Reviews

This video will teach you things like a pool table has 6 pockets / holes, the white ball is called the cue ball and you use this to hit the other balls, and the basic rules of 8 and 9 ball (which you can find on the internet for free). If you read this review, I just saved you $20.

No one can start to learn to play billiards to looking this video... Waste of money.

This was a total waste of money . It was like watching soft porn !!!

This dvd was great, exactly what I was looking for. I had purchased a few other how to play pool dvd's and was disappointed because they all teach you how to play pool better. Not this one, this DVD teaches you what it states, the basics. I had never played pool before in my life, and wanted to learn just the basics of the sport as I wanted to be able to go to my local pool hall, socialize, play, meet new people but most importantly, not make a fool out of myself. I wanted a quick fix education on what things are called, what they are used for, the rules of the game (I had no idea there were even several different games with separate rules before this dvd) and this video does exactly that, helps out someone who wants to pick this up as a new activity. I am honestly surprised at some of the other reviews here but I highly suspect they are from people who thought they were buying one of those other how to DVD's that makes a good pool player better. All I have to say is read the box! It says exactly what you get and it delivers! It's exactly geared towards what someone like me needed I can say that, so if you want to learn a quick all around look at the sport of pool and you want to do so in an entertaining way I might add (some how to dvds are so boring, this one is shot like an action movie!) then pick this video up. If you already know how to play pool well and don't need an education on the basics, and if you cannot take the time to read whats on the box, don't buy this and come back and give it a bad review because it almost made someone like me, who ended up loving it, pass it by...thank god i didn't.

Well produced. Well shot. Well "acted". Very scant on teaching. I had to rewind to make sure I did not somewhat skip the explanation on how or where to aim. No more than 1 sentence is given to the subject. Only useful if you want to learn -in a hurried manner- the name of the elements, and (some of) the rules of 8 and 9 ball. A good DVD pool primer is still missing.

Reviews

There are, as I understand it, four volumes. I have Vol 2 on VHS and I like it, but I want all four volumes on DVD...

Yes Grandma can learn a new game, mine did with the help of Byrne's video tape. The video explains all the basics of shooting pool and gives a review of each segment so you can get the important points firmly in mine before the next topic. Once he gets past the bare basics the really good info is presented which is helpful to the beginner as well as the intermediate player.If you want to improve your game or just understand the dynamics of Billiards buy this tape.

I have no idea what the tape is like, it was highly recommended for content, but I gave up after trying it in three different players. The problem is that the screen keeps flashing blue and the sound cuts out. It does this at a rate of 15 to 20 times a minute for the first 4 to 5 minutes of the tape. I fast forwarded to several places in the tape and it seems consistant, unfortunatly. A very disapointing purchase, I am trying to return it.

Bob Byrne's volume I&II is the best training video I have seen.The way he explains the shots and then shows you on a small table,then on a real table.He explains hiself as to how the cue will do cetain things and how it should react after hitting the ball and coming off the rail.Gives you new ways of hitting the cue ball or spinning the cue.I purchased both volume I&II and have let others borrow it. Now I have lost volume I to someone and I am in the process of buying another. Also wanting to order volume V and Rackem Up.Others who are wanting to learn the basic's an more without have to pay someone for lessons ought to check these video's out.

excellent in every sense, one starts wondering why other advanced pool volumes (videos) by same author are not available at amazon for sale. Hope rest of the volumes shall be available at Amazon or info as to where on the internet they may be had.

Reviews

For beginners only. Not worth buying if you already play pool.Video sync signal is weak, probably in an attempt to prevent unauthorized copying, but the picture breaks up often as a result.

Reviews

I bought this 2 disc collector's edition used which includes the flick and lots of extras for about $7 plus a few dollars for shipping. I'm adding it to my small film library which includes two other Paul Newman movies: Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy. Hustler has a great story and theme and wonderful acting. Paul Newman, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie have never been better. Jackie Gleason is suberb in this dramatic role as well. The B&W photorgaphy shot primarily on locations around New York is top notch. The DVD version is worth it just for the audio commentary alone which includes some of Paul Newman's thoughts. What I really liked about the commentary was Dede Allen's thoughts (editor) and Carol Rossen's (director's daughter) thoughts. Both add so much insight to the making of this great movie. I hope that Carol would consider writing a book about her memories of her dad. After all these years (movie was released in 1961) it still holds up because its main theme is still so important. How important is winning? What are we willing to give up in order to win? This was not a movie about pool but about life. Hollywood Howie

WITHOUT A DOUBT, 'THE HUSTLER' RANKS AS AMONG THE BEST AMERICAN FILMS OF ALL TIME. A GREAT CHARACTER DRIVEN STORY WITH SMOKEY POOLHALLS AND HUSHED GAMBLING DENS FOR BACKDROP AND ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON. JACKIE GLEASON WAS TERRIFIC IN THIS MOVIE, AS WAS GEORGE C. SCOOT, PIPER LAURIE AND MYRON McCORMICK, WHO PLAYED NEWMAN'S POOL MENTOR IN THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY. THE BONUS DVD THAT CAME WITH THE MAIN DVD REVEALED THE BEHIND THE SCENES INFO OF THE MAKING OF THIS CLASSIC FILM AND THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING TOO. EVEN THE ACTORS WHO PLAYED MINOR PARTS IN 'THE HUSTLER' ADDED SO MUCH REALISM TO THE FILM. THE DIRECTION, SCREENWRITING AND CINEMAPHOTOGRAPHY WERE EXCELLENT, AS WAS THE EDITING AND JAZZY MUSIC SCORE. A PERFECT MOVIE IN MY OPINION.

Paul Newman channels hubris and hurt all at the same time as a cocky pool shark, or hustler, that finds love in a woman almost as damaged as himself. Jackie Gleason and Newman are on the cover, but the surprise performance comes from George C. Scott who is electrifying & menacing as the man who controls the big-time pool halls and has his own demons to face. The 2-disc special edition of this DVD is absolutely fantastic. Great commentary, several min-documentaries covering everything from the novel the film was base don to the legacy it's left in the pool world. And my favorite feature is the option to have a pool champion do video commentary for all the pool-hall scenes. Recommended purchase.

The movie was rather slow, but I still enjoyed watching it, especially knowing that there was as sequal that was filmed and took place 30 or 40 years later. The DVD was of good quality.

YOU HAVE TO ADD THIS TO YOUR COLLECTION. Classic all the way!!!!!!!!! Newman at his best!

Reviews

Martin Scorsese's "The Color Of Money" is a solid film though not as good as it being the unofficial sequel to "The Hustler". On its own merits it's not a bad film but doesn't achieve the greatness of the former film. It is, for what it is, an '80s retelling of the tale of a young upstart taken under the wing of a wizened mentor who, in the process, winds up regaining his passion for his former trade. In this case Fast Eddie Felson becomes Vince's mentor and comes out of his retirement from the sport of billiards through poohhall hustling and professional billiards. It's a standard story and the performances by the three leads is quite good. The fetishistic photography of the billiard games in play as well as the music score help to add a bit of atmosphere to this movie. While "The Hustler" had its smoky poolhalls and film noir cinematography this film has more of an '80s optimism and cockiness about it. It's by far more lighthearted and such differences can fuel the many detractors who view this, by and large, a lesser film. Unfortunately, Touchstone Pictures has not given this film a better DVD release. The film is presented on a dual-layer DVD with no real features to speak of in a non-anamorphic letterboxed 4:3 interlaced digital transfer from its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The second-layer of the DVD is barely touched by the film and certainly a digital remaster employing more of that unused spaced offered by the format would be welcome.

I'm a huge Tom Cruise Fan, but this movie was a little boring. I think the actors were great, it's just the story seemed to take forever.

I think that in this film Paul Newman taught very well how acting to Tom Cruise. It is the sequel of "The Hustler" staring by Paul Newman too.

Imagine ordering from the USA and this seller sends me a format for Egypt! HELLO? I purchased this video from Caiman, seller and they sent me a video that wouldn't play in any of my video machines. Notice came up said wrong format. I contacted Amazon who told me to contact caiman who said I received a format for Eqypt and the Middle East. My mailing address was Philadelphia, PA (USA!) They didn't appologize. They said since I opened the package I had to keep it. To make the insult worse, they sent me fine print telling me the format in some foreign language. Not a stand-up seller. A real rip off. I'd recommend anyone considering something from them to cancel their order.

"The Color of Money," starring Paul Newman in a reprise of his role as Fast Eddie Felson from 1961's "The Hustler," is about Money, but it is also about Pool. It is about the intersection of Pool and Money, and how Money won is twice as sweet as money earned. Maybe the title refers to the green felt of a billiard table. But most probably, it is just about Money, and how having it, smelling it, spending it, and looking at it are just about the only things that beat playing a top notch game of pool. Eddie's pool hustling days are over. Now he makes his money by hustling liquor. He makes the rounds of the bars he used to hustle pool in and sells the bar owners cheap whiskey that they can pass off as big brand name call whisky. Just as he is about to close a deal with Janelle (Helen Shaver), he hears Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) break a rack of Nine Ball like a clap of thunder. He is intrigued, and knowing talent when he sees it, decides to take Vincent on the road, hustling pool across the country and ending up at the big Nine Ball tournament in Atlantic City. ------------------------------- Vincent Lauria: I think maybe the money's what's throwing you off here today. ========================================= Vincent Lauria is perhaps a little bit Joel Goodsen from "Risky Business," a bit of Brian Flanagan from "Cocktail," and even a touch of Lestat de Lioncourt. Or maybe he is more werewolf than vampire. In one of the most exciting sequences of "The Color of Money" Vincent performs a Nine Ball Beat Down choreographed to Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." "I saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's, his hair was perfect!" Cruise even pats his coif in synch with that line. I guess it is playing on the juke box, though a bit far fetched that it would be on the juke box in the dive pool hall where the scene unfolds. I will allow it, though, because the scene, like the werewolf's hair, is perfect. The only problem though, as Eddie sees it, and is trying to show Vincent, is that he is missing the point about Pool, and that point is the Money. By showing off like that he is only going to scare off the money players. -------------------------------------- Fast Eddie Felson: Pool excellence is *not* about excellent pool. ============================================== It is hard for Vince to lie down, or dump. He is an animal. "Ah-oooooh!" When he is really on fire, there is no stopping him. Eddie tries various methods to educate Vincent, to varying degrees of success. There are some rather harsh lessons. In some ways Vincent also teaches Eddie, especially when it comes to the Poule Du Jour, Nine Ball. Eddie can't quite get behind the New Order: -------------------------------------- Fast Eddie Felson: This ain't pool. This is for bangers. Straight pool is pool. This is like hand-ball, or cribbage, or something. Straight pool, you gotta be a real surgeon to get 'em, you know? It's all finesse. Now, every thing is nine-ball, 'cause it's fast, good for T.V., good for a lot of break shots... Oh, well. What the hell. Checkers sells more than chess. =============================================== This aspect of "The Color of Money" reminds me of The Master of Go, a novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata published in 1951. It is a semi-fictional, semi-factual chronicle of the lengthy 1938 game of Go by Go master Honinbo Shusai, against the up-and-coming player Minoru Kitani (called Otake in the book). Manifold and multiform are the levels of meaning of The Master of Go, more so than Kawabata's other works. As well as simply describing the game, there are the themes of the struggle between the older player whose powers are fading, and his younger challenger; and also the clash between the differing playing styles and personalities -- much like the clash between Eddie and Vincent. The book reflects the tension between old traditions and new pragmatism. That theme is prevalent in "The Color of Money" as well. Vincent, besides banging away at Nine Ball, is also a video gamer. What's the matter with kids today? Julian (John Turturro), another younger pool player, is crass, crude, and a sniffer of coke. Eddie feels like such indulgences have really had a detrimental effect on Pool as he knew it. Several times Eddie admonishes Julian to wipe the powder from his nose. "The Color of Money" is a little bit like "Cocktail" with an older mentor, a kind of father substitute, guiding the young acolyte to greater knowledge and understanding. Cruise, growing up without a father, surrounded by sisters and raised by a single mother, would seem to be ever searching for that father he never had. Newman is good in his role, as he proves quite the stern father, meting out harsh lessons, hard knocks, and avoiding any easy sentimentality. Like the triangle used to rack the balls, another interesting triangle is formed by Eddie, Vincent, and Vince's girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). There is quite an interesting dynamic at play here -- not a love triangle, though Carmen does seem to flirt a bit with Eddie, but it is more of a partnership, with Eddie and Carmen conspiring to prod and steer the thoroughbred race horse, Vincent, on to victory. ------------------------- Eddie Felson: I'm not your daddy, I'm not your boyfriend, so don't be playing games with me. I'm your partner. ====================================== Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Carmen is tough and smart -- though she doesn't catch on to the game right at first. Keep your eyes on her, though. She is a quick study. She more than holds her own with the two stars. --------------------------------------- Fast Eddie Felson: Do you smell that? Vincent Lauria: What, smoke? Carmen: No, Money... ============================================== In one scene Carmen and Eddie run a con with Vince that involves Eddie acting as if Carmen is his young mistress while they berate Vincent, in order to get the suckers to bet against him. It works like a charm, except that Vince gets mad and jealous for real. They tell him that they are only acting, it is all a part of the con they are running. Carmen compares it to the way actors in Hollywood kiss and carry on onscreen. This is yet another way to look at "The Color of Money." Pool as a metaphor for the act of Acting. The veteran actor, Paul Newman showing the young hot shot, Tom Cruise, a thing or two. The acting lessons he is giving him parallel the lessons Eddie is giving Vince about Pool. Eddie goes through a lot of grief coming to terms with old age and the fact that he has a hard time competing with the new generation. But stealth and cunning go a long way, and Newman, the actor, kind of steals the show from the brash new man, the upstart Cruise. Director Martin Scorsese deserves a lot of credit, too, and look for Forest Whitaker as Amos, a hustler who hustles The Hustler -- and there's even a brief cameo by Iggy Pop! Lots of the extras and pool players were actual pool players, so watch out for them and the incredible shots they make. Tom Cruise actually did learn a lot of the tricks of the trade, and makes a lot of the trick shots himself (though a few really tricky ones were farmed out to pros. Martin Scorsese felt like Tom Cruise could have learned them and would have learned them, but it would have taken out a few precious days from the shooting schedule). Bottom line is "The Color of Money" is a gritty drama that racks up five stars just as easy as Vince sinks a 3 ball combination bank shot. -------------- Fast Eddie Felson: The balls roll funny for everybody, kiddo. ======================================= SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY OF PAUL NEWMAN Sometimes a Great Notion (1970) .... Hank Stamper Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Luke Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) .... Chance Wayne The Hustler (1961) .... Eddie Felson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) .... Brick Pollitt SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY OF TOM CRUISE Magnolia (1999) .... Frank T.J. Mackey Eyes Wide Shut (Unrated Two-Disc Special Edition) (1999) .... Dr. William 'Bill' Harford Interview with the Vampire (1994) .... Lestat de Lioncourt Cocktail (1988) .... Brian Flanagan Risky Business (1983) .... Joel Goodsen --------------------------------------- Fast Eddie Felson: Money won is twice as sweet as money earned. ==================================================

Reviews

In my opinion, specially if you're a billiards player, this is a MUST for your movie collection. Acting all round is great, there are a couple iffy parts from the lesser known actors but for the most part the movie is put together great. Great plot lines, aesthetically pleasing throughout the whole movie, like I said, great acting, and of course an amazing cast. I'd most definitely recommend this movie!

This is a good one for pool enthusiasts, I bought it for my brothers birthday and he liked it.

The game is the vehicle by which the characters are developed and their selfish, greedy approach to life is demonstrated by the level of their desire to succeed; even at the cost of the future of a youthful key player. Walken is superb as the instigator of a big money game, however, his role is not the focus of the story. Great billiard shots and dialogue consistent with that found around most pool halls. Fun to watch, this movie will send you to your local pool hall.

This is the best underrated movie I have ever seen. I would recommend anyone to watch this movie. Mars Callahan needs to come out with another.

I was really happy first of all to be able to find the movie I bought. MY daughter and I have been looking a long time for it and could never find it. I was so happy when I checked with you and you had it at a great price and got it to us very fast. I will definitely order from you again.

Reviews

Great game with great graphics! Especially enjoy the Air Hockey, Bowling and darts. Heck, I have fun with all of the games!

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A great collection of bilard games in 3D to help you refine your eye and geometery skils.

The Good: Control of shot variables- You first set direction, power, and english independently, then "click" to shoot, as opposed to simulations combining power and the action of taking the shot with a single "swoosh" of the mouse (the latter makes it more realistic for some, however I find moving a mouse to be so far removed from the motion of a pool cue anyways, that I'd just assume have the greater control/convenience provided by this way). "Camera Angles" are good- some 3-D simulations don't have a great range of view (must "click" from overhead to table level view), but this one lets you smoothly PAN from table level to about a 60 degree+ above view, which is one facet of realism that is a must in a 3-D pool game, else I'd just assume it be 2-D. Graphics- Actually average, but not a top priority for me, and I had no complaints. Everything's relatively clean, OK rooms. If looks are real important to you, I'd probably skip this one. Music- Again, not important to me, but they actually have a good variety and decent quality music on this one (and best of all you can turn it off). The Bad: Physics- Probably the worst physics out of any simulation I've played. The ball movement is so bad, they might as well "cut scenes" from the pre-shot to post-shot of the table. The balls accomplish ridiculous feats like rattle and pop out of one pocket, only to shoot right into another pocket and rattle and pop out of it in the same shot. The balls go from 100 to 0 mph almost instantly. It just doesn't feel like you are playing, as it does with some simulations. You can adjust friction of the table, and size of the balls, but nothing helps the realism at all. Rules- It might be "American" billiards, but they are definitely not using the BCA rule book. Anything goes on combinations, no ball-in-hand on 8 ball, and other quirks that don't take much to get used to. Buggy- as mentioned by the first reviewer, there is a problem with this software that results in "memory failure" and the program closing. I thought it was my computer until I read others have the same problem. The Funny: Everything has an Asian feel, from the rooms, to the tables, even the half dozen different ball styles available- none will be similar to what you find in American pool-halls or homes. Not that it matters, just ironic that the most foreign styled billiards game I've ever played is "American" Billiards. This game has so many problems as a billiards "simulation", I wouldn't even recommend it as such. But it's still a good game you can get into, has a steady learning curve, good computer "opponents", and features like "alternative" tables (triangle and cross shapes) that add some variety. Overall it's fun, and that's ultimately what I judge a game by. However, if you seek realistic simulation- skip this one. For the best simulation, GrandBilliards (dotcom) is the closest thing to playing on a real table I've ever seen, but unfortunately you can only play it online.

I was having problems running Virtual Pool 3 on XP so I tried this game. It's not as good as it looks on the box. Even at the highest resolution, the game is fuzzy and not clean like Virtual Pool 3. The physics are wrong too. Sometimes when you shoot the balls fly way too fast across the table. When the balls drop in the pockets they just kind of disappear inside them not really giving a realistic dropping feel. There's also this see-through target ball ahead of you that you cannot remove. It was a little distracting. The sound in this game pops too but you can turn the sounds and very annoying music off. The final straw to delete this game from my hard drive was getting a "memory access error" and the game crashing back to the desktop. Virtual Pool 3 has a new demo that works perfectly with XP so I just play that instead. You can upgrade the Virtual Pool 3 demo to a full version but they only let you download it to so many computers so that's not worth the full cost to me.

Reviews

This game is kind of fun, but it's not really a good pool game. It's more or less just a crappy program that is similar to pool, and seems fun if you make the best of it.

Reviews

Pinball? Strange word grouping. I don't really see how a pin can be a ball, but I am just one little guy trying to think this out. No matter, Keynote told me all about the pinball arcades and games of this nature. And he bought me this terrific book. Now I know a whole lot about all kinds of balls made out of pins and the way you can play games with them. This was very cool. I like this book very very much. And you will too.

Having been a Pinball addict since my teens (too many years ago), I bought this book to re-live some of those memories. I was not disappointed. It is full of information on all types of machines together with excellent colour pictures. Many of my favourite pinballs of the sixties and seventies (but also modern ones if you prefer those) are featured together with explanations of what made them special.The only problem is that it brought back my enthusiasm to such an extent that I went out an bought my own machine, so this book cost me a lot of money!

Well layed out, informative, impressive amount of detail. The author's love of every part of the game shines through on every page. A truly great pinball book.

I own over 10 different pinball books which I've bought over the years but none of them comes REMOTELY close to this one. This is an exhaustive book which has over 300 jam-packed pages of information. Every imaginable feature that has ever been in a pinball machine is documented in great detail throughout the book. There is even a chapter which talks about and lists every video pinball game ever made for home video game systems and PCs! If you have even a passing interest in pinball machines, you must have this book. Period. The price seems a little steep, but when you hold the actual book in your hands, you'll know where that money went...Stunning!

If you like pinball, you'll LOVE this book. I own several bookson my favourite hobby and this one is by far the best. It covers allaspects of the silver ball and has a great many beautiful colour photos.