Winning Favor

Sports film with great family values
Looking for a sports film with great family values? Moms (especially of basketball fans) - this is a fun and heartwarming movie!





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The Girl of the Golden West

Nelson Eddy's lush baritone as delightful as ever!
I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw this movie- somewhere I'd gotten the impression that it wasn't going to be as enjoyable as other MacEddy movies, which just wasn't so. Nelson's voice is as luscious as ever and he is just as debonair and romantic in his portrayal of the swashbuckling Ramerez. Jeanette's character is less coquettish and more open and trusting than her usual which was a nice change. Ramerez, stolen from his own family as a baby, becomes the infamous leader of a group of mexican bandits (his own more trusting instincts becoming stifled when his adoptive father is shot while offering help to white settlers.) The plot develops delightedly as Ramerez falls for Mary, who owns the local saloon and is being courted by the town's sheriff, who in turn is trying to track down Ramerez (echoes of Rose Marie but with a twist.) Girl of the Golden West may not have produced any musical hits but Jeanette and Nelson's numbers are still entrancing, especially Jeanette's version...

MACDONALD AND EDDY IN OLD MONTEREY.
This was the fifth time around for this story. Originally, it was a play by David Belasco in 1905; it was made as three silents as well as an opera. In this version, Eddy and MacDonald were at the height of their popularity: their finest effort - MAYTIME - was filmed the year prior. The screenplay isn't exactly superlative and the direction drags a bit, but fans of the great singing duo should still find themselves semi-enthralled. Jeanette owns a rough gambling saloon and Nelson is a Zorro-like character - but on the wrong side of the law. They fall in love, naturally. The best number in the film is the elaborate MARIACHI number. Buddy Ebsen, who plays Alabama, is in fine form and gives the movie some much-needed comedic moments. Monty Wooley can be seen briefly as the Governor. Melodies include Liszt's beautiful LIEBESTRAUM, THE WIND IN THE TREES, SUN-UP TO SUNDOWN & AVE MARIE....What a deux mixture!! Oddly enough, Ray Bolger was originally singing and dancing in this...

Golden Girl, a Golden Time
Two hours of this fast-moving 1938 saga of Old California West is a little long. Color would have helped black and white long shots... so often mottled like ink on a blotter; a forgiven price we sometimes have to pay for these wonderful old movie gems.

The story features Poker Saloon owner Mary (Jeanette MacDonald) who talks like a hillbilly, walks like a cow but sings like an angel. The irony is palpable with classics like "Liebestraum" (Is Love a Dream?) and "Ave Maria" (Gounod's).

Our swashbuckler leading man Ramerez (Nelson Eddy) leads a pack of South-of-the-Border desperados to steal gold from stagecoaches and have fun in the process. As a phony Mexican bandito, Ramerez follows the Robin Hood tradition of taking from the rich to give to the Monterey mission. His bold sombrero covers his golden hair (but not his golden heart) and his mask exposes only his dark eyes, vivid without the distraction of a lipsticked mouth; a method apparently acceptable to actors of the`30s. To...

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Jonah and the Whale, Told by Jason Robards

Not for young kids
I watched this with my 2 1/2 year old to have a sunday appropriate activity after church. The drawings of God were very scary to him and we stopped after only a few minutes. I didn't enjoy watching it, so I can't imagine a kid of any age would.

Jonah And The Whale
My granddaughter love it, she is five years old. She watch the whole movie until it was finish. She did not move. The voice was great the story was told at a good pace. My grand daughter was able to tell me the whole story she did not miss a beat.

jonah and the whale
Got this book for my son, great book, easy to read. He reads a little every day, at 6yrs old, this was the best starter book for his new kindle fire.

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Undoing

Solid movie
I was drawn to this film as I am a fan of Kelly Hu's and Russell Wong and found a very pleasant surprise in the talents of Sung Kang . I was not familiar with the works of Sung Kang even though he had been in several movies that I had seen. I will be looking for him in the future. This is a gritty caricature study made on a small budget by a very talented writer director Chris Chan Lee who got fine performances from the entire cast. I look forward to the future works of both Sung Kang and Chris Chan Lee.

Highly recommended
It is a stylish movie. I enjoyed this movie a lot because I am a big fan of Sung Kang's, the main character in this movie. You will enjoy the short film called 9:30 came as a bonus feature of this DVD.

Unexpected
I was expecting this movie to be kind of fast-paced but shallow, since most of the actors in it are known more for action films. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Undoing is a much more sophisticated film, character-driven and emotional, with really strong acting performances and unique visual style. The plot is interesting, although not particularly new or innovative; in fact, the story is very much a throwback to classic noir films. But its enough to keep you compelled and engaged to see the story unfold. I really enjoyed this film.

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Thumbelina, Told by Kelly McGillis with Music by Mark Isham

Another classic . . .
Grandchildren beside me, we follow the adventures of this very tiny magical being. A loving gift to a mother who desperately wishes for a child. Enter the enchanted world of fairy tales with Kelly McGillis as narrator. Once again , art and music only add to the ambience! Take the time to share with children, grandchildren or just the young at heart . . .





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Black Sunday

Beautiful, Brilliant Bava
Italian director Mario Bava exploded onto the horror scene with the wonderful black and white film "Black Sunday," also known as "The Mask of Satan" (a title I prefer because it does such a better job describing the movie). This picture borrows heavily from a Nikolai Gogol short story called "The Vij," and while I am not familiar with the story, the movie succeeds fantastically at conveying a bleak atmosphere of horror. "The Mask of Satan" was Bava's official directorial debut, giving viewers a chance to see the genius that was to come from this excellent filmmaker. Bava didn't merely direct films, however. He also worked on all aspects of movie making during his long career. The director even helped his son cut his teeth in the business immediately before his death in 1980. Fans will miss Bava terribly after viewing just a few of his films, as he was one of those rare Italian horror directors who could truly deliver the goods.

"Black...

This deluxe DVD is a must for any serious collector
Black Sunday is an engrossing, well-crafted, and suprisingly beautiful horror film. This DVD is testament to that fact and a sharp back-handed slap at those who automatically dismiss genre movies as trash. The respect Black Sunday and director Mario Bava are given is long overdue.

I won't bore you with tedious plot summarys. All I will tell you is that if you haven't seen Black Sunday, you must, and that if you have seen it, you must see it again in this presentation (because you've been missing plenty both in content and quality).

Presented in its origanal 1:66:1 theatrical aspect ratio, viewers for the first time can see this classic in ALL its macabre glory. The image quality is absolutely astounding when one compares it to the VHS editions floating around. The audio is also presented in pristine condition gaurenteed to sound excellent in any stereo thanks to the various formats.

All this makes one wonder exactly how much time went into this? If Video...

Best-ever transfer (but....)
Actually, my rating for this DVD version of "Black Sunday" would be 5 stars for the video transfer, 5 stars for Bava's cinematography (seen here like never before), 2 stars for the audio transfer, and 3 stars for the overall quality of the film itself. Bava was not a great director, and didn't like to be called a "cinematographer," but this film really is a painting in motion: every scene is a paradigm of Gothicism -- the cinematic equivalent of Gustave Dore. Like other

reviewers, I was floored by the print used for this disc: it looks, almost literally, like it was shot yesterday, and it's almost impossible to believe the film is almost 40 years old. If there are other films from this era that look this pristine, I haven't seen them. My only quarrel with the disc has to do with the dubbing. In all honesty, I feel this film sports one of the worst American dubbing jobs ever performed on a film, and the big question (which neither Tim Lucas nor...

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Finn McCoul, Told by Catherine O'Hara with Music by Boys of the Lough

Finn McCoul -Irish legends
This is a rare and hard to find story...and it is told with an authentic Irish accent, an excellent tale. The best version we have found and in our opinion, the true story of Finn himself. Great music too!

Very Enjoyable Story
My two little ones loved this story and asked for more like it. It is nice to see something classic and simple that is enjoyable for all ages of children. Please bring more like it!



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The Ugly Duckling, Told by Cher

Like this...
it reminds me of the the book I read when I was a kid. And Cher reads/tells this story well. The graphics are good.

Great to share with the little ones
Beautiful illustrations and nicely voiced by Cher. A wonderful bedtime treat for youngsters. I would recommend it highly. Thanks again to Amazon Prime for making quality viewing available.



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Paul Bunyan, Told by Jonathan Winters with Music by Leo Kottke with Duck Baker

Used in Story Telling Class
This is a great introduction to American tall tales - told by a master. The illustrations are delightful. Plan on buying more.





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Parables That Jesus Told, Told by Garrison Keillor with Music by David Lindley

Nicely done
It was nicely done but did not fit into the lesson I had purchased it for. I'm sure I'll be able to use it with our classes in the future.





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Cyrano De Bergerac

Best edition of a magnificent film
This (yellow poster on DVD case) is the Hal Roach edition of the 1950 film starring Jose Ferrer. I'm aware of two other editions: Alpha Video, & Marengo Films. The Alpha Video edition (full colour head shot of Cyrano) is crap -- not worth $5. The Marengo edition (black poster on DVD case), while clean in sound & video, is darker than this Hal Roach edition. In several significant scenes taking place outdoors at night, this edition shows more detail and is easier to watch. It has a minor flaw, a purple band that slowly rolls from bottom to top of the screen; I can eliminate it by reducing the colour intensity on my monitor.

I have all three editions; this is the one I watch.

BEST OF THE CYRANOS
This Hal Roach Studios production from Image Entertainment is the best of the best. Flawlessly transferred from original 35mm camera negative and finegrain material, it features a brilliant soundtrack as well as the original theatrical trailer. This is the real deal--not a backyard dupe offered in a quickie transfer (probably to analogue) for el cheapo prices. If you want CYRANO, this class act version is the one to buy. SPECIAL NOTE: The specification notes indicated on the Amazon site are WRONG--this disc is encoded "Region Zero" not "Region One" as is stated. It will play on any DVD player anywhere in the world. So, what are you waiting for?? (Review refers to Hal Roach Studios DVD version released by Image Entertainment.)

Great film but, alas, a poor DVD
This review is based on the Apha Video DVD. That's the cheaper one with the close up of Cyrano's face on the cover. The picture jumps so badly, I got a headache. There are also several split-second gaps in the footage, causing snatches of spoken lines to be obliterated. Worst of all, the actors sound as though their heads are being held underwater and the violins on the soundtrack are similarly submerged.

This is lovely, literate film, with several average performances and one astonishing, Academy-Award-winning performance by Jose Ferrer. His portrayal of Cyrano might well be the greatest of all time, even when it sounds like it is spoken from inside my fish tank. The story itself, rich and romantic, and almost Shakespearean in its sense of tragic romance, may cause you to cry as much as the horrible quality of the DVD. The closing scene, in the courtyard of a convent during a light-falling snow, has been etched in my memory ever since I first saw it as a kid...

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The Emperor and The Nightingale, Told by Glenn Close with Music by Mark Isham

Best storytelling ever
I have watched this since I was young, and enjoy the story more and more with each viewing. Close is a marvelous storyteller and the illustrations are stunning. Perfect story for children and adults alike, keeping dreams alive and teaching the importance of difference over similarity.





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Pecos Bill, Told by Robin Williams with Music by Ry Cooder

Funny version of a tall tale.
This movie was a good retelling of the book Pecos Bill. Robin Williams made the book come to life in a very humorous way!

Funny!
This video is very funny, Robin Williams keeps it rolling with almost unrelenting laughs.
Ry's guitar music is great too.
We have enjoyed this over and over.

Very disappointed!
As a child, I loved the old tale of Pecos Bill, and I was super excited to show it to my children. However, I was VERY upset about the nudity (Bill's behind). I had to turn it off because I had other people's children watching it along with me. Shame on me for not watching it beforehand!

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The Song of Sacajawea, Told by Laura Dern with Music by David Lindley

Creates awareness, understanding and appreciation.
This film would be great for young people ,to acquaint them with our early history and the native American people that lived in this country for thousands of years before the Europeans colonized this land. It could instill the desire to learn more about and increase their understanding of these great people.





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Peachboy, Told by Sigourney Weaver with Music by Ryuicki Sakamoto

Enjoyable retelling of the old story of Momotaro
Very well done. This is one rendition of the traditional Japanese folk tale of Momotaro or Peach Boy, a story about parental love and the triumph of good over evil. There are many variations of this tale, starting and ending at different points and including different plot twists, and this is a pleasant version for readers of today.

The illustrations are lovely and camera movement is well designed. The music is by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also composed the music of The Last Emperor and other movies. Sigourney Weaver narrates it well, even if her pronunciation of Japanese words like ojiisan (grandpa) is a bit off. About 27 minutes plus credits.





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The Boy Who Drew Cats, Told by William Hurt with Music by Mark Isham

Wonderful story!
One of my favorite stories from childhood. I purchased the DVD to give to my grandson as a Christmas present. Well worth it.

Darling video
I bought the book expecting to see the illustrations from the video in the book. They are not in the book and my 7 year old great granddaughter was fascinated with the video and so was I. Any child interested in drawing would be able to pause the video and copy the drawings.



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No More Games

I loved this movie
You will learn a lot from the male and female display of Cheating. We might not cheat the same way but we will always hurt someone in the end,

loved this film
OK this is a pretty cool flick .I watchedhis other 2films , And Emmbre has turned out to be quite a good filmmaker like his brother TYLER PERRY . His style is quite different but he telling is story his way .And that the best part he brings a large degree of swagger to the screen. My wife loves urban romantic comedy's. and this is her Favorite. WOULD RECOMEND THIS FILM TO ANY ONE WHO LOVES THINK LIKE A MAN.

rating for movie
i thought it was a good movie some parts of the movie i could relate to and some of it i couldnt but all and all it was a good movie

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The White Cat, Told by Emma Thompson with Music by Joe Jackson

Cute Story
i had never heard of this story and was curious. It turned out to be a delightful story which I believe any child would love hearing.





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The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Told by Jeremy Irons with Music by Mark Isham

Brilliant
I have had a copy of this for nearly 20 years, originally on video but the tape has worn out, i have now purchased the dvd, the music by Mark Isham is lovely and the storey told by Jeremy Irons is great. This is not a cartoon but a picture book brought to life. It is a love storey between a one legged soldier and his ballerina. FANTASTIC if your an old romantic. 10/10.

Love this
I teach Fantasia 2000 and 1940 to music appreciation classes. Sometimes there are too many student to gather around the book as I read it to them. This helps with the larger classes because the art work and the story are the same as the book I have, and everyone and see and hear it.



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Davy Crockett, Told by Nicolas Cage with Music by David Bromberg

If you Love America, you will Love this.
This is pure awesome. Nic Cage in this excellent presentation demonstrates the totality of his vocality. He shows, with his typically intense zeal, the degree to which he will infuse emotion into the most bane of words -for he is Nicolas Cage. If you are a Nic Cage fan, it will be hard to not enjoy this masterpiece. Perfection.

You may all go to perdition and I will go to Texas
Very nice to see Davy Crockett still in the mix, very nice indeed. Truth be told, I'd give five stars to just about anything about Crockett, but this little video was absolutely a great deal of fun and wildly illustrated. It is for children, but with many innuendos for the history buff and the weekend researcher. It parlays several of Davy's yarns from his childhood up to the Alamo. It is an introduction to the legend, but an introduction for the children - so don't expect the harsh realities of his life. However, it is a blast and kept my daughters interest, if not my own, through its brief run time. You're still the King of the Frontier Davy - you always will be,

Terrible, pretty much intolerable
Why does this exist? Nicolas Cage is not the right person to have narrated this, let alone anything. If you are southern, you will be offended at his attemps at an accent.

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