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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
April 2007 DVD Selections
Angelina Ballerina Follows her Dreams
Five delightful stories make up this DVD about the little mouse who loves to dance. Angelina is a ballerina. She always wears a pink bow in her hair and enjoys life to the fullest. When she is excluded from joining the new hockey team because she is a girl, she takes matters into her own hands and shows them that girls can be just as good as boys. “Why can’t a girl grow up to be President?” She insists “’No Girls Allowed’ is a silly rule.” This is just one of the stories on the disc. The stories can be set to play once or continuously.
For the fifth consecutive year Angelina Ballerina is the National Children’s Spokescharacter for National Dance Week. She is also partnered with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and the ABTKIDS program which introduces kids and their families to ballet and the performing arts.
The little mousling has inspired girls and boys everywhere with her love of life and ballet. She is a character both parents and kids can enjoy.
Bobby
Bobby tells the story of several fictionalized people whose lives happen to intersect the night of June 4, 1968 in the Embassy Ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles - the day of the California Presidential Primary.
The film intertwines some of RFK’s words and campaign with the drama that is taking place in the lives of the main characters. The film is a look at the times – the late 60’s. The Vietnam War was raging, drug use was becoming more prevalent, racial issues were at the front of people’s consciousness, and life was very different. Disenchantment with the country and the world was taking over and the idealism of RFK sparked hope in people who felt he was their last resource. Only two months earlier Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, and the country was still reeling from his death. RFK provided a ray of sunshine in what was often felt to be a very bleak time.
The DVD contains a look at the making of the film from its inception to production as well as a feature with some of the people who were close to RFK and who were in the hotel with him the night he was assassinated. It’s a personal look at how the man affected the lives of those around him.
1968 was a troubled year. Bobby reflects the year and the changing times. While it is not directly a story about Robert Kennedy, it is Estevez’ homage to the man whose memory lives on not only in history books, but also in the consciousness of millions of people.
Charlotte's Web
Dakota Fanning stars as Fern, “a determined little girl [who] made a promise to a pig.” When Wilbur was born he was the runt of the litter. Fern’s father was going to slaughter the little fellow before she stepped in and promised Wilbur she would take care of him. And that’s exactly what she did. However when he got too big to be her “pet,” Wilbur was sent to live across the road at her uncle’s farm. Little did she know that Wilbur was going to be their Christmas dinner.
Voiced by Julia Roberts, Charlotte is a character audiences will enjoy as she spins messages in her web to save the life of her new friend Wilbur. By spinning words in her web Charlotte brought the attention of the town and even the county to the little pig. And who could kill a famous pig?
Wilbur’s innocence, playfulness, and friendship turned a boring barn into a family. This is a story of how one individual, no matter how small, can make a difference. Charlotte, a tiny spider, saved the life of her friend Wilbur.
The DVD contains several bonus features including a gag reel and deleted scenes. There is also a bonus about how they got the animals to do their scenes and a feature about the famous story and its creator. And, there is a wonderful feature about all the pigs that played a role in the making of this movie. They were all adopted by loving families where they would be safe and live out their lives with loving families. That in itself shows the care the filmmakers went through with this wonderfully delightful movie.
Copying Beethoven
The final years of the legendary composer are played out onscreen in this interesting and oftentimes harsh look at his life and work. For those who love his music, this film is a wonderful way to connect to the man who, although deaf, composed some of the world’s finest symphonies and other compositions.
The story focuses on Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger), a 23-year-old aspiring composer who takes a job as the copyist for Beethoven (Ed Harris). In that time it was rare for a woman to do such a job, and even to aspire to be a composer, but Anna Holtz was special. She formed a bond with Beethoven that endured through tough time. The film shows how Beethoven was a loner, but also never alone because, as he put it, music filled his head all the time. The film begins with Beethoven as he is finishing his ninth symphony and continues through his now-legendary Grosse Fugue, which, at the time was met by distaste and completely shunned. He was revolutionary in his music. His final symphony added a chorus in the last movement, something new in the field of classical music. Copying Beethoven is a wonderful film for music lovers and also those who know nothing about music or its history. It is a brief look at the legendary composer and is filled with his music from start to finish.
The DVD contains some deleted scenes as well as a feature on orchestrating the movie.
Dancing with the Stars Cardio Dance
Dancing with the Stars is a popular TV show among all demographics. Ever since Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly popularized dancing in the movies, audiences have been awed by displays of beautiful dancing. Now you can learn to dance from the pros of the show and also lose weight in the process. You’ve heard the stars say they have lost a lot of weight while competing on the show. Now you have the opportunity to do the same – in private. Just play the DVD and move along with the dancers as you learn the Paso Double, Samba, Cha-Cha, and Jive. There is a warm-up and a cool down session as well. You have the option of playing the dance segments with or without the instructions, and the best part is after you learn the steps you can customize the dances you want to move to each time you play the disc. For instance, if you don’t feel like doing the Jive one day, you can delete that from your program that day. This is really a great workout and fun for anyone who loves to dance. It’s a long way from the old Jane Fonda workout of the past (remember – the first video workouts?). This will get you up on your feet and moving around while you learn the dance steps and lose weight. I love it, and you will too, however you should check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
The Doris Day Collection - Volume 2
Romance on the High Seas, My Dream Is Yours, On Moonlight Bay, I'll See You in My Dreams, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and Lucky Me make up this six disc box set, featuring Doris Day in a variety of roles. She teams with Gordon MacRae in two of the films (On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of the Silvery Moon) and in I’ll See You in My Dreams she stars with Danny Thomas in this story of famed lyricist Gus Kahn. For fans of the actress, this set is a delightful array of her talent with a variety of songs. Even though they are older films, they still entertain viewers with fun and interesting stories and the charming vocal talent of Ms. Day. With songs that you’ll be singing for days after viewing the movies, this set is definitely worth watching.
Flipper - Season 1
All 30 episodes of this TV series are included in this 4-disc DVD set, along with a fun trivia game. Flipper, the dolphin, has been a well-loved animal for generations and this classic series shows the intelligence of these wonderful mammals. Join Flipper and his friends in Florida in their adventures. The series was based on the 1963 movie, Flipper. This series debuted in 1964 and won the hearts of viewers. Who didn’t love watching this adorable dolphin? Anyone who ever swam with dolphins knows how sweet and wonderful they are. If you love dolphins, you’ll love this series. Even though it is over 40 years old, it is still entertaining.
The Last King of Scotland
This is a film based on the brutalities of Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). It follows a fictional character, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) as he travels to Uganda to find adventure and to practice medicine. After meeting the new dictator, he is offered the job as his personal doctor and close advisor. This young idealistic doctor sees and hears only what he wants, and he wants to believe that Amin is a good man with the interest of his country and people at heart. To Nicholas, Amin is a charming man, but slowly he discovers the man behind the image. The DVD contains a look at the making of the film, deleted scenes, and a featurette on Whitaker. It’s an interesting look – albeit fictional – about the brutal dictator.
Night at the Museum
Ben Stiller stars in this comedy adventure about a night watchman at a museum who discovers his job is more than what he expected. An ancient spell causes everything in the museum to come to life after dark. So, when Larry Daley (Stiller) starts his new job he is stunned to come face to face – so to speak – with the skeleton of a T-Rex. This is a playful fellow who likes to play fetch with his bone. And there’s the statue of Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) who teaches Larry that greatness is his fate. Lewis and Clark, Christopher Columbus, Sacagawea, lions, monkeys, miniature ancient Mayans, Romans, and cowboys all come to life, and it is Larry’s job to keep them safe and not let anyone or anything out of the museum – or else they will turn to dust. It’s a fun little film with some funny characters. This is a movie kids can enjoy with their parents.
The DVD contains a second disc filled with bonus features. There are deleted and extended scenes, a “making of” feature, a blooper reel, a look at the monkey who practically steals the show, building the set, creating the costumes, and many more features. There is also a DVD-ROM game. The second disc reveals a lot about how they made the film and gives viewers an up close and personal look at the story and the movie.
The Queen
When Princess Diana died, the British people were in shock. They wanted comfort from their Queen, however during this time the staunch monarch remained secluded with her family, to the dismay of the public and the new Prime Minister Tony Blair. Helen Mirren won an Academy Award for her performance of the queen in this drama that focuses on the days directly after Diana’s death until her funeral. The DVD contains a “making of” featurette. The film portrays the royal family as they – specifically the queen – deal with the death of Diana and with the fact that the old ways of the monarchy are past. The queen had to change the ways of the past and in a sense, bring the monarchy into the modern world. Diana was deeply loved by the public and is responsible – in life and death – with modernizing the monarchy, although to many people they still have a long way to go.
    
Warner Bros. Essential Classics Collections
We love our movies. Whether it’s musicals, dramas, family entertainment or whatever, we know what we like. When you go out to a movie and check the newspaper to see what’s playing where, you know what you’re in the mood to see. Now Warner Bros. Home Video has made searching for our favorite genre that much easier. With their Essential Classics Collections, you can get combinations of three of your favorite films all in one box.
The Classic Family Films collection includes Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder version), The Wizard of Oz, and Goonies. These are all family favorites for generations. Thee Classic Romances collection includes Gone with the Wind (what compilation wouldn’t be complete without this film?), Casablanca, and Doctor Zhivago. The Classic Dramas box has The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and Ben Hur. Classic Musicals includes My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain, and Gigi. And the Classic American Musicals includes The Music Man, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Each of these discs includes not only the “classic” film, but also several bonus features. But the great thing about these collections is that three classic films are included in one box. And they did select the cream of the crop for each box! The difficult part is deciding what collection you want the most.
Enjoy your favorite genres with these well-loved films that have been entertaining audiences for decades and are some of the best representatives of Hollywood. These movies have definitely all stood the test of time.
© 2007 Francine Brokaw
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