Kakaku：549 saved$5.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A fine romance, but not an 'Austen adaptation') 『I love Austen and have read the book and seen the BBC adaptation more than once. Since this movie is so much shorter, I knew there would be compromises, but I had still hoped that the film would bring Austen's loving, amused, witty and razor sharp view of the British society in the late 1700's across. The book is not just about two people who go through personal changes and external adversities to find each other in the end. Their romance is a case in point of the silliness, pretentiousness, the pride and the class-orientation of those times and how its inhabitants struggle with or submit to it.
This film is a rounded romance that the American audience will love, fast-paced, with strong characters and a satisfying plot, dialog and ending - I appreciate it for that. Compared to the BBC version it also brought welcome realism and grit to the imagery with plainer costumes, dustier scenery and sweatier faces. But to be called an Austen adaptation I would have needed the characters to be much truer to Austen's originals:
Lizzy is fun-loving, caring, witty and confident. But society calls for gentle females that know and appreciate their station - which of course is below that of men. Lizzy knows that and keeps her intellect hidden, bowing to society's expectations and revealing her insights only to Jane or her father, not to the public. Knightley's version of Lizzy is still a delightful individual, but too self-assured, candid and rebellious.
Jane, according to Austen is very sweet and good-natured, always trying to believe the best of people. She is also very delicate and coy, keeping her public dialog completely innocuous and her eyes mostly downcast. Rosamund Pike makes Jane by far too confident and strong. Her deep suffering from Bingley's supposed rejection doesn't come across at all.
Mr. Bennet's chief entertainment is his private amusement with his' wife's and his three younger daughter's silly preoccupation with men, fashion and gossip plus his delight in his two older daughter's beauty and sense. He is truly funny, but that is appreciated only by Lizzy and Jane, the rest of the family either doesn't catch his quips or misinterprets them. Donald Sutherland only gets to play a kind but boring head of family, resigned to his life in an all-female household.
The BBC version of Mr. Collins is wonderfully oily. His stilted but eloquent dialog, his complete acceptance of the rules of societal ranks (total submission to Lady de Bourg and belief in superiority over the Bennets) are satisfyingly repulsive. Tom Hollander's version is only that of an ignorant idiot.
I love Judy Dench as an actor, but here she is too regal, too charismatic. Austin gives Lady Catherine de Bourg superiority only through her riches, position and through a strong enough intellect and inbred confidence to manipulate everyone around her. Austin makes her meddling and truly undeserving of the reverence offered her, especially by Collins.
Finally Darcy. According to Austen he is smart, brooding, very proud but caring and generous. He is genuinely struggling with his own affection for Lizzy. His sense of propriety doesn't allow this connection especially in light of the disastrous impressions he gets from the rest of the Bennets. But his emotions are too strong to ignore. Colin Firth brought Darcy's contradicting feelings brilliantly to life in the BBC production, particularly in the key scene where he proposes and Lizzy rejects him. He is uncharacteristically nervous and fidgeting; he is hopeful, and vulnerable but also angry and confused. Matthew Macfadyen doesn't bring more than the anxiety that would be part of any marriage proposal - none of the underlying battle shows. The rest of the film doesn't see many emotions from Darcy beyond superiority and boredom - way too flat for what Austin had in mind.
In summary, if you expect a delightful romance, you'll be satisfied, if you want Jane Austen's vivid and multi-layered characters, social insights and scathing dialogs, you'll be disappointed.』
(Doesn't measure up to the BBC version) 『If you love the BBC version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, you'll be disappointed with this one.』
(Romance's convoluted course) 『Saw this with my girlfriend. She cried at the end. This is a well made film. There is one breathtaking shot of Keira Knightley's character posed on the edge of a cliff, with a magnificent backdrop. I would love to have a poster sized print of it up on the wall. An excellent stay at home date movie. Very humorous too.』
(Lovely film adaptation.) 『I own the mini-series version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, which is more true to the book, but I think this is the more entertaining film. Other reviewers have discussed the difference in performances by actors who are closer to the actual ages of the characters in the book and the more realistic setting. One difference between book and movie that I appreciated was the director's take on the relationship between the Bennet parents and his expansion of the minor characters. Here, Mr. Bennet is both exasperated by and in love with Mrs. Bennet; Mr. Collins is as annoying as ever, but we also sympathize with his vulnerability and social awkwardness. Elizabeth's sister Mary is still a preachy bluestocking, but the film doesn't just make fun of her; we also her as the awkward teenage girl who sobs in her father's arms after being embarrassed at the ball. The five girls are very convincing as sisers and their embarassing mama loves them dearly. Bingley is as shy as Jane and here we see Darcy helping him rehearse his marriage proposal to her. Darcy and Elizabeth seem a little more raw and REAL here. The director has really gotten at the humanity of all of the characters here in a way that adds a lot to the film. That, and it's not six hours long, which should appeal to anyone who doesn't have the patience to sit through the mini-series.』
(One of the Best) 『This is one of my favorite films of all time. It has a lot of charm and brings Jane Austen's wonderful story to life. The acting was great and highly enjoyable. Knightly plays Elizabeth perfectly and Mr. Darcy's character is also done very well. This movie is a classic!』 『One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride&Prejudice, comes to the screen in a glorious new adaptation starring Keira Knightley. When Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding that sparkles with romance, wit and emotional force. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times).』 『Literary adaptations just don't get any better than director Joe Wright's 2005 version of Jane Austen'sPride&Prejudice. The key word here is adaptation, because Wright and gifted screenwriter Deborah Moggach have taken liberties with Austen's classic novel that purists may find objectionable, but in this exquisite film their artistic decisions are entirely justified and exceptionally well executed. It's a more rural England that we see here, circa 1790 (as opposed to Austen's early 19th century), in which Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) is one of several sisters primed for marriage, with an anxious mother (Brenda Blethyn) only too desperate to see her daughters paired off with the finest, richest husbands available. Elizabeth is strong-willed and opinionated, but her head (not to mention her pride and prejudice) lead her heart astray when she meets the wealthy Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), whose own sense of decency and discretion (not to mention his pride and prejudice) prevent him from expressing his mutual affection. They're clearly meant for each other, and as Knightley's performance lights up the screen (still young enough to be girlishly impertinent, yet wise beyond her 20 years), Austen's timeless romance yields yet another timeless adaptation, easily on par with the beloved BBC miniseries that has been embraced by millions since originally broadcast in 1995. Individual tastes will vary as to which version should be considered "definitive," but with a stellar supporting cast including Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland, this impeccable production achieves its own kind of perfection.--Jeff Shannon』
Kakaku：899 saved$8.99
Lionsgate / HIT Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A good buy for any Thomas Fan) 『I was not that thrilled to buy yet another Thomas movie, but we are Pierce Brosnan fans and my three year old loves Thomas so I wanted to give it a try and I was not disappointed.
That said, I do think the beginning of the movie is a bit off. Mr. Brosnan sounds a bit monotone, but he seems to pick up the pace and after a while you get caught up in the story about the great discovery (finding the town of Waterton). They introduce a new engine named Stanley (so you can add that train to your growing collection) that my son has not stopped talking about since he saw the movie. Also, the Thomas Theme song at the end is updated and is pretty catchy. A good buy for any Thomas fan. 』
(Great Thomas Movie!) 『This is a great movie! Pierce Brosnon is an excellent narrator as well - you can tell he has read these to his children! It is a very good story line about the old town of great waterton, and such great and amazing perils that Thomas goes through. Very exciting and fun.』
(Thomas and Friends Great Discovery is Great!!!!) 『My daughter is six years old. She is a giant Thomas fan. This movie is the greatest. We both loved it. We also love the music cd that came with the dvd. It is so neat. My daughter listens to the music while playing with her trains. We are very, very pleased with this product.
LanieandTaylor』
(Wow! Great one!) 『Definitely a must have for thomas the tank engine collection, Pierce Bronson does a superb narration, the stories and the direction was great, and the music was AWESOME! Whoever is singing the song at the end of the dvd has completely changed the familiar thomas the train song and gave it a catchy hip-hop tune which fits perfectly with the musical genre of today. Must buy it, you won't be disappointed. (^o^)』
(This movie is WONDERFUL!) 『I was reluctant to buy another Thomas movie for fear that my 4 year old will make me watch it over, and over, and over...but I'm glad we got this! It's a great movie and I just LOVE the song at the end! Pierce Brosnan does a great job with all the voices. I'm VERY glad we got this and look forward to watching it again and again...(which I'm sure I'll have to!!)』 『Thomas the Tank Engine stars in an all-new movie guest starring Pierce Brosnan as the narrator! Sodor Day is coming and all the engines are busy preparing. When Thomas gets lost in the mountains, he discovers the old town of Great Waterton! Soon the whole island is buzzing with the news of Thomas' discovery and restoring the town in time for the big day. Join the fun and meet a new engine friend named Stanley!』
Kakaku：499 saved$4.99
Hbo Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Surviving Sexual Abuse) 『"Twist of Fate"
Surviving Sexual Abuse
Amos Lassen
HBO Films brings us "Twist of Fate", an intimate psychological journey made by Tony Comes, a firefighter of Toledo, Ohio who maintains that he was the victim of sexual abuse from a local parish priest and teacher, Dennis Gray. We meet Tony and see that he has a great job, a wonderful wife, Wendy, two great kids and a new house. We also see that Tony is just beginning to come to terms with his past, something that has been buried for 20 years. The constant news reports about sexual abuse in the Church cause Tony to confront what he lived through. When Tony begins to discuss his past, we are privy to a disturbing story. We learn that he grew up in a Catholic home and attended parochial schools and he met a very friendly priest named Dennis Gray with whom a deep friendship developed. We learn that Gray sexually abused him in a cabin in Michigan. It seems that Gray would invite boys to come spend the weekend and they were able to play and swim naked as well as drink alcohol. Gray would rotate sleeping assignments among the boys so that each would be allowed to share Gray's private room. Gray told the boys that whatever happened at the cabin Stayed at the cabin and there would be consequences if someone talked. Tony never said a word and the memories remained in his mind surfacing at inopportune moments. When Tony married Wendy, he confided in her and his life was going fine until the stories of abuse in Boston surfaced. But even more disturbing than that was that Tony learned that Gray was living just a few houses down the street from him. Tony decided that the time had come to report the abuse and he went to a man he supremely trusted, the diocesan Bishop. He learned that the very same bishop has denied the very same allegations from others. Tony eventually filed a lawsuit against the diocese and Tony was forced into the spotlight. Others come forward but the case drags on and the stress has its effect on Tony. Eventually the case was settled and Tony received a settlement and Gray was moved ten miles away. It is interesting to note that the Diocese of Toledo had a stock portfolio worth $117 million dollars. The documentary is a fascinating look at both the abuser and the abused and the Catholic Church. Whether or not Gray is really guilty is a question that is never fully answered. He denied all the charges against him. 』
(a documentary for everyone..) 『-it is of utmost pride that most victims of abuse do not stand to tell horrific events of the past or even of the present...
this was a REAL and DEEP documentary that did just that.
with pride and dignity, Kirby Dick documents the story of a boy's (now adult) sexual abuse through the Catholic church. it is portrayed in a series of events as they occurred. just one jaw dropping incident after another. thank you for sharing the tragic story. enlightening the eyes and ears of the world. it is the church, not the faith. that couldn't have been said any differently.
i urge anyone of any faith to watch and endure Anthony Combs struggles through coping and fighting and learning and loving.. relearning trust and some of life's most important attributes that can suddenly be robbed of anyone suffering from sexual abuse -it's everywhere. 』
(A revealing story of religion gone bad) 『Tony Comes is a firefighter in Toledo, Ohio. As a teenager attending Central Catholic High School in the 1980's, he and others were repeatedly molested by priest and religion teacher Dennis Gray. Later in life when Tony, his wife, and 2 children move to a nice suburban neighborhood in Toledo, they're shocked to find that the serial child molester Dennis Gray now lives only 5 houses away from them on the same street.
In June of 2002, Tony met with Toledo diocese bishop James Hoffman to relate his story of sexual abuse. The bishop lied to Tony and stated that Dennis Gray had molested only him. Subsequent news reports attested to 6 additional men who reported they were molested by Dennis Gray at the same high school in the same time frame. Several of these victims are interviewed in this program. In September, Tony filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Church and in December he contacted the media.
The Catholic Church is shown to be very uncooperative with the media and attorneys in regards to these sensitive issues. This becomes clearer when information is discovered that a large, influential law firm working for the church has been silencing victims and quietly settling sexual abuse lawsuits for years all over Ohio. In fact, the church themselves knew all along about Dennis Gray and even other priests who were abusing children. The church, bishops, and priests all worked in collusion to cover it up until it was exposed by the media. Under canon law (the rules by which the Catholic Church lives by) priests are authorized to lie if it's in the best interests of the church to protect it from scandal.
In 2004, Tony and 21 other victims talked about a settlement with the Toledo diocese. Tony was eventually offered a paltry sum of 55,000 dollars which he reluctantly accepted. Only a few short weeks after this, it was discovered that the Toledo diocese had a stock portfolio worth over 100 million dollars.
The actual scope of this abuse perpetrated by priests is massive by any measure of the word. In a surprising act of honesty and revelation, a study commissioned by the U.S. Catholic Church showed that since 1950, there have been 11,750 reported cases of children who were sexually abused by 5,148 priests in the United States.
`Twist of Faith' is a sobering and heartbreaking documentary showing the guilt, pain, and suffering that was endured by Tony Comes and many resulting after effects that caused turmoil in his life and marriage. This is also a significant look at a legacy of deceit, corruption, and aberrant behavior in several elements of the Catholic Church. 』
(A Movie for a wake up call) 『Having seen this now some 4 times and each time being again shocked, I suggest if you want to know the real truth of the effects of abuse and how the church treats its victims, see this movie.』
(Good to hear people speak bluntly about what these priests said and did) 『I kept hoping all throughout the entire documentary that Tony and his wife would end up leaving the roman catholic church. (It was certainly the best thing I ever did, and I was never molested there or mistreated in any way, I just always hated the phony-baloney double standards and outright lies I knew existed even as a kid). But no, he lets his daughter take part in the first communion thing and spends all that time being in anguish and not turning away from the whole filthy rotten organization, which is what you MUST do if you are honest with yourself in the end. His wife was not raised a roman catholic and talked briefly about checking out a nondenominational church nearby. Tony and she would have been embraced there and would possibly have learned some actual bible, which is the only place the truth about Christianity can be found. The mention of the fact that a bishop is allowed and will lie to "protect" the catholic church cinches it for me - it's nothing but an organization of lies and always has been! And Tony said to his mom in effect that to be part of such a thing after getting the truth is to be in collaboration with it. Amen. Yet people stay in it because they think some other man (a priest, no matter how flawed he is) has some holy power over them. Martin Luther was a devout catholic monk who read the book of Romans one day and found a truth that the catholic church does not believe in, that "the just shall live by faith," and he knew he could not be part of the travesty anymore.』 『This tells the story of a man who confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse as a boy by a priest only to find his decision shatters relationships with his family community&his faith. Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2008 Rating: Nr』 『There's no easy way to address a highly charged subject like the sexual abuse of young boys by Catholic priests, but withTwist of Faith, director Kirby Dick has taken a straightforward approach, using neither fanfare nor frills to create an unflinching but highly personal documentary about this disgraceful episode. The 2004 film's focus is on one place, Toledo, Ohio, and primarily on two men. On the one hand, there's fireman Tony Comes, mid-thirties, married with two kids. Some twenty years earlier, he'd been molested by his then-priest; callow, impressionable, in need of love, Comes found himself in a situation he describes as "too screwed up to question," with the result that he was "so confounded that (he did) nothing." On the other hand, there's Dennis Gray, the priest in question; a thoroughly repellent individual, Gray is seen in a 2003 legal deposition, evading questions on the advice of his lawyer. But Comes is far from silent. Having spent two decades racked with guilt and shame and thinking he was the only victim, Comes is galvanized into action when the abuse scandal becomes national news. He shows remarkable courage and honesty, keeping nothing from his wife and young kids, joining a support group, even visiting the cottage where Gray committed his unspeakable acts; determined to make not only the pedophile priests but those who ignored, lied about, and covered up the abuse acknowledge and take responsibility for what happened, he also files a lawsuit. All of this is done at considerable personal cost. What happened to Comes and the other victims we see here went even deeper than the nightmares and family problems they experienced; it shook their very souls, calling into question their lifelong faith in the essential benevolence of an institution that has betrayed them. Grim but compelling,Twist of Faithmakes for very sobering viewing.--Sam Graham』
Kakaku：1150 saved$11.50
Paramount
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A sweet fairytale) 『Not a deep story, but a very pretty one on the screen. Not completely kid friendly as the violence is quite frightening. (Age nine.) Though the story is quite similar to the book of the same title, it has a very different feel to it. This is a whole lot lighter and feels that much less real. But it's more fun too.』
(Stardust is a great movie) 『great movie for adults seeking escape! Just a great fantasy without talking down to it's viewers.』
(A Gem, a breathtaking gem!) 『Movie making just reached a new, ground breaking level of excellence: the only thing better would be a Director's Cut.
I could mine a dictionary for superlatives... but what's the use? See for yourself.』
(great movie!) 『Although the trailer doesn't make it seem that exciting this is a really funny and creative movie. Highly reccommended!』
(Cool storyline, and nice PQ!) 『My fiance wanted to see this film and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The storyline is filled with humor, action and fantasy driven effects. Great performances by the entire cast, and a great escapist ride!』 『Escape into the enchanted world of chivalry and romance in Stardust, an epic tale starring Claire Danes with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. In hopes of wooing a beautiful girl (Sienna Miller), Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises to bring her a falling star. But he’s in for the adventure of his life when he discovers the star is actually a celestial beauty named Yvaine (Danes) When an old witch Lamia (Pfeiffer) attempts to steal Yvaine’s youth, Tristan must protect her at all costs, in this magical family adventure that will make you fall in love over andover again.』 『Stardustsettles over the viewer like a twinkly cloak. The film, which captures the magic and vision of author Neil Gaiman's fantasy graphic fable, is a transportive journey into a world of true enchantment, which fans of theHarry Potterbooks will enjoy as well as will adults looking for the perfect date movie. The tale is a not-so-simple love story and adventure, set in 19th century England--and an alternate universe of witches, spells and stars that turn human--and hold the key to eternal life.
Young Tristan (played with wide-eyed vigor by Charlie Cox) vows to retrieve a fallen star for the most beautiful girl in the village, the shallow Victoria (Sienna Miller), and in his quest, finds his true love--in a true "meet-cute" moment (by Babylon-candle-speeding into the just-crashed human incarnation of the star, Claire Danes). Much of the film involves the duo's journey back home--though home for Tristan is his village, and home for the celestial Yvaine is, of course, in the heavens. There are villains, notably Michelle Pfeiffer as the vain witch who seeks the fountain of youth a fallen star can give, and the seven venal sons of the dying king of the mythical realm, backstabbing, grasping, and hilarious--even in death as a ghostly Greek chorus.
While the sparks of love between Tristan and Yvaine are resonant and touching,Stardusttruly succeeds as a brilliant fantasy yarn--and as a comedy with more than its share of belly laughs. Much of the humor belongs to Robert De Niro, who plays a notoriously wicked air pirate, who is secretly a bit light in his swashbucklers. Ricky Gervais has a small but memorable role essentially channeling his character fromExtras, including his catchphrase, "Are you having a laugh?!" The special effects are all that any fan of Gaiman would wish for. Catch a bit ofStardustand you'll feel enchanted for a good long while.--A.T. Hurley』
Kakaku：900 saved$9.00
Warner Home Video
Not yet released IPhone 3G used's review (learned something) 『I've loved this movie for years and bought this dvd to replace my old vhs version. I was surprised to find only one disc and moreso to discover that it is reversible. When it came to the end of side one I wasn't sure what to do, but tried flipping it over and sure enough, there was side two. I didn't know there was such a thing and a couple of friends I asked didn't know it either. I don't buy a lot of current dvd's, maybe this is old stuff, but it was news to me..lol..』
(my favorite movie) 『This is my very favorite movie. I have seen it more than 10 times, in the cinema as well as through Netflix. It never ceases to fascinate me. The concept of seeing Mozart through the eyes of a competitor, Salieri, makes the story very poignant. Through Salieri's eyes we see and realize the magnificence of Mozart's musical creations. Highly recommended.
』
(Excellent!) 『This thoroughly enjoyable, pneumatic movie tells the story of Mozart's rise-and-fall on the music scene in 18th-century Austria. Told in flashback form from the point of view of musical rival Antonio Salieri, it covers with a broad hand the more salient points of Mozart's life, and dispenses with historical accuracy for a more expressive and emotionally communicative feel.
The acting's of a very high standard, with F. Murray Abraham giving a committed, layered and impressive performance as the jealous Salieri - not overshadowed by Tom Hulce's flashy, deceptively superficial turn as Mozart - which is a big deal, considering Hulce's performance is one of those show-stopping, scene-stealing turns that you don't really see anymore. If Abraham won the Oscar for this, then Hulce, for his part, is fantastic at portraying the decadence and the fevered genius behind the screenplay's reading of Mozart's character, but also gives the man impressive depth and pathos, when necessary. These two principal actors are more than amply supported by the excellent Elizabeth Berridge as Mozart's plagued wife Constanze, Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II and a very young Simon Callow as Mozart's friend-and-colleague Emanuel Schikaneder. Also, a pre-pre-pre "Sex and the City" Cynthia Nixon does an excellent job in her tiny role as the Mozart family maid.
The behind-the-camera talents of director Milos Forman, art director Karel Cerny and cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek are the real stars of "Amadeus", though - the film's style is as operatic and fantastical as its treatment of Mozart's biography, and the tone and pacing of the sumptuous visuals lend a very palpable sense of doomed-genius-reaching-critical-mass to the film. There are no slow points, nothing is visually flat, and every detail and flourish imaginable has been crammed in - like the painted fantasies of Mozart's opera sets, "Amadeus", works beautifully as a baroque spectacle, and, 24 years after its original release, remains a testament to the creative genius of its crew. Mozart's operas are staged with a wisely underplayed sense of drama, furthering the viewer's connection with the more important driving forces behind their creation - the lives of those involved - and the visual feel of the movie is that of floating haphazardly through a chaotic swirl of decadence, art and high-octane drama.
I'm no big fan of classical music, and remain unconverted - but as an exercise in storytelling, "Amadeus" is a treat for any and all fans of solid, gripping films. It hits home runs on all the fronts it chooses to show you, and, while not an exhaustive or particularly accurate account, is a deeply engaging and thoroughly enjoyable piece of cinema. Highly recommended!』
(I LOVE THIS MOVIE!) 『Even though I typically only watch The Director's Cut of this film, this version is still good to have. For one, it's the original theatrical cut of the movie that was released back in 1984, second, it has a feature that the two-disc director's cut does not have: an optional isolated music-only track that plays along with the film. It's great because it features music that has never been included on any of the various soundtrack album permutations that have been released over the years.
Now, if Warner Bros. would just hurry up and blu-ray this sucker, everything will be good.』
(More historical accuracy would have done more justice to the movie) 『This movie was one of the best Hollywood has ever produced. I do not have to repeat the salient features one more time, as scores of reviewers already did that.
However, what disturbed me was this. This movie was based on historical facts. I am very sad to say that, the director, to elevate Mozart's greatness, went great lengths to put down Maestro Salieri to the extent that he showed Salieri having difficulty in composing a small welcome march to Mozart. That was the height of inaccuracy. No one becomes a court composer for nothing. Salieri did produce some of the great compositions of his time.
Based on Mozart's allegations of victimization, lot of research went in to find the truth behind them and found that Salieri was jealous but at no point he thwarted Mozart's chances of ascending into the greatness or gaining opportunities. In fact, the movie rightly portrayed that most of Mozart's financial problems, and missed opportunites were due to his lifestyle.
My point is this: Mozart would still stand great, and he was the best original musician the world has ever witnessed even when you set historical facts straight.』 『The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's hit play about the rivalry between two composers in the court of Austrian Emperor Joseph II--official royal composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), and the younger but superior prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). The conceit is absolutely delicious: Salieri secretly loathes Mozart's crude and bratty personality, but is astounded by the beauty of his music. That's the heart of Salieri's torment--although he's in a unique position to recognize and cultivate both Mozart's talent and career, he's also consumed with envy and insecurity in the face of such genius. That such magnificent music should come from such a vulgar little creature strikes Salieri as one of God's cruelest jokes, and it drives him insane.Amadeuscreates peculiar and delightful contrasts between the impeccably re-created details of its lavish period setting and the jarring (but humorously refreshing and unstuffy) modern tone of its dialogue and performances--all of which serve to remind us that these were people before they became enshrined in historical and artistic legend. Jeffrey Jones, best-known as Ferris Bueller's principal, is particularly wonderful as the bumbling emperor (with the voice of a modern midlevel businessman). The film's eight Oscars include statuettes for Best Director Forman, Best Actor Abraham (Hulce was also nominated), Best Screenplay, and Best Picture.--Jim Emerson』
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Koch Vision
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Steinberg for all his adoring fans) 『I love David Steinberg, remembering the years-ago comedy shows and routines he had. This is a small view of some of his show, and was fun to watch.』 『"THE BEST OF THE DAVID STEINBERG SHOW"
6 COMPLETE EPISODES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
Jon Voight• Adrienne Barbeau • Ethel Merman
Ruth Buzzi• Robert Vaughn • Michele Lee
The original backstage comedy that broke all the rules!
The funniest moments at "The David Steinberg Show" all took place behind the scenes. Each week Steinberg shared the stage with a different celebrity guest who was thrown into the show’s hilarious antics. Regular players included Martin Short as singer Johnny Del Bravo, John Candy as hippie musician Spider Reichman and Bill Saluga in dual roles as deli store owner Vinnie DeMilo and his confused cousin Raymond J. Johnson Jr. Rounding out the cast were SCTV stars (before they were stars) Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas and Andrea Martin.
BONUS FEATURES
New 30-Minute Interview with David Steinberg
Promo for TV Land’s "Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg"』
Kakaku：700 saved$7.00
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (One of my Favorite Christmas Traditions!) 『I have been watching Mickey's Christmas Carol since I was a little kid and was so pleased to find it on dvd. All three Disney shorts are wonderful!』
(classic Holiday stories) 『Thease are the cute stories from my child hood. My 5 year old son really liked this one. Its hard to keep this generation intested in films that have less special effects.This is a must have for any childs movie collection!!』
(Very good selection !!) 『Very good selection from Disney productions for Christmas time. I was looking for the famous "Christmas carol" with the main Walt Disney's animated personages. I enjoy it so much. I recommend it as a classic for children in winter times.』
(Favorite Christmas movie.) 『I bought this because I loved watching it as a kid. Now my 3 year old loves it...even when it's not Christmas. Great animations. Heart-warming stories. Three movies on one DVD. A classic.』
(Christmas In July) 『This is by far my favorite Disney short stories DVD. I absolutely love Mickey's version of the Christmas Carol. Pluto's Christmas Tree with Chip n' Dale is a blast. Poor Pluto, flustered by two little fur balls like Chip n' Dale. The Small One is just precious. The little donkey is so loveable and the story line just tugs at the heart.』 『Celebrate the season with classic holiday stories full of humor and heart! In "The Small One," a young boy discovers the true spirit of the season when he gives his beloved donkey to a very special passenger on a very special night. Then, laughs light up the house when Pluto discovers Chip 'n' Dale living inside "Pluto's Christmas Tree." And in "Mickey's Christmas Carol," everybody’s favorite mouse and a host of other Disney characters present their delightful and uplifting adaptation of Dickens' beloved Christmas tale. Your whole family will love every minute of this classic collection of heartwarming holiday stories!~』
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DVD)
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Charming snapshot of American family) 『I first saw "Home for the Holidays" when it was released on video in 1995. A small film, lovingly directed by Jodie Foster and blessed with an extraordinary cast, I was stunned by its frenetic charm. To this day I recommend it to friends, most of whom have never heard of it. Equal parts comedy and drama, "Home for the Holidays" covers the Larson family reunion on Thanksgiving day. The oldest daughter Claudia (Holly Hunter) is a single mom just fired from her job at an art gallery in Chicago. While en route to the airport, her teenage daughter (Claire Danes) reveals her plans to have sex for the first time while mom is away.
That's just one of many subplots interwoven into this colorful tapestry, as Claudia lands in Baltimore in the arms of her parents, portrayed by the indelible Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft. Eventually, all family members arrive at the holiday table, including the homosexual son Tommy (Robert Downey, Jr.), his mysterious friend Leo (Dylan McDermott), the prudish sister Joanne with husband Walter (Cynthia Stevenson and Steve Guttenberg) and eccentric Aunt Gladys (Geraldine Chaplin), a lonely soul with a taste for wine and impromptu recollections.
As madcap as a Griswold family vacation, "Home for the Holidays" will strike multiple chords with viewers as it stumbles through a variety of dysfunctional family dynamics and the sad reality of expectations not met. The contrasting personalities of these strong characters (and actors) ricochet continuously, held together by the thinnest thread of love and remembrance of a lost dynamic. I've been to enough family Thanksgiving dinners to know it's nothing short of a miracle they come off, and the dinner in "Home for the Holidays" is equally manic. Turkey's are thrown across the room, wine is spilled, fights break out and trips to the grocery store become epic misadventures.
The performances are uniformly superb, with Hunter and Bancroft especially touching as mother and daughter. Their scenes together are one of many highlights. Downey, Jr., as has been reported, was suffering from drug abuse during this film and there are times when his twitchy portrayal is over the top. Still, he gives a terrific performance. Now that this great actor has overcome his demons, the film is not as painful to watch.
Visually the movie is extraordinary, with several haunting snapshots - the snow-covered steps of the family home, Hunter stranded on the sidewalk in front of a cemetery, Bancroft standing in the snow in her housecoat and Durning watching home movies in the privacy of the cellar. I was especially moved to tears during the closing montage where youthful flashbacks of the family were shown on faded 8mm stock. For those who grew up in the 1960s, these grainy portraits of grandparents, parents and children will remind us of some of the purest moments of our own lives.
My lone complaint is a surprise ending which is too formulaic for my taste. I would have liked more subtlety, as everything up to that point was unusually truthful. The right chord had been struck as Hunter is boarding the plane to return home and her father quietly says, "We made her." Why dilute this by tacking on the fairy tale? Oh
