Diamonds Movie Reviews

At the peak of the Polish school of film, Andzej Wajda made "Ashes and Diamonds," a film that deals largely with the national experience in Poland. Thus, it helps to know a bit of Polish history before viewing this film. The story: Manciek is a young solider in the right-wing Nationalist Army who is ordered at the conclusion of the war to assassinate the newly-arrived Communist District Secretary. In the meantime, he falls in love. The film then becomes a discussion of conscience v. loyalty, with Manciek living in both the established and criminal world and often crossing the line between a life with his new girlfriend and his continued life as a revolutionary. The title itself (taken from Norwid's romantic poem) obviously plays into this conflict.

Wajda's films do not avoid bitterness and pessimism, and this film in particular treats art as a response to the problems of society, revealing the factors that emphasize its complexes as well as its symptoms. At the end of the film, the immediate devastation has ended; but, the ongoing devastation has only begun. In fact, Wajda seems to say, it is a devastation with no end in sight because it is imposed by a memory that makes the line between life and death a thin one; Manciek wears dark glasses because his eyes could never adjust to the light after his time spent in the sewers during the Polish resistance. "Will there remain among the ashes," the Polish poet Norwid asked, "a star-like diamond, the dawn of eternal victory?" Wajda presents this question to the viewer throughout his film-- a question which he leaves open for you to answer.

"Ashes and Diamonds" (Pol.: Popiol i Diament, 1958), directed by Andrzej Wajda, is the third film of a trilogy of films about the Polish Resistance. The first two were "A Generation" (1954) and "Kanal" (1956). "Kanal" is being released on DVD simultaneously with "Ashes and Diamonds." "A Generation" (Pol.: "Pokolenie"), an overtly propogandistic film, Wajda's first feature and not as moving as the other two, once had a VHS release. Of more recent fame are Wajda's two films about the conflict between the individual and the state. "Man of Marble" (1976) is available on DVD. The DVD release of its sequel, "Man of Iron" (1981), which was screened recently on cable TV, has already been announced and cannot be far off. Given Wajda's political position and his willingness to express his views, it is surprising that he did not suffer more from the repressive regime in Poland. As it is, he felt it wise to leave the country for a while after "Man of Iron."

The ashes and diamonds of the title clearly refer to the physical destruction of the country by the Germans and the beauties, largely of a human nature, that can still be found among the ruins. The hero of the story, a young anti-communist played by famed Polish actor Zbigniew Cybulski, has botched an assassination attempt on a party official in the countryside by killing the wrong man. Now he must return to the city and kill the man in a setting which exposes him to far greater risk. In the meantime, he chats up a hotel barmaid, who quickly becomes his lover. The assassination now puts not only his life in jeopardy but also his new relationship. I will explain no more lest I spoil the film for others.

Zbigniew Cybulski, who also had a small part in "A Generation," was known as the Polish "James Dean" because of his vulnerability and low-key machismo. Like Dean, his life ended tragically (trying to catch a train he fell under the wheels). Unlike Dean he lived to be 39 and made 29 films.

Of "Kanal" and "Ashes and Diamonds," it is the first film that has the stronger images and is the more moving. "Ashes and Diamonds" is a less classical and more modern film, with much in common with Film Noir. Both films are remarkable achievements, and neither is the sequel (except chronologically) to previous films in the trilogy. Watch them both.

To start this off, the first episode on the disc (of three) has the lowest production values of the entire Excess series. The animation budget appears to be at the bare minimum for the entire episode. Even the action scenes are reduced to near-slideshow quality.

However, there are many humorous scenes in that episode... especially the 'sexual assault'. Hilarious.

I guess they were saving up the money for the final two episodes.

Well, that's fine with me becuase the final two episodes are amazing. Well worth the price of the disc. They really turn things loose. It's spectacular. The animation is spot-on, and there are so many memorable moments. The action scenes are very creative and well-directed. The story wraps up nicely.

I didn't much care for Nanvel up to this point. Now I think she's my favorite character. Yuji's got some great "Additional Theater" stuff on the disc as well. "EXCITING!"

If you enjoyed the action and pacing of the final volumes of Macross Plus, this is for you. And Burn Up fans, this is what we've all been waiting for. Excess at it's best. I dare say that no one will walk away disappointed with the finale of this series.

Extras are average. Disc layout is easy to navigate. In the end, I've got no complaints. Highly recommended to all anime fans.

for those who want to lamblast roger moore's bond (and i'll do that myself on the later entries) then check out this connery dud. jimmy dean as a howard hughes villian? campy gay villians and a hollywood squares type washed up actress heroine? it's all downhill in a virtually plotless bond bomb

Ok, why do I say that u may ask.. Heres why. Sean Connery is and may forever be the quint esential Bond, but EVERY bond actor should know when his time is up, and I dont think he did. I know that Lazenby was not everybodys favorite like Connery was, but I think people should have known that this movie was ganna be bad. A few reasons for this. First, the whole Blofeld coming back and coming back and coming back thing REALLY got old. The main female lead was a strong willed women in most of it, but at the end, she is really annoying and just plain stupied. Another let down was I was under the assumption that Diamonds are Forever
was ganna be a GREAT revenge bond for the simple reason that blofeld and his lady friend killed bonds wife in the moive before, and I think that blofeld was WAY to nice, and the movie should have been more of bond getting back at blofeld, like bond did against Sanchaz in Licence to Kill. The revenge of that movie should have been in DAF. Then we have the 2 homosexual bad guys which I REALLY didnt like in the movie, and took the movies worth to me down another star. Other then that, pretty good stunt, effects. an ok story, and should please most bond fans.

The story line in this movie has a number of truck-sized holes (such as how Bond is able to locate Tiffany so quickly after she fails to show up for their "little rendezvous" at the rental car agency), but it's still an entertaining movie to watch. For me, its biggest charm is its Las Vegas setting--for the Vegas fanatic, it's great fun to see what Fremont Street and the Strip, as well as the inside of places like the Riviera, Circus Circus, and McCarran Airport, looked like in the 1970-71 timeframe.

Kirk Douglas is one of the all time great leading men in the last century. At 83 and having suffered a stroke, I'm sure no one ever thought he would be acting again. Think again. Douglas is back, and although he is hampered somewhat by the effects of the stroke, he is as feisty, energetic and dramatically potent as ever.

Douglas plays Harry, the patriarch of a three-generation family in this bittersweet comedy exploring the relationships between a father, his son and his grandson. Harry is seen early in the film doing exercises to recover his speech and strengthen his facial muscles after a stroke. A former welterweight champion, Harry tells his son (Dan Akroyd) and grandson (Corbin Allred) that when he was younger, he had a friend hold 13 diamonds for him, and if he could find the friend; he could recover the diamonds. So, the three men set out on a mission in quest of the booty.

The story is bittersweet character study of the three men, their relationships and misadventures. It is a bit overly nostalgic and the dialogue often meanders. However, the good points outweigh the bad. Douglas gives a plucky performance as the aging patriarch. This is his film, and he dominates every scene. His would have been an excellent dramatic performance for anyone regardless of age and health. When those facts are considered, it makes the performance truly inspirational. It speaks volumes about Douglas' indomitable character. It is obvious that he worked very hard to overcome his disability and he was determined not to let it get the best of him. There is also some great vintage b/w footage of Kirk Douglas, who played a prizefighter in the movie "Champion" (1949).

Lauren Bacall was also delightful and the scenes that she and Douglas played together were touching and wonderful. Bacall is still lovely, poised and confident, and her portrayal was sensitive and powerful. Seeing the two of them together was like watching two masters at work.

I enjoyed this film, even though the story and characters were somewhat unoriginal. I rated it a 7/10. It brought back two screen legends and more than a few magical moments in watching them perform.

This movie is about a old boxer played by Kirk Douglas(Oscar,Greedy), and his son Dan Aykroyd(Blues Brothers 2000,Ghostbusters). The old boxer father wants to give his sons some diamonds. They end up on a road trip from Canada to Reno,Nevada. The grandpa takes along Aykroyd's son on the road trip .Upon arriving they go to a brothel run by Lauren Becall)The Mirror Has Two Faces). All of the men each have a girlin the brothel For fans of Dan Aykroyd he is shirtless several time he displaying his hairy chest and flabby stomach(should'nt he go on diet? ) Then the party leaves after Lauren Becall tells Kirk Douglas who and where the diamonds are. They get the diamonds and go back home.The other brother played by Kurt Fuller is mad about taking the dad on unauthorized trip! it has a happy ending and it was a touching drama about family relationships and togetherness. This movie is rated PG-13 for nudity, swearing and sexual jokes.I do not why this movie did make it to the mainstream theaers.It's was made by Miramax(a divison of the Walt Disney Studios and owned by them!) . I know many people will overlook this movie but at least we can see Kirk Douglas act after his stroke!Jenny McCarthy(Scream3) also co-stars in this movie too!

On the plus side, the DVD is closed captioned,has bios about the star etc,scene choices and docementary about Kirk Douglas!On the bad side to the DVD there is now two or pan/scan or widescreen option like "Reindeer Games"(another Disney movie) and no trailers for the movie or about the movie!I liked it and I did not even see it on the big screen! Fans of Kirk Douglas,Lauren Becall and Dan Aykroyd will be happy with this movie!

THIS MOVIE HAD EVERYTHING LAUGHS,TEARS,WONDERFUL CAST,GREAT SCRIPT.I THOUGHT KIRK DOUGLAS MADE A GREAT RETURN AFTER SUFFERING THAT STROKE.DAN AKROYD DID A GREAT JOB.JENNY McCARTHY WAS EXCELLENT SHE PROVED SHE CAN ACT.WISH I COULD GIVE IT 10 STARS

As one other review pointed out these are the same movies they released several years ago and now they are trying to screw you into buying them again. And they wonder why people copy movies instead of purchasing. Well maybe if you didn't make them purchase the same movie MULTIPLE times, people would be more willing to buy your product. I for one am not going for this hose job. I'll keep my money, and they can keep their stupid box set.

Well, James Bond is being released yet again. These are the same special edition dvds that were released three years ago (replacing a few early barebones dvd editions) for the high price of $35. They were then pulled from shelves and placed on moratorium by MGM not long after initial release, when the dvd format started to take off, nonetheless. To coincide with the theatrical release of Die Another Day, MGM fed on our appetite for Bond by releasing seven films, both in a gift set and individually, only to make us salivate another year for the rest of them (they were going to release one in the spring but pushed it back to give the dissapointing Die Another Day a big lone payday on dvd). Now the rest of the Bond catalogue is being released for the holiday season in gift sets only. Currently, all of the early films' soundtracks and most of the films video is being remastered for new special editions to coincide with the next Bond flik in 2005. So, for those of us who purchased a few favorite films individually last fall and planned on purchasing a few favorites yet again this fall, are forced into buying these gift sets instead. I'd love to have the entire Bond library, but not if they're going to have new & superior editions in two years. Even if I decided to purchase the gift sets now, I'd be doubling up on films that I already purchased last year. Very few people want A View to a Kill for anything more than completing the collection, so does anybody really want to buy it twice in two different releases. MGM really wanted to squeeze us Bond fans dry I guess. After waiting so long for these films to be re-re-released, I just feel kind of duped and dissapointed. Too bad Q's not here to fix this poor and thoughtless marketing campaign for us.

I am expecting an awesome boxed set! I got the first collection for Christmas last year, and now the remaining Bond films will be available. I have really enjoyed the quality of the DVD's -- each entry menu is intriguingly cool and greets you in an interesting new way. The films are very well restored, and when you watch the trailers, you can really tell the difference. Remember that together these films span 40 years!

This set of 007 films includes "Moonraker" -- often bashed, I remember it fondly, with Drax and Jaws and some humor and campy 007 space action it's something that's been absent from many of the TV runs . . . can't wait to watch it again. And also one of my all time favorites -- Connery's "You Only Live Twice", vs Blofeld and with Ninjas and carnivorous space ships. This was the inspiration for Dr Evil! Also Roger Moore's For Your Eyes only is one of his finest. The set also includes the Lazenby 007, one I hardly remember, but I'm looking forward to it. This set will go nicely with the 7 solid entrants from part 1, and should be much better than set #3.

Another tip -- MGM/UA is releasing 20 bond films in these sets. But if you want to be thorough, see Sean Connery's finale "Never Say Never Again" and maybe even get the 007 spoof "Casino Royale". That will finish the entire James Bond collection. Athough many people disparage it, I grabbed Never Say Never for a few bucks at a local mart, and it does have Kim Basinger!!

James Bond Collection Volume 2 is a great piece for those building DVD Collections or who just love Bond Films. It has some of the best Bond there is -- I can't wait to get it!

The drive-in double bill DVD concept is a good one, but the quality of the Blood Creature print is truly awful, with lots of jumps and scratches! Surely a better copy of this film could have been found.

Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory (AKA Lycanthropus, The Ghoul in School, and I Married a Werewolf) is one of those movies with a great title, like I Married a Monster from Outer Space and Slave of the Cannibal God, that grabs your attention with its lurid and even ludicrous premise, and makes you want to see the movie, if only to see if it lives up to the title. And like I Married a Monster and Cannibal God, which are pretty solid films, Werewolf just about makes it, too. The plot has a werewolf finishing off the girls at a "finishing school," which is actually an upper-class reformatory, and the attempt to catch the beast. The black and white image quality and the sound are good in this transfer. There's even a catchy little 2-line title song -- 'There Was A Ghoul In School!'

I first saw Blood Creature (AKA Terror Is a Man, Creature from Blood Island, and The Gory Creatures) on late night TV many years ago, and it was pretty scary even on the small screen and with commercial interruptions. There was just something uncanny and unnerving about those not-quite-human eyes staring out of those white bandages. This was the first entry in the Philippines/Eddie Romero Blood Island franchise. Richard Derr (When Worlds Collide) stars as a shipwreck survivor who washes up on an island inhabited by a mad scents (Francis Lederer) and his beautiful, lonely wife (Greta Thyssen--Miss Denmark 1952) and a bandage-swathed creature who threatens them all. Inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau and well worth watching. The black and white image quality and the sound are not too good, though. The image is sharp, but there are lines and streaks, and some dialog is lost on the soundtrack. Just passable.

This DVD offers few bonus features. Just the movie trailers, a preview of another movie (The Devil's Hand) and, of all things, a Popeye the Sailor Man cartoon, which is amusing. The stern FBI warning comes at the end of the movies here, and is a rather cute animated feature. All this disc needs to complete the Friday night drive-in experience is promo to visit the snackbar, a Movietone newsreel, and a warning about pay-TV! This double feature is a nice addition to the collection of any fan of the horror genre, and it's a bargain at this price.

I've read the other reviews and am impressed with their background knowledge. I, too, am a fan of 60's trash horror films, and bought this DVD only because of the price. I am most entertained, and happy with this humble investment. "Blood Creature" was eerie & atmospheric, a little claustrophobic, with storms, etc., adding to the mood. It's silly and fun, and the beautiful Greta Thyssen is there to boot! (I remember her from a film called "Journey to the Seventh Planet", a Danish film that was released in America by American-International, the greatest studio ever to put out "the best of the worst", all the drive-in movies, and practically everything Roger Corman ever did. Richard Derr also appears, typically luggish and looking customarily concerned. I loved him in "When Worlds Collide", one of my favorites. "Werewolf..." is fun, too, with creepy atmosphere and a Peter Lorre look-alike who is sufficiently bizarre. The dubbing is really bad (every line sounds like it came out of a studio microphone...which it did), but there's a lot of homage to the films of James Whale & Val Lewton: suspense and dark intrigue. The song "Ghoul in the School" is an added treat. These two films, tacky as they are, would be OK for the price, but there are previews and even a Popeye cartoon (featuring Bluto & Wimpy, alas, no Olive Oyl). Whatever aesthetic elements may be lacking regarding the actual artistic worth of these 2 films, I wouldn't worry about it. My hat goes off in salute to Madacy Enterainment for putting out a very good package at an unbelievably good price. I hope they continue this trend, and maybe we'll see Corman's original "Not of This Earth" or maybe even "Journey to the 7th Planet". One can only hope.

Save your money unless this is the last movie in the set for your collection.

Who wrote this script? What a terrible way to end the Shaft dynasty.

In one of the scenes Ninjas are on on top of huge boulders shooting arrows at Shaft. Shaft manages to catch one of the arrows and throws it back at the Ninja, fatally killing him. Can you believe that? The Batman television series has better actions scenes. I've seen better acting in Fast Actin' Tinactin!

Do yourself a favor and buy a Dirty Harry movie in lieu of Diamond Shaft.

No, this isn't a Shaft movie. The name was changed. It is a great bit of 70's cinema shot in the middle east with low quality production. Beyond that the story is average, but it's the twist in the end that gives it two extra stars.