Kakaku：995 saved$9.95
Legend Films
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A "Super" DVD) 『"Superstars of Our Gang" continues the line of colorized Little Rascals compilations from Legend Films as its third piece. As I've detailed in my other reviews, these DVDs are an excellent resource for both the casual and hardcore Our Gang fan, because they've cherry-picked the very best episodes from the show's quite broad canon.
In addition to the quality improvements inherent in DVD over pre-existing VHS, Legend has gone the Lucasfilm route and employed its advanced colorization technology to not only add color to existing film, but also to completely re-master the black and whites themselves, dramatically improving the visual quality from tapes you might've seen in childhood. Yes, this disc contains both colorized episodes and black and white episodes, so you're free to take you pick based on personal preference. Judging from my own experience, the younger generation is likely to be more receptive to the colorized episodes than to the black and whites, but at least this disc allows you flexibility either way, for substantially the same price as other Little Rascals incarnations. Additionally, this DVD contains some harder-to-find material that is sure to delight the hardcore Rascals fan, including rare cuts from Rascals' appearances on other contemporary shows.』 『A hilarious collection of Our Gang's best! Join Spanky, Alfalfa, Darla ad the rest of the Little Rascals as they do their best to scare off their beloved teacher's suitor, go for an out of control cab ride and try to strike an unusual deal with a toy store owner, until Pete the dog destroys his shop! These beloved classics are beautifully restored and in color for the first time. Shorts include: - Schools Out, Free Wheeling, For Pete's Sake, Divot Diggers, and Waldo's Last Stand』 fetish『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 18 - Zatoichi and the Fugitives 』
『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 17 - Zatoichi Challenged 』
『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 19 - Samaritan Zatoichi 』
『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 15 - Zatoichi's Cane Sword 』
『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 13 - Zatoichi's Vengeance 』
『 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 12 - Zatoichi and the Chess Expert 』
Kakaku：196 saved$1.96
Homevision
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Dark Side) 『As a lifelong Ichi-San fan (I saw the original TV series in Japan!) I am a little more objective than most about this episode. Chambara and Jidei Geki fans have been spoon fed the colorful myths and fairy tales about Tokugawa era Japan and Japanese life under Bushido. Life was terribly harsh on the rural, working Japanese. The Zatoichi films and maybe "Ugetsu" are the only films to show how life really was for the "little people". There was no glory, just harsh and deadly reality. If this film is dark and upsetting, it is because it is true to the way life was at that time. I highly recommend it to those who want to see how the Japanese villager had to live. If you want pretty costumes, Court Life and the mythical spiritualism of Bushido, skip this one. It will upset you.』
(#18: DARKER AND MORE REALISTIC VILLIANS) 『One of the major differences in this Zatocihi episode from previous ones is that the "bad-guys" seem to be more realistic in this film. In many of the past Ichi films the villians seemed liked bumbling idiots. In this one, director Kimiyoshi Yasuda, who directed several of the Zatocihi episodes, gives the villians a more realistic feeling. Also, the film is quite brutal. And although there is the standard Zatoichi fare that follows almost all of the episodes, this one stands out with just a little bit more in violence.[Such as chopped off limbs]
One of the greatest actors in Japanese cinema is also in the film: [Takashi Shimura] of "Ikiru" fame stars as Dr.Junan. It is always a treat to see him in any film. And especially in the Zatoichi series. The cinemantography is not as good as many of the earlier episodes, or the later ones for that matter. Little of the Japanese countryside is shown in the film. Also, there is less humor from Ichi that had become his established trademark in earlier episodes. And as for Ichi's cane-sword, well fans of his will not be disappointed in his usual high body count at the end of the film. I found the film highly enjoyable [not great] but enjoyable, and would recommend it to all.』
(Excellent filming for 1968. More drama than action.) 『This is just one of many in this series. If you like Japanese culture in the samurai era then you might find this entertaining. The main character Zatoichi is a blind wandering masseur. He has connections with gangsters who usually seek him for his ability with his cane sword others fear him for the same reason. Zatoichi is a very lovable character. you will find yourself wanting to see his many other adventures. I would recommend this video for anyone adding to their foreign film collection.』 『Zatoichi falls in with a group of bandits in a small village. From their hiding place, the criminals control the town’s activities through a corrupt police official, who runs the town’s sweatshop where young women are forced to work in brutal slavery. Zatoichi steps in to deal with the gang in this thrilling nonstop action film, which features dazzling swordplay, superb performances, and a thrilling climax.』
Kakaku：296 saved$2.96
New Yorker Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Brotherly bonds and love and secrets...) 『Movie is set in Turin, Italy in the post-war poverty era of the 50's and 60's. Two Sicilian brothers immigrate to Turin - the elder is illiterate and the younger with promise to become a teacher and professor.
Movie is divided into six stories over the 1958 to 1964 time period titled (1) Arrivals, (2) Betrayals, (3) Money, (4) Blood, (5) Families. Giovanni, the older brother, moves from a kind hearted man in poverty to a tough labor boss who acquires influence (and not always with clean hands) to a family man trying to put his unsavory (?) past behind him.
Meanwhile Pietro, the younger brother, struggles to meet his older brother's admiration and expectations - he's shifty, he lies, he cuts class, he steals, he fails school - and all w/o his older brother's knowledge who is toiling in low paid jobs to pay for his brother's expenses. Pietro eventually eventually pulls it out and becomes the brother taking the high road.
The Brothers' love for one another, the secrets that they keep from each other, the different path that each man takes - all make this a fascinating story. However, I found that the movie left a number of nagging gaps for me in the story-line and character understanding/definition driving my movie rating.
』
(superb) 『A great film about poverty, morality, loyalty, love and the injurious effects of concealment and shame.』
(The Way We Laughed) 『Amelio's despondent tale of two brothers seems to have been yanked straight out of Vittorio De Sica's playbook, with a dash of Biblical fraternal conflict to complete the picture. Lo Verso is a mesmerizing presence, as he touchingly conveys Giovanni's seemingly limitless love and naiveté. So, too, is Giuffrida, playing the mysterious, hard-to-read Pietro, who may not be everything he represents to Giovanni. A fascinating, puzzling study of loyalty and family bonds twisted by postwar Italy's unforgiving pace, "Laughed" will leave its mark on your heart.』
(Genesi di un fenomeno mafioso) 『Nei panni di Amelio non avrei chiamato il film con quell'insulso titolo che non dice e non c'entra niente con la storia raccontata, io lo avrei chiamato: "Genesi di un fenomeno mafioso".
A quell'epoca la popolazione italiana usava ancora, nel linguaggio corrente il proprio dialetto. Cio' rendeva piu' evidente la diversita' di chi emigrava dal sud al nord che in certi casi diventava completa incomprensibilita'. Vi era poi un evidente differenza di stato sociale: di vera poverta' per l'emigrante, di precario e timido benessere per gli abitanti del nord. Ma proprio la precarieta' di quel pallido benessere appena raggiunto dopo i disastri della guerra, rendeva gli abitanti del nord timorosi e ipercritici verso i connazionali del sud che arrivavano pieni di speranze e illusioni spesso eccessive. Su di loro si e' quindi puntato un razzismo, purtroppo tra italiani, che e' durato per tutta una generazione e oltre. Per opporsi al razzismo che li emarginava i meridionali si sono trovati costretti ad organizzarsi in qualcosa di simile a delle confraternite, dove i piu' capaci, quelli che disponevano di qualche amicizia, provvedevano a creare le condizioni per poter trovare uno spazio vitale. Ma gli emigranti, soprattutto quelli dalla Sicilia, non erano impregnati solo del loro dialetto, lo erano anche della loro cultura, dove la presenza della mafia era gia' dominante. La mafia nasce appunto in sicilia come difesa della popolazione contro il latifondismo che si impadroniva di tutta la ricchezza esistente, ma all'origine era una organizzazione dedita alla solidarieta' tra i suoi adepti non una organizzazione criminale. E' solo a partire dagli anni "30, e dall'America (Chicago, ecc.), che parte la degenerazione verso il fenomeno mafioso che conosciamo oggi. Nel film, il limitato benessere raggiunto da Giovanni attraverso la sua organizzazione, e' dovuto alla sua bravura nell' organizzare i suoi conterranei; nel trovar loro un alloggio, un lavoro, un modo per inserirsi in quella societa' che non li voleva. Ma non era un "pizzo", una tangente, era una liberalita' che i suoi conterranei volentieri gli pagavano per il servizio che lui (nominato addirittura presidente) svolgeva. Ma e' impossibile non vedere in questa organizzazione la cellula embrionale di una cosca mafiosa. L'analisi approfondita di questo film fa intuire quindi che i due fenomeni, razzismo e mafia, sono quasi sempre strettamente intercorrelati. 』
(Great Movie) 『This is one of the best movies I've seen. The acting was great. The story takes a twist, but I think everyone knows what's going on. This is great Italian cinema. The cinematography is simply beautiful.』 『Turin at the end of the 50s: 2 brothers have emigrated there from sicily&the older works very hard to let the younger study&free himself from poverty through culture. The boy however is not keen on school&would like to begin to work. When he gets his degree however things take a violent&dramatic turn. Studio: New Yorker Films Video Release Date: 09/19/2006 Run time: 128 minutes』 『Winner of the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 1998 Venice Film Festival,The Way We Laughedis another richly layered drama from Gianni Amelio, the acclaimed director of the multiple-award-winning 1995 arthouse hitLamerica. A tragic tale of brotherhood, Amelio's ambitiously structured film spans six years (1958-64) in the lives of an illiterate Sicilian named Giovanni (Enrico Lo Verso, fromLamerica) and his younger, enigmatic brother Pietro (Francesco Guiffrida) as they seek a new life in the class-divided city of Turin. Divided into six novel-like chapters that cover one pivotal day in each passing year, this emotionally resonant drama reveals how the gradually successful Giovanni desperately wants Pietro to achieve respectability as a schoolteacher. But when a sudden murder forces each brother into moral compromise, Amelio's film evolves into a mysterious study of dysfunctional loyalty, charting the growth of postwar Italy as it charts the love and sacrifice that will change the brothers' lives forever. While it demands the viewer's rapt attention,The Way We Laughedis a satisfying film that offers no easy answers to its complex human equation.--Jeff Shannon』
Kakaku：300 saved$3.00
Image Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Good movie, Well made!) 『Doesnt fall into any of the routine categories. If not for these kinda movies, view of the diversity of existence as such a different culture would be lost completely in a few decades.』
(Remarkable) 『This film is profoundly well done. The director creates the feeling that you are truly among these descendants of the Mayans who have lost their contact with the ancient ways. In the midst of a drought, they seek a diviner who can ask the rain God Chac to send rain. The problem is that the village chief considers the diviner to be a witch, and possibly he sees his power threatened also. The men of the village are led on a quest to obtain the needed materials for a ceremony -- the ceremony takes place -- and then we see the denouement in which (I don't think this is a spoiler) possibly all links to the past are destroyed through foolish behavior. The actors were apparently locals, but they were truly outstanding. The man who played the diviner did a fine job. Actually, the entire film must be seen to be believed. I shudder to think that this movie sat in a closet (one copy left only) for 25 years. How many other works of genius have we lost?』
(Superior filmmaking in a remote land) 『Chilean filmmaker Rolando Klein traveled to southern Mexico--the Chiapas region--to film Chac the Rain God in 1974. Chiapas is next to Guatemala, yet the language spoken in the film is not Spanish but a Native American dialect indigenous to that region. Because of the simplicity of the story, it's impossible to tell when this actually takes place. We do know that it must be at least the 19th century because the cacique, the tribe chief, has a rifle that resembles one from around that period seen in American Westerns, among other venues.
But aside from the rifle, this could be set as much as a thousand years ago. Villagers in a small tribal settlement are afraid of losing their crops because of no rain. They consult their shaman but all he wants to do is get drunk. In desperation the cacique and the men of the tribe consult the tribal elders and they tell of a diviner who lives alone high up in the mountains, who can bring rain to the village.
The mens' voyage to the diviner results in a much longer voyage he takes them on--through roaring waters and lush jungle, and finally into a deep cave where a critical element for the diviner's ritual to bring rain is found. But the cacique is not happy; he is sure the diviner is really a witch who is mad and temporarily convinces two men of the group of 12 who have traveled to turn back. In doing so, the cacique falls upon a bizarre noctural experience--whether dream or reality, who can say?
Shot through with this kind of magic realist, or surrealist imagery, Chac is a film that pulls the viewer in as surely as smoke arises from fire. The primary emphasis in the film is on the elements--fire, water, earth, sky--because that is what and how the characters in the story know, and live, and function. Those who are used to slam bang one-action-a-second American cinema would do well to steer clear of this film. But for anyone needing a cinematic experience in which a main character is the land itself, Chac is a great film to immerse yourself in. The beauty of the jungle, the open blue sky meeting the lush earth, the great night fire that's set ablaze to perform the rain-making ritual, the roaring waters--all these move us. These and the diviner.
The diviner's the primary human element who commands our attention; he moves the film forward and, even closer to the four elements--in mystical ways--than the villagers themselves, he gives the film its intriguing power; the villagers are in awe of him for what he can do, and the viewer will be too, I believe.
Highly recommended.』
(A Bit Slow - But VERY WELL worth the Viewing!) 『Chac: The Rain God is one of those very rare DVD's that offers a unique film with an even better audio commentary. I did not give this my highest rating because the film is slow and would not entertain everyone. It is very dry and subtitles are a turnoff to most (I'm used to them because I watch a fair number of foreign films). Not all that is spoken is translated, which I found a little annoying. I would like to have known more of what the Diviner was saying.
The film itself is a mix of documentary and a somewhat slow, but satisfying story. The characters are all well-drawn and it is a true Journey film where we enter two worlds - the world of the villagers and the world they enter as they are led by the Diviner to prepare for the rain ceremony.
The commentary, though, was a tremendous surprise. I buy few DVDs that don't have commentaries, but most are pablum compared to this. Robort Klein is humble, informative, reflective and gives great insight, not just about the film process in working with non-actors, but also about the Mayan world. I am an avid Mayan reader and want to do my own film on the Maya, and this film was fulfilling on all counts. It is sad, also, from his view two decades later, to learn what happened to these people. The commentary is actually better than the movie and a movie about the making of this movie and what happens later would be at least as satisfying.
NOTE: You do not have to be a Mayan enthusiast to enjoy this film. All you have to be is someone who cares about the loss of richness created by the encroachment by Modern society on other cultures.
This film will leave you thinking for a long time afterwards. And that is good.』
(Ceremony and Ritual...ripples upon the water of life) 『This film reflected how separated we have become from nature. We no longer hear the voices of our ancestral lineage. We have become dead in a world that pulsates, speaks and interacts with us each and every moment.
In this film we see how ceremony and ritual helps to bridge that gap and bring us closer to our world.
If you get an opportunity watch Rolando Klein's 1974 documentary "Chac: The Rain God", a film about the Tzeltal Indians of Chiapas (South America)living in the remnants of the ancient Mayan Empire. During the ceremony, the shaman uses sound, which mirror Kototama child sounds..., to call upon nature's elements. The beauty of this film is how it embraces the purity of being connected to one's world through ceremony. Each action is of ceremony and ritual...ripples upon the water of life.
Hidden is not always hidden, sometimes it is just not seen because we fail to look. This film mirrors both man's faithful interaction with the divine nature of life, and his skeptic beliefs which tear him from the fabric of life.』
『A cult film from the 1970s, lost for years and now newly restored, "Chac: The Rain God" is based on ritual and legends from the Popul Vuh. This gorgeous film, shot in the Chiapas region of Mexico by Chilean director Rolando Klein, focuses on a small Tzeltal village during a terrible drought. Desperate for relief, thirteen men set out on a quest to save their people from starvation with a Diviner who takes them far from their own land on a strange journey. "Chac" is magical, mystical and intensely visual. A dazzling portrait of a Native American spiritual quest, "Chac" is a visionary masterpiece as powerful and revolutionary as "Walkabout," "El Topo" and "Aguirre: The Wrath of God."』
Kakaku：1049 saved$10.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Best love story of all time) 『The reason I claim this as the best love story, ever, is because its the only one I have seen that tells the fundamental truth of love in a long term relationship. Its not a comedy. Using a science fiction premise and some of the most elegantly subtle special effects I have ever seen... the film presents the idea of being able to do away with our bad experiences by having them literally deleted. Could we be happier without the heartache we have suffered? Or is that heartache rooted in our sense of loss over memories that were, once, cherished?
The film does not gloss over the hard parts... but cuts to the core of what it is to love another human being... good and bad. The erosion of our thoughtless actions and words on each other and the idea we have of what love ought to be.
And, in the last lines of the last scene, the film offers every one of us redemption for those small sins against love which we all commit.
』
(4.5 stars) 『This DVD was a gift to my daughter, and we watched it with her. She says it's the best movie she's ever seen. I wasn't quite as enthralled as she was, but I enjoyed it very much anyway.
When the movie opens, Joel (Jim Carrey) impulsively skips work and goes to the shore, where he meets a blue-haired woman, Clementine (Kate Winslet) and they hit it off. But then strange things start happening.
Turns out, Clementine has had boyfriend Joel erased from her mind. When he gets the letter from the memory-erasing clinic informing him of this, he decides to have her erased from his mind as well.
The movie jumps back and forward in time, which can be a little disorienting, though I think that was the point. Oddly enough, the story flows well that way, as things learned in one scene impact the meaning of the next regardless of where they fit in the chronology, and the story is much more effective than if it had been told in strict chronological order.
I suspect part of the difference between my daughter's "best movie ever" and my 4.5 stars is that I've read and watched a lot more science fiction than she has, and the concept of erasing memories isn't a new one for me. I did enjoy the details of the technique in this one, though I'd have liked to see it explored a little more thoroughly. For example, much was made of needing to find every single object connected with the person to be erased, but we never saw the consequences of missing something.
I was surprised, though, that she liked the romance of the movie--she's usually pretty cynical about such things. I, of course, loved the "true love conquers all" as well as the twists when things started going wrong.』
(one of my all time favorites) 『If you've ever had a relationship....I think you'll enjoy this well produced film. The acting is good, the direction is good and the story is unique and well written.』
(Simply breathtaking) 『I consider myself somewhat of a movie buff; from Weimar Germany to Eastern European to Bollywood cinema, I've seen my share of emotional, intellectual and esoteric tributes to that blessed, cursed, ever-scrutinized human emotion we call love. This is one of the few films that I feel truly captures the feeling of regret and desperation contemplating what could have been. The chemistry between Winslet and Carrey is not particularly organic, but then again their rocky relationship is what's driving the plot, and it more than works in this instance. I feel some viewers might have lost something being stuck on Carrey's more comedic roles, but here he fit the bill perfectly for an awkward, emotionally closed man struggling first to react to Clementine's forwardness, then fighting to retain his memories of their relationship (not in chronological order, but in the order in which they were presented in the film). A truly first-rate and beautiful movie.』
(Fantastic Visuals Illustrate Journey Through Life, Love and Loss.) 『What if you could forget a person so completely that you would never know that you had met them, spent time with them, even loved them?
The ability to do exactly that is what lies at the heart of this drama, which takes us on a journey through Joel's (Carrey) mind as his memories are selectively erased. Kaufman's great visuals give physical form to Joel's memories and their systematic destruction: Houses disintegrate, faces become blurred and entire streets crumble as, neuron by neuron, the procedure progresses.
We learn that the impetus for this voluntary brain damage is Joel's roller-coaster romance, and bitter breakup, with the impulsive Clementine (Winslet). As in 'Adaptation' Kaufman approaches love with a realism that is often deeply cynical but ultimately betrays a loner's desire to be loved. Everyman Joel and the untameable Clementine make a good pair, and most of us will be able to identify with their tumultuous relationship.
An excellent, highly imaginative exploration of how the little things in life, good or bad, make us who we are. DVD includes commentary, interviews with Kaufman and Carrey as well as some other extras. Highly recommended DVD!』 『When joel discovers that his girlfriend clementine has had their tumultuous relationship erased from her mind through an experimental scientific procedure he decides to erase his own pain by getting the same treatment. But as each memory is eliminated joel suddenly realizes how much he still loves her. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/04/2007 Starring: Jim Carrey Elijah Wood Run time: 108 minutes Rating: R』 『Screenwriters rarely develop a distinctive voice that can be recognized from movie to movie, but the ornate imagination of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich,Adaptation) has made him a unique and much-needed cinematic presence. InEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a guy decides to have the memories of his ex-girlfriend erased after she's had him erased from her own memory--but midway through the procedure, he changes his mind and struggles to hang on to their experiences together. In other hands, the premise of memory-erasing would become a trashy science-fiction thriller; Kaufman, along with director Michel Gondry, spins this idea into a funny, sad, structurally complex, and simply enthralling love story that juggles morality, identity, and heartbreak with confident skill. The entire cast--Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, and more--give superb performances, carefully pitched so that cleverness never trumps feeling. A great movie.--Bret Fetzer』
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Velocity / Thinkfilm
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (One Eyed King) 『Decent movie. I enjoyed the acting mostly. The actors carried the movie. The plot was good, but overdone. c+』
(Can they be more miserable?) 『The Irish in Hell's Kitchen, New York, maybe but rather in Satan's brine of a brain. Five kids swear to be friends forever but they want to get the moon without working their backside too hard. So they do small mediocre little deals under the complacent and tolerant eyes of the local Irish gang-leader and the local Irish police inspector. What happens is the natural consequence of that mediocrity. One of the five will one day dream big and go to the gang-leader who will see him as a competitor, so the gang-leader will trick him into a complete funky flunk and one will be killed by another, and a third one will commit suicide and a fourth one will have to have a bloody fight with the gang-leader under the protective eye of the cop for the cop finally to clean up the place in the most ineffective way possible: by terminating the gangster with a good old police bullet. And the other tricked one will finally pass justice over himself and jump from the roof. One will survive happily married and the other one will escape with the sister of the first one who got killed. More melodramatic you die. Sickening by excess. This vision of Irish crime or Irish police work or even Irish love does not compare with the nearly mundane bel canto of the mafia, or the rustic gory pitiless vociferations of the Russian or the Georgian mafias, or even the sly treacherous vicious praying mills of those who lock themselves in some kind of exclusive religion, no matter which, Christians Born Again or Islamic Fundamentalism or yoga transcendentalism. The film in other words sounds pretty critical of the Irish, if not plainly racist towards them: they are not even able to be good gangsters exploiting their brothers and sisters.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne&University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines 』
(one eyed king) 『i like the music the best but there was no soundtrac made』
(In The Land Of The Blind...) 『Despite director Nathaniel Ryan's obvious desire to be a Scorsese imitator and over-the-top mobster cliches from writer Robert Moresco they've assembled a fine ensemble cast (William Baldwin, Armand Assante, Chazz Palminteri, Ricky Aiello, Leo Rossi among others) for this crime saga about five friends coping with life in an Irish mob in New York's Hell's Kitchen.
If you come across it at your local video store it's worth a rental.』
("One Eyed King" Review) 『Actually, it deserves 0 stars.
I'm a big fan of Chazz Palminteri and a big fan of mafia stories, but this one didn't cut the cake. I hate to give any movie a 1 star, but it deserves it. The story line was choppy, the acting wasn't on que, and it was hard to believe most of the characters. All in all, don't bother renting this. I couldn't even finish the movie.』
Kakaku：246 saved$2.46
E Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Successful Store Founder) 『This documentary shows that Macy tried several ventures before succeeding with his NYC store. He even failed at some ventures. A surprising thing is that his death is covered 3/4s into the work. What makes his store famous came after he was gone.
Macy hired a woman to hold an important position in his company years before we had sex-based anti-discrimination laws. Like Frederick Douglass and Saint Patrick, I can add him to the list of men pre-1960s who can be deemed pro-feminist.
This movie had no cheesy reenactments, though Macy lived before film. There are countless photos shown here. The narrator's script was redundant at times. It was funny to hear anachronistic financial amounts. For example, the narrator states, "Macy earned a whopping $3,000 during his years in California."
There is a Titanic-related fact in this work. Fans of that tragedy may really value hearing about it.
This was a decent documentary, but it was a bit dull as Macy's isn't extremely famous. It is easier to watch pieces on Marie Antoinette, JFK, or Cleopatra, rather than this guy. As a Chicagoan who is hearing talking heads in this city bemoan that Field's was bought by Macy's, I see that the work is timely, however.』 『Born into a seafaring family on Nantucket, Rowland H. Macy took only one voyage on a whale-ship before turning his back on the sea. Entering business instead, he saw four failures before launching the store that revolutionized the world of shopping. R.H. Macy's New York shop became the model for the modern department store-by his death in 1878 Macy's was recording sales of over $1 million a year. R.H. MACY: MERCHANT PRINCE presents the complete story of this retail pioneer and traces the empire that formed around his name. Witness rare photographs and expert commentary, take a tour of the flagship Macy's, and learn how the Straus family took over the business after Macy's death and transformed it into the world's largest single store. Join BIOGRAPHY® for the definitive portrait of R.H. Macy, entrepreneur, visionary, and founding father of the department store. DVD Features: Interactive Menus; Scene Selection』
Kakaku：1049 saved$10.49
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great story - well presented) 『Not what I expected but an excellent true story of one man's long struggle to end the slave trade in England. The acting is very good and the director gives viewers a small taste of the horrors of slavery without being too graphic. Not recommended for young kids and even tweens without parental presence; some scenes are very depressing. Highly recommended viewing, especially in light of recent world events in Darfur and similar locations. There still exist people who need help to survive.』
(amazing grace "proudly South-African") 『Amazing Grace was made by Hansie Cronje's brother, creative studio's that made the bio about Angus Buchan- Faith like potatoes. I enjoyed Amazing grace and will never listen to the song without thinking about the life of William Wilberforce.
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(A must see!) 『This movie is one of the "must sees" of our time. It brings to life a man only vaguely remembered by most people from their history class of long ago. It is excellently illustrated, acted and produced and makes me wonder why it didn't get more mention at the Academy awards. Anyway, I guess it is a sign of the times that anything that demonstrates the powerful results of faith in God gets little mention in the mass media. Thanks for reselling this. It was received in great condition and fast too.』
(Compelling and Powerful) 『This is a brilliant movie that spans the many years of Wm Wilberforce's struggle to abolish slavery in the UK. Like "Gandhi", the compelling and noted dates and happenings are melded to represent, with as much dramatic interest as possible, the essence of the man and the fight. The want for abolition of slavery has caused conflict all over the world, between many cultures, since the beginning of time and this particular effort by Wilberforce stands out because the time and country it took place. The English were a much more powerful colonial power than today and the suppression of the native peoples of the countries they ruled was harsh and bordered on indenture more than actual until WWII. But this could have been so much worse had Wilberforce not sought to permanently outlaw the trade and profit from the enslavement of human beings, regardless of origin. The law, like the US Emancipation Proclamation, had little teeth until the 20th century whereas they lost a great majority of their colonies and we had the Civil Rights movement. This movie is hearfelt and dramatic and does justice to the facts enough to get the meaning and story across. What impresses Metaldiva is the irony of the hymn "Amazing Grace" being a sort of funeral anthem for the rebel south/secessionists and racial terrorists to this day in the US. But all through the years, it was actually an anthem written by a parson (and former slave trader) to express his change in heart and mind for the respect and freedom of those enslaved persons, in his case Africans. Metaldiva Sez: Entertainment and learning can go hand in hand, in this case it is a lovely historical telling of a subject that is more in the minds of people today than has been in many way. We owe to our kids to let them know about abolition, sufferage, civil rights and overall human rights and the struggles that led to their acceptance and eventual laws.』
(small misunderstanding on my part, seller fixed it anyway!) 『i didnt realize the movie was coming without a case, i voiced my displeasure. the seller pointed out that i had overlooked it in the description and is sending me a new movie anyway!』 『From the makers of Ray, AMAZING GRACE tells the inspiring story of William Wilberforce and his passion and perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century. Several friends, including Wilberforce's minister, a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see the cause through.』 『In this inspirational costume drama, Michael Apted (49 Up) recounts a period in British history sure to be unfamiliar to most Americans. In fact, his eye-opening biography of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) is likely to come as a revelation to many Britons, as well. After all, despite the presence of his wife, Barbara (Romola Garai), this isn't a particularly "sexy" story, but itisa powerful one. The title comes from John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" ("I once was lost but now am found"). Newton (Albert Finney) was a former slaveholder, who became a clergyman and spent his days repenting. While America had John Brown, England had Wilberforce, and Newton is one of many who helped the MP to abolish slavery in the UK. The story begins towards the end of Wilberforce's mission when he's sick with colitis and addicted to laudanum. Apted continues to alternate between 1797 and 1789, when Wilberforce was fitter and more idealistic, and ends in 1807 as his efforts come to fruition. Apted and writer Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) do right by their hero. UnlikeAmistad, however, slaves are largely off-screen, with the exception of author Equiano (Senegalese vocalist Youssou N'Dour).Amazing Gracereserves its focus for the politicians who risked their reps for the greater good, like Wilberforce and Prime Minister Pitt (an excellent Benedict Cumberbatch), and those more concerned with the income slavery provided their constituents, like Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones).--Kathleen C. Fennessy』
Kakaku：1246 saved$12.46
Weinstein Company
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Catalogue of horror special effects) 『Our protagonist goes in an hotel that has an haunted room (1408, at least it wasn't 666). At first the only horrific thing he notices is the hideous wallpaper. Then all usual ingredients show up. Let's see...electric appliances going on of their own, check!Unsettling music, check! Scary ghosts, Check! Eerie unhearthly lights, check! Homicidal madman with ax, check! Walls spilling blood, check! Dead children appearing, check! Ghastly pictures on walls running wild, check! Zombies, check!Desperate fugue in labyrinth, check! But... wait a moment! Didn't we see it all in Kubrick's Shining? That's right. We saw it, and it was a masterpiece, contrary to this confused and confusing drivel.』
((3.5 STARS) Above Average Stephen King Adaptation with John Cusack's Strong Acting) 『The story is pretty simple. A man stays in a cursed room in a New York Hotel. The Dolphin Hotel's "Room 1408" is actually "an evil room," the hotel manager says, where more than 50 guests have committed suicide there (one drowned in his chicken soup). Ignoring the warning words of the manager, a jaded writer Mike Enslin checks in the room where he encounters a series of creepy events. Mike, who doesn't believe in these paranormal events, must endure the terrifying 60 minutes there.
Had it not been for John Cusack who plays the skeptic protagonist Mike, "1408" could have been an unwatchable mess. John Cusack and his strong acting successfully provide tension and occasional humor to the familiar story while the superb production designs and the photography of the dimly-lit interiors give the film an authentic feel. Samuel L. Jackson appears as the hotel manager Gerald Olin, but his role is just an extended cameo and the film is virtually about Cusack's hero and the room itself.
However, in spite of its gripping first half, the film gradually loses steam, not knowing where to go. Whatever the room does, the room does anyway, and there are not many options it can eventually take. The Carpenters song is a nice touch, but director Mikael Håfström takes too much time to lead us to the climax, and some of the tricks you will see are nothing new and sometimes look repetitious.
"1408," based on a Stephen King short, has familiar elements seen in numerous haunted house stories (in book or film) of the past, most notably, "The Shining" - both stories centering on isolated space, for example - but their approach is different. I enjoyed watching "1408" for the most part, but it is also true that I couldn't shake off the feeling that I saw it all elsewhere.』
(A surprisingly good and atmospheric Stephen King adaptation) 『I'd put off seeing 1408 for a while, namely based on the fact that PG-13 rated horror just d
