The Crow - City of Angels (Collector's Series)

Amazon.com

Because of his tragic death on the set of The Crow, we'll never know if Brandon Lee would have turned one successful film into a popular series. But one look at this tepid sequel suggests that not even the charismatic Lee could have rescued The Crow movies from the burden of a lackluster screenplay. Based on the popular comic books by James O'Barr, this sequel finds Vincent Pérez as a man named Ashe, who is murdered along with his young son by a gang of drug-running thugs under the employ of slimy kingpin Judah Earl (Richard Brooks). Ashe is resurrected with the help of a tattoo artist named Sarah (Mia Kirschner), whereupon he begins a campaign of revenge against his killers. More a rehash than a sequel, the film repeats the grungy, dark look of urban decay from The Crow, but its combination of violence, heavy-handed symbolism, and tacky sentiment make this a film strictly for nihilistic teens. Then again, no movie in which veteran punkster Iggy Pop plays a sleazeball can be considered a total loss. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This action-packed sequel to THE CROW explodes on screen with hot new stars Vincent Perez (I DREAMED OF AFRICA) and sexy Mia Kirshner! After a brutal attack by an evil drug cartel, the murder victim (Perez) is brought back to life by a mysterious crow. With the help of a beautiful woman named Sarah (Kirshner), he exacts revenge on his killers one by one ... only to realize his enemy, the lethal Judah, has discovered the one weakness that can destroy him forever!

Customer Reviews:

"Does The Corpse Have A Familiar Face?".......2007-08-06

More of a remake than a sequel, "The Crow: City Of Angels" attempts to capitalize on the cult phenomenon of it's predecessor by basically repeating and rehashing it's basic premise without actually adding anything new or of merit. This time around, instead of Detroit, it's a decaying Los Angeles -- populated by set-pieces that look like they could be destroyed by a stiff breeze -- and Vincent Perez is summoned from the dead to avenge the death of his son and himself at the hands of a gang, with the help of Sarah (Mia Kirshner), who may or may not be the same Sarah from the first movie. Music video director Tim Pope, who hasn't done anything worthwhile since, gives this film a definite mid-90's look. Truth be told, not only does the movie look low-budget and meant for direct-to-video release, but also looks like something you would catch on HBO at three in the morning during a weekday. As hard as the script tries -- which, come to think of it, it doesn't -- it just can't match the potency of the original. Instead of getting to know our main characters and building the required backstory with the tragic elements needed, the exposition is handled in such a careless way. It seems like they wanted to get the story out of the way so they could get straight to the violence. A father avenging the murder of his own child? Should have had a little more emotional impact than what was actually presented in the movie. The actors all pretty much ham it up, although punk icon Iggy Pop manages to keep the audience from falling asleep, while his co-star, Thuy "Yellow Ranger" Trang, is at the very least, an interesting presence in a movie such as this. On all accounts, "The Crow: City Of Angels" is and was a complete and utter failure, dooming the rest of the franchise into direct-to-video Hell. Ironic, since the movies that came after it were actually, gulp, better.

Falls Short of the Original Crow.......2007-03-09

If this movie had been the first in the Crow series, then its likely that more movie fans would have liked it. However, there was a first Crow movie starring the late Brandon Lee and its to that first movie that this Crow and the other Crow sequels are compared to. On those grounds, this Crow merits no more than a 4 out of 5 rating.

Let's face it, Vincent Perez is not a good substitute for Brandon Lee. The first 15 minutes of this movie were incomprehensible and had little to do with the rest of the movie.

However, there are some redeeming factors to this movie namely the music and the cinematography. Add in a script that has a strong second half, and you have a movie that is worth a rental at least.

Good, not great........2006-11-26

Seeing The Crow flash across the screen again was something I wasn't sure I'd be able to experience again after the tragic misfortunes of the first Crow movie. I've heard it said that one of the crew members on the first movie actually thought it was cursed.

But this second movie, which is based around a new Crow (Vincent Perez) and the returning Sarah from the first movie (played in this one by the beautiful and dark Mia Kirshner) wasn't cursed like the first one, the curse this had was that it was a sequel to something that likely didn't need one. Although I enjoyed the dark circumstances that surrounded the actual onscreen play, with the nod to "La Dia De los Muertos" (The Day Of The Dead) being my favorite, the story about a murdered father who returns to avenge his son, to me, takes away from the romantic overtones of the first movie and the Crow comic book overall.

The original story was written by James O'Barr to help him exorcize the demons he lived with after losing his first love early in life and he's made mention that in truth, the Crows story was told then, and in his eyes had been told completely. But as with all things we find interesting or fall in love with, it was decided that there needed to be more, so they made more.

I kind of doubt Brandon Lee would have come back for the sequel if he'd lived as I'm sure he would have felt, as O'Barr did, that Eric Dravens story had been told. I make a few leaps here, making mention of things James has said to me and maybe a little of what I hope Brandon Lee would have done had he survived the accident that took his life, but I make them with the best intentions.

I enjoyed the movie, being a comic book geek, I was sure I would. I have to admit to having felt a little betrayed when the sequel came out, just as I was when the ensuing comic follow-ups came out, but the Crow has become an avenger of wrongs that couldn't be put right any other way, a dark hero to the masses who suffer and have no way to let that out other than to dream of a hero who would go beyond death to right their wrongs and although Eric and Shelleys story was told to completion, there are more stories to tell. This is one of them. There are others, there will be others, likely as many as there are people with stories of their own, because truly, who among us doesn't feel the need at some point in our lives to be avenged?

See the movie, be forewarned that it contains violence in the extreme, some nudity and a lot of what might be termed "the darker aspects of life", drugs, gangs, betrayels, S&M and torture. Iggy Pop, though not great either, was a welcome touch of dark realism to the play on the screen. If you go in with no expectations based on the first movie or the comic book, this 3 stars quickly becomes 3 1/2 or 4.

Come on people really...It's a crow story........2006-10-25

The terrible mistake most viewers make when watching a Crow movie or a reading another Crow Novel or Comic is that they compare the "Crow" in question to the previous Crow or Crows. You have to understand that this character isn't "Eric" (Crow from the first film), This isn't Motor City Detroit, This is The City Of Angels and the main characters name is Ashe this is his life, his perspective. Its not supposed to be like the first Crow they are two different people and two different stories, thats all they are just stories, they are not sequels or prequels just installments. If you could see everyones life before your eyes would they look the same? No they wouldn't. Why? Because were all different. All the folks who gave this movie bad reviews did so because they are standing to close to a big picture, step back and see the big picture. The world and the ways of the Crow aren't so narrow that they would stay limited to the confines and brooding post-gothic nature of the first film.

Most of the people giving reviews probably don't even know that James O' Barr wrote the first Crow after losing the love of his life to a drunk driver, so all that pain, frustration, and hatred went into those pages and script. You can't create pain like that you have to know it. This is why the first Crow has an unfair advantage against all the new Crow movies, you can't turn water into wine, these directors had to work it in the best way they could.

By giving such harsh critique to these movies you may alter someones judgement and cause them to miss out on a really good film. Crow:City Of Angels was a good movie and a good Crow story. I myself loved the first film the most, I even remember the trailers that played "Big Empty" By Stone Temple Pilots which I still listen to today. But please don't drag this second installments name through the mud.

-Jon

Spectacular? Riiiiiight...........2006-10-22

I was fortunate not to spend any money specifically on this movie. I couldn't get past the first 15 minutes... incoherent beginning, and overly stylized particularly where Ashe becomes "the avenger" (for lack of a better name). Nothing like the original at all, which I love by comparison.

Average customer rating:

It was pretty good to me
it's just ok
More "F" Bombs you can shake a stick at
one of my first anime
A classic anime film

Demon City Shinjuku
Starring: Hideyuki Hori , Hiromi Tsuru , Kiyoshi Kobayashi , Yûsaku Yara , and Ichirô Nagai
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Manufacturer: Us Manga Corps Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00007K019
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Amazon.com

This 1988 OVA reunited author Hideyuki Kikuchi and director Yoshiaki Kawajiri of Wicked City (1987). Ten years after his father Genichirou was killed battling the evil Rebi Ra, teen-aged Kyoya Izayoi is called to stop Rebi from releasing demons from hell onto the Earth. Demon City borrows heavily from Star Wars: Ag'ni Rai, Genichirou's teacher, tells Kyoya that he must learn to harness the web of spiritual energy that flows among living things. This minimal training, plus his father's sword and the love of beautiful Sayaka enable Kyoya to destroy Rebi Ra. The film is oddly paced, with a long build-up to a disappointing climax, problems that are exacerbated by the very stiff vocal performances. Kawajiri uses color with his accustomed skill, especially in the monochromatic opening duel, but Demon City hardly ranks among his important works. (Unrated: suitable for ages 16 and older: violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, brief nudity) --Charles Solomon

Description

In a city beset by demons, Kyoya must avenge his father, a great warrior who died at the hands of a diabolical psychic. Kyoya must discover his latent powers and finish the battle his father started, before humanity is destroyed forever.

Customer Reviews:

It was pretty good to me.......2007-06-03

Demon City Shinjuku is far away from a classic and nowhere near unwatchable. The animation shouldn't be compared to todays anime. For the time it was made I say the animation is pretty good. The character development is good and the story is straight forward. I'll speak on it without adding to many spoilers.

A pretty powerful man with demonic powers wants to bring demons to earth and plunge the world into total darkness. The main character is summoned by a spectre to fight this threat. Along the way he encounters several characters who actually add to the story. The battles with the demons are pretty good and the character designs aren't bad at all.

This anime isn't for kids due to the very strong language. If you have some spare cash this is worth a watch for the cheap price. I dont mind this film in my collection one bit.

it's just ok.......2007-04-30

i watched it, kinda liked it, and kinda didn't. the story is a lil herky-jerky in places. but the art/animation is cool, dark and spooky, music was ok, voice actors did an ok job. if a buddy has a copy borrow it, if you see it at your rental place give it a try, find it used/cheap... go ahead. but i'd reccomend you save your new price $$$ for something else.

More "F" Bombs you can shake a stick at.......2007-03-02

I bought this movie thinking that it could have been a PG-13 Rated Urotsukidoji (Legend of the overfiend), which is to many otaku as the trailblazer to horror hentai such as La Blue Girl and Cool Devices...

Animation is exactly what I expected. From the Mid 80's, on par with Galaxy 999 and if your expecting quality animation, this is not it.

The dubbing is by part the worst dubbing I have ever heard (next to the Magic Knight Rayearth theme songs). These characters say the "F" word like 16 times, most of the time gratuitously. I was expecting so much more out of the plot, but it let me down.

This is truly the movie the never could - Put this on your rental list above "Crying Freeman" or any of those horrid MD Geist movies.

one of my first anime.......2007-01-04

its a very classic anime. horrible English dub, don't even waste your time with it, just go straight to the sub version. lots of violence towards anime, so be ready for that. it has some of the anime cliche's woven into it so be ready for those. some characters are under developed, but, still an anime i would recommend; but that might just be because it was one of my introductions to anime. but it is a great example of a raw classic anime.

A classic anime film.......2006-07-04

In exchange for the power to slay his fellow student and rival, Rebi Rah agreed to open a doorway into the demon world.

Years later, the time has come for him to honor his end of the deal. Knowing that his old teacher, Rai, could possibly stop him, he places a spell on the peaceful Federation President; without Master Rai's constant aid, the president will die.

Since he cannot leave the president, Rai asks for Kyoya, the son of Rebi Rah's dead rival, to do so. And with the urging of Sayaka, the president's cute and pure-hearted daughter, Kyoya agrees.

But Kyoya only has rudimentary knowledge of his father's fighting skills. To get to Rah, he must fight his way through the monster-infested streets of Shinjuku, protecting Sayaka along the way. The odds say he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell...

About the only way I could see this movie getting any better is if it was longer.

Average customer rating:

Extremely powerful movie telling the tale of a Ponzi scheme fugitive
Great Movie!
An Excellent Film, But Not For Everyone: Underrated!
Reminded me of Flesh and Bone
A Winter Snowstorm

City of Ghosts
Starring: Shawn Andrews , Jouni Johannes Anttones , Rose Byrne , James Caan , and Rob Campbell
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000AZKP8
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Amazon.com

Despite its brief theatrical release and dismal box-office returns, City of Ghosts marked an impressive directorial debut for Matt Dillon. While transplanting a film noir plot to exotic locations that John Huston might've found inviting, Dillon plays to his strengths as an actor, casting himself as a con artist with a guilty conscience, traveling to Cambodia to locate his unscrupulous mentor and partner (James Caan) and extricate himself from a career of bilking innocent victims. The dangerous territory includes a two-faced schemer (Stellan Skarsgård), a burly French hotelier (Gerard Depardieu), and an alluring architectural restorer (Natascha McElhone) tossed in for obligatory love interest, and Dillon (with cowriter and Wild at Heart author Barry Gifford) creates an engrossing sense of escalating danger as his character sinks into a quagmire of personal and political corruption. Humid atmosphere and colorful scenery add depth and texture to the film's familiar pulp-fictional trappings, suggesting a promising new direction for Dillon's offbeat career. --Jeff Shannon

Description

There are places where your eyes deceive you, your thoughts betray you and desire can get you killed. Matt Dillon (Wild Things) makes his directorial debut and stars with James Caan (Misery), Natascha McElhone (Solaris), Gerard Depardieu (The Man in the Iron Mask) and Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd (Ronin) in this "exotic" (Film Threat) crime thriller that "drips withatmosphere" (The Hollywood Reporter). After a bogus insurance scam sparks an FBI investigation, front man Jimmy Cremmins (Dillon) flees to Cambodia to meet his mentor, Marvin (Caan). But Jimmy gets more than he bargains for whenagainst a backdrop of raw, dangerous beauty and ever-shifting loyaltiesMarvin draws him into a web of deceit and murder from which there may be no way out!

Customer Reviews:

Extremely powerful movie telling the tale of a Ponzi scheme fugitive.......2007-06-07

CITY OF GHOSTS is an extremely powerful movie, telling a story that
will pull the audience's intellectual, moral, rational and emotional
strings, but may lie outside of the grasp of the younger audiences,
with lower IQ's.

The strengths of this picture, is its no-nonsense, mature approach in
telling the tale of a Ponzi scheme creator, an insurance company that
had no underlying reserves and no intentions in paying any claims
that could arise from the policies underwritten. These were popular
from their under-priced competitiveness, sold by Matt Dillon. Of
course, when a hurricane hits Florida, the Carolinas, and people
submit claims for their losses, the owner disappears, leaving many
home owners destitute, the company decapitalized as all $10 m of
premiums were funnelled into the Cayman Isles and Swiss numbered bank
accounts, beyond the reach of regulators.

Matt Dillon and James Caan, demonstrate extreme acting skill, and
credibility, with a subtle, meaningful presence throughout the 90
mins. Natasha McElhone has a natural, shining presence playing an
archeologist.

The cinematography is simply excellent, in all filming situations,
night, day, action scenes and not, with a quasi-wide screen release
that is sharp, clear and well edited.

The soundtrack is also equally outstanding, with immense discernment
in the numbers selected, in the many tense moments. It is able to
enhance a multitude of emotions, and moods set in the film, some
reminiscent of the Louis Armstrong style in the saloons, other times,
popular music from Cambodia, and Thailand, were the entirety of the
film unfolds.

Intelligently, the script touches upon the various foreign heritage
of the area, with Gerard Depardieu playing a hotel owner and barman
in Phnom Penh (French colonial presence), shows one or two burnt out
former US military, and a group of "rave-scene" party goers from the
UK and USA doing tourism.

Wisely, the Director chose to film the more historical aspects with
many artistic shots and choices of streets, its people, merchants,
ancient ruins, cultural practices, etc. Seeing taxis in the form of a
tri-cycle pedaled by human power or other taxis on a low cylinder
motorcycle engine with a single passenger seat will be intriging, as
are the hotels with baboons climbing the windows, or snakes and
elephants in the streets.

An aspect that will worry the audience, throughout, is the morality
and the character of the individuals who are comparable to quicksand.
The characters dealing with those who ran the Ponzi, and laundered
the profits (Russian mobsters), often think they have a firm footing,
only to be later fooled, as double crossing, houses of mirrors are
put up to trap unsuspecting marks, in or out of their own
organization.

The Third World status nature of those locales is reinforced, as the
film shows still existing mine-fields, devastated farm
infrastructure, high ranking officials leaking the identities of
incoming visitors arriving at the airport to the mobsters, corrupted
law enforcement. The fact that those powerful government officials
are all military underlines that those are not democracies.

The poverty aspect is not hidden. The lack of safety in public
streets, against kidnapping, random brutality from thugs is not
surprising, since no city is safe at all times, in every single
place, especially for tourists.

Some aspects, may be difficult to stomach for some audiences, such as
executions, kidnapping, ransoms, or the absolute power of those
holding cold hard cash in a nation with a big disparity of incomes.

Clearly, this story will leave the audience in the theatres immensely
satisfied in having been taken on this dream-like voyage, showing the
horrible human consequences of certain wrong choices, in this case,
the embezzlement of funds.

Great Movie!.......2007-03-30

Its a shame when I don't see a movie for quite a while just because it doesn't get the respect it deserves. This is a great crime drama. Its no soft drama either, it will keep other types of viewers interested as well. A story about a group of individuals connected only through their criminal activities can only turn out violent. Just the amount of distrust being spread around is entertaining enough.
Of course there is one true friendship which developes and is quite endearing throughout the movie. Sort of a guardian angel type of relationship that feels rewarding amongst all the deceit.
And the locations are perfect, there couldn't have been a better place to have this story take place. Its like the frosting on the cake. You will want to see how it all comes together and who survives. Buy this movie, support well made films not just the ones Hollywood blows out it's arse.

An Excellent Film, But Not For Everyone: Underrated! .......2006-10-24

"City of Ghosts" is a very good film. It is much better than I was led to believe from so many other people I know who viewed the film. More importantly however, is that this film is from first-time director and star Matt Dillon. Jimmy (Matt Dillon) is a con man who hurriedly travels to Cambodia. He does so because he and his elusive partner Marvin (James Caan) have just swindled money from the insurance company they run. With disaster claims piling up, and the U.S. law enforcement agents hot on his heels, he decides it is better to seek out his partner and collect his share of the money while he can. However, Jimmy is in for more than he expected. [Guess he never watched "The Killing Fields"].

Cambodia is shown in all its squalor; and the hardships of life the people must endure in order to survive in this very poor country are not lost on the viewer. There is an odd assortment of foreigners in the country that Jimmy meets while staying in a Hotel; which was once in its more glorious times, under French occupation, a high class place. But Cambodia has fallen on very hard times for many years now, and the ameneties we take for granted are not to be found here. Emile (Gerard Depardieu) runs the hotel, and he is a very quirky man by nature. However, it is the character of Joseph Kaspar (Stellan Skarsgard) whom Jimmy meets and strikes up a semi-friendship with that is the center of the story.

There is more to Kaspar and Jimmy's partner Marvin, than Jimmy realizes. And it is here that Jimmy confronts a lesson in life he will soon not forget. One of the mains reasons I liked this film was the countryside and the Cambodian people themselves shown in the film. And also the way in which the conditions of Cambodia were shown. No need for special effects here. You get everything: from the feel of the people, the nature of corruption, and hardship that life in Cambodia must be like. Moreover, after viewing the film I was impressed with how a first-time director was able to pull off such a difficult feat.

Matt Dillon was able to shoot this film in Cambodia and did so in a very touching way. The music is haunting, as is the picture, and I left the theatre afterwards with a feeling of sadness. Afterall, this is Cambodia were talking about. The country is as chaotic today, as it was in the past. Albeit not to the same extremes as Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, which tore the country apart. Nonetheless, the difficulties must have been tremendous. And for a first time director, Dillon pulled it off wonderfully. I recommend the film with caution, it may not appeal to all viewers, however, I thought the film was great.

Reminded me of Flesh and Bone.......2006-10-16

Another movie where James Caan plays an evil elder in the borderless world of career criminals that made me absolutely believe that this kind of hopelessness and violence and danger could and does happen.

A Winter Snowstorm.......2006-08-26

"City of Ghosts" is a film that makes you sweat. It looks hot. When Emile the inn keeper (Gerard Depardieu) rents Jimmy a room with an air conditioner that lays in pieces on the floor, you know it's not going to chill out anytime soon. Dillon does a good job capturing the third world vibe. As a story, it kind of ambles along as Jimmy leaves New York to find Marvin played by James Caan. Then we learn that Jimmy's dad may be Marvin and that if there is no honor among thieves, blood is still thicker than water. The moral compass of the film comes from Sereyvuth Kem as the rickshaw driver Sok who comes into quite a sum and leaves part of it to Buddah. Natascha McElhone is a tremendous actress who keeps getting stuck in small films. Yes, she did a great job in "Devil's Own" with Brad Pitt, but others like "Laurel Canyon," "Love's Labour's Lost" and "Ladies in Lavender" have shown her to be over-talented and under-cast. She does a great job in a limited role as she flirts with Jimmy and apparently has enough influence to reform his ethics. Stellan Skarsgard plays Caan's honcho Kaspar who betrays him when push comes to shove. He won the Silver Bear award in Berlin for Best Actor for "Den Enfaldige Mordaren" as an abused lad and has appeared in "Good Will Hunting." He does a great sweaty job as the weak-willed man who falls in love with a Bangkok girl who gets whacked by the Russian mob. The film's story did get a bit bogged down. You had a Russian mob, the Cambodian general who was corrupt, various street gangs, Gerard Depardieu's monkey and the FBI who seemingly disappeared about a quarter of the way into the film all seeming to gang up on Jimmy. One never really figures out how the crime gets settled. Along the way, backpackers get legs chopped off and blown up in a mine field, which apparently was a momentary misleading toward an obscure ending. But maybe the point was the love story; and Natascha McElhone's role just was sufficiently overlooked as Jimmy tries to work out the issues from his past. I thought this film was filled with memorable performances. The problem is all the sweat. This is a good film to rent during a winter snowstorm. Enjoy!

In Search Of History - Forgotten City Of The Jungle (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

Point Of View

In Search Of History - Forgotten City Of The Jungle (History Channel)

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000FKP0W8
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

In the dangerous wilds of Western Cambodia is a vast ancient city spread over 75 square miles of dense jungle. The magnificent palaces and mysterious stone temples were hidden from human eyes for generations, but are now recognized as one of the world's great treasures. FORGOTTEN CITY OF THE JUNGLE is an incredible adventure through the awesome ruins of the ruins of Angkor. Marvel at the beauty of the incredible structures that have been reclaimed from the rapacious jungle, and explore newly opened temples alongside the archaeologists who are working to uncover their secrets. Hear of the ghosts and spirits said to inhabit the majestic metropolis. But who built this incredible city, and why did they abandon it after at least 400 years? Interviews with historians, archaeologists and the author of the definitive work on Angkor reveal the latest findings and theories.

Customer Reviews:

Point Of View.......2007-06-08

Nothing hid forever,This is amazing Forgotten City Of The Jungle.
People must see this, It's all on DVD. In Seach Of History-Forgotten City Of The Jungle (History Channel)

Benjamin Britten - The Turn of the Screw / Padmore · Milne · Wyn Davies · Montague · City of London Sinfonia · Hickox

Average customer rating:

Amazing Music, Okay Filming
The Incredible Mr. Hickox
Informed review
One of the Best Filmed-Opera DVDs Ever Made
Revelatory! A Must-Have!

Benjamin Britten - The Turn of the Screw / Padmore · Milne · Wyn Davies · Montague · City of London Sinfonia · Hickox
Starring: Mark Padmore , Lisa Milne , Diana Montague , Catrin Wyn Davies , and Caroline Johnson
Director: Katie Mitchell (director)
Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0007CGPU0
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

Benjamin Britten's opera The Turn of the Screw is a masterpiece of atmosphere, ambiguity, and eerie foreboding. Britten's vocal lines mirror the characters' thoughts and feelings and his brilliant orchestration, with its variety of moods and colors, adds fresh nuances to the narrative, pushing it to its inexorable conclusion with emotional power. Richard Hickox conducts expertly and the small orchestra plays with mood-sustaining feeling and projects Britten's inventive scoring with expressiveness and tonal beauty. Lisa Milne in the pivotal role of the governess is superb, singing and acting the role as if born for it. The veteran soprano Diana Montagu as the old housekeeper matches her vocally and acts wonderfully; the interactions between the two singers convey their shared fears, overt in the governess, largely suppressed by the housekeeper. The ghosts are as good; the evil Quint well-portrayed by Mark Padmore, whose beautiful high lyric tenor bends notes and phrases with suitably honeyed malevolence. The children and the former governess are on the same exalted level.

But what makes this DVD version so successful is Katie Mitchell's imaginative direction, vindicating the risky decision to translate the opera from stage to film. This can often subvert what is after all a stage work, artificially airing out indoor scenes or incongruities like having arias sung on mountaintops. Here though, she uses images like a bird's egg crushed by Quint or the dark woods surrounding the house to amplify characterization and mood. Even the device of having soliloquies on the soundtrack while the singer is close-mouthed on screen works, thanks to superb acting that substitutes the understated facial expressions of film for the overstated acting enforced by the stage. Rarely does Mitchell falter; perhaps there are a few too many shots of the ghosts walking purposefully in the woods, but such moments are unimportant given the excellence of this, the finest DVD version of the opera. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Music, Okay Filming.......2007-01-10

The opera is based on Henry James' novella about a governess who reports seeing two ghosts at the home she works. One of the central characteristics of the novella is that the narrator, who is the governess, is unreliable, and one wonders whether she's really seeing ghosts or if there's something else going on. The problem with doing the story as an opera is that the actions aren't filtered through the lenses of the governess; everything happens before the audience. And so in Britten's opera it's taken for granted that the ghosts exist -- and thus there isn't the kind of tension built on ambiguity that one finds in the novella.

However, the music, which was by far the best part of the whole production, makes up for any loss of tension. Britten has a peculiar way of writing music for the voice which always makes it sound awkward and strained; be that as it may, the music was always strangely engrossing. And the actors and orchestra all performed really well. I was somewhat less impressed by the visuals. The cinematography was clear and richly colored, but I was annoyed by how the film frequently cut back to flashbacks during crucial moments in the opera, when I thought it should have been focusing on the moment at hand; I wondered if they were constantly doing flashbacks because they were worried we'd get bored looking at the same thing. During these moments I imagined how I would've done things differently had I directed the film.

The Incredible Mr. Hickox.......2006-05-22

Britten's own recording of this opera was one of my earliest opera purchases, and I have seen two staged productions as well as another video version. One thing that struck me, comparing the two stage versions and Britten's own, was how extremely different the interpretations were, yet all so apt. Britten tends to downplay both his lyricism and his effects, and I found (find) his interpretation beautiful and effective in an austere, interior sense. Christopher Keene played it for lyricism and chromatic beauty. Hugh Keelan (conducting a production of the Chamber Opera Theatre of New York) brought out the sort of creepy horror I'd always missed in the opera, no matter how much I loved it. Hickox seems to top them all with textures breath-taking for being both luxurious and bone-chilling. He brought similar luxury to his CD of Peter Grimes, but here he never slights the drama and he shapes everything (except, perhaps, the piano scene) superbly.

The performers are all top-notch in voice and acting. Unlike the other reviewers here, I'd like to single out Catrin Wyn Davies' Miss Jessel, which is sumptuously sung and acted with hair-raising passion. The duo between Quint and Jessel is an oddity that sometimes doesn't work; here both the singers and the director turn it into a highpoint.

I have less praise for the director. The alternation between "sung" singing and mental monologues is irregular and sometimes peculiar, with one singer not-mouthing the words while the other, in the same room and scene, mouths the responses. Cuts to pacing in the woods also seem unnecessary. Still, she scores many good points, and keeps up the mood.

Because of the iffy direction I would probably never purchase the DVD. But I'd love to have it on CDs!

Informed review.......2005-08-10

As the stage manager of the first production of this opera, and as a stage director who has directed it many times, I am very happy to say that I enjoyed this DVD enormously. Beautifully directed and photographed, very interestingly cast, musically impeccable, so well acted and never overstated. The interludes (which have so often given directors problems) were brilliantly handled with an imagination completely in key with the intentions of the composer and librettist and, of course, with Henry James, the author of the novella on which the opera is based.

Colin Graham

One of the Best Filmed-Opera DVDs Ever Made.......2005-06-12

[I have little to add to Terry Serres' really quite beautifully written and considered review. Indeed, I suggest you read it first, before reading my comments.]

The main thing I want to add, aside from endorsing everything Serres has said, is to point out that TV director Katie Mitchell and her co-workers have made a rarely-used form of television opera production in that the opera is opened out as a movie would be -- that is, it is not confined to an opera stage, but rather is filmed in beautiful British surroundings using the actual singers who recorded the music. What is striking is that at times the singers are seen actually singing their parts but at other times they are filmed as actors with, often, interior monologs being sung by them on the accompanying soundtrack. This is done so seamlessly that it took me a while to realize what the director had done.

Further, the singers are particularly visually apt for their parts. Mark Padmore, aside from being a marvelous singer, becomes the embodiment of the eerie Quint. Lisa Milne looks and acts the part of the innocent but plucky young governess, and she sings beautifully. Diana Montague, in a former time a leading lady of opera -- I still remember her stunning Iphigenia in Gluck's 'Iphigénie in Tauride' -- is simply unbeatable as Mrs. Grose. The two children, Miles and Flora, are convincingly played and sung by Nicholas Kirby Johnson and Keturah Day. Catrin Wyn Davies makes an effective Miss Jessel.

Musically the direction of Richard Hickox, leading the City of London Sinfonia, cannot be bettered. This is a psychologically deft performance.

This is easily one of the best opera DVDs ever made. I had earlier praised (and still like) the staged version from the Schwetzingen Festival, but this one is dramatically much more effective.

Scott Morrison

Revelatory! A Must-Have!.......2005-05-23

Highest praise for Katie Mitchell's extraordinary cinematic version of this difficult opera. At last, I've found a production that fully opens Britten's work to me...haunting, atmospheric, beautifully filmed and musically involving. Conductor Richard Hickox leads a revelatory performance with a cast that's sung and acted admirably. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Raiders Of Ghost City (Chapters 1-13)
Starring: Dennis Moore , and Lionel Atwill
Manufacturer: Alpha Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000P6R9FS
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Product Description

Gold raiders invade the West in 13 thrilling chapters of this classic serial.

Average customer rating:

"The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Raiders of Ghost City (1944) ~ Now on DVD"

Raiders of Ghost City
Starring: Dennis Moore , Wanda McKay , Lionel Atwill , Joe Sawyer , and Regis Toomey
Director: Ray Taylor , and Lewis D. Collins
Manufacturer: United Home
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000G0O56Y
Release Date: 2006-07-17

Description

During the latter stages of the Civil War, a gang of supposed Confederates, headed by Alex Morel (Lionel Atwill), raid all gold shipments destined for Washington from Oro Grande, California. A Union Secret Service Agent (Dennis Moore) with the aid of his faithful side-kick and a pretty Wells Fargo agent (Wanda McKay) overcome the gold raiders and even rounds up a group of Prussian spies! Bonus Features: Scene Selection| Bios| Serial Trailers. Specs: 1-DVD9 + 1-DVD5; Dolby Digital; 225 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1944; SRP - $29.99.

Customer Reviews:

"The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Raiders of Ghost City (1944) ~ Now on DVD".......2005-12-01

VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present..."Raiders of Ghost City" (1944) (Dolby digitally remastered), a 13 Chapter cliffhanger from an action packed Universal serial era featuring an outstanding cast with Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor at the helm....our story begins in early spring 1865 the war between the states is drawing towards it weary close...what plans are in place for shipping gold for the union during the Civil War...is there corruption afoot and will some secret Prussian organization led by Alex Morel (Lionel Atwill) take the gold and blame it on the Confederates...will our hero Capt. Steve Clark (Dennis Moore) and Idaho Jones (Joe Sawyer) be in harems way when their rail car is suddenly uncoupled and crashes down a mountainside...who is this mysterious wells fargo agent Cathy Haines (Wanda McKay) why has she been assigned to such a dangerous case, doesn't she know the dangers that lie ahead...never fear the writers from Universal Pictures have everything under control...watch out for the heavies Jack Ingram, Edmund Cobb and Jack Rockwell do their level best to bring havoc playing spies, smugglers, high-jackers and just all around nasty people...hopefully they will never see the light of day in another Universal serial...don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with "Golden Vengeance"....just remember double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...hitting the bull's eye with excitement...don't miss a single spine thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor, associate producers Morgan B. Cox and Ray Taylor, original screenplay by Luci Ward and Morgan B. Cox, dialogue director Willard Holland, supervising editor Norman A. Cerf, musical score by Milton Rosen, Sam Perry, Charles Maxwell, Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner, stuntmen Frank McCarroll, Ken Terrell, Dale Van Sickel (stunt double for Dennis Moore), Henry Wills ...the cast includes. Dennis Moore (Capt. Steve Clark), Wanda McKay (Cathy Haines), Lionel Atwill (Erich von Rugen), Joe Sawyer (Idaho Jones), Regis Toomey (Capt.Clay Randolph), Virginia Christine (Countess Elsa von Merck), Eddy C. Waller (Doc Blair), Emmett Vogan (Count Manfried von Rinkton), Addison Richards (Colonel Sewell), Charles Wagenheim (Hugo Metzger, alias Abel Rackerby), Jack Ingram (Braddock/Confederate outlaw), Edmund Cobb (Rawhide/raider), Jack Rockwell (Bart/raider), Ernie Adams (Hans Plattner), George Eldrige (Hank/gang saloon manager , Gene Garrick (Lieutenant Jim Clark, alias Jeff Logan ), Rex Lease (Army Major), George J. Lewis (Fred/code expert), Monte Montague (Stage driver #3), Ray Teal (Joe Burke/Indian agent), Chief Thundercloud (Chief Tahona)............special footnote on veteran actor Joe Sawyer who made his film debut in 1931 with various roles including policemen, gangsters, coaches and B-Westerns, sometimes dramas and once in a while comedies, Sawyer appeared in a wide range of films, literally hundreds, over a period of four decades, including The Westerner (1934), The Informer (1935), Pride of the Marines (1936), Black Legion (1936), "The Petrified Forest" (1936), Dark Command (1940), Melody Ranch (1940), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), They Died with Their Boots On (1941), Sergeant York (1941), Belle Starr (1941), Down Mexico Way (1941), Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943), The Outlaw (1943), Gilda (1946), It Came From Outer Space (1953), North to Alaska(1960) and How the West Was Won (1962), appeared in various TV series Racket Squad (1952), Stories of the Century (1954), Frontier Doctor (1958), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), Peter Gunn (1959), Lock Up (1961), Surfside 6 (1961), Sawyer was also a TV guest performer and regular on "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954-59) as Sergeant Aloysius 'Biff' O'Hara..........meanwhile back to our Universal Serial which is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

BIOS:
1. Joe Sawyer (aka Joseph Sauers)
Birth Date: 8/29/1906 - Guelph, Canada
Died: 4/21/1982 - Ashland, Oregon (liver cancer)

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Raiders of Ghost City
2. Flaming Treachery
3. Death Rides Double
4. Ghost City Terror
5. The Fatal Lariat
6. Water Rising
7. Bullet Avalanche
8. Death Laughs Last
9. Cold Steel
10.Showdown
11.The Trail To Torture
12.Calling All Buckboards
13.Golden Vengeance

If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)

Check this out from VCI Home Video on DVD..."FLAMING FRONTIERS" (1938), Universal Serial with 15 chapters, featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Eleanor Hansen, John Archer, James Blaine and Ralph Bowman..."OREGON TRAIL" (1939), another Universal Serial with 15 exciting chapters featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Roy Barcoft and Charles King..."THE TALL TEXAN" (1953), full length feature starring Lloyd Bridges, Lee J Cobb, Luther Adler and Marie Windsor...watch for more details on VCI Entertainment and Amazon your two favorite sites for serials and B-Westerns.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Raiders of Ghost City" (1944), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em

Total Time: 240 mins on 2 VHS ~ VCI Entertainment 1742 ~ (6/25/2002)
Total Time: 225 mins on 2 DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8454 ~ (6/27/2006)

Average customer rating:

"Does The Corpse Have A Familiar Face?"
Falls Short of the Original Crow
Good, not great.
Come on people really...It's a crow story.
Spectacular? Riiiiiight....

The Crow: City of Angels
Starring: Vincent Perez , Mia Kirshner , Richard Brooks (VI) , Iggy Pop , and Thomas Jane
Director: Tim Pope
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 630476524X
Release Date: 1998-02-04

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

"Does The Corpse Have A Familiar Face?".......2007-08-06

Falls Short of the Original Crow.......2007-03-09

Good, not great........2006-11-26

Come on people really...It's a crow story........2006-10-25

Spectacular? Riiiiiight...........2006-10-22

Average customer rating:

Metamorphosis: Chronicles 1984-2004
Starring: Ghost
Manufacturer: Drag City
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

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Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0007SL2KM
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Description

From twenty years of performance, many of them hidden from the public's eye, Ghost give you Metamorphosis: Ghost Chronicles, a DVD & CD package containing intense performances raging over two decades of Ghost.

What you will find in the nearly three hours of footage on the DVD: improvisations, one-time-only band lineups, unknown band lineups, unknown places, performances in temples, psychedelic costumes, bonfires, freak-outs and trances, the visual analog of a song from Temple Stone, footage from Terrastock, a variety of light shows and a demonstration for the oppressed people of Tibet. Over the course of the twelve performances, a total of thirty different songs are played - with a couple of extras thrown in for good measure.

DVD:

DVD

DVD