Africa Movie Reviews

Yes it has the film-transfer look to it. But, this is glimpse into BB half way into his career. He plays tonight in my area. I never miss him!

If you blink, you'll miss Mohammed Ali.

Out of all his DVD to date, this is one of my favorites (along with the BET JAZZ)

Get it!

I'm a BB fan and I'd heard many of these tracks on studio-recorded CDs, but I wasn't prepared for the exhilaration of this live concert in Kinshasa, capital of the Congo in 1974.

It was a high time in the Congo! George Foreman and Muhammad Ali's Rumble in the Jungle was about to happen.

Ali had become a hero to blacks around the world when he refused to be drafted to fight in Vietnam--"Why should I fight the Vietcong! They never called me a nigger." The Congolese were euphoric about Ali. Never had a black man stood up in this way to colonial whites or to the most powerful country in the world. Throughout the Congo, people chanted "Ali, boma ye! Ali, boma ye!" "Ali, kill him. Ali, kill him." (Poor George Foreman never fully understood the antipathy he met in Africa.)

It was in this atmosphere that James Brown and BB King came to perform. (Near the end, look out for a young Ali in the audience.)

This DVD is as good as it gets! Thanks BB.

I opened the DVD and played it 4 complete times...in the first sitting. Outstanding! Every tune, every move. The band was one of the best I have ever heard - some of the bandplayers had a history with BB that ranged anywhere from 5 to 25 years. I am not a really big "blues" fan...however...BB changes all of that. What a larger than life performer he is. I have never seen him live - but if he ever makes it to my hometown again...THIS IS A MUST BUY!

I ordered this DVD as the Studio was deciding to stop producing. I could not be happier. You must get a copy. My children marvel at the depth and color in every sceen. This is now my reference DVD. If you have a true media room with accurate equipment this DVD will not let you down. As I said earlier, You must get a copy!

I rented this DVD from Netflix.com, like it a lot, and want to buy it. However, your technical information about what you have for sale is totally inadequate. I want only the anamorphic, theater wide (not letterbox) video transfer. There is no way to tell from your info if that is what I would get if I entered an order. Your help would be appreciated.

There is no denying the importance of the films of Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi as they have influenced everything from hardcore horror films ie Cannibal Holocaust to broadcast news and the reality TV craze of today. Blue Underground in an ambitious move have put out this great 8 disc box set (limited to 10,000 copies) which should more than satisfy any mondo fan.

The first two discs are Mondo Cane and Mondo Cane 2. Mondo Cane is certainly a milestone and in fact this entire genre of "shocking documentaries" which where made by Euro filmmakers is better known as the 'mondo' genre. Essentially Mondo Cane is a strange journey into some of the more bizarre and macabre places with the camera voyeuristically witnessing all kinds of oddities and bringing them back for the curious viewer. Mondo Cane 2 continues this tradition. The third disc Women of the World is similar but all the footage is tied together by a common theme of the varied roles women play in different parts of the world.

The next 2 discs are the cut English language version of Africa Addio and the Italian language uncut version. Considered by many to be the greatest mondo doco of all time, the crew head of into Africa during it's transition from colonial control. While the majority of this focuses on the interactions of white and black and some long sequences on the fate of wildlife with laws protecting them diminished (countless animals are gunned down and speared in these scenes and hippos are dismembered) what sets this apart is the aftermath of several massacres caught on film. Later the crew hook up with a group of mercenaries (these nuts look as though they just walked of col. Kurtz's compound in 'Apocalypse Now') and go on a mission, filming a couple of executions.

After the English language print was recut to exclude much political commentary and the censored version was released the film makers came under fire and accused of exploitation, racism and some even called them murders (accusing them of paying for the executions). Being labeled racists must have really angered Jacopetti and Prosperi resulting in them making Addio Zio Tom (Goodbye Uncle Tom) in order to prove that they are not racist.

The next 2 discs are Goodbye Uncle Tom in the cut English version and Italian Language directors cut (this disc alone in worth the price of the set). The butchered English version done little to mend their reputations as in order to have it released alternate versions of scenes were shot and some extreme (but easily justified) politics were omitted. In essence it became a different movie.

The director's cut of Goodbye Uncle Tom is one of the most amazing films I have ever seen. While some scenes are mondo filmed modern 70's events in America, the majority of this film is a departure of the mondo formula as they have made a regular motion picture with actors and sets under the pretense of them traveling back in time to shoot a mondo doco on the slave trade in America pre civil war. All these scenes are set up based on factual accounts and are unsparingly brutal and authentic, literally using 1000s of extras. The sweeping photography and epic scale of this film as we are taken into various aspects of slavery make for a simply breathtaking motion picture experience.

Some people have claimed these scenes are a false representation, by pointing out silly little things like "there probably wouldn't be so many slaves in the house" and "they wouldn't be allowed to jump on the bed like that" as well as others who are infuriated by this film claiming that "it was never as depraved as this" but once again this film is clearly well researched quoting writers of the time and besides how could any people who kept slaves not be "depraved" anyway? Gone With the Wind this certainly is not. Roots, while well made and genuinely heartfelt, is pure sacarine by comparison. Steven Speilberg made the typically cowardly film 'Amistaad'. How can this courtroom drama depicting Europeans as being cruel to slaves and Americans liberating them via the righteous legal system be hailed as "tackling slavery head on" when it completely ignores the 200 years of slavery in America? Goodbye Uncle Tom is clearly a one of a kind spectacle and in my humble opinion the best disc in the set.

The final disc is a doco on the filmmakers themselves, rounding out what is an awesome boxset!

When MONDO CANE first came out it was the "adults only" film every kid like me wanted to see. Needless to say, what was considered shocking and adult in the 60s all seems rather quaint in retrospect. Yet, it's a short distance from the Mondo craze of yore to the "shocking reality TV" we are saddled with today. With all that in mind, I ordered the Mondo Collection and figured $127 was a small price to pay for a little trip down memory lane. To my surprise and delight, the 8-disc set is a primo package. (Think Criterion Collection in terms of quality and restoration but from a company called Blue Underground.) All the shockumentaries are in the package, not to mention "The Godfathers of Mondo" documentary about the guys---the trailblazers---who gave us these films. Soon every schlock filmmaker would crank out a Mondo-this and Mondo-that shockumentary, hoping to out-Mondo everybody else. But, again, this collection gives us the real thing from the guys who put the word Mondo on the map. And, lest we forget, every time we hear a lounge singer do "More," we'll fondly think back to its origin: Mondo Cane. Buy this set and enjoy!

Two Words. National Geographic. I subscribed to the magazine, saw the atlas, and rented the movies at the Anna Lemmon Wheelock Library in Tacoma very frequently. National Geographic took us through the enchanted Amazon, and great cities like Rome, Baghdad, and Sydney. They took us through the terrifing wars of Iraq and explored the top of K2 and Mount Everest. They did documentaries on cats, tigers, lions, lizards, and traveled with Steve Irwin through Australia. Now they take on the biggest challenge yet. AFRICA "GOD'S GIFT".

I call Africa "God's Gift" because in my prospective, he did something special with it. Every continent has something special to it but Africa has a little bit more. It was featured on CBS's "Survivor Africa" as they went through exciting challenges and tasks in Kenya. The northern part of Africa, now in a country called "Egypt", had ancient lands in early times. The people built sphinxs, prymids and had very hard jobs which they did for most of the day for little or no pay.

National Geographic did their best for this and accomplished their mission at the same time. Their mission for "Africa" was to get a television special and feature Africa's best features. I can definatley tell you, that if you want to see something neat and experiance Africa at the same time, this is for you.

Don't get overeactive about this it is a great special but, you shouldn't get carried away. OK maybye you can get carried away. It's wonderful without a doubt and shows everything about this splendid continent.

Give it a try. Go ahead!

Have a good life America!,
Jeffrey Alan Cote'
(brazilgamer_tacomawa)

This DVD series uses a refreshing and unique way to tell the story of the people, places and animals of Africa. The personal stories were touching, the landscapes were breathtaking and the close up on the animals was just amazing.

I was very happy to see a series that did not just identify what's wrong with Africa, but took the time to tell us so much of what is right and is worth saving and exploring. Timely indeed!!!

In so many ways this was more than just a documentary. This in-depth and honest look probably saved all the other documentaries or books that are about Africa.

I am glad to see that so many Africans are proud of their culture, many preserve it in so many ways and yet realize that some changes are necessary to keep pace in a global environment.

Thanks to all the wonderful people from the different countries on that beautiful continent that allowed me to peek into their lives. I am eternally grateful. Thanks also to the wonderful crew that did all the work to bring such remarkable stories into my living room. It was well worth the hard work. It was just wonderfully touching!!!

From the technical point of view, the images are crisp and the sound is excellent. However, this series was shot on film, and transfer to the NTSC 29.97 frame rate just isn't good. I think the PAL version must be so much better. As a result, there are many shots where motions are jerky. I am not talking about the timelapse, ok? Those are very well done!

Second issue is that this compilation has no extras except the 1-hour "bonus" making-off, and soem web links. Where are the directors' commentary? Where are the multiple languages? The whole series doesn't even have subtitle!? This is such a shame. If you have seen an IMAX DVD before, you know what I mean, they pack so much extras into their DVDs, like 4-5 languages, closed captioned for the Hearing Impaired, trailers etc. Africa is a wonderful collection, only marred by its lack of extras, which are already becoming essentials in DVDs these days.

this message is for Sergi, This concert is great because of both Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars. You may be blind or deaf not to like Fania All Stars, the best of the best in terms of salsa performers. Is the dreamteam of salsa. Please instruct yourself a little more and don't be ignorant. About the dvd it does not get any better than this in terms of rythms and SABOR.
You can't stay still one second without dancing. Just check all the people out of their seats dancing to every song with the best solos in the world. Run and buy it, the video for a concert dated in the '70 s is very good.

Eventhought is an old concert the sound is excellent,well we allready know Fania's All Star music and artist.

This DVD is spectacular in every way!! It definetly shows an extremely talented group that was at least 20 years ahead of thier time musically. The Fania All-Stars lead by Johnny Pacheco had such a great impact on the formation of all of todays music. Thier new ideas were so innovative for thier time. It's definetly a gift to be able not only to hear thier music but to see them in action. This DVD will have you searching for more information about them and you'll wish that you could've seen them live. All of the performers are outstanding to include Roberto Roena (Bongos), Nicky Marrero (Timbales), Ray Barreto (Congas), and many others. They show that they are the best of the best. From start to finish the performance is very entertaining. Johnny Pacheco showed that he was the world's best flute player of that era. Hector Lavoe and Ismael Miranda sang with thier youthful voices. Celia Cruz performs in the first two songs. Overall it is history that must be seen by any salsa fan. It can also be considered an important historical document. Fania All-Stars in Africa... You must see it to believ

I've been watching war movies obsessively since I was probably age six or seven (born 1971). Once in a while a war picture becomes available that I haven't seen, like The Story of G.I. Joe. So I added it to my collection. This movie is filled with great locations, nice filming, strong images, and a very solemn downbeat realism unique to war movies at the time (I usually love this kind of stuff, and think the Korean war movie Men In War is one of the best accomplishments of this style, as also the WWII movies, Hell Is For Heores and When Trumpets Fade). Based on true experiences of war correspondent Ernie Pyle, the movie focuses on Ernie Pyle (played very well by Burgess Meredith), as well as Captain Bill Walker (played by a young and awesome Robert Mitchum), and the unsung grunts in his company. When the movie came out in 1945, the real Ernie Pyle had already been killed in the Pacific war, having left the battlefields of Europe to report on the men in the Pacific.

The movie tries to take a very personal approach towards the men and their experience, focusing more on the men and their feelings then on the actual experiences they have. Very little action in fact actually appears in this war DRAMA. The movie was nominated in 1945 for Best Score, Best Song, Best Supporting actor (Robert Mitchum), and even Best Screenplay. How the times sure can influence some people.

In my opinion, the fine acting talents of Robert Mitchum, Burgess Meredith, and a few others scattered through the picture are the main strength of this movie and carry it along, but just barely. The movie suffers in many places. Several people sound stiff and wooden, as if they are giving out memorized lines instead of experiencing them. This plagues the movie. Many scenes that attempt to portray group exhaustion and disgruntlement end up drug out, in need of better acting, and perhaps editing. Morale is portrayed as low even when it probably would not be low. The movie meanders on and on in many places with a loose script that neglects the rich subject matter available. The script went through several hands in the process of being made and it shows. The need for rehearsal also shows.

On a final note, one thing that I found awful was something contained in the notes inside the DVD box itself. Pyle is solely credited with creating the portrait of the G.I. as the common man gone to war, the suffering servant of democracy who triumphs over death through perseverance. While Pyle may in fact have been the most reverend correspondent of WWII as they also claim, and while the DVD notes may also be true in the claim that Hollywood embraced "his portrait" of the common G.I. in scores of films down to Saving Private Ryan, it's a far stretch to claim as they do that this image started solely with this movie and with Pyle. A far better movie in IMHO is Objective Burma staring Errol Flynn (a rousing action/drama), which actually accomplishes many of the things that The Story of G.I. Joe tried to do. According to the IMDB, Objective Burma was released on FEB 17, 1945 and The Story of G.I. Joe premiered on June 18, 1945 and released on July 13, 1945. But if you like meandering character studies like the WWII movie Walk in the Sun (which the Story of G.I. Joe outdoes by a long shot IMHO), then who knows, you might like this as well. For a better WWII movie with Robert Mitchum, try The Enemy Below!

Burgess Meredith is perhaps a little too beatific in his portrayal of war correspondent Ernie Pyle, the much-beloved Pulitzer Prize winning war correspondent who brought the stories of everyday American soldiers home to readers back in the States. The Army infantrymen revered Pyle the way they loved cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who also had the guts and humility to slog it out in the mud with them, and let the folks back home know how they met the war with an all-American mix of grit, fatalism and good humor. The production values of this movie, with distracting backdrops and obviously artificial studio sets, don't hold up that well in comparison to the hyper-real war flicks that came in its wake, yet few movies have captured just how grubby, desolate and miserable the day-to-day lives of the ground soldiers could be. Also, an extended battle sequence filmed in the real-life rubble of a recently "liberated" Italian town is remarkable for showing just how extensive the war damage was -- it was total warfare, and it's amazing that Europe ever recovered from the devastation. A surprisingly bleak, if somewhat episodic, story, framing an iconic, groundbreaking war movie against which all others have to be measured. (One note of complaint: the DVD version has shamefully little in the way of special features, just one brief clip of the real Ernie Pyle taping a news reel interview with a couple of G.I.s saying "hi" to the folks back home, and a series of illegible reproductions of old newspaper columns under his byline... It's really inexcusable that a full-length documentary about Pyle and his reporting was not also included... Oh, well. It's still a good film.)

"G.I. Joe" can only be compared to "Saving Private Ryan," and it manages to be even more effective even though it doesn't have all of the cinematic license for violence and raw language. It makes all other WWII pale in comparison because it doesn't wave the flag. It only tells the true, gut-level story of men in battle. They are brave, self sacrificing and dedicated without the airs of phony patriotism, safely indulged in by those not fighting. They are honest in expressing their fears and questions, and when one of their brothers goes down, their sadness and regret knows no limit. Wellman's masterpiece and Robert Mitchum's best performance.

I so enjoyed this film. It was beautifully photographed and narrated.

A well done film, Beautifuly done. A bit short, (40 min)

I recently travelled to Africa and bought this video prior to leaving. Not only is the video completly accurate in its portrayal of the magical Serengeti, but the cinematography is excellent. In addition, children just LOVE it! My 3 year old neice couldn't stop watching it. Disney is nothing compared to this video! I recommend it highly!!

This was an excellent film. It didn't seem to run long as some reviewed. So many events occurred in the film, I thought more time went by than actually did. This film would have received 5 stars, but Amazon has it listed as having both English and German versions on the disc. It only has German with English subtitles. Fortunately I understand German, so this did not deter from the film.

Most World War movies veer around the gritty theme of the Holocaust and how many people perished under the heinous regime. Some movies such as "Sophie's Choice" or "Nowhere in Africa" bring out the other aspect -â€" people who escaped one horror, but underwent prejudiced treatment or disintegration after immigration to other countries.

This film chronicles a German family that sought refuge in the idyllic arms of Kenya. Unlike the eulogistic "Pianist" it actively ventures into the wilds to struggle with the growing awareness of the Holocaust's terrible toll around the world. Locusts, sacrificial lambs, etc lend the film its uncompromisingly graphic metaphors for the exacting beauty and danger of Africa.

Apart from the breathtaking vistas of grassland Kenya, the best thing about the movie is that like a good John Irving novel, it's not made up of heroes and villains. It is an unfolding narrative of human beings who face hardships and evolve through them. This requires a feat of casting that the film manages to accomplish rather convincingly (e.g., the daughter in the family is an 8-year old for a part of the movie, then an adoloscent in the latter half.)

Quick editing cuts and a swift development of a multi-faceted story, laced with a riveting score of African music, demands the audience's attention from the first frame and holds it right until the credits.

Some anti-Semitic words of the headmaster at the daughter's boarding school, or some pithy dialog such as "We are Jews even if that doesn't mean much to you", dent the script's eloquent but believable language.

Yet, overall, "Nowhere in Africa" is a subtle tale of love and belonging couched in the times of war -- that state of humanity that continues to fascinate yet horrify us.

A highly recommended gem of film.

This is the story of a Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany in the 1930s. They go to Kenya, a place as foreign to them as another world. However, at least they are safe. The father, played by Merab Ninidze, was a former lawyer. Now he runs a farm in a rather desolate area. He suffers from Malaria and is nursed to health by an African cook, played by Sidede Onyulo who teaches him to speak Swahili. When the Jewish man's wife and daughter arrive, there is a lot of adjusting to do, especially for the wife, played by Juliane Kohler, who spends her last money before the trip on a ball gown. The little girl, who is about 6, is played by Lea Kurka. She's the first one to adjust and easily makes friends with the village children.

That's just the outline of the story however, which is told against the backdrop of historical events. When war is declared, the family is now considered German by the English authorities ruling Kenya and put in a rather luxurious detention for a while. The marriage is troubled, the daughter is sent to an English school. The family learns what it is to be different. And yet, they grow to love their new home. There are serious questions to decide when the war ends.

I found this film fascinating, especially in the parts where there were culture clashes. It was filmed in German, with a bit of Swahili and English. This added to its authenticity. I don't know if this was a true story or not, but it sure seemed real to me. Definitely recommended.

This was an excellent film. It didn't seem to run long as some reviewed. So many events occurred in the film, I thought more time went by than actually did. This film would have received 5 stars, but Amazon has it listed as having both English and German versions on the disc. It only has German with English subtitles. Fortunately I understand German, so this did not deter from the film.

Most World War movies veer around the gritty theme of the Holocaust and how many people perished under the heinous regime. Some movies such as "Sophie's Choice" or "Nowhere in Africa" bring out the other aspect -â€" people who escaped one horror, but underwent prejudiced treatment or disintegration after immigration to other countries.

This film chronicles a German family that sought refuge in the idyllic arms of Kenya. Unlike the eulogistic "Pianist" it actively ventures into the wilds to struggle with the growing awareness of the Holocaust's terrible toll around the world. Locusts, sacrificial lambs, etc lend the film its uncompromisingly graphic metaphors for the exacting beauty and danger of Africa.

Apart from the breathtaking vistas of grassland Kenya, the best thing about the movie is that like a good John Irving novel, it's not made up of heroes and villains. It is an unfolding narrative of human beings who face hardships and evolve through them. This requires a feat of casting that the film manages to accomplish rather convincingly (e.g., the daughter in the family is an 8-year old for a part of the movie, then an adoloscent in the latter half.)

Quick editing cuts and a swift development of a multi-faceted story, laced with a riveting score of African music, demands the audience's attention from the first frame and holds it right until the credits.

Some anti-Semitic words of the headmaster at the daughter's boarding school, or some pithy dialog such as "We are Jews even if that doesn't mean much to you", dent the script's eloquent but believable language.

Yet, overall, "Nowhere in Africa" is a subtle tale of love and belonging couched in the times of war -- that state of humanity that continues to fascinate yet horrify us.

A highly recommended gem of film.

This is the story of a Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany in the 1930s. They go to Kenya, a place as foreign to them as another world. However, at least they are safe. The father, played by Merab Ninidze, was a former lawyer. Now he runs a farm in a rather desolate area. He suffers from Malaria and is nursed to health by an African cook, played by Sidede Onyulo who teaches him to speak Swahili. When the Jewish man's wife and daughter arrive, there is a lot of adjusting to do, especially for the wife, played by Juliane Kohler, who spends her last money before the trip on a ball gown. The little girl, who is about 6, is played by Lea Kurka. She's the first one to adjust and easily makes friends with the village children.

That's just the outline of the story however, which is told against the backdrop of historical events. When war is declared, the family is now considered German by the English authorities ruling Kenya and put in a rather luxurious detention for a while. The marriage is troubled, the daughter is sent to an English school. The family learns what it is to be different. And yet, they grow to love their new home. There are serious questions to decide when the war ends.

I found this film fascinating, especially in the parts where there were culture clashes. It was filmed in German, with a bit of Swahili and English. This added to its authenticity. I don't know if this was a true story or not, but it sure seemed real to me. Definitely recommended.

This is indeed a beautiful movie. I saw it for the first time last night and its comparable to 'The English Patient' in more ways than one. Undeniably, it is Meryl Streep who holds the film together, as the supporting cast does her no favors. The direction is superb and the background score is very captivating. Universals' DVD presentation of the film is commendable, complete with an hour long documentary called 'The Song of Africa' which documents the crews' travails in the dark continent and also gives one some insights on how the film made it from page to screen.

However, Robert Redford ruins most of the film with his dull uninspired take as a British expatriate living and trekking in South Africa. I have never particularly liked any of this mans' performances, and his role here only serves to reiterate that he is one of the most overrated American actors of all time. I can even imagine Tim Curry or Danny DeVito doing a better job here than he does. His character is supposed to be British. Why on earth does he then sound as if he just stepped off a trailer in Mobile, Alabama? Did Mr. Redford do no research on this part? This is truly unpardonable and one of the reasons why I have to ultimately give this film only three stars. And they all belong to Meryl.

Mildly recommended.

If you know little about Isak Dinesen's story, this movie will enthrall you, and give you a good introduction to it. The actors, especially Meryl Streep, do a great job, and the vistas in the background are everything you'd expect in an ode to Africa: plains with buffalo, elephants, giraffe, and the mountains in the background.
However, if you've read anything about this, the movie may be a bit jarring. Specifically, Robert Redford is jarring. I'm sure he's a great actor, but he's just not playing the part of Denys Finch-Hatton. He portrays a Great White Hunter of the British Empire as a Great White Conservationist with a strong American accent. Words are put in Finch-Hatton's mouth that make little sense. Don't give up on the movie however, just concentrate on Streep.

This movie combines so many different emotions, and sets up a dreamworld and story for you to fall in love with. But if you're thinking of buying it, you've probably already seen it. The only reason to buy this DVD is if you want to see it over and over again, and if you want see the added features...which are interesting once. As far as the movie goes, I can do nothing but give it 5 stars.