Harry Dean Stanton

Average customer rating:

Yet Another Newman Masterpiece!
A must see
One of the best movies ever
Great Movie!!
classic

Cool Hand Luke
Starring: Paul Newman , George Kennedy , J.D. Cannon , Lou Antonio , and Robert Drivas
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
The Sting (Universal Legacy Series)
Deliverance
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Chinatown

ASIN: 0790731509
Release Date: 1997-06-25

Amazon.com

Paul Newman gives one of the defining performances of his career, and cemented his place as a beautiful-rebel screen icon playing the stubbornly tough and independent title character in Cool Hand Luke. And before he became familiar as a sidekick in 1970s disaster movies (Earthquake and the Airport movies), George Kennedy won an Oscar for playing Dragline, the brutal chain-gang boss who tries to beat loner Luke's cool out of him. It's a classic rebel-against-the-repressive-institution story in the line of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest or The Shawshank Redemption. Certain moments have become classics--particularly the hardboiled egg-eating contest, and the immortal line (drooled by Strother Martin, as a sadistic redneck prison officer), "What we have here is a failure to communicate." And don't forget, Luke is also the source of the oft-quoted driving ditty, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I have my plastic Jesus, right here on the dashboard of my car..." He is cool, all right. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen and digital stereo. --Jim Emerson

Description

A defiant chain-gang prisoner suffers a "failure to communicate" in this searing drama. Paul Newman Shines in the title role, George Kennedy as his sidekick won an Oscar(R). Year: 1967 Director: Stuart Rosenberg Starring: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon DVD Features:
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Yet Another Newman Masterpiece!.......2007-06-23

If you haven't seen this film yet, by all means, go out and rent it today! Hell, you might as well purchase it, because it is definitely worth every penny and I promise you won't regret it. It is a true classic and a movie you will want to see over and over again. God knows I must have viewed this one at least a dozen times now. The acting, directing, writing, score, etc... is top notch. Am I the only person out there who constantly poses this question - WHY DONT THEY MAKE FILMS LIKE THIS ANYMORE? Then again, there has never been, nor will there ever be, an actor quite like Paul Newman. And if ever there was a role in which Newman was born to play, this was it! Seriously folks, could you even imagine another actor playing the part of Luke? It's definitely one of his finest performances ever. The man has charm oozing out of every pore in his body.

Along with the outstanding, understated work of Mr. Newman, this film also contains several wonderful performances by a fine supporting cast - George Kennedy (Best Supporting Actor Winner as Dragline), Strother Martin, Robert Donner, Morgan Woodward, Wayne Rogers, Ralph Waite, Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper and Jo Van Fleet as Luke's mother Arletta. By the way, the scene in which Luke confronts his dying mother Arletta is one of my favorites of all-time. It redefines the word POIGNANT and I can almost guaranty it will melt your heart.

There are so many famous lines and scenes in this movie that make this film completely unforgettable. I have yet to meet one person (male or female) that didn't thoroughly enjoy this film from begining to end. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, you are in for a treat. I still remember the first time I saw this film and how much I enjoyed it. In fact, the very next day I went to the video store (sorry Amazon, you weren't around yet) and immediately purchased it. Trust me folks, this is one EXCEPTIONAL film.

Finally, I think we sometimes forget just how many classic films Paul Newman has been in - "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", "The Hustler", "Hud", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Sting", "Abscence of Malice", "The Verdict", "The Color of Money", "Nobody's Fool", etc... etc... etc... The man is a living legend and one hell of a good human being to boot! At 82 years old, he just announced his retirement from acting. I don't know about the rest of you out there, but I for one feel like I am losing an old, dear friend.

A must see.......2007-05-15

This is by far one of the greatest movies of all times. Paul Newman is amazing, the ultimate rebel. Who else would cut the heads off parking meters because "Small town, not much to do in the evenin."

One of the best movies ever.......2007-05-13

This is a must see and must own movie. Any movie lover has to have this movie in their collection. The shipping was fast and I am totally satisfied with my purchase. BUY THIS MOVIE!!!

Great Movie!!.......2007-05-13

Great Movie, A Must See. Cool hand Luke Is awesome. This was my First Time seeing this movie, and Loved every minute of it.

Five Stars

classic.......2007-04-14

i have loved this movie since i was a kid. i thought it might be time to own it as older rentals are usually in bad shape.

Average customer rating:

Shallow and multi-layered
Alpha Dog Unwatchable
Stuck in the middle again
Just as I anticipated
A Very Underated Film

Alpha Dog (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Bruce Willis , Matthew Barry , Emile Hirsch , Fernando Vargas (II) , and Vincent Kartheiser
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Smokin' Aces (Widescreen Edition)
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Hitcher (Widescreen Edition)
Deja Vu

ASIN: B000NO39FG
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

With harrowing intensity, Alpha Dog dramatizes one of the most tragically notorious murders in recent history. Ripped from the headlines, writer-director Nick Cassavetes' flawed but riveting crime drama (a polar opposite to his previous film, the romantic hit The Notebook) is based on the real-life case of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer in California's San Gabriel Valley who, in 2000, became one of the youngest men to appear on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Names and details have been changed, but the criminal circumstances remain the same: With family links to organized crime, Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) is on the warpath against Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster), a sleazebag addict who owes him money. Fate intervenes when Johnny and his stoner pals including Frankie (Justin Timberlake) encounter Jake's 15-year-old half-brother Zack (Anton Yelchin) and hold him as collateral until Jake pays his debts. What begins as a casual, seemingly harmless situation escalates into a crisis of capital crime, as Alpha Dog employs split-screen, docudrama, and mock-documentary interviews to chronicle a tragic tailspin of reckless events and lawless behavior.

Cassavetes himself became part of the real-life drama when prosecutors (hoping to locate then-fugitive Jesse James Hollywood, who was captured in 2005) gave him legally controversial access to their case files. Alpha Dog clearly benefits from this inside information, and while the film's grueling depiction of underage squalor (including rampant drug and alcohol abuse) is inevitably off-putting and at least partially exploitative, there's no denying that Cassavetes has worked wonders with a well-chosen ensemble cast including Timberlake, who contrasts his music-industry stardom with a convincing performance as a likable, not-too-bright party animal who quickly gets in over his head. The film is ultimately compromised by Cassavetes' ambitious attempt to cover too much dramatic territory, but like his father John before him, he demonstrates a remarkable skill with actors (including Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis, and Harry Dean Stanton in supporting roles), and Alpha Dog is full of powerful, dangerous moments that aren't easily forgotten. --Jeff Shannon

Description

They grew up together in the suburbs of LA, living their own version of the American dream, with every day a blur of partying and looking for the next thrill. Johnny (Emile Hirsch, Lords of Dogtown) is the leader in their sordid world of drugs, greed, power and privilege. But when he is double-crossed by another dealer, things quickly begin to spiral out of control, and an impulsive kidnapping leads to a shocking conclusion. Justin Timberlake (Edison), Sharon Stone (Bobby) and Bruce Willis (Lucky Number Slevin) co-star in this powerful and controversial film.

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and multi-layered.......2007-06-24

Alpha Dog is a great B movie. The actors are meant to speak in real time scenes with realistic everyday dialog, meaning it should come off as a false reality TV show like The Office, where "realistic" acting is done well. Instead, we get movie acting, which makes much of the dialog seem forced. Still, the movie is enjoyable for its gratuitous violence, swearing, and drug use. The beginning of the movie is a typical over the top gangster vs gangster scenario, with the middle of the film played as a no holds barred teen party movie. For a while, the seriousness of the story is cast aside as the comedy, action and excess becomes enjoyable on a base level. Rather than be preachy, the movie is left to be enjoyed as a movie, until the film shifts into a serious, sombering "based on a true story" morality tale that might be found in the "free rental" section of Blockbuster. While characters are based on real people, as characters they are left to thrive in their movie reflection of life, but as reflections of people they gain an extra layer of sympathy and identification. Alpha Dog actually changes from "mindless crime drama" to "mindless party movie" to "serious based on true events tale," which would seem like a bad choice, but it prevents the entire movie from being dragged down. From the first half of the movie, learning or self growth seems unlikely. Morality and realistic consequences are nowhere to be seen in the beginning, yet the beginning movie cliches become transcended by the characters, so that a false gangster scene becomes obviously false as the movie progresses, making reality more noticeable and tragic. The use of flashback, counted days, and numbered witnesses creates an ominous caution that is not over the top, but drags the viewer in and out of the fantasy movie world. In the end, the actors aren't real people, and the poor special effects drive home the point that this is just a movie meant to look like reality, but this creates a more startling movie as we imagine the true reality behind it. Alpha Dog is paradoxically mindless and shallow without insulting the viewers intelligence.

Alpha Dog Unwatchable.......2007-06-14

If you are an adult with brain cells Alpha Dog will be unwatchable. I had to turn it off after torturing through 45 minutes of watching adolescent males posturing with grotesque levels of ignorance. If there was action, suspense, plot, any shred of meaningful dialogue, I may have been able to watch the entire film. But who wants to pay money, and waste two hours, watching a room full of partying teens act stupidly? The characters are so painfully dumb it is torture to watch. The world of the uneducated and brash American teen age boy is not one I want to go to. Maybe there is a social message or commentary by the end of the film, but if you value your time and intelligence pass on this worthless peek into the world of drugged out teens

Stuck in the middle again.......2007-06-12

I have to say that I didn't have the greatest expectations of this film. After watching it, turns out it's better than I thought. Not saying it's a great movie but it's not bad either. Somewhere in the middle. It's inspired by a true story and it reminds me of Bully but without the unnecessary, overexposed nudity. I actually favored their decision to mark every witness that saw the hostage with the captors. Especially the bystanders who have no connection to any of them whatsoever. The acting was pretty good but the entertainment value could've been better.

Just as I anticipated.......2007-06-10

After becoming fasinated with the "Jesse James Hollywood" story about a year ago, I was ecstatic to learn that a movie would be released concerning the events. I think the movie is excellent but also extremely troubling. To have an idea placed in your mind about what that poor boy went through in the end is the most horrifying picture. I cried until there were no tears left. I knew the story like the back of my hand, but I never really GOT it until seeing this film.
I would recommend this movie to anyone old enough to view the sex, violence, etc. it contains. I would highly recommend reading up on the true story the movie is based on before seeing it.

A Very Underated Film.......2007-06-06

I wanted to see this film because I had seen the actual MSN coverage previously. The true story was so fasinating, I wanted to see how it would be dramatized in a movie. I would have to say Nick Cassavetes, the son of the late John Cassavetes, got it right on the money. Knowing what was going to happen in the end I was still unhinged at such heartbreaking violence to one so young. Some movies are sad, some are scarey, some are funny, this movie was just plain disturbing. It will stick with you long after you have finished watching it and you will be surprized at what a good job all of the actors in the film did. Alot was put on Justin Timberlake's shoulders since his character, Frankie is very central to the story and he did a very fine job. He has alot of charisma and it comes across in his relationship with the young victim, Zach, played by Anton Yelchin who also did a wonderful job. It is the basis of this relationship that makes this movie so powerful and poignant. I hope people give this movie a chance, they won't be sorry.

Average customer rating:

one hand washes the other, on this Thompson acid trip of exceptional Hollywood
Awesome movie!
worth every penny
Another Terry Gilliam Jewel
A glorious addiction

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Starring: Johnny Depp , Benicio Del Toro , Tobey Maguire , Ellen Barkin , and Gary Busey
Director: Terry Gilliam
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Where the Buffalo Roam
Blow (Infinifilm Edition)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
Trainspotting - Director's Cut (Collector's Edition)
Fight Club (Collector's Edition Steelbook)

ASIN: 0783229526
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Amazon.com

The original cowriter and director of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was Alex Cox, whose earlier film Sid and Nancy suggests that Cox could have been a perfect match in filming Hunter S. Thompson's psychotropic masterpiece of "gonzo" journalism. Unfortunately Cox departed due to the usual "creative differences," and this ill-fated adaptation was thrust upon Terry Gilliam, whose formidable gifts as a visionary filmmaker were squandered on the seemingly unfilmable elements of Thompson's ether-fogged narrative. The result is a one-joke movie without the joke--an endless series of repetitive scenes involving rampant substance abuse and the hallucinogenic fallout of a road trip that's run crazily out of control. Johnny Depp plays Thompson's alter ego, "gonzo" journalist Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro is his sidekick and so-called lawyer Dr. Gonzo. During the course of a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, they ingest a veritable chemistry set of drugs, and Gilliam does his best to show us the hallucinatory state of their zonked-out minds. This allows for some dazzling imagery and the rampant humor of stumbling buffoons, and the mumbling performances of Depp and Del Toro wholeheartedly embrace the tripped-out, paranoid lunacy of Thompson's celebrated book. But over two hours of this insanity tends to grate on the nerves--like being the only sober guest at a party full of drunken idiots. So while Gilliam's film may achieve some modest cult status over the years, it's only because Fear and Loathing is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

one hand washes the other, on this Thompson acid trip of exceptional Hollywood.......2007-06-21

Alright its not the book, and the book is better, all his books are extraordinary, outlaw riding shotgun on the 'American Dream', but this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Johnny Depp is extraordinary, (like we don't know that), I would love to know Mr. Depp in real world friendship, he must be extraordinary to be around and have idle chit-chat with while sipping a Starbucks. I have never seen films or documentaries on Hunter S. Thompson, but I am assuming the amount of work and tireless research involved in this must have been endless and extraordinary to say the least, and I cannot stress enough, that everyone I have given this movie to, everyone from a nun, to a liberal Republican have all found it quite entertaining. Is that not what is supposed to happen when you see a film?

Terry Gilliam was a fantastic choice for director, I do not think anyone could have brought Hunter to the screen like Gilliam, unless perhaps Depp was directing this himself. (That would have been interesting)

Each scene is so perfectly percise and its so fluid and fluent, the drug use that is rampid and the reactions in those given situation to the people they are with and the ensuing dialouge are A+ in timing and comedic raw talent.

I am getting goosebumps just reviewing this. Often I will have Fear and Loathing running in the background when I am perusing the net or have friends over for drinks. The countless classic lines that I will say randomly with people when a given situation arises, are just PRICELESS, and again DEPP is so brilliant, I envy his true, pure talent as an artist.

The music is awesome, the scenes at the D.A. convention are so off-beat and satiricly ridiculous, however Del Toro and Depp still maintain their professional compusure. I really felt that I connected with this film, a lonely, star child, cross breaded dreamer, who found this gem along side a discount bin one day in my local towns grocery store.

By far, this line in the opening scenes, just puts the whole movie on pace: " We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a saltshaker half-full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, laughers, screamers... Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get into locked a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can. The only thing that really worried me was the ether. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon."

Absolutely amazing, and Johnny's voiceovers throughout the film was such a great decision to make, and I think made the film such a huge hit, because of that voiceover poetry that Hunter S. Thompson had, and that Depp brought to life on the big screen.

Dr. Gonzo, 'one of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant...' is wonderfully played by Mr. Del Toro, and the chemistry between Gonzo and Depp is sensational. The takes and abundant laughs that must have been part of each and every day on this film, must have been memories that will last a lifetime.

To hell with the purist on this one, buy it and add it to your collection. Not a five star film in comparison to films like Dead Poet's Society or Empire of the Sun, but certainly a five star in the talent department and entertainment field, and for that in itself, I will give it 4.5.

One review washed the other.

Ken

Awesome movie!.......2007-05-28

If you haven't seen this movie I don't know where you've been. It's based on the novel written by Hunter S. Thompson, who is one of the most fascinating people of this century. Buy this today.

worth every penny.......2007-05-14

really good, besides the awesome movie, the extras show nice features and curiosities from Hunter Thompson`s live.

Another Terry Gilliam Jewel.......2007-05-08

This is a polemic movie, either you love it or you hate it.
But having such a great crew, watch johny depp as Raoul Duke, the alter ego of Hunter S. Thompson getting every kind of drugs and describing how it works on you and Benicio del Toro as the explosive Dr. Gonzo, his sidekick in this search for the american dream on a way that only Hunter S. Thompson could have done.

Excelent movie, if you like strange movies it's a "you must have this one".

A glorious addiction.......2007-04-17

Somewhere along the edge of writing this review, the drugs begin to take hold. With my basic motor skills deteriorating, I could still type a groovy review if it wasn't for these damn bats! Wretched things.
Anywho, this story zones in and out of a warped sense of reality, with hallucinogenic pitfalls and psychodelic head trips. The average(idiot)movie watcher or critic might not have the expanded mental sponge to soak up the greatness.
It's another unconfined character for Johnny Depp, this time he's a manic journalist headed to Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. He's accompanied by his trippy, volatile "lawyer" Dr. Gonzo(Del Toro) who also has a nose for the inane side.
Director Terry Gilliam is masterful with this subjective storytelling. Methinks you should open your mind and take a trip with his visionary spectacle. There's no bad side effects.

Alien Quadrilogy (Alien/ Aliens /Alien 3 /Alien Resurrection)

Average customer rating:

A Must Have For Any Alien Fan
Warning: compression problems
A must have!
A fan must have!
Oh Goodness..

Alien Quadrilogy (Alien/ Aliens /Alien 3 /Alien Resurrection)
Starring: Tom Skerritt , Sigourney Weaver , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , and John Hurt
Director: Ridley Scott , James Cameron , and David Fincher
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

AVP - Alien vs. Predator (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Predator (Widescreen Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Die Hard - The Ultimate Collection
Predator 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Extreme DVD)

ASIN: B0000VCZK2
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Amazon.com essential video

The Alien Quadrilogy is a nine-disc boxed set devoted to the four Alien films. Although previously available on DVD as the Alien Legacy, here they have been repackaged with vastly more extras and with upgraded sound and picture. For anyone who hasn't been in hypersleep for the last 25 years, this series needs no introduction, though for the first time each film now comes in both original and "special edition" form.

Alien (1979) was so perfect it didn't need fixing, and Ridley Scott's 2003 director's cut is fiddling for the sake of fiddling. Watch it once, then return to the majestic, perfectly paced original. Conversely, the special edition of James Cameron's Aliens (1986) is the definitive version, though it's nice to finally have the theatrical cut on DVD for comparison. Most interesting is the alternative Alien 3 (1992). This isn't a "director's cut"--David Fincher refused to have any involvement with this release--but a 1991 work-print that runs 29 minutes longer than the theatrical version, and has now been restored, remastered, and finished off with (unfortunately) cheap new CGI. Still, it's truly fascinating, offering a different insight into a flawed masterpiece. The expanded opening is visually breathtaking, the central firestorm is much longer, and a subplot involving Paul McGann's character adds considerable depth to story. The ending is also subtly but significantly different. Alien: Resurrection (1997) always was a mess with a handful of brilliant scenes, and the special edition just makes it eight minutes longer.

The Alien Quadrilogy offers the first and fourth films with DTS soundtracks, the others having still fine Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation. All four films sound fantastic, with much low-level detail revealed for the first time. Each is anamorphically enhanced at the correct original aspect ratio, and the prints and transfers are superlative. Every film offers a commentary track that lends insight into the creative process--though the Scott-only commentary and isolated music score from the first Alien DVD release are missing here.

Each movie is complemented by a separate disc packed with hours of seriously detailed documentaries (all presented in full-screen with clips letterboxed), thousands of photos, production stills, and storyboards, giving a level of inside information for the dedicated buff only surpassed by the Lord of the Rings extended DVD sets. A ninth DVD compiles miscellaneous material, including an hourlong documentary and even all the extras from the old Alien laserdisc. "Exhaustive" hardly beings to describe the Alien Quadrilogy, a set that establishes the new DVD benchmark for retrospective releases and looks unlikely to be surpassed for some time. --Gary S. Dalkin

Description

Disc 1: Alien Collector?s Edition Disc 2: Aliens Collector?s Edition Disc 3: Alien 3 Collector?s Edition Disc 4: Alien Resurrection Collector?s Edition Disc 5: Bonus Disc

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Any Alien Fan.......2007-05-23

I have been a fan of the Alien movies since I was a kid. I never got to see any in theaters except for Alien Resurection. This is a great set and each movie has extended or deleted scenes added to the films. The first two, Alien and Aliens are great classic movies and the extended scenes make the classics that much better. The final two, Alien 3 and Alien Resurection are the mos underated in my opinion. Alien 3 was a great movie but has alot more cursing than the other three but it fits considering it is set in a prison. There was a bunch deleted from this film and it really adds alot to it as several key scenes are completly different and make more sense IMO. The only issue is that the added scenes have degraded over time and some of the dialouge was unusable so at times the audio is hard to hear, but it is still very interesting to watch. Alien Resurection was the most underated of the four and while it's not the best it is still a good movie. The added scenes really make it that much better. The special features on all of these movies are imense and this is one set that is a must buy for Alien fans and science fiction lovers.

Warning: compression problems.......2007-05-19

Warning for potential buyers... the cd of Alien 4 is full of compression errors and won't even play on my dvd player. I managed to start the movie by scene jumping, but halfway through on a scene jump the movie stalled, dumping me into a "dvd video compression" screen, and I could not access anything beyond this point.

I don't know if I have a defective cd or if there are scores of compression problems with this product.

Caveat emptor.

A must have!.......2007-05-15

This is a fabulous boxed set, especially if you can get it at a decent price. It is available on-line and in some shops at very comptetitive prices.
Alien and Aliens are already classics (as everybody knows) and merit repeated viewings.
The 3rd and 4th are not up to the same standard but have their moments.
There are 9 DVD's in total.
Disc 1 contains both versions of Alien + Commentaries
Disc 2 contains documentaries on Alien
Disc 3 contains both versions of Aliens + Commentaries
Disc 4 contains documentaries on Aliens
I have watched these and they are very good. Especially in relation to creating the special effects and James Cameron working in the UK at Pinewood (there were problems - indeed almost a strike!).
Disc 5 contains both versions of Alien3 + Commentaries
Disc 6 contains documentaries on Alien3
I have watched some of this and there is some fascinating information on the original script and director.
Disc 7 contains both versions of Alien Resurrection + Commentary
Disc 8 contains documentaries on Alien Resurrection
Disc 9 More Extras

All in all a superb set to get.

A fan must have!.......2007-05-12

I've always been fan of the Alien series and I wanted to have them all in one package, and this set box is great. The 9 discs are worth the price and you can get to see other versions not previously seen, which are excellent and give you a different perspective. Only the first one has no major changes, maybe a few extended scenes, but the rest of them are amazing! My favorite so far is "Alien Resurrection", when we get to see a glimpse of earth after soooo many years and Ripley is finally home. Get it ONLY if you're a true fan, otherwise...

Oh Goodness.........2007-04-25

I'm having wonderful thoughts about tHe beautiful Sigorney Weaver..Winona Riders in this and H.R Gigier's monsters make everything come so (When is "Classmates" going to be back uP..I'D rather be visiting Amy Roskelley's profile..)alive..

Average customer rating:

When will we get the widescreen version????
Heroes, laughs and drama, without the need to think
Laugh it up with "Down Periscope"
Welcome Aboard
Funniest Navy movie ever made!

Down Periscope
Starring: Kelsey Grammer , Lauren Holly , Rob Schneider , Harry Dean Stanton , and Bruce Dern
Director: David S. Ward
Manufacturer: Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

McHale's Navy (1997)
Sgt. Bilko
Operation Petticoat
The Pentagon Wars
Father Goose

ASIN: B00013RC70
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

Kelsey Grammer stars as the captain of a rust-bucket submarine who is fighting for his career by proving his skills in a contest against far more sophisticated ships. Rob Schneider provides comic support as an uptight ensign, and Lauren Holly plays an officer who has to fight her own will-they-accept-me-because-I'm-a-woman anxieties. The film didn't do well at the box office, but it is actually pretty funny, Grammer is enjoyable, and the above-the-water/below-the-water action sequences are as good as any in most submarine films. --Tom Keogh

Description

Kelsey Grammer sails from TV's "Frasier" to the big screen in this screwball comedy co-starring Lauren Holly and Rip Torn. Veteran skipper John Dodge (Grammer) will never be a textbook officer, but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine. Unfortunately, Admiral Graham (Bruce Dern) would rather sink the fleet than give Dodge his own boat. So Dodge is given the helm of a diesel-powered WW2 sub crewed by a collection of maladjusted, mistake-prone misfits. Then he's tagged "the enemy" in a crucial war game, and ordered to take on the U.S. Navy's best. Batten down the hatches for unstoppable hilarity that takes 200 years of naval tradition¿and throws it all overboard!

Customer Reviews:

When will we get the widescreen version????.......2007-06-12

It is definitely NOT widescreen. The trailer is 2.35:1 widescreen. The movie is as said 1.33:1 with the tops and bottoms cut off to make it 1.85:1. TERRIBLE. It is the same thing they did to the Kung Fu TV show First season. When will they put it out in Panavision 2.35:1????????

The movie is one of my favorites but watching the DVD is like watching the VHS tape. Pan and Scan. When will these studios learn to put out their movies in Origal Aspect Ratio??? Most people have widescreen TVs now. Let's get with it.

Heroes, laughs and drama, without the need to think.......2007-06-01

While this movie is no Caddyshack or Police Academy, it can hit the spot when you are looking for a movie you can enjoy, without being asked to think.

Laugh it up with "Down Periscope".......2007-05-19

What a terrific movie! All the characters are very believable, and what a bunch of characters they are. Too bad some of them don't appear in more movies. Lots of talent there! One expects stellar performances from the likes of Kelsey Grammer, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, William H. Macy, and Rip Torn, and they deliver. But the lesser-known actors do an outstanding job as well. (Some great-looking guys are in this flick! I could watch Brad Tatum flex his muscles all day -- Jonathan Penner and Duane Martin are very easy on the eyes, too.) The humor is there all the time, in varying degrees, from dry and subtle to out-and-out slapstick, and it all works. There's not a player in this movie who doesn't bring great skill and great "business" to his or her part. As a confirmed landlubber, I have no idea if the "underwater" scenes are real or not, but they work for me. The plot has some neat twists and turns, and you'll find yourself laughing hysterically, sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering how they'll get themselves out of one fix after another, and constantly rooting for the unconventional crew of the ancient USS Stingray. From the piss-ant Exec Officer who gets to walk the plank, to the super-slob cigar-chomping king of the mess hall, to the electrician whose brain has absorbed a little too much voltage, to the sonarman who talks to whales, you'll come to love every crew member. Don't miss this movie!

Welcome Aboard.......2007-05-14

If you love Kelsey Grammer as Fraiser, you'll fall all over again with him as a Captain. Who doesn't love a man in a uniform;) Down Periscope is funny, charming and over all a great movie to sit back and enjoy. The mis-fit crew is All-Star and makes the movie 10 times better. Love it!!

Funniest Navy movie ever made!.......2007-05-11

I was in the Navy for 20 years and met many an officer similar to that of the XO, played by Rob Schneider (love him!). Unfortunately, none of them ever met the same fate that Rob Schneider met (did I mention I love him?!), but many did meet other fates that eventually weeded them out of the Navy.

I also met many an officer similar to the Skipper, played by the ever-so-lovable Kelsey Grammer (love him, too!) and I loved every one of them. They made my time in the Navy worthwhile.

This was, without a doubt, the funniest Navy movie I have ever seen. I have seen it several times and laugh just as hard as the first time. Can't wait to see it on DVD. Anybody who does not laugh at this movie needs some serious laughing therapy.

Average customer rating:

Stephen King's Best Film Adaptations Are Not Horror Films
Throught provoking
good book
The most perfect movie I have ever seen.
The Green Mile

The Green Mile
Starring: Patricia Clarkson , James Cromwell , Jeffrey DeMunn , Dabbs Greer , and Bonnie Hunt
Director: Frank Darabont
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Forrest Gump (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
The Sixth Sense (Collector's Edition Series)
Cast Away (Special Edition Steelbook)
Saving Private Ryan (Special Limited Edition)

ASIN: B00003CWQU
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Amazon.com

"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of movies. Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison drama (The Shawshank Redemption was the first) is a very faithful adaptation of King's serial novel. In the middle of the Depression, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) runs death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Into this dreary world walks a mammoth prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Duncan) who, very slowly, reveals a special gift that will change the men working and dying (in the electric chair, masterfully and grippingly staged) on the mile . As with King's book, Darabont takes plenty of time to show us Edgecomb's world before delving into John Coffey's mystery. With Darabont's superior storytelling abilities, his touch for perfect casting, and a leisurely 188-minute running time, his movie brings to life nearly every character and scene from the novel. Darabont even improves the novel's two endings, creating a more emotionally satisfying experience. The running time may try patience, but those who want a story, as opposed to quick-fix entertainment, will be rewarded by this finely tailored tale. --Doug Thomas

Product Description

John Coffey is not like the other death-row prisoners. He absorbs the pain of inmates and guards alike, heals their ailments, rights their wrongs. John Coffey works supernatural miracles. But will this falsely convicted gentle giant stave off his own execution? Tom Hanks leads a powerful ensemble that includes Michael Clarke Duncan as Coffey in this powerful, uplifting tale reuniting The Shawshank Redemption s two major creative forces: filmmaker Frank Darabont and author Stephen King.

System Requirements:
Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene (II), and Sam Rockwell. Directed By: Frank Darabont. Running Time: 188 Min., Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 Warner Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Stephen King's Best Film Adaptations Are Not Horror Films.......2007-06-24

This film is wonderful, although the ending is not at all what I had hoped for and I suspect that this might have been a part of why there were mixed reviews- beyond the comparisons with the book. It has a bit of Shawshank in it and some great actors that are familiar to King and Hanks best work.

Throught provoking.......2007-06-24

Usually, i dont like prison movies, but with Good ol Tom Hanks in the lead and the supernatural aspect Green Mile is an exception. This movie is sickening at times (the electrocution) Uplifting (the healings) It is a death row movie. This cast and crew do a great job. the special effects are great. The End gives the viewer something to think about at least it did me.

good book.......2007-06-06

Do you know what it's like to get blamed for something you never did, well this book THE GREEN MILE takes that to the extreme when John Coffey a miracle from God is accused for the rape and murder of two little girls. He really was trying to use the powers God gave him to heal the wounded or as he would say, "take it back." John found the little girls hurt and wounded and he tried to help them but they both died in his arms and that's were the police found John holding the dead girls. Cold Mountain Penitentiary (the green mile) is where John Coffey was sentenced to die from the electrical chair, and this is where basically the whole book takes place. The main characters in this book are Paul Edgecombe, Brutal, John Coffey, and more prison guards. This story takes place over 80 years from start to finish. The problem was that Paul had to put John Coffey a friend, gift from God, and also an innocent man to death. Paul solves this problem by asking John Coffey what he should do because he didn't want to kill an innocent man nor a gift from God. Paul asked, "on my judgment day, when the lord asks me why I killed one of his greatest miracles what will I say, that it was my job?" John just said, "You just tell him it was a kindness you had done." Three major events that affected the plot were John being put on death row, Finding out that John could heal the wounded, and when John died from electrocution. My favorite part in the book was when Percy Wetmore a man who nobody liked squashed Del's mouse just to be a jerk. So once Percy left John healed the mouse and Percy came back the mouse was running around and Percy could not believe his own eyes. I believe that the message in this story is that you should be good to people so they be good to you. This way when you die your not scared because you knew you were the best person you could be. In this book there is always something happening to make you want to keep reading. I would make the book a little bit shorter to improve it but that's the only thing. If you are going to read this book you should like action and entertainment.

The most perfect movie I have ever seen........2007-04-18

Ok, granted nothing can be completely perfect. But I never seem to be able to find a single thing to complain about in this film. It's based of what happens to be the only Stephen King novel I have ever read. While I love just about everything about it, the thing that always comes to mind is how perfectly every major role was cast in this film. Tom Hanks was definitely a wonderful choice for the central character. Nobody could be more perfect for the role of the gentle giant that is John Coffey than Michael Clarke Duncan. I'll never forget that huge reveal of what appears to be the scariest looking man imaginable until you finaly see his face and immediately know he wouldn't harm a hair on your head. Supporting characters are also well cast, especially those of Eduard Delacroix, Bill Wharton, and Percy Whetmore. If you haven't seen this movie I urge you to do yourself a favor and pick it up.

The Green Mile.......2007-03-24

The pinnacle of Tom Hanks' career, under the direction of a Master.

Average customer rating:

Great Movie
Kelly's Heroes
I still love this movie
Simply a great film...
Very subtle, but hilarious

Kelly's Heroes
Starring: Clint Eastwood , Telly Savalas , Don Rickles , Carroll O'Connor , and Donald Sutherland
Director: Brian G. Hutton
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Comedy | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

International | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Anti-War Films | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Dirty Dozen (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Where Eagles Dare
The Great Escape
Midway (Collector's Edition)
Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD]

ASIN: B00004RF9L
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Amazon.com

This tongue-in-cheek 1970 variation on The Dirty Dozen looks less fresh than it did in the year of its release, but it still has some enjoyable moments. Clint Eastwood stars along with Donald Sutherland, Harry Dean Stanton, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, and Gavin MacLeod in the story of American soldiers who try to steal gold behind enemy lines in World War II. Sutherland's hippie G.I. doesn't have the sardonic and timely appeal he did during the Vietnam War, but the film's irreverence and several of the performances are worth a visit. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie.......2007-06-12

Outstanding - - Clint Eastwood & many stars make this an enjoyable movie.

Kelly's Heroes.......2007-05-06

Clint Eastwood has always been a favorite of mine and his protrayal
of the enterprising fighting soldier is standard of his image as
top quality movie star. The product is good with great color and
sound.

Thanks

I still love this movie.......2007-04-04

I first saw this movie when I was a kid and was just a WWII buff. I can honestly say, though, that since then I will make a point to watch it whenever I see it. While it is not high art by any stretch, it is an eminently watchable movie that is well paced and has iconic characters you'll remember well after you see the movie (who could forget Oddball). In fact, I'm going to go watch it right now...

Simply a great film..........2007-03-20

One of my all time favourites, Kelly Heroes somehow manages to find comic relief, humor and irony in the otherwise dismal environment of war.

Under the mask of wartime confusion, the guys pull of the 'perfect caper.' You just have to wonder just how often such a real event must have taken place.

The action in this movie flows very well and the performances by Sutherland, Savalas and Rickles are superb. I must have watched this film 25 times by now and never tire from or get bored with it.

Highly recommended - but not for under 12yo.

RW -||-

Very subtle, but hilarious.......2007-03-16

The hordes of reviewers that have written earlier on this movie have covered the plot, and how funny this movie is, and how "1970s" it is. I want to add a bit about the subtle points in this movie that are really good. Telly Savalas does an excellent job as the lungs-of-brass Sergeant who goes along for one reason only, and that is to keep all the men under him alive. How he does this and the efforts he goes through are all kept in the movie, and that could not have been easy to do. Carroll O'Connor's General is another lungs-of-brass type, but his focus is to get close enough to the real action to share in the glory. He, however, is so completely clueless as to be, well...believable! Sutherland's Oddball is everybody's favorite. What is really funny though is how everyone in theater (combat theater) knows him. Then there is the whole subject of the marching band and how it gets involved. Yes, the story in the movie is pretty superficial, but the subtleties in this movie are what really make it go, and make it one of the most satisfying Eastwood movies ever made.

Pretty in Pink (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Maybe they could've stuck with the original ending?
flashback
Overrated and mostly empty teen drama (2.5)
Pretty in Pink
The Weakest Of The John Hughes Teen Comedies, But Still Very Good.

Pretty in Pink (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Molly Ringwald , Harry Dean Stanton , Jon Cryer , Annie Potts , and James Spader
Director: Howard Deutch
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Sixteen Candles (High School Reunion Collection)
The Breakfast Club (High School Reunion Collection)
Some Kind of Wonderful (Special Collector's Edition)
Brat Pack Collection (The Breakfast Club/ Sixteen Candles/ Weird Science)
St. Elmo's Fire [Region 99]

ASIN: B000FZETIO
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

The era of Molly Ringwald's profitable collaboration with writer-producer-director John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) was at its peak with this 1986 film (directed by Howard Deutch but in every sense part of the developing Hughes empire). Ringwald plays a high school girl on the budget side of the tracks, living with her warm and loving father (Harry Dean Stanton) and usually accompanied by her insecure best friend (Jon Cryer). When a wealthy but well-meaning boy (Andrew McCarthy) asks her out, her perspective is overturned and Cryer's character is threatened. As was the case in the mid-'80s, Hughes (who wrote the script and produced the film) brought his special feel for the cross-currents of adolescent life to this story. In its very commercial way, it is an honest, entertaining piece about growing pains. The attractive supporting cast (many of whom are much better known now) does a terrific job, and Ringwald and Cryer have excellent chemistry. --Tom Keogh

Description

Young Andie (Molly Ringwald) is one of the not-so-popular girls in high school. She usually hangs out with her friends Iona (Annie Potts) or Duckie (Jon Cryer). Duckie has always had a crush on her, but now she has met a new guy from school, Blane (Andrew McCarthy). He's one of the rich and popular guys but can the two worlds meet?

Customer Reviews:

Maybe they could've stuck with the original ending?.......2007-05-06

I don't know, maybe I'm in the minority here, but after seeing this film--after having not seeing it in like FOREVER, I'm still at the conclusion that the Molly Ringwald character--'Andie' should've wound up with the Jon Cryer 'Duckie' character--and not that the two of them would've turned all madly in love with each other--because it was clear throughout the film that the Andie character just didn't have those kind of feelings for her friend 'Duckie'.

I just think it would've been cool if the Andie character could've showed some kind of solidarity and YES loyalty to Duckie--the ONE (if not) ONLY friend that she had at her school and stayed with HIM at the prom--I mean, let's face it, she was Blane's for the taking and then suddenly he didn't want her anymore, but then to sorta wrap things up, he develops some kind of conscience or thick skin or whatever and decides he wants her back and like clockwork, the Andie character is all eager to take him back? I mean, what about Duckie? What about his feelings? Don't worry Duckie, I'm with you all the way--the Andie character missed out on the only good thing she had! (Jon Cryer, where ever you are, YOU ROCK!!!)

Also, there's great acting from James Spader being his Spader best!

flashback.......2007-04-11

originally this movie was actually not in my wish list but i decided to order it because with $5.00 i would get free shipping & handling, so why not?
i actually started watching this movie on a bored night with my mom and i had forgotten how funny it was. i always thought sixteen candles was better than pretty in pink, but after watching it countless times i really appreciated the humor, duckie, and the horribly pink dress that molly ringwald wears to her prom.

Overrated and mostly empty teen drama (2.5).......2007-03-20

Pretty in Pink, an 80's teen dramedy may have a FEW worthy moments but it's mostly full of hot air. While I'm a HUGE fan of 80's teen movies (and 80's movies in general) this one definitely did next to nothing for me.
The premise is simple: Molly Ringwald plays Andie, a high school senior who'll be graduating in a month. What sets her apart is the fact that she's poor and comes from a family of a lazy father and a mother who left them. Though she is poor, her home is typical middle class and her stylish clothing make her look a lot richer than she actually is, perhaps to hide the fact that she IS poor. Whatever. Her best friend Duckie is in love with her but doesn't want to ruin their friendship. Andie falls for a cute, but rich, guy at school (played by Andrew McCarthy). This new rich boy is envied and disliked by Duckie and is too much of a coward to stand up to his hoyty toyty rich best friend who doesn't wants to date Andie but is too much of a rich snob to snag her. He's mad so he tells his best friend to avoid her.

Anyways, the typical senior prom happens at the end where Duckie realizes he only wants for Andie's happiness and she ends up chasing her crush out and kissing him and the movie ends.

What's most annoying about this movie is the lameness of the characters. They just aren't very interesting. And when you think things are getting good, they do for a few minutes before the film drags along once again. This movie would've definitely been great if not for the complete lack of chemistry everyone involved had. Sure, there are tears and confusion, but you don't really care because these characters simply ACT OUT the script, you don't get the feeling at all that they're real people with real backgrounds. 99% of the time the ONLY interest they show in their lives is in their given situation. The ONLY time any character shows any type of human character is when Andie remakes her prom outfit because she's really into sewing and fashionable clothing. This doesn't add anything to the story except come in where it's handy. And even then it isn't handy cause the only reason she resewed her prom dress was cause her dad went out and bought one and said "i know you may not like it, but i know you can do something with it." she might as well have just gotten one herself she liked and that would've been the end of it.

bottom line: a cookie cutter teen drama/comedy that starts nowhere, adds filler, and ends nowhere you care about.

Pretty in Pink.......2007-03-11

First off I would like to say that I am a big John Hughes fan.I enjoy all of his movies because they are not only funny, they bring out tough subjects with humor it seems. Pretty in Pink is about Andie, a normal girl that isn't popular or rich whatsoever. Her best friend, "Ducky" has been her friend since like elementary school and has had the biggest crush on her forever and is her rock. She finds out that Blane, a cutie and rich guy at school likes her for all the right reasons. They click and like each other, but there's just one problem- everyone disapproves. Every guy like Blane is the kind of guy who likes to get laid and do drugs but Blane is not that. Andie loses herself in confusion and Ducky leaves her to fend for herself. All three of them learn the tough part about love and in the end it is basically a happily ever after. I would recommend this movie to people like Andie who need help in situations like hers. I learned alot in this movie for some weird reason. As for the star cast, Molly Ringwald really is "Pretty in Pink".

The Weakest Of The John Hughes Teen Comedies, But Still Very Good........2007-03-05

Though not as good as "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club", "Weird Scienece" or "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Pretty In Pink", like all the John Hughes produced 1980s' teen classics, is a highly enjoyable teen romp.

Molly Ringwald, Hughes' muse for these movies, plays Andie Walsh, a smart hiugh schooler who lives with her deadbeat dad (the always wonderful Harry Dean Stanton) and is generally in the company of her friends, namely the carefree Duckie (Jon Cryer in a classic performance). Pining for Andy's affection is Blane McDonnagh, a rich and very popular student who wants to take Andie to the prom. This does not sit well with Duckie, who's harboured a secret crush on Andie since he's known her. Backstabbing, lies, and heartache ensues, but it leads up to a great conclusion.

"Pretty In Pink" is not as good as its predecessor, but it's still a very solid and entertaining teen comedy.

Average customer rating:

A small gem finally shows up
Film Doesn't Live Up To It's Early Promise
Great companion piece to Midnight Cowboy
A Great Forgotten Film Finally Returns
One of Hoffmans Greatest Roles

Straight Time
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Gary Busey , Harry Dean Stanton , M. Emmett Walsh , and Theresa Russell
Director: Ulu Grosbard
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Prince of the City (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Thieves Like Us
The Panic in Needle Park
The Silent Partner
If... (Criterion Collection)

ASIN: B000N3SROU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Straight Time is notable for one of Dustin Hoffman's best--and least-seen--performances, as a lifelong criminal who, as a parolee, struggles to go straight. But it's a losing battle right from the jump. In less than a week, he's had a scuffle with his parole officer (M. Emmet Walsh) and is on the dodge, looking for a score. But you know that this guy has only two directions he can go in life--and that's either back to prison or into an early grave. A startling depiction of a surprisingly likable sociopath, this Ulu Grosbard film is a dark meditation on one man's firm--if skewed--values and features Hoffman in a relentless, wiry portrayal. The rest of the cast is equally strong, including the always-reliable Harry Dean Stanton, then-newcomer Gary Busey, and an unknown Kathy Bates. --Marshall Fine

Description

A paroled burglar tries to get a job and keep on the straight-and-narrow. His hard-core parole officer has different ideas and sends him back to jail. When he gets out again, he goes after the parole officer, steals his car and returns to a life of crime.

Customer Reviews:

A small gem finally shows up.......2007-06-12

I remember seeing this film in Denver at a sneak preview. It didn't get much theatre time and soon disappeared into VHS rental and unwatchable, edited presentations on AMC until this new DVD. The film looks terrific in original widescreen and has audio screen comments by the director and Hoffman which enrich the viewing experience. Straight Time has a wonderful supporting cast, Gary Busey, a wonderful Harry Dean Stanton, and a very young Theresa Russell among others. This is a script driven film that reminds one that car crashes, exploding buildings and macho super heroes are not necessary for a great crime film.

Film Doesn't Live Up To It's Early Promise.......2007-05-29

The enigma of "Straight Time" is that it starts off so swimmingly but at the halfway point of the film it begins to wane. The early scenes portraying burglar Max Dembo's(Dustin Hoffman)efforts to reform himself are powerful. What really gives the film it's kick is the heated conflict between Dembo and his sadistic parole officer played by M. Emmet Walsh. There is such intensity to these scenes that they empower the film. It's at the point where Dembo skips parole that the film starts to lose a little bit of it's panache. Not to say it meanders but the film doesn't have the intensity level of it's introductory scenes. Harry Dean Stanton as one of Dembo's partners in crime does enliven the proceedings, however. I highly recommend "Straight Time" with slight qualifications. Not only are Hoffman, Walsh, and Stanton great but so are Theresa Russell, Gary Busey, and Kathy Bates. Noteworthy, is the appearance of Eddie Bunker in the film, whose autobiographical novel "Straight Time" is based on. Bunker later had an abbreviated appearance in "Reservoir Dogs". Busey's son, Jake, also appears in the film. On a real trivial note, Walsh and Jake Busey later appeared in "Christmas With the Kranks". Just thought you'd like to know.

Great companion piece to Midnight Cowboy.......2007-05-26

This 1978 film, co-written by Eddie Bunker--an actual con known for his realistic stories of criminals and prison life--stars Dustin Hoffman in one of his absolute best roles as Max Dembo, a con who has to contend with an arch-enemy in the form of his ultra-nasty parole officer, played perfectly by none other than M. Emmet Walsh.

Also on hand, as Dembo re-embarks on a life of crime after release from the slammer, are his buds, also former crooks, who are persuaded by Max to once again plunge into the dark side of crime. Gary Busey and Harry Dean Stanton are these guys, and the casting here is right on target. Stanton is always good, but here he's even better as a world-weary guy who's so jaded by his marriage that he's eager to get going with Dembo, rather than having to go through the endlessly boring days of domestic life with his wife (Kathy Bates in an early role, and great as usual).

This is a terrific companion piece to another Dustin Hoffman-starring film, Midnight Cowboy. In both films, we see how the actor gets under the skin of a character who's at rock bottom and teases out of this mess so much humanity that the viewer is glued to the screen. Hoffman in his prime? You bet. Just about no other actor around is this good in this kind of role. He's a malevolent force of nature in Straight Time who has a devastating impact on everyone around him.

One of the most unknown films of the 1970s--because it's so downbeat, the box office gross was really low at the time of its release. But it's a great film, a quintessentially American film whose focus on the underbelly of the great American dream is as strong as a bullwhip.

Get this, see it, and dig it. It's great.

A Great Forgotten Film Finally Returns.......2007-05-09

Again, one of those great mysteries: why did it take so long for this movie to make it to DVD? Perhaps it was a distribution snafu--this was made orginially under the banner of First Artists, sort of a latter day United Artists where the artists themselves, Dustin Hoffman among them, tried to take over the role of the businessmen. It didn't work, and one of the results was the shoddy distribution of this movie, which came out in 1978 and died a quick death. Which was a totally unwarrented fate for such a powerful film. This, to me, is 70's filmmaking at its best: a tight, tough story uncluttered by sentimentality or pandering to popular tastes, acted by some of the best in the biz. Hoffman, I think, at his best as the thoroughly ammoral Max Dembo for whom "straight time" after a lifetime spent in every kind of prison imaginable is ultimately the most secure prison of all, one he can't help but break out of. M. Emmett Walsh as the sadistic parole officer who enjoys humiliating ex-cons like Dembo; a young Gary Busey and the always great Harry Dean Stanton as Dembo's accomplices in crime; and a young Theresa Russell a marvel in the thankless role of the girl who falls for Dembo. This is straight-for-the-gut filmmaking by Ulu Grosbard, a story about very flawed and very real people, losers perhaps, but very real in their desires and wants and actions. This is the kind of film that died after the 70s and today would only be made on a shoestring indie budget. But if you want to see Dustin Hoffman when he was indeed one of the best actors in the business, if you want to see a tough heist film, if you want to see a commentary about the way we help create anti-social cases like Maz Dembo, then see this film. It's a great one.

One of Hoffmans Greatest Roles .......2007-02-12

A must have for your DVD collection. Far superior movie than "Heat" with Robert Deniro. See the similarities. Dustin Hoffman is at his best. Who new what a maniac Hoffman's character turns out to be. Great cast including a thin Kathy Bates.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

one hand washes the other, on this Thompson acid trip of exceptional Hollywood
Awesome movie!
worth every penny
Another Terry Gilliam Jewel
A glorious addiction

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection
Starring: Johnny Depp , Benicio Del Toro , Tobey Maguire , Ellen Barkin , and Gary Busey
Director: Terry Gilliam
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

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