10/31/2011

The Star Wagon (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1966) Review

The Star Wagon (Broadway Theatre Archive)  (1966)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Once upon a time they actually showed plays on late night television. I have not seen this play since first shown in 1967 but remember it with a great deal of fondness. This review is based on the original telecast, but I have waited a long time to see this again and have to recommend it. If you enjoy plays, Maxwell Anderson, or want to see Dustin Hoffman in a very early role then this time-travel fantasy is for you. Orson Bean is the lead actor but Hoffman stands out as he ages through the passing years in the play. Broadway Theater Archive deserves applause. for releasing this series of plays.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Star Wagon (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1966)



Buy NowGet 80% OFF

Click here for more information about The Star Wagon (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1966)

Read More...

30-Second Bunnies Theatre Collectible DVD presented by Starz and Angry Alien Productions (Amazon.com Exclusive) Review

30-Second Bunnies Theatre Collectible DVD presented by Starz and Angry Alien Productions (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)

Even the DVD has not been released yet the 30-Second Bunnies are one of my favorite parody videos. The effort that is putten to each of the shortfilms shows the best known scenes of each movie that it is related to. And there are bursts of laughter everytime.
I was once watching War of the Worlds in television and just a few days later i stumpled over the 30-Second re-enacted by bunnies. And i nearly got a fit of laughter. The voices, the rabbit ears on the UFO and the martians themself.
And there are much more fantastic re-enacted Videos.
Even if i know them all, i will go get this DVD. The 30-Second Bunnies can sweeten your day and laughing is good for your health.


Click Here to see more reviews about: 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Collectible DVD presented by Starz and Angry Alien Productions (Amazon.com Exclusive)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Collectible DVD presented by Starz and Angry Alien Productions (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Read More...

The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1974) Review

The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (Broadway Theatre Archive)  (1974)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Basing this autobiographical play on the story of his parents' marriage and his own turbulent early years, D. H. Lawrence creates a study of a bad marriage and the rippling effects it has on the entire family. Like Lawrence's father, main character Holroyd (masterfully portrayed by Rex Robbins) is a miner whose constant drinking and carousing with women make him a poor father and worse husband. He is determined to control every aspect of his poor family, however, while they survive in a drafty house in which they must compete with rats for space.
Mrs. Holroyd (Lizzie), played with enormous sensitivity and restraint by Joyce Ebert, is described by her mother-in-law as very "clever," above Holroyd in achievement, and she is resented because of it. Lizzie married Holroyd to escape her own family situation, and though she has worked to be a good wife, she admits she never loved Holroyd. Their two children hate the constant upheavals, with the young son declaring, "I hate him. I wish he'd fall down a pit shaft." The only bright spots in the family's life occur when another miner, Blackmore (Frank Converse), whose attraction to Lizzie Holroyd cannot be kept hidden, occasionally visits, often carrying home the unconscious, drunk Holroyd. His kindness to the children offer them brief glimpses of the kind of attention they might have found with a "real" father.
Lizzie Holroyd's "widowing" has started early in the marriage, as communication has dwindled and Holroyd's exercise of raw power has become more insistent--and dangerous. After his wife declares, privately, that she considers the marriage over, she and Blackmore plan an escape to Spain with the children. Holroyd's death in a mine collapse, however, leaves all of them blaming themselves for their evil thoughts and their belief that they have caused his death.
Geraldine Fitzgerald, as Holroyd's mother, absolutely brilliant in this 1974 production, stands up for her son and attempts to justify his abusive behavior when his dead body is brought back to the house for preparation for burial. Castigating the new widow for not having been a good enough wife, she epitomizes the agony which miners' families must endure as husbands and sons die in the mine. At the same time, she also epitomizes the strengths with which these families endure. Naturalistic in its presentation, the play is also filled with tearful moments of great power. The fine cast and simple set of this Broadway Theatre Archive production emphasize the drama of a marriage that has failed and the horrors of life in the mines. n Mary Whipple


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1974)



Buy NowGet 70% OFF

Click here for more information about The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1974)

Read More...

10/30/2011

Breakthrough to Improv:The Secrets of Improvisation Review

Breakthrough to Improv:The Secrets of Improvisation
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Dave Frank uses the blues medium in this DVD to illustrate the building blocks of creative improv. The range of concepts covered is very wide, but explained with easy to understand examples. I am studying jazz piano with Dave, and the concepts covered in this DVD are recurring themes even in jazz improv.
The structure is very organized. It starts off with easy to grasp concepts like quarter note blues scales, working up to mixtures of triples and swing eights, you get the idea. Each lesson has an exercise that you can practice, but they are quite concise. Which is a little deceiving because each of the concepts are actually quite significant, and takes a lot of practice to understand. So the exercises are there just to illustrate the concept.
Verdict: This DVD will not automatically make you a genius improviser. But it will teach you the concepts that you can piece together to play articulate, clear solos that communicate distinct and complete concepts. The material also doesn't get unnecessarily detailed or technical, so it may be a good way for non musicians to understand how this stuff works.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Breakthrough to Improv:The Secrets of Improvisation



Buy NowGet 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Breakthrough to Improv:The Secrets of Improvisation

Read More...

Nicholas Nickleby (2002) Review

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I can honestly say that "Nicholas Nickleby" is my favorite of Dickens' works. His sinister villain, his earnest, upright, innocent hero, and the beautiful Kate and their plight for financial independence from their evil uncle Ralph have the foundation of a classic. I've seen several adaptations, including the more faithful Bravo version, but I like this one the best. I believe Douglas McGrath, who tastefully brought "Emma" to the silver screen, has taken an already impressive work and improved on it. The movie moves at a nice pace without becoming drenched in melodrama or lingering over the "darker" side of the story; but neither does it shy away from the meaner aspects of Dickens' characters. Uncle Ralph, if possible, is even more wicked than Dickens wrote him. It does this in a perfectly tasteful and intelligent manner and also incorporates much if the sardonic humor found in the books, something I've found the Bravo adaptation lacks.
In case you're unfamiliar with the story, the film revolves around the life of young Nicholas Nickleby and his sister Kate. Their father has died, leaving them in the hands of his older and much more financially-minded brother Ralph. Desiring to be rid of Nicholas, Ralph seeks him employment with Wackford Squeers, the owner of a boys' school in the north country. The institution puts on a good public face but is in reality a squalor where the boys are mistreated and abused while Squeers and his wife pocket what little income they can provide. While attempting to teach at this "school," Nicholas meets the crippled Smike, an orphan whom the Squeers keep on out of "the goodness of their hearts." Eventually his friendship with Smike will have a vast impact on not only his life, but that of his uncle Ralph as well.
The casting for this film is nothing short of exquisite. Douglas McGrath isn't afraid to cast British actor but American-unknown Charlie Hunnam in the lead. The young actor has a fluid intelligence in his performance and looks ideal in a period setting. Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") plays his love interest, and "Daniel Deronda's" Romola Garai is a beautiful and sweet Kate Nickleby. Throw in Christopher Plummer (whose snarling Uncle Ralph should have won an Oscar), Nicholas Rowe, Edward Fox, Jamie Bell, Nathan Lane, and Alan Cumming, and you have a well-rounded, top-notch cast. The roles are all performed with intelligence and insight, the costuming is lovely, and the script never lags.
From a family -- and indeed a Christian perspective -- I'm happy to report that McGrath's screenplay maintains the height of decency. Even when dealing with tedious and "offensive" elements, such as Sir Mulberry Hawke's pursuit of Kate, the film does its best to present the scenario in a way which won't offend mainstream audiences. There are some intense scenes at the Squeers' school, where children are flogged, but these scenes are kept to a minimum and never overly graphic. I particularly enjoyed seeing Nicholas defend the honor of Smike, Madeline, and his sister Kate. For those who haven't read the novel, the story ends with a surprising twist with little clues planted along the way to point you toward the truth. For those who do know the ending, it's handled beautifully and has great screen impact.
I was fortunate enough to see this on the big screen in a little theatre in the heart of the city while others were flocking to much bigger and less enthusiastic releases. I've looked forward to owning the DVD for a long time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

I love Nicholas Nickleby! exclaims Roger Ebert of this vibrant tale of intrigue, passion and revenge. And what's not to love?Brisk, sparkling(Entertainment Weekly),marvelously acted(Time) and featuringas terrific an ensemble as we ve seen(The San Francisco Examiner), this Golden Globe-nominated* adaptation of Dickensmasterpiece is a timeless romantic adventure you'll treasure for years!When the Nickleby family is betrayed in their hour of need, young Nicholas (Charlie Hunnam) must save the day. Join him on a remarkable journey that critics unanimously praise as a joy to watch(Leonard Maltin)!

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

Read More...

Cranford (2007) Review

Cranford (2007)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I ordered this from Amazon UK to be able to view this prior to its release date. I was not disappointed! Sadly, I had to watch it by myself because my husband didn't think he'd like it. He would have been wrong, by the way. It was exquisite in every way.
I watched it over 2 nights. It's a 5 hour miniseries and it is broken up into five 1 hour-long episodes.
The first 3 hours were very very good. Excellent, even. But the last 2 hours were absolutely perfect.
In Cranford, we meet many of its residents with most of the focus on 2 spinster sisters and their surrounding friends and relatives. Everyone is kind here and look out for their neighbors and generally want to live correctly and do the right thing. Their village has been like this for ages and the citizens have all known eachother since birth. It is an idyllic place and a happy place. They welcome new residents, too, with every bit of friendliness.
Cranford has existed in the same way for years, even though times are changing. A railroad may come through the town and most residents are against this type of change. For with the positive changes-- such as information, goods, and knowledge, there would also be negative changes-- more transients, less safety, etc.
The intertwined story lines here involve the two sisters, class distinctions, entitlements and expectations, a very funny love triangle, and accepting change and modernity.
One of the best stories involves the young son of a poacher (one who kills animals on others' land). The manager of the aristocrat's large estate takes the young boy under his wing and wants to teach him to read and write. The aristocratic Lady finds out and believes that those of this underclass should not attempt to learn skills outside their "class". Maybe worse, the boy's father finds out of the boy's desire to read and also disapproves. We find out later that the Lady isn't cold-hearted. On the contrary. She's kind-hearted and full of pain, yet it's difficult for her to recognize the times are changing and that some of her ways must change, too.
When a new handsome doctor moves to town, he immediately falls for Sophy. Sophy returns his admiration, yet so do 2 others who misunderstand his general kindness for more romantic intentions. This culminates in expected confusion, but the outcome is happy at the end.
Those watching Cranford from the beginning may take it to be an old-fashioned chick-flick. It's really not, though. It does focus on the women of Cranford more than the men, but the stories depicted cross gender lines. Change-- industrialization-- is the antagonist here, along with fear of change. However, as new medical practices save several lives, and a member of the trade class saves a member of the Upper class, it's also obvious that change, by itself, isn't bad. It can be positive for everyone involved.
This is a fantastic series. The only disappointment was that it was only five hours! I definitely could have watched another few episodes with the same interest these five held. Beautifully acted, filmed, and scored. The entire film was thoroughly enjoyable.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Cranford (2007)

The BBC drama series adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell's classic novels of small town gossip, secrets and romance. 1842. Cranford, a market town in the North West of England, is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. It seems that life has always been conducted according to their social rules, but Cranford is on the cusp of change… For spinsters Deborah Jenkyns, the arbiter of correctness in Cranford, and Matty, her demurring sister, the town is a hub of intrigue - a handsome new doctor Frank Harrison from London has arrived; a retired Captain and his daughters have moved in to a house opposite and the preparations for Lady Ludlows garden party are underway. Everyone - from charming rogue Dr Marshland to mean Mrs Jamieson and her lap dog talks, and is talked about, behind closed doors. The town also has its secrets which it slowly reveals: Mattys encounter with an old flame at the garden party; Lady Ludlows gardener, Mr Carter, teaching a gypsy lad to read and write; the wild expectations of the May Day celebrations and - news that shakes the town when it is revealed - a railway line from Manchester is coming to Cranford.

Buy NowGet 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Cranford (2007)

Read More...

10/29/2011

Foyle's War: Set Two (2003) Review

Foyle's War: Set Two (2003)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I'd previously rated Series 1 of FOYLE'S WAR at four stars. I'm happy to report, after finishing the Series 2 discs, that the ongoing British telly miniseries has graduated to five stars. It's superb, and I'm desolate that I must wait until 2005 for the release of Series 3 that's airing now in the UK. (Of course, if I move to England ... Nah, the wife would never go for it.)
Michael Kitchen is Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, who's been ordered to remain at his post as homicide investigator for Hastings and its environs; he'd much rather be doing his bit for King and Empire fighting the Nazis across the Channel. Indeed, his son Andrew (Julian Ovenden) is a flying officer with the RAF. The two other series regulars are Samantha "Sam" Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks), the army's Auxiliary Territorial Service enlistee assigned as his driver, and Paul Milner (Anthony Howell), Foyle's assistant inspector returned to home front duty after being wounded during the disastrous British invasion of Norway.
The delight to be found in the four episodes of Series 2 is the underlying complexity of each plot, the tip of which is a murder being investigated by Foyle and Milner. Yet, even as the layers of the onion are peeled away, the viewer is still surprised at the intricacy of the solution, most of which is unraveled in the depths of Foyle's mind and revealed to the audience at the end, and which has ramifications that ripple far beyond the simple presence of a local corpse.
As in Series 1, the storylines of 2 encompass so much more than a tawdry homicide or two: homosexuality in the RAF, collaboration between British Big Business and the Nazis, black market commerce in luxury food and petrol, and skullduggery by Franklin Roosevelt's personal emissary sent to negotiate the Lend Lease.
My personal favorite episode is number four, "Funk Hole", wherein Foyle is relieved of his duties after being reported as having expressed seditious and defeatist statements while cowering in a London air raid shelter during a Luftwaffe bombing attack. The labyrinthine explanation for that was totally unexpected. Moreover, it looks like Sam and Andrew are to be an "item" - surely to be continued in Series 3. Indeed, at one point when Sam accompanies Andrew to a showing of "Gone With the Wind", we see her out of uniform, dressed in civvies, and with a smashing hairdo. Blimey, what a bird!
FOYLE'S WAR is sumptuously fleshed out with period costumes, automobiles, hairstyles, and commercial brand names. This is first class, period entertainment. Would that American TV was so good.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Foyle's War: Set Two (2003)

The critically acclaimed PBS series that weaves mystery with real historical events returns with four stories set in September and October 1940. Winner of the Audience Award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2003, the series stars Michael Kitchen (Proof of Life) as quietly enigmatic detective Christopher Foyle whose territory on the south coast of England is rocked by the chaos and danger of World War II. Also starring Anthony Howell, Honeysuckle Weeks, Julian Ovenden, and featuring Nicholas Farrell, Alan Howard, Corin Redgrave, and Amanda Root. The Mysteries: Fifty Ships--Foyle's determined investigation of a body on a deserted beach puts at risk the donation of American Aid and the crucial start of Lend-Lease in the war. Among the Few--Pilots and their girlfriends live fast and die young in a story of greed and passion where Foyle finds appearances are deceptive. War Games--Divided loyalties lead to revenge and murder when a businessman puts profits before principles in a secret pact with the Nazis. The Funk Hole--Foyle finds himself accused of a serious offense, which complicates his hunt for a ruthless murderer at a sinister hotel. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE an exclusive interview with Anthony Howell and Honeysuckle Weeks, production notes, cast filmographies, and photo gallery. "Brilliantly explores the moral gray areas of war"-San Francisco Chronicle "For mystery fans, Foyle is a must-see" -The Houston Chronicle "A series to be relished" -Radio Times

Buy NowGet 21% OFF

Click here for more information about Foyle's War: Set Two (2003)

Read More...

Separate Tables - Two one-act plays by Terence Rattigan Review

Separate Tables - Two one-act plays by Terence Rattigan
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Director John Schlesinger, long celebrated for his work in big movies, wisely resisted the impulse to imitate the 1958 big-screen version of Sir Terence Rattigan's "Separate Tables" (starring David Niven and Deborah Kerr.) By choosing to give it the intimacy of a stage production, Schlesinger's film deftly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of the Beauregard Hotel and the quiet desperation of its elderly residents.
Schlesinger also assembled a distinguished cast of chamber music perfection. Julie Christie, Alan Bates, and Claire Bloom turn in powerful performances of the major roles. The supporting players, from Irene Worth's portrayal of the insufferable Mrs. Railton-Bell, to Liz Smith's batty Miss Meachum, are pitch-perfect.
Having Schubert's Impromptu in G Flat as the only music is another masterstroke; aside from its being a beautiful piece, it's just the sort of music that would bring a smile to the face of Sylvia Barter's Lady Matheson. In contrast, the score for the 1958 movie is typical of the day -- the sort of over-produced, intrusive noise Bette Davis detested.
Perhaps the tortured relationship of Miss Shankland and John Malcolm is the stuff of the 1950s, and the offenses of Major Pollock wouldn't make the papers now, but there will always be people like Miss Cooper, Mr. Fowler, and Miss Meachum. I can't imagine why this film has not been released on DVD. At least the VHS version is still available.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Separate Tables - Two one-act plays by Terence Rattigan



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Separate Tables - Two one-act plays by Terence Rattigan

Read More...

The Irish R.M. - Series 3 Review

The Irish R.M. - Series 3
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Early work, Very dry humor, with long set-ups but well worth the wait. A real classic. The video showes it's age but the comedy is timeless.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Irish R.M. - Series 3



Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Irish R.M. - Series 3

Read More...

10/28/2011

Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1990) Review

Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1990)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
No filmed version of "Hamlet" is entirely satisfying. The play is too rich to be reduced to a single definitive interpretation. But Kevin Kline's production of the more accessible of Shakespeare's two greatest tragedies ("King Lear" is equally great but sparer and more difficult) is one of the better versions available. Hamlet may be the most intelligent and verbally-skilled character ever written, and sometimes the wit and depth of his lines can obscure the real tragedy of his situation. Kline plays the character as deeply sad as well as intelligent. His reading of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy, for example, is masterful: we witness someone who is not just considering suicide as an intellectual puzzle, but is despairing enough to be seriously considering it. This is a human and emotional Hamlet, in contrast to Branagh's (who even in the worst straits seems almost to be enjoying himself), Gibson's (alternately frightened and enraged), Williamson (existentially disgusted), or Olivier's (weak and indecisive, and in my opinion the only indefensible choice here).
Kline has some wonderful bits of "business," too: tearing the page out of the book and sticking it on Polonius's forehead, pointing to the book after Polonius hears him say "tedious old fools" as if he is merely reading, clasping Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's heads to his chest once he has decided he cannot trust them -- all very clever. (However, the scene where he dangles Ophelia like a puppet is a bit overdone.) Laertes cutting Hamlet on the hand during a break is a good choice too (Laertes should not be able to lay a glove on Hamlet without cheating). On the other hand, Kline's version of Hamlet's feigned madness seems quieter than the "antic disposition" the character claims he will "put on."
The rest of the cast is not as strong, unfortunately. Josef Summer captures Polonius's egotism and foolishness, but we get no sense of the cunning that has made him a power at court. Diana Venora plays Ophelia with a little too much self-awareness and resignation for her mad scene to be believable when it arrives. Dana Ivey is a fine Gertrude, but the role is not one of the play's strengths. Worst of all, Brian Murray hardly registers as Claudius, who can be played as purely evil, as tormented by guilt, as a decadent drunkard, or even as a reluctant murderer, but here is a puffed non-entity.
Most productions of "Hamlet" make cuts, and Kline's choice is to remove all the politics. An actor is listed playing Fortinbras, but I cannot remember him (though it has been a few months since I have watched this version). We neither see nor hear much about him, which robs the play of some of its power: Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes are three men in the same position; their differing responses -- respectively that of the Renaissance philosopher and poet, the modern military man, and the hothead -- provide one of the most basic themes of the play.
But "Hamlet" is not merely a personal or family play; it is also a play about nations, about the damage a ruler of bad character does to a country's reputation. As the gravedigger tells us, Hamlet was born the day his father slew the elder Fortinbras; Hamlet's life exactly spans the period of Denmark's ascendancy over Norway. In a sense, he is born to remedy a cosmic error. All of that is gone (as are other more minor but still missed elements such as the character of Reynaldo, and some of the comments on acting and the theatre). Fortunately, Kline rejects any facile Freudianism, such as we see in the Gibson/Zeffireli version.
The staging is simple. About the most you can say of it is that neither it nor the costumes distract us from the acting. The lighting, however, is quite elegant, and the camera work intimate without causing claustrophobia.
Overall and despite its flaws, Kline's "Hamlet" remains a skillful and moving effort, ennobled by the actor's sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of literature's first and greatest modern man.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1990)

With a daring and depth few of his American contemporaries seem prepared to match, Kevin Kline stars in and directs Hamlet for the New York Shakespeare Festival. Now with the felicitous addition of Kirk Browning as co-director, he has brought his indelible Hamlet to television where, as The New York Times stated, "It is eloquent, moving and at times thrilling. The shrewdly edited version uses tight close-ups and captures small crowd scenes without a sense of confinement. The teleplay flows with commendable grace from beginning to end, all urged on by Kline's intelligent interpretation."

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1990)

Read More...

Fellini's Roma (1972) Review

Fellini's Roma (1972)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Opening narration: "The film you are about to see does not have a story in the traditional sense with a neat plot and characterss that you can follow from the beginning to the end. This pictures tells another kind of story--the story of a city." And Fellini gives a loving, sometimes poking playful commentary, at times tragic portrait of Rome from his time as a boy in Fascist Italy to 1972, when this film was made.
Rome. As in Romulus and Remus, the river Tiber, Julius Caesar, the Colisseum, it's a city steeped in history as a great empire that rose and fell, and the film starts with Caesar and the crossing of the Rubicon, and how he is still revered in school. There is even a statue of Caesar in his town: "apart from his usefulness to the pigeons, he was a common meeting place for the town."
Speaking of common meeting places, there are two scenes where that aspect is emphasized. Fellini recalls of the apartment block where he stayed for a while, agog at the various characters, crying children, scolding mothers, etc. Eating was taken seriously, and who ate? Kids, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, friends, friends of friends... there must have been at least a hundred or so people at the dinner feast. As one woman tells him, "They say eat alone, the devil cheers. Eat with friends, the devil jeers." The table is rife with complaints, insults, greetings, even a little girl who sings an obscene song, eliciting laughter and scandalized looks. Similarly, there is the Festa De Noantri, the Festival Of Ourselves, where the Romans celebrate themselves, and the celebrants are either long-time residents or people who thought they were passing by and stayed forever. The term "carnival-of-life" has been used to describe Fellini's movies, and this is very true here.
Fellini's film unit visually "describe[s] the entry into thecity via the ring of motorways that surrounds her [Rome] like a Saturn of rings." The scene of the modern super highway speaks of the tragic toll industrialization has taken, and the raining deluge adds to the misery. Hitchhikers, prostitutes, cement trucks, even a tank and a guy pushing a cart, highway patrol, communist student protesters, insane bumper to bumper traffic, and the most tragic scene, an overturned and burning truck-trailer, dead cows littering the road, firefighters fighting the blaze. Yet history does rear its head. Plans to make a Roman subway is halted and delayed because of the unpredictable Roman subsoil. "Every 100 yards, you come across something of historical importance." The workers have to learn speleology and archaeology as a result. And when will the subway be done? Who knows?
At a wartime variety show, an intellectual-looking member of the audience remarks, "We are seeing basic humanity here. Vaudeville is the arena of mass aggressiveness, a combination circus and brothel." Given the rowdiness of certain coarse members of the audience who heckle at comics or whistle at the girls, that's true enough. But might that not also be a commentary on Rome and maybe any large city?
There's also the pleasant enough handsome Peter Gonzalez portraying the young Fellini and we see the look of 1930's Rome through his eyes. Interesting images and characters underpoint any Fellini film and this is no different. The huge hulk of a man at the theatre who has a wet rag thrown at his face, a religious fashion show that becomes garish, and the various prostitutes at the brothel are just some of them. Interesting commentary on brothels and churches: "an invitation to sin, one that could be confessed to the next day."
So what is Rome, in the end? A city that has died and been resurrected so many times, that it's fitting to witness the coming end of civilization from there as Gore Vidal says? The vestal virgin and she-wolf, an aristocrat and tramp, a somber buffoon? The unflattering latter is given to actress Anna Magnani, whom Fellini calls the living symbol of Rome--(she died a year after this brief appearance). In the end, I'd say all these things and more.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fellini's Roma (1972)

Acclaimed director Federico Fellini (Fellini's Satyricon, La Dolce Vita, 81/2) brilliantly demonstrates why he is regarded as "the last of the greatepic filmmakers," delivering "a thrilling personal memoir" (Newsweek) with this monumental and outlandish tribute to his beloved RomeThe Eternal City.This lavish autobiography, full of "lush fantasy sequences and monumental pageantry," (Los Angeles Times) begins with Fellini as a youngster living in the Italian countryside. In school he studies the eclectic but parochial history of ancient Rome and then is introduced as a young man to the real thingarriving in this strange new city on the outbreak of World War II. Here, through a series of "visually stunning" (Los Angeles Times) vignettes brimming with satire and spark, the filmmaker comes to grips with a "sprawling, boisterous, bursting-at-the-seams portrait of Rome" (Interview), reinterpreting with his inimitable style an Italian history full of "rich sensual imagery and extravagant perception" (Playboy).

Buy NowGet 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Fellini's Roma (1972)

Read More...

Love in a Cold Climate (2002) Review

Love in a Cold Climate (2002)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Two episodes and approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours is not enough time to do justice to Nancy Mitford's hilarious and moving novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. In this version so much of the humor and far too many of the characters are either eliminated or cut down sharply.
Nevertheless, given the time constraints this is a very fine adaptation. The main story concerns the love interests of three upper class young women in 1930s Britain: Fanny Logan (the narrator), Linda Radlett (the primary heroine who bounces from husband to husband to lover), and Polly Hampton (the enigmatic beauty who temporarily falls for an extremely distasteful older man). At that time girls from aristocratic families were expected to make their Society debuts at age 18 or so and marry by the time they were 21. Fanny, the most sensible of the trio, follows this path without any wrong turns and ends up with a husband she truly loves. Linda and Polly's vicissitudes lead them down many roads to tragedy in one case and final happiness in the other.
The series is beautifully filmed in England and France. Nancy Mitford's ancestral home Batsford Park stands in for the Radlett mansion, Alconleigh; while the magnificent Castle Ashby serves as Polly's enormous residence. In France similarly beautiful chateaus are used for Fabrice Sauveterre's homes. There is a real 1930s/1940s ambience throughout the series, particularly in the second episode set in the early years of World War II.
Although many of Mitford's funniest lines and scenes have not been included, there are some extremely amusing segments, such as a fur-coated Linda urging Londoners to join the Communist Party, or Sheila Gish's indomitable Lady Montdore's statement "hardly any of one's friends had even heard of India before we went there", or Uncle Matthew's emotional outbursts over Romeo and Juliet, or Fanny's aging socialite mother (The Bolter) arrival at Alconleigh with her Spanish lover.
There is also quite a bit of social commentary mixed in with the humor. The old landowning aristocracy is well represented by the Radletts and the Hamptons, and their encounters with nouveau riche types like the Kroesig family are a good depiction of the social changes going on in Britain during the early twentieth century. The Spanish Civil War scenes remind us that World War II's mass horrors are shortly to unfold.
So, even though this mini-series should have been much longer, it is still delightful and moving. If this is your first introduction to Nancy Mitford, by all means buy The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate and read Linda, Polly, and Fanny's stories in their entirety.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Love in a Cold Climate (2002)

Based on Nancy Mitford's beloved novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate-part thinly-veiled memoir, part biting satire, and part fascinating window on a vanished way of life-this witty drama from the BBC follows the romantic adventures of three young aristocrats in the decade between the wars. Starring British acting legends Alan Bates (Gosford Park), Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones's Diary), Sheila Gish (Mansfield Park), and Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisited), with young stars Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day), Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh (Bertie and Elizabeth), and Megan Dodds (Malice Aforethought). Providing an authentic backdrop are several English castles and country houses, including Batsford Park, home of the Mitford family from 1916 to 1919.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Love in a Cold Climate (2002)

Read More...

10/27/2011

The Exorcist (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (1973) Review

The Exorcist (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (1973)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For those of you that like The Exorcist and wondered if you should have seen the movie in the theaters *just* becuase it has some new scenes I can tell you it's definataly worth it.
The added scenes improve the continuity for the most part and provide a few new shocks (as if this movie needed more).
The soundtrack is radically reworked as well, employing newly scored music that adds to the mood of the movie.
There are new sound effects that have more "oomph" for the modern six channel digital sound.
Have the 25'th Anniversary tape? Saw the Spider walk scene in the Documentary? Well, in the new release, it's a different version and 10 times more creepy (it took a minute for the audience I was with to calm down).
It was great to see this in a theater and see people jaded by cookie cutter slasher flicks respond to this movie so well. This movie is not fast paced and that allows it to build up a foundation of dread and fear about the developing possession of the girl. Until it finally unleashes in the more horrifying scenes you've all heard about.
The overall color scheme of the movie is grayish and colorless, further drawing you into that fear and dread. The background music (the new and the limited amount utilized in the original version)has very little melody with a lot of sustained low chords. It doesn't call attention to itself but does unnerve you.
The possessed girl is probabaly one of the scariest faces in movie history. It's incredible that all that was really done to Linda Blair's face was to add a few asymetrical cuts, cover over her eyebrows and darken her sockets (giving her eyes a skull like look). But of course, it was the makeup master Dick Smith that was doing it so it's not too much of a surprise. The crowning feature of the scariest face was the unhuman look of the eyes, done with contact lenses.
The upcoming DVD of the "version you never saw" deserves a place in my colection and yours.
Besides a faithful transfer of the new version to DVD and the trailer, I can suggest that Warner Bros. include the tour of Washington sequence. This is another sequence that was not used in the final cut. It still exists but with no soundtrack. Putting it on the extras section of the DVD with an explanation of the missing soundtrack and subtitles would make this DVD an even better purchase for fans of the movie (like myself).

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Exorcist (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (1973)

An innocent girl is evilly possessed -- and a doubting priest becomes her last hope. Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn in the two-time Academy Award(R) winner that shocked the world.DVD Features:Audio Commentary:Separate Commentaries by Friedkin & BlattyOther:"Fear of God" 3 trailers Nwe InterviewsTV Spot:6 TV Spots: "Beyond Comprehension", "You Too Can See The Exorcist", "Between Science and Superstition", "The Movie You've Been Waiting For", "Nobody Expected It", "Life Had Been Good"


Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Exorcist (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (1973)

Read More...

Colors Straight Up (2009) Review

Colors Straight Up (2009)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is the story of an arts program in the Los Angeles Public School system geared torward "at risk" youths. It was filmed in the program's infancy, when Colors United was an extracirricular program at one high school in South Central Los Angeles.
We are immediately immersed in the world of these kids, without commentary or words of introduction. The camera simply follows around several students as they shuffle back and forth between their gritty life in the "hood" and their alternate ego as a member of an acting and performing troup rehearsing for their big annual show.
The film is heartbreaking many times over, and I, who rarely cry during movies, found my eyes moist througout much of the film. The movie shows how hard the lives of these kids are, and how courageously they funnel this experience into their artistic performance, which is called "Watts Side Story." For many viewers, it will be a window into a world they have heard of but know very little about. But it is on the moral plane, not the social, that the film really enlightens.
The determination of these high schoolers to commit to each other for the sake of an uplifting common purpose, while all around them their world seems to be coming apart at the seams, is almost the definition of moral courage.
The director is wise not to pontificate or comment on the on screen happenings. The young men and women depicted feeling their way to adult hood and moral responsibility is the most eloquent statement that can be made. I can not recommend this film highly enough. It is especially appropriate for high school age kids or those involved in *at risk* behavior to see "another way."

Click Here to see more reviews about: Colors Straight Up (2009)



Buy NowGet 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Colors Straight Up (2009)

Read More...

Dimension X: The Complete Old Time Radio Series Review

Dimension X: The Complete Old Time Radio Series
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
OTR provides great entertainment and allows us to rediscover our creative immagination. Prompt professional service and quick delivery makes this transaction perfect.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dimension X: The Complete Old Time Radio Series



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Dimension X: The Complete Old Time Radio Series

Read More...

10/26/2011

The Last of the Mohicans (BBC Masterpiece Theatre TV Mini-Series) (1972) Review

The Last of the Mohicans (BBC Masterpiece Theatre TV Mini-Series) (1972)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This version of "Last of the Mohicans" originally aired via the BBC and PBS television through the excellent "Masterpiece Theater" series in 1971, and was encored in 1972. An 8-part series (each episode lasting approximately 50 minutes), this version is the closest to the original book; much closer than the widely popular Daniel-Day Lewis version theatrically released in 1992. This version has been long-sought after by collectors and lovers of "Last of the Mohicans" for years, as the rights to the series passed from the BBC several years ago. When I wrote the BBC directly several years ago, I was told that the series still did exist, but only in archival form and available to film directors and/or students that wished to preview the material in the UK. Those that wished to watch the series had to hope for a videotape set to surface from a collector or archival library edition.
Although the original Masterpiece Theater introductions by A. Cook are not included, it is highly recommended and well worth your money. Long thought scarce or lost as a production, this series contains all the elements of the original book, and does NOT change the ending, as per the 1992 theatrical version. As per the usual BBC way of producing series, the exterior shots were originally shot on film and the interiors on video. One can tell the difference between "outdoor" sets that were shot on sound stages vs. the truly outdoor shots, such as the massacre outside the fort, as well as the climatic battle between the Hurons and the Delawares. Expertly acted in every way by all cast members.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Last of the Mohicans (BBC Masterpiece Theatre TV Mini-Series) (1972)

The definitive adaptation of the James Fenimore Cooper novel, this eight-part BBC production stars John Abineri, in an Emmy-nominated performance as the Mohican Indian Chingachgook, and Kenneth Ives as the intrepid frontier scout Hawkeye. In 1757, during the French and Indian War, half-sisters Cora and Alice Munro set out to join their father, the British Commander of Fort William Henry. After they are betrayed by the villainous Huron Magua, the sisters are rescued by Hawkeye, whose efforts to lead them to safety are aided by Chingachgook and his son Uncas.

Buy NowGet 11% OFF

Click here for more information about The Last of the Mohicans (BBC Masterpiece Theatre TV Mini-Series) (1972)

Read More...

THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008) Review

THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is an excellent DVD for children (all ages) and adults. Fast moving and fascinating. Simply amazing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008)

A treasure of Russian culture for over 200 years, the Moscow Circus has been the pride of their homeland, elevating their unique art to a status alongside Ballet and Opera.This special DVD, The Moscow Circus: Animals Under the Big Top, continues the ascension, and lets you Step Right Up to awe-inspiring acts of daring, humor and non-stop entertainment. Watch as animal trainers, acrobats and exotic animals from land and sea create a Russian Circus that mesmerizes millions with their breathtaking, eye-catching spectacle, truly more like a traditional performing art.While each of the artists in the Circus is the best at their respective craft, together these performers form a thrilling, vibrant whole. The Moscow Circus carries on the centuries old tradition in splendid style and embraces the feats of daring, fantasy, and imagination that have long enthralled audiences across the world.Featuring 2 Programs on 1 DVD, witness the Wild Animals Tamers & Cossack Horse Riders as they thrive on the danger of face-to-face confrontation, mastering the instincts of some of nature's most savage and beautiful beasts. Marvel at the imperial elephants, enchanting seals and fierce and stealthy leopards as they all bow to the will of their trainers in acts that range from hilarious to astounding. Moscow Circus: Animals Under The Big Top not only will reveal a fascinating Russian cultural export, but will enchant your whole family with the dazzling artistry of the unparalleled Moscow Circus.Program # 1 - Dancing Bears & More Circus Acts includes:Dancing Bears, Cossack Horse Trick, Solo Camel Act, Six Camel Acts, Snake Act, Jugglers with Bears, Goat & Dog on Ice, Doves and Eagles, and the Dancing Bears Finale.Program # 2 - Animals Under the Big Top Circus Acts:Monkeys and Ponies, Elephant Act, Seals, Chicken / Goose Act, Monkeys on Ice, Leopards and Horses, and a Dog Act.DVD Bonus Features:About the Moscow CircusDolby Stereo AudioDigitally Re-Mastered Audio & VideoInstant Access to the PerformancesDVD Recommendations

Buy Now

Click here for more information about THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008)

Read More...