The Warrior

Amazon.com

The Warrior combines gorgeous cinematography, complex historical politics, and joltingly bloody action sequences to create a sweeping historical spectacular. A squadron of Korean soldiers, sent to protect a diplomatic envoy to China, find themselves unmoored when the envoys are killed in clashes with Chinese and Mongol soldiers. Struggling to return home, they rescue a high-handed Chinese princess (Ziyi Zhang, House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and decide that protecting her is their best chance to survive, and possibly improve Korean-Chinese relations as well. Unfortunately, the Mongols want her back, and the squadron find their numbers slowly diminishing as they fight their way to an isolated military outpost. Though there's a more realistic context for the action--The Warrior is based on a historical event and the characters are well-developed--the battle scenes deliver some visceral thrills; the violence is graphic (beheadings, arrows plunging into necks, limbs sliced off) but grippingly choreographed. An above-average action movie; however, it is highly recommended that viewers watch it with subtitles, as the dubbing is typically wretched. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Eye of an Eagle, Stealth of a Lion.......2007-08-01

The year is 1375 A.D. the Yuan and Ming dynasties are at war ... General Choi and his warriors arrive from Korea to help the Ming dynasties. They arrive in a city, are taken to a temple and ambushed. They are exiled to a desert where they are left to die ... The desert dunes contrast sharply with the authentic costumes of the soldiers ... The camera captures the naked beauty of the desert as the sun beats down on the weary and starving warriors ...

The warriors arrive at a camp on the side of a mountain where they are met with suspicion. They show their letter of passage. A Buddhist monk comes to their rescue and offers them food and drink. Their decision is to go to Xian Dao which is a 20 day journey and then return to Korea. On the long journey, an elderly Korean man when he is near death, releases his slave into freedom, telling everyone Yeosol is now a freeman. Mongolian soldiers attack the encampment and a bloody fight ensues ... While the Koreans were battle ready, amazingly, among them the former slave, Yeosol, proves himself to be an unusually skilled fighter. It is discovered the Mongolians of the Yuan dynasty have a royal prisoner, the Princess of the Ming dynasty. Undetected by her captors, she skillfully drops a handkerchief with a message written in blood which Yoso manages to retrieve. The Koreans see an opportunity to prove their worthiness to the Ming Dynasty. They create a distraction and capture the Princess. Yeosol demonstrates great heroism in his daring efforts to fight the Mongolians and save the Princess.

Primarily, the film is about how the Koryo (the group of Korean warriors) evade the Yuans or engage them in battle - all this on behalf of the royal prisoner whom they saved ... and among the Koryo, Yeosol proves to be a rare and most courageous fighter. There are realistic fight scenes which are well within the context of the film but may be too gruesome and gorry for some viewers. Yeosol, the freed slave proves invaluable to the Koreans. His fighting skills far exceed those of any other soldier among the Korean warriors. However, General Choi continues to view him as a slave by the Korean laws ... despite his Master having provided him freedom. The Koreans plan to get to a river which they will cross to get to Nanching. Unfortunately, the Mongolians thwart their efforts by killing nearly everyone in the villages which are located on the river. Surviving villagers join the Koreans as they march on thorugh forests to protect their lives from the invaders. They are awed by the fact they are protecting the Princess of the Ming dynsasty.

Sadly, the Mongolians continue to advance and battle with the diminishing group of survivors. The remaining villagers and Korean warriors make it to a river embankment where a Ming fortress becomes their shelter. Unfortunately, the Mongolians create a camp on a nearby hill top, planning an invasion. The courage of the villagers and Korean warriors in fighting the Mongolians is awe-inspiring ... It becomes a battle to the end.

The intersecting story line of three groups of warriors, the Ming, the Yuan, and the Koryo (Korean warriors) who fight to save the royal captor sounds like a simple story ... but it is not. There are complex subplots which are subtley revealed as the story unfolds before the viewer's eyes. There are hidden nuances and underlying depths - revealed by the camera. The camera captures short views of faces showing emotional depth and meaning, especially between Yeosol, the former slave and Princess, Bu-Yong. The camera hones in on fight scenes between individuals in a manner which makes the viewer feel as if they were actually there. The amazing capability of the Koreans to capture the Ming Princess and protect her is worth viewing. They march through unknown territory against a menacing enemy. The battle for life is revealed in unimaginable ways. The loyalty of the villagers and the dedication and perseverance of the Korean warriors ... is very inspiring. One learns so much about the human spirit and courage in a film like this. One also learns how hierarchy and politics affect the soldier and common man alike. At one point, the Princess was willing to give herself up to the enemy, the Mongolians, when she recognized how many lives were sacrificed on her behalf. She saw how many had died so she may be protected and live. It is quite a revelelation to discover how she was captured in the first place by the Yuans, the Mongolians. This is superbly filmed war epic which depicts extraordinairy cultural reality. It is most highly recommended. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

The Warrior.......2007-07-23

This stunning, lavish military epic is reportedly the most expensive Korean film ever shot, and the production values on this gripping adventure tale make you believe it. Beyond its breathtaking visual scope, the film is a twisty, intelligent war film, consistently engrossing throughout its over two hour run time. Fans of first-rate action epics should salute this "Warrior". Be warned, however: there's gore aplenty.

Not Bad.......2007-02-01

A lot of blood and guts...but also is very deep with emotion. Very honorable flick. I was impressed that I didnt feel like it was over 2 hours long.

BORING.......2006-12-18

The movie was simply boring. Do not buy this DVD. The storytelling was slow. There were a couple of shots that could have been edited out. Within the first 10 - 15 minutes there were shots that did nothing to add, develop or enhance the story line. Boring. The costume, cinematography, fight choreography, etc., all lackluster and subpar. I'm not necessarily asking for a big budget martial arts epic, but this was not good. The english dubbed is amusingly bad. I do think part of the soundtrack was dropped. I also have a problem with the voice talent that they used for this film. Maybe I'm used to the voice talents from older martial arts films like Five Deadly Venoms. Oh, I did fall asleep while watching this film.

Ummm.......2006-09-13

There wasn't much plot and it didn't really make sense. For being the founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang sure tried real hard to find his daughter. 3 stars for the cinematography.

I do like how the relationship between the princess and the slave developed mainly through looks and actions rather than lines.

That old archer dude was awesome, whereas the main Korean general guy just got on my nerves all the time. He did a lot of yelling for no reason and I was like good riddance when he died.

Average customer rating:

Great cinematography, Very flawed story
Bound for Glory
Not the Full Picture...
They don't make 'em like Woody very often...
For TEACHERS!

Bound for Glory
Starring: David Carradine , Ronny Cox , Melinda Dillon , Gail Strickland , and John Lehne
Director: Hal Ashby
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: 0792843568
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Amazon.com

Hal Ashby (The Last Detail, Being There) directed this lyrical and affecting 1976 biography of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. David Carradine gives a powerful performance as the traveling Depression-era vagabond whose music affected generations. Guthrie is portrayed as an earnest soul whose passion and empathy for the working class spurs him to inspirational heights. Ronny Cox (Deliverance, Beverly Hills Cop) plays a union organizer who sees the value in Guthrie's words and music and persuades him to put his music to good use for the people struggling to earn a living wage. Featuring Melinda Dillon as Guthrie's wife, this easygoing travelogue conveys an authentic sense of period Americana and won Academy Awards for Haskell Wexler's cinematography as well as for the score based on Guthrie's own music. Bound for Glory is an important film to see for anyone in love with the origins of folk music and interested in its place in the 20th century. --Robert Lane

Description

By strumming his guitar with words of inspiration, Woody Guthrie instilled hope in the hearts of downtrodden Americans everywhere during the 1930s Depression. Now, the extraordinary life of this legendary balladeer and poet is captured in this "elegantly crafted, hugely beautiful and interesting film, which reveals loving integrity in every frame" (Los Angeles Times)! Winner* of two OscarsÂ(r) and starring David Carradine, Bound for Glory features "magnificent cinematography" (New York) and an amazing score adaptation. It's 1936, and the Great Depression is forcing droves of people from the dust bowls of Texas to the alluring green fields of California...and unemployed sign-painter Woody Guthrie is among them. Determined to find a better life out west, Guthrie hitchhikes, hops freight trains and sings his way across America, uplifting the spirits of the poor with his homespun wisdom and fiercely fighting for a better life for all. Featuring classic Guthrie tunes including "This Land Is Your Land," this "moving, inspiring" (The Hollywood Reporter) portrait of an American icon is "one of [the] year's most admirable and triumphant surprises" (Los Angeles Times)! *1976: Cinematography, Music (Adaptation Score)

Customer Reviews:

Great cinematography, Very flawed story.......2007-08-18

This one was hard to rate. I read "Bound for Glory" recently and stumbled onto this DVD at Netflix this past week (8/15/2007). This film was only loosely--and I mean very loosely--based on that Woodie Guthrie autobiographical chronicle. Granted, the book was a rambling, sprawling account of Woodie's travels and trepidations from the Oklahoma to California to Chicago and New York during the dust bowl days of the 30's and would be as daunting an undertaking to cinematize as the Bible (maybe more so). And I'm sure that fact and fantasy were flung around with some abandon in Woodie's book. After all, what was Woodie if not a master story teller?

So, what is good? The cinematography is superb. I could taste the dust and smell the box cars, and feel the heat of the southwest sun as well as feel the awesome power, beauty, and vitality of this nation the way is once was. David Carradine is not only a fine idiosyncratic actor, but an accomplished guitar player and singer. Randy Quaid put a lot of power into his relatively minor role as a migrant dust bowl refugee. Melinda Dillon, Ron Cox and the rest of the cast painted compelling and believable portraits. The music was a good balance of restraint and indulgence. I like Woodie Guthrie's songs a lot and the various artists who contributed to the film score were wonderful.

What wasn't so good? I get the feeling that a lot of permissions couldn't be procured for this film. Where was Cisco Houston and who was "Ozark?" And why the lack of original Woodie Guthrie renditions? The movie was long--too long in some places and maddeningly skimpy in others. Details very often inaccurate, incomplete, or totally made-up.

Bottom line: Rent it and take it for what it is--a good movie about a complicated man.

Bound for Glory.......2007-07-03

Affecting film achieves potent immediacy via its vivid recreation of period, thanks to Ashby's keen eye and Haskell Wexler's stunning cinematography. Carradine embodies the everyman engine of America's heartland in his rendering of Guthrie, an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift- the ability to inspire those who have virtually nothing left but hope. Both a triumphant film and an important history lesson, suitable for viewing with older children.

Not the Full Picture..........2007-05-25

"This movie cleans-up Woody's personal life and his many binges and focuses primarily on his union organizing. Unlike Woody's autobiographical
book,Bound for Glory, it did not deal with the struggles he endured from his mother's mental illness, nor his own. The photography was good, the sound was a little off, but most importantly, the film doesn't capture the complexity of Woody Guthrie.

They don't make 'em like Woody very often..........2007-04-12

This is one of the great biopic films ever made. More often than not, film biopics are too rushed. They try and squeeze in every aspect of their subjects lives, and they end up giving short shrift to the person and their lives. This is not one of those films. It just covers Woody Guthrie's adult life, from when he hit the road to when he became a big time folk singer, and his passionate defense of the working man. The look of the film is deliberate, in that it's washed out. The hoedown scenes at the camp are some of the best in the film. They're really lively, where the extras and everyone seem to be really enjoying themselves. The film has a real genuine feel to it, like you're actually watching real people. David Carradine is amazing as Woody Guthrie. He makes you think you're actually watching Woody himself. He did his own singing and stuntwork on the film. Ronny Cox is excellent as well, and he does his own singing too (remember, Cox played the man who jammed with the hillbilly in Deliverance). Randy Quaid and Melinda Dillon offer great supporting roles as well. This is a fabulous film, and it feels short at 2 1/2 hours.

For TEACHERS!.......2006-08-14

If you're a US History teacher who uses Grapes of Wrath to show what it was like during the depression...and English teachers get upset because they show it,too. Here's the movie you SHOULD show....and...it's in color. Far better example of Americana of the 1930s.

Johnny Cash - Ridin' the Rails: The Great American Train Story

Average customer rating:

Fun for Train Lovers or Serious Johnny Cash Fans, but Too Much Jittery Camera Work Lowers the Enjoyment
Riding the Rails
One of the greatest Cash videos I've seen
A means to better understand and appreciate Johnny Cash
Riding The Rails

Johnny Cash - Ridin' the Rails: The Great American Train Story
Starring: Johnny Cash
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007PLL1A
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Description

Originally filmed and aired in 1974, Ridin' the Rails is a nostalgic look at the history of the American railroad through the song and story of the legendary Johnny Cash. Reenactments of historic railroading moments are movingly narrated by Cash and superbyly embellished by his inimitable music. Track Listings: Ridin' The Rails, Tom Thum, Collage of Yesterday, Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Legend of John Henry's Hammer, Shave And A Hot Bath, Train Robbers, Satirical Aire, Casey Jones, Crystal Chandeliers and Burgundy, Doesn't Anybody Know My Name, City of New Orleans, The L&N Don't Stop Here, Anymore, These Hands

Customer Reviews:

Fun for Train Lovers or Serious Johnny Cash Fans, but Too Much Jittery Camera Work Lowers the Enjoyment.......2007-05-08

JOHNNY CASH--RIDIN' THE RAILS: THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAIN STORY is almost excellent! It is a fun history lesson taught by Johnny Cash, about the history of trains in America. It is marred only by jittery, motion-sickness inducing, hand held camera work which seems to take up about 25% of the running time, sprinkled throughout.

Johnny grew up around train tracks, and tells how his dad would ride the trains like a hobo, looking for work, and such. They also re-enact many of the historical scenes that Johnny teaches about, tracing many milestones in the history of trains and their influence on the shaping of the USA.

It is a very enjoyable program, if you like trains, or like seeing Johnny Cash talk about this somewhat obscure topic which he truly loves to talk about.

The DVD extras are just outtakes of a few of the scenes, but they add about 15 minutes, or so. The main program is about 50 minutes.

My dad is 73 years old. He LOVES trains, and he likes Johnny Cash. I was afraid that he would balk at the shaky camera work, (he won't put up with ANYTHING if he doesn't want to), but he was very engrossed by the historical aspects, tolerated the obscure train songs sung by Johnny, and announced how GOOD the DVD was, after we watched it together!

If you are like me, and you already own most of Johnny Cash's live music DVDs, then you will likely enjoy this RIDIN' THE RAILS on DVD. If you are new to Johnny Cash, then I would recommend getting one of his live concert DVDs before this one. LIVE IN IRELAND or LIVE IN DENMARK are my favorites, but most any of his LIVE DVDs are great! The weakest one is BEHIND PRISON WALLS, which is only half including Johnny Cash, and the guest musicians are not personal friends of Johnny's, as they are on most of his LIVE concert DVDs.

Riding the Rails.......2006-02-28

Certainly a different view of Johnny Cash in this one. An enjoyable DVD none the less and gives a bit of history of the great era of Steam trains. Saw the video a long time ago so the DVD is a welcome addition to my collection.

One of the greatest Cash videos I've seen.......2005-10-27

Ridin' the Rails: The Great American Train Story is vintage Cash at his best. Includes great footage of great railroad lines that have disappeared from the American landscape. Evokes memories of the heyday of the railroads and vintage Americana, long before the internet and cell phone. A time when the railroad was the fabric that kept this country together. Johnny sings from the heart and soul when singing about the great railroad lines of times past.

A means to better understand and appreciate Johnny Cash.......2005-10-10

In "Ridin' the Rails: The Great American Train Story," Johnny Cash tells the story of America's railroads doing what he does best. Cash fans will revel in the music and anyone with a general interest in history will appreciate the documental aspects. Indeed, the film is not intended for railroad buffs, but rather to introduce the allure and significance of trains to the uninitiated. The program is mostly composed of historical reenactments, with Johnny Cash narrating and singing songs that commemorate the ethos. The production is surprisingly good for something from 1974 and holds up well when compared to today's made-for-PBS type programs. Considering that cheesy symphony orchestras ruined most Country sounds of the day, the music of "Ridin' the Rails" has held up well. Cash keeps most of the songs stripped down to solo acoustic and therefore the music will always be timeless Americana. The DVD's picture quality is much cleaner when compared to the original and it features outtakes. As song writing imagery, Cash has always employed trains - just listen to Folsom Prison Blues. In "Ridin' the Rails," the viewer gets into the mind of Cash to appreciate on his level, what he loved about railroads. It is in this regard that "Ridin' the Rails" is not just a railroad documentary but a means to better understand and appreciate 'the Man in Black.'

Riding The Rails.......2005-08-12

Rhino deserves two thumbs up for reissuing this excellent video on DVD. Johnny Cash is at his peak in this historically accurate depiction of American rail. A perfect combination for both railfans and music aficionados.

Average customer rating:

-------Colorful characters and a thoughtful story-------
Most Country Music "Stars" Can't Sing Either!!!
Heartbreaking
Eastwood tries to sing country
Watchable, but horrid

Honkytonk Man
Starring: Verna Bloom , Jim Boelsen , Matt Clark , Rebecca Clemons , and Barry Corbin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00009N83V
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com

One of Clint Eastwood's mid-1980s experiments in change of pace, this melancholy attempt at comedy confirmed something Clint already had shown in Paint Your Wagon: he's not a very good singer. In Honkytonk Man, which he also directed, he plays a has-been who never was, a would-be country singer who dreams of performing at the Grand Ol' Opry. As he works his way to Nashville with his nephew in tow (played by Eastwood's son, Kyle), he also battles with tuberculosis in a movie more interested in creating soggy handkerchiefs than musical credibility. What little there is of the latter is provided by real-life music stars such as Marty Robbins (who didn't live to see this movie released). --Marshall Fine

Description

Red Stovall (Clint Eastwood) is a Depression-era rascal whose fire-in-the-belly passion comes from the whiskey he slugs and the dream he chases: singing at the Grand Ole Opry. He takes off on a drive from Oklahoma to audition in Nashville with nephew Whit (Clint's son Kyle Eastwood) along to help keep the car on the road and Red on the straight and narrow.

DVD Features:
Featurette:Eastwood Film Highlights
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

-------Colorful characters and a thoughtful story-------.......2006-12-14

Honkytonk Man is an entertaining and well-done film directed by and staring Clint Eastwood. The story takes place during the Great Depression and is about Red Stovall (Clint), a country singer who has a chance to make it on the Grand Ole Opry. Red knows it's probably his last chance for fame. He's an alcoholic and also very sick with tuberculosis. On his way to Nashville, he stops by to visit his sister in Oklahoma. She persuades Red to take along his teenage nephew Whit (Kyle Eastwood) to drive for him. She suspects that Whit will also have to take care of his uncle before very long.

I don't know if Kyle Eastwood appeared in any other films, but I was impressed by how well he did. He was charming and very natural in the role of admiring nephew. In fact, the supporting cast couldn't have been better.

There are some negative comments from other reviewers about Clint's singing. I felt his style matched the character he was portraying in the film. He had a quiet singing voice that was between talking and singing. I found his voice to be pleasant. He's an actor and not a professional singer. I've heard many actors used that same vocal technique when required to sing.

This was not a glamorous or glitzy type of film. It was the story of people who seemed real and lived during the Depression when life was tough and all you had were your dreams.

Most Country Music "Stars" Can't Sing Either!!!.......2005-11-12

This is yet another wonderful offerring by Clint Eastwood. In this movie Clint plays Red, an aspiring guitarist and singer who dreams of performing in Memphis. We see Red's deterioration through Tuberculosis as the movie progresses. His final cry to a lost love is more believable than anything I have seen or read by that so called "Master Of Vulnerable Sentimental Nostalgia" Tennessee Williams.I give this movie 5 stars because Mr. Eastwood can't sing which means he has something in common with most Country Music Stars today.

Heartbreaking.......2005-09-12

Honkytonky Man starts in a casual manner. The first hour made me think it's one of those films by Eastwood that are not be taken too seriously. As Red's illness grows worse day by day, his character becomes more and more pityable. Clint Eastwood plays the dying man in this movie. It was nearly tearjerking to see him cry out for his love when his end is near. Towards the last half hour of the film, the film manages to reach it's peak in terms of moving script. I dont know how he does it but Clint Eastwood somehow manages to make "not so serious films" into gulp inducing trips. If I could start again, I would say this film is about a man who makes music. He ain't a big shot and he doesnt have many big dreams. Towards the end of his life(Thanks to TB which he suffers from) he realises he must record his music. His nephew is his only friend and he's always around. The core of this movie would interest a person who likes travelling,beer,acoustic guitar and casual flings. I can't possibly comprehend just how terribly serious this film got towards the end.

I have seen 5 Clint Eastwood films before this. Escape from Alcatraz, Absolute Power and MDB are his best. This one will earn more respect if I ever give it a watch again. I would look back at Honkytonky Man as a film in which Clint Eastwood played the character of a semi cowboy who lived his life to what he stood for. Kyle Eastwood acted well considering this might have been his debut.

All in all, a winner of its own sort with a very good touching end.

Eastwood tries to sing country.......2004-03-29

In the early 1980's, Clint Eastwood tried a number of different characters. He had his ups and downs, and HONKEYTONK MAN is definately a down. Based on a novel, the movie takes place in the 1930's with Eastwood playing Red Stoval, an aging country singer trying to make it in the bars. He sest out on a trip to Memphis, hoping to make it big. His real-life son Kyle plays his nephew, who tags along to keep him out of trouble.

I give him credit for trying, but Eastwood CANNOT sing. He actually did a better job trying in PAINT YOUR WAGON then here. The movie is rather slow, with the occasional sleazy comment or action to hold your interest, which doesn't last long. One funny moment is when Red tells off a cop who is frisking him. Another is when he holds up a friend with a shotgun, (yes, he does carry a gun in this one briefly). By far the funniest part is where he takes his nephew to a brothel to help him lose his virginity! Still, the movie is depressing with Red suffering from TB throughout the whole film, and to see him waste away while singing doesn't make things any better. The cars are also not in date with the film. Wanting to be somebody is a good motive for still going on with the show, but he takes it too far, and any Eastwood fan would be rattled by the ending. HONKEYTONK MAN was a commercial disappointment, and I would sadly rank it as one of Eastwood's worst films.

Watchable, but horrid.......2003-05-12

Let me say straight off the bat that this is an enjoyable film in many ways. It moves along without ever boring, despite not having much in the way of dramatic highs and lows. The acting feels pretty natural for the most part, but not really believable for the place and time in which the movie takes place.

But there is a lot to complain about. First of all, Eastwood cannot sing at all. It's pretty embarrassing, and I'm a little astonished that he didn't have someone do this for him. It's not just because his voice is timid to the point of being characterless, or without any sort of natural projection or decent intonation. There are plenty of "way off" country singers I love and admire. It's more that his voice has no country in it at all - it's almost a more tepid and unaccented sub-sub-James Taylor sort of voice. Downright bewildering, especially when this film is meant to take place in the 30's, when country music was in its infancy and fairly crude sounding, recorded or live.

I notice one other reviewer mentions a cameo from Bob Wills, who entered into a coma a decade before the movie was made, and died eight years prior to the film. That's a hell of a cameo! Even if this "thirties" movie was meant to represent 1939, Wills still would have only been in his early 30s - which makes odd the fact that he's played as if he's at least in his 60s here, and performing a song that wasn't recorded until two decades later. (Kudos, on the other hand, for having an actor who actually worked with Wills play the part.) Ditto the clothing styles (a woman who performs on the Grand Ole Opry wears an outfit that wouldn't have been worn until roughly five decades later, performing a song that sounds like early 80s Barbara Mandrell - nothing even remotely within two generations of the period in which this movie takes place.) One could say it's this failure to get even the most basic period details correct that prevented this movie from having very much success. It's a largely comical adventure a la "O Brother, Where Are Thou", which plays around with a lot of cultural mythology - but "O Brother" could play even faster and looser with credible plot development largely because they captured the details of the time period so wonderfully well. Bear in mind that even the term "honky tonk" was not widespread until the 40s, and hardly used at all to describe a genre of music until the early 50s. That makes the title of this film and its general basis pretty suspect. It's ironic that the success of "O Brother" was largely in their use of "real" traditional music sounding like what it did at the time, not some weakened Nashville pap. Another point is that in the mid-30s the Grand Ole Opry wasn't anything like what it became in the 40s and 50s - Chicago actually would have been a better destination, as the WLS Barn Dance was really roaring then.

There's also the names - there was a Herman Arnspiger who played with Bob Wills and was by any account I've read, a pretty swell guy. Here he is a friend of Bob Wills, but a total lying scumbag robber thief trying to pimp an underaged girl. "Stovall", the name of Eastwood's character, was also the name of a guy who was one of country's great songwriters. (His name was Vern, not Red though). And the TB thing is kind of a conflation of the death of Jimmie Rodgers (or Woody Guthrie's cousin Jack, for that matter) - coughing between takes in his final recording session. I know people who assume this was based on a true story, and that's a shame, as some of the true stories of these country guys are far more compelling than this tale was.

I'm a young person whose musical interests extend largely to reggae / punk / 60s soul, so it's not like I'm an oldtimer complaining about how it really was. I sure wasn't there then. My point is more that when a novice classic country fan such as myself can see the gigantic flaws in research, there's a big problem.

My final word is that this is a fair way to spend a couple of hours, but probably a poor choice of things to spend your money on. Buy "O Brother" or Robert Altman's "Nashville" instead if you want something similar.

Average customer rating:

Three Cheers For the Carter Family

A must have.........

The "Best" Carter Family Documentary, If Only Because It Is The Only One! Interesting But Incomplete.

Good, but lacking

Good history of the Carter Family

The Carter Family - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Starring: Marion Ross
Director: Rocky Collins , and Matthew Collins (III)
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Carter Family: 1927-1934

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy in American Music

Volume 2: 1935-1941

DVD-Guitar Styles Of The Carter Family

Wildwood Pickin'

ASIN: B000A0GP54
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Description

This documentary explores the lives of A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter, starting with their childhood in Poor Valley, Virginia, and following their story through 1943, when they stopped playing and recording together. The film features rarely seen family photographs, memorabilia and archival footage that chronicles the life and music of this famous and influential trio. Academy Award® Winner Robert Duvall narrates.

Customer Reviews:

Three Cheers For the Carter Family.......2007-01-04

The Carters, along with Jimmy Rodgers, are the true heroes of pure country music. The so called evolution into the electrified contemporary offerings by sequined faux country performers is comparable to the moving of melodious music into acid rock.

Music by the Carter Family deserves to be in the collection of anyone who values our heritage.

A must have................2006-08-01

Nice DVD to own for a rare insight into the Carter Family. Not the best or longest, but it's all we have. Go get it.

The "Best" Carter Family Documentary, If Only Because It Is The Only One! Interesting But Incomplete........2006-07-04

THE CARTER FAMILY: WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN is an interesting DVD documentary from PBS, but it really could have easily been made better. As it is, it is still the only documentary available on DVD, and it is quite interesting.

It fits well as a companion piece to the book WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE? by Mark Zwonitzer and Charles Hirshberg. Zwonitzer appears frequently throughout this DVD.

This DVD is about 50 minutes long, with about 19 minutes of bonus material. They use actors to recreate some scenes, but they should have marked these scenes as "recreations." Too often they show old, generic footage, or recreations, without captioning it as stock footage or recreations. If you didn't know better, you might think you were seeing the actual, original Carter Family in action, but you're not.

There is NO actual moving pictures of the original Carter Family on the DVD, though Maybelle and Sara appear too briefly in b/w TV and moving film footage, presumably from the 1950's (Maybelle on TV, playing some of "Wildwood Flower") and in the 1960s, (Sara and Maybelle, elderly but still sounding great, standing around outside, playing "Sweet Fern" for the camera, appearing as the credits rollover the picture at the end of the DVD).

It is really frustrating that they did not include these two songs as DVD bonuses, in a COMPLETE song version! Especially since the rest of the DVD uses only still photos of the three original Carter Family members.

The DVD explains a lot about their lives before the music business, the formation of the group, and the business and cultural circumstances of their influential careers! I watched this DVD after finishing my reading of the book WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE? and I very much enjoyed what is on this DVD. I just wish they had shared more of the live action footage that they had access to!

There are many still photos shown of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle which I had not seen before. The best quality photos come from an aborted LIFE MAGAZINE photo shoot for a cover story, which potentially would have boosted their careers, but was ill-timed and got bumped when the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbor, and so the Carter story got pulled out, and was unfortunately never ran later!

The DVD tells the story of the strained marriage of A.P. and Sara, with a little more weight than what we are perhaps used to in 2006. I grew up in a family shattered by divorce, and I take too much of that grief for granted, maybe most of the Western culture does, since it seems to have happened to nearly everybody's family. Perhaps we really should recognize A.P. and Sara's failed marriage as the family tragedy that it is, but it does sound strange to hear the divorce described as some huge tragedy unique to this very famous family. It is as if the music business chores destroyed their marriage, and A.P. could never had guessed the incredibly high price he would pay, with his broken marriage, to establish and maintain the Carter Family career.

Sara Carter comes off as one of the earliest "feminists" in the entertainment industry. They showcase a recreation of them recording "Single Girl, Married Girl," their first big hit, which has lyrics that envy the "freedom" of a single woman who can go have fun, while lamenting the responsibilties of a married mother and wife who envies the single girl. I don't applaud this sentiment, nor do I agree with it, but this is a fact that this was their first big hit, and an early feminist "anthem" of sorts, back in the late 1920's.

The DVD later shows how Sara pitches her marriage to an angry and unresponsive A.P., to have an affair with her husband's cousing, Coy Bayes, whom she would eventually marry, many lonely years later. A true family tragedy, yet all too common today. I wish it were a unique situation, but I grew up with that kind of situation in my parents marriage, too. It is heartbreaking.

The DVD extras last about 19 minutes and show people talking about Maybelle's guitar and her guitar playing techniques. They also show The Carter Fold, which is a weekly musical showcase hosted by the daughter of A.P. which is still going on today! Check it out!

If you are a serious Carter Family fan, then you will be happy to see this documentary, but you will likely wonder why they did not max out the possibilities when they had some really rare, great footage that went so underused in the final cut.

Besides the biography book, WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE?, I can also highly recommend the CD collections from JSP Records, THE CARTER FAMILY 1927-1934, and THE CARTER FAMILY 1935-1941, which are the best and most comprehensive CD collections currently in print and available on amazon.com; VERY REASONABLY PRICED at about $25 per 5 CD set (which is about $5 per CD). Both sets feature 5 CDs that are completely loaded with just about every thing that the original Carter Family recorded in the studio during their 15 year career. These CDs sound pretty good (allowing for how PRIMITIVE these 80 year old original recordings are, from the dawn of the music industry as we know it), and they are the easiest way to get nearly all the Carter Family's music quickly (and before these go out of print, too, so hurry up and get yours).

Good, but lacking.......2006-04-25

I actually give this 3.5 stars, but I am rounding up for effort.

This is a good companion video to the book Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?, the definitive Carter Family biography. I can't think of anything from the program that isn't covered in the book. There is the added element of direct comments from various musicians and writers about the Carter Family, including Jeanette and Joe Carter, two of A.P. and Sara's children. Mark Zwonitzer, co-author of the book, is also featured quite extensively in the program. With a running time of one hour, the program really only gives the Cliff Notes version of the Carter Family story.

As another reviewer pointed out, the focus is on A.P. and Sara's relationship and less on Maybelle Carter's contribution. I understand the feeling -- Maybelle would merit a documentary all her own -- but we wouldn't have had the Carter Family were it not for A.P. and Sara. All stories have a beginning.

We are treated to a clip of Maybelle performing "Wildwood Flower" for a TV program sometime in the 50s. This is somewhat marred by the voiceovers the director chose to place during the scene. The clip is repeated with fewer distractions on one of the disc's supplements, but it would have been nice to have it in its uninterrupted entirety. There is also some footage of Maybelle and Sara performing together in the 60s at the end of the program.

Extras include footage from the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Maybelle's guitar and a small bit about her playing technique (which is covered in the main program), a very brief history of the guitar in American music, and a short piece about the Carter Family Fold, the museum and performance space that continues to exist today.

All in all, it was an interesting program to watch, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it could have been more. Perhaps this will open the door for a more extensive documentary in the future. Also, with the success of Walk the Line, could a feature film of the Carter Family be close behind?

Good history of the Carter Family.......2005-12-20

I would have given this five stars if it weren't for not enough coverage of Maybelle Carter's contribution to country music, especially her (at the time) innovative method of playing the guitar so that it sounded like two guitars. After the Carter Family broke up circa 1943, she toured with her three daughters as "Mother" Maybelle Carter and was sought for counsel for decades afterward. She was also the centerpiece of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands 1971 recording "Will the Circle be Unbroken".

A lot of the DVD focuses on A.P. and Sara's marital woes, neither of whom, in my estimation, contributed as much to country music as Maybelle.

This is a good history, however, for country music history enthusiasts.

Average customer rating:

Firefall
It's just not the same..
Somewhat Like Their Show
One original member-good sound and picture
Great show

Rock 'n' Roll Greats - Firefall
Starring: Firefall
Manufacturer: PASSPORT VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Music Video & Concerts | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002KPI4G
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Product Description

1. So Long
2. Just Remember I Love You
3. No Way Out
4. Cinderella
5. Sweet and Sour
6. Goodbye Love You
7. You Are the Woman
8. When the River Rises
9. Strange Way
10. Mexico

System Requirements:
A country band from the 1970s who never quite burst into the mainstream, Firefall drew on the traditions of the genre and infused it with some subtle, melancholy rock. Fans of Buffalo Springfield and The Eagles should find much to appreciate here, but for established fans of the band this is a welcome, and rare, step into the visual medium. ROCK N ROLL GREATS sees the band reforming almost two decades after their inception, and providing a set that illustrates the staying power of their heartfelt tunes.

Format: DVD VIDEO

Customer Reviews:

Firefall.......2007-05-12

Very nice video for the price.You really don't realize how much great music they put out unless you were a fan or you watch a show like this

It's just not the same.........2006-07-19

without Rick Roberts. He was the heart and soul of this group as we all remember them.

Somewhat Like Their Show.......2005-08-15

This is a good representation of what you get when you go to see them. I just saw their latest show in June of this year (2005) in Salt Lake City at an Oldiesfest. It was nearly identical to what they did on this dvd with a few exceptions. They are an excellent band with great vocal harmonies and superior guitar playing. You'll sing along with all of their songs and like what you hear.

One original member-good sound and picture.......2005-01-12

This DVD has good sound and picture but the names of the players are not announced during ther concert or on the credits. Further review of this concert appearance (comparing pictures of bandmembers from past CDs) shows that the only original player is Josh Barkley (the lead guitar) and the other guitar player (singer), sax-flute player, bass player along with the drummer have been with Firefall since 1989 and are on the last 2 studio albums. This is an OK concert--just wish the band members were introduced--it was so hard to reconize them except by going thru pictures in the last 2 ALBUMS -Josh Barkley looks so different now but it is him playing lead guitar--- the DVD was taken at a concert that featured remains of other groups like Iron Butterfly and Grand Funk in 1999.

Great show .......2004-12-15

This is Firefall - live in TN at a festival that featured other classic rocks acts. Let me say this...this is a great live concert from these guys. Firefall was best known for two of the lightest tunes in Rock and Roll history ( You are the Woman & Just Remember I Love You)...however - don't let that fool you...these guys rock out pretty good!! They jam out several of the songs on this DVD, and their are great shots of the entire band ( which is the case with all the DVD's I;ve seen or own by this company). They key in on the guy who is doing the solo..they tell you which song they are playing...this is just a great DVD concert of Firefall. My only complaint is that it is short at only 65 minutes - yet it looks to be their full set from this festival. In any event, if you are reading my review or have looked at this DVD to purchase...your already a Firefall fan..so buy it!!! It is reasonable priced, and does a nice job of showing what these guys are like in concert. Well worth the money!!!

Average customer rating:

HILARIOUS!!
No like the movie
Slow unattentive

Cannonball Run Europe: The Great Escape
Starring: Cannonball Run Europe-Great Escape
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Auto Sports | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00081U76S
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Customer Reviews:

HILARIOUS!!.......2006-06-23

This is a comedic masterpiece! You'll be rolling on the floor laughing all through this one!

No like the movie.......2005-10-09

This not like cannonball I and II but its nice to see the spirt of cannonball is still alive, but a better title would be Gumball Rally 2004

Slow unattentive.......2005-10-04

This is a kind of documentury. Very slow and boreing not worth the time to view for free.

Average customer rating:

Great Trans American Train Ride
More a travel video

Great Trans American Train Ride
Starring: Doug Jones
Manufacturer: Total-Content Llc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0009ETCT2
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Description

It's all aboard for adventure as travel expert Doug Jones guides you on a spectacular coast-to-coast journey on 3 of America's greatest trains! You'll experience the breadth of America, from the great cities of the East to the heartland prairies, from the majesty of snow-capped mountains to the Western desert. You'll take the fabled Broadway Limited from New York's Pennsylvania Station, through Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before changing at Chicago's Union Station for the legendary California Zephyr. Then it's across the rolling prairies and soaring mountains to Salt Lake City where you'll climb aboard the Desert Wind as it departs to Las Vegas and the California desert before making it's way, finally, to Los Angeles. The Great Trans-American Train Ride will carry you from "Sea to Shining Sea" on a romantic and nostalgic journey aboard the last great passenger trains of the USA.

Customer Reviews:

Great Trans American Train Ride.......2007-02-25

Too much time visiting cities. I wanted to see more of the beautiful country.