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DVD PREVIEWS & VIEWS
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POSTED 10 AUGUST 2001
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them
myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter
evenings."
--Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) at his best in "The Big Sleep,"
just one of our Essential Film Noir DVDs
...here
See all the lists in our Essentials Store
...here
August 7, 2001
* "Chocolat"--This sweet romantic comedy with Juliette Binoche was a
surprise Oscar nominee.
...here
* "The Mexican"--Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt have their hands full
when a valuable antique pistol comes into play.
...here
* "3000 Miles to Graceland"--Think of this heist film with Kevin
Costner and Kurt Russell as a monster-truck movie without the
machinery.
...here
* "Robotech: The Macross Saga, Legacy Collection 2"--The deluxe
treatment for this anime staple continues with this second
three-disc set.
...here
* "Time and Tide"--Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark ("Once upon a Time
in China") delivers another must-see actioner.
...here
* "Fly Away Home" (Special Edition)--Finally available in its
original widescreen format, Carroll Ballard's beautiful family film
is released with three behind-the-scenes features, director
commentary, and a newly created, isolated musical score.
...here
* "Vatel"--Gerard Depardieu and Uma Thurman star in this lush
period drama that opened the Cannes Film Festival.
...here
* "Any Given Sunday" (Director's Cut, Special Edition)--Are you ready
for some football?
...here
* "Recess: School's Out"--Disney's hip cartoon TV series gets a
theatrical-size adventure.
...here
* See more titles
...here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Mishima - A Life in Four Chapters"
...here
The life of Japanese poet-revolutionary Yukio Mishima is brought to
life in this vivid, experimental film by American Paul Schrader.
There are three distinct styles to the film: the poet's early life
is shot in crisp black and white, his infamous last day on earth is
captured in you-are-there documentary style, and his stories come to
life in abstract, stylized sequences. The film is a wonder of design
thanks to cinematographer John Bailey, composer Philip Glass, and
art director-costumer Eiko Ishioka. Underappreciated in 1985
(despite the help of Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas) and hard
to find on home video since then, the film debuts on DVD.
Read more
...here
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "The Brothers"--This friendship drama has been called a male
version of "Waiting to Exhale."
...here
* "Head over Heels"--Is Freddie Prinze Jr. a charming new boyfriend
for Monica Potter, or lethal killer? Or both?
...here
* "Space: 1999, Set 3"--The cult '70s television space opera
continues its rollout on DVD.
...here
* "American Pie" (Ultimate Edition, Unrated)--The saucy comedy gets a
new, double-disc edition just in time for the sequel in theaters
this month.
...here
* "My Man Godfrey" (Criterion Collection)--Carole Lombard and William
Powell are at their peak in this essential screwball comedy that
looks better than ever.
...here
* "Poirot: Murder in Mesopotamia"--David Suchet returns as Agatha
Christie's master sleuth. This time there's a murder at a Middle
East archaeological dig for Poirot to investigate.
...here
* "The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: OVA Collection 1"--These OVAs are
the sequel to the popular "Captain Tylor" series that now plays on
cable.
...here
* "Cabeza de Vaca"--This true account of a shipwrecked 16th-century
Spanish conquistador who walked across the Americas for rescue is a
one-of-a-kind film.
...here
* "The Underdog Chronicles"--The famous '60s canine crime stopper
returns, with more than 100 minutes of fun.
...here
* "The Family Man"--Nicolas Cage shines in this agreeable comedy
about a Wall Street "Master of the Universe" who is allowed to see
what his life would have been like if he had taken a more domestic
route.
...here
* "Pollock"--Director and star Ed Harris took a decade to bring the
life of painter Jackson Pollock to the screen. An Oscar for costar
Marcia Gay Harden was just one of the rewards.
...here
* See complete list
...here
POSTED 31 JULY 2001
Ben Rumson: "Now, don't tell me you've never been with a woman."
Horton Fenty: "No, sir, I haven't."
Rumson: "Well, that, that's terrible! Did you know you could go
blind?"
--Frontier wisdom from Ben Rumson (Lee Marvin) in "Paint Your
Wagon," now on DVD for first time
...here
MOVIE HITS FOR $11.99 SALE
Own your own screen favorites for less than the price of two movie
tickets. Check out our DVD Movie Hits for $11.99 Sale, now through
July 31.
...here
NEW RELEASES
July 24, 2001
* "Pollock"--Director and star Ed Harris took a decade to bring the
life of painter Jackson Pollock to the screen. An Oscar for
costar Marcia Gay Harden was just one of the rewards.
...here
* "Sweet November"--Keanu Reeves is the hard-nosed exec who has his
heart pierced by Charlize Theron's love-'em-and-leave-'em lifestyle.
...here
* "Akira"--The landmark anime film comes to DVD with a new
translation and a vastly improved print.
...here
* "Bagdad Cafe"--Percy Adlon's art house favorite stars Marianne
Sägebrecht as a woman plunged into an eccentric community at a
remote café.
...here
* "Hatari!"--John Wayne is at his best in this sunny adventure of
wild-animal trappers in Africa.
...here
* "La Cage aux Folles"--The popular 1978 French comedy spawned two
sequels, a Broadway show, and the American remake, "The Birdcage."
...here
* "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey"--A documentary about the
eccentric Russian inventor of the electronic instrument that bears
his name (made famous by the Beach Boys, among others) becomes an
unexpected and entertaining mystery.
...here
* See complete list
...here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Ultraviolet"
Our price: $27.99 | You save: $6.96
...here
Simply put, it's "The X-Files" meets "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
This dandy six-hour British miniseries finds a secret government
agency tracking down vampires with all the slick coolness of Mulder
and Scully. The conspiracy is a whole lot easier to follow than "The
X-Files," although the thick accents take a wee bit of patience.
Familiar vampire lore is cleverly updated, but it's the plausibility
of the series that makes it so satisfying. By the second episode,
you should be hooked.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "The Family Man"--Nicolas Cage shines in this agreeable comedy
about a Wall Street "Master of the Universe" who is allowed to see
what his life would have been like if he had taken a more domestic
route.
...here
* "The Gift"--Cate Blanchett stars as a mystic who holds the key to a
murder in director Sam Raimi's bayou thriller.
...here
* "Notting Hill" (Ultimate Edition)--A new double-DVD collection
piles on the extras for the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant romantic
comedy.
...here
* "The Caveman's Valentine"--The latest film from Kasi Lemmons
("Eve's Bayou") stars Samuel L. Jackson as a homeless man who
tackles a murder case.
...here
* "A Life Apart: Hasidism in America"--This PBS documentary looks at
how the strict Hasidic Jewish sect came to America and thrived.
...here
* "Saving Silverman"--Jason Biggs ("American Pie") tosses around the
universal question: Is love worth losing your friends and burning
your Neil Diamond records?
...here
* "Snatch"--Brad Pitt teams up with the director of "Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels" for another cockney-gangster flick.
...here
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"--One of the most consistent
thrill machines comes to DVD with loads of goodies attached.
Yippee-ki-yay!
...here
* See complete list
...here
ESSENTIAL DVDS
La Creme de la Creme
Casual movie fans and fanatical film buffs alike will love our
Essential DVD Store, where we've gathered the cream of the crop
across a wide range of genres. It's the perfect way to complete your
own collection of must-see movies, including:
"The Philadelphia Story" (in Classic Comedies)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004RF97/ncdn">...here
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (in Aliens & Space Travel)
...here
"When We Were Kings" (in Must-Have Documentaries)
...here
"Casablanca" (in Romantic Dramas)
...here
"Being John Malkovich" (in North American Cinema)
...here
Essential DVD Store
...here
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
July 31
* "The Brothers"
...here
* "Head over Heels"
...here
* "Space 1999, Set 3"
...here
* More...
...here
August 7
* "Chocolat"
...here
* "The Mexican"
...here
* "3000 Miles to Graceland"
...here
* More...
...here
August 14
* "Enemy at the Gates"
...here
* "Josie and the Pussycats"
...here
* "15 Minutes"
...here
* More...
...here
BOOK BEAT
*********
"If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor"
Our price: $16.76 | You save: $7.19
...here
Though it offers few revelations about the details of actor Bruce
Campbell's personal life, this entertaining and witty Hollywood
memoir combines his life story with how-to guidance on making
independent films and becoming a cult hero. Campbell began working
in show business as a teenager and in high school became friends
with future director Sam Raimi, with whom he eventually coproduced
the 1982 cult horror hit "Evil Dead," in which Campbell starred.
Despite his wry...
DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season"
...here
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...here
* "Sullivan's Travels" (Criterion Collection)
...here
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
...here
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...here
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...here
* "Hannibal"
...here
* "Citizen Kane"
...here
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...here
POSTED 13 JULY 2001
Our God Has Landed:Dvd
Our Price: $18.99 -- You Save: $1.99 (9%)
Release Date: May 1, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
...here
Jeff Barry & Friends - Chapel of Love
Our Price: $16.99 -- You Save: $3.00 (15%)
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Bouncing Off the Ceilings
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Blink 182 - Man Overboard / Adam's Song (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Unrated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Destiny's Child - Survivor (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Hits of Miss E... The Videos, Vol. 1
Our Price: $12.99 -- You Save: $2.00 (13%)
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Unrated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Bach Organ Works
Our Price: $18.74 -- You Save: $6.24 (25%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Music Scene - Best of 1969-1970 (Vol. 2)
Our Price: $21.49 -- You Save: $3.49 (14%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Metallica - Rock Warriors Unauthorized
Our Price: $16.99 -- You Save: $2.96 (15%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
POSTED 12 JULY 2001
"Hi. My name is Wayne Campbell. I live in Aurora, Illinois, which
is a suburb of Chicago--excellent! I have had plenty of Joe jobs,
nothing I would call a career or anything. Let me put it this way: I
have an extensive collection of name tags and hairnets. Yes, I still
live with my parents, which I admit is both bogus and sad. But I
have this awesome cable access show, and I still know how to party."
--Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) introduces you to "Wayne's World."
The film is now available with its sequel on DVD: "Wayne's World 1
& 2: The Complete Epic."
...available here.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"--One of the most consistent
thrill machines comes to DVD with loads of goodies attached.
Yippee-ki-yay!
...available here.
* "Withnail and I"--Bruce Robinson's cult film about two destitute
roommates gets the Criterion Collection treatment.
...available here.
* "Cutter's Way"--Part character study, part amateur detective story,
this 1981 drama with Jeff Bridges is often mentioned as one of the
best films about the impact of the Vietnam War on the home front.
...available here.
* "Who'll Stop the Rain"--Excellent performances distinguish this
1978 drama of Vietnam drug smuggling, serving notice of Nick Nolte's
talent.
...available here.
* "Monkeybone"--Crazy, complicated film follows a cartoonist (Brendan
Fraser) who gets sucked into a dream world.
...available here.
* "The Cotton Club"--The high points offset the lows in Francis Ford
Coppola's period drama-musical, set in Prohibition-era Harlem.
...available here.
* "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her"--This top showcase for
a bevy of fine actresses skipped theaters to play on Showtime; it
deserved a better fate.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
EDITOR'S PICK
"Thirteen Days (Infinifilm Edition)"
...available here.
The Cuban missile crisis is re-created in a riveting picture
overlooked by some as just another Kevin Costner film. The
actor-producer steps to the background as an aide to President
Kennedy, allowing actors Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp to shine as
John and Bobby Kennedy. Even if you've seen the 1974 TV drama "The
Missiles of October," "Thirteen Days" is worth a viewing, taking
advantage of a contemporary perspective and a bigger budget that
enables the action to extend beyond the White House. The film
introduces the Infinifilm series, a line of DVDs that allows the
viewer to see the abundant DVD extras while watching the film, an
intriguing new step in DVD technology.
Read more on "Thirteen Days" and Infinifilm
...available here.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "Snatch"--Brad Pitt teams up with the director of "Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels" for another cockney-gangster flick.
...available here.
* "The Great Muppet Caper"--The Muppets' second theatrical film finds
the troupe in London, solving a jewel heist.
...available here.
* "Malena"--A young boy's fascination with the most beautiful
woman in a war-torn Italian town is magically woven together by the
creator of "Cinema Paradiso."
...available here.
* "Unbreakable"--The director and star of "The Sixth Sense" follow
their hit thriller with this slow-building, intriguing mystery.
...available here.
* "Black Adder: The Complete Collector's Set"--All 14 hours of this
touchstone BBC comedy are collected in one shelf-saving set.
...available here.
* "MTV20 Boxed Set"--Yes, you're that old. MTV is 20 years old and
this four-disc set captures the spirit of Music Television.
...available here.
* "The Wedding Planner"--Jennifer Lopez plans romantic nuptials for
others, but will she fall in love with new client Matthew
McConaughey? One guess.
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"--Years before "Independence Day,"
NBC brought us an alien invasion in this popular 1983 miniseries.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
July 17
* "The Family Man"
...available here.
* "The Gift"
...available here.
* "Notting Hill" (Ultimate Edition)
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
July 24
* "Akira" (Limited Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Sweet November"
...available here.
* "Pollock"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
July 31
* "Sullivan's Travels" (Criterion Collection)
...available here.
* "Head over Heels"
...available here.
* "Space 1999, Set 3"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
BOOK BEAT
"The Director's Vision: A Concise Guide to the Art of 250 Great
Filmakers"
...available here.
In a refreshingly literal examination of "moving pictures," Geoff
Andrew, film editor of London's Time Out magazine, explores the work
of 250 filmmakers, one frame at a time. Andrew's approach is akin to
yelling "Freeze!" in the middle of a movie, and then analyzing the
frozen image as if it were a stand-alone photo. His technique is
enormously successful, revealing the individual elements of
composition--background, staging, lighting, body positioning, facial
expression--that when compiled add up to the overarching feeling a
film transmits to viewers. Dissecting a single frame also has the
effect of sparking immediate appreciation for the countless factors
a great director must not only be aware of but also give constant
attention to.
Read more
...available here.
DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...available here.
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
...available here.
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...available here.
* "Cast Away"
...available here.
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...available here.
* "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
...available here.
* "Hannibal"
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"
...available here.
* "Robotech: Macross Saga Boxed Set, Vol. 1"
...available here.
* "The Apartment"
...available here.
* "Gormenghast"
...available here.
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here.
POSTED 14 JUNE 2001
"I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give
you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal."
--HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) tries to reassure astronaut
Dave Bowman in Stanley Kubrick's touchstone epic "2001: A Space
Odyssey." A new anamorphic widescreen version is available three
ways: as a single DVD, as a deluxe Limited Edition Collector's Set,
and included in "The New Stanley Kubrick Collection."
...available here.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
* "Cast Away"--Tom Hanks teams with his "Forrest Gump" director in
this epic tale of a man marooned. The double DVD set delves into the
making of this remarkable film.
...available here.
* "The New Stanley Kubrick Collection"--The popular boxed set now
includes eight Kubrick films, many newly remastered, plus a new
documentary, "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures."
...available here.
* "Diva"--Dandy French thriller and cult fave by Jean-Jacques Beineix
combines opera and motorcycle chases.
...available here.
* "Mephisto"--Oscar(R)-winning Hungarian biography stars a
mesmerizing Klaus Maria Brandauer as an actor who sells his soul
after the Nazis invade.
...available here.
* "Farscape 4"--The Sci Fi Channel series continues on DVD.
...available here.
* "Poirot: The Movie Collection"--Five whodunits featuring Agatha
Christie's supersleuth (played by David Suchet) provide top-drawer
entertainment.
...available here.
* "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"--The Coen brothers update Homer in
this wildly imaginative depression-era comedy starring a sporty
George Clooney.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
EDITOR'S PICK
"The Dream Is Alive (IMAX)"
...available here.
The best of the initial series of "made in space" IMAX films, "The
Dream Is Alive" is a wonderful introduction to space travel for
young and old alike. The U.S. space shuttle program was only four
years old when this 35-minute documentary was released in 1985, and
the film emphasizes the differences between the shuttle and
conventional rockets. The film was released a year before the
Challenger disaster and played in rotation after the accident as an
emotional plea to return to the heavens. On that note, the film
delivers...
IN THEATERS
The weekend is approaching; plans are being made. Everyone can
agree on going to the movies, but what's playing and where?
Introducing Amazon.com In Theaters, a new service that fills you in
on the hottest films just opening and what's currently playing in
your local theaters. Sign up now for Amazon.com's free Weekly
Showtimes e-mail, and every Thursday we'll deliver--right to your
inbox--a complete listing of the showtimes and locations of the
movies playing in your area.
...available here.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
--This one-of-a-kind adventure took home four Oscars this year.
...available here.
* "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"
--John Ford's 1962 Western has steadily ascended critical lists of the
best Westerns ever made.
...available here.
* "That Thing You Do"
--This ebullient portrait of a fictitious rock band was written and
directed by Tom Hanks.
...available here.
* "The Fugitive" (Special Edition)
--The Harrison Ford stunner comes to DVD with behind-the-scenes
footage and director Andrew Davis's commentary.
...available here.
* "Sex and the City: The Complete Second Season"
--The intrepid quartet continues taking on the big city in these 18
episodes.
...available here.
* "Platoon" (Special Edition)
--Oliver Stone takes us through his Oscar-winning film in a new
commentary.
...available here.
* "The Muppet Movie"
--Clever vehicle brings Jim Henson's creations from the small screen
to the movie world.
...available here.
* "The Woody Allen Collection, Set 2"
--Five more Allen films, including "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and
"Alice," come to DVD.
...available here.
* "The Fall of the House of Usher"
--The first of Roger Corman's Edgar Allen Poe adaptations is perhaps
the best, with Vincent Price in fine form.
...available here.
* "Something Wild"
--Jeff Daniels goes for a joy ride with Melanie Griffith in Jonathan
Demme's underappreciated comic thriller.
...available here.
* "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
--OK, we'll renew the debate: this film is better than the other
sci-fi flick of 1977, "Star Wars." And it's on DVD first!
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
* "Proof of Life"
...available here.
* "State and Main"
...available here.
* "Save the Last Dance"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
* "Unbreakable"
...available here.
* "Black Adder: The Complete Collector's Set"
...available here.
* "You Can Count on Me"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
* "Snatch"
...available here.
* "The Wedding Planner"
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
BOOK BEAT
"Which Lie Did I Tell?: More Adventures in the Screen Trade
(Vintage)"
...available here.
Something odd, if predictable, became of screenwriter William
Goldman after he wrote the touchstone tell-all book on filmmaking,
"Adventures in the Screen Trade" (1983): he became a Hollywood
leper. Goldman opens his long-awaited sequel by writing about his
years of exile before he found himself--again--as a valuable writer
in Hollywood. Fans of the two-time Oscar-winning writer ("Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "All the President's Men") have
anxiously waited this follow-up since his career serpentined into a
variety of big hits and critical...
DVD TOP SELLERS
* "Forrest Gump"
...available here.
* "Akira" (Limited Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Hannibal"
...available here.
* "Sex and the City: The Complete Second Season"
...available here.
* "Best in Show"
...available here.
* "Lawrence of Arabia"
...available here.
* "Superman, the Movie" (Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Some Like It Hot" (Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Thirteen Days"
...available here.
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"
...available here.
* "The Natural"
...available here.
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them
myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter
evenings."
--Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) at his best in "The Big Sleep,"
just one of our Essential Film Noir DVDs
...here
See all the lists in our Essentials Store
...here
August 7, 2001
* "Chocolat"--This sweet romantic comedy with Juliette Binoche was a
surprise Oscar nominee.
...here
* "The Mexican"--Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt have their hands full
when a valuable antique pistol comes into play.
...here
* "3000 Miles to Graceland"--Think of this heist film with Kevin
Costner and Kurt Russell as a monster-truck movie without the
machinery.
...here
* "Robotech: The Macross Saga, Legacy Collection 2"--The deluxe
treatment for this anime staple continues with this second
three-disc set.
...here
* "Time and Tide"--Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark ("Once upon a Time
in China") delivers another must-see actioner.
...here
* "Fly Away Home" (Special Edition)--Finally available in its
original widescreen format, Carroll Ballard's beautiful family film
is released with three behind-the-scenes features, director
commentary, and a newly created, isolated musical score.
...here
* "Vatel"--Gerard Depardieu and Uma Thurman star in this lush
period drama that opened the Cannes Film Festival.
...here
* "Any Given Sunday" (Director's Cut, Special Edition)--Are you ready
for some football?
...here
* "Recess: School's Out"--Disney's hip cartoon TV series gets a
theatrical-size adventure.
...here
* See more titles
...here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Mishima - A Life in Four Chapters"
...here
The life of Japanese poet-revolutionary Yukio Mishima is brought to
life in this vivid, experimental film by American Paul Schrader.
There are three distinct styles to the film: the poet's early life
is shot in crisp black and white, his infamous last day on earth is
captured in you-are-there documentary style, and his stories come to
life in abstract, stylized sequences. The film is a wonder of design
thanks to cinematographer John Bailey, composer Philip Glass, and
art director-costumer Eiko Ishioka. Underappreciated in 1985
(despite the help of Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas) and hard
to find on home video since then, the film debuts on DVD.
Read more
...here
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "The Brothers"--This friendship drama has been called a male
version of "Waiting to Exhale."
...here
* "Head over Heels"--Is Freddie Prinze Jr. a charming new boyfriend
for Monica Potter, or lethal killer? Or both?
...here
* "Space: 1999, Set 3"--The cult '70s television space opera
continues its rollout on DVD.
...here
* "American Pie" (Ultimate Edition, Unrated)--The saucy comedy gets a
new, double-disc edition just in time for the sequel in theaters
this month.
...here
* "My Man Godfrey" (Criterion Collection)--Carole Lombard and William
Powell are at their peak in this essential screwball comedy that
looks better than ever.
...here
* "Poirot: Murder in Mesopotamia"--David Suchet returns as Agatha
Christie's master sleuth. This time there's a murder at a Middle
East archaeological dig for Poirot to investigate.
...here
* "The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: OVA Collection 1"--These OVAs are
the sequel to the popular "Captain Tylor" series that now plays on
cable.
...here
* "Cabeza de Vaca"--This true account of a shipwrecked 16th-century
Spanish conquistador who walked across the Americas for rescue is a
one-of-a-kind film.
...here
* "The Underdog Chronicles"--The famous '60s canine crime stopper
returns, with more than 100 minutes of fun.
...here
* "The Family Man"--Nicolas Cage shines in this agreeable comedy
about a Wall Street "Master of the Universe" who is allowed to see
what his life would have been like if he had taken a more domestic
route.
...here
* "Pollock"--Director and star Ed Harris took a decade to bring the
life of painter Jackson Pollock to the screen. An Oscar for costar
Marcia Gay Harden was just one of the rewards.
...here
* See complete list
...here
POSTED 31 JULY 2001
Ben Rumson: "Now, don't tell me you've never been with a woman."
Horton Fenty: "No, sir, I haven't."
Rumson: "Well, that, that's terrible! Did you know you could go
blind?"
--Frontier wisdom from Ben Rumson (Lee Marvin) in "Paint Your
Wagon," now on DVD for first time
...here
MOVIE HITS FOR $11.99 SALE
Own your own screen favorites for less than the price of two movie
tickets. Check out our DVD Movie Hits for $11.99 Sale, now through
July 31.
...here
NEW RELEASES
July 24, 2001
* "Pollock"--Director and star Ed Harris took a decade to bring the
life of painter Jackson Pollock to the screen. An Oscar for
costar Marcia Gay Harden was just one of the rewards.
...here
* "Sweet November"--Keanu Reeves is the hard-nosed exec who has his
heart pierced by Charlize Theron's love-'em-and-leave-'em lifestyle.
...here
* "Akira"--The landmark anime film comes to DVD with a new
translation and a vastly improved print.
...here
* "Bagdad Cafe"--Percy Adlon's art house favorite stars Marianne
Sägebrecht as a woman plunged into an eccentric community at a
remote café.
...here
* "Hatari!"--John Wayne is at his best in this sunny adventure of
wild-animal trappers in Africa.
...here
* "La Cage aux Folles"--The popular 1978 French comedy spawned two
sequels, a Broadway show, and the American remake, "The Birdcage."
...here
* "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey"--A documentary about the
eccentric Russian inventor of the electronic instrument that bears
his name (made famous by the Beach Boys, among others) becomes an
unexpected and entertaining mystery.
...here
* See complete list
...here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Ultraviolet"
Our price: $27.99 | You save: $6.96
...here
Simply put, it's "The X-Files" meets "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." This dandy six-hour British miniseries finds a secret government agency tracking down vampires with all the slick coolness of Mulder and Scully. The conspiracy is a whole lot easier to follow than "The X-Files," although the thick accents take a wee bit of patience. Familiar vampire lore is cleverly updated, but it's the plausibility of the series that makes it so satisfying. By the second episode, you should be hooked. MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "The Family Man"--Nicolas Cage shines in this agreeable comedy
about a Wall Street "Master of the Universe" who is allowed to see
what his life would have been like if he had taken a more domestic
route.
...here
* "The Gift"--Cate Blanchett stars as a mystic who holds the key to a
murder in director Sam Raimi's bayou thriller.
...here
* "Notting Hill" (Ultimate Edition)--A new double-DVD collection
piles on the extras for the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant romantic
comedy.
...here
* "The Caveman's Valentine"--The latest film from Kasi Lemmons
("Eve's Bayou") stars Samuel L. Jackson as a homeless man who
tackles a murder case.
...here
* "A Life Apart: Hasidism in America"--This PBS documentary looks at
how the strict Hasidic Jewish sect came to America and thrived.
...here
* "Saving Silverman"--Jason Biggs ("American Pie") tosses around the
universal question: Is love worth losing your friends and burning
your Neil Diamond records?
...here
* "Snatch"--Brad Pitt teams up with the director of "Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels" for another cockney-gangster flick.
...here
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"--One of the most consistent
thrill machines comes to DVD with loads of goodies attached.
Yippee-ki-yay!
...here
* See complete list
...here
ESSENTIAL DVDS
La Creme de la Creme
Casual movie fans and fanatical film buffs alike will love our Essential DVD Store, where we've gathered the cream of the crop across a wide range of genres. It's the perfect way to complete your own collection of must-see movies, including: "The Philadelphia Story" (in Classic Comedies) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004RF97/ncdn">...here
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (in Aliens & Space Travel)
...here
"When We Were Kings" (in Must-Have Documentaries)
...here
"Casablanca" (in Romantic Dramas)
...here
"Being John Malkovich" (in North American Cinema)
...here
Essential DVD Store
...here
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
July 31
* "The Brothers"
...here
* "Head over Heels"
...here
* "Space 1999, Set 3"
...here
* More...
...here
August 7
* "Chocolat"
...here
* "The Mexican"
...here
* "3000 Miles to Graceland"
...here
* More...
...here
August 14
* "Enemy at the Gates"
...here
* "Josie and the Pussycats"
...here
* "15 Minutes"
...here
* More...
...here
BOOK BEAT
*********
"If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor"
Our price: $16.76 | You save: $7.19
...here
Though it offers few revelations about the details of actor Bruce Campbell's personal life, this entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir combines his life story with how-to guidance on making independent films and becoming a cult hero. Campbell began working in show business as a teenager and in high school became friends with future director Sam Raimi, with whom he eventually coproduced the 1982 cult horror hit "Evil Dead," in which Campbell starred. Despite his wry... DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season"
...here
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...here
* "Sullivan's Travels" (Criterion Collection)
...here
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
...here
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...here
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...here
* "Hannibal"
...here
* "Citizen Kane"
...here
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...here
POSTED 13 JULY 2001
Our God Has Landed:Dvd
Our Price: $18.99 -- You Save: $1.99 (9%)
Release Date: May 1, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
...here
Jeff Barry & Friends - Chapel of Love
Our Price: $16.99 -- You Save: $3.00 (15%)
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Bouncing Off the Ceilings
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Blink 182 - Man Overboard / Adam's Song (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Unrated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Destiny's Child - Survivor (DVD Single)
Our Price: $9.98
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Hits of Miss E... The Videos, Vol. 1
Our Price: $12.99 -- You Save: $2.00 (13%)
Release Date: May 15, 2001
Rating: Unrated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Bach Organ Works
Our Price: $18.74 -- You Save: $6.24 (25%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Music Scene - Best of 1969-1970 (Vol. 2)
Our Price: $21.49 -- You Save: $3.49 (14%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
Metallica - Rock Warriors Unauthorized
Our Price: $16.99 -- You Save: $2.96 (15%)
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD
More Info:
...here
POSTED 12 JULY 2001
"Hi. My name is Wayne Campbell. I live in Aurora, Illinois, which
is a suburb of Chicago--excellent! I have had plenty of Joe jobs,
nothing I would call a career or anything. Let me put it this way: I
have an extensive collection of name tags and hairnets. Yes, I still
live with my parents, which I admit is both bogus and sad. But I
have this awesome cable access show, and I still know how to party."
--Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) introduces you to "Wayne's World."
The film is now available with its sequel on DVD: "Wayne's World 1
& 2: The Complete Epic."
...available here.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"--One of the most consistent
thrill machines comes to DVD with loads of goodies attached.
Yippee-ki-yay!
...available here.
* "Withnail and I"--Bruce Robinson's cult film about two destitute
roommates gets the Criterion Collection treatment.
...available here.
* "Cutter's Way"--Part character study, part amateur detective story,
this 1981 drama with Jeff Bridges is often mentioned as one of the
best films about the impact of the Vietnam War on the home front.
...available here.
* "Who'll Stop the Rain"--Excellent performances distinguish this
1978 drama of Vietnam drug smuggling, serving notice of Nick Nolte's
talent.
...available here.
* "Monkeybone"--Crazy, complicated film follows a cartoonist (Brendan
Fraser) who gets sucked into a dream world.
...available here.
* "The Cotton Club"--The high points offset the lows in Francis Ford
Coppola's period drama-musical, set in Prohibition-era Harlem.
...available here.
* "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her"--This top showcase for
a bevy of fine actresses skipped theaters to play on Showtime; it
deserved a better fate.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
EDITOR'S PICK
"Thirteen Days (Infinifilm Edition)"
...available here.
The Cuban missile crisis is re-created in a riveting picture
overlooked by some as just another Kevin Costner film. The
actor-producer steps to the background as an aide to President
Kennedy, allowing actors Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp to shine as
John and Bobby Kennedy. Even if you've seen the 1974 TV drama "The
Missiles of October," "Thirteen Days" is worth a viewing, taking
advantage of a contemporary perspective and a bigger budget that
enables the action to extend beyond the White House. The film
introduces the Infinifilm series, a line of DVDs that allows the
viewer to see the abundant DVD extras while watching the film, an
intriguing new step in DVD technology.
Read more on "Thirteen Days" and Infinifilm
...available here.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "Snatch"--Brad Pitt teams up with the director of "Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels" for another cockney-gangster flick.
...available here.
* "The Great Muppet Caper"--The Muppets' second theatrical film finds
the troupe in London, solving a jewel heist.
...available here.
* "Malena"--A young boy's fascination with the most beautiful
woman in a war-torn Italian town is magically woven together by the
creator of "Cinema Paradiso."
...available here.
* "Unbreakable"--The director and star of "The Sixth Sense" follow
their hit thriller with this slow-building, intriguing mystery.
...available here.
* "Black Adder: The Complete Collector's Set"--All 14 hours of this
touchstone BBC comedy are collected in one shelf-saving set.
...available here.
* "MTV20 Boxed Set"--Yes, you're that old. MTV is 20 years old and
this four-disc set captures the spirit of Music Television.
...available here.
* "The Wedding Planner"--Jennifer Lopez plans romantic nuptials for
others, but will she fall in love with new client Matthew
McConaughey? One guess.
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"--Years before "Independence Day,"
NBC brought us an alien invasion in this popular 1983 miniseries.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
July 17
* "The Family Man"
...available here.
* "The Gift"
...available here.
* "Notting Hill" (Ultimate Edition)
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
July 24
* "Akira" (Limited Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Sweet November"
...available here.
* "Pollock"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
July 31
* "Sullivan's Travels" (Criterion Collection)
...available here.
* "Head over Heels"
...available here.
* "Space 1999, Set 3"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
BOOK BEAT
"The Director's Vision: A Concise Guide to the Art of 250 Great
Filmakers"
...available here.
In a refreshingly literal examination of "moving pictures," Geoff
Andrew, film editor of London's Time Out magazine, explores the work
of 250 filmmakers, one frame at a time. Andrew's approach is akin to
yelling "Freeze!" in the middle of a movie, and then analyzing the
frozen image as if it were a stand-alone photo. His technique is
enormously successful, revealing the individual elements of
composition--background, staging, lighting, body positioning, facial
expression--that when compiled add up to the overarching feeling a
film transmits to viewers. Dissecting a single frame also has the
effect of sparking immediate appreciation for the countless factors
a great director must not only be aware of but also give constant
attention to.
Read more
...available here.
DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...available here.
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
...available here.
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...available here.
* "Cast Away"
...available here.
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...available here.
* "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
...available here.
* "Hannibal"
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"
...available here.
* "Robotech: Macross Saga Boxed Set, Vol. 1"
...available here.
* "The Apartment"
...available here.
* "Gormenghast"
...available here.
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here.
POSTED 14 JUNE 2001
"I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give
you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal."
--HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) tries to reassure astronaut
Dave Bowman in Stanley Kubrick's touchstone epic "2001: A Space
Odyssey." A new anamorphic widescreen version is available three
ways: as a single DVD, as a deluxe Limited Edition Collector's Set,
and included in "The New Stanley Kubrick Collection."
...available here.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
* "Cast Away"--Tom Hanks teams with his "Forrest Gump" director in
this epic tale of a man marooned. The double DVD set delves into the
making of this remarkable film.
...available here.
* "The New Stanley Kubrick Collection"--The popular boxed set now
includes eight Kubrick films, many newly remastered, plus a new
documentary, "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures."
...available here.
* "Diva"--Dandy French thriller and cult fave by Jean-Jacques Beineix
combines opera and motorcycle chases.
...available here.
* "Mephisto"--Oscar(R)-winning Hungarian biography stars a
mesmerizing Klaus Maria Brandauer as an actor who sells his soul
after the Nazis invade.
...available here.
* "Farscape 4"--The Sci Fi Channel series continues on DVD.
...available here.
* "Poirot: The Movie Collection"--Five whodunits featuring Agatha
Christie's supersleuth (played by David Suchet) provide top-drawer
entertainment.
...available here.
* "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"--The Coen brothers update Homer in
this wildly imaginative depression-era comedy starring a sporty
George Clooney.
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
EDITOR'S PICK
"The Dream Is Alive (IMAX)"
...available here.
The best of the initial series of "made in space" IMAX films, "The
Dream Is Alive" is a wonderful introduction to space travel for
young and old alike. The U.S. space shuttle program was only four
years old when this 35-minute documentary was released in 1985, and
the film emphasizes the differences between the shuttle and
conventional rockets. The film was released a year before the
Challenger disaster and played in rotation after the accident as an
emotional plea to return to the heavens. On that note, the film
delivers...
IN THEATERS
The weekend is approaching; plans are being made. Everyone can
agree on going to the movies, but what's playing and where?
Introducing Amazon.com In Theaters, a new service that fills you in
on the hottest films just opening and what's currently playing in
your local theaters. Sign up now for Amazon.com's free Weekly
Showtimes e-mail, and every Thursday we'll deliver--right to your
inbox--a complete listing of the showtimes and locations of the
movies playing in your area.
...available here.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
* "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
--This one-of-a-kind adventure took home four Oscars this year.
...available here.
* "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"
--John Ford's 1962 Western has steadily ascended critical lists of the
best Westerns ever made.
...available here.
* "That Thing You Do"
--This ebullient portrait of a fictitious rock band was written and
directed by Tom Hanks.
...available here.
* "The Fugitive" (Special Edition)
--The Harrison Ford stunner comes to DVD with behind-the-scenes
footage and director Andrew Davis's commentary.
...available here.
* "Sex and the City: The Complete Second Season"
--The intrepid quartet continues taking on the big city in these 18
episodes.
...available here.
* "Platoon" (Special Edition)
--Oliver Stone takes us through his Oscar-winning film in a new
commentary.
...available here.
* "The Muppet Movie"
--Clever vehicle brings Jim Henson's creations from the small screen
to the movie world.
...available here.
* "The Woody Allen Collection, Set 2"
--Five more Allen films, including "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and
"Alice," come to DVD.
...available here.
* "The Fall of the House of Usher"
--The first of Roger Corman's Edgar Allen Poe adaptations is perhaps
the best, with Vincent Price in fine form.
...available here.
* "Something Wild"
--Jeff Daniels goes for a joy ride with Melanie Griffith in Jonathan
Demme's underappreciated comic thriller.
...available here.
* "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
--OK, we'll renew the debate: this film is better than the other
sci-fi flick of 1977, "Star Wars." And it's on DVD first!
...available here.
* See complete list
...available here.
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
* "Proof of Life"
...available here.
* "State and Main"
...available here.
* "Save the Last Dance"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
* "Unbreakable"
...available here.
* "Black Adder: The Complete Collector's Set"
...available here.
* "You Can Count on Me"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
* "Snatch"
...available here.
* "The Wedding Planner"
...available here.
* "V: The Original TV Miniseries"
...available here.
* More...
...available here.
BOOK BEAT
"Which Lie Did I Tell?: More Adventures in the Screen Trade
(Vintage)"
...available here.
Something odd, if predictable, became of screenwriter William
Goldman after he wrote the touchstone tell-all book on filmmaking,
"Adventures in the Screen Trade" (1983): he became a Hollywood
leper. Goldman opens his long-awaited sequel by writing about his
years of exile before he found himself--again--as a valuable writer
in Hollywood. Fans of the two-time Oscar-winning writer ("Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "All the President's Men") have
anxiously waited this follow-up since his career serpentined into a
variety of big hits and critical...
DVD TOP SELLERS
* "Forrest Gump"
...available here.
* "Akira" (Limited Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Hannibal"
...available here.
* "Sex and the City: The Complete Second Season"
...available here.
* "Best in Show"
...available here.
* "Lawrence of Arabia"
...available here.
* "Superman, the Movie" (Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Some Like It Hot" (Special Edition)
...available here.
* "Thirteen Days"
...available here.
* "Die Hard: The Ultimate Collection"
...available here.
* "The Natural"
...available here.
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here.
from newDVDnews