Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series

Description

In first century A.D., Flavius Silva (Peter O'Toole), commander in Roman Palestine, leads his forces in combat against the remaining Jewish Zealots who have taken refuge in the seemingly impregnable fortress of Masada. There, the engineering and military might of Rome faces the passion and ingenuity of Eleazar Ben Yair (Peter Strauss) and his people. Based on the novel "The Antagonists" by Ernest K. Gann, this epic, 4-part mini-series was shot on location in Israel.

Customer Reviews:

Stick with the video version.......2007-09-17

Masada the mini-series on dvd was a waste of money for me. I have been waiting for a long time for the dvd version and when it came what a disappointment. It has no subtitles; the picture is out of focus in some spots. Streaks, flashes and dark spots appear in some of the scenes. The video version beats the dvd version by a long mile.
JN

Hopefully as good as I remember..........2007-09-09

I remember watching Masada when I was a nine-year-old child and loving it. I didn't understand all of the subtleties, but I understood the story. As a result, the story of the Jewish patriots standing up to the might of the Roman Empire has stayed with me all of these years. I am now a history teacher, and will be purchasing the DVD to show my students when we study the Romans later this month. The thing that has stuck with me the most all these years is the amazing soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, which I hope will be re-released in conjunction with the DVD, as the only copy on Amazon is available for $299...

Why does it take so long for the GREATEST shows to make it to DVD?.......2007-08-15

I saw this series when it originally aired in the 1980's and its impact has lingered with me all of these years. I managed to acquire a VHS transfer of the entire series just in time for my VCR to completely die - leaving me no way to enjoy this powerful drama again. After passing scores of copies of "Gilligan's Island - The Complete Series" and "Bosom Buddies - Collector's Edition" on the shelf of my local video store, I am exhilarated to find this one released at last!

Visually stunning (filmed on location) and dramatically riveting, the "Two Peters" duel on screen with searingly intense chemistry and vie for best performance, though O'Toole's ability to humanize his Roman commander makes this series so enticing. His final moments on screen as he comes to the full realization of the cost of Roman domination, is the stuff of legend. Barbara Carrera is positively luminous as a Jewess torn between her people and the man who controls her destiny.

A must see production, well worth the wait, and a demonstration of what "Event Television" was in the 1980's. They TRULY don't make them like this anymore!

BEYOND Recommended!.......2007-07-06

Masada is one of the most eagerly anticipated DVD releases of the year. This Classic TV 1981 miniseries is arguably one of the greatest ever produced in its genre, and garnered a lot of awards in its day. It is MORE than highly recommended!

It is well written and has a stellar cast that more than lived up to the script. The series, based on Ernest K. Gann's historical novel The Antagonists, is a dramatization of a documented revolt by nearly a thousand Jerusalem Jews against Roman oppressors in A.D. 72 to 73.

Epic in its scope, the actors bring nobility and pathos to the ultimately inspiring and tragic story. Following a city-wide siege by Rome's soldiers, Jewish Zealots move into a desert fortress in the mountains of Masada of Judea. It is from that remote location that they make their last stand against the tyrannical Roman Empire. Amazingly, their defensive battlement is strong enough to convince the enemy to negotiate after a two-year battle!

The brilliant Peter O'Toole, portrays Cornelius Flavius Silva, commander of the Roman legions, while Peter Strauss (who was cast in several miniseries in the 80's) portrays the Zealot leader Eleazar ben Yair, who end up developing an improbably respect for each other during the life-and-death struggle.

O'Toole, is fresh from the Roman conquest of Judea. Exhausted emotionally and physically, he has been affected by the constant warring, but remains the ruthless Commander of the elite Tenth Legion. He yearns to return home to Italy, but is prevented from doing so by a violent uprising of a small band of courageous Jews led by the volatile renegade soldier, Eleazar ben Yair (Strauss).

Silva is ordered to capture Eleazar and his followers. He is beset by internal strife because the brutal desert conditions have his legion teetering on the brink of mutiny, while he finds himself falling in love with a Jewess (portrayed with sensitivity by Barbara Carerra.) At the same time, Pomponius Falco, portrayed by David Warner, is working to steal his command.

Inside the fortress, Eleazar is struggling to keep his followers together. A diverse mix of defected soldiers, wanted criminals along with women and children totally about 900, they struggle to find enough food and water to survive their courageous stand against impossible, truly hopeless odds.

The actors leave nothing on the cutting room floor in their heart wrenching renditions of their unforgettable characters. Somehow, O'Toole brings humanity to his character, while Strauss is integrity, fury and courage personified.

Both of their characters believe the negotiations are real, and represent each side in good faith, struggling to find a way out of the deadly situation.

Unfortunately, neither realizes that Rome has no intention of yielding, but instead sends thousands of soldiers in a horrible seige of Masada resulting in one of the worst tragedies in Jewish history.

Masada was brilliantly directed by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man), and the musical score is unforgettably moving.

One of the best historical mini series ever.......2007-07-02

Masada is one of the greatest historical mini series ever made. it tells the story of the jewish revolt in 70 AD AND it's destruction by the romans.
Masada is a movie full of passion and intense. peter o toul is awesome as the roman general who has to end the jewish revolt once and for all.
Masada is not to miss and here is presented in all it's glory (full 6 hours +...movie).
I Wish also a few more "roman" movies to be released in dvd and i'm talking about "dacii" // "the last roman" // "sign of the gladiator"

Average customer rating:

Inspiring and witty
Absolutely wonderful movie
Shirley Valetine
Reviewing Shirley
Never a disappointment

Shirley Valentine
Starring: Pauline Collins , Tom Conti , Julia McKenzie , Alison Steadman , and Joanna Lumley
Director: Lewis Gilbert (II)
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MGBSIU
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

As movie midlife crises go, Shirley Valentine's is a doozy. A bored Northern England housewife, wondering what her life is about and how to navigate around her clueless husband, Shirley would be at her wits' end--except that she knows how to dream big. As played by the incomparable Pauline Collins (who created the role on Broadway, and won a Tony for it), Shirley embraces not only her own constricted life, but the dreams of the big, beautiful world beyond it.

Directed by Lewis Gilbert (Educating Rita), Shirley Valentine is an anthem to the freedom of the soul--with a generous dose of salt of the earth. As she assesses her life, Shirley's humor never fails her: "I think sex is like supermarkets, you know, overrated. Just a lot of pushing and shoving and you still come out with very little at the end." Yet Collins' Shirley gets as much out of defending her right to her dream (a sunny holiday in Greece) as she does realizing it, and that makes for much of the glow of the film. For while Shirley has a cinematic romance on her vacation (Tom Conti plays the dreamboat), the affair is more of a metaphor for what Shirley insists on having in her real daily life. Watch for Joanna Lumley in a delicious cameo, pre-Ab Fab. And embrace this Valentine, and share it with those you love, all year round. --A.T. Hurley

Stills from Shirley Valentine (click for larger image)

Product Description

In the role that won her Broadway's acclaimed Tony Award, Pauline Collins is the hilariously endearing Shirley Valentine, a wisecracking, completely unpredictable English housewife who proves it's never too late to recapture your dreams. Bored with her suburban life, Shirley takes a chance on adventure when a friend invites her on a vacation to Greece. Within no time she's back to her rebellious teenage roots, saying yes to a wild fling with a handsome rogue (Tom Conti) and the life she's always wanted.

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring and witty.......2007-09-14

Pauline Collins does a fantastic job of portraying this middle-aged, bored woman who finds a new life on a Greek island, away from the dreary and mundane existence of her home in England.
She becomes the person she had once been, but only after she leaves her present life behind. When she jumps into the ocean from the boat, it's the start of her transformation.
Sometimes I think I should do the same!

Absolutely wonderful movie.......2007-08-23

I saw this movie years ago and it is as wonderful as I remembered. It is not a "chick" movie. We all have regrets when we look at our lives in middle age. Shirley gets a chance to escape her boring life and reclaim her true fun-loving nature by living out one of her youthful dreams - a trip to Greece. Both Tom Conti and Pauline Collins are perfectly cast.

Shirley Valetine.......2007-08-23

Quite intertaining. Probably more of a 'Chick-Flik' then not, but I would still recommend it. Quite humorous.

Dean475

Reviewing Shirley.......2007-08-10

One of my all time favorites. From the opening song to the closing scene. If you're not inspired by this movie, you need to rewatch it.

Never a disappointment.......2007-08-07

Finally a DVD viewable in the USA. This movie is a favorite of mine, warm, funny, with heart. All positive comments about it are true. I don't have much to add, but it deserves the five-star rating, and more.

Average customer rating:

why america fights ...
A must see!
I Have Four Sons
Please Watch It
An Important Film

Why We Fight
Starring: John McCain , Susan Eisenhower , Richard Perle , Gore Vidal , and Charles Lewis (VI)
Director: Eugene Jarecki
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FBH3W2
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Amazon.com

Fans of Oliver Stone's J.F.K. will recognize the opening moments of writer-director Eugene Jarecki's Why We Fight, in which outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warns of the pernicious and growing influence of what he called the "military-industrial complex." But Stone's movie, which uses the same footage, was a work of fiction. While those who disagree with the decidedly leftist point of view in this documentary will probably consider it the product of paranoid liberal fantasy as well, there's enough credible material, much of it supplied by the targets of Jarecki's criticisms, to make Eisenhower look like a prophet and everyone else uneasy about the dark confluence of politics, money, and war that controls the country's fortunes. The message here is that while there may be some who sincerely believe that America's various military engagements (in Iraq, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and elsewhere) since World War II are the product of our God-given duty to spread freedom and halt the influence of evil ideologies around the world, the real reason we fight is that war is good business. This is hardly a bulletin; anyone who is surprised by allegations that politicians pander to defense contractors, or that Vice President Dick Cheney helped secure huge deals for Halliburton, the company he formerly headed, simply hasn't been paying attention (Politicians lie? How shocking!). In fact, the principal drawback to Jarecki's film is simply that there's nothing particularly revelatory or compelling about it. Only when he takes a personal approach does he go beyond the obvious; the story of a retired New York policeman and former Vietnam veteran whose son died in the World Trade Center, who wanted revenge, but who became seriously disillusioned when Bush admitted that the war in Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, adds some much needed human interest. Still, Why We Fight, which includes a director's audio commentary track and a few other bonus features, serves as a grim reminder that the world's most powerful nation has strayed far from the principles of our founding fathers, a development that does not bode well for America's future. --Sam Graham

Description

Why We Fight is the provocative new documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Eugene Jarecki (The Trials of Henry Kissinger) and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Named after the series of short films by legendary director Frank Capra that explored America's reasons for entering World War II, Why We Fight surveys a half-century of military conflicts, asking how - and answering why - a nation of, by and for the people has become the savings-and-loan of a government system whose survival depends on an Orwellian state of constant war.

The Why We Fight DVD features interviews and observations by a "who's who" of military and Washington insiders including Senator John McCain, Gore Vidal, and Dan Rather. Beginning with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's prescient 1961 speech warning of the rise of the "military industrial complex," Why We Fight moves far beyond the headlines of various American military operations to the deeper questions of why America seemingly is always at war. What are the forces - political, economic, and ideological - that drive us to clash against an ever-changing enemy? Just why does America fight? Unforgettable, powerful and at times disturbing, Why We Fight on DVD will challenge viewers long after the last fade-out.

Customer Reviews:

why america fights ..........2007-09-02

very informative movie ... shows all the wars that the USA has been involved with to protect our freedom ... viewpoints of different individuals ... you decide if we did the right thing ... there is a price to pay for our way of life ... interesting ... thank you for offering it on your website ...

A must see!.......2007-08-23

This is an understated documentary, not a polemic. I am buying copies for friends, and encouraging them to show it to everyone they know. A remarkable, UNBIASED, look at the US military industrial complex. Tells how it works, what it does, and why it prospers. The only down side is that it could leave you despairing about how and where this is all going to end.

I Have Four Sons.......2007-08-23

I have four sons and have purchased a copy of this incredibly courageous documentary for each of them. I love my country and am heart broken to have to warn my boys against throwing away their lives for this insane war, or the next one that they dream up. A wonderful film. Pray that we can change before it is too late...

Please Watch It.......2007-08-20

I found the main point of the movie, about the military-industrial complex and its influences, a bit exaggerated. No doubt they play a part in decisions to go to war, but the sole or even the primary reason ... is a bit exaggerated. However, a lot of the subterfuge I found particularly good. Chalmers Johnson's discussion of "blowback" in this movie led me to read his book. Also, there was a colonel taking about the Pentagon's Center For Strategic Plans, that was created to bypass the CIA and DIA with fabricated reasons for war, etc. These things, that were secondary issues, haven't appeared as well anywhere else. It's in these things that I found the most satisfying from the movie.

It's definitely worth the watch, but the arms industry is exaggerated. I recommend that viewers also read Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal for a better understanding of why we invaded Iraq.

An Important Film.......2007-08-16

I watched this film for the first time this evening and am very glad I did so. Prior to watching this film, I had come to similar conclusion such as wondering why the military-industrial complex was running around without a leash and pondering why more Americans weren't concerned about our government officials pandering increasingly to corporations in recent years. But it's ingrained in us to be patient and to maintain in our government and the people.

This film helps to expose what's really been going on behind the scenes and how the American people have done little to stop it. It helps us to connect the dots to finally accept the fact that we were taken for a ride. A ride paid for with our own tax dollars used to pad corporate pockets.

I definitely recommend this film!

The Italian Job (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Very Entertaining Heist Movie
Great movie!
Fun stuff!
A classic, but...
Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!

The Italian Job (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Charlize Theron , Donald Sutherland , Jason Statham , and Seth Green
Director: F. Gary Gray
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000B1OFL
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

Though it bears little resemblance to the original 1969 thriller starring Michael Caine, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honor and dishonor among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham, and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlize Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers play a pivotal role in director F. Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Very Entertaining Heist Movie.......2007-09-17

I wonder how many MINI Cooper automobiles were sold thanks to this movie? It couldn't help but add to the sales of this little car, which is featured in this film, along with an attractive cast.

The film doesn't overdo the violence, has a pretty intelligent script (with a few short exceptions). features interesting characters and is nicely firmed. The cat-and-mouse game between Edward Norton and Charlize Theron's characters is suspenseful and fun to watch.

Once again, however, we are manipulated into rooting for criminals portrayed as "the good guys." How many times has this happened since the days of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" in the 1960s? Yet, it still gets five stars because it is an extremely entertaining movie and it also doesn't overboard on the profanity or sex....and, yes, those little cars are cool. Everyone I've talked to who has seen this film, enjoyed it.

Great movie!.......2007-08-01

The Italian Job is an awesome movie! It's action-packed & is very clever. I had a copy of the movie, but the disc got scratched, so I bought another copy to replace it. It's one of the few movies you won't get tired of watching, even though you already know what's going to happen.

Fun stuff!.......2007-07-15

Incredible special effects that were done without benefit of CGI. Just really good escapist fare. I highly recommend it!

A classic, but..........2007-06-23

I love this movie, I had it on DVD and I got it on HD DVD recently. My only gripe is the quality of the video transfer. There is a lot of graining and artifact noise, especially on dark scenes. The blacks on the DVD version look better than the HD DVD version's blacks...

Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!.......2007-06-15

The Italian Job brings to the screen the story of a group of thieves bent on revenge on one of their own who betrayed them by murdering their leader and running off with the gold.
Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sunderland, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Seth Green, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are commendable to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few thrills, not to mention a few laughs.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all wonderful!
In short, The Italian Job is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!

Average customer rating:

all the courage in the world is needed
GOOD
Wonderful kid's fantasy
Scratchy
Matilda

Matilda (Special Edition)
Starring: Kiami Davael , Embeth Davidtz , Pam Ferris , Gregory R. Goliath , and Leor Livneh Hackel
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000VCZKW
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Description

See the world from a kid's-eye view with Matilda, a modern fairytale that mixes hilarious humor with the magical message of love. Mrs. Doubtfire's Mara Wilson stars as Matilda, a super-smart little girl who's woefully misunderstood by her parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), her brother, and an evil school principal. But with the help of a brave best friend and a wonderful teacher, Matilda discovers she doesn't have to get mad to get even.

Customer Reviews:

all the courage in the world is needed.......2007-08-14

matilda is a girl with power!
she is always being made fun of by everyone even her parents!
But when she finds she has a special gift she finally finds friends!

GOOD.......2007-08-04

THANK YOU YOU GET GOOD MOVIES AND I AM HAPPY THAT ALL GET BY MAIL SMILE ;-)I LOVE THIS MOVIES

Wonderful kid's fantasy.......2007-08-01

It's funny, warm, and completely kid-safe. It combines the best of "be yourself" messages, a little on the nerdy side, with every child's wish to have some scrap of control over the incomprehensible world of grownups. And of course, this movie stars some very sweet kids - Matilda's little friend Lavender (Kiami Davael) is about as cute as they ever get.

I haven't read Roald Dahl's original story, Matilda, so I don't know how faithful the adaptation has been. The worst this movie could be, though, is a charming story in itself. Matilda grows up, brings herself up really, in a family where watching TV is almost a holy ritual, and where Daddy Wormwood (Danny DeVito) teaches that any scam is OK, as long as it makes a buck and you don't get caught. Despite the Wormwood family's best efforts, Matilda develops a strong sense of the right thing to do and a voracious love of reading. And, as the tensions build and the grownups become more outrageous, she develops a little bit of magic, too.

This certainly deserves a place in your rainy-day library. Your child is sure to enjoy it, almost as much as your inner child does.

-- wiredweird

Scratchy.......2007-07-30

About half way through the movie, the movie stops and stalls..you can not watch it any further. I am very disappointed in it.
I would not order any movies from this site.
Sue Y.

Matilda.......2007-07-05

I was very pleased with the time frame and the condition of the movie. Thank you very much.

Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful setting, but....
Under the Tuscan Sun
very much disappointed
Romantic
An intelligent chick flick?

Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Diane Lane , Sandra Oh , Lindsay Duncan , Raoul Bova , and Vincent Riotta
Director: Audrey Wells
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000VD02Y
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

Though she made her first movie at the age of 13, Diane Lane has only blossomed into a true star in her 30s, and Under the Tuscan Sun marks her full flowering. After a brutal divorce, Frances (Lane, Unfaithful, A Walk on the Moon) is persuaded by her friend Patti (Sandra Oh) to take a tour of Italy--where, on a whim that she hopes will rescue her from her desperate unhappiness, she buys a rundown villa and sets out to renovate it. Along the way, she gets advice from a former Fellini actress, meets a scrumptious Italian lover, and helps support Patti after her own relationship derails. The conclusion of Under the Tuscan Sun holds no surprises, but the deft turns and observations along the way are delightful. Lane carries the film effortlessly but surely, exuding both heartbreak and re-awakening passion. --Bret Fetzer

Description

From the studio that brought you SWEET HOME ALABAMA comes the extraordinary romantic comedy starring Academy Award(R) nominee Diane Lane (2002 Best Actress, UNFAITHFUL). Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling book, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN follows San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Lane) to Italy as a good friend offers her a special gift -- 10 days in Tuscany. Once there, she is captivated by its beauty and warmth, and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. Fully embracing new friends and local color, she finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure filled with enough unexpected surprises, laughter, friendship, and romance to restore her new home -- and her belief in second chances.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful setting, but...........2007-08-31

This movies is, of course, a chick-flick...There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, just as there's nothing wrong with all the action flicks out there.
This one however takes the genre to a bit of an extreme. All these exotic, interesting people: (the mysterious yet harmlessly interesting Englishwoman; all the stereotypical "perfect gentleman" and perfectly dressed Italian men; the oh-so-supportive pregnant - and lesbian - best friend (played by Sandra Oh)....and its all set in beautiful Tuscany where one just happens to be able to purchase a picture-perfect Italian villa to fix up. And no sign of the evil ex-husband as the heroine goes about putting her life back together....

This is a female fantasy movie, obviously. Its very escapist in that regard, and that's fine if you like that sort of thing - it was just a little too way-out for my taste.
Its saving grace is the wonderful setting in beautiful Tuscany Italy. I give it 3 stars just for that...

Under the Tuscan Sun.......2007-07-29

I love this movie and have seen it several times. The scenery is breathtaking, the story is lovely, Diane Lane is at her best and
Sandra Oh is a favorite of mine so no complaints! Great movie!

very much disappointed.......2007-07-23

It was just terrible for me, living in Italy for many years now. I hated to see exaggerated stereotyping of Italian men. it seemed to me a real bad Hollywood interpretation of A Room with A View.

Romantic.......2007-07-07

This is a lovely movie. I just finished watching it on the TV. Diane Lane is superb in her role, along with the other actors.

This movie is about a recently divorced woman starting out on her own again. She travels to Tuscany (Italy) for a holiday. On a whim, she decides to purchase a run-down house there to renovate.

The movie follows her transformation from being somewhat depressed and disillusioned to having an optimistic outlook.

There are some special scenes in this movie that are very heartfelt when this woman comes to really appreciate the importance her friends have on her life.

Highly recommended.

An intelligent chick flick?.......2007-06-20

I got this DVD because it is my best friend's favorite movie. It was good & worth watching- funny & intelligent. Only four stars because I'm not crazy about chick flicks, and the movie keeps bouncing back and forth from drama to comedy- leaving me a little confused at times.

Average customer rating:

just for broadway buffs
Wonderful DVD - Terrible Service
Wonderful Broadway on TV
much better than the current roadshow
The best ever Camelot

Camelot (Broadway Version)
Starring: Richard Harris , Meg Bussert , Richard Muenz , Barrie Ingham , and James Valentine (II)
Director: Marty Callner
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NTM9ZM
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

A live-on-stage performance filmed for HBO in 1982, Camelot returns Richard Harris to the role he immortalized on film in 1967. Harris replaced the original King Arthur, Richard Burton, in this revival production as it was on its way to New York's Winter Garden Theatre, which turned out to be Harris' only role on the Broadway stage. Fifteen years later, he's an older and wiser Arthur, a little more world-weary but still with a twinkle in his eye. He's paired with Meg Bussert, whose Guinevere is not as beautiful as Vanessa Redgrave in the film, but a better singer and appropriately younger. Bussert, who was Tony-nominated for her role in Brigadoon the year before, sounds eerily like original Broadway star Julie Andrews at times. Richard Muenz (The Most Happy Fella revival) plays Lancelot, Barrie Ingham plays Pellinore, and Richard Backus is Mordred. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's score is still a great classic, and here two songs cut from the movie are restored, "Before I Gaze at You Again" and "The Seven Deadly Virtues," but inexplicably cut is "Then You May Take Me to the Fair." Not surprisingly the production has a more stagebound feel compared to the sumptuous feature film, but it's good to have a more faithful version of the show available on DVD. --David Horiuchi

Description

Experience Camelot's "one brief, shining moment" as Lerner and Loewe envisioned it—live on a Broadway stage. Working at the top of his talent, Richard Harris heads an all-star cast in one of Broadway's wittiest, most literate musicals, filled with memorable tunes. Recorded at New York's historic Winter Garden Theatre in 1982, this production captures all the immediacy and intimacy of a live performance viewed from the best seat in the house.

Idealistic King Arthur longs to create a perfectly principled kingdom, but sees his dream undone by a tragic love triangle involving Queen Guenevere (Meg Bussert) and his best friend Lancelot (Richard Muenz). In this thoroughly engaging Tony®-nominated production, the medieval monarch's vision—a place where "violence is not strength, and compassion is not weakness"—speaks to our time and for all time.

Recommended for family viewing by the National Education Association

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE original Broadway PLAYBILL® (DVD-ROM) and bios of Lerner & Loewe and Richard Harris.

Customer Reviews:

just for broadway buffs.......2007-08-22

Beautiful close-ups which allow you to appreciate the fine performances of the whole cast. Richard Harris is remarkable.Lighting is warm as on the stage.However the grainy picture throughout diminishes the pleasure of watching, and the result is that you can love it only if you are a Broadway fan. Also complain the lack of subtitles. Might it have been edited better? After all it's one of the most important musicals and it deserved better care.

Wonderful DVD - Terrible Service.......2007-07-29

First, the product: The 1982 Broadway Camelot is far superior to the movie version. Where the movie seems dull and flat, this stage performance is captivating. Richard Harris appears to have a lot of fun after doing this part for so many years, and Meg Bussert is wonderful as the sweetly manipulative Guinevere. If you are trying to decide between this and the movie version, just stop and buy this one.

Second, the service. I wish Amazon would allow ratings on service. If they did, I'd give them a half-star on this order. When this DVD was announced early this year, I put in my order. In early May - when it was supposed to ship - I received an email that it would be delayed until mid-July. Even though the web site claimed it was in stock, I was patient. However, in mid-July I received yet ANOTHER email that it would now be September before I received my order. Amazon's site STILL claimed it was in stock. So, in frustration, I cancelled my Amazon order and found another online service to buy it from. I received it within the week.

I don't know what game Amazon was playing - since you can't talk to anyone very easily. Still, I now have this wonderful DVD. I strongly urge you to get it - I just hope you have better luck than I do in getting it.

Wonderful Broadway on TV.......2007-07-23

I originally saw this on HBO. Loved it and was so happy to find it on DVD. If you love Richard Harris you will love this. He is fantastic.

much better than the current roadshow.......2007-07-15

The DVD of Richard HArris in Camelot is truly a delight to watch and to recall since I saw that particular production live. The current production touring with Michael York comes up completely pale and unterinteresting since York only speaks his way through the songs while Richard Harris puts his whole heart and soul into the production. Save yourself money and buy this DVD so you will always be able to witness this magnificent performance. The only negative thing about the DVD is that it plays very dark.

The best ever Camelot.......2007-06-27

I have been waiting for YEARS for this version to become available. As far as I am concerned, it is the ONLY version of Camelot! The absolute best!

Average customer rating:

Simply The Best
Older IS Better
The Haunting
Intriguing Ambivilance
Great Spooky Movie

The Haunting
Starring: Julie Harris , Claire Bloom , Richard Johnson , Russ Tamblyn , and Fay Compton
Director: Robert Wise
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009NHB6
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

Certain to remain one of the greatest haunted-house movies ever made, Robert Wise's The Haunting (1963) is antithetical to all the gory horror films of subsequent decades, because its considerable frights remain implicitly rooted in the viewer's sensitivity to abject fear. A classic spook-fest based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House (which also inspired the 1999 remake directed by Jan de Bont), the film begins with a prologue that concisely establishes the dark history of Hill House, a massive New England mansion (actually filmed in England) that will play host to four daring guests determined to investigate--and hopefully debunk--the legacy of death and ghostly possession that has given the mansion its terrifying reputation.

Consumed by guilt and grief over her mother's recent death and driven to adventure by her belief in the supernatural, Eleanor Vance (Julie Harris) is the most unstable--and therefore the most vulnerable--visitor to Hill House. She's invited there by anthropologist Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson), along with the bohemian lesbian Theodora (Claire Bloom), who has acute extra-sensory abilities, and glib playboy Luke Sanderson (Russ Tamblyn, from Wise's West Side Story), who will gladly inherit Hill House if it proves to be hospitable. Of course, the shadowy mansion is anything but welcoming to its unwanted intruders. Strange noises, from muffled wails to deafening pounding, set the stage for even scarier occurrences, including a door that appears to breathe (with a slowly turning doorknob that's almost unbearably suspenseful), unexplained writing on walls, and a delicate spiral staircase that seems to have a life of its own.

The genius of The Haunting lies in the restraint of Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding, who elicit almost all of the film's mounting terror from the psychology of its characters--particularly Eleanor, whose grip on sanity grows increasingly tenuous. The presence of lurking spirits relies heavily on the power of suggestion (likewise the cautious handling of Theodora's attraction to Eleanor) and the film's use of sound is more terrifying than anything Wise could have shown with his camera. Like Jack Clayton's 1961 chiller, The Innocents, The Haunting knows the value of planting the seeds of terror in the mind, as opposed to letting them blossom graphically on the screen. What you don't see is infinitely more frightening than what you do, and with nary a severed head or bloody corpse in sight, The Haunting is guaranteed to chill you to the bone. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A group is introduced to the supernatural through a 90-year old New England haunted house. Be prepared for hair-raising results in this classic horror film!

Customer Reviews:

Simply The Best.......2007-09-12

There's probably only one time in my entire youth that my brother and I were in total agreement on something...the day we walked out of the movie theater in Brooklyn in the 60's, after viewing this film. We both were scared out of our socks and thought it was the most frightening movie ever made, challenged perhaps only by the incredible CARNIVAL OF SOULS by Herk Harvey. Either of these would make great Halloween Movie Party Night selections, but I would recommend screening YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN afterward; otherwise you'll never get your guests out from under the couch!

Older IS Better.......2007-08-29

I first saw this movie as a child. It was the scariest movie I had ever seen, and yet the move had virtually no "special effects" at all. I'm a much older "girl" now, but I still love this movie. I think it's much better than the remake, and even after "The Exorcist", Stephen King movies, etc., this one still does it for me (without a lot of blood and gore, too.)

The Haunting.......2007-08-29

We received the movie in record time and it was in excellent condition. As far as the movie goes I think this original film by "Wise" is the best. It doesn't have wild special effects, but it certainly is scarry.Don't let the Black & White film turn you away it's a classic.

Intriguing Ambivilance.......2007-08-23

This 1960s adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel, "The Haunting of Hill House" is one of the more disturbing ghost movies I've seen to date- not because of what you see, but for what you don't see. This isn't necessarily a movie about a haunted house, but a woman on the edge of a nervous break-down - is the house haunted, or have the internal demons of Elanor come out to play? Is the house an avatar of the original builder, a reclusive misogynist and repressed sex fiend with a punitive religious bent or just a convenient place for everyone's worst aspects to expose themselves? The fact that the film has no real special effects and is shot in black and white makes it even more unsettling, like a nightmare. The only thing that mars the entire picture is the end: the exposition at Elanor's death in the driveway should have been left out entirely as it ruins the rythmn of the nightmare dance between Elanor, the house, and her own "Victorian" past which reflects the WORST of that age.

Great Spooky Movie.......2007-08-15

Good, old fashioned, black and white horror film. No blood, no guts, no gore. Just scary and suspenseful.

Average customer rating:

Robin of Sherwood
My Favorite Series of All Time
The Best Robin Hood Ever!
Rob (yawn) Hood
robin of sherwood

Robin of Sherwood - Season 1
Starring: Michael Praed , and Anthony Valentine
Director: Alex Kirby
Manufacturer: ACORN MEDIA
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000L21290
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

When Robin of Sherwood debuted in 1984, it revolutionized the legend of Robin Hood with a young, scruffy Robin (Michael Praed, later to appear on Dynasty) and his ragged, rough-and-tumble band of thieves. Fusing the derring-do of the traditional story with a more Arthurian magic element (ranging from druidic visions to outright black magic), Robin of Sherwood was an immediate sensation. Unfortunately, not all revolutions age well, and some viewers may have trouble getting past Robin's flowing 1980s hairstyle or the Clannad soundtrack, which seems to have been played on the cheapest, tinniest synthesizer available. More open-minded audiences will enjoy the show's virtues: Gritty, realistic medieval sets and costumes; an amusing blend of feudal politics and occult danger (episodes featured everything from possession to love spells to devil-worshiping nuns); a scenery-chewing performance from Nickolas Grace (Brideshead Revisited) as the Sheriff of Nottingham (the bad guys always have the most fun); and the surly presence of a young Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) as Will Scarlet. All the classic characters are there, including a dewy Lady Marion, towering Little John, plump Friar Tuck, and more. Though sometimes cheesy, Robin of Sherwood never slid into camp, and fans appreciate its earnest interpretation. Set 1 includes the 13 episodes of the first two series, along with a bonus disk of retrospective interviews with the cast and creators, outtakes, and other appealing features. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The centuries-old legend of Robin Hood was never more vividly brought to life than in this acclaimed British series. Combining real history with elements of magic and mysticism, and set against a backdrop of gritty medieval realism, Robin of Sherwood has captivated fans of all ages. Heading up the superb ensemble cast are Michael Praed (Dynasty) as Robin of Loxley, Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) as seething-mad Scarlet, and Nickolas Grace (Brideshead Revisted) as the greedy, conniving Sheriff of Nottingham. Shot entirely on location in English castles and countryside, the authentic atmosphere is enhanced by an award-winning soundtrack of haunting melodies performed by the Irish band Clannad. Includes all 13 episodes in Series 1 & 2.

OVER 9 HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES!

Commentaries for selected episodes (Vols. 1, 2 & 4)
Two retrospective documentaries
Outtakes
Behind-the-scenes documentary The Electric Theatre Show, with bonus footage
Textless title sequences
U.S. title sequences
French title sequences
Cast filmographies

Customer Reviews:

Robin of Sherwood.......2007-08-23

This is the series that first had me falling in love with Robin Hood. I watched it over and over and some how it seemed like there were so many more episodes....
Not for very young viewers, (occult storylines), but tweens, teens and adults should check this out. So much of this series inspired Kevin Kostner's version. Without this show, the now popular version of Robin Hood might not exist.
Micheal Praed is my Robin!

My Favorite Series of All Time.......2007-07-26

While lacking the production values of many of today's television shows, what this series lacks in special effects it makes up for in writing, story line, acting (often campy), and most importantly it takes the Robin Hood myth in some interesting and creative directions. This isn't Disney's Robin Hood. Instead, Robin is cast as a truly legendary figure, drawing heavily from English/Celtic mythology -- one episode even tackles the Arthur myth -- and medieval themes. This is a Robin whose world is steeped in magic and danger. Sherwood Forest is a space that mimics Shakespeare's forests: it is outside of society and its power structures. Also interesting are the social issues that this Robin faces. Unlike most versions of Robin Hood, this Robin isn't simply concerned with poor versus rich, but also Norman versus Saxon, Christian versus Pagan, and, of course, right versus wrong. One episode plays with the medieval tension between Christianity and Judaism with some interesting results. Possibly one of the most compelling characters, aside from Robin, is Friar Tuck who is wholly Christian, but also intimately involved in the pagan world of Herne the Hunter (a forest deity who guides Robin throughout the series). Watching the good Friar negotiate both worlds is curious, and well handled. Rather than the large band of thieves featured in many versions of the Robin Hood myth, this series focuses on the small band of men surrounding Robin (played by Michael Praed in the first few seasons and then Jason Connary), and of course, his true love, Marion (played by the lovely Judi Trott). This series also features fantastic music by Clannad. I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the Robin Hood myth. It has been a joy to finally have a copy of this wonderful series on DVD. My review refers to the limited edition complete series, not the individual seasons on DVD.

The Best Robin Hood Ever!.......2007-06-12

This series is simply enchanting; it remains my all-time favorite version of the Robin Hood legend. The forest is mystical; the villages realistic, and the elements of paganism and magic a delight. The cast works well together and compliment their roles. Michael Praed is heartbreakingly handsome, and a little bit tragic, as the hooded man, who almost never fails to best the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisburne. This a must for serious fans of Robin Hood.

Rob (yawn) Hood.......2007-06-08

We really wanted to like this series because we are researching Robin Hood right now and looking at hundreds of different versions of the story. Actually, the first 4 or 5 episodes were really quite good (except for the distracting and repetitive Clannad score). Then the black magic kicked in with the arrival of Hearn the Hunter and it was a slippery slope to dullsville from then on. Realistic? Hardly. Now, I am not a purist who is completely opposed to the Deus ex machina, but the writers of this version of Robin Hood Deus ex machina-d this thing to death. F'rinstance: in one episode, Marian gets an arrow in the back, so they take her to this rock circle that looks like a mini-Stonehenge. Hearn the Hunter shows up with his deer horns on top of his head, a brilliant light streams from the clouds as they pull the arrow out of Marian's back, and then POOF! fade to a resurrected Marian...in a new outfit, to boot! There's nothing like a little of that old black magic to make things all right again and catapult us into the next episode unscathed. Honestly, I really liked a lot of the characters. Will's angry eyes got a little tiresome after a while, but the cast had good chemistry overall. Hats off to the director, too. I thought it was a stellar directing job. But cast chemistry and good direction do not a good story make. In this legend, I want Robin Hood and his merry men to be the heroes. Not some deer-headed mystic casting spells and calling on the black pagan arts to save the day. I'm sad to say I finally gave up watching this first season after one episode in which we had to endure not one, not two, not three, but at least four pagan fairy dances around a campfire at the base of a sacred tree. Ugh. Give me an old-fashioned arrows-flying peasant-saving Robin Hood over a lost, tormented tree hugger any day.

robin of sherwood.......2007-06-08

When i was a younger i fell in love with robin of sherwood. To me this is one of the most realistic shows about the tale of Robin Hood. I love the fact that there was no fact accents, no blatant rip offs. The cast worked very well together. I loved the music it made the show more alive. I still wish this was on tv.

The Facts of Life - The Complete Third Season

Average customer rating:

classic tv
Great show, get this one
4th season? 5th season? Whats the hold up!?!?!?!
what you want to wait 10 years to put out season 4
One of those great shows we all grew up with.

The Facts of Life - The Complete Third Season
Starring: Charlotte Rae , Kim Fields , Nancy McKeon , and Lisa Welchel
Director: Valentine Mayer , Jim Drake (II) , Asaad Kelada , and Nick Havinga
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HIVIOC
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Sony

School is back in session as Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) and the girls of Eastland return for the third season of The Facts of Life, one of the biggest TV hits of the '80s! Share the laughter with Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields), Natalie (Mindy Cohn), and Jo (Nancy McKeon) as they learn the important lessons that will shape their lives. Third season highlights include the girls' adventures in Manhattan, the cute boys of Bates Academy, the return of Cousin Geri, and even a special guest-star appearance by Jermaine Jackson.

Customer Reviews:

classic tv.......2007-07-03

If you want kids to see something descent, and not having to worry about vulgarities, and things they shouldnt see. Older shows like facts of life, will give you good clean entertainment.And for people who are a tad older it gives you a blast from the past, a retro feeling

Great show, get this one.......2007-06-25

Imagine my delight when I saw all 3 seasons stocked at a mall department store. Amazon had them on sale, so I ordered them all online at once. Needless to say, I watched them all as soon they finally arrived in my mailbox. No bonus features here, but otherwise everything's closed-captioned. Kudos to the one responsible for this particular feature I truly, absolutely appreciate.

As I said here regarding seasons 1 and 2 (see separate review), I fell in love with it since it premiered despite the changes made for S2. I'd watch it every week if I get to remember, thru high school. I'd moved on, sometimes not realizing it was *still* around, but when I did I decided to stick with it again in later years til it went off in 1988.

TFOL finished 24th in the ratings a couple times in its 9-year run, in season 3 at 19.1 and 5 at 17.3. All other seasons, probably somewhere in the top 40 if not better. If I remember right, this show finished in the top 30 in the 9th and final season at 14.9, a very respectable number at the time if you ask me. Some shows crash and burn in the final season, but not this one. 0:)

I'll get future seasons as soon as they come out. Hopefully the DVD sales will still be good to ensure the rest to be released in due time.

4th season? 5th season? Whats the hold up!?!?!?!.......2007-06-03

Uummmm Yha you can only watch the 3rd season so many times before you know it word for word.... so what gives? where are the other season's on dvd?!?!? Bring on Beverly Ann and Andy already! "Over our heads" people!!! Talk about slow release's.
SOMEONES IN TROUBLLLLLE...........LOL
Just Hurry it up already!
Thank You!

what you want to wait 10 years to put out season 4.......2007-05-31

what are you waiting for we want season 4

One of those great shows we all grew up with........2007-04-03

The facts Of Life is a show we all can relate to. Each and every episode shows us the meening of life when growing up. It is a group of girls in a privet school and their teacher whom we as television viewers and the girls loved, our Mr's Garret. She takes care of the girls as they grow up to be young ladies. It is a comady a drama and they just don't make shows like these anymore. Season one introduses us to all of the girls and Mr's Garret untll the second season they kept just three of the girls and add a new one. We have Blair who is the snoby one, Tootie who is best friends with the perky Nattle and Jo street smart who dosen't get along with Blair until some time in the series. They all show that they care about each other as friends no matter how differant they are. It's a shame that this show went off the air when it did but it did last about 9 seasons. Looking forward to season 4

DVD:

DVD

DVD