DVD

Average customer rating:

An epic movie that a must see

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Gong Li , Ni Dahong , Liu Ye , and Jay Chou
Director: Zhang Yimou
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000MRA59C
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Curse of the Golden Flower, a fictionalized historical glimpse into the brutally complicated politics of Emperor Ping's (Chow Yun Fat) reign during the Tang Dynasty, shows the viewer just how far a megalomaniac must go to gain and retain power in medieval China. Lavish sets, massive ceremonial displays, and perversely fascinating battle scenes impress similarly to the special effects Americans have come to love and expect from Chinese action films like Zhang Yimou's previous House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An intricate plot involving the Emperor's wife, Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and their three sons, Crown Prince Xiang, Prince Jie, and Prince Cheng, most closely follows the Empress's secret plan to force abdication upon her corrupt husband as revenge for his slowly poisoning her with Black Fungus tea. Opening on the eve of the Chysanthemum Festival, 928 A.D., the Empress obsessively embroiders gold chysanthemums to adorn her army's uniforms while hatching plans with Jai to overthrow the Crown Prince for control of the throne. Meanwhile, a side plot develops as the Emperor's ex-wife and mother to Crown Prince Yu reemerges as Yu's lover. By the time the Festival occurs, family members are pitted against each other in a King Lear-ian web of lies that can only result in demise. The most sophisticated narrative aspect of Curse of the Golden Flower is that as the royal family crumbles, the Emperor's death grip on China remains unwavering. Gorgeous scenes set in the palace and costume design displaying China's upper class decadence cannot fail to entertain. The paradox between good and evil, here, is highlighted by how the Emperor successfully rules despite, and because of, his utter cruelty. --Trinie Dalton

Product Description

From the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers comes the martial arts epic masterpiece whose savage beauty and exquisite elegance has mesmerized and captivated audiences around the world. Set in the lavish and breathtakingly colorful world hidden from the eyes of mere mortals behind the walls of the Forbidden City, a tale of a royal family divided against itself builds to a mythic climax as lines are crossed, trust is betrayed, and family blood is spilled in the quest for redemption and revenge. Starring Chow Yun Fat of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as the embattled Emperor and Gong Li of Memoirs of a Geisha as his poisoned Empress, Curse of the Golden Flower grants you entry into a dazzling and spectacular world of betrayal, vengeance and passion that will change the way you think of martial arts forever.

Customer Reviews:

An epic movie that a must see.......2007-06-11

This is a great movie. Normally, I am not into these types of film but I am glad I watched it. The film is breathtakingly beautiful, in terms of colors and camera works (same director that made "Hero". This is much better than Hero by far). It is so good that after I watched it on regular DVD, loaned from a friend, I went on Amazon and ordered the blu-ray version.

Gong Li and CYF are the pros at story telling. The movie is very grand and MUST be seen in Chinese audio and English subtitle to get the true feelings from the real actors voices. Although if you opt for English dub, it is very good too.

I am sure this blu-ray version will be fantastic. Will write up how it looks once I get a chance to view it.

Average customer rating:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!
Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?
Huge, complex, and contradictory
not essential, but fine viewing all the same
Wow! Huh?

Curse of the Golden Flower
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Li Gong , Jay Chou , Ye Liu , and Dahong Ni
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MRA592
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best foreign film I've ever seen!!!.......2007-06-27

"Curse of The Golden Flower" is an brilliantly done movie and instantly one of my favorites! If I had to choose between 3 great movies where they don't speak English such as Pan's Labyrinth, Passion of the Christ and this, I pick this. This movie could not have been done better in terms of acting, casting, action, gore, and especially visuals. Lots and lots of gold in the palace. Gong Li and Chow-Yun Fat are perfect as the Emperor and Empress. It never bores, and it's even like something Shakespeare would write set in 928 A.D. in China in the Tang Dynasty. You can optionally watch it in English dubs, but I much rather prefer it in Chinese with English subtitles: The way it's supposed to be heard. When I listened to it in English, it was good, but didn't seem quite suitable to the mouthing of the words, like you'd see in Godzilla. {Which is Japan}. It may seem a bit slow in the middle of the story, but quickly goes on, as the story does not feel rushed at all with an awesome moral at the end. It's never confusing and comes together when it's almost over. The result is absolutely amazing...

Here's an interesting fact: Jay Chou who plays Prince Jai also has a singing career and sings the end credits song. This is only his second movie, and an astounding career turn at that to be starring in such an excellent movie. 10/10 by a long shot.

Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?.......2007-06-24

I've never expected so many twists and turns in this movie's plot, let alone all the backstabbing each character performs upon each other!! No one can trust each other-- it is truly amazing!

The acting is fantastic in this movie. BUT even more amazing is the elaborate set design, phenomenal costuming, make-up, and spectacular cinematography throughout this movie. The only thing that wasn't great about this movie was the plot, which could have been a bit more improved and less soap opera-esque!

Huge, complex, and contradictory.......2007-06-22

It's a stunning visual achievement. Robes, architecture, landscape - it's all vibrant and dramatic. Everything indoors is gold or brilliant color. Ritual, costume, jewelry, even golden makeup all contribute to color that almost screams off the screen. Then, towards the end, the sheer mass of humanity involved (even if CGI) made the "cast of thousands" cliche seem paltry. China has had many things in its history, but first has always been the overwhelming numbers of its populace. For all that, this isn't a movie about its appearance.

It's about revenge, intrigue, honor, and the appearance of honor - sometimes the opposite of honor itself. Year after year, layer after layer of subterfuge accretes, until every loyalty and most disloyaties are torn in multiple directions. It's not just Macchiavellian - old Niccolo wouldn't have lasted until lunch.

The fights, and there are many, mostly lack the setpiece choreography that could have made them memorable. The physical combat is the least of it. Hatred to hatred, face to face, this describes a fight between the characters' inner filth, served up in a golden dish.

-- wiredweird

not essential, but fine viewing all the same.......2007-06-21

'curse of the golden flower' is a movie i anxiously waited to see. after the great 'hero,' and excellent 'house of flying daggers,' i was very excited to at the prospect of a new zhang yimou film.

a lot of the criticism aimed of 'curse' isn't unfounded. the plot is barely there, but 'curse' is more a study of family dynamics, loyalty, betrayal, dishonesty, hidden secrets, quasi-incestuous relationships, maternal love and paternal hatred than a grand and epic film. most of the scenes are confined to the empress' quarters and surrounding palace. only one sequence that i can remember takes place outside the palace--and it's a great sequence (and the only one which really showcases the trademark wuxia acrobatics).

chow yun-fat and gong li are both excellent in their roles of emperor and empress. chow yun-fat is almost frigtening in his cruelty (and i have to say that his salt-n-pepper goatee really works for him. he's an incredibly handsome man--which makes the emperor's cruelty all the more effective) and the ever-lovely gong li is terrific as the slowly-going-mad empress. since it is more a character study, the burden of making the film watchable falls squarely on the the leads and they rise to the occassion, particularly gong li. she does a nice job of evoking the viewer's empathy.

zhang yimou is peerless when it comes to visual artisty. i suspect he blows 1/2 his budget on scenery. he crams so much into each you practically need to hit pause every 10 seconds just to take a look at the feasts that are his backgrounds. as the title suggests, yellow is the color of choice in this film, and he always uses it effectively, even though it sometimes comes close to overwhelming the film.

if there's a problem with 'curse,' it's that does drift a bit into the melodramatic, particularly as all the secrets are 'revealed' and each character's motivations become clear. since it is a tragedy, few people make it to the film's ending, and those deaths are bloody and, for the most part, graphic--particularly the emperor's flogging of his own son. which leads me to believe that the moral of 'curse of the golden flower' is this: don't, under any circumstance, mess with chow yun-fat. he'll knock you into the next decade and not lose a blink of sleep over it. i also found the ending a bit problematic and too vague. it's not that i need all the answers or a tidy bow around it, but the denoument is perplexing at best; and not to mention the score, which at a moment of supreme tragedy, sounds like the ending to an animated disney film. the music is fine on its own, but seems very inappropriate and distracts from the emotional bloodletting you've just experienced.

in short, i enjoyed 'the curse of the golden flower,' but if you're not already a fan of zhang yimou and/or chinese cinema, you could probably just skip this one and go back to 'hero' or 'house of flying daggers.'

(about the R rating -- it seems a bit on the severe side. sure, it's bloody and violent during the last 40 minutes, but no more so than the average episode of '24,' so if you can handle that, you can handle this).

Wow! Huh?.......2007-06-21

Like most reviewers, I agree that this is a visually stunning movie. The plot is heavy on the Shakespeare and as such it leaves much up to the viewer to seek answers to the questions that arise. The acting is well done throughout, especially Gong Li and Jay Chou who portrays the natural son of Gong Li's Phoenix character. According to the special features he is a newcomer to the screen, having made his mark as a pop star. I'm impressed, especially given the high rate of failure in such a career move. Chow Yun-Fat is good but was a bit over-the-top to me, flaring his nostrils and popping his eyes to convey emotion. Still, there is a scene late in the movie that was as hard to watch as I'm sure it was hard to act. You'll know it when you see it and it shows much more accurately why he (along with Gong Li) are such widely acclaimed cinematic actors.
The movie packs a lot in, from the excessively opulent sets and eye candy to the Greek tragedy levels of bloodshed that come at the climax of the film. When it's all said and done, however, I felt a bit letdown at the lack of substance that I took away from the film. The action sequences leaned heavily on huge battles scenes rife with CGI trickery instead of one-on-one duals. Yes, both are jaw-dropping, but I simply prefer the latter. This movie might be your cup of tea and there is much to enjoy from a purely sensory level, but it wasn't as emotionally gratifying as I'd hoped.

Average customer rating:

Propaganda done nicely
Hero with Jet Li
An incredible film
Liked But Didn't Love...
'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'

Hero
Starring: Jet Li , Tony Leung Chiu Wai , Maggie Cheung , Ziyi Zhang , and Daoming Chen
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Miramax
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ASIN: B00030590I
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Description

Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO -- starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

Customer Reviews:

Propaganda done nicely.......2007-06-22

When ordering House of Flying Daggers/Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon I got a recommendation for this film and as the majority of the comments I read were quite favourable, I decided to give it a try. I'm not absolutely dissatisfied with the film as I did like the dresses, colour design, and the visual harmony, however the message of the film, and the whole plot is subordinate to it, is completely unacceptable to me.

The film puts the empire ideal on pedestal, which I know is fashionable nowadays even in wealthy democracies, but we have to see that this film is a clear answer to criticisms about the Tianmen square massacre and the cruel oppression of Tibet. The choice of warring kingdoms versus one big peaceful empire is itself a misrepresentation as it neglected the third most obvious possibility: making peace, which I must agree might not have been an option 2000 years ago at the birth of the Chinese Empire but should be now.

All in all, the film is watchable, not because of its intellectual level, which could hardly be lower, but because it is just beautiful, the actors and actresses look marvellous in their garbs the colours and styles of which always perfectly match (or harmonise with) the set and the background.

Hero with Jet Li.......2007-06-08

Great movie, a classic for all times, done with exceptional grace and style. The story, direction, talent, and cinematography are top notch; a must for any Jet Li fan or fan or martial arts films.

An incredible film.......2007-06-04

The first time I saw this movie I wasn't sure whether or not I thought it was as good as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", or "House of Flying Daggers". I liked it but it took time to sink in.

By the second time I watched this I loved it. The cinematography is outstanding. The use of special effects are very good, they don't get in the way, but simply add to each scene. The music is good. And the story itself is told in an interesting way.

There is much more, there is a metaphoric use of colors in each scene. And there are plenty of impressive things from warriors so powerful they do battle within their minds, to a wise character named Broken Sword, who fights with just that. All of them have names except the main character, Nameless. And when watching the movie you will understand why.

If the movie has any weakness in my opinion it's that the ending with a couple of the characters is just a bit drawn out and could have been shortened and still retained the same effect.

There is a lot more, but really everyone who likes movies should watch this and see for themself.

Liked But Didn't Love..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed this film way better than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," I didn't enjoy it as much as "House of the Flying Daggers." I'm not a big fan of the far-fetched fighting sequences. I can go along with them to a point, but I can't not question how someone can fight off thousands of arrows with just the long sleeves of their outfit and not only survive, but without a scratch basically too. All that aside, I enjoyed the multiple versions told of one story. And the imagery was really beautiful at times.

'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'.......2007-05-22

The film takes place 2,000 years ago when China was split into seven feudal kingdoms. The tyrannical but shrewd and insightful King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming) who wants to unite seven kingdoms in one powerful country, is the target of three legendary assassins: Sky (Donnie Yen), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung), accompanied by Moon (Zhang Ziyi), his devoted servant. The titular Hero, the man without the name (Jet Li), who defeated the assassins, receives as an award a unique private audience with the King of Qin in his Royal Palace...

I believe that this is an amazing film which has everything working perfectly: great story which is told in the manner of Kurosawa's Rashômon, romance, action (and what the action it is...), political intrigue, suspense, fantasy - and if this is not enough, 'Hero' is one of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen - Christopher Doyle's cinematography, jaw - dropping use of colors, costume design, Tan Dun's musical score, and artfully choreographed fighting sequences leave you breathless.

Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries) (Director's Cut Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Frank Herbert's Dune TV Miniseries
Still not the definitive Dune, but very good nevertheless...
Better than star wars, better than the matrix.!! best movie i have ever seen!!!!!
Makes your realise how good david lynch is...
good adaptation

Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries) (Director's Cut Special Edition)
Starring: William Hurt , Alec Newman , Saskia Reeves , James Watson (IV) , and Jan Vlasák
Director: John Harrison
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B0000639EV
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Amazon.com

It's a mixed blessing, but Frank Herbert's Dune goes a long way toward satisfying science fiction purists who scoffed at David Lynch's previous attempt to adapt Herbert's epic narrative. Ironically, director John Harrison's 288-minute TV miniseries (broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2000) offers its own share of strengths and weaknesses, which, in retrospect, emphasize the quality of Lynch's film while treating Herbert's novel with more comprehensive authority. Debate will continue as to which film is better; Lynch's extensive use of internal monologue now seems like a challenge well met, and Harrison's more conventional approach is better equipped to convey the epic scope of Herbert's interplanetary political intrigue.

This much is certain: this Dune is a sumptuous treat for the eyes, with sets and costumes that were conceived with no apparent limits of budget or creativity. In terms of architecture alone, this is one of the most impressive films in science fiction history. And although the special effects fall short of feature-film quality, writer-director Harrison (who rose from an extensive background in TV) admirably tames the sprawling narrative that pits the opposing houses of Atreides and Harkonnen in a struggle to control the lucrative market for the spice melange. This is as accurate as any Dune adaptation is likely to get (i.e., there's no need for another attempt), and even then, it can be tricky to keep track of who's doing what to whom. Unfortunately, the film's biggest flaws are the casting of a nearly comatose William Hurt as Duke Leto, and a wooden Alec Newman as the messiah-to-be, Paul Atreides. These are regrettable shortcomings, but this Dune remains altogether respectable. That Frank Herbert would be impressed is perhaps the biggest compliment one can pay. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Frank Herbert's Dune TV Miniseries.......2007-05-13

It was hours of excitement. Well worth the price.

Still not the definitive Dune, but very good nevertheless..........2007-05-11

This Made-for-TV mini-series is exceptional, if compared to the Theatrical counterpart, made many years before by David Lynch.

It keeps pace is scope and grandeur with its cousin.

It has been lavishly produced and the actors, although only a few truly known, just like William Hurt, do their jobs with dignity and are very believable in their respective roles.

Some special effects were even taken over from the theatrical movie, such as the Sand Worms on Arrakis (the Dune Planet), which were made in both cases by creature designer Carlo Rambaldi. Only this time, they truly come alive and are really menacing.

Even the music, although more Earthbound, and "orientally" exotic, seems to work when compared to Toto and Brian Eno's music score of the theatrical movie.

Everything seems to come alive and even though some artistic license has been taken with Frank Herbert's novel, this is probably one of its best transliterations to date.

The transfer on DVD is very well done and presented in a matted 1.78:1 image ratio and is compatible with 16:9 TV sets. The sound is clear and polished. You can understand the dialogue clearly, even during explosions or other sound effects taking place.

Highly recommended for the entire family, although for its complexity of themes and plot structure, it would be advisable to have an adult present to explain to minors the more difficult passages.

Highly recommended.

Better than star wars, better than the matrix.!! best movie i have ever seen!!!!!.......2007-04-21

godamn, even though it was a mini series, i believe this was one of the greatest min series/ movies ever put on film........just incredible!!!!

Makes your realise how good david lynch is..........2007-03-29

I read all the reviews here and bought these DVDs with much anticipation, but am very dissappointed with this series. It is nowhere near as good as the movie - not even close. The casting is mediocre, compared with the outstanding cast in the movie, and the scenes are poor - especially the desert scenes that dont even seemed to have been filmed in a desert. I have read all 15 dune books and I can tell you that the film captures the essence of dune much better than this series. The Baron in particular is just way too nice in this series. Chani, also, is harsh and unattractive, and you just end up wondering what Paul is doing with her. The actress that plays Jessica tries hard, but it would be impossible to compete with Fransesca. Julie Cox (Irulan) is the standout in the series, but unfortunately her part is not large enough to carry it. I would rate this series as 'watchable' but any comparison to the David Lynch masterpiece is futile as this doesnt come close.

good adaptation .......2007-03-14

I love the books, and I believe that this series is very well done and has a very good resemblance with the original story

The First World War - The Complete Series

Average customer rating:

Fully satisfied.
First world war The Complete series
The Best War Documentary Ever Made
A Good introduction to the nervous breakdown of Europe
Not as impressed as some reviewers were ...

The First World War - The Complete Series
Starring: Jan Smuts , Jonathan Lewis , Philippe Pétain , Hermann Göring , and Erich Ludendorff
Director: Corina Sturmer , Marcus Kiggell , and Simon Rockell
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009S2K9C
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

This definitive ten-part series offers insight and analysis to provide a coherent and strategic military narrative of the worldwide conflict that changed history.

Customer Reviews:

Fully satisfied........2007-06-13

This complete series covers the important issues of the first world war very well. The historical events, geogrphical details and political turmoil are well explained with amazing footage and illustrations. How WWI started, who were the allies, the trenches, the innovations, the facts and detail of battles, abdication of the Kaiser, murder of Russian czar and his family, the senseless end of the war (more likely a twenty years break till second world war)are the information I gathered watching only once. I would love to watch it again and again.

First world war The Complete series.......2007-05-13

First comprehensive world war 1 series I have seen

The Best War Documentary Ever Made.......2007-05-10

At the fumbling beginning of World War I, someone said it was "a ghastly mistake". This documentary clarifies the clashes between the various Empires, as well as each ego-driven or careless counter-move that led deeper and deeper into the morass that killed more European troops than World War II, and introduced modern warfare to our century. One cannot understand the cultures of Eastern Europe and/or contemporary affairs such as the Serbian conflicts without understanding the forces that led to World War I. This documentary should be mandatory for all Americans, especially students, in order to broaden the mind and educate a poplace that is too often seen (from the European point of view) as insular and selfish.

A Good introduction to the nervous breakdown of Europe.......2007-04-16

This DVD series is a good overview of one of the great turning points of World History. It has a few flaws in that it does not go into any real detail about the war's campaigns and major battles. Also the American intervention is given short shift. That and one gets tired of the guilt theme thru out the film.
It does how ever give some good insight into the absolutely horrible leadership both in the Upper echleons of Civilian and Military. Churchill was the only one that showed himself able to think outside the box. Its a pity that the Dardanelles campaign was placed in such poor hands to execute it. One the plus side he did put his weight behind developing the Tank as a the stalemate breaking weapon.
Altogether I give this film a B-.

Not as impressed as some reviewers were ..........2007-04-03

I agree with the views expressed by DarthRad's review.

I own the World at War series, documenting WWII, and it is 20x better than this production turned out to be. Often times while watching these DVD's I felt more compelled to sleep than to continue watching. The narration is monotone and scripted, like a man reading a historical timeline, and every 5 seconds they interject an opinion from some individual that experienced the event the narrator is referring to. Modern images of places are often not described, and geographical maps to help illustrate described events by the narrator are few. I honestly feel I could make a more entertaining documentary with the same resources.

If you are looking for a good dose of combat footage and insight regarding a foot soldier's trench warfare, pilot experiences, tanks, etc. you are not going to get it here. LOOK ELSEWHERE NOW. Yes, they are all given brief mention with some images, but for a combat junkie like me, not nearly enough. This series is more like a high school history class and less like an authoritative source on global warfare with an abundance of information to give. This series is more of an overview of events, timelines, and history as to why our current divides exist. Which are nice and the only saving grace of the whole series. Outside of this educational value there is nothing left. There were a few moving images of men falling in battle, but in a war that killed millions and millions you would expect to see a lot more.

To sum up my review: worth watching for a historical insight, but worthless when it comes to combat footage or any true visceral play on the senses.
I found it laughable that the narrator was unable to conclude that the "liberal" leaders and their approach to debt-repayment and punishment for Germany helped spark the world's thrust into WWII. It was laughable because during this "documentary" the scripted narrator took liberty to use the term liberal so as to describe the term as something other than clueless.

Worth watching, but I hope your expectations aren't very high when you do, because you will be disappointed. ;)

Average customer rating:

He must save
You can slash this ^_^
Shanghai Noon
great concept and execution
Shanghai Noon DVD

Shanghai Noon
Starring: Rafael Baez , Xander R. Berkeley , Eric Chen , Jason Connery , and Walt Goggins
Director: Tom Dey
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CXJ1
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Amazon.com

Story? What story? All a movie like Shanghai Noon needs is the amazing stunt set pieces featuring kung fu superstar Jackie Chan and the drolly caffeinated ramblings of Owen Wilson (and to be sure, that's all it gets). It's a buddy comedy about Roy O'Bannon (Wilson), a minor, borderline incompetent desperado, and Chon Wang (Chan)--Roy thinks he hears (and scoffs at) the name "John Wayne"--a member of the Chinese Imperial Guard searching for a kidnapped princess (Lucy Liu). They become reluctant partners in the Old West (Roy, who considers Chon his sidekick, is hurt to discover that the bounty on Wang's head is more than his own), brawling, drinking, bathing, and bonding and in general having mildly amusing adventures together, while eluding a posse and other random enemies.

There's not a lot of focus to the plot or much motivation for characters to turn up where and when they do--just what was achieved by the much-discussed trek to Carson City, anyway? But Chan's inventively staged battle sequences (particularly an early one in which he uses flexible, resilient trees to best some Crow Indians) are predictable highlights. You'll wish there were more to some of them, but as with his many of other films, you'll want them on video to watch in slow-motion to see how he pulls them off. And in a potentially star- making role, Wilson's loquacious, hyper-self-conscious meanderings--he's funny even when his lines aren't--make him seem less like a character than a very amusing deconstruction of one. Chan and Wilson are entertaining together, even though they're both off in their own little worlds. Think of it as Butch Cassidy and the Shanghai Kid, and you won't be too far off. --David Kronke

Description

Two cultures collide in SHANGHAI NOON, a wildly hilarious, stunt-filled action-adventure comedy starring the death-defying action hero Jackie Chan (RUSH HOUR 2), Owen Wilson (ARMAGEDDON, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), and Lucy Liu (PAYBACK, CHARLIE'S ANGELS). Chan plays Chinese Imperial Guard Chon Wang (say it out loud) who hightails it to the wild and woolly West to rescue the beautiful kidnapped Princess Pei Pei (Liu). When he meets up with the laid-back outlaw cowboy dude Roy O'Bannon (Wilson), they form the best mismatch ever made in the rough and tumble Old West -- the two face jail, brawls, bordellos, and the vilest villains this side of the Great Wall! Spectacular stunts, outrageous irreverence, and epic vistas reign as East meets West in a battle for honor, royalty, and a fortune in gold! It's a real kick!

Customer Reviews:

He must save .......2007-06-22

Princess Paa Paa, she was kidnapped in China. He makes a friend along the way, and he gets married too. Funny movie

You can slash this ^_^.......2007-06-01

Funny with great action scenes. I know its weird to slash this but they get into a tub naked together, how could I not?! ^_^; Not many fics but their good.

-ksha2222

Shanghai Noon.......2007-03-10

The DVD was a gift for my sister and the first DVD sent to her was defective. Half way through playing, it stopped and went back to the beginning. I contacted Amazon and the DVD was replaced free of charge. I was very very pleased with how the whole thing was handled. Amazon even reimbursed me for the shipping I paid to return the first DVD. The second DVD plays fine and my sister is very pleased. Thank You Again

great concept and execution.......2007-01-31

Jackie says he'd had the idea for this movie for years. I think it wasn't until he came to the US that he could do it justice. Yeah, Jackie's biggest fans usually prefer his Hong Kong films, but you gotta admit that this is a movie that would've been hard to make in Asia.

Jackie's sidekick in Shanghai Noon is a great comedian. He has a look and a voice quality that is very unique. Perfect casting for the part. The jail house scene between the two is priceless.

I also really like the music right from the beginning. The music sets the mood and really supports the action.

The settings are also quite interesting. The Forbidden City scenes, though brief are really cool (I'd like to know where they really filmed that), and the outdoor mountain scenes are inspiring.

Two thumbs up!

Shanghai Noon DVD.......2007-01-04

What a great movie! We love this one. It is a great addition to our DVD collection. I only wish they would have included the song "I Wanna Be A Cowboy" rather than this Uncle Kracker song on here. Great buy, I highly recommend it!

The Emperor's New Groove - The New Groove Edition

Average customer rating:

Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor DEFINITELY has a "New Groove"
Groove?
Laugh out loud funny!
I LOVE KRONK!

The Emperor's New Groove - The New Groove Edition
Starring: David Spade , John Goodman , Eartha Kitt , Patrick Warburton , and Wendie Malick
Director: Mark Dindal
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hercules (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
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ASIN: B000AAF1U4
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Amazon.com

Originally developed as an epic called Kingdom of the Sun, The Emperor's New Groove lost scale and most of Sting's song score (some of which can be heard on the soundtrack) on its way to the screen. The end result is the lightest Disney film in many a moon, a joyous romp akin to Aladdin in its quotient of laughs for kids and adults. The original story centers on the spoiled teenage emperor Kuzco (David Spade), who enjoys getting the best of his Aztecan subjects. When he fires Yzma (Eartha Kitt), his evil sorceress, she seeks revenge and turns Kuzco into a llama with the help of her hunk of the month, a lunk named Kronk (Patrick Warburton). Alone in the jungle, the talking llama is befriended by Pacha (John Goodman), who has just been told to vacate his pastoral home by the human Kuzco. What's an ego to do? That's pretty much the story and the characters--simple, direct, fun--a Disney film on a diet. For any fan of the acidic humor of Spade, this is essential viewing. As narrator of his tale, Kuzco uses a sarcastic tone to keep the story jumping with plenty of fun asides (he even "stops" the film at one point to make sure you know the story is about him). Even better is character actor Warburton (Elaine's stuck-up boyfriend on Seinfeld), who steals every scene as the dim-witted, but oh-so-likable Kronk. There's even a delicious Tom Jones number that starts the film off with a bang. --Doug Thomas

Description

If you liked ALADDIN, you'll love Disney's THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, where outrageous comedy rules! Audiences and critics alike raved about this hilarious animated adventure. "Ebert & Roeper And The Movies" gave it "Two Thumbs Up." Faster than you can say "Boom, baby," arrogant Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his devious advisor, Yzma, and her hunky henchman, Kronk, who want to rid the kingdom of this beast of burden. Now the ruler who once had it all must form an unlikely alliance with a pleasant peasant named Pacha. Together, Kuzco and Pacha must overcome their differences as they embark on a hilarious, "groovy" adventure that will have you howling with laughter.

Customer Reviews:

Emperor's New Groove.......2007-05-14

I love this movie! It is so funny! One of Disney's best! David Spade does a great job as the voice of the Emperor in this movie.

The Emperor DEFINITELY has a "New Groove" .......2007-01-04

This movie is so cool and funny!!! I love Emperor Kuzco and how Kuzco cares abouut himself. It was funny. This movie showed how Kuzco learned how to step outside his own world and get along with other people around him, not being selfish. It's filled with many special features too!

Groove?.......2006-12-17

I remember when "The Emperor's New Groove" came out. A lot of people were raving about it, and that kind of put me off. Still, I finally got round to watching it, and it's not too bad, actually. It's light hearted with a South American flavor, featuring a little bit of music by Sting (sung by Tom Jones), which I appreicated. The story features a South American emperor transformed into llama trying to turn back into his old self, while he changes (in other ways) for the better along the road. Simple enough, but that's all it needs to be.

A fine, light hearted Disney adventure. Worth a look for animation fans.

Laugh out loud funny!.......2006-10-20

I love this movie. How can you not with such hilarious diologue? One of my most favorites is when Yzma outlines her first plan to get rid of Kuzko. Ending with a hilarious "I'll smash it with a hammer!" But diologue aside, there's so much more to this movie. The characters are so wonderfully individual, from self-absorbed Kuzko, to evil Yzma with her "secret lab", to dim witted Kronk with his shoulder angel and devil
(Secondly, look what I can do.
Um, I don't see how that...
No, no. He's got a point.)
Over and over agian, this movie will keep you laughing. Watch, and enjoy.

I LOVE KRONK!.......2006-09-24

When I saw this movie in the theater, I thought it was just okay. But then someone gave it to me on VHS, and the more I watched it, the funnier it became. Now I'm addicted and have to have it on DVD. This movie is HILARIOUS!!

Average customer rating:

Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Brando, one of the most important actor of Hollywood
My Favorite Shakespeare
Finally, a DVD version!

Julius Caesar
Starring: Marlon Brando , James Mason , John Gielgud , Louis Calhern , and Edmond O'Brien
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HWZ4AC
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Amazon.com

An examination of the relationship between political power and personal conscience, Joseph Mankiewicz's traditional Julius Caesar (1953) is a veritable master class for aspiring thespians. As the opportunistic Marc Antony, Marlon Brando delivers the famous funeral speech with pure conviction, elsewhere casting an intense physicality that recalls his work in A Streetcar Named Desire. James Mason suggests a latent Hamlet in his turn as the honorable Brutus, while John Gielgud is positively serpentine as the lean, hungry Cassius. Louis Calhern invests Caesar with intelligence and edgy noir echoes, and director Mankiewicz astutely balances the Renaissance view of Caesar as a power-obsessed, corrupt tyrant destined for punishment with modern suggestions that his murder may have been ill advised. The director's scrupulous pacing is supported in no small measure by Miklós Rósza's stunning score. At film's end, power itself is without a master, and the spirit of Caesar has been left unrevived: and to Mankiewicz's credit, the latter is revealed to be the true tragedy of Julius Caesar. --Kevin Mulhall

Description

Film adaptation of Shakespeare's play chronicling the aftermath of Caesar's assassination at the hands of Marc Anthony, Cassius and Brutus.

Customer Reviews:

Julius Caesar.......2007-06-26

Mankiewicz's quintessential, star-studded adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy is a lavish, Oscar-winning production. Gielgud, Mason, O'Brien, Greer Garson, and Deborah Kerr all shine in their respective roles. And Brando, fresh off his success in "A Streetcar Named Desire," puts the mumbling Stanley Kowalski out of mind as he yelps "Let loose the dogs of war!" and intones Antony's unforgettable funeral speech with a gravity befitting the role. Worlds better than other screen versions, and one of the finest meditations on personal versus public ethics, "Julius Caesar" deserves your adulation.

Julius Caesar.......2007-06-11

Are you kidding? Look at the cast. Shakespeare with Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Geilgood (sp)? This is dynamite

Brando, one of the most important actor of Hollywood.......2007-05-21

Good movie, but really "shakespearian". There's very long sentences and it's not easy to follow when your english is not native language (even with the subtitles). Also, there is no appearance or mention of Cleopatra, "girlfriend" of Julius and (after) Mark Anthony.

But the performance of Brando is exceptionnal. When Mark Anthony speak to the people after Brutus speech, we understand easily why Brando is considered as one of the most important actor of Hollywood history.

Ce film est une adaptation de la pièce de théâtre de Shakespeare. Les protagonistes y vont de longues tirades qui peuvent éprouver votre attention (même si votre anglais est impeccable). Cléopâtre a été complètement occulté: il est probable qu'elle ne se retouve pas non plus dans la pièce de William.

Marlon Brando démontre sans contestation possible qu'il est un grand acteur. Lors du discours après les justifications de Brutus, Brando n'est plus un acteur: il est Marc Antoine lui-même.

Ne pas regarder comme simple divertissement

My Favorite Shakespeare.......2007-04-29

This is definitely the best Shakespeare movie I've seen. I enjoyed DiCaprio in "Romeo and Juliet" and I loved Toshiro Mifune's performance in Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood (Macbeth)," but Brando's acting elevates this one to a new level. He is joined by a fine cast of British actors including John Gielgud and James Mason. If you love Shakespeare or Marlon Brando, you'll want to own this one.

Finally, a DVD version!.......2007-04-06

I am so glad that someone finally has put Julius Caesar on a DVD. I am an English teacher and in the spring I teach Julius Caesar at least four or five times a day, and have done so for the past eleven years. I've had two or three copies of the movie because the video wore out with all the rewinding, etc... from when we watched the scenes after reading them. Now with a DVD I don't have to worry about the tape wearing out, and I can enjoy the movie for years to come! Thank you!

Average customer rating:

A GREAT START!
Broken Promise
abysmal.
Wasn't that good
Outstanding script

The Invincible Iron Man
Starring: Marc Worden , Gwendoline Yeo , Fred Tatasciore , Rodney Saulsberry , and Elisa Gabrielli
Director: Patrick Archibald , and Frank Paur
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000K7UBTI
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Description

Past and present collide in this epic adventure that reveals the origin of Iron Man. While raising the ruins of a long buried Chinese kingdom, billionaire inventor Tony Stark digs up far more than he bargained for. He unleashes an age-old prophecy that foretells the resurrection of the Mandarin, the emperor of China's darkest and most violent dynasty. In order to confront the destructive force, Tony creates an armored suit infused with high-tech weaponry. To stop the evil that he himself has raised form the earth, Tony must become his greatest invention everâ€"Iron Man! The newly born champion must travel to the four corners of the earth to battle the Mandarin's henchmen, the Elementalsâ€"four magical warriors who harness the power of the elementsâ€"earth, water, wind, and fireâ€"with deadly chemistry. But is the Iron Knight, as he his known in the prophecy, strong enough to defy fate and turn back the malevolent forces hell-bent on earth's destruction?

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT START!.......2007-06-28

I hope to see more Marvel movies like this of all the charactors. This was a good intro to "IronMan" for those who know very little about him or his origin. For those who are VERY familiar with the comic and story it was a little skinny. But all in all it was fun and a good start. Hopefully it is the beginning of many more to come.

Broken Promise.......2007-06-05

Long on story short on action. The other two Avengers movies were put together so well, that it makes for this movie to be a let down.

abysmal........2007-06-05

alot of valid points here already, but, in a nutshell....it's abysmal.

it works, neither as a childs, nor adults, movie.

if you were in any doubt up to this point, rest assured, use your time & money elsewhere.

im a reasonably well read comic book / graphic novel fan & have enjoyed SOME movies in the genre...this being somewhere right down near the bottom.

i lasted 41 minutes. enough said.

Wasn't that good.......2007-05-30

I was disappointed by this film. It starts out great but devolves into a robot bash rock-em/sock-em. The story line is both confusing and not memorable. I watched the movie and cannot remember nothing about it at all. It's really not that good of a film. It could've been much better.

I would not recommend it to anyone but hardcore Ironman fans

Outstanding script.......2007-05-20

I published a little book about Iron Man twelve years ago -- "Exactly 12 cents and Other Convictions" (long past its prime at Amazon, though still listed) -- and have thought quite a bit about the mythos of this character since buying Tales of Suspense 39 new in the drug store forty-four years ago. Notwithstanding the broad range of opinions expressed here by other reviewers, for me the script for this new animated Iron Man feature was unexpectedly superb. Exactly 12 and Other Convictions: Four Imaginary Letters from Paul Davies

Average customer rating:

They just don't make many good films about 1930s hobos
The War, two men, The Battlefield, the train.
fun day at work
Emperor of the North
emperor of north

Emperor of the North
Starring: Lee Marvin , Ernest Borgnine , Keith Carradine , Charles Tyner , and Malcolm Atterbury
Director: Robert Aldrich
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EXDSCU
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Amazon.com

Emperor of the North, a vivid Depression-era drama, opens with a friendly, down-home song that doesn't prepare the audience for what follows: The brutal killing of a train-hopping bum at the hands of a cruel conductor named Shack (Ernest Borgnine, Marty, The Poseidon Adventure). A hobo called A-No. 1 (Lee Marvin, Cat Ballou, The Big Heat) rises to the challenge of catching a ride on Shack's train--but his heels are dogged by a tenderfoot (Keith Carradine, Deadwood, Nashville), whose inexperience may get them both killed. Director Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen, Kiss Me Deadly) has a sure feel for male behavior driven by pride, boredom, and desperation. The swagger gets a little overblown at times, but more often Emperor of the North has a gritty realism, peppered with flashes of sardonic humor and surprising compassion. Aldrich has a gift for a loose yet always watchable story, filled with engaging bit parts and offbeat incidents that flesh out the world and make the main storyline all the more compelling. Mar