5 comments about Sunset Boulevard (Special Collector's Edition).

1. This movie came not too long after another great film noir offering by Wilder: "Double Indemnity" and as much as I liked that movie, I find myself preferring this his other film noir masterpiece. The casting on this film was inspired and there are so many layers of brilliance on this film that it's like peeling an onion and discovering more and more potent layers each time you watch this film.
   
   Gloria Swanson was brilliant and would have won the best actress award had this film been released either a year earlier or later instead of having to contend with another brilliant film that year:"All About Eve". There are so many brilliant moments in this film that some of the dialogue has been immortalized over the years e.g. "I'm ready for my close up now Mr. DeMille" and "I AM big, it's the pictures that got small" etc There are many special scenes that you have to see to enjoy for yourself which show the striking differences between the old and the new, the twisted and the sane etc that makes this not just any film but as close as it comes to film fine art as they come. A scathing attack on Hollywood and how people use each other at any price which must be close to the truth to have generated such anger from the movie moguls at the time.
   
   This DVD version is also a treat as it has very good bonus features such as "The Music of Sunset Boulevard", "The Making of Sunset Boulevard" and my favourite "Edith Head - The Paramount Years" Edith was parodied so well by the way in that Disney cartoon "The Invincibles" as the costume lady. The picture quality is also very good with only a few frames of imperfection but not enough to get too upset about. The only thing that should have been done was for Dolby 5.1 or DTS THX surround options to be provided in addition to the Dolby Mono version here. Hopefully a Blu-Ray release is imminent which will offer these improvements in sound quality for the film.
   
   This is one movie that I'm actually proud to have in my library and I can see myself viewing this over and over again over the years just to peel yet another brilliant layer from this glorious onion each time I watch.
   
   This is movie-making at it's best and comes highly recommended.



2. Fantastic movie. I fall in love with it more and more each time I watch it. The writing is well-done as is the acting. Powerful..and William Holden--what a voice! Def. worth the time invested to watch it--over and over.



3. I've heard so much about this classic film and I really don't know why it's taken me this long to watch it. Gloria Swanson is my new idol. She absolutely owned every scene she was in. The fact that this film still hold true to this day is a testament to the genius that was Billy Wilder. Great script, wonderful, wonderful acting and direction. Today we watch fading stars of the past, try to cling on to an audience-any audience by means of reality television-all still ready for their close-ups. Brilliant film.



4. I just watched "Sunset Boulevard" for the first time. I absolutley loved it. I usually stay away from "black and white" movies, considering they are not from my generation. The only other old movies I've seen are "To Kill A Mockingbird", and parts of "It's a Wonderful Life". This one interested me because I work in the entertainment industry and I like movies about Hollywood. "Sunset Boulevard" puts new movies to shame. The acting and writing back then were so different. This film was written so perfectly and beautifully. The scenes with Gloria Swanson were just what I like, bizarre and surreal. The characters were unforgetable, especially Gloria Swanson. She is my new hero, I absolutley loved her, she's my new favourite diva extrodinaire. I loved this movie so much I stopped it half way through so I can watch the rest of it when I buy it. It's on my new all time favourite films.



5. To put it simply: Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite films of all time and a true classic.

5 comments about Ben-Hur.

1. This is a wonderful movie containing everything. The acting is wonderful. The adoption of Ben Hur by the Roman patrician which saved him from slavery,the miracles of Jesus, the lavish sets with the never-excelled chariot races between Stephen Boyd and Charlton Heston all combine to promise a fine few hours of entertainment. Hollywood can no longer afford to make movies like this. If you have never seen this, buy it!



2. Ben-HurThis movie is becoming an older classic movie these past years! Charleston Heston,,,was perfect for the role! I recall first seeing this movie when it came out as a child;and waited in long lines with folks in happy anticipation or wonderment!
   It is very worth viewing !! ;and highly recommend it to all! A true classic one needs to have in their home collections!!



3. "Ben-Hur" ranks amongst the true giants of cinema and for good reason. The term epic can barely describe the feel of this film. First of all, the acting is good and Heston did an excellent job as the title character. I must say though that Jack Hawkin's relentless Roman Consul may have been the most memorable character. This film just has so much; the nativity, a grueling galley scene, a naval battle, a Roman triumph, a spectacular chariot race, and Christ's crucifixion. The chariot race has itself become the stuff of legend and must rank as one of the best stunt/action scenes ever put on film. Christ's passion is well done as well with the healing of Ben-Hur's mother and sister. Personally, I thought the book did a better job at those though the film's chariot race likely surpasses that in the book. The film has a number of historical errors, but they don't detract from its artistic merit. There is some violence so parents may want to be cautious about very young children seeing the movie. Overall, I heartily recommend this film.



4. This movie is long, and those weaned on MTV might find it overly long. However, the story takes you away to another world, the story arc interweaving a revenge epic with the Christian tale. The wonderful thing about it is that the Jesus story is not forced and interweaves naturally with the plot. Charlton Heston is at his best here, and this movie would count among the best ten ever made.



5. First time I saw this film was on the big screen during it's 10th anniversary re-release in 1969 when I was 12. Couldn't take my eyes off it! It has everything a 12 year old kid wants in a film: action, adventure, visual splendor and even an emotional story that you can learn something from.
   
   We all know the story about two childhood friends, one Jew, the other a Roman, caught up in the turbulent times of Roman imperialism only to be split apart as adults due to their own ideology and becoming bitter enemies. The full title suggests A Tale of the Christ, which is not necesssarily true. The Christ figure serves more as metaphoric backdrop, referencing Jesus' teachings of brotherhood and it's impact on a common man, Juda Ben Hur.
   
   This is what seperates Ben Hur from most other Biblical epics. It carries a highly emotional human drama despite all the visual splendor. Lessons on humility and redemption are delivered with a sledgehammer.
   
   The film was a make-or-break gamble for MGM, who was on the verge of bankruptsy at the time due to the increasing popularity of television. No expense was spared by producer Sam Zimbalist bringing in two time Academy Award winning director William Wyler along with several writers like Gor Vidal and a $10 million dollar budget. With the odds against MGM, the film still ended up being one of the most successful films in history bringing in a record 11 Academy Awards, a record that was held for almost 40 years until Cameron's Titanic tied it.
   
   This DVD set does the film justice for many reasons. First and foremost is the restoration of the film itself. Great care was taken to bring more vibrancy to the picture quality. Previous prints had some color desaturation due to age and poor handling. The most noticable was during the famous chariot race where a tint of yellow was clearly visible on the right side of the screen. That and the usual grain and other artifacts have been eliminated bringing us the best picture this film has had since it's release. As for the sound, it's pretty much the same as the previous DVD release done in 2003, I really don't think there's much improvement that can be made given the technology at the time. But it still sounds great, especially during the crucifixation scene when the thunder really thunders giving your sub-woofer a real workout.
   
   The extras are plentiful highlighted by the inclusion of the original 1925 silent version which that in itself looks great in terms of production, storytelling and restoration of the film as well. Other extras include the previously released documentary narrated by Christopher Plummer (love his voice!) and a new documentary focusing on the impact the film made on contemporary filmmakers. We get interviews with Ridely Scott, who did the heavily Ben Hur influenced Gladiator, and good old George Lucas on the inspiration the film had on Star Wars. Funny thing is, when I first saw The Phantom Menace, I instantly knew Georgie boy modeled the pod race after Ben's chariot race! And I was right! Other extras include some screen tests by other actors (like Detective Frank Drebin auditioning for the role of Masala!), production stills and the like.
   
   All in all, this a great package to have of one of Hollywood's most legendary classic epics. If you love action, adventure, romance and raw emotional storytelling, this is it.

5 comments about The Way We Were (Special Edition).

1. Isn't it ironic that when asked to choose "The Greatest Love Stories Ever Told", almost NO ONE would mention the wondrous "The Way We Were". Here is a film that understands love and relationships much more than saccharine films like "Love Story", and actually invests so much in the delightful script.
   
   As usual Barbra Streisand is amazing. I actually heard about this movie first from Fran Drescher when she and her mother bring it up on the sitcom "The Nanny". Yeah, I was sort of late to the party, but what a party it is!
   
   However, if you haven't seen this, be aware that the ending will leave you emotionally devastated if you're a fan of good romances. I hold this movie even more powerful than say, "The Notebook". I would also say, that this is Streisands' best performance, much better than "Funny Girl" but not quite as amazing as "Yentl".
   
   A sad, pensive love story that will have you thinking about it for days. Be prepared to bawl your eyes out. This is a movie of everlasting beauty.



2. This movie always moves me. This happens frequently in life. You love someone but your differences are too great to stay together....doesn't mean you don't love them you just can't live with them. A must see!



3. The real tragedy of this movie is the apparent disconnect of the title song, found on many Barbra Streisand recordings, and the picture itself. This is one mature love story,beautifully photographed, and very well acted by Redford and Streisand.Released during the Vietnam era,the picture is a breath of fresh air, even though the film portrays protests of the 1940's and 1950's. That's the rub: Streisand's jumping from one underdog cause to another finally dooms the love relationship with Redford(no polyanna himself) who's trying to make a living for the couple,first as an immature novelist, then as a budding screenplay writer. Their inflexibility regarding their individual roles in life sadly and slowly separates the pair,leading to an amiable breakup at the time of their baby's birth.(Truthfully, is there really such a thing as a 100% "amiable breakup")? Don't be content with just listening to the musical score, get yourself a copy of an outstanding motion pcture.



4. You have to see this; it's a very mature love story with strong political undertones and two people who feel they cannot settle for anything less than their dreams.
   
   Streisand has been an actress that appears to have a love/hate effect on the audience; you either love her or hate her, for whatever reason. She has a strong personality in real life and the director allows her character to show it full force in this film. It's a classic that needs to be seen more often. It is more of a chick flick I think. And I think you have to see it more than once to get the whole emotional undertones; see Streisand interact with others besides Redford to understand her personality. The ending is wonderful; what, no sequel?



5. This is a movie classic. This movie will tug at your heart- if you ever shared a deep love for someone you couldn't have you'll see what I mean when you watch this movie. Just hearing Barbra Striesand sing in this movie is a plus in itself.

5 comments about The Aristocats (Special Edition).

1. 3 1/2 stars
   This review is about the product, not the movie. We all love the movie.
   
   I was concerned when I went to the store to pick up this DVD and saw that it was a 1-disc "Special" Edition. It was always announced as a 2-disc Special Edition DVD. We saw it in sneak peeks in various Disney DVDs as in the DVD booklets. I loved how the "First Time Ever on 2-disc DVD" phrase was put so big in them. I did buy it, when it was lowered to $15 at Kmart, but I was very confused we didn't get the promised 2-disc edition, just a 1-disc, beautiful-looking DVD.



2. This film is okay, and as my title indicated, just a cat version of "Lady and the Tramp." It's not nearly as good, but the kiddies love it and it is prettily animated.



3. so many of the kids movies have such scary parts in them, this one did not. it still has the "bad guy", but it doesn't terrify them. this movie is wonderful, my 4 year olds absolutely loved it! the adore the little kitten marie and all of the great songs in the movie.



4. We now take care of a two year old Greatgrandaughter; she watches it on the DVD player, her Mama watched it on VHS, her grandmother saw it in the movie...they all love it.



5. My 22 month old daughter loves the songs in this movie!! She is always singing them!

5 comments about Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition).

1. I love this movie, and that's why I was disappointed when I went to watch it and found that it was in full screen format.
   
   I suppose it's my fault for not looking carefully enough at the info here, but I assumed that the "Special Collector's Edition" would be in widescreen - special editions are almost always in widescreen (at least, I've never found or bought one that wasn't).
   
   And what would possess them to chop off part of the screen for a film that has such excellent cinematography of Rome? The movie begs to be in theatrical form.
   
   OK, I'm done whining. Just know that if you buy this version, it's full screen.



2. Roman Holiday is an incomparable romantic comedy; truly one of the most enjoyable films of all time. It is also Audrey Hepburn's debut starring role, for which she won a Best Actress Oscar. At just 24, Audrey was young, stunning, talented, charming, radiant, majestic, cute, elfin, and clearly at the top of her game. Rumor has it that the credits originally were to have Gregory Peck's name first, then the title of the film, then the statement "and introducing Audrey Hepburn." After the first week of filming, Gregory Peck called the studio and the director, and told them something along the lines of "Audrey Hepburn IS this movie; her name needs to appear above the title with mine." How noble and gallant. Mr. Peck, himself, is top-notch in this role; I fall in love with him a little more each time I watch it.
   
   This movie was filmed on location in Rome, and the scenery is breathtaking, making this movie all the more romantic. My husband and I have fun pointing out all of the places we have been. The restoration is very impressive; the print looks fresh and clear; the details are vivid. It is also interesting to notice the play of light and dark, of shadow and bright. These techniques are used at their best in this film, and are lost (and perhaps unnecessary) in color films.
   
   We recently showed this film to our 11 year old daughter. It was a lazy, rainy Sunday morning, and she "didn't have anything better to do." She started watch with some token protest, and then watched quite intently. At the end, she said, "Hey, that was pretty good...and I didn't even really notice that it was in black and white!" There is hope, yet, for younger generations!
   
   This film is romantic, playful, sweet, fun, delicious, beautiful, and charming. I give it my highest recommendation for anyone.



3. This movie is not the best work for either Hepburn or Peck, but it is fun to see and shows some great scenes of Rome from that time. If you are a fan of either star it is worth owning.



4. The DVD arrived quickly and in new condition.
   We enjoyed reviewing it very much. It was Audrey Hepburn's first starring role in a movie and the first movie shot on location. Great movie.



5. I love this movie. I watched it right before my trip to Rome. The sights have not changed a bit and it's such a cute story line. Old black and white movies are so classic and so is Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. It portrays Rome so well.

5 comments about Love Actually (Widescreen Edition).

1. 2.5 stars. Love, actually is a cute mindless movie-an anthology of short stories crammed into one screenplay and the results is a paint-by-numbers un-authentic pot-luck soup of emotions. Nighy is hilarious as an aging rocker desperate for a number one hit, but everyone else seemed to phone in their performance on a script that clearly didn't seem worth their time. Still, the movie can help pass the time but so can scrubbing the bathroom tile.



2. EIGHT COUPLES IN LONDON DURINF THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. SOME MAKE IT THROUGHT THE HOLIDAY CHEER AND SOME DON'T. JM



3. I liked this film a lot. Richard Curtis has put together a fine film, showing the foibles of human nature, and the characters' reactions. I laughed often, reflected softly, and ultimately thought it is a treasure among those films that talk about "love". The stellar cast handles the material well, especially Bill Nighy, the over-the-hill rock singer. Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, and Colin Firth are all excellent. It's very episodic, and the episodes with Mr. Firth are especially sweet. "Love Actually" won many awards, worldwide, but was ignored by the Academy. I laughed often, reflected quite a bit, and was allowed to put myself in touch with these wonderful characters. ALL love, or infatuation, is an enigma, and the "porn" couple really put it in perspective. I loved those two. Also, Neeson's son (I don't know his name) is one of the best kid-actors I've seen in a long time. It's a good ride, and loads of fun. Check it out!



4. This is one of those movies that you can watch over & over & feel just as good each time. It has romance, drama, comedy, it all & the actors are top notch.



5. "Love, Actually" could have been titled "Love, Almost" with an American director. With new fewer than eight couples vying for attention in this cameo-laden romantic comedy, you need a score card to keep up--and yes, everyone does win, more or less.
   
   We start at the top, brand new Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) just moves in to fall in love with the girl who brings him coffee. Liam Neeson is helping his grade school stepson win the heart of the very young woman he loves. Emma Thompson is on the bittersweet end as she tries to wrap her head around the idea that her husband, Alan Rickman might be cheating with an office girl.
   
   And that's not all...The stories are heartfelt with just enough British irony to keep you laughing instead of falling into a sucrose induced coma. Kudos for producer, Curtis, for giving this story enough spice to keep it real and interesting.
   
   Rebecca Kyle, June 2008

5 comments about Harold and Maude.

1. there's about 10 minutes of written content in this film, the rest is filling in space. do we need to see 15 seconds of the policeman getting off his motorbike, putting the kickstand down, and walking over to the car? the way it's edited seems like they struggled to reach feature length. as for what content there is, in terms of drama the characters and plot are relatively underdeveloped and in terms of comedy what may have been original in 1971 seems cliched today.



2. I've heard about this film for years but somehow never saw it till now. I'm sure that if I'd seen it when it came out in the early 70's I would have adored it. Now....well, it is dated. The themes which were very important in those breakaway years are a little old now.
   
   We see a young, very disturbed man, trying to get his mother's attention by various stagings of suicides. She is a wealthy socialite whose values Harold despises. She buys him a Jaguar but he prefers driving an old hearse. She arranges him to meet girls but he succeeds in acting so wierd that they all run away. We are supposed to hate her and feel sorry for him...but after a while I was more sympathetic to her than I knew the film intended. He really is a putz!
   
   His only interest, beyond staging suicides is attending funerals. This is where he meets his match--Maude, a frisky woman on the verge of turning 80. We don't know how old Harold is, exactly. To me he looked like a very young teenager. Maude loves life as much as Harold seeks death so she teaches him to dance, to sing, to play music, smoke dope, drink and ultimately to make love. Obviously she is the antithesis of his mom. Maude somehow has the knack for driving any car she picks up on the street and has no compunction about taking them. That's part of her "live free!" agenda. Again, all of this was wonderful during the years the picture was made. We see photos of Nixon and Pope Paul (the grim one) and Freud on the walls of various experts he is sent to consult. We get the message loud and clear---this is a time to throw off traditional authority and go for it.
   
   The cast is great. Ruth Gordon, a one-of-kind herself is perfect for the role of Maude. (She was married to a much younger man, in "real life.") Bud Cort is excellent as Harold--at first so repressed and then gradually coming to life. When you first see the hints of a smile on his mask like face, you really do want to cheer.
   
   Obviously there are a whole lot of people who love the film and if you think you might be one of them, after reading a variety of reviews, then go for it. Personally about halfway through I got a little tired of the increasingly zany antics Maude would pull and they ceased being charming and cute. I lived through those times and I can appreciate the message but enough, already!



3. "Harold and Maude" is a delightful, funny, moving, off-beat black comedy with a lot of heart. It is also one of the best and unusual on-screen romances I've seen. If the opposites attract each other, there have not been perhaps more different in every possible way screen couple than 20 years old Harold (Bud Cort) and Maude(charming, clever, multi-talented Ruth Gordon, the Oscar winning actress and three times Oscar nominee for writing) who is just about to turn 80. Harold is a rich kid who is obsessed with death and likes to stage very believable and hilarious succession of suicide attempts to impress his unflappable socialite mother who got used to them and not impressed anymore. Harold's others hobbies are driving the hearse and to attend funerals where he meets one day a woman who will change his life forever, 79 years young free-spirit, rebel, and fighter for "Liberty. Rights. Justice", Maude. She also likes to attend the funerals of the strangers. We won't learn much about Maude's life story but there will be one visual flash which gives us a very good idea that Maude knew a lot about death, losses, and suffering but she chose to celebrate, worship, and enjoy life to the fullest. This short poignant moment is a stroke of genius, and there are many of them in the truly unique, one of its kind movie. Maybe Hal Ashby had brought some of memories from his own childhood that included the divorce of his parents, his father's suicide, his dropping out of high school, getting married and divorced all before he was 19, into "Harold and Maude". Hal Ashby had made a series of memorable, intelligent, well acted films in the 70s, that included The Last Detail (1973), Shampoo (1975), Bound for Glory (1976), Coming Home (1978) and Being There (1979) but it is "Harold and Maude" that has become the cult classic from the first days of its release and it more than deserves its status. The movie also benefits tremendously from the soundtrack of songs by Cat Stevens.



4. I absolutely love this movie. I had to watch it for a Cult Films class that I am taking at my university, and it ended up being my favorite film out of the quarter. It is a story about a boy (Harold) who is obsessed with staging his own suicide, drives a hearse, and attends funerals for fun. While he is at one of these funerals, he meets an elderly lady named Maude, who he finds absolutely captivating and eventually falls in love with. However, at the mean time, the boy's mother decides that it is about time for Harold to meet a girl and get married. So, she uses a computer program to generate dates for him.
   
   Pretty funny movie, kind of off-beat, but I really enjoyed it, so i ended up purchasing it so that i could watch it whenever i feel like it.



5. 
   Hal Ashby's masterpiece Harold and Maude is so many people's favourite movie, that it's mind-boggling. When the film was released in 1971 it was panned by the bulk of the reviewers and was thought of as something that would be quickly forgotten as it was not easy for the Academic journalists to pigeonhole. Both, Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon won Golden Globes for best Actress and Best Actor that year even though the press was grossly unkind. Several theatres even played this film repetitively for two years, day after day, just because it was that good.
   
   The screenplay for Harold and Maude was an idea that was spawned for Collin Higgin's thesis for the UCLA screenwriting MFA program and the film took off from there. The book is also available, for those interested, but be advised the book was put together after the film and reads a bit dry, and doesn't tell an expanded story as one would think it would, but rather a slightly `different story', if you will. But don't get me wrong, the book is still very entertaining and a good read.
   
   The film is about a struggle between the value of life and a young man named Harold Chasen and the mentoring brought by his new friend Maude. Not until he meets and forms a bond with Maude does he start to understand that the world, and himself isn't on the verge of an apocalypse as he might have been led to believe by his self-indulgent and caddish mother, wonderfully imagined and portrayed by Vivian Pickles. Don't you just love that accent, and her random French phrasing?
   
   Harold obviously was meant to be portrayed as someone suffering, as we see multiple attempts at suicide, which is a large part of his verbal and physical vocabulary. He has either an absent or dead father which is a theme that is not addressed but does make the viewer wonder how much it plays upon his psyche. The real story is the grand coupe of how Maude wins him over, getting him to really embrace and appreciate life, which is incredibly touching, making this movie one of the most unforgettable films of all time. The score, woven in beautifully by Cat Stevens, heightens the importance and greatness of the film, which continually pull at the heart-strings and the mind.
   
   Some people, smirk and pull away if they've heard about this film, but haven't seen it. They always say: "Oh, that film. Not interested." I've met about a handful of these types and they're typically bothered by Harold and Maude's relationship. Yawwwnnnnn. Others say they're always bothered by the suicide aspect, let me tell you that the thought of suicide has got me through many a dark night, and I don't find it offensive or inappropriate in the slightest. All I can say is do yourself a favor and watch it from beginning to end, uninterrupted and just accept it for what it is. Just because an element of a film bothers you -- doesn't mean that the film is bad, it just means that the film stirred an uncomfortable emotion in you. That's all.
   
   It would be nice to see this film get the re-master and frame-by-frame cleaning and color correction treatment. The DVD quality looks like a really good video transfer, but a video transfer nonetheless. It's presented in 5.1 Dolby surround, which is a plus, but this film really begs a commentary, extras, stills, all of that which is common on other releases.
   
   And yes, for the record ... this is in my top three favourite all-time films. Magnificent.

5 comments about The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection.

1. Perfect,on one hand the movies are perfect!
   
   On the other hand I live in Brazil,and I paid R$92,50,more R$50,00 of taxes of the government...
   
   So the price got a little salty



2. "Welcome to Prime Time...!" The first is great, 2cd prolly sucks the most, third is third best, then the next 3 are worth watching but only because of Freddy, and then the last is just a great movie when you see all of the people that come back, one last time. The parallels between the last one (Wes Craven's New Nightmare") and the 1st is interesting in how they pulled it off. This is a great series box set because it has everything you could want as a NOES fan!



3. This movie collection rocks!!! It has all the movies plus a bonus disk!
   For $45, this is a great deal!



4. Desde que vi por primera vez "Pesadilla sin Fin 4" (A Nightmare on elm street 4) quede totalmente del género y, por supuesto, de la serie. Asi que tuve toda la coleccíon desde la época, primero en BETA, luego en VHS, y ahora, finalmente, en DVD! de hecho las compre para mi cumpleaños.
   
   Quede muy contento con este pack, la imagén, el sonido, excelentes! lo único que critico es que, primero no tienen subtitulos en español, también me deja un poco triste que "Dream Child" esta cortada! es la versión censurada, toda la vida, desde que la tenía en Beta, siempre la ví sin censura, asi que quede un poco mal por esto.
   
   Pero en General bien, claro que me hubiera gustado ver grabaciones originales de los detrás de cámaras de la época.



5. i loved the way it came...the second time. i had to return the movie set due to poor shipping. other than that i was very satisfied with my purchase.

5 comments about The Andromeda Strain.

1. It's easy to overlook a sci-fi movie made in th 70s. Today, they can easily appear hokey with special effects that are too far-fetched to be believable. That isn't true with this 1971 Andromeda Strain. They simply tell the story of something coming to earth that seems to be affecting humans and uses credible technology to investigate. Simple, clean sets and acting that keeps the characters "human". A Classic.



2. More fun than a monoxide monkey on "squeeze". Scoop 7 comes down with a case of Arcturian slurping sickness. All that stands between this voracious plastic-eating mutant (no it's not Kevin Costner), and the certain destruction of humanity are our heroes, some soviet surplus equipment and Robertson's Odd Man Hypothesis (not that there's anything wrong with that). After running out of lab animals, they finally fake it out with a MIC T. Sit back, order up a 7-12, and try and work out how the buzzards survived long enough to get gassed.



3. I much prefer this original to the remake. While it may be a bit slower paced, I think it is a much more believable story without all the extras that the writers of the new version must have dreamed up while on strike.



4. Andromeda Strain is a benchmark for End of Days, all too possible sciFi. The possibility of virulent pandemic from an unknown source is well done in this fine old movie. Great entertainment for an evening at home. My second date with my wife was going to see Andromeda Strain in the theater, back in 1971. 36 years later, it is still a great movie !



5. I agree with many folks here that this is a great film with a gripping screenplay. One premise that is overlooked by those who mention that it is "dated" is that the story itself is set in the 1970s and what is called the "wildfire" event is hushed up - making the movie even more chilling and therefore always "up to date" for its time.

5 comments about Henry V.

1. This movie is one of the best ever made. The story is one of Shakespere's few up-beat plots. Kenneth Brannagh plays Henry masterfully and the whole cast is a pleasure to watch. The fnal battle with france is superbly done and heart-wrenching. Love this film.



2. The film is wonderful. The sound track is superb. However, the DVD was supposed to come with a booklet but didn't. It would have been helpful in following the story line and understanding the British language. Shakespeare isn't easy to grasp.



3. Kenneth Branagh's directorial debut in this film, which he also wrote the screenplay for and played the title role, is nothing short of amazing. From Branagh's performance as Henry to the rest of the cast, to the music, cinematography, sets and battle sequence, Henry V has it all. It's a masterpiece in very sense of the word.
   
   Kenneth Branagh plays Henry V, a young king thrown onto the throne. In many respects Branagh is much like his character as he, at the age of 28, led up the monumental effort to make this film. Branagh is nothing short of amazing to watch as henry. He plays menace when needed, emotional when needed, an action hero at times, and the rallying point of his army. His speeches are done so well that you might cheer with his men at times.
   
   The rest of the cast is just as good as Branagh. Derek Jacobi's Chorus serves as the films narrator and his opening monologue in the film studio is nothing short of amazing. Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Robert Stephens, and a young Christian Bale all do very well as commoners who knew the king in his youth. Emma Thompson does well in the role Katharine and while her and Branagh do lack chemistry, their scenes together is still fun to watch.
   
   The rest of the films elements are just as amazing. Patrick Doyle's score is an amazing piece of work, film score or not. His music at the end of the is incredible to listen to and fits the scene perfectly. The cinematography by Kenneth MacMillan is incredible throughout the film from the opening monologue to the end of the battle and the films final scenes are all visually stunning. The films sets all bring to life the era of the film convincingly as do the Academy Award winning costumes.
   
   The highpoint of the film is the climax: the battle of Agincourt. This sequence remains one of the most brilliantly executed and visually stunning film sequences ever created. The acting during the battle, the mud on the actors, the horses, the music, the editing, and everything come together perfectly. This sequence alone makes this movie an instant classic.
   
   The DVD itself is lacking, though. The film is great but comes only in mono. This is one of those films that really need to be in 5.1 and it's a shame there isn't one on this disc. Also the only real special feature is a single trailer for the film. Could we not have gotten Branagh to do a commentary? Him looking back on his first film and some of the choices he made in adapting it from the original play would make for an interesting listen. But this is a case where the film is the star of a DVD release.
   
   Henry V is, for lack of a better description, flawless. The acting is perfect from everyone, especially from Kenneth Branagh. The music, cinematography, sets, costumes, editing and the like are all incredibly well done. This film qualifies as a classic with the battle sequence alone, but with all of these elements together you can not call this film anything other then a masterpiece.



4. Henry V
   Amazingly good version of Henry V with lots of background story of ordinary soldiers that followed him. The St. Crispin's day speech seems woven into the fabric of the play and not apart from it. This is not a sanitized war. As the end of battle draws near, the Henry V is barely recognizable underneath all the blood and mud. There is also the pertinent discussion of morality of following orders - who bears the burden of bad order, the king or the soldiers that follow it. A disguised Henry answers that the soldiers owe the king their obedience, but they are responsible for their own souls. A wonderful movie, excellent cast, and memorable music.



5. "This story shall the good man teach his son; and Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
   
   It seems pointless to add to the overwhelming supply of positive reviews for this film. But as Amazon.com requests it...
   
   A review close to this one remarks that teachers should put down their books and show this movie to their students instead. I can not agree more. Please attend:
   
   SHAKESPEARE PLAYS WERE MEANT TO BE SEEN & HEARD, not -read-! Iambic pentameter is a difficult enough meal to acquire a taste for, as heard. To -read- it is the height of boredom. And reading a script of any sort (which Shakespeare's plays -are-) is deadly dull.
   
   Henry the 5th is one of the true gemstones in the bard's treasury, and Kenneth Branagh should be rightly hailed as a genius in his directing & performing of any of Shakespeare's works.
   
   If you hate Shakespeare, give one of Branagh's movies a try, and if only one, chose this one. You won't be sorry.