The Departed (Full Screen Edition)

The Departed (Full Screen Edition) Review

The Departed (Full Screen Edition) Overview

Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg star in Martin Scorsese's new crime drama "The Departed." "The Departed" is set in South Boston where the state police force is waging an all-out war to take down the city's top organized crime ring. The key is to end the reign of powerful mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) from the inside. A young rookie, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate Costello's mob. While Billy is working to gain Costello's trust, another young cop, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is among a handful of elite officers whose mission is to bring Costello down. But what his superiors don't know is that Colin is working for Costello, keeping the crimeboss one step ahead of the police. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operation he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the gangsters and the police that they have a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin find themselves in constant danger of being caught-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself.

The Departed (Full Screen Edition) Specifications

Martin Scorsese makes a welcome return to the mean streets (of Boston, in this case) with The Departed, hailed by many as Scorsese's best film since Casino. Since this crackling crime thriller is essentially a Scorsese-stamped remake of the acclaimed 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, the film was intensely scrutinized by devoted critics and cinephiles, and while Scorsese's intense filmmaking and all-star cast deserve ample acclaim, The Departed is also worthy of serious re-assessment, especially with regard to what some attentive viewers described as sloppy craftsmanship (!), notably in terms of mismatched shots and jagged continuity. But no matter where you fall on the Scorsese appreciation scale, there's no denying that The Departed is a signature piece of work from one of America's finest directors, designed for maximum impact with a breathtaking series of twists, turns, and violent surprises. It's an intricate cat-and-mouse game, but this time the cat and mouse are both moles: Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is an ambitious cop on the rise, planted in the Boston police force by criminal kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a hot-tempered police cadet who's been artificially disgraced and then planted into Costello's crime operation as a seemingly trustworthy soldier. As the multilayered plot unfolds (courtesy of a scorching adaptation by Kingdom of Heaven screenwriter William Monahan), Costigan and Sullivan conduct a volatile search for each other (they're essentially looking for "themselves") while simultaneously wooing the psychiatrist (Vera Farmiga) assigned to treat their crime-driven anxieties.

Such convenient coincidences might sink a lesser film, but The Departed is so electrifying that you barely notice the plot-holes. And while Nicholson's profane swagger is too much "Jack" and not enough "Costello," he's still a joy to watch, especially in a film that's additionally energized by memorable (and frequently hilarious) supporting roles for Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, and a host of other big-name performers. The Departed also makes clever and plot-dependent use of cell-phones, to the extent that it couldn't exist without them. Powered by Scorsese's trademark use of well-chosen soundtrack songs (from vintage rock to Puccini's operas), The Departed may not be perfect, but it's one helluva ride for moviegoers, proving popular enough to become the biggest box-office hit of Scorsese's commercially rocky career. --Jeff Shannon

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Ladder 49 (Full Screen Edition)

Ladder 49 (Full Screen Edition) Review

Ladder 49 (Full Screen Edition) Overview

Academy Award(R) nominated stars Joaquin Phoenix (Best Supporting Actor, GLADIATOR, 2000) and John Travolta (Best Actor, PULP FICTION, 1994) ignite the intense action in this heroic tale of ordinary men with uncommon courage! As part of a tightly knit brotherhood of skilled firefighters, Jack Morrison (Phoenix) grows from inexperienced rookie to seasoned veteran as he faces a dangerous job that makes him a hero to strangers but often shortchanges his wife (Jacinda Barrett -- THE HUMAN STAIN) and kids. Then, when he becomes trapped in the worst blaze of his career, the things Jack holds most important -- family, duty, courage -- come sharply into focus.

Ladder 49 (Full Screen Edition) Specifications

In paying simple tribute to firefighters, Ladder 49 gets to the heart of those who risk their lives for a living. Director Jay Russell brought similar sincerity to his memorable family favorite My Dog Skip, and despite the banalities of an ultra-conventional screenplay by Lewis Colick, Ladder 49 generates so much goodwill toward its Baltimore firemen that you may find yourself unexpectedly overcome with emotional appreciation for guys like Jack (Joaquin Phoenix), a firefighter whose career, courtship, marriage, and fatherhood are viewed in flashback as he struggles to survive in the present-day framing scenes, cut off from his fellow firemen in the fiery guts of a collapsing 20-floor building. There are no surprises in the familiar scenes of male bonding, dangerous rescues, injury and death, and the supportive concern of Jack's wife (Jacinda Barrett), but by focusing on the simple integrity of Jack's personal and professional commitment, the movie gives Phoenix a showcase for unselfish virtue, while John Travolta provides dignified support as Jack's mentor and devoted firehouse captain. Ladder 49 is routine in most respects, but it's a much-deserved valentine to working-class heroes. --Jeff Shannon

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Scarface (Full Screen Anniversary Edition)

Scarface (Full Screen Anniversary Edition) Review

For Mature Audiences only! Not for children to see. This version runs 2 hrs. 49 mins. rated "R".
Not since The Godfather (Coppola Restoration) [Blu-ray] (1972) and The Godfather Part II (Coppola Restoration) [Blu-ray] (1974) (which also starred Al Pacino) has a motion picture shocked American audiences with its violence. Directed by Brian De Palma,Body Double (1984), this is a remake of Scarface (Universal Cinema Classics) (1932).
Antonio Montana arrives from Cuba in 1980 wanting to become powerful in his own way in Florida. He starts a riot and kills a man in tent city. With his other Cuban refugee friends, he gets further involved in cocaine deals, starts a drug cartel and becomes the most richest, notorious killer the state of Florida has ever seen.

This powerful film is known for its grotesque bloody and grueling violence and the numerous use of a certain adult curse word.

Cast includes: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Pepe Serna, F. Murray Abraham, Manuel Padilla Jr, Robert Loggia, Michelle Pfeiffer, Miriam Colon, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Richard Belzer, Angel Salazar, Arnaldo Santana, Paul Espel, Mark Margolis.
Manuel Padilla Jr had a mustache in this film. He was in the shower scene.

This film did not receive any Academy Award nominations. 1983 was the year we saw Terms of Endearment, The Right Stuff (Two-Disc Special Edition), Tender Mercies, Fanny and Alexander (The Theatrical Version) - Criterion Collection.
The Miami Vice - Season One tv series debuts the next year.

Michelle Pfeiffer has a nice line during the sunken-bathtub scene, I think we can all agree with.
Oliver Stone wrote the screenplay.

I was not able to review the Bonus Features of Disc 2. However, their is a featurette where to can see the difference between the theatrical version and the edited television version.
DVD includes options of English, Spanish, French. Option of captions in English for hearing-impaired. Option of subtitles: Spanish and French.

Scarface (Full Screen Anniversary Edition) Overview

Pacino plays a ruthless Cuban gangster involved in a cocaine empire, in this violent crime epic inspired by the 1932 classic of the same title.

Scarface (Full Screen Anniversary Edition) Specifications

This sprawling epic of bloodshed and excess, Brian De Palma's update of the classic 1932 crime drama by Howard Hawks, sparked controversy over its outrageous violence when released in 1983. Scarface is a wretched, fascinating car wreck of a movie, starring Al Pacino as a Cuban refugee who rises to the top of Miami's cocaine-driven underworld, only to fall hard into his own deadly trap of addiction and inevitable assassination. Scripted by Oliver Stone and running nearly three hours, it's the kind of film that can simultaneously disgust and amaze you (critic Pauline Kael wrote "this may be the only action picture that turns into an allegory of impotence"), with vivid supporting roles for Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Robert Loggia. --Jeff Shannon

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The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition)

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition) Review

I had seen the movie years ago and loved it. Then just recently saw the stage show in NYC and really do love them both. Just ordered this special edition and look forward to the extra stuff. I think maybe I'm in the minority, but I really enjoy both versions of the Phantom. I've had the original London soundtrack for a long time and to be honest, I like Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum's voices better (I know....the minority again!). I think Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford have beautiful voices, but sometimes found Brightman's a little too high pitched (maybe operatic?) for me and the same for Crawford. For me, Butler's raspy voice was more what I would picture the Phantom to sound like and I found it a little easier to hear Emmy Rossum's words more clearly. Minnie Driver was hilarous, although a bit much at times...I was sorry that she wasn't able to sing as I know she can..but I guess the soprano voice is hard if you're not practiced in it. Miranda Richardson and Jennifer Ellison were great as Madame Giry and Meg. I suppose the only disappointment was Patrick Wilson's Raoul. He's certainly handsome and has gorgeous eyes, but I don't think the long hair was a good choice. He does have a beautiful voice though. To sum it up, I really enjoyed this movie and will watch it many times in the future.

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition) Feature

• Buy now and save big off the regular price!
• Condition: Brand New DVD
• Edition: Full Screen; Region 1 DVD (U.S. and Canada DVD players only)
• Number of DVD discs: 1
• Actors: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition) Overview

Musical Drama based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musical phenomenon. The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.

The Phantom of the Opera (Full Screen Edition) Specifications

Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).

Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.

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Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties.

DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.

The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi

More on The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD)	The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD)	The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD)
Evita (DVD)	Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD)	More Broadway DVDs

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The Bridges of Madison County (Full Screen Edition)

The Bridges of Madison County (Full Screen Edition) Review

My wife and I have been watching a lot of Clint Eastwood movies as late night entertainment. Most fall within his Western Movie series or Dirty Harry series. Last night we switched to "The Bridges of Madison County." Boy, what a change! No gunfights. No violence. No tough guy. Rather, a very engaging love story, and set to a beautiful soundtrack.

Eastwood plays a National Geographic photographer who accidently meets Meryl Streep, a lonely Iowa farm wife, at a time when her family is away for four days at a state fair. He is there to photograph the covered bridges in the nearby vicinity. Everything that happens is totally unplanned. An elegant and deep love story slowly unfolds. Of course, it's playing against the clock as her family is returning and the time eventually runs out. Streep stays with her husband and Eastwood goes his own way. The ending is quite touching. Be sure to have a big box of tissues around because you're going to need them. It's a wonderful story and just exceptionally well done.

Gary Peterson

The Bridges of Madison County (Full Screen Edition) Overview

World-traveling National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid and Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson aren't looking to turn their lives upside down. Each is at a point in life where expectations are behind them. Yet four days after meeting, they won't want to lose the love they've found.

Academy Award winners Meryl Streep (earning her 10th Oscar nomination for this performance) and Clint Eastwood (who also produces and directs) bring blazing starpower and powerful conviction to the beloved characters of Robert James Waller's rhapsodic best-seller of love, choice and consequences. "Streep and Eastwood are so visually and spiritually right they seem to have walked right off the page," Entertainment Weekly proclaims. Also right are the small details and large emotions of once-in-a-lifetime love. With luck, a love like that happens to some of us sooner or later. For Robert and Francesca, it was later. And it was glorious.

The Bridges of Madison County (Full Screen Edition) Specifications

Some called it a snooze-fest, while others tearfully clutched their Kleenex. In any case, Clint Eastwood was an unusual and (as it turned out) perceptive choice to direct and costar in this lush adaptation of Robert James Waller's phenomenally bestselling novel. Meryl Streep costars as Francesca, the lonely Iowa farmer's wife who is instantly attracted to Robert (Eastwood), the photographer from National Geographic who is in the area to photograph the bridges along Iowa's rural roadways. The two fall in love while Francesca's husband and children are away at a county fair, but the story's passion and lasting appeal derive from their decision to part forever after just a few brief days of intimate connection. Superbly acted with an emphasis on quiet, graceful moments of tender revelation, the film builds to a crescendo of powerful and conflicting emotions. Like David Lean's Brief Encounter (to which it bears marked similarities), The Bridges of Madison County is destined to become one of the classic movie love stories. --Jeff Shannon

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