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International Historic Films, Inc.
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Excellent time capsule) 『This DVD is a must for anyone who strives for for some kind of grip on this extremely disturbing era. The color is important in helping one get a feel for the environment. Nazism is not just about afew evil men, it's also about all these all too normal people, these extraordinarily ordinary people who can be seen revelling in their colorful folk dress and their charming villages. This collection doesn't offer solutions because I don't think there are any conclusive ones at the moment. But you do get to see a great deal of compelling imagery providing food for thought and a real sense of being there. One segment in particular, "Night of the Amazons" is indescribable, it must be seen to be believed. Volume Two concentrates more on combat footage but for those who are are more interested in the common folk, this is a real gem.』
(Better than the original) 『Like other reviewers, I think the sequel is better than the original. One only hopes that a 3rd installment will be issued with even better footage than the first two, especially if more 35mm films are found. Color adds a lot to the drama and presentation, mixing the horror of war and the death camps with pompous Nazi celebrations. Seeing these period films, it's hard to believe the Nazis were members of the human race. Nowadays, top college football players to be drafted by the National Football League have to take a test of basic intelligence, the Wonderlic test. A score of 30, out of a possible 50, is considered a good score. Hitler and the other top Nazis would have been lucky to score a 10 on this test, because they simply couldn't count. What else could possibly explain attacking Russia and declaring war on America? At the same time, leaving Great Britain unconquered, and available later for a Western Front. The Nazis were outnumbered and had no chance to win, in the long run. For all their self-proclaimed superiority, these guys were simply not that smart. Another thing that strikes me, especially in seeing atomic bombs exploding over Japan, is how incredibly lucky the Germans were. Hitler launched his last western counteroffensive in December, 1944. This was the "Battle of the Bulge," in American terms. If he had succeeded, World War II could have been stretched out 3 months or more. If that had happened, atomic bombs may have and probably would have been used on Nazi Germany. Thank heaven that didn't happen but it could have. Excellent DVD's like this one should make us all appreciate what we have today, despite current happenings in the Middle East and elsewhere. There's a lot of kindness and decency to be seen around us, things that were in short supply 60-70 years ago. In 1940-45, the world stood on the brink of total destruction and we found a way out. Let's hope and believe good will triumph over evil again.』
(It's OK, but.....) 『The problem is they put in a lot of footage that is NOT of the Third Reich; such as, of Japan, England, America, etc. etc....
It was sort of like they did not have enough real footage, so they threw in a lot of off-topic stuff as filler.
Its OK, but not truely what it pretends to be. As for the on-topic footage it has, it was great.』
(Worth the money, good addition to any collection.) 『The color film from the 1930's is of surprisingly good quality and the segments showing life in Germany at this time are quite interesting. An added bonus in the Special Features is a short promotional for Berlin from 1936 - in preparation for the summer Olympics held there that year. Beautiful. War related footage is good and most I had not seen before in 20+ years of collecting color video from WWII. The minus, in my opinion, is the mournful, tragic tone of the British narration and funereal-sounding background music which cycles maddeningly over and over. Subtly insulting to anyone who is knowledgeable about this period in history.』
(The very rare footage) 『The real treasure of documentary footage. Thanks digital technology for possibility to have it remastered with maximum available quality.』
IPhone 3G used's review (We love Mickey!) 『If you like Disney you will love this Mickey in living color. Mickey Mouse is such a loveable little guy. He's even a hero on the classic favorite "Brave Little Tailor". I totally love this volume and I'm so glad I have it. Classic Mickey Mouse in color is truly enjoyable. It's nice to see the team too, I mean of course Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. One hilarious bit I can think of is the angel and devil pluto in "Mickey's Elephant". The bits of history and behind the scenes with Leonard Maltin are great too. They increase your appreciation for Disney and his team on these funny and delightful cartoon shorts.』
(Mickey Bursts Forth in Fun and Color) 『By 1935, Mickey Mouse was an institution. Surprisingly, Walt Disney had resisted featuring his main star in color up to that point, reserving color for his Silly Symphonies. But that year he changed all that. And this two disc set features the first four years of Mickey's color career.
26 shorts were made in those years, and all of them are in this set. And we've got some real winners. The set opens with "The Band Concert," the famous piece in which Mickey tries to conduct a concert despite Donald's interruptions and a tornado. Also famous is "Thru the Mirror" inspired by Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. "Clock Cleaners" finds Mickey, Goofy, and Donald high in the air cleaning a clock. "Lonesome Ghosts" features the trio as ghost hunters brought to a haunted mansion by the ghosts themselves. And the set ends with "Brave Little Tailor" in which Mickey plays a tailor mistakenly hired to fight a giant.
Very few are the cartoons where Mickey is all by himself. Most of the time, he is joined by Donald and Goofy or Pluto. But "On Ice" finds Mickey with the entire gang including Minnie as they go skating. They all get to go on the "Hawaiian Holiday" as well.
Mickey's first color appearance was actually for the Oscars introducing the nominees one year. That very short piece is included here as are pencil tests from three of the 1935 shorts. Disc two features a gallery of promotional art from the time and a brief documentary from Leonard Maltin talking about Mickey's career in the era.
As much fun as these cartoons are, they don't all hold up. "Pluto's Judgment Day" was rather boring. And I don't care for cartoons were a bunch of kids run around wrecking havoc like in "Orphan's Picnic."
The truly bad cartoons are few and far between, however. For the most part, this is a collection of cartoons that will entertain any fan of classic animation.』
(Classic Disney) 『I love this DVD. It is all of the cartoons I grew up watching.』
(Thank You, Mr. Disney) 『This is the best of the original four Walt Disney Treasures collections, and by far one of the finest in the series. Masterpieces such as "The Band Concert," "Thru the Mirror" and "Brave Little Tailor" are a living testimony to why Mickey Mouse was such an instant hit when Disney introduced him back in the 1930s. And he continues to delight to this day, even when he's relegated to the background, as he is in some of these shorts. But with supporting players like Donald Duck, Goofy, Clara Cluck (hilarious in "Mickey's Grand Opera") and Clarabelle the Cow (an indignant hoot in "Mickey's Fire Brigade"), that's not always a bad thing. The colors and attention to detail are amazing (the first 30 seconds of "The Worm Turns" being some of the most breathtaking animation I've ever seen), and there is genuine humor here, not just a reliance on slapstick (although there's plenty of that as well!). Disney and the artists working under him pretty much invented modern animation, and that's abundantly clear when you lose yourself in this remarkable collection.』
(A wonderful collection) 『Everyone has a child inside, some of which are harder to get to than others, but it is there none the less. Walt knew this, and tried to bring that innosense to the screen. This collection is the perfect example. These delightful short cartoons are a wonder to behold, and worth well more than the usual thrity dollar asking price. They show a mouse defending a cat from a dog, and a mouse take on a giant with nothing more than a needle, things of wonder to children. This set is worth every penny, and then some.』 『A collection of twenty-six animated shorts in color starring everyone's favorite, Mickey Mouse, released between 1935 and 1938. Introduction by Leonard Maltin. Cartoons:The Band Concert, Mickey's Garden, Mickey's Fire Brigade, Pluto's Judgement Day, On Ice, Mickey's Polo Team, Orphan's Picnic, Mickey's Grand Opera, Thru the Mirror, Mickey's Rival, Moving Day, Alpine Climbers, Mickey's Circus, Mickey's Elephant, The Worm Turns, Magician Mickey, Moose Hunters, Mickey's Amateurs, Hawaiian Holiday, Clock Cleaners, Lonesome Ghosts, Boat Builders, Mickey's Trailer, The Whalers, Mickey's Parrot, Brave Little Tailor.』 『During the mid-'30s, Mickey Mouse's fans ranged from the more than one million children who were members of the Mickey Mouse Club to Franklin Roosevelt, Mary Pickford, and the Nizam of Hyderabad; theater marquees announced "A Mickey Mouse Cartoon" with the feature titles. These wonderful shorts, many of which have never been released to the home market, remind viewers just how charming Mickey was before his popularity and role as a corporate symbol restricted his behavior. In these cartoons Mickey's personality was boyish, appealing, and slightly mischievous. The superb animation emphasizes that impish appeal. When Mickey dances with a deck of cards in "Thru the Mirror," he displays a stylish grace Fred Astaire might envy; in "Brave Little Tailor," his expressions and body language reveal his thoughts as he outwits Willie the Giant. It's virtually impossible to watch him without smiling. These shorts overflow with color and motion, and their lavish visuals pack an increased impact in an era of minimal television animation. Only Walt Disney would spend the money to animate a full deck of cards, a band flying through the air in a tornado, or a clutch of semitransparent ghosts, and only his animators could make those characters live on the screen. The prints have been lovingly restored without pumping up the color too much: the nuances of the delicate watercolor backgrounds still come through. Parents, Disney buffs, and animation fans will want this superb collection in their home libraries. Unrated: suitable for all ages.--Charles Solomon』
Kakaku：995 saved$9.95
Rhino Theatrical
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (History of a nut) 『There were many pictures I had never seen before and in color it was more like really being there in that time in history.』
(Third Reich, humanized) 『Adolf Hitler and the people of the Third Reich are seen here as we've never seen them before -- not only in color, but laughing, clowning, having a good time. Well, the German people were, anyway. Hitler always seemed to be too aware of his position as the stern, implacable warlord to loosen up whenever he even suspected a camera was focused on him. To see Der Fuehrer smile, laugh or appear even moderately light-hearted, you have to watch for the moment when he happens to be looking partially away from the camera, to have momentarily forgotten its presence. There is one scene where he chats briefly with a group of German children, giving one pretty little blonde girl a hug. But it's shot from a short distance and his face is partially hidden. I've seen still photos, candid ones, of Adolf Hitler interacting with children, who seem to be relaxed and happy in his presence. Look at those photos, and read reminiscences of people who were close to Hitler, and you'll find out, probably to your amazement, that yes, the "most evil man in history" was fond of children. "Hitler In Colour" does give us a much more "human" look at the German people of the Third Reich era, showing them at work and play (although footage of smiling children giving the Nazi salute are admittedly unsettling.) Normal human interactions and the underlying evil of the Nazi era often were overlaid, one on the other. This DVD is very illuminating for those who have until now only seen fading black and white movies of the Hitler era. It is an experience not to be missed.』
(Haunting) 『I enjoyed this very much, the fact that it was in color was great, the music sets the mood and for the cost of this dvd, I recommend it.』
(Raw History) 『This is a good from start to finish view of Hitler's reign. It covers things from diaries to personal letters and documents. It covers the ordinary German persective and the ordinary Jewish perspective. It has held history in a time capsule of DVD form.
Great film for students of history. It is nice to see some color too. Some graphic war images are in this DVD.』
(Wonder Documnetary around color film) 『This DVD is a wonderful documentary that is done around color footage that really brings the past alive. Watching this in color really brings the history closer to our time.』 『The producers of the internationally acclaimed and award-winning In Colour DVD series now bring Hitler in Colour, a telling story of the rise and fall of a man who devastated the lives of countless numbers of people around the world. For 12 years, Hitler's overpowering personality dominated the German nation. He led his people from economic ruin in European conquest and to the brink of creating a New World Order. In his wake, he brought a reign of terror that caused death to millions. Drawing from recently discovered German film collections that comprise hours of previously unseen color footage, and woven with eyewitness testimony, Hitler in Colour tells the astonishing and disturbing story as never before. Narrated by Emmy Award winning British actor Brian Cox.』
Kakaku：296 saved$2.96
Sesame Street
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Baby loves it and so does dad) 『Elmo is very funny. Baby loves it and I have to say that Elmo character makes some comments and jokes that only an adult would understand. I find him very entertaining compared to Barney and Tellitubies. I would pick watching Elmo anyday over the other children DVDs.』
(not a hit with the 25 month old) 『Our 25 month old boy, normally an Elmo lover, just wasn't into this DVD.
The format is based on a game show. Each segment of the "show" requires Elmo and his friends to find 7 (I think) squares, or pentagons, or whatever shape that segment features, before a mouse climbs to the top of a clock and rings a bell. Elmo and chums meander about Sesame St. finding squares in Cookie Monster's cookie box, Bob's button, etc. Periodically, we watch the mouse struggling to reach the top of the clock. Sounds like a great premise. However, for our guy, it flopped.
The announcer is frenetic. There's a lot of repetitive counting ("How many squares have they found? One. Two. How many more do they need to find? One...two...three...four...five. Five more squares.") Our little guy demonstrated almost complete indifference to the entire DVD. And he's an Elmo fan, too!
He vastly preferred Blue's Clues-Blues Room - Shape Detectives (Note: there is an extremely annoying 10 minutes of preview, which frustrate even him because they don't continue into shows.).
His taste's are his own. From other reviews of this product, it's evident that other kids of his approximate age enjoyed it. For us, it was a poor investment. However, we learned more about his preferred style.』
(Daughter likes it but not her favorite) 『I purchased this for my 2 year old daughter to help her learn her colors and while she likes it (she likes EVERYTHING with Elmo), it isn't her favorite. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have skipped it. The program is a little strange in that it is a game-show format and they created the host to be just as annoying as they are in real life. Not so enjoyable to watch and I find my daughter just isn't into it. Maybe she will be later.』
(love it) 『I love this dvd and so does my 22 month old son....he always comes to me and asks to put"shapes" on and then watches the whole thing』
(Great DVD for avid little learners!) 『First, I must say that I hate to see negative reviews for this product! My son is almost 2 and absolutely loves this DVD. Before Grandma bought this, we had been reading a few books on shapes and my son was catching on pretty quickly. I think that this program is helping to reinforce his newly acquired knowledge--he is recognizing circles, squares, triangles and ovals in everyday objects like plates, tiles, etc. I have to admit that the muppet gameshow host featured here is a little annoying, but so are the human ones at one time or another! I think that he adds to the fun of the show. Also parents, we need to remember that DVDs such as these are not really for our entertainment and try to watch through the eyes of our little sponges. I recommend this to kids who are hungry to learn and have parents that are excited to help.』 『You’re invited to play a shapes guessing game with Elmo and Zoe and their friends. From squares and circles to ovals and octagons, shapes are everywhere!
But the fun isn’t finished yet. It’s time for more games as Elmo and Zoe are challenged to find a gorgeous rainbow of fabulous food choices. Can they do it? Can your preschooler help them out? Join everyone’s favorite furry monsters in this new video that teaches shapes, colors, and healthy eating.』
Kakaku：196 saved$1.96
Shriek Show
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (cult movie about a evil cult) 『This movie is not about the typical giallo story from the early seventies. This thriller is not about a killer , it's a about a satanic cult and the plot around a woman who is being targeted by them. This means that it's far less about killings than about the psychological state of the cults victim. The early seventies were a time of lots of drug crazed cults and gurus too. They clearly never listened to eric burden and the animals classic song: 'year of the guru' which reveals how those who follow such leaders are doomed to be slaves. They want to enslave edwig or worse for there is a sinister purpose behind the cult leaders actions. And the wild pulsating scenes of cult worship are as disturbing as anything every filmed. If you love mystery flicks and not just body count death movies with a solid cast and a super rocking soundtrack then this movie is for you.』
(Confusing and Contrived Occult Giallo Hybrid) 『From the title alone, one suspects that "All the Colors of the Dark" is going to be a confusing movie. The heroine Jane (played by giallo queen, Edwige Fenech) is very confused; she can't distinguish between what is fantasy and what is reality. Neither can the viewer. During an interview, the director, Sergio Martino, confessed that his transitions from fantasy to reality were rather crude. I totally agree.
"All the Colors of the Dark" is not a traditional giallo. Definitely not the type Dario Argento would direct. There is not a serial killer disguised in black. However, there is Ivan Rassinov who is stalking Jane. He could've killed her at any time but is playing a cat and mouse game with her. We never know exactly why. Also, this film is more of an occult thriller than a giallo. There's a laughable, silly cult; members do a side-stepping motion while a tall, lanky warlock with long silver nails twirls around, falls on top of Jane, and kisses her with his bloody mouth.
Martino says he was highly influenced by "Rosemary's Baby." In deed, there is a conspiracy of cult members who want Jane to belong to their group; later, they want her dead. They can't make up their mind. The plot is very contrived.
In the United States, distributors marketed "All the Colors of the Dark" as an occult thriller and re-titled it as "They're Coming to Get You." The trailer and radio spot make this film sound more exciting and scarier than it really is.
I thought all of Martino's gialli were masterpieces. How wrong I was. Though it has a stellar cast of who's who of Italian giallo actors, "All the Colors of the Dark" didn't fulfill my giallo needs as did Martino's "Your Vice Is A Locked Door," "The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh," "The Case of the Scorpion's Tail," and "Torso." In fact, I found it rather disappointing.
This movie is recommended for diehard fans of Sergio Martino, Edwige Fenech, and/or George Hilton Please rent before purchasing. I wish I had.
』
(Edwige! Edwige! Edwige!) 『Ahhh, Sergio Martino! Just the sound of his name makes this low budget schlock fan's heart sing with joy. "2019: After the Fall of New York," "Torso," "The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh," "Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key," "Case of the Scorpion's Tail," "Slave of the Cannibal God," "Mannaja, A Man Called Blade," and "Gambling City"--these films and many others come to us from the mind of one of the most prolific Italian low budget directors of the 1970s and 1980s. Martino ought to rank right up there with Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, and Umberto Lenzi as a man who knew how to entertain audiences. He knew no limits in terms of genre. For example, "Mannaja" is a spaghetti western. "2019: After the Fall of New York" is a massively entertaining example of the Italian post-apocalyptic flicks made to cash in on Carpenter's "Escape From New York" and "The Road Warrior." Martino is likely best known for his gialli contributions, those atmospheric thrillers involving an anonymous but often clad in black murderer, red herrings heaped on red herrings, and beautiful Eurobabes. "All the Colors of the Dark" definitely falls in the giallo genre, with a few significant deviations. Let's get started!
Jane Harrison (Edwige Fenech) is a housewife living in London whose problems are starting to overwhelm her tenuous hold on reality. She's having these odd and unsettling dreams, you see, that are beginning to mirror reality in more ways than one. Her significant other, Richard Steele (George Hilton), chalks up her disturbing nighttime visions as a mere symptom of an operation she underwent some time before to repair damage sustained in a car crash. Jane isn't so sure. For one thing, some creepy looking dude with piercing blue eyes in the dreams follows her around town during her waking hours. This man's presence reeks of danger, although initially he doesn't do much more than stare at her from a distance (considering the incredible beauty of Edwige Fenech, this must happen all the time). It's enough to freak her out, though. In fact, she's so distraught that Jane finally takes her sister Barbara's (Nieves Navarro) advice to go visit a shrink. Dr. Burton (Georges Rigaud) insists Jane has nothing to worry about, that the visions she experiences are leftover traumas caused by the car accident. We know that's not true, for if it was there would be no movie. Something far more sinister than Dr. Burton can imagine is going on, and Jane is right in the center of it all.
Our heroine begins to understand the mysterious web around her when an enigmatic neighbor by the name of Mary Weil (Marina Malfatti) offers a cure for Jane's troubles. Mary takes her new friend to a brooding castle out in the countryside where a group of people, a cult if you will, with decidedly unsavory beliefs and practices fulfill their outrageous rituals. It's difficult to see how these activities could help Harrison overcome her dreams, let alone explain the origins of her visions, and it soon becomes apparent that curing psychological problems isn't the focus of this particular sect. After an initial encounter with this group, Jane's dreams continue unabated. And the chap with the piercing blue eyes, who we soon learn is called Mark Cogan (Ivan Rassimov), not only keeps showing up but also makes actual contact with our lovely protagonist. Does this guy have something to do with the disappearance of Mary Weil? Is he using that knife he treats with tender loving care? Whatever the case, his fascination with Jane coupled with increasingly bizarre encounters with the cult at the castle soon reduces her to a frazzled wreck. Harrison doesn't even know if she can trust Richard, her sister Barbara, or Dr. Dugan anymore. Living in a giallo presents myriad difficulties, that's for sure.
And "All the Colors of the Dark" is a giallo even though many of the key elements are missing. No black-gloved killer inhabits the film, and the numerous red herrings we've come to expect of the genre don't really exist here either--at least not in the way "Deep Red," Tenebre," or "Don't Torture a Duckling" defines them. Martino's film does proffer the dreamy atmosphere, the clever camera techniques, and the beautiful women one comes to expect from this type of thriller. And of course it's got Edwige Fenech playing the weeping and fractured protagonist. If you're not familiar with this marvelous European actress, you need to see "All the Colors of the Dark" or one of her other films right away. She's a gorgeous, raven-haired beauty with an ethereal visage one cannot look at without thinking of an angel. Fenech went on to make a bunch of giallo flicks, usually opposite Hilton, and she's the definite draw in this movie. I'm happy to see Fenech as the star because several of the other elements of the movie are weak. There's little gore aside from the occasional splotch of blood, and the plot isn't easy to follow for most of the film's runtime. Martino does wrap up most of the threads during the conclusion, but questions remain. "All the Colors of the Dark" is still a lot of fun, though.
Extras on this Shriek Show disc include three trailers for the film (one of them under the alternate title "They're Coming to Get You"), a lengthy photo and poster gallery, interviews with Martino and Hilton, a couple of radio spots, and alternate opening and closing credit sequences. The usual four pack of Shriek Show trailers--in this case "Slaughter Hotel," "Nightmares Come at Night," "2019: After the Fall of New York," and "Syndicate Sadists"--completes the supplements. I heartily recommend this Martino film to viewers, but I'm personally more excited about seeing his other giallo films on disc in the near future. Those movies have Edwige in them too! 』
(Solid thriller, well written) 『All the Colors of the Dark is an above average giallo from Sergio Martino, rich with cinematography, music and other familiar trademarks from the giallo mold. The story is intersting, somewhat weird, and original and it always keeps you guessing until the climatic finale. That's one thing these Italians do better than Americans; They don't feel the need to explain everything in such details so that even a 5 year old couldn't get confused.
It's not very bloody at all but it has decent suspense and some great surreal moments. The ending comes as a bit of a surprise and overall this is a well written story. Edwige Fenech is always a joy to watch and George Hilton is reliable as always.
One weird thing though; The audio can be either Italian or English and in some instances in the movie there's quite a bit of difference between what characters say in either the English version or the Italian.』
(Sergio Martino Is A Genius!) 『ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK is one of the finest giallo efforts ever made. When watching this, one seriously has to wonder why Sergio Martino is not any better regarded than he is. He's right up there with Mario Bava and Dario Argento in terms of serving up effective gialli! This film is an effective hybrid of BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and ROSEMARY'S BABY!
Jane (the uber-gorgeous Edwidge French) is haunted by recurring nightmares supposedly stemming from a miscarriage and a car accident two years ago. But unbeknownst to her boyfriend Richard (George Hilton), her psychosis stems from the memory of her mother's murder, and she keeps seeing the killer (Ivan Rassimov) with weird blue eyes everywhere she turns. So on the advice of a new neighbor (Marina Malfatti of SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS), she attends a Black Sabbath ceremony in hopes of curing herself of these delusions.
To examine the movie further would be totally unfair, since this movie requires as very little foreknowledge as possible. However I will add that there is a great twist toward the end, one that could only be conceived in the giallo world. Of course, the hypnotic beauty of French should be sufficient enough to consider a viewing! And don't forget Bruno Nicolai's gorgeous and haunting music score; it prefigures Goblin's finest music scores!
Once again, Shriek Show continues to outdo themselves in presenting obscurities to the digital medium. The anamorphic widescreen transfer on this film is truly a sight to behold (enhancing French's beauty even)! They include U.S. title sequence, trailer, and radio spots (as THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU), interviews with Martino and Hilton, and a great photo gallery (WARNING! Watch after the movie, for it is kind of spoilerish). Giallo buffs, consider this a priority purchase!』 『A desperate and psychotic criminal targets Jane, a young woman who stands to inherit a fortune. Slashed and scarred, Jane tries to believe it’s only a nightmare but everywhere she turns – in the subway, on the street – the man with knife is there…. A mysterious woman offers to cure her by means of black magic, but the erotic rituals only aggravate her condition catapulting her into a kaleidoscope of psychedelic horror!』
Kakaku：199 saved$1.99
Shanachie
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great Introduction To The Russian Revolution) 『This documentary contains a mix of extraordinary historical footage and well done dramatic reenactments of the Russian Revolution and the ensuing Civil War between the Reds and Whites. But with a narrative structure that is centered on the naval officers of Kronstadt, who played a vital role in the overthrow of the Romanov monarchy. But who also tried, unsucessfully, to prevent the revolution's democratic principles from disintegrating into Bolshevik tyranny.
Reviewer Alfred Johnson, apparently a die hard Communist, claims this doc is told from an anarchist perspective. But this is clearly not the case. Rather the failures and brutality of Lenin and the Bolsheviks are discussed by various mainstream historians, both Russian and Western.
Recommended for those who want to learn more about one of the most important events of the 20th century.』
(outstanding if used wisely) 『This is an engaging documentary that tells an under reported story about an important event. Most Americans do not know that there werre two revolutions in Russia in 1917--even if they were aware there was one revolution that year. The original footage, colorized for modern consumption, brings the events to life. However, if using it in the classroom, care must be taken to teach the students to spot the differences between the actual footage and the reenactments, because they are so skilfully edited together that an uneducated eye will have difficulty discriminating between them.』
(The Russian Revolution in Red and Black) 『The sailors of the Baltic Fleet stationed at Kronstadt on the entranceway to Petrograd played a vanguard and heroic role in the various stages leading up to, and including, the October revolution in Russia in 1917. The sailors of the Baltic Fleet played a vanguard and heroic role in defending that revolution on the many fronts of the three-year Civil War against the Whites. According to the premise of this docudrama, tinged as it is in anarchist and anti-communist colors, the Kronstadt sailors also played a vanguard role in defending the premises of that revolution in their uprising against the seemingly power-crazed Bolsheviks in 1921.
That is where Bolshevik sympathizers, including this writer, part company with the creators of this work on the virtues, especially the political virtues, of the sailors. And it is, whether viewed tragically or not, also the point of departure for those who saw the necessity of defending the Bolshevik experiment, arms in hand, as it lay prostrate after years of civil war and those who later, mainly from their cozy armchairs, made this the definitive point of the degeneration of the revolution of 1917. Moreover, apparently until the end of times someone, somewhere, in some cozy armchair, is going to pose the question of the Kronstadt uprising of 1921 as the defining moment in the process of degeneration of the Russian revolution. I, like the exiled Bolshevik Left-Oppositionist Leon Trotsky, ask the simple question- why? For what purpose? (See archives article entitled Hue and Cry Over Kronstadt, written by Trotsky in 1938).
This two-part docudrama (The Fight For Freedom and Civil War) adequately highlights the social facts that made the Baltic sailors play an important role in the various stages of the revolution during 1917. Their skill levels, their camaraderie and their ties to the peasantry and working class back home made them a lynchpin for all kinds of actions planned by the Bolsheviks once the sailors were won to the need for decisive actions. In fact, as the docudrama points out, at a couple of points-the April and July Days they were ahead of the curve of the revolution. Moreover, the sailors played a decisive role in the actual physical overthrow of the Provisional Government in October and later the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly. Throughout the period, however, one should recognize that they did not act as an independent revolutionary factor but acted, for the most part, as agents of a civilian revolutionary party- Lenin's Bolsheviks.
Needless to say when the storm clouds of civil war raised its head with the uprising of the Czech Legion and the intervention of the united imperialist powers the Kronstadt sailors were at their posts, especially at the critical moments in front of Kazan. They laid down their heads on all the fronts. I should note here that the pen name that I use in this space, Markin, is to honor one of those heroic sailors who laid down his head on one of the many fronts being contested by the Red and White Armies. It is also rather germane to note here that the bulk of the cadre sailors from 1917 either shared Markin's fate, took administrative jobs with the Bolshevik government of otherwise provided service to the revolution. The upshot, of all this, is to point out, as Trotsky did, that those sailors who rose against the Bolsheviks in 1921 were not the same cadre that performed heroic service earlier.
That view has been contested, and is contested here by some of the inevitable `talking heads' that are interspersed between various action segments. And that is the rub. As pointed out up above the creators of this film have their own axes to grind. So we get the inevitable diabolical Lenin and the Bolsheviks as the personification of evil, all hungry bureaucrats ready to pounce on any political opposition. In short, the traditional anarchist/anti-communist litany that we have heard for the past 90 years. Here, beyond the specific chronology of the Kronstadt uprising itself (and the point Trotsky was trying to make in his 1938 article mentioned above) is the key question of when the revolution degenerated (the whys and what to do about it we will leave for another time).
I would argue that if 1921 is the point of qualitative degeneration (and therefore the point that a third revolution is necessary) then the whole Bolshevik experiment was wrong from the beginning. That means, and here we have the benefit of hindsight such as it is, that the working class is organically incapable of making a working class revolution to implement socialism. I do not subscribe to that opinion but that should send those who are stuck intellectually imprisoned in Kronstadt 1921 cause for pause.
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(Excellent Overview of the Russian Revolution&Civil War) 『The "in color" part of the title refers to colorized original newsreal footage used in the documentary. In addition, the DVD features interview with experts on the period (both English and Russian)and historical re-enactments played out under the narration. All of these elemenents, along with the natural drama of the story, make this a very compelling documentary. The documentary tells the story of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and ensuing Civil War by focusing on the story of the sailors of the Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg (at the time, Petrograd). This works extremely well as a framing device since these sailors played key roles at several points in the historical events. The documentary does not follow the sailors exclusively, but moves on to other people and places for extended periods when these become central to the story. Still, by always returning to the sailor's the documentary retains an immediacy and a coherency it might not otherwise have. All in all an excellent introduction to and overview of this important historical event. 』
(Excellent Overview of the Russian Revolution) 『I received a copy of this DVD, and feel it was well worth the investment. Gives a good overview for the rise of the Bolshevik Revolution. I would recommend this DVD to anyone seeking a general understanding of the Russian Revolution.』 『The Russian Revolution and Civil War were major watersheds of the 20th Century. Now, for the first time, the story of this bloodsoaked time is being told in full color. New footage from the battlefields, expert testimonies, and exciting colorized archives help to unfold the dramatic story of the Communist rise and seizure of power in 1917.』
Kakaku：995 saved$9.95
Legend Films Inc.
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (One Way Ticket to DEATH) 『Another entry in the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes series, Terror by Night features our favorite detectives in this excellent production (easily one of the better Sherlock Holmes films) of a great train caper. If you're in the market for a solid family movie, this certainly fits the bill, with its solid acting, excellent script and solid direction.
The colorized aspects of the film are a real boon to modern viewing audiences, to whom the grayscale worlds of black and white movies seem entirely alien. It's important to keep connected with the audience, particularly in a detective story, where the audience's engagement as they attempt to solve the crime is a critical part of the genre's allure. Watch the black and white and color versions together; you'll be shocked at how different they feel, despite being the exact same film. Just for that option alone, this is the must-own version of Terror by Night.』 『InTerror by Night, the Legendary Sherlock Holmes plunges into a thrill ride of a murder mystery set on a speeding passenger train. Holmes has been entrusted to guard the transport of the 400-carat diamond Star of Rhodesia, but when the gem is stolen, the murders start to mount. Only the masterful Holmes can deduce which of the eccentric and suspicious passengers is the true criminal. The amazing colorization, created with a new cutting-edge digital technology, breathes new life into this already excellent film. Also included on this DVD is the original black-and-white version, beautifully restored as well. This is the definitive DVD edition ofTerror by Nightfor Sherlock Holmes fans.』
Kakaku：199 saved$1.99
Shanachie
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Rise And Fall of Fascism) 『There are few DVDs showing the rise of Fascism in Italy, as compared to the multitude showing the rise of Hitler in Germany. This has been corrected somwhat with the release of this DVD, showing the rise of Mussolini and the Fascists in Italy and how this impacted in Europe, and eventually the world. In two parts, and in colour, we see the rise and eventual destruction of Fascism in Italy. The colourisation, whilst not in the same league as "World War 1 in Colour" does not detract from the subject matter, and complements it. I knew only a little about Mussolini before I bought this DVD, but I learnt a lot from it. As a history lesson it is terrific. Recommended for those who have had enough of Hiler and the Nazis, and want to know more about a dictator who has become, over the years, a figure of buffoonery, but at the time seen in a very different light.』
