Lionel Richie - The Collection (Jewel Case) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently brought this DVD...and I fell in LOVE with it. My only regret is that I did not buy this sooner!!
I have not seen these videos since the late '80s - early '90s, and they really had me reminiscing. Looking over this collection, it was plain to see why Lionel Richie was the one of the hottest pop acts of the 1980s, where his only competition was Michael Jackson and Prince - good musical company to be in!! Even though today many people may dismiss Lionel's material as being too pop-oriented, I have yet to come across one person who can honestly say that they never brought any of his music!
This is like taking a trip through my late teens and early twenties all over again...I can remember all of these videos and being so moved by the "Hello" video, I had to cry. And I had the same reaction when I saw it again for the first time in God knows how many years!! The only videos I never really cared for were "Dancing On The Ceiling" (hey, I'm sorry!!) and "Penny Lover", but all the others are off the hook, especially "All Night Long" (where you see a young Lela Rochon-Fuqua dancing with Lionel), "Running With The Night" (this always reminded me of MJ's "Smooth Criminal" video), "Do It To Me" (I love this video...it is STEAMY, STEAMY, STEAMY!), "Se La" and "My Destiny". Also in the "Love, Oh Love" video, be on the lookout for a young Nicole Richie.
The one mistake that was made with this collection was the omission of "My Love", one of my favorite Lionel solo songs...which can ONLY be seen if you have a DVD-ROM in your computer and you are hooked up to the web >:-( NOT FAIR!! That was the only thing that prevented me from giving this 5 stars. But other than that, this is an extremely enjoyable DVD. Yeah, as I watch it over and over again, it reminds me just why I love Lionel, and why I can't wait for his new CD to drop next month. For the Richie fan, this DVD is a MUST to own.

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Item Name: The Collection; Studio:Motown

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The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: The Miracle of Hope Review

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(More customer reviews)Brooklyn Tabernacle has always interspersed personal testimonials in their videos and DVDs. But this release stands out the most.
I have a relative who is behind bars now, and it has changed the way I view prisoners. While I can never condone any crime, I have a better understanding of prisoners who find Christ.
The musical presentations (not performances) are done with professional ease and spiritual reverence.
The rendition of Richard Smallwood's classic, "Total Praise", near the end even brought the choir director, Carol Cymbala, to tears. In fact, the singers get so caught up in the spirit while they are ministering that they forget about the cameras. It's real worship focusing on real issues and real people.
It's your choice if you want to buy it. But if you do, you will not just thank me- you'll thank God for his blessings.

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Microwave Massacre (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me just start out by saying that this is quite possibly the WORST movie ever made! Horrible acting, awful story, lousy music, atrocious editing, and completely unfunny humor are all of it's endearing qualities! This is just a stupid little movie with very few redeeming traits...which is why I love it! You can almost ALWAYS win those "worst movies ever" contests with your friends with this one. I can't even begin to describe how many times this movie failed in every attempt it made to be good. It's goodness lies purely within it's poorness! Here's an example...the BEST line in the movie is, "I'm so hungry, I could eat a whore!" You be the judge from this point on. All I can say is that it's my all-time favorite bad movie and I'm proud to own it! I wish it were on DVD! You should just break down and buy the damn thing because renting it is most assuredly an impossibility these days! Long live Jackie Vernon's powerful body of work...Frosty the Snowman, Microwave Massacre, & Amazon Women on the Moon! 'Nuff said!

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Item Name: Microwave Massacre; Studio:Anthem Pictures

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Out to Sea (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)You've got a number of stars in this comedy! Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon star as a pair of friends who go to sea as Gentlemen Escorts to find new romance. In essence they are free dance partners for the many single woman on board.
Jack promptly falls for Vivian (Gloria DeHaven) as a true romance, while Walter Matthau schemes to seduce a younger woman (Dyan Cannon) who appears wealthy and single. The ship is the Holland Westerdam, an actual luxury cruise ship. You get to see a lot of scenes on the ship - from the pool area, the restaurant, the ballroom and the deck.
I really loved the smaller parts played by Hal Linden and especially Brent Spiner. The "Data" from Star Trek really shines here as the commanding cruise director.
What makes the movie so special is that, in its release year of 1997, you had Lemmon being 71 years old, and Matthau being 77. The two men are still great actors. It gives you a great sense of how vibrant old age can be, if you keep your mind and body healthy. Sadly, both have since passed away, so this movie is a collector's item.
What was even more surprising to me is how young Dyan Cannon looks. I loved her in Deathtrap, and while I watched this movie I thought she was a great actress but way too young for the Matthau character. I kept thinking of him as a cradle robber. Actually, she was born in 1937 - so she was 50 in the movie! In comparison, Gloria was 72.
So in general, this was a cast with a lot of experience, that shows a great movie can be made without having to rely on teen starlets or the latest handsome face.
Highly recommended!

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Bizet - Carmen / Mehta, Ewing, Lima, Royal Opera Review

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(More customer reviews)I debated long and hard which Carmen to get: this live version from the Royal Opera House or or filmed version with Placido Domingo. Here is the Great news and the Good news. In short, this is a wonderful (hence great) production marred by a few technical flaws which limit it's brilliance (hence good).
The great is firstly Luis Lima's wonderful, charasmatic performance as Don Jose. Imminently believable, sad, boyish and gullible--his voice is stronger than I've seen him in comparable roles (e.g. La Boheme). Maria Ewing's performance is less credible, not passionate or seductive enough--seems somewhat more self-serving and machiavellian (which is the way the liner notes suggests--"Carmen thinks like a man.") Nonetheless, Ewings vocal performance is outstanding. Also great is the the lavish Royal Opera House production and Zubin Mehta's orchestral flair.
The limits of this video, is the technical editing and audio production. Some of the scene editing appears sloppy, with angle cuts too sophisticated to be effective (e.g. cutting faster during faster paced arias.) Or cutting to slightly blurred scenes. And the audio quality, while uncompressed and in stereo, is not dolby surround...hence slightly hollowed.
But, in it's whole, while not perfect (although Lima is close), this is a good, if not long (over 2.5 hrs) production that shows beautiful Carmen in all its glory. A nice addition to any library.
If Zefferelli had been involved with this produciton, this would have been an unbeatible staging.

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Selena (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 1997 film, well directed by Gregory Nava, was the film that propelled Jennifer Lopez on to stardom. She is nothing short of sensational in this film. She is Selena!
The film recounts the brief life of Selena Quintanilla Perez (Jennifer Lopez), a life that was built around her father's broken dreams. Her father (Edward James Olmos) had himself had a band in his youth called "Los Dinos". Now a married man with children, his dreams have stalled along the wayside. When he realizes, however, that his young daughter has some musical talent, he builds a band around her, "Selena and Los Dinos", and begins living vicariously through her.
Under the watchful eye of her martinet father, years of forced, musical practices and life on the road follow. Loving, possessive, and controlling, he succeeds in almost losing her, when she marries her guitarist without her father's permission. They reconcile, however, and he places Selena on the path to stardom, a tejano sensation on the cusp of becoming a crossover musical star. Unfortunately, her path crosses that of a fan, Yolanda Saldivar, whom Selena befriends, only to have her be the one who cuts her down in her prime.
Jennifer Lopez is sensational as Selena, big booty and all. She charms. She beguiles. She entertains. She is every inch the star. This has been her best role, and her performance is stellar. She should have won an award for her performance, because she most certainly deserved one for her portrayal of Selena. It is unfortunate that her acting career has been downhill ever since.
Edward James Olmos is perfect as Abraham Quintanilla, the father who pushed his daughter to heights that he had dreamed for himself but had been unable to reach. His performance is powerful and rich. He, too, should have had his award calibre performance acknowledged in some way, as it was close to perfect. Mr. Olmos is a wonderful actor who deserves more recognition than he has gotten, thus far.
All in all, this is an interesting, absorbing film with some great music. No wonder Selena was a hit!

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The nuts and bolts of the irresistibly danceable music called Tejano are pop, rock, polka, R&B and Latin influences.To millions of fans there'sanother vital ingredient:the dynamic singer Selena.Vibrant and tuneful, Selena is the story of the Grammy Award-winning South Texas singer whose life tragically ended just as she was taking Tejano where it had never gone-into mainstream America.Pulsating with Selena's voice on the soundtrack and made with the participation of her family, the film brims with authenticity.It excitingly recreates the early life of a little girl who dreamed big, hit the road in the band bus named Big Bertha and whose concerts became electrifying events.In the title rose, Jennifer Lopez is herself electrifying.Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda and others also shine in "a poignant, heartwarming movie that deserves a standing ovation" (Jules Peimer, WKDM-Radio/New York).

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Bill and Gloria Gaither - Ryman Gospel Reunion (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)Well, here's how it all began...again.
I realize Bill and Gloria and most of their friends have been writing and singing great gospel songs long before I was even thought of. But when Bill Gaither gathered dozens of his friends together for a 1995 TV special that aired on TNN, it was a fresh new beginning that would eventually bring millions of people (me being one) to see that southern gospel music is somthing that everyone can enjoy and feel His power first hand!
This special is the one that spawned hundreds of great videos and DVD's that we've enjoyed over and over. See how it all began! Keep'em comin' Bill! See you all on tour!

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Studio: Emi Music DistributionRelease Date: 05/16/2006

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George Jones & Friends: 50th Anniversary Tribute Concert (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)For George Jones, what better tribute one can have, than a good one you can enjoy while you still can. This tribute is meaningful by those who have been inspired by George Jones, those who call him the best. The entertainers present are Vince Gill, George Jones, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, EmmyLou Harris, Martina McBride, Kris Kristofferson, Shelby Lynne, Wynonna, Joe Diffie, Trick Pony, Uncle Kracker.
You will hear the souful sad version of "Grand Tour" by Aaron Neville, and a bluesy twist to "She Thinks I Still Care" with Harry Connick, Jr. And I love the song "Bartender's Blues" beautifully sung by Amy Grant.
Randy Travis sings "Once You've Had the Best" and duets with George for their hit, "A Few Ole Country Boys". And Lori Morgan sings the song she also made a hit, the beautiful "Picture of You". Connie Smith and George do "Golden Ring"
"Walk Through This World With Me", another beautiful favorite is sung by Tanya Tucker and her voice enhances the lyrics.
Sprinkled through the concert are the entertainer's words about George, and he is honored greatly. They talk about him being down to earth, soulful, genuine, ability to deliver those lyrics, phrases, emotion. Everybody honors George through their words and the bonus material features extended interviews.
Also in the bonus material are two songs/music videos by George. Written by Jamie O'Hara (no mention in the printed material) are 50,000 names (a Vietnam wall) and Cold Hard Truth, an excellent cheating song. O'Hara also did a video on these two songs.
Enjoy this collection!! What a tribute!!.......Rizzo


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Sugarcubes - The DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)Before she was simply known as just Bjork she was the lead singer of the Icelandic pop group Sugarcubes. For the first time ever, video hits from Sugarcubes are available on DVD. Sugarcubes The DVD features 9 of the groups videos and three bonus videos that are considered extras.
While Bjork is known for her cutting edge big budget videos (Oh So Quiet, Human Behavior), the Sugarcube videos are entertaining but not so over the top. The videos for the songs "Regina" and "Planet" are close to what Bjork videos would evolve into. "Eat The Menu" is a live performance/club video. It's a really cool video (and song) that almost is reminiscent of early stuff by The B52's. The DVD also includes two versions of the song "Birthday," an Icelandic version and an English version.
I was around when the Sugarcubes were out. I guess they were considered alternative or underground to a degree in the U.S. because I don't remember seeing many of these videos the first time around. I remember seeing the video for the song "Regina" on the old MTV alternative show "120 Minutes." Its nice to have all of the videos in one collection.


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The Sugarcubes, fronted on lead vocals by Bjork, were the biggest band to ever emerge from Iceland. This 12-track DVD contains all the promo videos by the Sugarcubes in one essential collection, featuring "Birthday," "Cold Sweat," "Deus," "Regina," and "Hit." Available for the first time on DVD with bonus videos.Track Listings:1.Birthday2.Cold Sweat3.Deus4.Motorcrash5.Luftgitar6.Regina7.Planet8.Eat the Menu9.Birthday10.Hit (Bonus Video)11.Walkabout (Bonus Video)12.Vitamin (Bonus Video)

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Richard Strauss - Salome / Downes, Ewing, Devlin, Riegel, Royal Opera Covent Garden (1992) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have seen "Salome" at Covent Garden (not this production) and the Met, but I have never felt so felt its intensity. I think this may be, in a curious way, a "chamber" opera; its focus is so on nuances of obsession (usually sexual, of course) that it benefits from close quarters. I have seen Maria Ewing only in this one role, but in this she is stunning; first sinister, then frightening (because wierdly believable), then monstrous. Her two foils are this production's Herod: coward, lecher, bully, but in the end convincingly holding to some limit to indecency; and Johannan (the Baptist), chaste as ivory (as the lady says) and as passionately so as the lady is vile. The orchestra is good, the musical interpretation is right (neither tame nor manic) and the staging, with its creepy moon, suggestive dungeon, and hommages to Klimpt and Beardsley just exactly right. Terrific! Turn your own living room into Sodom and Gommorah.

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World of Make Believe (Sing-Along Concert) Review

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(More customer reviews)We borrowed Linda Arnold's video, World of Make Believe, from the public library for our 1-year-old son. We loved it so much that we watched it every day for the two-week loan period.
World of Make Believe is a musical story about a joker (Shenanigans) who hides the lucky purple baseball bat that belongs to Tyrone Rex, the dinosaur. When Tyrone visits Linda's daughter, Katie, he realizes that the bat is missing. Katie and Tyrone soon discover the first of several clues planted by Shenanigans and with the help of Linda and the children in the studio audience, recover the bat just in time for Tyrone to participate in the Dinosaur baseball play-offs. Linda Arnold's compositions are delightful and her troupe of actors put on a captivating show. One can't help but sing along and carry the songs around with them the rest of the day.
This is a beautiful, well-planned video; great, clean entertainment for kids of all ages.

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Honkytonk Man (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)This wouldn't be the first time, I thoroughly enjoyed a movie that critics labeled as too-something-or-other. This is a great movie and apart from the usual Eastwood fare except for the 'gut-and-grit' exhibited by the lead character, Red Stovall, to accomplish his dream despite tuberculosis. As for down-grading Eastwood's singing ability, there are a number of country greats who lack melodic tone and volume but make up for it with style. (Truly unfortunate that critics can do the same!)
Buy and enjoy this movie; you won't be sorry.

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Voices That Care (1991) Review

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(More customer reviews)More than a decade ago the nation was gripped by the events happening in Kuwait.Our American troops won the hearts of all of us, young and old, rich and poor, famous and not so famous.The entertainment world wanted to create something very special to send to the soldiers in the Middle East, so they collaborated with David Foster, a lyrical genius, and came up with VOICES THAT CARE, a moving song which pays tribute to the courageous women and men who were stationed overseas in Desert Storm. The video shows the making of this song, and through interviews with the celebrities, the writers and the musicians, you are given an inside look at this powerful song that became an anthem of our nation. The scenes are quite moving as you witness big name stars dedicate their time and talent to this worthy undertaking. Enjoy this one -- it's a new American Classic piece of music and video making.

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Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story (1991) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're a Helen Hunt fan, you'll love this film. Personally I wanted to see it because it's a "down home in New Hampshire" flick. A true story set to film that's intriguing and has some excellent performances. The plot flows nicely and Helen Hunt is phenominal and believable as Pam Smart. In some true stories, for example, some of the Kennedy family movies, the actors just don't seem to "fit" the part. They're not "believable". In this movie, Helen hunt is very "believable" as Pam Smart. You wonder how a seemingly intelligent woman can want to be rid of a such a gorgiously handsome, sucessful husband for a mullet-wearing teen dude but hey, those raging hormones, right? I found that I had to keep reminding myself that this really is a true story. You shake your head in amazement as to why and how this could happen, but following the "dance" between Pam and Chad, you see the pieces fit. As in "The Mary Letorneau Story", you can also see after a while the how it could have happened even if it really makes no sense to the rational adult mind. Most people could never picture themselves in the same position, especially if they're a parent. As one who enjoys true life stories and being a huge fan of Helen Hunt, I highly reccomend 'Murder in New Hampshire' as a part of your DVD collection. I only had to see it on TV once to know that I had to buy it for my own collection.

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Item Name: Murder in New Hampshire; Studio:Platinum Disc

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Mr. Jones (1993) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm M-D so take that into consideration. Gere doesn't get enough credit for his acting because he has his own persona like John Wayne and critics can't get over this. His is an outstanding performance, trust me. Lena is my favorite actress to watch and listen to so factor that in also. There are just so many funny scenes in this movie! (And a few oddities; Gere is no carpenter--you hammer nails with your wrist, not your arm.) Fun moments: Gere quoting from Alice In Wonderland while playfully teasing Olin's stock psychologist demeanor, the dialogue in and around the car ride, the table tennis sequence is priceless, in fact all of the dialogue between these two excellent actors is worth watching. Two outstanding dramatic moments are 1)the point of Gere's discovery of Olin's prying into his past(and catching him in a chilling lie)and 2)the subsequent confrontation in the rain; this is Olin at her--or anyone's--best...economical and searing. The only major misfire in this movie is the sexual involvement...should have been platonic but this is easily one of Hollywood's best efforts from the 1990s. I bought it. Aaaahhh, Leeena!! Yum

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Wagner - Lohengrin / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)Amazing that no one has ever written a commentary on this performance, even in its VHS format. Superb performance all around. It is difficult to single out anyone person because they are all good to outstanding. In my bias, I do single out Rysanek, whose "Orturd" is overwhelmingly sung and conceived. Her radiant voice fills out a great acting performance. The Met orchetra is equally outstanding. I am grateful that we have Rysanek in a live from the Met performance. She recorded little. They claim her voice was difficult to record (LP or Cd). Here she is the legend she already had become. She stated in her own words that she was not always satisfied with her recordings, although the RCA album of Italian arias did get her ok. Rysanek caught live surpasses Rysanek recorded in the studio. Live she was exciting and riviting. Her Chrysothemis is also available on a live from the Met with Nilsson as Elektra and Mignon Dunne as Clytemestra. That performance had the Met audience on its feet for nearly a hour hour at the curtains' fall. That, like this Lohengrin, is absolutely a "must have". Marton is caught in beautiful voice before its lamentable decline. Roar is an effective Telramund, never coarse of voice and Hofmann is the least stunning of the cast and he sings well and makes a very believable presence. So this gives you some idea of what you are in for. I'm been trying for many months (close to a year) to find this dvd format as I had it on VHS. It deserves to be a best seller along with the Elektra. Opera on dvd doesn't come along that often with this calabre of prodction, - No Euro-trash here - singing and overall excellence. Grab them while you can. Superb theater, great singing, outstanding orchestra playing. Wagner, Srauss and Rysanek must be very happy with this unequaled success.

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The Met brought out its best available performers... James Levine...controls the music superbly and...brings out a texture of sound in which Wagnerian sensualists can simply wallow." Washington Post The medieval romance of the Swan Knight, who comes miraculously to the rescue of the falsely accused Elsa of Brabant, became on of Richard Wagner's most beloved operas. Enacted against a background of chivalric and religious pageantry and made vivid by Wagner's powerful, richly scored music, Lohengrin comes grippingly to life in this handsome Metropolitan Opera production, featuring a notable cast under the baton of Artistic Director James Levine. Peter Davis in New York praised Leoni Rysanek's Ortrud, "an especially fascinating creation," and Eva Marton's "creamy-voiced Elsa, "while Mary Cambell of the Associated press declared Peter Hoffman "a splendid Lohengrin.

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The Parallax View (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)Beatty plays journalist investigating mysterious deaths of witnesses to a political assassination.
Pakula's dark and paranoid masterpiece was origninally shot by Gordon Willis (Godfathers I II and III, Klute, Zeilig, etc.) in 2.35 aspect. Willis, a master of light and composition, developed frames for this film that are practically abstract. His sense of composition (I'm sure Pakula was part of this) is brilliant: the static formalistic compositions; the use of long lenses to flatten each image into an (almost) isometric projection.
Now, maybe I'm getting carried away here, but "parallax" and "isometric"...? Hmmm... Both are terms related to geometry the "perception" of reality -- which is more-or-less the subtext of this film.
Anyway, after its dissapearance from theater screens this film made numerous appearances on TV (mainly late at night) in a pan-and-scan version. Same with the VHS version. So until the DVD was released, this was the only way I (and most other people) had seen it.
Well twice the frame is twice as good -- now entire sequences can be re-examined and reinterpreted (the ending has elements which appeared seperated in the VHS version).
I found the picture and sound to be good, but I'd hoped for more additional material (a documentary, a making of, an interview or two -- anything). This is certainly one film that deserves the extra attention. However I'm grateful for the 2.35 version.
Bottom line: a real treat for cinephiles, and a great movie for everyone else.

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