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Product Details
Actors: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull, Leslie Fenton, Gene Reynolds
Directors: Norman Taurog
Writers: Dore Schary, Eleanore Griffin, Jack Mintz, James Kevin McGuinness, John Meehan
Producers: John W. Considine Jr.
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French 
 DVD Release Date: November 8, 2005
Run Time: 199 minutes

Spencer Tracy won an Oscar for his portrayal of Father Flanagan, who opens Boys Town and dedicates himself to helping juvenile delinquents go straight. Mickey Rooney plays one of the tougher kids, figuring out early on that Flanagan is nobody’s fool. Warmhearted and inspiring, the film’s inevitable sentimentality is nicely cut by Tracy’s performance and a smart script by Eleanore Griffin and Dore Schary (who also won Oscars). A good film for all ages, directed by Norman Taurog (Adventures of Tom Sawyer). –Tom Keogh

This is indeed a classic and is definitely one of the greats! Values of yesteryear are still applicable today.  Top notch performances by Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. I recommend this for the whole family! Only problem is explaining why there is no colour in the movie or rather why is it black and white. 😀

Product Details
Actors: Drew Fuller, James Garner, Abigail Breslin, Bill Cobbs, Lee Meriwether
Directors: Michael O. Sajbel
Writers: Cheryl McKay, Jim Stovall
Producers: Cleve Landsberg, Dave Ross, Jim Van Eerden, John Shepherd, Paul Brooks
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: August 21, 2007
Run Time: 114 minutes

Editorial Review From Amazon:-

The Ultimate Gift is a tale of one man’s tumultuous journey toward personal growth and fulfillment. Surrounded in life, and death, by avaricious family members fueled by a sense of entitlement, billionaire Red Stevens (James Garner) wants to bequeath at least one member of his extended family “the ultimate gift”: something he perceives as immensely more valuable than material wealth. Red’s arrogant grandson Jason (Drew Fuller) holds a deep-seated hatred for his newly-deceased grandfather, so he’s surprised to learn from his grandfather’s friend and lawyer Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and assistant Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether) that he’s been mentioned in his late grandfather’s will. Far from a straightforward gift of cash, land, or stock, Red’s bequest comes in the form of a series of mysterious recorded instructions, the first of which requires Jason to hop on a plane for Texas the very next morning without a hint of the trip’s purpose or the nature of the gift that awaits him. Dropped into a life of hard physical labor on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, Jason’s bad-tempered fury eventually turns to resignation and he finds himself engaged in, and even taking pride in, the first real manual labor he’s ever done in his life. Unbeknownst to him, his journey toward claiming the ultimate gift has only just begun. When he returns from Texas, Jason finds his home cleared out, his car confiscated, and instructions to produce one true friend. While Jason is reduced to sleeping in the park, a young child name Emily (Abigail Breslin) and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis) make his acquaintance and lead him to re-examine his personal prejudices and perceptions of what’s truly important in life. Jason’s journey of self-discovery continues throughout a series of other trying experiences and, in the end, Grandpa Red’s “ultimate gift” of life lessons profoundly and permanently improves the quality of Jason’s life. What’s more, Jason’s new perspective of his place in society has a very positive affect on the larger community. This very powerful film is funny, heartbreaking, and intensely thought-provoking. –Tami Horiuchi

I love this movie! Nice Riches to Rags to Riches story with a whole lot of life lessons in betweeen! Perhaps the most intriguing thing which I got out of the movie, is the fact that there are various gifts presented to each and everyone of us which we often overlook, write off as inconsequential or are even seen as banes of our existence instead of gifts. 

What about the innumerable gifts given to us by God our Father, have we used or abused them……….Another Great Family movie I highly recommend!

DVD Details

Actors: Daniele Liotti, Enrico Brignano, Jose Sancho

Directors: Umberto Marino

Format: Full Screen, Closed-captioned,

NTSCLanguage: ItalianSubtitles: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 1Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Ignatius PressDVD

Release Date: January 1, 2005

Run Time: 95 minutes

Product Description

The first major feature length drama on the life of St. Anthony of Padua, one of the most popular saints in Christian history. Made in Italy with top-notch acting talent, and superb cinematography, this is an outstanding film on the inspiring life of St. Anthony. It presents Anthony as a strong and appealing person who sacrificed wealth, popularity and looks for the Kingdom of God. It beautifully portrays the power of his preaching, the holiness of his life, his love for the poor and oppressed, and the wonders of his miracles. Sure to be a very popular film!

Personal Review

I love this movie for the actors, storyline and cinematography, though I cannot comment on the historical accuracy of the film.   Still the life and the Scripture knowledge of this remarkable Saint is inspiring and I have developed a deep fondness for St Anthony.  I definitely recommend watching it!

Perhaps this extract of a review done by Madeline P Nugent will help with the historical accuracy bit in this movie.

Here are just some of the things that the movie portrayed that are not in any of the histories:

1. That Anthony killed a man in knightly combat.
2. That Anthony had a girl friend by any name (she is called Teresa in the movie)
3. That Anthony was depressed

Here are some wonderful, true incidents in the life of St. Anthony that were not in the movie but, in my opinion, should have been:

1. The power of his preaching. The preaching he is shown giving is sappy, in my opinion, when we actually have volumes of his stirring sermon notes and lofty and beautiful theology. I could have preached better than he did in the movie.
2. The confrontation with heretics (he was called the Hammer of Heretics) yet his love for them. We have hints of this in the movie but don’t get a good sense of why he had enemies (the religious and political controversy involving Catharism is not explained well enough).
3. His miracles such as the poor woman’s broken wine glass restored or the maid that ran through the rain with vegetables for the friars and didn’t get wet or the band of robbers that went to hear him and were all converted.

A great deal of the movie concerned fiction that is not in any of the biographies of the saint while leaving out some of the major and powerful aspects of his life. The movie is worth seeing, but it falls short of the saint. I hope someone remakes a movie of St. Anthony and sticks close to his life as we have it historically because such a movie would be stirring indeed.

Actors: Dennis Hopper, Elizabeth Hurley, Eric Thal, Michael Gambon, Diana Rigg
Directors: Nicolas Roeg
Writers: Allan Scott
Producers: Eleonora Andreatta, Gerald Rafshoon, Heinrich Krauss, Lorenzo Minoli, Luca Bernabei
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Turner Home Ent
DVD Release Date: September 6, 2005
Run Time: 180 minutes

Product Description

Visually stunning with lots of liberties taken in the retelling of this famous bible tale.  However the essence of the story is intact.  Some may find certain scenes offensive in that they can be quite brutal while others may find the sex scene between Samson and Delilah distasteful. ( NO it did not border on porn in any way)  I on the other hand applaud them for trying to make this as accurate as possible how else would you be able to see just what a temptress Delilah really was!

I did however have problem with the casting of Dennis Hopper as the fictional Philistine General Tariq, I reckon they spent too much time developing his fictional character as a result and this indeed was not one of his better performances.  Diana Rigg was exceptional as Mara while Eric Thal did a very convincing portrayal of Samson.  Liz Hurley is as usual visually stunning on film.

Product Details

Actors: Patrick Dempsey, Oliver Reed, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Vincent Regan, Leonor Varela
Directors: Harry Winer
Writers: Harry Winer
Producers: Lorenzo Minoli, Luca Bernabei, Paolo Lucidi, Paolo Piria
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1 
 Run Time: 90 minutes

Product Description

Jeremiah tells the story of the prophet who abandons his family and the woman he loves in order to relay God’s message in Jerusalem. Although he is persecuted and branded as a traitor for warning others of the destruction of the Holy City he continues fearlessly with his mission. When his prophecy is fulfilled he experiences first-hand Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians.

Review

Most great stories comes from the Bible and yet the scriptwriters decided to take some liberties in including some fictitious characters such as Jeremiah’s early ‘love interest’ ‘Judith’ (Lenor Varela)  and ‘General Safan’ (Oliver Reed) to make it even better.  Also Jeremiah is somewhat younger in this story but played superbly by Patrick Dempsey.  Well I must say they did an impressive job of even condensing it without compromising the heart of the Biblical story which they kept intact. 

The only thing I didn’t like was the portrayal of God which appeared to Jeremiah in the form of a little girl and an old man.  If one can look past this then this definitely a film worth watching.  Best scene for me was when Jeremiah the gentle looking man does not flinch from forcefully speaking the Word when it is needed especially when he first addressed the people at the temple calling for repentance.

Product Details

Actors: Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham, Jürgen Prochnow, Thomas Kretschmann, Ornella Muti
Directors: Raffaele Mertes
Writers: Sandy Niemand
Producers: Lorenzo Minoli, Luca Bernabei, Paolo Lucidi, Paolo Piria, Roberta Cadringher
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: 
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: September 26, 2000
Run Time: 90 minutes

Product Description

Following the conquest of Babylon the King of Persia gives a banquet for his people at which he requests the presence of his wife Vashti. As she refuses the King’s demand Ahasuerus disowns Vashti and goes in search of her replacement. In his harem he meets the young girl Esther who immediately captivates him with her charm and beauty. Unaware of her Jewish heritage King Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther. Esther then reveals to Ahasuerus that she is Jewish and asks him to show her people mercy because of a planned genocide of the Jews by the King’s right-hand man Haman. In doing so she saves the lives of many innocent people and paves the way for their return to Jerusalem.

Review

This story from the Old Testament is quite accurately depicted with only minor liberties taken to bring out the rich entirety of the story.  The pretty Louise Lombard was a good choice for her role as Esther as she brought out the graceful, emphathetic, courageous, intergrity, wisdom and dignity of Esther to the silver screen.  Also both F. Murray Abraham and Jürgen Prochnow were excellent choices for their roles as Mordecai and Haman respectively.  The only gripe I have is the portrayal of King Ahasuerus aka Xerxes ( as in the movie 300 ) because he comes across as young, impetuous, immature, drunkard and a reluctant King!

Overall this is DVD movie is still one for your library…..

Product Details

Actors: Jennifer Jones, Charles Bickford, William Eythe, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb
Directors: Henry King
Writers: Franz Werfel, George Seaton
Producers: William Perlberg
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: June 3, 2003
Run Time: 156 minutes

The story of a peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, a poverty-stricken, pure hearted adolescent, who saw a vision, of a “Beautiful Lady” near her home town of Lourdes in 1858. The wondrous news spreads rapidly throughout France, leaving in its wake a variety of consequences: adoration, suspicion and greed among the people of Lourdes skepticism from the town doctor (Lee J. Cobb) charges of insanity from the town prosecutor (Vincent Price) threats of physical punishment, then support and guidance from the Dean of Lourdes (Charles Bickford), who finally becomes convinced that the miracle has, indeed, taken place. Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Actress and Best Score, this true story is both first-rate filmmaking and an inspiring tribute to faith, courage and the human spirit.

Review : 

I first watched it when I purchased the LD format more than 10 years ago and I still love this movie after watching it for numerous times!  Not all religious movies are able to achieve the Spirituality which will touch both believers and non-believers alike, but this is definitely one of them.  This is largely due to the powerful performance of the beautiful Jennifer Jones and the rest of the stellar cast.   Saint Bernadette’s unwavering faith, her humility and serenity in suffering is astoundingly captured in this film through Jennifer Jones portrayal and a very well written script.

I like this bit from a well written review I read online…

Ridiculed, scorned and threatened by the ecclesiastical and political establishments, Bernadette must hold on to her integrity in order to survive. The realistic plotting and manipulations of the petty local politicians (led by Vincent Price) is worth the price of the DVD alone. Charles Bickford (nominated for best supporting actor) portrays the skeptical local priest who believes that he knows what is best for Bernadette in the end.

Gladys Cooper (nominated for best supporting actress) is the vitriolic nun who despises and persecutes the poorly educated, sickly and simple minded Bernadette. The shattering emotional climax where the nun realizes the enormity of her sin is a master class in acting.

This remains the most realistic religious film of the Studio era. Its hard hitting depictions of the poverty of Bernadette’s family, of the blindness of the Church and of a town’s small-mindedness is balanced by its literal depiction of the validity of Bernadette’s visions.

Product Details
Actors: Sergio Castellitto
Directors: Carlo Carlei
Format: NTSC
Language: Spanish, English, Italian
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 1
Studio: Ignatius Press
DVD Release Date: October 1, 2006
Run Time: 214 minutes

Sypnosis :- This movie captures the Capuchin friar’s intense faith and devotion, and deep spiritual concern for others, as well as his great compassion for the sick and suffering. It reveals the amazing details and events in Padre Pio’s life as a boy and throughout his 50 years as a monk, dramatizing the frequent attacks of the Devil on him, as well as the persecution he suffered at the hands of people, including those in the church. Starring Italian actor Sergio Castellitto, and directed by Carlo Carlei, this is an outstanding feature film on the amazing life of this great saint.

REVIEW :- I absolutely love this film!  And I find that after transforming my own life and watching it a 2nd time, the story seems to touch me even more profoundly.  Tears seem to constantly well up as I watched how Padre Pio suffered with dignity.

There seems to be a few fans of Padre Pio that feels that this movie does not do his life justice in that there might be a few discrepancies.  And furthermore, he had perform so many more miracles then what was portrayed in this DVD.  On the first point, I cannot comment on the discrepancies if any but I will say that I trust the Ingnatius Press Studios.  As for the many miracles not shown in this movie, perhaps they should wait for the made of TV-Mini Series.

I highly recommend this DVD.

Also for those who might not know this, Padre Pio is Saint Pio.

CANONIZATION OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA CAPUCHIN PRIEST
Known as Padre Pio

ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II

Monday, 17 June 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. It is a great joy for me to meet you again the day after the solemn canonization of the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo. Dear pilgrims and devotees, I greet you with affection who have gathered in Rome in such large numbers for this special occasion. I first of all greet the bishops, priests and religious who are present here. I want to pay special attention to the Capuchin Franciscans who in communion with the whole Church praise and thank the Lord for the marvels he has worked in their exemplary confrere. Padre Pio is an authentic model of spirituality and humanity, two characteristic features of the Franciscan and Capuchin tradition. I greet the members of the “Padre Pio Prayer Groups” and the representatives of the family of the “Home for the Relief of Suffering”, that great institution for the treatment and the care of the sick that came forth from the new saint’s charity. I embrace you, dear pilgrims from the noble land that gave birth to Padre Pio, from the other regions of Italy and from every part of the world. By your presence here, you witness to how widespread are devotion to and confidence in the holy Friar of the Gargano in the Church and on every continent.

2. But what is the secret of such great admiration and love for this new saint? He is first of all a “friar of the people”, a traditional characteristic of the Capuchins. He is also a saint who is a miraculous healer, as the extraordinary events which are part of his life attest. However, above all Padre Pio is a religious who is deeply in love with the crucified Christ. He even shared physically in the mystery of the Cross during his life. He liked to link the glory of Tabor with the mystery of the Passion, as we read in one of his letters: “Before exclaiming with St Peter “Oh how good it is to be here’, it is necessary first to climb Calvary, where one sees only death, nails, thorns, suffering, extraordinary shadows, abandonment and fainting” (Epistolario III, p. 287). Padre Pio made his journey of demanding spiritual ascesis in communion with the Church. The temporary misunderstandings he had with one or other ecclesial authority did not put a brake on his attitude of filial obedience. Padre Pio was a faithful and courageous son of the Church and in this situation following the shining example of the “Poverello” of Assisi.

3. May this holy Capuchin to whom so many people turn to from every corner of the earth point out to us the means to reach holiness which is the goal of our life as Christians. How many faithful in every social condition, from the most diverse places and the most difficult situations hurried to ask his help! He knew how to offer them all what they needed most, which they were often groping for without being fully aware of it. He passed on to them the comforting and enlightening Word of God, enabling each person to draw from the sources of his grace through his diligent dedication to the ministry of the confessional and the fervent celebration of the Eucharist. So it was that he wrote to one of his spiritual daughters: “Do not be afraid to come to the Lord’s altar to be fed with fleshoftheImmaculateLamb,because no one will better reconcile your spirit than your king, nothing will warm it more than his sun, and nothing will soothe it better than his balm” (ibid., p. 944).

4. The Mass of Padre Pio! It was an eloquent reminder to priests of the beauty of the priestly vocation. For the religious and the lay people who flocked to San Giovanni Rotondo even at the early morning hours, it was an extraordinary catechesis on the value and importance of the Eucharistic sacrifice. Holy Mass was the heart and the source of his whole spirituality: “There is in the Mass”, he used to say, “the whole of Calvary”. The faithful who crowded round his altar were profoundly impressed by the intensity of his “immersion” in the Mystery, and perceived that “the Father” participated in his person in the Redeemer’s sufferings.

5. St Pio of Pietrelcina presented himself to everyone – priests, men and women religious and lay people – as a credible witness to Christ and to his Gospel. May his example and intercession spur everyone to greater love for God and concrete solidarity with his neighbour, especially those who are in greatest need. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Padre Pio called by the beautiful name of “Our Lady of Grace” (Santa Maria delle Grazie), help us to follow in the footprints of this religious who is so beloved by the people! With this hope, I cordially bless you who are present here, your loved ones and all who are committed to following in the spiritual footsteps of the beloved saint of Pietrelcina.

———————————————-

“Pray, pray to the Lord with me, because the whole world needs prayer. And every day, when your heart especially feels the loneliness of life, pray. Pray to the Lord, because even God needs our prayers.”

Actors: History Channel
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 25, 2003
Run Time: 170 minutes

Review :-  Definitely one for your personal collection….I think Robert J. McNamara did an excellent job of reviewing this DVD so here it is…

This documentary from the History Channel does a fine job examining the lives of the 12 disciples chosen by Christ to carry his teachings to the world. Beginning by providing an historical overview of life in Jerusalem under Roman rule, it goes on to cogently explain the circumstances by which Jesus, having become recognized as a teacher, was able to recruit his apostles. Intelligently handled reenactments provide dramatizations of significant events in the lives of the disciples, and their diverse personalities and individual relationships with Jesus, as well as their lives following the crucifixion, are covered in some depth. Biblical scholars, including university professors and priests, appear throughout in interview segments to offer their insights, and the narration by actor Martin Sheen is understated but always interesting. The issue of separating fact from myth is dealt with at some length, and a discussion of how some accounts of the lives of the apostles came to be judged as the Apocrypha is of particular interest. The Story of the Twelve Apostles is a commendable look at some of history’s most intriguing figures, 12 men who were considered outlaws but whose influence is today felt around the world.

Related Articles

• Identifying the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (adw.org)

Product Details

Review : Rarely do we find a movie which so accurately depicts the era of the time, the culture, the traditions etc.  It is a real treat to finally be able to see Scripture come alive with picture and sound! Richard Harris, Barbara Hershey and Carolina Rosi were stunning in their roles as Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.  Watch this made for television movie and you’ll have a deeper appreciation and even greater respect for Abraham’s pure faith in God and not just for the fact that he almost sacrificed his beloved son Issac.  You will truly understand terms like ‘God of Abraham’, the destruction of Sodom and the tie in with the New Testament on the sharing of ‘Bread and Wine”  I absolutely loved this movie!

P.S. Young kids will probably be bored and fall asleep though……NOT SO with the Adults who are still trying to relate to the history of that era.

Product Description

He was originally a powerful and implacable enemy of Jesus, determined to stop the spread of Christ’s message. But then his dramatic conversion changed him and changed the course of history.
From his education in Jerusalem under the Rabbi Gamaliel to his exhortations on behalf of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean, The Story of Paul the Apostle, presented by The History Channel, explores the life and legacy of the greatest missionary of the early church. Theologians reflect on the importance of his upbringing to his success in spreading the Word, and an in-depth analysis of his writings — some of the earliest Christian documents extant — shed light not just on the origins of Christianity, but on the man who helped ensure its survival.

Follow in the footsteps of Paul of Tarsus — The Man Who Turned the World Upside Down.

DVD Features:
Languages: English
Subtitles: None
Viewing Format: Fullscreen
Bonus Material:
Scene Selection

Review :-  This DVD is an eye opener for us who never knew the history and life of St Paul.  It is a documentary narrated by Martin Sheen which delves deep into history with dramatizations we’ve come to expect of the History Channel.  Watch this DVD and discover how, I believe the first and probably greatest Theologian ever lived according to the will of God.

I managed to borrow it from Hollywoodclicks.com of which I am a member.