The Thomas Crown Affair
by John McTiernan
from MGM (Video & DVD)
For the Hollywood remake rule, which dictates that an update of an older film be inferior to the original in almost every aspect, The Thomas Crown Affair stands as a glorious exception. The original 1968 film, starring a dapper Steve McQueen and a radiant Faye Dunaway, was a diverting pop confection of mod clothes and nifty break-ins, but not much more. John McTiernan's new version, though, cranks up the entertainment factor to mach speed, turning what was a languid flick into a high-adrenaline caper romance. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is now a man of industry who likes to indulge in a little high-priced art theft on the side; Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is the insurance investigator determined to get on his tail in more ways than one. If you're thinking cat-and-mouse game, think again--it's more like cat vs. smarter cat, as both the thief and the investigator try to outwit each other and nothing is off-limits, especially after they start a highly charged love affair that's a heated mix of business and pleasure.
What makes this Thomas Crown more enjoyable than its predecesor is McTiernan's attention to detail in both the set action pieces (no surprise from the man who helmed Die Hard with precision accuracy) and the developing romance, the witty and intelligent script by Leslie Dixon (she wrote the love scenes) and Kurt Wimmer (he wrote the action scenes), and, most of all, its two stunning leads (both over 40 to boot), combustible both in and out of bed. Brosnan, usually held prisoner in the James Bond straitjacket, lets loose with both a relaxed sensuality and a comic spirit he's rarely expressed before. The film, however, pretty much belongs to Russo, who doesn't just steal the spotlight, but bends it to her will. Beautiful, stylish, smart, self-possessed, incredibly sexy, she's practically a walking icon; it's no wonder Crown falls for her hook, line, and sinker. With Denis Leary as a police detective smitten with Russo, and Faye Dunaway in a throwaway but wholly enjoyable cameo as Brosnan's therapist. --Mark Englehart
Thrill-seeking billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) loves nothing more than courting disaster - and winning! So when his world becomes too stiflingly "safe" he pulls off his boldest stunt ever: stealing a priceless painting - in broad daylight - from one of Manhattan s most heavily guarded museums. But his post-heist excitement soon pales beside and even greater challenge: Catherine Banning (Rene Russo). A beautiful insurance investigator hired to retrieve the artwork Catherine s every bit as intelligent cunning and hungry for adventure as he is. And just when Thomas realizes he s finally met his match she skillfully leads him into a daring game of cat and mouse that s more intoxicating - and dangerous - than anything either of them has ever experienced before!System Requirements:Starring: Pierce Brosnan Rene Russo and Denis Leary. Directed By: John McTiernan Running Time: 1 hrs. 53 mins. This film is presented in both "Widescreen" and "Standard" format. Copyright 1999 Warner Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 027616745224
James Bond Ultimate Collector's Set
from MGM / UA
This Ultimate Collector's Set includes all 21 James Bond films, from Dr. No to Casino Royale and another 21 discs full of bonus features. This is the ultimate collection for any 007 fan.
Stills from the James Bond Legacy
![]() Dr. No | ![]() From Russia with Love | ![]() Goldfinger |
![]() Thunderball | ![]() You Only Live Twice | ![]() On Her Majesty's Secret Service |
![]() Diamonds are Forever | ![]() Live and Let Die | ![]() The Man with the Golden Gun |
![]() The Spy Who Loved Me | ![]() Moonraker | ![]() For Your Eyes Only |
![]() Octopussy | ![]() A View to a Kill | ![]() The Living Daylights |
![]() Licence to Kill | ![]() GoldenEye | ![]() Tomorrow Never Dies |
![]() The World is Not Enough | ![]() Die Another Day | ![]() Casino Royale |
For the first time ever all 21 of James Bond's riveting adventures are together in one riveting collection! From his premiere in 1964's Dr. No all the way through to the latest thrilling installment Casino Royale Bond never fails to deliver the white-knuckle heart-in-your-throat action suspense and intrigue that have made him the most enduring... and most appealing... spy the world has ever known. Now you can experience Bond's missions -- meticulously restored and presented with their best-ever audio... in a collection that's truly the ultimate 007 gadget ever invented!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/HEROES Rating: NR UPC: 027616093486 Manufacturer No: M109348
Dante's Peak
by Roger Donaldson
from Universal Studios
The first of 1997's volcano disaster movies (the second being Volcano) was arguably the better of the two, but both of them made for passable entertainment with some spectacular special effects to serve as icing on the stale cake. After all, Dante's Peak doesn't pretend to be anything more than an updated variation on a whole catalog of disaster movie clichés. Despite all that, it's reasonably enjoyable. It's an added bonus that the script is just smart enough to allow Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton to play their roles with straight faces, never condescending to the audience of the formulaic story. He's a volcano expert from the U.S. Geological Survey, and she's the mayor of a cozy Washington State town perched beneath a volcano that's about to blow. Telltale signs are everywhere, so evacuation must be carried out immediately. Of course, not everybody's eager to leave, and even some of Brosnan's colleagues think his alarm is premature. This sets the stage for massive ash clouds, rivers of raging mud and molten rock, flattened forests, and death-defying escapes by Brosnan, Hamilton, and some (but not all) of her family, friends, and townsfolk. So what if it's all pretty flaky... and can a four-wheel-drive vehicle travel over fire and molten lava without bursting its tires? Don't ask too many questions, and you'll find Dante's Peak to be (if you'll pardon the pun) a total blast. The Collector's Edition DVD includes a documentary about volcanoes, Getting Close to the Show, in addition to behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive coverage of the creation of special effects, and audio commentary with director Roger Donaldson. --Jeff Shannon
Without warning day becomes night. Air turns to fire and solid ground gives way to white-hot molten terror. Brace yourself for action-packed earth shaking thrills and whatever you do do not look back. Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton star in an epic adventure from Director Roger Donaldson that will blow you away! Erupting with spectacular special effects heart-pounding suspense romance and remarkable characters.Starring: Pierce Brosnan Linda Hamilton and Charles HallahanDirector: Roger DonaldsonCopyright: 1997 Universal Pictures Produced by Gale Anne Hurd Joseph M. Sing; written by Leslie Bohem; running time of 109 minutes; Closed Captioned.System Requirements:English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish and French Languages: Dolby Surround Spanish Subtitles Dual Layer Anamorphic Widescreen 2:35:1 Audio Commentary with Director Original Documentary "Getting Close to the Show" Behind-the-Scenes footage special effects coverage plus other exciting material Dolby Surround tracks contain up to 4 channels of encoded audio/Playback from 2-channel DVD outputs is compatible with stereo an Dolby Pro Logic reproductionFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG-13 UPC: 025192014925 Manufacturer No: 61020149
GoldenEye
from MGM (Video & DVD)
The 18th James Bond adventure was a runaway box-office success when released in 1995, thanks to the arrival of Pierce Brosnan as the fifth actor (following the departure of Timothy Dalton) to play the suave, danger-loving Agent 007. This James Bond is a bit more vulnerable and psychologically complex--and just a shade more politically correct--but he's still a formally attired playboy at heart, with a lovely Russian beauty (Izabella Scorupco) as his sexy ally against a cadre of renegade Russians bent on--what else?--global domination. There's also a seductive villainous with the suggestive name of Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), and the great actress Judi Dench makes her first appearance as Bond's superior, M, who wisecracks about 007's "dinosaur" status as a globetrotting sexist. All in all, this action-packed Bond adventure provided a much-needed boost the long-running movie series, revitalizing the 007 franchise for the turn of the millennium. --Jeff Shannon
Pierce Brosnan ignites the screen in his first adventure as the unstoppable James Bond. When a powerful satellite system falls into the hands of a former ally-turned-enemy only 007 can save the world from an awesome space weapon that -- in one short pulse -- could destroy the earth!System Requirements:Running Time: 130 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: Unknown UPC: 027616066220 Manufacturer No: M106622
The World Is Not Enough
by Michael Apted
from MGM (Video & DVD)
In his 19th screen outing, Ian Fleming's superspy is once again caught in the crosshairs of a self-created dilemma: as the longest-running feature-film franchise, James Bond is an annuity his producers want to protect, yet the series' consciously formulaic approach frustrates any real element of surprise beyond the rote application of plot twists or jump cuts to shake up the audience. This time out, credit 007's caretakers for making some visible attempts to invest their principal characters with darker motives--and blame them for squandering The World Is Not Enough's initial promise by the final reel.
By now, Bond pictures are as elegantly formal as a Bach chorale, and this one opens on an unusually powerful note. A stunning pre-title sequence reaches beyond mere pyrotechnics to introduce key plot elements as the action leaps from Bilbao to London. Bond 5.0, Pierce Brosnan, undercuts his usually suave persona with a darker, more brutal edge largely absent since Sean Connery departed. Equally tantalizing are our initial glimpses of Bond's nemesis du jour, Renard (Robert Carlyle), and imminent love interest, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), both atypically complex characters cast with seemingly shrewd choices, and directed by the capable Michael Apted. The story's focus on post-Soviet geopolitics likewise starts off on a savvy note, before being overtaken by increasingly Byzantine plot twists, hidden motives, and reversals of loyalty superheated by relentless (if intermittently perfunctory) action sequences.
Indeed, the procession of perils plays like a greatest hits medley, save for a nifty sequence involving airborne buzz saws that's as enjoyable as it is preposterous. Bond's grimmer demeanor, while preferable to the smirk that eventually swallowed Roger Moore whole, proves wearying, unrelieved by any true wit. The underlying psychoses that propel Renard and Elektra eventually unravel into unconvincing melodrama, while Bond is supplied with a secondary love object, Denise Richards, who's even more improbable as a nuclear physicist. Ultimately, this World is not enough despite its better intentions. --Sam Sutherland
When British oil tycoon and M's friend Sir Robert King is killed in a bombing at the MI6 headquarters it becomes James Bond's new assignment to protect his daughter and heir Elektra from further harm. Renard a man who can't feel physical pain due to a bullet in his head seems to play an important role in the sabotage of the ongoing construction of the new King pipeline which can give oil to all the world for the future. The three competing pipelines all end up in Istanbul whereas the King pipeline is being laid elsewhere and therefore is an easy goal to anonymous attackers. James Bond involuntarily teams up with emancipated Dr. Christmas Jones and they soon find out that there is more threat to the situation than just some pipeline sabotage.System Requirements:Run Time: 129 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 027616066428 Manufacturer No: M106644
Seraphim Falls
by David Von Ancken
from Sony Pictures
A great-looking, well-acted Western in the old-school tradition, Seraphim Falls is definitely worth a look for fans of the genre. There's nothing really new here (which explains why it played only briefly in theaters), and more than a few critics noted its obvious similarities to Clint Eastwood's classic The Outlaw Josey Wales. Still, you have to admire director and cowriter David Von Ancken (a 10-year TV veteran making his feature debut) for delivering an engrossing post-Civil War revenge story (cowritten with Abby Everett Jacques) that isn't hobbled by its overly familiar plotting. Blessed by the exquisite cinematography of John Toll (whose credits include The Thin Red Line, Almost Famous and The Last Samurai) and bolstered by a lush but unobtrusive score by Harry Gregson-Williams, this prestigious production begins very well indeed, with a wintry manhunt in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada, circa 1868. Former Union captain Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is being tracked by a seemingly brutal pursuer named Carver (Liam Neeson) whose four-man posse (including veteran character actors Ed Lauter and Michael Wincott) is soon reduced to two.
As the manhunt continues, Brosnan and Neeson make the most of minimal dialogue, and flashbacks give us hints about the tragic event that set this plot in motion. It's a simple, elemental tale of justice in the wilderness, with occasional quirks like a snake-oil vendor (Anjelica Huston) who appears literally out of nowhere, and a top-hatted Indian (Wes Studi) who gives the film a slight, mystical air of mystery. And while a more daring director might have opted for a more powerful visual style, there's something to be said for Von Ancken's straightforward approach, perfectly matched by Toll's breathtaking landscapes, shot on location in Oregon and New Mexico and ranging from raging rivers to sun-baked desert flats. None of this makes Seraphim Falls a particularly exceptional movie, but with a fine cast that also includes such familiar faces as Angie Harmon, Tom Noonan, Xander Berkeley, and Kevin J. O'Connor, there's ample reward in a film that doesn't pretend to be anything more than a respectable entry in its genre. --Jeff Shannon
Liam Neeson (Batman Begins Star Wars: Episode 1 "The Phantom Menace" ) and Pierce Brosnan (Bond movies The Thomas Crown Affair) star in this epic chase and primal battle set in the breathtaking landscape of the West. The civil war has ended but Colonel Morsman Carver (Neeson) is on one final mission: to kill Gideon (Brosnan) no matter what it takes. Launched by a gunshot and propelled by rage the relentless pursuit takes them both far from the comforts and codes of civilization into the bloodiest recesses of their own souls. Also starring Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston and Angie Harmon. It's been five years since the end of the American Civil War. Somewhere deep within the snowy mountains of the American West a lone figure - Gideon (Brosnan) sits in front of a fire lost in thought. Abruptly he is pulled out of his reverie by the echo of a Henry rifle and a bullet puffing into the snow inches from his head. Instantly Gideon calculates his one chance of survival. To leave everything he owns and run for the cover. And so begins the thrilling account of Colonel Morsman Carver's (Neeson) terrible revenge - to hunt down and kill Gideon no matter what it takes. There will be many men dead before these two meet face to face and only then will Carver fully comprehend the full cost of his undertaking. Launched by a gunshot and propelled by rage the relentless pursuit will take them both far from the comforts and codes of civilization and into the unforgiving wilderness.Run Time: 112 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 043396171596 Manufacturer No: 17159
Tomorrow Never Dies
from MGM (Video & DVD)
Pierce Brosnan leaps into action as Agent 007 in this spectacular thrill ride of death-defying stunts and amazing high-tech gadgets. In the most electrifying Bond film yet the unstoppable action hero must prevent a tremendous disaster ripped from tomorrow s headlines. Someone is pitting the world s superpowers against each other and only James Bond can stop it. When a British warship is mysteriously destroyed in Chinese waters the world teeters on the brink of WWIII until 007 zeros in on the true criminal mastermind. Bond s do-or-die mission takes him to Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) a powerful industrialist who manipulates world events as easily as he changes headlines from his global media empire. After soliciting help from Carver s sexy wife Paris (Teri Hatcher) Bond joins forces with a stunning yet lethal Chinese agent Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) in a series of explosive chases brutal confrontations and breathtaking escapes as they race to stop the presses on Carver s next planned news story: global pandemonium! With powerhouse action sequences including a wild motorcycle pursuit through (and over!) Saigon Tomorrow Never Dies is a thrilling action-adventure that roars from start to finish with the throttle wide open (Gene Shalit NBC-TV)!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 027616066794 Manufacturer No: M106681
Dante's Peak [HD DVD]
by Roger Donaldson
from Universal Studios
The first of 1997's volcano disaster movies (the second being Volcano) was arguably the better of the two, but both of them made for passable entertainment with some spectacular special effects to serve as icing on the stale cake. After all, Dante's Peak doesn't pretend to be anything more than an updated variation on a whole catalog of disaster movie clichés. Despite all that, it's reasonably enjoyable. It's an added bonus that the script is just smart enough to allow Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton to play their roles with straight faces, never condescending to the audience of the formulaic story. He's a volcano expert from the U.S. Geological Survey, and she's the mayor of a cozy Washington State town perched beneath a volcano that's about to blow. Telltale signs are everywhere, so evacuation must be carried out immediately. Of course, not everybody's eager to leave, and even some of Brosnan's colleagues think his alarm is premature. This sets the stage for massive ash clouds, rivers of raging mud and molten rock, flattened forests, and death-defying escapes by Brosnan, Hamilton, and some (but not all) of her family, friends, and townsfolk. So what if it's all pretty flaky... and can a four-wheel-drive vehicle travel over fire and molten lava without bursting its tires? Don't ask too many questions, and you'll find Dante's Peak to be (if you'll pardon the pun) a total blast. --Jeff Shannon
A volcanologist forlorn over the loss of his wife in the Mt. Pinatubo eruption arrives at a small Pacific Northwest town to investigate the rumblings of the local dormant volcano. Though he instantly fears the worse he must convince the skeptical townspeople and his suspicious superiors who believe he is overreacting in the aftermath of his own tragedy. The beautiful widowed mayor of the picturesque town believes him however and soon they find themselves in a fight for their lives as "Dante's Peak" blows its stack ten miles high raining ash and fire over everything in its shadow. The Signature Collection Special Edition laserdisc includes added commentary by the director and production designer a behind-the-scenes documentary and an isolated score.System Requirements:Running Time: 109 Mins.Format: DVD HD Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG-13 UPC: 025193290229 Manufacturer No: 61032902
After the Sunset (Widescreen New Line Platinum Series)
by Brett Ratner
from New Line Home Video
After the Sunset may not be the greatest jewel-heist caper comedy ever made, but it sure is easy on the eyes. Shifting back into his crowd-pleasing Rush Hour mode, director Brett Ratner kicks off the action with a rousing chase scene that pretty much describes the entire film: utter nonsense, but adequately enjoyable. Things get very sunny thereafter, when FBI agent Woody Harrelson lands in the Bahamas to track down ace diamond thief Pierce Brosnan and his lovely accomplice Salma Hayek, whom he suspects of planning their next big heist on a cruise ship. A Bahamian gangster (Don Cheadle) wants in on the action, and the whole thing's about as fluffy as an Elmo doll and just as harmless, especially when you consider Hayek's revealing wardrobe (which, thankfully, distracts from Brosnan's less-than-Bond-like physique). There's an abundance of witty banter between everyone, and the tropical locations make After the Sunset a balmy, vicarious vacation. Critics weren't exactly kind to this breezy dose of popcorn entertainment, but it's an agreeable time-killer and an instant cure for seasonal affective disorder, even if the comedic chemistry leaves something to be desired. --Jeff Shannon
After a very successful thief moves to the Bahamas with his beautiful partner, an FBI agent follows them, convinced that the pair is about to steal the Napoleon diamond.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 17-JAN-2006
Media Type: DVD
The Long Good Friday
by John Mackenzie
from Starz / Anchor Bay
Academy Award® nominee Bob Hoskins delivers a ferocious performance as mobster Harold Shand the all-powerful boss of the London underworld. But on the day he is about to close the ultimate deal with an American crime family Shand s empire suddenly and literally begins to explode around him. Who would dare attack Britain s most ruthless gangster? How far will he go to find the truth? And what is the deadly secret behind the havoc of THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY? Oscar® nominee Helen Mirren (GOSFORD PARK CALIGULA) tough guy icon Eddie Constantine (ALPHAVILLE) and Pierce Brosnan (in one of his first film roles) co-star in this now-classic crime drama that critics compare to THE GODFATHER and SCARFACE as one of the greatest gangster films of all time. System Requirements:Running Time 109 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 013131234299 Manufacturer No: DV12342
Intricately plotted and smartly paced, this gangster saga clicks as whodunit, social satire, and explosive thriller. The piece is crowned by Bob Hoskins's career-making turn as a London mobster courting respectability and Helen Mirren's subtly detailed performance as his upper-crust mistress. Cockney wiseguy Harold Shand is a would-be burgher whose domination of the city's underworld stems from his shrewdness as a mediator and his skill at harnessing political and economic clout. As Easter approaches, he's poised to launch an aggressive real estate development scheme along the depressed Thames waterfront when all hell breaks loose: a trusted lieutenant is brutally murdered, Shand's mother is nearly killed in a car bombing, one of his pubs is blown apart, and the visiting American don crucial to the pending deal is quickly growing wary.
Barrie Keeffe's original screenplay keeps the viewer a step ahead of Shand, providing us with a telling but teasingly incomplete glimpse of the misstep by his underlings that has set chaos loose. At the same time, Keeffe underlines the bourgeois pretensions of the rough-hewn, barrel-chested Shand, how the elegant Victoria (Mirren) helps serve those ambitions, and the myriad parallels between Shand's minions and the local politicians and police only too willing to join in his scheme. Tart, funny dialogue and alternately playful and pungent Eastertide imagery complete Keeffe's shrewd design--two key scenes, in a meat locker and a warehouse, invoke the Crucifixion itself.
Even with lesser performances, the script and John Mackenzie's solid direction would make The Long Good Friday a keeper, but Hoskins's explosive portrait of Shand and his descent toward brutal revenge elevates the film into the very front rank, earning admiring comparisons to The Godfather, Scarface, GoodFellas, and other classics of that genre. On DVD, Criterion's new digital transfer restores more than just the widescreen aspect ratio--the film has never looked better, even if an occasionally muddy sound mix survives to make the thick Cockney accents a challenge to decipher. --Sam Sutherland
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