Search

Release: December 7, 2010

$6.99

Description

Seven friends, recent college graduates, are searching for a place in the real world, as they face issues of career and commitment. Leslie and Alec (Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson) try to save a crumbling romance. Wendy (Mare Winningham), a shy virgin, hides a love for Billy (Rob Lowe), a reluctant father/husband still searching for goals. Kevin (Andrew McCarthy) is a cynical writer who scorns love until he realizes he's in love with his best friend's girl. Kirbo (Emilio Estevez), a law student, obsessively pursues an older woman. The beautiful, neurotic Jules (Demi Moore) paints a poignant picture of life in the fast lane. Against the backdrop of St. Elmo's, their local hang-out, they save, betray and love one another as only the closest of friends can.

Release: June 24, 2025

$7.99

Description

Seven friends, recent college graduates, are searching for a place in the real world, as they face issues of career and commitment. Leslie and Alec (Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson) try to save a crumbling romance. Wendy (Mare Winningham), a shy virgin, hides a love for Billy (Rob Lowe), a reluctant father/husband still searching for goals. Kevin (Andrew McCarthy) is a cynical writer who scorns love until he realizes he's in love with his best friend's girl. Kirbo (Emilio Estevez), a law student, obsessively pursues an older woman. The beautiful, neurotic Jules (Demi Moore) paints a poignant picture of life in the fast lane. Against the backdrop of St. Elmo's, their local hang-out, they save, betray and love one another as only the closest of friends can.

Release: November 19, 2024

$6.99

Description

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the most fierce and relentless killing machine ever to threaten the survival of mankind! An indestructible cyborg - a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) - is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose unborn son will become humanity's only hope. This legendary sci-fi thriller from pioneering writer/director James Cameron, written with Gale Anne Hurd, fires an arsenal of action and heart-stopping suspense that never lets up!

Release: November 9, 2010

$6.99

Description

A New York street dancer joins forces with a determined crew to compete in a high-stakes world dance showdown.

$14.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

The flagship fighting game returns with new mechanics, online competition, and a story mode built around Capcom’s iconic warriors.

Release: June 28, 2011

$6.99

Description

Born from the creative vision of filmmaker Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300), this epic action fantasy launches from the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Locked away against her will, Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four fellow captives – outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung) and reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) – to band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorki (Carla Gugino) and the High Roller (Jon Hamm).

Release: December 3, 2024

$6.99

Description

Following the enormous international success of Dr No and From Russia with Love, Bondmania swept the globe and initiated a cycle of Bondsploitation movies. Studios all over the world sought to capitalise on James Bond and the concept of the super-spy - including Hong Kong's venerable Shaw Brothers, who began producing tales of intrigue, espionage, and grand theft in the mid-1960s. Eureka Classics presents three of their best in this special-edition set: The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief. In The Golden Buddha, businessman Paul (Paul Chang Chung, Police Story) finds himself in the crosshairs of the Skeleton Gang after he picks up the wrong briefcase on a flight to Singapore - one containing a small golden Buddha that might just play a part in a vast criminal conspiracy. In Angel with the Iron Fists, a mysterious woman (Lily Ho, Lady with a Sword) arrives in Hong Kong carrying a cache of stolen diamonds and quickly becomes embroiled with the infamous Devil Girl's Gang. Finally, in The Singing Thief, a master cat burglar (Jimmy Lin Chong, Tropicana Interlude) makes the decision to go straight and pursue a new career as a singer - that is, at least, until he becomes a suspect in a series of jewel heists. Directed by studio regulars Lo Wei (The Big Boss) and Chang Cheh (The One-Armed Swordsman), The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief filter a craze for films centred on super-spies and master criminals through the inimitable style of the Shaw Brothers Studio. All three films are presented on Blu-ray for the first time from HD masters supplied by Celestial Pictures. SPECIAL FEATURES: 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from masters supplied by Celestial Pictures Original mono audio tracks Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release New audio commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema International Super Spies – A new interview with James Bond expert Llewella Chapman on global Bondmania in the 1960s A new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong, editor of Martial Arts Studies Reversible sleeve featuring individual sleeve artwork for each film Original trailers Limited edition of 2000 copies only Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling PLUS: A limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on all three films by Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme: Transnational Adaptations in World Cinema Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Super Spies And Secret Lies (2-Disc Limited Edition)

Release: December 3, 2024

$6.99

Description

Following the enormous international success of Dr No and From Russia with Love, Bondmania swept the globe and initiated a cycle of Bondsploitation movies. Studios all over the world sought to capitalise on James Bond and the concept of the super-spy - including Hong Kong's venerable Shaw Brothers, who began producing tales of intrigue, espionage, and grand theft in the mid-1960s. Eureka Classics presents three of their best in this special-edition set: The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief. In The Golden Buddha, businessman Paul (Paul Chang Chung, Police Story) finds himself in the crosshairs of the Skeleton Gang after he picks up the wrong briefcase on a flight to Singapore - one containing a small golden Buddha that might just play a part in a vast criminal conspiracy. In Angel with the Iron Fists, a mysterious woman (Lily Ho, Lady with a Sword) arrives in Hong Kong carrying a cache of stolen diamonds and quickly becomes embroiled with the infamous Devil Girl's Gang. Finally, in The Singing Thief, a master cat burglar (Jimmy Lin Chong, Tropicana Interlude) makes the decision to go straight and pursue a new career as a singer - that is, at least, until he becomes a suspect in a series of jewel heists. Directed by studio regulars Lo Wei (The Big Boss) and Chang Cheh (The One-Armed Swordsman), The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief filter a craze for films centred on super-spies and master criminals through the inimitable style of the Shaw Brothers Studio. All three films are presented on Blu-ray for the first time from HD masters supplied by Celestial Pictures. SPECIAL FEATURES: 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from masters supplied by Celestial Pictures Original mono audio tracks Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release New audio commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema International Super Spies – A new interview with James Bond expert Llewella Chapman on global Bondmania in the 1960s A new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong, editor of Martial Arts Studies Reversible sleeve featuring individual sleeve artwork for each film Original trailers Limited edition of 2000 copies only Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling PLUS: A limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on all three films by Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme: Transnational Adaptations in World Cinema Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Super Spies And Secret Lies (2-Disc Limited Edition)

Release: January 11, 2022

$6.99

Description

Life in the corporate world can be murder. At Mrs. Appleby's, some people would kill to get ahead. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior exec at Mrs. Appleby's cookie company, is afraid his future prospects are crumbling faster that the product he markets. Hope appears in the curvaceous form of Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle), his new temp. Gorgeous, bright and efficient, Kris helps Peter develop a deliciously successful marketing campaign. But after two executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently due to the one person he needs to trust-his temp. Bonus Content: Head Office – An Interview with Director Tom Holland Office Gossip – An Interview with Actress Lin Shaye Temp Effects – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson Office Politics – An Interview with Editor Scott Conrad Theatrical Trailer

Release: December 8, 2020

$7.99

Description

Throughout the 1980s, Shohei Imamura (The Pornographers, Profound Desires of the Gods), a leading figure of the Japanese New Wave era of the 1960s, cemented his international reputation as one of the most important directors of his generation with a series of films that all competed at Cannes to great critical acclaim. This exclusive box set from Arrow Academy presents restored versions of three late career classics from the legendary filmmaker. Based on an ancient folktale, The Ballad of Narayama (1983) was the first of two works from the director to win the prestigious Cannes Palme d Or. Imamura s magnum opus depicts the members of an extended farming family eking out their existence in the mountainous north of Japan against the backdrop of the changing seasons before village lore decrees they make the sacrifice of abandoning their aged mother on the top of a nearby mountain when she reaches her seventieth year. Making its HD debut, Zegen (1987) takes a satirical look at Japan s prewar colonial expansion through the unscrupulous eyes of its flesh-peddler antihero as he establishes a prostitution enterprise across Southeast Asia. Finally, the harrowing Black Rain (1989) details the precarious existence of a household of atomic bomb survivors as, five years after being caught in the blast of Hiroshima, they struggle to find a husband for their 25-year-old niece. These three works epitomize the director s almost documentary style of filmmaking, exposing the vulgar yet vibrant and instinctive underbelly of Japanese society through a sympathetic focus on peasants, prostitutes, criminal lowlife and other marginalized figures to explore the schism between the country s timeless premodern traditions and the modern face it projects to the world. LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS Restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all three films Original lossless Japanese PCM 1.0 mono soundtracks Optional English subtitles Brand new audio commentaries on all three films by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp Brand new, in-depth appreciations of all three films by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns Alternate color ending to Black Rain, shot by Imamura but removed from the film shortly before its release Archival interviews on Black Rain with actress Yoshiko Tanaka and assistant director Takashi Miike Multiple trailers and image galleries Original Japanese press kits for The Ballad of Narayama and Black Rain (BD-ROM content) Limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Tom Mes Limited edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella

Release: May 29, 2018

$7.99

Description

Vinegar Syndrome specializes in the masterful restoration and distribution of cult, horror, and erotic films from the 1960s-90s. One of the most iconic, notorious, and influential American films of the 1970s, Melvin Van Peebles' SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG stars Van Peebles as Sweetback, a black orphan raised in a brothel and groomed into becoming a sex show performer. Set up by his boss and two corrupt white policemen for a murder he didn't commit, Sweetback escapes custody only to find himself thrust into an increasingly hallucinogenic world of violence and bigotry where no one can be trusted and the possibility of death lurks at every corner... Considered to be among the most significant features ever directed by a black filmmaker and included in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art, SWEET SWEETBACK is a brutal and shocking story of survival and is credited as the first 'blaxploitation' film ever made. Featuring a rousing score from a nascent Earth, Wind, & Fire as well as surrealist tinged visuals from cinematographer Robert Maxwell, Van Peebles creates an unforgettable and immersive study of perseverance in the face of racism. Vinegar Syndrome proudly brings this landmark film to Blu-ray, newly restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative. Bonus Features: 1. Newly scanned and restored in 4k from its 35mm original negative 2. Archival 'making of' featurette 3. New interview with actress Niva Ruschell 4. Original Theatrical Trailer 5. Reversible cover artwork 6. Additional extras TBD 7. English SDH subtitles

Release: June 18, 2019

$6.99

Description

Product Description In this swinging musical drama set during the Korean War, the soldiers at a POW camp plan a tap show to distract both themselves and the prisoners from the hardships of war. Led by a former Broadway dancer and a rebellious North Korean soldier, the band of prisoners find a new sense of freedom in dancing. Review "one of the most rhythmic stories ever put to film." --ScreenAnarchy It s those big musical sequences that ll have audiences skipping out of the theater. --LA Times Swing Kids is such a dizzying, anachronistic mash-up of genres and cultures --Houston Chronicle See more

Release: December 19, 2023

$6.99

Description

Another 12 classic martial arts films highlight this explosive box set comprised from the famous Shaw Brothers' library and featuring some of their greatest stars including The Five Deadly Venom's stars Phillip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, and Lo Meng and A Better Tomorrow's Derek Yee and Ti Lung. Many of these visually spectacular films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray. Heroes meet villains in edge-of-your-seat duels in this exciting array of some of Shaw Brothers' best! The Rebel Intruders: The "Venoms" are back in action again! After creating an international sensation in The Five Venoms, Taiwanese Opera artists Phillip Kwok, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng reteamed with Chinese muscleman Lo Meng and super-kicker Sun Chien for this politically charged thriller. Set in the early Republican years, The Rebel Intruders follows skilled refugees who run afoul of a powerful traitor. From then on, it's one amazing battle after another! Two Champions Of Shaolin: Legendary director Chang Cheh hit upon a winning formula by teaming three Taiwanese stars with a Korean kicker and a Chinese strongman in a super heroic series of kung fu-filled adventures—starting with the international cult favorite, The Five Venoms. This particular action-packed tale of Shaolin vs. Wu Tang fighters is special in that the fifth "Venom" worked behind the scenes while the other four strut their stuff all the more intently because of it. Legend Of The Fox: Revered director Chang Cheh co-wrote this showcase for a new discovery. Bloody thrills and superlative fight scenes buoy his exciting tale of revenge, which was choreographed by and features cameos from the director's three most popular "Venoms": Kuo Chue, Chiang Sheng, and Lu Feng. Already famous for starring in more than a dozen films, here they lend their extensive expertise to Chien Hsiao-hou, who went on to star in such classics as Mr. Vampire and Fist Of Legend. Black Lizard: Director Chor Yuen is famous for introducing elements of murder mysteries, detective tales, and emotional melodrama into kung fu films. This is one of those skilled thrillers, wherein he uses two editors and three martial arts choreographers to tell a tale of kidnapping, murder, frame-ups, and even being buried alive. The kung fu takes on a macabre, horrific flair in this stunning story of swordsmen and women struggling to save their true loves…and their sanity. House Of Traps: It started with The Five Venoms, the internationally loved kung fu thriller. It continues through more than a dozen bloody good films featuring the same actors in different roles. House Of Traps is considered the last official "Venoms" movie, but what a film it is. There's one plasma-spurting attack after another as heroes and rogues alike try to solve the secrets of a hell house. The core Venoms themselves choreograph the gory fun in this fond farewell to their worldwide film series sensation. Masked Avengers: The godfather of the kung fu film, Chang Cheh, started a winning streak by making the internationally renowned film, The Five Venoms. He followed that hit with many more high-flying films featuring the same cast in new roles. But of all the Venoms movies, this one stands out as perhaps the most chilling. Masked killers are wreaking havoc and instilling terror with their vicious weapons of choice: razor-sharp, gut-shattering tridents. Only three fearless fighters dare investigate, leading to mass murder and magnificent martial arts. The Sword Stained With Royal Blood: The godfather of the kung fu film, Chang Cheh, made this treasured and iconic adventure, featuring three of his five famous Venoms film actors. The spectacular action and intrigue starts when Phillip Kwok uncovers a sword, a training manual, a treasure map, and a secret message. The kung fu which ensues is as impressive as it is glorious. Five Element Ninjas: To showcase his incredibly agile new star, Cheng Tien-chi, venerated martial arts movie director Chang Cheh made this spectacular, internationally popular favorite. Evil ninjas (who attack with and from fire, sun, wood, water, and the ground) brutally slaughter a noble Chinese kung fu school's students. The one survivor finds a teacher and four students who are ninjutsu experts. The five graduates take revenge. With this strong structure and exceptional kung fu choreography (from the star and co-star Chu Ko), Chang Cheh created one of his very best films. Shaolin Prince: Tong Kai is one of the most respected names in martial arts movies, but may be less familiar because the veteran kung fu choreographer directed only three movies of his own. Of course, that makes Shaolin Prince, his first effort, perhaps the most special of the trio. His tale of two fugitive princes trying to recover the throne is a mind-bending wonder which used no less than five other choreographer friends to create kung fu configurations not only never seen before, but never even attempted! Shaolin Intruders: Helmed by acclaimed martial arts choreographer Tong Kai, Shaolin Intruders is an entertaining amalgamation of eye-popping martial arts and thrilling detective story. On a routine courier mission, the prestigious Chin Hu Chief is murdered by four mysterious monks. When all evidence points to Ching Hua (Liu Yu-po), his friend Lei Hsin (Derek Yee) is determined to clear his name by barging in the Shaolin Temple thrice and entering into an intricate web of deception! The film is filled with jaw-dropping sequences including the "Twelve Vajrayana Array" and "Stool Array" which are lauded for their insane complexity and lightning speed. Holy Flame Of The Martial World: This internationally popular tale of a brother and sister seeking vengeance for the death of their parents through the mythical yin/yang Holy Flame technique is an eye-popping epic. Phillip Kwok, famous as the star of Chang Cheh's internationally famous Venoms film series, both co-stars and choreographs this impressive tale—leading to a vaunted "action director" career with the cult classic Brotherhood Of The Wolf to his credit. Opium And The Kung-Fu Master: Tong Kai is considered one of the greatest kung fu choreographers ever, but he directed only three movies of his own. This, his last, is not only his greatest but one of the greatest ever, as it masterfully portrays the leader of the Ten Kwangtung Tigers as he falls victim to drug addiction. The tragedies and drama that ensue are as stunning as the kung fu, which was created by a superlative team of six martial artists. A legitimate masterpiece, this film is one of the finest, most affecting martial arts movies the Shaw Brothers ever produced. Bonus Content: Disc 1 - The Rebel Intruders: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Original Theatrical Trailer Disc 2 - Two Champions of Shaolin: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 3 - Legend of the Fox: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 4 - Black Lizard (1981): Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Veteran Hong Kong Film Critic at EasternKicks Original Theatrical Trailer Disc 5 - House of Traps: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with David West, Critic and Author of Chasing Dragons: An Introduction to the Martial Arts Film A Confined Conversation: An Interview with Veteran Shaw Actor Chu Ke A New Generation of Gore: An Interview with Academic Leon Hunt, Author of Kung Fu Cult Masters Celestial Trailer Disc 6 - Masked Avengers: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with Film Critic Ian Jane Avenging Force: An Interview with Veteran Shaw Actor Chu Ke Celestial Trailer Disc 7 - The Sword Stained with Royal Blood: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation Royal Attraction: An Interview with Veteran Shaw Actor Chu Ke Bloodstained Insight: An Interview with Actor Lung Tien-Hsiang Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 8 - Five Elements Ninjas: Audio: Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Veteran Hong Kong Film Critic at EasternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston In His Element: An Interview with Veteran Actor Chu Ke Enter The Ninjas: An Interview with David West, Critic and Author of Chasing Dragons: An Introduction to the Martial Arts Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 9 - Shaolin Prince: Cantonese Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston The Shaw Years: An Interview with Actor/Director Derek Yee (Part 2) by Frédéric Ambroisine Celestial Trailer Disc 10 - Shaolin Intruders: Cantonese Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Veteran Hong Kong Film Critic at EasternKicks Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 11 - Holy Flame of the Martial World: Cantonese Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Veteran Hong Kong Film Critic at EasternKicks Fire and Slice: An Interview with Veteran Shaw Actor Chu Ke Original Theatrical Trailer Celestial Trailer Disc 12 - Opium and the Kung-Fu Master: Cantonese Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with New Subtitle Translation, English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH Subtitles Audio Commentary with Film Critic Ian Jane The Addiction of Empire: An Interview with Asian History Academic, Prof. Lars Laamann Celestial Trailer Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume Four [Blu-ray]

$6.99

Description

A drifter protecting a holy relic makes a desperate stand against demonic forces in a remote boarding house.

$7.99

Description

A gifted gambler dives into a dangerous world of underground card hustlers, deception, and revenge.

Release: January 11, 2022

$6.99

Description

Life in the corporate world can be murder. At Mrs. Appleby's, some people would kill to get ahead. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior exec at Mrs. Appleby's cookie company, is afraid his future prospects are crumbling faster that the product he markets. Hope appears in the curvaceous form of Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle), his new temp. Gorgeous, bright and efficient, Kris helps Peter develop a deliciously successful marketing campaign. But after two executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently due to the one person he needs to trust-his temp. Bonus Content: Head Office – An Interview with Director Tom Holland Office Gossip – An Interview with Actress Lin Shaye Temp Effects – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson Office Politics – An Interview with Editor Scott Conrad Theatrical Trailer

Release: January 23, 2018

$6.99

Description

Thank You for Your Service [Blu-ray]

Release: February 25, 2025

$6.99

Description

*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!* In Depression Era Mississippi of the 1930s, three men – Bowie (Keith Carradine, The Long Riders), Chicamaw (John Schuck, McCabe & Mrs. Miller) and T-Dub (Burt Remsen, California Split) – break out of prison before embarking on a bank robbery spree across the southern United States. Along the way, Bowie falls in love with Keechie (Shelley Duvall, Popeye) and plans for a future life without violence, if it doesn’t do him in first. Based on the novel of the same name by Edward Anderson, and adapted for the screen by Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville), Calder Willingham (Rambling Rose) and Robert Altman (who also directed), THIEVES LIKE US is a bullet-riddled romance that’s as concerned with the myth building of the American south as it is the very real relationships between its characters. An often overlooked entry into Altman’s illustrious career, releasing just a year prior to his magnum opus Nashville (1975), THIEVES LIKE US features a rousing ensemble cast that also includes Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) and Tom Skerrit (Alien) as well as striking, sun lit, cinematography from noted French director of photograph Jean Boffety (Je T’Aime, Je T’Aime) and would-be iconic costumes by the multi-talented Polly Platt (Paper Moon). Cinématographe is proud to present one of Robert Altman’s very best films in its world 4K UHD debut! Bonus Features: 1. 2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray 2. New audio commentary with film historian Nathaniel Thompson 3. New interview with screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury 4. Archival commentary with director Robert Altman 5. Archival interview with actor Keith Carradine 6. Theatrical trailer 7. English SDH subtitles

Release: February 25, 2025

$7.99

Description

*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!* In Depression Era Mississippi of the 1930s, three men – Bowie (Keith Carradine, The Long Riders), Chicamaw (John Schuck, McCabe & Mrs. Miller) and T-Dub (Burt Remsen, California Split) – break out of prison before embarking on a bank robbery spree across the southern United States. Along the way, Bowie falls in love with Keechie (Shelley Duvall, Popeye) and plans for a future life without violence, if it doesn’t do him in first. Based on the novel of the same name by Edward Anderson, and adapted for the screen by Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville), Calder Willingham (Rambling Rose) and Robert Altman (who also directed), THIEVES LIKE US is a bullet-riddled romance that’s as concerned with the myth building of the American south as it is the very real relationships between its characters. An often overlooked entry into Altman’s illustrious career, releasing just a year prior to his magnum opus Nashville (1975), THIEVES LIKE US features a rousing ensemble cast that also includes Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) and Tom Skerrit (Alien) as well as striking, sun lit, cinematography from noted French director of photograph Jean Boffety (Je T’Aime, Je T’Aime) and would-be iconic costumes by the multi-talented Polly Platt (Paper Moon). Cinématographe is proud to present one of Robert Altman’s very best films in its world 4K UHD debut! Bonus Features: 1. 2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray 2. New audio commentary with film historian Nathaniel Thompson 3. New interview with screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury 4. Archival commentary with director Robert Altman 5. Archival interview with actor Keith Carradine 6. Theatrical trailer 7. English SDH subtitles

Release: June 30, 2026

$7.99

Description

In this true story of courage and ingenuity featuring an all-star cast, American pilots under Doolittle's (Spencer Tracy) command make the seemingly impossible one-way flight by launching fully loaded bombers for the first time ever from the deck of an aircraft carrier and landing in China. The cost in pilots and aircraft for the Americans may be staggering, but the raid forever shatters the Japanese people's belief that the vast Pacific Ocean protects them from American counterattack.

Release: August 18, 2026

$7.99

Description

An ex-priest working for NASA is sent to investigate a remote observatory that went silent after receiving a radio signal from deep space. He discovers that signal has set in motion the biblical end of times.

Release: January 11, 2022

$6.99

Description

Life in the corporate world can be murder. At Mrs. Appleby's, some people would kill to get ahead. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior exec at Mrs. Appleby's cookie company, is afraid his future prospects are crumbling faster that the product he markets. Hope appears in the curvaceous form of Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle), his new temp. Gorgeous, bright and efficient, Kris helps Peter develop a deliciously successful marketing campaign. But after two executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently due to the one person he needs to trust-his temp. Bonus Content: Head Office – An Interview with Director Tom Holland Office Gossip – An Interview with Actress Lin Shaye Temp Effects – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson Office Politics – An Interview with Editor Scott Conrad Theatrical Trailer

Release: August 15, 2014

$6.99

Description

1971. A nation stands divided over the escalating war in Vietnam. At Fort Polk, Louisiana, the specter of combat hangs over the men of A-Company, Second Platoon, as they enter the final stage of infantry training. They will be sent to the war. But each man deals with this prospect in his own way. One man's defiance, however, galvanizes every member of the platoon. Soon after Roland Bozz (newcomer Colin Farrell) joins A-Company, the lines of opinion that divide the conscience of the nation begin to penetrate the ranks of the soldiers. Just released from the base stockade, Bozz wants out of the army, and he stages small acts of protest. Bozz' disobedience triggers unexpected and far-reaching consequences. We begin to see that Bozz, Paxton, Miter, Cantwell, Wilson, Johnson and the others are children, handed rifles and forced into adult uniforms. But nothing Bozz does can save himself or the boys in Second Platoon from Tigerland, a wilderness designated by the army for jungle combat simulation. Their last stop before the war. Deep in the backwoods of Louisiana, with little hope of escaping Vietnam, Bozz rushes towards an action that no one--not even he--could have anticipated.

Release: January 17, 2023

$6.99

Description

Chicago, 1955: Mamie Till (Danielle Deadwyler) saw her 14-year-old son Emmett (Jalyn Hill) off to spend the summer with family in Mississippi. She'd never see him alive again, as two locals beat and shot him for allegedly whistling at a white woman. After the assailants' swift acquittal, she'd channel her sorrow into a lifetime's activism and ensuring her son's story would be known to the world. Sobering portrait also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, Jamie Renell. 130 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.

Release: February 6, 2024

$7.99

Description

Mind control. Advances of modern science have removed it from the realm of the mystical into the all-too-probable. What happens when science loses control is the subject of The Terminal Man, based on a novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain) and written for the screen and directed by Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Croupier). Computer scientist Harry Benson (George Segal) has experimental brain surgery to end his potentially dangerous seizures. Electrodes are attached to 40 terminals of his brain to counteract his violent impulses. But there's no escaping his own mind. The experiment has back-fired, and the seizures return…with a terminal vengeance. Hooking into this visionary tale will unnerve you. But the truth behind its hallucinatory horrors will fascinate and stimulate you.

Release: May 20, 2014

$6.99

Description

Teens break down near a desert madman's wax museum, full of lifelike dummies.

Release: February 5, 2019

$6.99

Description

Elite driver Frank Martin lives by a strict code while transporting mysterious packages, but one assignment forces him into a violent fight against human traffickers and the criminals behind them.

Release: January 11, 2022

$6.99

Description

Life in the corporate world can be murder. At Mrs. Appleby's, some people would kill to get ahead. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior exec at Mrs. Appleby's cookie company, is afraid his future prospects are crumbling faster that the product he markets. Hope appears in the curvaceous form of Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle), his new temp. Gorgeous, bright and efficient, Kris helps Peter develop a deliciously successful marketing campaign. But after two executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently due to the one person he needs to trust-his temp. Bonus Content: Head Office – An Interview with Director Tom Holland Office Gossip – An Interview with Actress Lin Shaye Temp Effects – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson Office Politics – An Interview with Editor Scott Conrad Theatrical Trailer

Release: December 28, 2010

$6.99

Description

A privileged Manhattan teen drug dealer sees his world spiral out of control after a friend is murdered and his cousin is arrested for the crime.

Release: January 14, 2025

$6.99

Description

This exciting box set, the next volume in Shout's popular Shaw Brothers Classics line, comprises 11 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers library featuring some of their greatest stars and assassins. Get ready for some exciting thrills and chills as heroes meet villains in a duel to the death. Bonus Content: Disc 1 - The Silent Swordsman: Silence is Golden: An Appreciation by Hong King Film Critic Andrew Heskins Audio Commentary with Cult Film Critic Ian Jane Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 2 - Rape of the Sword: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Image Gallery Disc 3 - The Fastest Sword: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 4 - Twin Blades of Doom: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Celestial Trailer Disc 5 - Twelve Deadly Coins: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 6 - Vengeance Is a Golden Blade: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Celestial Trailer Disc 7 - A Taste of Cold Steel: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 8 - The Iron Buddha: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 9 - The Jade Faced Assassin: Facing the Fury: Chinese History Academic Doctor Lars Laamann on the Period Provocations of The Jade Faced Assassin Audio Commentary with Cult Film Expert Ian Jane Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 10 - Mission Impossible (1970): Impossibly Awesome: An Extensive Interview with Mission Impossible Director Joseph Kuo, In His First Ever On-Camera Retrospective Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 11 - Six Assassins: A Team Effort: Leon Hunt, Author of Kung Fu Masters, On Six Assassins Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Image Gallery Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume Five [Blu-ray]

Release: January 14, 2025

$6.99

Description

This exciting box set, the next volume in Shout's popular Shaw Brothers Classics line, comprises 11 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers library featuring some of their greatest stars and assassins. Get ready for some exciting thrills and chills as heroes meet villains in a duel to the death. Bonus Content: Disc 1 - The Silent Swordsman: Silence is Golden: An Appreciation by Hong King Film Critic Andrew Heskins Audio Commentary with Cult Film Critic Ian Jane Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 2 - Rape of the Sword: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Image Gallery Disc 3 - The Fastest Sword: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 4 - Twin Blades of Doom: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Celestial Trailer Disc 5 - Twelve Deadly Coins: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 6 - Vengeance Is a Golden Blade: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Celestial Trailer Disc 7 - A Taste of Cold Steel: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 8 - The Iron Buddha: Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 9 - The Jade Faced Assassin: Facing the Fury: Chinese History Academic Doctor Lars Laamann on the Period Provocations of The Jade Faced Assassin Audio Commentary with Cult Film Expert Ian Jane Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 10 - Mission Impossible (1970): Impossibly Awesome: An Extensive Interview with Mission Impossible Director Joseph Kuo, In His First Ever On-Camera Retrospective Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Disc 11 - Six Assassins: A Team Effort: Leon Hunt, Author of Kung Fu Masters, On Six Assassins Audio Commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic at easternKicks Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated for this Release Image Gallery Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume Five [Blu-ray]

Release: January 11, 2022

$6.99

Description

Life in the corporate world can be murder. At Mrs. Appleby's, some people would kill to get ahead. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior exec at Mrs. Appleby's cookie company, is afraid his future prospects are crumbling faster that the product he markets. Hope appears in the curvaceous form of Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle), his new temp. Gorgeous, bright and efficient, Kris helps Peter develop a deliciously successful marketing campaign. But after two executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently due to the one person he needs to trust-his temp. Bonus Content: Head Office – An Interview with Director Tom Holland Office Gossip – An Interview with Actress Lin Shaye Temp Effects – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson Office Politics – An Interview with Editor Scott Conrad Theatrical Trailer

Release: September 29, 2009

$6.99

Description

Product Description Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns’ long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups. Robert's letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Clara's letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski. The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired. Press Reviews "Twin Spirits portrays the life and love of Robert and Clara Schumann through readings of their surviving letters. These are read by Sting and Trudie Styler, with Derek Jacobi authoritatively filling in any gaps in the story. In one sense it's a static productions, with everyone seated throughout, but it's actually quite engrossing - perfectly paced and beautifully filmed. It's impossible not to emerge with both a true empathy for the Schumanns and a renewed or awakened interest in their music. The acting stays just the right side of luvviness, with Sting and Styler delivering strong, subtly believable performances. They're supported by beautifully executed interludes from a top line-up of soloists. This is tender, moving, well put together, and supplemented by an enlightening bonus DVD." (Classic fM) "John Caird's Twin Spirits, filmed live at the Royal Opera House, is beautifully constructed and performed with extraordinary fervour… Sting and Trudie Styler's own marriage undoubtedly informs their profoundly affecting portrayal of the Schumanns… Musical choices are mostly Schumann, a bit of Clara and some evocative Mozart and Chopin... often in special arrangements. Bonus material is generous... The issues are fascinating, though. How good is Clara's music? The jury is still out." (BBC Music Magazine) Cast Sting (Actor) Trudie Styler (Actor) Derek Jacobi (Narrator) Simon Keenlyside (Tenor) Sergej Krylov (Violin) Iain Burnside (Piano) The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Production Company: Royal Opera House Stage Director: John Caird Disc Information Catalogue Number: OABD7043D Date of Performance: 2005 Running Time: 206 minutes Sound: 2.0 & 5.0 PCM Aspect Ratio: 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES, IT + EN (SONGS ONLY) Label: Opus Arte Review A Great Love Story is Told in Words and Music The nearly legendary story of Robert and Clara Schumann was staged and filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 2007. The production, titled "Twin Spirits," is now available in a 2-DVD set from Opus Arte, and it is impressive and unusual. As Narrator, Derek Jacobi has center stage. On his right are actor Sting to read from Robert Schumann's letters, baritone Simon Keenlyside to sing Schumann's songs, Sergej Krylov (violin), and Iain Burnside (piano). On his left are actress Trudie Styler to read from Clara's letters, soprano Rebecca Evans to sing selections as a solo or as a duet with Keenlyside, Natalie Clein (cello), and Natasha Peremski (piano). The first disc contains the performance, which is an expert balance of narration and dramatic readings with solos and accompaniments from the musicians. As is explained in the program notes, some of the selections were edited in various ways for theatrical effect. All in all, it provides a fascinating insight into two human beings who loved, created complex and beautiful music, and finally suffered when Robert had a mental breakdown. The second disc offers another set of insights into the genius of the two when different members of the cast, actors and players, discuss the personalities and works of the two Schumanns. The educational value of this disc alone is great. I would like to see similar formats used for other famous musicians--but only with such skilled artists as were used in "Twin Spirits." But when will art departments stop using white print over colored backgrounds in the booklets, which might please their eyes but ruin ours? -- Art Times, Frank Behrens, December 2009 Better than you'd expect. This entertainment comes out of a charity event held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. If you don't blink, you can see Alfred Brendel schmoozing before the curtain goes up. Basically, it pairs the music of Robert and Clara Schumann with their writings to and about one another (with side trips to Mozart and Chopin). The texts and notes don't line up chronologically, but emotionally. The words, from letters and diaries (particularly the so-called "marriage" diary which they kept jointly), chronicle the couple from pre-courtship to Robert's insanity and death, with a bit on Clara's long widowhood. A whiff of the "high-class" charity event lingers a little over the enterprise. Frankly, when I saw Sting's name, I muttered, "God save us from arty rockers." However, Sting surprised me. His delivery was intelligent, understated, with just enough "characterization" that you felt the presence of another personality, perhaps even Schumann's. In other words, he convinced me. It's the professional actors -- Jacobi and Styler -- that I occasionally caught "acting." Jacobi at times became a Masterpiece Theatre compère, while Styler here and there over-emoted. Her young Clara Wieck was a little too cute. However, Jacobi's lines functioned simply for set-ups and connections, and Styler became genuinely moving as Clara bears the family catastrophe. However, the real glory of the evening lies -- don't be too surprised -- in the music and the performances. Evans does well with her songs, although she occasionally slips into opera mode. Burnside supplies sensitive accompaniments -- a pro who knows his Schumann. The cellist Natalie Clein . . . well, I couldn't concentrate too well on her music-making, she's so gorgeous -- a bit like the young Argerich. What I did get showed a fiery but musical personality. She's wonderful in chamber music. American pianist Natasha Paremski negotiated some fiendish passage-work from Clara's piano concerto with spirit and aplomb. Violinist Sergei Krylov seemed uncomfortable in a chamber setting, but he certainly set the tone of the playing. You couldn't accuse him of bland good taste or timidity. However, baritone Simon Keenlyside stood out. I've heard few better Lieder singers. Furthermore, his duet with Evans in Mozart's "Là ci darem" from Don Giovanni provided the musical highpoint of the enterprise -- silkily seductive and a better aphrodisiac than oysters (though not as tasty). It strikes me as ironic that Mozart beats out Schumann in a Schumann documentary -- home-field advantage notwithstanding. The music, for the most part, serves the drama. Sometimes, we get abbreviations or cutoffs so the readings may continue. At other times, piano pieces have been "orchestrated" for the instrumental ensemble and at least one solo song turned into a duet. However, Martin Ward displays great taste, even in a chamber arrangement of something like "Träumerei" -- a trap that can lead to sugar coma if you don't take care. Some of the best bits come from the bonus disc, which contains, among other things, interviews with the musicians and the actors as well as a short documentary made at the Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, the composer's birthplace. John Caird serves as interlocutor. As he talks with the actors, it becomes clear that the group brings contemporary cultural perspectives to the marriage. Clara becomes the put-upon mother of the brood, while Robert flits about doing as he pleases -- writing symphonies and music criticism, preparing to conduct, and so on. This really doesn't survive a moment's thought. Clara, one of the greatest pianists of her day, was the primary breadwinner (one of her tours paid the family's expenses for three years) and had plenty of domestic help. She couldn't have practiced otherwise, and she set herself challenging programs. Don't get me wrong. She had plenty to put up with otherwise from Schumann, who among other things couldn't bear extraneous noise while he worked. I don't remember how they worked it out. She may have had to practice off-premises or Schumann may have composed off-premises. At any rate, musicologist Daniel Gallagher sits in and occasionally and gently puts things right. I should point out that these are extremely informal conversations among intelligent people. My favorite moment comes from pianist Natasha Paremski, who uses the word "vibe" and then asks, "That's not too American a word, is it?" Iain Burnside replies in his Best British Manner, "It's a word, yes." For me, however, the documentary, One Heart, One Soul, counts as the most interesting portion of the bonus features. It consists of the director of Schumann-Haus, Gerd Nauhaus, a man who knows his Schumann as well as anybody, discussing the composer. He too corrects some of the misperceptions that have arisen during the other interviews. Nauhaus speaks German, but you can choose subtitles from among several languages, including English. One may very well ask what audience these discs serve. Sting provides one answer: those not normally interested in classical music can come to the genre by getting involved in the story. It is a cracking good story, if a little weepy -- a Romance novel that happens to be true. Die-hard Sting fanatics will probably want it, even though he doesn't sing. Those who know their Schumann may or may not find something to interest them. The performances all shine, but it's not a Schumann concert, after all. You'll just have to work it out for yourselves. -- Classical CD Review, Steve Schwartz, February 2010 Having brought John Dowland to the masses with his album Songs from the Labyrinth, Sting takes another shot at presenting classical music to a wider audience which has developed the infuriating habit of not taking any notice of it. In this live performance, Sting portrays the passionate and tragically short-lived Robert Schumann by reading from his letters, while his wife Trudie Styler enacts the role of Robert's spouse Clara Schumann (formerly Wieck). In between, selections from the Schumanns' music are played by an ensemble comprising cellist Natalie Clein, pianists Iain Burnside and Natasha Paremski, violinist Sergej Krylov and singers Simon Keenlyside and Rebecca Evans. "I think it's a great `in' for people who don't normally listen to classical music," says Sting. Twin Spirits was devised as a fundraiser for a variety of charities, including the Royal Opera House, so we probably have to forgive its overtones of highbrow schlock. However, our task is not made easier by Derek Jacobi's performance as narrator. Ensconced on a throne and dressed like a Victorian philanthropist, Sir Del is at his fruitiest and most orotund. Fans of Frasier may be reminded of his guest performance as Jackson Hedley, the world's most preposterous Shakespearean actor. However, although Sting has suffered his share of critical brickbats, here he keeps a straight bat and delivers his readings with a mixture of wry humour and quiet sincerity. Trudie sometimes lurches into over-emoting luvviedom, but then again, she was a member of the RSC back in the day, which is how the RSC's John Caird was recruited to direct the project. And it can't be denied that the saga of the Schumanns' doomed greatest-love-of-all is a powerful tear-jerker. "There are moments in the story that make me very fearful," Styler admits. "The idea of losing my husband confronts me when I look at Sting as Robert. There are a few moments in the script where Robert and Clara are having a good time, so I try to make the most of them, just as I do in my own life." At 90 minutes, Twin Spirits cries out for some editing scissors, but perseverance is rewarded by the quality of the musical performances. Simon Keenlyside brings thunderous conviction to his musical portrayal of Robert Schumann, and the quartet performance of Traumerei, which marks the composer's solitary and miserable death, feels lonelier than a coyote's howl. Surprisingly, the second disc of additional features contains some of the best bits, especially Caird's conversations with the participants. All the musicians offer useful insights into the music, with Iain Burnside contributing shrewd remarks about the way Robert Schumann's music demands active intervention from the performer to bring it to life. When Caird introduces musicologist Daniel Gallagher to supply commentary on the Schumanns' life and work, he's so fascinating that that even Sting and Trudie find themselves spontaneously quizzing him. Despite all this, if you really want to explore the Schumanns' work, you might consider buying a selection of CDs and playing them a lot. -- The Arts Desk, Adam Sweeting, October 1, 2009 In his lifetime, Robert Schumann remained in the shadow of his wife Clara Wieck, whose concert career as a pianist took her all over Europe while he labored as a music journalist and largely unrecognized composer. Clara's overbearing father had taught them both piano, but his callous objections to the growing romance between Robert and Clara resulted in a physical separation that -- happily for musicologists -- left hundreds of letters detailing the musical and emotional development of this fascinating couple. While in different cities, they would often arrange to play the same piece at the same time, and then write to each other about the emotions aroused; once they were finally married, they kept a joint "marriage diary" for three and half years that recorded their musical and domestic happiness. Sting and his wife, actor Trudie Styler, are joined by Derek Jacobi, soprano Rebecca Evans, baritone Simon Keenlyside, and four instrumentalists for Twin Spirits, an educational project from London's Royal Opera House that presents the lives and works of Clara and Robert Schumann. Sting and Styler portray the couple in words, Keenlyside and Evans in music. Jacobi narrates. Devised and directed by John Caird, the show was recorded live in an intimately arranged and lit studio space at the opera house. It weaves together musical excerpts, love letters, diary entries and narration to tell the story of their love and marriage, tragically shortened when Robert's mental illness forced his commitment to an asylum. The show itself, which has been given as charity performances since 2005, is both informative and affecting, with spontaneous and energetic musical contributions, especially Evans's urgent rendition of Clara's "Er ist gekommen" and Keenlyside's sweeping "Ich grolle nicht," capped by a powerful high A. Evans's controlled voicing of "Ich hab im Traum geweinet" and Keenlyside's "Stille Liebe" are also effective. Most of the musical selections are short, and many have violin and cello additions, which lend an appropriate salon atmosphere, though the opening of "Carnaval" sounds odd with strings. Because of its placement in the storyline (and the use of Chopin's variations on its tune), "Là ci darem la mano" receives an odd interpretation, but Keenlyside's and Evans's skill and naturalness are winning. Another huge plus is Styler's warm, expressive delivery. With her wispy hair, vulnerable face and a faraway look in her eyes, Styler embodies the romantic, artistic spirit who rejoices in her soul mate; in passages detailing the end of Robert's life, Styler makes Clara's pain palpable. Sting's spiky, contemporary look is a bit of a jolt, but his connection to the material and identification with the obsessive, suffering composer are genuine. All the artists contributed their time to the project without remuneration; only Jacobi (whose presence undoubtedly signals "class") seems arch and distanced in his narration. Several bonus offerings include lengthy, round-table discussions in which the singers, instrumentalists and actors speak of how powerfully the interaction of words and music affected their interpretations and delivery. A thirty-five-minute lecture at the Robert Schumann Haus in Leipzig provides biographical details and background on the Schumanns' careers and training, as well as on their marriage and children. All proceeds from DVD sales benefit outreach projects of the Royal Opera House Education Programme. -- Opera News Online, Judith Malafronte, Decmber 2009 Like cucumber sandwiches at high tea, this depiction of the romance between two German musicians is a uniquely English confection. It follows in the tradition of BBC radio's dramatization of biographical presentations. In this case, the extended courtship and all-too-brief marriage is rendered with convincing fidelity through an enlightened blending of the spoken word and musical examples from the respective compositions of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Nobly narrated by Derek Jacobi, the dialogue is ably conveyed by Sting (when will he, as an emerging musical polymath, be granted a knighthood so that his real name may enter common usage?) and Trudie Styler reading the lovers' correspondence compiled over decades. An unusual form of entertainment, but it kept a capacity audience in rapt attention over a long evening at Covent Garden. The singers and musicians give heartfelt support to the story with immaculate performances. The set includes close to two hours of extra features. It is also available from Opus Arte on conventional DVD format. Highly recommended to admirers of the Schumanns and all collectors with a special interest in German music of the Romantic period. -- La Scena Musicale, October 2009 One of the most moving love stories in the world of music is the relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann. In 2007, the British producer David Caird put together a music theater piece called Twin Spirits at London's Covent Garden in which Derek Jacoby narrated the romantic and tragic story, with Sting and his wife Trudie Styler reading passages from Robert and Clara's letters and the remarkable diary they kept together in the first years of their marriage. Some excellent chamber musicians and singers punctuate the readings with excerpts from the works of both Robert and Clara. Twin Spirits tells the story of Robert Schumann coming to Leipzig to study with the renowned music teacher Friedrich Wieck. Wieck's daughter Clara was a piano prodigy, by far the most talented of his six children. Robert was nine years older than her. He lived with the Wiecks for a year. By the time Clara was in her mid teens, they had fallen in love. Wieck was violently opposed to this romance. Clara's career came first. He refused to permit the marriage and ultimately the two lovers went to court for permission. Clara was 21; Robert 30. Wieck eventually relented when the couple had the first of their eight children, only four of whom outlived their parents. Clara was much more famous than Robert, and traveled extensively giving recitals, which were admired by the greatest musical figures of the time. She inspired Robert -- the year before they were married, he wrote more than 100 of his greatest songs. And she helped further his career by playing his compositions. Robert Schumann suffered from periodic mental breakdowns; tragedy struck when he tried to drown himself. He was institutionalized, but Clara was forbidden to see him for more than two years, until he was actually dying. She spent the rest of her life giving concerts and performing her husband's music. In his musical selection, Twin Spirits producer/director David Caird is less concerned with chronology than with finding something appropriate for each part of the story. Purists might object to the way Caird has rearranged some of the original music for this production. But in this dramatic context, I find these new arrangements both tasteful and effective. Sting, we've come to know, has a serious interest in classical music; he's also a coolly expressive actor and reader. Trudie Styler is particularly affecting reading what Clara wrote during her final visits to Robert. The most disappointing element of Twin Spirits is the rather artificial narration by Derek Jacobi, an actor I usually admire. But the whole enterprise is a compelling and poignant retelling of the story, and the well-chosen and well-performed music make this an outstanding addition to the year celebration of Robert Schumann's bicentennial. -- NPR, Lloyd Schwartz, February 17, 2010 Sting has been taking ever braver leaps into the classical music world over the last few years. As someone who doesn't enjoy his singing, I heaved a sigh of relief that he is on speaking duty in this fascinating musical dramatization of the often difficult, artistically inspirational, romantically fulfilling relationship between composer Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Sting is Robert to Trudie Styler's Clara as they sit with narrator Derek Jacobi on the Covent Garden stage, surrounded by exceptional musicians, including tenor Simon Keenlyside, soprano Rebecca Evans and violinist Sergei Krylov. Excerpts from the lovebirds' letters are interwoven with Schumann's music (and a bit of Mozart and Chopin). Once you get into the slow, black-backdropped pace of the story, you come to appreciate what an amazing job director John Caird has done to make the 90-minute show absorbing. A second DVD has more than an hour of extras, including background interviews and a documentary. This is inventive classical programming at its best, though music purists might prefer to hear uncut versions of many of the pieces on the program. -- TheStar.com, John Terauds, November 17, 2009 This is an uncharacteristically small-scale production for writer-director John Caird, who is more closely associated with such spectacles as Les misérables and Nicholas Nickleby. It's a 90-minute account, through words and music, of the personal and professional relationship between Robert Schumann and his wife, née Clara Wieck, devised in 2005 for the education division of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and since then trotted out for various fundraising events with different performer rosters. This version was recorded before a silent audience in late 2007. Despite the number of artists on stage, it seems quite intimate; the actors are low-key, and the musicians, while rising to the passions of the music as necessary (particularly in the finale of Robert's Piano Trio No. 1, which closes the program), are direct and obviously under no pressure to play to a large hall. Although the proceedings are conveyed mainly through close-ups and two- and three-shots, the placement of the performers is interesting and deliberate. In the center, to the rear, on what looks almost like a throne, Sir Derek Jacobi offers bits of introduction and narrative context. Down front, at opposite sides of the stage, sit the actors portraying the Schumanns: pop star Sting, who has always struck me as more intelligent and subtle than he is generally given credit for, and Trudie Styler, best known in America as Mrs. Sting, but in England an accomplished actress with (like Jacobi) a Shakespearean background. Clustered near each of the two main actors is a trio of musicians, divided by gender. On Robert's side are a baritone and a male violinist and pianist; on Clara's, a soprano and a female cellist and pianist. The musicians do not remain segregated all the time; obviously, there's crossover in the trio movement, and both singers deliver Mozart's "Là ci darem la mano," which was important in the Schumanns' personal history. There's also an arrangement of "Träumerei" that manages to include all the instrumentalists. But for the most part, each historical figure is represented by his or her own group of musicians. As you might have guessed, the music comes in bits and pieces, mostly songs and instrumental miniatures (by both Robert and Clara), but for the most part each item is complete in itself and only occasionally, mainly in the beginning, do the actors talk over the music. The spoken lines are drawn from the Schumanns' letters; Caird has heavily edited them and mingled missives from various periods to create a coherent narrative. This overall approach will obviously not satisfy purists who seek an impartial documentary account of the Schumanns, nor music lovers who prefer to hear song cycles and chamber works in their entirety. But that's not the point of this project; it's an introduction to the general, intelligent, curious music lover of the personalities behind this music, and to Clara's essential role in Robert's life and career. If Sting and Styler, sometimes reading from scripts but often looking straight into the camera, don't fully convey the excitement of early love, they are very good at communicating the comfortable intimacy, affection, and mutual respect of an old married couple. Perhaps each is best when not speaking; they can communicate quite a lot in the cutaway shots of one watching the other deliver lines, or in listening to the musicians (who are also seen being quietly attentive during some of the spoken passages). The musical performances are quite good, even if Simon Keenlyside, like most baritones, finds Schumann's top notes taxing. Those requiring a more straightforward documentation of the Schumann situation may prefer the 35-minute documentary in which a curator from the Schumann House museum and archive speaks, in subtitled German, about their marriage and careers, repeating some material from the stage presentation but elaborating on other issues. There's also a surprisingly engaging series of chats with Caird, the performers, and musicologist Daniel Gallagher about the Schumanns and their music. Gallagher's contributions are especially good, even for non-specialists, and while the actors don't have much of substance to contribute, they do at least chime in with the occasional smart observation and perceptive question. The Blu-ray video quality is, as usual, superb, although there's nothing more technically challenging here than maintaining clarity on a rather dark stage. The aspect ratio is 16:9, and the audio options are limited to PCM 2.0 and 5.0. Subtitles are available for the songs and the German documentary. Old hands at this subject may feel that its treatment here is too superficial, but take this for what it is: an educational entertainment designed to introduce the Schumanns' music and cobiography to the uninitiated without insulting their intelligence. "Twin Spirits" surely succeeds on those grounds, most touchingly. -- Fanfare, James Reel, Mar-Apr 2010 Twin Spirits is a live theatrical performance that features narration, impersonation (in an epistolary manner), and chamber music centered on the lives and love of Robert and Clara Schumann. Evidently the work, created and directed by John Caird, toured in smaller venues before being presented at the Royal Opera House. It is indeed a unique experience, the letters of the Schumann's used as the basis for a story of their lives, dramatized here to excellent effect, and enhanced by their music. One can think of no more worthy subjects than these two hyper-romantic figures, celebrated in their day and long afterwards, with personal connections tying them into the fortunes and foibles of Brahms, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Joachim, and Chopin. Their love story is one that was well known even in their own day, and their passion for one another is marked only by the equal degree of tragedy and sorrow that graced their short time together. I will not dwell on aspects of that story here, as it is well known, and if unknown easily found in books and on the Web. Suffice it to say, the story begins with Robert's first studies with Clara Wieck's father (Robert was essentially self-taught), his aspirations as a pianist until he ruined his hands, his solicitation of love from Clara and desire to marry her (against her father's wishes), the frustration they experienced until they could get married, early bliss in their marital life and the success of each, Robert's seminal decline and mental instability, Clara's heartrending final years with Robert in an asylum, and her life after Robert's death. All of this seems like it might be too much for a stage production, but the letters have been carefully vetted in order to keep the action--such as it is--moving along. The story is given general guidelines by Derek Jacobi--superb as usual--and the parts of Robert and Clara taken by Sting and wife Trudie Styler. This might seem an odd choice at first, but Sting seems to have had a late-in-life classical-music conversion (remember his Dowland record?), and his performance as Robert is outstanding, as seasoned as from any actor I can imagine playing the part. Trudie Styler is equally affecting, and her moment of breakdown towards the end is truly distressing. But this is not a play at all--there is no dramatic movement or stage acting. Most of the time, Sting and Trudie are seated close to one another, and they often lean towards each other when speaking. Jacobi is seated pretty much center stage, and they all can be seen watching each other. Interspersed among the talkers are a series of musicians, an all-male group (baritone, violin, piano) on Robert's side, and a female group (soprano, cello, piano) on Clara's side. At different times in the "action," the music of one of the Schumanns is played by one of these groups, or a portion of each. For the most part, the performances are excellent, the singing of Simon Keenlyside being notable, along with the last selection, the Finale from the D-Minor Piano Trio, op. 63, a real barnburner and triumphant ending to an otherwise factual human misfortune that nonetheless had moments of supreme joy. But its protagonists were certainly as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet ever were. If there is a downside, it would be the lack of more representative music on Robert's part. The very nature and intimacy of this production nixes the idea of large ensemble performances, but one feels like part of the emotional picture is missing without them. Some of the music has been doctored or altered, nothing egregious, but odd sounding to those who know it. This was probably unavoidable in order to make the music portion fuller while using only chamber pieces. The songs are what they are, and there are a few pieces pertinent to the Schumanns at certain times that are by other composers. The staging is wonderful, making it easy to follow what is happening; the sound is equally pleasing, LPCM stereo or DTS surround (my choice). The music however, is only secondary to the engrossing tale, and is chosen wisely to enhance the story where the words end. As bonuses, we get a substantial amount, the cast talks and the documentary being of more than casual interest. I enjoyed this thoroughly, and I can't imagine any music lover who wouldn't. -- Fanfare, Steven E. Ritter, Jan/Feb 2010 Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Twin Spirits: Sting performs Schumann [Blu-ray]

Release: October 22, 2024

$6.99

Description

Twisters brings back the blockbuster disaster epic with a whirlwind of heart-stopping action and exhilarating thrills. Ever since a devastating tornado encounter, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gave up chasing storms across the Oklahoma prairie to safely study them on screens in New York City. Lured back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity, Kate crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose thirst for tornado-tracking adventures made him a social media sensation. As storm season intensifies with terrifying phenomena unlike anything seen before, Kate and Tyler realize they may need to work together if they are to have any chance of taming, and surviving, an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados. Bonus Content: Includes a digital copy of Twisters (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) Deleted Scenes Gag Reel Tracking the Fronts: The Path of Twisters Into the Eye of the Storm Glen Powell: All Access Front Seat to a Chase Voice of a Villain Tricked-Out Trucks Feature Commentary with Director Lee Isaac Chung Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Twisters - Collector's Edition Blu-ray + Digital

Release: October 22, 2024

$7.99

Description

Twisters brings back the blockbuster disaster epic with a whirlwind of heart-stopping action and exhilarating thrills. Ever since a devastating tornado encounter, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gave up chasing storms across the Oklahoma prairie to safely study them on screens in New York City. Lured back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity, Kate crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose thirst for tornado-tracking adventures made him a social media sensation. As storm season intensifies with terrifying phenomena unlike anything seen before, Kate and Tyler realize they may need to work together if they are to have any chance of taming, and surviving, an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados. Bonus Content: Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of Twisters (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) Features Dolby Vision and HDR10 for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color Deleted Scenes Gag Reel Tracking the Fronts: The Path of Twisters Into the Eye of the Storm Glen Powell: All Access Front Seat to a Chase Voice of a Villain Tricked-Out Trucks Feature Commentary with Director Lee Isaac Chung

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

The long-running sitcom follows the chaotic Harper household through marriages, breakups, schemes and endless wisecracks.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

The long-running sitcom follows the chaotic Harper household through marriages, breakups, schemes and endless wisecracks.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

Get set for an extended visit to Malibu’s most happening beach house with The Complete Series of one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in TV history, Two and a Half Men. Join brothers Charlie and Alan Harper; their estranged (and strange) kids, Jenny and Jake; gazillionaire Walden Schmidt; and housekeeper Berta for 12 years of hilarious high jinks with bad boys, funny men, gorgeous girls, celebrity neighbors, sexy stalkers, eccentric parents and more.

Release: November 11, 2025

$6.99

Description

The long-running sitcom follows the chaotic Harper household through marriages, breakups, schemes and endless wisecracks.