This is a movie about revenge. It's about the quest of one man, Taw Jackson (Wayne), to get even with the man who set him up and stole his ranch. To get his vengeance, Taw puts together a small group of men, including a gunfighter who's been hired to kill him (Douglas), to help him rob the "War Wagon," so named because it is an iron stagecoach complete with a gattling gun and a large complement of mounted guards. The five men scheme, plan, and concoct a plan to steal the wagon, and Taw and Lomax (Douglas) try to refrain from killing each other in the process.

This is not meant to be a completely serious Western, and in fact it is quite lighthearted. It is also funny, with just enough comic relief to keep things lively. Douglas and Wayne are absolutely fabulous together, and the rest of the cast works well too. This is a great all-around Western.

I am not a big believer in box sets. Let's face it, most of the time these sets are just a mountain of b-sides, alternative takes, and rejected songs that the band wouldn't dream of trying to pawn off on an album. There are exceptions to this, of course (The Stones, Led Zeppelin, and others have GREAT box sets), but all too often I find myself wishing I wouldn't have purchased a box set.

This set, spanning the Eagles' long career, is an exception. The song selection here is great, and doesn't seem to exclude ANYTHING that I would have liked to have seen. The 3 studio discs are conveniently arranged, not just lumped together, into categories, which greatly improves the listening experience. ALL of the hits are here, even those I'd forgotten how much I liked. The concert disc is great as well--the sound is spectacular and the song selection good. The highlight, of course, is the cover of Tom Waits' "Old 55."

As to the claim that this set contains only the hits that many people already own, well, that's the point. This is 4 discs of good stuff. For me (who didn't own any of the studio albums on CD) this set was perfect, because I got EVERY Eagles song I ever wanted (except maybe "The Girl From Yesterday") in one fell swoop. For Eagles fans who don't have the material on CD and want to get it all at once, this set is a perfect solution.

After seeing the previews for this movie, I really didn't expect a whole lot. But this film was worse than I expected. I was ready for a typical girl-power type movie--the downtrodden, hapless (but innocent at heart) girl who, in the end, is successful beyond belief (after learning some valuable lessons, of course), overcomes enormous obstacles, and finally finds a good man in the midst of the sea of male pigs. Oh, and let's not forget the evil boyfriend or husband that, somehow, gets the bad stuff he deserves.

This movie contained all of those elements, but exaggerated to the extreme. Novalee (Natalie Portman) is the "Wal-Mart Mom"-- meaning she has her baby inside a Wal-Mart after her boyfriend abandons her. From then on, its one bad thing after another. In the space of two short hours, Novalee loses friends, has her daughter kidnapped, has a friend beat up and abused, and encounters a score of other huge difficulties, which in the end serve to empower and strengthen her. Novalee and her friend (Ashley Judd) somehow manage to get knocked up by EVERY dirtball/sleazebag man in Oklahoma, and continuously have horrible experiences with men they thought were perfect. Yet they never learn (at least, Judd doesn't).

All in all, this is a 'chick-flick' not worth anyone's time. Don't even bother, because if you enjoy an engaging plot and anything more than a cookie-cutter, generic story with 5 times the crises of a normal drama, you'll be disappointed with Where the Heart Is.

I can't agree with calling "The Searchers" an iliadic western. If anything, it is the Odyssey of the West, as it tells the story of Ethan Edwards's five-year search for his kidnapped niece. John Wayne gives a great performance (many people argue its his best) as Ethan Edwards, a tough, proud Civil War veteran who refused to give up and who is forced to spend years of his life searching for his niece, Debbie. The journey, mostly set in the beautiful Monument Valley of Southern Utah, is truly a quest of epic proportions.

The story is intriguing, the plot fast-moving and unpredictable, and the action exciting. Wayne's performance as Edwards shows him in a darker, more unpredictable role than many of his other films, and that sun-baked, battle-hardened face covered with stubble is a visage that, in many ways, epitomizes the rough character of the American West.

The movie contains a number of stereotypes, from European settlers to Comanche Indians, that would not be considered politically correct today. Despite this, however, this is a fine film by director John Ford, one that captivates from beginning to end. Every list of the greatest Westerns of all time should include "The Searchers."

This book, written in the height of the Crockett hysteria in the 1950's, attempts to present an objective view of the real David Crockett. Most of the book deals with Crockett the senator, not Crockett the backwoodsman or Crockett of the Alamo. In this, at least, the book is valuable, because it portrays a David Crockett far different from the Davy Crockett of Walt Disney or John Wayne.

The book is valuable in this respect, but it is poorly written. The author skips from one subject to another, making obscure references to events which are never explained and about which the reader is apparently supposed to be familiar. The argument is not well organized, and bounces around so much it is very difficult to follow, and the narrative is just as fragmentary. Inappropriate euphemisms and ill-fitting metaphors further clot this work and inhibit the flow of the narrative. Shackford, who was a professor of English and should have been a more capable writer, makes this account of Crockett's life very, very difficult to read.

Well, most of the world is still waiting for this classic trilogy to be released on DVD, and will likely be waiting for a few more years. Until then, we have to content ourselves with this VHS Special Edition release. The DVD release will mark my 4th purchase of the trilogy, and I have to admit that I don't regret buying these movies 3 times already one bit. They are just that good.

This epic tale of the saga between good and evil is every bit as entertaining as it was 25 years ago, though the new added scenes (for the most part) have not improved the films much. Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and especially Yoda and Darth Vader have become household names thanks to this great trilogy. As far as epic scope and storytelling grandeur, there are few movies that can rival the Star Wars trilogy.

George Lucas forever revolutionized the film industry with his release of Star Wars: a New Hope (in 1977). Every so often, a film is released that forever changes the world of cinema, and Star Wars was such a film. This movie, along with its sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (all 3 included in this release), was very deservant of all the credit it received. Say what you will about the new films--there are very few people who don't have a special place in their hearts for the original Star Wars trilogy.

This record is the Eagles' most famous single album, mostly because of the title track. Many people consider "Hotel California" to be the best rock song ever, and it would have been sufficient to make this a worthwhile album by itself. There is more, however. None of the other songs is what I would call a smash hit, but there are several great tunes. My personal favorite (aside from the title track, of course) is "Wasted Time," but there are others (Life in the Fast Lane, The Last Resort, Pretty Maids all in a Row) which could be considered hits.

The Eagles were and are a great rock band, and their music was a defining force in the 70's. Any list of the greatest rock albums should include the Eagles' "Hotel California."

This, the second volume of greatest hits put out by the Eagles, had a tough act to follow. GH volume 1 was destined to become the top-selling album of all time. This album, GH volume 2, manages to follow in the footstepts of its predecessor. While not as good as the first volume, this collection of hits is nevertheless very much worth having. Of course, having "Hotel California" as the number one track didn't exactly hurt matters.

All in all, if you're anything but a die-hard Eagles fan, these two volumes of greatest hits will probably suffice. If you really want some extra material, there's always the excellent live album "Hell Freezes Over" to complement these two. If, however, you're like me, and want anything and everything of the Eagles you can get, you're probably better off buying either the box set (a great collection) or the individual albums themselves.

This is something many classic rock fans dreamed about for many years--the reunion of the Eagles. Then, finally, in 1994, it happened, and the result is this spectacular album(along with the DVD of the same title). The sound is absolutely fantastic, and the band is very impressive, definitely at the top of their game.

Most of the classics you and I have heard on the radio for so many years are present here, many performed with a little bit of extra kick that makes you remember why the Eagles were such a rockin' band in the first place. The version of "Hotel California" is breathtaking, "Take it Easy" rocks like no tomorrow, and "Tequila Sunrise" makes you tap your foot in spite of yourself. There are also four new songs (along with one solo song of Don Henley's), all of which are great.

I bought the CD when it came out in '94, and am only now experiencing the DVD version. Both are great, and the DVD even has two songs that the CD doesn't. This is an album no Eagles fan should be without, and also one that will be an essential part of any Classic Rocker's collection. The Eagles still have it!

It is not difficult to see why this is the greatest selling album of all time. The Eagles, with their catchy beats and great lyrics, have a far reach. They apply to many, many people: fans of country, rock, and pop alike (to name a few). What really makes this a great album, however, is not its universal appeal, but the sheer power of its tracks.

This album, of course, highlights the greatest hits of the Eagles' first albums. And what a great ride it is. From the opening moments of 'Take it Easy' to final seconds of 'Best of My Love,' the Eagles deliver. The only reason any fan of classic rock or pop should not own this album is if he or she owns all of the Eagles' studio albums from this period. Otherwise, the Eagles' greatest hits is a must have for any collection.