettes: The Hitchcocks on Hitch, Strangers on a Train: The Victim's P.O.V., Strangers on a Train by M. Night Shyamalan; Alfred Hitchcock's Historical Meeting, a vintage newsreel.

Each DVD will be presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition and will include the original theatrical trailer, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Contains Seven Never before available Hitchcock films
The box set will include new to DVD Hitchcock releases Dial M for Murder, Foreign Correspondent, Suspicion, The Wrong Man, Stage Fright, I Confess, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, each of which will include a new documentary on the film. The box set will also include the 2 disc Strangers on the Train and North By Northwest special edition DVDs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like The Passion of the Christ, Luther is the story of a spiritual leader, German monk Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), in opposition to the religious orthodoxy of the time (in his case, the 1600s). His goal--to bring God to the people and to take money, fear, and shame out of the equation--made him a reformer to some, a heretic to others. Released around the same time as Mel Gibson's blockbuster, it failed to attract the same degree of attention--or controversy. Granted, it's a different film, but not radically so. Directed by Eric Till (Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace), Luther isn't always easy to follow or as emotionally involving as it could be. That said, it's a fascinating story and Fiennes receives solid support from Alfred Molina (Frida), Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire), and the late Sir Peter Ustinov (Spartacus), in his final film role, as Frederick the Wise. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carnivàle doesn't waste any time making its--wildly ambitious--aims clear. As carnival manager Samson (Michael J. Anderson, Twin Peaks' diminutive backwards-talker) notes in pilot episode "Milfay," directed by Rodrigo García (son of Gabriel García Marquez), "To each generation [is] born a creature of light and a creature of darkness." With that the story begins. The year is 1934, the setting the Oklahoma dustbowl. In short order, Ben Hawkins (In the Bedroom's Nick Stahl) loses his mother and his home. He's poor, he's alone--he needs a job. So he joins Samson's carnival, en route to the West. Hawkins, naturally, is the good guy. Waiting for him in California is the not so good Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption), a fire and brimstone preacher with supernatural powers and a fiercely loyal sister (Amy Madigan). Hawkins, as it turns out, has similar powers....

Created by Daniel Knauf (Wolf Lake), Carnivàle feels like David Lynch (weird, slow, occasionally kinky), plays like American Gothic (Shaun Cassidy's cult series about a good kid and an evil sheriff), and looks like John Ford's Grapes of Wrath. It features one of television's most colorful casts of characters. They include Sophie (Clea DuVall), who reads fortunes--with her comatose mother's assistance, the vaguely sinister Lodz (Patrick Bauchau), blind absinthe-drinker and mentalist (he can see both the future and the past), and Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau), snake charmer, strongman's mother, and all-around maternal figure. By the final episode of the season ("The Day That Was the Day"), also directed by García, one of these characters will be dead. Carnivàle won five richly deserved technical Emmys for its first year, including awards for cinematography and art direction. Like HBO's edgy Deadwood, it's period drama for people who don't normally like period drama. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Carnivale - seductive, intelligent and addictive viewing...
Having seen the reviews, transcripts and postings on Clancy Browns fan run website I could not wait for this to be shown in the UK and had a friend ship me episodes from the US.

This is an intellectual show, mixing myth, magic and the deviance of human nature. Set in the poverty of the 30's in a crumbling travelling Carnivale show we meet a strange array of freaks both real and false. A multi layered show, dirty and repugnant but addictive in a voyeuristic way. With its roots set firmly in the X-Files we are made to think and to feel and to turn away disgusted but are left with the need to turn around and glimpse again the evil that men and women do.

Get your brain cells primed before watching this as its no show for the mind numbed followers of Mutant X, Enterprise and Sliders. It surpasses the highly rated Nip Tuck, Cold Case and 24 - watch it, its beautiful and sickening all in one!

Where's my fix?
You must prepare yourself to begin watching this show. Make sure you can concentrate your entire being and dive head-first into your television. You will be transformed. This show has the ability to take you into another dimension - it sucks you in. When you find others who watch the show, you'll find that your pupils will dilate & you'll have difficulty catching your breath just from the excitement of talking about this show with anyone who "gets it". It's so multi-layered - there are so many questions - so many ways for the viewer to interpret each scene. It means something different to each person who watches it. I've seen each episode at least 5 times - because that's about how long it takes to catch everything they manage to cram into each show. It doesn't get stale, and the actors bring so much life and wisdom to their characters. I found myself actually having dreams about this show in an attempt to sort out its mysteries. And I'm not an X-Files/Twin Peaks fan, so don' t think you have to be to love this show. I was in such a panic that HBO might not air a second season, which would have been just criminal. It's beautiful, tragic, mysterious, bewitching, spooky, and downright addictive. With Sex & the City gone, I was beginning to wonder what I'd do on Sunday nights. Carnivale gives me an idea...

YES IT"S WORTH FIVE STARS!!!
I knew that this show was going to be incredible when I heard the buzz about it and saw the previews on television. Well, I watched it from start to finish, and it was unbelievable. This show even rivals my all-time favorites: Xena and The X-Files.

This show is very complex and could take some time to get into for the superficial viewer, but it's worth the experience, although it can be mind-boggling and horrific sometimes. The scariest episode was the one where one of the "hoochie coochie" dancers was garnered the fate of "scarlet" and killed to please the restless souls of evil men. In the end her soul was restless and only to serve as the tortured soul herself, but as the souless men's sex partner. On the last part of that episode when the head of the carnival glimpsed at the window and saw the "hoochie coochie" girl standing there as if she was beginning her fate in the eternity of being sad and then being pulles away to have sex by a souless man that scared the heck out of me.

The show I speak about above isn't the only horriffic or mind-boggling episode of this season, but one that scered me the most. their are many more. Bottomline, this show is unbelievably entertaining. A must see!

Mind blowing and original
I thought from the previews and a behind-the-scenes special that I would very much like this series. But after seeing the first episode, that hardly described it...fantastic, amazing, beautiful, thrilling...choose your word, Carnivale has everything you could want. It's really the best series to ever make it on the air and truly the most unique show I've ever seen in my life. I generally don't like TV, I'm a movie person, but Carnivale completely stole me away. The plot is so wild and keeps you guessing - even through season one's high intensity finale. It's very, very original and the story is both creepy and moving. The things that happen in it are out of this world and frightening, and the most engaging thing you'll ever see on the air.

If you haven't seen Carnivale, I highly suggest that you buy the DVD. You'll be hooked from the first moment. Just the intro itself is stunning...gypsy-like music playing over a series of beautiful shots that weave in and out of tarot cards, turning the painted pictures to live action and vice-versa. It's one of the only two TV series that I have ever deemed worthy of spending money on. It's probably the hardest show to explain because of how incredibly complex it is, but if you watch it you will understand, and I guarantee you will NOT regret it.

A Truly Genuine & Spiritual HBO Original Series!
With the opening lines of the series being spoken by Samson (Michael J. Anderson) a dwarf who runs the carnival- "Before the beginning, after the great war between Heaven and Hell, God created the Earth and gave dominion over it to the crafty ape he called man. And to each generation was born a creature of light and a creature of darkness. And great armies clashed by night in the ancient war between good and evil. There was magic then, nobility, and unimaginable cruelty.

And so it was until the day that a false sun exploded over Trinity, and man forever traded away wonder for reason..."

After THAT introduction, I just KNEW I was going to be "hooked" on this original series by HBO. This series is "one of a kind"! Purposefully written, directed & acted, the myraid of characters in the carnival and the dusty, depression-era towns they visit will haunt your memories for years to come. Several storylines intertwine in each and every episode with cliffhangers and plot twisters abounding!

Samson is a con man with integrity. There's no one better at finding ways to fleece the carnival customers, and no one more respected by the carnies themselves. Samson has seen many strange and wondrous things in his time, most of them frauds perpetuated by himself and his people, and others... Well, he can't explain even to himself. Once a sideshow performer, he was elevated to his present position by "management". Who, exactly "management" is, remains to be seen... Clayton Jones, a.k.a. Jonesy, played by a very HOT Tim DeKay, is Samson's right hand man, head of the rousties, or carnival workers. Strong, tough, but bull-headed, Jonesy was once a star pitcher in the major leagues, whose career was cut short by a crippling injury to his knee. He then fell into drunkenness -- until "saved" by Samson, who brought him into the carnival.

Clancy Brown as Brother Justin Crowe, a preacher in the Central Valley of California. A good man, devoted not only to his flock, but to helping the poor Okies pouring in from the Dust Bowl which puts him at loggerheads against many of his "Godly" congregation and townsfolk. He and his older sister, Iris,played by Amy Magidan who adores Justin, were raised as orphans by Reverend Norman Balthus (Ralph Waite- aka the dad on Waltons), a father to both, in addition to being a mentor to Justin. Justin
begins to have dreams and visions. Terrible things, portending great misery, not for him,necessarily, but perhaps all he touches. Which, as he becomes famous, might well include the world. "The clock is ticking, brothers and sisters, counting down to Armageddon. The worm reveals himself in many guises across this once great land; from the intellectual elite cruelly indoctrinating our children with the savage blasphemy of Darwin, to the craven Hollywood pagans, corrupting them in the darkness of the local bijou, from the false prophets cowering behind our nation's pulpits to the vile parasites in our banks and boardrooms and the godless politicians, growing fat on the misery of their constituents. The signs of the end times are all around us, etched in blood and fire by the left hand of god. You have but to open your eyes, brothers and sisters. The truth is that the Devil is here. The Anti-Christ, the Child of Lies, the Son of Darkness walks among us cloaked in the flesh of a man. Does the Lord not weep at this degradation? Does He not tremble with righteous fury? And shall he not seek retribution? I open my eyes and I see a black sky that tears apart and screams with a voice that is thunder, 'Rise up, rise up brothers and sisters and take your place at my side. For you shall be my scythe and your face shall shine like a thousand suns and the streets shall be sanctified by the steaming black blood of the heretics.' And together brothers and sisters, together we shall build a shining temple, a kingdom that will last for thousands and thousands of years..."

Ben Hawkins, played by Nick Stahl is a troubled young man picked up by the carnival in the middle of the Dust Bowl, circa 1934, right after his mother's demise. While words and feelings come hard to loner Ben,strange images arrive all too easily in his dreams and, at times, in reality. Ben's gravitational pull brings
ABSOLUTELY everyone into his orbit. Some dislike him, others, he appears to heal by laying on of hands...

Other actors in this series are: Adrienne Barbeau as Ruthie,the older but still sexy snake charmer, and Gabriel (Brian Turk) Ruthie's strong man son. Patrick Bauchau as Lodz, a blind "mentalist". He has an uncanny ability to hold something in his hand, say, a watch, and tell the owner where it was bought, why, by whom... Amazing things that no one ought to know. But
OL' Lodz does. Lodz is a slippery man, a rival of Samson's. Lodz once had Samson's job...a job Lodz would give anything to win back. Lodz has a tempestuous relationship with Lila, the bearded Southern belle played by Debra Christofferson. Sofie is played by, Clea DuVall. Sofie is the pretty daughter of catatonic Apollonia, the tarot reader played by Diane Salinger. Apollonia accurately predicts the future, all the more remarkable since she is, indeed catatonic. Only Sofie seems able to "hear" what her mute mother has to say - a decidedly mixed blessing for Sofie.

We even have the "hootchie cootchie" dancers and prostitutes. The Cootch Show is, in fact, the girlie show, nudity required. The Dreifuss Family runs the seedier part of the carnival that includes wife and mamma, Rita Sue (Cythia Ettinger), daughters Libby (Carla Gallo) Dora Mae (Amanda Aday), along with their pimp daddy Stumpy Dreifuss.

Siamese twin girls Alexandria & Caladonia (Karyne & Sarah Steben) perform "Circ De Soleil" acrobatics while Gekco (John Fleck)the Reptile Man, deformed by a rare condition that rendered his skin lizard-like in feel and appearance shocks the masses!

(...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy stars Alec Guinness as George Smiley, John le Carré's familiar, aging British Intelligence agent, called out of retirement to discover the identity of the high-ranking Russian mole who has burrowed deep into "the Circus"--codename for the British secret service. This slow-burning, complicated, and ultimately rewarding BBC adaptation, dramatized by Arthur Hopcroft and directed by John Irvin, perfectly captures Le Carré's own insight into the shady underworld of spies and the political climate during the cold war.

Le Carré's style is the antithesis of his contemporary Ian Fleming's--far from the glamorous lifestyle of James Bond, with his fast cars and faster women, these agents ride around in Skodas, and Beryl Reid is the closest thing to a femme fatale, save for Smiley's elusive wife, Anne. An extraordinary cast (including Ian Bannen, Hywel Bennett, and Ian Richardson), gritty realism, and close attention to detail make Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy an outstanding piece of television drama. --Nicola Perry ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Patience is a virtue
Old, owlish, bookish George Smiley, retired spymaster, is approached in dead of night to covertly journey through the archived past to reassemble the threads and events surrounding the capture and torture of a British spy (and the forced retirement of Smiley and his discredited mentor). Smiley's slow, methodical work (through back door interview, through deduction, and through anecdote and flashback presented to the viewer) confirms the existance of a 'mole'. He prepares a plan to flush out the person (hidden among several probable), and puts it in motion.

I recorded this film off PBS (6 hours on Beta!) over three nights in the early 80's. Very, very slowly, the story draws the viewer in as George Smiley peels off layers of deception to get to the hidden core. The dialogue tosses around terms like 'mole' and 'safe house', and slang for the intellegence trade, that adds British flavor to an atmosphere of sad menace. The story is well-crafted; the melancholy atmospheres suggest a drawing-room who-done-it mystery. A conscious effort to be patient is necessary to appreciate the author (and the unmatched Alec Guinness) as they untangle the threads of an inside-out puzzle linked to code names like 'Testify' and 'Gerald'.

Recommendation: Buy the DVD(s) and set aside 2-3 evenings to watch. Then watch it again to see the missed clues, many subplots, and to appreciate the strength of the ensemble. On the other hand, if half hour plot resolutions are your forte', this probably moves too slowly; consider another movie instead.

TV that exceeds all boundaries
While I agree with the prior reviewer that Tinker Tailor (and its companion Smiley's People) are excellent TV, their comments about the state of American TV are perhaps unwarranted. While I would grant that Prime Suspect, The Singing Detective, The Office, Elizabeth R, Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, House of Cards are all "brilliant television shows", they also represent highlights cherry-picked from three decades worth of productions (and only two of which are even fairly recent). It's also worth noting that the shows picked are essentially all mini-series. One could easily cherry pick a list of US TV shows of a similar quality level that ran far longer than any of those British shows (Homicide, Scrubs, Taxi, St. Elsewhere, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, West Wing).

That is all, of course, beside the point. This is because "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is such a unique and marvelous piece of television drama that it really should be viewed not just as a shining example of British TV but rather as one of the finest achievements of human culture, period! If aliens were preparing to vaporize the planet unless we could prove that we were an intelligent and enlightened species, Tinker Tailor would be exhibit A (or at least B) for the defense.

The source material is, of course, marvelous and Arthur Hopcraft's script is a text-book example of how to adapt a novel for the screen. Add to that, a skilled director who enticed some of Britain's (and by default the world's) best actors to give performances that rank among each one's career highlights. While I don't wish to downplay the sublime art of this series, there is a scientific (and therefore universal) principle at work. Start with your basic material (le Carre's book), add a catalyst (good script-writer and director, excellent actors, etc.) and the end result can be something truly marvelous.

Like the book? This production will blow you away!
Sometime in the early 80's in New York I was working on something and looked up at the TV because I knew I recognized that man speaking ... who is that? Oh right! That's George Smiley! What's he doing on TV?

Guinness captures Smiley so perfectly, so completely, that it was the character I recognized and not the actor. Only then, of course, did the penny drop and I realized what I was watching. It's among my top 5 favorite novels of all time, and this production fully captures the delightfully intricate plot-within-plot-within-plot.

The casting is exemplary and the acting and direction are superb examples of what one has come to, if not expect then certainly hope for from the land of the RSC.

If you know the books, you will not be disappointed. Stop reading this and click on "add to your cart".

Several years ago I discovered this production on PAL video (not NTSC as we use here in the States). I unhesitatingly purchased a universal VHS machine solely so that I could watch this series, which I purchased from Amazon UK. I've watched it lovingly perhaps 6 times.

Anybody wanna buy some used tapes? :-)

The Real Cold War? US vrs Brit TV (and boy are we losing)
Tinker Tailor, Smiley's People, Prime Suspect, The Singing Detective, The Office, Elizabeth R, Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, House of Cards ..... All brilliant television shows, and oh boy! do the Brits know how to do intelligent TV well. By comparison, US television looks like garbage - because it is! Outside of the shows on cable like Sopranos and Six Feet Under, quality US television has been in steady decline for years (not to mention its IQ quotient). What the heck is our problem?

Best of the Cold War
Excellent TV series. Production on DVD runs almost 6 hours on 3 DVDs. Every actor in this production can actually act. Worth the purchase price just to see Guinness. If you have not read the book, go ahead and watch the DVD, read the book, then watch the DVD again. They are complimentary, neither the book nor the DVD spoil each other. It was originally a TV series, so don't expect excellent video quality or wide screen, it was shot in the late 70's for tv. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, the epic miniseries From the Earth to the Moon was HBO's most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, the miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972. For the most part, it's a rousing success. Some passages are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a routine dramatic structure. But each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.

NASA's complete participation in the production lends to its total authenticity, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft. The re-creation of the lunar landscape is almost as impressive as the real thing and is further enhanced by the use of helium balloons to lighten the actors playing moon-walking astronauts. (These and other backstage details are revealed in the "making of" featurette, along with a wealth of supplemental materials, on a bonus disc in the miniseries' DVD package.)With a fictional, Walter Cronkite-like TV reporter (Lane Smith) serving as the dramatic link for all 12 episodes, this ambitious production may not be a great work of art. But as a generous and definitive example of nonfiction drama, it's full of the same kind of awe, inspiration, and humanity that led to "one giant leap" in the all-too-short history of 20th-century space exploration. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (162)

It was 35 Years Ago Today
HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon" (E2M) is everything a good docu-drama mini-series should be. Tom Hanks has brought to life the true story of man's greatest adventure to "land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth". For those of us who were alive, E2M allows us to relive those incredible days. And for those who were born afterwards, it gives them a chance to understand exactly what it was they missed. If you have even the slightest interest in the space program, obtaining a copy of this DVD set is a must.

Coincidently, Apollo 11 landed exactly 35 years ago today. I was 13 years old at the time and living in Nova Scotia, Canada. The "Eagle" touched down at 5:17 pm, much to the consternation of my mother who was busy trying to prepare supper. Just like Tom Hanks would later relate, I had my models of the Command Service Module, Lunar Module and Saturn V rocket close at hand while I had claimed the living room armchair for the occasion. My family gathered around our old B&W television which was tuned to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), one of only two stations which were available to us back then. Much of the CBC's coverage consisted of a feed from CBS, so we got to watch Walter Cronkite's famous "Oh Boy!" commentary. My prized 3" reel-to-reel tape recorder (you could get all of 1 hour on a single reel) was busy taping a local radio station carrying NBC's coverage with Jay Barbree.

The entire family congregated again a few hours later for the moonwalk, just before midnight, and watched Neil & Buzz's first steps. I stayed up for the entire 30 hour televised stretch, from lunar landing to liftoff, stealing a moment every now and then to go outside and gaze up in wonder at the moon, filled with awe that two human beings were actually there, living and working on its surface. In this day of CNN and other all-news networks, it should be remembered that the coverage of this event was in itself history in-the-making - TV's longest continuous coverage of a planned event.

My interest in space began with the flight of Apollo 8. When I heard that this was the first manned launch of the world's biggest rocket, the Saturn V, I was sure that one of its million parts would go wrong with disastrous results. Thank God it didn't. I watched and I was forever hooked. A real space junkie, religiously watching each mission after that, coaxing my Mom to let me stay home from school (recurrent cases of "moon sickness", no doubt), clipping out every newspaper, Life, Time or Newsweek article I could find (now faded yellow with age) and trying to tape as much of the audio coverage as I could (few private individuals could afford a video recorder back then). By Apollo 14, I had earned enough money working at a grocery store to buy a 4-track 7" reel-to-reel recorder (which allowed one to put up to 12 hours on a single tape!) and had built a 15" Heathkit color TV. For Apollo 16, I had added a new-generation "cassette" recorder to my arsenal (don't forget that the venerable 8-track was still popular at the time). And, of course, I had acquired a VCR by the time the first Space Shuttle flew in 1981. It has always annoyed me that the more recording resources I could afford, the less TV & radio coverage there was available to tape.

But the effect of the Apollo program on me was profound. Because of it, I entered into a career in radio astronomy, enjoying the technical challenge of building instruments to investigate deep space from the Earth, perhaps recognizing the likelihood that I would never have to opportunity to leave its surface (although I did make the first cut for the Canadian Astronaut Program nearly 20 years ago). In tribute to Project Apollo, we named our son (now 16) after astronaut David Scott who commanded Apollo 15, my favorite of all the lunar flights.

In many ways, I feel sorry for the children of today - they will never experience the monumental awe and global celebration that we were privileged to witness back in 1969. Strange, isn't it, that although Apollo - the pinnacle of mankind's technical achievement - which occurred only 35 years ago is now looked on as though it was something out of our deep past rather than a part of our future. It's almost treated like it was a chapter out of ancient history, similar to other great accomplishments like the building of the Pyramids or the Great Wall. Although it might not seem so today, 500 years from now the moon landings will undoubtedly be remembered as the most significant event to have occurred in the 20th century.

It's hard to choose my favorite E2M episode since they were all so good. As an engineer, "Spider" resonated well with me, portraying the passion and dedication which many of us put into our work, albeit for projects with a much lower profile. "That's All There Is" brought back fond memories of the Apollo 12 mission. I distinctly remember there was talk at the time that astronauts Conrad and Bean may have been on an accidental oxygen high. It's good to know that there effervescent behavior on the surface was just a manifestation of their normal high spirits and comradery. I was delighted at how "Galileo Was Right" was able to present the training of the astronauts to be field-geologists in such an entertaining and informative manner. And finally, the bittersweet "Le Voyage Dans La Lune" brought a tear to my eye, just as happened back in 1972 when I watched Apollo 17 and the last lunar module lift-off from the moon. It's even sadder still, that we have not returned, nor will we for perhaps another 20 years.

Moving Soundtrack frames an engrossing story
If you enjoy the idea of the American entrepreneurial/pioneer spirit, and, though imperfect and at times prone to failure, this spirit is the best thing on earth...or the moon, you will enjoy this DVD set. Similarly, if you are intriqued by engineering and the process of getting technology from research to reality, this DVD will entrance you. And if a romantic, cinderela story, filled with real personalities is your cup of tea, you too will find yourself unable to wait to see the next episode in this series.

HBO did a wonderful job on this endeavor. Seeing Band of Brothers, and Apollo 13, I thought I would enjoy From the Earth to the Moon. I wasn't prepared for the quality and entrancing effect of this series. My wife and I found ourselves watching two episodes a night, instead of the agreed upon single installment!

I indentified with the engineers at Grumann as they worked the problems out of the LEM. I was intrigued by the political and media aspects surrounding the space program which I was too young to have known about. Alan Bean's trip to the moon was presented in a wonderfully hilarious way. And the characters had depth with common-man heroics as well as failings.

Do yourself a favor, and get a copy of this DVD to watch, learn and enjoy.

"The Golden Age Of Space Travel, Revisited"
This HBO production, executive produced by Tom Hanks is not without it's flaws. At times when it seems like the episodes should be searing, and dramatic, they instead wax sentimental. The music is also rather unremarkable, with the exception of Brad Fiedel's fine contribution to the installment "We Interrupt This Program."

For all of that, Hanks, and company manage to pull off the gargantuan feat of illustrating for us, the trials, and the victories that were Project Apollo. Considering the amount of material that had to be covered, they do so with finesse, and unwavering aplomb. No space historian would want to miss having this docudrama in their library.

An entry point to the "romantic era" of NASA
After watching the series, if you want to learn more, NASA has an amazing amount of historical books and stuff online on their website.

Try the following url, and scroll down to the "Project Histories" section. The title of the webpage is "NASA History Series Publications".

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/series95.html.

Warning: These documents aren't light reading for the TV crowd, but are more for the space nuts who might have a copy of the "Space Shuttle Operator's Manual" in their house.

The main entry point to the NASA history site seems to be:

http://history.nasa.gov/

Very good, although not a typical documentary film
Initially (first 10 minutes of the movie) I did not like it. I expected it to be more of a documentary kind of movie rather that actors and all that. Then I realized it was kind of interesting and more in depth, giving real feelings of the people of that era. Very nice. I managed to get the movie from my local public library. It is kind of expensive.

Now...
I agree with the reviewer bashing the conspiracy clown from Santa Monica. There is some "evidence" that the landing on the Moon has been staged. All that is pseudo science. Real scientific counterarguments EASILY debunk all those insane claims. Anyone who believes in the "conspiracy" is either not so intelligent or did not do enough research.

Do you really think it would be possible to keep all those scientists involved from telling the truth for all those years? I did not hear a SINGLE thing confirming the conspiracy from anyone involved in the apollo project. We hear these things only from so called pseudoscientists.

Why is it so hard to believe we landed? Did Russians fake their flights? Are space stations fake? Are the space shuttles fake? Are the shuttle accidents fake? Is hubble telescope a fake? Is the probe that landed on the Mars fake? Is the British probe that reached Mars but never landed a fake? Global conspiracy? Is there a conspiracy with Brits and Russians? Are satellits fake? Did we fake the Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Are nuclear submarines fake? It the nuclear energy fake? Are airplanes fake? Is quantum theory fake? Are computers fake? Is internet fake?

Is it really so impossible for us, humans, who came up with the above (iether before or after the Moon landing) to land and come back from the Moon? All that during the cold war when these kinds of achievements REALLY did matter?

People who believe that landing on the moon was faked should really do their research properly. If not, maybe they should keep believing in UFOs and area 51 conspiracies. I do not want to call them names. I am also a peaceful guy, but these kinds of arguments make me mad. ... Read more

Reviews (1707)

Titanic Triumphs Over Sinking Feeling
James Cameron's 1997 Titanic is, of course, the biggest box office hit of all time, edging out such blockbuster films as E.T., Star Wars, and Jurassic Park for that title. This film, with its tale of star-crossed lovers Rose and Jack intertwined with the real-life tragedy of the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic, won 11 Academy Awards and the loyalty of its millions of fans.
In 1997, though, no one involved in its making (except maybe the determined Cameron himself) believed this movie would float to box office glory. It was so ambitious and so expensive that not one but two studios (Paramount and 20th Century Fox) financed it, splitting the distribution rights and spending over $200,000,000 to recreate the fatal maiden voyage of the 1912 world's largest ocean liner. Yet Cameron, who had previously directed the first two Terminator movies, The Abyss, and True Lies, was proven correct when world-wide audiences embraced this touching and technically brilliant movie.
Yes, this first movie to reap $1 billion in box office gross did capture the hearts of millions of teenage girls who repeated screenings to see Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack Dawson woo Kate Winslet's feisty socialite (and soon-to-be-wed) Rose. And while many detractors scoff at this admittedly clichéd poor-boy-meets-rich-girl love story, it is exactly through this pairing that we get a feel for what it was like to travel at sea in those Gilded Era days before the First World War destroyed the old Europe forever.
This film has much going for it. It has, in addition to actual location shots of the real Titanic wreck (the minisub sequence is NOT special effects), a winsome couple, a classic mustache-twirling villain (Billy Zane) with the usual henchman (a menacing David Warner), a great supporting cast which includes Danny Nuccio, Bernard Fox (who used to guest star in TV series such as Hogan's Heroes and Bewitched), Kathy Bates, Bill Paxton (who has appeared in most of Cameron's movies) and Gloria Stuart (who plays the older Rose Dawson). Titanic also has a great musical score and incredible visuals: the sinking of the great liner is certainly realistic - even if the CGI effects are a bit artificial-looking. This picture certainly was difficult to make .... Thankfully, in spite of the media hype and negative publicity, Titanic proved to be a good and entertaining film. I recommend it to anyone who likes love stories or epic disaster films. This movie mixes both genres very well.

The Maiden Voyage
O.K. I'll admit it, while I'm usually not much for the sappy romantic films, James Cameron's Oscar winning epic Titanic is a very good movie. And I did see it more than once on the big screen.

An undersea expedition, led by explorer Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), is searching for a valuable diamond aboard the wreckage of the Titanic. The team, instead finds a drawing of seventeen-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater, (Kate Winslet) who is on the way to her wedding to wealthy tycoon, Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). Now an old woman (Gloria Stuart) Rose tells her story of the fateful voyage to the team. While the ship races to meet its fate with an iceberg, Rose falls in love with Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) a free-spirited artist and third-class passenger who ignites a passion inside her.

The film itself is a technical marvel. Cameron and his crew recreated the ship and her history with such skill and percision that it's easy to go along for the ride. I liked the way the fictional story of Jack and Rose was interlaced with actual historical figures and facts. For example "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown (Kathy Bates), Captain Edward J. Smith (Bernard Hill), and shipbuilders J. Bruce Ismay (Jonathan Hyde) & Thomas Andrews (Victor Garber), all have a place within the love story. Speaking of which, for me, it's Stuart that sells the romance. Acting as "narrator", she makes it possible to care about these characters more than you would have otherwise. The chemistry between DiCaprio and Winslet is very apparent and Zane is pitch perfect as Cal. The sinking sequence is really something and no disaster film since has matched its scope.

As it stands right now, the DVD doesn't have any bonus material on it, save for the theatrical trailer. Enough time has passed that another edition is warranted. That said, the bare bones DVD is recomended. For some additiional perspective on the history of the disaster, I also suggest, James Cameron's documentary Ghosts Of The Abyss.

movie hits an expensive iceberg
this is my opinion should have its own category in the video store.by this i mean it should be under terrible movies that cost to much along with the day after tomorow.I think that this movie really did hit an iceberg and it was only popular because of its stars these stars i must add were not that great they were ok but nothing special.And i would rather shoot myself than hear another person singing my heart will go on.I really do not like this over expensive movie bu5 i suppose that thats just my opinion.

LOVE IT!
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORETE MOVIES OF ALL TIME!THE ONLY GROSS PART IS WHEN ROSE TAKES OF ALL HER CLOTHES!?YUCK!BUT ANYWAY,IT`S A GREAT AND ROMANTIC MOVIE!

build a bridge
titanic...The Movie....Is just that.
I enjoy the story, from that perspective.
I appreciate the effort to create a level of interest in such an event. Drama can attempt to capture, only you can respond!
In reading short 4-5star reviews, and Loooong 2-3star reviews, I believe the connection has been made, as planned! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the 1957 release of Paths of Glory, Stanley Kubrick confirmed his early promise and joined the ranks of world-class filmmakers. The age of the auteur had arrived, and Kubrick was a prime candidate for inclusion in the pantheon of directors later canonized by critic Andrew Sarris in his influential book The American Cinema. Ironically, this was also the period during which Kubrick left his native soil for permanent residence in England, and from that point forward, the Kubrick mystique inflated to legendary proportions. But if Kubrick was no longer bringing himself to the world, he was certainly bringing the world to his films. From the comfort of his rural England estate and locations never far from London, Kubrick would command cinematic odysseys to isolated Colorado (in The Shining), battle-ravaged Vietnam (Full Metal Jacket), upscale New York City (Eyes Wide Shut), and, of course, Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite (in 2001: A Space Odyssey).

The New Stanley Kubrick Collection includes all eight of Kubrick's films from Lolita on--a quarter-century of brilliant, challenging cinema. This second edition adds Eyes Wide Shut to the previous collection and remastered sound on five of the films plus a new anamorphic edition of 2001. Purists have complained that Kubrick's last three films have been released in full-screen format only; this was in compliance with Kubrick's wishes, and the films do not suffer unduly from full-screen formatting. This set also features a new full-length documentary made by longtime Kubrick assistant Jan Harlan, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures. The diversity of Kubrick's work is truly astonishing, even though the director's technical precision and steely perspective on humanity may strike uninitiated viewers as cold and even misanthropic. His films almost always received mixed (and sometimes scathingly negative) reviews upon their release, only to benefit from glowing reassessment as they grew entrenched in the public consciousness. Here, in all their glory, are the collected films of a genuine master, ripe for study and appreciation for many years to come. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (52)

A wonderful collection, the way he would have wanted it
When the original Kubrick box set was released, it was a nightmare. Kubrick's classics on DVD looked anywhere from decent to VHS-quality, thanks to the rush job (presumably to capitalize on the great director's death). This rerelease is what Kubrick would have wanted. Every film from the beautiful masterpiece "Lolita" to the misunderstood "Eyes Wide Shut" is presented here, along with a documentary, "Stanley Kubrick: a Life in Pictures," which is fantastic -- a completely absorbing and entertaining history of the director's life and work.

Kubrick was not a traditional filmmaker. He shunned Hollywood and retreated to his adopted country of Great Britain in the early sixties, making films entirely on his own terms. His films were feasts for the eyes and spanned every conceivable genre, from comedy ("Dr. Strangelove") to sci-fi ("2001: a Space Odyssey") to period pieces ("Barry Lyndon") to war pictures ("Full Metal Jacket") and everything in between. He was not afraid to experiment and take the actors as far as they could go.

The picture quality in this long-overdue reissue is nothing short of stunning. Particularly noteworthy is the "Barry Lyndon" disc. Kubrick's use of natural light in this gorgeous period drama give it a unique beauty never captured in any other film before or since.

As extra material goes, the box is pretty sparse (except for the documentary, of course), but you do get the mini-documentary of the making of The Shining, complete with optional commentary. But what counts here are the pictures themselves, which are all, without question, masterpieces.

Discover Kubrick's world. Sure, it's a lot of money, but worth every penny. Buy it on a Friday, cancel your weekend plans, and explore the amazing world of these films. This box set is why DVDs were invented.

PRAISE FOR LEON VITALI !!!
Big Cheers to Leon Vitali for putting this collection of mostly remastered DVDs of Kubrick's later film library. If you are a Kubrick film fan and you do not own this box-set, then you are being very cruel to yourself. This is all the Kubrick you'll ever need!

The digital remastering is on these films: "Lolita", "2001", "Clockwork Orange", "Barry Lyndon", "The Shining", and "Full Metal Jacket". "Dr Strangelove" and "Eyes Wide Shut" are not digitally remastered in this set. The following films are in widescreen format: "2001", "Clockwork Orange", and "Barry Lyndon"...the rest are not unfortunately.

The extra "About Stanley Kubrick" DVD is a big hit! It's worth having for any fan and is narrated by Tom Cruise. I still feel that "Paths of Glory" should make it on all Kubrick box sets from now on...but that's my opinion. Other than that, this box set is superb!

Leon Vitali did a SUPER job of remastering the films for this DVD release, and his reverance for his former employer should be commended by all of us fans. Thanks Leon - I'd love to sit down and talk with you someday and discuss Stanley Kubrick and his wonderful wonderful movies!

Great collection
Stanley Kubrick was one of the best filmmakers of all time and this collection gives the movie watcher almost every film made by him. Each film is great to watch and since Stanley Kubrick is one of the best directors of all time, if not the best director of all time, its not a surprise that all of the films included are of a quality. This collection is great and its amazing to see how they modernized the older movies. I would recomend it to any true movie watcher.

I'm not worthy to rate the movies, but the presentation...
I am not rating the movies--I think few people are remotely qualified to judge this art. What I do rate is the presentation. The snap case DVD's? Come on, Warner Bros/Turner...! I've seen complete tripe given better packaging! I got the set a few months ago (I had the old set, waited for the price to come down on the new set), and was upset that the a few of the DVD's weren't playing correctly. Some of them paused and skipped during the "bonus features" (theatrical trailers, etc), and also skipped several seconds into the beginning of the films. Since I have never previously experienced any problems with my player, I sent the DVD's back for replacement (the seller was most courteous and helpful in this endeavor). So I got a new set. Same problems; different movies. In absolute frustration, I purchased a third set. Ditto. Is there something wrong with the transfers? Has anyone else experienced these problems (the freezing of the picture and sound during the trailers, the skipping ahead 4 or 5 seconds at the beginning of each film)? I find it very jarring to have the first chords of Barry Lyndon suddenly jump out of my speakers; I like it not that the overture to 2001 kicks in, and the pedal steel guitar comes in mid-slide on "Goodbye Darlin', Hello Vietnam" to begin Full Metal Jacket. Films like these surely demand the attention and perfection that went into making them; save the quickie transfers for the Olsen twins movie (but get it out in time for the holidays, right, you Warner weasels???)

One of the finest collections of film
In his hardly prolific career, Stanley Kubrick spanned the sum of the Human Condition, created some of the most stirring and shocking sights in all of film, at the same time creating a new genre: the movie philosophical treatise. At once viscerally and intellectually satisfying, Kubrick is widely regarded as the greatest director ever, and his most important work is collected here. The only notable omission is Paths of Glory, which really ought to be included.

If you've seen the films, you can testify to their value. If you have, though, you probably don't need to read this review. This review is written for the movie fan who never got into Kubrick, or just saw maybe one or two of his movies, and might be wondering what the mystique is all about. Allow me to illuminate you.

The set includes eight films and a documentary about the life and work, etc. The first movie is Lolita, of course, based on the Nabokov novel. This is a movie based on a very symbolic and abstract book where the love story was really an afterthought, in my mind. Kubrick brings it front and center here, making it a more timeless and universal story, and the acting is immaculate. James Mason plays the character of Humbert brilliantly, hapless and completely under the spell of the titular character. Peter Sellers is brilliant here as well as in the next film in the set, Dr. Strangelove. One of the funniest movies ever made, for my money, Strangelove revolves around the demented General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden, brilliant) ordering a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Insightful comic masterpiece, my favorite parts are Hayden's long monologues to Sellers, he totally sells the insanity. 2001 is perhaps the most philosophical of the entire set, a movie in which Man's past, present and future are explored in a completely novel unconventional way. The wonder of space travel is juxtaposed with the fear of machinery failing us, even more symbolically, the machinery of society failing us. A Clockwork Orange is next off, a darkly comic look at some very pondrous issues, such as free will, crime, and civil liberties, not to mention the intrinsic nature of man. Gritty, depressing, and completely compelling, this crime story is tricky because you actually end up rooting for the punk (Malcolm McDowell) when the police rough him up. Next, off to Barry Lyndon, a very cynical swashbuckling adventure starring Ryan O'Neal as the titular character, a low-born Irishman who manages to rise to the top of Victorian London's social arena, then fall back down. This is perhaps the least-seen volume of this collection, as well as probably the most emotional. The Shining was a movie I didn't like the first time I saw, but subsequent viewings have won me over. Jack Nicholson is excellent as usual as a crazy man who tries to kill his family while snowed in in Colorado. Maybe the most pop-culture assimilated of the movies, this one uses unconventional scare tactics to frighten, from psychological to visceral, and we once again see the machinery fall apart, this time the familial machinery (one of Kubrick's recurring themes). Full Metal Jacket is probably the weakest of the movies, partially because it doesn't decide if it wants to be about boot camp or Vietnam combat. It tries to do both, and this is, in my mind, Kubrick's greatest miscalculation. It does feature some great drill instructor moments from R. Lee Ermey. The last feature is Eyes Wide Shut, which failed to live up to the hype it generated, although it made some interesting points about trust and sex in modern relationships, and ended in a surprisingly optimistic tone.

In short, the movies range in setting widely, from the 18th century to the present day, and from Earth to Beyond the Infinite, but a consistent philosophy and filmmaking style belies them all. Highly recommended for any fellow "students of life." ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Delightful Holiday Story
Cary Grant stars as an angel named Dudley who suddenly appears and befriends an Episcopal bishop (David Niven) who is completely focused on raising money for his new church, and the bishop's wife (Loretta Young), who has become lonely and unhappy as her husband has gotten lost in his work. Grant uses little bits of heavenly magic and loads of charm to help Niven raise money and to help Young rediscover the joy of life. He also helps Niven and Young rediscover each other and realize that love must be the highest priority for anyone, including an ambitious bishop who's devoted to his job.

The acting is superb, as one would expect from this stellar cast. The story takes place at Christmas and, while not shown as much as other Christmas movies, I think it's one of the best. Cary Grant, all charm and suave coolness, plays this part perfectly, and the viewer even sees a touch of wistful envy in the angel who cannot have the Earthly love and happiness he helps Niven and Young rekindle for themselves. Buy this one and watch it every Christmas (or any other time you need a happiness booster or a reminder of the importance of love and kindness).

P.S.: "It's a Wonderful Life" is a good movie, but definitely I prefer "The Bishop's Wife".

A Family Favorite!
This film is one of the best of the Christmas Classics. The Bishop's Wife tells a story of an angel (Cary Grant) who comes down to earth in answer to a busy Bishop's (David Niven) prayer. The angel helps the Bishop learn to adjust his priorities and comes close to falling in love with Julia, the Bishop's wife (Loretta Young). The movie includes a lovely Skating/ Dance scene that defies description. Make this movie a tradition for your family this year.

Christmas with Cary Grant.
I think overall, this movie is maybe my favourite that was set around Christmas time. It's better than the brilliant - although overrated - Capra classic, "It's a Wonderful Life". I am in no way meaning to compare the two though. "The Bishop's Wife" is not really like that movie. But both films remain the two greatest christmas time classics to come out of the 1940's.

The film is, as one would have already guessed, set around christmas time. The main plot of the story, is that David Niven is this Bishop, who prays for guidance, of how to get a new cathedral built. Dudley (Cary Grant) is an Angel, who has been sent to help, although the Bishop does not take to him being an Angel too seriously, for some time. Dudley helps everyone he meets, but not always in the way they might prefer, to start off with. Dudley spends a lot of time with the Bishop's wife (Loretta Young) and he is not liking it. Dudley becomes the popular friend among all the people he meets, and helps, but the Bishop is the odd one out, becoming more annoyed, and frustrated with him as it goes along. It all ends nicely though, of course.

The film is really wonferful. There is a skating scene, that is inparticularly memorable, among Cary Grant always charming, excellent performance. The acting in this movie, is simply brilliant. I cant possibly have seen it being any better. The script, the story, everything about this movie is great. Repeated viewings are easy, and its one of Cary Grant best movies.

This DVD from MGM has a great print. It contains very few signs of scratching, and the other little artifacts you find in some movies of this age, and is an overall good looking transfer. The extras are lousy. You get the trailer (which is quite fun, might I add) but absolutely nothing else. Oh well, the print is the main thing, and they have done a good job in that part. Highly recommended.

Charming but overlong
Bishop: Are you expecting a letter?
Dudley: Well, you never know. If I did get one, the stamp would certainly be worth saving.

That's because Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel sent to give guidance to forlorn Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven), and who eventually lights up the lives of everyone else in the Bishop's life, especially The Bishop's Wife in this delightful Christmas film from 1947. When the Bishop prays for help in getting a new cathedral built (the local millionairess widow will only give if her late husband's name is prominently displayed), Cary Grant shows up as his "assistant" but soon makes the Bishop even more miserable by charming his wife Julia (radiant Loretta Young), daughter Debby, and even housemaid Matilda (Elsa Lanchester, always wonderful).

The Bishop's Wife is truly "heavenly" with Grant playing off his tried-and-true persona. Originally Grant and Niven were supposed to have the opposite roles, but Grant decided he could do more with the angel role -- and Grant was a bigger star -- so they were exchanged. Good thing, too: I can't imagine Cary playing the indecisive Bishop any more than I can imagine Niven charming a woman away from Cary Grant.

Only a few things keep The Bishop's Wife from being perfect. There is an overlong ice-skating scene that really stretches the believability (I had to keep telling myself "he's an angel; he can do anything), and the film runs on about twenty minutes too long. In the beginning, Grant is so taken by Young that, if he weren't an angel, those looks would feel really sleazy. Turns out that Cary is just discovering temptations, which makes the ending all the more noble.

Watching The Bishop's Wife in June (during a Cary Grant festival on Turner Classic Movies) is a little strange, but the movie is so ... happy that it's easy to slip into the vibe, especially with all the Christmas carols being bandied about like so many candy canes. I'd certainly recommend that fans of the stars watch it at least once (especially since Loretta Young, whom I don't find all that attractive, is made, through Gregg Toland's photography, into a very appealing woman). Niven is rather on the milquetoasty side and his richest scene involves him being stuck in a chair, but the rest of the film is two hours of Christmas joy.

Charming!
THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a thoroughly charming movie about an "angel" (Cary Grant) who changes the life of a bishop (David Niven) who at Christmas time is trying desperately to raise funds to build an elaborate cathedral and has consequently neglected his wife, Julia (Loretta Young). The three leads give beautiful performances, and there is a wonderful supporting cast, including Monty Woolley as a kindly if doubting professor and James Gleason as a loveable cab driver. The screenplay is subtle, as is the musical score. The scene near the end of the film in which Grant, Young, and Gleason take time out for some ice skating is a delightful respite, very much like a number in a movie musical. THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a relatively recent addition to my video library, but it has quickly become my favorite classic Christmas movie -- next to MIRACLE ON 34th STREET and Alastair Sim's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, that is. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tony Kushner's prize-winning play Angels in America became thedefining theatrical event of the 1990s, an astonishing mix of philosophy,politics, and vibrant gay soap opera that summed up the Reagan era for anentire generation of theater-goers. Post-9/11 wouldseem to be too late for a film version--philosophy and politics don'talways age well--but this 2003 HBO adaptation, ably directed by Mike Nichols(The Graduate), provides a time capsule of the '80s and reveals thedeep emotional subcurrents that will give the play lasting power.

The story centers around Prior Walter(Justin Kirk) and Louis Ironson (Ben Shenkman), a gay couple that fallsapart when Prior grows ill as a result of AIDS. But cancer is not the onlything invading Prior's life: He begins to have religious visions of anangel (Emma Thompson, Sense and Sensibility) announcing that he isa prophet. Louis, who doesn't cope well with disease and suggestions ofmortality, leaves and starts a relationship with Joe Pitt (PatrickWilson), a closeted Mormon who works for Roy Cohn (Al Pacino, Dog DayAfternoon)--the real-life right-wing lawyer, notorious for hisruthless behind-the-scenes machinations. Add in Joe's depressed andhallucinating wife Harper (Mary Louise Parker, Fried GreenTomatoes), his determined but open-minded mother Hannah (Meryl Streep,Adaptation), a fierce drag queen/nurse named Belize (JeffreyWright, Basquiat, reprising his celebrated performance from theBroadway production), and you've still only begun to discover the wealthof characters and storylines in Kushner's ambitious work.

Thepowerhouse cast (also featuring James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, and SimonCallow) is uniformly superb. The script has its weaknesses--some of thefantastic elements, including Prior's journey to Heaven towards the end,fall flat--but even what doesn't work is bristling with ideas and aferocious desire to capture human existence in this time and place.--Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A profound human dimension amid the politics and pain
A jaw-dropping film adaptation of Tony Kushner's epic, 5-hour play, which was a defining artistic statement documenting the political and social upheaval that AIDS-HIV disease brought to America's gay community and to the wider America around it. Mixing agitprop and camp with magical realism and utter, heart-rending, pathos, Kushner and director Mike Nichols bring the story to the screen in a big, big way, with all-around amazing performances by a perfectly cast ensemble. Al Pacino gets to chew up yards of scenery in his portrayal of the sleazy, venal, far-rightwing attorney Roy Cohn (who acted as Joe McCarthy's point man in the infamous 1950s prosecution of "atom spies" Julius and Ethel Rosenberg) and for once, all of Pacino's high-decibel yelling pays off with some real dramatic ooompf.

There are a lot of things that you could comment on in this play -- the exploration of Jewish-American assimilation, the powerful reaffirmation of a supposedly marginalized leftist perspective, etc. -- but the most profound insight Kushner has to offer is about who the real redeeming angels will have to be in our nation's coming cultural reconciliation. The humanity that he is able to impart into the character of the middle-American Mormon, Mother Pitt (played faultlessly by Meryl Streep), is a marvel of modern political drama: and it rings undeniably true. Pushing past our narrowly defined social and political "roles," and into our shared humanity, is the only road open to folks who want to see America's moral and ethical core liberated from the ideological intrusions of the religious far-right, and the resulting frustrated anger of the disenfranchised middle-liberal-left. In a strictly us-vs-them world view, Mother Pitt would be derided by those on the we're-here-we're-queer Left... but as many people have learned, particularly amid the devastating upheavals of the HIV crisis, our real emotional lives are (ideally) not ruled by dogma. Mother Pitt isn't just a caring parent, she's also a kind, pragmatic person, and for her, the most pragmatic choice when confronted with an epidemic, is to simply offer sympathy and solace. What could be more natural? Let's hope her example prevails.

The CITIZEN KANE of the Modern Era
My expectations were high when I learned that HBO was going to spend over $60 million on an adaptation of Tony Kushner's extraordinary 6-hour epic play, but I could nt have imagined that the resulting film would move to the top of my list of best films ever made in the United States - but that is precisely what Angels in America has done.

Streep and Pacino deliver the finest performances of their careers here (Streep in 4 roles!). Emma Thompson is radiant. And the performances of Jeffrey Wright, Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk and Ben Shenkman positively shine.

And the WRITING and DIRECTION! As close to Shakespearean as any American work I have ever read. And scenes that captivate in their composition and lighting, in their structure and their content. And a magical blending of profundity, humor, pathos, tragedy, and ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit over desperation and resignation. A musical score to match the high levels of word and vision.

In short, this film is nothing short of miraculous. All who worked on this masterpiece should be proud of their achievement. Angels in America stands as testimony to what the human mind can accomplish at its finest and most creative.

Simply the best movie I've seen in years....
HBO should've released this movie in movie theaters. I saw it at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and it was a fantastic experience. Seeing it on TV is great, but.... Oh well, just enjoy! The acting, story, and filmography are amazing.

awesome
I started to watch the series using the on demand feature of our cable company and then it went away before I got to watch the whole thing. I can't wait to get the dvd so I can finish watching it and have it to watch again and again. Having been around when this was all going down makes this series really hit home. The acting is superb as are the special effects.

beyond wonderful
If they had released this movie in the theaters, there would not have been enough Academy awards to give to the writer, the director, and the wonderful cast. Who should get Best Actor? Al Pacino as the loathesome Roy Cohn or Justin Kirk as the dying Prior Walter? Who should get Best Actress? Meryl Streep as the practical, compassionate Mormon housewife, or Emma Thompson as the beautiful, terrifying angel? This series had me riveted to the TV set. I could not do anything but watch. Get this movie. You owe it to yourself to witness one of the major artistic events of the decade. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The socially restricted lives of 18th-century women hardly seems like asubject that would inspire dozens of 20th (and 21st) centuryadaptations--but the brilliant novels of Jane Austen are flush withsparkling dialogue, razor-sharp wit, marvelously realized characters thatrange from adorably sympathetic to grotesquely comic, and--aboveall--ingeniously intricate plots, which arrive at a seemingly inevitablehappy conclusion yet keep you seized with suspense every inch of the way.The Jane Austen Collection pulls together six BBC miniseries from1971 through 1987, one for each of Austen's much-beloved books.

Unsurprisingly, the gems of the lot are also the best of the novels:Pride and Prejudice and Emma. Pride and Prejudice,expertly translated to the screen by novelist Fay Weldon, skillfullychronicles the ups and downs of the sensible but quick to judge ElizabethBennet (the adorable Elizabeth Garvie) and the snooty Mr. Darcy (playedwith an imperious scowl by David Rintoul). Any adaptation of Emmarests firmly on its central character, and Doran Godwin wonderfullycaptures Emma Woodhouse's resilience, determination, and exasperatingself-satisfaction. Definitely the funniest of Austen's novels,Emma's satirical humor is perfectly balanced with romanticyearning, and this 1972 version succeeds delightfully.

Persuasion, though more melancholy in tone, has a wonderfullysympathetic heroine in Anne Elliot (played by the graceful Ann Fairbanks),who once turned away the man she loved but is given the chance, sevenyears later, to set things right. Sense and Sensibility suffersfrom comparison to the star firepower and cinematic sweep of the 1995movie with Emma Thompson (a must-see for any Austen fan), but the duelingcharacters of gracious Elinore and headstrong Marianne, two sistersstruggling with fallen fortunes, make for enjoyable viewing in this 1981adaptation. Mansfield Park has perhaps the dullest hero and heroineof any Austen novel, yet the story zips along, powered by some of Austen'smost outrageous supporting characters, here brought to deliciously comiclife by Anna Massey and Angela Pleasence. Northanger Abbeysatirizes gothic romances and the overheated imaginations that loved them;but though the tone is more broad and melodramatic than most of Austen,this 1987 adaptation suits the novel and rounds out this very satisfying boxed set. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (26)

¿Winds of War¿ Is A Good Historical Yarn
As historical miniseries go, the "Winds of War" and its sequel, "War and Remembrance" add up to one of the most ambitious made-for-TV productions of all time. (A confession here: It's me Mum's favorite video series.) It follows Herman Wouk's two massive tomes which put the reader at the center of Worlds War Two, through the vehicle of Captain Victor 'Pug' Henry and his family. Victor and his wife take tea with Hitler, meet Stalin and Churchill, and share martinis with Roosevelt. Son Byron ("Bry") Henry manages to get stranded in Poland during the 1939 German invasion, and Pugs other son, Warren, joins the navy. Daughter Rhoda goes into the radio business in 1940s New York, the center of the universe. Pug's daughter -in-law Natalie Jastrow, a Jew, is imperiled in fascist Europe.

"Winds of War" is the more interesting of the two books and mini-series, since it covers the odd time from just before the start of the war in Europe in 1939, and ends at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Wouk uses American's neutrality (while Roosevelt positions for America's entry into war) to allow his characters to travel to Britain and Russia,, and to get Pug Henry assigned as military attache to Berlin.

Most of the script is faithful to Wouk's book, and the movie is heavily stocked with first-tier actors. Robert Mitchum is an excellent, authoritative elder-statesmanlike Pug Henry in "Winds of War", even though he becomes more of a walking statue in "War and Remembrance", unable to visibly change facial expressions. Lisa Eilbacher does officer's wife Madeline Henry to the nines, enjoying the status of being high in the ratings' list while casting nets elsewhere. Jan Michael Vincent, staple of many 1970s miniseries, does OK as a the black-sheep Bry. Of the main characters in "Winds of War", only Ali McGraw is problematic. Fortunately, the producers replaced McGraw in the sequel with the leaner, more serious Jane Seymour, which avoided unthinkable scenes of McGraw ("But Bry-an!') wallowing about in a death camp. Ralph Bellamy's Roosevelt ius unmatched anywhere.

This is a first class, high quality production, and well recommended. Despite its scope, it avoids major distortions of history and is, best of all, fun to watch.

Recommendations: Herman Wouk's novels, "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance"
Olivia Manning's WW2 novels, "The Balkan Trilogy" and "the Levant Trilogy", and if you can find it on tape, the British miniseries "Fortunes of War."

Rember When...
This mini-series has many problems: Mitchum is far too old for the part of Pug Henry, plus his romance with Pamela Tudsbury (ineptly played by Victoria Tennant) is not credible. And, the character of Natalie Henry remains problematic: Although supposedly a fiesty go-getter, she makes one foolish decision after another, so many that it becomes difficult to sympathize with her.

But the recastings are all improvements over "The Winds of War": John Gielgud, Robert Morley, Jane Seymour (without whom the project would have foundered), and even Hart Bochner are welcome upgrades. And pros Polly Bergen, Jeremy Kemp, Topol, and David Duke successfully reprise their roles from the first entry.

And give director Dan Curtis credit: No one before or since has presented a narrative with this kind of force and sweep. Moreover, he presents the inner workings of the Third Reich fairly convincingly. Ultimately, these attributes overcomes problems of characterization and script. I have to admit that I watch it once a year, and it always holds my interest. (This review covers Part 2 as well.)

We Are Walking, We Are Walking...
If you sat through Winds of War, then you must sit through this
production. Several of the leads have been replaced, for the better. True, Mitchum shows his age, but for me, he IS Pug, no matter what. The Henry family struggles on through the early days of WW2, in almost constant upheaval. This doesn't paint war as a glorious battlefield, nor does it wallow in angst. The story is being told and carries you along, because you have learned to care for the Henrys'.

Amazing
This boxed set version of War and Remembrance is amazing! After seeing the whole thing on VHS, I'm amazed at the DVD quality in comparison. Was very happy with my purchase. The cast is strong all around.

The single best account of the war mingled with romance
The account of WWII is excellent and the acting is at its finest. Who could ask for more when u look at the entire cast...it's no wonder this series, done in the late 80s holds up so well. After viewing the entire program, it honestly stayed with me for many days. In fact, I will probably recall scenes from this film for the rest of my life, especially the reenactment of the concentration camps and the transferring of the jews to the camps. I am pleased that the director/producer decided to continue Winds of War with this account--I think it will be viewed in years to come as a notable and important account of world history. ... Read more

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Improvised by the cast, shot in black and white, John Cassavetes's first independent feature, Shadows, looked like no other film of its time. Cassavetes, seeking to both deal with social issues and create a new kind of cinema, told a story about a family of black siblings in Manhattan trying to make ends meet. Though it meanders at times, it features the kind of spontaneous emotion Cassavetes most wanted to elicit in his films.

A sensation in 1968, Faces earned Oscar nominations for actors Seymour Cassel and Lynn Carlin. Improvised and shot in an edgy, hand-held fashion, the film examines the disintegration of the marriage of a couple in mid-life doldrums. Each seeks solace elsewhere: husband John Marley with prostitute Gena Rowlands, wife Carlin with a free spirit played by Cassel. But neither finds anything approaching the fulfillment they feel is missing from the marriage. Indeed, in Cassavetes's probe of raw emotions, these people discover that, just maybe, the problem lies not with their spouse but with themselves.

The long, free-form drama A Woman Under the Influence is best appreciated as a good showcase for Rowlands, playing a woman whose sanity literally appears to be shattering as different aspects of her personality eclipse others at various times. Peter Falk plays her struggling, blue-collar husband, trying to understand the phenomenon and sometimes losing his patience. As with most of Cassavetes's works as a director, one can't help but find one's attention drifting in and out, but Rowland's performance is a key reason the film has been declared a "national treasure" by the Library of Congress.

The title of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is the only commercial element in this fascinating character study by writer-director Cassavetes, who once again finds his cinematic soulmate in actor Ben Gazzara. The film uses verité technique to tell the story of Cosmo Vitelli (Gazzara), a Hollywood strip-club owner whose growing debt to a local gangster can only be erased if he agrees to kill a rival Chinese gangster. As usual, Cassavetes employs his favorite actors (including Seymour Cassel and the fearsome Timothy Carey) and vivid improvisation to give Chinese Bookie a tense atmosphere of emotional urgency.

Gena Rowlands stars in Opening Night, Cassavetes's drama of an aging, alcoholic stage actress in the days leading up to her latest Broadway opening. Like all of her collaborations with her writer-director husband, Rowlands is a woman on the verge of collapse, this time a lonely alcoholic whose very life is a performance. Overlong at 144 minutes, the film's long, loose scenes build through uncomfortable small talk and slow, tentative confrontations. Some of the scenes are edgy and thrilling, though many find this facet of Cassavetes pretentious and self-indulgent. Ultimately it's a matter of taste: if you like his style, you'll love this discomforting drama.

The eight-disc Criterion Collection set is filled out with the 2000 documentary A Constant Forge: The Life and Art of John Cassavetes, plus numerous interviews, a second version of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, a commentary track for A Woman Under the Influence, a 68-page book, and various other features. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Pefect Trio from my Favorite Actress
Hey, I was just looking to pick up a copy of Roman Holiday, when I found that someone had packaged three of Audrey's best movies together. And I said, "Three?! Thats it??? Why not six? Oh, well...it will have to do." So I upgrade Breakfast at Tiffany's from VHS to DVD, and I finally pick up Sabrina, which, despite a small crush on Julia Ormond, I must admit is superior to the remake.

Its easy to see why Audrey Hepburn has remained such a popular film star, and why so many actresses fail miserably to be the "next" Audrey Hepburn. There was only one actress who combined the sense of innocence, sweetness, beauty, humor, grace and charm into one. And don't we all wish she had made more movies? And don't we all wish they could still make movies like the ones that Audrey starred in? No wonder she's still our favorite!

So, in chronological order...we get Roman Holiday(1953), Audrey's breakout Oscar winner where she guaranteed she would be a star, then her next movie, Sabrina(1954), which cemented her as Holl