IPhone 3G used's review (interesting) 『This movie has so many different aspects in it that I wanted to study it. I have seen it on tv, but there is so many deep messages in it that I wanted to study it. It is consumed with American culture- especially from the black perspective. Several times I have discussed things in the movie with my black friends.』
(The color of life...) 『One of those movies that touches a person differently with each viewing, `The Color Purple' may be a perfect film. It's hard to take, sometimes overly dramatic (this may be uplifting and inspiring in the end, but getting there is a rough journey) but Steven Spielberg almost takes a Ron Howard approach to his filmmaking and creates a film that is dramatic yet heartwarming, with enough elements of purity that make the heavy-handed delivery seem as smooth as butter. Now I have not read Alice Walker's novel, but I really want to now, so I can't say if the film is as faithful as it should have been; but judging the film on its own merit there is no fault I can find, no fault at all.
The film tells the tragic story of Celie Johnson, a young woman abused by her father (birthing him two children) and sold to an older man who wants a woman to help him around the house (he has a slew of children and no wife). Celie takes the place of her younger sister, whom her father is not done abusing, Celie is sold into a life of torment and abuse at the hands of the unhappy Albert (or Mister). The film spans over forty years as Celie grows up reclusive and bitter only to have her spirits and her eyes opened when the boisterous and soulful Shug Avery comes into her life. Shug, one time lover to Albert, has some troubles of her own, but her way of dealing with them far outshine the way Celie has dealt with hers, and she helps Celie to come into her own and take back the life she should have had to begin with.
This is such a beautifully constructed story of oppression, not just by the hands of white men as is so often depicted, but `The Color Purple' paints a disturbing portrait of abuse and oppression within one's own family. Celie is oppressed by her father and then Albert. Albert is oppressed by his own father and his feelings for Shug. Shug is oppressed by the disapproval of her parents and her feelings for Albert and even Celie. The young and defiant Sofia is oppressed by her own actions, which result in her oppression at the hands of those around her, from her husband to her eventual masters. There is a tragic circle of abuse and control that is only broken when these individuals start to think and act for themselves, segregating themselves from the hands of their oppressors and becoming their own person.
This film is aiding by some of the most moving and effective performances I've seen committed to film. Danny Glover is emotionally scaring as Albert, a man confused and embittered by his own conflictions. Adolph Caesar is menacing as Albert's domineering father, and his character helps us to understand Albert, a man who is very hard to understand on his own. Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey (both of whom were Oscar nominated) give amazing performances. Oprah is at one moment in-you-face with her abrasive attitude, the next minute concealed and broken. These two variations of character help her build this woman from the ground up. Margaret Avery is beyond fantastic as Shug. The way she effortlessly wraps herself around Celie and dominates her thinking and actions is heart-reaching.
This movie belongs to Whoopi Goldberg though. Yes, Whoopi delivers what may be one of the greatest female performances of all time. She never breaks her characters emotional state, delivering to us a woman who has been conditioned by her surroundings. She is reclusive and unsteady, feeble and alone. She walks hunched and fearful; she speaks soft and unsure. She is afraid to smile. She is afraid to converse. She is afraid to be herself, but when her fire is ignited and her inner person is unleashed she is finally freed from her cage and given the chance to break away from those holding her down. Her final confrontation scene at the dinner table is one of the most earth shattering scenes in my movie watching history. To think that this was her debut performance (as it was Oprah Winfrey's). It pains me when I think of the fact that she LOST the Oscar (I can't believe this went 0/11 at the Oscars).
In the end I highly recommend this movie to any and everyone. This is a truly emotional film that connects with the audience on a deep and personal level. This is not a film about racism. This is a film about oppression, and each and every one of us has been oppressed at one point in our lives. We have not all been oppressed to this extent, but we can all gain strength from Celie's story and can all appreciate her struggle and eventual triumph.』
(As promised) 『My movie was delivered in a timely fashion and packaged as promised. I appreciate the care and would use this provider again.』
(The Color Purple) 『I have always enjoyed this movie from the first time I saw it to this very day. I have wanted to buy this movie for years and either could not locate a retailer in my area that had it in stock or they wanted just entirely too much for it. The price was most definetly right for a penny pinching mother like myself. I would recomend to anyone to use amazon.com for thier next movie purchase.』
(wonderful) 『i could not believe that i was able to get the collectors edition for such a steal. i've always wanted a copy of the color purple but i have yet to find it in stores. thanks amazon!』 『Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, D.W. Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film controversial, but also a popular hit. You can argue with the appropriateness of Spielberg's decision, but his astonishing facility with images is undeniable--from the exhilarating and eye-popping opening shots of children playing in paradisiacal purple fields to the way he conveys the brutality of a rape by showing hanging leather belts banging against the head of the shaking bed. In a way it's a shame that Whoopi Goldberg, a stage monologist who made her screen debut in this movie, went on to become so famous, because it was, in part, her unfamiliarity that made her understated performance as Celie so effective. (This may be the first and last time that the adjectiveunderstatedcan be applied to Goldberg.) Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and actress (supporting players Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery were also nominated), it was quite a scandal--and a crushing blow to Spielberg--when it won none.--Jim Emerson』
Kakaku：1000 saved$10.00
Miramax
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Engaging, Absorbing, Mesmerizing...and often dreamlike) 『Blue, White, Red were named after the colors of the French flag with the movie themes of liberty, equality and fraternity. The three films are largely unconnected in their story lines but have similar construction:
* Terrific casting * Each move has a lead or co-lead who is a beauty * Slow moving * Characters are deeply introspective and emotional * Generally few words by and among the major players however facial expressions and the "unsaid" pull you along and visually tell the story * Colors and cinematography project a dream-like state * The movie title colors (Blue/White/Red) are beautifully emphasized and subtly set in the each film (blue sky, blue water, blue chandelier).
In Blue, the director's subject is "liberty" which is intended to represent emotional "liberty." The film is set in Paris. Julie's husband (a famous composer) and child are killed in a car accident. In her grief, she tries to distance herself from her former life by cutting all her ties (sells her house and her belongings, gives away much of her money, moves and tells no one) - - but she finds that leaving it all behind is not so simple. In her grief, she is also stunned to learn secrets about her family which further adds to her grief. She eventually turns back to music as her solace and turns to an old friend for companionship and love - and both begin to pull her out of the darkness.
In White, the director's subject is "equality." Karol moves his wife from Poland to Paris where she proceeds to divorce him, humiliate him and abandon him because of his inability to consummate their marriage. He is thrown out on the streets of Paris penniless. Karol schemes to move back to Poland where he becomes a successful businessman and plots his revenge. And revenge he gets at a significant personal cost.
In Red, the director's subject is "fraternity" where he shows unrelated characters with little in common coming together to develop a close relationship. The movie is set in Geneva where a professional model (Valentine) meets a retired judge in a chance meeting after she runs over his dog. Valentine learns that the retired judge is listening in on his neighbors' phone conversations and she despises him for it. She happens to visit him on several other occasions after she returns with the dog from the vet. He begins to see and appreciate the "goodness" in her - so he turns himself in to authorities for the illegal surveillance and begins to open up to her. They eventually form a very close relationship as she learns his life history. And, other characters loosely connect to the storyline. This film was the most difficult of the three to follow as other characters loosely connect to the storyline - but this film like the other two was equally engaging and moving. 』
(3 masterpieces for a great low price...) 『This is a tremendous bargain. All three of these films are terrific on their own, but they are much easier to appreciate all together. It may be worth mentioning that the stories are largely unconnected (although they do intersect at certain times). This isn't really a narrative trilogy (like Star Wars), but a thematic one. Each film is named after a color of the French flag, and is supposed to represent the same ideal (Blue=Liberty, White=Equality, Red=Fraternity). But these concepts take on slightly twisted forms in the films; for example, Blue begins with a woman being "liberated" from an unhappy marriage by means of a car accident which kills her husband and child. Liberty is great, but it can also be violent and emotionally painful. The Three Colors films challenge us to see these kinds of complications in what we otherwise may take for granted.
In case the above paragraph didn't make this clear, these films are not easy viewing. They are slow, they are not in English, and they most likely will demand multiple viewings to fully appreciate. This DVD set makes this challenge a little easier; the special features are extensive, and added greatly to my appreciation of the trilogy. For a mere $30, this is one of the best DVD bargains I've ever found.』
(A Great DVD Set for a great set of movies.) 『The Three Colors Trilogy is an amazing set of movies, especially when put together. By themselves, I only found Red (Three Colors Trilogy) to be rewarding. I felt Blue (Three Colors Trilogy) was slow moving and bordering on pretentiousness. I could understand what it was trying to say but it never really said anything. I found White (Three Colors Trilogy) to be a nice balanced film but it felt kind of like a middle part. It had a cheapened story feel.
Now, when viewing Red and linking them all together, I really felt that the trilogy succeeded in showing its individual themes and ideas, especially upon completion of Red.
This trilogy I cannot recommend highly enough. At first, Blue or maybe Red might put you off, but watching them in succession really helps you understand and dig deeply within the films and thus, you'll be exceptionally rewarded.
But this is a great set not only for the movies, but the DVDs are stacked to the brim. Each film comes with a commentary from a biographer (I'm not even going to try to spell the director's name) as well as interviews with everyone involved, archival "cinema lessons" footage from the director, interviews with the Jacque Witta (editor on two of the films), some of the director's student films and just about everything you could ask for in a DVD release.
Must Have.
Please also check out his magnum opus The Decalogue (Special Edition Complete Set)』
(Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy deserves the hype!) 『The late Polish master of cinema passed away far too early, (as did Fassbinder). We are at least privileged, however, to be able to enjoy his brilliant trilogy of the three colors. Although they can each be viewed as an independent story, taken together they present the director's vision of women who have a tale to tell -- and then some. Don't rush these three - sip and savor them slowly and watch the brilliance of Kieslowski's mind.』
(Red is the best by far) 『I just rewatched all three movies again and I must say that Red is by far the best film where magic happend. The other two just are not up to par with Red, but Red is an exceptional film that is so rare to find. Red was so relaxing to watch! It feels like a poem or watching a painting come to life. I believe it is about how compassion, or opening of the heart, splits all notions of time and space and exposes a different reality that is just outside the one we are living in, as in an alternate reality. The powerful force of a compassionate heart changes the destiny of several lives. It is a story about the breaking through to the divine within the human heart that connects us all; the mysterious dimension of the universe that is not available to the senses and is much bigger then the human seen dimension.
The woman in the movie, Valentine, was sad and went through the motions of her life seemingly disconnected from herself and her happiness. Her boyfriend was jealous and was not sure he loved her, and her brother was on the streets from drug use and Valentine seemed to be void of life, even though she was a successful model and ballerina dancer. As they showed her life they also showed the life of her across the street neighbor. He was studying to become a Judge and he too had a life that was not fulfilling or living up to his potential. Valentine and the young man never met, but their stories intertwined as if they were just out of sync with time. Mysterious and spiritual forces worked in the background weaving their lives together.
One day Valentine was driving around sad and she hit a dog. She jumped out of the car and saw the dog was bleeding. She took it to the owner outside of town. He was a dejected and bitter older retired Judge, who spent his time listening in on telephone conversations of his neighbors through a radio he setup. Once Valentine heard the conversations she became agitated and told him it is wrong. She was a sweet innocent young woman pure in beauty and their lives touched. Her loving heart changed him and he later turned himself into the police and they shut down his radio for good. She saw that in the paper and went to see him. It was his birthday and they shared some peach brandy and talked about their lives. She was to go see her boyfriend and he told her to take the Ferry. She bought a ticket.
Meanwhile the young Judge found out his girlfriend was cheating on him and he got dejected and followed her around. He too got a ticket on the same ferry as Valentine. The older Judge came to see Valentine at her modeling show and he told her similar stories of his life that mirrored the life of the young Judge. He then told her the story of his love cheating on him, just like the young Judge's story but having it end there with him lost never finding love again. Then he said that maybe the woman he never met was Valentine, making the story really feel magical like the alternate reality, just out of sync with time, would happen. And when the Ferryboat capsized and we saw the survivors as Valentine and the young Judge, we knew they would have the life they were both meant to have and somehow the older Judge would have that life too.
Excellent movie that just feels so good. The streets of the small European town, the building and their environments were all so beautiful and magical as well. I like those big coffee cups and the warm cozy feel of their lives. No cell phones, no TV's just life pure and simple and how compassion can open the heart and transform lives so profoundly that lost lives can become renewed and the very reality of time as we know it can be changed forever. Love is the healing force of the world that is what is required to transcend stuck sorrowful lives. One of the best films ever made. 』 『Miramax Home Entertainment is proud to present BLUE, WHITE and RED, the acclaimed films by director Krzysztof Kieslowski. Hailed by filmgoers as some of the most absorbing, engaging, well-crafted dramas in recent memory, the box set of BLUE, WHITE and RED Each DVD disc includes lengthy bonus features.
BLUE: Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," Best Supporting Actress, 1996) stars as a young woman left devastated by the unexpected death of her husband and child. She retreats into the world around her, but is soon reluctantly drawn into an ever-widening web of lies and passion as the dark, secret life of her husband begins to unravel.
WHITE: Sexy Julie Delpy ("Before Sunrise") stars in a mysterious tale of a man whose life disintegrates when his beautiful wife of six months deserts him. Forced to begin anew, he rebuilds his life, only to plan a dangerous scheme of vengeance against her. Winner of the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
RED: Irene Jacob ("The Double Life of Veronique") stars as a young model whose chance meeting with an unusual stranger leads her down a path of intrigue and secrecy. As her knowledge of the man deepens, she discovers an astonishing link between his past and her destiny.』
『Even though one can view each segment of Krzysztof Kieslowski'sThree Colorstrilogy on its own, it seems absurd to do so; why buy the slacks instead of the entire suit? Created by Kieslowski and his writing partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz for France's bicentennial, the titles--and the themes of the films--come from the three colors of the French flag representing liberty, equality, and fraternity.Blueexamines liberation through the eyes of a woman (Juliette Binoche) who loses her husband and daughter in an auto accident, and solemnly starts anew.Whiteis an ironic comedy about a befuddled Polish husband (Zbigniew Zamachowski) who takes an odd path of revenge against his ex-wife (Julie Delpy). A Swiss model (Irène Jacob) strikes up a friendship with a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who eavesdrops on his neighbors inRed. The trilogy is a snapshot of European life at a time of reconstruction after the Cold War, reflected through Kieslowski's moralist view of human nature and illumined by each title's palate color.
The DVD set has numerous extras spread throughout the three discs; the end result is a superior collection. Each disc has a short retrospective, culled together from new interviews with Kieslowski's crew, plus film critic Geoff Andrew, biographer Annette Insdorf (who also does the commentaries), and fellow Polish director Ageniska Holland. Producer Marin Karmitz also reminisces about the experience. There's an exceptional effort to show the magic of Kieslowski (who died two years after the trilogy) through a discussion of his various career phases, interviews with the three lead actresses, four student films, and archival materials including simple--and wonderful--glimpses of the director at work. Excellent insight is also provided by Dominique Rabourdin's filmed "cinema lessons" with Kieslowski. Without viewing any of his other films, this set illustrates the uniqueness of Kieslowski.--Doug Thomas』
Kakaku：599 saved$5.99
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Excellent, even though some of the material is edited) 『The 3rd season of In Living Color is just as great as all the other seasons. In some of these seasons, yes, some sketches and dance sequences have been either omitted and/or edited down, but that doesn't mean that this show is not worth watching anymore. It is still enjoyable to me, and I don't complain about whatever has been taken out or edited. To those people who have complained about the editing and omissions of certain sketches, STOP GRIPING!!!! Don't let the fact of the editing or omissions prevent you from enjoying all seasons on DVD. Complaining excessively is not going to get Fox to put back what was taken out or edited. Until the editing and omission issue has been resolved (whenever that may be), just deal with the episodes that we've got and have a few laughs with this show. Life is too short to be pining about what has been left out or narrowed down. For all seasons: My grade is a strong A. For your information, Comedy Central is showing In Living Color starting this fall. Just tape the episodes you want that contain whatever the DVDs don't have and burn them onto blank DVDs, if you like, but don't complain the editing and omissions subject to death. The show is here on DVD, ladies and gentlemen, so enjoy it in the meantime.』
("Hey Kids! Let me tell ya somethin!" - Fire Marshal Bill) 『If you enjoyed the show, then there's not much to say here. It's exactly what you remembered and just the continuation of the shows on DVD. I have the five seasons now, and watch them often. This one in particular is just as funny as the others. A Must-Have.』
(Too many skits are missing...) 『Since this is not a complete set, I'm going to send it back to Fox. It's a sad, sad situation when skits that made the show famous are removed. There is at least one skit missing per episode and now I'm afraid they will be lost forever. One of my favorites of all time is gone - "Chrystal Waters".』
(Sad over cut episodes.) 『My husband and I have purchased four out of the five seasons but we didn't know until later that many of our favorite skits are missing! The one that we miss the most is the parody of Michael Jackson's Black Or White, "Tell Me If I'm Black Or White". What a disappointment. We won't be purchasing the fifth season.』
(Question about a bit) 『Does anyone know if the 3rd Season DVD's include the bit titled Sam and Samantha Kinison?』 『It’s triple the fun with Season Three of TV’s most outrageous sketch show, In Living Color. With its off-the-wall humor and in-your-face look at celebrities and pop culture, Keenen Ivory Wayan’s creation has a comic boldness all its own. The new season introduces Jamie Foxx to an already outstanding cast. The Fly Girls return with a sexy newcomer named Jennifer Lopez. And the edgy writing is back with a vengeance. This 3-disc Collector’s Edition features all 30 hilarious Season Three episodes—and it’s gonna rock your world!』
IPhone 3G used's review (Most of the Micky Modern Classics) 『This is a great collection of Mikey shorts. The only one I wanted that wasn't found in this collection was "The Brave Little Tailor". But most of my favorites were found in this collection such as: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey and the Beanstalk The Little Whirlwind Mickeys Christmas Carol(The reason I bought this collection) The Prince and the Pauper Comes in a metal tin with a numbered certificate. Also the DVD case enclosing the DVDs inside the tin was well designed. The way its made the disks cant come loose during shipping if you buy on line』
(Disney Treasures DVD Rule) 『If you love the old Disney and the style that placed it above the rest, then you gotta have this dvd as well as the others. I mainly bought it for "Mickey's Christmas Carol" yet I received much more from it with all the extra shorts and bonus features. This is a must have for all who wish to learn from the masters of animation.』
(Yep, Disney HERE is Cheap and Greedy! ! No Two Ways About It!! I Feel Ripped Off!!) 『I am a HUGE "Mickey Mouse Club" fan and I grabbed The Walt Disney Treasures, "The Mickey Mouse Club", the moment that it became available a few years ago. It remains my favorite "Walt Disney Treasures" boxed set and I also have have several others that I really like, although, "The Mickey Mouse Club" Walt Disney Treasures set is my very favorite. If I could only keep one, that would be it. Within that set I have the complete first week of the show plus many bonus features includeing the original full length introduction of the show and the introduction of the mouseketeers within the opening day at Disneyland. Both of these bonuses are in color. NOW I find out that I have to buy this seperate "Walt Disney Treasures" set" to get Mickey's individual introductions to each themed day of the week in color when these introductions could have very easily been included within "The Mickey Mouse Club" set along with the other material included within that set which was presented in color!! I feel ripped off!!
Why oh why am I being forced to purchase two seperate sets when purchaseing one set would have been sufficient? Being down right cheap and greedy in putting together THIS Walt Disney Treasures boxed set together are the only answers that I can come up with. The only things worthwhile to me within this set are Mickey's introductions to each day of the week, which are in color, from "The Mickey Mouse Club".
To be completely honest, even though I more than cherish "The Mickey Mouse Club", Mickey is my least favorite Disney character. I don't dislike the little guy with the big ears in the least, it's just that many times I find him boreing. I just prefer the other characters (with Donald and Chip and Dale being my favorites - maybe Goofy).
Jimmie Dodd, the mouseketeers, and so many other elements of "The Mickey Mouse Club" are what have always made me cherish that show. Not Mickey. It's sort of strange in the fact that I LOVE the show for which Mickey is named after and yet not necessarily Mickey himself. Also,I LOVE the introductions to the "Mousekartoons" on the show which were performed by the mouseketeers yet not really cared for many of the cartoons themselves (especially the ones that featured Mickey).
Yep, Disney HERE, within this set, is cheap and Greedy!! No two ways about it!! I feel ripped off!!
By the way, when are complete seasons of "The Mickey Mouse Club" comeing out? I keep waiting.』
(Mickey's Coasting Period) 『The greatest always go through a "coasting period" where they stop trend-setting and start craftmaking. The innovative, industry leading Mickey of the 20s/30s gives way to "the icon"/"institution" Mickey of his later career.
Mickey's cartoons from 1940-and beyond show a superstar in his element doing what he does better than anyone: entertain and delight. He does so by himself, but mostly with the best animated supporting case ever made.
Enjoy this set that (like MM in B&W Vol Two) allows you to play all the cartoons back to back continuously.
"Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip", "The Pointer", "Mickey and the Seal", AND "The Little Whirlwind" show a veteran movie star making it look soooo easy.』
(A major YAWNER) 『I got this collection for my wife, who loved Disney cartoons as a girl. We watched the shorts together one evening, and I was looking forward to laughing.
I don't think either of us even cracked a smile. After most of them, we would look at each other with an expression that said, "What the hell was that all about?"
We're not humorless people. Honest. But these Mickey shorts just aren't . . . funny. There're more . . . charming, I guess, than funny. And they all end at the most inappropriate times, as if the animators just gave up. It's hard to imagine Walt Disney and his writers sitting around a table coming up with some of these "stories."
Any humor to be gleaned from these shorts have been eliminated by Leonard Maltin, who, at the beginning of most of them, says innane things like, "We all know that gunplay isn't funny . . ." or "We all know that drunkenness isn't funny . . ." So I made sure not to laugh when those moments arrived. Maltin also informs us that Americans were so base and unsophisticated in the 40s and 50s that they actually found humor in bogus foreign accents. But no longer! We're too enlightened for that now. I guess Maltin isn't familiar with Apu or Fat Tony from the Simpsons.
This set gets two stars because of "Mickey's Christmas Carol," which, in case you're sensitive of such things, contains a bogus Scottish accent, and because of some of the insightful bonus features. Besides that, this set is a real yawner.』 『The celebration of Mickey's color capers continues in this second volume of shorts -- from "Society Dog Show" in 1939 to his last short, "The Simple Things," in 1953 -- and feature film appearances, giving you a decidedly colorful history of the most famous mouse in the world. This outstanding review of Mickey's color career spotlights some very special features, including his groundbreaking performance in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." You'll also get an inside look at Mickey's recent career through the eyes of his most recent animators, Mark Henn and Andreas Deja, and voice actors Wayne Allwine (Mickey) and Russi Taylor (Minnie). Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.』 『By 1939, when the earliest films in this collection were made, Mickey Mouse was the most famous cartoon character in the world. The unsuccessful hunter in "The Pointer" (1939) and the irrepressible magician in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1940) rank among his finest performances. In both films, he sparkles with vitality. But as Mickey grew more popular, more restrictions were placed on what he could do, and the character grew dull. Those restrictions become obvious when the viewer compares these films with the shorts onWalt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color. In "Mickey's Birthday Party" (1942), he clowns and stumbles through a comic dance routine, but it feels like he's working for the laughs. In 1936, when a more impish Mickey danced with a deck of cards in "Thru the Mirror," the fun came from the stylish grace of his movements: That Mickey didn't need to mug for the camera. In the later films, Mickey serves as a genial straight man, with Pluto and other side characters supplying the comedy.
A new generation of animators faced the same problems and restrictions when they tried to revive the character in "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983) and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990). The extras include some deleted animation from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and the five opening sequences from the "Mickey Mouse Club" (1955), the last time Walt Disney provided the character's voice. (Rated G, suitable for all ages: minor cartoon violence, tobacco use)--Charles Solomon』
Kakaku：497 saved$4.97
Sony Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Simply, Superb !) 『This is a masterpiece that touches our hearts. No more words. Don't miss it and enjoy it as I did !!』
(Beautiful...) 『The scene in which Mohammed hears the baby bird that has fallen from its nest, outside the school while waiting for his father, could be a film all on its own... A great spiritual message of awareness...
Let us all be like Mohammed, and embrace the beauty of life around us and not allow the pressures of society and circumstance blind us like his fearful and misguided father...』
(Great Movie) 『I don't usually watch movies like this, but it was fantastic. The cinematography was great and the message was sweet. Surprisingly, there were some intense moments. Great movie all together.』
(Touching&Powerful) 『This is one of the best Iranian films ever made. The praise it has received on this page is well deserved and this is a "must see" for all who want to get a taste of Iranian filmaking.』
(Beyond Seeing) 『This film about a blind Iranian boy and his family takes the viewer beyond all stereotypes to witness the etheric beauty and depth of love in unexpected places. The filmmaker has produced a work which speaks successfully across cultural boundaries in a provoking exploration of the meaning of family, community, loss and connection.』 『A fable of childs innocence and a complex look at faith and humanity. Visually magnificient and wrenchingly moving the film tells the story of a boy whose inability to see the world only enhances his ability to feel its powerful forces. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/24/2008 Starring: Moshen Ramezani Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Majid Majidi』 『Majid Majidi, whose delightfulChildren of Heavenbecame the first Iranian film ever nominated for an Oscar, returns to the subject of children for this lush and lovely--if contrived--melodrama. A spirited blind boy with a passion for learning and life arrives home for a three-month break. He's loved by his giggly little sisters and adored by his gentle granny, but his widowed, self-pitying father sees him as a burden and is determined to foist him off on someone else before he remarries--specifically, a kindly blind carpenter who welcomes the boy with all his heart. Majidi is at his best exploring the texture of the boy's world--little hands feeling their way through a garden, the sounds of metal pencils punching out Braille pages, the shuffle of fingers on paper--and his imagery is delicate and lush. The story descends into scripted tragedy and a contrived, action-packed climax (unusual for a cinema known for its restraint), and the emotional tenor turns sentimental and cloying, but Majidi turns it all around with an astounding, heartbreakingly powerful final image. If there is one thing many Iranian films have in common, it's an unerring sense of how to end a film. This is one of the most affecting ever: beautiful, moving, simple, a glowing moment that crystallizes the entire movie.--Sean Axmaker』
Kakaku：299 saved$2.99
Image Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Well-Intentioned But Lacks Dramatic Momentum) 『"The Color of Freedom" (also known as "Goodbye Bafana") is based on the memoirs of James Gregory, South African prison guard and censor officer, who died in 2003. The name of the book is "Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend," and you may think the book title tells all you have to know. In fact, the truth is a bit different in the film directed by Bille August ("Pelle the Conqueror"). (And I know the controversy over the original book, but I will not talk about it here.)
Though August's film is inspired by the life of a man who guarded one of the most important political figures of our time, the story of "The Color of Freedom" is not exactly about Nelson Mandela (played by Dennis Haysbert). It is more about James Gregory himself and his family - his wife (Diane Kruger) and their children - and the spiritual transformation James goes through. The story is told against the background of modern South African history, but its perspective is always that of James Gregory.
"The Color of Freedom" can be seen as a portrait of a man caught between his ideal and reality, or family and establishment. Superior officers don't like the idea of a warden talking friendly with the prisoners, much less reading Freedom Charter in secret. While watching the film, I thought his friendship with Nelson Mandela could easily jeopardize James's position and James would have to pay the price of his spiritual freedom, but ... well, I cannot disclose the plot, which I think is not very dramatic. But you may find it differently.
Dennis Haysber is surprisingly good as Nelson Mandela and Joseph Fiennes did a great job, actually his career-best acting, as the protagonist. The locations of South Africa provide beautiful sceneries and the credible backdrop for the story, but the characters of James Gregory and Nelson Mandela need to be fleshed out more, especially the latter. To understand the changes that happened in James, we have to know more about Nelson Mandela and his personality, but the script lacks information and insight, which could have made the film much better.』
(Mandela Towers!) 『Funny that two reviewers note the disparity between Haysbert's size and Mandela's--Mandela is also 6'4", the same height as Haysbert, and has never been "diminutive" in size or in spirit. Robben Island is actually quite beautiful, with a glorious view of Cape Town and Table Mountain, though one would never know it from the view from the prison.』
(A Friendship Defined) 『While many books and films about South Africa's Apartheid have attempted to convey the tension and the eventual dissolution of that sociopolitical scheme, few histories bring us as close to the core of the schism as does Bille August's excellent film THE COLOR OF FREEDOM. Based on the book GOODBYE BAFANA by James Gregory (with Bob Graham) the story details the relationship between Nelson Mandela and prison warden James Gregory during Mandela's long imprisonment on Robben Island off the coast of South Africa, and the gradual friendship that occurred between these disparate men. Studying this development of a friendship provides an opportunity to better understand the concept of Apartheid and of the evils of racism in general.
Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on the desolate Robben Island for his non-violent attempts to end racism in South Africa, attempts that eventually resulted in work stoppages and resistance movements that moved the articulate, well-educated lawyer Mandela into the realm of activism. While on Robben Island he was guarded by one James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes), a pro-apartheid, cruel prison employee who was assigned to Mandela as a spy and censor because of Gregory's knowledge of the local language Xhosa (learned from his childhood when his best friend was a black boy named Bafana). Gregory lives on the island with this wife (Diane Kruger) and children and his commitment to his family provides a stark contrast to his hatred of his black 'Kaffir' prisoners: his involvement with the pro-apartheid status is strengthened by his direct communication with Intelligence in the cities of South Africa where his censored information from the prisoners leads to definitive capture and 'disposal' of the blacks. On a trip ashore Gregory and his wife and children witness first hand the beatings and cruelties of the whites against the blacks and Gregory returns to his duties on Robben Island with a gradually changing point of view for the model prisoner Mandela. They begin communicating in Xhosa and Gregory allows Mandela's wife Winnie (Faith Ndukwana) to spend more committed time with her husband on her restricted visits to Robben island. One particular misstep - Gregory passes Mandela's Christmas gift of a piece of chocolate to Winnie - threatens Gregory's status on the island, while at the same time bonding Mandela and Gregory like brothers. Gregory's life and philosophy have been changed by Mandela's powerful personality and spirit and his eventual release from prison into the new, freed South Africa has been aided in a small but meaningful way by Gregory - a reflection of Gregory's childhood bond with his friend Bafana.
August captures the tension and the atmosphere of South Africa in this visually stunning film. Fiennes is superb as James Gregory as is Diane Kruger as his wife. Dennis Haysbert conveys the spiritual essence of Mandela despite the fact that his physical appearance is not at all like the Mandela known so well from the still constant photographs of the diminutive freedom fighter we see frequently. But the film does convey the tenor of the changing times during the 27-year confinement of Nelson Mandela. The featurettes on the DVD offer lengthy history lessons about the real events referenced in the film and add immeasurably to the film's overall success. There is much to learn from this film in addition to the fact that it is a solid work of cinematic artistry. Grady Harp, July 08』 『Joseph Fiennes (Running with Scissors, Shakespeare in Love) and Dennis Haysbert (TV's 24) star in the incredible true story of the deep bond that develops between political prisoner Nelson Mandela and James Gregory, the racist white South African who was Mandela's prison guard for more than 20 years. Based on Gregory's controversial memoir, Goodbye Bafana, The Color Of Freedom powerfully chronicles the life-changing journey both men experience during Mandela's imprisonment - as one man confronts the racism he has always known, the other's struggle for freedom makes him a worldwide symbol of South Africa's heroic fight for democracy.』 『Inspired by James Gregory's memoir,Goodbye Bafana,The Color of Freedomoffers an inside look at the 27-year incarceration of future South African President Nelson Mandela (24's Dennis Haysbert). Apartheid-friendly guard Gregory (Shakespeare in Love's Joseph Fiennes), social-climbing spouse Gloria (National Treasure's Diane Kruger), and their two children move to Robben Island, home of the infamous political prison, in 1968. Because he speaks Xhosa, Gregory’s superior charges the warder with censoring correspondence and supervising visits between the African National Congress (ANC) leader and his wife, Winnie (Faith Ndukwana). As it transpires, the guard had a black childhood friend named Bafana, and his relationship with Mandela rekindles Gregory’s long-lost belief in racial equality. Directed by Denmark's Bille August (The Best Intentions),The Color of Freedomcaptures the natural beauty of South Africa and the unnatural fashions of yesteryear (including Kruger's '60s-era foundation garments). The actors also give it their all, particularly Fiennes, who nails the Afrikaner dialect, but predictability and underdeveloped personalities dilute the drama (it's also worth noting that Mandela hasn't corroborated the facts in Gregory's book, contributing to its controversial reputation). The six-foot-four Haysbert's dissimilarity to the Nobel Peace Prize winner also proves distracting. LikeBlood Diamondand other recent motion pictures concerning African history, August's effort means well, but fails to register as more than a made-for-TV movie with superior production values.--Kathleen C. Fennessy』
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20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Very pleased with my blast from the past!) 『It's always nice to venture back to your past. Ordering this dvd set of In living color was a special treat. My children watched with me and got the same thrills I did.
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(I love Wanda! "I'm gonna rock yo world sugar!") 『I love Jamie Foxx in this season, as well as the previous one. He is awesome. This is yet another great addition to the best comedy show in history! I love it!』
(Awful!) 『The 4th season is terrible. You can tell that once Keenan and Marlon left, the sketches went down hill. Most were almost a train wreck with no clear direction. Don't waste your money on this DVD.』
(This is where it began to go downhill :-l) 『This is where I first 'met' and fell in love with Jamie Foxx. We used to get this show in NZ and I'd kick everyone out of the room so I could watch it in peace. I think it started lacking something here and don't find this nearly half as funny as the other seasons. This is the last season for the Wayons' and I think they got out while the going was somewhat good. I'd recomend this dvd to fans of the show only; if you are new to ILC, then definately don't start here - go back to the beginning because those first couple of seasons were the absolute best (see my review for season 1).』
(Don't Waste Your Time) 『Don't buy this DVD. They've included some of the exact same sketches already shown on Seasons 1-3 dvds right down to the music performances at the end. On one episode, they showed Another Bad Creation performing. The exact same performance was on Season 2. Just watch it on tv.』 『Nonstop laughs are in the house with Season Four of In Living Color on DVD! No celebrity was too sacred and no current event was too controversial for this Emmy-winning hit show that pushed the boundaries of sketch comedy—with hilarious results. So join the talented Wayans family (including new cast member Marlon Wayans), along with Jim Carrey, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, Jamie Foxx and the super-sexy fly girls for a howling good time with this 3-disc Collector's Edition, featuring all 33 hilarious Season Four episodes!』
