Cockfighter (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this movie, but I strongly discourage anyone from purchasing the DVD release by Synergy Entertainment. First of all, it is in pan-and-scan fullscreen when the original aspect ratio is 1.85:1. Also, the image and sound quality suggest that it was ripped from a VHS copy. Overall quality is of a bad bootleg. DO NOT BUY.

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Bruno Bozzetto's: Allegro Non Troppo (1977) Review

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(More customer reviews)Allegro Non Troppo. The title is Italian for a musical instruction in classical music. Literally translated, it means "cheerful, not too much"
The b&w live action segments, which take place in the beginning and inbetween animation, feature a young presenter, who tells us proudly, "This show is destined for immortality. Music interpreted in cartoons." He then says the movie is called Fantasia, only to get a phone call, at which he's clearly embarrassed. "They've say some guy already made this picture, a certain Crisney, Prisney, an American." Which he doesn't believe. The rough and brutal conductor has more the manner of the local butcher, and the orchestra, consisting of old women in their 60's through 80's, are fearful of him, as is the animator, a mild-mannered man with a balding but flowing haircut that makes him look more like an 18th century composer. His creations make the old ladies applaud, laugh, and cry. There's a funny segment involving a gorilla (don't ask) and him doing the Russian kalinka dance.
The first is Claude Debussy's Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un faune, which traces the repeated attempts of an aging, pudgy satyr to have one of the beautiful, nude and nubile women for himself. Debussy did write this dreamy work harkening back to the idyllic paganism of Greece. I was surprised my parents let me see this when I was nine(!)
Antonin Dvorak's Slavic Dance No. 7 tells the story of a man who moves from his cave-dwelling neighbours to live alone, only to have his actions imitated by the neighbours. Frustrated, he constructs a different house, only to be imitated by the mindless crowd. Their imitative actions give him an idea.
The next two segments are stand head and shoulders above the others. Life evolved from a Coke bottle, one of the glass ones, not the plastic ones we have today. That is set to Ravel's Bolero. To which the presenter asks, "Who composed it?" From some bubbling liquid Coke, to an amoeboid creature to a reptile, and beyond, the animation also presents the march of life over the ages. The tempo of animation accelerates in tune with the music, where each instrument takes its turn playing the repeated 8-measure tune based on a Spanish dance. Dinosaurs, prehistoric birds, sea creatures, and even the ape, all walk across the volcanic landscape, and things really heat up when the strings kick in for the first time.
The animation to Jean Sibelius's Valse Triste put a real tear in my eye, as it portrays a cat who climbs from a crawlspace under a large house, only to discover it is a bombed ruin. The cat's eyes glow when it remembers happier times, such as an old lady knitting in a sofa, a caged canary, when the house was full of life in general. The colourful scenes when the house is reconstructed in its glory days is a highlight. However, the cat is clearly distressed upon seeing the stark wreckage.
A perky and funny bee's nice lunch in the meadow is constantly disrupted by an amorous human couple. The music is set to one of Antonio Vivaldi's concerti, which resembles the Spring segment of the Four Seasons.
Set to Igor Stravinsky's "Fire Bird" is a revisionist retelling of the Creation, Adam and Eve, and the Serpent. Both Adam and Eve refuse the Apple, to which the Serpent himself eats it, and gets a nightmare flurry of images, a post-industrial hell, complete with horned demons and live footage of the night life. The image of the heart filled with money is a telling one.
The attempt of an Igor-like behemoth to find a fitting finale from the files is actually pretty funny and warped.
Bruno Bozetto's animation is in varied styles, be it the lovely hues of idyllic Greece or the collage of twisted images in the finale. The overall theme here is how the post-industrial society comes into conflict with the old ways, be it pre-war days, romance, and nature. I first saw part of this back in 1977, and 26 years later, have finally seen this parody of Fantasia in its entirety, and am glad because of it. A real one-of-a-kind.

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In a riot of color and music, master animator Bruno Bozzetto offers his irreverent tribute to Disney's Fantasia.Transcending parody, this erotic, satiric, and delirious animated feature represents Bozzetto's vision of the world.In six distinct episodes, fantastic cartoon creatures march, slither, and bounce to the classical rhythms of Debussy, Dvorak, Ravel, Sibelius, Vivaldi, and Stravinsky.Perhaps most entrancing is the visualization of Ravel's "Bolero," in which the dregs of a Coke® bottle set forth a frenzied animal evolution across a surreal landscape.Maurizio Nichetti (The Icicle Thief, Volere Volare) stars in the equally wild live-action sequences that introduce each piece.For many critics, Allegro non troppo matches or surpasses the imagination and technique of Disney's masterpiece.

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COCKFIGHTERS: THE INTERVIEWS (4 2-hr. disc set) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have mine and am still watching it and no, you cant borrow it. You have no excuse to not buy your own, the price is cheap. the film is invaluable. I know a lot of you have loved ones that dont know what to buy you for birthdays, x-mas, ect. This is it guys and gals. Very well put together and we need to be finding ways to get this in front of the public and infront of freindly and nuetral politicians. These interviews are of real people and Stephanie does a great job of letting them tell their story.
Great Job Steph!!! CLARET from Tennessee


I am posting my review on Stephanie`s film, `` Cockfighters. This is one of the greatest tools we could have to help educate others about our sport. It shows that the dirty, savage, mean people that cockers are portraid as isn`t so. I sit here trying to think of the best way to explain this magnificent peice of work, but all I really know to say is just buy it! Buy it and watch it. You will be amazed at the knowledge shared in the interviews, and the persuading words spoken buy some of our great all time cockers as well as the small breeders as well. Buy it and you wont waste your money. I sum it up with this word, WOW!!!
SAMMY SULLIVAN, Mobile, Alabama

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents on this WONDERFUL documentary. I was so very impressed with the way this was put together. I learned alot and it even made me think of cockfighting in a new light. I am one of those that had never heard of this sport until I started dating my now husband. I had the normal pre-conceptions when he told me that they fought roosters. I thought why in the world would you want to do that?!?!?!?! Then I saw my first fight and as many of the people on that video said I was hooked. I have enjoyed seeing the biddies grow and become some of the most powerful and fast cocks I have ever seen. Yes it takes alot of time and money to raise good game fowl but it is well worth it when you have something you can be proud of. I don't impress easily but I was impressed with these videos....congradulations Steph you did a wonderful job on capturing the whole ideal of cockfighting. So if you havn't bought these videos yet BUY THEM!!!!!
Just lil ole me....JENNY SULLIVAN, Mobile, Alabama
Watching this film only reinforced in my mind that we are a dying breed. It was so sad to listen to these great men and women talking about a sport future generations may not be able to experience. Yet, it made me so proud that a few good people could stand up and "be counted". I am glad that Stephanie had the gameness to film this in an unbiased way. She, herself, would be a great defender of our chosen profession. Her interviews have shown the true nature of a cocker and she portrayed a cocker's beliefs in a way no one can challenge. Thank you, Stephanie, for the courage you have shown in this work.
ANNETTE LEE, FORMER PRESIDENT, HAWAII GAMEFOWL BREEDERS Just watched the interviews and I have to say it is rather addictive so be careful. I started watching it at around 9 clock and found myself up in the early morning hours. This is a masterpiece and should be in every cockers home. I think this can also be a tool for digging our sport out of the dark and putting it back into a better light. I think it would even be wise to give the tapes to our elected officials who are misinformed by the animal rights activist. Stephanie has done some great work and defiantly has my respect. If you don't get these tapes then you are missing out.
Nothing compares and nothing ever will. you have stepped on to new ground that no one has and many of us are greatful. this is truly a collecters item and all cockers and non cockers should have this. just wonderful.
UNDERHACK
The interviews were very well done! I give it(the video) a thumbs up, A+. superb!!!!! Maybe if the ones that are not to keen of the ideal of the roosters, fighting them, etc., seen these videos, it would enlighten them and show them that we're good people, family people, honest and hard-working people. Not the rough, drug taking, beer drinking, redneck, sterotype they have labeled us(all) to be!!!!!!! Thank You for taking the time to help our sport!!! And to alot of us, OUR LIVING!!!!!!
CHRIS NeSMITH, Blackwater Farms
We found cockfighters the interview to be very entertaining and informative. Stephenie Castillo did an excellent job of filming and producing this collection. We thank this will become a must have item for all true cockers. The interviews were very well done and the topics were directly to the heart of the gamefowl industries world. As a bonus one will get to see some of the best bloodlines in the world and hear how and why some of the top cockers breed as they do.
Stephenie Castillo selected some of the top people of the gamefowl industry to interview. Johnny Jumper, Carol Nesmith, Joe Z, Ray Boles, Pokey Stover Savage, and many more top rooster people.
Along with this you get to see Sunset, Texoma and other top pits. Hear top gamefowl people speak on how they started in the business and how they got to where they are today. The cockers interviewed come from a broad spectrum of the gamefowl world. Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Hawaii, Texas, Utah, La. and many more states are visited.
You will also recieve a history lesson on such men as Kelso, Hatch, Murphey, Hulsey, and several other distinguished breeders of the past.
Overall the money spent for this selection will be well worth it to most and money well spent in our opinion.
OGBA_NEWS
I was delighted to recieve the Cockfighter Interview DVD's Thursday. After put the kids to bed I sat down at 9 last night and watched the first two disc then watched the other two this morning and I must say the were even better than advertised. Ms. Castillo has done something for Cockfighters that no one ever has, she has shown us to the world as we see ourselves: Honest, Loyal, Intelligent, God Fearing and Hard Working. Whether you are new to the sport or have be raised in it you should get these tapes and watch them not only alone but with your family, friends and foes to help them understand your that your passion for this game is shared with many people from many different walks of life. I think if we could just get these tapes in the hands of the lawmakers who only judge us on what they are told by our enemies maybe we could change the way that they see us.
Ms. Castillo I know that you where turned down by many well known cockers when you tried to interview them maybe after (they) see your work on this subject those who refused before will now come around and you can make a part 2. I know as a 3rd generation cocker on both sides of my family I will one day use these tapes to help me get that 4th and 5th generation on board.
Thanks again
Jason Barnett
Alabama
Just got my copy On Saturday and am on the last disc already.......Some of the best Interviews I've ever seen .........Very informative ........Defenatly one of , if not the best video on cocking I have ever seen.........My favorite Interviews were the ones with Johnny Jumper and Carol Nesmith...........These mens cockhouses are unreal..........Cleaner than some peoples homes Ive been in...............Would like to hear some other
R TORRES, Hawaii
I just recieved them as well. It is a great chance to hear the legends talk about their past roosters and friends. I definately like the one with Jumper. They were all pretty good, i also like the one with Joe Z. The tour of sunset is great for anyone that wont ever get a chance to go in person.
Ben Rodriguez
Received the 4 vhs tapes today. I've only viewed part 1 and am very satisfied with it, even with just the Joe Z interview. Carol Nesmith's interview is very good. Some good pointers specially how he cuts the spur and how he conditions. His interview shows how competitive he is in the gamefowl business.
CAMARINES
I saw the 4 disc DVD in one day i love watching it even how many times i can't feel boring it's so much excited how they started and where they fought and a lot more topics, tips, lectures about conditioning particularly on disc 3 in BW farm on table exercise, injection, deworming, delousing and putting the rosters in dark cage with several small holes for keeping the set-up for the farm i like it and get some ideas esp. the farm from Hawaii 2 cockers/breeders they have a huge game farm, the DVD it money's worth great interview. Next time your interview your folks back home like well-known cockers, ECJ, Eddie Araneta, Patrick Antonio, mayor Aguirre, Sonny lagon, Boy P. and a lot more prominent and big time cockers in our beloved country. Take some documentary of our own people because some people in your interview esp Miami are backyards not very well -known in Postiza cock is so ugly in appearance it seems cruelty in removing feathers in their legs but the summary from scale to 1 to 10 i would rate it 8. but the picture/colored/sounds a perfect 10.
KTRIX-Brooklyn, NY Stephanie has done an extraordinary job of capturing the truth about cockfighting. In this video you are going to see many cocker's and their farms, as well as hear a great deal of advice, opinions and experiences from those in the game fowl industry. This is a video that you can sit back, relax and view at your leisure...Read more›

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