5 comments about Pride Fighting Championships: Critical Countdown 2004.

1. This DVD had some great fights on it. As a Mixed Martial Artist myself I had to get this DVD. I have quite a collection of PrideFC and UFC DVDs and this one is one of my top 5 favorites. I even picked up a few Submission moves from this DVD which I have used when I'm training in MMA.
   
   The first fight is with Big Nog vs. Heath Herring. This was a great fight between two masters of the ground game. Heath Herring doesn't get the credit he deserves but he is a fighter I do enjoy watching. I learned the Anaconda move from watching this fight but I don't want to give up any spoilers.
   
   The second fight was with Fedor and Randelman which is already a classic fight in MMA history. If you never saw this fight you are going to be amazed when you do and you will see why Fedor is so great.
   
   The rest of the fights are awesome as well. Wait until you see the fight with Arona and Rampage Jackson. Your jaw is going to drop again like it will when you see the Fedor and Randleman fight.



2. ...Another very good Pride DVD. Most of them are...lol! Good action, with some shocking slams. Nice fight card as usual. I recommend it for sure.



3. This dvd features the rematch of sakuraba and schembri also the number 1 contender match of jackson and arona and 4 matches of the heavy weight grand prix
   
   best fights:
   1)schembri vs sakuraba 2)arona vs jackson 3)kharitonov vs schilt 4)nogueria vs herring



4. there are several good fights on this 2 discer and it does not disapoint. rampage and arona both wanted a shot at the belt and the fight did not let me down one bit. great event overall



5. Anyone who considers himself an mma fight fan, this dvd is a must. You have to see the most brutal slam EVER when Quinton Jakson slamed Ricardo Arona, then Fedor survived the second most brutal slam at the hands of Kevin Rendalman. You won't be dissapointed

3 comments about The History Of Judo.

1. The previous reviewer was probably right - for a person who is not a judoka and has no clue about the sport, this DVD won't make much sense. But for a big fan of judo, it is great!!! You'll love it!



2. This is a very interesting documentary about the history of this Japanese discipline. It shows some people who has practiced JUDO as the French man of science Frédéric JOLIOT-CURIE.



3. Good primer on judo history up to ca. 1997. Some good competition & demo clips.

1 comments about Learn Judo with the Gokyo Gang - DVD#1.

1. This was a gift for a 7 year old who is learning judo. I had trouble finding an interactive tool to supplement their class time until I found this DVD - there is nothing like it on the market. She is really enjoying the 3D characters, which are helping keep her interested and excited about her classes and the sport. She did find it a little difficult to navigate through the DVD menu's at first, but she seems to have the hang of it on her own now. The menu navigation could be made a little more simple, and maybe add a "start" button instead of "lesson plan."
   It can be difficult for children to maintain focus on activities, so i think this is a great educational (and fun) supplement for children taking judo classes.

4 comments about Cold Showers.

1. 'Douches froides' ('Cold Showers') is a film by Antony Cordier that has been marketed in a strange way: the projected audience was supposedly the gay audience, but aside from brief frontal nudity in an innocuous gym shower room there is nothing 'gay' about this movie. Instead COLD SHOWERS is an examination of class, sport, experimentation, and emotional borderlines that are at once fascinating and frustrating.
   
   Mickael (Johan Libereau) is from a poor working class family - his father Gerard (Jean-Philippe Ecoffey) is a boozer taxi cab driver who lost his license as a result of a DUI, and his mother Annie (Florence Thomassin) is a cleaning woman in the high school gym: they live on the edge of poverty. Not a great student, Mickael excels in judo and his life is focused on his sport and on his girlfriend Vanessa (Salome Stevenin). One of Mickael's teammates Clement (Pierre Perrier) is from a wealthy family: his father Louis Steiner (Aurelien Recoing) is confined to a wheelchair and his mother Mathilde (Claire Nebout) is a woman of the world and society. Louis decides to sponsor the judo team, buys them outfits, and asks Mickael to work with Clement to perfect his technique and prepare the judo team for a French championship.
   
   Mickael and Clement relate well and while Mickael is a winning player, Clement is smarter and understands the intrinsic rules of the game better. An incident occurs that forces Mickael to take the position of a wounded mate and in doing so he must lose 8 kilos to qualify for the championship team. The struggle to lose weight (his body is already perfect) places stress on both Mickael and his family and teammates. Mickael and Vanessa include Clement in their camaraderie, a situation which evolves into a ménage a trois as the three have sex in the after hours gym. Vanessa reacts as though this is the greatest physical feeling ever, Clement is smitten, and Mickael has troubling doubts. When the three decide to try it again in a hotel room Mickael is so conflicted that he does not join the other two, only listening to their cavorting in the bathtub feeling inferior to the smarter, wealthier Clement. But on the judo side, the team wins the championship and Mickael's delicate sense of self worth is restored for a moment. It is the manner in which the trio of young adolescents resolves their antics that closes the film.
   
   Though the actors are superb and very beautiful to see and hear, the character development is fuzzy and we are left with little understanding or insight as to the each of the key players. The judo action moments are beautifully choreographed and the intimacy scenes are done with taste and fine lighting but with little passion conveyed. Though we want to identify with Mickael and his methods of confronting his coming of age, there just isn't enough character motivation to make that transference entirely successful. This film feels like two movies: a judo team's antics and a class-crossed ménage a trois. Beautiful to watch, but the script could have been more carefully constructed. Grady Harp, August 06



2. It's a sign of desperation on the part of the producers that this movie is being promoted as gay cinema. Yes, there is a brief (and darkly-filmed) threesome at the heart of the movie, and it's of the 2M+1F variety. But otherwise there isn't the faintest trace of "gay" in this movie, only a young man confused about his place in the world and driven to desperate acts, from losing more than 15 pounds on a crash diet to get into a lower judo weight class to sharing his girlfriend with a richer teammate to an act of violence that mars the last ten minutes.
   
   With that said, there is a halfway-decent plot here; if you like the "disaffected teenage male" strain of French cinema you may enjoy this. But if you've come for either a gay coming-of-age movie or for the sort of titillation common to most movies promoted specifically to a gay audience, check out Grande Ecole or Latter Days instead.



3. intense in a smooth way, mildly erotic. if you have heard it was "gay cinema" it is not. but even if that is what you were hoping for you should still watch this film. it is simply a great movie. and the french language makes it sultry throughout.



4. In the beginning of this French film directed by Antony Cordier Mikael (Johan Libereau) discovers, when he takes a shower, that his mother has had the electricity turned off to save money. He lives with his parents who are extremely poor-- his father loses his job as a taxi driver because of a drinking problem; his mother is a cleaning lady-- and pretty much measures his self-worth only for his skills on the school's judo team. He becomes friends with Clement (Pierre Perrier), a rich student on the team as well. The two eventually get involved in a menage a trois with Mikael's girl friend Vanaessa (Salome Stevenin). The three young people (all very easy to look at) are playing with fire so you can imagine where that relationship, if you can call it that, goes. Then there is the other plot, Mikael's obsession to lose 8 kilos so he can qualify for a judo competition.
   
   If you are looking for some titillating nudity beautifully filmed in a film that makes a statement about class, this one is for you. It is a cut above the usual low budget films that come out of France faster than we can rent them.
   
   The director makes a short statement, included with the DVD, about what he was trying to do in the film as well.

No comments about Karo Parisyan-Judo for Mixed Martial Arts, 6 incredible volumes for learning effective throws for Grappling and UFC style fighting.

3 comments about Mike Swain Ne-Waza Judo Groundfighting.

1. This DVD develops a very coherent approach to NE-Waza . Mike Swain presents a logical progression of attacks, from standing to ground, fighting off one's back , attacking UKE's back and some very nice arm-lock entries.
   
   The simplicity of presentation is first class and most of the moves are interlinked one way or another.
   This tape doesn't have the clutter of other Judo or JiuJitsu tapes but presents each move correctly, explaining the finer points of each move so they really can be applied in randori or competion. The only thing thats missing is perhaps some competitive examples.



2. I have been doing Judo and Jujitsu for a while and this dvd here is outstanding! Now I have his other dvd as well Judo Complete which is real great but this dvd breaks down all of his steps even more and he goes over his techniques in slow motion. If you are interested in improving your grappling game on the mat of rondori, shai, or even in the streets this dvd is a must.



3. a must get for any grapplers libary, professionaly made,clear and concise. Swain is 1st class

2 comments about Pride Fighting Championships: Fully Loaded.

1. In which you get to see Zuluhino vs Henry Miller with a strange finish, Sakaraba vs Ken Shamrock with a controversial finish, Mirko vs Josh in a good fight, Yokoi vs Rampage where Rampage seems to be back to normal, Verdum vs Kharitonov in an interesting fight, and other good matches.
   
   It's not the best Pride show I've seen, but it isn't horrible, save for the Zuluhino match.



2. Maybe it was because Final Conflict 2005 was so extraordinarily good, but Fully Loaded didn't live up to my expectations. I don't regret purchasing it, but it's not a classic.
   
   Here's a fight by fight without major spoilers.
   
   Mirko CroCop vs. Josh Barnett 8/10
   
   The rematch to a fight that ended with a freak shoulder injury. Mirko is coming off a grueling (but not too damaging) fight at Final Conflict, but appears to have no ill affects from that fight. Likewise, Barnett is ready to go and doesn't show any ring rust. Crocop's takedown defense might be the best in the world (including any wrestlers). However, Barnett came to fight and shows he isn't just a 1-trick pony like Mark Coleman. It's a great fight, and I think we'll see more of both of these guys.
   
   Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Ken Shamrock 0/10
   This fight ends due to a premature stoppage. I know that's kind of a spoiler, but you should know that before you pay money for this DVD. What's even more disappointing perhaps is the uncomitting style that Shamrock displays before the fight was stopped. It's "classic" boring Shamrock. It kind of looked like Shamrock/Severn 2. Lots of dancing, almost no fighting, and then a quick stoppage.
   
   Makoto Takimoto vs. Dong Sik Yoon 7/10
   
   Two lighter fighters who fight with a style that would be more common at a Bushido event. Still, they are both pretty well-rounded and there is some good groundwork and surprising standup.
   
   Sergei Kharitonov vs. Fabricio Werdum 6/10
   
   This fight had me so excited in anticipation. Kharitonov is probably ranked 4th in the Pride heavyweight division, and has shown good submission wins, and some punishing knockouts (Ninja Rua, Pedro Rizzo, etc). Werdum is a world champion bjj player who has shown in his short career that he has made a good transition to MMA. He has a couple of really impressive submission wins. The winner of this fight could set himself up for a title shot in the near future. Unfortunately, each fighter respects the strength of the other too much (Kharitonov's striking and Werdum's groundwork). There isn't as much engaging of action, or all-out drama that were in previous fights from these two guys. There is a winner, but I don't think the winner is ready for a title shot just yet.
   
   Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Hirotaka Yokoi 9/10
   
   Rampage is an exciting fighter whose trademark slams have won him many fights. He has also had a couple of brutal losses at the hands of Vanderlei Silva and Shogun Rua, and a couple of other lackluster performances. Before this fight, he is at a crossroads. Yokoi is also at a crossroads, having lost a few in a row since going toe-to-toe with Nogueira for a round before being submitted in the 2004 heavyweight tournament. Both guys need a win, and after a competitive start, one of them emerges as a fighter with a bright future in Pride.
   
   James Thompson vs. Alexandru Lungu 7/10
   James Thomposon is HUGE. Not like that Brazillian basketball player, but huge like Hercules. He's not the slickest fighter in the world, but if you like to watch fighters who look like video game heroes, then you'll like this fight. Lungu is also huge, a world-class wrestler with a gigantic girth. There's no secret these guys aren't going to be able to go the distance and it's a matter of time till one of them gets tagged solid...
   
   Murilo "Ninja" Rua vs. Murad Chunkaiev 8/10
   Ninja is in need of a win. After being highly touted early in his career, a failed attempt at the 2004 heavyweight tournament and the emergence of his brother Shogun as the class of the middleweight division have left Ninja in no-man's land. This fight is the best he's looked in a long time.
   
   Wagner da Conceicao Martins vs. Henry "Sentoryu" Miller 1/10
   
   Another early stoppage. A knee lands, the ref stops it, and that's about it. In truth, a couple more knees might have landed if the fight continued, but it was too early of a stoppage for this level of fighting.
   
   All in all, it's a little sub-par for a Pride card. If you don't buy every event, save your money and make sure you have critical countdown 2005 and final conflict 2005.

2 comments about Throw down.

1. Throw Down is a real crowd-pleaser despite being more interested in the quirky characters than the judo bouts in the film. Johnnie To's tribute to Kurosawa and filled with references to Sugata Sanshiro (far more than the one that To admits to), it actually feels more like a Hong Kong version of Britcom Black Books, with Luis Koo's drunken former judo prodigy staggering his way from scam to scam with his two employees between mismanaging his nightclub with about as much grasp of conventional reality as Bernard Black.
   
   It's a redemption story, of course, with the cocky young challenger Aaron Kwok and the death of a friend eventually spurring him to clean up his act. Although it's filled with great moments of pure filmmaking, from the slow-motion bar-room judo brawl that spills out into the street to Cherrie Ying running joyfully through the streets with her hands full of stolen cash while her pursuers sporadically stop to pick up the stray notes that fall from her arms, it's not really an action movie: even the final fight between Koo and Tony Leung Ka-Fei is almost thrown away. It's the disparate characters and the sheer enjoyment To takes in them that makes this work. Even one of the villains of the piece, Siu-Fai Cheung's Brother Savage, who lives to humiliate children and customers by beating them at the games in his arcade, is impossible to really hate, while Leung's character is never turned into a monster who must be destroyed but simply an adversary who must be beaten fair and square. Great fun.



2. This is a beautiful movie. Not just for judokas.But judokas will fall in love with it. There are many references to Kurosawa and Sugata Sanshiro, his first movie. This is not a martial arts movie, it is really a drama, but the action scenes are just beautiful.

5 comments about Budo: The Art of Killing.

1. This dvd was exactly what I thought it would be, a comprehensive view of all of the major martial arts of Japan: karate, kendo, iaido, judo, sumo, Okinawa kobudo,and yabusame(archery on horseback). Anyone serious of martial arts should have a copy of this dvd.



2. I really enjoyed "Budo: The Art of Killing." I usually watch and review instructional videos, and it was a nice change to watch this documentary on the martial arts of Japan. One thing that really stands out is the beauty of Japan that is shown throughout the film. Seeing some of the scenic settings reminded me of places I visited while living in Japan, and how there are so many beautiful and peaceful places in the land of the rising sun. It's not a fast paced DVD, with some scenes in slow motion with slower music, but that added to the beauty of the film.
   
   Peace and beauty in a film about the art of killing? Yes, and I found the relationship between the two to be calming and reflected on some of my own training. Seeing some of the masters train with Mt. Fuji in the background, on beaches, or in other aesthetically pleasing places (most dojos are simple elegance) or the scenes in fields or forests, made me think of how often it is my training in martial arts that calms me and becomes the most serene time of the day. Meditation and physical training go together.
   
   The training scenes in the film are not instructional. You are not going to learn how to do the things you see from this film. Nor does the film elaborate on the training that got the people in the film to that point other than saying it takes a long time and much dedication. However, watching this can motivate one to pursue their training to reach the higher levels.
   
   For those interested in the various martial arts of Japan, this DVD serves as a nice introduction. You get to see people training in Judo, Karate, Sumo, Aikido, and more. The section with women training with the naginata will be interesting for females to see the samurai art practiced by women of all ages. There was also a lot of time spent on the sword, which the Japanese samurai are known for. Besides seeing some masters of the sword, the film shows a blade being made as well. I was surprised that the Ninja and Ninjitsu were not covered.
   
   Overall, I enjoyed this DVD, just as I enjoy reading the older Samurai writings that have been translated to English, and books about the samurai, ancient Japan, Korea, China, and related works. If you are interested in an artful film about the martial arts and beauty of Japan, you will enjoy this film.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.



3. Saw this a long time ago on VHS and was glad to see
   it was available on dvd, takes you through many of the
   disiplines of the Samurai, as well as showing how a
   sword is crafted, more a documentary but a good one!
   G2



4. Documentario eccellente, ottima fotografia. Forse molto retorico, conoscendo un po' i maestri di cui si parla direi che sono stati descritti con troppa enfasi, tanto che a volte alcune situazioni possono apparire "comiche" ad uno spirito moderno e disincantato, ma ritengo in ogni caso che lo spirito che dovrebbe animare le arti marziali è stato chiaramente evocato.
   Perfino la colonna sonora è degna di nota.
   Da consigliare.



5. I have always loved martial arts,from a young age.This dvd captures the essence of martial arts,very realistic.Now that im older, i try to life the life of of harmony,health,peace,still practice martial arts.This dvd would be a graet teaching tool for any martial arts [...]

5 comments about Follow That Dream.

1. This film has already been summarized & reviewed - for me, this is a 4* fun Elvis film; gave it a 5* rating to counter-balance the many 1* ratings complaining about the lack of a WS version - this is NOT an evaluation of the film - just irritates me! There is a 'flippy' letterbox version in 2.35:1 aspect ratio but it is not anamorphic (which is my preference - and I agree that the company should have done this movie in that format) - but this is a quite good comedic romp for Elvis & love Arthur as papa! Avoid the negative reviews and give this a watch, please.



2. This is the only Elvis movie I never had, and found it very hard to get, it is not particularly good, but Elvis is Elvis, and you can't get enough of him.
   Thanks Amazon for finding Elvis for me....Geraldine



3. One of the better Elvis movies. He was charming, the scenery was good. The supporting cast was fun. All in all a fun, feel good movie.



4. I love this movie, it's entertaining and good for the whole family, Elvis was at his carefree, comical best. The whole experience was good, good shipping time, good conditon.....highly recommended



5. The DVD is very good. The quality is very good, good color, very good sound.Very enjoyable.Follow That Dream