The Sand Pebbles (1966)

Cracker jack

I had forgotten how great this movie was so seeing it again made my day. Steve McQueen wasn't the first choice for his part, but he was a 10+. Worth every $$$. Hope you enjoy. July 18, 2008

Excellent Movie! Well Worth the time spent watching it.

David Arneson Previous Reviewer stated: "Good movie to show to the kids to let them see how crappy the 60s were for entertainment. ...kind of sparse on the special features."

I pity this poor man, apparently he wants nothing but special effects, computer-generated FX, explosions, etc. However, great actors and acting apparently don't fit his "style'.

He doesn't realize that some of the best movies of the 20th Century were made in the '60s, such as:
To Kill A Mockingbird, Dr. Stangelove, Fail Safe, The Longest Day, In Cold Blood, Psycho, 2001 - A Space Odyssey, Alfie, Bonnie & Clyde, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Once Upon A Time In The West, The Manchurian Candidate, The Miracle Worker, In The Heat of The Night, The Great Escape, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Pink Panther, and so many more. Many of these movies have far betting acting and actors that what is available today.

I strongly suggest that people reading his review treat it with a grain of salt.
" The Sand Pebbles" is a great movie, one which garnered over EIGHT Academy Award Nominations! July 12, 2008

Best anti-American propaganda has always come from Hollywood.

Starts out promising but after the intermission, (cut short), makes sharp left turn into anti-American drivel. The new Rambo movie, which I also purchased in Blu-Ray, covers largely the same story line, (disillusioned American soldier rescuing missionarys caught in a war zone), but Rambo does it much better. Steve McQueen seems embarrassed throughout the second half of the movie. Good movie to show to the kids to let them see how crappy the 60s were for entertainment. Picture quality excellent, kind of sparse on the special features. July 12, 2008

Love and a "Not War"

I have replaced the DVD version of "The Sand Pebbles" with Bluray and it delivers all it promises. I'll say no more about technology. This remains to this day perhaps the finest anti-war film ever; capped off by the line delivered by the Missionary "...it's too late in the world for flags". With the (possible) exception of Bullitt, this is McQueen's finest performance. The luxury of a movie that takes it time and films SCENES instead of snapshots always makes me long for a David Lean film (see "Bridge", "Lawrence" and "Doc Z"). Try it - you'll like it. July 6, 2008

The Best Catalog Blu-Ray I have seen.

The movie per se is excellent. Steve Mcqueen's best performance. But the jewel here is the excellent transfer on this blu-ray. If you are a fan of this film or of Steve McQueen, this is a must buy. July 5, 2008

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