Strike: Remastered Edition (1925)

(THE) STRIKE was the first film made by Sergei Eisenstein. The film is a tragedy, ending in annihilation, and it does not seem to have a final resolution other than the ending title card "Remember!" That the crowned heads of Europe imposed a regime of repression upon their people for a whole century from the fall of Napoleon to the end of the First World War is a well documented fact, and so this film does not actually go over the top in portraying it. In fact, there is a lot of humor along the way, which is found off-putting by some reviewers. This humor probably belongs to a tentative strand of thinking that was going on in the Soviet film industry at the time. While STRIKE was in production, Protazanov's blend of whimsy and realism, the science fiction classic AELITA opened in Moscow, and the theater facade was decked with gigantic figures of the King and Queen of Mars. The crush of patrons was so great that the director himself was unable to get into the theater, and had to miss the premiere. This popular success seems to have frightened the Soviet authorities, and Protazanov was put on a leash, and Eisenstein himself never indulged in such antics as these again. Then there would be only the straight propagandistic melodrama of OCTOBER and MOTHER and so forth.

Of course, STRIKE is propaganda, too. Notably, we do not know the names of any single character until after he or she is dead. The worker who hangs himself leaves behind a suicide note, and only then do we find out his name. That is the trigger that launches the strike. At the end, after the massacre, a single title card appears with a bunch of first names. These two title cards cannot disguise the fact that we do not really have characters in this film, but archetypes--the manager, the stock holder, the strike leader, the spies (of a number of different kinds), etc.

The blu-ray is a magnificent presentation of the film. I cannot compare it with any of the several DVD releases, but I have a twenty-year old laserdisc from the boxed set on Soviet cinema, and the blu-ray transfer is much superior in every way (but one). The blu-ray shows more perimeter to the picture, and especially on the top side of the screen. That gives the film more headroom, and it really makes a difference in the full portrayal of the art of Eisenstein. Cut-off heads is one of my biggest gripes about silent film on home video. There is one magnificent take early in the film, projected in reverse, going from feet standing in a puddle, moving away, the puddle clears to show the reflections of smokestacks, then conspirators walk backwards into the reflection. When I was watching the cropped picture on the laserdisc I couldn't see clearly the technique that Eisenstein was using. It all became crystal clear while watching the blu-ray. Both picture and sound are excellent--the sound on the loud side, so I had to turn down my amp.

The laserdisc and blu-ray are produced from different prints, and they have damage in different places, mostly in the opening reel. These things might have been repaired, but do not detract greatly from the presentation.

I mentioned that there was one way I preferred the laserdisc, and that was in preserving the original Russian intertitles. While I do not read Russian, I find that having the original titles there helps remind me that we are, after all, watching a film from Russia. Also, in the case of this film, the titles interact with the film in a unique way. About two minutes into the film there is one title that playfully morphs into the following footage. That one original title was retained on the blu-ray, but all the others were replaced with oversized English titles. The original titles were medium sized, appropriate for the size of the screen. Use of the large type makes the film seem even more didactic and doctrinaire than it is. It certainly would have been possible to give us an option of Russian or English intertitles, as was done with the blu-ray release of Battleship Potemkin. Again, I say that something is lost when the original titles are entirely replaced, even when the new ones have high definition as in this case.

So, to document the film in its original release format, I am keeping the laserdisc. But I will be watching the blu-ray for the film itself. I think it is flat-footed at the end, but there are so many brilliant moments along the way that make the film rewarding to see again and again. The blu-ray maximizes those moments.

If the quick and easy label is to call Sergei Eisenstein the Orson Welles of Soviet cinema, chronology notwithstanding, then "Strike" ("Stachka") is the great director's "Citizen Kane." This comparison would be dictated not by the greatness of this 1924 silent film, but rather by the fact "Strike" was Eisenstein's debut film. What the young Eisenstein clearly has in common with the young Welles is the reckless creativity of a kid with a brand new toy. The story is about the strike of factory workers in Czarist Russia in 1912, which ends with the rebellious comrades being brutally beaten down.

Eisenstein might be consumed with exploring the boundaries of cinematic technique, but he does evince some basic storytelling skills here. The climatic tragedy is set up initial comic element, which gain our sympathy for the workers on a human rather than an ideological level. Certainly a management that brings in spies and agents to infiltrate the oppressed workers cannot be supported. The strike begins after a factory worker, falsely accused of being a thief, hangs himself. The initial excitement over the prospects of success faded as the strike goes on and on. When the provocateurs hired by management finally bring things to a head, the tired and hungry workers are no match for the military troops that come to crush them. "Strike" features Grigori Aleksandrov as the Factory Foreman, Aleksandr Antonov as a Member of Strike Committee, Yudif Glizer as the Queen of Thieves, and I. Ivanov as the Chief of Police.

The more you know about Eisenstein's later works, the more you will recognize the raw cinematic techniques he displays in his first film as being refined in his later masterpieces. I know the obvious comparison is to look at "Battleship Potemkin" after screening "Strike," but I think the most profitable analog is with Alexander Dovzhenko's 1929 "Arsenal," which deals with a similar subject, namely a 1918 strike by Bolshevik works in Kiev. "Strike" runs 75 minutes and this Kino on Video edition has been digitally mastered from a mint 35mm print taken from the original negative. The presentation of this silent film is enhanced by a new score by the Alloy Orchestra.

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An epic feature film debut by filmmaker and film theorist Sergei Eisenstein. A precursor to the violence and large scale fights shown in his later films, "Strike" will continue to resonate strongly with cinema fans, especially for its famous final sequence.

The great Russian director Sergei Eisenstein, known for films such as the 1938 "Alexander Nevsky" and the 1944-1946 films "Ivan the Terrible" and a filmmaker who will be remembered for is his 1925 masterpiece "The Battleship Potemkin".

But a year before "Battleship Potemkin", "Stachka" aka "Strike" was created in 1925 and in Eisenstein's polemic cinematic style featured a theme of collectivism versus individualism and also featured the talent of the Proletcult Theatre.

"Strike" is a film that takes place during the Czarist rule and showcases workers of a Russian factory. The morale of the workers are low and while these workers work very long hours for little pay, the owners and higher up of the factory are shown as porkly characters that could care less about the employees but are more concerned of making money, eating and drinking well and getting rich.

Featured in six parts, the film begins with the following quote by Vladimir Lenin:

The strength of the working class is organization. Without organization of the masses, the proletarian is nothing. Organized it is everything. Being organized means unity of action, unity of practical activity.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"Strike" is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:33:1) and is presented in Linear PCM 2.0 Stereo (music performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra). The edition featured on Blu-ray of "Strike" is a version mastered in HD from a 35 mm film element restored by the Cinematheque de Toulouse.

While it is is expected to see white specks and a little film damage, the picture quality is magnificent. If you have seen this film before and have seen versions that get to the point where the visuals keep fading to black, no problem whatsoever in the picture quality of this film on Blu-ray.

The clarity is well-done, especially the closeups of the various individuals. Tonal gradation, black levels and contrast is also magnificent and this is the best looking version of the film to date. I detected no softness, no artifacts, no excessive degradation of the original film elements (There are a few scenes which show this slight whiteness but it's for a second or two and doesn't disturb your viewing of the film.

The overall look of the film compliments Eisenstein's direction and the cinematography by Vasili Khvatov, Vladimir Popov and Eduard Tisse.

Also, the music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra was well-done and complimented the film extremely well!

SPECIAL FEATURES

"Strike" comes with the following special features:

GLUMOV'S DIARY (4:43) For years considered lost, Eisenstein's first film "Glumov's Diary" (1924) is a playful experimental short made for his stage production of Alexander Ostrovsky's Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man.

EISENSTEIN AND THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT (37:10) Film historian Natacha Laurent places Eisenstein's work in the context of the Communist revolution and contemporary Soviet filmmaking.

Battleship Potemkin Trailer (1:32) Theatrical trailer for Kino's "Battleship Potemkin".

EXTRAS:

"Strike" comes with a slipcase cover.

JUDGMENT CALL:

A magnificent, groundbreaking film that still has relevance today!

Sergei Eisenstein's "Strike" is a straightforward film. Workers are mistreated, higher-ups are the ones who receive the benefits and when workers want to be treated well, their employers turn on them and the results are tragic.

Of course, in the United States, although strikes do happen and mediation between companies work hard to solve the issues, what we see in "Strike" still happens today in other countries (especially in China where several employee strikes in 2001 have turned violent due to worker's working very long hours and receiving unfair wages).

And in cinema, America has had its share of strike films with "The Grapes of Wrath", "Bound for Glory", "Norma Rae" to name a few. But what makes Eisenstein's "Strike" so amazing is what was accomplished back in 1925 visually. For one, Eisenstein is a filmmaker who knows how to incorporate large masses of people and capture the realism of that era. In this case, workers on strike in 1903 (note: There was a South Russian strike of 1903 in Odessa but violence was minimal and led to an independent labor movement but I have read that the film is actually was intended to be part of a series that led to the 1917 Revolution which ended Tsarist Autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union).

It's Eisenstein's focus on collectivism that comes forefront as American cinema tends to focus on the individual who may have led the strike or had a big part in it. No one actor becomes the protagonist. Strikers are a collective, the management and shareholders work as a collective.

And that is where Eisenstein shows his strength as a filmmaker, the utilization of composition and structure that achieves the film's efficacy.

Once again, the collective is the keyword to this film. Where many films would show a hero either being incarcerated, killed or simply being held on the pedestal for their achievement, its a banality that is often seen to well in cinema today and Eisenstein knew at the time that it's the collective that that should be featured and not one person goes down, all will suffer together.

Although I do not like to talk about the ending sequences of a film, "Strike" is one of those films where the majority of discussion of this film is primarily of its final scene. It's the most violent scene but also cinematography-wise, it's the most beautiful part of the film is seeing how Eisenstein used the visual aspects of the film to make it artistic but at the same time, no doubt, stirring up emotions of the Soviet people in the 1920's who watched the film.

If you do not want to be spoiled by my comments on the ending, please stop here and revisit after you watched the film.

"Strike" is well-known for its violent final scenes towards the collective mass interwoven with realistic scenery of a live cow being slaughtered are images that stick in your head. Without having to show hundreds of people marching to their demise, it was a well-executed plan to use the cow during that time, to be a symbol of the slaughter of humans. To show how people of the same blood but not of the same social status are looked down upon.

A mother tries to rescue her daughter who runs towards the military soldiers in their horses. These soldiers could care less and start beating on the mother and possibly the most disturbing scene, aside from the cow scene, was a soldier grabbing a baby and literally dropping the baby many levels below to its crashing death. While we see the workers tormented and running for their lives, it's a sickening juxtaposition of the exaggerated capitalist, laughing, fat and non-caring of their workers.

The bourgeoisie, the management, higher ups, shareholders, governor, police chiefs...they are the antagonist, the workers, the proletariat are the protagonists, the heroes of the film.

These scenes are quite haunting and although Eisenstein had created even more significant films after his filmmaking debut with "Strike", It is amazing to see the filmmaker create this aural effect through visual means.

Interesting enough, Eisenstein actually had a conceived a more violent film according to a record made of the completed final sequence which involved the decapitation of the cows heads, skinning of the cows and ending with a closeup of the cow's eyeball in order to correlate with the massacre of the workers.

As for the Blu-ray release, having owned the DVD, this film features the restoration courtesy of the Cinematheque de Toulouse and a newly-recorded score by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra who did a magnificent job. It's also great to have the "lost" short film "Glumov's Diary" included in this Blu-ray release but for fans of Eisenstein, the included "Eisenstein and the Revolutionary Spirit" was a wonderful addition to this release.

There are not many filmmakers who have had the freedom to create films with a large mass of people and also to use his films to have this polemic and propagandist tone. It's a groundbreaking film for its time that a cinemaeaste must experience as it is quite different than "Battleship Potemkin" and Eisenstein's other well-known works.

Overall, "Strike" on Blu-ray is highly recommended!

Read Best Reviews of Strike: Remastered Edition (1925) Here

The most noticeable thing about this film is the extremely fast editing. This is fast compared with modern films, but by its contemporaries, it's lightning fast. Eisenstein advocated what he called 'montage', meaning more the juxtaposition of two different or similar images by intercutting or fading between the two to allow the viewer to draw comparisons between the two images. This is sometimes subtle, and at other times blunt (such as the scene with the crowd being slaughtered being intercut with cattle being slaughtered). Nevertheless it allows Eisenstein to make a point that we are treating humans as cattle and also avoids visceral depiction of the killing of the humans, whilst giving us a shocking image that tells us what we need to know. The film is somewhat difficult to follow, even with subtitles, and I felt there were no real points of identification. The humour in the depiction of the Bourgeoisie lightened the tone in places, but the film still seems more like a political manifesto for the Bolsheviks than representation of reality. Years ahead of its time technically, but dated in content.

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This early work by Sergei Eisenstein in its Blu-Ray restoration is a fine example of storytelling in chapters. The restoration is excellent, the added music sound track is appropriate and the crisp black and white images take one back to those industrial times and predatory capitalism. There is lots of "human nature" and character studies plainly laid out for the viewer.

Eisenstein, like Carl Theodore Dryer after him, never made a bad film is his like. I am hoping that Kino restore and reissue every film that Eisenstein, the Master Film maker ever made. I will buy all of them.

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Lost Boys Triple Feature (The Lost Boys / Lost Boys: The Tribe / Lost Boys: The Thirst) (2012)

I REALLY LOVE THIS TRIPLE FEATURE DEAL! I'M GOING TO BUY MORE.. WELL ACTUALLY I HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE ALREADY. NOT OF THIS ONE I MEAN OTHER ONES. ANYHOO! I'M SLOWLY TURNING ALL MY REGULAR DVD'S INTO BLU RAY AND IT HELPS SO MUCH MORE TO HAVE THEM LIKE THIS! YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH ROOM I'M GETTING BY DOING THIS! AND I LOVE THEY PUT ALL THREE MOVIES ON THEIR OWN DISC AND ANY SPECIAL FEATURES ARE STILL ON WITH THE MOVIE IF THEY CAME WITH ANY! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE SET AND ANY OTHERS!

I initially only wanted The Lost Boys... but after some perusing I found that it was being sold in blu-ray as a triple feature for less $ so I said why not besides Cory Feldman is in all three and that works for me.

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Because the movie was a Blu-ray and it had all the upgrades from the standard DVD and huge upgrades from the older VHS tapes; "The movie picture and sound was Grrrrrrrreat!!!! Their speedy service was awesome and as such, I hope to purchase more from them in the future too!

Read Best Reviews of Lost Boys Triple Feature (The Lost Boys / Lost Boys: The Tribe / Lost Boys: The Thirst) (2012) Here

Who doesn't love the lost boys... So the others arent as good as the first but fun entertainment and worth it for the original, which is one of my favorite movies.

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I would recommend to others! I really enjoyed watching them because I like to watch scary movies sometimes. Great Storyline!

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Mother and Child (2010)

"Mother and Child" was written and directed by Rodrigo García. It came out in 2009 but is now just opening in Indianapolis. The story alludes to many different mother and child relationships but mainly focuses on three women: a 50 year old woman played by Annette Benning, the 37 year old daughter she gave up for adoption played by Naomi Watts, and another woman looking to adopt a child of her own played by Kerry Washington.

Even though there are cases of a man and a woman together discussing a child, the focus is always on the woman's reaction and emotions to events going on around her. It may sound chick-flicky, but this was a powerful drama that transcends that. This was a very effective piece of work carried off brilliantly mostly due to these three women and a few more besides.

Annette Bening hasn't lost her touch. Her character, Karen had to give up her baby for adoption at age 14 and it has plagued her life nonstop ever since. She never moved out and still takes care of her ill and aged mother, Nora played by Eileen Ryan who made this decision for her. To say she is a very "difficult" person to get close to would be an understatement, she is practically a hedgehog! The only coping mechanism she appears to get by with is writing letters in a journal to the daughter she never met wondering how she is and if she was raised well. Bening successfully froze herself at the social development state of a 14 year old in interacting with others and is very guarded even when attempting to ask a new man at her workplace out for coffee.

Her unknown daughter, Naomi Watts' Elizabeth has raised herself well after never being very close with her adopted parents and being self sufficient since age 17. She is a very successful lawyer who has been paving a very smooth path for herself though it has been full of detours since she moves around often. Elizabeth too is a very guarded person, but she does it with extreme confidence and very willful sexual pursuits. Watts plays Elizabeth as an individual so strong that it is also her weakness as she refuses to accept help from others as part of her rigid independence.

Kerry Washington's character, Lucy and her husband, Joseph (David Ramsey) have been unable to conceive for four years so they are now pursuing adoption and are undergo the rigorous interviewing process of a 20 year old pregnant college student (Shareeka Epps). Once again, it just goes to show how much more difficult it is to get through the adoption process than successfully having your own child and that always makes me wish natural parenting should have to take a test or something. Kerry Washington gives an outstanding performance of a woman so frustrated by her limitations and desperate to be approved to be a mother. Washington in one scene was THIS close to bringing me to tears and I personally have no interest in having a child but her intense fighting desire to have a baby just got to me. Her mother is played by one of my favorite "Law & Order" actors, S. Epatha Merkerson whose no nonsense approach always sets Washington's character, Lucy on edge but at the same time Lucy needs to be snapped out of it sometimes to grow up.

One of my other favorite characters in this film was Sister Joanne played by Cherry Jones who was the Madam President on "24" for the last two seasons. I absolutely adore her and she got to play into her caring sensibilities and kind nature in a very difficult occupation trying to help people connect when they are the most emotionally vulnerable.

Sure, there were plenty of guy characters in this story but the story was written for and to appeal to women primarily and it succeeds by leaps and bounds in telling an emotional story that appeals to that ingrained maternal instinct in all of us by moreover reminds us once again how short life is and that you have to act quickly if you do not want to suffer thirty plus years of regret. Nice drama.

Rodrigo Garcia's "Mother and Child" is an incredible and emotionally epic film. We didn't need any more proof that Annette Bening and Naomi Watts were two of the best actresses in their age groups, but this film cements the deal. Bening (with her searing turn in this film as well as The Kids Are All Right) and Watts (completing her 2010 hat trick with You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Fair Game) are so compelling and affecting. Kerry Washington also delivers fine work here, completing the trio of women whose lives have been affected for generations by adoption. Garcia's writing is poignant and far reaching. He has an amazing command over this three leads, the story, it's progressionboth narratively and fated, and his many supporting players (most notably Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smits). "Mother and Child" is a film that reminds us how affecting a symbolic, well told and meaningful story can be. How well written characters experiencing real emotion are the truest of special effects. "Mother and Child" is an outstanding motion picture.

It's almost kind of shocking how "Mother and Child" was and is ignored, this is what so many movies should be like.

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i'm not usually drawn to tear-driven movies...but this one is quite an exception. Annette Bening, as usual, plays exceptional well...and the story is so awesome and realistic, it is in fact a lot of people's story.

Can't wait to see again on the upcoming DVD. MUST-SEE, especially if you're sensitive enough:)))

Read Best Reviews of Mother and Child (2010) Here

Imagine a film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu but with a linear narrative. Imagine now a superb extended metaphor on adoption, hence on filiation, interpreted by actors skillfully directed. You get it ? Now, you have before your very eyes one of the best American movies of 2009. Unfairly ignored. Masterpiece.

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Annette Bening won raves for THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT but I like her even better in this film which unfortunately was not seen by that many people. Bening portrays a woman who gave birth at 14 and was forced to put the child up for adoption. That girl, now grown, is played by Naomi Watts and the film also deals with her life and

how she has hardened herself not to be hurt. The third story involves a childness

African-American couple who wish to adopt a child. The three stories come together by the end of the film. There are very fine performances from Cherry Jones and

Epatha Merkerson. This is why I love home video. A movie that might have disappeared after a couple of weeks in the theaters gets an extended life. I strongly recommend this film.

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Brubaker (1980)

Of course, I'm biased. "Brubaker" is a fictionalized account of the real story of Tom Murton, warden of Tucker & Cummins prison, in Arkansas, in 1967-68. Tom Murton was my dad & I lived on both those prisons as a 5th grader, before we were unceremoniously kicked out of Bill Clintons state. Most of the movie's events really happened, including the electric torture--called the Tucker Telephone--the whip, the horrid food, the inmate trustees carrying guns, painting death row, & digging up some of the 200 unmarked graves, most of which remain unmarked on Tucker farm. Fictional events include the female prison board member, the black old inmate dying--his name was Reuben Gaines & he got out of prison. My dad assuredly did NOT infiltrate the prison as an inmate, but the scene w/ the old warden barricading himself in his office w/ a Thompson submachine gun was true. Like Redford's character, my dad was not PC & probably unecessarily antagonized both the corrections board, & the governor. But who could really agree to cover up 200 murdered inmates? Governor Winthrop Rockefeller fired my dad, even as the Arkansas legislature was moving to indict him for grave-robbing. We had 24 hrs to exit Arkansas. My dad went on to be a tenured professor of Criminology at the Univ. of MN, Minneapolis & passed away in 1990. The book about all this is "Accomplices to the Crime" by Tom Murton & Joe Hyams, Grove Press. Long since out of print, but available over the internet from rare booksellers for a reasonable price. My verdict on the movie: considering that it's primary purpose was to make money, it's a lot more factual than it could have been.

Brubaker is based on a true story and tells of the events of one man's attempts to reform a prison system mired in corruption, brutality, and a lack of order to any general degree.

Henry Brubaker, as stated in the movie, gained his past experience in corrections working in military prison systems. Brubaker hatches the ingenious plan to insert himself into the prison population at Wakefield Penitentiary as an inmate to experience first hand all the problems inside the facility. What he uncovers is nothing less than barbaric punishment methods, no structured management of inmates, lack of medical care, and the penitentiary itself in advance stages of disrepair.

Henry Brubaker, after revealing his status as the new warden and assuming his duties, goes on to discover that there are no state hired corrections officers on the staff. Inmate trustees, armed with weapons, are given the responsibility of manning watch towers, supervising work crews, and keeping the peace inside of the prison. Furthermore, prisoners are farmed out to local businessmen in the community for work with no pay which amounts to slave labor.

Upon deeper investigation into all the activities in and around the prison, Brubaker discovers other illegal activities including theft of prison food supplies and equipment, inmates being charged fees for almost non-existent medical care, and the revelation that there are prisoners buried on the prison property that were the victims of murder by fellow inmates.

Brubaker confronts the state prison board with these problems only to find out that the prison board is not only aware of these incidents, they think the system should reamin unchanged because it has always been this way and should remain so. You can sense their unhappiness with Brubaker as the new warden who wants to come in and upset their system rather than tow the line.

Henry Brubaker is portrayed as a man of honesty, integrity, and professionalism and in defying the prison board's message to leave well enough alone, he launches his own campaign to reform the prison and correct the wrongs he has inherited as the new warden. Unfortunately, with the power of the prison board and the governor of the state against him, he is eventually removed as the warden and fired.

In the final outcome, many inmates saw the necessity of the changes attempted by Brubaker and were dismayed at seeing him removed and the new warden not making proper progress to reform the prison. This prompted many inmates to file lawsuits against the state for inhumane prison conditions resulting in the governor not being re-elected the following year.

This movie is a fine drama with a very good plot, great acting, and poignant conclusion. I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

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There are only a handful of good prison movies from what I have seen over forty plus years. "Shawshank Redemption", "Brubaker", and "Birdman of Alcatraz" are three of the best. I don't care about Redford's personal politics and therefore my review is not political unlike one rant here. The story is based on a true event, and the acting is superb. My wife asked me the other day if I had replaced my VHS of this with the DVD. I realized I hadn't and I was long overdo to see this again. I immediately ordered it. The movie is one of Redford's best so fans of his should definitely see it. If you aren't a fan, then see it because it is a good drama about what sometimes occurs in prisons whether those that work in that environment like it or not. Corruption happens in all systems so people in law enforcement should not take this movie as an insult, but merely as good drama loosely based on what really happened at a prison many years ago.

Read Best Reviews of Brubaker (1980) Here

Robert Redford is Brubaker, an honest expert in corrections sent to clean up a trouble-plagued penitentiary. Sent to Wakefield Brubaker enters undercover, living his first few days as a prisoner. We learn that for its brutality, Wakefield was conceived along the lines of a noble experiment one that gave the prisoners unusual autonomy, and was intended to actually correct those imprisoned there. Instead, the experiment has carved a super-class of prisoners who rule over the rest of the prisoners as Trustees. Unafraid to use force, they skim off books while stealing supplies already paid for. Brubaker, once revealed as the new warden, slowly but surely turns the system upside down he can't move too quickly because those prisoners or administrators who are most guilty are also the only ones who can tell him what's wrong. Eventually discarding the old guard, Brubaker soon learns that Wakefield has an even darker secret, one whose discovery threatens the Wakefield's future.

This was a good movie, although it's hard to understand the first time around. The sophisticated system of prisoner autonomy is somewhat hard to believe unless you've already seen the movie before. The setting is interesting a dessicated prison, complete with an antique electric chair (which emerges from the shadows like the monster from "Alien" quite yet terrifying). That said, the movie has no surprises (comparisons to "Last Castle" are incorrect). Brubaker is an utterly honest and incorruptible soul. Once we see how he uncovers grafters among the prison administration and trustees, there's little more for him to do. We know that outside businessmen will be corrupt croneys and that even well meaning corrections bureaucrats will try to rein Brubaker in for the good of the system. The movie blows what should be its focus having Brubaker connect with the prisoners something he does too easily, too much so considering that his first speech reminds them that they are prisoners and that they are there for a reason. There also aren't enough really supportive roles as if Yaphet Kotto was the only reliable prisoner. Still worth a look.

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Brubaker, the movie, never mentions the fact that it is based on the book, "Accomplices To The Crime", by Tom Murton and Joe Hyams. It also doesn't mention that the movie is based on actual events that took place in Arkansas in the 60's at the Tucker State Prison Farm. Author Tom Murton, now deceased, was, in fact, "Brubaker."Professor Tom Murton, Criminologist Tom Murton, was hired by the then Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, brother to Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller, to come to Arkansas to "clean up" the prison system. Nelson Rockefeller lost the nomination as the Republican Presidential candidate largely due to his role in the September, 1971 Attica, NY prison riot that cost both NYS Dept of Corrections employees' lives and lives of inmates. Law suits for that event were recently settled in the millions of dollars payable to inmate victim survivors and the families of inmate victims. Tom Murton was fired from his job in Arkansas, and Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller was not re-elected. Both Rockefellers largely ended their political careers by mis-handling their prisons. Some sort of legal agreement was reached between the movie maker and the State of Arkansas to not mention this historical connection.

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The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1976)

In my opinion, this is probably the best Sherlock Holmes film ever made, and one of only a couple that ring true as being faithful to the spirit of the original stories. This is no Hollywood butchery pitting Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper or Dracula, but a truly excellent film.

The story centers around a cocaine-addicted Sherlock Holmes beginning to lose touch with reality, and the effort by Watson to save him from this fate by recruiting the aid of none other than Sigmund Freud. The three lead actors are thoroughly outstanding. This is especially true for Robert Duvall as Dr. Watson, who is really the lynch-pin of the film. It is a pleasure to see Dr. Watson portrayed well (a doctor and accomplished chronicler after all!) instead of nothing more than the stereotypical bumbling oaf. The story is compelling and entertaining with action and humor in just the right measures. Tennis, fencing, and high-speed chases (by train)!

I can imagine that some Holmes purist might take exception to film, but I think that this original flight of fancy is far better than anything out of Hollywood based on stories that Conan Doyle did write. And the film itself even takes a bit of a bow to the Holmes mythos and Doyle's own designs. I won't give it away, but just listen the last lines in the film as Holmes says goodbye to Watson.

As to the quality of the DVD, however, this one is unexceptional. Just try to let yourself enjoy this 5-star film and don't get too caught up in the media (still, to be fair, the DVD has too lose a star because of the DVD, even if the film itself is great).

This is an off-beat Sherlock Holmes film that rings true. If you're looking for pure fare, just the way Doyle wrote it, look for something by the BBC, such as the Jeremy Brett series of the past decade. If you like this film, try "They Might Be Giants" starring George C. Scott. It, too, is a bit of a 'strange' Sherlock Holmes film that nevertheless seems right.

This is the best Sherlock Holmes motion picture.

The plot, characters, acting, direction, production are all quite good. Nicholas Meyer wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his very fine novel which resulted in a handsomely crafted and very engaging entertainment. Meyer remains faithfull in spirit to the Canon and takes us on an enjoyable and plausable adventure that moves along at a good pace. Highly recommended!

I regret to say, this early Universal DVD is NOT presented in it's theatrical widescreen ratio. Pan and scan is evident in a few scenes and the images feel claustrophophic. The sound is mono but I thought it was stereo back in 1976. There are no extras. Neither is this disk 16x9 enhanced.

This film deserves to be redone and reissued. And please, Universal, redo that cover. This IS a Sherlock Holmes story. Your theatrical poster art would be welcome here.

There are substantialy less than a handful of Sherlock Holmes films on DVD. Why this is so is a mystery. At the very least we should have Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Christopher Plummer and James Mason in Murder by Decree, and Basil Rathbone in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

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From the opening to the closing credits, filled with illustrations that originally accompanied Doyle's stories in the Strand, the details of the movie are painstakingly accurate when compared to those in the canon. This is one non-canonical Holmes story that exists in the same world as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

The movie takes the liberty of assuming that all of Dr. Watson's accounts of Sherlock Holmes are true, except for one. That would be "The Final Problem", in which the great detective supposedly dies at the hands of his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty. The movie suggests that this story is merely a cover up for a period in time in which Holmes was getting help with his cocaine addiction from none other than famous psychiatrist Sigmund Freud.

The settings and characters ring true to both Doyle's mysteries and the Sydney Paget illustrations that accompanied them. Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker and cloak, though never mentioned by Doyle, look more like Paget's illustrations than ever before, more rugged than in most film interpretations. American actor Robet Duvall, despite sometimes struggling with the British accent, portrays Watson as an intellectually and physically fit comrade for Holmes, not a bumbler. Laurence Olivier's Prof. Moriarty matches the vision of Doyle and Paget rather than the cliché mustache twirler of other movies. Only now, Moriarty isn't really a criminal mastermind. He's Holmes' childhood math tutor.

Alan Arkin depicts Freud as a man of intelligence, insight, and above all, honor.

The inclusion of lesser known characters like Mycroft Holmes and Toby is a plus. There are also references, both direct and sly, to canonical Holmes stories.

While Nicol Williamson's performance as Sherlock Holmes lacks the vigor and spark of Basil Rathbone or Christopher Plummer, Williamson succeeds in showing Holmes as a troubled individual rather than a god. The movie mixes drama, subtle humor, mystery, and even action, finally showing Holmes as the capable fighter he was in the canon. The end of the film strays from the books in order to explore the uncharted territory of Holmes' childhood, providing a deeply moving climax.

This may come truer to Sir Arthur's original vision than any other pastiche written for film so far.

Read Best Reviews of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1976) Here

I own this movie on 12" laserdisc format. Unfortunately I haven't had the laserdisc player hooked up in a long time. I've always loved this film. Certainly far above average. I only wish Nicol Williamson would have finished the Granada television Holmes series after Jeremy Brett died. That was sort of a fantasy casting idea. He is superb as Holmes in The Seven Percent Solution. And what can you say about Robert Duvall? You know he's up to the task.

The DVD is out of print in the USA as of this writing (August 2009), and it costs an arm and a leg on the used market.

However, if you have a region-free player, I would check the UK amazon site. You can probably get a Region 2 PAL copy of this movie for about $8 plus shipping. It's also been re-released on DVD in Australia (which the site I'm looking at says is also PAL format -I don't know, I've never bought anything from Australia).

With most DVD players, you can find a little trick with the remote to make it region-free (Google is your friend). Wikipedia's article on "DVD Region Code" states, "Most freeware and open source DVD players, such as VLC, ignore region coding. Most commercial players are locked to a region code, but can be easily changed with software." Likely you could view it on your computer with VLC player. So, if you're a fan of this movie, and you don't mind a small technical challenge... it is available at reasonable prices. I think I'm going to get the import.

Update 10/2011: I did indeed buy the import, and the picture quality is fine. Since I only watch movies on my computer, it was no problem to convert it to a format that can be played with common software players. The movie appears to have been filmed largely through a gauzy lens -i.e. the focus is soft, there is not a lot of detail. I don't believe it is a flaw in the mastering of the DVD. That's just the way the original film looks. I'm very glad I bought this from amazon.uk, as it is one of my favorite films, the best non-canonical Holmes ever done.

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It's the only Sherlock Holmes-inspired movie I have ever thoroughly enjoyed. It's funny, intriguing, clever and even romantic. It takes a lot of poetic liberties with the characters, both the fictional (Sherlock & co) and the real ones (Sigmund Freud), but it ennobles and humanizes them, so fans of both can have nothing to complain about.

The movie does something very interesting: Freud psychoanalyzes Sherlock and 'explains' him.If only it was that easy in real life...but you know that you can never walk away with a full proof 'explanation' to the conundrum that is Sherlock Holmes. Still, as the saying goes, if they did not get it right, they have made a very good point.

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Summer Wars

If Hayao Miyazaki made a cyberthriller, the result might be something like "Summer Wars." This colorful little anime movie spends most of its run straddling the line between a family reunion comedy and a world war entirely on the web. And the results manage to stir your heart and make you laugh at the same time.

Math nerd Kenji is shocked when popular upperclassman Natsuki asks him to come to her family's country house for the weekend. Unfortunately, he's there under false pretenses -not only is Natsuki claiming that he's her boyfriend, but that he's a wealthy college student at Tokyo U. Yeah, that is inevitably going to backfire.

But something far worse happens when OZ (a crazy hybrid of amazon.com, Facebook, fighting video games and... well, just about everything you can find on the WWW) is hacked -and Kenji is the main suspect.

The truth is actually much more sinister -a horrendous program called Love Machine is devouring OZ user avatars, and is using the computer connections to cause chaos all across the world. When tragedy strikes the family, Kenji inspires them to fight back against Love Machine. But can the family's plan stop the program before it has a chance to take revenge on them?

"Summer Wars" isn't really like any other movie I've ever seen -it's part cyberthriller, part bittersweet family story, part crazy comedy, and part colorful anime. It starts off as a simple family dramedy, with Kenji getting thrown into Natsuki's eccentric family and dealing with all the baggage they bring with them. Plus, you know he's going to get busted.

But when Love Machine appears, the stakes are suddenly the technological safety of the ENTIRE WORLD. So we get a wild, crazy guerilla cyberwarefare (involving a boat, a giant computer, an army truck and lots of ice!) as the family (plus Kenji) unites to battle Love Machine. At the same time, the writer maintains the focus on the eccentric family, their grudges, and their unique personalities.

Plus, the animation for this movie is SPELLBINDING. The "real world" stuff is rendered in traditional hand-drawn anime, but the scenes set in OZ are brilliant, surreal, colorful and dreamlike. Whole civilizations on shelves, crowned whales, floating islands, stacked sports stadia, and endless chambers filled with strange little creatures.

And all the characters are very well-fleshed-out. Kenji is a nice, rather socially inept guy with epic math skills, and Natsuki is a strong young girl who finds herself with the weight of the ENTIRE PLANET on her shoulders. The entire cast is well-developed -from the stately grandmother to the idiot cousin who doesn't know what's going on -but one of the best is Kazuma, a 13-year-old kung-fu expert/computer nerd.

"Summer Wars" may start small, but it quickly grows to the epic size of the World Wide Web itself. Even better: it's funny, heartwarming and all-around engrossing.

Or is it the other way around?

Reminiscent of American movies like "War Games," as well as anime greats like "Spirited Away," this movie blends suspense, comedy, family, and a touch of romance in an expert mixture that is fun and heartwarming.

Kenji is a math genius with no self-confidence and, in his opinion, nothing else he is good at, especially when it comes to the fairer sex. He is spending his summer break working in tech support for the mega-giant, all pervading social networking site Oz when the girl of his dreams, the popular upperclassmen Natsuki, asks if he can work for her over the summer. The job is simple, she says. He just needs to accompany her on a trip to her Grandmother's house for a family reunion and do whatever odd jobs are needed to help out her big family. When it turns out that the real job is to pretend to be her fiancé, he balks at first. After all, he has never even taken a girl on a date, let alone gotten serious enough to be engaged! (My perception is that he was thinking that he can't pretend to be in love with someone that he has loved from afar for years!) But he agrees to go along with the ruse with some gentle pleading by the pretty Natsuki. When an AI cyber-terrorist attacks Oz using Kenji's avatar, most everything hits the fan. But Natsuki's large, eccentric family mobilizes, with inspiration from the matriarch and an extra push from Kenji himself, and works to counter this threat to the world, since much of the real world's infrastructure is routed through Oz, and Oz is being eaten by the AI. Can a math geek, a middle school fighting game expert, and a beautiful, self confident young woman save the world? Watch this masterpiece by Mamoru Hosoda, the director of the stunning "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," and find the answer.

The BluRay is well presented, with easy to use menus and stunning graphics. The background art, both in and out of Oz, is breathtaking art in it own right. The character designs in the real world are natural and effective. The Oz avatars are cute, but have amazing capacity for creepiness and emotional expression. The English dub cast, comprised of veteran voice actors like Brina Palencia, Michael Sinternicklaas, Todd Haberkorn, and J. Michael Tatum, do a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. Many big name anime films use big name actors instead of professional voice actors, and the dubs frequently suffer because of it. "Summer Wars" does not fall into that trap. The dub script is well wrought, with extremely natural turns of phrase and an excellent "lip flap" match, so much so that it is hard to tell that it isn't the original language of the film. There were a few spots were on-screen kanji were not translated that would have been helpful, but other than that, the localization is extremely well done.

In short, I highly recommend this film to young and old, anime fans or not! It is more than an anime film, it is a great story!

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I received my preorder of this DVD the other day, and I'm thoroughly delighted with it. Having seen the original Japanese version, I was pleased to see that the localization to English was well done. The dubbing is good, the translation natural, and the voices match to the originals quite well. There are subtitles in a few places where necessary. You get art cards showing the Oz avatars of the main characters, which are quite nice. And the extras (interviews with voice artists and original commercials for the movie) are good too. Besides being a great story in its own right, this'll be the perfect DVD for me to share with family and friends to help them understand what this crazy anime hobby of mine is all about.

Read Best Reviews of Summer Wars Here

I love Madhouse. The Studio has produced some of the best anime to come out of Japan in the last decade, including the recent "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time". Much of that team re-assembled to put together the ambitious "Summer Wars". The result?

I was entertained and disappointed. I felt moments of "wow, that's storytelling" and stretches of "that doesn't make sense". I was impressed by creative plot twists and turns that ultimately wound up in all-too-familiar territory.

One thing I found was that two dozen one-dimensional characters didn't engage me in the least, but I would have sat and listened to the wisdom and life stories of the family matriarch for hours on end. Unfortunately, even the main players -whom I found really interesting, or bold, or mysterious at first -evolved into stick figure shadows of themselves by the end of the film.

Hosoda's attempt to create a sort of anime version of "Nicholas Nickleby" is daring, and I admire the effort. I couldn't escape the film without wanting to "tweak" it here and there, to temper its extremes and make its deus-ex-machina moments a little more plausible. It was as if the writers wanted it to be a slice-of-life fantasy with romantic elements and martial arts combat mixed in with deep historical roots set in a William Gibson-esque landscape -and the whole thing collapsed under its own weight.

So, I was less impressed by this than other Madhouse productions. I wanted to really like this film, but instead came away with melancholy feelings of what might-have-been.

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There have been many excellent reviews written about Summer Wars already, but as a member of a family that does not frequently watch Japanese animation I have an obligation to let people know that this is not a niche film. Summer Wars, like all great animation, succeeds on many levels. It has stunning visuals, an excellent and intriguing story, (that's not hard to follow despite it being largely set in cyberspace) and excellent characters. The story is about a family, but, unlike so many animated films, the family doesn't take a backseat to the story--it IS the story. It's amazing to watch a realistically depicted (although delightfully quirky) family reunion transform into a show of touching family resolve that will ultimately inspire viewers both young and old. I highly recommend Summer Wars to be viewed as a family or, of course, by any lovers of animation.

One last thing I have to add. The Jinnouchi family's matriarch, Sakae, is the true star of this film. She is a character that you will not soon forget. Satoko Okudera, the screenwriter of Summer Wars, manages to bring to Japanese cinema an elderly woman that demands respect for her both her wisdom and her bravery.

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Scooby-Doo: Big Top Scooby-Doo (2012)

Scooby and the gang help solve the mystery of werewolves terrorizing a traveling circus. Loads of fun. One of the best direct-to-video adventures with the entire gang. Check out Daphne's amazing motorcycle riding, Velma being shot through the air as a human cannonball, Shaggy and Scooby are... Scooby and Shaggy trainers, and Fred is a second assistant safety net watcher just don't let him up on the trapeze. The kids loved it!

We ordered this for family movie night. My two girls enjoyed it a lot and my husband and I had fun with it too. It is about on the same level as Legend of the Phantasaur (which was really funny). This one is not quite as good, but still very enjoyable with some good lines. Recommended!

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Probably one of the funniest Scooby Doo movies I have seen in a long time. Especially after the horrible "Music of the Vampire" movie...which was aweful, awkward, and left me feeling very uncomfortable...almost queasy inside. This movie is what I love about the Scooby franchise. There were several times when My son and I were laughing so hard we had to rewind to catch the next joke. The script is a typical Scooby Doo type show....after a little while it is obvious who the villains are, but this one had a bit of a twist...not gonna spoil it. Totally enjoyed this one and hope that they continue to make more Scooby Doo movies like this instead of experimenting with idiotic ideas like the Music of the Vampire...I just cannot express how much better this is than Music of the Vampire. Did I say that hated Music of the Vampire? Well, I did hate Music of the Vampire. I didn't really like the Goblin King either....actually never finished the Goblin King because every time I watched it...I fell asleep. Zzzzzz

But this one, was great fun all the way through. 5 stars for sure.

Read Best Reviews of Scooby-Doo: Big Top Scooby-Doo (2012) Here

The poor Mystery, Inc. gang never can catch a break. No matter where they're headed, monsters and mayhem seem to find them. 43 years after his first appearance, Scooby-Doo still has a nose for mysteries. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment gives fans of the crime fighting canine and his ever youthful sidekicks a new feature length animated movie entitled "Big Top Scooby-Doo!"

The circus ringleader of the Brancusi Circus reaches out to the Scooby gang for help after a werewolf attacks attendees of the greatest show on Earth. The hairy beast has a healthy appetite for jewelry. Mystery Inc. must solve the mystery by joining the circus. Daphne the clown, Fred the trapeze artist, Velma the human rocket, ringmaster Shaggy, and trick dog Scooby-Doo must discover the truth behind the thieving wolf man and bring him to justice.

"Big Top Scooby-Doo!" is an entertaining and satisfying entry into the talking dog's adventures. It has to be a challenge to come up with original concepts and ideas for an animated franchise that's been around as long as Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo. You'd think every mystery and creepy caper under the sun has been exploited by now.

Somehow, the creative teams for these straight-to-DVD movies continue to churn out fresh stories or well-disguised recycled ones that play off as new. Kids and their parents continue to buy and watch them, guaranteeing that we'll have no shortage of Scooby on DVD or TV in the near future.

For those who don't keep up, there are basically three different Scooby-Doo universes. There's the live-action world with its own flair and cast of characters. "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" has the group solving mysteries in their hometown of Crystal Cove, which is a haven of esoteric activity.

"Big Top Scooby-Doo" falls into the last universe which is the original started in 1969. There's no Shaggy / Velma dating awkwardness, wacky parents, bumbling sheriffs, or diabolical talking birds to wade through. This is the good old-fashioned Scooby we all grew up on and love.

The Blu-ray + DVD combo pack of "Big Top Scooby-Doo!" features three bonus episodes including ones from "Scooby-Doo! Where Are You?" and "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated." They add another 70 minutes of value to this first class Blu-ray release from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Fans of Scooby-Doo will love this 18th entry in the franchise. "Big Top Scooby-Doo!" is the perfect choice for a family movie night. It will appeal to viewers young and old. It's definitely recommended for your Halloween viewing list.

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I ordered this on demand and it was awesome! I thought the Scooby-Doo movies collapsed after Music of the Vampire but this one was truly great. I wan't to get it because it was the best Scooby-Doo movie yet! (Other then the Phantosour)

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Klitschko (2012)

An excellent film, not only regarding the world of boxing but family honor, self respect, awareness and integrity. Definitely worthy of sharing with young people trying to get a grasp on the world (and the spoiled ones who need direction). Good to know there ARE some good people still moving forward with kindness and a sense of family which Americans are getting confused with. Just buy it!

Wow, I stopped watching boxing when Tyson started biting peoples ears off. Never even heard of these guys. My exchange student told me about them so I got the movie for us to watch. If you are a boxing fan or a fgan of good people doing the right thing this is a great movie!

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Good movie. Wish we got more of their present day life (at the time) included. The credits were hilarious!!!

The still or slow motion shots of punches make me cringe. Not for the person being bit, but for the Klitschkos and the faces they make putting so much effort into those hits.

Read Best Reviews of Klitschko (2012) Here

This documentary was filmed with the HIGHEST definition I have ever had the pleasure of focusing my eyeballs on in a theater, which justified my purchase of it on Blu-ray (rather than DVD) even though I don't have a BR player of my own. The quality of the picture makes every scene fun to look at, whether it's a sweeping shot of the Ukrainian desert or a close-up, slow-motion sequence of an ear-rippling left jab to the face.

To go along with the excellent visual quality of Klitschko is a superbly-told story that defines a good documentary: one that makes you passionate about a subject that you cared little about beforehand. Yes, it's boxing. No, I'm not a boxing fan. However, Sebastian Dehnhardt's intimate treatment of his two subjects Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in and out of the boxing ring lends an emotional impact with every punch the brothers throw and receive, and leaves you searching your cable provider's pay-per-view selection for "Klitschko" to see when the next fight is... (May 4th in Mannheim, fyi).

Bottom line: Great story, exciting slow-motion boxing action, and the most stunning visuals of any documentary feature I've seen yet... If you are looking for a great film on Blu-ray to showcase your new Ultra-HD screen, this is it!

sB

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I love Klitschko brothers my heroes, this is very good movie, lots of private life showing, if you hate them bq you think two, dumb, big boxers with lots of $$$$$$$$ this movie is for you, you will meet very intelligent, well educate and extremely hard working guys, you will see all carrier from beginning, lots of love and respect for each other and parents, interviews with them, with friends and family and fights ofcourse. I was waiting for this movie so long and I'm very happy to purchase this dvd, for all Klittscho fans! I love it, thank you

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Doctor Zhivago

Both Boris Pasternak's extraordinary novel and David Lean's magnificent film version are among my favorites of all-time. The story is basically about a poet/physician (Omar Sharif) who loves two women--his adoring wife, Tonya (Geraldine Chapin), and his enigmatic mistress, Lara (Julie Christie)--through the events of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

Robert Bolt's screenplay balances the political upheaval with exquisite, heartwrenching romance--one of the few films to succeed at this level. Lean, who seemed to make a specialty of making films about illicit love (Brief Encounter, Summertime, etc.), also works a tightrope, giving the film the necessary grandeur and sweep required for an epic while never losing sight of the intimacy of the characters. He is aided considerably by a magnificent cast: Sharif, despite or perhaps because of his Egyptian background, provides the perfect perspective of an individual observing things around him, each time as if it were new--it's a wonderful performance; Christie is simply luminescent; Chaplin nicely understated; and there's terrific support from Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger, Tom Courtney, etc.

What makes Zhivago a must on DVD is the awe-inspiring cinematography of Freddie Young, who deservedly won the Academy Award. I was lucky to see Zhivago at a theater, on the big screen proper, several years ago when it was re-issued; unbelievably, the DVD transfer here is even BETTER!!! There are shots in this film that are simply jaw-dropping beautiful.

Doctor Zhivago is, like the book it's based on, a challenging film that will reward the viewer with one of their most extraordinary cinematic experiences.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE DR. ZHIVAGO BLU-RAY, BOOK EDITION: I was very excited about this great movie being released on Blu-Ray and the advertised promise of the superb video and audio restorations it would offer. I couldn't wait to watch the movie when I received it from Amazon yesterday on the day of its release and I watched it in its entirety last evening. The video quality is truly excellent, but I could not believe the poor quality of the DTS audio. In order to get the sub-woofer to kick in I had to boost the volume to a level substantially higher than the range I normally use. Admittedly, this is a dialogue intense movie and not much will be going on with the sub, but one would expect a great deal more "punch" when the "drama emphasis" of the music score kicks in and when watching the sound intense action scenes. I have yet to experience this audio issue with any other DTS Blu-Ray disc in my collection and my collection ranges from very new, latest technology movies to select older classic movies such as Dr. Zhivago.

Overall, this movie as a theatrical experience has improved with age and I continue to rate the movie itself as a 5 Star production, including the wonderful music score. And, as another reviewer mentioned, the movie's subject matter has become more relevant when played against the backdrop of today's political events. So, to sum up here, because my review is intended for the Blu-Ray, Book Edition of the movie my 3 Star rating is based solely on the poor quality of the Blu-Ray's DTS audio which very much fails, as promised, to come across as "restored".

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Film making at its finest!

Boris Pasternak's acclaimed novel could not have been portrayed any more beautifully on screen than in this epic movie drama. The bitterly cold landscape of Russia in the winter contrasts sharply with the fires burning within the characters. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie are magic together. The snowy scenes and sweeping scenery display an unequaled knowledge of cinematography. The popular music is instantly recognizable and winds its way through the movie, making the score all the more emotive.

Every scene in this movie feels real. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie along with the rest of the cast, make this movie so believable, you forget you are watching a movie. You enter their world and become fascinated with their lives. Yuri (Omar Sharif/Dr. Zhivago) is the main character and the story revolves around his passion for Lara (Julie Christie). Through the harsh realities of life during at the time, their lives seem eternally intertwined. Pasha (Tom Courtenay) plays Lara's political activist husband. Victor, an older gentleman, also has a passion for Lara. She is pursued by three men, but only loved by one. These three men, their stories, and the lives of their families fill out the story line in the movie.

The story begins when Dr. Zhivago's brother finds his niece (the daughter of Dr. Zhivago who is a writer/doctor/poet and Lara who becomes the love of his life). The scenes then flash back to the Revolution in Russia. As Red blood spills out onto the white snow, we also see two people needing each other perhaps more then their very life blood. Their desire is only fueled by the fires of the Revolution as they continue to have their lives intertwine in an almost sadistic way. They seem drawn to each other by a magnetic force of passion.

This is story telling at it's finest. Just remember, it is a story and is not meant to revolutionize your thinking on the sanctity of marriage. In desperation to just survive, the characters make many bad judgments. It makes a great story, but is a sad look at character. It is definitely one of the most romantic movies ever made. It will hold your attention for hours and at the end, you will wish it had been a longer movie.

You will love this movie and do look for the Christmas Tree with real candles. I also felt this movie truly brought history to life in a way no book could. Enter the snowy streets of Moscow and be amazed at the ice house in the country. The writers expected the viewer to fill in a few gaps with their own imagination, which makes this movie all the more enjoyable as you are not taken though endless visions of tedium. No moment is wasted. This is the most romantic movie of all time, besides Gone with the Wind.

~The Rebecca Review

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If you know the history of the critics' reaction to this film, you know that it met with many negative reviews. I, for one, am pleased that audiences flocked to it in all-time record numbers. It deserves to be one of the most popular films ever made. The grand scale of the production, combined with the meticulous attention to detail in every shot is utterly awe-inspiring. Many who are accustomed to the movies of today find it slow-moving. With the development of home theater technology and the glorious new Blu Ray edition which recently became available, it can be viewed with dazzling clarity on giant screens. When seen this way by discerning viewers, it will seem to move a lot faster. The reason for this is simple. If you are confronted with its astounding visual splendor, any shots that might seem to linger too long on a smaller screen will engulf you in their visual wondrousness. Still, there are always critics. I have found numerous comments online by those who find this Blu Ray remastering to be, in one way or another, disappointing. Have recently seen the thing blown up on a huge projection screen, I am astounded by these quibbles. The new version is marvelous! That David Lean and all of those who participated in the making of this picture should have succeeded in arriving at such a level of perfection in every aspect of the production will never cease to strike me as a miracle. I've seen dozens of epic scale movies, boasting casts of thousands, but never a single one that demonstrated such meticulous and tasteful devotion to perfecting every detail. For just one example, watch carefully the treatment of the funeral of Yuri's mother. The way the director devised the scene to enter into the psyche of an overwhelmed small boy at such a terrible time in his life, all framed in the exotic scenic and cultural surroundings of its breathtaking location and long-ago period in time, amounts to such a gift to lovers of great motion pictures as can never be repaid.

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This world-famous epic is now available in a deluxe blu-ray package that will transport many a viewer who saw this film in initial release. I remember seeing it as a 70mm blow-up back in the day, and I can say this high-definition transfer is just as thrilling projected at home now.

There's not a whole lot left to say about the picture, except that it's not up to Lean's LAWRENCE as an intellectual spectacle, but equally as masterful in form and function. There are moments here as rich as any ever put on film, and Bolt's screenplay is one of the most underrated ever. I recommend that everyone take a look at this International epic once again, now that it's on blu-ray and ripe for re-visiting.

Lethal Weapon Collection (Lethal Weapon / Lethal Weapon 2 / Lethal Weapon 3 / Lethal Weapon 4) (201

I almost bought this but have discovered the hard way that you should ALWAYS research the DVD especially for uncut versions and missing footage. This box set contains the old cut versions and NOT the directors cut DTS versions. LW 1-3 are out on DTS and LW 4 is only available in DD 5.1 and actually contains the missing footage for the previous 3 movies !!!

The Lethal Weapon movies are some of the best buddy/action/comedy movies ever. This two disc set includes all four movies in the Lethal Weapon series for the price of one movie. Each of the movies is shown in the Director's Cut edition. There are trailers for the first three movies, but not for LETHAL WEAPON 4. However, LETHAL WEAPON 4 does include a commentary with director Richard Donner. If you're unfamiliar with the Lethal Weapon franchise, a brief synopsis of the films follows.

LETHAL WEAPON is the first movie in the series and introduces the unlikely cop team of Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Murtaugh is fifty-years old and a veteran officer. Riggs is an up-and-coming star of the police force, known for his atypical style. They are partnered together and become close friends while working to bring down a major drug cartel. Besides being just a good movie, LETHAL WEAPON is also notable for being the movie that made Mel Gibson a box officer superstar in the United States. Mel became famous because of Mad Max, but it was LETHAL WEAPON that made him a household name in the U.S.

LETHAL WEAPON 2 continues a few years after LETHAL WEAPON. Murtaugh and Riggs are still partners. Once again they are on a drug case, but this time it's an international drug ring of diplomats from South Africa with diplomatic immunity. They are also put in charge of protecting a key witness and informant, Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) who becomes a great secondary character in the series. Also, Riggs falls in love and pulls a house off a cliff. As a bit of trivia, Riggs was supposed to die in this one, but the studio called for a rewrite knowing how successful the franchise would be.

The Lethal Weapon series was going to be a trilogy wrapped up with the retirement of Murtaugh at the end of LETHAL WEAPON 3. After thirty-years on the force, Murtaugh is finally going to retire. However, eight days before the big event he and Riggs become involved in a case of gun running and cops gone bad. Riggs finds lasting love with an internal affairs officer, Lorna Cole (Rene Russo). Leo Getz also returns. This film is the weakest of the Lethal Weapon movies and the studio wisely decided to bring everyone back for one last film.

LETHAL WEAPON 4 brings back the entire cast of the Lethal Weapon films for one last go-around. Lorna Cole is pregnant with Riggs' child. Murtaugh's eldest daughter, Rianne (Traci Wolfe) is secretly engaged to Detective Lee Butters Chris Rock) and has a baby on the way, too. Meanwhile, Murtaugh and Riggs get entangled in bringing down a Chinese king pin, Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li) determined to move his operations from the Orient to Southern California.

If you don't already own the Lethal Weapon movies, this is THE DVD you want to own.

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The Lethal Weapon series in itself is a great set of movies, and this is a flat-out good pack of movies for the fans of the Lethal Weapon series. This has the original DVDs with the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and the Widescreen video, but I'm a fan of extras so I like the 3 pack director's cut better.

If you feel like getting all four movies in pack, go for it: otherwise I would get the cheaper three pack and buy LW 4 seperately.

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This series of films is one I've been hoping for for awhile now. I am aware that the first two films are available here in the states but they don't have any special features to speak of. Imagine my surprise when I was just looking things up randomly and found an entire box set, five discs, of the Lethal Weapon films available on blu ray and for a reasonable price!!!!

Now I'm not giving plot synopsis of each film and I'm not really going to review each film with any depth. Sorry, just don't see the point in doing so for a 24 year old franchise. The first Lethal Weapon is an American movie classic at this point. It's been ripped off and emulated multiple times(and unfortunately still is today). At the time of its release there wasn't a huge action movie market back in 1987. Sure, there were action flicks, mostly starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but most of them were real low budget and grindhouse type fare. This had name stars and a big director(Richard Donner of Goonies, Omen and Superman the movie fame) attached. Now this wasn't a huge budget film either. The film only cost about seven million to make, and even back then that was peanuts. The Lethal Weapon film had something that the other films of the time like Commando didn't have; GREAT CHARACTERS. Characters that you believed and were interesting and ultimately you cared about one way or another. The plot itself is ludicris and impossible. The way the police go about their 'procedure' is very much of the 80's, but the snappy dialogue, fun action set pieces(set pieces that stand out due to them feeling urgent and possible, unlike most action films of today), and great cast chemistry made this film original. If this film had just been a slice of life drama and not an action film then it would've still worked. Lethal Weapon 2, while not as classic for being original as the first, just furthered the strong points of the first and arguably made a better film. Adding a great addition in the form of Joe Pesci playing an annoying state witness named Leo Getz. The antics with stars Glover, Gibson and Pesci are not to be missed. Letha Weapon 3 is where the quality started dropping. It's by no means a bad film, it's actually a really fun good one, but the routine-ness of the proceedings were starting to show through. Joe Pesci's character has no function in the film beyond the fact that he was so popular in the last movie. The villain is weak to boot. The action is great and Gibson and Glover are just as endearing and watchable. Plus, they added a legitimate love interest to the mix played by Rene Russo. Russo and Gibson have a now classic scene of foreplay as they compare battle scars. Lethal Weapon 4 is the low mark in the series. I woudn't blame or argue with anyone that hated this film. It's a more episodic film(due most likely to the film being written as they were filming, which you learn in this new set's fifth disc suppliments). There are action scenes, tho they are awesome and expertly staged, where the main characters bicker and joke WAY TOO MUCH. You just want them to shut up for a second so you can watch the scene play out. It's also the most sentimental in the series as all invovled were aware of the serie's long running popularity and the fact that they knew this would probably be the last. As with previous sequels a character is added in the form of Chris Rock(in his first major studio film) as Glover's would-be son in law. Now I like the film enough despite it's flaws. It's still a fun flick, espeically if you're already a fan of the other films. It has a nice sense of closure, jaw dropping action(especially a brilliant freeway chase like no other),and a great villain played by Jet Li(this being his introduction to mainstream America). So, those are the films themselves.

The new Import Only blu rays are AMAZING. Totally worth picking up for any fan. The transfers are all crisp. This is the best the films have ever looked. The first two films exist here in the states on blu ray but they're pitiful transfers in comparison. Each disc ports over the blu ray features for each film(deleted/extended scenes, vintage featurettes, etc) and adds brand new commetary tracks for the first three films by director Richard Donner. I was excited by the new commentary tracks, but was a bit disappointed. Donner is accompanied by the new set's producer and he seems more interested in watching the films then commenting on them. Plus, he doesn't seem to remember much and often confuses scenes with other films in the series. The producer doesn't help him much as he doesn't do much to push along the commentary. More annoyingly, sometimes you hear Donner responding to someone in the recording booth who isn't mic'd, and he starts answering questions with no frame of mind for the audience. Can be very frustrating. The dvd commentary for part 4 has been ported over from the 1998 dvd, and it's still a fun listen as Donner is accompanied by several members of that film's production team.

Sorry folks but these ARE NOT THE DIRECTOR'S CUTS of the films, or as they should properly be referred to as 'the so-called director's cuts'. Back when Lethal Weapon 4 came out Warner Home Video released director's cuts of the first three films. They had previously deleted scenes incorporated back in(all these scenes are included on each film's disc as special features). Now while Donner didn't object he didn't personally put these scenes back into the films. He states that the theatrical versions are his director's cuts. The first film had the most added footage. While at the time I was excited to see more, the film buff in me knew something was wrong. The first film has a great deleted scene where Riggs confronts a sniper at an elementary school. This is an exciting scene in itself but redundant when edited into the final film. It essentially does the same job as the scene where Riggs goes undercover to buy coke at the Christmas tree lot---it shows that he's daring and prone to violence. It's cool but doesn't do much for the final narrative. I know some love the director's/extended cuts and would prefer them to the theatrical, but Im not one of them. I'm happy having theatrical versions with the deleted scenes as extras. SO DO NOT BUY IF YOU WANT DIRECTOR'S CUTS.

There's also a fifth disc with a four-part making of/retropspective documentary that runs about two hours. It has brand new interviews with Richard Donner, Danny Glover, Mel Gibson, Chris Rock, Rene Russo, screenwriter Shane Black, producer Joel Silver, and producer Mark Canton among others. This is the motherload right here. It goes in deep about the production for all four films(while, like the Indiana Jones dvd set, focusing more on the first film more) and gives you every scoop you could want regardin this film series. It's fun and informative. My favorite moments that I can think of off the top of my head have to do with Donner admitting his own ignorance regarding the suggestion of Danny Glover being offered up by casting director Marion Dougherty for the role Roger Murtaugh. "But Danny Glover is black", was Donner's initial response not realising right away that he could cast a black actor despite the fact that the script didn't specifically describe one. Show the times and how they've changed. My other favorite has to do with the long process that went behind Riggs' suicide attempt in his trailer. Gibson wasn't ready to do so asked to have it pushed back in production schedule. They cut the trailer set in half and carried it around with them from location to location until Gibson finally said he could pull the scene off. And if you've seen the first film you know it was worth the wait. A truly sad and harrowing scene ever committed to any action film I've ever seen. There's tons more of this and it's worth a view by EVERY Lethal Weapon fan. Just to hear about Shane Black's original, and much bigger, scripted ending is worth the view. I know I'll be watching it again in the future.

All in all this is worth the upgrade. Great transfers. An abundance of new and old special features. Despite the weak first three films commentary tracks I was happy to give them a listen, tho I won't be listening to them again, this is a great set. If you prefer the theatrical versions over the director's/extended cuts, or just don't give a crap either way then this is a total no brainer! Buy it! You know you want to.

PS: I don't know of any official US release date for these films in this particular form, but I am kind of annoyed that I have to import American made films with new special features, especially a franchise this popular and influential. I couldn't wait so I obviously had to. Though, Warner Brothers doesn't regionally code their discs so it should play in all players. I learned this last year when I got copies of The Goonies(another Donne classic) and Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(which includes special features not even on the US dvd releases like a great Tim Burton commentary).

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It's absolutely worth the money. It's great that movie companies are now putting movie franchises all in one set at a great price. If you're a fan of the lethal weapon series, I highly recommend this for you. All four Letal Weapon Movies with Director's cuts and bonus features. You will not be sorry!

The Tigger Movie: Bounce-A-Rrrific Special Edition (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packagin

Sitting on the couch with my 2 year old son, I've become something of a connoisseur of children's movies at this point. To be blunt, most of the modern "Pooh" films from Disney are pretty much garbage. The Piglet and Roo movies are especially painful, and got tossed out after about 1/2 a viewing each. In both of those, the characters are just being yanked and shoved through the motions by a giant, souless marketing machine that is determined to squeeze yet more cash out of them, even if it has to kill them in the process.

This "Tigger Movie" is different though. Again and again I found that it moved me to tears, and the story, animation and writing all hit home, almost like they were created by people who actually cared deeply about what they were doing. So far, it's the only one of the modern Pooh films I've seen that captures much of the original Disney/A.A. Milne magic. My son loves it too.

There have been so many Pooh-related feature films, direct-to-video films and television series that it's getting difficult to keep track of them (word is that there is another theatrical feature in the works). To the best of my recollection, "The Tigger Movie" was produced by the television division but was very successful in its theatrical release and was followed up with "Piglet's Big Movie."

This is actually quite a nice film. The amazing thing about these characters is how flexible they are for so many stories. The plot here revolves around Tigger's family background and his search for his "family tree." The animation, apparently done in Japan, is very fluid and suggestive of the earlier films -and the domestic artists behind it are among the best in the business, including Floyd Norman and Toby Bluth.

John Fiedler, as Piglet, is the one remaining cast member from the original films, with Jim Cummings voicing Pooh and Tigger and none other than John Hurt taking over the narration from Sebastian Cabot.

It sure is nice to see "Songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman" in the credits. This was technically their last film for Disney, though its success surely should have resulted in others. My favorite of their songs is "Round My Family Tree," but they all have the delicate charm of their other Pooh songs. They also collaborated with Kenny Loggins on "Your Heart Will Lead You Home," which got a lot of airplay.

The DVD offers a handful of bonus features -several games, mostly, plus a storybook version read by the great Corey Burton and a digital copy. But it is particularly good to see two short episodes from the Emmy-winning "New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" series. Each episode relates to the plot of the feature. Wouldn't it be great if the series was packaged season-by-season on DVD? Hmm?

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When I first heard this movie was coming out, my main question was why a theatrical release instead of direct-to-video? Many Disney sequels have gone that route, including the last feature-length Winnie the Pooh film, The Search for Christopher Robin.

The simple fact of the matter is probably that Disney figured they could make more money with a theatrical release (it came out with absolutely no competition for its intended audience). Happily, it's also true that this movie was a step above the usual direct-to-video fare. Most of the animation was uninspired (it's easy to tell there are fewer frames per second than in major Disney theatrical releases), but the scripts and voice acting were actually quite good.

I've been a fan of the Winnie the Pooh stuff for what seems like forever, so it's hard for me NOT to enjoy any of it. But the simple, hearwarming story of Tigger's discovery of himself and how much his friends really care about him just works. Sure, it's a childlike tale, but isn't that the target audience? We're not looking for Citizen Kane when we turn to Winnie the Pooh. We're looking for comfort and support to be who we are. It's a great message for kids, and this movie does a great job of presenting it.

I was a bit trepidatious when I saw that Jim Cummings (the voice of Pooh in all but the original shorts) was taking over for Paul Winchell as the voice of Tigger. Turns out that he does an unbelievable Paul Winchell impression! Very impressive voice acting in this one - really quite seamless.

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I like this movie mostly because I have no problems with my son watching it, as with all Winnie the Pooh movies. It is a Pooh movie that doesn't have the five minute stories but one large story. In this movie, Rabbit suggests to Tigger to go find other Tiggers to bounce with and so Tigger is off to find his family tree, which must be the greatest tree in the hundred acre woods.

It is rather cute and the songs that go along with the movie are great. My son and I will dance to a couple of them. It is also fun to watch all of the Pooh friends try to dress up like Tigger and "do as Tiggers do." My son loves this movie! Even as an adult I enjoy sitting back and watching this film.

Cute story, a little humor,and kid-friendly... this movie is highly recommended.

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This is a fantastic DvD for the whole family. This movie is my favorate of all the pooh movies.Tigger is given alot of depth here. Great story line and Grade A animation. If you own a surround system your in for a treat. Incredible music and effects. I hope disney does another film someday with Tigger as the main character.

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