'Field of Dreams' begins in an Iowa cornfield when Ray Kinsella hears a mysterious voice - ''If you build it he will come'' and sees a brief vision. With the support of his wife Annie Ray Kinsella pursues his dream and encounters several memorable characters along the way Terence Mann a legendary yet reclusive author ''Doc'' Graham and the infamous Shoeless Joe Jackson. 'Field of Dreams' is the story of a simple Iowa farmer who against all odds finds the courage to believe in his dreams.
Thanks to generous funding from media mogul Ted Turner, first-time director Ronald F Maxwell was able to make an almost word-for-word adaptation of Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Killer Angels. Running over four hours, Gettysburg (1993) splits into two convenient parts for TV viewing (although a 70mm print was given limited theatrical release). This story of three bloody days of conflict in July, 1863 (an unimaginable 50,000 casualties), is divided equally between Union and Confederate forces. On the Union side, Jeff Daniels is the quietly heroic Colonel Joshua Chamberlain; Sam Elliott is utterly convincing as General Buford, the Union cavalryman who holds the Confederate army at bay on the first day. Martin Sheen plays an oddly subdued and vacillating General Lee--a controversial portrait of the legendary Confederate chief--while Tom Berenger, despite being almost hidden underneath an enormous authentically period-style beard, is strong and authoritative as General Longstreet (whose opposition to Lee's plans gave many in the Confederacy a reason to blame him for the disaster at Gettysburg). Chamberlain's last-ditch defence of Little Round Top, which prevented the Union forces from being flanked on the second day of battle, forms the climax to the first half; the heartbreaking Pickett's Charge--the Confederates' disastrous frontal assault on the entrenched Union lines on the third day--is the movie's greatest set piece and one of the most compelling reasons to endure a little too much stodgy dialogue (lifted directly from the novel) and an apparently over-reverential attitude to the subject-matter. But much of this movie was made in and around the actual battle site, so it's only to be expected that the cast and crew tread carefully, as if literally under the watchful eyes of the men whose lives they are re-enacting. And re-enactment is the key: with a cast of thousands in splendidly detailed period costumes, cannonades galore and massed ranks of musketry, the sheer scale of the military spectacle is endlessly impressive. If as a piece of filmmaking it has many faults, as an historical re-enactment Gettysburg is unsurpassed--even by the epic Waterloo (1970), which drafted in a large chunk of the Russian army as Napoleonic extras. --Mark Walker
REGION 2 UK DVD - RARE BURT LANCASTER MOVIE.
Field of Dreams is, in the words of its makers, a baseball film that "isn't about baseball". Rather, it's a magical film that works its spell on all but the most hard-boiled of viewers, an altogether superior slice of apple-pie sentimentality. Kevin Costner plays a young Iowa farmer who finds himself pestered by a whispering voice urging him, "If you build it, he will come". With the consent of an uncharacteristically supportive Hollywood wife (Amy Madigan) he sets about building a baseball diamond in the middle of his land. This action invites the prospect of bankruptcy--however, it also invites the spirit of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, a baseball superstar disgraced following his role in the 1919 World Series scandal. The supernatural voices continue to urge Costner to "go the distance"--and he seeks out reclusive writer Thomas Mann (James Earl Jones) and "Doc" Graham (Burt Lancaster), impelled by purposes he is as yet unable to divine. Field of Dreams works because it touches so endearingly on themes of redemption, inner peace and the possibility of second chances--the "dreams" which elude most of us. It also cites baseball as an idyllic metaphor for all that is decent and constant about America. Costner gives immense plausibility to an utterly, deliberately implausible scenario. On the DVD: Presented in anamorphic 1.78:1, the vivid, almost unnaturally natural Iowa colours are depicted to vivid effect (much of the diamond grass had to be painted green when it died). Generous extras include a making-of feature, an interview with WP Kinsella, author of the novel on which the book is based, and Costner. Director/writer Phil Alden Robinson also provides a director's commentary in which he describes the logistical difficulties of assembling 1500 automobiles for the memorable final scene. --David Stubbs
Gods And Generals:'God's And Generals' recounts the fierce allegiances and combat of the early Civil War. Ronald F. Maxwell directs this epic prequel to his Gettysburg framing the story with three bold men and three fateful battles. The men: Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) ""Stonewall"" Jackson (Stephen Lang) Robert E. Lee (Robert Duvall). The battles: Manassas Fredericksburg Chancellorsville. Through these combatants and conflicts we witness the bravery and strife of a na
Available for the first time on DVD! This time... luck has nothing to do with it! The evil little Irishman returns to wreak bloody havoc in his never-ending quest for female companionship in this 'Leprechaun'. Ancient lore gives him claim over any woman who sneezes three times and the current object of his affections is the descendant of a former rival.
The Professionals (Dir. Richard Brooks): Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy Texan oil baron to rescue his kidnapped wife (Cardinale) who's been spirited across the Mexican border by a band of mercenaries led by Jesus Raza (Palance). The four rugged professionals each regarded as a specialist in his selected field - an expert marksman and tracker (Strode) the explosives master (Lancaster) horse handler (Ryan) and one skilled in tactics and weaponry (Marvin) - make their way across the treacherous landscape to retrieve the beautiful kidappee but discover all is not what it seems... High Plains Drifter (Dir. Clint Eastwood): Eastwood portrays a mysterious stranger who emerges out of the heat waves of the desert and rides into the guilt-ridden town of Lago. After committing three murders and one rape in the first 20 minutes The Stranger is hired by the town to protect it from three gunmen just out of jail. The Stranger then paints the entire town bright red renames it ""Hell "" and supplies Divine retribution in a fiery climax. Tall In The Saddle (Dir. Edwin L. Marin): When a stranger arrives in a western town he finds that the rancher who sent for him has been murdered. Further most of the townsfolk seem to be at each other's throats and the newcomer has soon run contrariwise to most of them... Shenandoah (Dir. Andrew V. McLaglen): James Stewart stars as a Virginia farmer during the Civil War. He refuses to support the Confederacy because he is opposed to slavery yet he will not support the Union because he is deeply opposedito war. When his son is taken prisoner Stewart goes to search for the boy. Seeing first-hand the horrors of war he is at last forced to take his stand...
Call It Murder (Dir. Chester Erskine 1934) This is the story of a jury foreman whose vote sends a young woman to the electric chair for a murder she committed. His beliefs are tested when his own daughter goes on trial for a similar murder. Great Guy (Dir. John G. Blystone 1937): Ex-prize-fighter Johnny Cave (Cagney) Is knocked into the position of chief deputy of weights and measures after the current chief is hospitalized by an apparent assassination attempt. After only minutes on the job Cave goes several rounds with a ring of light-weight chiselers who have mastered the art of defrauding shoppers. Cave's aggressive political tactics make him the next likely target on the underworld's hit list. The Lucky Texan (Dir. Robert Bradbury 1934): John Wayne and his sidekick 'Gabby"" Hayes are gold miners who strike it rich. Unfortunately before they can enjoy the fruits of their labor they are wrongfully accused of robbery and murder. As always the road to the truth is never a straight path. Vengeance Valley (Dir. Richard Thorpe 1951): For his entire life Owen has been covering up for his good-for-nothing brother Lee protecting the rascal from their father's wrath. Finally however Lee's shenanigans go too far. After getting a young woman pregnant Lee shifts the blame to Owen. Lee even encourages the girl's brothers to get revenge hoping that with Owen out of the picture he'll become the sole heir to their father's farm. That's as much as any man can take...and Owen decides that it's time to settle the score. The Big Trees (Dir. Felix Feist 1952): A peaceful Quaker colony is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a fast-talking lumber man. A new law will enable his company to harvest millions of dollars from the majestic redwood forests if the locals will let him. The community refuses to see their beloved sequoias wiped out and pleads with the greedy businessman to halt the destruction. As their clash of ideas rages on an even greater threat to the trees emerges. The Man From Utah (Dir. Robert N. Bradbury 1934): This John Wayne classic brings us to the rodeo. John Weston ('the Duke') has to deal with the corrupt patron who has killed some of the rodeo's performers and who fixes the competition to guarantee Weston to lose. Gangster Story (Dir. Walter Matthau 1960): Matthau plays mob leader Jack Martin whose girlfriend Carol (Grace) is desperate for him to give up his unlawful and dishonest lifestyle. The problem is Jack doesn't have the same yearning to turn his back on his shady past but the crunch comes when he persuades the bank manager to lease him an office in the building and promptly robs the bank! With events turning very nasty is there any point in Carol trying to save her man from himself when all the signs indicate that he's hell bent on a course to self-destruction. Beat The Devil (Dir. John Huston 1953): a wacky comedy that's played as straight as any film noir and is even funnier as a result. Five men (Bogart Lorre Morley Barnard and Tulli) are out to garner control over East African land which they believe contains a rich uranium ore lode. Billy Dannreuther (Bogart) is married to Maria (Gina Lollobrigida) the other four are their ""business associates"" and Jones and Underdown are added to the mix for some interesting diversification. As the boat leaves from Italy to Africa a hodge-podge of amusingly silly adventures begins. British Intelligence (Dir. William Nigh 1940): They say that Karloff preferred character parts and in British Intelligence he's Valdar a sabrescarred butler who might be a secret agent.
Field Of Dreams (Dir. Phil Alden Robinson 1989): 'Field of Dreams' begins in an Iowa cornfield when Ray Kinsella hears a mysterious voice - ''If you build it he will come'' and sees a brief vision. With the support of his wife Annie Ray Kinsella pursues his dream and encounters several memorable characters along the way Terence Mann a legendary yet reclusive author ''Doc'' Graham and the infamous Shoeless Joe Jackson. 'Field of Dreams' is the story of a simple Iowa farmer who against all odds finds the courage to believe in his dreams. For The Love Of The Game (Dir. Sam Raimi 1999): Legendary Detroit Tigers pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) has always been better at baseball than at love. Just ask Jane (Kelly Preston) his on-again off-again girlfriend. At the end of a disappointing season just before what may be the last professional game of his life Jane tells Billy she's leaving him. Now with his career and his love life in the balance Billy battles against his physical and emotional limits as he plays the game of his life. And now with every pitch Billy comes closer to making the most important decision of his life. The suspense doesn't end until the last ball is thrown in this heartwarming drama about love life and the perfect game.
Please wait. Loading...
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy