Bones - The Complete Second Season

Amazon.com

Beginning with the death of a senator and ending with a marriage, the second season of Bones builds on the momentum created during the Fox drama's debut year. Bones' sophomore season (which includes all 21 episodes that originally aired during 2006-2007) centers on the collaborations between FBI special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), whom Booth has nicknamed "Bones." While Booth doesn't completely believe in Bones' method, he can't argue with her success rate at solving crimes. As for Bones, she is meticulous at what she does and is a borderline genius, but she has issues. Seemingly oblivious to her own good looks, she is all but socially inept. Booth may be blunt, but he's comfortable dealing with the public. Bones, on the other hand, would rather be sequestered away with the dead, trying to figure out what happened before their uncertain deaths. Of course, while viewers can see that Bones and Booth would be a perfect couple, the characters aren't quite there yet. Their friendship becomes a little more complicated this season when it turns out that Bones' new demanding boss, Dr. Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), is a former girlfriend of Booth's. And the two women aren't getting along.

Still, everyone is able to work together to solve a series of crimes, such as identifying the remains of an all but unidentifiable teenage boy and dealing with a serial killer who is emulating the crimes depicted in Bones' latest mystery novel. (Yes, she's not only a brilliant scientist but also an ace author.) Like many television dramas where forensic evidence is a driving force in the plots, Bones offers up the gross-out autopsies. But it also serves up a lot of humanity in the way the characters interact with one another. It is giving nothing away to reveal that Bones and Booth are not the couple getting married in the season finale. But the episode does reveal that beneath their tough exteriors, marriage and all that it implies is something they wouldn't mind... perhaps even with each other. --Jae-Ha Kim

Description

Detectives Bones and Booth create undeniable chemistry and humor while solving crimes using frequently clashing investigative styles.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Finest Hours on Television Today.......2007-09-17

FOX Television has struck gold with the series, BONES. The series stars BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL heartthrob David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seely Booth and relative newcomer Emily Deschanel as Temperance Brennan.

The series is based on books written by real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs. Reichs is also a real-life NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author. Viewers of the television show will quickly discover that the "Temperance Brennan" of the books is much different than the character in the television show. The literary Temperance is a divorced mother with a problematic family.

In the television show, Temperance is an orphan that was raised in foster care and has trouble relating to others on an interpersonal level. She also happens to be an author and writes about a forensic anthropologist named Kathy Reichs.

The two series, in some ways, are vastly different. But people who enjoy the show will probably enjoy the books. And people enjoy the books, once they get over the fact that their favorite heroine isn't presented the way she is in the novels, will have a blast with the television show.

BONES, derived from Seely Booth's pet name for Temperance and from the fact that a forensic anthropologist usually only has skeletons to work with, is a fascinating interplay of almost-romance, outstanding characters, and nifty little puzzles dealing with murder and mayhem. The chemistry between the two stars is palpable and believable. I haven't seen Boreanaz anything that I haven't liked him in. Deschanel was new to me, although I had seen her in a supporting role in GLORY ROAD that was much different than the Temperance role.

The almost-romance shtick has gotten potentially old after playing in MOONLIGHTING and LOIS AND CLARK, as well as many others. In fact, long-time mystery viewers will remember a show called REMINGTON STEELE that starred Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. After those two characters hooked up, viewer interest seemed to wane. Series developer Hart Hanson has to know he's walking a thin line but by choosing to go this route. However, it plays beautifully at present.

The second season continues much of the same tone that was set in the first season. Booth has warmed up to Brennan and her crew, although he still continues to refer to them as the Squint Squad when referring to them among his peers at the FBI. Booth and Brennan also continue to look for her father and to find out what happened to her mother after Brennan's parents disappeared when she was just a teenager.

While Booth's romance with Brennan continues to fizzle this season, maybe even more difficult by the addition of Doctor Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), Angela (Michaela Conlin) and Jack's (T. J. Thyne) romance buds, blossoms, and almost bears fruit. As it turns out, Saroyan is a pathologist (which is a conflict in field of study to a degree to an anthropologist), is Brennan's new boss, and is one Booth's ex-lovers.

Tensions mount between Booth and Brennan as each tries to figure out where the other fits into the work and personal scenes. However, thankfully, the idea of romance is merely hinted at and flirted with rather than moved into a starring role. This is a great choice for the series at the moment, but I don't know how much longer they can successfully pull this off.

In addition to interesting leads, Booth and Brennan are backed by fantastic supporting characters who often step into the limelight of an episode. Zack and Hodges continue to bring slapstick scientific moments to the episodes. Although I really didn't think they could top running the semi-frozen pig corpse through the wood chipper last season, they blew the roof off my expectations with the season opener when they simulated a burning death of a victim using Spam lunch meat. I can always count on those two for a laugh, either through Zack's deadpan delivery or Hodges's conspiracy theories.

Angela is the heart and soul of the investigatory unit. She reminds the team and the viewer that the victims in each episode were real people. Plus, she's gotta be one of the hottest babes on television today. I will never forget how she grabbed the attention of the airline clerk in the first season opener.

Only 21 of Season Two's 22-episode run are included on this box set. One of the episodes, "Player Under Pressure," was pulled out of the lineup during the regular season. The plot line was uncomfortably close to the Virginia Tech shootings. It will be aired this year in Season Three.

There were a lot of outstanding episodes this year, and it was good to see them again in this box set. I was happy to see that this set contains six single-sided discs instead of three double-sided discs like in the last set. On double-sided discs, it gets too complicated tried to figure out which side is up. Plus, I like the cosmetic appeal of having pictures of the actors and actresses on the top of the disc. This also helps make the discs immediately recognizable.

The special features include voiceovers on select episodes, two featurettes, and a gag reel that shows viewers how much fun this series must be to work on. Although the special features are still "bare bones" compared to what viewers want, it does add up to more reasons to pick up the box set.

BONES is one of the best hours of television currently on. If you haven't discovered the series for yourself and you're looking for something to fill the gap left by the cancellation of VERONICA MARS, this series may well be what you're looking for.

We return to the scene of the crime.......2007-09-16

Building on the momentum of its first season, this Fox series continues successfully combining the morbidity of forensic investigation with the intrigue of budding office romances.

Spicing things up, an old girlfriend of Booth's, Dr. Camile 'Cam' Saroyan (Tamara Taylor) becomes Dr. Brennan's boss ("The Titan on the Tracks"). Initially uncertain they can work together, they soon hammer out a workplace agreement, creating a truce.

Ironically, this hard-nosed boss's life later becomes endangered after she inhales a toxin in "The Man in the Cell". It creates a little drama in the workplace--and for viewing audiences--while she is recovering.

Booth also has a personal problem of his own to deal with during this season His ex-girlfriend is letting her new boyfriend spend time with their son--whom he is very protective of ("Mother and Child in the Bay"). Boreanaz does some of his most convincing acting as the 'concerned parent of a young child'. I am shocked that the writers of this series haven't promoted it through more balance of Booth's parenting.

"The Girl With the Curl" obviously drew it's inspiration from the still-unsolved Jon Benet Ramsey case. Brennan and Booth have to figure out who killed a child beauty queen before tragedy strikes again, and are visibly concerned. They've seen all kinds of stuff on this job, but learning what children undergo to be considered 'pretty' really pushes their limits. They are further surprised to discover the actual identity of the killer.

Maddie and David move over!.......2007-09-14

The sexual tension, enuendos and witty reparte is what makes this show on Fox so good. But it's the actors that carry it off that makes it a GREAT SHOW. David Boreanaz, the marvelous character actor that he is, has enough soul and sex appeal for all the women on Bones and more! Bones Season 2 is (I can't believe I am saying this) even better than the "5 starred" Season One. Smart, smart dialog and funny, funny situations keep me watching the characters, Booth and Brennen, over and over again. I can't wait until Season Three begins on September 25. Please watch it if you haven't seen it before.

Missing episode and Fox no help.......2007-09-12

Let me start by saying that Bones is one of the best shows on TV. David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel have the best on screen chemistry in years. And the supporting cast is excellent. Second season really saw a growth of character driven plots and excellent writing. Here's where my problem with the DVD box is. The episode Player Under Pressure #19 which went unaired by FOX out of respect for the Virginia Tech tragedy was not included in this set with no real explaination why. When contacting FOX video, they were unable to give any answers either. This comes from the same company that when the Buffy episode Earshot, that was not broadcast for a similar reason, did later include in in the box set for that season. FOX is also very good about releasing TV shows that include unaired episodes in their DVD box sets, so I am very confused and disappointed by this.

I love the show....but............2007-09-06

I am a huge fan of this show and own the first season. However I'm a bit disappointed with FOX on the release of this "INCOMPLETE" season 2. Don't be misled by the "Complete Second Season" title. The episode "Player Under Pressure" is not on the episode list for this dvd. This episode contained a key plot line that many of us were upset when we watched the following week's episode. I've contacted FOX about this and to this day have not received a response. Perhaps the episode will appear on the set as an easter egg??? I don't know. But, am I suppose to forget that this episode never aired?? For this reason alone I'm giving this dvd 3 stars. If it was truly complete, I would have given 5 stars

Average customer rating:

Bones-The Chemistry Begins Here!
Gotta love Bones
Bones-Season 1
Finally! A forensic drama which allows its actors to stretch themselves
Sexy and bone chillingly captivating!

Bones - The Complete First Season
Starring: David Boreanaz , Emily Deschanel , Michaela Conlin , Eric Millegan , and J Thyne
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000HT3P60
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Amazon.com

A taut series filled with drama as well as great chemistry between its two lead stars, Bones is a strong addition to Fox's television lineup. Debuting in 2005 to favorable critical reviews, the series shares an audience of fans with the CSI franchise. Smartly written and well-acted, the first season of Bones focuses on the collaborations between FBI special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), whom Booth somewhat sarcastically nicknames "Bones." Each of the 22 episodes follows a premise well-known to regular viewers of crime dramas--a murder has been committed and a body found. The team's job is to figure out who the victim is, how he or she was killed, and how it was done; that part doesn't differ from other shows on television. What sets the show apart is the humor injected into the episodes (Boreanaz is particularly good at delivering wry lines). There's some wicked humor in the episode focusing on Brennan's attempts at dating, which is nicely offset by the horrific crimes she has to deal with. And for a show with such attractive leads, Bones doesn't make a huge point of dwelling on any possible attraction between the pair. Rather, it takes advantage of their playful bantering, which is more akin to that of bickering siblings than repressed lovers--for this season, anyhow. The series is inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist and author Kathy Reichs (who stars in one of the featurettes on the four-disc set). In a nice play on art imitating reality, Kathy Reichs also is the name of the heroine in the murder mysteries that Dr. Brennan writes on the side. By the end of the season, viewers will learn enough about the characters to care, but not enough to completely understand why they are the way they are. That is an ongoing mystery. --Jae-Ha Kim

Beyond Bones: The Complete First Season

More "Edge-of-your-Seat" TV DVDs
Break No Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels)
24: Season 5

Meet the Characters of Bones: The Complete First Season (click for larger image)

Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz)is a former Army sniper who mistrusts science and scientists - the "squints," as he calls them, who pore over the physical evidence.
Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel)is a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and writes novels as a sideline.
Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), earthy and bawdy, is Brennan's friend and fellow scientist.

Zach Addy (Eric Millegan), is a young prodigy whose genius IQ actually gets in the way of his finishing the several doctorates he has begun.
Dr. Jack Hodgins (J Thyne), is an expert on insects, spores and minerals, but conspiracy is his hobby.

Stills from Bones: The Complete First Season (click for larger image)

Description

David Boreanaz (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) stars as F.B.I. Agent Seeley Booth, who teams up with forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) to solve some of the most baffling and bizarre crimes ever. Booth depends on clues from the living, witnesses and suspects, while Brennan gathers evidence from the dead, relying on her uncanny ability to read clues left behind in the bones of the victims. Their different investigative styles cause the two to frequently clash, creating an undeniable chemistry and just the right touch of dark humor. Inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs and state-of-the-art criminal investigation procedures, Bones is a compelling, cutting edge television.

Customer Reviews:

Bones-The Chemistry Begins Here!.......2007-09-12

This has got to be one of my all time favorite comedy/drama shows ever! It is my favorite for the last two seasons of all shows. The chemistry between Seely Booth and Temperance (Bones) Brennen is so thick you can cut it with a knife. The plots and storylines are fantastic. As this is based on an actual person who is a forensic anthropologist it is interesting, educational, humorous and above all an absolutely great show to watch! The interaction of the entire cast is like one big family that cares for each other as well as the bones they try to solve cases of.
If you have never watched this show, it gets better and better with each episode. Try it, you'll like it!!!!

"Bones - The Complete First Season"

Gotta love Bones.......2007-09-10

Great show. Definately worth watching. If you're into medical investigation shows like CSI or House then I would definately recommend this show. Entertaining cast and it's fun to watch a woman like Bones take the lead.

Bones-Season 1.......2007-08-07

A very good crime drama somewhat in the vein of CSI. The interplay between the main characters is what drives this show. David Boreanez is light years from the brooding (but still wonderful) character Angel he played for many years, and he really shines with the serious/smarmy FBI detective Booth role. Emily Deschanel is very believable as the brainy forensic anthropologist "Bones" Brennan. The rest of the cast is also excellent and provide great interaction. The dialogue can get a little difficult to understand, but the show still manages to pull off each episode pretty well. All in all, Bones is a very entertaining drama and well worth watching.

Finally! A forensic drama which allows its actors to stretch themselves.......2007-06-16

An excellent series and in my opinion, more entertaining than the CSI we see today which has dropped drastically in standards. Storylines are interesting. There's wit and humour in the interaction between characters, plus a good cultural representation.

The DVD itself is worth picking up. Amongst the extras are 2 episodes with commentaries: one done by the series creator & a producer which was very informative. Includes bits on how the actors were cast. The other done by David & Emily which I had a few laughs listening to. Quality of pic and sound are also excellent.

Sexy and bone chillingly captivating!.......2007-06-05

This show is fabulous. It not only has two leading stars that steal your heart with their good looks, wit, and humor, but it's interesting too. I've watched a few crime fighting t.v. shows but nothing compares to this one. I love how it has an interesting twist with the forensic anthropologist. I am a person of science and I can say whoever wrote the screen play knows their "bones" and the human body very well. All the characters personalities add a uniqueness to the whole dynamics of the show. I can't wait till season two comes out!

Average customer rating:

JUST TOO, TOO FUNNY!!!
Funny!
O' Brother...
O Brother, Where Art Thou
USA FORMATS DVD

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Starring: Michael Badalucco , George Clooney , Frank Collison , Charles Durning , and Wayne Duvall
Director: Joel Coen
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Criminals | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00003CXRM
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Amazon.com

Only Joel and Ethan Coen, the fraternal director and producer team behind art-house hits such as The Big Lebowski and Fargo and masters of quirky and ultra-stylish genre subversion, would dare nick the plot line of Homer's Odyssey for a comic picaresque saga about three cons on the run in 1930s Mississippi. Our wandering hero in this case is one Ulysses Everett McGill, a slick-tongued wise guy with a thing about hair pomade (George Clooney, blithely sending up his own dapper image) who talks his chain-gang buddies (Coen-movie regular John Turturro and newcomer Tim Blake Nelson) into lighting out after some buried loot he claims to know of. En route they come up against a prophetic blind man on a railroad truck, a burly, one-eyed baddie (the ever-magnificent John Goodman), a trio of sexy singing ladies, a blues guitarist who's sold his soul to the devil, a brace of crooked politicos on the stump, a manic-depressive bank robber, and--well, you get the idea. Into this, their most relaxed film yet, the Coens have tossed a beguiling ragbag of inconsequential situations, a wealth of looping, left-field dialogue, and a whole stash of gags both verbal and visual. O Brother (the title's lifted from Preston Sturges's classic 1941 comedy Sullivan's Travels) is furthermore graced with glowing, burnished photography from Roger Deakins and a masterly soundtrack from T-Bone Burnett that pays loving homage to American '30s folk styles--blues, gospel, bluegrass, jazz, and more. And just to prove that the brothers haven't lost their knack for bad-taste humor, we get a Ku Klux Klan rally choreographed like a cross between a Nuremberg rally and a Busby Berkeley musical. --Philip Kemp

Description

Disenchanted with the daily drudge of crushing rocks on a prison farm in Mississippi, the dapper, silver-tongued Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney, THE PERFECT STORM) busts loose. Except he's still shackled to his own chain-mates from the chain gang -- bad-tempered Pete (John Turturro, SUMMER OF SAM), and sweet, dimwitted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson, HAMLET). With nothing to lose and buried loot to regain -- before it's lost forever in a flood -- the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this hilarious offbeat road picture. Populated with strange characters, including a blind prophet, sexy sirens, and a one-eyed Bible salesman (John Goodman, COYOTE UGLY), it's an odyssey filled with chases, close calls, near misses, and betrayal that will leave you laughing at every outrageous and surprising twist and turn.

Customer Reviews:

JUST TOO, TOO FUNNY!!!.......2007-09-14

This has got to be one of the funniest movies ever made. And one of the cleverest, too. Three guys escape from a chain gang, make a hit record, become "rock stars" of sorts without knowing it, escape an attack on them by the Ku Klux Klan, survive a flood, become honorary advisors to the Governor and live happily ever after. Along the way, one of them gets turned into a toad by sirens, gets squished, "comes back to life" where he, coincidentally, meets up with his fellow escapees in a movie theater which, just happens to be filled with inmates from the chain gang they escaped from. Interested? You should be. I have 2 young children and whenever we watch this movie they cannot stop laughing. Neither can I. Rent or buy this movie. Enjoy yourself!

Funny!.......2007-09-01

there are so many other character references in this movie you forget what your watching, it is a hoot! and good songs!
Hows my hair look?

O' Brother..........2007-08-23

This is a great movie! The plot is easy to follow and if you're well-read and a fan of Homer, the parallels will make you chuckle. The musical score is amazing and I bought it later just because I wanted to enjoy it outside of viewing the movie.

George Clooney and John Goodman make this movie shine.

O Brother, Where Art Thou.......2007-08-15

What can anybody say about this movie! It's a real classic. Quirky, funny, sad, uplifting, delightful! Highlights the versatility of these fantastic actors, but it's not really George Clooney singing. A must-have for the film aficionado.

USA FORMATS DVD.......2007-08-11

DVD WILL NOT PLAY ON A NON USA MACHINE ( BUT WILL PLAY ON MY PC )

Average customer rating:

Verhoeven should have directed this
This goddess can't sing
One star for Brad Pitt's rear end
Pitt tried
Brad Spitt is no Achilles

Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Julian Glover , Brian Cox , Nathan Jones , Adoni Maropis , and Jacob Smith
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0002Z0EYK
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Amazon.com

There are many reasons to recommend Troy as a good ol' fashioned Hollywood epic, especially if you've never read Homer's The Iliad. Dispensing with Greek gods altogether, this earnestly massive production (budgeted at upwards of $200 million) will surely offend historians and devoted students of the classics (for them, there's the History Channel's Troy). But there's politics aplenty in the grand-scale war that erupts when Trojan prince Paris (Orlando Bloom) makes off with Helen (blandly beautiful German model Diane Kruger), wife of Spartan ruler Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), whose brother, the Greek king Agamemnon (Brian Cox) prods him into enraged retaliation. Greek warrior Achilles (Brad Pitt) brings lethal force to his battles (and there are many of them, mostly impressive), and his Trojan counterpart, Paris's brother Hector (Eric Bana), adds even more buffed-up beefcake to a film so chock-full o' hunks that there's barely room for Peter O'Toole (doing fine work as Trojan king Priam) and even less for Julie Christie, appearing ever-so-briefly as Achilles's melancholy mother. The drama is nearly as arid as the sun-baked locations (Mexico and Malta) that stand in for the Aegean coast, and many critics suggested that Pitt (who valiantly tries to give Achilles some tormented dimension) was simply miscast. But when you consider that Wolfgang Petersen also made The Perfect Storm, there's nothing wrong with enjoying Troy as a semi-guilty pleasure with a touch of ancient class. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles, and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of bireme warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.

DVD Features:
Easter Eggs
Featurette:3 Featurettes: 1.In The Thick of the Battle: Discover how Troy's epic battle sequences were created--from thousands of warrior-extras training in the scorching heat of Mexico to fierce, one on one duels to the death. 2.From Ruins to Reality: Explore how the ruins of ancient Troy were unearthed, and how Troy's production design magicians created their own version of this breathtaking, legendary city. 3.Troy: An Effects Odyssey: The secrets of Troy's stunning visual effects are revealed--fro
Photo gallery:Gallery of the Gods: Take a computer generated, 3-D tour of Mount Olympus and meet the fabled Gods of Ancient Greece
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Verhoeven should have directed this.......2007-09-11

Yes, Paul Verhoeven should have directed Troy. He could have filmed the graphic violence depicted in The Iliad to greater effect. But I'm sick and tired of all these damn purists hollering "historical" epic. The Iliad was a greek myth, not an actual historical event, but a long poem composed by a writer named Homer. However, I do maintain that if you are going to base the movie on the book, the writer, producer, and director of the film should have kept to the original story. Why call it "Troy" and then fabricate something else if just to sucker in those who've read the Iliad. It's the same thing with comic book adaptations like the X Men. Why adapt material of such a large devoted following and change the character histories, costumes, etc., and call it the X Men?

Troy, of itself, is a good Hollywood film. Pawned as Homer's Iliad, the movie's not just a fraud, it's a disgrace and an insult. As if the producers of the film felt that they could improve on a story that's been around, studied, and loved for over 2,500 years. I think Verhoeven, Peter Jackson, or Spielberg--especially with the brutality of Saving Private Ryan (wow)--could have done not only a better job, but they--I believe--would have stayed truer to Homer's original story. As far as violence goes, no novel revels in it like the Iliad. A film version of the book, if depicted as Homer depicted in the Iliad, would be a strong NC-17 or a weak X rating. If you want to see--or visualize--action and violence on a whole other level, read the Iliad and skip Troy. But if you're just looking for a good popcorn, beer, smoke, movie then Troy is as advertised.

This goddess can't sing.......2007-09-01

I'll make this short and sweet: Troy has a banal, redundant and uneven script, an A-list cast, a terrible musical score, and possibly the worst direction possible. That's really about it. The film opening scenes drag endlessly, with a lengthy prologue (featuring both text AND voice over) that fails to tell us anything an intelligent person couldn't deduct from the first five minutes of the film. Wolfgang Petersen has lost any credibility he might have had as a director, as the picture is washed out and sun-blasted, the action scenes are incredibly bland considering the film's outrageous budget, and there's so much overacting from the cast that I felt like I was watching a soap opera. James Horner provides one of the worst soundtracks in movie history, completely devoid of any creativity (it's too busy trying to rip off Hans Zimmer's genre-setting work in Gladiator). Diane Kruger is unbelievably boring, both dramatically and visually, as the legendary Helen. Brad Pitt's portrayal of Achilles as an ancient rock star is inspired, but his attempts to fake an English accent are inconsistent and annoying. Peter O'Toole has little to do except speak extremely slowly, and talk to the women of the film like a dirty old man. Brian Cox practically starts eating the set as Agamemnon. The film's sole saving graces are Eric Bana as Hector, Saffron Burrows as his wife Andromache (Hector and Andromache have good chemistry, and their relationship is one of the few convincing ones in the film), Sean Bean as Odysseus, and Vincent Egan as Achilles' captain, and Achilles' abs, which are rather impressive (that is, until you see Gerald Butler's in 300). All are terrific and lend the film what little value it has with wonderful, understated performances. Orlando Bloom is whiney and weak, but that's the character of Paris, so one could argue his performance is perfect. Bloom has absolutely zero chemistry, however, with Kruger, so their love feels flat and unconvincing. Even the massive battle sequences are weak, and consist of either massive CGI armies slamming into each other or poorly choreographed one on one duels between the heroes. Finally, the duel between Achilles and Hector, one of the most pivotal moments in the Iliad, is literally around 90 seconds long. 90 seconds. Out of almost 3 hours. Talk about anticlimatic.

Troy's worth seeing, maybe once, but seriously, if you want to see a Greek legend brought to life, get Zack Snyder's 300. It's a more focused, more creative, and far more visceral film. Troy had serious potential, and maybe if Ridley Scott had directed and brought in some other writers to help Benioff polish the script, it might have been truly spectacular. As it is, it's a massive, sprawling $200 million misfire.

One star for Brad Pitt's rear end.......2007-08-31

Which was totally cute and squeezable. Other than that, snore city. The girls aren't pretty and the guys weren't cute. So if you like boring inaccurate historical sword and sandal movies, this may be for you. Enjoy

Pitt tried.......2007-08-23

I put off watching this fill because Pitt just was so miscast. I think he really tried in the role, and he obviously buffed up for it, but it was still a detractor for me. Even so, I really enjoyed the film. Nice fight scenes. Great to see Legendary Peter O'Toole in a nice smaller role.

So really enjoyed, though it just missed for me.

Brad Spitt is no Achilles.......2007-08-23

Troy was a big disappointment; imagine what a real director like Peter Jackson would have made of it! Instead, we get a film that shows no respect for the story of the Trojan War; indeed, the script made so many unnecessary and unaccountable changes to the canonical story that I found myself seriously wondering if maybe the Trojans were going to win!!! The stark tragedy of the Iliad wasn't captured, and the climactic confrontation between Achilles and Priam was poorly done. They did have some really nice-looking reproductions of ancient jewelry, and the movie also puts the lie to any rumor that Brad is a real actor, but other than that...

Average customer rating:

Verhoeven should have directed this
This goddess can't sing
One star for Brad Pitt's rear end
Pitt tried
Brad Spitt is no Achilles

Troy [HD DVD]
Starring: Julian Glover , Brian Cox , Nathan Jones , Adoni Maropis , and Jacob Smith
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000E5KJI4
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Verhoeven should have directed this.......2007-09-11

This goddess can't sing.......2007-09-01

One star for Brad Pitt's rear end.......2007-08-31

Pitt tried.......2007-08-23

Brad Spitt is no Achilles.......2007-08-23

Average customer rating:

A great spy thriller!
An Over-The-Top CAMP DELIGHT!!
A Fantastic Movie.
Get the popcorn and enjoy.
About Twin Towers

The Long Kiss Goodnight
Starring: Geena Davis , Samuel L. Jackson , Yvonne Zima , Craig Bierko , and Tom Amandes
Director: Renny Harlin
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0780618548
Release Date: 1997-04-30

Amazon.com essential video

Geena Davis and her former husband, director Renny Harlin, attempted to pick up the pieces after the debacle of their box-office disaster, Cutthroat Island. What they came up with was this repulsive ode to American film noir, based on a script by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) about an amnesiac schoolteacher (Davis) who searches for her true identity and finds she is actually a secret agent immersed in a deadly plot to topple the government. Mechanistic in its violence, obnoxious in its attitude, the film makes Davis, a once-promising actress, nothing more than a special effect. She tosses one to sadists in the audience by allowing her character to be beaten, punched unconscious, and tortured. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, plus Dolby surround sound, theatrical trailer, cast information, optional French-language soundtrack and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A great spy thriller!.......2007-08-25

It is obvious that the film this one will be most compared to is The Bourne Identity (Widescreen Extended Edition). Some will call this a "women's version" of Jason Bourne. While this label may have some degree of veracity, it is only fair to note that this movie came out 7 years BEFORE the first BOURNE film.

There are, however, a lot of parallels between the films. On that point there is no argument. Like Jason Bourne, Samantha Kane (played by Davis) has amnesia, and eventually discovers that she is a CIA assassin. However, it takes about a decade before this begins to come into view. In the meantime, she becomes a housewife and a mother & lives a "normal" life in the 'burbs.

When she is discovered to still be alive, some rather nasty people (both bad guys + the CIA) want her dead - NOW! Luckily, she is able to invoke the help of her newfound good buddy, Mitch (played by Sameul L. Jackson). Normally, Mitch is a 2-bit private detective who makes more $$ swindling people than anything else. He goes from that life to becoming involved in a cloak-and-dagger struggle of the 10th degree.

While Jackson is great & all, there are in the end 2 words that convey why you should see this movie: Gina Davis. She is absolutely outstanding in the role of a good-neighborly housewife who must switch into being a cold-blooded killer. I do not hype up Gina just because she is a pretty face. Anyone who has read any number of my reviews knows that I've been known to slam a great many pretty-faces who could not act. This is a role that I can think of very few women in Hollywood pulling off (Charlize Theron is about the only other one I can think of off-hand). Some of my other favorite actresses, such as Jennifer Connolley, Sandra Bullock and Madeline Stowe are all fine actresses. However, they all lack the "edge" and intensity to fill this role. Whoever casted Gina Davis for this role should get many kudos!

If you are into action movies / spy movies / cloak-and-dagger movies that have lots of excitement, then this film is for you. Yes, some of the action sequences are not believable, but this is after all an ACTION movie! You always have to sacrifice some degree of believability for a great action flick. So, with that said, the best advice I can offer is for you to allow Gina Davis to give you a long kiss goodnight. Who would refuse that?!?!?

An Over-The-Top CAMP DELIGHT!!.......2007-07-29

Delectably, deliriously, dementedly awful, The Long Kiss Goodnight is one of the very best Bad Movies to Love of the '90s, no small accomplishment in a decade that also gave us Wild Orchid, Zandalee and Showgirls.

The fun begins when Geena Davis, a demure, redheaded, schoolteaching single mother who suffers from amnesia and cannot recall having been the world's deadliest hired assassin eight years ago, collides with a reindeer. Voila. Davis begins to get hints of her previous vocation. In a dream sequence Sigmund Freud would have fired a patient for having, goody-two-shoes Davis stands atop a stormy cliff facing her sexy, bottle-blonde image in a mirror. "I want a cigarette," growls the tough-talkin' reflection, to which the nice Davis prissily replies, "I don't smoke." "Ya used to!" snaps the blonde. Director Renny Harlin chooses to cut from this all-too-revealing dream sequence to a dump truck picking up garbage (discuss meaning amongst yourselves).

Soon Davis's dark side starts cropping up during waking hours. The mere chopping of a carrot turns into a dicin', slicin' display of aggression that is, frankly, reminiscent of one of those infomercials for sharp cutlery. Whipping through every vegetable in the kitchen, Davis beams maniacally, "I used to do this. I'm a chef!" Perhaps not. When she nails a tomato to the wall with a perfectly tossed knife, her daughter and boyfriend are justifiably terrified. "Chefs do that," explains Davis. But later, when she tells her kid, who's just fractured a wrist, "Life is pain! Get used to it!" there's no pretending Davis's previous life was benevolent. To make the point even clearer, a one-eyed thug who knew hit woman Davis way back when breaks into the house and hits Davis on the head with a heavy pot, whereupon she knocks him out cold with a cream pie in the kisser, then breaks his neck, and, as her boyfriend watches, tastes the pie filling off the corpse, explaining, "Chefs do that."

Determined to discover the truth about her past, Davis hits the road with "low rent" private eye Samuel L. Jackson. While Jackson watches the classic Robert Altman film The Long Goodbye in a motel room the next evening, Davis looks in a mirror in her room and again sees the skanky blonde version of herself, who suddenly reaches out from the mirror to try to kill her. Alas, she doesn't succeed.

All hell breaks loose when more bad guys from the past show up and try to extinguish Davis and Jackson. The attacks only serve to bring the amnesiac's deadly personality fully to the surface. Davis transforms the drab version of herself into a sleek blonde hit babe, who for some reason is wearing only a bathrobe and excessive eyeshadow. At the sight of a bloodstained arm bandage on Jackson, the new, true Davis suddenly opens her robe, flashes her bare bod at him, then rips off the bandage. "Same principle as deflowering virgins," she says. "I read it in this Harold Robbins book: guy bites her on the ear, distracts her from the pain. Ever try that?" "No," replies Jackson, "I sock 'em in the jaw and yell, 'Pop goes the Weasel!'" This spicy dialogue arouses Davis to pant in Jackson's ear, "I haven't had a date in eight years." Like the rest of us, Jackson isn't buying: "A beautiful white lady seducing the colored help? Get real, sweetheart. I ain't rich, I ain't handsome, and the last time I got bl--n, candy bars cost a nickel." Who says there's no longer a need for affirmative action?

The next day, a car full of killers chases Jackson, prompting Davis to strap on ice skates to outrace the speeding automobile and blast the villains. The mayhem reached a climax on Christmas Eve when Davis outwits her foes by (1) putting kerosene in a Betsy Wetsy-type doll, (2) taunting a knife-wielding killer with the line, "Oh honey, only four inches?" and, finally, (3) collapsing so that her daughter can reprise the innane line, "Life is pain! Get used to it!" At this point, you'll want to rewind to the scene that provided this movie with its place in Bad Moviedom. Yes, listen once again as Davis, driving an oil rig outfitted with a doomsday bomb, becomes the first (and, we'd bet, the last) action heroine to snarl at her opponents a remark that could have become her catch phrase (alongside Arnold's "I'll Be Back" and Willis' "Whoopie-ki-yay...) had she continued on to acheive a much deserved action-star status!

A Fantastic Movie........2007-06-16

This film is really one of the best action films Ive ever seen. It is truly fun to watch, even if you watch it over and over again. I was most surprised by Geena Davis. Her performance is actually very good as an action star. Her action and her acting were both done extremely well. Then theres Samuel L. Jackson. God, hes cool in this film. He has so many lines that are largely funny and not corny. Him and Geena have a good chemistry on screen that really makes the movie work. The action is pretty much non stop. Those action scenes are shot very nicely and they look awesome. This movie most certainly isnt meant to be taken seriously and is meant to have fun watching. It succeeds in doing so. Its a great little action film that will keep you entertained even if you watch it a dozen of times.

Get the popcorn and enjoy........2007-06-12

I heard that this movie tanked at the US box office and i'm not sure why because its far better than many of the "blockbusters".
I lived in Singapore and it just ran and ran there in a couple of theaters.

Renny Harlin was married to Gena Davis at the time and it all seemed a bit incestuous and it followed the record breaking disaster that was "Cutthroat Island" so I guess nobody in the "biz" wanted to go near it.

This however is a good movie. It flows well the actions scenes are great and Samuel Jackson is wonderful. I'd never heard of him but Craig Bierko makes a great villain and I cant see why he hasnt done more. Yes there are plot holes but no more than the average Tarantino movie.

I would rather sit through a rerun of of this than have to watch Spiderman 3 ever again.

About Twin Towers.......2007-04-22

I saw this movie and it held my attention from the beginning, as well. But, I was very surprised about the statement made about blowing up the Twin Towers and blaming it on the Muslims.
Does anyone remember that? It was near the middle of the movie. Interesting, because the movie was made during the mid-90's and the Towers were actually blown up and it was blamed on Muslims.

Average customer rating:

Good Movie
In a class of its own!
Unbeatable!
For Real Comic Book Fans
review

Unbreakable (Two-Disc Vista Series)
Starring: Firdous Bamji , Michaelia Carroll , Bostin Christopher , Spencer Treat Clark , and Johanna Day
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Vista Series | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00003CXQA
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Amazon.com essential video

When Unbreakable was released, Bruce Willis confirmed that the film was the first in a proposed trilogy. Viewed in that context, this is a tantalizing and audaciously low-key thriller, with a plot that twists in several intriguing and unexpected directions. Standing alone, however, this somber, deliberately paced film requires patient leaps of faith--not altogether surprising, since this is writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's daring follow-up to The Sixth Sense. While just as assured as that earlier, phenomenal hit, Unbreakable is the work of a filmmaker whose skill exceeds his maturity, its confident style serving a story that borders on juvenile. However, Shyamalan's basic premise--that comic books are the primary conduit of modern mythology--is handled with substantial relevance.

Willis plays a Philadelphia security guard whose marriage is on the verge of failing when he becomes the sole, unscathed survivor of a devastating train wreck. When prompted by a mysterious, brittle-boned connoisseur of comic books (Samuel L. Jackson), he realizes that he's been free of illness and injury his entire life, lending credence to Jackson's theory that superheroes--and villains--exist in reality, and that Willis himself possesses extraordinary powers. Shyamalan presents these revelations with matter-of-fact gravity, and he draws performances (including those of Robin Wright Penn and Spencer Treat Clark, as Willis's wife and son) that are uniformly superb. The film's climactic revelation may strike some as ultimately silly and trivial, but if you're on Shyamalan's wavelength, the entire film will assume a greater degree of success and achievement. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson star in a mind-shattering, suspense-filled thriller that stays with you long after the end of this riveting supernatural film. After David Dunn (Willis) emerges from a horrific train crash as the sole survivor -- and without a single scratch on him -- he meets a mysterious sranger (Jackson). An unsettling stranger who believes comic book heroes walk the earth. A haunting stranger, whose obsession with David will change David's life forever.

Customer Reviews:

Good Movie.......2007-09-12

I just love M Night Shyamalan's movies. They keep you spellbound and that is exactly what "Unbreakable" does. I would recommend this movie to everyone who likes to sit on the edge of their seat.

In a class of its own!.......2007-07-15

How does one classify this movie? Some might call it a drama, as the slow pacing, muted emotions, lack of comedy, and modern, urban setting all fit the descriptions of many modern dramas. Some might call it a fantasy; a reluctant superhero discovered by his arch-enemy who knows no bounds. The former has strength beyond his knowledge, while the latter uses cunning to overcome his physical limitations. Others might call it a suspense movie, as it has all the hallmarks of a classic suspense; good guys and bad guys are only sorted out at the end, and the audience discovers things as the protagonist does. Maybe it is a combination of all three genres, another achievement from the M. Knight Shamalayan.

However one might classify this movie, it is an incredible piece of story-telling. Its as if Shamalayan wrote a traditional fairy tale, set it in a modern American city, and then reversed all the normal rules of fairy tales. First of, the premise of superhero ignorant of his own destiny is a common starting point; think of Harry Potter, X-Men, and Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. But the heroes in these stories are all young, at the beginning of their lives. Bruce Willis's character here, David, is old, past middle age most likely, and looking back on his glory years. Second, heroes needs to be revealed unintentionally, through accident or fate. David is discovered by both accident and fate. Accident put him on a train, but fate assured him to survive. Third, each hero needs a weakness. Superman had kryptonite, Batman had his past and Spiderman has his loved ones. But water, who would ever imagine water to be the one weakness of David? Last, all heroes need an antagonist, that villian they must stop. But here, it is the villian who seeks out the hero, helps him find his power, and finally, guarantees the hero's victory by sealing his own doom.

Overall, this was a great movie. For the budget it was made one, with the cast it starred, it delivers a great story with heart and soul. Its setting is modern, yet the storyline is more mythical than anything else. The conceptual background of comicbooks contrasts nicely with the plot itself. I highly recommend this movie.

Unbeatable!.......2007-06-12

Although Shyamalan's "Sixth Sense" perhaps had more chills and more of a classic twist-ending - I personally think "Unbreakable" is his best film. I'm not sure if you would call it's ending a "twist," but it made me gasp when it suddenly brought a whole landscape of emotion into focus with an amazing depth of field.

Furthermore, this movie has one of the most interesting characters I've ever seen on screen. Samuel L. Jackson plays a precise and learned art dealer with a special affinity for original classic comic book drawings. His genetic affliction limits the physical activity he can engage in, but his imagination has always been free to entertain strange possibilities. This truly is an original portrayal that could never typecast Jackson. His role is not as romantic lead, not as supporting character actor, not as doctor, lawyer, merchant... It's what he is that in the end creates the shock of brilliant resolution.

This is a movie whose intricacies will haunt you long after the fact. And even if you never had any interest in comic books, you will probably walk away from `Unbreakable" with a new respect for what Joseph Campbell might call their "power of myth."

One word about the availability of this film - I see a lot of the single-disc versions of it are available only in "Region 2" DVD format. You would need a "Multi-Region" or "Universal" DVD player to play these versions. As I understand it, all DVD players are manufactured with the capability of playing all DVDs. However, the players are then set by distributors to play in only one region, most often the US/Canada Region 1 - in order to block overseas bootlegging versions and other illicit overseas offerings.
There are on-line sites presumably listing decoding sequences that will allow you to "unlock" your specific DVD player so it will play all regions. However most people I've talked with have found these decoding sequences don't work. This can be frustrating because it seems an increasing number of English or foreign movies and comedy series are being offered only in non-Region 1 formats lately.
So if you want to buy one of the single-disc Region 2 versions of "Unbreakable" listed on this website, you might need to consider buying a "Multi-Region" DVD player on-line, or else you might want to go to an ethnic neighborhood (such as an East Indian community) in a large city to find a Multi-Region player.

For Real Comic Book Fans.......2007-06-05

Unbreakable is about the mythology behind comic book superheroes and the purposes that each of us have in life. The film opens with the birth of a baby boy with all four of his limbs broken. He is Elijah Price, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson, and he has type I OI or brittle bone disease. As his life goes on, he gets the nickname of "Mr. Glass" as up the point of present time in Unbreakable, Elijah had broken bones in his body 57 times. Elijah is motivated early on to socialize in some capacity by his mother and his primary interest becomes comic books. As he gets older he soon begins to question what the reason is for his own existence and comes to the conclusion that if people like him exist with his weakness, then surely there must be someone on the other end of the spectrum with massive strengths. Elijah believes there is nothing scarier than to live life without knowing your purpose and he makes the assertion that there are in fact real-life superheroes.

Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, a security officer, who, unlike Elijah, is trying to find his own purpose in life. He gave up his football career for his wife but now his marriage is falling apart. David survives a train wreck that kills 131 people, and he is the only survivor. He was completely unharmed. Elijah believes David to be a real superhero and gradually confronts David with his theory. David's son Joseph believes Elijah and assists David in finding out more about his potential powers. Just to add, I'm of the opinion that it is an absolute pleasure to watch Willis and Jackson act in pretty much anything.

As with any M. Night Shyamalan film, giving too much away is hugely detrimental to the experience and please know that this film is entirely worth going into with no more information then I have already provided. What Shyamalan has done here in retrospect, while considering the recent onslaught of big-budget comic book movies, is create a completely unconventional yet convincing adaptation of comic book heroes' origins. At the same time Unbreakable celebrates the mythology behind these fictional characters. It takes a profound imagination to come up with a screenplay that gives this concept the treatment that Shyamalan has. It is the kind of concept that might have taken almost a lifetime of brainstorming.

A friend of mine once said that the Sixth Sense was a gigantic and nearly perfect movie for absolutely everyone, while as a comic book fan Unbreakable was tailored made perfectly for him. Though I'm half the comic book fan he is, I concur with that assessment enough to confidently invoke it hear. If you truly love comic books, Unbreakable is your film. If you are not a lover of comic books, then try to walk into this film expecting little action and you shouldn't be disappointed.

It can be argued that Shyamalan has lost his way in recent years, although he does retain his technical prowess even now. Nevertheless, Unbreakable is still a joy to watch and is a shining example of Shyamalan during his most inspired and generative phase.

review.......2007-06-01

I'll admit: I've only seen a couple of Shyamalan's other movies, but I didn't like them. I'll admit: I like comic books.

I'll try to keep objective to this movie [as opposed to ranting about Shyamalan's other movies].

The first time I saw Unbreakable, the overall movie generally seemed slow and anticlimactic. However, after a few years I had the urge to see it again, and the second time through was much more enjoyable. The movie starts right off into the main plotpoint: the protagonist is on a train, it crashes, and somehow he walks out of a hospital bed unharmed. The use of color-themes throughout the movie are very alike to comic books. And as the story progresses, this becomes very obvious. As the movie starts, most of the colors are undersaturated and almost dull. But when the story picks up, different colors just jump out. This is a great style of bringing the viewer's attention to something (something comic books uses often).

The overall tone of the characters is set to show: these aren't supposed to be in your face action-packed characters from movies like X-Men or Batman or the like. These characters are supposed to feel like everyday characters. They're not supposed to shine above anyone else. They're supposed to be experiencing everyday life stuff: marital problems, a father trying to bond with his son. The only difference is that something extraordinary has been suddenly discovered by someone who is ordinary: the main character is an everyday man who finds out he can't be harmed. I'll be honest: the movie isn't highly-dramatic. But it's probably a realistic way of showing how an everyday guy is trying to come to terms with something not-so-everyday.

I found the individual characters very well-developed in the respect that they are meant to represent everyday people with an unusual situation thrust upon them. It's not as if real-life-dad and real-life-mom are going to react to this situation by saying, "Hey, maybe you should make a costume out of bright spandex or colorful leather and fight crime with a lot of publicity!" The hero is a husband and father trying to deal with a troubled marriage and a son affected by that troubled marriage. His wife is a wife and mother, trying to keep moving through her life despite the hard marriage. The son is a kid; what do kids do? Over-react. He tries all he can to make sure his parents are happy while at the same time trying to prove his dad is a superhero. It might come off as annoying, but I'm sure anyone can agree kids who over-react are annoying.

If you have the attention span of a five-year-old, where everything has to be fast-paced, in-your-face, bad-guys-flying-in-from-everywhere action, you probably won't enjoy this movie. It's not glitz or explosions or fancy-costumes.

But rating on an objective level: the cinematography is interesting. It tries to keep from being generic Here's the guy talking, Switch to other guy talking, Switch back to other guy talking. The way the contrast and colors are depicted is thoughtful and not overly generic like so many movies. Someones you have to admit it's a nice to not be stuck with generic camera angles and generic color/contrast presentation. The acting is highly skilled. The only actor I would have a problem with would be the kid, but that can slide considering he's still young and not as experienced as his older counterparts. The plot, while it is definitely quiet and has a not-lightning-speed pace, is still something the viewer can get into (again, assuming they don't have the attention span of a five year old). A little bit of high-paced action might have been okay to bring it a wider audience, but to do so would downplay the "normality" of the characters' lives.

Roy Orbison - A Black & White Night (DTS)

Average customer rating:

One of the Greatest Rock n' roll Specials ever produced
No shades of gray
A Fantastic Treat
A DVD For Everyone
Key performance

Roy Orbison - A Black & White Night (DTS)
Starring: Roy Orbison , Bruce Springsteen , Elvis Costello , Jackson Browne , and Bonnie Raitt
Director: Tony Mitchell (II)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rockabilly | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000203YR
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Product Description

1. Only The Lonely
2. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
3. Blue Bayou
4. The Comedians
5. Ooby Dooby
6. Leah
7. Running Scared
8. Uptown
9. In Dreams
10. Crying
11. Candyman
12. Go, Go, Go (Down The Line)
13. Mean Woman Blues
14. (All I Can Do Is) Dream You
15. Claudette
16. It's Over
17. Oh, Pretty Woman

Format: DVD VIDEO

Amazon.com essential video

Few early rockers were more gifted or less honored in their prime than the late Roy Orbison, whose vaulting tenor and vulnerable love songs conjured heartbreak and desire with operatic intensity. This 1987 concert special, originally broadcast on Showtime, came two decades after Orbison had retreated from pop's front lines, yet neither Orbison nor his music coasts on mere nostalgia: in every respect, A Black and White Night survives as a triumphant performance and a superb video production, as well as a first-rate retrospective of Orbison's hits.

Filmed in black and white against the streamlined art deco stage of the since-demolished Coconut Grove in downtown Los Angeles, the concert is buoyed by a remarkable cast of A-list Orbison fans who signed on as his accompanists. Under the direction of producer T-Bone Burnett, the stage band thus includes Jackson Browne, Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes, along with the rhythm section from Elvis Presley's fabled late '60s and early '70s touring band. That astonishing lineup is all the more noteworthy for the restraint with which they collaborate--it's evident that those superstars came to honor Orbison, not upstage him, resulting in a gratifying cohesion to the performances.

Orbison himself sounds as powerful as ever, his soaring falsetto cresting as dramatically as it did on the studio versions of the hits that inevitably dominate. Those songs meanwhile confirm that his blue chip admiration society came as much for the caliber of his writing as for his ravishing voice: if he remains best known for the jaunty come-on of "Pretty Woman," Orbison was first and foremost a rock balladeer, capable of bringing lumps to our throats with such classics as "Crying" and "Only the Lonely," or conjuring romantic trances through such gentle charmers as "Dream Baby." On this night, he handled all of them with fervor and finesse. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

One of the Greatest Rock n' roll Specials ever produced.......2007-08-21

This classic concert has to rank with Carl Perkins' Rockabilly Session as probably the greatest rock n' roll special ever produced. The Perkins special, which seems to be a little lesser-known, is another masterpiece of the same calibre that any fan of Black and White Night will certainly enjoy too. Both of these shows are somewhat alike and both are MUST-HAVES for any lover of classic rock n' roll!

What I admire about all the old legends from Sun Records is how original and unique they all were. Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash....they all developed their own individual styles and never wanted to sound like each other. The same can be said for the one and only Roy Orbison who was just as much his own man as the others were. Today's cookie-cutter pop, rock, and country clones would do well to take a lesson from these legendary pioneers and the originality they stood for.

This 1987 concert captures the legendary Roy Orbison only a year before his death and singing better than ever. Roy is one vocalist who actually got better with age. Even in his prime years of the early 60's his vocal abilities were still a little underdeveloped. When you listen to his classic Monument recordings, you can hear him really straining to reach those high notes at the end of songs like "Crying". Roy's voice had matured and improved by the 80's which is clearly heard in this show as he hits those challenging notes with the ease of an opera singer.

Although Roy seemed to favor dramatic ballads more than rockers, this show also includes all of his best-known upbeat tunes such as "Pretty Woman", "Ooby Dooby", "Mean Woman Blues", and the best performance I've ever heard of "Move on down the line". Roy's backing band in this concert is Elvis Presley's former touring band from the 70's and they do a fine job of sticking to the original arrangements of Orbison's songs without copying the records note for note.

I agree that the superstars here help make this show as good as it is by supporting Roy as part of the backing band instead of trying to steal the spotlight away from him. It is cool to see Springsteen step outside of his usual style in this show and adapt himself to Orbison's sound with his solid rockabilly guitar licks and great backing vocals. Bruce once said that he always wanted to sing like Roy Orbison in his early days, and his harmony singing in this show sounds remarkably like Roy's voice. Listen to Roy and Bruce sing together on "Uptown" and it literally sounds like Roy is singing along with himself!

The great James Burton is one of the legendary country-rock guitar stylists and he was the perfect choice for lead guitarist in this show. He is better-known within the music business than he is to the general public, and he finally gets some well-deserved spotlight here during the great guitar jam with Springsteen that is the highlight of the concert for me. Most people would have never imagined Bruce as a rockabilly guitarist before watching this performance, but he holds his own suprisingly well against Burton as they swap licks back and forth.

I'm happy I waited to buy this excellent remastered DVD version since the sound and picture quality are top-notch. If you've already purchased a copy of this one, be sure to get "A Rockabilly Session with Carl Perkins and Friends" which in my opinion is even better than this show! Long live Roy, Carl, Elvis, Chuck, the Killer, and all the other great legends of rock n' roll who are sorely needed in today's suffering pop/rock music scene.

No shades of gray.......2007-08-16

I've seen the Black and White evening several times on PBS. Nothing against PBS, but I wanted the DVD without having to make a hefty donation, so I checked out [...]. The only complaint I have with the DVD is that the sound is a bit uneven; you can barely hear the backup singers and some of the band on most of the songs. But you can still hear Roy and that's the main thing.

A Fantastic Treat.......2007-08-02

I had seen this concert years ago on PBS on my small TV & loved it then. Now I have a big screen TV with fantastic sound so my pleasure at Roy Orbisons incredible voice has multiplied! There has never been anyone to match his voice range & his harmonies. One thing happily surprised me. If you look quickly & carefully you can see a few celebrities in the audience. Like Patrick Swayze, before he was famous. And the guitarist that backs up Mr. Orbison is the same man who was Elvis' lead guitar in "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii". I may be 64 yrs. old but you can surly "Rock" with this concert!

A DVD For Everyone.......2007-06-28

This DVD with Roy Orbison is for all music lovers, not just for his fans. It's interesting to learn how he has contributed to the music world, and how his songs have been used and reproduced by many of our leading musical artists. He influenced all genres of modern music, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and many others. When you watch this DVD, you will understand why.

Key performance.......2007-05-30

Filmed all in black and white, this is a non-commented recording of the performance only. Roy plays the usual songs and is backed-up by a star-studded cast of Roy's fans. Too bad that Bruce Springsteen keeps trying to take the limelight. Wikipedia has an excellent write-up.

Average customer rating:

Verhoeven should have directed this
This goddess can't sing
One star for Brad

Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz)is a former Army sniper who mistrusts science and scientists - the "squints," as he calls them, who pore over the physical evidence.	Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel)is a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and writes novels as a sideline.	Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), earthy and bawdy, is Brennan's friend and fellow scientist.
Zach Addy (Eric Millegan), is a young prodigy whose genius IQ actually gets in the way of his finishing the several doctorates he has begun.	Dr. Jack Hodgins (J Thyne), is an expert on insects, spores and minerals, but conspiracy is his hobby.