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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
October 2007 DVD Selections
   
The Captain and Tennille
In the 1970’s The Captain and Tennille were topping the charts. Their music was everywhere. The Grammy-winning couple also made several TV specials, which are now available on DVDs. With guest stars like Kenny Rogers, David Soul, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Glen Campbell and others, these DVDs will take you back to the carefree time of the 70s. The Captain and Tennille in Hawaii, The Captain and Tennille in New Orleans, The Captain and Tennille Songbook and the Captain and Tennille Christmas Show all are filled with the special charm of Toni Tennille and musical talent of Daryl Dragon, aka The Captain. The duo never recorded a Christmas album – until now. Their new CD will be available in November. For a blast from the past, filled with wonderful songs and settings, these DVDs are the perfect way to relive your memories. “Love is Spreading Over the World,” “You Never Done it Like That” and other hit songs fill the discs. Enjoy.
Evan Almighty
Steve Carell is Evan and Morgan Freeman is God. How about that for a great combination? When God asks Evan to build an ark, well, you can imagine how Evan feels. He is a newly elected Congressman, clean cut, and very eager to change the world. That was his campaign motto. But a request from God? When he starts the project he is a little apprehensive, to say the least. But as the ark takes form and God continues to impress upon him the importance of this task, Evan gets excited about it. His professional life suffers, and as time goes on Evan’s appearance changes and he resembles Noah, with long white hair and a beard. This is not the man the voters elected to Congress. Then God insists he wears a robe. This is a fun film and enjoyable for everyone in the family. Carell is at his usual top of the game, and Freeman is always an impressive God. After all, he’s had practice playing the almighty in Bruce Almighty. The bonus features show how the crew actually built a life size ark in Virginia, how the special effects were made, and some fun deleted scenes and behind the scenes clips.
The Hoax
Based on a true story, this film follows Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) who pulled of a major hoax on the world. He claims he is in touch with the illusive Howard Hughes and signs a contract with a big publishing house to write Hughes’ autobiography with the billionaire. He concocts an elaborate scheme and convinces the powers that be that he is really working with Hughes on the book. A bonus feature with Mike Wallace who interviewed Irving at the time of the incident, describes how he was really taken in by the man. Irving was the best of the best as far as conmen go. He really convinced the world.
The Jungle Book – 40th Anniversary Edition
This 2-disc Platinum Edition DVD celebrates the 40th anniversary of this classic film, the last animated film supervised by Walt Disney himself. Mr. Disney died before the film was complete, but it bares his stamp of approval. The story of little Mowgli, the “man cub” who was raised by wolves in the jungle is just as enjoyable today as it was when it was created. When Shere Kahn, the tiger, returns to the jungle, Mowgli’s safety is at stake, so his friend Bagheera, the panther, decides to take the boy, um, excuse me, the man cub, to the man village. But Mowgli has other ideas. He would rather stay in the jungle, and when he meets a carefree bear named Baloo, they team up for some great times. However Baloo soon realizes his little friends must go to the village. The story is filled with memorable characters, including the monkey King Louie and the four British vultures, who sound like a well-known British foursome. And, let’s not forget the elephants and Kaa, the sneaky snake. The fun story is filled with great songs, including The Bare Necessities, which will have viewers humming for hours, make that days, after viewing the film.
The bonus features include a look at Rocky the Rhino, a near-sighted character that never made it into the movie. There’s also a “making of” feature and a look at how Walt Disney and his team altered the original story by Rudyard Kipling. Some of today’s animators talk about the classic film and how it is the benchmark for animation. And a segment with Bruce Reitherman, who voiced little Mowgli, shows how this man was influenced by his role in the film and has carried on as a filmmaker with animals and nature. The music is an important part of the film and the songwriters discuss working with Walt Disney and composing the songs for The Jungle Book. Several games round out the bonus features.
Meet the Robinsons
This adorable story takes young Lewis to an unexpected place – the future. Lewis lives in an orphanage and is a real scientific genius. He’s just a little unappreciated and lacks self-confidence. Then one day he meets a young boy from the future who takes him to the year 2037 where Lewis discovers that the future relies on him. This sweet little guy will warm your heart. His intelligence and wit combine to make him one of the most delightful animated characters in recent years. The DVD contains some deleted scenes, a feature on some of the real geniuses who have changed the world, some music videos, a game, and a look at the making of the film from start to finish. This is It’s a Wonderful Life for a new generation, a new animated generation.
A Mighty Heart
Angelina Jolie stars as Mariane Pearl, the wife of journalist Daniel Pearl who was abducted and murdered in Pakistan. This is based on the real story of his abduction and the intense investigation to find him. Even though Mariane was pregnant with their child she forged ahead and pushed harder to get her husband back. This emotional story is all the more incredible because it is true. The bonus features include a look at the making of the film as well as a public service announcement for the Pearl Foundation. Jolie turns in an incredible performance as the tormented wife desperately searching for clues about her husband’s whereabouts. This film will touch your heart.
Safe Harbour
When two people meet, each suffering from devastating personal experiences, they form a friendship that is so strong it lifts them up out of their grief and for the first time in a long time, they each begin to see how beautiful life and love can be. Ophelie Mackenzie (Melissa Gilbert) is still grieving over the death of her husband and son in a plane crash almost a year earlier. Her daughter Pip (Liana Liberato) is trying to get on with her life but an eleven-year-old can only do so much. She needs her mother who is wallowing in angst. One day Pip meets Matt (Brad Johnson) on the beach. He’s an artist and helps bring Pip out of her shell by showing her some artistic tricks. Then Ophelie and Matt meet and soon the three are the best of friends. But they are still trying to cope with their pasts. Matt’s wife left him for another man and moved away with their daughter cutting off all ties between him and his daughter. With Matt and Ophelie, they certainly have their hands full of sorrow but manage to make a friendship that eventually turns into love. This is one of the best-selling stories by Danielle Steel who has sold more than half a billion books. Safe Harbour was at the top of the NY Times bestselling books for 11 weeks. This is an emotional story packed with courage and an uplifting finale that will touch your heart. The DVD contains an introduction by Danielle Steel.
Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Collector’s Edition
Stargate fans have a real treat with this all-in-one set. Stargate SG-1 was the longest running Sci-fi series on TV. Yes, it lasted longer than The X Files and even the Star Trek series. With interesting characters and an out-of-this-world premise, the stories captured the imaginations of viewers who loved to see the team walk through the stargate every week and right onto another planet. This milestone series will forever be in the history books. But as Richard Dean Anderson, who played Jack O’Neill the head of the team, says, “We’re not saving lives. We’re entertaining them.” This show was indeed entertaining. The series garnered a weekly audience of over five million viewers who knew great sci-fi when they saw it.
This set contains 54 discs that not only have all the episodes, but hours and hours of bonus features. Viewers will get “The Lowdown” on both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, the spinoff series. There are behind the scenes features where some of the secrets of the show are revealed. Also, there is a look inside the 200th episode. The series was founded on some mythology and a feature describes how the series weaved earth mythology with science fiction. And a section shows how science fiction and science are getting closer and closer. Some of the things we thought of in the past as science fiction are real today.
Video diaries, secrets, storyboards, interviews with the cast, features with the cast, behind the scenes, and a look at the actual stargate make this all-inclusive set something every Stargate SG-1 fan should have. With bonus features on each disc as well as four additional bonus-filled discs, everything you want to know about the series is here.
Surf's Up
This animated comedy focuses on the world of surfing and specifically the world of little Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LaBoeuf). All he loves to do is surf. When he was young he met his idol, Big Z (Jeff Bridges), who impressed on him to “never give up – find a way. That’s what winners do.” Big Z was he best surfer on the planet, until one day he wiped out on a big wave and was presumed dead. The characters are adorable and the bonus features make this a delight. There are some games, a new animated short featuring the award-winning Chubbchubbs, a look at the voice sessions with the cast, scenes that never made it into the final film, music videos, and a look at how the filmmakers actually researched the sport of surfing. They spent a day in Malibu to see for themselves what it is like to wipeout, get pummeled by waves, and ride the wild surf. A lot of research went into this film, and the incredible scenes show it. The film takes viewers right into the water with Cody. Kawabunga!
The Unseen Beatles
The Beatles shaped a generation – not only in the form of music but also with pop culture. This DVD contains rare and newly discovered footage combined with insights from those who were there, following the rise of the band from their discovery to the final concert in 1966.
As viewers watch this disc they’ll be amazed at the dangers, chaos, and amateurism that surrounded the famous band. Toward the end, death threats, hatred, and dangerous situations followed the Beatles as they made their final touring dates. By 1966 they had performed over 1400 concerts and released 15 number one singles, toured around the world four times and sold about 200 million records. After their final concert in Candlestick Park in August 1966 they decided never to tour again. Some of the footage of this final concert was captured by a 15-year old and is seen on this disc.
With background comments by some of those close to the band, viewers get first-hand insight into what they actually encountered throughout their career. Compared to today, some of the incidents are almost unbelievable. For instance one time they played in the rain because a location did not want to spend a few hundred dollars to cover the stage. So many other crazy things happened that are just incredible to learn about and they are documented on this DVD. As one of the insiders said, “the modern touring industry was invented about 15 minutes after this tour ended,” referring to their final concert in San Francisco. Before that concert the four Beatles knew it was going to be their last one, and afterward George remarked, “I’m not a Beatle anymore.”
The Beatles marked “the birth of popular youth culture as we know it today,” comments one of their close friends. They definitely changed the face of music. For fans of the band, and those interested in the decade of the 1960s, this is an up-close-and-personal look at the times, the music, and the men – John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The DVD contains a photo gallery, rare footage of the Beatles on the Isle of Jersey, and extended interviews with people close to the band - Allan Williams, Andi Lothian, Larry Kane, Tony Bramwell (road manager), Maureen Cleave, and Tony Barrow (press officer).
© 2007 Francine Brokaw
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