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Reviews (1)

"In jail, I was practically forced to think."
"Uranus", directed by Claude Berri is set in a small French town in post WWII France. The townspeople have one thing in common--they've all survived the Nazi occupation. Unfortunately just how everyone managed to survive is now a matter of political significance. Old resentments surface, and old scores have yet to be settled.
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Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - French    3. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    4. International    5. Movie   

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Subjects:  1. Art House & International    2. Ballet    3. Comedy    4. Music & Musicals   

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Reviews (2)

Good movie for ballet history
Though maybe a little "slow" in parts for some people I enjoyed watching this ballet. It gave a well-rounded history of ballet. I have watched it several times. It's not one of my favorites because there isn't as much dancing in it, but it was educational.

Cheap. But at what price?
A silent documentary(? )presented as a slide show with old engravings with very short video clips in between. Of course you know by heart who all those famous faces are, cause there's no indication whatsoever. Before youtrash it in the closest dumpster around fast forward to the Baryshnikovclip at the very end. It'll pay for the price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Music Video    4. Performance   

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Reviews (5)

A "Must Have" Video For All Ballet Teachers And Ambitious Students.
This video covers most of the basics of beginning pointe instruction for barre and center practice.The exercises are explained very completely and accurately by Barbara Fewster of the Royal Ballet School and beautifully demonstrated by one of her students.Virtually every type of introductory pointe exercise is shown(of course, the variations are endless, so the selection is not exhaustive!).All three of the methods of reaching pointe are shown:pique, releve, and saute to pointe.Much of what is covered here also carries over to intermediate and advanced work.What is left out?Plies on pointe, sautes on pointe(very much an intermediate-advanced step), and pirouettes on pointe, to mention a few.If this video is combined with some good books on the subject of pointe technique(see my reviews of "Balanchine Technique" and "The Art of Teaching Ballet", both excellent sources of advanced pointe technique), you would have the topic pretty well covered.This video is highly recommended for ballet teachers that are just starting to teach pointe technique and need some guidance(this category often includes male ballet teachers), as well as the serious student starting pointe.Some of the combinations are not as long as some dancers are used to, but this is actually recommended for beginning pointe students, so as not to cause injury, until they build up the required srength and stamina for longer sequences.How wonderful it would be if this came out on dvd!For now, don't pass this up on vhs.

pretty good
Barbara Fewster first talks about foot types (only for about a minute) and pointe shoes (less than a minute). The rest of the video is combinations. The dancer who demonstrates is very precise, but the combinations really are too short - mostly about 16 counts, and one was only 8.

Pointe by Point video
The Pointe by Point video was very nice.The dancer performing is very clear and precise with her technique.The video starts off with Barbara Fewster giving some information about the three types of feet:not as arched, moderate, and a high arch.She shows pictures of each one and explains about how the feet are.After that, they show a young dancer doing exercises for pointe at the barre and in the center.The video is well-put together.My suggestions for the video would be to make each combination longer, and when I say that I mean make the combination a full 32-counts at the least, instead of 16-counts, so they will not be so short when practicing each combination.It would have been nice if they had a teacher telling the student or students more about the technique of pointe and what to watch out for and correct.Basically, this video gives you some combinations to work on, but there is not emphasis on the technique of pointe. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet Video    2. Classical    3. Performing Arts    4. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

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Reviews (4)

Great 4 Prince fans all around
Yeah, this movie may get confusing but I think for a movie that's way ahead of it's time and that was made by someone who talks in riddles, you would kind of expect it to be.
Great Videos!
I thought this was a great VHS. It has tons of videos and they are all great. A Must have for any Prince fan!

Ahead of its time
Of all the Prince films 3 Chains of Gold is the most ahead of its time. So ahead that now 5 years later I still find it confusing.Prince, who at the time was 0->, wrote a hodgepodge of action film and spirtual mumbo jumbo. Though beautifully shot 3 chains is over all dull. Especially the dancing. Buy the CD instead. It contains some of the most underated songs of Prince's career. This film is only for the serious collector. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance-Pop    3. Music Video - Pop/Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. R&B    7. Soul    8. Urban   

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Reviews (9)

Carmen Fails
Any resemblance between this production and Bizet's opera is purely accidental and not intentional.Baryshnikov, as always, is fantastic but Zizi Jeanmarie is a smiling flirty chick who just can't carry off the character.In addition, the story is not conveyed as essential elements of the story are conspicuously absent to anyone who has seen the opera.All in all, I which I had never spent my money on it.

Of little interest...
While any ballet featuring Mikhail might be reason enough to watch it, this work might be the exception. Very little of the choreography is appealing and the sets are very bland. This is the drabest Spain I've seen pictured in a good while. Mikhail acquits himself nicely, but sadly Zizi does not. While perhaps an expressive and talented dancer in her heyday, here she appears to be afraid of injury and never really stretches herself. You can see the concentration on her face as she prepares for simple back attitudes. She has an adequate port-de-bras, but her shoulders, so pivotal to Spanish dance, barely twitch when they should shimmy. Carmen was a vivacious gypsy, but Zizi gives us a merely brittle, hesitant gamine with a toothy smile. She is acting like hell, but it is not enough to cover her flaws.

Poor TeamingBecause of Age Disparity
Carmen is a great ballet with the talented Roland Petite as choreographer. I first watched ZiZi dance it in The Black Tights when I was a teenager. I thought she was fabulous then -- sexy, sultry and seductive.Her technique was flawless. Now decades later, when I watched her again dancing with Baryshnikov, I couldn't help sighing sentimentally,' Ah, the cruelty of passing time!' Faded is her beauty,gone is her vibrancy and allure, missing is some of the difficult and fancy footwork which makes the ballet so pleasing and exciting. Why did they put her opposite the golden Adonis? The age disparity is made more obvious. There is a lack of spark or passion between them. It is unconvincing that he is madly in love with her.It makes sense that The Paris Opera Ballet makes 40 the mandatory retirement age for their ballerinas since more or less they will lose their stamina. If you had watched the video 'Ballerina: Karen Kain 'in which are excepts from Carmen, you would understand what I mean and would not think of me as being harsh and unfair. There are so many productions of Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote ...etc in Video and DVD. Why is there only one Carmen? I really look forward to seeing more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet Video    2. Classical    3. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

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Reviews (3)

Outstanding
The M&B Bal tapes are outstanding introduction to Bal & Bal Swing.Together with the intermediate and advanced tapes, this collection is the best group of Bal tapes you can buy.The instruction is very clear, recording quality of tapes is strong, lots of socially useful moves, sweet jam sessions at end of tapes.If you like Bal, you need these tapes.

Awesome!
I've had the pleasure of watching dance champions Marcus and Baerbl as well as Steve and Denise in action during many Balboa/Bal-Swing competitions and never cease to be amazed with their perfomances.If you want to learn to dance like them, this video is as good as taking private lessons, as they reveal the secrets of their awesome footwork!They are some of the finest dance instructors today, as these videos will prove.They will inspire you and break down the moves well enough to give you confidence to try them out on the social dance floor.I recommend the entire series because once you get a taste of this dance you will surely want more!

You can learn to BAL -- and have a great time in the process
We love this video series.This may be one of the best one's yet from Marcus and Baerbl's dance videos.Not only are M&B two of the greatest dancers around, they are also two of the best teachers out there today.Here's why we highly recommend this video:Read more

Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Music & Musicals    3. Special Interests   

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Reviews (20)

Still the definitive "Swan Lake" - on video
I have watched many live and video performances of this ballet and this is the one version I find myself returning to time and time again.There is something so dramatically compelling about the way Makarova and Dowell interpret their roles that my attention is held in a way that perhaps more technically proficient renderings of the roles could not.Makarova and Dowell in the leads are ultimately the most satisfying interpretations I have yet witnessed.
A Great Way to Tell the Story of Swan Lake
This is an outstanding performance by the Royal Ballet.The Royal Ballet is one of my absolute favorite ballet combanies.Makarova is phenominal.Her Odette is so dramatic and is filled with passion.On the other hand, her Odile is creepy.A perfect Odile in my opinion: wicked and bewitching.
Bizet - Carmen Ballet
Dear people,
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Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Ballet Video    3. Classical    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

Editorial Review

Beginning and intermediate dancers will enjoy this 40-minute swing dance video, which teaches the steps and style of this exciting dance craze.Instructors Marcus Koch and Bärbl Kaufer, winners of many swing dancechampionships in Germany and internationally, are skilled and enthusiastic. Theystart with the basic triple step, send out and pass through, then build intointermediate steps like switches and "Dean kicks" (alternating kicks, endingwith the woman kicking from a dipped position--very cute!), showing each stepfrom different angles. Koch explains clearly, including technique and styling tips. Each segment ends with the instructors demonstrating the steps to fast-paced music. Keep the tape rolling after the credits and you'll see seven peppy minutes of the instructors jamming. Highly recommended: You'll get not only the steps, but also the style and joy of the dance. Read more

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Reviews (6)

Great video!Might couple it with a workshop
I thought this was a great video for beginners and experienced dancers alike.Beginners might want to watch this video several times or perhaps pickup a copy of Big City Swing - Beginning Lindy Hop to go with this video for maximum effects. A Great Set of Dance Moves
This video seems short (40 min) (but most of the other tapes in the series go for longer), but it is packed with excellent dance routines.As far as instructional videos goes I would consider this one fair to average.It start of with the basics of leading and following, but quickly leads into more advanced patterns that might be a bit much for a beginning dancer.Marcus and Barbl are excellent dances and provide the tape with some interesting moves that I haven't seen on other instructional videos.The move list is: triple-lindy basic, the send out, the pass through, the whip, the whip with a free spin, the quick stop, switches, the rhythm turn, dean kicks, the sugar push, the sling shot, and the slide.I would recommend that you try another video of you are a beginner (perhaps Big City Swing). but once you get the basics down this video is amazing.As a bonus this video is full of live footage from swing dance competitions.As a swing dance teacher, I love this one.

Amazing Dancers, Amazing Teachers
Marcus and Barble are two of the best swing dancers in the world.Watch their tapes and see why!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Music & Musicals    3. Special Interests   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (6)

Very Good performance
Margot is certainly a wonderful dancer and so is Nureyev. Les Sylphides is beautiful with the tutu's and choreography. I did not like La Valse really though. The Sleeping Beauty was lovely. Margot and David Blaire were excellent and I loved the Bluebird pas de deux. On the whole I really enjoyed it but I also recommend Essential Ballet for people wanting a beautiful dvd of excerpts. It is with the Kirov Ballet and has bits from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Firebird, Giselle, Don Quixote, Paquita, and quite a few more.

Enjoy!
I have a 6 years old daughter and we missed our bed time because wejust could not stop watching the performance. It's truly amazing, ballet at it's best.

Wonderful DVD, wonderful history, wonderful performances!
Nureyev and Fonteyn! Need I say more? This DVD is sooo valuable for so many reasons! As an historical record, it cannot be surpassed. The performance of "Les Sylphides" is pure Fokine choreography, with a grace and fluidity that is not always present in performance companies these days. The "storyless" ballet is actually about the poet (Nureyev) being inspired by the sylphs who seem to caress his mind with both dreamy visions and moments of ecstasy. This ballet alone is worth the price of admission! For those who want to see the more bravura side of Nureyev, look to the pas de deux from Le Corsaire. Balletomanes will probably recognize that the male technique has advanced remarkably overall since 1963. But still, Nureyev is electric and amazing in this pas de deux. La Valse should be seen just because it is Ravel's music at its most lush and passionate. This may also be the only filmed record of the choreography of this rarely performed ballet. And of course... if you long to see Margot Fonteyn in her true element, the last act of "Sleeping Beauty" is pure delight. All of the divertissement are danced by dancers we now recognize as principal ballerinas... who were mere soloists at the time. Puss in Boots and the Bluebird pas de deux are marvelous reproductions of the original Petipa choreography, and a joy to watch. The costuming, sets, and mannerisms of this ballet definitely take the viewer to a different time and place. Magnificent! Fonteyn is an ageless diamond in this wonderful performance! There are a hundred reasons to buy this DVD, and few detractions. I saw this movie when it was released in theaters back in the 1960s, and the DVD transfer is not without its occasional moments of fuzz, but for the most part it is fantastic. The insertion of the "Russian Dance" from "The Nutcracker" into the last act of the "Sleeping Beauty" was quite jarring, but it was well danced. It was not uncommon, even in Petipa's day, to insert specialty numbers to accommodate a particular dancer, or up-and-comer who needed exposure... or even to promote a particular composer. So, in keeping with the age-old tradition, this odd insertion is not without precident. I rate this DVD at four stars. The ballets are beautifully photographed, the feet are never "cut off" by the camera, and there are no "special effects" to interfere with one's total enjoyment of the performances. This one comes highly recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet Video    2. Classical    3. Performing Arts    4. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

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Reviews (3)

golden age Bolshoi artists
Born in 1925, Maya Plisetskaya was one of the great dancers of the 20th century, known for her brilliant performances, her technical skill and her ability to soar in the air with her huge jumps. She towered above the other prima ballerinas of her era in height, and outshone many with her dynamic personality. It is hard to say when the ballets on this tape were filmed, but I would venture to guess that it was a lot later than when I saw her in 1959, on the first tour she was allowed to make with the Bolshoi Ballet, to dance in New York City. There are no huge jumps here, but it is nevertheless wonderful, and shows tremendous artistry.
Tough competition
I would like to add that my copy of this video has several short pas-de-deux's and a solo, besides Carmen, which are not mentioned in the other reviews. They include Ms. Plisetskaya's version of the "Dying Swan" - a rather cold performance, I should say; a Bach duet and the Raymonda Variations. Plisetskaya's rendering is all fire and she demonstrates a fierce theatrical ability as well as technical vigour. It would be interesting to compare her interpretation to Alicia Alonzo's - available on video. Alicia's rendering is perhaps a bit "cooler" than her Russian counterpart's, but the video quality is superior and as it was filmed in Cuba, I believe it must be closer to Mr. Alonso's original idea.

A must see, a must have
For anyone who understands what Maya Plisetskaya is to ballet - it's a must have.The whole length "Carmen-Suite" is amazing! Everything is very well put together: the music (rearranged by no other than Rodion Shchedrin, Maya's husband), the choreography by Alberto Alonso, the set design, the costumes and of course the dancers. This production is so avant-garde and so ahead of it's time, that it's timeless.Maya Plisetskaya is the supreme ballerina among the supreme.She possesses all of the aspects required of a ballerina: artistry, technique and musical interpretation, whichto this day haven't been surpassed by any other dancer.She makes you believe that she is the character of her ballet not just another role that she is performing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet Video    2. Classical    3. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

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• Full Screen

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Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Kids & Family    3. Music & Art    4. Special Interests   

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Reviews (10)

A must have!
If you like Daft Punk at all, you will really enjoy being able to watch all the old school videos DVD. Wish there were more videos, but they used the 'making of' footage and paired it with remixes to make new videos for the remixes, so that's cool. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

MORE LIVE STUFF!
Obviously the videos are great. But all the extras are okay, but there needs to be 300 hours of live footage to make me happy.

Around the World
I've given this DVD a five rating purely becuase it has the Around the World video on it. Surely one of the most techically accomplished and visually stunning videos ever made. Michel Gondry is a genius in music video making. I expect in years to come people will look back at this video and still wonder about how exactly it was made. With only Radiohead's 'Street Spirit' and Chris Cunningham's robotic masterpiece of Bjiork's 'All is full of Love' come close to providing such a perfect visual interpretation of the music surrounding it. Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance Music    3. Electronica    4. House    5. Left-Field House    6. Music Video - Pop/Rock    7. Pop    8. Rock   

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Reviews (7)

excellent
My only problem with it is it's very limited.Running only a little over a half hour, and containing 3 live videos ("Far too Frail" & "Smothered Hope," which are almost identical; and "Deep Down Trauma Hounds," which is taken from "Ain't it Dead Yet?"), you're left wanting more.But other than that, what's here is excellent, especially the "Dig It," "Testure," and "Spasmolytic" videos.

Brilliance..
Skinny Puppy were never a band.They were an entity. Essential for fans
If your a fan, you have to own this. It is unreal! Its skinny puppy, so nuff said. Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Canada    3. Industrial    4. Industrial Dance    5. Music Video - Pop/Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

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• Compilation
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Subjects:  1. Dance Music    2. Music Video - Pop/Rock    3. Pop   

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Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance Music    3. Dance-Pop    4. Music Video - Pop/Rock    5. R&B   

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Reviews (1)

PSB on TV
This is a very rare video, the first video collection of the Pet Shop Boys.This came after their introductory album, 'Please' and the remix mini-album, 'Disco'.The videos included here include their hits from the time:
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Subjects:  1. Dance Music    2. Music Video - Pop/Rock    3. Rock   

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Reviews (1)

Honky Tonkin'
Diane Horner's unique teaching methods will show you both the attitude and dance steps you'll need to perform four popular line dances. Each dance is demonstrated in easy-to-learn patterns, which you practice along with Diane.
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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Dance Music    3. How To - Miscellaneous    4. Pop