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Average customer rating:
- Das Boot
- Great combat movie.
- Gripping epic of war at sea
- Jurgen Prochnow excellent. Oscar-worthy performance.
- THE KING OF ALL SUBMARINE EPICS!!!
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Das Boot - Director's Cut (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Jürgen Prochnow , Herbert Grönemeyer , Klaus Wennemann , Hubertus Bengsch , and Martin Semmelrogge
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
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ASIN: B0000844MV
Release Date: 2003-03-04 |
Amazon.com essential video
This is the restored, 209-minute director's cut of Wolfgang Petersen's harrowing and claustrophobic U-boat thriller, which was theatrically rereleased in 1997. Originally made as a five-hour miniseries, this version devotes more time to getting to know the crew before they and their stoic captain (Jürgen Prochnow) get aboard their U-boat and find themselves stranded at the bottom of the sea. Das Boot puts you inside that submerged vessel and explores the physical and emotional tensions of the situation with a vivid, terrifying realism that few movies can match. As Petersen tightens the screws and the submerged ship blows bolts, the pressure builds to such unbearable levels that you may be tempted to escape for a nice walk on solid land in the great outdoors--only you wouldn't dream of looking away from the screen. --Jim Emerson
Description
The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.
Customer Reviews:
Das Boot.......2007-07-06
Originally a 210-minute German mini-series edited down to feature length, "Boot" is haunting and works as an anti-war piece precisely because it is seen from the losing side. German actor Jurgen Prochnow turns in an intense portrayal of the boat's desperate captain. The film's other star--Peterson's camera--roves through the sub fluidly, never allowing the viewer a breath of escape or boredom.
Great combat movie........2007-07-01
I've heard it said that combat is long periods of boredom, punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Well, this movie has it in spades.
From what I know of WWII history, this movie is accurate. Beyond that, you spend hours in the confined quarters of desperate men making the best they can of a bad situation.
Naturally, the movie ends on a down note.
Quite a ride. Loved it.
Gripping epic of war at sea.......2007-06-28
This is the model for films about war at sea. The direction and photography are expert: there are very few scenes that look like model work, and you have no trouble believing you are on board the U-boat under the most perilous of conditions. I did think some of the depth charge explosions were too close to be survivable, but I'll accept that as arising from the film's need to get explosions and submarine into the same frame. The crew show a believable and gripping range of characteristics and emotions, including courage, desperation, and ingenuity. These men believe in their country but have little time for ideology. They have a bond that holds them together under the worst of circumstances, and the first-rate acting makes that very real. The ending brings home the cost and futility of war.
Jurgen Prochnow excellent. Oscar-worthy performance........2007-06-12
I only wish some of these long-winded reviewers would stop trying to be Roger Ebert.
Film is terrific. Must see. Fine writing/direction. Walfgang Petersen is another A-list director, no doubt about it.
The only quibble is this: film is on the looong side. Saw the original version in a theatre way back when it came out--and it was just about right. This version, though, just might leave your poor backside aching after a while.
Definitely worth getting. Might be the BEST submarine film ever made.
THE KING OF ALL SUBMARINE EPICS!!!.......2007-06-03
This is the type of movie that you watch when you are really longing for a submarine movie. This is a well-made and very realistic epic of a real life German U-boat in WW II Be prepared to spend the whole day watching because it is very long but very worthwhile. It is a must see!
Noel Serrano
Average customer rating:
- Air Force One
- Great Action flick wrapped in honor
- Awesome and TIMELY! (RELEVANT)
- My Husband loves this movie!
- Once upon a time....
|
Air Force One (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Harrison Ford , Gary Oldman , Glenn Close , Wendy Crewson , and Liesel Matthews
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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- The Fugitive
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- The Rock
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ASIN: B00005NRNB
Release Date: 2001-10-09 |
Amazon.com essential video
You know that old dramatic principle of suspension of disbelief? You'll have to rely on it for this box-office smash, but you won't be disappointed. Harrison Ford plays a U.S. president who single-handedly employs his rigid antiterrorism policy when a band of Russian thugs hatch a mid-flight takeover of Air Force One. Gary Oldman, who chews the scenery as the lead terrorist, will shoot a hostage at the slightest provocation. Glenn Close plays the sternly pragmatic vice president who negotiates with Oldman from her Washington seat of power. If you can believe that the aircraft's pressurized cabin can sustain hundreds of rounds of machine-gun fire, you'll buy anything in this entertaining potboiler, especially thanks to Ford's stalwart heroics and some nifty special effects. Director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot) keeps the action moving so fast you won't be sweating the details. Don't forget your parachute! --Jeff Shannon
Description
The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.
Customer Reviews:
Air Force One.......2007-06-08
Harrison Ford should have been a President... He is great in this movie and could save the world....
Great Action flick wrapped in honor.......2007-05-31
There are some unrealistic elements to this movie, but only when you stop and think about it. It's an action movie and there will always be some stretches of reality. Harrison Ford delivers as does his supporting cast. It will pull you into the story without any real trouble, you will find yourself routing for the President and telling the evil guys "take that". In the end, you will feel good about it and you may even be inspired by it. Enjoy!
Awesome and TIMELY! (RELEVANT).......2007-05-04
People don't often celebrate this movie for its timeliness and relevance but as world events unfold, it is steadily becoming more and more relevant in my humble opinion. This particular version doesn't necessarily add anything to the enjoyment of the movie. But to be honest it's hard to add to sheer perfection. This movie is well-plotted and very believable, even in the moments when you find yourself going "NO WAY!"
Some have written it off as saying it depicts the "cowboy mentality" as if that's a bad thing. Some say that it's a training manual for terrorists that might wish to harm our own leadership.
Personally I think it's merely a good action movie with a good moral to the story. Good will only triumph over Evil when Good learns to take its head out of its scared hind end and actually be willing to stand up for what's right.
Until we are willing to have a back bone, the list of countries that are going to run right over is is ever growing. This movie cautions us not to let that happen. It's up to us to either listen or ignore this stark warning.
My Husband loves this movie!.......2007-04-10
This is a good movie and will keep you watching all the way through. Harrison Ford is excellent in this and the supporting cast is good as well. The plot is revelent with all the current world situations. The ending makes you want to cheer!
Once upon a time...........2007-03-27
... USA was the only country in the world where this kind of story (although farfetched) could be happening. Especially when you remember the JFK's fighting history (maybe it's one of the reasons why he was assassinated). But now, when you see the Bush family history, the only war record of the grandfather (at the same time JFK was patrolling in the Pacific) shows his best achievement was building the family's fortune by catering for the Third Reich's financial needs. And I can imagine the present Bush pounding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the head with a bible (to show him it's better than the coran), and telling him "Get out of my world". As well, USA lost all credibility when he got RE-elected : One mistake might be understandable, but, as the Romans said "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum" (to err is human, but to persist is diabolical).
Average customer rating:
|
WW II 60th Anniversary Collection (Das Boot/Anzio/Caine Mutiny/Dead Men's Secrets) (Includes Collectible Scrapbook)
Starring: Jürgen Prochnow , Herbert Grönemeyer , Klaus Wennemann , Hubertus Bengsch , and Martin Semmelrogge
Director: Wolfgang Petersen , Edward Dmytryk , and Duilio Coletti
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Similar Items:
- WWII 60th Anniversary Collection (The Guns of Navarone/From Here to Eternity/The Bridge on the River Kwai) (Includes Collectible Scrapbook)
- World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare)
- World War II Collection (The Thin Red Line/Patton/Tora! Tora! Tora!/The Longest Day)
- Battle of Britain (Collector's Edition)
- Twelve O'Clock High (Special Edition)
ASIN: B000ASDFH2
Release Date: 2005-10-25 |
Description
DAS BOOT: This gripping tale from Academy Award® nominated director Wolfgang Peterson follows the daring patrol of U96, one of the famed German U boats known as the "gray wolves." The crew aboard the U96 is graphically portrayed in a desperate life and death struggle, coping with endless hours of claustrophobic boredom at sea, which quickly gives way to terror when confronting the enemy. DAS BOOT delivers an amazingly accurate account of Germany's elite U boat crewmen, as it deliberately hammers away at the tragic waste of war. ANZIO: Screen greats Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, and Arthur Kennedy star in the riveting war drama ANZIO, a vivid portrait of one of the bloodiest WWII battles ever fought. After landing with allied troops at Anzio, Italy in 1944, war correspondent Dick Ennis (Mitchum) and buddy Corporal Rabinoff (Falk) tell Anzio commander General Lesley (Kennedy) that the road to Rome is wide open. But instead of heading to Rome, Lesley attempts to build a coastal stronghold, only to discover that the Germans have outflanked them by enclosing the Anzio beachhead. Four months and over 30,000 casualities later, the Allied forces smash through the German lines and victoriously march to Rome. Directed by highly-acclaimed action director Edward Dmytrk (The Caine Mutiny, Back to Bataan), ANZIO is a powerful film and a symbol of heroic tenacity. THE CAINE MUTINY: This is a classic film of modern day mutiny aboard a Naval vessel based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk. The nervous and inept behavior of Captain Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) during maneuvers aboard the U.S.S. Caine a destroyer/mine sweeper attracts the attention of the ship's crew members and it's executive officer, Maryk (Van Johnson). When Queeg's neurotic behavior reaches a breaking point during a fierce typhoon, Maryk takes command of the ship. Queeg then retaliates by having Maryk court-martialed. In a tense courtroom sequence, Lt. Greenwald (Jose Ferrer), assigned to Maryk's defense, systematically breaks Queeg down on the stand. Maryk wins the case but the victory is short-lived as Lt. Greenwald reveals that the men have all been the unwitting victims of a deceptive shipmate named Lt. Keefer (Fred MacMurray), who actually instigated the mutiny for his own purposes. An all-star cast makes this film one to remember. SECRETS OF THE SEA WOLVES: Learn what life was like aboard a Nazi sub in the North Atlantic during World War II. WWII's longest, most crucial battle was waged at sea where German U-boat packs roamed the Atlantic hunting their prey. In a campaign to cut off vital supplies from the U.S. to Great Britain, they came close to starving England into surrender. If they succeeded, the Allies would almost certainly lose the war. Using archival footage of U-boats at work, we see that the Germans were at the forefront of technology, and how the Allies fought back to force the U-boat menace into submission.
Customer Reviews:
Another Collectable.......2007-01-09
I have every DVD version of Das Boot. I have even watched it with the Audio in German and English subtitles, it never fails to shock me. Together with Anzio & the Caine Mutiny, these movies really start to bring home what our Fathers and Grandfathers went through during WWII, lest we forget!
When you can buy great, multiple movies together like this, it's a no-brainer.
Average customer rating:
- Classic Films, Mediocre Transfers
|
Radley Meztger Collection Volume 2 (Little Mother / The Dirty Girls / Score)
Starring: Claire Wilbur , Calvin Culver , Lynn Lowry , Gerald Grant , and Carl Parker
Director: Radley Metzger
Manufacturer: First Run Features
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Similar Items:
- The Radley Metzger Collection, Vol. 3
- The Radley Metzger Collection, Vol. 1 (Therese and Isabelle / The Alley Cats / Camille 2000)
- The Image
- Joe Sarno: Girl Meets Girl Trilogy
- Images in a Convent
ASIN: B0006U5VA8
Release Date: 2005-02-22 |
Description
Radley Meztger Collection Volume 2
Include the Films:
Little Mother The Dirty Girls Score
Credits:Films by Radley Metzger
Customer Reviews:
Classic Films, Mediocre Transfers.......2005-05-04
Own these films individually on DVD from Image Entertainment. Nice to have them in boxed sets like this though I must let Metzger fans know that the transfers from First Run are not as good as the Image versions. Where the Image versions are color saturated and sharp, the First Run transfers have murky, faded out color and soft pictures.
Still, for the price, these boxed sets aren't a bad buy.
Average customer rating:
- Great Films, Excellent Price
|
Wolfgang Petersen Collection
Starring: Clint Eastwood , John Malkovich , Rene Russo , Dylan McDermott , and Gary Cole
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:
- Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
- Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Extreme DVD)
- Flyboys (Widescreen Edition)
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ASIN: B00004Y7TI
Release Date: 2000-11-14 |
Amazon.com
Air Force One
You know that old dramatic principle of suspension of disbelief? You'll have to rely on it for this box-office smash, but you won't be disappointed. Harrison Ford plays a U.S. president who single-handedly employs his rigid antiterrorism policy when a band of Russian thugs hatch a mid-flight takeover of Air Force One. Gary Oldman, who chews the scenery as the lead terrorist, will shoot a hostage at the slightest provocation. Glenn Close plays the sternly pragmatic vice president who negotiates with Oldman from her Washington seat of power. If you can believe that the aircraft's pressurized cabin can sustain hundreds of rounds of machine-gun fire, you'll buy anything in this entertaining potboiler, especially thanks to Ford's stalwart heroics and some nifty special effects. Director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot) keeps the action moving so fast you won't be sweating the details. Don't forget your parachute! --Jeff Shannon
Das Boot
This is the restored, 209-minute director's cut of Wolfgang Petersen's harrowing and claustrophobic U-boat thriller, which was theatrically rereleased in 1997. Originally made as a six-hour miniseries, this version devotes more time to getting to know the crew before they and their stoic captain (Jürgen Prochnow) get aboard their U-boat and find themselves stranded at the bottom of the sea. Das Boot puts you inside that submerged vessel and explores the physical and emotional tensions of the situation with a vivid, terrifying realism that few movies can match. As Petersen tightens the screws and the submerged ship blows bolts, the pressure builds to such unbearable levels that you may be tempted to escape for a nice walk on solid land in the great outdoors--only you wouldn't dream of looking away from the screen. --Jim Emerson
In the Line of Fire
Between his directorial duties on A Perfect World and The Bridges of Madison County, Clint Eastwood starred in this pulse-racing 1993 thriller. In the Line of Fire was directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the brilliant director of the World War II U-boat masterpiece Das Boot. Eastwood gives one of his best performances as Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan, who still feels responsible for the death of JFK 30 years earlier. Horrigan gets a shot at redemption when challenged by a psychotic but highly intelligent assassin (John Malkovich) who intends to kill the current U.S. president. Tension builds as this intellectual cat-and-mouse game reaches its climactic confrontation, but not before we've seen the killer at work, covering his trail with ruthless precision. Tightly scripted by Jeff Maguire, the film cuts Malkovich loose as one of the most memorable screen villains of the 1990s, and costars Rene Russo as Eastwood's sharp Secret Service colleague and romantic partner. --Jeff Shannon
The Perfect Storm
Setting out for the one last catch that will make up for a lackluster fishing season, Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) pushes his boat the Andrea Gail out to the waters of the Flemish Cap off Nova Scotia for what will be a huge swordfish haul. While his crew is gathering fish, three storm fronts (including a hurricane) collide to create a "perfect storm" of colossal force, and Billy's path back to Gloucester, Massachusetts, takes them right smack into the middle of it. Wolfgang Petersen's adaptation of Sebastian Junger's seafaring bestseller is a faithful if by-the-numbers true-story account of a monster storm that rocked New England in 1991, specifically Tyne's commercial fishing boat and its crew. Junger's tale fashioned a compelling if staid narrative out of seemingly disparate events, but this film adaptation tends to flatten out the story into a conventional if absorbing story of man vs. nature, as the crew fights for survival against the awesome waves the storm kicks up. The central part of the film, which cuts between the Andrea Gail's fight to stay afloat and the attempts of the Coast Guard to rescue a yacht in peril, is suspenseful action of the first degree, aided by some awesome computer-generated waves. Still, it's a long way to that action, with an extended first act that consists mainly of stoic men, crying women, and a fair amount of "don't go out into the sea" dialogue--in other words, a compelling story has been shoehorned into standard summer movie fare. It's too bad, as Peterson assembled an excellent cast--including Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, John C. Reilly, and William Fichtner among them--but seems to opt for only a surface exploration of these characters, though Clooney seems to have a touch of Captain Ahab in him. You may still be won over by the movie, but for a more in-depth portrait, go to Junger's book for the missing details. --Mark Englehart
Customer Reviews:
Great Films, Excellent Price.......2001-08-15
I would recommend this if you are a fan of Petersen's work, because this is the best collection of it. Four of Petersen's best works are here: Das Boot, In the Line of Fire, Air Force One, and The Perfect Storm, all in special edition DVDs. A great collection from a great director. First, you get Das Boot, Petersen's harrowing and suspenseful film on a German U-boat during WWII. This movie started his career. (Jurgen Prochnow, the captain, also has a small role in Air Force One). From the naval combat sequences to the character development scenes, Petersen shows his directorial brilliance, makes the film memorable, and carries home an Oscar for his trouble. A very well-made film, I would recommend reading the subtitles, the dubbing is not so good. Next you get In The Line Of Fire, Petersen's magnum opus. Everything is right here. Eastwood steps away from the tough guy role here and plays a very vulnerable, hurting Secret Service agent named Frank Horrigan. The acting is great all-around, with Malkovich playing an ex-CIA man with a mean streak a mile wide who wants to kill the current president. He brings a lot of energy to the table. Rene Russo is Horrigan's fellow agent. Unlike most movies these days, this film has only one love scene, and it doesn't even progress into intercourse. This is good, because whenever a movie has a sex scene, it loses focus. This movie is perfect, an excellent cat-and-mouse film with lots of wit. Love it or leave it, Air Force One is great entertainment. Harrison Ford takes up the old action hero role and, once again, plays it to perfection. The story is about terrorists who take over the Presidential Aircraft, and Ford, as the President, must stop them. A fast-paced, adrenaline filled movie, and very entertaining, Petersen's work should show Hollywood that a movie can be exciting and full of action and smart at the same time. As soon as this movie came out, the Secret Service rushed to say that the situation in the movie is implausible, but how implausible can it be? And finally, The Perfect Storm. I had mixed feelings over this one. Sure, the production values were high, and the camerawork was amazing, even to the point of nausea. The acting was fine. I am not a big fan of Clooney or Wahlberg, but both turned in fine performances, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was great here too. The movie took a bit long to set up, and the character development was forgettable. It cannot stand up to Petersen's earlier work. People say you need to suspend your disbelief for Air Force One, but you need it more for this film. How do you keep a blow torch lit in Gale-strength winds? You cannot find someone who falls overboard at night. There's more, but if you don't think too hard, you can have a good time. Conclusion: Four good DVDs at a great price. If you like action or Petersen, this is a must. Action films with a brain, a real rarity these days. If you liked these movies, try Outbreak as well. Another of Petersen's excellent films.
DVD:
- Patriots
- Karate Do Shotokan Style by Kiyoshi Yamazaki Volume 1
- Massacre
- The Eye of the Serpent
- Ghost Chase
- La Banda Del Tandito
- Ultimate Fight
- Snake Fist Fighter
- The Return of the Street Fighter
- Fair Game
DVD
DVD
DVD
The Scarlet Letter
Daniel Deronda
Bounty Hunters (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD: Muscle Beach Party/Ski Party
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