Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Watching `Leaving Las Vegas' can be an experience that takes a gloomy sadness to the interiors of your existence and keeps you immersed in it. As human beings, we consistently put the highest premium on our being alive. Experiencing the intensity of a despondent Nicolas Cage committed to taking his life by drinking himself to death, can trigger off a question as to what can prepare someone for such an act of self-destruction. Intriguingly enough we get no clear answers though there is a clear hint as to it might have been a profound sense of loss or failure.

Singular focus on the moribund obsessions of Cage would be gross injustice to the incredibly touching love and empathy that he shares with the lead female protagonist Elisabeth Shue who plays a hooker's role with levels of dexterity rarely attained. There is a very deep understanding and mutual acceptance between the two lead characters that is in many ways the true highlight of this movie. Interestingly, we see no reasons for this to exist but such is the articulacy of characterization that not even for a second does one find this profound relationship unrealistic.

'Leaving Las Vegas' is an iconoclastic love story whose control over the audience is fascinating. Such is the brilliance of the performances that you feel a lump in your heart by the end of the movie and this lump transcends into the depths of your being to stay there and to remind you that unconditional love exists and so does the capability to invite your own death to walk up to you gradually and consistently. 'Leaving Las Vegas' is a movie that would haunt you for its portrayal of love intertwined with morbid realities of life.

"Leaving Las Vegas" is a dark and tragic film that shows you how low you can fall and just how bad things can get. It portrays a dead-on picture of alcoholism and what exactly one goes through when they've hit rock bottom. As tragic as it is, this is a very beautiful and well-done film that keeps your attention to the bitter end.

Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage) is an alcoholic who has nothing left to live for but the very booze that seems to be the only happiness he can find. His friends want nothing to do with him and women are disgusted by him. After being let go from his job, Ben burns all of his possessions and moves to Las Vegas, where his only plan is to drink himself to death. In a short amount of time he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a lonely hooker who has been through it all. An unexpected bond is formed between the two and love falls upon them that can only end in tragedy.

Boy, was this a hard movie to watch, but it was so well-done and executed. You are able to sympathize with both Ben and Sera, despite the paths they have chosen. Nicholas Cage was amazing and brilliant. No wonder why he won an Academy Award for his performance. You really buy into the fact that he is this sad character who wants nothing more but to destroy himself by the only thing that can bring him some sense of false happiness. Shue is also terrific in her role and should be applauded as well. The two are explosive as a team and can really bring the house down.

The DVD is fair; nothing too special. You can have your choice of either watching the movie in widescreen or full screen. The picture for the most part looks good; not the best, but good. The main special feature this DVD offers is a trailer for the film and a bonus secret page. It would be nice if they decided to re-release this in a more superior version.

"Leaving Las Vegas" is drama at its best. It's heartbreaking, but at the same time is satisfying. It's emotionally charged from start to finish. The writing is poetic, the acting is electric, and the directing is fantastic. Be warned, this is not a "feel-good" movie. It's a portrait of harsh reality and it doesn't go easy on you for a second. If you want a powerhouse drama that will keep you emotionally involved, this is the one for you. A terrific and amazing film on every front.

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This film is not for most people; it's very morose and gruesome at times, and it won't be entertaining and satisfying in the same way most mainstream movies are. It does however provide a very shocking and revealing look at the lives of a hopeless drunkard and a lonely prostitute.

Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue are superb portraying their characters and their skill is the driving force of the film. That isn't to say, however, that the directing, music, and screenplay weren't excellent as well.

One particularly important aspect of the film is the relationship that forms between Cage and Shue. Some reviewers describe it as sincere love, however, I don't agree. Both Cage and Shue are desolate and vulnerable. The natural thing for both of them to do when they meet is to seek refuge in each other. Shue might love Cage, but it's more out of desparation for company than what she sees in him. Cage's interest in Shue is somewhat more confusing. Before his introduction to Shue, I got the impression that he was completely detatched from anything earthly. The relationship he maintains with Shue suggests otherwise though. I'm not really sure, yet, what to make of Cage.

I never really knew what alcohol could do to a man until seeing this movie. Sure, a random drunk on the street is a common sight, but most people, who don't have a friend or family member with the problem, don't realize the extreme extent to which the obsession can develop. I'd recommend this film to anyone older than 17.

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This is a horrendous transfer, looks close to VHS quality... I own an import version and it is literally about 3x clearer. This edition looks like they took the cheapest route possible and used 2nd or 3rd generation prints to create this Blu-Ray, with quality worse than the DVD. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS DISC BUY THE IMPORT VERSION INSTEAD, AND WRITE/EMAIL/FACEBOOK/TWITTER TO UA/20TH CENTURY FOX to let them know you are boycotting this shameful release. Demand a refund if you purchased already!!!

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Not many films I've seen were able to depict the reality of compulsive drunks and hookers. It confirms what I have always thought: no matter what, the bottom line is that a human being is essentially love, and life revolves around it. Its presence or its absence dictates pragmatic success or self destruction.

Ben's mind boggling drinking may seem too excessive, a expressway to death, but there is so much you can fit into a movie. The core here, in my opinion, resides in the fact that we can voluntarily, control whether we survive drinking or not. Cage's interpretation is real, yet giving him an Oscar for that remains questionable.

Sera's performance as a hooker brought once again, yet with an astonishing evidence that prostitution may not be reserved to poor girls and/or uncultured souls. Sue's acting is a masterpiece of profound conflict between business at any cost (the executive at the bar counter and the rape from the football players)and the real, love thirsty and sensitive Sera.

He is not a hopeless drunk, She is not a cold blooded hooker. None of them are victims. But both are in desperation to find a way to justify why they are alive. The drunk and the Hooker are not alive, they simply exist!

And finding themselves provided means to stop and come back, love as the basis of such painful, yet possibe and desirable recover.

I cannot judge why the movie ended with her acceptance of his way of being, as I respect the author's and the director's choice. But as a message (and all real movies should convey one), it would be healing to see, even without an happy-end, that those disturbed beings could return to Life through Love.

Elisabeth Sue deserved an Oscar for her amazing, beautiful, sensible and shattering interpretation.

For the rest, music supported the movie being a breath holding experience from the beginning to the end. Grade AA++

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Doom / The Scorpion King / The Rundown Triple Feature (2002)

If you're info sci-fi/action movies, I think you might enjoy these movies as much as me! Three near A rate movies all on three individual blu-ray discs for under $5 each? I had to give this 5 stars.

For those of you who don't know, Doom is a video game based movie. Not one of those Uwe Boll works either... I would say that it's comparable to the Resident Evil series for quality. As far as The Scorpion King goes, if you've seen the 2nd or 3rd Scorpion King movies but not this, rest assured, this is by far superior to the others in almost every way. I would recommend seeing this and none of the other Scorpion King movies if you can help it. The Rundown is surprisingly more comedic than than the other two movies in this set. All are fairly well balanced with action. I highly recommend this set at this price!

How can you not love a triple pack movie for under $12. It just doesn't get any better than that.

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If you like even 2 out the 3, it can be a good price when they run it on sale. No reason to comment on the movies themselves, you either saw them or there's always IMDB.

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Can't beat it three movies in some for a low price makes rainy nights fun. I would reconvened to anyone who likes action movies even if you only like two of the movies

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The movies are good, and the BD price is better. The movie quality is very good and so is the sound.

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Fastest

This picks up where Mark Neale left us in "Faster", his panoramic story of the MotoGp era from 2001 to 2002. The film mainly focuses on the 2008 to 2010 seasons. Despite the cover, Rossi on the malevolent Ducati, the 2011 season is barley mentioned.

But what a story. This is motorcycle racing in its glory days. Most of the narrative is around Valentino Rossi, one of the greatest sportsmen of our time and unequivocally one of the best there has even been in the premier class. The basic story, his move to Yamaha, quick dispatch of Biaggi, Gibernau and up to 2010, of the new pretenders is expertly told through interviews with riders, the eloquent Michael Scott, ebullient Julian Ryder and the proto-Nietzschean philosophy of Dr Costa. Along the way, we get insights from the always effacing Colin Edwards, a surprisingly mature Jorge Lorenzo, taciturn Stoner and from the up and coming Marco Simoncelli, who's sadly premature death gives the film a very touching aura.

The action shots are stunning. We see bike control around switchbacks, chicanes, slide saves and we learn about the physics of 1000 tires, breaking at 1.6G and the dead on accuracy of Rossi at Lap 1 and Lap 25 in practice. The Mugello crash, which allowed the field to rearrange itself in Rossi's absence, is given the importance it deserves.

The movie is really Rossi but all the better for it. Neale is clearly impressed and delighted by the rider community but he makes no bones that the Rossi phenomenon is likely to be stopped by injury one day and he has caught it at its very best.

If you liked On Any Sunday, Dust to Glory, Faster, then this for you. If you need waking up after a slouch Christmas dinner, then this is a must...for all the family. Also some great bonuses, especially the Red Neck/Real physics section.

I don't follow competitive motorcycle racing and don't know much about it, but I thought Mark Neale's documentary "Fastest" might provide a good introduction. I watch a lot of documentaries about every conceivable topic, so I'm always interested to see how well something will translate to newbies on the subject. "Fastest," which covers the MotoGP World Championship, may be a bit daunting to someone who doesn't avidly follow the sport. At first, we're introduced to Valentino Rossi as he seeks an impressive 10th world title following a horrific accident. As the focal point of the film, Rossi certainly is an interesting character who is a true superstar and trendsetter in the field. But Neale's narrative never stays in one place for very long and instead of telling a straightforward account, it jumps back and forth through years of racing as the topics veer all over the place. It has so much information, it's almost exhausting to try to keep up (maybe that's why it's called Fastest)! Racing enthusiasts should love it, but the movie lacks some of the drama and tension that another approach might have given it.

That's not to say that I didn't like the movie, because I definitely did. It has a number of great elements. Ewan McGregor, a motorcycle man himself, makes a great narrator. The film is edited together with precision and the soundtrack is dynamic. And all of these things enhance the continuous racing footage. The camera work is provided from every angle imaginable from racetrack cameras to bike mounted units. It often feels as if you are directly involved in the action. There are more crashes than I could count and dozens of intensely close finishes. I loved the actual racing footage, and it made me intrigued to actually start following the sport a bit. The movie crew had access to most of the big name contemporary racers, so you get to see things from their perspective.

Rossi, though, is the primary storyline. When the film focuses on his plight, it has the potential to be absolutely fascinating. The rivalry between he and teammate Jorge Lorenzo is the centerpiece of much of the drama. Sometimes I wanted "Fastest" to stay on target. But, as I said, by the time I had seen snippets of hundreds of races over dozens of years, I started to become disconnected from any dramatic imperative. An easy recommendation to fans, it is also a rousing (if overstuffed) introduction to for those just discovering the world of motorcycle racing. KGHarris, 6/12.

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I don't follow competitive motorcycle racing and don't know much about it, but I thought Mark Neale's documentary "Fastest" might provide a good introduction. I watch a lot of documentaries about every conceivable topic, so I'm always interested to see how well something will translate to newbies on the subject. "Fastest," which covers the MotoGP World Championship, may be a bit daunting to someone who doesn't avidly follow the sport. At first, we're introduced to Valentino Rossi as he seeks an impressive 10th world title following a horrific accident. As the focal point of the film, Rossi certainly is an interesting character who is a true superstar and trendsetter in the field. But Neale's narrative never stays in one place for very long and instead of telling a straightforward account, it jumps back and forth through years of racing as the topics veer all over the place. It has so much information, it's almost exhausting to try to keep up (maybe that's why it's called Fastest)! Racing enthusiasts should love it, but the movie lacks some of the drama and tension that another approach might have given it.

That's not to say that I didn't like the movie, because I definitely did. It has a number of great elements. Ewan McGregor, a motorcycle man himself, makes a great narrator. The film is edited together with precision and the soundtrack is dynamic. And all of these things enhance the continuous racing footage. The camera work is provided from every angle imaginable from racetrack cameras to bike mounted units. It often feels as if you are directly involved in the action. There are more crashes than I could count and dozens of intensely close finishes. I loved the actual racing footage, and it made me intrigued to actually start following the sport a bit. The movie crew had access to most of the big name contemporary racers, so you get to see things from their perspective.

Rossi, though, is the primary storyline. When the film focuses on his plight, it has the potential to be absolutely fascinating. The rivalry between he and teammate Jorge Lorenzo is the centerpiece of much of the drama. Sometimes I wanted "Fastest" to stay on target. But, as I said, by the time I had seen snippets of hundreds of races over dozens of years, I started to become disconnected from any dramatic imperative. An easy recommendation to fans, it is also a rousing (if overstuffed) introduction to for those just discovering the world of motorcycle racing. The DVD contains Deleted Scenes and Extended Interviews as well. KGHarris, 6/12.

Read Best Reviews of Fastest Here

While not as informative about the sport as Faster was it has some great video and commentary. Like Faster it seems to be mostly about Rossi, but if you were going to make a motoGP video why wouldn't you. As a Dani Pedrosa fan I felt a little let down with how much they showed about him.

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I don't follow competitive motorcycle racing and don't know much about it, but I thought Mark Neale's documentary "Fastest" might provide a good introduction. I watch a lot of documentaries about every conceivable topic, so I'm always interested to see how well something will translate to newbies on the subject. "Fastest," which covers the MotoGP World Championship, may be a bit daunting to someone who doesn't avidly follow the sport. At first, we're introduced to Valentino Rossi as he seeks an impressive 10th world title following a horrific accident. As the focal point of the film, Rossi certainly is an interesting character who is a true superstar and trendsetter in the field. But Neale's narrative never stays in one place for very long and instead of telling a straightforward account, it jumps back and forth through years of racing as the topics veer all over the place. It has so much information, it's almost exhausting to try to keep up (maybe that's why it's called Fastest)! Racing enthusiasts should love it, but the movie lacks some of the drama and tension that another approach might have given it.

That's not to say that I didn't like the movie, because I definitely did. It has a number of great elements. Ewan McGregor, a motorcycle man himself, makes a great narrator. The film is edited together with precision and the soundtrack is dynamic. And all of these things enhance the continuous racing footage. The camera work is provided from every angle imaginable from racetrack cameras to bike mounted units. It often feels as if you are directly involved in the action. There are more crashes than I could count and dozens of intensely close finishes. I loved the actual racing footage, and it made me intrigued to actually start following the sport a bit. The movie crew had access to most of the big name contemporary racers, so you get to see things from their perspective.

Rossi, though, is the primary storyline. When the film focuses on his plight, it has the potential to be absolutely fascinating. The rivalry between he and teammate Jorge Lorenzo is the centerpiece of much of the drama. Sometimes I wanted "Fastest" to stay on target. But, as I said, by the time I had seen snippets of hundreds of races over dozens of years, I started to become disconnected from any dramatic imperative. An easy recommendation to fans, it is also a rousing (if overstuffed) introduction to for those just discovering the world of motorcycle racing. The DVD contains Deleted Scenes and Extended Interviews as well. KGHarris, 6/12.

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Beauty and the Beast (The Criterion Collection) (1946)

Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946) is not only one of the greatest films I have seen a perfect blend of poetic fantasy and psychological depth it's also one of my all-time favorites. The restored version from the Criterion Collection is among the best DVDs I have seen, both for the breathtaking clarity of the image and sound, and for a wealth of supplemental materials, including several fascinating documentaries, essays in a lavish printed booklet, and Philip Glass's complete opera synched to the film on a separate audio track.

With each re-viewing of Beauty and the Beast, I see new layers of Cocteau's vision. As a child, I was enthralled by how real, and actually lived in, this fairy tale world seemed. And I was spellbound by the Beast, brought fully, both horribly and tenderly, to life by Jean Marais' riveting performance. I will never forget the Beast's death scene, when Marais expresses worlds of pain, love, and self-understanding solely through the eyes peering out of a feral, hair-covered face.

The film does not need today's digital special effects; it still works perfectly with its own low-tech but deeply resonant wonders. And it is a triumph of design. Cocteau worked closely with production "illustrator" Christian Bérard and cinematographer Henri Alekan to give the picture what he called "the soft gleam of hand-polished old silver." It is filled with simple but gorgeous and unforgettable tableaux, from a corridor of disembodied human arms grasping candelabra that burst into flame as you pass by, to Beauty gliding in slow motion through the enchanted castle. Then there is the indefinable magic of the scene at the manor with huge white sheets drying in the sun, creating silhouettes of striking power. (Cocteau's crew spent weeks searching everywhere for sheets without patches, an almost unheard of luxury in postwar France.)

Technically, and aesthetically, it is astonishing how Cocteau wrested so much visual interest from a film comprised almost entirely of medium shots. A close look reveals how dynamically, yet subtly, unbalanced most of the compositions are. We rarely see a subject head on, but rather from a slightly skewed angle. And during some of the most important moments, Cocteau foregrounds an unimportant object (a candlestick, a tree branch) to block our view, to make our imaginations fill in the obscured main details. Throughout he also makes evocative use of shadows, both where you would expect them, in the Beast's mysterious realm, and where you might not, in the merchant's strangely foreboding manor house. This tense visual quality meshes perfectly with the film's complex emotional nature.

On one level, Beauty and the Beast is a perfect, and largely faithful, realization of a great fairy tale, originally written in 1756 by French author Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont while she served as a governess in Scotland. But Cocteau's film exists on many other levels as well, which is why it continues to appeal as much to adults as children. There have been many interpretations, including symbolist, Jungian, Freudian, deconstructionist, and even gay readings (Cocteau is not only a preeminent author, poet, artist, playwright, and filmmaker of the 20th century, he is also a central gay icon). All of these views help reveal the many, and sometimes contradictory, layers of Cocteau's vision.

At its simplest and most direct, the film paints a moral lesson as easily understood by a child as by most adults: Who and what you are your true nature matters more than your appearance. We see this idea embodied, in troubling ways, by many of the human characters, including Beauty's two wicked sisters and, to a lesser extent, her wastrel brother Ludovic. But the most morally ambiguous character, and the one who gives the film considerable emotional depth, is Avenant. He is, of course, played by Jean Marais, who also performs the Beast and, at the end, Prince Ardent. Avenant is strikingly handsome, self-assured, and energetic, yet Marais also brings out his darker side, subtly in his attempted seductions of Beauty and overtly in his fatal greed at the end. What compounds Avenant's resonance for the film comes out in one of the final lines. Beauty answers Prince Ardent's question about whether she loved Avenant with a breathless, "Oh yes!" How, and why, could our heroine who comes to see through the Beast's fearsome persona to the torn yet righteous man within ever have been in love with someone like Avenant? That is yet another of the film's emotional mysteries, the ones which may appeal more to, and perhaps even unsettle, adult viewers.

One of the most fascinating, and visceral, comments on this film is musical. Composer Philip Glass (whose works include the operas Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, and The Voyage, and film scores Koyaanisqatsi, Mishima, and The Hours) set Cocteau's screenplay to music which runs simultaneously with the picture on the DVD, as the composer intended. The film's original, magisterial score by Georges Auric is one of cinema's greatest; and Cocteau knew exactly when to use it or silence for maximum effect. But Glass uses his patented syncopated rhythms and repeated symmetrical sequences of chords to create a haunting alternate voice for the picture. Distinct from Auric, Glass's score reveals the sometimes dark and disturbing emotional subtext, rather than the fairy tale sense of wonder. Previously I had liked the opera as an audio recording; but when joined with the film I found it utterly compelling.

Beauty and the Beast is a film I look forward to reexperiencing for the rest of my life. It has a way of getting under your skin, even entering your dreams. The closer you look at it, the more mysterious, and spellbinding, it becomes.

In this, his first feature film, director Jean Cocteau set a standard for filmmaking that not even he could surpass. A masterpiece of inventive, surreal imagery, this film captivates the viewer as few other films have. Haunting, lyrical, and enchanting, this film retells the story of an age old fairy tale classic, "Beauty and the Beast" by Jeanne Marie LePrince De Beaumont. The film is sheer poetry in motion.

This marvelous, exquisitely rendered adaptation centers around the core of the fairy tale. An impoverished merchant (Marcel Andre) comes across a most unusual chateau, deeply hidden in the forest, where he is provided with hospitality by an unseen host. Upon leaving, he happens to break off a rose from a rosebush in the garden of his reclusive host, in order to take it back to Beauty (Josette Day), the most beloved of his three daughters. This simple act calls forth his previously unseen host, The Beast (Jean Marais), who tells him that the theft of that which The Beast loves most will cost the merchant his life or the company of the one whom the merchant loves most, one of his daughters. Allowed to return home temporarily, the merchant tearfully recounts what happened to him, and Beauty surreptitiously goes in his place to the enchanted chateau upon a magical horse that seems to sparkle with fairy dust. It is there that she, too, meets The Beast. Alas, the path of true love does not run smoothly, and Beauty and The Beast, together, make that discovery.

Be prepared for a visual feast of dreamy black and white cinematography, as well as one of the most unusual sets ever to grace the silver screen. Living statuary, human candelabras, and tears that turn to diamonds are just some of the exquisite, surreal immagery that take the viewer's breath away. Superlative performances by Josette Day and Jean Marais, as well as an excellent supporting cast, make this, indeed, a film to remember! Filmed in 1946, time has not dimished the ability of this masterpiece to enchant and captivate the viewer. Bravo!

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I vascillated for a long time on picking up this disc. Its pricey and I asked myself, how often I would want to revisit this film, practically memorized by now, having viewed it countless times over the years.

Yet something drew me to this edition, and the verdict is definitely a positive one. The restored version is lovely-all the incredible contrasts of soft greys, silver and stark blacks have been gloriously brought back to life. This what they mean by "in glorious black and white!" There is a clarity and richness here that gives the viewer an opportunity to notice subtlties that were obscured by the scratchy old print that was used on the VHS version. Gone are the distracting audio pops and clicks and most of the visual scratches, allowing the viewer to more readily fall into the dreamy trance of this timeless film.

Cocteau was a poet and a visionary,and despite the technical limitations of film in the 1940's, he brought real magic to the screen, something that today's digital wizardry doesn't always deliver. This is a richly textured retelling of this famous fable, full of detail and nuance. It is decidely more Grimms than Disney, so I don't recommend showing it to small children. Charged with an undercurrent of eroticism and psychological symbols,it is really a fairy tale for adults.

The disc is packed with extras. I haven't yet checked them all out, but the "Screening at the Majestic' is a nice documentary. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jean Marais, still very much alive and kicking, reminiscing at the very house that was used as the set for Beauty's family home. I started watching the film with the alternative Phillip Glass opera soundtrack and was amazed to find that the opera vocals are the exact original dialogue, and even more astounding, somehow he was able to sync the vocals precisely with the actors performance. Quite a feat for any composer. It's a bit eerie at first, but a great bonus that I will sit through and absorb someday. I'm looking forward to seeing the Alekan interview as well.

Criterion generously fills the accompanying booklet with more gems; a translation of the original fable by Mme.le Prince de Beaumont is in there as well as a couple of fascinating essays, including Cocteau's own thoughts as to the meaning of his film.

While all the extras are a great addition, this version is worth the price of admission just by virtue of the film itself. This is a complex allegorical fairytale, filled with symbols and dream imagery. And like all great fairy tales (and dreams) it is filled with ambiguities and contradictions. Perhaps this is why we can come back to it again and again over the years,finding something new in it each time. Every time the ending comes I am confused and beguiled. It always leaves me with a sense of wonder, curiosity and unanswered questions.

What more could you want from a movie?

Read Best Reviews of Beauty and the Beast (The Criterion Collection) (1946) Here

Although I have owned the Cocteau "Beauty and the Beast" on tape for a number of years, I was hesitant to buy the Criterion Collection restored version on DVD because I had read that there was a new sound track: an opera by Philip Glass. What was not clear to me was that the new sound track is only one of the options; another is the original sound track, much cleaner than on the tape version.

Many DVDs of restored classics include examples of the restoration; this one doesn't. I played the Criterion DVD, then my VHS version, and I was amazed at the difference; the DVD makes the film look as if it were made yesterday; the tape version has all the scratches, pops, and muffled dialogue that are more or less typical of tapes made from deteriorated films. The subtitles on the DVD are easier to read than the ones on the tape (the DVD uses a different type font), there are two different commentaries included among the options, and the Philip Glass opera version is there as well. There is a print bonus as well: a booklet that includes the text of the original fairy tale, Cocteau's comments on filming it, and a critic's comments on the film.

The opening credits alone are worth the price of the DVD: Cocteau himself, writing on a blackboard (the tape version only displays text against a background).

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Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will leave an impression on those who are about to see it for the first time. Anyone who has seen it already will be able to recount multiple favorite images and delight in expounding upon them. Film in the hands of some people seems to become more malleable. Cocteau is one such weaver of images whose fantasy world is at the same time childlike and foreboding innocent as a puppet theatre ,then dark as sin.

The film mixes fantasy and reality by presenting time spent in the ordinary world in straightforward, unambiguous scenes and juxtaposing these with theatre-like sequences that represent the parallel world of enchantment. Surreal set pieces, mists and blackness define the borders of the Beasts domain.

From the Beasts smoking hands after the kill to the living arm sconces and the couples flight in the end, simple effects seem to gain impact from the bare uncomplicated nature of them thrust out into view like magic tricks.

Composed like paintings the rich imagery conspires with stellar black and white photography

to produce a seeming mid range of silver smoke and shimmering highlights.

Anyone into or discovering film should acquaint themselves with this highly original sence of cinema that has lured admierers for almost six decades.

This adaptation of a fairytale will be best understood by adults but should be shared with children as well.

Small children will be uneasy in the presence of the Beast who looks a far cry from a cartoon character. Also, someone older will have to read the subtitles to them but in a darkened room that might make it even more effective as a fairy tale experience.

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When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me (Double Feature) (1981)

First off, this title is actually available now at Wal-mart. Anyway, on to the review.

I watched both films today and I must say the transfer is really good for 2 movies that are over 30 years old. They are both on 1 disc btw. I have never seen either movie.

Now I've seen the remake of When A Stranger Calls and it is a much better paced film imo. They chose to keep the killer more of a mystery and kept the story around the single night of babysitting. The original covers that night in the first 30 minutes of the movie, then we are carried 7 years in the future for a lot of unneeded exposition. The last 10 minutes truly save the picture imo.

I actually enjoyed Happy Birthday To Me quite well. The acting is really bad, I must say, but the multiple twists (yes, multiple) really keep you on your toes. The Scream franchise really owes a debt to this film. I was reading up on the history of the home video release, and fans will be happy to know that the ORIGINAL SCORE IS IN TACT FOR THIS BD RELEASE.

Definitely a worthy buy for any slasher horror fan.

Both of these movies were released by columbia in 1979 and 1980 respectively. And they look fantastic! Columbia kept great prints of these two because they are not filled with lines and specks! That's saying alot for two vintage films this old! both films played at theatres accross the country and were not drive in superlow budget flicks at all. These were offerings from a major studio during that era. Many much bigger hit movies from this era don't look as good as these two do on this blu ray. Both movies did pretty well at the boxoffice and they both influenced movies that came after them, including scream and other slasher flicks. There are fine actors in these movies too , because like I said these were big studio affairs and not made by some small company. Glenn ford , charles durning and carol kane are among the a listers in these efforts. Horror fans should be grateful that we get these two movies in such fine shape here. It could have easily been a disaster with scratched up prints. Instead we get two good horror movies from columbia studios and they just shine here.

Buy When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me (Double Feature) (1981) Now

I picked up this set from wal-mart for $5.00. I mainly got this to replace my "Happy Birthday To Me" 2009 DVD release with original score. Almost didn't get this set, because it has the artwork from the 2004 disc set with cheezy disco score replacing the original score. I thought it would not have the original theatrical score, but it absolutely does. The blu-ray transfer is much nicer than even the 2009 DVD edition, and having When A Stranger Calls is a nice bonus as well. These do have captions which is a must for me as well. Great set all around. Just wish it had the original artwork for Happy Birthday To Me.

Read Best Reviews of When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me (Double Feature) (1981) Here

For those of you who enjoy early 80s horror/thriller and/or collect these types of films, this one is for you! Two films for a very low price! Happy Birthday to Me 80s slasher film, and When a Stranger Calls Suspense/Thriller/Horror. The Video quality for 20+ year films is outstanding! Both these films were not considered big budget films, so to have a movie this old with spectacular video quality is a plus. While both films story-line's have been copied over and over again, its really a great deal for the price! The only reason and is a very big reason I did not give it 5 stars is because its a great price there are NO EXTRAS. Not even a trailer! Common now, you can find one on Youtube, its not like the distributors would have to find it or anything! All in all, for barely $10 dollars you get two "decent" films.

Want When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me (Double Feature) (1981) Discount?

I originally saw When a Stranger Calls in a movie theater when it first came out. I had forgotten what a classy suspense movie this is. I am not an expert in Blu-ray transfers but from what I observe this is very good for a vintage movie. The colors are rich and detail is sharp. It looks excellent, take my word for it. This also has a really superb music score by Dana Kaproff that has inspired me to seek out a copy of the soundtrack. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes horror/suspense type movies.

I had not seen Happy Birthday to Me, but again it looks to be a fine transfer. This one has a bit more blood in it than When a Stranger Calls, but still is another worthy addition to the horror thriller genre. And again, a very good music score which I don't believe has been released in any form. I understand that earlier video releases of this movie used a different but unpopular music score. There is also a nice rendition of the song "Happy Birthday to Me" sung at the end of the movie (during the credits) by Syreeta.

I recommend both of these movies and especially at the very reasonable price at which they are available.

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Ice Station Zebra (2012)

At times a taut and effective thriller that seems the pattern for much of Tom Clancy's books, "Ice Station Zebra" has a fairly simple plot: a space capsule with top secret photographs crashes, prompting a race between the Soviets and Americans to recover it from the polar icecap. Yet, the tension is kept reasonably high, even as much of the movie is spent aboard the U.S. submarine carrying the recovery team. Rock Hudson is, well, rock solid as the submarine captain--cool, thoughtful, and easy-going, he plays well against the skulking but ironic British spy (a teriffic Patrick MacGoohan, essentially playing the same part he always does in the way only he seems able to) that may or may not be a saboteur. Viewers will recognize other familiar faces--Jim Brown and Ernest Borgnine among them--that root the film in the 60s, and the whole production--including the cinematography, special effects, and score by Maurice Jarre--are topnotch. The only real weaknesses to the film are the mystery of who is the double agent and an action ending that seems almost anticlimactic when compared to the genuine tension in the rest of the story. Still, it's a better espionage thriller than most of those found in theaters today.

One of the better cold war dramas produced during the 60's, "Ice Station Zebra" isn't exactly an action adventure; it's more of an action drama. Most of the "action" is the dramatic conflict between Commander Ferraday (Rock Hudson) and his guests Boris Vaslov (Ernest Borgnine)a former Russian spy who now works for British Intelligence, MI-6 secret agent "David Jones" (the wonderful Patrick McGoohan) and Marine Captain Anders (Jim Brown). A nasty ice storm brews at the North Pole. When Ice Station Zebra calls for help the Tigerfish is sent north to break through the ice to save the men stationed there. That's the cover story. The reality is that a satellite has crashed in the arctic tundra and must be recovered before a Russian expeditition gets to it.

The image quality is stellar on this first time release from Warner Brothers. There's hardly any analog or digital artifacts. While there's no commentary track we do get the original promotional featurette on the movie "The Man Who Makes a Difference" and it's actually pretty good at providing behind-the-scenes footage about the shooting of a real Navy submarine to be integrated with visual effects into the movie. The big attraction here is a wonderful 5.1 remix of the original soundtrack. While it's not as active as, say, a brand new movie, it sounds pretty darn good with better depth and expanded sound than any previous incarnation of the movie on home video.

This was originally shot in SuperPanavision and, atlhough this is a widescreen presentation much like "2001: A Space Odyssey". It's a huge improvement on the previously cropped versions that have floated around. The original Overture from the roadshow edition of the movie has been restored to this version with Michel Legrand's marvelous score. The intermission is also included, hence the 2 hour and 30 minute running time.

Patrick McGoohan took time away from shooting his series "The Prisoner" to make "Ice Station Zebra". Ironically he plays another secret agent. "David Jones" doesn't stray too far from John Drake the character he played in "Secret Agent Man" (aka "Danger Man in the UK)but McGoohan's clipped sarcastic delivery and unpredictabllity make him a stand out in the cast. Hudson's relaxed performance as the Commander provides a nice counter balance to McGoohan's intense one and provides a nice counter point to Borgnine's cagey Vaslov. The first half of the film is marvelous and, although it sags during the second half (for a lot of reasons) and the conclusion doesn't have the cinematic style of John Sturges' previous films ("The Great Escape" and "The Magnificent Seven")but, all in all, "Ice Station Zebra" still provides marvelous entertainment. The footage of the real submarine surfacing and going under the water looks marvelous.

Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Cinematography and Best Special Visual Effects), "Ice Station Zebra" lost in both categories to "Romeo and Juliet" and "2001: A Space Odyssey". The visual effects that open the movie are still exceptionally good and wouldn't look out of place in Kubrick's film of the same year. That's ironic since MGM pulled "2001" from some theaters to premiere "Ice Station Zebra".

Buy Ice Station Zebra (2012) Now

Released in 1968, "Ice Station Zebra" remains an engrossing, suspenseful thriller, well directed by John Sturges. With films like "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Great Escape" to his credit, you know that any movie directed by Mr. Sturges is going to hold your attention, even if--in this case--it clocks in at over two and a half hours.

The titular station is a weather outpost located close to the North Pole. Something has gone terribly wrong there, and an American nuclear submarine is sent on an urgent rescue mission. Nasty Arctic weather--and the polar ice cap--will not allow any other means of transport to reach "Zebra". Of course, there is a more sinister agenda here than trying to save the lives of a few stranded scientists. This is why the submarine has two espionage "experts" on board--one British and one Russian--as well as a platoon of marines.

Rock Hudson stars as the sub captain. While this role does not challenge Mr. Hudson's acting abilities, he is appropriately fearless and stalwart in the face of danger. Ernest Borgnine is our Russian secret service agent, working for the "West" as a "good Russian"--or is he ? Mr. Borgnine is a good actor, and after the first few scenes, I found myself accepting him in this role. Jim Brown is the tough-as-nails marine leader. I would never call him a great actor, but Mr. Brown is certainly convincing as someone nobody wants to annoy ! Real acting honours in this movie go to Patrick McGoohan as the British "agent". Fondly remembered for his sixties TV series "Danger Man" ( aka Secret Agent ) and "The Prisoner", it will always be a mystery to me why Mr. McGoohan did not choose to make a greater number of films and become a huge star. Frankly, for me at least, he steals the film.

The colour, widescreen picture is excellent, as is the sound for a 36-year old film. While some of the arctic action clearly takes place in the studio, I was impressed with the submarine footage, and once you are under the ice cap, you can really feel the tension. Yes--it's a submarine film--things do indeed "go wrong" !

Ladies--while my wife did enjoy "Ice Station Zebra", she did confirm that this is a "guy movie" ! In fact, there are no women in the cast at all. If you are looking for romance, this is not the place !

It is not clear to me why Howard Hughes would want to watch this film hundreds of times, but is it a coincidence that this DVD starts with a trailer for "The Aviator" ? I don't think so.

The disc includes a few other trailers, and an interesting short on one of "Zebra's" cameramen who helped to pioneer action film photography--fascinating.

I suppose the West vs. Soviet "cold war" scenario is dated--in 2005, international tensions are much more complicated--but "Ice Station Zebra" still delivers a tense, exciting story, and this DVD was worth the wait. Recommended.

A very sad footnote, dated 15 January 2009--Mr. Patrick McGoohan has passed away--another fine actor has left us.

Read Best Reviews of Ice Station Zebra (2012) Here

This is a good cold war drama. After a Soviet spy satellite comes down in the wrong place, the race is on to recapture the film. As was pointed out in the film, the Soviets used their German scientists to launch the satellite containing the camera stolen from England's German scientists using a special film developed by the US's German scientists. The film has the location of both side's missile installations and both sides want it. Neither side will give an inch.

The chase takes place with a US nuclear sub, overcrowded by marines and spies. The problem is that there is a double agent on board who will give up his own life to sabotage the mission. The twists and turns don't stop and neither does the excitement. The film is dated but still a good show. The photography especially is spectacular, especially for that day and age.

Rock Hudson leads an all star cast which does a great job across the board.

Want Ice Station Zebra (2012) Discount?

ICE STATION ZEBRA is an outstanding piece of cinema. It is as breathtaking as the day it was released. It does not grow old but continues to grow on you. This is one of Rock Hudson's best performances and the photography and sets are outstanding. Good to have it on DVD at last.

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Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Vol.5 (Uchu Senkan Yamato 2199) (English Subtitles) (2013)

Space Battleship Yamato 2199 is a remake of the almost 40 year old Japanese Anime, Space Battleship Yamato. For those in the know, this original series, which was actually 3 series total, was what was made into the US and Australian release called Star Blazers. That "little known" series, Star Blazers...

Story goes that the Earth is in its death throes, as the planet is being attacked by Gamilians, an advanced race of beings similar to humans with the exception of their skin color. The Earthlings have been instructed by Starsha, who has sent her 2 sisters to Earth, to use the Wave Motion Engine to journey to her home planet, Iscandar. There they will supposedly find the means to restore the decimated planet Earth to its former glory.

The episodes on this disc have the OMCS going down and the Yamato needing to make a pit stop at a nearby planet to get physical supplies. The Yamato has a mutiny and is almost destroyed by a massive Gamilan fleet. Domel is branded a traitor, Desler has a personal tragedy. We learn just who Yuki Mori is and/or isn't. And they make it to the Great Magellan Cloud.

There are 4 episodes on this disc.

I've reused some of the text from my previous reviews of 2199 discs, since the video/audio/packaging stay pretty much at the same quality.

To help those that aren't Japanese readers/speakers, to turn on subtitles you can do it 2 ways.

1) Wait for the main program to start

2) Press the subtitle button on your remote and switch on English

The other way:

1) wait for the main program to start

2) Press your Pop Up Menu option

3) Press DOWN on your remote (ON, which appears on the pop up menu, should turn GREEN)

4) Press ENTER on the remote

5) Press Pop Up Menu again and you should have subtitles

BLU RAY REGION ENCODING: from all my testing, all of the Yamato 2199 discs released so far are Region Free and should play in any player.

Video:

One thing you can hand to just about any Japanese release is that it will have the highest quality possible, even if it might be something you wouldn't notice in practice. Yamato 2199 is no exception.

The video is encoded in AVC. The bit rate sits strong at 35 39 mbps. Given the audio is in LPCM at 2.3 mbps constant bit rate, this is about as high as I've ever seen in video bit rates.

This translates into rock solid video quality, with no compression problems to be seen. Anywhere. Ever. Simply looks amazing.

Audio:

LPCM audio running at a constant 2.3 mbps. This is a Japanese audio track only. Music is clear. Dialog is clear. Stereo separation is very good as well and they use the sound stage well.

If you are looking for English audio, similar to what Gundam Unicorn has, you will be disappointed. This disc is Japanese spoken language only. There are English subtitles, which I discuss below.

I have to make a comment on the music. The music captures the 1970s sound perfectly. Well, just about as perfectly as you can capture it in 2012.

Subtitles:

I don't usually rate subtitles, but since this is a Japanese release, I felt it a good idea to add to my normal BD review format.

The subtitles are well done. White subtitles. The translations, for the most part, are spot on. They do a good job trying to capture English idioms with the translations, much the way localization generally happens when an Anime is licensed for US release. I believe the subtitle company is actually NYAV Post, which is also the company doing subs on Gundam Unicorn, which are also very good as well.

If you don't mind reading subtitles, you should have no problem understanding what's going on.

Extras:

The extras are, unfortunately, Japanese dialog only with no English subtitles. This is kind of disappointing since you pay so much for the discs, but they ARE targeted at the Japanese audience first and foremost.

On this disc, you have an audio commentary for episode 1X. Niimi, Ito, and Yutaka Izubuchi (the script writer).

There is another digest episode (6-ish minutes).

Comparison of 2199 vs the Original. 10 minutes.

"Theatrical" synopses for eps 2 and 3. 1:11

You cannot turn on the audio commentary through the audio button on the remote, it has to be done in the extras menu. If someone needs help figuring that out, leave me a comment in my review and I'll do what I can to explain how to get there.

In terms of other extras, there is a nice printed booklet included. Inside are character and mechanical designs and a synopsis. If you can't read Japanese, you can just appreciate the nice design artwork.

Packaging:

If you were lucky enough to purchase this disc during the First Run, you would have gotten a nice cardboard slip cover. Otherwise, you get the cover artwork you see in the Amazon listing above. On the back is a synopsis, disc stats and a hand full of screen captures from the included 4 episodes.

Over all:

The show is... amazing. Absolutely one of the best Anime series I've seen in a long, long time. They did a fantastic job of following the old series but injecting newness into it. For me, the price was worth it (I actually ordered from Amazon Japan and got a few of the 2199 releases to save on shipping).

It is painfully expensive, but worth it if you can afford the luxury.

If you have the means, this is HIGHLY recommended. If it is ever licensed for domestic US release, buying it should become a no brainer for everyone.

Got this delivered to my house at noon today and popped it immediately into my blu-ray player. Right from opening scene I was on the edge of my seat as this video gripped my attention beginning with the possible assassination of Lord Desslock and the one accused being brought on trial in a manner that remind me of Krypton criminals trial at the start of Christopher Reeve Superman Motion Picture. The Gameilons rounding up rebels in their camps aren't the only ones dealing with traitors. With the captain sick Nimi and the head security officer plots a mutiny aboard the Yamato and try to take over the ship. Kodai and Yuri grows closer together in this DVD and we visit some familiar locations that were visited in 1970s series. Sandra and Nimi gives the viewers memory flashbacks from before the war giving some hints on Yuri's and Kodai's brother's past.

Like other DVDs in Japanese with English subtitles. If your player like mine you probably have to turn on subtitle option as the subtitles don't start up on it own like the episodes themselves do. It has a nice wrap around image of the Yamato slip cover over the blu-ray case and come with a booklet to talk about episodes, characters and mechanic of the ships. This volume I can really see how new series work well in theaters with episodes put together in movie format.

The fact Vol 3 alone cost me $80 and Vol 4 and vol 5 together cost me $100 would say one save buying in bulk from Japan.

Buy Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Vol.5 (Uchu Senkan Yamato 2199) (English Subtitles) (2013) Now