5 comments about The Final Countdown (2-Disc Limited Special Edition).

1. The Final Countdown was a really good movie. I would recommend it to people that love Scifi and Time Travel movies. I gave it 3 stars because the story line really to me didn't make any sense. They go back to 1941 and they are there for a long time just sending planes up and scouting and there is a few deaths and one American plane shoots down a jap plane and explodes but that is basically it. Torwards the end when they are going to get ready to intercept the japanese they get called back to the carrier and the attack on Pearl Harbor still happens. So what was the point of the movie, they didn't even really do anything. I liked it because I am huge into Time-Travel. I also liked the ending when Katharine Ross/Laurel Scott and James Farentino/Wing Commander Richard T. Owens/Mr Richard Tideman ended up being alive and made a surprise visit with Martin Sheen/Warren Lasky.



2. The movie arrived right as scheduled and in perfect shape. We enjoyed it tremendously; thanks.



3. We'd looked for this for a while and enjoyed it. It's mid-career Kirk Douglas and we enjoyed the plot. :)



4. I received this verrrrry fast...the movie is exactly as I remembered..Although I was not aware it was a LucasFilm/Spielberg Production. I guess that's why it is very good!



5. I liked this movie when I first viewed it in the theater. This is a good copy. Some reviews of earlier versions document a bad version.
   
   For a time travel fiction story this is one of my favorites. Decent story line and it keeps up your interest.

5 comments about Michael Palin - Pole to Pole.

1. After the success of Around the World in Eighty Days, Michael Palin embarked on a highly successful career as an adventure tourist. Each of his journeys has a hook: circumnavigating the Pacific Rim, going across the Sahara Desert, or in this case making the journey from the north pole to the south pole following as best as possible longitude 30 degrees.
   
   Along the way, from snow to savannah, from Norway to Nairobi, the charm of Palin's travels comes from the unassuming way he interacts with the people he meets on route. His personality carries the relatively unstructured travalog along on a sea of well-meaning interest and curiosity. He tells us when he's tired, anxious, and bored. We are touched by the genuine friendships he makes, however fleetingly, and the partings are often touching. In Pole to Pole the meat of the journey is Africa and we travel from relatively cosmopolitan Egypt to what in politically incorrect days was referred to as Darkest Africa. Even in 1991 witchdoctors outnumbered the western kind, and random violence was never far from view. Indeed, at one point Palin stays with a European estate owner in Zambia and his family and after the visit is concluded we learn from the voice-over that they were slaughtered six months later.
   
   I spent a few formative years in southern Africa and it was shocking to me to see how little had changed since last I saw it. If anything, most of the change was for the worse: the old trains and buses simply have grown older, the disorder greater. Only in South Africa did time seem to have moved on. For the casual viewer the sheer range of experience in Africa should be fascinating, even though we get the merest glimpse. How can one capture a continent in just a few minutes of video? Like many people, I suspect, my favorite moments were of Palin sitting on top of the slow train creaking its way through Sudan, talking with those who can't afford to travel any other way, and seeming perfectly at home. Somehow Palin makes us forget how unlikely it all is: a well-paid BBC personality squatting among the illiterate and impoverished, interacting with them as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps no other TV presenter could really pull it off convincingly.
   
   In the end the "hook" seems a little forced: Palin flies in to the north pole and he flies in to the south pole. It's not really much of an epic journey but it was more hazardous than it might seem: when he made the trip to the South Pole there was inadequate navigation and infrastructure and it would have been all too easy for him to have perished due to half-baked preparation and execution on the part of those tasked with ferrying him around. Fortunately all survived and went on to make several other telejourneys to various parts of the world; journeys which are now slowly being remastered onto DVD and released by the BBC. If you don't have the chance to travel much beyond the usual tourist haunts, by all means pick up a copy of Palin's travels and experience the sights, sounds, and people you will otherwise never know of.



2. MICHAEL PALIN`S DOCUMENTARIES ARE ALL A PART OF MY COLLECTION. ALTHOUGH THIS IS I BELIEVE THE EARLIEST OF HIS FOUR EFFORTS(SAHARA,AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS AND HIMALAYA ARE THE OTHER THREE)THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE, HUMOR, AND PURE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEOPLE, CULTURES AND COUNTRIES HE TRAVERSES IS SIMPLY STATED, EXCEPTIONAL. NONE BETTER. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND A MUST HAVE. THANK YOU MICHAEL FOR YOU TALENT AND YOUR PERSPECTIVES.



3. What can one say about Mr. Palin and his enlighting series of discovery and adventure. Pole to Pole and Around The World In 80 Days were the eye opening quests that brought a new look at adventure and the world around us. I first saw these at University and just new I wanted to see the world as Mr. Palin has. Which I now have. He takes the journeys beyond the documentary range of The National Geographic. His, take things as they come and if it can go wrong it mostly likely will, coupled with his wonderful sense of humor. Can only lead one to smile and laugh. His style taught me the value of adventure and that all folks are just folks. Give respect and most of the time you get respect in return. Thanks to this gentleman the world is a little closer. Enjoy Pole to Pole and go see for yourself. It's all an adventure. Thank you Mr. Palin



4. This travel documentary is exceptional, showcasing great landscapes and
   various cultures with an element of uncertainty. But what makes it
   inspirational is Michael Palin with his spirit of adventure, great sense
   of humor and ability to connect with local people.
   
   Palin's journey shows us how people across different ethnicities and
   cultures have one thing in common - the 30 degree longitude (as he
   travels along this route from North Pole to South Pole). It gives us a
   sense of how in spite of our differences in race, religion and culture
   we still share the same planet.
   
   We can learn the political, social and economic situations unfolding in
   those countries during early nineties. The world has changed a lot since
   Palin's journey but his adventures will always be relevant regardless of
   time.
   
   This vicarious experience inspires me to embark on a real adventure.



5. "Pole to Pole" was the second of former Python Michael Palins great travels around the world after the groundbreaking series "Around the World in 80 days", and is equally exciting, thrilling, and entertaining.
   
   This time the team travels along 30 degrees east longtitude from the North Pole through Scandinavia, Russia and the Soviet Union, Africa, (and forced by fate South America) to the South Pole, this being the route covering most land. As with 80 days, and his subsequent travels, "Pole to Pole" is filled with a great, warm spirit of enthusiasm, interest, and real, honest, good humour. Palin guides us, the viewers, through the many different countries and cultures with his usual witty and insightful commentary, and does what the travel industry calls 'the Palin effect' (that you want to go where Palin has gone) great honour.
   
   Describing Palins travel programmes in one word is impossible, but if I had to choose or be beaten to death with a shoe, I'd describe them as inspiring. Truly, utterly, completely, magnificently, and really inspiring. And there cannot possibly be any other quality in a travel programme that is better than that.
   
   The extra material on the DVDs are, as with all the other series, abundant. Lots of clips and segments that didn't make it to the final cut and a half hour interview with Michael Palin.
   
   Highest possible recommendation.

5 comments about Project Moonbase.

1. This has to be one of the cheesiest science fiction films I've ever seen. It's certainly no PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE but it would be stretching a point to even call it a B movie. That is surprising seeing as how Robert A. Heinlein is credited as one of the creators. He had little time for cheesiness.
   
   The story is a simple one of conceived in the cold war. The US is sending a reconnaissance ship around the moon to gather information prior to a landing attempt. The Soviets are desperate to stop the effort and infiltrate an agent onto the crew as a saboteur. He is not caught out soon enough and, in the chaos of the fight, the ship goes off course. The only choice for survival is to go ahead and land.
   
   There is more going on in the story than just the race to the moon and the cold war. The mission was originally assigned to an up and coming major (male). For political reasons, he is reassigned as co-pilot and command is given to a woman, a Col. Briteis (pronounced "Bright Eyes"). She is not a bad woman but it is apparent that she has been promoted to colonel for PR reasons and because she looks good in a skirt. Her indecisiveness and tendency to turn towards her co-pilot for advice and help is somewhat demeaning of what women are able to accomplish.
   
   Possibly the silliest thing about the film is the costumes. The uniform for the US Space Force seems to be shorts, a t-shirt and the dumbest looking skullcap ever to grace the screen. The sets are fairly low budget as well.
   
   All of that seems bad but I did find the show entertaining to a degree. It captured the spirit of the 50s and was fun in small doses. The "science" is rudimentary but generally correct. That must be Heinlein's doing. I suspect a female commander and a female US president were also. This show, while not as technically excellent as DESTINATION MOON, did have more of a story to it.



2. Curious thing about this film. It made an effort to be accurate. At least as accurate as the gut-level understanding of space flight could be in the early 1950's. There was an effort made to show the loss of a "ground reference" in (what we now call micro-gravity), and by golly there is no sound in the vacuum of space. There was no rocket roar from the ships in transit to space station, and the moon. Wireless telephones are in evidence, but they will make the viewer laugh...out loud! Aside from the "technical" efforts at accuracy, the socio-political content was woefully juvenile. This is post-McCarthy era science fiction. There are evil commies, and there is no domestic security available to intercept their plot in a timely fashion. There is a woman space commander, but the then extant culture was unable to cope with such a concept (Robert Heinlein was apparently struggling just to allow a professional woman in this script.) She does look great in the cuffed hot-pants that are the speculated unisex ship-board attire. The guys look dumb in the same outfit.
   
   Watch this film. It is a history lesson.
   
   Really!



3. I never read a book from Heinlein I didn't like. Of course his earliest ones are my favorite. Everybody is over educated, in fine shape, and ready for the next opportunity to spring into action. He and Roddenberry were both optimistic--hope I spelled his name correctly--but in Heinlein's books it showed you how to do it.
   
   Heinlein's earlier books allowed women to have any job they were qualified for. They had to have the education as well as be in good shape. I think the good shape was a package deal--mind and body go together and enhance each other. After all, a person keeping themself in good condition meant self restraint as well as determination to succeed. Secretly, of course, the men always ruled the world. Nevertheless the cuties had a slice of the pie and the responsibitly it cost.
   
   PROS:
   
   1. Heinlein wrote it and must have been around when they shot it.
   
   2. Col. Briteis (pronounced Brighteyes) is a cutie and yes they are bright eyes--she is also a proper-girl in the military. No 'hanky panky' with her.
   
   3. This film proves what I've always said, short-shorts look better on the ladies and strange on men.
   
   4. I've read a complaint about everybody wearing that skull cap. You should read Heinlein's Have Spacesuit will Travel, it explains these things in detail. But here is the short version--you can't have long hair in a space suit, if just one hair falls across the faceplate seal or helmet seal you loose air pressure and die. You'll notice all our original astronauts not only wore the same cap but cut their hair off. In the movie Starship Troopers, you remember the girl starship pilot? Well, in the book she shaved her head (for a different reason). This is the way science goes--you pay the price or someone else goes.
   
   5. Heinlein, as I remember when I read his 38 or 39 novels was always proper in his earlier novels so of course when they crash/land on the moon and, could not be rescued for weeks or long months, they must get married.
   
   six. Yes, there is an enemy agent onboard--he's out of shape and a bit 'slow'.
   
   7. Nice sharp image, neat idea.
   8. If you read the earlier reviews you see complaints about 'spanking'. I'm 54 years old now but was young once. Back then, several times, I remember waggeling my index finger in females face--right in front of their nose--and told them if they didn't stop I'd spank them like a little girl. Such where the way things used to be--now you go to jail for it. Back then usually they'd throw their cute little noises up in the air and snort. Other times they'd twirl around and 'throw over their shoulder' "No you won't." Then that nose would go up in the air and snort in a girly way that pretty much spelled out "You wouldn't dare!" Then there were the other type girls that would take a slap at you. Basicly there were no complaints from either side...I guess it must have been dieing out about that time because it didn't last very long.
   
   9. In the movie the spacestation shoots smaller rockets to them and 'Brighteyes and her new man' land them by radio remote control. That was like Heinlein. It's quicker to just rocket them supplies until a new ship can be built rather than risk more lives with an untried, slapped together, spaceship rescue mission. And besides, they decided to build their first moonbase there.
   
   CONS:
   
   1. Should have been a hour longer.
   
   So there it is, another classic. One written by Mr. Heinlein in his typical style. I recommend this movie and all his books. This is a one bowl of popcorn and one half hot dog move. Why half a dog? Most of it is spelled out to you. Bye!



4. A nice simple old fashioned film made for enjoyment and to say the good guys win. I enjoy it for simple entertainment. There are no monsters coming to slice and dice everyone, there are no super CGI effects. And for those who care about such things - A man and a woman are equals. Both are traveling in space and end on the moon.



5. Actor Hayden Rorke (later of I Dream of Jeannie fame) is the general in this outer space fun fest with lots of sexist remarks (I'll turn you over my knee and spank you) and yet some interesting turns for a 50s scifi film, such as cordless phones and a radiophone conference call.
   
   The commies sound like Midwesterners and the space rockets wobble into the sky. As we can't have two single young people on the moon all by themselves, they are married for the "good of the country".
   
   And they have a female president of the USA! From the credits, Robert Heinlein had a hand in the story and script.
   
   Two stars for the wobbly special effects and campy story, but five stars for the imaginative tech marvels of the 1970s from the 1950's perspective. I liked the shorts and tight teeshirts for space suits, but why the big gobs of sweat on takeoff??
   
   Destination Moon: 15 Year Anniversary Edition

5 comments about Phantasm 4: Oblivion.

1. I enjoyed this one even more than the original. I especially liked the scenes with Jebediah Morningside before he became the evil Tall Man. This movie ends with such a great set up for the final chapter that I can't believe part V hasn't been made yet.
   
   The unused footage from the original movie worked so well here that it was like part IV was written at the same time as the original. Excellent!



2. In the latest installment of Coscarelli's classic Phantasm series, we almost think we're watching a normal movie here...just for a few minutes!
   The special effects are better than previous philms, and the movie as a whole takes itself a lot more seriously than its predecessors. That fact will surely be viewed positively by some, negatively by others; positively by those who want these films to get more respect, negatively by those who loved the lack of plot continuity, hack dialogue, and low-budget special effects.
   
   Old school Phantasm Phans, don't worry - the movie still captures the good old Phantasm magic: The Tall Man still does his thing (and knowing his background is pretty cool - I almost fell out of my seat when pre-Tall Man Jebediah offers Mike some lemonade!!!), Reggie has his destined to fail romantic interlude, and the 'Cuda can still rock.
   
   All in all, a good ending to the series, with the possibility left open for more!



3. Don Coscerelli made the last film in the Phantasm series and Phantasm 4 was a great conclusion, so what do we expect from this film well there were a few unexpected surprises and plenty of flashbacks and this was basically footage from the first film and some deleted scenes which was very interesting it adds alot to the film but there was still some unanswered questions. The plot for this film was o.k. but still alot better than part 3 there were a few inconsistencies but I think Coscerelli did a great job there were still some great and memorable scenes like that zombie cop who tries to kill Reggie on the road. After the brief recap of the previous films, Part 4 starts up where the last one left off Reggie and Michael are back this time to finish off The Tall Man for good. As we ended part 3 Reggie was attacked by what seems like a hundred silver spheres while Michael escaped into the desert trying to ignore the ball inside his head and it seems like he might go through a change, The Tall Man however lets Reggie go since hes really after Michael and wants a real battle or something. Michael reaches Death Valley to find his destiny and The Tall Man's secrets I'm not going to ruin it but you'll just have to watch what happens next. Overall I would have to say that Phantasm 4 was a very good sequel and Reggie gets alot of screen time as usual hes one of my favorite characters from the series, he also gets involved with a girl and yet again he gets screwed over in a hilarious sequence and the dwarfs are back which is nice. There might be another installment in the works but I'm not sure if thats true or not but I hope that there is no re-make, anyway I highly recommend this film to horror fans and two thumbs up!.



4. I remember when this movie came out. It keep me on the edge of my seat as a kid. I love great horror films.



5. I though this movie would be so good because it looked awesome but is so boring, I fell asleep. I wish Phantasm V would hurry up and be made so they can take away this Phantasm IV and call Phantasm V Phantasm IV. I loved I and III, but I haven't seen II yet. WARNING: Steer clear of this Phantasm movie, it's phugly!

5 comments about Music in High Places - Ryan Adams (Live in Jamaica).

1. This is an amazing DVD. Ryan Adams of course, as always, is really good in this DVD, great songs and fun to watch!!



2. Remember MTV Unplugged, where artists did their stuff with acoustic instruments? Well, this film reminds me of that crossed with a travelogue. It is absolutely wonderful to see Ryan just jammin' and having fun... and his little side trips through Jamaica are a trip.
   A definate must-have for any true Ryan Adams fan... And I think this DVD would be a great introduction to Ryan's music for some of my friends as well!



3. This is a great performance by Ryan Adams in some beautiful places in Jamaica. (I think someone needs to check the description. Wynonna is not on this DVD, but most people get that from the title)



4. Full disclosure: Huge Ryan Adams fan. He can't do much wrong in my eyes so this review may be somewhat jaded (but then, what reviews aren't?). There are a few annoyances to it as it's not really fun watching stoned people stumble around Jamaica and the commercial bumpers should have been removed for the DVD. He does act a little goofy but not malevolent as some of his detractors would have you believe. The saving grace is that you can select "just the music" from the extras menu. This is definitely the way to go. It was a whole different experience when I chose this option on the second viewing. The tunes, mostly culled from Heartbreaker and Gold, sound great purely acoustic and it's fun watching him enlist the help of local children to sing back up on "Touch, Feel and Lose". For the price, if you're an Adams fan, you can't go wrong with this DVD.



5. Before I ordered this DVD, I watched some parts of it on youtube, so I had a rough idea about what I was going to get. When I watched the DVD, I saw that it has a lot more to offer. The scenes are shot very nicely which makes you absolutely want to go and visit Jamaica. The sound is great and the songs sound even better than all. I was also suprised to see Ryan Adams behaving nicely (I went to his concert recently and he was very mean to the audience). Overall, if you enjoy Ryan Adams' music, this DVD will please you with acoustic versions of some of his songs.

5 comments about Planet of the Apes (Widescreen 35th Anniversary Edition).

1. Saw this movie when it was first released quite a few years ago and I thought it was a good science fiction flick. After seeing it again now I feel that we are one step from living in the Planet of the Apes. Look at the political/ educational/social structure...race...if you don't see it...you're blind.
   shevbia



2. This is a great film, although in some ways a little dated. The chimp protestors and "Don't trust anyone over 30" comment comes to mind. Charlton Heston was terrific in this, playing his role just right in my opinion: "What the Hell would I have to say to an ape?"
   
   Even if you don't like scifi this is a fun movie to watch.



3. I bought this Movie for my Husband, I am not particularly a Planet of the ape fan. It was just what I wanted and I know he enjoyed the movie. For its time in history it was well made, has a good story line and takes you back to another time.



4. In the wake of Charlton Heston's death, I decided to have a marathon viewing of his films. I rewatched many of my favorites and sought out some of those I had never seen.
   
   "Planet of the Apes" is an iconic film and one of my longtime favorites. Heston stars as Taylor, an astronaut who crashes on a planet ruled by talking apes. Here humans are mute and primitive, treated like animals. Taylor is an anomaly that perplexes and frightens the apes (imagine us discovering an intelligent ape who could speak). The scientists want to study him, the superstitious leaders want to destroy him.
   
   Although it may seem like a mindless sci-fi movie on the surface, "Apes" deals with heavy themes like prejudice, social class, and the nuclear threat. With one exception (see next paragraph), it is well written, beautifully shot, and artfully directed. The film is full of great scenes: the astronauts' journey across the hauntingly bleak landscape, the chilling "hunting party" attack, and of course the famous twist ending. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is discordant and clangy, but it creates the perfect mood of otherworldly menace. Heston turns in one of his best performances ("Get your stinking hands off me . . .").
   
   However, for such an intelligent film, there is one ludicrous plot hole: though he believes he is on a planet far from earth, Taylor never once questions why the apes speak perfect English! It is inconceivable that he wouldn't wonder how this "alien" society speaks his language or uses remarkably familiar weapons like rifles.
   
   If you can overlook this error, "Apes" is really an enjoyable film, certainly much better than the misguided 2003 remake. It is a classic of science fiction and a must-see for any Heston fan.



5. Astronauts crash land onto a planet that is ruled by apes. A planet where the apes are at rule, and humans are the underdog. A planet where apes capture humans and use them for game.
   
   I really loved this version of the Planet of the Apes. I actually liked this one better than the 2001 version. (even though it looks more realistic) If you are a planet of the apes fan and liked the 2001 version, you may think well I don't want to see the old version! But this version really isn't that bad!

5 comments about Blue Water, White Death.

1. This is a documentary of people that are shark divers.
   They are actually searching for a Great White shark to film.
   This was filmed a couple years before JAWS hit the big screen.
   but this shows how sharks pretty much dominate the ocean.
   And after JAWS came out back in 1975 which upped the fear of
   sharks in the American public.
   Just remember these diver are pro's at what they do and have been doing this for many years.
   In fact a couple of the people that's on this documentary helped in the movie JAWS.
   Ever since I watched JAWS I've had a fascination with sharks.
   If your a shark diver or just like to watch shark diving this is
   one of the best that I've seen.
   I rate this DVD a 10 from 1to10!!



2. Blue Water, White Death is a wonderful blend of action, suspense and historical underwater cinematography.
   The shark encounters might seem a bit tame by today's standards, especially if you are used to watching leaping Great Whites on NG's Shark Week and other wild-life shows. But the movie was shot in the innocent pre-Jaws early 70's, when few people knew much about sharks or shark behavior.
   Watching the divers fend off schools of circling Oceanic White-tip sharks off South Africa is intense as it gets. Later, in Australian waters, you feel the adrenelin pumping as the divers film from inside cages while Great Whites rake their razor-sharp, serrated incisors along the bars.
   A special treat is watching legends Stan Waterman, Valerie and Ron Taylor, Rodney Fox, and the late Peter Gimbel, diving in their prime, and then seeing them today and listening to them reprise their exciting experience.
   The movie is unique and belongs in every ocean lover's collection.



3. This film is RARE. It is a ground breaking, historical documentry which, unfortunately, is very little known. If you are a serious diver, this is a MUST-HAVE.



4. This is a great documentary. The underwater photography and action are incredible. Also, the movie is worth watching just for the cast of characters - be sure to watch the reunion of the cast in the special features part. I am so glad that this movie is available again for everyone to see. GET IT!



5. Una pelìcula que hizo historia en el cine documntal del buceo, siendo sus protagonistas los primeros en filmar y fotografiar a los tiburones blancos sin protecciòn alguna de jaulas. imperdible!! muy emocionante las escenas extras con el homenaje a los integrantes del equipo casi 40 años despuès. realmente me emocionò y trajo a mi mente mis memorias de adolescente que soñaba con fotografiar tiburones bajo el agua, hoy lo he logrado y publicado esas fotos en varias revistas.

3 comments about Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal, 2000-2007.

1. It is indispensible to see what to expect on a visit to Spain and/or Portugal. Since the Travel Videos cover 2000 to 2007 you can also see how things end to change over time in Spain. These are my favorite Spain and Portugal travelogues.



2. Has there ever been another travel guide more amiable, more informative, more eclectic and just plain likeable than Rick Steves? This somewhat nerdish but pleasant looking fellow will immediately win the viewer over with his charm, humor and smoothing, layback manner. However what will keep you watching program after program is his consummate knowledge of the sites and people he visits.
   
   While each journey is only 30 minutes in length Rick has a unique talent of synthesizing the many facets that make up a people and place. He leaves no stone unturned in his analysis; historical background, spiritual heritage, cultural underpinnings and political legacy are all equally touched upon to give the audience a fuller understanding of the rural and urban landscape.
   
   However not not an individual to dwell too much on the past, he provides a delightful tour of the markets, music, restaurants and nightlife. The kind of information would really want to know if you're out for a good time.
   
   The production values are also wonderful offering fanstastic visuals that are worth watching even if there where no commentary. Traveling with Rick Steves' is the next best thing to being there.
   
   This particular DVD contains six episodes, thirty minutes in length. Imagine three hours in Spain and Portugal await, better get started!



3. I bought this for my son who was going to Spain. He tells me that RS books are the best thing he has seen for touring. (He spent a summer as a student in Europe and has traveled to Japan, England, Amsterdam, etc. on business.) His fiancee speaks Spanish and was able to ask locals where they should go. The best advice they got was from Steves' book. It made their trip much more enjoyable. In the future, whenever he (and I) travel, he will have a recent Steves book to guide him to local highlights and to get the most out of his travel dollar.

2 comments about National Geographic - Secrets of Jerusalem's Holiest Sites.

1. There's a saying: "If you need water, you build an aqueduct. If you are looking for God, you come to Jerusalem." Jerusalem means "City of Peace." But as a focal point of three major world religions, and home to some of those faiths' holiest sites, Jerusalem has witnessed 3,000 years of bloody conflict, intrigue and passion.
   
   This compelling documentary from National Geographic, with exclusive access, intimately explores locales held sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims throughout the centuries. The documentary unveils some of the rare onsite footage of the Holy sites of all the three monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. From footage filmed inside the magnificent Dome of the Rock to the vast underground expanse of Solomon's Stables to the traditional sites of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, it's a spellbinding journey into this ancient, multilayered urban landscape of war, worship and timeless wonder. As a special feature, a useful and Interactive Timeline of Jerusalem along with narration is also provided.
   
   The documentary takes you inside the beautiful Dome of the Rock adorned with Islamic art. It is an Islamic prayer house in what Muslims call Al-Aqsa Mosque, or the Noble Sanctuary (al-Haram al-Qudsi al-Sharif in Arabic; Jews and Christians call it the Temple Mount). Built in between 687 and 691 by the 9th Caliph, Abd al-Malik, it is the oldest extant Islamic building in the world and remains one of the best known landmarks of Jerusalem. The rock in the center of the dome is the spot from which the Muslims believe Muhammad ascended for a night-long journey to Heaven in AD 621, accompanied by the angel Gabriel. In Judaism, the stone is the site where Abraham fulfilled God's test to see if he would be willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. The focus then shifts to the southern congregational mosque in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound area commonly referred to as Al-Aqsa Mosque which can accommodate about 5,000 people worshipping inside it. The government of Israel has granted a Muslim Council, Waqf, full administration of the whole site of the Noble Sanctuary. Since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, non-Muslims are barred from entering the site. Beneath the Noble Sanctuary is shown the mysterious natural cave known as Well of Souls which is rarely documented. According to Islamic tradition, it is the place reserved for the faithful spirits who will gather on the day of resurrection.
   
   Another remarkable structure of the ancient times shown in the documentary is the Solomon's Stables. It is the common name of an area located directly underneath the south eastern corner of the Temple Mount, an area where the bedrock falls away steeply from the level of the Temple Mount platform. Consisting of rows of massive pillars and arches, the impressive structure was built by King Herod to support the gigantic platform for building the second Jewish temple. The area was later used by the crusaders as stables during the crusades.
   
   The documentary then takes you to an insightful tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the most famous Christian church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was first built by Constantine I the Great during the fourth century, after he became christian, and turned Christianity as the official religion of the Roman empire. The ground on which the church stands is venerated by most Christians as Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary, where the New Testament says that Jesus was crucified. It is said to also contain the place where Jesus was buried (the sepulchre). Immediately inside the entrance to the church is the Stone of Unction, which commemorates the preparation of Jesus' crucified body for burial. The church has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4th century. Today it serves as the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Catholic Archpriest of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
   
   From the Judaism viewpoint, the documentary shows the Western Wall, a retaining wall in Jerusalem that dates from the time of the Jewish Second Temple. It is revered for its proximity to the sacred Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount, which is the Most Holy Place in Judaism. One of the highlights of the documentary is the footage of a small area below ground level, unknown to many, called "The Cave", in the Western Wall Tunnel, which is the closest to the site of the Holy of Holies - at one area only about 100 meters away from Holy of Holies. The documentary also unearths Jewish ritual baths discovered recently under the Western Wall which the Jews including Jesus would have used before entering the Jewish Temple during the first century.
   
   This documentary effectively captures the essence and the enigma of the city that is Jerusalem, thereby helping to retrace the main events in the history of Jerusalem with onsite footage, reenactments and excellent narration throughout. It is highly recommended to those who wish to understand the troubled psyche, mystery, passion and legend of the city called Jerusalem.
   
   For the three world faiths, Jerusalem's holiest sites have been a gateway of Heaven since the days of the Bible and shall be so until the day of resurrection. From their beginning, all three faiths shared the common stories, prophets and an undying devotion to the holy sites of Jerusalem. In the end, it is going to be the place where their destinies are also tied to. After watching this, one just wonders how such a tiny piece of land in the whole world could evoke so much passion among the followers of three great world faiths, that their very own lives and their fates are bound to it, whether directly or indirectly, until the end of times.



2. This DVD gives excellent information on the muslim hajj pilgramage. I just wish it could be two hours long instead of just one hour.

5 comments about Marooned.

1. This thriller came out months before Apollo 13 was launched and while it could be said it is an omen, really this is a white knuckle thriller.
   Three astronauts are trapped in space after their retro's won't fire to let them come home. The rest is a race to try to save the men even though most think it is a lost cause. Simple as that,but the thrills all stem from that and if you let it will pull you in and make you sweat.
   The cast is great and the F/X are great,so sit back and see how to make a thriller that doesn't relie on guns and explosions to keep you engrossed!



2. This may indeed be though of as a "space movie" because much of it takes place in space but to do so is to miss the point. It is a human drama.
   
   An Apollo capsule has been in space for a while and the crew are tired and worn out. They are finally returning to earth but something goes wrong. Houston, we have a problem. At first, it is treated as just a temporary glitch but the glitch defies resolution. It becomes apparent that the astronauts run a real risk of running out of air.
   
   Gregory Peck plays the NASA director. He is a tough man motivated by the best interests of the program. He does not see a real way to rescue the marooned astronauts. It is pointed out to him, however, that failure to even try will spell the doom of the program. Once he gets on board, he does so with every resource he can muster. Unfortunately, there is a hurricane heading for the cape. That makes launching a rescue even more problematical.
   
   Meanwhile, on the stranded ship, the astronauts have their own problems. They realize they are on borrowed time and there is not a thing that they can do to help themselves. Saying goodbye to their families exhausts their capabilities.
   
   It is a sad tale extremely well done. It does not focus on the machinery, instead it focuses on the people.



3. This is one of the first movies I ever saw, and while the special effects are definitely 60s, the story is great. A little like Apollo 13.



4. Marooned is a very well written movie with an all star cast, excellent story line, and a must have for your movie collection. A Sci-Fi about our space program, and the risks involved with space flight. It touches on achievements, team effort, and tragic developments. If you haven't seen it, you're missing a really great film.
   
   Thomas



5. Another good idea for a movie. Mostly good acting with some almost. You know you are caught up when you catch yourself yelling, "stupid, look out for the..."