Something the Lord Made

Amazon.com

Something the Lord Made recounts the relationship between Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and Vivian Thomas (Mos Def). It begins in 1930s Nashville when imperious cardiac surgeon Blalock hires Thomas, an African American carpenter, as his janitor. When the latter reveals a passion for medicine and facility with surgical instruments, Blalock promotes him to lab tech. Thomas isn't given a raise, works side jobs to make ends meet, and is expected to be grateful. Along the way, he follows Blalock from Vanderbilt to Johns Hopkins, where they save thousands of lives through their pioneering work, but will Thomas ever get any credit? The film provides a satisfying answer to that question. Joseph Sargent (A Lesson Before Dying) directs with subtlety and intelligence, while Rickman and Mos Def are in top form, often underplaying where most actors would do otherwise. Something the Lord Made won the 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

(Drama) Something the Lord Made tells the emotional true story of two men who defied the rules of their time to launch a medical revolution, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow south. Working in 1940s Baltimore on an unprecedented technique for performing heart surgery on "blue babies," Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and lab technician Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) form an impressive team. As Blalock and Thomas invent a new field of medicine, saving thousands of lives in the process, social pressures threaten to undermine their collaboration and tear their friendship apart.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio commentary with director Joseph Sargent, writer Peter Silverman, executive directors Eric Hetzel and Joseph W. Cort Featurette Making History Slide Show
Featurette
Other:Making History Slide Show

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Love this Movie.......2007-09-13

This movie did not receive the credit it was due. Mos Def was wonderful... too bad he didn't get the award; he certainly deserved it.

5 Stars for this beautiful movie.......2007-08-15

This is an amazing movie from HBO films. If you have seen the Life and Death of Peter Sellers you know what I mean. My favorite actor Alan Rickman and Mos Def play the main characters in this civil rights era medical drama. It is based on the true history of Dr. Alfred Blaylock and his assistant Vivian Thomas, and their research on Tetralogy of Fallot. Cardiac surgery before the 1930's was considered impossible, so their contributions made vast improvements for medicine and countless lives. Their relationship is a contrast of violatility and intimacy. Social constraints influence them, and yet they treat each other as equals. The acting is infallible and touching, this is a must-see movie. I own it, I love it, enough can't be said about it. (it is NR but I would give an R, not for children)

MOS DEF IS A GREAT ACTOR.......2007-08-14

I orginally saw this movie on HBO. I had no idea Mos Def could act, but he sure can. From beginning to end the movie is gripping and at the end you feel a sense of pride. This is defintiely one I will watch over and over again.

Well Acted Docu-Drama.......2007-08-01

I purchased this title as a gift for a retired heart surgeon. He practically makes everyone (including me) who darkens his door watch it with him. It is a great, well acted film about the taboo interracial pairing of a surgeon and his brilliant assistant at Johns Hopkins Hospital in a very segregated Baltimore. This film documents the first open heart surgery on "blue babies" which was performed by this unlikely pair. Even the coldest heart will be melted by this wonderful story.

Excellent movie!.......2007-07-03

This movie is a must see. It will keep your interest throughout. There are no dull moments. I didn't realize that Mos Def is such a wonderful actor.

The Last Picture Show (Definitive Director's Cut Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

A Super Video And Story Line!
The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show
A Ghost Town Masterpiece
dusty, but good

The Last Picture Show (Definitive Director's Cut Special Edition)
Starring: Sam Bottoms , Timothy Bottoms , Eileen Brennan , Jeff Bridges , and Gary Brockette
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0767827902
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Amazon.com essential video

Like Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, and The Graduate, The Last Picture Show is one of the signature films of the "New Hollywood" that emerged in the late 1960s and early '70s. Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry and lovingly directed by Peter Bogdanovich (who cowrote the script with McMurtry), this 1971 drama has been interpreted as an affectionate tribute to classic Hollywood filmmaking and the great directors (such as John Ford) that Bogdanovich so deeply admired. It's also a eulogy for lost innocence and small-town life, so accurately rendered that critic Roger Ebert called it "the best film of 1951," referring to the movie's one-year time frame, its black-and-white cinematography (by Robert Surtees), and its sparse but evocative visual style. The story is set in the tiny, dying town of Anarene, Texas, where the main-street movie house is about to close for good, and where a pair of high-school football players are coming of age and struggling to define their uncertain futures. There's little to do in Anarene, and while Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) engages in a passionless fling with his football coach's wife (Cloris Leachman), his best friend Duane (Jeff Bridges) enlists for service in the Korean War. Both boys fall for a manipulative high-school beauty (Cybill Shepherd) who's well aware of her sexual allure. But it's not so much what happens in The Last Picture show as how it happens--and how Bogdanovich and his excellent cast so effectively capture the melancholy mood of a ghost town in the making. As Hank Williams sings on the film's evocative soundtrack, The Last Picture Show looks, feels, and sounds like a sad but unforgettably precious moment out of time. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Super Video And Story Line!.......2007-09-16

I love this DVD! Cybil Sheppard is my favorite actress and her performance here is awesome. She was very young but still excellent! You'll love the story line and your interest stays peaked all the way through!

The Last Picture Show.......2007-09-14

I had never seen the movie, but read the book. That's when I
decided I had to watch the movie. Although I prefer the book, the movie was very good.

The Last Picture Show.......2007-08-01

Being a Ben Johnson fan, I wasn't disappointed. I was surprised Larry Mc Murtry actually wrote something worth while. It is an interesting story most people growing up in the '50s can relate to, even if not raised in a small town. Good acting by big names getting a start on their careers. Worth watching.

A Ghost Town Masterpiece.......2007-07-27

The cold wind that blows through the town at the beginning of the movie is perfect symbolism; this same cold wind blows through the lives of the people in it. This movie expresses what Thomas Wolfe wrote about loneliness being central to the human existence. That has been explored and expressed beautifully in films before, such ones as Sling Blade,The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, Member of the Wedding, Taxi Driver...Likewise for this incredible film. The acting in this movie is superb on all levels,with Cloris Leachman's Oscar-winning performance clearly the film's most incredible, amazing acting of all. The direction:perfect. The first time I saw this, I wondered why it was done in black and white; by the end of the film, I realized it could be no other way. The music (there's no score, thank God; music comes from radios and jukeboxes, playing classic country and western weepers, mostly)only adds to the poignancy. Loneliness is everywhere in the sense of everyone looking for connection desperately. This movie points out the void or voids in our own lives, where they may lie. It is not solely about loneliness, by far, that is just the underlying theme; in fact, this movie has some scenes of such sensuality (many scenes, actually)with a passion rarely seen in movies; of course,desperation increases the need, the want, the desire, the release. It's no wonder many in this are consumed by desire and lust. Take Jacy, played by the beautiful young Cybill Shepherd; it's easy to see how she could wield such power over young men, with her looks; but as P.F. Sloan once wrote, "a pretty face can hide an evil mind", and that is the case, for she is the most scheming, self-centered, duplicitous character you will ever see...
The charcters in this are complex, as they should be, and due to the fact that nothing in this movie seems contrived, forced, or fake,it leaves you with a feeling that you rarely see in a movie; that it relates to real life as much as possible as a movie can; few movies are this way.
While there are some characters we don't know much about,there is the feeling, the loneliness that pervades, that even when little is given about a character, something is clearly amiss, such as poor Miss Mosey; we know little about her, but the few things she does say, and her expressions, tell us all we need to know. The main characters(played by a terrific, then-unknown ensemble of talented actors), are all well-fleshed-out, three-dimensional ones with well-defined motivations,with interesting stories (to put it mildly!); yet they live in a ghost town. And it's fascinating. This movie is a must-see for any and all fans of dramas. Just stupendous, this movie is one for the ages.

dusty, but good.......2007-07-11

Sonny (Tim Bottoms) can barely get his truck to run in the dusty, dilapidated Texas town of Anelene, in the opening scene. His physical impotence, furthermore, is manifested by his inability/unwillingness to tackle his opponents when playing on his high school football team. But, despite his gentle-natured passivity, things soon get moving for him and his life becomes increasingly complex. In the process he looses his virginity, but ironically retains much of his innocence. His relationship with the elderly Sam the Lion, and with the mentally handicapped Billy demonstrate his guilelessness. Other characters--Jayce, Duane, Lois, Abilene and others--reveal their flawed moral character.

Sex, and in practically every imaginable variety makes up a big part of this coming of age film. The rich kids, the poor kids, the handicapped kid, the preacher's kid, and those who aren't kids anymore. Infidelity, bestiality ("my uncle has a heifer"), group nudity, pedophilia, and prostitution. But it was done in a such an artful manner that the film has naturalness and continuity. Based on the eponymous novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Larry McMurty, it is definitely a literary film.

I think this movie well made. The black-and-white filming is quite effective, the acting is excellent, and the artistic aspects make it worth watching. Again.

Average customer rating:

Subtle Romantic Comedy
Good Movie
Romantic light comedy
British humor is wonderful
SUPERFICIAL AT BEST

Four Weddings and a Funeral
Starring: Hugh Grant , James Fleet , Simon Callow , John Hannah , and Kristin Scott Thomas
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B00000JRTX
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Amazon.com essential video

A surprise hit and one of the highest grossing films ever to come out of Great Britain, this effortlessly enchanting romantic comedy finds confirmed bachelor Hugh Grant (Nine Months) attending weddings with his single friends as they all lament not being able to commit. Grant keeps running into an attractive American (Andie MacDowell) at these festivities and begins a long-running affair with her, even as he attends her own wedding, the funeral of one of his best friends, and his own pending nuptials. Featuring a spirited supporting cast including Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) as the acerbic friend quietly in love with Grant, this touching and funny film with a mischievous sense of humor and some truly heartbreaking moments is destined to become one of the classic romantic comedies of all time. --Robert Lane

Description

The champagne is flowingand so is the funin this "delightful and sly" (Roger Ebert) romantic comedy about two people who belong together but just can't seem to tie the knot. Ushering in two Academy AwardÂ(r) nominations*, and starring Hugh Grant (Notting Hill), Andie MacDowell (Michael) and a superb ensemble cast that includes OscarÂ(r) nominee** Kristin Scott Thomas, Four Weddings and a Funeral is truly "a very special occasion" (Rolling Stone)! Charlie (Grant) is always the best man but never the groom. Determined to avoid even a hint of commitment, this handsome English gentleman is notoriously late to every wedding. But today he's in for a real surprise because not only did he forget the ring...but he also just caught a glimpse of the girl of his dreams (MacDowell)! "Elegant, festive and very, very funny" (The New York Times), Four Weddings and a Funeral is engaging entertainment from beginning to end. *1994: Best Picture, Original Screenplay **1996: Actress, The English Patient

Customer Reviews:

Subtle Romantic Comedy.......2007-08-16

Charles (Hugh Grant) is what some people would call a player. He has had numerous relationships, but commitment is not in his vocabulary. Charles's fear of commitment suffers a challenge when he meets Carrie (Andie MacDowell). Carrie is intelligent, mysterious and honest, and is very self-confident and care-free. Charles struggles against his feelings as he finds himself falling in love with Carrie, but not wanting to speak those words aloud.

This movie is humorous from beginning to end. Sometimes the humor is worthy of a laugh, but much of the humor just made me smile. Regardless of whether I was smiling or laughing, I was completely involved in the story and I wanted Charles and Carrie to end up with each other. There are four weddings, and a sad funeral, but each wedding and the funeral provide opportunities for an array of jokes and gags.

I only have one complaint about this movie. There is significant use of four-letter words throughout. Unfortunately, one portion of the movie benefits from the language so eliminating it would also eliminate some of the humor, but there are places where the language was unnecessary. Obviously this movie is more suitable for an older audience. I would probably avoid showing the DVD version to anyone younger than 16 or 17 years old because of the language.

I have seen comments about Hugh Grant and his "mumbling." I guess I have a different definition of mumbling. I thought Grant spoke his lines about as clearly as I talk (maybe I mumble), and other than brief moments where he was being introspective - let's face it, people may mumble when they are thinking out loud - Grant does not mumble.

I am also impressed that Hugh Grant somehow said four-letter words and left a string of girl friends behind him, and yet he still looked sweet and innocent. I guess that was why he was able to get another girl friend each time he dumped the last one.

Andie MacDowell is beautiful and expressive and perfect for this role. She is sexy and mysterious and intelligent and sensitive, sometimes all at once. I could readily see why Charles was smitten by Carrie. As with most characters Andie MacDowell plays, she brings elegant and classy Carrie to life.

This movie was good enough to gain two Academy Award nominations, for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Beyond those nominations, the movie won 23 significant awards, such as the British Comedy Awards for Best Comedy Picture in 1994. The movie was nominated for another 14 awards of varying stature.

"Four Weddings and a Funeral" is a rare light romantic comedy that relies on an unusual combination of subtle and blatant humor in combination with an intelligent plot. I wondered whether Charles had a hope of capturing the heart of beautiful Carrie to the end of the movie, even as I was smiling and laughing at the humor. If you enjoy light romantic comedies, Hugh Grant or Andie MacDowell, you will find this award-winning movie to be worth more than one watch.

Enjoy!

Good Movie.......2007-07-15

I enjoyed this movie a lot. I liked Hugh Grant a lot in this movie, he did a great job. I would highly recommend this movie.

Romantic light comedy.......2007-06-01

The real life locations in which this film is set are outstanding from start to finish, a veritable travelogue of "secret" Great Britain. Many moments work well, especially when the characters begin to show their personalities. Hugh Grant is good (cast as a character that resembles himself) in this film and Andie McDowell was never lovelier. We wish she would appear in more first rate films. The supporting cast is really an ensemble cast and they all do their work very well. The cameo of Rowan Atkinson the bumbling vicar is so good. Father Son and Holy Goat indeed! Holy Spigot, too. What fun. The tender eulogy by John Hannah is one of two of the best eulogies in all of cinema history, the other being in "Waking Ned Divine". The scene in the rain is also lovely. This movie wears well upon re-watching.

British humor is wonderful.......2007-05-08

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I love Hugh Grant and thought that his character was perfect. It is a great romantic comedy and an excellent addition to anyone who enjoys this genre.

SUPERFICIAL AT BEST.......2007-02-06

Nice visually but superficial. Parading the usual Hollywood values
"Sleeping around is a positive thing". "self centeredness" also very positive. Funnily enough the funeral was the best part of the movie and john Hannah's eulogy the highpoint of the film. I like Andie MacDowell But her role was pretty much confined to looking pretty and sensitive. Hugh Grant just bumbled. I am not sure it deserves even a 2.

Average customer rating:

Too long but....
postamn dvd
what is important enough to hope for? does it matter if it is true?
The critics are idiots!
Ignore the Critics

The Postman
Starring: Todd Allen , Scott Bairstow , Annie Costner , Charles Esten , and Shawn Hatosy
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790736500
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Amazon.com

Falling from the Oscar-winning glory of Dances with Wolves to the opposite end of the critical and box-office scale, Kevin Costner must have been deeply humbled when this three-hour postapocalyptic tale--his sophomore effort as a director--was greeted with a critical thrashing and tepid audience response. One of the most conspicuous flops of its decade, the 1997 release must have seemed like a sure thing on paper: a kind of futurist Western starring Costner as a charismatic drifter-turned-hero who leads the resistance against a military tyrant (Will Patton) by reviving the long-dormant postal system to reunite isolated communities in their fight for freedom. The movie bombed, but, like many audacious failures, it's got qualities that make it at least partially endearing, and its earnestness (although bordering on corny) keeps it from being entirely silly. Faint praise, perhaps, but Costner's ode to patriotism is occasionally stirring and visually impressive. The dual-layered, widescreen DVD includes a documentary segment about the creation of the film's special effects sequences, featuring a running commentary by the special effects creators. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Too long but...........2007-09-04

We watched this movie again yesterday, and just like I remembered, it is too long. But I still like it better than the book, which I also liked with reservation.

Here's the thing, you don't have to pay over-much attention of this film to get the good part, which for me, is the message that people need hope, and more than that, anyone who helps give hope to others is a hero.

But that's just me.

postamn dvd.......2007-08-03

I really enjoyed this movie the first time I saw it. I have been looking for it ever since. I would reccomend this movie. I love Kevin Costner movies and feel this is a good movie.

what is important enough to hope for? does it matter if it is true?.......2007-07-19

movie review -- the Postman
I saw it when it first came out, had the opportunity to watch it again this evening.
It's the motivation for hope that interests me most about the movie

The movie is about hope, the kind of hope and strength that comes from believing in something worthwhile and greater than yourself and your immediate gratification.
What is curious is that the plot really proposes a hope in hope, akin to the modern ideas of a faith in faith itself. The content of either is really kind of unimportant, the only thing that seems important is the strength with which you hold to the hope or faith.

He is a fraud. A mild con man, out for a meal and a warm place to sleep. The post system is build by a teenager with a strong hero worship and a great imagination. He too is a fraud, making up letters from the postman to set rules and motivate the postal riders. In some magic way this hope in hope, this faith in faith, transmogrifies itself into a heroic army that sweeps down on horseback to blow the bad guys away. phoey! doesn't it matter if people believe a lie or believe the truth? isn't the content of hope, the object of faith important?

It is a clever plot with enough action and adventure to involve people in watching it. It's not a bad movie, but it really is indicative of the current mentality that faith, hope and love will conquer all, no matter what the content of either is. The orange army, the bad guys, had hope as well. Hope to live another day, hope to watch the flicks that night, and the hope for some loot in raiding the rest of the devastated and depopulated countryside. The leader, the general of the bad guys really had the most hope of all-hope that he would rule and impose his will on everyone around him and knock down anyone who dared stand up to him.

I propose that the object of love, the reason for hope and the content of faith is important. Many of the most motivated and evil people that ever lived had lots of hope, lots of faith, often in themselves and as much love as the next guy. I suppose that those men that devastated this apocalyptic world had lots of hope that they were right, the enemy was wrong and their case just and they virtually destroyed their world. It's all too much like the proverbial airplane pilot that reports to the passengers that he has good news and bad news. The good news is that they are making excellent time, the bad news is that they are hopelessly lost. Great hope and faith in the service of evil is more than wasted it is what makes for so much conflict and evil in this world. People who are completely convinced that their hope and faith is something that i must share or .... . The content of faith, the object and reason for hope is important.

The movie tries to make the connection between home and hearth, between a warm bed with a beautiful wife and the patriotic feelings towards the national state. But it is a sleight of hand trick, the nation state, the big conglomerates of power, this belongs to the evil, orange soldier guys, not to peaceful farmers or really small communities. I can't help but think of the book: The Parable of the Tribes, those evil ones who fight to control and rule over others, they change and shape the world into their image, as force seems the only way to meet force, violence the only way to defeat the violent. It's a stirring enough movie, but it is misdirected, hope and faith are important things, but the object of those very necessary and very human strivings are likewise important.

It is necessary not just to have hope, but to have hope in things that are true. It is necessary to love, but to love the right people for the right reasons. It is necessary to have faith, but the object and content of the faith must be in real things, things that are worthwhile having faith, hope and love place in them, or towards them. Faith in faith, or hope in hope may very well motivate people to rise above themselves and do heroic things, but it also is fraught with potential to me misguided or worse yet manipulated by those evil ones. Everyone in the orange jumpsuits wasn't impressed and forced to be there, some were there genuinely because they loved, hoped and had faith in their leaders and in their cause. This is the way faith, hope and love are double edged knifes, you can and do have people who are sincerely and whole heartedly committed to false and ignoble causes, ready to die, and worse yet kill for their objects of their misplaced but certainly bold faith.

Well, it's just a movie and not a philosophic treatise, although it is nearly as long as some. But it is worth thinking about and considering, good and evil, the constant battle that swirls around and often through us, the sides don't really differ in the intensity of their desires, but only in the object of them.

The critics are idiots!.......2007-07-15

This is a prime example why I never believe a critic. I loved this movie. It has it's little weird moments, which is why I didn't rate it 5 stars. All in all an excellent movie and worth the long watch.
Again, the critics missed the boat on this one!

Ignore the Critics.......2007-07-04

I've enjoyed this movie so much over the years that I found myself adding it to my personal DVD collection - and I am very selective in what I add. Yes it's long, but it's also exciting, moving, and inspiring in turns. This is a movie that features adventure and explores themes of courage, commitment and patriotism. It's also the best movie Costner's ever done.

American Dreams - Season One (Extended Music Edition)

Average customer rating:

loved it!!
How about seasons 2 and 3???
No such Special feature Back to Bandstand on thsi set
American Dreams
One of the Best TV Shows since "The Wonder Years"

American Dreams - Season One (Extended Music Edition)
Starring: Virginia Madsen , and Landall Goolsby
Director: Lev L. Spiro , Tucker Gates , Daniel Attias , Michael W. Watkins , and Bill D'Elia
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B00005JNAF
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Product Description

American Dreams is brighter, bolder and better than ever! Set to the irresistible backbeat of the best and biggest hits of the 60s, the smash-hit series first spectacular season is now available in an unprecedented Extended Music Edition.

Experience American Dreams like never before! This Emmy Award-winning series Extended Music Edition features incredible extended performances from some of today s hottest music superstars, including Usher, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, Kelly Rowland of Destiny s Child and many more.

Loaded with hundreds of unforgettable rock n roll hits exploding in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, this 7-disc collection also contains hours of bonus features that include documentaries about music legends and superstars, hilarious behind-the-scenes footage and revealing audio commentaries that take you beyond this extraordinary TV series.

System Requirements:

Running Timr 1038 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The 2002 first season of American Dreams introduced one of the more ambitious new dramas on a major television network since the debut of The West Wing. Deceptively nostalgic, American Dreams looks, at first blush, like a bone tossed to baby boomers who remember black and white TV, American Bandstand, and what class they were in when word spread of JFK's assassination. But the more one watches the show, the more apparent it becomes that American Dreams is not about memories but about bringing a pivotal chapter in 20th century U.S. history to life--sometimes electrifyingly so.

The series pilot, set just before and on the day of Kennedy's murder, introduces Philadelphia family the Pryors, white, middle-class Catholics whose stern but not undiscerning patriarch, Jack (Tom Verica), gets an earful one night over dinner. Eldest son J.J. (Will Estes), a star running back at high school and candidate for a Notre Dame football scholarship, announces he's leaving the sport, feeling unappreciated for his mind and inspired by Kennedy's outreach to young people. Teenage daughter Meg (Brittany Snow) allows that she'll be dancing on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Jack's wife, Helen (Gail O'Grady), later lets fly that she's moving on from her boring book club to spend time with a new friend, a feminist academic (Virginia Madsen), and strongly hints that she's done with adding more babies to their brood of four. The times are indeed a-changin' for the Pryors--who have chugged along on WWII vet Jack's fiercely protected vision of picket fences, cooperative kids, and a wife who doesn't upset his equilibrium with needs of her own. But the rest of the country is changing, too, and American Dreams captures--with subtle precision--the erosion of comfortable assumptions at the onset of the Vietnam war, the escalation of the civil rights movement, the British Invasion, reproductive rights for women, and much else.

The series flows, often with stylish splendor, between the Pryors' home, the Bandstand studio set, and Jack's retail television and radio shop, where Jack's sole employee, an African American father, Henry (Jonathan Adams), wonders silently about the options a racist society will offer his talented son, Sam (Arlen Escarpeta). Wordlessness is a hallmark of American Dreams: An exchanged look between Meg and Sam is shattering testimony to the confusion of racial prohibitions among well-meaning kids. Part of every show finds historical reenactments of '60s musical acts appearing on Bandstand, and sometimes these artists are played by contemporary musicians such as Nick Carter (as Jay of Jay and the Americans) and Third Eye Blind (as the Kinks). This boxed set includes real Bandstand clips that are contemporaneous with the series' timeline. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

loved it!!.......2007-09-10

im from australia, and i love TV series! and American Dreams was only shown for 2 weeks, when it was on cable and thats when i fell in love with it. and that was about 2 years ago, Then when i found out it was on amazon..i bought it straight away! I love it!! now i want the second series, but unfortunatly its not available..let me know where i can get it.

How about seasons 2 and 3???.......2007-09-03

American Dreams' disappearance from NBC can be blamed on the network's indecision over its future. With its 3rd season nearing and end, NBC had not made a definitive decision on season 4. So series creator Jonathan Prince wrote 2 endings, one a "cliffhanger" if the series was a go for season 4. And a more ambitious series finale that fast-forwarded 5 years to show the Pryor family and friends in the year 1969. NBC gave a tentative "go" for season 4, and then suddenly reversed their decision after season 3 ended with Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow) leaving town with the bad boy next door for parts unknown. Leaving us fans with no idea what happened next.

That said, we as fans would still love to see seasons two and three. In these episodes, U.S. Marine J.J. Pryor headed for Vietnam and experienced the war firsthand as an infantryman and later as a collaborator with a shady C.I.A. operative played by Jeff Fahey. Back home, Meg continued as a regular on American Bandstand but was quickly challenging the ideals of her elders at home and school. And middle sister Patty was just as snotty as before (just my opinion).

And then there was the music. The series continued its unique practice of using current music stars playing the stars of the past. So in seasons 2 and 3 there was Kelly Clarkson as Brenda Lee, Chris Isaak as Roy Orbison, John Legend as Stevie Wonder, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Nancy Sinatra. Jennifer has a unique place in the show's history as the only "performer" to appear twice. There were also more subtle music cameos in the last season. At one point, a young singer (played by JoJo) asks for an audition and promptly blows the roof off the place belting out "That'll be the Day". The producer's impressed but tells her she's too young and come back in a year, when he can guarantee she'll get on. As she walks away, he asks her name and she casually says "Oh, Linda...Linda Ronstadt".

American Dreams can best be described as a lost opportunity for NBC. It might sound corny but it was that rare instance of a "family show" that didn't date quickly (because it was set in the past to begin with) still had some relevance to today, and was simply a solid show that those without families looked forward to on a Sunday night.

No such Special feature Back to Bandstand on thsi set.......2007-08-11

For everyone that is going to buy this just beware i bought one and there is no special feature entitled Back To Bandstand on here,and also there are no audio commenteries,and all this should have been taken off the box and this information should be removed from websites selling these sets.

American Dreams .......2007-05-14

This DVD set is a wonderful addition to any DVD library. I can't wait for Seasons 2 and 3 to be available.

One of the Best TV Shows since "The Wonder Years".......2007-03-26

I really love this DVD set, its so sad that they still dont have a release date for seasons 2 and 3, this is a must for all the people that love the 50's-60's era. You wont regreat buying it

Average customer rating:

An American Tail
The mouse review of an American Tail
very pleased
Watch The Secret of NIMH
This Movie is alright!

An American Tail
Starring: Phillip Glasser , Dom DeLuise , Nehemiah Persoff , Erica Yohn , and Amy Green
Director: Don Bluth
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000VV4W2
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Amazon.com

Don Bluth's An American Tail is based on the story of a young Russian mouse who is separated from his family in America and who later heads with his reunited kin out to the American West. It's pleasant, though not spectacular, and has its greatest problems in story development. Steven Spielberg produced with an eye toward creating animation hits outside of Disney, and he and Bluth certainly took a big step in that direction here. Kids like it a lot, and adults will warm to the sound of various familiar voices, such as Dom DeLuise as Tiger and Madeline Kahn as Gussie Mausheimer. It's also the source of the pop single "Somewhere Out There." --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

An American Tail.......2007-09-15

Great kids movie. One of my daughter's favorites as a child. Purchased for my grandkids. Shipping was excellent and timely.

The mouse review of an American Tail .......2007-06-03

Great animation musical and great storyline but ok for the movie !

very pleased.......2007-01-20

Had been looking for this movie for a long time and found it at a record low price. It was in GREAT condition and is enjoyed tremendously.

Watch The Secret of NIMH.......2006-07-26

After seeing The Secret of NIMH Steven Spielberg wantedd to do a collaboration with Don Bluth. While An American Tale is okay, I must say Don Bluth did a much better job when on his own.
The Secret of NIMH remains a hidden treasure to those who find it.

This Movie is alright!.......2006-06-18

I had fun going back to my childhood memories. There is a favorite scene I have. 5 Words. THE GIANT MOUSE OF MINSK!

Average customer rating:

HARSH TIMES, PURE ADRENALINE!!!
Pretty Lame for a Christian Bale movie
LOVE LOVE LOVE Christian Bale
Heavy Heavy Flick
Look a little deeper...

Harsh Times
Starring: Christian Bale , Freddy Rodríguez , Armando Cantina , Eva Longoria , and Kenneth Choi
Director: David Ayer
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000KX0IM2
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

Bleak as its South Central Los Angeles setting, Harsh Times is like a suicidal vortex swallowing men who ought to know better but can't stop their self-destruction. Christian Bale stars as Jim Davis, a stressed-out, former Army Ranger who becomes a very bad influence on his weak-willed buddy, Mike Alvarez (Freddy Rodriguez of Six Feet Under). Together the two meander through streets at night, getting drunk and stoned, finding trouble for its own sake and inviting danger as a ritual of machismo bonding. Mike's wife, Sylvia (Eva Longoria), a lawyer whom Mike, working as a telemarketer, put through school, is repelled by Jim and watches in pain as her spouse chooses a downward spiral over renewal and redemption with her. When Jim's application to join the L.A. police is turned down, he leads Mike into pure anarchy. An impractical change of fortune doesn't help any, and first-time director David Ayer, who wrote the screenplay for Harsh Times years before his script for Training Day, goes to some lengths, dramatically and visually, to convey Jim's unhinged condition. The dreariness of it all, and a sense that Bale has constructed--but not exactly lived in--another in his gallery of lost, misfit souls, makes it hard to connect with this film. Still, it is hard to turn away from these desperate and dangerous characters. --Tom Keogh

Description

(Action) Bale stars as an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime and booze after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. Honorable discharged, Homeland Security wants to recruit him for some special ops in Central America, but first he has to pass a urine test...which proves difficult. Film directorial debut for Ayer who has written such box office hits as TRAINING DAY, U-571 and THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

Customer Reviews:

HARSH TIMES, PURE ADRENALINE!!!.......2007-09-08

man this movie was over the top. great movie, with a good story behind it. yea, it's similar to training day, but this has it's own unique touch as well. denzel washington, magnificent actor did his thing. no doubt, but here christian bale totally transformed into an out of control psycho. just flew off the handle. great performance. you were actually scared of him at some point. freddy rodriguez this guys just so adorable. i thought he did just fine, right along side eva. she's the caring girlfriend who wants a good man by her side. saw a good bit of her talent. and freddy's trying to be strait, but it's hard when you got somebody like bale as a friend. their always getting drunk, wasted, and suppose to be looking for work, but not in the least bit following through. it's a roller coaster of a ride they get into trouble, they mess with the wrong people, and sometimes it's a little to late to right all the wrongs. that's what happens when people come back from the military without any therapy, they get all twisted inside, and this is a good film showcasing just that.

Pretty Lame for a Christian Bale movie.......2007-09-03

I thought Christian Bale didn't make full-on bad movies. I was wrong. The script is horrible. Performances are inconsistent at best. None of the relationships make much sense. I'd heard it was good, and really wanted to like it, but it was all I could do just to finish it. Seriously, don't even bother renting it.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Christian Bale.......2007-08-31

This man really knows how to pick a movie! He's amazing. Definitely thought-provoking. Can't miss!

Heavy Heavy Flick.......2007-08-12

I give this movie five stars because it gave me back every penny I paid for it. I think anybody who ever served active duty in the combat zone can relate to this movie or even any gangster. While Christian Bales character shows an extreme case of PDSD, there are many vets just hanging on out there in society. They are not monsters, but sensitive men who did a lot of insensitive things too people overseas. Don't go into this flick expecting anything.

Look a little deeper..........2007-07-26

...and search your feelings (not to sound too much like Yoda). People who didn't like this movie either simply did not get the deeper meaning, or were expecting another glossy hollywood action movie. Listen up America, there are a lot of damaged kids coming back from Lil' Bushies War; beware, if we ignore them there will come time to "pay the piper". They walk among you, they hold good paying high profile "respectable" jobs; however, if you had any idea what goes on inside thier heads - you would hide under your bed. People who do not suffer the anguish of PTSD may never truly be able to understand what this movie represents. This movie is not about creating a "likeable character", it is about harsh reality.

The Premiere Frank Capra Collection (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington / It Happened One Night / You Can't Take It with You / Mr. Deeds Goes to Town / American Madness / Frank Capra's American Dream)

Average customer rating:

All I can say is "WOW!
Outstanding value DVD set
Capra is quietly cool.
Great films, great quality
Historic Films

The Premiere Frank Capra Collection (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington / It Happened One Night / You Can't Take It with You / Mr. Deeds Goes to Town / American Madness / Frank Capra's American Dream)
Starring: Jean Arthur , James Stewart , Claude Rains , Edward Arnold , and Guy Kibbee
Director: Frank Capra
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ION7A8
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Political heavyweights decide that Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), an obscure scoutmaster in a small town, would be the perfect dupe to fill a vacant U.S. Senate chair. Surely this naive bumpkin can be easily controlled by the senior senator (Claude Rains) from his state, a respectable and corrupted career politician. Director Frank Capra fills the movie with Smith's wide-eyed wonder at the glories of Washington, all of which ring false for his cynical secretary (Jean Arthur), who doesn't believe for a minute this rube could be for real. But he is. Capra was repeating the formula of a previous film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but this one is even sharper; Stewart and Arthur are brilliant, and the former cowboy star Harry Carey lends a warm presence to the role of the vice president. Bright, funny, and beautifully paced, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is Capra's ode to the power of innocence--an idea so potent that present-day audiences may find themselves wishing for a new Mr. Smith in Congress. The 1939 Congress was none too thrilled about the film's depiction of their august body, denouncing it as a caricature; but even today, Capra's jibes about vested interests and political machines look as accurate as ever. --Robert Horton

It Happened One Night Director Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) took home every Oscar in the book (well, okay, all the major ones) for this seminal 1934 comedy starring Clark Gable as a hard-bitten reporter who stays close to a runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) rather than lose a good story. Funny and sexy, the film is full of memorable scenes often referred to in other films, such as the "walls of Jericho" (a mere bedcover hung on a line down the middle of a room so opposite-sex roommates can get undressed), and Colbert's famous flash of thigh to stop a speeding car in its tracks. Capra's brisk, urbane brand of wit was a perfect complement to his populist faith in the common man (in this case, Gable's character), and that inspired combination makes this film both a spirited entertainment and an uplifting experience. --Tom Keogh

You Can't Take It With You
Frank Capra's 1938 populist spin on the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play about a family of happy eccentrics is a great deal of fun, though it significantly rewrites the original work and doesn't represent Capra (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) at his best. Jean Arthur plays a member of the blissful Vanderhof household who falls in love with a rich man's son (James Stewart) and brings him into her nutty home. Lionel Barrymore, who played such a bad guy eight years later in Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, is the wonderful Grandpa Vanderhof, who addresses God during the dinner prayer as "sir" and speaks plainly and beautifully of why it's good to be alive. Capra took this opportunity to rail against big business and champion the common man, but the overall tone of the film--typical for the director's comedies--is buoyant and snappy. --Tom Keogh

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is Frank Capra's classic screwball comedy about a village innocent who inherits $20 million, only to discover it's more trouble than it's worth. The screwball in question is Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a small-town greeting-card poet and tuba player transplanted to the big city to administer his newly inherited wealth, where fast-pattering, wised-up cynics, sneering society denizens, and corrupt lawyers lord it over the ingenuous and straightforward. Deeds's idiosyncrasies are amply magnified in the tabloids by journalist "Babe" Bennett (Jean Arthur), dating Deeds as a cover, only to discover she's the sap when she falls irresistibly for him. But the damage has been done, when Babe's column is used by a pack of corrupt lawyers, Cedar, Cedar, Cedar & Budington, to prove Deeds mentally unfit. The miracle of this unforgettable comedy is how it embraces dark material, calling into question some common assumptions about capitalism while maintaining an approachable atmosphere of light comedy, and deceptively so. You'll be so pixilated by its charm, you won't rest until you've doodled your way to a rhyme for "Budington." --Jim Gay

More Stills from The Premiere Frank Capra Collection (click for larger image)

Product Description

Designated the "Number One Director in Hollywood" by Time Magazine in 1938 and voted by Entertainment Weekly (April 19th issue, 1996) as one of the greatest directors of all time, Capra has received numerous industry awards and accolades over the course of his successful career including three Best Director Oscars®.

The Premiere Frank Capra Collection is a 6-disc collectible box set featuring five of Frank Capra's best films. The digitally re-mastered set includes Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, You Can't Take it With You, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, It Happened One Night and American Madness. The DVD box set includes a bonus disc packed with all-new interviews, archival footage, plus Frank Capra's American Dream documentary hosted by Ron Howard and produced by Capra's eldest son, Frank Capra, Jr. (An Eye for an Eye, Marooned). This Premiere Collection also features commentaries for each film, along with a 96- page collectible Movie Scrapbook.

Customer Reviews:

All I can say is "WOW!.......2007-06-01

It was a happy day for me when I learned that this collection was being isssued and when it arrived from Amazon my first act was to cancel all my appointments, take the phone off the hook and settle down with a bowl and popcorn and discover just what made Frank Capra one of the leading directors of his day and indeed for all time. I was not disappointed. Along with favorites like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "You Can't Take it with You" were "It Happened One Night" (which I had not seen in years and did not recall how good it was) and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." Also included in this set is a fabulous collection of films documenting just how Frank Capra was able to produce his fabulous collection of films. It is rare that great classics of American cinema get the attention and treatment that they deserve, but this is one of those rare instances of the material being treated in the appropriate manner.

It really would be silly for me to try to capture the magic and craftsmanship that went into making these fabulous films. Capra had a particular talent for being to tap into the fundamental aspects of what it meant to be an American in the 1930s and 1940s and this talent is on full display in this collection. They contain some marvelous performances, particularly by Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Claudette Caulbert and in particular Jean Arthur. While Capra's autobiography does contain it share of myths, the chapters that detail the efforts it took to get these performances down on film is probably worth consulting for the insights it provides.

If I were to fault it for one or two things it would be the omission of two classics in the Capra canon. These are "Meet John Doe" which really is crying out for a restoration and a proper release on DVD and "It's a Wonderful Life." These movies are probably excellent examples of Capra's creativity, but as this fine collection proves, they are by no means the only ones.

I hope that other directors are in line for similar treatments in the future. However it is doubtful if future efforts will surpass this one for its overall excellence.

Outstanding value DVD set.......2007-05-30

This DVD collection is obviously going to be popular with sure fire entertainments such as "You Can't take it with You" and "Mr Smith goes to Washington" but the package goes much further by providing lengthy interviews with Capra's son about each of the films, a detailed documentary about Capra himself, expert commentaries with each film and a detailed booklet. This is outstanding value.

All of the films are excellent and Amazon themselves provide worthwhile summaries. Here are a few observations:

- "Mr Deeds goes to Town" is my least favourite and probably most guilty of what is called "Capra corn". Gary Cooper was often a mannered actor and for me he overdoes his "Aw shucks" country bumpkin. Jean Arthur compensates enormously, making believable that this worldly "babe" could fall for Mr Deeds. She helps Cooper enormously to pull off his performance.
- "American Madness", made in 1932 before Capra really hit the bigtime, benefits from a shorter running time with a fast pace created by the editing. At the height of the Depression, a story about a run on a bank was timely and the note of optimism sounded by the resolution was refreshing. Walter Huston is outstanding as the head of the bank and the serene Kay Johnson, a poised and beautiful presence in any film, plays his wife. The film has one great set and Capra moves his camera around it, including some powerful overhead shots. His crowd scenes are outstanding as always.
- Jean Arthur was a wonderful actress and if her parts in each film are quite similar, it doesn't matter. With her husky inimitable voice and warm smile, she is memorable.
- Clark Gable is very funny in "It happened One Night", a very underrated comedian.
- "Mr Smith goes to Washington" has similarities to "Mr Deeds" but is superior in every way. The documentaries tell that in fact, it was originally conceived as a sequel. James Stewart is much more convincing than Gary Cooper and the yarn has far more tension then the earlier film. It is much less dated. The film was very popular on its release except in Washington where the depiction of political corruption was considered "un-American".

All of the prints are good, although "It happened One Night" suffers from grainy scenes. The films benefit from Capra's attention to detail, particularly the character actors which populated his films. The documentaries tell us that actors lived to appear in a Capra film because they knew that even the smallest part would be treated with loving attention. The most amusing story about this is the casting of Harry Cary in "Mr Smith" as the Speaker in the Senate. On paper, the part was minor but there are numerous telling close ups as he reflects the audience reaction to what is happening. It is a very important role.

The documentary about Capra himself tells of his beginnings as an Italian immigrant. Undoubtedly, his own rise from humble beginnings influenced his view of America as the land of opportunity and his depiction of the power of the people. He lived the "American Dream". Even if you are uncomfortable with the idealism expounded in most of the films (Capra corn), each film tells a good story and provides great entertainment.

Capra is quietly cool........2007-04-06

Mr. Capra is an excellent, pro-American director. He believes in the USA.....his movies prove it. In today's world it is nice to watch movies that have strong Christian, moral pro-USA values. I have liked every Capra movie I have ever seen. He was cutting edge as a movie director.

Great films, great quality.......2007-02-03

I bought the Premiere Frank Capra Collection for my brother's birthday. He's a big Capra fan, but he was concerned that the film quality would not be good, given the low price. He was quite pleased to discover the quality was excellent.

Historic Films.......2007-01-19

Great review of film history in this amazing collection of Capra films. Surprisingly, many have a message that remains relevant to today's problems.

Average customer rating:

I do not feel ALONE Anymore
Thoroughly engaging *Spoliers*
Ben Kingsley is awesome, the movie is not
Ben Kingsley's acting is wonderful but the rest of the movie is a real downer............
Mostly Good for It's Performances

House of Sand and Fog
Starring: Jennifer Connelly , Ben Kingsley , Ron Eldard , Frances Fisher , and Kim Dickens
Director: Vadim Perelman
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B0001DMVBC
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Amazon.com

Jennifer Connelly followed up her Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind with this dark but moving story of small mistakes that escalate, with tragic necessity, to disaster. In House of Sand and Fog, Kathy (Connelly) gets evicted from her house for failing to pay a tax she never should have been charged in the first place. The house is swiftly put up for auction and bought by a former military officer from Iran named Behrani (Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast). When legal efforts fail her, Kathy turns to a sympathetic cop (Ron Eldard, Bastard Out of Carolina), who wants out of a loveless marriage and who's willing to step over legal boundaries if it might give him a fresh start. Topnotch performances by the entire cast make House of Sand and Fog a compelling psychological drama; your sympathies will be pulled in all directions. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Academy Award winners Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) deliver stunning performances as two strangers whose conflicting pursuits of the American Dream lead to a fight for their hopes at any cost. What begins as a struggle over a rundown bungalow spirals into a clash that propels everyone involved toward a shocking resolution. "The surprise ending will leave you breathless!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood)

Customer Reviews:

I do not feel ALONE Anymore.......2007-08-14

It is an EXCELLENT movie. I feel it touch and reflect perfectly the loneliness which we (Persian) feel in the western world. Powerful play by Sir Ben Kingsley and indeed, my flow Persian actors Shohreh Aghadashloo. I highly recommend it.
Abbas Ghadimi, Ireland.

Thoroughly engaging *Spoliers*.......2007-07-13

4.5 stars. I don't know what I was expecting when I popped this movie in the old dvd player, but it wasn't this. A simple mistake sets off an incredible domino effect that leds to a stunning ending. There's no way the audience can take sides because both parties are in the right. I think the only character that was missing a serious amount of marables was Deputy Burdon. Nothing this man did made sense and it is more him than the two opposing parties that escalates this bad situation into a colossal mess. Whenever I thought his character was doing something holy unbelievable, I'd think about the stories that sometimes makes the ten o'clock news. (Kiddnapping, diaper-wearing astronaunts anyone?) But what makes this film a winner is the remarkable performance by Kingsley. Connelly, though beautiful, always seem to sleep walk through her performances. They're not horrible, but not very memorable. That includes A Beautiful Mind. When I think of that Oscar vehicle, it's not her character that sticks out, it's Crowe.
Back to this movie, House of Sand and Fog, is a a good film and is truely worth your time, but be prepared to be a little depressed when the credits roll.

Ben Kingsley is awesome, the movie is not.......2007-06-13

What could have been a great movie turned out to be a nothing movie. Ben Kingsley is excellent and gives 110% in everything he does. Jennifer Connelly was fine too and the other actors did well.

The story itself is the problem. A boring story of a girl that is angry over losing her house. You wait and wait and wait for something exciting to happen if not at least something interesting.

It doesn't. Not until the end when Ben Kingsley and his wife commit suicide.
There, I just saved you some valuable cash. Now you owe me!

Ben Kingsley's acting is wonderful but the rest of the movie is a real downer...................2007-05-26

Ben Kingsley's acting is remarkable in the film as he convincingly plays a former high ranking Iranian colonel dealing with a much lower style of living in the U.S. Jennifer Connelly is able to evoke the audience's sympathy despite her character being remarkably dumb and inept. The movie is compelling at first with an interesting and unique plot but the nightmarish ending