The Mambo Kings

Updated: 5/23/15 - Be careful because this blu-ray version cannot be watched in the US only in Europe. I bought this blu-ray for my daughter. I had seen this movie years ago and wanted to add it to my collection. She tried playing this video and it could not play because we are out of the region. DaaVeeDee refuses to give me a refund or exchange it for a copy that can be viewed in the US. They said it's my problem. DaaVeeDee had no problem sending this copy to my address in NYC knowing that I could not play the movie!! Clearly I did not see that this blu-ray is out of region otherwise I would have never purchased it. Horrible customer service. Why didn't they just send me an email when I placed the order and asked if I had seen that it was for European viewers only and offered to send me the HD movie instead?! Clearly they didn't care and hoped I wouldn't notice. Now I have no choice but to throw it in the garbage. I deal with suppliers on this website all the time and have been treated wonderful even if it was my mistake or the item was past the refund date. They figure out how to remedy the issue. They should be replacing this with the regular HD version and I would ship back the blu-ray. I will NEVER again order through DaaVeeDee again. I love this movie! I bought this movie to add to my blu-ray collection. I was already a huge fan of Armand but this was the movie that made Antonio a household name in America. Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas are amazing together. They were 100% believable as brothers. This movie is filled with so much passion. Passion for family, love and music. This movie is a tearjerker so have the tissues ready. Side note: I just recently saw Armand in an episode of L&Order SVU and he was fantastic! Check it out.

I really loved the book, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, by Oscar Hijuelos, which won the Pulitzer Prize back in the late 1980s. Really, one of the best books I have ever read. And even though the book is even better than the movie (books usually are and the film only covers part of the book), this movie is pretty great. I finally purchased it on Prime and I've watched it a few times in the last couple of weeks since making the purchase. Every time I watch this film, I am overwhelmed by the performances – especially Armand Assante – who killed it in this film and perhaps this is even his defining role. Hmm, where has he been lately? The story centers around two very talented musician brothers, Cesar and Nestor Castillo, who come to New York in 1952 after some trouble in Cuba (love triangle, murder threats, Cuban mob – get it?). Anyway, though they get a fresh start in America, Nestor's (Antonio Banderas) heart remains in Cuba with "Beautiful Maria" and Cesar (Assante) has not learned to temper his, um, temper, which leads to similar problems faced by the brothers in Cuba. But I'll admit that my favorite character in this film is Desi Arnaz played by Desi Arnaz Jr. It's a small role but a meaningful one and the I Love Lucy segment is really just hilarious, in an otherwise not really humorous film. Of course, Nestor's love for Maria destroys his life, which now includes a wife as well as a child. Never able to let go of his undying love for Maria, the only conclusion is tragedy for everyone. I will say no more about the story. The music in this film really brings the viewer back to a time and place with appearances by greats like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz and many others. I think it's a good idea to read the book, either before or after, as the book continues forward with Cesar's life, which I won't reveal details of here. Maybe see the film and then continue the story by reading the book. I think this film is my top ten. Recommend.

Prompt delivery. Item as described. Would buy from the seller again. I am a satisfied customer. Thanks.

I saw this at the cinema when it was first released, it was not a big hit. I loved it then and I enjoy it even more now. Great story, Banderas & Assante are excellent - I would have cast different actresses for the female leads, but I still love it. This was Banderas 1st American movie and he spoke NO English - none! He was taught to say his lines phonetically & he just nails it

I havent played the DVD yet so I cannot rate the quality of the DVD. I purchased it because it is one of my favorite movies of all times and I decided I need to have DVD's of all my favorite movies.....a very textured, touching, classy movie. A great soundtrack, the acting is amazing and the story is compelling. You will need kleenex at the end.....

Somehow found that I had lost my copy but able to replace it with this. Have a played which will pal and record in vhs or dvd and convert. This film bring back the influx of latin/cuban music and the lifestyle that went with it. Both Amand Assante and Banderas, so young and handsome, are first class. Worth buying for the music alone if you are a lover of latin.

Bon film sur les origines de la Salsa. Dommage que l'on doive se contenter de deux versions : -allemande ou anglaise, sans sous-titres français disponibles.

Excellent condition

pas de langue française ni de ss titres en français ce qui n'est pas indiqué qd on commande la produit.

MoinMoin zusammen, da habe ich aber einen Schreck bekommen: So ein schöner Film, und dann wird seitens amazon (jedenfalls noch) die Filmlänge der Bluray mit 89 Minuten angegeben ! Wird doch die DVD mit 98 Minuten beschrieben, und im Internet ist der Film sogar über 100 Minuten lang...ja, was denn nun ? Ich kann bestätigen, dass die Vorschauanzeige meines Bluray-Players 1:42:24, also über 102 Minuten angibt. Was soll man diesen Film auch kürzen ? Der Film ist klasse, aber bevor wegen einer vermeintlichen Kürzung keiner mehr die Bluray kauft, dachte ich, schreibe ich mal schnell eine Entwarnung;-) Viel Spaß beim Schauen. P-S.: Ich sehe gerade, dass auf der Hülle der Bluray ebenfalls als Filmlänge 89 Minuten angegeben werden...da scheint den Machern ein Fehler unterlaufen zu sein.