Oliver Stone

Average customer rating:

Improtant issues done well-with reservations
"Sicko", the movie on the health care industry, opens June 29th!
Not nearly as good as Farenheit
guns don't kill people?
is this what liberals have been reduced to?

Bowling for Columbine
Starring: Michael Caldwell , Dick Cheney , Dick Clark , Bill Clinton , and Byron Dorgan
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Fahrenheit 9/11 [Region 99]
Roger & Me
Super Size Me [Region 99]
Uncovered - The Whole Truth About the Iraq War
The Big One

ASIN: B00008DDVV
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

Michael Moore's superb documentary (following in the footsteps of Roger & Me and The Big One) tackles a meaty subject: gun control. Moore skillfully lays out arguments surrounding the issue and short-circuits them all, leaving one impossible question: why do Americans kill each other more often than people in any other democratic nation? Moore focuses his quest around the shootings at Columbine High School and the shooting of one 6-year-old by another near his own hometown of Flint, Michigan. By approaching the headquarters of K-Mart (where the Columbine shooters bought their ammo) and going to Charlton Heston's own home, Moore demands accountability from the forces that support unrestricted gun sales in the U.S. His arguments are conducted with the humor and empathy that have made Moore more than just a gadfly; he's become a genuine voice of reason in a world driven by fear and greed. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore (Roger & Me) takes aim at America's love affair with guns and violence in this Oscar(r)-winning* film that "demands attention" (People)! Mixing riveting footage, hilarious animation and candid interviews with everyone from the NRA's Charlton Heston to shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, Bowling for Columbine is a "brilliant" (The Hollywood Reporter) tour de force of filmmaking. *2002: Documentary Feature

Customer Reviews:

Improtant issues done well-with reservations.......2007-06-18

There is much to like AND dislike about this movie.

people often dismiss M/M as a leftist, but I think he strikes a balance in this film as an equal-opportunity critic of both the far left AND the far right (note the discussion with Marilyn Manson about Bill Clinton where they both are quite critical of Mr. Bill).

The sections on Canada and gun control are quite deep in debunking the rationales of causes of violence in America. However, trying to compare violence in different countires and cultures (i.e., comparing America's violent past with the fact that Germany has less violence today but was responsible for the Holocaust) depends on relativity and perspective.

The section on blacks, violence, and the media was dead-on target, with Mike and a white professor walking through South Central Los Angeles without anyone trying to harm them, although it would have been interesting if they had interviewed one of the residents about their opinions of the perceptions of their community. The cartoon on violence and race relations was also thought provoking, if a tad simplified (the 'toon omits the fact that blacks DID rebel against our oppression between the slave rebellions and Rosa Parks, although this is not well known among non-historians).

The Charlton Heston interview was ok, except I did not like the exploitation of the picture of the dead six year old Michigan girl who was killed by gunfire and what Mike does with the picture in this scene. This smacks of opporunitist grandstanding of the worst kind, and I would hate to see the reaction of the child's parents to this!

But that is the only thing I really disliked about the film. That aside, it says a lot of things that really need to be said and provokes a lot of thought.

"Sicko", the movie on the health care industry, opens June 29th!.......2007-06-08

Michael Moore rules! Keep hope alive!
Go see "SICKO" on JUNE 29th! I'll be there!!

Not nearly as good as Farenheit.......2007-06-07

I expected a little more from this movie after watching Farenheit 911, perhaps Moore has gotten better with time. It's difficult to grasp what point he's trying to make in this film. In one breath Moore says that Americans are afraid of one another and lock their doors every night and behave irrationally, yet in the next he lists crime statistics as being multiple times higher than other countries. So what is the point? Americans lock their door because the crime rate is high, it seems like we're actually being intelligent rather than irrational. The cartoon with the Pilgrams and early America is hilarious and worth the price of admission, but even that winds up being very skewed at the end. I wish Moore would have tackled the problem of inner cities and the rampant gun problem rather than attack the "whites" throughout the entire film.

I am certainly in favor of far stricter regulations and laws regarding gun use, but Moore just seems to touch on way too many points that are disjointed. At one point he attacks the media for scaring us, yet he is a very member of this media and is basically just a reporter himself. There are some very humorous parts and some very intelligent insights, but Moore was definitely more polished by the time he produced Farenheit. I was slightly disappointed overall by this film, but it keeps your interest throughout.

guns don't kill people?.......2007-04-23

This film, flawed as it may be (mostly in the eyes of its detractors), once again must confront the blatantly inane axiom that "guns don't kill people." Guns DO kill people; and the people who use them are the cowards that stand behind them. The American Rifle Murderers and others of their ilk try to hide behind a Second Amendment that is now outdated historically and morally. And their gun lobbying and support have produced not only Columbine but the most recent tragedy in Virginia (2007). MIchael Moore should be applauded and lionized as a humorist with a true grit kick. What he says in this film is played out in this free (to die) society on a daily basis.

is this what liberals have been reduced to?.......2007-04-03

ive seen this movie and was disappointed. i mean ask yourselfs, is this about what really happend at columbine school or is just moore's opinion on a tragic event? id say its mostly moore's opinions on the subject. anyone in their right mind could easily tell ya guns dont kill people, people kill people. obviously moore ignored the students motive for their shootings. if people like moore did real research, they would explain why these two students went over the edge. its easy, they went two far after other students picked on a insulted them from time to time and like any student with low esteem, they decide to do somthing they regret. the problem is people cant get seema to get along with each other and instead call names, which libs would know all about that before they hear someone out. back to the movie, if moore really wanted this to be true, not only would he indeed talk about gun control, but how everyone should treat everyone else. u dont have to like each other, but should respect each other. i understand many might disagree with me on this review, but can i help being open-minded on issues????

Alexander Revisited - The Final Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Alexander is a Great Epic!
Comments on the Soundtrack only
Alexander , the impressive movie but not necessarily gripping.
Better But Not Perfect
Alexander The Great or The Gay

Alexander Revisited - The Final Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , David Bedella , Jessie Kamm , Angelina Jolie , and Val Kilmer
Director: Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
Troy (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000MGB6NM
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

For better or worse (and in this case, it's mostly for better), Oliver Stone's Alexander Revisited should stand as the definitive version of Stone's much-maligned epic about the great Asian conqueror. Following the DVD release of his previous Director's Cut, Stone offers a video introduction here, explaining why he felt a third and final attempt at refining his film was necessary. Essentially, he's using this opportunity to re-create the "road show" format of the Biblical epics of the 1950s and '60s, with a three-and-a-half-hour running time (with an intermission at the two-hour mark) including 45 minutes of previously unseen footage. Stone has also significantly restructured the film, resulting in substantial (if not exactly redemptive) improvements in its narrative flow. Alexander (played in a torrent of emotions by Colin Farrell) is dying as the film opens, his final moments serving to bookend the film's epic story, which incorporates flashback sequences to flesh out the Macedonian king's back-story involving the turbulent battle of fate between his father, King Philip (Val Kilmer) and his scheming sorceress mother Olympia (Angelina Jolie, ridiculous accent and all), who insists that Alexander is literally a child of the gods.

In Stone's final cut, epic battles remain chaotic (although Alexander's strategy is somewhat easier to follow, with on-screen titles indicating left, right, and center during his army's greatest maneuvers) and the ultra-violent battles are more graphically gory than ever (hence their "unrated" status). The animalistic lovemaking of Alexander and his barbarian bride Roxana (Rosario Dawson) is slightly extended (with Dawson as ravishing as ever), and Stone's additional footage also improves the overall arc of Alexander's relationship with his closest generals and male companions, although his most intimate homosexual encounters remain mostly discreet. As Alexander Revisited makes clear, the film's weaknesses remain unavoidable, but Stone deserves credit for recognizing how a longer running time, and more disciplined narrative structure, would bring Alexander closer to the respect it never earned from critics and filmgoers alike. This is unquestionably a better film than it used to be, leaving us to wonder why it took three separate efforts to shape Alexander into its best possible presentation. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Now available is an all new and completely unrated version of Oliver Stone's incredible epic film, loaded with nearly 40 minutes of additional never-before-seen footage, that takes the film to a new level of realism and intensity. Restructured and expanded into two acts with one intermission, Oliver Stone's vision is delivered the way he originally conceived and intended. With the new, unrated and graphic battle scenes and unadulterated sensuality, it's the movie you couldn't see in theatres, now available on DVD for the very first time!

DVD Features:
Introduction
Theatrical Trailer
</p>

Customer Reviews:

Alexander is a Great Epic!.......2007-06-23

A great Epic, I dont see why this movie got so much bad publicity. Okay, there were a few badly filmed obscure scenes which shouldnt have even been put in this movie, but overall the movie was great. The acting by Farell and Kilmer is amazing.

I laugh at the critics who just love to use words such as BI and GAY at any chance they get, whether it's for their own namesake or out of spite. They love to focus on that sole aspect as if it were the only thing he stood for! Ha!

You actually think hundreds of thousands upon thousands of armies comprised of legions would have followed him to the edge of the world if they thought of him as just a Bi? Alexander was a Soldier's Soldier just as he was a King.

You want to know the truth about Alexander, read the books, read the Greek manuscripts, go visit or learn about the lands where Alexander and the legions travelled and changed life over there forever even to this day. Take a trip to an ancient museam in the Greek State of Makedonia/Macedonia/Macedon in Northern Greece. A GREAT Documentary/TV-Series comes to mind, History Channel's In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great which depicts almost every battle, region, etc.

Learn how some of the Ancient Wonders of the World were constructed in this time period.

I'm pretty sure Alexander was WAY more into Women than he was, if at all, into anything else. All that massive wine they drank, especially in the places over where the Ancient Greek God Dinonysys travelled as well as Herakles during his time with the Twelve Labors (or Hercules as he is most referred to), must have added to the Drama and possibly even affected campaigns.

At the Height of it's extent, The Greek Empire spanned a total of almost 25 modern day countries.

The regions and peoples are beautifully depicted in the Tv-Series: Footsteps of Alexander the Great.

I havent seen the director's cut yet, the 2 disc special edition is my favorite but the Revisited edition is a must see for It's extra footage which is pretty good for the most part.

The music score by Composer Vangelis (Blade Runner, 1492 Conquest..) is just fantastic to say the least!

9/10 and 10/10 for the music score.

A King isnt born Alexander, he's forged by the Sword and Suffering!

Philip To Alexander/

Comments on the Soundtrack only.......2007-06-21

I'm a huge fan of Oliver Stone and I've seen the both the original and final cut version of his epic Alexander. I am only here to comment on the music. I have a prejudice against electronic or synthesized soundtracks for movies set in antiquity, and this is what spoiled Alexander for me - I couldn't get passed the music. I feel that the movie would have been far more successful with a soundtrack using natural instruments and the themes of Vangelis. I know that Stone loves Vangelis and so do others; but for me, I was pulled out of this ancient time in history by the artificial electronic sounds. They weren't powerful enough or heroic enough for my taste, and I tend to like Vangelis in other films. I would have much prefered a John Williams soundtrack if he'd been available, and I think the movie would have been far more successful. The soundtrack sets the tone for the entire movie, oftentimes in subtle or subconscious ways, and for me the music was unable to sufficiently support the largeness of Alexander's life events or the totality of his life as a whole. I expect no one to agree with me here, but I love the largeness of scope in what Stone attempts and I'd like to see him succeed according to the incredible efforts he makes in his films. And believe me, this was a monumental film, and I love that he gave it his all. Despite the score, there were numerous battle scenes involving elephants in warfare that were unforgettable, and the soundtrack was effective at times. Overall, I think this film was even larger in scope than JFK, and that's why I was sorry it wasn't more well received.

Alexander , the impressive movie but not necessarily gripping........2007-06-16

The colors are vivid, and attractive. The settings look authentic.

As reviewer A.M.Chung said, it contains quite a few of details mentioned in history books.

The implication of Alexander homosexuality does not taint the film at all. The picture is still enjoyable even though it drags in a lot of scenes. A reviewer on Amazon.com was quite upset about the subtle homosexual scenes. According to another Alexander DVD released by National Geographic, it did happened. At that time period, it's a trend!

I don't know how accurate it is about the depict of his mother's strong influence on him.

The two battle scenes in the picture look huge but for unknown reason they don't engage me. The fighting scenes from Saving Private Ryan or Gettysburg are more riveting.

Overall, it's an eye-catching movie but it drags in many places. I won't watch it again for a long time. I bought the DVD because it's the most gorgeous and authentic-looking film made about Alexander and that time period .

Better But Not Perfect.......2007-05-21

In my reviewing this third version of "Alexander," it is difficult for me not to contrast the results of Stone's efforts with what might have been had HBO carried through with their proposal to create a ten-part series about Alexander based upon Mary Renault's trilogy "Fire From Heaven," "The Persian Boy," and "Funeral Games," assuming that the producers would have chosen excellent script writers, directors, and actors. Such a docudrama, run chronologically, would have had a far better chance of covering the almost 33 years of Alexander's life in a more complete and presentable manner. Stone obviously struggeled in his attempt to produce a hybred docudrama / entertainment film that could fit into a single sitting at a movie theater. In all three versions of his film, he met with varying degrees of success or failure.

Still, Stone's production is better (the good parts are far better than many people were capable of recognizing) than many critics and too many audience members thought. There are reasons for this.

Over the years, I have conducted extensive research on Alexander. Also, my having worked as a mental-health therapist for nearly 30 years, I once engaged it what might be called a "forensic psychological analysis" of Alexander and came to some interesting conclusions. So I have been able to compare and contrast the film with the film industry's "preferred approach" to script writing, directing, and production as described to me by my friend who is a university instructor in film.

The second version "Director's Cut" was an improvement over the initial theater version. This final version has some further improvements yet suffers from the same, inevitable difficulties of the first two.

In an effort to integrate the divers elements of the film into an organic whole, Stone made the choice to move frequently forward or backward in time. A multi-part docudrama, run chronologically, would have been far easier for most of the public to follow. Some critics complained about the addition of narration throughout the film, a possibly cumbersome element for an entertainment film. The additional information was a necessary addition, however, considering the limited length of the film and also the limited historical knowledge of most movie goers.

The docudrama elements of Stone's film are historically accurate. Yet in his attempt to make an entertainment film, Stone engaged in compression of, and skewing of, events, especially in the later battle parts of the film. Those in the audience who prefer dramatic action to fact may have been more pleased; however, those members who were capable of appreciating the historically accurate parts of the film may have been a little uncomfortable with this conflict between the two approaches.

In "Alexander - Revisited," Stone finally was free to include additional dialogue and scene extensions that never should have been omitted in the first two versions, undoubtedly against Stone's wishes. The pressure on Stone to omit these segments apparently was worry about the film being "too talky" and also, frankly, from ignorance and prejudice. A therapist must attempt to promote acceptance of fact and reality over beliefs that not only defy fact and reality but also have the potential to be harmful. One of my patients was very upset and angry (along with many viewers and even some Greeks, who should know better) that Stone "forced upon the viewing public a false, made-up version of Alexander's sexual orientation." Stone's portrayal of Alexander and Hepheastion's life-long relationship is accurate, and their expressions of love for each other are done with taste and sensitivity. I have not read from those persons who were offended by the gentle kiss between Bagoas and Alexander in this third version any comments about the overtly sexual scene with Alexander and Roxanne in all three versions. Stone, therefore, should be commended for including the scenes with Alexander and Hepheastion and also the additional footage of Bagoas.

I own and have watched all three DVD versions of Stone's film. The second defintely is better than the first. Although I need to view the second and third versions more in order to come to a more detailed comparison, the additional film footage in "Alexander - Revisited" may tip the evaluation scales in its favor, despite the somewhat disjointed feeling resulting from its editing.

Alexander The Great or The Gay.......2007-05-17

Its one of the worst historical based movie I have ever seen. The implication that Alexander was a homosexual or bisexual does not cut it in terms of Macedonian society of the time period. There were strong friendships between men, which persist today, that have no sexual connotations. As a matter of fact men who dressed, painted themselves and acted as women were shunned by society and made fun of from Assirya in the east to Carthage in the west.The actress chosen for the part of Roxanne has no physical characteristics similar to her historical predecesor, except maybe her great body. But maybe casting a more ravishing woman in that part would have downgraded the supposedly homosexual relationship that Alexander is shown to have. The only good casting made was that of Alexander`s mother. I do not want to rehash other areas of criticism except to say that this is not a movie about Alexander The Great but rather of Alexander The Gay.
Maybe the director`s next movie will be making Richard The Lionhearted into Richard The Gayhearted, in which case he would again be sadly mistaken.

Average customer rating:

Born on the Fourth of July [HD DVD]
Starring: Seth Allen , Amanda Davis , and Tom Cruise
Director: Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000OHZL26
Release Date: 2007-06-12

JFK - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Story That Won't Go Away
...and justice for all!
AMAZING
An Oliver Stone Classic
Worth your time and money

JFK - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Kevin Costner , Tommy Lee Jones , Kevin Bacon , Michael Rooker , and Gary Oldman
Director: Oliver Stone , Danny Schechter , and Barbara Kopple
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Nixon - Collector's Edition
Thirteen Days (Infinifilm Edition)
JFK: Assassination Files
The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
Platoon (Collector's Edition Steelbook)

ASIN: B0000CDL93
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Amazon.com essential video

Director Oliver Stone added 17 minutes of previously unseen footage for the "director's cut" edition of his hypnotic courtroom epic about the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. That fateful day in Dallas set in motion a sequence of events that would only intensify the mystery behind Kennedy's death, causing New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) to begin an investigation that would gradually become a personal obsession. Bravura filmmaking combined with controversial treatment of historical facts and audacious speculation, this breathtaking revision of history presents a mesmerizing parade of shady figures and conspiracy theories, unfolding like a classic mystery based on history's greatest unsolved crime. A technical triumph boasting Oscar-winning cinematography and editing, Stone's film is guaranteed to grab the viewer's attention with its daring take on the JFK controversy. The stellar supporting cast includes Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Jack Lemmon, Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A film that chronicles New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison's investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It explores all the credible assassination theories that have raised the nation's persistent questions, doubts and suspicions.

Customer Reviews:

The Story That Won't Go Away.......2007-06-13

Oliver Stone is known to stir up controversial subjects. His most recent film, World Trade Center, came at a time when the memory of the 9/11 attacks were still painfully fresh in our nation's memory (they still are). Unlike Stone's previous films, however, WTC did not point fingers at anyone (aka "Loose Change") and instead just focused on the human impact of the attacks and chronicled a few people's experiences throughout the event.

Stone's 1991 film "JFK," definately points fingers. Stone's active name calling and muckraking will polarize audiences with differing views on the events of November 22, 1963. People who really believe that the assassination was carried out solely by Mr. Oswald will be incensed at the film's implication of our nation's own government, and those who discount the Magic Bullet theory will be pleased that Stone dares to consider the alternative.

Kevin Costner plays Jim Garrison, the same writer of the autobiography from which the film is based (the film also bases itself from the book Crossfire by Jim Marrs). Garrison is a lawyer who sets out to disprove the then-accepted Magic Bullet theory and other commonly accepted theories revolving around his assassination. The Magic Bullet theory was an explanation issued from the Waren Commission explaining how Oswald miraculously fired 3 rounds in a matter of 5.6 seconds with two of the three shots accurately hitting their marks. On top of that, these bullets waltzed around the cabin of the vehicle ripping multiple entry wounds into Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally. In addition to speculating the Magic Bullet Theory, Stone focuses on the other mysterious figures who stood to gain from Kennedy's death, and there were a lot of them.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the greatness of this film. Aside from the political intrigue that may rouse negative emotions from its audience, the film expertly develops its characters into real, breathing, multi-dimensional characters. On top of that, Stone's inherent storytelling ability shines through in this one. The story may sound bland to someone who cares little of the subject, but Stone tells it in a way that will capture anyone's interest. His fierce and emotional style does well to win the audience over. Stone is a hit-or-miss director. This one is definitely a hit.

JFK was unfortunately too radical for the hardline right wingers of his time. He was a visionary leader who set the needed leadership examples for the presidents to come, and this thrilling account of his final moments with immortalize his memory for ages to come.

...and justice for all!.......2007-04-24

Stellar performances throughout, this movie really makes you wonder...possibly my favorite movie!

AMAZING.......2007-03-22

Really interesting, intriguing movie. Makes you think about what the government hides. I love it.

An Oliver Stone Classic.......2007-03-04

An Oliver Stone classic, this movie is packed with information, three hours and 20 minutes. Based on the investigation by Jim Garrison that ensued the death of John F. Kennedy, it portrays the lengths that one man was willing to go to bring justice to the American people.

You feel like you are brought back to that period of time when Americans still believed that our politicians were good people, and devoted to the freedoms that this country is based on. The lighting, the quality of footage, the costumes, down to the very innocent yet naïve nature of the American public.

Gradually as Garrison unravels the case, the situation gets ugly and then uglier, unveiling the true intention behind the death of JFK. Garrison is confided in by many, telling him the facts of what they saw that day, evidence that was not only ignored but altered by the Warren Commission. People begin to turn on him, including his wife. This part of the story in particular demonstrates how difficult it was for Garrison, that even though his facts all lined up and the people knew about them, no one wanted to confront the horror of what this meant about our countries' leaders.

Stone illuminates details about the war industry, and the policies that JFK wanted to enforce. It is disturbing even today in 2007, that our government offices were so heavily involved in making certain that our president that wanted to bring about change for the better was assassinated because of it. It brings light to what is happening with our President Bush and his war today.

Worth your time and money.......2007-02-21

Most three hour long movies I get bored with part way through, this movie is almost three and a half hours long and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Not What the Title Implies
mushroom-fueled mess
Warning - This movie is deeply violent and disturbing
discombobulated
Awe-inspiring.

Natural Born Killers
Starring: Woody Harrelson , Juliette Lewis , Tom Sizemore , Rodney Dangerfield , and Everett Quinton
Director: Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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True Romance - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Reservoir Dogs (15th Anniversary 2-Disc Special Edition)
Four Rooms
Jackie Brown (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B00003BDXG
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Amazon.com essential video

Oliver Stone would like to have the last word on America's media culture of voyeurism and violence, but whatever he's trying to say in this grisly, unconventional movie comes across terribly garbled. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis play traveling serial killers who become television celebrities when a Geraldo-like personality (Robert Downey Jr.) turns their madness into the biggest story in the country. Stone extensively rewrote an original script by Quentin Tarantino, and he employs a mosaic of different film stocks, video, and pop pastiches to create a sense of blurred lines between visual phenomena. (The background on Lewis's character's life as an abused child, for instance, is presented as a sitcom starring Rodney Dangerfield.) But the result of these experiments is a pompous, even amateurish effort at grasping the reins of a real-life national debate. One almost wants to tell Stone to sit down and raise his hand next time if he thinks he has something to say. The controversial director would like Natural Born Killers to be nothing less than a monumental achievement, but it's one of the emptier entries in his filmography. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Not What the Title Implies.......2007-05-18

THIS IS NOT THE DIRECTORS CUT.

I give the Directors Cut 5 stars, and ordinarily I would give even the edited version at least 4, but when I purchased "The Oliver Stone Collection" edition of this movie, I assumed the movie contained therein would be the Directors Cut. IT IS NOT.

The deleted scenes are great to have, but those scenes were also contained in the old beat-up VHS of NBK I owned years and years ago and lost. Attempting to replace it (my DIRECTORS CUT version), I bought this one on DVD. I was extremely disappointed that this is not the version I had come to love.

Very little of the movie is deleted, but purists seeking to obtain the TRUE version of this movie should stay away. Remember when Robert Downey Jr. gets a hole shot in his hand? Gone (or at least cut away far faster than it's supposed to). Remember when Tommy Lee Jones gets his head mounted on a stick? Gone. These are just two examples.

For those of you specifically seeking the Directors Cut, this is not it. I love this movie to death, but I was looking for something specific and did not get it. Very misleading labeling, if you ask me.

mushroom-fueled mess.......2007-03-25

it amazes me that people give this mushroom eater money to make crapola like this.
I usually like Harrrelson, J. Lewis is (very often) terrific in everything she does--but here, man, both are UN-NATURAL, stiff--and not to be taken serious at all. Nothing that happens in this flick has a flicker of believability.
I'd say this is another one for the trash--except I have way too much respect for the late, great Rodney Dangerfield to do that. Too bad his appearance is nothing more than a cameo here.

Lastly, I liked Platoon just fine when I saw it many years ago; it was right on the mark, authentic...however, this effort here is one, big, bogus mess. It seems somebody's had too damn many mushrooms...or something.

Warning - This movie is deeply violent and disturbing.......2007-03-15

This is one of the most haunting movies i have ever seen, It is one of my favorites. Those of you who havent seen this, read the warning above. If you like Tarentino-ish movies like yours truly, than watch it. The riot scene at the end of the movie gives me chills every time I watch it.

discombobulated.......2007-03-08

i always wanted to use that word (discombobulated) for a movie and this movie is a perfect one. everything from the soundtrack to violence and the cameo appearence from the late Rodney Dangerfield all turn this bizarre movie into a success. it felt as if you really took a trip into the mind of a couple of maniacs, in a way that they saw the world.

not for everyone is an understatement. If violence isn't a problem, go ahead and watch. There are plenty of trip scenes where i almost felt like either this movie or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was copying each other somewhat (not sure which one came out first and don't feel like looking it up)

nevertheless, i loved this movie for a long time. it had the perfect soundtrack picked for it as well as many memorable scenes. it was one movie you can't erase from your brain so if you haven't watched it yet, the name alone should let you know what it's about if it wasn't obvious enough. I think the reason so many people didn't like it is because the movie jumps around quite a bit, feeling very disconnected. Of course, that was the effect the director was going for so you could feel what these two nutty a--holes were going through. i say in that aspect, he succeeded.

Awe-inspiring........2007-02-28

Natural Born Killers (Oliver Stone, 1994)

I never really expected all that much from Natural Born Killers. All the reviews I've read have spent thousands of words going on and on about what a scathing indictment of American media culture this movie is as if it's the only thing about the movie that matters. That'll teach me to listen to reviewers. What's great about Natural Born Killers is that, within the space of Stone's ham-handed assault on the media, there are two characters who have a real relationship. We see how that relationship unfolds, in all its ugly glory. And that's what will keep you riveted.

This doesn't feel like an Oliver Stone movie, really. He deals with the basic nastiness of his premise in a dadaesque fashion more reminiscent of David Lynch or Peter Jackson than Oliver Stone; the uglier the scene he's depicting, the more over-the-top he gets. The cast is more than ready to ham it up with him. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis make perfect thrill-killers, but it's some of the minor characters who really shine here. Who knew Rodney Dangerfield could project such an air of depraved menace? Tommy Lee Jones and Tom Sizemore, whose characters could have easily been cardboard cutouts representing the corruption of the law enforcement, are three-dimensional (though Jones' character never misses a chance to play to stereotype). Everyone seems as if they're having a great time. Kind of odd given that mass murder is the subject of the movie, but there you go.

Capping that is the direction, which is exceptional throughout. The film comes across as thoroughly frenetic, partially because Stone manhandled five hundred more cuts into this movie than there are in Dawn of the Dead (which held the previous record), and Natural Born Killers is almost half an hour shorter. The movie plays like an adrenaline rush-- which is, of course, exactly what Stone intended. It pounds away at the viewer, merciless and relentless; it may be the only film extant capable of leaving an audience physically exhausted after doing nothing more than sitting in a comfortable chair for two hours.

Somehow, after all these words, I've only touched the tip of the iceberg about Natural Born Killers. Since I'm running out of room, I'll just have to say "trust me-- this was one of the best American films of the 1990s." **** ½

Average customer rating:

Everyone Involved In This Exploitation Should Lose Their SAG Cards
The horrors of 9/11
Good Choice
Oliver Stone is just out for your money, not the truth
Great move but sad

World Trade Center (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Nicolas Cage , Maria Bello , Connor Paolo , Anthony Piccininni , and Alexa Gerasimovich
Director: Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
United 93 (Widescreen Edition)
Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
Babel

ASIN: B000JLTRKE
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

Regardless of whether it was "too early" in 2006 to dramatize the events of September 11th, 2001, World Trade Center succeeds as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served at "ground zero" in the wake of terrorist attacks on the WTC's twin towers in New York City. Removed from the politics of war and terrorism (yet still, like all films, inherently political in expressing its point of view), Oliver Stone's potent drama focuses on the nightmarish ordeal, and subsequent rescue, of Port Authority policemen John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Peña), who were buried deeply within the rubble of the WTC after the twin towers collapsed. Granted, it's only the film's historical context that distinguishes it from any other dramatic rescue story, but in focusing on the goodness of humanity in response to the evil of terrorists who remain unnamed and off-screen, Stone and first-time screenwriter Andrea Berloff create an emotional context as powerful as anything Stone has directed since Platoon. Even as he resorts to some questionable tactics typically lacking in subtlety, Stone refrains from much of the blunt-force filmmaking that has made him a critical punching bag, rising to this challenging occasion with a heartfelt and deeply American portrait of unity - personal, familial, and national. Flaws and all, World Trade Center serves an honorable purpose, reminding us all that for those fleeting days in September 2001, America showed its best face to a sympathetic world. --Jeff Shannon

Description

"World Trade Center is a film about heroism and the best in all of us," raves Good Morning America's Joel Siegel. Academy Award winner, Nicolas Cage stars in the unforgettable true story of the courageous rescue and survival of two Port Authority policemen who were trapped in the rubble on September 11, 2001 after they volunteered to go in and help. Academy Award winning director, Oliver Stone reveals an intimate look at the events of the day as seen through the eyes of the survivors, their families and their rescuers

Customer Reviews:

Everyone Involved In This Exploitation Should Lose Their SAG Cards.......2007-06-25

The only good thing about it is pointing out the importance of the Port Authority PD on that day. Other than that this is a shameful tv movie-style attempt to make money off of an event that does not need Hollywood in any way, shape or form to interpret for us. Film history buffs will note that this is where Maggie Gylenhall sells out. Other than that- don't waste your hard earned money or your shelf space on it.

The horrors of 9/11.......2007-06-16

This movie traces the story of two Port Authority Policemen, played by Nicholas Cage and Michael Pena, who attempt to rescue survivors of 9/11 at the World Trade Center. After they enter the building, it collapses and they are trapped in the rubble. They talk to each other to keep up their courage, but it is evident that they are badly injured. The movie shows flashbacks of the men and their families and also shows the agony their wives are going through as they wait for word of their husbands. The script never properly develops the two main characters in the viewer's mind and this detracts from the overall emotional impact which the movie could have had. However, the movie does have merit and it serves as a tribute to those who risked and lost their lives in this tragedy.

Good Choice.......2007-06-01

Excellent movie. Fast Shipping. Very happy with this purchase. Excellent movie to add to your collection.

Oliver Stone is just out for your money, not the truth.......2007-05-31

Oliver Stone is a movie maker, his bottom line isn't to tell us the truth , its to make as much money as he can. September 11th, being so close to all of our hearts and souls, and it being so soon after the fact, Is a hard story to tell especially in regards to the survivors and victims. Stone did not choose to tell this story, in all its heroism and individual sacrifice, in the light of truth. Instead he decided to bend and twist these men's rescue and the rescuers stories to his "bottom line" agenda. In the movie NYPD officer Scott Strauss is the man who crawls through hell to get to John and Will, in real life it was Chuck Sereika. Chuck had absolutely NO training in search and rescue and extrication, He was a paramedic who thought for sure he was crawling to his own death. In interviews with Chuck after viewing the movie said "the facts are so distorted that he didn't recognize what he was seeing as what he lived through" A journalist who was at ground zero and did first hand interviews of both the rescuers and Will and John at the hospital asked the filmmakers if they wanted his input, and was declined. Oliver Stone chose to focus on the men trapped, flashbacks, family grief instead of on the true life harrowing story of the rescuers and their unbelievable acts.
Stone missed many real facts that should have been put into the movie, and he added some that weren't necessary
1) Karnes, the man who dons his marine garb and sneaks onto ground zero, did not spout religious phrases to passerby's. He refused to be any part of the film.
2) The Other marine who shows up to help Karnes was a black guy, not a white guy
3) They completely left out a firefighter named Tommy Asher, officer Richard Doeler, and John Busching former detective now paramedic in new york. ALL of those men were VITAL to the rescue effort!! Doeler literally DUG out John with his bare hands, with no oxygen tank. It was Doerler, along with two FDNY firefighters, who finally pulled McLaughlin to safety after three hours of digging. In the movie, a team made up solely of firemen extricates McLaughlin. In real life, Doerler came in to relieve many other rescue workers who had been digging for about five hours and working sometimes in 20-minute shifts as the conditions were too difficult to withstand any longer amount of time. Doerler fashioned scoops out of metal scraps, as his usual hand shovel wouldn't fit at first. But none of these dramatic details come through in the movie. Doerler, like Strauss and Sereika before him, had to straddle the trapped officer's body in order to fit in the narrow space, balancing himself on his right arm and reaching out with his left to pull out the mashed concrete and twisted metal bits--a task made more difficult by the fact that he is right-handed. he says that the filmmakers never called him once to hear his story firsthand. Doerler said he hoped his character would be included, not for his own credit but so that the world would know what the Nassau County Emergency Service Unit did that day
4) The wife of Dominick Pezzulo, the NYPD officer who died along side John and Will is outraged at the filmmakers saying "my thing is, this man died for you, how could you do this to this family?" Obviously scarred enough by his death, but also scarred again by the onscreen death as well, and not in a true light.

Most people will watch this movie and take it as the truth, for how could someone make a movie about Sept 11 and leave out crucial, and important details, especially to tell a tale of "heroism and perseverance"?. Clearly it's because the filmmakers didn't care about the people who were really involved, they were out to fill their pockets. Don't buy this movie, don't watch it. Instead I would recommend, if you are curious about the truth of that day, to watch "9/11 The filmmakers commemorative addition" which is footage shot on that very day of the events unfolding and the heroism of the firefighters and NYPD involved

Great move but sad.......2007-05-16

I love the move. But it hurt alot to see it. I'm from NYC and lose some friends. But your CD was great and in good condition. Thank you

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6

Average customer rating:

"Mr. B., you're hot."
mst3k vol. 6.
MST 3000---JUST AS I REMEMBER IT.
Two greats and two not so greats
Another great Joel collection, and Mr. Bs shorts for a bonus

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6
Director: Vince Rodriguez , and Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 7
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 5
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 8
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 4
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3

ASIN: B0002VET2M
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Amazon.com

It's business as usual for Mystery Science Theater 3000 in this sixth volume of episodes taken from the archives of the long-running television show, which is nothing but good news for MST3K's many adherents--and with four discs and six hours of content, neither longtime fans nor newcomers to the series will be shortchanged. The formula is the same as ever: having been sentenced by mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester to watch unspeakably bad movies (all part of the doc's wacky plan for world domination), janitor Joel Robinson (portrayed by series creator Joel Hodgson, who would later write for Jimmy Kimmel's variety show) and his robot buddies Crow and Tom Servo sit aboard their spaceship, the Satellite of Love, and do exactly that. Their own skits and interstitial shtick are mildly diverting, but as always it's the wisecracks our heroes direct at the screen that dominate the proceedings far more than the movies themselves. By turns genuinely witty and groan-inducing, their nonstop riffing, laden with puns, sarcasm, and cultural references (from poet Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" to atrocious pop songs like Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods' "Billy Don't Be a Hero," all in the space of a couple of breaths), usually drowns out the dialogue in the films. That's not a bad thing, of course, when the movies are turkeys on the order of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6 lineup, which comes from episodes first aired between 1990 and 1994. They include Attack of the Giant Leeches (boasting perhaps the least convincing movie monsters ever created), Gunslinger (a Western that drags on interminably), and the self-explanatory Teenagers from Outer Space. Disc 3 contains six shorter films, and may be the best of the lot for that reason alone.

With Mystery Science Theater 3000 having departed the airwaves in 1999 (it began in '88), the show lives on primarily by way of these DVD releases. And while some would argue that a little of this stuff goes a fairly long way, Rhino's typically fine packaging and presentation (even without any bonus features) make this and the other MST3K sets a collector's treat. --Sam Graham

Description

Join Joel, Mike, and their "robot friends" as they endure the worst movies ever made, all for the pleasure of an evil scientist. To survive and maintain their sanity, these crazy captives make stinging quips and hilarious jokes at the expense of these torturous cinematic stinkers.

Customer Reviews:

"Mr. B., you're hot.".......2007-03-01

As much as I am a huge fan of MST3K, this set is easily one of the strongest DVD collections that Rhino has put out. With three episodes from the Joel/Comedy Central era and a disc full of "shorts", this set will keep you occupied for so long, what with repeated viewings and all.

"Attack of the Giant Leeches" is first on the list, and, well, hardly any attacking ever occurs. Joel and the bots have a good time with this film, although it's not really their best work in the 4th season. 7.5/10

"Gunslinger", one of Joel's last episodes, is a pretty slow-paced Roger Corman western that adds good fodder for the trio to riff at. It stands on the same level of the Giant Leeches film, though. 7.5/10

"Mr. B.'s Lost Shorts" happens to be a great compilation of selected shorts from certain episodes. They're all gems here, but the best is undoubtedly "Mr. B. Natural". As dull and retarded as an educational short can get, lost of hilarious riffs occur with this one, such "Joel, I'm scared.", or "Hey, leave my father out of this!" Seriously, this is really funny stuff. 9/10

This set goes off with a bang as "Teenagers From Outer Space", from the start adds great riffs from the trio. One of the best host segments occurs with the hosts explaining through illustration what happens in movies and in real life. 9/10

Well, that's it. I don't seem to like this set as much as Volume 7 or the Essentials, but this set still is a lot of fun. Worth the money, period.

mst3k vol. 6........2006-03-21

the disc was in excellant condition and played without a problem. i am very satisfied with this disc. all a all a good purchase

MST 3000---JUST AS I REMEMBER IT........2006-03-19

The MST 3000 Collection, Vol. 6 was as I hoped it would be (that
is, just as when I saw them the first time, I laughed through-
out each episode). The Collection has made certain B-movie bombs I would not watch a second time, make me want to go back for re- runs.The Sci-fiers "ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES" and "TEENAGERS
FROM OUTER SPACE" were made more watchable than many big bucks
horror flicks, contemporary and recent. It brings back to mind
again; why was it ever taken off the air?

Two greats and two not so greats.......2005-09-12

Overall I'm really happy with this collection because of the inclusion of Teenagers From Outer Space and the Lost Shorts disc, but I would not have chosen to include Gunslingers, one of my least favorite episodes, and while Attack Of The Giant Leeches isn't bad it's not all that great either.

Teenagers From Outer Space is a new favorite of mine since getting this collection. Aside from being a hilarious episode it's suprisingly watchable as a movie, with a fast pace and a story that actually mostly makes sense, as well as some real emotion too. Of course it's cheesy in the way that all fifties space operas were, with goofy "space" suits, rayguns and a forced-perspective lobster for a monster. Seriously, it's a dead lobster. Not even a puppet. Just a lobster. "The high council will sentence you to TORCHA!!"

Mr. B's Lost Shorts is another gem, with the hilarious and wacky Mr. B Natural leading the way, followed by some old and grainy educational films about driving safety and marriage and a crazy acid-trip of a car commercial from the fifties.

Gunslinger is a poorly-made western which would be unbearable without Joel and the Bots to riff on it, and even with the jokes it's slow and agonizing. It's my second least favorite episode next to Catalina Caper and I wish something like Night Of The Bloodbeast had been included instead.

Attack Of The Giant Leeches is okay, but not a great episode in my opinion. It's drab and boring and the riffing does a lot to liven it up but not enough. The leeches themselves look like guys wearing garbage bags and silly string, so that's funny. But the episode in general disappoints.

All in all, the good makes up for the bad, so it's worth the money to me.

Another great Joel collection, and Mr. Bs shorts for a bonus.......2005-08-10

This is a great selection for fans of the Joel era. You have one of the funniest shorts ever in "Undersea Kingdom" In which a group of sailors and a bratty little kid named Billy, and find the sunken continent of Atlantis. The reguallar movies on this selection are Top Notch, "Attack Of The Giant Leeches" is borefest that only J&TBs can cure when a cheating wife and her husband's best friend go missing, leave to jerky wildlife mnagement expert to save the day, (or at least find the bodies). Teenage Aliens, where bleeding heart rebels against his alien peers, and decides to not cause an apocoliptic lobster ruin planet earth. The shorts are always a bonus, Mr. B Natural is always a good one to use in order to turn a chum into a misty.

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection (David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934)

Average customer rating:

History and literature put together in a pleasant picture
The movie summit! As good as movies get!
A Tale of Two Cities
Motion Picture Masterpieces
Excellent collection

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection (David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934)
Starring: Edna May Oliver , Elizabeth Allan , Jessie Ralph , Harry Beresford , and Freddie Bartholomew
Director: George Cukor , W.S. Van Dyke , and Robert Z. Leonard
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Literary Classics Collection (Madame Bovary (1949), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 and 1952 Versions), Billy Budd)
Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 (The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North Atlantic / All Through the Night / Passage to Marseille)
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu)
TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1 (Waterloo Bridge 1931 / Baby Face / Red-Headed Woman)
Gary Cooper - The Signature Collection (Sergeant York / The Fountainhead / Dallas / Springfield Rifle / The Wreck of the Mary Deare)

ASIN: B000GRUQLK
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

For an accurate look at how things were at MGM in the glory days, go directly to Motion Picture Masterpieces, a DVD box with five literary-minded A-list productions. MGM liked to think of itself as the studio of class, and its highbrow aspirations (mixed with plenty of old-fashioned hokum) are on lavish display in this collection.

Louis B. Mayer ran the studio, and boy wonder Irving Thalberg supervised production. However, another strong-willed producer, future Gone with the Wind CEO David O. Selznick, was responsible for guiding a pair of highly enjoyable Dickens adaptations, both released in 1935. David Copperfield is a wonderful condensation of the sprawling novel, crammed with memorable evocations of Dickens' roster of eccentrics. Freddie Bartholomew, who became a star with this role, plays the young David; equally indelible are W.C. Fields as Mr. Micawber, Basil Rathbone as Murdstone, and especially Edna May Oliver as Besty Trotwood. Director George Cukor's empathy and craftsmanship keep the movie humming with Dickensian wit. A Tale of Two Cities followed shortly thereafter, with Ronald Colman in one of his signature roles as the drunken romantic Sydney Carton, whose throttled love for the beautiful Lucie Manette leads to the French Revolution's guillotine. Jack Conway directs in tight, brisk fashion, and once again the supporting cast (Oliver and Rathbone return from Copperfield) is flavorful.

The French Revolution also figures in the rather preposterous Marie Antoinette (1938), an eye-popping production about the bride of Louis XVI. The project was a pet of Thalberg and his wife Norma Shearer, and MGM proceeded with the overstuffed production even after Thalberg's early death. Marie gets an extramarital affair (with the young Tyrone Power) and an incredible parade of gowns and wigs, but not too much blame for the peasants starving. Robert Morley steals the show as Louis XVI, with John Barrymore in rascally form as his grandfather. Shearer's ordinariness somehow fits her out-of-it character.

Treasure Island (1934) casts Jackie Cooper as young Jim Hawkins and Wallace Beery as that one-legged seadog, Long John Silver (the pair had scored a huge hit in The Champ three years earlier). This is a lot of people's favorite adaptation of the marvelous Robert Louis Stevenson novel, and Victor Fleming's manly directing approach manages to take some of the sheen off the MGM house style (by the way, art director Cedric Gibbons, credited on all these films, is one of the stars of the box set).

Pride and Prejudice (1940) is a respectable take on Jane Austen's oft-filmed novel, with Greer Garson as the headstrong Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as the difficult Mr. Darcy. MGM liked to corset Garson in fine-lady roles, but here she lets some of Elizabeth's sauciness come through; actually, Olivier's elaborate performance is the movie's too-theatrical weak spot. But boy, does this movie tell a good story--and that's rather the point of these (Marie excepted) solid literary adaptations. --Robert Horton

Description

MARIE ANTOINETTE The woman who was France! Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power headline an opulent saga of royalty and revolution. DAVID COPPERFIELD Based on the best-selling book by Charles Dickens. W.C. Fields is Micawber, and Freddie Bartholomew is young David in a splendid version of Dickens' most autobiographical work. A TALE OF TWO CITIES From the famed author Charles Dickens. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Ronald Colman stars in the lavish story of the French Revolution...and one man's redemption. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Based on the best-selling book by Jane Austen. Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier) sets maiden hearts aflutter - except for that of unimpressed Elizabeth Bennett (Greer Garson). Austen's masterwork! TREASURE ISLAND Based on the unforgettable book of the same title by Robert Louis Stevenson. Avast, me hearties, for the swashbuckler about a boy with a treasure map - and a pirate (Long John Silver) with a scheme. The Champ's Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper reunite!

Customer Reviews:

History and literature put together in a pleasant picture.......2007-05-07

Although the content of some of the movies in this box has a very tragic ending there are qualities that are common to all the dvds of the box.
First of all, the ability and amazing acting skills of the actors, whether leading roles or supporting ones, it is really a pleasure to see the superb performances they can give to a large variety of characters.
The witty dialogues, the scenery and the good restoration of the film are more than added values.
You can enjoy a journey through history with Marie Antoinette or amuse yourself with the intricated plots from Jane Austen and the classic literature from Dickens and Stevenson.
You really get your money's worth with this collection.

The movie summit! As good as movies get!.......2007-03-18

The title tells the truth. Even by 1930's golden age of Hollywood standards, these five movies are literary masterpieces and true film classics. I remember all five fondly as a teenager in the late 1960's and early 1970's in long-gone San Francisco art theaters, and cut to threads on morning prize movie TV shows. It is an honor to watch them now in a comfortable bedroom, uncut and non-commercial. They are, of course, MGM studio print editions that in one instance, MARIE ANTOINETTE, even contains roadshow music and an intermission never seen on television.

TREASURE ISLAND (1934) stars Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper, was directed by Victor Fleming (CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS, GONE WITH THE WIND), and is based on a Robert Louis Stevenson novel about pirates and buried treasure. In gorgeous B&W, it reunites Beery and Cooper from THE CHAMP (1931) and also features Lionel Barrymore and Lewis Stone. Come to think about it, this is a reunion for half the cast of GRAND HOTEL (1932).

DAVID COPPERFIELD and A TALE OF TWO CITIES (both 1935) are towering masterpieces based on Charles Dickens novels; both are impeccably produced by David O. Selznick. Painstakingly faithful to very long books, they both have gorgeous art direction and are cast to perfection down to the bit roles: W.C. Fields as Micawber, Freddie Bartholomew and Frank Lawton as David, Basil Rathbone as Mr. Murdstone, and Edna May Oliver as Aunt Betsey in DAVID; and Ronald Colman in maybe his greatest performance in TALE, which also features Oliver and Rathbone. At about 130 minutes each, they are long enough to do justice to the Dickens novels; I am sure he would have loved both immensely.

MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938), presented in a never-seen 157 minute roadshow edition, has an Oscar-nominated Norma Shearer in a wonderful role. If someone wanted to know who Shearer was, I would show this incredibly opulent and literate costume romance to them. It is the underrated masterpiece of this box set and also stars Tyrone Power and an Oscar-nominated Robert Morley as a shy, child-like King Louis XVI. The magnificent art direction and regal music were also Oscar-nominated. W.S. Van Dyke (THE THIN MAN, SAN FRANCISCO) directed.

Finally, we have a splendidly cast and written adaptation of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940), starring Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Oliver as Mr. Darcy. Aldous Huxley and Jane Murfin scripted this lovely and witty romantic comedy of manners that won an Oscar for B&W Interior Set Decoration.

But you don't just get five great movies in this Warner Home Video boxed set. TREASURE ISLAND also comes with two shorts, a cartoon, and a theatrical trailer. DAVID COPPERFIELD has the marvelous Technicolor short PIRATE PARTY AT CATALINA ISLE, along with a second Technicolor short, a cartoon, and a theatrical trailer. A TALE OF TWO CITIES has a memorable 60 minute Lux Radio Theater adaptation of TALE from 1942, starring Ronald Colman, along with two vintage cartoons and the theatrical trailer. MARIE ANTOINETTE has two shorts and a theatrical trailer, all tied in to the 1938 movie. And PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has an Oscar-nominated patriotic short on Navy training during World War Two, plus a color cartoon and theatrical trailer. It is one hell of a DVD boxed set, a labor of love and an absolute must-see on a slow TV week.

A Tale of Two Cities.......2007-01-16

We acquired this collection because we wanted to own the 1935 version of A Tale of Two Cities. We just watched it and had a wonderful experience. The movie is very close to the plot, the performances are superb. Charles Dickens' book will forever be a testament to the struggle of humanity between the have and have nots.

The performance of Blanche Yurka, as Madame DeFarge is outstanding. The citizens of France, seeking to put an end to the tyranny they experience from the oppressing aristrocracy, presents the never ending example that when rights are stepped on, it always ends in revolution and change. The Marquis St. Evremonde, played by Basil Rathbone, provides a view to the horror it represents for anyone to show they do not care about those who suffer. Especially when it comes to children; for the horror committed against this family, sparks the fire that leads to events that put an end to the ruling society.

Dr. Manette's performance as the innocent man who was a prisoner at the Bastille for over 18 years is superb. His daughter, played by Elizabeth Allen, represents the person that inspires great love in two men, one Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton, superbly played by Ronald Colman.

The character of Miss Pross, played by Edna May Oliver, is awesome. We go from disliking her, to admiring and then loving her for her sacrifice that saves the life of Ms. Manette. In the end, the sacrifice made by Sydney for the love of Lucie is one of the most sensitive and touching of all love stories. He finds purpose for his life, knowing full well that his actions shall forever live in the hearts of those he sacrifices for. Would highly recommend owning this DVD. The other movies shall be reviewed as we see them.

Motion Picture Masterpieces.......2007-01-14

A set of classic movies.

The collection includes several of my favourite movies - now in excellent video and sound quality.

I particularly enjoyed Prode and Prejudice - this is the version that all following copies are judged against. The acting is superb, and the cast is amazing!

This is a collection worthy of keeping ( and enjoying) for years to come.
An excellent example of Hollywoos at it's prime.

Excellent collection.......2007-01-12

This DVD set is a great example of the golden age of the movie studios. There is a little something for everyone in this set. The length of each of the DVD's hovers around 90 minutes and the time really zips by. For my money, this is the best version of David Copperfield with a top rate cast including WC Fields as Macawber and little Freddie Bartholomew as David. Marie Antoinette with Norma Shearer is heads and tails above that awful recent Marie misfire. This Pride and Prejudice is quick, to the point and completely enjoyable with Lawrence Olivier as Darcy and Greer Garson as Elizabeth (not to mention the amazing Mary Boland as Mrs. Bennett). A Tale of Two Cities is the best adaptation of Dickens ever on the screen. Ronald Coleman is perfect as the doomed hero. And finally the original pirate movie Treasure Island with the fantastic Wallace Beery as Long John Silver. Force your kids (and yourself) to watch all or at least some of these great classics. You won't be sorry.

Average customer rating:

Not a real story.... to much fiction....
Pretty good
A must see.........
It deserves 6 stars
Powerful Dramatization!

Salvador (Special Edition)
Starring: James Woods , James Belushi , Michael Murphy , John Savage , and Elpidia Carrillo
Director: Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Under Fire
Missing
The Killing Fields
The Year of Living Dangerously
The Official Story

ASIN: B00005AUJR
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

Director Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK) offers up this brilliant, engrossing true-life account of the violent civil war in El Salvador as told through the perspective of a has-been journalist trying for one last grasp at glory and finding the true horror of war. James Woods is freelance journalist Richard Boyle, who leaves San Francisco broke with his drug-addled, disc-jockey buddy (Jim Belushi) to cover the escalating conflict and hopefully return to his former stature as a war correspondent. What he finds is a nation torn by random violence, shifting ideologies, poverty, and the malevolent influence of the United States. Boyle tries to make sense of the brutality he sees while extracting his girlfriend from the war zone and saving his own life. Featuring John Savage (The Deer Hunter) as an earnest photojournalist, this is a fascinating and riveting depiction of the bloody strife that tore apart a nation and mirrored the disillusionment of the Vietnam era. --Robert Lane

Description

James Woods gives his "fullest, most humane, most emotional performance"(New York Magazine) to date in this "gritty, harrowing and bold thriller"(Gannett Newspapers). It's 1980. Young men, women and children are being brutally killed in a bloody civil war in El Salvador. It'sa horrific setting...but a perfect one for Richard Boyle, a sleazy war photojournalist whose careerneeds a jumpstart. Armed with his camera, Boyle joins the front lines in an attempt to capture atrocious-but-valuable images of pain and horror. But with each picture he takes, he catches a tragic side of humanity that ignites his long-buried compassion. And he unexpectedly discovers something thatwill change him forever: his soul. *1986 Actor (James Woods); Original Screenplay

Customer Reviews:

Not a real story.... to much fiction...........2007-05-26

Is a good movie but not a true story, there is too much fiction and exageration of the real facts. If you have not been in the country or a neighboring country you may believe what is shown on this film. There were human right abuses from the Armed Forces and the FMLN. Some of them were shown on the film but in an exagerated way just to make the film more interesting or more dramatic. The film is OK to watch but do not believe everything you see on it, the facts did not happen in that way.

Pretty good.......2006-12-16

Decent film that gives a good sense of the violence perpetuated by the U.S. backed death squads (a.k.a. "freedom fighters") in El Salvador. This is an early Oliver Stone film and I believe it was nominated for a least one academy award. Like in Missing (about Chile), we get the story of a free-lance journalist. It also incorporates some of the major events of the time (i.e. the assassination of Archbishop Romero and the rape and murder of four American nuns).

I don't give it five stars because one does not leave this film with a good undertanding of what was going on. However, as the film sparks the viewer's curosity to find out more, it serves its purpose well.

A must see................2006-11-17

This is hands down one of the rawest flicks that I've seen in years. Its one of those rare IFC gems, that they throw at you from time to time. Anyone with even a remote interest in expanding your thoughts, and openning yourself up to the ways "America's Politically driven warfare'" affects other cultures should see this one. Its right up there with "Munich", "Seriona", & "Animal Farm.".........A must see!

It deserves 6 stars.......2006-10-14

An awesome, engaging, powerful movie. I loved it. James Woods was absolutely wonderful. There were many other actors who also gave great performances.

I can't comment too much on this film because it seems to make people very angry. My husband watched it as well and he is originally from Ukraine (not "the Ukraine" as some folks say). I think that people need more exposure to other countries and cultures and open their hearts and minds a little (or a lot) and try to understand. I guess that's just wistful thinking. I loved the movie. It was a damn good movie. My husband also enjoyed for the same reason. I've seen it more than once. No matter what "side" you were or are on, there seems to be an element of truth there.

If the story is going to make you angry, then don't watch it! If you can keep an open mind and watch it purely for entertainment value, then watch it and enjoy it!

I might add that I really liked the DVD's extras. After watching the film first time, I watched it again with the director's commentary. I believe that there was also a documentary which I also enjoyed. Good insight into Central America.

Powerful Dramatization!.......2006-05-28

Oliver Stone released this film prior to his blockbuster, Platoon. Like many of his films, some of the truth tends to be exagerated. In real life, the murders of the 4 nuns took place during a rode block by the El Salvador National Guard, not a death squad, as was portrayed in the film. Despite the shortcoming, it's the performance of James Woods (Oscar Nomination) and great dialogue that makes this movie work. In the end, this film is a powerful indictment of the US government and it's policies to fund rouge nations. It shows we haven't learned anything from Vietnam.

TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)

Average customer rating:

Give us more, TCM...
THE DUO AT THEIR BEST
On Yonder Rock Reclining......
Laurel, Hardy, and MGM ==Possible Spoilers in this review==
Less-essential films still charm and entertain

TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)
Starring: Stan Laurel , Oliver Hardy , Dennis King , Thelma Todd , and James Finlayson
Director: Hal Roach , Charley Rogers , and James W. Horne
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Laurel and Hardy Collection, Vol. 1 (Great Guns / Jitterbugs / The Big Noise)
Laurel and Hardy Collection, Vol. 2 (A Haunting we Will Go / Dancing Masters / Bullfighters)
Laurel & Hardy (Sons of the Desert/The Music Box/Another Fine Mess/Busy Bodies/County Hospital)
Laurel & Hardy II (Way Out West / Block-Heads / Chickens Come Home)
Laurel & Hardy - Air Raid Wardens / Nothing but Trouble

ASIN: B000E1MXTQ
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Amazon.com

Unlike many silent screen comedians, Laurel & Hardy made a seamless transition to talkies, and this TCM Archives double-feature showcases some of their funniest work from the early 1930s. As always, TCM/Warner has packaged this must-have set for true film buffs: The prints are pristine, image quality is crisp and clean, sound quality is the best available (allowing for some hiss and minor drop-offs due to the age of the soundtracks), and bonus features have been chosen with care and authority, including several highlight excerpts from Laurel & Hardy short subjects. While continuing to enjoy their priceless partnership with producer Hal Roach, Stan & Ollie were at their sound-era peak in The Devil's Brother (1933), a hilarious adaptation of the Auber operetta Fra Diavolo (also the film's alternate European title), in which "Stanlio" and "Ollio" find themselves entangled in the exploits of the Marquis de San Marco, a notorious singing bandit named "Fra Diavolo" (played with adequate panache by Dennis King) who's set his sights on the lovely Lady Pamela (played by '30s screen queen Thelma Todd). Plots in Laurel & Hardy films are almost always perfunctory, but this is one of the better ones, lending Stan & Ollie ample opportunity to cut loose with Roach-invented gags and trademark slapstick. The highlight has to be Stan's drunken laughing fit, a miraculously sustained bit of hilarity (with Ollie eventually joining in) that's absolutely infectious and irresistible--it's impossible to watch without laughing right along with Stan.

Bonnie Scotland (1935) finds L&H in Gunga Din territory (or if you prefer, The Lives of a Bengal Lancer) as they arrive in Scotland hoping to collect "MacLaurel's" inheritance, only to end up recruited into a Scottish infantry regiment in the Indian desert. The comedy is mildly compromised by a standard-issue romance plot involving costars June Lang and William Janney, but whenever Stan and Ollie are onscreen, the laughs are consistently plentiful and timelessly entertaining. Adding expert context to the comedy, audio commentaries by film historians and lifelong L&H fans Leonard Maltin and Richard W. Bann are packed with knowledgeable information out each film, the careers of the cast members, working methods at Hal Roach studios, shooting locations, and fascinating anecdotal details (such as the fact that long-time L&H supporting player James Finlayson was the direct inspiration for Homer Simpson's beloved exclamation, "D'Oh!" on TV's long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons. The package is rounded out by "Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story," an excellent TCM feature-length documentary, narrated by Chevy Chase, that extensively chronicles the many varieties of short subjects produced during the 1930's and '40s--essentially an extension of Vaudeville and newsreels that gave rise to many of Hollywood's finest performers during the golden age of the studio system. All in all, this is a perfect DVD set for longtime Laurel & Hardy fans, or newcomers to their classic brand of comedy. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

They were one of the movies' most successful and best-loved comic duos, probably because their irresistible slapstick antics were underscored by an indomitable optimism. Beginning with shorts made at the Hal Roach Studios, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy struck a universal chord by sharing a contentious yet benign friendship that always survived whatever indignities their mutual bumbling brought upon them.<BR /> <BR />This TCM Archives two-disc collection focuses on the team at their zenith during the sound era and spotlights two features produced by Roach for MGM. The Devil's Brother (1933) (also known as Fra Diavolo) is a laugh-filled adaptation of the Auber operetta in which "Stanlio" and "Ollio" tangle with a notorious robber baron. The delightful Bonnie Scotland (1935) is a misadventure that takes the boys to Scotland and India.<BR />

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Give us more, TCM..........2007-06-25

These are perfect, gorgeous prints. Excellent indexing, too! Although amazon.co.uk offers a 21-DVD set of "remastered" L&H films (almost their complete Hal Roach oeuvre), the prints are not at all good like the ones on these DVDs. So we are all still waiting for a truly decent set of "The Complete L&H" to come out. I do highly recommend this release.

Devil's Brother is self-recommending, and if you've ever been a little embarassed by HOW dopey Stan can be, here he shows how clever and physically deft he is.

There is more controversy over Bonnie Scotland. This much-criticized film is actually filled with good things: it has an absolutely darling June Lang in the subplot; it has L&H stepping blithely into the picture to the tune of a village blacksmith inadvertently pinging away the Koo Koo theme on his anvil(!); Ollie sneezing the water out of a stream; L&H setting their bed on fire (and Ollie as well); a warm and memorable shot of L&H and William Janney jaunting off to a big adventure; a "musical mirage" (with Marvin Hatley!); Stanley readjusting the march-step of an entire regiment; a delightful and satisfying L&H dance, complete with a good comic ending; one of the most heart-tugging goodbyes ever committed to film, but which is so funny you can't cry; and a spectacular ending with pandemonium overtaking all.

Critics write that the romantic subplot is left unresolved, but the resolution is so obvious that I never questioned it as a kid, and still don't. My only criticism is that the secondary story is not happy, and I wish its scenes were shorter. But it does add to the continuity and dramatic arch of the movie. A little editing could make this a classic.

The second DVD has hard-to-find L&H excerpts from 3 non-L&H films of the 1930s, and they're all good. My only gripe here is that the very last and important few seconds of the Banditos clip from Pick A Star is cut out. I also wish that instead of a boring documentary, they had included the Stolen Jools, and the entire re-edited version of Pick A Star, which was released in the 1950s as A Day at the Studio, and which is supposed to be a pretty good tightened-up version. But this second DVD is a bonus, anyway, so it doesn't reduce my star-rating.

THE DUO AT THEIR BEST.......2007-04-02

THIS IS LAUREL AND HARDY AT THEIR BEST,THE DANCING IN BONNIE SCOTLAND IS BY FAR THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE SEEN. IF YOU WANT TO LAUGH GET THIS DVD.

On Yonder Rock Reclining.............2007-01-19

Laurel & Hardy are at their best in these two Hal Roa