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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
February 2007 DVD Selections
A Summer Place
The beautiful theme song from this film is something you’ll be singing after you finish watching the movie. This 1959 drama is about two teens who fall in love when they meet at his family’s island resort on the coast of Maine. Troy Donahue plays Johnny and Sandra Dee is Molly and they meet when her parents (Richard Egan and Constance Ford) come to Maine for the summer. His parents (Dorothy McGuire and Arthur Kennedy) try to make everyone happy and comfortable but the tension is evident. Johnny’s mother and Molly’s father had been lovers a long time ago, and their attraction for each other is still hot. At the end of the summer Molly goes off to school, but the teens continue to see each other behind their parents’ back. Everything comes to a head when Molly discovers she is pregnant. This is a teen classic from the past that still has it’s loyal fans. And don’t forget that song. There’s a summer place, …
My Little Pony: A Very Pony Place
Three all new musical stories make this a very special DVD for young kids. Come Back, Lily Lightly is a story about a unicorn whose horn lights up, Two for the Sky is about Story Club day at the Ponyville Pinwheel Library, and Positively Pink is about Pinkie Pie’s birthday and the entire town of Ponyville has forgotten all about it. The DVD contains two sing-alongs. All the characters in the My Little Pony franchise have delighted youngsters for years, and these new adventures are sure to be big hits this Springtime.
Beauty and the Beast - Season 1
This TV show ran from 1987-1990 with a loyal following. Its mystical quality was something new to television. Vincent (Ron Perlman) is a “lion-man” who lives in the tunnels under New York City. The elaborate community underground protects this man from the cruelty above ground. Vincent meets Catherine (Linda Hamilton) and they form a bond that deepens through the years. She sees Vincent is a kind, sweet, soul, and he in turn sees the beautiful woman she is inside and out. There is a connection between these two souls that make this a very special relationship. The show is not a fairy tale, as Vincent does not become a handsome man, but audiences loved him just the way he was. The series won and was nominated for several awards during its three years on the air. It is the ultimate love story. And, unlike many series from the past, this one is still as heartwarming and interesting today as it was when it first aired. The first season contains all 22 episodes on 6 discs! Viewers can once again get lost in the mystical world of Beauty and the Beast.
Cinderella III - A Twist in Time
It has been a year since Cinderella married her Prince. They are blissfully happy but her stepmother and stepsisters are extremely unhappy. When they discover that magic played a role that got Cinderella her prince, they steal the Fairy Godmother’s Magic Wand and change everything. With just a little Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, time unwinds to the point where the Prince is looking for the girl who fits the glass slipper. Well, a little more magic and a few Bibbidi Bobbidi Boos later, Cinderella’s stepsister Anastasia’s big foot magically fits into the slipper. With events spiraling out of control, Cinderella is set on making the Prince remember who she is. But Anastasia has fallen for the prince herself and because he is under a spell he has fallen for her and they are just an “I do” away from getting married. True love must win out in the end. With new songs and the same delightful characters (Jaq and Gus), this is as magically entertaining as the original. Bonus games are included. There is a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo game where viewers use the magic wand to unravel the mistakes made by Jaq, Gus, and Lucifer and explore the palace, and a magical Ballroom interactive game and activities.
Crossing Delancey
Amy Irving stars as a thirty-something girl living the life of her dreams in New York. But her grandmother has other ideas for her single granddaughter. With the services of a marriage broker, she sets Isabelle (Irving) up with a nice man who has had his eye on her for a long time. Unfortunately, he is a “pickle man” and doesn’t fit into Izzy’s uptown life. But soon they find themselves meeting and an attraction between them is evident. This is a cute story of finding one’s true companion, even if it does take a marriage broker!
Curious George: Zoo Night and Other Animal Stories
Little George is always so curious. This collection contains eight fun-filled episodes from his PBS TV series, all of which focus on George’s love of animals. Whether he’s enjoying spending the day at the zoo watching the baby panda then accidentally letting all the animals out of their cages and then figuring out where they belong, there’s no doubt his day at the zoo was a memorable one. Or take the time he accidentally let all the bunnies out of their hutch. Catching bunnies is no easy feat. And once when he was tending a bowl of tadpoles George felt the bowl was a bit confining and thought they could use a little swim in the pond. But how was he going to get them back in the bowl after their exercise? These and other delightful stories are sure to be big hits with fans of this adorable little monkey.
The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s story based on the life of a Boston gangster who literally ran South Boston for years is filled with violence and blood. Jack Nicholson plays Frank Costello, the Boston mobster who has connections. He is smart, yet ruthless. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, an undercover state police officer sent to bring him down. And Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, another state police officer who is a mole for the mob. The question is will Billy find out about Colin before Colin discovers who Billy is. This is a tense and intense film from the master of intense mob films. The bonus features include some additional scenes, a look at the real life gangster as well as a feature on Scorsese himself, which delves deep into his film history.
Emergency - Season 3
The third season of this popular series continues the stories of firefighters Roy DeSoto and John Gage as they rescue victims every week. Julie London, Robert Fuller and Bobby Troup round out the cast as the hospital staff who work with the firefighters saving lives. At the time the show began paramedics were just beginning to be used by fire departments, and Gage and DeSoto did a lot to improve their profiles.
Flags of Our Fathers
World War II was droning on and people at home were getting tired of the constant fighting, not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Money to supply the troops was running low. So, when a single photograph caught the attention of the country, the government played it to the hilt. This one now-famous photo of the men raising the flag at Iwo Jima gave the people hope and a sense that we could win the war.
The story of these men is told through flashbacks and recounts their experiences at Iwo Jima and after. Only three of the six survived, but those three were now symbols of victory. Touted as heroes, they were paraded throughout the country raising funds and giving hope to the people.
This bloody, gory, movie takes viewers right into the battle. From the time they set off for Iwo Jima until the dedication of the famous Marine memorial depicting their flag raising, the movie delves into the hearts and minds of these soldiers as they experience horrific incidences and live with the aftermath.
For Your Consideration
Christopher Guest’s latest comedy turns the camera on the film industry. This is a movie about making a movie. While making a little art film the Hollywood buzz focuses on a potential Oscar nomination for the female star who starts checking around to find out if she is really being considered for the coveted nod. One by one the show’s actors are singled out for potential awards, changing the atmosphere on the set and the attitudes of the studio heads who decide to turn this little film into something bigger and really show the Academy what they have - which doesn’t please the writers who think their original script is just fine. The DVD contains over 30 minutes of additional material.
Going My Way
Bing Crosby stars as Father O’Malley in this classic story of a priest who comes to an established parish and tries to modernize it a bit, to the disappointment of Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), who has been there for years. With songs (“Swinging on a Star” and “Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra”), and fabulous acting, this film has been a favorite among movie lovers since it won the Academy Award in 1944. “Swinging on a Star” won that year for best song. The film also won 5 other Oscars that year. This is a heartfelt story that, although old, spans the generations as it has wide appeal to everyone.
Hustle - Seasons 1 and 2
Seasons one and two of this TV series are available so viewers of the show can relive the intriguing cons performed by the most entertaining gang on television today. If you aren’t taken in by this show already, now’s your time to catch up. Season 4 will begin airing on television in the next month. So grab these discs and get up to date. This series follows five con artists as they set up elaborately planned and executed long cons. It has been compared to Ocean’s Eleven, The Sting, and Mission Impossible, however this series is very stylized and the characters are mostly British. American audiences will no doubt recognize Robert Vaughn (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) who is the elder artist of the gang. The DVDs contain some “making of” features as well as a look at how the cast was chosen. Albert (Vaughn) selects the victims, and the rest of the crew (Mickey, Danny, Ash and Stacie) execute the elaborate cons that will have audiences trying to figure out how they did that.
The Land Before Time 12: The Great Day of the Flyers
The Land Before Time is one of the most popular DVD series ever, and the newest film will have everyone cheering and cooing. The five young dinosaurs discover that everything changes, but change is not necessarily a bad thing.
Petrie is about to take part in a right of passage, when young flyers perform precision flight programs together to show that they are ready to take their places with the grownups. Petrie, always a little nervous about flying, has trouble staying in formation with his brothers and sisters. He wants to blend in, but at the same time he wants to be himself. Dino-soaring with Petrie is humorous, but there is much more to this story. When the group discovers a new arrival to The Great Valley, a little dinosaur named Guido, they try to figure out what he can do. Can he swim? Does he eat tree stars? No one knows exactly what Guido is. But the little guy lends his support to Petrie, and soon the young flyer is holding his own with his family.
And speaking of families, Cera just became a big sister. Baby Tricia is the center of the family now, which causes Cera some frustration. She feels jealous of the attention her dad and stepmother shower on Tricia. Cera and the other dinosaurs wonder what it would be like to each be one of a kind. But since she is stuck with a new little sister, Cera discovers she is a good big sister, and everybody learns that everyone is special – in their own way.
This successful series is always enjoyable, and The Great Day of the Flyers is just as fun as the eleven movies that preceded it. The films always have a special underlying message, coupled with fun songs and of course the adorable little dinosaurs. Take your seats, buckle your seatbelts, and get ready for a fun ride. It’s a high dino-soaring adventure that will delight the entire family. This is another Dino-mite story!
The Last Unicorn
The 25th anniversary edition of this magical story is now available. This is the story of a lone unicorn who goes on a journey to find out where the other unicorns are. Could she be the last unicorn? When a playful butterfly informs her that a “red bull” has steered all the unicorns out of their safe forest, she decides to find out if it is true. Along the way she meets a witch who captures her, and a magician who befriends her. Together they continue on her quest, and along the way they add another to their group. However when they meet up with the red bull, the magician transforms the unicorn into a human to keep her safe. It is in human form the unicorn learns about love and regret. With songs by America and the voices of Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges and Angela Lansbury, this has been a beloved tale for generations. The DVD contains a featurette with the author who describes how he wrote the story. There is also a game to test your knowledge of the story. This magical, mystical story is beloved by both old and young.
Man of the Year
Robin Williams stars as Tom Dobbs, a night time comedian who ends up running for the Presidency. Think of David Letterman or Jay Leno running for President! Then think of one of them winning. Laura Linney also stars as an employee of the company that makes the election computers that just went into effect throughout the country. Makes sense, doesn’t it? We put our trust in computers instead of punch cards and human tallying. But computers are not perfect as any of us who owns one can attest. They make mistakes, and this time they made a whopper! This is a fun story and even though in the end things turn out differently, it makes us wonder what would happen if we got someone in the White House who wasn’t thinking about his own interests and who really wanted to work for the country. There is a behind-the-scenes bonus feature as well as a feature on Robin Williams, who is really a genius when it comes to comedy.
The Clock
When a young soldier (Robert Walker) accidentally meets an attractive woman (Judy Garland) in Grand Central Station, they are in for two days that will change their lives. He has two days in the big city and they decide to spend it together. When the mutual attraction becomes love, well, wedding bells are the next step. It’s wartime, after all, and the future is uncertain. So throwing caution to the wind, and knowing that they have each found the love of their life, they take their vows. It all happens during his two day pass in Manhattan. Sure, it’s a bit corny by today’s standards, but at the time it was touted as a sweet love story. And if you think about it, that’s exactly what it is.
Strawberry Shortcake: The Sweet Dreams Movie
The Sweet Dreams Movie stars Strawberry Shortcake and her friends as they try to stop an evil plan to steal their dreams. The Peculiar Purple Pie Man wants to take over SandMan’s Dream factory, but the group learns they must work together to save all the dreams and, yes, make dreams come true. This full-length feature is fun for everyone and as with all the Strawberry Shortcake adventures, there is something to learn. The gang learns they must believe in themselves. Little girls will enjoy this new adventure with Strawberry Shortcake and her friends in their magical land of fantasy and fun. And for additional fun there is a CD soundtrack available with the delightful songs from this movie. Strawberry Shortcake has been entertaining kids for years. And for more of Strawberry Shortcake (after all, a second helping is always yummy), go to their website to learn everything you want to know about the characters and download recipes, play games, and have fun. It’s a very child-friendly site.
© 2007 Francine Brokaw
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