Reviews (89)

Great Historical Film
...He is correct in saying the film is great for history buffs and that is what I am (BA-Hist). This film depicts history. It is an inside look at Nazi Germany. Turn off the lights when you watch it and you will think you have a front row seat at a Nuremburg rally. It may have been produced as propaganda but what it is now is nothing short of historical documentation, regardless of how the images were woven together.

It has great footage and shows all of the regular Nazi Nuts and ones you have never seen or heard before. I loved being able to listen to them in German with subtitles instead of having a narrator. You can have that too. I bought the Special Edition DVD. The quality of this black and white film is the best I have ever seen. Special features include English subtitles and voice-over narration (all optional).

Leni did not hire Industrial Light and Magic to insert millions of regimented Nazi followers. They are the real thing. The Nazi movement clearly stirred nationalistic fervor. You cannot deny the images. They speak for themselves. The German people were caught up in a movement of incredible proportions and this movie shows you what it was like in the early years of the Third Reich. Germans killed millions and millions of Germans died in WW II. This movie will give you a very good idea of what the Allied forces were fighting against.

A most valuable historical record
It's easy to see how this now famous (or infamous) 1934 film by Leni Riefenstal could have helped reinforce Hitler's already dizzying domination of the German psyche. For our own time, it helps reveal the human complexity of the Nazi phenomenon - so much more than just a march of crazed fanatics, as it's often stereotyped today. Triumph of the Will is particularly relevant to current politics - the Austrian controversy, as well as the continued importance of various dictators who still garner so much of the media spotlight.

Sadly, the near-sightedness of the Nazi mentality and its contradictory nature were already glaringly apparent at the time the movie was shot. Hitler's frenzied admonitions to value "peace" but at the same time to cultivate "courage", bristle with contradiction and hypocrisy. Brief allusions to racial purity and clear-cut moral rectitude are darkly ominous, as are the reiterated pledges of allegiance to Hitler , the man. It's instructive to compare Nazi rhetoric with much of today's political hype. Though, as many others have pointed out, nobody else has done it with quite the same elan. Sad to think that had they watched their own film with a more discerning eye, they might have seen what we see.

From an artistic standpoint, I can appreciate why it's cited as one of the most accomplished of all propagandist vehicles. Nazi shortcomings notwithstanding, the film is stunning. Riefenstahl's contribution is self-evident - even if she didn't direct the action herself, she captured and organized it admirably. But for all that, it is still the action which is most spellbinding. The gripping facial expressions, the charismatic speeches, the thundering shouts of allegiance, the enormous scale and choreography - all of this actually took place! Combine that with historical perspective - knowing what all of it would lead to - and the movie acquires a distincively haunting quality.

I not only recommend this film to others, I strongly advise it. It captures the very essence of social fanaticism. Many will instinctively feel its primitive appeal, and then, after putting it into perspective, recognize its inherent madness. Watching this movie, appreciating the feelings it evokes and reflecting on what it all means, will make the viewer a better person.

This Special Edition is good as it gets.
The Synapse DVD Special Edition surpassed all expectations. I had Triumph of the Will on video prior to obtaining this DVD and the video's visual and audio quality was poor. By contrast, this DVD is visually very crisp and sharp and the audio quality is fine The DVD appears to be produced from an excellent original film print. I've seen another DVD of TOTW produced by different company, and its quality was the same as the video version :substandard. Make sure you get the Synapse version. This Special Edition is good as it gets.

A GREAT LOOK AT WHAT MODERN USA HAS BECOME
THIS FILM GIVES A GREAT INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE NOW MODERN USA OPERATES IN ITS POLITICS UNDER GEORGE W BUSH. WHO IS ALOMOST A CLONE OF HITLER. I RECCOMEND THIS FILM TO ANY BUSH SUPPORTER JUST FOR THEM TO SEE HOW ALIKE BUSH AND HITLER REALLY ARE.

An Influential Masterpiece of Cinematic Propaganda
Riefenstahl's documentary made for Adolf Hitler and the NAZI party in the early 1930's. The documentary primarily covers the Nuremburg rallies and the activities that surrounded these events. Again, this is a propaganda film and was designed to stir popular sentiment and political empathy for the infamous political party.

If one understands the socio-political climate of Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s, one can clearly see what sentiments the film seeks to evoke and hence recognize its significance and brilliant execution. For example, Germany was in a state of shambles because of the global economic depression and many Germans feared an inevitable collapse to anarchy or Bolshevism. The opening scene starts with a Wagnerian piece and shows Hitler in a plane peering down from high above the clouds as he arrives for the rally. The scene sought to reassure a worried public that The Fuhrer was omnipotent, omniscient, and was coming down from the heavens to save a troubled nation in a godlike fashion. When he arrives at the stadium, Hitler is shown walking with his SA escort out of the crowd and towards the podium instead from behind the podium to look down at the crowd; this was to instill the notion that Hitler wasn't just another Berlin bureaucrat from the old failed Weimar Republic coming to talk down to a broken people; it was done to evoke the sense that he was a man of the people for the peole: selflessly arising out of a worried crowd of fellow Germans to lead them to a better and safer future. This particular scene was so influential in film that George Lucas adapted it (and many other scenes) for the closing scene to the original Star Wars when Luke, Han, and Chewy are decorated by Lea. Other scenes of happy German blonde and blue-eyed youths or common laborers performing paramilitary/social tasks were intended to evoke a proud sense of unity, purpose, and safety amongst all true German "volk" in these troubled times. In the background, the narrative voice recites how all German women should should bear many children for the Fatherland; how men should unite for the Fatherland and not Godless Bolshevism; how youths should work to better their nation; etc., etc.

The mass communication techniques of Riefenstahl and Goebbels are still used today by virtually every modern government and media firm. This film is important not only as a histiorical tool in understanding the rise of Nazism and the dynamics of facism, it is a very important landmark in the development of film, mass entertainment and mass communication in general. I strongly believe that every person who seeks to better understand their world and media see this film at least once and study it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most people associate the director Werner Herzog with the actor KlausKinski--but few know how twisted and enmeshed their relationship was. Though Kinski has made dozens of movies, he probably remains best known for the five he made with Herzog: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Woyzeck, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Cobra Verde, and Fitzcarraldo. In this documentary/cinematic memoir, Herzog uses clips from these remarkable films, on-the-set footage, and personal recollections to create a portrait of Kinski as both a deeply passionate actor and a raving lunatic; it's hard to say whether he's defaming Kinski or being generous to this mercurial, erratic actor. There's no question that their relationship is fascinating; after their first movie (Aguirre, probably the best of their collaborations) they both described moments of wanting to kill each other--in fact, both agree that Herzog threatened to shoot Kinski at one point, though they differ on the details. Yet they went on to make four more movies, almost all of them under circumstances that would be difficult for the most serene personalities. My Best Fiend was inspired by Kinski's death, and probably the movie's weakest aspect is that we don't get Kinski's side of their friendship. But even though it's one-sided,it's still a remarkable portrait of two artists who were willing to go toextremes to capture their visions. Any fan of either will find this uniquedocumentary indispensable. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Comic, Fascinating, Filled With Brilliance.
There probably could never be anybody capable of making a documentary about Klaus Kinski other than Werner Herzog. After all, as the title emplies, Kinski was Herzog's best fiend. This is an endlessly fascinating portrait of an actor who was a genius, a madman and a tender soul. Herzog creates a rich film here that never bores. He doesn't turn it into a mournful memory where he might just sit in a chair and talk to a camera, no, he takes us to the locations where he and Kinski filmed, travels to visit crew members and friends and shows us unique behind the scenes footage. The beginning is shocking but intuitive, as Kinski gets into heated arguments with audience members during a performance as Jesus Christ. And if you look at it, shouldn't this be the way hecklers should be handled anyway? Kinski remains a fascinating figure through-out, a brilliant actor who could perfectly become a character and take over the screen. Herzog is a mad genius too and so his portrait of his best friend is really filled with depth and even touching at times. We see them filming in the harsh conditions they went up against to make the masterpieces "Aguirre, The Wrath Of God" and "Fitzcarraldo." We see Kinski and his famous tantrums as he chews out crew members and Herzog in truly violent-mouthed ways.... It is always interesting to hear Herzog talk about the making of the movies and there stunning vistas, like the amazon and Andes where the two mentioned films were made (we see the stunning sequence from the beginning of "Aguirre" where we see hundreds of Spanish conquistadors look like ants as they walk down an Andean slope). One thing the movie should be valued for is that Herzog does not only show the dark, crazy side of Kinski, he also shows the nice side. The last shot is truly memorable where Kinski is gently playing with a butterfly and we see his gentle, tender side. The movie is also comic, especially when we see two brilliant artists battle it out. It's funny to see that Kinski and Herzog loved and loathed each-other equally. "My Best Fiend" is a must for movie buffs, fans of Herzog or Kinski, and for anybody who is fascinated by films that explore unique minds. It is a fascinating, memorable piece of work.

My Best Fiend
"I was not excellent! I was not extraordinary! I was monumental! I was epochal!" Klaus Kinski, in response to a compliment from a theatre critic.

From the moment the film "My Best Fiend" begins, you are shocked and mezmerized by the sight of Klaus Kinski in a live performance piece, where he assumes the guise of an iconoclastic Jesus Christ, who proceeds to berate, denounce and even physically challange members of the audience. From that moment on, it is clear that Kinski is either completely mad, or teetering at the very edge of insanity. What director Werner Herzog has done, is to reveal their fascinating working relationship, by which he had to manipulate and channel Kinski's madness, so that his intensity could be captured by the camera, and used in his movies. Their collaboration resulted in such great movies as "Aguirre, The Wrath of God," and "Fitzcarraldo." The series of catastrophes that occured during both of these movie shoots on the Amazon, coupled with the stars' total instability, brought out the best and worst in Kinski, demonstrating that great art can sometimes be the result of two artists at war with each other. The location scenes along the Amazon are hauntingly beautiful, wild and frightening. It is the perfect backdrop and metaphor for Klaus Kinski's performances in these movies. The DVD offers the option of hearing Werner Herzog's narration in German or English.

Conflict is good
The title's play on words pretty much sums up the sentiment of the film. Herzog's depiction of his relationship with Kinski is painfully honest, but it is not hard to see the affection mingled with the frustration. Kinski was a mad man and nearly impossible to work with. And yet Herzog chose to work with him again and again, and with great results. This film is a tribute to their contentious and productive relationship.

There are some really funny stories here, including one where Herzog actually threatened to kill Kinski. Some may have heard of this spat, but it is still interesting to hear Herzog's dead-pan account.

Very honest, very informative, very entertaining documentary about a very complex relationship. It goes beyond friendship. It just had to be, whether either of them wanted it or not.

Character assassination
While providing an interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse at Herzog's truly stupendous films, this amounts to little more than a sustained attack on Kinski. Perhaps Kinski deserves it, but Herzog constantly pushes anyone who says anything nice about Kinksi (which is most of those interviewed) to say something negative about him, usually trying to remind them of some horriffic episode or another. This gets trying in a hurry. Perhaps the greatest display of pathology here are Herzog's transparent attempts to smear someone held in affectionate regard by people he worked with.

How not to Manage Conflict
I first recommend that a viewer rent Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes and Fitzcarraldo before viewing this documentary. To undestand the importance of this collaboration it is necessary to first see the films that it produced.

Herzog revisits the locations near Macchu Pichu where artistic passions blossomed into homicidal rage in the crucible of the Peruvian rainforest.

Herzog is fascinated by notions of human madness, obsession, and conciousness. This theme is the focus of most of his films. In Fitzcarraldo, the madness leads to incredible triumph and success, in Aguirre it leads to revolt, death, and utter chaos. What is most important to note is that in both instances is that the madness of the dominant individual, whether Fitz or Aguirre, is an intoxicating charisma that conforms a following to the individual's will. This is Kinski's obsession even when the cameras aren't rolling, and it is this passion that attracts Herzog's interest, an interest perhaps tied to his childhood in post-Third Reich Germany. Perhaps Herzog underestimated Kinski's persuasive rage that nearly turned Herzog's jungle endeavors into Pizzarro's folly. ... Read more

Description

Dziga Vertov, whose renegade approach to cinema is best remembered in the legendary "Man With the Movie Camera" and his series of Kino-Pravda newsreels, demonstrates his mastery of montage in this 1924 feature previously unseen in the United States. "Kino-Eye" (1924, 74 min.) is a fascinating film, not just for its aesthetic beauty and political significance, but for honestly documenting a society fresh from revolution, buoyed by idealism, ready to face the challenges of a difficult future. Also included on this DVD is "Three Songs of Lenin" (1934, 62 min.), Vertov's most personal work and the capstone of his career. The film reveals the Soviet leader as seen through the eyes of the people, represented by three songs. The exhilarating beauty of Vertov's images and the majesty of his filmmaking skills produced a film that The New York Times called "a work of unusual beauty and emotional exaltation." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Historically Interesting
As you might expect, a 70 year old communist propoganda film is not gripping entertainment.

The first "song" is the saga of how the revolution liberated a woman from the oppression and ignorance of Islam. A powerful topic that not many people would dare to tackle today. She goes from being imprisoned in her veil to a free woman, attending school, driving a tractor and learning to shoot a gun.

But as we know, communism was no utopia either.

Propaganda is also a form of art
Dziga Vertov monopolized the Soviet documentary scene together with his brothers and Lev Kuleshov. His movies have reached vast audiences all over the world, and The Man with the movie camera always gets a vote or two in "Greatest films ever made"-polls.

I really looked forward to seeing Vertov's early films, shot in 1923-24. Before that, film stock wasn't readily accessible to filmmakers in the Soviet union.

Vertov developed Kuleshov's theory of montage in those early years and put them to good use in the films featured on this DVD. The 6 Kino-eye shorts was a pioneering venture into the Soviet experience. Vertov sought to bring witness to how the word of communism was spread throughout the countryside and in the cities. If this meant tampering a bit with the footage he shot, well - so be it!

The protagonists of the first three films are "the Young pioneers", a group of young teens who help out wherever they can. They help widows harvesting the crop and old people with shopping and cleaning. They also urge people to buy their meat and veggies at the Communist food market and not at private grocers.(We also follow the meat backwards from the counter to the cow, would you believe!)

The do-gooders still find time to collect the children in the village and explain what communism is all about and request that they join the Communist party.

Later, there are intercut scenes from everyday life, work and leisure. Great stuff. Enthusiasm runs through the footage, this is a young man using the camera as his gun, shooting at will, and getting some marvellous treasure from his effort.

Historically, you can't even begin to measure the value of Kino eye. These people are real, this stuff happened. It's a closed chapter in history, and will probably never be repeated. Propaganda, sure, but also a work of art.

Also on this DVD, we get the film "Three songs for Lenin" (1934) What a world of difference 10 years made for Vertov. This nearly unwatchable mish-mash of ugly close-ups, rabble-rousing, and Stalin-style knee-jerking should not be shown. In theory constructed like a three-part symphony, it's a hopeless jumble of badly edited scenes. The first part, about a Moslem girl who doesn't have to cover her face anymore is the most lifeless documentary I've ever seen. The second part introduces the life and death-cult of Lenin, and history has not been kind to it. It's teary-eyed communist symbolism, with endless scenes of mourners standing around Lenin's body. Endless..The last part looks like it was made with someone putting a gun to Vertov's head. You can almost imagine the Moscow processes lurking just out of sight.

5 stars for the Kino-eye films, the Lenin film is an atrocity that Vertov should have been able to avoid making. But then, maybe he didn't have a choice. Or maybe his enthusiasm had run to ground in the bureaucratic and political hell that Soviet had become in the 1930ies.

Two Cheers for Vertov
Vertov's work is interesting more for its documentary achievement than for its claims as "pure cinema" (a term that is quite meaningless 70 years after it first raised a few eyebrows). Otis Ferguson had the last word to say on the subject of Three Songs About Lenin in his essay "Artists Among the Flickers" in 1934. But Vertov's work is startling to watch today, now that the Revolution had been discredited and that Lenin is universally excoriated. But the feel of that time, the sense of fervent optimism, of a society breaking new ground and - seemingly - finding new solutions to old problems, is captured hypnotically by Vertov in Kino-Eye. It's no accudent that another of his famous films was called 'Enthusiasm'. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Shows the Naked Truth About This Tragedy
This documentary lays bare the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. No excuses are made for the Greek military junta and the mistakes they made in Cyprus. But the crude savagery of the Turks wreaked unspeakable pain and suffering on the innocent Greek Cypriots. The Turks did the same thing to millions of Armenians, and today they continue to deny their barbaric acts. Anyway, this film makes the viewer feel like he or she is right there in the streets and refugee camps of Cyprus. Most importantly, this film shows the underlying humanity of a couragious people in the face of tremendous brutality.

Interesting yet not objective
It is a mildly interesting work but it lacks objectivity. I would prefer a more objective piece of documentary due to the violent nature of relations between the Greeks and the Turks.

Bias Embodied!
Where is objectivity? This is a single-sided projection of history... Always a failure!

one sided tragedy???
blame it on the Turks not the Greek junta? still hatefull? still racist?? the documentary fails to reflect the torment of both nations and focuses on only one. shame on all that follow this path. shame on you and your humanity.

Good!
I have to admit that the producer did a wonderful job in describing the 1974 events in Cyprus. He provided the details of the coup organized by Greece and its aftermath along with Turkey's intervention. This shows that he is not trying to blame Turkey for everything happenned in Cyprus. His work involves interviews with real people who went through real events. I was moved by his interview with Greek Cypriots who lost their relatives or houses right after the Turkish intervention. This movie helped me a lot to understand the sufferrings of Greek Cypriots and every Turkish Cypriot should watch it in order to understand that we are not the only ones who sufferred in Cyprus. The only critism I have is that the producer never mentioned the period between 1963-1974 and Turkish Cypriot sufferrings and acted as if Turkey intervened Cyprus just because of Greek organized coup, which is not true. He should have explained the events (mainly EOKA attacks against Turkish Cypriots) that led to Turkish intervention. A Turkish Cypriot movie showing the sufferrings of Turkish Cypriots during 1963-1974 will be a perfect complement to this movie.
It is a very powerful documentary because it is so real and everyone with slight interest in Cyprus history should watch it. ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Great Historical Film
...He is correct in saying the film is great for history buffs and that is what I am (BA-Hist). This film depicts history. It is an inside look at Nazi Germany. Turn off the lights when you watch it and you will think you have a front row seat at a Nuremburg rally. It may have been produced as propaganda but what it is now is nothing short of historical documentation, regardless of how the images were woven together.

It has great footage and shows all of the regular Nazi Nuts and ones you have never seen or heard before. I loved being able to listen to them in German with subtitles instead of having a narrator. You can have that too. I bought the Special Edition DVD. The quality of this black and white film is the best I have ever seen. Special features include English subtitles and voice-over narration (all optional).

Leni did not hire Industrial Light and Magic to insert millions of regimented Nazi followers. They are the real thing. The Nazi movement clearly stirred nationalistic fervor. You cannot deny the images. They speak for themselves. The German people were caught up in a movement of incredible proportions and this movie shows you what it was like in the early years of the Third Reich. Germans killed millions and millions of Germans died in WW II. This movie will give you a very good idea of what the Allied forces were fighting against.

A most valuable historical record
It's easy to see how this now famous (or infamous) 1934 film by Leni Riefenstal could have helped reinforce Hitler's already dizzying domination of the German psyche. For our own time, it helps reveal the human complexity of the Nazi phenomenon - so much more than just a march of crazed fanatics, as it's often stereotyped today. Triumph of the Will is particularly relevant to current politics - the Austrian controversy, as well as the continued importance of various dictators who still garner so much of the media spotlight.

Sadly, the near-sightedness of the Nazi mentality and its contradictory nature were already glaringly apparent at the time the movie was shot. Hitler's frenzied admonitions to value "peace" but at the same time to cultivate "courage", bristle with contradiction and hypocrisy. Brief allusions to racial purity and clear-cut moral rectitude are darkly ominous, as are the reiterated pledges of allegiance to Hitler , the man. It's instructive to compare Nazi rhetoric with much of today's political hype. Though, as many others have pointed out, nobody else has done it with quite the same elan. Sad to think that had they watched their own film with a more discerning eye, they might have seen what we see.

From an artistic standpoint, I can appreciate why it's cited as one of the most accomplished of all propagandist vehicles. Nazi shortcomings notwithstanding, the film is stunning. Riefenstahl's contribution is self-evident - even if she didn't direct the action herself, she captured and organized it admirably. But for all that, it is still the action which is most spellbinding. The gripping facial expressions, the charismatic speeches, the thundering shouts of allegiance, the enormous scale and choreography - all of this actually took place! Combine that with historical perspective - knowing what all of it would lead to - and the movie acquires a distincively haunting quality.

I not only recommend this film to others, I strongly advise it. It captures the very essence of social fanaticism. Many will instinctively feel its primitive appeal, and then, after putting it into perspective, recognize its inherent madness. Watching this movie, appreciating the feelings it evokes and reflecting on what it all means, will make the viewer a better person.

This Special Edition is good as it gets.
The Synapse DVD Special Edition surpassed all expectations. I had Triumph of the Will on video prior to obtaining this DVD and the video's visual and audio quality was poor. By contrast, this DVD is visually very crisp and sharp and the audio quality is fine The DVD appears to be produced from an excellent original film print. I've seen another DVD of TOTW produced by different company, and its quality was the same as the video version :substandard. Make sure you get the Synapse version. This Special Edition is good as it gets.

A GREAT LOOK AT WHAT MODERN USA HAS BECOME
THIS FILM GIVES A GREAT INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE NOW MODERN USA OPERATES IN ITS POLITICS UNDER GEORGE W BUSH. WHO IS ALOMOST A CLONE OF HITLER. I RECCOMEND THIS FILM TO ANY BUSH SUPPORTER JUST FOR THEM TO SEE HOW ALIKE BUSH AND HITLER REALLY ARE.

An Influential Masterpiece of Cinematic Propaganda
Riefenstahl's documentary made for Adolf Hitler and the NAZI party in the early 1930's. The documentary primarily covers the Nuremburg rallies and the activities that surrounded these events. Again, this is a propaganda film and was designed to stir popular sentiment and political empathy for the infamous political party.

If one understands the socio-political climate of Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s, one can clearly see what sentiments the film seeks to evoke and hence recognize its significance and brilliant execution. For example, Germany was in a state of shambles because of the global economic depression and many Germans feared an inevitable collapse to anarchy or Bolshevism. The opening scene starts with a Wagnerian piece and shows Hitler in a plane peering down from high above the clouds as he arrives for the rally. The scene sought to reassure a worried public that The Fuhrer was omnipotent, omniscient, and was coming down from the heavens to save a troubled nation in a godlike fashion. When he arrives at the stadium, Hitler is shown walking with his SA escort out of the crowd and towards the podium instead from behind the podium to look down at the crowd; this was to instill the notion that Hitler wasn't just another Berlin bureaucrat from the old failed Weimar Republic coming to talk down to a broken people; it was done to evoke the sense that he was a man of the people for the peole: selflessly arising out of a worried crowd of fellow Germans to lead them to a better and safer future. This particular scene was so influential in film that George Lucas adapted it (and many other scenes) for the closing scene to the original Star Wars when Luke, Han, and Chewy are decorated by Lea. Other scenes of happy German blonde and blue-eyed youths or common laborers performing paramilitary/social tasks were intended to evoke a proud sense of unity, purpose, and safety amongst all true German "volk" in these troubled times. In the background, the narrative voice recites how all German women should should bear many children for the Fatherland; how men should unite for the Fatherland and not Godless Bolshevism; how youths should work to better their nation; etc., etc.

The mass communication techniques of Riefenstahl and Goebbels are still used today by virtually every modern government and media firm. This film is important not only as a histiorical tool in understanding the rise of Nazism and the dynamics of facism, it is a very important landmark in the development of film, mass entertainment and mass communication in general. I strongly believe that every person who seeks to better understand their world and media see this film at least once and study it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For martial arts enthusiasts and fans of Jet Li, Yang Ching, and Wang Chun, this historical filmography about the origins of Chinese martial arts, the legendary Shaolin Monastery, and modern kung fu will prove to be an irresistible treat. The documentary is told through two fictional characters, Instructor Wang and Hong Kong sports reporter Ms. Chin Chin, who chance to meet in a park. Ms. Chin Chin is writing a story about the history of martial arts and so Instructor Wang offers to help. Together they visit the Shaolin Monastery and view a weapons demonstration by the monks. Unfortunately, in the translation the different styles are not explained thoroughly, but the scenery is spectacular and so is the history of the monastery. The next stop on the educational journey is the village Tung Yang, where all 2,000 residents practice kung fu every day. Here Instructor Wang and Ms. Chin Chin learn about the hard work required to be a kung fu master. They visit several other martial arts schools and at each school they watch more demonstrations. The fighting styles are fluid and graceful, much like ballet. Unfortunately, the dubbing is poorly translated. This proves to be frustrating, as the correct names for the various fighting techniques observed are not accurately described. However, this documentary is worth seeing, as the viewer can watch all the different styles of kung fu and learn a general history of martial arts in China. Also, Jet Li fans will be happy to discover how their favorite kung fu star learned his art. --Samantha Allen-Storey ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Intresting movie...
This is a good movie for seeing real Chinese Martial arts. I did have a few problems with this movie though. My first problem is with the terrible fore story, which is meant to tie each segment together. I would have much rather had a typical documentary narrator than this cheesy story that made me want to fast forward the tape. And speaking of fast forwarding, that brings me to the second problem I have with the movie, they speed up a lot of the demonstrations, making them look unnatural and sometimes silly. I'd much rather see these demonstrations at a normal speed. Okay, now for the positive parts... There is some real talent in this movie, it is amazing. And then of course there's Jet Li. Jet is amazing, and you can see it even in the video of him training as a child. Too bad he isn't in the movie more. All in all it was an okay movie, and may be interesting to those of you interested in Chinese Martial Arts, but could seem a little cheesy and boring to those who aren't into the technical aspect of martial arts (there really aren't fight scenes, just demonstrations).

Good Expose
This dvd's content balances enironmental/cultural/ and martial interests in researching gong fu in China. For someone like myself who is studying Martial arts and who can only dream of visiting the Shaolin temple, a dvd like this allows for more familiarity of the temple. Many of the martial artists performing are obviously of rather high quaility. I enjoyed it, and will re-watch it.

Slighlty interesting
The snake woman was nice to watch. Aside from that, most of the forms were done in haste.

Real Kung Fu
This is a must for anyone tired of seeing "Crouching Tiger" flying routines. This is a documentary and not a movie, but the martial arts are real but sometimes the film is sped up a bit during the techniques but tolerable. I don't see the need to do this as the techniques are excellently performed. If you are a fan of "real" martial arts, this DVD shouldn't disappoint.

Absolutely Amazing!
If your gonna buy something with good Kung Fu demonstrations, get this! It may not be a movie, but one amazing documentary! Jet Li is incredible here! Hes the best! You will wanna watch it a second time next day, at least thats how it went with me. Go buy it now! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Rockin good time
I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone -- it's for parents and children, not just fathers and daughters. This movie plays more like a story than what you usually think of as documentary. I liked old Blakey, though some people in the audience couldn't stand him. It made me think about my relationships with my own parents. It's very funny up until the bittersweet ending.

Excellent title. Makes you want to know what the movie's abo
This movie was very touching, honest, sad, interesting and complete. However, it leaves Tessa "without closure". She wants her father to accept her biracial boyfriend, yet he denies her the opportunity. He quickly ends the conversation as the movie ends. I noticed her tears. The ONE thing she wants him to understand is beyond his social and ethical abilities, which is sad. Money and beauty is all that motivates her father. She loves her biracial boyfriend, yet leaves him, I think, because of her father and what he thinks. Her desire to make her father happy overcomes her own desires for happiness. She does not want to disappoint her father, which is very understanding. She wants to make her father happy, yet wants to be happy herself. This film was excellent. I wish I had her personal email address, which is probably impossible. She knows, as well as I do, that money is not everything in life. Her boyfriend was very intelligent, attractive and fun. Skin color is not significant when it comes to happiness. I wish you happiness, Tessa, if you read this.

excellent
Awesome documentary. Turn the audio commentary on, you'll get a kick out of it - I loved hearing Tessa and the producer fill in the blanks! This is not just a "chick movie," my whole family loved it.

a reel pleasure
I very much enjoyed this film. Funny and SAD! made me glad to be me and have my family. At least we TALK about things!

Good movie for documentary fans
Good movie, worth seeing. Interesting storytelling, issues are presented well. Very cool soundtrack. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Documentary equal to Cinema Paradiso
The Stars Caravan is an amazing documentary that offers not only a fascinating look into a post communist society, but it also presents a powerful portrait on the power of film.

It's the story of a traveling projectionist that used to deliver the movies to the gypsy and nomadic tribes in Kyrgyzstan. It was an honor for him to provide their only look at the outside world and in turn he was treated like royalty. Families fought over whom he would stay with and he was an honored guest anytime he came.

With the fall of the Soviet Republic came the end of the government funded film program-and the propaganda films that were show-and he was left working on a modest budget. When funding ran out he is forced to show films to small groups on third rate VCRs and TVs.

Through it all he clearly loves the world of cinema and the escape and treatment it provided him in his life. He longs for a return to the communist ways in order to receive funding again, but readily admits that things are better now in many other areas of life. It's a touching look at real life story that shows the magic that movies can have just as Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso romantically portrays such a love.

With that said, the film is not perfect. The editing is confusing at times. In the beginning of the film present day film footage is inter-cut with documentary footage and old footage. It makes for a hard story to follow until you learn who all the characters are. Likewise, interesting areas are never explored or commented on. The main projectionist has a massive hole and stitches in his stomach. During the film he visits the doctor and his wife, but nothing is ever explained about his ailment. A personal connection to the character would have made the film perfect. ... Read more

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Amateur movies shot with small handheld cameras by six German infantrymen on the Eastern Front during World War II form the core of this documentary. The men who took the movies appear on camera as old men to provide narration (in German, with subtitles), and they provide a perspective not often heard. As might be expected, they distance themselves from atrocities, and as they were foot soldiers in the Wehrmacht, their denials of involvement are probably true. One of the men still owns the camera he carried in the war, and he demonstrates how its small size made it perfect for impromptu filming in the field. Clips of smiling troops on the move is accompanied by an old man talking about how happy they were to be going to an unknown destination, likening it to "the joy one feels when on a journey." It turns out the gleeful trip he recalls was actually the beginning of the invasion of Poland and thus the beginning of the war in Europe. Later footage shows combat conditions in Russia, and the grisly aftermath of vicious combat. The rarity of the film footage, some of which was shot in color, makes this documentary worth watching. But the recollections of the amateur cameramen also provide an unusual insight into the German war machine, such as when one of the old veterans mentions how he eventually realized, "This was no defensive war forced upon us, it was an idiotic war of aggression." --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (16)

a very moving collection of home videos of WWII
This is a documentary film comprising home videos shot by six German soldiers at the Russian front during World War II, combined with their present day reflections on the war and the experience of shooting the war. There is a lot of rather disjointed footage from the past, which, together with the current interviews with the soldiers, is skillfully edited into a very unified piece.

For me, what is most compelling about this film is not the war footage itself, but rather the soldiers talking about their footage as we watch it. Interspersed with scenes of the war are close-ups of these men as they continue speaking of their experience.....the expressions on their faces, which often belie their words, give an extremely accurate account on the effects of war on its survivors--effects which last a lifetime.

Thus, this is not just documentary of interest to World War II buffs. This film should interest anyone interested in the effects of war on people, and by extension, society.

Mein Kreig
I was deeply impressed with the directors' ability to connect images of film shot by German soldiers in the 1941 Russian campaign with their present-day recollections fifty years after the war. Moving back and forth between vintage footage (some of it in beautiful, vintage color) and interviews, the movie uniquely illuminates the war with the veterans' understanding and interpretation of century-old events. Time changes many young men's views of war, and most of the interviewed veterans seemed to come to sobering and disturbing conclusions of the purpose of the Russian campaign and their participation in the Nazi military effort. Seeing images of Germany and Russia in color also has a profound effect as we are so used to seeing only black and white images of that period that it was almost like viewing the past through some magical history-lens. Anyone with interest in modern European history or World War II will find this film magical, illuminating and haunting. The film does include footage of combat and discussion of atrocities and is probably not appropriate for children.

Mein Kreig, go for it
This DVD is not for people with a closed mind, it is an example of journalism not a war story. It is the simple story of German cameramen in WWII, what they saw, what happened them and how they felt. Is is refreshing to see footage of WWII that isn't written from an action or moral stance. It is a fly on the fall that runs from the start of the war when these men moved forward with their nations troops right up to the time that they arrived home after defeat and what awaited when they got "home". There are no big battle sceens and their certainlt is no happy ending. Buy it and use it as educational material.

Also recommemded is Das Boat.
God bless the memory of all people killed in war.

Landsers narrate their own war
I was a bit disappointed by this DVD, but it is still worth having. It provides some very penetrating insight onto bits of everyday life for the German landser on the Eastern front -- the footage is mostly of barracks, hospitals, rear-areas, roads, and only rarely the front -- but its short length (90 minutes) and the unavoidable messiness brought about by editing the amateur footage of six different men into one narrative gave it a ragged, uneven feel. It also seemed like the documentarians' questions were fairly loaded, as if they were trying to force the ex-landsers into admitting guilt for their participation in the war (which it was obvious only one or two of them really felt) rather than simply letting their words speak for themselves. The air of judgementalism, whether or not it is justified, has no place in a neutral format such as this. In any case, there are many fine moments in the footage. The striking (color) image of the ragged swastika flag flying over the barracks and the Nazi-style monuments is jarring because it looks so recent. One rarely gets such a sense of connection the historical past with B&W film. Similarly the color shots of the soldiers make them look alive and real in a way B&W film does not. One gets a sense that indeed, all of this did really happen. Seeing bombed-out ruins of Polish and Russian cities in black-and-white is one thing, but in color it is striking. There was not as much color as I had hoped, but the other scenes of the AA gun shooting down the Russian plane, the night tank scrap, the retreat in the mud sea and the unexpected arrival of Field Marshal von Manstein for dinner in the field are all very interesting, as is much of the narrative. To see men talking about the experiences they filmed themselves, fifty years later, is often moving. I just wish there was more of it.

Soldaten speak
What is gripping is the combination of pride and defensiveness in the retired landsers. You get the impression some are unwilling to reveal explicitly what they really think because these thoughts became unacceptable in May 1945. If I am right, the film is a real achievement. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful Documentary
Jet Li barely appears in this documentary, but to be honest it doesn't need Jet to get its point across. The Shaolin monks have been practicing their martial arts for centuries, and this is a small window into what they put into their art. Wonderful film....

Great Documentary On Shaolin Kung Fu!
This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen on martial arts, and particularly, on Shaolin Kung-Fu. This documentary contains footage of some of the training methods of the Shaolin Monks, along with some of the more notably skilled Monks giving demonstrations of their great skill. A few of the more interesting examples are demonstrations of the "iron egg" skill, where the practicioner trains the groin area to become invulnerable, chi kung demonstrations of Monks breaking spears with their necks, and some really awesome displays of internal energy mastery where a monk breaks bricks, bottles, stones, bowls, etc, sometimes using only two fingers! After watching this documentary, I couldn't help but be completely amazed at how skillful and dedicated the Shaolin Monks are, and this documentary offers a very good glimplse into the lifestyle and training that makes the Shaolin Temple so revered and respected in the martial arts world. I really enjoyed watching this documentary, and I'm sure that anyone with an interest in martial arts demonstrations will love it as well. In addition, this documentary also includes some clips of Jet Li giving forms and weapons demonstrations, as well as some of his training footage. All in all, a really great buy for the martial arts enthusiast!

Documentary
They should have indicated that this DVD is really a documentary on Jet Li's life as well as the life of the Shaolin Warrior Monks. Nonetheless, this is a great documentary on the life of the monks and if you are interested in their training methods and lifestyle, GET IT!

Shaolin Kung Fu - Jet Li
Not a movie, but documetary at best. Don't expect acting or high picture quality, just REAL Shaolin Monks at best, showing 72 of thier most honarable techiniques.

Also features Li as a young boy, simply amazing. A must have for TRUE Kung-Fu fans.

Not an Action movie
This is not an action movie. This is a documentary about Martial Arts as practiced in the Shaolin temples. Many of the seemingly impossible moves are shown here without special effects. Some of the feats include, one finger handstand, breaking glass bottles with an open hand, withstanding kicks to the groin, pushing against the point of a spear with various parts of the body, having sticks broken across the throat, using the thigh as a cutting board and many more.

Jet Li shows up in this movie primarily as a commentator. He gives some of his personal history (The wushu tournaments) and philosophy (such as respect for elders). There are also some scenes from wushu tournaments in China, but the primary focus is on the training at the temple.

I can only give it 4/5 stars because the picture quality is not very good. But the content is great, just don't expect an action movie. ... Read more