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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
August 2006 DVD Selections
Alice in Wonderland
This 1985 live-action film is a star-studded musical about little Alice and her magical adventures in Wonderland. Starring Natalie Gregory as Alice, the other stars making appearances are Scott Baio, Red Buttons, Sic Caesar, Sammy Davis, Jr., Arte Johnson, Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Karl Malden, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Sally Struthers, John Stamos and the list goes on. It’s like a who’s who of talent from the 1980s. With music by Steve Allen, this popular story is new and refreshing, and a joy for the entire family.
Brother Bear 2
Everyone’s favorite furry cub Koda returns with his new brother Kenai in another fun-filled adventure. This time Kenai is confronted by his old human girlfriend and must help her break all their ties in order for her to go on with her life. But while they are together again Kenai has feelings about his former life. Kenai’s attention to Nita along with his acknowledgement that at times he misses being human, makes the little cub jealous and upset. He doesn’t want to lose Kenai, but he does want him to be happy. This heartfelt film is filled with fun and emotion as the new family learns that they will always belong together. Koda and Kenai are brothers now, and nothing is going to separate them. And as for Nita, well, she must also make a decision about her future. And Rutt and Tuke are still in the picture, as they romance a pair of Moosettes. Disney knows how to make sequels, and this is one that has all the fun of the original. With songs by Melissa Etheridge, the soundtrack will also be a good addition to anyone’s collection. Love, hope, and family are at the heart of this film and the music, making it another classic!
Caillou: Caillou’s World of Wonder
Join Caillou in some fun adventures. There are 4 episodes (and 12 different adventures) in this fun-filled DVD. Caillou, the adorable little boy from the PBS series, surprises his preschool class with a special show-and-tell, then he learns to play the drums and in another adventure he tries his hand at magic. There are plenty more episodes with this inquisitive little guy and his baby sister Rosie. Caillou is a popular character and along with his entertaining adventures, viewers learn valuable lessons and interesting things about life. This is the perfect DVD for preschoolers. DVD bonus features include DVD-ROM bonus games and coloring pages. Kids will be entertained for hours with this DVD, and parents can rest assured that their children are watching fun and enlightening stories.
Her Majesty
When the people of a rural New Zealand town prepare for a visit by the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s, 13-year-old Elizabeth (Sally Andrews) discovers the prejudice hiding beneath the surface. She befriends an old Maori woman who teaches her about the past and her tribe, but the townsfolk want the old woman gone and her old house demolished because they feel it is an eye-sore. But Elizabeth knows more than anyone the rights the old woman has and her connection to the town’s history. Facing opposition from her friends, family, and the community, she continues to spend time with the old woman, while eagerly awaiting the arrival of her Queen. She also faces her first crush and must cope with everything at once. This is a cute film with a lot of heart. The DVD contains some behind-the-scenes features and a look at the making of the film.
HOOT
The kids in the story work together to save some burrowing owls from the bulldozers that are going to turn their home into a pancake restaurant! These adorable little owls are some of the smallest species of owls, with their largest population in Cape Coral, Florida. When the kids realize that the owls’ home is about to become flapjack heaven, they do everything they can think of to sabotage the construction. But what they finally realize is that they just need to make the adults aware of the plight of the owls, and together they can all save the fluffy little birds. This is a cute film and sheds some light on how one person or a group of people can work together against a big company or city hall. It’s definitely a “feel good” film.
The Lost City
This is Andy Garcia’s tribute to the Cuba of the past. With the music of the island and interesting photography, Garcia focuses on the Cuban revolution and the change on the island in 1958-1959. Garcia plays Fico, a nightclub owner in Havana. His two brothers are involved in different aspects of the revolution, to the dismay of his parents. Nestor Carbonell is Luis, the brother who wants change, but doesn’t want that change to be communist. Enrique Murciano is Ricardo, the brother who sides with Castro against his family’s approval. What his family, and most people want, is “evolution, not revolution,” however revolution is what they got. With the backdrop of violence and disruption by both Batista and later Castro, the film shows the demise of the Havana of the 1950s, which was the “Paris of the Caribbean.” Incredible acting and an interesting tale of the change in Cuba combine to make this Andy Garcia’s homage to the country he left when he was five years old.
Mrs. Harris
Annette Bening and Ben Kingsley star in this story of the life, love, and death of Scarsdale Diet author Dr. Herman Tarnower. Bening plays Jean Harris, the woman who entered his life, brought him joy and misery, and later killed him. The drama shows their tumultuous relationship and the idiosyncrasies of both people in this rather strange relationship. The murder was a big story when it occurred, as was the trial leading up to her conviction. As the viewers see, both characters were unusual and made the story of his death front page news for a long time.
Winnie the Pooh: Shapes and Sizes
Learning shapes and sizes has never been more fun. Rabbit asks Pooh to collect several boxes and baskets in different shapes and sizes for Harvest Day, when he will pick all the delicious food in his garden. Rabbit has his entire garden organized into shapes ready to be boxed when the time comes, however Pooh accidentally mixes up the seeds and when it’s time to pick the food Rabbit doesn’t know where everything is. Pooh enlists the help of his friends who gather the different boxes and baskets and harvest the food for Rabbit. Friendship and cooperation is what it takes to get the job done. All the while kids will learn about circles, squares, rectangles, diamonds, and triangles, as well as big and small. Songs add to the fun of learning shapes and sizes with the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Winnie the Pooh: Wonderful Word Adventure Opposites
Pooh and the gang make learning fun and entertaining. While Pooh and his friends compete in a series of contests, kids follow along with the story while learning words at the same time. Up/down, in/out, over/under, fast/slow and other opposites are part of the competition as they all face one challenge after another on their way to the finish line. Kids will be delighted with the adorable story which cleverly incorporates “opposites” into life in the Hundred Acre Wood with all their favorite characters and cute new songs. Even poor little Eeyore gets into the game, although he doesn’t feel he has a chance of winning. But playing is just as important, and while kids learn the words they also learn about friendship. This is a delightful way to learn new words, with the endearing characters that everyone loves.
 
Popular Mechanics DVDs for Kids
Two new installments from the Discovery Kids TV Series are available on DVD. Lightning and Other Forces of Nature teaches about Mother Nature. Electricity, Water, and Power are all parts of the show that young viewers will enjoy as they learn about the forces that drive the planet. Firefighters and Other Life-Saving Heroes follows the youngsters as they go on missions with emergency personnel. These DVDs are enjoyable for kids to watch as the real kids from the series take them through the situations and talk with those in the know. This is a great set for kids approximately age 8-12. They each run 88 minutes and are filled with fun, excitement, and learning, and might I say, “What a cool way to learn!”
Poseidon
This remake of the 1972 disaster movie is a little different than the original, however the premise is the same. A cruise ship is overturned by a “rogue wave” and a handful of passengers decide to make their way to the top – or in this case the bottom – of the ship to safety. As with the original, some make it and some don’t, but the audiences will get caught up in the nonstop action. The production took five sound stages on the Warner Bros. studio lot and lots and lots of water! The two-disc Special Edition DVD set includes a feature on the difficulties that the filmmakers encountered with such an enormous project. There is also a feature on the set design – they had to construct a set upside down – and an interesting feature called “A Shipmate’s Diary: A Film School Intern’s Experiences in the Set.” If you’ve ever wondered what it is like making a movie, this will help you. You'd be surprised how they filmed the opening sequence! And there is a great History Channel Documentary about Rogue Waves. All together this is a complete story of the film from start to finish, and everything in between.
 
Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile
Special Editions of these two fun-filled adventure films include several bonus features. Besides the entertaining films starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner and sidekick Danny Devito, there are interviews with the stars, a look back at the popularity of the original film and the pairing of Douglas and Turner, and more. Deleted scenes and inside looks round out the bonuses. The characters of romance novelist Joan Wilder and adventurer Jack Colton won over audiences in 1984 with their adventure in South America then continued the next year with a second action and romantic adventure in Africa. The films are available separately or as a duo set.
RV
When Bob Munro (Robin Williams) is told he must cancel his family trip to Hawaii and attend a business meeting in Colorado, he decides to make a family outing of the situation, unbeknownst to his family. He rents an RV and informs his wife (Cheryl Hines), teenage daughter (Joanna Levesque) and son (Josh Hutcherson) that Hawaii is out and RV-ing is in. What they don’t plan on is Murphy’s Law – what can go wrong will go wrong. First, Bob must learn to maneuver the massive vehicle, which they name the “big rolling turd.” Then there is the problem of figuring out how to empty the toilet. All these incidents are more than a little funny as Bob tries his best to make things seem like fun, but this adventure doesn’t go smoothly. The DVD contains some fun additional features, including a look at how they filmed the famous toilet cleaning scene, as well as looks behind the scenes with the cast and crew.
Saving Shiloh
Marty (Jason Dolley) is a kind-hearted boy. He loves animals and even rescued his dog Shiloh from his neighbor who abused the little dog. Judd (Scott Wilson) has a bad temper and keeps his other dogs chained up, something that Marty detests. Marty is grateful he saved his little Shiloh from this man. He doesn’t like Judd’s way of dealing with animals - or even people - but Marty is nice to the man anyway, going so far as to get his father to help him build a fence around Judd’s property so the dogs don’t have to be kept chained up. Judd and Marty form a rather tenuous bond.
Judd, recovering from a drunken auto accident, becomes the prime suspect when a dead body is discovered. The entire town had him tried and found guilty in their minds, but Marty has his doubts. He decides to investigate on his own, even though everyone else “knows” Judd is guilty. In the end, it is Judd who saves the day and shows everyone that he is not the evil monster they think him to be. He proves there is good in him, even though the entire town thought differently.
This is a sequel to the original film, Shiloh, with the same characters; however the animal abuse is not as prevalent, making it less disturbing to young – and even not-so-young - viewers. The DVD contains interviews with the cast and a music video “Open Your Heart,” which is exactly what Marty did with Judd and in the end what Judd did with Marty and Shiloh! For ages 5 and up, this DVD brings the story of little Shiloh to a satisfying conclusion.
Take the Lead
Based on a true story, this delightful film stars Antonio Banderas as acclaimed dancer Pierre Dulane who, through dancing, impacts a group of urban kids and changes their lives forever. In the beginning the kids are resistant to his kind of dance. All they listen to is hip hop. But soon they are taken in by his charm and style, although they still don’t care for his music. So they alter the music and add a little flair of their own, adding hip hop style to George and Ira Gershwin! This is truly an inspirational story that is entertaining and filled with charm. The bonus features include several deleted scenes as well as a look at the dancing in the film. More bonus features add excitement to this true story that shows how dance is more than just moving your feet. It is about how you act, carry yourself, and understand yourself as well as others.
© 2006 Francine Brokaw
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