We’ve eaten the last of the Thanksgiving turkey at our house and have started to think about decorating for Christmas. And what DVDs to give to family and friends. There are a variety of worthy titles to consider this month, and I have chosen three best picks and give them all lots of tail wags and two paws up: Click on small photos for larger views ALL MINE TO GIVE
WALL-E
KIT KITTREDGE
Stocking-stuffer DVDs this month: CHILDREN OF THE STONES A classic sci-fi thriller about the paranormal in a sleepy English village that was a cult favorite on British television in the late 1970s. The village is surrounded by a megalithic stone circle which is being studied by an astrophysicist and his teenage son. The villagers, meanwhile, have fallen under the hypnotic spell of a local scientist. The story takes us into a world of black holes, psychic powers, druid rituals, and a time trap from which there may be no return. Filmed on location at the Avebury stone circle, older than nearby Stonehenge, it’s chilling fun for adults and young people, from Acorn Media. THE LAST DETECTIVE, COMPLETE COLLECTION
THE LAST ENEMY The Masterpiece Contemporary drama stars Benedict Cumberbatch (of Atonement) as a brilliant if reclusive mathematician working in China who returns home to England for the funeral of his brother, an aid worker killed by a landmine in Afghanistan. He falls in love with his brother’s widow, a foreign beauty, and becomes enmeshed in a police state conspiracy in which the government monitors everyone’s actions and movements. It’s an intriguing thriller with Robert Carlyle (of The Full Monty), from WGBH Boston Video.
ANOTHER LIFE Based on a real criminal case that shocked Great Britain I the late 1920s, this is a gripping drama about a free-spirited young woman (Natasha Little) who finds herself in a cold, boring marriage. She loses her heart to another man with whom she corresponds (Ioan Gruffudd) about ways to get rid of her stuffy husband. The unloved husband (Nick Moran) is murdered, but by whom and will the killer be caught and convicted? Beautiful period costumes and sets enhance this love story gone wrong, from BFS Entertainment.
WOULD I LIE TO YOU? 2 The sequel and further adventures of Eddie, a non-Jew trying to pass as Jewish although totally ignorant of Jewish traditions, in a hugely popular French comedy. Richard Anconina stars as a successful businessman in the Paris garment district. He and his associate attempt to counter an economic downturn by trying to get a large chain of department stores to take on their new line of clothing. Add a dose of romantics, antics, and gags and you have a delightful comedy in French with English subtitles from Koch Entertainment.
GABRIEL & ME
TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME A charming holiday story in which a couple bring their children together for the first time since their marriage seven years before. The family reunion at Christmas isn’t quite what the parents hoped for, but all ends well. It’s a little different twist on Christmas that leaves you with a good feeling, from Ocean Park and PorchLight Entertainment.
STEP BROTHERS My master said this movie reminded him of a creative director at an advertising agency he once worked at. The man said “If I ever grow up, I’ll be out of a job.” Will Farrell, co-star as one of the step-brothers, is in the same dilemma in real life. He knows his audience: six-year-olds or twenty- and thirty-somethings of the same level of maturity. He and John C. Reilly play two spoiled middle-aged loafers forced to live together when their single parents get married to new mates, then proceed to destroy the marriage. If dumb makes you laugh, and watching two grown men fight over the television remote makes you laugh and not cringe through 98 minutes of foul language and other juvenile annoyances, you may be entertained by this “hilarious” comedy from Columbia Pictures and Sony.
THE SEA CHANGE
TREASURY OF 20 STORYBOOK CLASSICS More delightful DVD animated versions of popular children’s picture books. The top award-winning series for children is back with some favorites including Beverly Cleary’s “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” and Karma Wilson’s “Bear Snores On.” All together, the 20 children’s books won 35 awards. With read-along captions, the four DVDs in a boxed set are fun for kids to practice their reading skills. From Scholastic Storybook Treasures.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Christmas poem favorite by Clement C. Moore and more classic holiday tales are on another DVD from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. The stories celebrate not only Christmas but Hanukkah and Kwanzsaa. Narrators include Anthony Edwards, Alfre Woodard, Jenny Augutter, and Theodore Bikel. A perfect stocking-stuffer for kids.
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: CHRISTMAS TREE Bear Country’s loveable family learn that the best Christmas gifts are not always under the tree, but in your heart. The story originally was seen on NBC Television, and four more episodes are included. From Sony Home Entertainment.
CARE BEARS and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Two excellent holiday DVDs from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. “Care Bears Flurries of Fun” follows the gang into Christmas adventures and fun as they spread joy wherever they go. “Strawberry Shortcake Holiday Dreams Collection” features three DVDs filled with sweet adventures of the popular girl and her pals at holiday time.
THE CHRISTMAS TOY A charming tale about toys that come to life on Christmas Eve that won the 1987 Golden Hugo Award for children’s programming. Part of the Jim Henson’s Christmas Classics line, it is a live action story with a cast of loveable puppets from Henson and delightful songs by Jeff Moss. >From Hit Entertainment and Lionsgate
ZOOM: BACK TO THE 70s A new DVD based on the 1970s PBS kids’ series that was created to inspire young audiences to be active investigators, creators, and problem-solvers. It includes the best segments of all six seasons of the show as well as four complete shows. Parents who were fans of the series when it originally aired can share the fun with their kids. From WGBH Boston Video.
THE VICTOR BORGE CLASSIC COLLECTION The pianist-comic known as the Clown Prince of Denmark stars in a six DVD boxed set of his most famous keyboard antics. They’re all here, including the hilarious routine in which Borge vocalizes phonics at the piano. This delicious, delirious musical comedy treasure is from Questar. NATURE TECH The Smithsonian Channel’s unique perspective and visually terrific look at nature’s ingenious designs. In three incredible episodes, the DVD examines bioimetrics, the evolving science of looking to nature for answers to modern problems. Entertaining and educational wonders from Infinity Entertainment Group.
MEMOIRS OF PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU A fascinating documentary about the life and career of Canada’s prime minister from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s. The charismatic and often controversial political and social leader whose motto was “Reason before passion” helped to preserve Canada’s national unity. Was he Canada’s Abraham Lincoln? This documentary will help you to decide. From PFS Entertainment.
VISION DVD GALLERY COLLECTION
THE LOST GODS This Smithsonian Network special is an enlightening journey through faith and time as it attempts to answer questions such as “Is there a God?” and “Can Gods die?” The journey takes us back thousands of years to the rise and fall of five ancient civilizations – the Egyptians, Greeks, Celts, Romans, and Incans. Filmed in 11 countries and hosted by Christy Kennedy, people of all devotions will be enlightened by this journey. From Infinity Entertainment Group.
HEALTH MATTERS What you need to know about cancer, heart disease, depression, obesity, and Alzheimer’s. Five original public television documentaries explore these major health problems, to help us understand them better and take steps toward prevention or cure. From WGBH Boston Video.
UNSUNG WAR HEROES The forgotten stories of men and women who fought for America during World War II are told in this exciting set of four DVDs in a boxed set from WGBH Boston Video. Included are: “The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers,” “Fly Girls,” the women who flew as the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, relieving male pilots for action; “Most Honorable Son,” Ben Kuroki, the first Japanese-American war hero; and “Citizen Tanouye,” Ted Tanouye who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service as a technical sergeant.
COOK’S COUNTRY Chris Kimball and other favorite chefs from America’s Test Kitchen show and tell how to make classic American dishes.
WEIGHT LOSS WITHOUT DIETING Now that you’ve watched COOK’S COUNTRY and eaten your way across America, you need to lose some weight. One way is through hypnosis. Watch the DVD, then close your eyes and follow one of Susan Hepburn’s sessions in which she employs hypnotherapy to help you lose pounds and inches. My master and I haven’t tried it, but thousands have and Hepburn claims they’ve achieved weight loss the mental way. From BFS Entertainment.
STOP SMOKING WITHIN ONE HOUR
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See you next month at the same fire hydrant.
I bet you didn't know, but besides reviewing movies, I sing opera. Click here to see and hear me rehearsing the Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman."
Maybe you would like to visit my master's web site with highlights
of his huge collection of old movie magazines, Bijou
Follies
Two more web sites I recommend are: Errol Flynn and Jeffrey Hunter
visit: The Ravin' Maven of Classic Film Pages