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The storyline was great. The jokes were funny. And the romance was believable. I'm not used to seeing Cary Grant so taken with the lead actresses. He usually seems so aloof and indifferent to their advances. But the chemistry in North by Northwest was good between Grant and Eva Marie Saint.

The story line was fun. This is one of Grant's better ones. And one of Hitchcock's better ones, too. The bad guys were excellent as well.

Grant plays Thornhill an advertising executive who, through a case of mistaken identity (he raises his hand calling for someone to come take a telegram at the exact moment that a telegram is announced for Mr. Kaplan). As a result, he's kidnapped, taken to the country retreat of a diplomat by the name of Vandamm. Vandamm (Mason)believes that undercover agent Kaplan has too much information about his spy ring and plans.

He has his men get Thornhill drunk and they put him behind the wheel so he can have a fatal auto accident. Fortunately, Thornhill survives. He's determined to find out who Kaplan is and what Vandamm really wants. From there Thornhill's life spirals out of control as Vandamm tries to have him killed during the famous cropdusting sequence and convince his lover Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint)to become involved with him and, later, betray him. There's so many twists and turns in this hairraising classic that you have to see the film to appreciate the beauty of the direction, writing and performances.

This new spruced up digital transfer looks terrific. Warner evidently had the film digitally restored (not quite as painstaking as the restoration for Vertigo, Rear Window and Lawrence of Arabia but considerably less expensive)so that the colors are closer to the original release prints from 1959. The soundtrack has been beautifully remixed for 5.1 Dolby Digital. While the soundtrack can't completely take advantage of the remix, it sounds terrific. There's also a really good feaurette on the making of the film featuring Landau, Saint, Lehman and Patricia Hitchcock.

The inclusion of Ernest Lehman's nicely detailed audio commentary is a nice extra as well although it's clear that some of the same comments show up again in the documentary. Bernard Herrmann's marvelous music score is isolated on one track so that music fans can hear the original score in all its glory.

North by Northwest was the next to last in a string of classics directed by Hitch during the 60's (Hitch only made one movie in the 60's that comes close to his best films and that's the brilliant, dark The Birds). After a string of great movies and box office smashes including Rear Window, To Catch A Thief, Vertigo, The Trouble With Harry, Strangers On A Train and other lesser known works, North By Northwest was a brilliant conclusion to a decade that showed enormous growth in Hitch's directing ability and style. Psycho which would come out the following year would continue Hitch's groundbreaking approach to cinema as well but North by Northwest was the last of Hitch's complex thrillers to capture the public's attention.

However, in North by Northwest, he plays a funny, completely clueless advertising man who gets caught up in espionage within the first five minutes of the movie. He is mistaken for a spy who is trailing a man named Van Damme (James Mason) Grant is not a spy at all, but Van Damme won't hear any of that and attempts to kill him.

Grant gets away, of course and then the fun begins. He tries to figure out what's going on and who the spy really is and Mason tries to get rid of him. The ride takes you from Manhattan on a 2,000 mile trip to the face of Mount Rushmore. Along the way, Grant meets a woman (Eva Marie Saint) who may not be who she seems to be, even when you think you have it figured out.

The film is littered with reliable supporting actors including the hilarious Jessie Royce Landis as Grant's mother. She absolutely steals her scenes early in the movie. Leo G. Carroll, a Hitchcock regular, shows up to provide the movie's most critical information, and finally, a very young Martin Landau is James Mason's second hand henchman.

The famous scenes from this movie are the crop dusting scene featured on the cover of the DVD and the final chase on the Mt Rushmore face. However, the whole movie is great to watch. The story is just unbelievable enough to laugh at, but realistic enough to take seriously as well. Grant is fabulous here, having lots of fun with the situations presented.

This movie is really atypical for Hitchcock, who was more about what happens in the mind than action on the screen. (See Notorious or Vertigo, possibly his most cerebral film) Even movies like Psycho were more inside the head than the physical action (save the two gruesome murders) But not North by Northwest. There really isn't anything to figure out, it's just great actors going at breakneck speed for two hours and 16 minutes to duke it out on the face of Mount Rushmore. What more can you ask for?

I think this movie can be best summed up by one of it's taglines: His story will touch you, even though he can't.

But I am certain that anyone of whatever bent watches this, they will become a more aware person. Again, Tears of Joy watching such a crisp capture of the universe unfolding as I type.

This movie gives the person with their DVD players, SUV and well- paying job to see something in this world that the viewer most likely has not seen, which is an intimate look at cultures, environments and nature the world over. With no concern of SARS or an expensive plane ticket, you feel afterwards that you truly experienced a global tour.

Baraka begins at a rather cautious pace, and as each scene passes by your vision, the intensity and depth slowly but steadily increases. It's a bit hard to describe, but I feel in a way that it causes the viewer to look inward at his/her own view of what the world is about and what life means. In a way, it compells you to ask yourself some deep questions. Make sure to keep your attention on watching the movie with NO interruptions to get the full effect. Pausing for phone calls, snacks or bathroom breaks is verboten, so get everything done first!

Baraka unfolds in the early morning and as the film passes through the first 10 minutes or so, you see examples of different beliefs and religions mixed with clips of nature. Eventually the two collide. And by the end, you're amazed at the solar eclipse and lunar starfields. Yet Ron Fricke's intent wasn't to make any statement at all.

There are elements of almost every type mixed into the film from peaceful co- existance to conflict (no graphic footage, don't worry), faith, technology, beauty and struggle. In some ways you may feel helpless after watching the slow decay/destruction of the world at the hands of mankind, yet Fricke also inserts visions which somehow reassure that nature ultimately holds the key to the fate of human beings since she is infinitely more powerful (and is much more patient).

If you get the chance, sample Baraka (a national video rental place has it on stock in special interest, so you can take a peek at it), and you'll more than likely want to own this. The majority of filming is either in slow motion or in time lapse, with not a single word spoken. Fricke and Mark Madigson developed some camera and dolly techniques that created the smoothest time lapse photography available, and some of the filming they've done you may recognize in some commercials or even movies.

NOTE, this is for the earlier MPI version DVD (DVD7060), which is somewhat similar in content, and the never version claims a new 70mm transfer and digitally- remastered audio. One thing I noticed that wasn't noted in the specs on the Collector's Edition is they didn't mention a full screen version; the older DVD is double- sided, one for the widescreen and the other for pan & scan.

Other suggestions: Koyaanisqatsi (deals mainly with the industrial cultures, cinematography by Fricke, 1983), Chronos (by Fricke, 40 minutes, 1985 which has music a little dated, but the film techniques are similar) and Powaqqatsi (1988). Of these, Baraka is best, IMHO.

Tidbit: There was also a coffee table book with images from scenery in Baraka.

But I am certain that anyone of whatever bent watches this, they will become a more aware person. Again, Tears of Joy watching such a crisp capture of the universe unfolding as I type.

This movie gives the person with their DVD players, SUV and well- paying job to see something in this world that the viewer most likely has not seen, which is an intimate look at cultures, environments and nature the world over. With no concern of SARS or an expensive plane ticket, you feel afterwards that you truly experienced a global tour.

Baraka begins at a rather cautious pace, and as each scene passes by your vision, the intensity and depth slowly but steadily increases. It's a bit hard to describe, but I feel in a way that it causes the viewer to look inward at his/her own view of what the world is about and what life means. In a way, it compells you to ask yourself some deep questions. Make sure to keep your attention on watching the movie with NO interruptions to get the full effect. Pausing for phone calls, snacks or bathroom breaks is verboten, so get everything done first!

Baraka unfolds in the early morning and as the film passes through the first 10 minutes or so, you see examples of different beliefs and religions mixed with clips of nature. Eventually the two collide. And by the end, you're amazed at the solar eclipse and lunar starfields. Yet Ron Fricke's intent wasn't to make any statement at all.

There are elements of almost every type mixed into the film from peaceful co- existance to conflict (no graphic footage, don't worry), faith, technology, beauty and struggle. In some ways you may feel helpless after watching the slow decay/destruction of the world at the hands of mankind, yet Fricke also inserts visions which somehow reassure that nature ultimately holds the key to the fate of human beings since she is infinitely more powerful (and is much more patient).

If you get the chance, sample Baraka (a national video rental place has it on stock in special interest, so you can take a peek at it), and you'll more than likely want to own this. The majority of filming is either in slow motion or in time lapse, with not a single word spoken. Fricke and Mark Madigson developed some camera and dolly techniques that created the smoothest time lapse photography available, and some of the filming they've done you may recognize in some commercials or even movies.

NOTE, this is for the earlier MPI version DVD (DVD7060), which is somewhat similar in content, and the never version claims a new 70mm transfer and digitally- remastered audio. One thing I noticed that wasn't noted in the specs on the Collector's Edition is they didn't mention a full screen version; the older DVD is double- sided, one for the widescreen and the other for pan & scan.

Other suggestions: Koyaanisqatsi (deals mainly with the industrial cultures, cinematography by Fricke, 1983), Chronos (by Fricke, 40 minutes, 1985 which has music a little dated, but the film techniques are similar) and Powaqqatsi (1988). Of these, Baraka is best, IMHO.

Tidbit: There was also a coffee table book with images from scenery in Baraka.

Those Extras:

Commentary: A lot of fun. You get Carpenter and Russell together and it's giggle city. Kurt's infectious laugh is almost all that's needed to recommend this. Though they stray from the film too much, they always catch themselves.

Deleted Scenes: Plenty to chew on. Mostly extensions of scenes we already know.

Behind the Scenes: A quickie featurette from the set in '86. Most of it was done during the alley sequence early in the film, so not a lot to get into.

Misc: Tons of little things are real eye openers: interview with FX guy Edlund; so dopey it's hilarious music video featuring Carpenter(!) not only rocking out, but singing to the film's theme!; I usually don't mention trailers but there are six(!!) to choose from, even the pay-per-view one!

Overall: Not many others will rival what this one has to offer. Some bloopers and new interviews would've made it flawles, but as it is, no complaints.

This is only made worse by the fact that most Paramount DVDs contain a trailer and nothing else in the way of features -- their most packed DVD is the original Tomb Raider. Bleh.

This is only made worse by the fact that most Paramount DVDs contain a trailer and nothing else in the way of features -- their most packed DVD is the original Tomb Raider. Bleh.