DVD

Average customer rating:

Picket Fences - Season 1
Starring: Zelda Rubinstein , Don Cheadle , Denis Arndt , Roy Dotrice , and Leigh Taylor-Young
Director: Michael Pressman , Dennie Gordon , Martin Davidson , Jeremy Kagan , and Arvin Brown
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

The Practice - Volume One
St. Elsewhere - Season 1
The Closer - The Complete Second Season
Heroes - Season 1
The 4400 - The Complete Third Season

ASIN: B000K7VHJ6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

While Ally McBeal garnered more attention, Picket Fences garnered more acclaim. It was justified. Set in Wisconsin, the Emmy-winning drama plays like The Andy Griffith Show by way of The Commish. The focus is on small-town life from a law and order perspective. The action revolves around Sheriff Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerritt), his physician wife Jill (Kathy Baker), and their children, Kimberly (Holly Marie Combs), Matthew (Justin Shenkarow), and Zack (Adam Wylie). Storylines alternate between personal issues, like puberty and pre-marital sex, and criminal cases. As Matthew quips, "Things happen around here." At city hall, Jimmy works with officers Kenny (Costas Mandylor) and Max (Lauren Holly), dispatcher Ginny (Zelda Rubinstein), and coroner Carter Pike (Kelly Connell), who likes to exclaim, "Let me exhume the body!" Judge Henry Bone (Ray Walston) and attorney Douglas Wambaugh (Fyvush Finkel) dominate the courthouse. Cases include such tragi-comic crimes as a serial bather ("Frank, the Potato Man") and a cupid killer ("Be My Valentine"), but serious issues also come into play, such as assisted suicide ("Sacred Hearts") and incest ("Nuclear Meltdowns"). Unlike Twin Peaks, to which it was sometimes compared, Picket Fences could be heavy-handed, but piety never trumped entertainment, and Baker, Skerritt, Walston, and Finkel all won Emmys for their work.

Notable guests are a hallmark of every David E. Kelley production, from Chicago Hope to Boston Legal (and beyond). The first season attracted Carnivále's Michael J. Anderson ("Mr. Dreeb Comes to Town"), Evening Shade's Michael Jeter ("Frog Man"), and Man of La Mancha's Richard Kiley ("Thanksgiving"). The series also features one of the last of the old-fashioned orchestral scores, Stewart Levin's distinctive piano theme. Picket Fences ran for four seasons on CBS (when Kelley left between seasons three and four, ratings took a nosedive). Afterwards, Combs joined Charmed, Baker joined Kelley's Boston Public, and Holly joined NCIS. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

PICKET FENCES Season 1 is the first season of the critically acclaimed series from creator David E. Kelly ("Ally McBeal", "Boston Legal") starring Tom Skerrit and Kathy Baker, in the story of a sherriff and his family in Rome, Wisconsin, a town where things never seem to be business as usual. This long-awaited fan favorite is available on 6 discs.

Average customer rating:

graceful
Perfection
An ink blot on thanatopsis, to tell you whatever you want
Yuck
If there was a -1 this movie gets it!

The Fountain (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Rachel Weisz , Ellen Burstyn , Mark Margolis , and Stephen McHattie
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JPAR
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Amazon.com

Science fiction and romance collide in The Fountain, the ambitious third feature from director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), who labored for four years to complete this epic-sized love story that stretches across centuries and galaxies. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz (Aronofsky's real-life companion) play lovers in each of the film's three settings--16th century Europe and America (Jackman is a Spanish explorer searching for Incan magic), the present day (Jackman is a doctor attempting to cure his dying wife), and the 26th century (Jackman is a space traveler seeking a gateway to the afterlife)--who struggle mightily to stay united, only to lose each other time and again. Aronofsky may not have chosen the easiest presentation for audiences to absorb his theories on the lasting qualities of life and the transformative powers of death--the final sequence, in particular, with a bald Jackman floating through space in a bubble, harks back uncomfortably to "head movies" of the late '60s--but his leads have considerable chemistry (and look terrific to boot), which goes a long way towards securing viewers' hopes for a happy ending. Critical reception for The Fountain has been nothing short of bloodthirsty, with Cannes audiences booing, but there are elements to enjoy here, even if the premise throws one for a loop. Ellen Burstyn (who earned an Oscar nomination for Requiem) delivers a typically solid performance as Jackman's boss in the present day sequence, and special effects (most done without the benefit of CGI) are also impressive given the film's low budget (spurred by a mid-production shutdown after original stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett ankled the picture). And science-fiction fans whose tastes run towards the metaphysical (Asimov, Le Guin) will appreciate the attempt to present the genre in a serious light. -- Paul Gaita

Description

Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Past, present, future. Through time and space, one man embarks on a bold 1000-year odyssey to defeat humankind's most indomitable foe: Death. Hugh Jackman plays that man, devoted to one woman (Rachel Weisz) and determined to protect her from forces that threaten her existence. His quest leads him to a Tree of Life...and to an adventure into eternity. Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream) directs, continuing his string of imaginative, involving filmmaking with a tale alive with ideas and filled with astonishing vistas. "Not many films can blow your mind and break your heart at the same time, but this one will" (Drew McWeeny, Ain't It Cool News).

Customer Reviews:

graceful.......2007-07-02

I enjoy watching movies that stretch my imagination, and bring me in and pose large questions. However, I often find that art movies go out of their way to make things too complicated. The focus is too often on the plot - it might have a bazillion jumbled pieces, which actually fit together (say, Momento), or which don't even come together (say, anything by David Lynch), or which are made to represent something I don't understand (say, The Last Temptation). But if I were looking for mere symbolism or complexity of thought I'd read an essay about mechanics or something. The truth of the matter is that artistic cinema has a more to offer than mere complexity or intellectual wackery.

The premise for The Fountain is deceptively simple: A cancer researcher's wife is dying of cancer; in the meanwhile, she is writing a historical / mythical book about Spain's conquest of the Mayans. The movie progresses by interweaving her book and his experiences - threads of reality, history, and myth - none of which, again, are very complicated.

Written above, it all looks somewhat bare perhaps a bit cheesy. But movies aren't meant to be read, they're meant to be watched. And this one unfolds very graciously. It quite literally ebbs and flows, thanks to the accomplished cinematography, editing, and score. The style has a way of digging its way inside your head: A shot of a smiling woman spontaneously running around a house feels like a personal revelation and a past regret about life slipping away; a shot of a warrior being boldly carried off by the enemies seems like a body attacking a bacteria. The movie can even be seen as a story of movement, with some story arches literally going up, others going down. A passing shot into an intriguing piece of wallpaper feels like an inevitable approach.

Most movies use such stylistic techniques for the sake of character development, or to move along the plot. However, in The Fountain, these elements are in fact the movie. Like the directors other great movies, this one capitalizes on these elements in order to portray a progression of events and feelings in a manner that only cinema can. While such attention to style can often be devastating for a story, The Fountain uses it in good taste: And why not use the tools of cinema, in congruence with the way in which humans watch and register things? Ignoring such tools would be like writing an essay without any periods.

Consequently, some people might ask, "What's the message this guy's trying to get across?" and "Who are these characters?" But these questions miss point, (and any movie that could answer such questions, I'd argue, is a bad movie, because it might as well be a book); The Fountain feels more like a symphony - you wouldn't ask those questions to Beethoven about his Fifth, would you? Of course, much of the movie's impact will depend on its aesthetic effect on you: It's difficult to explain why you like a piece of music, it just feels right. But if you surrender yourself to this one's feelings - its progression, texture, and flow - you might get totally sucked in. And at the center there isn't an idea, a message, or an unforgettable character; there's a feeling: Awe. The feeling is wrapped in timeless questions about the pursuit of science, man's mortality, the differences between man and woman, and the reality of myth; it's wrapped in the steps that one needs to take to experience it. But at the same time it's not too removed or abstract; it registers as brutal and thought-provoking, and so very *human*.

Perfection.......2007-07-01

It was nice to see some bigger names in an Aronofsky film finally. I suppose this means he's jumping a little more into the mainstream, which is great because his films are thoroughly enjoyable and different than the cookie cutter crap that comes out of Hollywood. The effects in The Fountain are gorgeous and the plot is original and touching. I absolutely love the score, it has a wonderful sound that will stay with you. Hugh Jackman is great as the lead. My favorite scene is the part shot in the mosque in southern Spain, it is absolutely flawless. I definitely recommend having a look at this one, it is very mellow and has some great allegories and allusions for everyone. Enjoy.

An ink blot on thanatopsis, to tell you whatever you want.......2007-07-01

Years back we had "Love Story," with Ali McGraw. Anyone remember that movie? A beautiful rich guy in love with a beautiful woman who dies beautifully, rather than live happily ever after. "The Fountain" is another clever film that takes some ideas, myths, and cliches mainly about death, mixes them up, then uses sophisticated imagry to create a film without much of a plot, just two beautiful people in love and dying, thru the ages this time..... but oh, does this film look good! And you can argue endlessly about the story, the symbolism, and its "meaning."

The macro photography creates elegant eye candy that conjures up a convincing trip thru a nebula. Kudus to the film's producers, who used limited funds creatively, rather than skimp on fancy computer imagry limited by human capabilities. For my money, the space trip bests Kubrick's famous space "trip" sequence in the movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey," and Hugh Jackman looks great with and without hair, as conquistador, scientist, and budha, and you can play with the ideas and interpret the film in many ways. The title has only a vague and tenuous relationship to the story, to make of what you will.

If you are looking for a film maker buring with a message to convey, go see a documentary. This film is like a piece of clay. You can have your fun pulling a lot of philosophical ideas out of it.

Yuck.......2007-07-01

Rachel Weisz's character is ill and her husband, played by Hugh Jackman, is a doctor trying to find a cure. The movie centers around these two characters. The movie flashes into the past lives of the two characters and into what looks to be the future.

I thought this movie was terrible. I don't think this movie flowed right. It jumped around too often where it didn't make much sense.

If there was a -1 this movie gets it!.......2007-06-30

Ok, the people who gave this 5 stars, what illegal drug were you on? If you can enjoy a movie where a little man lives with a tree and floats around in a X-mas bulb most of the movie, then trust me you must be on some type of drug.... I am serious people, I never would advocate drugs but you would have to be high to actually like this movie. Don't waste your time.. unless you enjoy a man, a tree and X-mas bulb rolled into a movie....

Average customer rating:

good music
Just adding to
The Standard for Concert Films - A Trip down Memory Lane!
The Last Waltz-The Band
THE LAST WALTZ IS THE BAND'S MOST SHINING MOMENT.

The Last Waltz
Starring: The Band , Paul Butterfield , Rick Danko , Dr. John , and Emmylou Harris
Manufacturer: MGM
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Last Waltz
Bob Dylan - No Direction Home
The Last Waltz
Stop Making Sense
The Band - Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00003CXB1
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

Martin Scorsese's 1978 capsule history of the Band is mixed with footage of the group's allegedly last performance (certainly their last performance as a quintet) in this particularly stylish concert film. Scorsese shoots the players and their sundry guests with the same flair and enthusiasm one can see in the later The Color of Money or Goodfellas. He also proves a good interviewer with Band members, particularly Robbie Robertson, whose sleepy-sexy good looks make a star-caliber impression in close-up. But the film's real hook is the stage show, which features a rotation of rock legends (Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan, and so on) playing with the Band before a wildly appreciative audience. --Tom Keogh

Description

It started as a concert. It became a celebration. Join an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars asthey celebrate The Band's historic 1976 farewell performance. Directed by Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas), The Last Waltz is not only "the most beautiful rock film evermade" (New York Times) it's "one of the most important cultural events of the last two decades" (Rolling Stone)!

Customer Reviews:

good music.......2007-06-14

this dvd is excellent. there is nothing else to be said.

Just adding to.......2007-06-08

There's enough reviews of this Classic. I'm 50+ and showed my copy of this DVD to my teenage kids last Thanksgiving. They were enthralled! My daughter asked for it as a gift for her graduation from UT (uhhh, I guess that means she's not a teenager anymore! but my son is and a Music major at UT). That about says it all I think.

The Standard for Concert Films - A Trip down Memory Lane!.......2007-05-16

Viewing "The Last Waltz," was like a trip down rock history memory lane. This is the DVD you show your children to introduce them to rock music of the seventies. The direction of Martin Scorsese provides the viewer with insightful interviews coupled with lush musical productions. I am still trying to decide on my favorite performance - there are just too many! Also, buy the CD - you will not be disappointed.

The Last Waltz-The Band.......2007-05-15

Probably the best concert film of its kind to date!! Every performer was captured in their prime all at one major rock event. Don't miss it.

THE LAST WALTZ IS THE BAND'S MOST SHINING MOMENT........2007-04-15

I will be writing a review on the legendary historic live DVD concert entitled "THE LAST WALTZ" by one of Rock's greatest legendary bands ever. I give you one of America's pride and joy's, THE BAND. "THE LAST WALTZ" was originally released in 1978 by MGM and United Artists. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary band or the artist, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

THE BAND will forever go down in Rock n' Roll history and be remembered for recording some of Rock's most sacred anthems. BOB DYLAN recruited THE BAND known then as THE HAWKS as his back-up group for the 1965-66 World Tour. When THE BAND recorded their first album "MUSIC FROM BIG PINK" in 1968, it was clearly evident that THE BAND had a very special blend and brand of sound formula that would soon be their trademark. When the late great bassist Rick Danko met and joined up with drummer Levon Helm, organist Garth Hudson, the late great pianist Richard Manuel and guitarist Robbie Robertson, the line-up was complete and THE BAND would be born. THE BAND would record many great legendary albums through the years to highly critically acclaim. However, being on the road for many years was starting to take a toll on THE BAND and the group was contemplating retiring from the Rock n' Roll world. Which brings me to the DVD concert I'm about to review for you now. "THE LAST WALTZ" was to be THE BAND'S last hurrah and farewell at Robbie Robertson's request. "THE LAST WALTZ" was filmed and recorded live by Martin Scorsese on Thanksgiving Day 26 November 1976 at the legendary historic Winterland in San Francisco, California. This legendary historic concert was a star studded Rock show which featured fellow contemporary artists such as BOB DYLAN, ERIC CLAPTON, NEIL YOUNG, JONI MITCHELL, VAN MORRISON, NEIL DIAMOND, EMMYLOU HARRIS, MUDDY WATERS, THE STAPLES, RINGO STARR, RON WOOD, DR. JOHN, PAUL BUTTERFIELD and RONNIE HAWKINS. "THE LAST WALTZ" without a doubt, is one of the greatest live concerts ever recorded. "THE LAST WALTZ" is also THE BAND'S greatest achievement and most shining moment in their career. In my opinion, "THE LAST WALTZ" is a true testament of the creative brilliance and musical creativity of five extremely talented masterminded individuals. "THE LAST WALTZ" is also a fine fitting tribute to a great legendary band that was truly indeed, far ahead of their time. And now without further delay, it is now time for me to take you back in time to Thanksgiving Day, 26 November 1976 at the Winterland, San Francisco, California where THE BAND is about ready to take the stage.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FILM SHOULD BE PLAYED LOUD. It is now time to let the music of THE BAND and many others to speak for itself and back it up by doing all of the talking. The film begins with the "Main Theme from "THE LAST WALTZ." This legendary historic concert film begins with the legendary BAND song "Don't Do It," the uplifting "Up On Cripple Creek," RONNIE HAWKINS singing the rendition of the BO DIDLEY classic "Who Do You Love," DR. JOHN singing "Such A Night," NEIL YOUNG singing "Helpless," THE BAND singing a great live version of "Stagefright," THE BAND singing a great version of their song "The Weight" with the help and assistance of THE STAPLES, THE BAND singing an unforgetable version of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," NEIL DIAMOND singing "Dry Your Eyes," JONI MITCHELL singing "Coyote," THE BAND and PAUL BUTTERFIELD sing their rendition of "Mystery Train," MUDDY WATERS singing his classic Blues song "Mannish Boy," ERIC CLAPTON singing a great version of "Further On Up The Road," a fine BAND and EMMYLOU HARRIS studio recording of "Evangeline," Garth Hudson's organ solo "Genetic Method" THE BAND sings a fantastic version of their song "Ophelia," VAN MORRISON sings a wonderful version of "Caravan," BOB DYLAN sings "Forever Young," BOB DYLAN sings a great version of "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" and the star studded finale which features RINGO STARR and RON WOOD, "I Shall Be Released." May I also add that this is one hell of a concert that everyone can see over and over again and never get tired of it.

Overall, this is one hell of a DVD concert worth seeking further research into and checking out especially if you are a diehard hardcore BAND fan and many of the artists that appeared in this legendary historic concert film or a devout music collector. As for all of the curious newcomers and new beginners that are not familiar with the sound and music of THE BAND, I would highly recommend purchasing this live DVD concert. This is one great live DVD concert that you will be glad that you bought.

I would like to highly recommend purchasing this legendary historic DVD concert to own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music and DVD concert collection. This legendary historic concert has already proven to stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed, appreciated and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER. You can purchase this legendary historic concert on both a 4-CD set and on DVD. This is one great concert that no hardcore music fan or devout music collector would want to be without.

In closing, following the release of "THE LAST WALTZ," THE BAND would retire from the music world for many years until they reunited for the LIVE AID concert in 1985. THE BAND would soon after suffer their worse tragedies in the group's career with the untimely deaths of pianist Richard Manuel in March 1986 and bassist Rick Danko in December 1999. THE BAND received the highest ultimate honor by being inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. THE BAND has forever left their mark in Rock n' Roll history and will never be forgotton. So here's to you late great Rick, Levon, Garth, late great Richard and Robbie. Thanks for the great memories. RICK DANKO LIVES. RICHARD MANUEL LIVES. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that all of you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. THE BAND FOREVER. R.I.P. RICK DANKO, Born 9 December 1943, Died 10 December 1999 at age 56. Also R.I.P. RICHARD MANUEL, Born 3 April 1943, Died 4 March 1986 at age 43. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever In Rock, John L.

Average customer rating:

What the Heck !?!?!?!?!?!?
you can laugh too much
One of the great comedy parodies ever!
One of Gene Wilder's Finest
The perfect Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein
Starring: Gene Wilder , Peter Boyle , Marty Feldman , Madeline Kahn , and Cloris Leachman
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Producers (Deluxe Edition)
Spaceballs
Airplane! (Don't Call Me Shirley! Edition)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Special Edition)
Robin Hood - Men in Tights

ASIN: B000G6BLWE
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com essential video

If you were to argue that Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein ranks among the top-ten funniest movies of all time, nobody could reasonably dispute the claim. Spoofing classic horror in the way that Brooks's previous film Blazing Saddles sent up classic Westerns, the movie is both a loving tribute and a raucous, irreverent parody of Universal's classic horror films Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Filming in glorious black and white, Brooks re-created the Frankenstein laboratory using the same equipment from the original Frankenstein (courtesy of designer Kenneth Strickfaden), and this loving attention to physical and stylistic detail creates a solid foundation for nonstop comedy. The story, of course, involves Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and his effort to resume experiments in re-animation pioneered by his late father. (He's got some help, since dad left behind a book titled How I Did It.) Assisting him is the hapless hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the buxom but none-too-bright maiden Inga (Teri Garr), and when Frankenstein succeeds in creating his monster (Peter Boyle), the stage is set for an outrageous revision of the Frankenstein legend. With comedy highlights too numerous to mention, Brooks guides his brilliant cast (also including Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, and Gene Hackman in a classic cameo role) through scene after scene of inspired hilarity. Indeed, Young Frankenstein is a charmed film, nothing less than a comedy classic, representing the finest work from everyone involved. Not one joke has lost its payoff, and none of the countless gags have lost their zany appeal. From a career that includes some of the best comedies ever made, this is the film for which Mel Brooks will be most fondly remembered. Befitting a classic, the Special Edition DVD includes audio commentary by Mel Brooks, a "making of" documentary, interviews with the cast, hilarious bloopers and outtakes, and the original theatrical trailers. No video library should be without a copy of Young Frankenstein. And just remember--that's Fronkensteen. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Mel Brooks' monstrously crazy tribute to Mary Shelley's classic pokes hilarious fun at just about every Frankenstein movie ever made. Summoned by a will to his late grandfather's castle in Transylvania, young Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) soon discovers the scientist's step-by-step manual explaining how to bring a corpse to life. Assisted by the hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the curvaceous Ings (Teri Garr), he creates a monster (Peter Boyle) who only wants to be loved.

Customer Reviews:

What the Heck !?!?!?!?!?!?.......2007-06-28

I usually love Mel Brooks movies and I'm a huge fan of Get Smart from TV - I even have the box set :) But this movie sucked! I wasn't even born when it was made and it felt like all the jokes were so cliched when I watched it. Now there could be 2 reasons for that - Number 1 is that this film was so influential that every other movie copied it so I had already heard the jokes a million times before or Number 2 - The jokes actually were cliched. Either way I didn't really enjoy this like I wanted to. I'm still keeping it though - although if I run out of room in my new DVD holder this is going in the trash first thing.

you can laugh too much.......2007-06-11

Is this movie the product of a genius I don't know I'm not a genius but I did find it the funniest movie I ever saw.
Is this movie well made I don't know I don't make comedies but it is the funniest comedy I've seen in the last fifty years.
Does the story stick to the book yes. The book is rather simple in principle and without a lot of pedantry describes the power of a dream that comes true. Young Frankenstein takes not only the book Frankenstein and gives it some room to grow it gives vent to all those silly horror movies of the same names. Don't get me wrong please Young Frankenstein is silly but not stupid it comes from a lot of hard work I'm sure and the acting is the best I've ever seen like I say but the script they use does roll into the weeds from time to time.

The first time you see this one your sides hurt from all the timeless jokes scattered all the way through in what I'm sure the business calls perfect timing. I still don't know how they got the cast of stars to all fit on the same set to make this very funny movie but to this day after just seeing it again on TV I'm glad we have it around none the less as it is a classic even in it's own write and it's in black and white so you have to have been around long enough to have seen at least one of the early Horror movies we used to have to watch back in the good ol' days when every thing was in black and white and usually a horror on it's own don't you know.

The second time around you'll probably just laugh because it's a funny movie just that a very funny movie. Just the thing if you've seen everything before and perhaps need the last place you look for it to get you into the air.

This is a scary movie for kids though least I think so because the places the movie takes you can be a little foreign unless you've been to Transylvania and that's hardly likely for this audience but if you did come from there you never saw the places Young Frankenstein takes you I hope.

Frankenstein is a little over the top in this movie mostly from other old black and whites but almost believable in his complexity as a character I'm sure you'll admit.

His girlfriend has always been near the top of my most attractive women list and her acting is something you have to see for yourself to criticize .

There's a love interest in this one for Frankenstein and after a twist of fate more a thrust he gets the girl and the castle and the whole bowl of rice but with a lot of class that's rare and only found in this spoof of the Baron Von Frankenstein of many an imagination gone wild. She's played by Terry Garr the girl from Star Trek that ends up marrying the secret-agent from another planet with the cat that talked and the typewriter that doubled as secretary and the ... wasn't funny.

Egor the faithful servant of every Frankenstein we see on TV is played by Marty Feldman. A funny guy even in his own write Marty makes you laugh even when you're not looking and keeps the whole movie in the air all the time.

There's some cameos by most of the other funny men of the day and a whole lot of story for a comedy especially about such a difficult subject like Frankenstein so if you've got a book report to do you can always budget it as research because this movie made an awful lot of bigbucks and still does so there.

One of the great comedy parodies ever!.......2007-05-22

Mel Brooks at his comedic best! A brilliant cast in a wonderfully funny movie.

One of Gene Wilder's Finest.......2007-05-20

Young Frankenstein captures all the hilarious, and at times irreverant comedy that Mel Brooks is so well-known for. Done in the classic black and white, Young Frankenstein tells the story of the young Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) who strongly resents the work of his grandfather. Yet when he is summoned to the castle of his grandfather upon his death, he discovers that the twisted logic of his grandfather just might be plausible and resumes the work of his deceased grandfather. A hilarious comedy (with a few extra laughs if you understand German), this will easily become one of your very favorites. The finest of Gene Wilder and the best of Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein is a must-have for any lover of classic comedy.

The perfect Frankenstein.......2007-05-15

Is it necessary to comment on this film? The behind-the-scene interviews are great.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Only Funny When Your High
Classic
Silly, Clever
Wow, the funniest movie of all time.... totally worth buying
Bring out your dead!

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Special Edition)
Starring: Connie Booth , Elspeth Cameron , Graham Chapman , John Cleese , and Carol Cleveland
Director: Terry Jones
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Monty Python Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Young Frankenstein
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
The Princess Bride (Special Edition)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Fawlty Towers - The Complete Series

ASIN: B00005O3VC
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com essential video

Could this be the funniest movie ever made? By any rational measure of comedy, this medieval romp from the Monty Python troupe certainly belongs on the short list of candidates. According to Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide, it's "recommended for fans only," but we say hogwash to that--you could be a complete newcomer to the Python phenomenon and still find this send-up of the Arthurian legend to be wet-your-pants hilarious. It's basically a series of sketches woven together as King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail, with Graham Chapman as the King, Terry Gilliam as his simpleton sidekick Patsy, and the rest of the Python gang filling out a variety of outrageous roles. The comedy highlights are too numerous to mention, but once you've seen Arthur's outrageously bloody encounter with the ominous Black Knight (John Cleese), you'll know that nothing's sacred in the Python school of comedy. From holy hand grenades to killer bunnies to the absurdity of the three-headed knights who say "Ni--!," this is the kind of movie that will strike you as fantastically funny or just plain silly, but why stop there? It's all over the map, and the pace lags a bit here and there, but for every throwaway gag the Pythons have invented, there's a bit of subtle business or grand-scale insanity that's utterly inspired. The sum of this madness is a movie that's beloved by anyone with a pulse and an irreverent sense of humor. If this movie doesn't make you laugh, you're almost certainly dead. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Only Funny When Your High.......2007-06-28

I've seen this movie 4 times now and ever since the first time I sit there wondering "What the heck do people think is funny in this movie" - Than I realized that if I had been high when I watched it this movie probably would have been hilarious! That's actually a good thing because than I could have some killer food and laugh at this stuff even though usually I'd just turn it off lol

Classic.......2007-06-26

What is there to say about this, except that this is a classic. Great extra stuff with the DVD and as usual a comical movie from beginning to end. What you would expect form Monty Python.

Silly, Clever.......2007-06-20

It's easy to dismiss this movie and everything done by the Monty Python troupe as silly, throw-away. But you would be doing yourself a huge disservice. There's an underlying deep understanding of the very legends and events the boys are making such merry fun of.

This 'special edition' was not worth it if you look at it from the point of view of the extra scene - it truly is throw-away. However, the extras range from interesting (how the castle was used in various and sundry scenes) to funny (how to get your own coconuts and run like a silly person around the castle grounds).

As I said, merry fun. Hilarious... don't miss this movie!

Wow, the funniest movie of all time.... totally worth buying.......2007-06-19

This movie is HILARIOUS!!!! No, not the cute kind like in Ella Enchanted, nor the crude kind used with cursing and bad language. It's the kind that has you laughing at every scene and 35 years later repeating lines word for word like "Bring out your dead!" or "I'm not quite dead yet. I'm getting better!" and my favorite, most popular line.." What is the air-height velocity of an unladen swallow?"

The movie is set in the middle ages, starting with King Arthur looking for more knights to sit with him at his round table.

The movie makers came up with everything, from a "Trojan Rabbit" to The bridge of Death to a vicious little bunny, the guardian of the Holy Grail.

The only part I didn't like was "Sir Gallahad's Adventure", which is not very long. not long at all.

Me and my friends liked it This movie so much that we actually wrote a play, acted it out, and filmed it. We wanted to call it Monty Python and the Holy Hand grenade, since we stole most of our ideas from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but we decided it wasn't very original. We called our play The good, the Bad, and the Doofas. sorry, hopping down a bunny trail there. Moving on.

Anywaaaay, This movie is down- right hilarious, adventuresome, and has something fun in it every 5 minutes.

and, no, there are no sad, weepy, slow background scenes where the main character is sitting alone, crying his heart out. no romance scenes either HOORAY!!

Bring out your dead!.......2007-05-31

Where can I start with is classic? It has all of the famous Monty Python skits (missing is the parrot skit) and is still hilarious -- viewing after viewing. The material, after all of these years, is still fresh. My fourteen year old niece recently saw the movie for the first time and it has become one of her favorites. Buy this movie or...I'll turn you into a newt!

Average customer rating:

Great Cast-Good Movie
Great Performances
Will Farrell's best work so far
Needs a different ending (spoiler alert)
Good Movie

Stranger Than Fiction
Starring: Will Ferrell , William Dick , Guy Massey (III) , Martha Espinoza , and T.J. Jagodowski
Director: Marc Forster
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Prestige
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Babel
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000LXH0AE
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Much was written about Will Ferrell's first "dramatic role" as Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who begins hearing a voice narrating his life. But Stranger Than Fiction is hardly a drama. However, what Ferrell does--like Jim Carrey before him in The Truman Show--is handle a toned-down character with genuineness and affection: you believe he is this guy. Crick leads a lonely life filled with numbers and routines. While at first he considers the voice a nuisance, Crick decides more action is needed when it speaks of "his demise." Enter Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who takes on the absurd notion with revelry, trying to find out what kind of book Crick's life is leading. It turns out that the voice Crick is hearing belongs to Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a very real--and troubled--author who is writing a book in which Crick is a fictional character. As usual with these things, the stuffed shirt learns to live a better life--Crick even falls for one of his audits, a brash baker named Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) has the right tone for the film, using great urban scenes (the unnamed city is Chicago) with interesting visualizations of Crick's world of numbers. He also directs Ferrell, Hoffman, and Gyllenhaal to their most charming performances (plus Linda Hunt and Tom Hulce pop up in two funny scenes). Ferrell succeeds in being a romantic lead you can root for; a scene where he eats Ana's freshly baked cookies is totally delightful without a hint of sarcasm. Screenwriter Zach Helm has two personal traits with his story: like Crick he followed his heart (he stopped rewriting scripts and only worked on his own) and like Eiffel, the final results are not a masterpiece, but good, and entertaining enough. Britt Daniel of the band Spoon worked on the dynamite soundtrack.--Doug Thomas

Extras from Stranger Than Fiction

"Counting Brush Strokes," A featurette

on the filming of Stranger Than Fictionhigh bandwidth

Tax Man!:

A clip from the film

high bandwidth

Queen Latifah on working with Emma Thompson
high bandwidth

Stills from Stranger Than Fiction (click for larger image)

Beyond Stranger Than Fiction on Amazon.com

Comic Actors Go Dramatic
CD Soundtrack
Emma Thompson Essentials

Customer Reviews:

Great Cast-Good Movie.......2007-06-30

Stranger Than Fiction brings to the screen the unusual story of a very "usual" kind of guy. An IRS agent living a rather uninteresting life for the last 12 years begins hearing a woman's voice narrating his life. It turns out he might be right...
The plot has elements of both comedy and drama making it rather difficult to label it as one or the other; it's actually a bit of both.
Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal (who is GORGEOUS!), Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, carry out their respective roles very well.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music are all good.
In a nutshell, though not a masterpiece it will surely provide for an evening's entertainment.

Great Performances.......2007-06-29

First, I'll list what I like about the movie. The casting, the performances and most of the dialogs were very good. I can't think of a bad performance. The dialogs were quirky and thoughtful. Lines within their context are very good indeed. I like "So I decided to save the world one cookie at a time." Within its context, it is a fairly profound line. Ferrell is very good in this. Emma Thompson is awesome.

Second, I'll list what I dislike about the movie. The premise doesn't quite work. Does the Ferrel character hear the voice of the narrator within the novel itself. If he doesn't, I can't see how the author could explain his decisions about changing his life. If he does hear her voice within the novel, the ending does not make any sense. The author changed the ending because the character knew he was going to die in the novel and told her to finish it anyway. You get into the bootstrap problem because the author should have known because she's writing the character. Maybe I missed something? However, my main point is, the story drags because you think you know the character is going to die for most of the story. The plot just plods along setting everything up for the climax. The quaint characters and the spiffy dialog don't quite make for great movie.

I would give it 3 1/2 stars because of the performances.

Will Farrell's best work so far.......2007-06-27

I am not a fan of little movies that have a weak plot and clobber you over the head with a message, which I assumed this movie would be. However, I am a fan of Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah. The strange thing is (no pun intended), while they are both as good as ever, the actor who is stunning is Will Ferrell. He pulls you in almost immediately and you follow along because you care about him (and 'watch', lest we forget). I don't think this movie would work at all without him or that anyone else I can think of could have played Harold. (DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE.) That said, I also have to disagree with the reviewers who have had a problem with the ending. The ending is exactly right because everyone's priorities finally get straightened out and because the ending fits with the point of the story. The ending is the message. I loved it, watched it immediately a second time to notice things I'd missed the first time and will buy a copy to keep.

Needs a different ending (spoiler alert).......2007-06-25

First off I want to say that I very much enjoyed this movie. I just didn't like the ending. And in case you didn't see the phrase "spoiler alert" in the title of this review, here's a second warning to go no further if you haven't already seen the movie--because it's very much worth viewing, even if you end up not liking the ending. This is one of those rare instances where an ending I disliked didn't ruin the whole movie for me. It's that likeable.

So anyway, I'm sitting there watching the movie, and when it gets to the point where Will Ferrell's character has made up his mind that he does in fact need to die, I thought I had the ending figured out. As he's going through his daily routine for the last time, and the movie starts gearing up for what we all know is coming, I began thinking to myself what a genius little movie this was. Because I thought I'd figured out how it was going to end.

Here's the scenario that played out in my head. Will Ferrell's character gets all the way to the bus stop, the kid on the bike crashes in front of the oncoming bus, and Will gets ready to step in front of the bus to push the kid out of the way. But then, out of nowhere, Emma Thompson's character appears. She pushes Will to the side as she rushes past him to save the kid. Then, right after she pushes the kid to safety, the bus hits her full on. After a few harried moments of panic and shock, Will falls on his knees next to Emma and asks her why she did it. As the light fades from her eyes, she tells him, "I couldn't let you die like the others. Go, live your life and be free."

Genius. Not my attempt at movie dialogue, but the idea that the movie is a comedy, but ends like a tragedy but makes you feel happy anyway. I loved it. And as I continued to watch, that's what I wholly expected to happen. But then Will gets smacked by the bus and Emma's nowhere in sight. Then we switch to the hospital, where he's merely banged up a bunch, but still alive. Then, Emma's "sacrifice" is seen to be that her book is now merely okay instead of great. What kind of lame sacrifice is that? Why not have her give the ultimate sacrifice and thus elevate this movie to truly great status and match the rest of the movie's greatness?

A lost opportunity, to be sure. But I still liked it. That should say something, right?

Good Movie.......2007-06-25

My family enjoyed watching "Strange Than Fiction". It presents a unique approach to life which makes it interesting. It has comedy, drama, insanity and love! You won't end up in tears but parts do touch your heart, even while you chuckle.

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection - Vol. 2 (You're Never Too Young / Artists and Models / Living It up / Pardners / Hollywood or Bust)

Average customer rating:

The Madcap Millieu
Two Masterpieces on Here, Unbeatable price
great transfer quality! very good value/package!
Paramount did a great job with this set
Missing Batlady?

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection - Vol. 2 (You're Never Too Young / Artists and Models / Living It up / Pardners / Hollywood or Bust)
Starring: Dean Martin , Jerry Lewis , Shirley Maclaine , Dorothy Malone , and Eva Gabor
Director: Norman Taurog
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection - Vol. 1 (The Caddy / Jumping Jacks / My Friend Irma / My Friend Irma Goes West / Sailor Beware / Scared Stiff / That's My Boy)
On the Riviera
Can-Can
Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)
Cult Camp Classics 4 - Historical Epics (The Colossus of Rhodes / Land of the Pharaohs / The Prodigal)

ASIN: B000NOK0MQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

Surely even the French, with their legendary love of all things Jerry Lewis, will be sated by the Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection: Vol. 2, a three-disc package containing five comedy-musicals released on DVD for the first time. It would be a supreme stretch to call any of the five films in question (You're Never Too Young, Artists and Models, Living It Up, Pardners, and Hollywood or Bust) a classic, but then, anyone looking for challenging storylines and deep characterizations probably wouldn't be here in the first place. What the films offer instead are various breezy diversions, in the form of Martin, the suave, smooth talking cad and crooner; a parade of lovely young women (Dorothy Malone, Anita Ekberg, Janet Leigh, and Shirley MacLaine among them); some terrific musical numbers that are the highlights of their respective films; and, of course, the antics of Lewis, whose capacity for slapshtick and mugging is apparently inexhaustible. By this time (the mid-1950s), the two had already fit comfortably into their respective personae, with Lewis as the naïve, ingenuous rube and Martin right there to take advantage of him. In Artists and Models, Martin's aspiring painter cops ideas from the frenzied dreams of his comics-obsessed roommate (Lewis, natch) and creates a hit comic of his own, a simple story that's derailed by an absurd and unnecessary subplot involving the U.S. government and some enemy agents. Living It Up, adapted from an earlier musical called Nothing Sacred, finds Lewis cajoled by Martin, his doctor (talk about a stretch!), into pretending that he's suffering from radiation poisoning so they can both enjoy a lavish trip to New York courtesy of a newspaper trying to boost circulation by playing up the "dying" man's plight. Hollywood or Bust, a combination road picture and gentle spoof of the movie biz, casts Martin as a gambler and con man accompanying film fanatic Lewis on a trip to Tinseltown, while Pardners is a Wild West romp ("Jerry Lewis as a gunslinger" about sums it up) and You're Never Too Young puts Lewis totally in his element as he impersonates a 12-year-old boy in order to escape bad guy Raymond Burr. The plots are thin, at best, and the songs are hardly Oscar caliber. Still, the two stars have an undeniable chemistry, and the musical set pieces are highly entertaining, most notably a sort of pas de duh (sic) between Lewis and MacLaine in Artists and Models and an eye-popping, show-stopping dance number in Living It Up. In the end, it all basically comes down to one's capacity to endure Lewis' manic mannerisms (it's worth noting that by Hollywood or Bust, the pair's last collaboration, he's pretty thoroughly upstaged by a Great Dane). If even this cornucopia isn't sufficient, perhaps a move to France is in order. The set contains no bonus material. --Sam Graham

Product Description

LIVING IT UP: The 1954 Martin-and-Lewis romp Living It Up is an amusing remake of the 1937 comedy classic Nothing Sacred. More specifically, it is the film version of the Broadway musical Hazel Flagg, which was based on Nothing Sacred. The heroine of the original undergoes a sex change to become feckless Homer Flagg (Jerry Lewis), who is led to believe that he's dying of radiation poisoning. Manhattan newspaperwoman Wally Cook (Janet Leigh), hoping to improve circulation of her paper, convinces her boss, Oliver Stone (Fred Clark), to fete Homer as a hero with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Big Apple. Meanwhile, Homer learns from local doctor Steve (Dean Martin) that he isn't dying at all. But Steve talks Homer into taking advantage of the celebrity treatment bestowed on him by Wally, and a good time is had by all — until medical specialist Dr. Egelhofer (Sig Rumann) insists upon examining Homer. Highlights include a hilarious bit at Yankee Stadium, and an energetic jitterbug number featuring Jerry Lewis and Sheree North. The handful of songs retained from Hazel Flagg include "Every Street's a Boulevard in Old New York."
YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG: You're Never Too Young is a slapstick-with-songs remake of the 1944 Ray Milland/Ginger Rogers vehicle The Major and the Minor. Dean Martin plays the Milland part, while Ginger's shoes are filled by...Jerry Lewis? Lewis plays an apprentice barber who inadvertently crosses a homicidal jewel thief (Raymond Burr), and equally inadvertently hightails it out of town with the crook's jewels in his possession. Desperate to escape the crook's clutches, and lacking the necessary funds for a train ticket, Lewis disguises himself as a 12-year-old boy so he can travel half fare. He latches onto Dean, a music teacher heading for an all-girls school. After innumerable routines sparked by Lewis's adolescent disguise, the jewel thief catches up with him, leading to a rollicking climactic speedboat chase. Dean Martin has plenty of opportunities to serenade leading lady Diana Lynn (who'd played a supporting role in The Major and the Minor), while Jerry Lewis is in peak form doing his usual "waah-waah-waah" schtick. The original Billy Wilder/Charles Brackett script for The Major and the Minor was reshaped into You're Never Too Young by future bestselling novelist Sidney Sheldon.
ARTISTS AND MODELS: Bearing very little relation to the 1937 Paramount musical of the same name, Artists and Models is a lavish, girl-filled vehicle for the popular team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Martin plays Rick Todd, a comic-book artist who is under fire from his publisher (Eddie Mayehoff), who complains that Rick's work isn't gory enough. Lewis plays Eugene Fullstack, Rick's roommate, who while asleep dreams up elaborate comic-book plots and garishly costumed superheroes. Eugene's nightmares help Rick become a success; meanwhile, our two heroes romance their luscious neighbors, artist Dorothy Malone and rambunctious model Shirley MacLaine (who during one song wrestles Eugene to the floor and sits on his chest!) Eugene's overworked imagination somehow attracts the attention of a group of Russian spies, who attempt to abduct Eugene during the annual Artists and Models Ball. Director Frank Tashlin uses Artists and Models as an excuse for some of the wildest sight-gags seen in a mid-1950s film. At one point, the director contrives to stuff a gag in Shirley MacLaine's mouth. Tashlin also exhibits his ongoing fascination with female breasts and legs by giving ample screen time to the natural attributes of co-stars Anita Ekberg and Zsa Zsa Gabor. One of the best of the Martin/Lewis efforts, Artists and Models suffers only from being about 20 minutes too long.
PARDNERS: This Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis romp is liberally based on the 1936 Bing Crosby film Rhythm on the Range. Set around 1910, the film stars Lewis as the pampered son of female tycoon Agnes Moorehead. Yearning to return to the Wild West where his father was a famed peacekeeper, Lewis purchases a prize bull, destined for the ranch inherited by rodeo star Dean Martin. It so happens that Martin and Lewis' late fathers were "pardners", so Martin takes it upon himself to protect Lewis from the various and sundry tough hombres in the region. Through a series of bizarre plot convolutions, Lewis gains a reputation as a rootin' tootin' gunslinger, and in his hubris he decides to round up a gang of outlaws headed by Jeff Morrow. As a result, he nearly gets himself blown to smitherines, but Martin shows up in the nick of time to rescue Lewis and help him capture the bad guys. Lori Nelson and Jackie Loughery supply the film's peripheral romantic angle. Pardners ends with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis turning to the camera and promising that they'll keep on making pictures for their faithful fans; ironically, the team was breaking up even while the cameras were turning.
HOLLYWOOD OR BUST: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made their last joint film appearance in the girl-filled musical Hollywood or Bust. The thinnish plot finds inveterate film fan Jerry making a cross-country journey to Tinseltown for the purpose of meeting his favorite screen star, the buxom Anita Ekberg (the film's title, need it be added, has a double meaning). Dean goes along for the ride, hoping to expand his bankroll during a Las Vegas stopover. The boys are joined by a third traveller, an enormous Great Dane named Mr. Bascomb; along the way, the trio becomes a quartet when pretty Pat Crowley hitches a ride. The finale takes place in Hollywood, naturally, as Jerry wreaks havoc at a film studio which looks suspiciously like Paramount. All reports indicate that Hollywood and Bust was an unhappy shoot, with Jerry Lewis behaving so obstreperously that director Frank Tashlin ordered him off the set and told him to go home until he learned to behave himself; to this day, Lewis cannot bring himself to watch the film. Happily, the animosity between the two stars never comes across on screen, and as a result Hollywood or Bust is a most enjoyable diversion.

Customer Reviews:

The Madcap Millieu.......2007-06-28

It was considered rather odd when C.S. Lewis, in the already oddly titled, but very readable book, An Experiment in Criticism, suggested not that there were different kinds of books, but different kinds of readers. As regards Jerry Lewis films, I'd suggest that there are different sorts of viewers. Briefly that means one sort like his films and another sort don't. I count myself firmly in the former camp, considering him one of the all time great comic talents. Having said that, however, these films are nevertheless very much of their era.

For one thing, they take that era entirely for granted in a way that other comic films don't. Laurel and Hardy's last film, Utopia, although in black and white, seems yet far more universal than these Lewis/ Martin films. Why? A few reasons come to mind. The easiest thing for Hollywood to write about is Hollywood. In that sense, Hollywood or Bust is the strangest film in this set. Strange because it takes the adventurers so long to get there. Thus it fails both as a road trip picture and the standard "making it in Hollywood" faire. That said, there are many great comic moments, which brings up the next point.

These films were obviously meant to showcase the duo's immense talents. In that sense, they are never acting in a movie as much as the movie is unrolling around them. This sort of star power is virtually unknown today, but in the 'fifties, it could easily cross into various media: movies, TV variety shows (adapted from radio), Las Vegas stand up. The Colgate Comedy Hour, using a format adapted from radio, embroiled the dashing duo in surprisingly long and involved comic sketches. As was the case with The Carol Burnett Show, this comedy could also include pathos and be very moving.

The five films in this set, unlike the first volume, are all in color and all but "Living It Up" are in widescreen format. They date from 1954- 1956, often considered the best years of television, and a unique time in the history of the movies. In general, color didn't make things more realistic, but lighter in tone. Movies didn't have to be good, they just had to have big stars, and be big, splashy productions. For that reason top billing on these films is given to "VistaVision," Paramount's patented theatrical technique.

The only other thing that mattered was the director. For that reason it's often former cartoon director Frank Tashlin. Jerry easily pulls off gags likely first done by Bugs Bunny, but he's almost alone among live stars in that regard. The worst example is in Tashlin's The Glass Bottom Boat, where Doris Day is thrown pell mell into a futuristic kitchen gone wild, as has been done in countless cartoons, and makes it a thoroughly forgettable scene. Likewise, Paul Linde seems to get his drag scene in that film from a Bugs/ Daffy 'toon. Compare this film, with so many random slapstick schticks that Doris can't help be out of her element, with Move Over Darling, where she's entirely in it. Then again, the Norman Taurog directed Pardners in this set comes off extremely well because underlying the extemporaneous antics of Martin and Lewis is an strong story line enabling them to play off of any and all Hollywood wild-west stereotypes.

Arguably, one ought not probe too closely into films meant merely for fun, but watching these films now simply shows how much movies have changed. The main reason is that while these films were meant for the big screen and a Saturday afternoon laugh fest, escapist faire if you will, but packed to give the most bang for the buck, later movies, while launched in theaters, find most of their life on TV. For this reason, the fantasy element in films like Artists and Models seems merely unnerving, breaking what little there is of dramatic tension in the romance scenes. To a degree this is one with Shakespeare, who never let the audience forget, with a wink, that "the play's the thing" and for whom marriage was the sign of a happy ending. My main discovery in this visually dazzling and many- sided film was how well Shirley MacLaine could dance.

Film buffs will have endless comments on these films, and the eight films in volume one make it almost too full to review. That said, the packaging is somewhat puzzling, in that the films are presented in both volumes without extras or commentary. Why isn't there an insert booklet giving some background? At any rate, most of the Lewis and Martin/ Lewis films are at last on DVD, and for one kind of audience (including this reviewer), that's more than enough reason to rejoice.

Two Masterpieces on Here, Unbeatable price.......2007-06-18

HOLLYWOOD OR BUST and (especially) ARTISTS AND MODELS are two of the greatest films of the 1950s. The director of both, Frank Tashlin, was the Hitchcock of lowbrow social satire. Both are at times visually and compositionally amazing.

The other three films are reasonable (at least LIVING IT UP), but Norman Taurog was pretty much a director-for-hire.

The tension between the two stars, for me at least, only makes these films more interesting, as it embodies the dissolution of post-classical Hollywood myth-making.

great transfer quality! very good value/package!.......2007-06-09

Hi Folks
these films look fabulous!! Many of them are VISTAVISION which was the absolute highest grade quality/size negative format from the 50's era.
I'm not going to deduct stars for what Isn't in this set...that's lame...this is 5 very well presented movies with many many laughs..some great songs and loads of fun...for a bit over $20? Geeez , how can you resist?
I can't explain Martin & Lewis to you ...if you don't know their work..start with volume 1 then this one..and don't avoid the Legendary Jerry set as its wonderful as well. Kids out there? Think Adam Sandler invented that character of his? watch Jerry...
and Dean is still the big brother we all wished we had..cool as heck and very protective of his idiot friend.

Paramount did a great job with this set.......2007-06-07

Martin & Lewis shine in this beautifully put together set of these fun and glossy movies. It's a treat, especially considering that 4 out of the 5 movies are produced in the great widescreen format of VistaVision - so the visual clarity is especially acute, plus all 5 movies are in color which is made fine use of, particularly in the whimsical 'Artists and Models'. The design of the DVD box - which opens up like a triptych - is excellent and includes reproductions of the 5 original movie posters plus a fine montage of stills from the movies. So enjoy 5 entertaining movies with the cool and suave Dean Martin and the manic brilliance of Jerry Lewis.

Missing Batlady?.......2007-05-15

I shall definitely ordering this set (despite the missing movies!),
but - can anyone tell me if "Artists and Models" has had Shirley MacLaine's missing "BatLady" number fully restored???????

That would make this an even better set.

Jurassic Park Adventure Pack (Jurassic Park/ The Lost World: Jurassic Park/ Jurassic Park III)

Average customer rating:

Good deal
Beautiful package
Dinosaur lovers unite!
THRILL RIDES GALORE !!!
Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park Adventure Pack (Jurassic Park/ The Lost World: Jurassic Park/ Jurassic Park III)
Starring: Rona Benson , Blake Michael Bryan , Laura Dern , John Diehl , and Bruce French
Director: Joe Johnston
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

The Mummy Collector's Set (The Mummy (1999)/ The Mummy Returns/ The Scorpion King)
The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)
Independence Day (Limited Edition)
Tremors Attack Pack (Tremors/ Tremors 2 - Aftershocks/ Tremors 3 - Back to Perfection/ Tremors 4 - The Legend Begins)
Back to the Future - The Complete Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000BCE918
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Amazon.com

Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg's 1993 mega-hit rivals Jaws as the most intense and frightening film he'd ever made prior to Schindler's List, but it was also among his weakest stories. Based on Michael Crichton's novel about an island amusement park populated by cloned dinosaurs, the film works best as a thrill ride with none of the interesting human dynamics of Spielberg's Jaws. That lapse proves unfortunate, but there's no shortage of raw terror as a rampaging T-rex and nasty raptors try to make fast food out of the cast. The effects are still astonishing (despite the fact that the computer-generated technology has since been improved upon) and at times primeval, such as the sight of a herd of whatever-they-are scampering through a valley. --Tom Keogh

The Lost World - Jurassic Park
In the low tradition of knockoff horror flicks best seen (or not seen) on a drive-in movie screen, Steven Spielberg's sequel to Jurassic Park is a poorly conceived, ill-organized film that lacks story and logic. Screenwriter David Koepp strings along a number of loose ideas while Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm, the quirky chaos theoretician who now reluctantly agrees to go to another island where cloned dinosaurs are roaming freely. Along with his girlfriend (Julianne Moore) and daughter, Malcolm has to deal with hunters, environmentalists, and corporate swine who stupidly bring back a big dino to Southern California, where it runs amok, of course. Spielberg doesn't seem to care that the pieces of this project don't add up to a real movie, so he hams it up with big, scary moments (with none of the artfulness of those in Jurassic Park) and smart-aleck visual gags (a yapping dog in a suburb mysteriously disappears when a hungry T-rex stomps by). A complete bust.--Tom Keogh

Jurassic Park III
Surpassing expectations to qualify as an above-average sequel, Jurassic Park III is nothing more or less than a satisfying popcorn adventure. A little cheesier than the first two Jurassic blockbusters, it's a big B movie with big B-list stars (including Laura Dern, briefly reprising her Jurassic Park role), and eight years of advancing computer-generated-image technology give it a sharp edge over its predecessors. While adopting the jungle spirit of King Kong, the movie refines Michael Crichton's original premise, and its dinosaurs are even more realistic, their behavior more detailed, and their variety--including flying pteranodons and a new villain, the spinosaurus--more dazzling and threatening than ever. These advancements justify the sequel, and its contrived plot is just clever enough to span 90 minutes without wearing out its welcome.

Posing as wealthy tourists, an adventurous couple (William H. Macy, Téa Leoni) convince paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and his protégé (Allesandro Nivola) to act as tour guides on a flyover trip to Isla Sorna, the ill-fated "Site B" where all hell broke loose in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. In truth, they're on a search-and-rescue mission to find their missing son (Trevor Morgan), and their plane crash is just the first of several enjoyably suspenseful sequences. Director Joe Johnston (October Sky) embraces the formulaic plot as a series of atmospheric set pieces, placing new and familiar dinosaurs in misty rainforests, fiery lakes, and mysterious valleys, turning JP3 into a thrill ride with impressive highlights (including a T. rex versus spinosaurus smack-down), adequate doses of wry humor (from the cowriters of Election), and an upbeat ending that's corny but appropriate, proving that the symptoms of sequelitis needn't be fatal. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good deal.......2007-06-27

Great fun to watch again these 3 great movies with my daughter. Very good presentation for a good price. Great value.

Beautiful package.......2007-06-27

Jurassic Park is a great movie, no doubt about it. And this package is also great... It's very well made, and opens up revealing beautiful images.
The second movie (The Lost World) is boring and it doesn't get near the first.
Jurassic Park III is another great one... It isn't better than the first, but it's way better than the second.
And the many extras that comes within the discs are good too.

I think that the only fault of this box set is the lack of english subtitles. There's english closed captions only.

Dinosaur lovers unite!.......2007-06-15

When the first Jurassic Park movie came out I fell in love with the brachiosaur "Welcome to Jurassic Park" scene and have been hooked ever since. To have the three movies in a set and the additional footage is just a pleasure. True the plot of the second movie (The Lost World) is not in the same league with that first vision, but the dinosaurs are so great that it is still fun. The third movie, however, is much closer to the first in quality and almost equally entertaining, thanks in part to the acting skills of William H. Macy.

It is the dinosaurs, however, that star in this trilogy. It is amazing to me how the well the special efffects have held up! Definitely worth the cost of the DVDs. Dinosaur lovers unite and ENJOY!

THRILL RIDES GALORE !!!.......2007-06-13

I have been a nut for Dinosaur movies since I was a kid and they were shown on a square screen in black & white in theatres. "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" was the greatest of its time and now here I get to see these three magnificant movies in my living room ! I saw these at the theater and I have to brag that my sourround is better ! The movies are sharp, colorful and the sound is wonderful!!! Dinos tramping all over the place !!! Oh by the way the EXTRAS are superb!! I love seeing these guys loving what they are doing and it shows in the movies! Its amazing how they make this stuff work! What a great job!!! Delightful, and entertaining fantasy fun for the kid in all of us!!! GET THE POPCORN!!!!

Jurassic Park.......2007-05-12

Love this have never been able to see all three together..
Your kids will love it, spell binding

Average customer rating:

Love and Sex
Huh?
so-so
could a movie be any duller?
a love story told from the bedroom

9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version
Starring: Kieran O'Brien , Margo Stilley , Huw Bunford , Cian Ciaran , and The Dandy Warhols
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Erotic | By Theme | Drama |