Assassins (2011)

This was a very exciting movie. There was action from start to finish. Stallone,the top hit man in the world suddenly finds that he has competition. He battles all over the landscape against his new competitor Antonio Banderas. A woman comes into possesion of an article that the bad guys want. She then becomes a target for Banderas. It falls upon Stallone to defend her. Stallone has to fight for his life against his new younger competition. The battle is ruthless. Stallone and Banderas have a final showdown that is top notch. Be sure to see this movie.It is top of the line. You will not be dissapointed.

When I put this DVD in, and hit play, action started. The whole way through the 2 hour movie, there is action non stop, clear up to the end in the "No Goodbyes" scene. This is a great movie. My favorite part was in the taxi when Robert Rath (Stallone) And Miguel Bain (Banderas) meet.

If youre a fan of either Banderas or Stallone, then I strongly suggest this movie to you.

Buy Assassins (2011) Now

A great movie .... has all the desirable features, impressive sound, 1080p picture quality, original audio (which was filmed), and Spanish subtitles. Recommended by 100%.

Read Best Reviews of Assassins (2011) Here

Pleased to inform since the release of Laser Disc in mid nineties this is the only worthy transfer. The colours and sound are amazing. Great bargain if you're a Stallone fan.

A good blu ray movie.

Want Assassins (2011) Discount?

Assassins is a great action thriller starring Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas.

Richard Donner, the director of the Lethal Weapon Films, has done a fantastic job as always, creating a world with characters that you won't forget that easy.

Sylvester Stallone does a good job as a hitman who doesn't wanna kill anymore, but still gets new offers he doesn't wanna refuse. While Stallone's character is on the job, a rivale pops up: Antonio Banderas. Now Banderas is perfectly cast as the triggerhappy killer who only wants one thing: being number 1 in the hitman world. For that he has to kill Stallone's character.

Not the most original story in the world, but that doesn't matter: it's pure entertainment and it gives a lot of thrilling moments and action sequences.

From the moment the two characters meet in some of the most beautiful locations and thrilling situations, the heat is on. Gunfire, explosions, sweat, thrilling conversations between the two: the heat will come out of your tv set! The atmosphere that is hanging around in this film is truely fantastic.

The action has been filmed in a fantastic and professional way and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are a few flaws here and there, and a few things that you musn't take to seriously, but because of the fantastic speed and feel of the film, it won't spiol the fun for even one moment!

This film is truely underrated by the media, so my suggestion is: ignore the media and watch this thriller, cause it will entertain you!

If you are a fan of Stallone, Banderas, Richard Donner's work, or just in the mood for some fun action entertainment, I would highly recommend this film!

Good popcorn entertainment with a lot of thrills and chills.

So sit back, relax, put your feet up and enjoy watching this!

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Predator (1987)

WOW what a bad looking print. Who the heck was in charge of this Blu-Ray transfer??? Does the 'Ray' stand for Ray Charles? because it looks as if a blind man choose to use this print! All the fuzzies, dots, lines, and blemishes on this print look ever better in hi-def! Why on earth can't the original negative be used? If I'm gonna pay a higher price, then I should get a much better picture. Shame, shame, shame, on them.

This is the worst quality Blu-Ray I have come across so far. $26.95 is outrageous for a DVD to Blu-Ray dub. Your probably better off getting the widescreen DVD than the Blu-Ray and playing the movie on upscaling DVD player, you will get the same quality. The movie is classic, just don't buy the Blu-Ray version unless you find it in a bargin bin somewhere.

Buy Predator (1987) Now

My 1-star review is not for the movie, Predator, which I love. I bought it twice on DVD: the first single-disc release with no extras, and then the excellent 2-disc special edition. I am not going to be buying on Blu-Ray, however, until the chowder-heads over at Fox start including all of the ALREADY PRODUCED extras on their Blu-Ray discs. Case in point: Predator.

Predator on Blu-Ray features a higher definition transfer (though on a single layer disc), but carries over none of the special features from the 2-disc DVD. How hard would this have been? Make it a dual layer Blu-Ray, and just throw them all on there in standard definition. That would have guaranteed and instant buy for me. But this habit of dumping the film bare-bones onto Blu-Ray is reminiscent of the early days of DVD, and I thought we were past that. Other studios are doing a fine job of including all the special features, so why is Fox being dumb? And why are they slapping a $40 MSRP on a bare-bones release?

You would have had me with a good release, Fox. I would gladly plonk down the cash for a true upgrade from my DVD version. But you blew it, and you're not getting my money.

Read Best Reviews of Predator (1987) Here

I recently tried to watch my Predator DVD, circa 1997 (or thereabouts) and it looked horrible. It was a fullscreen, widescreen disc with black bars on top, bottom, left, and right (which insluts my HD TV). The film was also not cleaned before transfer so it included wonderful hairs and scratches too. That's not to mention the films always horrible fuzzyness.

Don't believe all the whiners, Predator: The Ultimate Hunter Edition is the best this film has ever looked, and probably ever will look. Some people complained about too much Digital Noise Reduction. They said that it doesn't look like its supposed to anymore...don't listen to them. I almost didn't buy this disc because of all the complaining people were doing, but I'm glad I did.

Yes, there are maybe 3 shots where Carl Weathers' face looks a little too smooth in the beginning of the film, but that comprises about 10 seconds of the film. The rest of it looks great. The film still has film grain, it just isn't as offensive as it was in the original release. Filmmakers on a budget and with location constraints chose a film stock that didn't need a lot of light, that meant super grainy film. They fixed that imperfection (which wasn't a design choice).

Bottom line, if you are a fan of this film BUY The Ultimate Hunter Edition, not the 2008 Blu Ray release.

P.S. Amazon, do you think you can stop cross contaminating your reviews. This movie's reviews are confusing because it includes reviews for every version of the film. Star Wars is even worse. Please fix this.

Want Predator (1987) Discount?

So, you have recently upgraded your home theater for blu-ray and want to replace your old Predator DVD. Should you buy the 2008 release or the 2010 (UHE) release? Perhaps I can help you decide.

When the 2008 edition was released, blu-ray disks were purchased primarily by film purists who believed nothing in the original film should be altered. Today, blu-ray is mainstream and the film purists represent only 4% of the market . Fox, in 2010 was intent on providing a release, Ultimate Hunter Edition, that catered to the tastes of the majority of consumers. The film purist minority is unhappy with that release as well.

I saw the movie in the theater when it was released in 1987. The graininess of the image was disturbing. After some research, I found that the film was shot with a film stock that, in low light conditions created an excessively grainy image and that it was not the filmmaker's intent to do that for artistic reasons.

I own both the 2008 and the UHE blu-rays and have compared them exhaustively. In my opinion, The UHE is the superior disk in terms of color accuracy and detail.

The last word from Fox on the Predator UHE blu-ray comes from Vincent Marcais, Sr. V.P. for International Sales in a taped interview. "The film stock (source for the transfer) was poor. The criticism is unfair. The filmmaker's were consulted, which we always do while they are alive. The UHE is how the filmmaker's wanted it to look"

Lets put aside the fact that the UHE has 5 hours of supplemental information and the 2008 version has none; and the fact that the UHE uses a modern video codec (AVC MPEG 4 vs VC-1 for 2008) and has a higher bit rate, resulting in more potential detail.

Your choice if you consider yourself a film purist is the 2008 release. If you want to enjoy the movie as the director and cinematographer intended, your choice is the Ultimate Hunter Edition. If you are still conflicted, buy both.

In conclusion. I own both, but I only watch the Ultimate Hunter Editon.

I would caution you about visiting other forums to help you make a purchasing decision. The people on those forums represent only 4% of those that purchase blu-ray disks today and most are biased in favor of the film purists view.

Edit. 5/19/2012. I thought it might be interesting to some of you to read some technical details about the difficulty with the source used for the BD and the issue of director's intent:

Perhaps this will put to rest any uncertainty about the director's intent regarding grain/grittiness.

"As I think much has been said online seemingly `authoritatively' about the Director's intent and the use of the film "stock" to make Predator intentionally look gritty or grainy. Well, that's pretty much inaccurate speculation according to someone I recently spoke with intimately involved in the production.

The DP chose the Eastman Kodak stocks he did for the simple fact of capturing "usable" images on film under relatively low lighting conditions in the jungle...'grit' or `intentional' graininess was never intended in any artistic sense for `atmosphere'. If anything, it was an undesirable side effect of the acquisition because it caused "murkiness" esp. in the greys and blacks of dark jungle sequences and didn't allow the filmmakers the opportunity to cut the different stocks together in the same scene, which would have been nice to have had that flexibility. To give you an idea of the challenge, they were apparently restricted to shooting at a max. of only T2 in anything but high noon and the middle of the day.

Don McAlpine shot the film with 35mm Kodak 5247 and 5294, depending on the lighting conditions available, with or without the aid of artificial light illumination. The '94 (400T) was used for really low lit conditions (like those night sequences in the ravine at the end which apparently were only getting 7 or 8 footcandles down there, with only 4 or 5 footcandles after the smoke starting flowing during the action) and the '47 (125T) stock was used for the set-ups involving wide clearances which had more natural light and as well, could be more easily illuminated with artificial light, when justified. You see, once you add artificial light in the deep jungle, all it accomplishes is lighting the foreground to such an excessive degree that it looks obvious and fake to audiences. Lighting considerations were where the real photographic `artistry", if you will, of the captured imagery took place, not in any consideration of grain being used for a `gritty' look."

Vincent Marcais Senior V.P. International Marketing, was asked about the policy when remastering catalog titles and specifically about Predator. The Fox executive acknowledges that they got a lot of criticism, "but I don't think it was deserved," he countered, because the movie was shot on a film stock that wasn't good enough, and the Blu-ray version "represents what the filmmaker wanted it to look like." He said that Fox discusses the issue of "removing grain or not" with the filmmakers, "as long as they are alive".

Corporate Execs at this level are very careful about the statements they make for publication. There will be no remaster or new transfer of Predator in the foreseeable future based on his comment.

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Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition (1984)

Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS was very successful with both critics and audiences when it debuted in 1927 Berlin--but it was thereafter edited for distribution by Channing Pollock, who disliked it and removed great chunks of the film and substantially altered the storyline. The resulting film was admired for its visual style, but it proved a critical and box office disappointment. Neglected in the wake of sound, surviving prints of the film were left to corrode and decay--and when it began to reach the home market via VHS and DVD the results were very hit or miss; Blackhawk released a fairly credible version of the truncated film to home video, but for the most part the quality of these releases varied from barely mediocre to downright unwatchable.

Until now.

A great chunk of METROPOLIS--perhaps as much a quarter of more--has been forever lost, but this Kino Video DVD release offers the single best version of the film available. The previously cut footage that still exists has been restored; gaps in the film have been bridged by the occasional use of stills and explanatory title cards; the film itself has been painstakingly and digitally restored; and the soundtrack is the Gottfried Huppertz original created for the film's 1927 Berlin debut. In seeing this version of METROPOLIS, I was struck by how very differently it reads from the previously available truncated version. The visual style and the story itself are much more exciting and cohesive, and in the wake of this restoration it becomes impossible to deny the film status as landmark of international cinema.

Freder Fredersen (Gustav Frohlich) is the son of Joh Fredersen (Alfred Able), who reigns over the great city of Metropolis. Freder is surprised to discover his lifestyle has been built on the unseen but backbreaking labor of an entire class of unseen workers who tend the machines that make the city run--and he descends to the subterranean levels of Metropolis in an effort to understand their lives... and, not incidentally, to find the mysterious but beautiful woman Maria (Brigitta Helm) who has inspired his interest in the workers' plight. But his father is concerned by both Freder's interest and Maria's activities among the workers, and he turns to scientist C.A. Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) for aid. Rotwang has created a robot, and he agrees to give it the likeness of Maria in order to undermine both Freder's love for the girl and her own activities. But Rotwang has a hidden agenda of his own: once the robot has been unleashed, he will use her to destroy Metropolis and thereby exact revenge on Joh Fredersen for past transgressions against him.

In many respects the story is simplistic, but the film's visual style and connotations are anything but. Deeply influenced by such art movements as Expressionism, Objectivism, Art Deco, and Bauhaus, the film is visually fascinating--not only in its scenic designs, but in director Lang's famous skill at creating the powerful crowd scenes that dominate the film and building the pace and tension of the film as it moves toward an intense climax. But while one can--and many do--admire the film purely at this level, there is quite a lot going on in terms of philosophical content as well: while it offers few viable solutions, the film raises such issues as the relationship between capital and labor, the place of religion in modern society, human reaction to overwhelming technology, and (perhaps most interestingly) the drift of government into a class-conscious corporate entity. And religious motifs abound in the film: a largely deserted cathedral; Moloch; the Tower of Babel; and crosses--intriguingly juxtaposed with a repeating motif of the pentagram-like designs associated with the robot. It is fascinating stuff.

There has been complaint that this restoration runs at incorrect speed and the performances are therefore unnecessarily jerky. I did not find this to be the case. In certain instances the movement is deliberately jerky and mechanical--the workers are a case in point--but beyond this there is nothing for which the difference between silent acting and modern acting techniques cannot account. There has also been some complaint that the title cards should have been left in their original German and translated via subtitle. There is a certain validity to this, but it seems a minor quibble; title cards were typically translated in the silent era itself. The DVD includes a number of extras, including still photographs, biographies of the major figures involved in the film, and two interesting documentaries-one on the restoration process and one on the creation of the film itself. Both are interesting; the audio commentary track by film historian Enno Patalas, however, is mildly disappointing. But when all is said and done, it is the film that counts. And this restoration is a remarkable achievement, to say the least, a project which brings a great landmark of world cinema back from the edge of the abyss. Indispensible; a must-own.

--GFT (Amazon Reviewer)--

**EDIT 1/5/13: ADDED REVIEW OF 2011 KINO "GIORGIO MORODER PRESENTS METROPOLIS" BLU-RAY/DVD**

**EDIT 12/9/10: ADDED REVIEW OF 2010 KINO "THE COMPLETE METROPOLIS" BLU-RAY/DVD**

**EDIT 12/9/10: ADDED REVIEW OF 2010 REGION-B EUREKA "METROPOLIS" BLU-RAY**

**ORIGINAL REVIEW 2/24/03: REVIEW OF 2003 KINO "METROPOLIS" DVD

I'm lumping my reviews together, just like what Amazon is doing! The above 4 video editions of the German silent classic will be covered in this review. Also, see my video clip on the left to see disc covers, film clip comparisons, etc. (Those who can't see my video clip, especially iOS users who can't see flash video, please go to Amazon's FULL site and look under my review for the comment section, where I posted an external link to the video.)

Released in 1927, amid the golden age of the silent film era, Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS is a stylistic tour-de-force that has remained influential for the rest of the century, inspiring films from "Frankenstein" in 1931, "Bladerunner" in 1982, to "Dark City" in 1997. With its imaginative set design, elaborate photography, bold editing, and its then groundbreaking special effects, this German sci-fi silent classic exemplifies the highly inventive period of German Expressionism, which also include such film masterworks as "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligaru", "Nosferatu", "The Last Laugh", and Lang's "Die Nibelungen".

In 2011, Kino released the 1984 "Giorgio Moroder" version of the classic on Blu-ray and DVD. This version controversially contains a rock score accompaniment which, to many people, myself included, is quite inappropriate for the film. Moroder, a record producer and an Oscar-winning songwriter ("Take My Breath Away", "Flashdance... What a Feeling"), deserves credit for restoring the previously butchered film to a presentable 82-minute version, but he added a few butcherings of his own. Intertitles were replaced with subtitles. Additional special effects were added. And instead of a traditional score, Moroder naturally used what he knew best: a pop rock score with pop rhythm and beats that don't really mesh with the images. His score is not just intrumental, but it comprises of fully-written songs sung by Pat Benatar, Freddie Mercury, and others, essentially turning the film into one big music video. What Moroder didn't understand was that in a music video, the song is the centerpiece; but in a film, the IMAGE has to be the center. A piece of film has its own rhythm and beats too. Every cut, motion, close-up, etc, gives the image its rhythm, which Moroder has to understand is not always four-quarter time. There are a few instrumental passages in the score, and they fare better and are less detrimental to the flow of the images. But most of the score are songs. The chapter listing shows the song titles and artists' names, but no subtitles are offered for the lyrics. The quality of the songs vary, with Benatar's "Here's My Heart" seemingly the most effective, showing that Moroder at least paid attention to the movie's theme about the heart being the mediator in any struggle. The picture quality is presentable, but Kino makes it clear on the back cover that this is an unrestored, straight transfer from an old print. The Blu-ray does not look as good as other Blu-ray editions. There are a fair amount of print damages and the picture looks a bit dark at times. But the details of the high-def 1080p picture does come through, making this Blu-ray the best-looking edition of Moroder's Metropolis. The score is offered in lossless DTS 5.1 on the Blu-ray (Dolby 5.1 on the DVD) and it sounds fine. The Blu-ray also offers a lossless LPCM stereo track for those with legacy equipments. Bonus features include a 17-minute documentary (in English with no subtitles) that provides a cursory coverage of the German silent film history, the history of "Metroplis", and Moroder's restoration. Two trailers and 11 high-quality scans of publicity stills are also included.

Currently, the "go-to" version of the Lang classic is the 2010 Kino Region-A Blu-ray edition and its corresponding Region-1 DVD edition. They are titled "The Complete Metropolis" to avoid confusion with other editions. They contain, to date, the most complete, two-and-a-half-hour cut of the film, combining the two-hour version from the monumental 2001 restoration effort by Germany's F.W. Murnau Foundation (previously released as the 2003 Kino DVD), and about half-hour of footage discovered at Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2008 that had been unseen for decades. This previously lost footage has been edited back into the film to create this new "Complete Metropolis" edition. The added scenes are sprinkled all over the film, improving continuity, clarifying storytelling, and thus heightening the impact and yielding a result that is greater than the sum of its parts, as they finally restore Lang's full vision to its near complete form.

The HD picture quality of the Blu-ray ranges from sparklingly clear in some footage, slightly softer in others (especially the special fx shots), to severely battered and damaged as in those newly-discovered shots. All the "good-looking" footage came from the 2001 restoration. With the upgrade to HD, the sharpness and the clarity over the DVD counterpart is readily apparent, and therefore this Blu-ray represents the best that the film has ever looked on home video. Unfortunately, the half hour of new-found footage, originated from 16mm film, looks severely damaged and sometimes barely watchable, and it doesn't benefit much from the HD picture. As the new footage is sprinkled all over the film, the picture quality oscillates between good and bad, normally an uncomfortable experience but a small price to pay for finally watching the most complete version yet of the classic.

The Blu-ray disc contains a lossless DTS 5.1 audio track of the original orchestral score by Gottfried Huppertz, performed by Berlin's Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra. Many people would have preferred the newly-composed score by the Alloy Orchestra, who have actually toured North America with their excellent live accompaniment of the complete "Metropolis". I contacted Alloy Orchestra and they said the German distributors would not allow Kino to use their score on the new edition. Thus, Alloy Orchestra is selling their score on a CD disc, albeit in lossy MP3 format with only a 192 kbps bit rate. Google "alloy metropolis order" to order it.

The intertitles for the 2010 Kino edition, just like in the 2003 edition, are in English only. Whenever there is on-screen German text, English subtitles are provided and not removable.

If you are a purist who wants to see original German intertitles, the same thing German audiences saw back in 1927, you need to get the British Region-B "Masters of Cinema" Blu-ray or its corresponding Region-2 DVD edition by Eureka, titled "Metropolis". They can be ordered at Amazon UK. North American viewers would need a multi-region player to play Region-B or 2 discs, however. The intertitles on these discs are in German only and supported by optional English subtitles.

Supplements on Kino's 2010 edition do not contain any from the 2003 edition (so save that disc). Instead, we have a pretty good 50-minute documentary titled "Voyage to Metropolis", shown in HD on the Blu-ray and narrated in German with optional English subtitles, about the dramatic history of "Metropolis" up to its re-discovery in Argentina.

The TCM channel has also broadcast another excellent, 50-min documentary on the same subject titled "Metropolis Refound", but it is not available on any home video.

The Eureka Region-B Blu-ray's HD picture quality is virtually identical to the Kino Blu-ray edition. Both editions have the same Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra score in lossless DTS. Both have the "Voyage to Metropolis" documentary (shown in HD on Blu-ray). The Eureka disc also contains an excellent full-length audio commentary by David Kalat and Jonathan Rosenbaum, while the Kino disc has a 9-minute interview with Paula Felix-Didier, curator of the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires. The Eureka disc also comes with a 56-page booklet of essays, interviews, and restoration notes.

**BELOW IS MY REVIEW OF THE KINO 2003 DVD EDITION, originally posted Feb-24-2003**

This Kino Region 1-only DVD offers an almost pristine-looking video transfer of the film. The untinted, black-and-white image is clean and sharp throughout, the result of a mostly manual frame-by-frame restoration started in 1998 by Germany's F.W. Murnau Foundation. The included jacket essay gives a brief account of its efforts, as well as the work of other restorationists in the past, notably Munich Filmmuseum and film historian Enno Patalas. The DVD supplements also include an excellent mini-documentary that explains some of the technical details in the restoration.

The film's running time on this DVD is 118 minutes (not 124 as printed on the case). It is shown at the speed of 24 frames per second, an unusual frame rate for a silent film. But according to F.W. Murnau Foundation, this was the projection speed used at the film's premiere in 1927. Some viewers may find the motion a bit too fast at times due to the high frame rate. But some believe this was director Fritz Lang's way to intensify some of the action. (For those who want to watch METROPOLIS at a slower speed, there is a PC DVD player called WinDVD 4.0, which lets you extend or shorten a DVD's running time without affecting the pitch of the audio.)

This DVD only has English intertitles (supported by French and Spanish subtitles). The style, typeface, and the occasional animation in the intertitles were all re-created according to the original film. The original score by Gottfried Huppertz was also "adapted" from its 153-minute original length to the current, shorter length. This is the first time I have a chance to listen to Huppertz's elaborately orchestrated score, and it sounds terrific.

This latest restoration, unfortunately, did not recover a lot of film footage that had been missing over the years. Major sequences that were lost, such as Maria's escape from Rotwang, are still lost. To make up for this, and to make the film's plot more coherent, new intertitles were inserted to summarize the story lines of the missing footage. These intertitles are frequently seen in this restored version, a constant reminder of the large amount (a quarter of the film) of lost footage.

I did a brief side-by-side comparison between the Kino DVD and a few old video versions, and discovered the DVD actually has "alternate scenes" that were utilized for this restoration. In other words, Lang apparently shot some of the scenes *twice* (probably for domestic theaters and abroad), resulting in two versions of a scene looking slightly different. For instance, in the running competition early in the film, the winner wins by a bigger distance in all older video versions that I have seen than he does on the Kino DVD.

The DVD's audio commentary by Enno Patalas is mild disappointment. As in the Kino DVD of THE BLUE ANGEL, the comments are too sparse and not too in-depth. And long stretches of silence are frequent. The commentary is largely analytical, and it points out some of the key themes and visual motifs of the film.

The other DVD supplements include an involving 45-minute documentary that covers the making of the film, the German Expressionist period, the "unmaking" of METROPOLIS by censors and Hollywood, and a few interview segments of Lang. The still gallery contains about 90 production photos and design sketches, including about 27 photos taken from missing scenes.

Buy Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition (1984) Now

Austrian director Fritz Lang and his wife, Thea Von Harbou, made this first-ever science fiction film in Germany in 1926. While all extant copies are in poor to bad condition, the story and cinematography are so wonderful as to still hold the interest of a large audience.

There are many versions of this film on the market, with running times anywhere from 63 to 139 minutes, but this is by far my favorite. While it only has an 81 minute running time, it is actually one of the most complete versions available, because Georgio Moroder went back to the original script, and using still photos from the production, reinserted scenes that were cut from the film for it's American release. (The Nazis destroyed all original German prints of the film, as well as the negative.) The intertitles, which accounted for about 20 minutes of the film's running time, were replaced with subtitles, and his version uses the 24-frames-per-second projector speed that modern films are shown at, while the longer versions are shown at the historically correct 18-frames-per-second. He trimmed more time off by careful editing, to give the film a more contemporary pacing.

He also added a "contemporary" score, as well as subtle washes of color, which actually aids in understanding the film, while not detracting from Karl Fruend and Guenther Rittau's marvelous b&w cinematography. In fact, in some of the scenes where the film has been severely damaged, it helps accentuate the contrast.

There are many classic images in this film, including shots of the city (where monorails and bi-planes coexist), but the best known is probably Brigitte Helm as "Hel" the robot. In fact, people who have never seen, or even heard of the film have seen clips of Rotwang (Hel's creator) and Hel in the laboratory. Brigitte Helm also stars as Maria, the film's heroine, and hers is a standout performance.

Also of interest is the similarity between the character, Joh Frederson (the "master" of the city of Metropolis, played by Alfred Abel), to Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich. Combined with the workers, whose underground city seems like a concentration camp, and whose uniforms bear a startling resemblance to the ones worn in the Nazi concentration camps. This is especially odd considering that the film predates Hitler's rise by almost a decade. Those similarities are just one reason that the Nazis were so keen to destroy any trace of the film. It is truly a shame that Lang did not bring the negative when he escaped from Germany to the USA in the thirties.

In most science fiction, the message is about the human condition, and Metropolis is no exception; the moral is that the brain that plans and the hands that build need a mediator: the heart. That's as true today as it was in 1926.

At this writing, this version is no longer in print, which is a crying shame. Other versions are available, and I can recommend many of them, although some are made from prints that are in horrendous condition, but if you can find an affordable copy of the Moroder version, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Read Best Reviews of Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition (1984) Here

Kino's Restored Authorized Edition of Metropolis is undoubtedly the most superb restoration of a film ever executed. However, as of July 1st, 2008, this is no longer the most complete version of the film available. Metropolis was originally a 130 minute film which was mercilessly chopped down to an overly simplified 80 minutes. Archivists across Europe worked tirelessly to restore Metropolis to the best of their ability, producing this 124 minute version as a result -the longest version of Metropolis to date, containing scenes and subplots that don't appear in any other version.

However, it's now been twice verified that a complete 130 minute version of the film (which wasn't supposed to exist) has been discovered in Buenos Aires and is the real thing. This Holy Grail of classic film is in poor condition and will, no doubt, take time to restore, but you can bet that restoration will begin immediately.

The point of all this: If you want to watch Metropolis NOW, then this is the version to get. However, if you're willing to wait, a perfect "Ultimate Edition" will eventually be on the way.

Want Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition (1984) Discount?

I used to have a friend who let me borrow his Laserdisc copy of Giorgio Moroder's version of Metropolis. I thought that was a better copy than VHS. Moroder's version was never to be found again in print, and I was hoping for a DVD release, Now it's on Blu-ray ! Thank you, thank you!!! I already own the restored black and white version DVD, but Moroder's music score and color tinting, fits with the futuristic ideas of the movie, IMHO. The sound effects are not bad too, like when Freder stumbles into Rotwang's lab. Actually, I saw a screening of Moroder's version first before the classic B&W. I'm happy now that I'll own both versions. Thanks again.

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Journey: Live in Manila (2010)

I will not discuss the price of the DVD as part of this review, since the DVD is a Walmart exclusive and the only way to get it for the tagged price is if you go direct to merchant.

With this DVD, Journey marks the first time it tops the Billboard's Top Music Video Sales chart. Their 2005 release Live In Houston 1981 The Escape Tour peaked at number nine. Also, Live In Manila has the second best DVD debut sales week of 2009, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

This concert was indeed shot at 4K resolution, but you are not getting that kind of resolution except nothing different from the regular DVD quality movies you have in your home. The quality is actually limited by the DVD format.

The concert was made by the team from "Wizard", who brought with them an army of "Red Cameras". They shot at 4K, beyond high definition of display resolution. Even Blu-ray cannot touch the hi-res of a 4K. OK, it is a DVD, and for now it does not mean anything. But somehow, it is nice to know that maybe, hopefully, sometime in the future, there will be a chance to see it in its full lifelike resolution.

The first thing that will catch your eyes is the nice art work. Classic 80's, psychedelic, LSD inspired :), both inside and outside, a magnificent showcase of album art. It is a nostalgic trip back to one of the golden eras of music. It includes an 8-page brief retelling of the succession of events that lead to this historical concert. Journey stayed for 2 weeks in the Philippines. Their new lead singer brought them to see his humble beginnings; his old neighborhood, his old school where he was forced to drop out for lack of money. Homeless at the age of 13, he brought them to the park where he used to sleep at night, often in an empty stomach.

No doubt, this live performance (March 14, 2009, in front of close to 30,000 fans) is one important piece of history for the band. As we know, the band had their ups and downs, the break up, the succession of singers, and even a scandal. Journey is one of the monster melodic rock bands in the history of rock & roll. 80 million records under their belt, including their last album, "Revelation", which is now a cinch to become double platinum. The "Journey: Live in Manila" debuted at the Oprah Winfrey Show, which made a lot of people searched the internet to find out who the hell is Arnel Pineda. That special appearance propelled Arnel Pineda's name to #8 in Yahoo's top ten searches the next day.

The concert is very special to Arnel. 2 years ago, he was virtually unknown. Then Schon's discovery on YouTube, and then everything happened so fast that even Arnel admitted that all the blessings that he has received has not sunk in yet. A story that reminds you about the movie Rockstar, but this time it is happening in real life.

24 songs, the 2-DVD package is a 2 hours and 25 minutes of classic Journey hits including 7 songs from their last album. You can really feel Arnel's emotion and happiness performing in front of his fellow countrymen. He is bouncing around, jumping, covering every inch of the stage. Guitar god Neal Schon never fails to amaze the audience which is why he is one of the greatest living guitarist of our time. At the same time, he is showering the front stage with his signatured picks as fast as a ninja throw his stars. Jonathan Cain and his multiple level of keyboards still hammers those keys like he used to in the MTV version of "Separate Ways". Ross Valory always is the band's clown, making as many faces as Jim Carey can in his "Dumb and Dumber" days. And lastly, Dean Castronovo (who used to play with Black Sabbath) provided well appreciated respite for Arnel by belting out "Kepp on Runnin'", "Mother Father" and "Still They Ride". An incredible singer/drummer combination.

As a longtime Journey fan, I think "Live From Manila" holds its own against any other live Journey performance. The band continues to sound great, the playing is top notch all around, and I think Pineda embodies what the rest of the band wants and needs in a front man. He's energetic and lively, plus playing in front of his hometown probably amped him up a few more levels for this performance. My only knock against the package is that there's no backstage/interview type of feature. Especially considering Pineda has been in the band about 2 years now, I'd thought this would have been the perfect opportunity to get some one-on-one face time with him. But still, it's 2 hours and 25 minutes, and it's $10 at Walmart. That's just simply an unbeatable deal. (And I realize some people outside the US may not have easy access to a Walmart location, in which case I would say, $20 would not be too much to pay for this package. Any more than that............ you're on your own.) If you're in the US, there's no good reason to be buying this package from online sellers here at Amazon or anywhere else. All the hits are here, as well as a few deeper cuts from the late 70s and early 80s. (As always, one of my favorites "Girl Can't Help It" is not included, but that's happened so many times, I can't/don't hold that against them.)

And finally, this last part is just a rant. Feel free to skip it if you'd like. Arnel Pineda is a great singer, and he covers Steve Perry's voice nearly flawlessly. Despite what some angry, bitter people type on places like this, yes, THIS IS JOURNEY. Just because the band doesn't have the same lead singer anymore, it's still Journey. (And for the record, Perry was Journey's 3rd or 4th lead singer, depending on whether or not you count Fleischman). People usually decide what "their" version of a band is based upon what they grew up hearing, and anything that isn't that exact same version is "fake". That's simply not correct. This DVD (along with their album "Revelation") is Journey since 2007. You can feel free to not like this version of the band, but yes, it's Journey, whether you like it or not. Plus, these people don't even listen to the music. They just want to complain. (For a good example, read some reviews for Foreigner's new album "Can't Slow Down" or Skynyrd's new album "God & Guns").

As far as this DVD goes, the newer songs are good, and the classic songs sound true to the way you remember them. Congrats Journey on another great offering!

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I agree with the other reviewer that all new DVD releases should offer a Blu Ray version because Blu Ray would offer both enhanced sound and picture quality.

The concert in Manila was very special because it was the hometown for Journey's new lead singer, Arnel Pineda. Arnel and his bandmates did not disappoint the fans. Arnel has a great voice and sings with a lot of heart. This DVD provides a great selection of Journey's hits and also quite a few of their new songs.

Running time 2:25:25

With regard to purchasing at Wal-Mart, not everyone lives close to one. Especially Journey fans who do not live in the U.S.

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OK, fellow Journey fans! YES...This does exist!! Mine showed up today...This is an ALL Region Blu-ray with 3 different Audio options and the full concert on 1 Blu-ray disc opposed to the 2-disc DVD set. Awesome picture and audio as you would expect from a blu-ray! Must have!!

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I just viewed the concert on the HD concert channel, "Palladia". I have read all of the reviews of the poor video quality but it was crisp and clear on Palladia.

My complaint is it sounds like Neil Schon did the final audio mix and mastering. I tried listening in 5.1, stereo and other settings with the same results. Schon's guitar dominates the mix way way way too much especially on the right channel. The drums are lost and muddy and the keys are almost nonexistant. "Seperate Ways" is a keyboard driven song and I couldn't even hear them over the guitar.

The new singer sings great but even his vocals are overshadowed by the guitar and like another review said the backup vocals were weak.

I was wondering if others noticed this on their DVD copies of the concert before I make the decision to buy or pass???

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The Big Gay Musical (2010)

The Big Gay Musical.

The BFI Theatre on the South Bank in London was packed on the afternoon I went to see The Big Gay Musical.

As with all movies associated with Casper Andreas I expected it to be entertaining, witty, comical with just a hint of sadness attached to it. I was not disappointed at all. He had co-directed this along with Fred M. Caruso. This joint venture proved they were a formidable duo.

Casper had introduced the movie on other showings but had had to fly back to the US so Brian Robinson the Press Officer at the BFI Theatre stepped up on stage to do the honours.

He told the packed house that The Big Gay Musical had been the favourite of the whole group of gay themed movies that had been shown at the festival over the past few days.

The lights dimmed and the movie started. Black and white to start with which gave it a 1930s feel and I just knew it was going to be an enjoyable ride from start to finish when Casper playing a small but important part asks columnist Michael Musto as he dashes out from an extremely bad show if there is anything he would like. Screaming hysterically "I need a big gay musical" as he rushes on his way the screen bursts into colour and a most wonderful production number with handsome near naked men wearing angels' wings and boots tap dance across the screen .

The theatre audience, clapped, laughed and cheered throughout the movie.

Yes, it's campy, even a bit cheesy but its dramatic and it's filled to the brim with muscular bodies and show tunes that get your feet tapping along with them and then when a very limp wristed God appears played to the hilt by Steve Hayes and he creates Adam and Steve to live in the Garden of Eden after chasing Adam and Eve out well.......

The plot has been described in many reviews so it is suffice to say that it is a movie that one must see too appreciate to the full. Words just do not do it justice. The talent is outstanding and all can dance, sing and act. A powerful combination. Many are from the Broadway stage and to name just a few Daniel Robinson was in Hairspray, Joey Dudding did Gypsy, La Cage Aux Folles and Chorus Line and others appeared in Tricks, Wicked and even South Pacific.

Sheer entertainment from start to finish.

I have to say first that I was kind of skeptical about this film before I watch it. I was afraid that could be another waste of my time to watch an empty and meaningless gay comedy like "Eating Out 3" or "Another Gay Movie 2" but thankfully I was totally wrong.

In fact it's just the opposite of that. A great comedy, filled with hilarious stage moments, but also a very human and touching movie about mankind (in all its diversity) A little unreal at the end but that's OK! I'm kind of sick of watching too many sad endings in gay themed films. We need a lot more positivity in the portrait of gay lifestyle. So... it's great to have a mushy but happy ending FOR A CHANGE! That way... later you could turn off your tv with a happy smile on your face for a change. Great script, good acting, good music, beautiful guys... what more can we ask?

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I enjoyed it. it was cute funny. the cast were cute. Only thing i didn't like was it seemed to short. Also it was a tad confusing. Other then that its a good type of movie when you have nuthin else to watch but you will still enjoying watching it. sooo yes was good but not fantastic =]

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but I'm not a fan of musicals and wouldn't want to encourage Casper Andreas to make another one. That said, I have to admit that I really enjoyed this. Liz McCartney is great throughout, and the finale she sings is powerful and touching.

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When I first saw the cover art for The Big Gay Musical on Amazon, I thought it looked ridiculous. But after watching it, I was shocked at how good it was. I was surprised to find out that it wasn't just a musical, but about two men who are trying to find love while cast in the musical. I enjoyed the cast and I thought the story was entertaining. The movie does make a point of drilling home some morals, but it didn't take me out of the experience. I assume it was made on a small budget, but the movie didn't reflect that. The musical numbers were a little lack-luster in parts, but it wasn't distracting. I would compare the style of the movie mildly to Smash or Camp

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Terrorists (1975)

I wish I would have waited till the DVD came out because I paid $29,99 for the VHS tape. But anyway, very good movie and Connery is at his best after the post 007 era. He is more of a classy verison of Dirty Harry where he breaks all of the rules to get the terrorist but does it with charm!

In a pre-9/11 world, THE TERRORISTS addresses the fears we all have of being victimized by self-righteous, insensitive terrorists. Tame by today's standards, this little known vehicle for Sean Connery is an intelligently plotted and tense little thriller. Connery plays the no-nonsense head of Norway's Security, called in when a group of British terrorists invade the home of the British Ambassador and hold him hostage, demanding release of imprisoned compatriates and safe passage out of Norway. These plans go awry however when the British government discovers the drop point and the terrorists are forced to make a change in plans. This change is orchestrated by a fellow terrorist, played with subdued relish by DEADWOOD's Ian McShane, who holds a commercial airline and its passengers hostage until the other group is released.

As in most British films of the seventies, the pace is deliberate but there is a good amount of suspense generated, and Connery is effective in his role.

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This movie also goes by the title of Ransom in Britain. It is a tense drama with Ian McShane and Sean Connery (need I say more!!???). Connery is the head of a security force sent in to negotiate with terrorist holding an ambassador and his servants. The terrorist demand transport to the airport, where they learn an aeroplane has been hijacked and is awaiting the arrival of the terrorists and their hostages. Connery is determined to stop them at all costs. It is a taught game of move-counter move, with nearly everyone involved running their own game within a game, and Connery can trust no one. McShane is very believable at the head of the hijacking team, that has more than one mask he is wearing.

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I like this sort of film, which has extended bouts of dialog to create a genuine plot, along with a decent amount of action, just to keep it exciting. This film has that 60's British feel to it, although it was made in 1975 and set in Norway.

(warning ending slightly revealed next) The only thing I thought was wrong with this film was a rather perverse ending. Connery was set up to be the "fixer" of problems others created, but in the end, it seemed like the plan was going well, but Connery bungled it, causing someone to get killed, all in the name of some ambiguous "higher" morality.

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Caspar Wrede's Ransom (retitled The Terrorists in the USA) is an entertaining enough cat-and-mouse yarn from 1975 if you have an hour and a half to spare, helped immensely by a commanding performance by Sean Connery as the Scandinavian security chief having to deal with a hostage crisis and an airplane hijacking by Ian McShane's terrorist. There are some neat plot twists, Sven Nykvist's cinematography makes good use of the snowbound locations and there's a strong Jerry Goldsmith score that helps drive the film along nicely, although it is rather disconcerting to hear John Quentin speaking with Malcolm Terris' voice in a particularly noticeable bit of dubbing. All in all, an efficient Saturday night thriller that doesn't aim high but does deliver.

Unlike the UK DVD under the film's original title, which offered the theatrical trailer, Anchor Bay's Region A-locked Blu-ray release has no extras in fact, it's so barebones it doesn't even have a menu, simply playing the film on a loop with fewer chapter stops than the US DVD. The mediocre widescreen transfer is no better than you'd get from an upscaled DVD. Fox's Region 1 video is similarly extras free but is a better bet at the lower price.

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Master & Commander: Far Side of World (2003)

Those of us who have read the entire series of Patrick O'Brien's books on the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his dear friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin during the Napoleonic wars and have soaked up the atmosphere and sense of history so unfailingly captured in those books, are going to be hard to satisfy with any film representation. So although I have great respect for Peter Weir, I did not have high hopes as I sat down to watch the movie.

The opening scenes, of a darkened sea and a silent three-masted 'Surprise', with only night watch on deck and most hands asleep below, gives as true a sense of period as any I could possibly imagine and captivated me immediately. The attention to detail is remarkable and the handling of the crew; surely one of the most difficult aspects of making such a film; utterly masterful. You can smell the lower deck with the hammocks tight-packed with sleeping, farting, snorting bodies and livestock penned into the same quarters. The battle scenes are stunningly effective and the impact of shot and ball makes you wince in a manner that you'd not think possible in an age where we constantly see violent action and are inured to the sight of exploding flesh. That you could not follow who was who in the melees or determine quite how the various battles between ships were unfolding didn't matter, because that is exactly how such actions are in reality. Who knows how many died by friendly fire in the confusion of those hand-to-hand encounters? The percentage must have been sizable, as it is even today.

Russel Crowe's performance as the utterly resolute and masterful sailor, 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey, is truly brilliant. His English accent falters little and he gives the role all the subtlety required of a character whose own subtlety is not immediately evident. Aubrey is a commander who is intensely sensitive to the mood of his crew knows all their names and treats them with a rare humanity for the early 19th century Royal Navy. We know he acquired this sense, in part, because as a young midshipman, he was once demoted to the rank of common sailor; and in this experience, came to understand them as few officers could.

The disappointment, for me, was in the lack of development of Dr. Maturin's character. In the books, Maturin (played here by Paul Bettany) is in a sense the main character and much of what happens is seen through his eyes. He is an immensely complex man, deeply learned, and with a quaint 18th century manner of speech which contains much Irish mannerism. "You are to consider" he will say, or "I am persuaded that ...". His turn-out for formal dining occasions is the subject of much affectionate amusement among the crew (for they take pride in him as 'their' learned physician, who cares deeply for his patients) and vexation for his Commander; for he may appear at dinner in a heavily blood-stained jacket, unwashed for several days, or with his wig awry. He is also evidently a man whose apparent age "might have been anything between twenty and sixty" and he is small and "ill-looking". He and Jack are total opposites and it is the interplay between the two characters; the great affection they hold for one another, that is the spirit of the books. So I say that I was disappointed that Stephen was not better cast and his character was not more defined. I can however also say that those scenes where the two of them make music together do succeed, by the nature of the music chosen, in coming close to the spirit of the book. I should also emphasize that we cannot blame Paul Bettany for this; the problem lies in the casting and in character development (Paul Bettany looks too young and well-kempt for the part and is given little chance to 'be' Stephen).

So on the visual level this is a brilliant film and Crowe is most convincing in his role. Weir has performed a labour of love and has soaked himself in the period and the genre.

People who read the books, and say that they cannot get past the vast amount of technical detail, will find no relief in the film. O'Brien was uncompromising in his use of nautical terminology and indeed of period language readers have to take the responsibility to inform themselves in order to appreciate the book and now, to some degree, viewers of this film have the same responsibility.

Master and Commander is not just for Patrick O'Brian fans. Anyone who enjoys action and drama will enjoy this film. It ranges from great battle scenes with the tang of salt spray to human drama. The primary plot involves a cat and mouse game, set in 1805 during the Napoleonic wars, between Captain Aubrey's (Russell Crowe's) ship Surprise and his enemy a French ship Acheron. The Acheron is by far the superior ship in speed, size, and firepower. Captain Aubrey has orders to take the Acheron, while the French seem all too aware of his orders. The chase passes around the tip of South America leaving the Atlantic and entering the Pacific Ocean where Acheron will raise money for Emperor Napoleon by raiding English whalers. The sailing is marvelously recreated.

Along for the ride we experience sailing, sea tactics, and life on board a ship of this era. The apprenticeship approach to schooling officers during the Napoleonic era placed children on board fighting vessels. We even see a brief glimpse of a lesson in navigation Captain Aubrey is giving the young midshipmen. Life in harm's way as the sea becomes a battlefield spares neither young nor old. The crowding, stale food, and mental toll that are a fact of life on vessels that are at sea for long periods of time are graphically portrayed. The mood is lightened by the exhilaration of the hunt and moments of courage, kindness, and Aubrey's penchant for terrible puns, which fans of O'Brian's books will recognize.

Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), the side kick of this famous duo, provides a counterpoint to Aubrey's sense of duty. Through him we see medicine of the period grope its way toward the future. As an amateur naturalist, Dr. Maturin visits the Galapagos Islands much as Darwin would have during his famous trip on HMS Beagle 30 years after the 1805 date of the movie. In fact, Dr. Maturin's desire to visit the Islands becomes a source of conflict between himself and the single minded Aubrey. The resolution to the conflict is a measure of the friendship between Dr. Maturin and "Lucky Jack" Aubrey.

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"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," directed by Peter Weir, tells the rousing story of HMS Surprise, an English warship sailing around South America during the Napoleonic era. The ship's captain (played by Russell Crowe) engages in a battle of wits, wills, and firepower with a rival captain during the perilous sea trek.

This is a vivid, exciting tale of naval warfare, but it's also a satisfying and moving portrayal of a unique community: the company of a warship. The film is full of stirring action scenes, but it is equally rich in the details of the men's everyday life: their food, shipboard entertainment, naval tradition, etc. It's a sweaty, muscular portrait that really puts you in the midst of this fascinating world.

Weir gets superb performances from the large ensemble cast. Crowe won my heart as the captain: he portrays a man who is tough and witty, but also humane and reasonable. Paul Bettany plays the ship's surgeon, both a loyal friend and verbal sparring partner for the captain; it's a marvelously realized relationship. The rest of the cast rises to the high mark set by these excellent performers; Max Pirkis in particular shines as a courageous young midshipman.

There are some intense scenes of violence and combat surgery. But this material is not gratuitous, and is handled with care by Weir, who never loses sight of his characters' humanity. And the film is also about much more than war; it's also about exploring a distant land and seeing wondrous sights. There are nice moments of humor to balance out the film's serious themes of military discipline, ethics and tactics. Overall, M&C is a rousing adventure story, told with heart. As a Navy veteran myself, I'd like to thank and commend all involved with this film.

Read Best Reviews of Master & Commander: Far Side of World (2003) Here

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Britain and Franch were mortal enemies fighting for dominance of Europe by land and sea. England was threatened with invasion for the first time in three hundred years. The only thing protecting the isle was the Royal Navy. This is the backdrop of Master and Commander who fights for England with his brave crew and stout ship against France on the far side of the world.

Russell Crowe heads a first rate cast that replays a genre that hasn't been seen since Gregory Peck played the title role of "Horatio Hornblower." From a consistent script and story, one gets the impression of what life was like on the high seas during this time and how quickly, silently, and deadly mortal danger could arise. There was no sonar or radar save those in one's sight, hearing and judgment. And the fog could be one's enemy as much as it could be a friend.

Besides the acting, the music lent perfectly to the story, and one can recognize Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 played by Yo Yo Ma. My favorite was Boccherini's La Musica Notturna Della providing the background for captain's order to beat to "General Quarters."

As soon as you can, steer a course and set sail to your nearest store and purchase "Master and Commander..." It's one of those stories that seems to get better with each viewing.

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A friend of mine and I have a tradition of seeing every film that has an Oscar® nomination before the Academy Awards® are aired, so we've been blitzkrieging the cinemas in our area, trying to see them all. I am so glad that "Master and Commander" was nominated, because I'm not sure if I would have otherwise bothered to see it. What a fantastic film!

As someone who has had 3-near drowning experiences and who makes it a priority to not only avoid the water, but films involving water where people might drown, I am not much into seafaring films. Nothing about living on a stinky boat for months on end without modern medical care appeals to my interest... but this film had me on the edge of my seat. I was so quickly drawn into this film; it was more than just a story, but truly an experience. I felt as though I was a member of the crew of the HMS Surprise in 1805.

The HMS Surprise, under the command of Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), is on a mission to intercept the French warship, the "Archeron." The resourceful crew ranges from elderly sea salts probably in their late 60s, to the youngest crewmember who looks to be all of 12 or 13 years old.

Their first encounter with the Archeron in heavy fog is quick and deadly. Many crewmen on the Surprise are killed or injured, and the youngest of the crew, Midshipman Blakeney (Max Pirkis), receives a broken arm in the battle, which results in amputation without the luxury of modern medicine or anesthetic. Pirkis's performance is breathtaking. Expect to see this young man many more times in the future. The ship's surgeon, Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany Crowe's co-star from "A Beautiful Mind"), is a loyal, but opinionated friend of Captain Aubrey. He serves as Aubrey's friend, motivator and muse, but he does put their friendship to the test on more than one occasion.

While there is blood and violence, the most memorable feeling is one of being overwhelmed and engaged by the experience. The "F-word" was used once, but other than that, there is no real foul language, nudity or suggestive scenes and I believe the PG-13 rating is appropriate.

During their first encounter, the Surprise must limp away in dense fog to escape with their lives, and although they hit the Archeron with cannon balls and musket fire, they hardly raise a splinter on the larger, faster, thicker hulled ship. Dr. Maturin claims it is pride, but Aubrey insists that it is duty and loyalty to England that is driving him to engage the Archeron again... a ship that appears to outgun them and outclass them in every way.

Aubrey proves that he is a brilliant battle commander and manages to outwit the Archeron captain, who appears to be his equal in brinksmanship and cunning.

Their Pacific journey forces them to the coast of South America to trade tools for livestock and foodstuffs... and many of the crew pick up a parrot or a squirrel monkey along the way. The ship is driven south in heavy snow and ice, then north again to a windless, rainless, utterly hot and humid region of the see that drives the men crazy. They turn on a less-than-capable crewmate who does not take the pressure well, as they believe he is the personification of the Biblical Jonah and must be toss overboard to save them from God's wrath. They go the Galapagos Islands to repair damage to their ship from another encounter with the Archeron. There are so many exquisite, incredible things along their journey, it is truly breath taking. Little things that would have been omitted in a lesser film, such as the attention to detail in repairing the ship, including chiseling and patching up the maiden gracing their stern, make this a film worth savoring.

It has been a long time since I have felt so "in" a film I could almost smell the salt air and feel the sea spray on my face. The friend I saw the film with reported feeling the same about this cinematic experience. While seafaring voyages do little to evoke my interest, I was totally engaged in every aspect and moment of this film less like a voyeur, but rather a crewmember in the shadows, observing and participating. This is how a film should be made.

Director Peter Weir is no stranger to filmmaking. He has directed such hits as "The Truman Show," "Dead Poets Society," and "Witness," but this is clearly his masterpiece. If you've been putting off this film for any reason, do not delay. Seeing it on the big screen is preferable being surrounded by the empty calm sea, or deluged in waves, helps to enhance the experience that much more.

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The Cutting Edge (1992)

This is a charming, if somewhat predictable, movie. With wonderful performances by the sexy D.B. Sweeney and the lovely Moira Kelly, two very underrated actors, this movie will keep the viewer entertained. The story revolves around two athletes. One is a top notch, Olympic level, ice hockey player, who sees his potential professional career go down the tubes, when he is injured during the Olympics. The other is the female half of a pairs figure skating team, who choked during the Olympics, ending their quest for the gold.

Both are not doing well after their own personal waterloo. He is now playing with amatuer teams, as his injury precludes him from going pro. She, a total prima donna, is busy, going through one skating partner after another with no success. Her coach, knowing that the ex hockey player has a lot of skating talent, contacts him in hopes that maybe he will be the one that will be able to work with his temperamental Olympic hopeful. He agrees and goes to work on learning the niceties of figure skating. She goes to work on learning to get along with him. Together, they are working towards earning an Olympic Gold medal.

There are some delightfully funny and heartwarming scenes in this film. Probably the funniest is the toe pick scene. When you see the film, you will know what I mean. While there is some hockey and figure skating action in this film, it is really not a movie about either sport. It is essentially a romantic comedy that is delightfully directed by Paul Michael Glaser. All in all, it is a very enjoyable film and well worth watching.

A very temperamental Kate Mosley has dreams of being a skating champion who has scared off many potential partners. Douglas Dorsey has dreams of being a professional hockey player. When an unfortunate accident impairs his vision, and he is no longer able to compete at the professional level, his dream is altered forever. Doug and Kate are paired together toward a new dream.

This is a charming romantic movie. DB Sweeney and Moira Kelly have good on screen chemistry, and the skating is well done.

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This is one of my all time favorite movies, and I was pleased as punch to see it come out on DVD. For those of you not familiar with it, the story is of the figure-skating diva that can't find a partner, who suddenly meets her match in Doug Dorsey, a washed up hockey-player brimming with testosterone. They meet, they bicker, they fall in love. Badda-boom, badda-bing. This is more of a 'chick' movie than a guy movie, but it's entertaining for the entire family, IMO.

Two things keep me from giving this DVD the 5 stars it deserves : One is cinematic, and one is something else.

1. The ending abruptly cuts off, leaving you to 'guess' how it ends. Some folks prefer an ending like this--I do not. I want it spelled out for me!

2. There are hardly any 'special features' on this DVD. The only one is the movie trailer. If you're looking to get the DVD for all the special add-ins, skip this one.

But it's still one of my favorites! DB Sweeney really steals the movie away.

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A working class Olympic hockey star is looking to turn pro when he gets a body slam that costs him peripheral vision and the chance to play in the big leagues. Enter a frosty, WASPy figure skater from Connecticut who has every thing she wants except a partner. She doesn't like them, or they cannot stand her.

Her desperate Russian coach finds the hockey player who has the strength, stamina and spirit to skate with her, but he takes an instant dislike to her spoiled disposition and condescending temperament. The coach is convinced that both are partners who can bring home the elusive Olympic gold in figure-skating. The sparks fly.

The chemistry between D. B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly is instantaneous. Their evolution to a skating pair is filled with competition between them at every turn. The on-screen tension between the two build as the Nationals and Olympics draw nearer. (It doesn't hurt that Moira Kelly is actually an accomplished skater.)

Sorry! You'll have to see the DVD because my narrative ends here. You will enjoy this drama-comedy of budding romance unless you don't have a romantic lace in your ice skates.

There is no language or skin, but it is a story for mid-teen to adult. This is light fare that is well-acted with a good script. It is thoroughly enjoyable, and worth the purchase.

My recommendations? Don't miss. Buy, don't sell.

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You know when we the consumers run out and Purchase these movies on Blu-Ray and we Expect to receive "Top Notch" visual and audio Quality, if we weren't then we would be purchasing movies out of the DVD sections. Why do these movie production companies continue to put out Garbage video Transfers like this?.

I love The Cutting Edge it's one of my favorite 90's era romantic movies. But if i would have known that the quality on the Blu-Ray was the same as my DVD i would of just Saved My Money. I always say that you can tell when a blu-ray movie isn't going to be top notch quality when the packaging is a little flimsy. The blu-ray didn't even come with any kind of booklet or anything. just a plain blu-ray disc and no extra features. Picture quality is grainy and the audio is the only think that is slightly improved, might not even be noticeable. I Would only Recommend this movie on blu-Ray if you don't already have the DVD Version and even that isn't saying much. BOTTOM LINE.. The blu-ray version is a big let down. Buyer Beware!!.

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The Forever Marilyn Blu-ray Collection (2013)

Just got the magnificent FOREVER MARILYN blu-ray dvd set of 7 films yesterday. Very nice box and presentation, with a little booklet of pictures and lines from the films as a keepsake. I must say the films look stunning, particularly 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. 'How to Marry a Millionaire' looks extraordinary its its full very widescreen ratio (16:9) and so does 'There's no business like Show Business'. I've watched most big production numbers like 'Heatwave' and 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend' again and again, and seeing them on blu ray on my big flat screen HD TV, is like seeing them glisten with real detail, depth and color for the first time. The blacks are black, the whites white, and Marilyn's lips and nails are a real luscious fire engine red. 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' in (4:3) ratio is glorious, the transfer just sparkles with sheer magic and jumps right out at you. Made just before widescreen became popular, I do believe only one number from the film, 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend' was filmed in Cinema-Scope as a test. That would've been nice to see here as an extra, because if any musical number EVER deserves to be seen in widescreen, its that one. The sound (dts-HD) on all films overall is impressive too, clear and crisp, especially through big speakers. The song and dance sequences are breathtaking. Mesmerized I found myself looking at everything technically, the clothes, the sets, the makeup all seemed so perfect as to be surreal. Marilyn is just beautiful, so is Jane and Lauren and Betty too. The awesome technicolor they achieved in the color films here, and the technical excellence will never ever be repeated. The brilliant 'Some Like It Hot' was made for black and white, and as the greatest comedy ever made, it is an absolutely perfect movie. It would've been nice to see as extras long lost cut songs from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' especially that 'Paris' number we see in vintage lobby cards, but not in the actual film. Or a new doco for the 50 years since we lost Marilyn perhaps. But we must give thanks for the fine re-mastering of these Marilyn Monroe films for their long awaited blu-ray release. The pristine quality delivered here will keep me happy for a long time. Robert.

MARILYN NEVER LOOKS anything less than marvelous, especially on these seven films marking their debut on the 50th anniversary of her death, Aug. 4, 1962. Five have been re-mastered for high-definition Blu-ray viewing, along with "Some Like It Hot" and "The Misfits" that were upgraded earlier.

A collection of comedies, a drama, a western and a musical have one dynamic influence ‒ Marilyn Monroe. She was never anything less than gorgeous whether in full make-up as in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and her showcase number "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" or in pioneer rags in "River of No Return." Still, intelligence and sadness lived just beneath her remarkable beauty. She was an iconic sex symbol, yet women liked her as well, drawn perhaps by her unspoken vulnerability and innocence. Everyone knows about her battle with severe depression and childhood sexual abuse. Today she would have been diagnosed with PTSD and there would have been medication and therapy to help her.

Extras in "The Seven Year Itch" reveal that her illness began to appear during filming when she started being late to the set and had trouble remembering her lines. Problems took hold after the famous subway grate sidewalk shoot. According to Monroe's assistant, the actress came to work the next day with bruises all over her arms, the results of a fight with then-husband Joe DiMaggio. There is some surprising speculation as to DiMaggio's anger over his wife's sexy posturing and jealously over how the crowds cheered for her. Regardless, they were divorced soon after.

Later, when asked why she wasn't replaced, co-writer/director Billy Wilder replied that he had an 80-year-old aunt who always showed up on time, but no one would pay to see her in a movie.

The picture in these re-mastered Blu-ray presentations range from good to excellent. Color is knock-out gorgeous; detail and delineation is bold and sharp, particularly in "Itch" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." (A friend told me he'd never seen Monroe's lips more perfect than in "Blondes.") Soundtracks have been upgraded to Master Audio 5.1; dialogue, music and effects come through clearly, but mostly through the front speaker. The black-and-white "Some Like It Hot" is outstanding. Directed by some of Hollywood's greats Howard Hawks, Otto Preminger, John Huston, as well as Billy Wilder these are films to be enjoyed again and again.

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), directed by Howard Hawks, Blu-ray full-frame. I confess; this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Monroe teams with the spectacular Jane Russell, whose brunette beauty and talent holds her own in a musical about two showgirls on a cruise to France. Monroe's Lorelei Lee is engaged to a rich young man (Tommy Noonan), but his suspicious father has her trailed by an investigative reporter (Elliott Reid). Look for goofy humor, snappy lines, and outstanding musical numbers including "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." Movietone news shows Monroe and Russell putting their handprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

"How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953), directed by Jean Negulesco of classics "Daddy Longlegs," "Johnny Belinda" and the 1953 Best Picture "Titanic" with Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwyck; also uncredited for Monroe's "River of No Return." Blu-ray widescreen. Secretaries played by Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall as secretaries are looking for rich husbands. It's not one of the best films but there are moments, as when Bacall refers to Humphrey Bogart as "that old guy in `The African Queen.'" Bacall gets most of the laughs as Monroe plays the near-sighted gal trying to hide her glasses. This was Fox's first production in CinemaScope and it looks like a first attempt with unstable color and definition; still, it's way better than the DVD. Trailers and a newsreel make up the extras.

"River of No Return" (1954), directed by Otto Preminger and an uncredited Jean Negulesco. Blu-ray widescreen. Two gentlemen hunks Robert Mitchum and Rory Calhoun co-star with Monroe in this CinemaScope Western filmed in Canada. Monroe plays a saloon girl trying for a better life; she follows her treacherous gambler husband (Calhoun), who's out to claim a gold mine he's won in a card game. When Mitchum appears, a widower with son played by "Lassie's" Tommy Rettig, we know Calhoun's time has come. There are terrific white water rapids scenes and beautiful scenery. Monroe sings the title ballad and saloon songs. Color and sound are consistently good. Trailers are the only extra.

"There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), directed by Walter Lang of "The King and I" and "State Fair." Blu-ray widescreen. Monroe takes a backseat to Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor in a showcase of music by Irving Berlin. Merman and O'Connor as Mom and Pop Donahue and their three kids are a song and dance vaudeville act, the Five Donahues. The act hits a snag when the oldest son falls for aspiring singer Vicky (Monroe). O'Connor dances with statues that come to life, Merman belts out tunes in her bombastic style and Monroe performs "Heat Wave" in a way that gives you chills. Color wavers a bit although not as badly as in "How to Marry a Millionaire." Trailers are the only extra.

"The Seven Year Itch" (1955), directed by Billy Wilder. Blu-ray widescreen. Originally Wilder wanted James Stewart for the male lead but scheduling conflicts kept them apart. A young Walter Matthau auditioned for the role, but the studio wouldn't back him, so Tom Ewell, who had won a Tony for playing the part on Broadway, was chosen. This comedy about the temptation of adultery is slow and dated now, although there are still plenty of good lines. It's summer in Manhattan when wives and children are sent to the country while husbands continue to sweat it out at work in the Big Apple. Mid-life crisis hits while the wives are away and Ewell finds himself tempted by his new neighbor, "The tomato upstairs."

This disc has loads of extras including commentary by Wilder biographer Kevin Lally, who compares the film with its stage version and puts the content in context with `50s morals. There's information about the 1930 Hay's Code, the Motion Picture Production Code that begins: "No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin." Read the entire list of rules at It's a gobstopper.

Another documentary, "Monroe and Wilder: An Intersection of Genius" provides interviews from several people who knew them well, and who cover the breakdown between Monroe and her husband, Joe DiMaggio, over the famous subway grate photo shoot. Also find a picture-in-picture track about censored material, a series of short Fox documentaries duplicating info from the other features, deleted scenes, a still-gallery and more. The picture looks stellar and the sound is excellent.

"Some Like It Hot" (1959), directed by Billy Wilder. Blu-ray widescreen. Wilder finally got to shoot a film in black-and-white, just like he had wanted to do with "The Seven Year Itch." The American Film Institute voted "Hot" the best comedy ever made and I'd give it that vote, too. Set during Prohibition, two luckless musicians played by Curtis and Lemmon happen to walk in on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Now targets of the mob led by George Raft, the boys disguise themselves as girls, join an all-girls' band and head to Florida. Monroe plays the lead singer in dresses that would be daring and dangerous even today. Curtis falls for the delectable Sugar (Monroe) who falls right back. But it's Lemmon and Joe E. Brown who get the last line and laugh, observing: "Well, nobody's perfect." The picture is brilliant; definition and contrast outstanding. Sound is great.

This is the same disc from an earlier Blu-ray release with a commentary by co-writer I.A.L. Diamond's son, Paul Diamond, with screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, with spliced archival remarks from co-stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Also, watch "The Making of Some Like It Hot" featuring interviews with co-writer/director Billy Wilder, co-writer I.A.L. Diamond, Lemmon, Curtis and others.

"The Misfits" (1961), directed by John Huston; written by Arthur Miller, Monroe's husband at the time. Blu-ray widescreen. This was Monroe's and co-star Clark Gable's last film; he died of a heart attack a few weeks after filming wrapped and she passed months later in 1962. But there's more to this than its place as the last film of two great stars. It's a drama of disillusionment and dysfunction with Gable as an old, modern day cowboy who's seen his way of life die. Gable's character and two other men played by Montgomery Cliff and Eli Wallach fall for the new divorcee played by Monroe. She takes to Gable but things just go from bad to worse as the story rambles on. Sound and picture are both very good in high-def, but there are no extras except trailers.

Buy The Forever Marilyn Blu-ray Collection (2013) Now

I am like millions a huge Marilyn Monroe fan and was so excited to hear a blu ray collection was on it's way as well as the new Marilyn Premiere Collection which includes 17 dvd's. I received both sets today and from a packaging standpoint it freed up ALOT of room for your DVD shelves. While I adore Marilyn I am utterly confused about these sets. The bluray package is very nice and is the size of a standard DVD case made of cardboard however, it is easily damaged, mine was crushed and now I am awaiting a replacement. Also if you get this open it with CAUTION as my blurays and the dvd sets fell out of their holders which are NOT sturdy enough to keep the discs in place. The cardboard sleeves also had small tears making the blu rays slide right out of place. The blu rays look great. Gentlmen Prefer Blondes is stunning and the best of the bunch in my opinion. All the others are very nice and clear but in my opinion this title of GPB' looks the best. Gone are the special features from The Diamond Collection with the exception of The Seven Year Itch. If you love Marilyn the set IS worth getting based on the clarity alone and it's the best we will get I am sure, for a very long time. What ANNOYS me is the selection of films. Where is Niagara, Lets Make Love, Bus Stop AND most importantly the documentary The Final Days with the reconstructed mini film of Something's Got To Give???? Even more odd is in The Premiere DVD Collection it has 17 films but excludes "River of no Return". WHY!!!!! Granted if you buy both sets you will have all her films just a handful in blu ray.

Who the heck made these decisions? Why? And what was the thought process?? I wish they asked us as fans to pick what we would like to see in a blu ray collection. I wish FOX would have just released the Premiere DVD collection in blu ray. Many of Marilyn's early films look good and would likely have transferred over well to the blu ray format.

I hope this helped. Worth buying? Yes! Worth getting them in HD? Yes!!

I just am not sure why FOX chose to exclude Niagara, Don't Bother to knock, Bus Stop and Let's Make Love and I find this very odd indeed!

It is worth getting and I would recommend it ONLY if you are a die hard Fan . If you already have them save your money on the premiere collection. My only hope is Fox is remastering and cleaning up Bus Stop, and all the others for a 2nd blu ray collection. To clarify I compared the Blu ray collection to the new DVD collection and the blu rays are a vast improvement. These sets really go hand in hand if you want all your Marlyn in one small space. I would love to speak to the fools at Fox on how they came up with this selection. Some Like it Hot and The Misfits are included and if FOX could license these MGM titles why not also use The Asphalt Jungle and The Fireball (also MGM/WB) Clash by Night and The Princes and the Show Girl??? (both WB) and lastly they couldn't license Ladies of the Chorus????

I suppose it's better than nothing. A zillion stars for the talent of Marilyn, 4 stars on the blu ray transfers and two stars for the poor selection, flimsy packaging and that Fox didn't include a new documentary for the 50th anniversary of Marilyn's tragic demise. Overall 3 stars.

Read Best Reviews of The Forever Marilyn Blu-ray Collection (2013) Here

The 7 blu-ray titles are: The Misfits Some Like It Hot There's No Business Like Show Business River Of No Return Gentlemen Prefer Blondes How To Marry A Millionaire The Seven Year Itch.

Want The Forever Marilyn Blu-ray Collection (2013) Discount?

First thing is I agree with the other reviewers about there being NO NIAGARA in this set, what were they thinking to leave it out? This review is mostly for the package design for the FOREVER MARILYN Blu-ray set and not the films, that has already been done. Once again I bought a new set of Blu-ray or dvd films that had all the discs jammed into cardboard pockets that are not lined with anything to protect the data side and all discs had some sort of scratches or scuff marks. Other sets with similar packaging: 10 film John Wayne box set, the 15 disc Leading Men Collection and 15 disc Leading Women Collection. When will the STUDIO HEADS that control package design listen to their customers? Also there is no information on the box or inner sleeves to let the buyer know which films are widescreen or which films have any extra features. The only good thing with the package design is the nice pictures on the cardboard pages of the disc sleeves. Why couldn't FOX/MGM use the same plastic box they used with the KIRK DOUGLAS or PAUL NEWMAN 7-movie Collections?, these 2 sets were well packaged and protected and still a lot smaller than 7 regular dvd/ blu-ray cases taking up room on a shelf. Amazon should have posted an image of what the inside packaging looks like, showing the discs in their pockets, to inform potential buyers. Also looks like Amazon has gotten cheap and started recycling used shipping materials. When the package arrived it was in a box that had another shipping label under my address label and the box had been tapped shut after being opened. I'll get off my soapbox now, I'm thru venting.

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Dante's Peak (1997)

The 'old-fashioned' disaster movie scenario enjoyed a brief resurgence in the latter half of the 90s. After the success of Twister and ID4, films like Hard Rain, Titanic, Armageddon and Deep Impact followed in its wake. Like the two competing asteroid movies, Dante's Peak was in competition with the imaginatively named Volcano as THE Lava flow of 1997. Which one is better? Well, comparing the two is like comparing an atomic blast to a popping pimple.

Pierce Brosnan is Harry Dalton, a Vulcanologist (or James Bond in disguise if you want) who predicts a major eruption in the quaint Pacific-Northwestern town of Dante's Peak. No one wants to listen to him since the town has just been named the 2nd most desirable place to live in America and is in the early stages of a thriving economy. It's the politics from Jaws all over again. Despite being shouted down by his superiors, Harry sticks around to keep his eye on the imposing mountain and woo Mayor Wando (Linda Hamilton), who is the only one who believes the 4000-year dormant volcano might blow its top.

If you've seen one disaster movie, you've seen 'em all in terms of character importance. Yes, it's bloody obvious who is going to die, some of these people might as well have a death clock counting down stuck on their foreheads. And the panicking idiot mobs don't deserve anything less firey. When will nameless extras learn that following the crowd isn't the best way? I guess this is the weakest part of Dante's Peak, it never really distances itself from that single, eternal cliché of disaster films.

But the film is really nothing but a showcase for special effects and it does them surprisingly well. Made before the extreme popularity of CGI, Dante's Peak has a lot of real-life destruction, in-camera effects and stunt-work. Yes, there is a fair bit of CGI and for a 10-year-old film they still hold up really well. All Volano (Zzzz...) had to offer was a very, very slight lava flow and an unintentionally hilarious scene with a melting man but with Dante's Peak we get earthquakes, boiled skinny dippers, lakes of acid, ash blizzards that create a unique atmosphere, thunder and lightning, red hot boulders raining down from the sky, mudslides, lava (of course), a massive pyroclastic cloud and lots of deep, deep bass sound effects.

It's not a life-changing film by any means, but as disaster movies go it's one of the best, has an occasionally spooky score and entertains really well despite Brosnan taking it all so seriously. I would have given it a higher rating if they killed the dog (more original) and deleted the annoying Grant Heslov's utterly pointless character.

The Blu Ray presents the film is gorgeous 1080p 2.35:1 with a brilliant DTS HD-MA sound design. The best of the extras from the SD-DVD are ported over, but why the horrible new cover?

Dante's Peak seems like the ideal place to live... the serenity of the mountainous landscape and the friendly atmosphere seems to wipe out the fact that the town is nestled at the base of a dormant volcano. However, when the U.S.G.S. begins to pick up signals from the volcano that indicate a possible eruption, they send Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) to investigate. While there, he befriends town mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) and informs her of the risks. When he begins to get the city council into an uproar, his advisor shows up to cool things down and wards off any ideas of an eruption. But the symptoms begin to grow, and soon, ash and rock are flying in the sky as the mountain explodes upon the small township. It's a race for survival for Dalton and Wando, as they must search for Wando's children and get them out before the impending final showdown with the volcano. Digital Domain's special effects contribute so much to the story, making it real and placing its characters in real peril. Suspense, action, romance and a terrific cast make this disaster movie a winner. The DTS version is remarkable, and it is recommended that this be the version you buy.

Buy Dante's Peak (1997) Now

In 1997 there were two eagerly anticipated volcano movies released. Dante's Peak was more of a blockbuster hit, with more entertainment value, but not very accurate from a geologist's standpoint.

Had it been based on reality instead of Hollywood, they all would have died early in the movie. You can't drive through lava. Since it can get up to 2000 degrees, the vehicle would have perished immediately. I also don't know many metal objects like a small boat that can survive direct contact with acid elements and remain floating indefinitely.

With all that said it was a good entertaining movie. Pierce Brosnan is always a must see!

Read Best Reviews of Dante's Peak (1997) Here

"Dante's Peak" is one of the disaster movies that really brings the genre to a super peak, with a realistic and thrilling earth-shaking (in this case literally) catastrophe, high octane action, glorious cinematography capturing great natural beauty, and high-quality characters and relationships. It is, of course, about a volcano, one of the most powerful forces in nature, and it successfully captures the grandeur and terror of such an event. I've always found volcanoes fascinating they're terrifically destructive, and of course tragic for the havoc they wreak, both when they're near human habitation and when they're in the 'isolated' wilderness where the other creatures are the sole recipients of their explosive force. And yet they're undeniably beautiful, like a sunset or a howling snowstorm, and they're in fact an essential part of the inner workings of the earth. Also, although there is often a lot of death associated with volcanoes as acre after acre gets burnt up or covered with ash, they're also, paradoxically, major bringers of life. Even extremely barren, infertile lands with usually burst forth with new life within a few years of a volcano, because they bring forth such rich new nutrients in their lava.

"Dante's Peak" is smart by not having the disaster hit five minutes after the opening credits have finished rolling; there have been some movies of this nature over the years that have made just that mistake. This one though is perfectly paced throughout. There is plently of tight build-up and a couple of tragic harbingers of the bigger calamity to come. The action in the latter parts of the movie is explosive and exhilirating, among the best. It's interesting that "Dante's Peak" has managed to position itself as one of the greatest action movies without any real bad guys. There are some unlikable characters short-sighted, arrogant, condescending but that's all. They're jerks, but they're not characters who are going to go out and kill somebody. So in this tremendous action movie there's no one shooting at each other, no swordplay, no high-impact kick battles. Don't get me wrong I love the kind of movies represented by "Lethal Weapon", "Timebomb", "True Lies", "Out Of Time", all that; and I generally even more love the more fantastical, really grand movies like "Superman Returns", "Star Wars", "Lord Of The Rings", "Spider-Man", all that stuff. But it's neat that a movie missing so many of the great staples of action fare has also brought itself up into the cream of the crop.

The visuals of "Dante's Peak" are awesome. The volcanic effects are extremely realistic, and just the natural splendor is great. As mentioned, the cinematography is incredible, although there is admittedly one wonderful shot that was promising to be truly spectacular but gets hampered a bit by the camera being in the wrong angle to capture it all. A very minor quibble. It would also be an extremely minor quibble if one was to spend too much time focusing on the improbably high number of razor-thin escapes by some of the characters. Movie makers Are allowed some artistic licences even in realistic scenarios after all, and besides, in a case where two outcomes are possible but one quite a bit more likely, you don't have to go with the most likely one Every time. You shouldn't also go with the most unlikely every time either or it loses its believability and tension, and "Dante's Peak" doesn't do that. It stays on just the right tip of the balancing scale.

Excellent stuff; for more disaster-oriented greats I also recommend "Deep Impact" and "Titanic".

Want Dante's Peak (1997) Discount?

WOW!!! This video transfer is the best HD-DVD video transfer I think I have had the pleasure of viewing. It is absolutely brilliant, it may not be everyones "cup of tea" as far as storylines go but you cannot fault the transfers they are fantastic.

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