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Reviews

What can I say? It's Elvis from the famous Hawaii concert with all the goodies. Must have for your music collection. Quit reading the reviews and buy it and enjoy.

This is part of music history, the sound is wonderfull, and Elvis is the King

When I was growing up in the seventies, I remember Elvis very well. He was the man-the king of not only rock and roll, but all american music. He did it all-standards, country, gospel and of course Rock and roll. I like to think of Elvis as the "King of american music" He was loved by people of all ages. You can't put him in a box-you can't catorgorize him-he does it all. Now, I'm going to give short reviews on each "Chapter" on this dvd-and give a rating-1-to-5 stars-on each. Disc 1: Chapter 1: "Elvis Arives and greets fans" **** This is the unedited version-17 minutes of what amounted to 2-3 min of footage that was included in the american version of the concert. I actually enjoyed watching this. I don't think it was boring at all. Chapter 2: "Rehearsal concert" ***** 2 days before the origanal broadcast-Elvis and his band and 6,000 fans did this concert. It was a precaution-if anything went wrong with the satelite feed-they would have this concert as a back up-of course-nothing went wrong. This concert is a bit shorter-but the music and performence was very good. Chapter 3: "Elvis, Aloha from Hawaii concert" ***** This version is the original concert as it was broadcast over satelite on January 14, 1973. This is basically the no frills version of the concert. Americans had to wait 3 months to see this concert in April of 1973. More on this concert later. Disc 2: Chapter 1: "post-concert 'insert' songs session" *** This was ok. Elvis and the band gathered to do 5 songs that(4 songs)would be inserted into the American version of the concert. I think the DVD could live without this-but it's inclusion I guess serves as historical value if nothing else. Chapter 2: "Elvis, Aloha From Hawaii-NBC TV special" ***** This is the American Version of the concert-broadcast on April, 4 1973. Including four of the songs that was done after the conert along with outdoor footage of Hawaii. He does a lot of popular songs of the 50's thru 70's. My favorites are "Something" and "Fever" but all of the songs are very good. This was his last great hour-He would go into a cycle of decline after this and would culimate in his death in 1977-yet Elvis was king of american music and thanks to the deication and hardwork of those at graceland and BMG to Bring this on DVD, Elvis lives on-Long live the king!

I actually gave this to my mother as a gift. She has been a huge Elvis fan from the beginning. She had been borrowing the regular edition from a friend. I told her about the deluxe version and she wasn't sure she wanted it as she liked the original. I purchased it anyway and she LOOOVES it! She watches is all the time.

I am absolutly floored by the sheer number of five star reviews for this DVD. I too love Elvis. I own a dozen Elvis CD's, I have a bunch of his movies, I own Elvis - The '68 Comeback Special: Deluxe Edition (3DVD) and "Elvis: Thats the Way It Is"; I've been to Graceland, visited Sun Records, and his birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi. I've read Peter Guralnick's two part biography: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley and Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley; I named my daughter Grace Lynne as a tribute of sorts to "Graceland". I'm an Elvis fanatic, so I know what I'm talking about when I say this isn't "The King's" finest hour. Let me start with the good. The product itself is great (which is why this gets three stars and not two). The remastered sound and picture quality is excellent. They even threw in an "Elvis arrives" sequence from several days before the show. Furthermore, you get not only the January 14, 1973 show but the rehersal concert from two days earlier. "What's so special about that," you may ask? The January 12th rehersal show is arguably a better performance than the actual concert, so if you want to own the Aloha from Hawaii Special then this is the definative version. Now the bad. Anyone who has seen the 68 Comeback or Elvis - That's the Way It Is (Two-Disc Special Edition) will notice an alarming difference in Elvis. He seems like a shadow of himself. The fire that once blazed seems nothing more than a glowing ember. Sure he still belts it out on certain songs like "You Gave Me A Mountain" but during most of the performance Elvis looks distant. His eye's are glazed over, and he's clearly suffering from his Demerol addiction and dramatic weight loss. Elvis lost 25 lbs. in a crash diet for the Hawaii show. That coupled with the the drugs and the ever increasing turmoil in his life (the divorce from Pricilla, rage, damaged friendships etc...) just seems to have taken their toll. The charismatic smiles from the 68 special are gone; the high energy renditions from the Vegas shows captured in "That's the Way It Is" are no more. Elvis walks on stage and looks like an empty shell. His hands shake like a man with palsy, his skin looks strangly bloated despite the sudden weight loss, and his delivery of lyrics are less than exceptional as he sings. This fact is especially apparent in the beginning of the rehersal concert. Despite the wonderful stage setup and superhero jumpsuit, he winds up looking like Superman without his cape. It's very sad to see a man push the self destruct button on his life. It is especially difficult to see someone with such talent, such zeal, and charisma wither away. Four short years after this performance he would be dead, and this show serves as an omen of doom. Just listen to "American Trilogy"; at one point Elvis sings "hush little girl don't you cry...because you know you're daddy's bound to die." It's creepy. Watching the "Elvis Arrives" sequence is painful. He looks totally lost within the circus atmosphere. Indeed, during the entire concert Elvis seems like he is nearly oblivious to the audience. It's almost as if he is putting on a private show for himself. It's truly heartbreaking. If you are a diehard fan then this is essential merely for its historic value. However, the casual fan would be best advised to skip this one. Sadly, The King's best days were behind him when this special aired. The King is dead; long live The King.

Reviews

This is an incredible soundtrack. Braveheart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack has beautiful and emotive music. I felt transported to the Scottish Highlands by track 10. This is certainly James Horner's best soundtrack ever. I only wish I had discovered this album earlier. I love epic movie soundtracks, and Braveheart is one of the best I've ever heard. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should.

I love this soundtrack, I bought it years ago and lost it well in England. I bought a new one to replace. I love it, the music is amazing.

I gave a good review because of the excellent service. The tape was faulty but they refunded my money without hesitation and therefore I gave a good review.

I bought this for my husband who loves the music on the soundtrack and kept talking about it but never bought it. We've listened to it a hundred times already between the car and house.

This was my first--and last--purchase from Amazon.com. I got wonderful turn-around time on my order of a CD. Sadly, they shipped a product that was damaged before they processed my order. The CD case was severely cracked with pieces missing. The missing pieces were not inside the shrink-wrapped packaging which lets me know it was damaged prior to packaging, and they shipped it anyway. There was no info on what to do if an order was damaged or how to return an item. I am a techno-dummy and am not very computer savvy, but I do know this much. I won't order anything direct-order fulfilled by Amazon.com again.

Reviews

Love It, Love It. Gives you insight on the man, who brightened our lives as children. and review of my favorite Dr. Seuss stories.

I remember seeing this TV special air once or twice as a kid. I remembered the uniquely whimsical approach to this biography of Dr. Seuss and his creations. My favorite segment is the sung/rapped retelling of "Yertle the Turtle". This is a fun film for Dr. Seuss fans young and old.

This is really a great little film. It's maybe not as in depth as I was hoping, but it is still awesome. I gave it to my father as a B-day present and he just loves it. And the bonus short from the 40's is killer!

I bought this product years ago in the late 1990's for my son. His school's librarian celebrated Dr. Seuss Day, so I gave my VHS tape to her so the kids could enjoy it. Recently, I was thinking about it and purposed to find it again to buy. I was so pleased to find it on DVD, even though I would have bought a VHS to play it on. I simply love this DVD! I am forty-five years old, but true Seuss fans understand that his work appeals to kids of every age. I grew up on Dr. Seuss!!

This was a cute biographical documentary about the life of Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. It was a bit campy at times, but I knew more about the author than I had before after watching the video. I wasn't able to find much in the way of video resources about Dr. Seuss. This was the best, by far, that I've found up to this point.

Reviews

Adam and Eve is at it again. Great movie that summarizes all that we know to be real and doesn't pull any punches or spon the insanity of reality.

For those who have already read this book: the girl "Mayan" who Shirley's friend David tells her about at the end of the book? Well ... it turns out David was not the only fellow to ever encounter her!! A young man named Ted Rice met a strange girl named "Maya" in Idaho, and just like she did to "David," Maya also taught Ted metaphysical information, showed him a UFO, and more similar things. For the story, read the book "Masquerade of Angels" by Karla Turner. It's available free at karlaturner.org.

I've had OUT ON A LIMB on video tape since the original showing in 1987. Tonight for some reason I pulled it out to watch after an absence of at least 10 years (I have hundreds of video tapes so it was easy for this to recede into the darker corner of the closet). I am most amazed at Shirley's incredible courage (others might call it arrogance or gall) to present material that is so antagonistic to the mainstream middle American mind set. After watching this excellent time capsule of New Age Thought from the mid 1980's, I felt a wee bit sad, since I realize this mini-series could never be shown on network TV today! After decades of Republican rule and the subtle but merciless pressure of right wing Christian religion in the US, the beliefs that Shirley presented in this film are much MORE controversial today than they were back in the benignn 1980's. How dare she have an affair with a married man? How dare she claim to be God? How dare she hobnob with channelers who are in the hands of Satan? I can hear all the babble on TV and right wing talk radio if that poor woman were to try this today! Even if every concept presented in this film is false, it is a tremendously rewarding adventure. However, I do have to state that after this film was made, Shirley admitted on a talk show that the book/film are NOT literally true! She created composite characters like David to represent her spiritual research. So it might come down to her NOT having any personal metaphysical adventures at all outside the confines of her book reading, but she created such adventures, e.g., having an invisible alien drive a truck in Peru that she and the make-believe David were in, to jazz up the topic a bit. I think a lot of people lost faith in Shirley when she made the confession that her books are NOT literally true! Nonetheless, Kevin Ryerson is a trance channeler and is still out there charging $275 for a 90 minute consultation. Why go to law school when you can charge prices like that for your services? I may seem like a skeptic. Well, I am skeptical of some of the more cartoonish aspects of the so-called New Age. We have grown more jaded since 1987. However, there are underlying spiritual truths within the film/book that make it worthwhile, although this film/book certainly contains no revelations that cannot also be found in a bounty of spiritual oriented books on the market today. So in one sense, you may enjoy this film/book as a nostalgic throwback to a time when the New Age was "new", not the butt of comedians and the horror of fundamentalists. To call someone "new age" now is considered practically an insult, like calling someone a "liberal". That shows how reactionary and scared our culture has become since those heady times. Take time from worrying about terrorism and the fact that George Bush believes that his fundamentalist Old Testament God is telling the US to invade other countries. Pop OUT ON A LIMB into your VCR or read a copy of the book. It may make you wish you could time travel back to those exuberant times!

I watched the four hour version and felt it was time well spent.Good acting and a very good story. One of my better movie investments and a keeper for my collection.

With all my heart and soul, Shirley MacLaine, I love what you have done to help those of us who are searching for our spirituality! If you have questions, look out. You will have more and many answers will come your way while watching "Out On A Limb". Everyone that I have recommended this movie to loves it.I lost my 3-tape set to a house fire. Would like to find same. I have to say, the one tape version just isn't enough. Shirley MacLaine was there during my early search for spirit through her books. Her movie was a big help. It has opened many eyes to the truth...even my husband's. I loaned my set to a friend who thought six hours was too much. The following day he told me that he couldn't stop watching. He didn't get much sleep that night. Was so excited about the movie and had more questions. We love "Out On A Limb". Don't be afraid to climb out there on that limb...so enlightening! Shirley MacLaine at her best and most of all...being herself! Thankyou Shirley for all you have done to help this soul find her way home. Chi Megwetch!

Reviews

Absolute classic for the Doris Day lover. Beauty and a great voice, covered in a rough and tough western fit, Clamity Jane is a must-see!

This is as good as I remember it. Good wholesome fun. My husband says poor acting, but, that's because he likes more modern movies.

I loved this movie as a child and now can't wait to share it with my grandchildren!!

Very much the star of the show, Doris Day carries "Calamity Jane" with all the perkiness and spark one could possibly imagine. Jane is more manly than most of the men in the show, and although one could read a lesbian subtext into the film, that was most likely not the intention of the writers or the star. Still, this is a fun, albeit slightly cornball western musical, and one of Day's greatest film roles.

the product got here faster then i was told the price was excellent and in extremely good condition

Reviews

I loved this film, which I knew I would as I saw it in a theater when it came out, and Gandhi is one of my all time favorite people. (To bad they didn't do a four hour or ten hour :-) director's cut.) What made this DVD wonderful for me were the featurettes and inteview with Ben Kingsley. I learned a lot more about the filming which was entertaining and informative in its own right. Parts were even moving. The best $10.49 I ever spent.

I am a school teacher and I bought this movie to supplement a unit on imperialism, India's fight for freedom and the changes brought about by Ghandi. It was a great aid in meeting my frame works. I would highly recomend this movie.

In the movie, Gandhi began his work against the injustices of the British Empire when he was a young man in South Africa. After returning to India, Gandhi had convinced himself that he must get in touch with the masses and persuade them to follow him in nonviolent and non-cooperative protest against British Rule. Through marches, demonstrations, and protests, Gandhi was able to bring the attention of the world to India by displaying the violence of the British empire and not retaliating with violence. Although Indian Independence was Gandhi's main goal, he struggled with the idea that Hindus and Muslims did not want to live together after India had gained independence. Gandhi was able to lead a highly effective march in South Africa, and his success caused him to return to India where he could work for an even greater cause, Indian Independence. Gandhi died at a time when he wanted to achieve an end the hostility that the Hindus and Muslims had towards one another. The "Mahatma" (Great Soul) as he was called by his followers. While traveling through South Africa, and being thrown off a train because of his race , until his death he led his people with hope and strong beliefs. The British ruled the nation of India, and treated the citizens as second class. In this movie I realized Gandhi chose to be a better man. In the movie the Hindu religion was depicted as a strong loyalty to ones beliefs. Religion was not only a belief but a way of life, not only something that is faith filled but makes up who you are. From the ways of what level of the cast system to the stages in which you follow throughout life. This shows that the Hindu religion requires strong will and devotion. After watching the movie the way of the Hindus was beyond belief . Gandhi possessed such a strong devotion, faith filled belief in his way of life that was admiring. I was sorrowful for the violence throughout the movie. Many lives that were lost and people that were injured and the greatest loss of all the death of Gandhi. Hindu religion was well portrayed in this movie it lead to a greater understanding of the Hindu religion and the "Mahatma" (Great Soul) Gandhi.

Joanna Goins REL-110-E02 Gandhi Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life and death of Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film begins with Gandhi's assassination on 30 January 1948, and his funeral. After an evening prayer, Gandhi is helped out for his evening walk to meet greeters and admirers. One of the greeters shoots him point blank in the chest. Dignitaries from around the world attended his funeral. After the funeral the story go back 55 years. In 1983, Gandhi was thrown off a train in Africa for being an Indian. After this experience he begins to start a non-violent protest campaign for the rights of all Indians in Africa. The government finally recognizes rights for Indians. Gandhi then went back to India where he became a national hero. Gandhi continued to set up non-violent campaigns. Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims erupt into nation-wide violence. Gandhi declared a hunger strike stating that he will not eat until the fighting stops. He becomes widely known as Mahatma, meaning great-souled. The fighting finally stops and the country divides by religion. Gandhi spends his last days trying to bring peace between the nations. He begins to anger his dissidents on both sides. Gandhi traveled into troubled areas, conducting prayer vigils and fasts, but on one of these visits in 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu extremist at the end of the film that recalls the opening of the movie. As the man shoots Gandhi, the film fades to black and Gandhi voice is heard saying "Oh God". The audience then sees Gandhi's cremation and the film ended with a scene of Gandhi's ashes being scattered on the holy Ganga. After watching the movie I found that Hinduism beliefs played a huge part in this movie. Gandhi was Hindu and he believed in non-violence. He wanted freedom and peace among the different religions. He believed in treating people the way you want to be treated.

This was a good film about a good story. I love Gandhi and I have watched this film over and over. If I could only keep a few of my movies this would film would definitely be in the top 2 that I'd keep.

Reviews

If your like me and love old movies, this one is sure to take the cake, if you like adventure and romance and comedy wrapped up in one this is it. This movie is awesome.Donna

REMEMBER SEEING THIS MOVIE WHEN I WAS A KID. LOST THE VIDEO SO WHEN I SAW IT FOR SALE ON AMAZON I SNATCH IT. GREAT MOVIE FOR ANYONE.

My brother and I watched this movie when it was aired on television in the sixties. It was a good movie, and we were having a great old time, drinking sodas in our p.j.s while our parents got dressed upstairs for a night out. But when that Banshee came wailing onto the screen, my brother and I simultaneously dropped our soda bottles and let out stereo screams, almost as blood-curdling as the Banshee's wail, as we raced up the stairs to the safety of the lights and our parents. To this day I remember how petrified we were by that image! Of course nowadays, such a reaction seems absurd, but back then, in the feverish dream world of childhood, such relatively low-tech cinematography was the height of REALISTIC TERROR! I have discussed this movie with many people around the same age as me, and they ALL RECALL the AWFUL SIGHT AND SCREECH OF THE BANSHEE!

Darby O'Gill and the Little People Very pleased, great family movie that's hard to find. shipped out quickly, great price.

I loved this movie, and I was happy to be able to find a copy so that my children and grandchildren will be able to see it also.

Reviews

I received this item at a great price and exactly in the condition described. There were no scratches on the disk & the DVD was factory sealed. I am a Johnny Depp fan and this movie shows his talent of becoming the character he plays. Enjoy the movie.

Mann tells the story of John Dillinger (Depp) the last great American outlaw and the man who brought him down, FBI Agent Purvis (Bale). During The Great Depression, Dillinger was considered a folkhero. He stole from the banks but never the patrons. Old film footage even shows him treated like a rockstar upon his capture. Shockingly, Mann stays true to some historical facts, but he does take plenty of liberties to enhance the story. Using groundbreaking investigation techniques for that time, Purvis succeeds in capturing Dillinger. However, some good lawyering and a wood gun leads up to an extraordinary breakout. Agent Purvis is now even more determined to not only recapture the bank robber but to make sure he can never escape again! The movie is wonderfully acted by it's two leads, Bale and Depp. Mann loves to pit great actors against each other and it's nice to watch. Ultimately the story is not that compelling. It lacks the charm of other gangster flicks like "The Untouchables" and "Mobsters". Even though the movie runs 2 hours and 21 minutes there is substance missing. The movie desreves 3.5 stars not 3, but the option isn't available. A very good movie that could have been better. MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS: This is the first Universal Blu ray that I was disappointed in. The picture is nice but not amazing. There are even some scenes where color seems a little off. Maybe this was a lighting decision to make it look like more of a period piece, who knows? The sound is either too loud or hard to hear. The special features are very interesting, especially the historical ones. FINAL VERDICT: A MUST OWN FOR GANGSTER MOVIE FANS! Still worth a watch.

Michael Mann's latest is at least as frustrating as it is satisfying. The story of John Dillinger is told, from the time he was sent back to prison for the second time, through to his ultimate demise. The movie presents a thief versus dogged pursuing cop in a superficially similar way to Heat, as a mesmerizingly charismatic Johnny Depp as Dillinger, and a glowering Christian Bale as Melvyn Purvis the FBI agent face off against each other. However, the tale unfolds in a much more traditional and workmanlike fashion than you might expect from Mann's previous work. The period setting is terrifically presented, as is the rat-a-tat of period armoury. The script however, tells the story in an orderly fashion, not really delving much into the characters or their motivations. The only detour into understanding a little about what was going on in Dillinger's head is a detour into the romance between Dillinger and Billie Frechette, which seems neither long enough to do justice to a terrific turn from Marion Cotillard, or brief enough to avoid feeling like it's been uncomfortably shoehorned in. Christian Bale plays a straight role also, without really ever feeling we understand what drives the man. It's entertaining, and has enough prison breakouts, chases and bank robberies to keep you glued for the slightly lengthy running time. However, there are some unusual stylistic choices which do not quite work. Mann has filmed in Hi-Def Digital cameras, eschewing film for the first time. Period movies shot in film have a warmth and softness to the pallet that `feels right' to the eye. Digital cameras have a way of making the action real and immediate, certainly, but so real and immediate it begins to feel like reality TV documentary style. Bright lights burn into the screen, and fast movement feels harsh on the eye in a way that we are used to seeing on the TV screen rather than in a period movie setting. There are times it works to make the viewer accept what you are seeing as real, and not a construct. But there are more times when the digital camera artefacts break the fourth wall and you are reminded this IS a movie set and not real, particularly with the directors penchant for hand held camera for even the most static of dialogue scenes. As a stylistic experiment it is a bold choice - but ultimately one that does not help the movie. On the plus side, the transfer to Bluray is certainly striking, and you are certainly left feeling you saw the movie as the director intended. So - entertaining, yes. Interesting document of exploits of one of America's most notorious criminals and the birth of the FBI - yes. However, as a piece of cinema it is flawed, and not likely to stick in your mind for the right reasons.

Depp and Bale emerse themselves in their respective characters. Great performances and an interesting story.

Public Enemies has been told in print and in documentary format. I will tip my cap to Michael Mann he does tell the story in a very stylish format. However the story is so riddled with inaccuracies and cuts out so many essential details that for those who know the real story, it is nearly unwatchable. It is a shame that such great actors like Johnny Depp and Christian Bale and a great director like Michael Mann couldn't have come up with a story that is less focused on celebrity and more focused on the background and why they became so famous or infamous. This is a technical picture which excels in a number of ways. But the story just doesn't jell and that takes what could have been a great movie like The Insider and turns it into an average one! Not bad but not a great movie!

Reviews

This movie was the same price as in the stores but stores did not have it in blu ray only Amazon had it. My order arrived before Christmas in a timely manor. Only down side was the plastic container that protects the DVD was crushed luckily the DVD was intack and still worked. This was a gift so that was a downer. I did not view the movie so no movie review from me sorry.

Having attended SU and seen the Ernie Davis memorabilia around campus, I was always interested in his story. I felt that this movie gives a good portrayal of the university, Mr. Davis and the turbulent times during which he played. I give it two thumbs up and definitely 5 stars!

Received item very quickly and in excellent conditiion. Will definately order from them again!!

In the interest of full disclosure -- I am a football mom, a football fan, and a sports movie aficionada. That said, this is a wonderful movie which I would rank right up there with "Remember the Titans," "We Are Marshall," and "Friday Night Lights." If you love any of those movies, as I do, you will love this one, too. OF COURSE the director takes some liberties; that's called "dramatic license." But this film is powerful and inspirational -- and isn't that what most of us who like sports movies want to see? I'm buying it now for my college football player son to watch. Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown do an excellent job, as do many of the supporting players. And the football scenes are exciting -- I heard myself yelling at the TV as Ernie ran for a touchdown. But it -- I don't think you'll be disappointed.

As a sports nut I should be ashamed there were so many facts about Ernie Davis I knew nothing about. Yes, I knew he was the first African-American to win the Heisman--and he won it when the civil rights issue was at its zenith. And yes, I knew he died tragically young, but had no idea leukemia claimed him at age 23, before he even got to play a down in the NFL. And I did not know the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him to play alongside fellow Syracuse legend Jim Brown, retired his jersey number. But I know all of this now, thanks to watching THE EXPRESS, a tribute to Ernie Davis and his collegiate career. Sure, it's a little sappy and reeks of melodramatic cliches at times, but overall this is a very moving story about a young man of strong moral fiber fighting not only tacklers on the field, but a society determined to keep him at second class status. THE EXPRESS features a superb cast, including Rob Brown in the lead role. Brown plays the young Syracuse superstar with calm demeanor and resolute determination; other actors, given the racial tensions of the setting, might have been tempted to go over the top, but Brown keeps the lid on. I thoroughly enjoyed Dennis Quaid as gruff head coach Ben Schwartzwalder--a man who must go on a personal journey of his own, as he discovers he's not as open and tolerant as he originally believes. And I really liked Darrin Dewitt Henson playing the proud, yet always defiant, Jim Brown. The football scenes--particularly the 1960 Cotton Bowl against an angry Texas team--are gritty and realistic; sports fans will enjoy the action, while everyone else will enjoy the humanity THE EXPRESS so aptly depicts. --D. Mikels, Author, Walk-On

Reviews

As a musher and adventurer myself, I've been excited for a while to read Norman's book. I was sorely disappointed. In fact, I feel like I lost some respect for Norman in the process. While I respect his accomplishments and admire his youthful spirit, his attitude towards other people bothered me. It seemed like everywhere there was someone battling against him and cutting him down. While this may be the truth, him condemning others through out the whole book was a let down. Overall, I wouldn't reccomend it.

I read this book on the strong recommendation of Iditarod champion Jeff King, and it was well worth the read, well worth it. Norman Vaughan truly lived a life of adventure in a time the likes of which we are not likely to see again. He did what most people dream of doing, but the difference was attitude and determination. He often comes across as confident, cocky, perhaps, a bit arrogant and pushy, but overall he is a likeable, even admirable guy, especially in his later years. Attitude. That what makes the difference at any age, especially old age. Norman Vaughan qualifies as a great American adventurer. He had the Spirit that made America great, even into his later years. At age 89, to climb a mountain named for you, now that's something. Good read, quick, easy read, and, in the end, quite inspirational and motivating. Ought to be required reading for the AARP crowd!

From the time he was a little boy, Norman Vaughan knew he could never be content with a mundane, conventional life. He and a friend constructed their first dog team by tying two mutts to a Flexible Flyer sled. At fifteen, Norman obtained his father's grudging permission to spend a week living off the land on a beach. Upon entering college at Harvard, he found himself bored. He knew it wasn't the life he wanted. So when Norman heard of the upcoming Antarctic exhibition, to be led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, he lost no time in contacting the admiral. He managed to win himself a spot on the team. From that moment on, Norman Vaughan has lived a life full of excitement. I read my mother's copy of this book, which is signed by the author with his personal motto: "Dream Big and Dare to Fail." For his entire life, Vaughan lived by those words.Returning from Antarctica, he felt depression creeping back, and he knew he could never live a "normal" life again. He dropped out of Harvard. Vaughan joined the army and spent years doing search-and-rescue operations by dogsled. He became known for his hair-brained schemes, such as dropping dogs by parachute into locations too remote to reach otherwise. But by and large, his schemes always seemed to work. When he left the army, it wasn't the end of his adventures. He returned to Antarctica on several occasions. Vaughan also entered the 1,000+ mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska 13 times. And on 16 December 1994, three days before his 89th birthday, Vaughan climbed the Antarctic mountain that Admiral Byrd had named for him 65 years earlier.For anyone with an adventurous streak, or even those who simply dream of such a life, this book is a sure winner. Norman Vaughan is one of the most inspirational human beings this world has seen. Most of his ambitious ideas met with much resistance from those around him, but not once did he give up. Sometimes he spent years fighting for what he wanted, and almost invariably he would win out in the end. When he was not invited to participate in the 50th anniversary trip to commemorate Byrd's 1929 expedition to Antarctica, Vaughan called every person he could think of who was involved. Eventually he was offered a place on the team.I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing autobiography. There are a couple of awkward grammatical and punctuation errors, but they are few and far between. For the most part the book is written in easy-to-read language. What did irritate me was that Vaughan consistently mis-spelled the name of Joe Redington, Sr. (he added an extra "d" every time), the founder of the Iditarod. But this is a very minor quibble, and since most people have probably never heard of Redington to begin with, it doesn't make much difference in the end. The last chapter of the book is actually written by Vaughan's wife, and recalls their climb to the top of Mount Vaughan. Also included is a selection of black-and-white photos of Vaughan on his different adventures throughout his life. On the whole, this is a delightful and inspirational book, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

I had the opportunity to hear Norman Vaughan speak and to meet him as well. After hearing his accounts, reading the stories he has are amazing. This book is well written and easy to follow. I have read it twice, and passed it on to many friends, I would reccomend this book to anybody who loves the outdoors or simply reading about others' travels.

Colonel Vaughan has done things most people only dream or read about. Like many of us, the mundane, everyday life of living did not excite him. He embarked on many adventures, the likes of which have killed many people. He lived through them by using his head and depending on common sense and his innate skill to survive. He helped numerous people and made friends all over the world. He is now in his nineties and still going strong. Young people who can't find anything to do, should look to this volume. Perhaps they could find inspiration in what Norman Vaughan has done in his lifetime.

Reviews

Billy Joe Shaver rocks. The bio is very informative and personal. Wish it was a bit longer. However it does include lyrics to all the songs. Great read!

People must read this book! I must say I did not know much about Billy Joe before reading this but it is clear that this man can teach everyone the true lessons of life. Billy Joe is someone who has truly lived a life and shares it with people in his poems about it: "When you get down to it country music is essentially the blues, and my whole life the blues have never left me. I've lost parts of 3 fingers, broke my back, suffered a heart attack and a quadruple bypass, had a steel plate put in my neck and 136 stitches in my head, fought drugs and booze, spent the money I had, and burried my wife, son, and mother in the span of 1 year. "But I'm not here to complain or ask for pity. Life is hard for everybody, just in different ways. I'm not proud of my misfortune--I'm proud of my survival. For years my family kept a kept a bundle of life insurance on me because they were sure I would be the first to go. But as I write this, at 64 years of age, I'm still here and they are all gone." (p.viii) The actual story is short, but it is very weighty at the same time. You will ponder and grin at every word while he tells his life's story. And after that you will listen to every word of his poems (lyrics) as a glimpse into this mans soul. There is no need to complain about the brevity of Billy Joe's life story (75 pages). As I said It is very heavy and will surely put you into a different place in time, through the eyes of a man who has lived through it all and is alive still to tell about it; into the soul of a life that only a handful know and countless dream about.

I have been a fan of Billy Joe's for over thirty years and enjoyed getting to know the background of a unique songwriter and fellow Texan. Although short, this was an entertaining read. A bonus for songwriters like myself, is the section with the lyrics for all of Billy Joe's best known songs. A neat side note- I got my book autographed after a recent concert in Tyler, Texas. Long live Billy Joe Shaver and Texas Music.

The book was like Billy Joe's music; honest and to the point. It was great reading about his relationships with Waylon and other country stars. The lyrics to all his songs was a wonderful bonus. I only wished there was more.

The book description says 207 pages, but only the first 72 pages are the actual book. The rest of the pages are just lyrics. As one reviewer said "you can read this in one sitting". True, but for $12.97 I guess you can't really complain.

Reviews

Five Stars!! Pat Ament, a great climber in his own right, proves to be a very good writer as he takes on the life and times of rock climber John Gill. Using some mindboggling photographs of Gill combined with Ament's dead-on prose, we are introduced to the world of 'bouldering'. Most boulder climbers never go more than 20 feet above the ground, they instead are concerned with solving ridiculously hard climbs that are short but brutal in some cases, requiring great strength, tenacity, and explosive climbing moves. How hard can the routes get? I once read a guide book that descrilbed the following climbing move: "place your right foot beside your right ear and pull with both arms" LOL John Gill possessed the mental toughness and physical strength, partially combining his God-given strength and hard training, to be able to actually do a one-finger pullup on an overhead parallel bar. That capability placed him far beyond most cllimbers. (Don't try that at home) In particular, the high point of the book involves Ament's description of the difficulty of a 30 foot steep vertical spire of rock called 'The Thimble' and Gill's first ascent of it (combined with pictures of the Thimble and the dangerous area below it if one should fall.). It is one great piece of fantastic writing and Gill's ascent set off a sensation within the climbing world. It also helped to validate bouldering as a valid branch of climbing with Gill as the father figure. I've read and re-read that description and it is breathtaking. Ament outdid himself. John Gill's exploits as a climber are AMAZING as the pictures will attest. This book is well worth your time, regardless if you are a climber or not. Five Stars

The below reader must be thinking about a completely different John Gill. The John Gill with which this book is about completely revolutionized bouldering as we knew it and has pushed the limits of bouldering in radical new directions.

I know John Gill and believe me he is not going to be climbing rocks anytime soon. All he knows how to do is play football, and foul people on the basketball court. Anyone who thinks that he is climbing rocks is seriously mistaken. Thanks for your time.

I own several of Pat Ament's books (including his soul-baring autobiography), and I've enjoyed reading them all. John Gill has become virtually the patron saint of modern bouldering, and the many intriguing photographs in this book amply show why. Simply put, Gill was an entire generation ahead of his time--both in terms of his ability and his recognition of dynamic bouldering as the cutting edge of free climbing.Ament's writing style here is more straightforward, and less dense, than in his other writings. Rather than attempt to speak for disparate voices, as he does in his Royal Robbins biography, Ament generally lets those voices speak for themselves in this book. The result is an expository style that makes for light, enjoyable reading.Given the fascination that Ament and Gill share with the spiritual aspects of climbing, one would almost expect Ament to devote much of his attention to Gill's metaphysical philosophies (as did Jon Krakauer in his article on Gill that was later reprinted in _Eiger Dreams_). However, by concentrating on the events of Gill's life and his wanderings among the boulder patches of the American continent, Ament has painted a vivid picture of Gill as Johnny Appleseed, putting up routes--and leaving his legacy--everywhere. I think that is what Gill will most be remembered for, even if his spirituality makes him that much more a climbing guru.

I was first exposed to Master of Rock in the seventies with its first publication. Being at the time, a devoted climber and student of style, I spent hundreds of days in the Valley watching John Long, Ron Kauk, John Bachar, Barry Bates, Jim Bridwell, and all, polish their individual styles while applying everything and anything I could grasp from them. I could'nt walk past a door jam without cranking out the requisite finger tip pull-ups. I was 86'ed from Modesto Junior College's campus dozens of times while explaining to the authorities that "my frisbee is on the roof" . . . Imagine my surprise and joy to discover this relatively unknown man through Pat Ament's timely biography of John Gill. I was floored by this person who stayed so low-key yet with so much incredible climbing talent, in a sport not lacking in ego! For this book, Pat Ament deserves my gratitude for it is through this book that I found that element of climbing I was looking for. To me, John G! ill is still the consumate hero of motion on rock, however minimal that motion was. Yes, big walls were beckoning, Yosemite and Tuoloumne test pieces were fondling my emotion, and the smell and taste of my ruck sack permeated my VW Beetle, but to me, none of it mattered without style and art with every climb, as the end result. I grew up as a climber by studying the greatest students and teachers of style and ethics through the seventies. John Gill defined style before I called myself a climber. Thank you Patrick O. Ament for taking time from your study of climbing to write this book and allowing me to discover John Gill. I will always charish knowing who John Gill is now and who he was then.

Reviews

I have used these posters for the past 3 years with my fourth graders. They provide great writing practice and make for some very cool "getting to know you" activities. One year we even paired up students from both classes so that the entire fourth grade could become acquainted. I plan on buying these each year!

I teach third grade and we have a huge research project at the end of the year. The kids research famous people of their choice and present their research. This poster has saved my life! Introducing 9-year-olds to research-based writing is difficult and confusing, especially when you have so many different skill levels in the classroom. The poster allows kids who are struggling to organize their information easily and gives more developed researchers an opportunity to show their skills. I suggest photocopying the poster first and having your class do a rough draft before they move on to their final poster. They love creating something on this scale and it makes an amazing bulletin board!

Reviews

Awesome book. very interesting read and worth every cent. some great photos in this book to. the dvd that comes with it is just like the pantera home vids only better. buy it. you wont regret it. long live the king of guitar. rip dimebag.

I didn't know what to expect when I got it - I thought it was just an autobiography of Dime but to my surprise it was filled with beautiful pictures and showed Dime as he really was...down to earth and a wonderful human being! All metalheads should own this!

Awesome book with pictures about the life and times of one of the greatest shred guitarist ever Dimebag Darrell. After reading through this book I got a better idea of who the Metal God was in his life, a fun loving down to earth guy who would do anything for anybody who was in need.The world needs more Dimebags in it. He will be truley missed. One of a kind. the dvd that comes with this book really opens you up to dimes world on what he was all about. R.I.P Dimebag you are so missed. Sean M

If you are a Pantera or Dimebag fan this book is 4 you.Lots of pictures and a review of Dimes life.He Came to Rock

Contrary to the other reviews I've read, This book is a must have for any true fan. No, it is not an actual "biography" but it is the story of Dimes life. Dime Was an open book in life, so if your expecting any surprise, or deep dark info, its not in this book! Dime and Vinnie were just 2 kids with supportive parents, and worked hard for their success and NEVER left their fans out.But after reading this book, i almost feel like i was part of the Abbott clan and grew up in Arlington! The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book! They picked the best of the best of Dime and Company.This book is a beautiful tribute to the brotherhood of Dime and Vin.