Max's Best DVD Picks

		November 2008

	by Max (with Walt Oleksy)	view previous issues here

Hi. I'm Max, a Lab-shepherd.
I've been around the block more than a few times and seen lots of movies with my master.

Welcome to my new and different web site recommending movies on that fantastic format, DVD.
It's different because I only review movies of quality, not the "dogs."

I drink out of a water dish, but too many movies today are like drinking out of the toilet. Or they walk you down some dark alley among the trash cans with a serial killer who is supposed to be the hero.

I prefer strolling the sidewalk with a responsible, mature master.
Not always just on the sunny side, but never in the gutter.
My rating system is one paw up for very good movies and two paws up for really good movies.
I don't recommend movies that rate less than two paws up.
If a movie is really terrific, I give it two paws up, a tail wag, and my highest praise: "Woo woo woo!"

Okay, I'm not going to chew on this bone any longer.
What's new on DVD this month that's worth renting or buying?

email Max

Picks of the Month

Since this is a movie web site in which a dog reviews new DVD releases, you may not be surprised that my best pick this month is about a dog. But the movie is definitely not a “dog,” it is a really good flick about a very special dog. And it’s a true story, too, that had my tail wagging all the time.

Click on small photos for larger views

FINDING RIN TIN TIN

Near the end of World War II, an American pilot, Cpl. Lee Duncan, finds a German Shepherd and her pups in a bombed-out town in France. His own dog died at home while he was in service, and his heart goes out to the furry friends he finds. He helps the mother and her pups find new homes, but keeps one of the pups, his favorite, whom he names Rin Tin Tin, which comes from a French folk tale. He barely manages to keep the dog at the air base where he is stationed, and gets help training it from a German prisoner of war who had trained the pup’s mother. Rinty soon endears himself to the entire base, except the mess hall sergeant who would rather feed himself than the dog, especially when it becomes full-grown. The movie mainly follows Rinty’s adventures and misadventures at the camp, and ends before Duncan takes him home to America with him. Rin Tin Tin became a movie legend starring in 14 feature-length films from 1920 to 1931. He is still considered to be the greatest animal star ever (sorry, Lassie), and his bloodline continues to this day, his offspring working with police and the military. Hollywood legend has it that he died in 1932 at the age of 14, in the arms of another Hollywood legend, Jean Harlow. A new young actor, Tyler Jensen, plays Duncan and you can tell he loves Rinty. Ben Cross plays the POW. The film was written by David Rolland and Jim Tierney and directed by Danny Lerner. They may have focused a little too much on some slapstick humor involving Rinty and the hungry cook, but let’s forgive them that because otherwise they have given us a really loving movie about a loving dog. From Emmett/Furia and NuImage Films, on DVD from First Look.

Max’s rating: two paws up and lots of tail wags and “Woo Woo’s!”

Two more best DVD picks for this month are a double dose of royal scandal.

Max’s rating for them both: two paws up and some tail wags.

THE CROWN PRINCE

The tragic love story of Mayerling has been told before in movies, but never with the suggestion that murder, and not a suicide pact, may have been involved. History tells us that Austrian-Hungarian Crown Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Josef, shot and killed his love, the beautiful Baroness Maria Vetsera, then himself at his hunting lodge in a suicide pact. Both were under thirty. But were they both murdered, perhaps on orders from the emperor himself? Rudolf and his father, never close, had a severe falling out after the prince, a liberal who wanted a more democratic Austria, was suspected of complicity in a French plot to overthrow or kill the old man, a staunch conservative among a long line of autocratic Hapsburg rulers. Also, the emperor had forbidden Rudolf, who was married, from ever seeing the baroness again. Reportedly, two gunshots had been heard at Mayerling on the night of January 30, 1889, presumably when the prince shot the baroness, then himself. Not in the movie, but from research it was revealed years later that the baroness had been bludgeoned severely on the head, while six shots had been fired at the prince, and the weapon had not been his. It’s an intriguing mystery starring handsome young German actor Max von Thun and beautiful Vittoria Puccini, with able support from Klaus Maria Brandauer as the emperor and Omar Sharif as a teacher-confidant of the prince. From Koch-Vision.

PRINCES IN THE TOWER

The disappearance of 12-year-old Edward V, heir to the throne of England, and his teenage brother Richard, Duke of York, in 1483 remains a mystery to this day. They are presumed to have been murdered while asleep in the Tower of London, victims of a royal plot to keep the younger brother from being crowned king. The mystery also has been the subject of several previous movies, but this new film delves into a second mystery. Eight years after the princes vanished, a young man claimed to be Richard. This sets off new speculation as to the fate of the princes and questions of the legitimacy of the young pretender’s claim to have survived events in the Tower. Were the princes murdered in a royal conspiracy that may even have been on orders of their mother, the queen? It’s a strong drama sure to keep you in suspense, also from Koch Vision. But read up on the mystery at Mayerling after seeing the movie, to learn more about what may have happened.

More tail-waggers this month:

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER?

Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent star in this British import, the true story of a writer, played by Firth, who discovers that his physician father (Broadbent) is dying of cancer. While caring for him, the son recalls his childhood when his father’s womanizing strained their relationship. Fortunately, the son also comes to appreciate the father’s humor and good points. It’s a very different father-son movie from others seen recently that emphasize comedy, and both stars are, as always, at their best. Excellent drama from Sony. And don’t forget to take your father for a walk today.

ANOTHER LIFE

This is an engrossing love story involving a murder, set during World War II in England. Natasha Little plays a free-spirited and naïve girl who accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, played by Nick Moran, before realizing his domineering ways. Before long, her affections turn to an old friend, played by Ioan Gruffudd. Their love affair spins out of control and toward murder. Imelda Staunton and Tom Wilkinson lend strong support to a movie well worth watching. From American Home Treasures and BFS Entertainment.

THE COMPLETE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES

Fans of the long-running British detective series, and they are countless, will appreciate this complete compilation collector’s edition of the Masterpiece Mystery television series featuring all 23 Inspector Lynley mysteries. Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small star, he suave and sophisticated with royal blood as an earl, and she as a working-class lass with a strong dislike of the highborn. Despite their differences, they evolve into a strong and efficient detective team. The six-DVD boxed set runs about 35 hours, from WGBH Boston Video.

GEORGE GENTLY

A new British mystery series based on the detective novels of Alan Hunter which has been likened to Foyle’s War and Midsomer Murders. Martin Shaw stars as Commander George Gently, a tough, incorruptible Scotland Yard cop who is assigned to England’s North Country in the mid-1960s. He and his new partner, a brash young sergeant with no respect for police procedures, make an odd sleuthing couple as they investigate cases involving murder, drug-dealing, gun-running, and other infractions of the law. Good detective dramas in a three DVD boxed set from Acorn Media.

THE COMMANDER

A new British detective series from the pen of Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect. Amanda Burton stars as Clare Blake, a tough female cop who is head of an elite Murder Review Team at New Scotland Yard. She’s “sexy, driven, and prone to taking risks.” Set One of the series includes four full-length-movie episodes, gritty stories with intricate plot twists and a strong, complex female lead. More good police drama in a two DVD boxed set from Acorn Media.

DANIEL BOONE

The sixth and final season of the family classic television series from 1964 to 1970. Fess Parker stars as the legendary pioneer, hunter, and militia officer during the Revolutionary War who blazed the wilderness trail and explored and helped establish a white settlement in Kentucky. Not seen since 1970, the series is digitally-restored and remastered, from Liberation Entertainment.

Documentaries

ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD

German filmmaker Werner Herzog takes us on an adventure in Antarctica. We see incredible marine life, retreating glaciers, and lots of penguins. But there also are a lot of interviews with people who live there and who don’t exactly share his concern for environmental changes including global warming. Roger Ebert calls it “A poem of oddness and beauty,” and the New York Times says it’s “Hauntingly beautiful.” From Discovery Films and Image Entertainment.

THE MINOTAUR’S ISLAND

I learned a lot from this documentary about ancient Crete, birthplace of civilization nearly 5,000 years ago, and its mythical beast, the Minotaur, a monster half-man, half-bull. Oxford scholar and author Bettany Hughes retraces the expeditions of earlier archaeologists to find new insights into Minoan culture as well as attempting to learn what caused the island to collapse in fire and violence. Fascinating, from Acorn Media.

REMEMBERING VIETNAM: THE WALL AT 25

Lest we forget that war really is hell, this Emmy Award-nominated film recalls the very controversial Vietnam War, which so far is America’s longest. The Smithsonian Network explores the often very personal story of the quest to create a memorial honoring the 58,195 GIs who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Originally met with cynicism and opposition, Maya Lin’s granite memorial has become the most visited monument in Washington, D.C. Everyone should see this compelling film from Infinity Entertainment Group.

DAY OF THE KAMIKAZE

Japanese aerial suicide attacks during World War II in the Pacific resulted in more than 150 Allied ships damaged or sunk and more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed. The Smithsonian Network’s film reveals never-before-seen footage of kamikaze training and interviews with veterans from both sides of the conflict. From Infinity Entertainment Group.

STAY RICH FOREVER AND EVER

Oh, yeah? Sez who? Ed Slott, public television’s current guru of financial success, tells how to keep the IRS from getting up to 70 percent of your money. If you have any for them to get. I’m always skeptical of these financial whizzes who share their wealth secrets with the world. Wouldn’t you think they’d just retire to some island paradise with their dog and soak up the sun? But if you want to see what get-rich secrets Slott wants to share, it’s all on this new DVD from WGBH Boston Video. I’m just glad I buried my bones in the backyard.

For Puppies and Kids

BARNEY’S I LOVE YOU GIFT SET

Barney the cuddly dinosaur and friends are in a 3-DVD special collection boxed set featuring more sing-along songs and lessons about sharing, caring, and learning. A lot of fun for preschoolers in this award-winning educational entertainment from HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate. I hope they watch it with their dog.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: OFF THE BAA!

An all-new series from the Oscar-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit. Forty short episodes now airing on the Disney Channel are on DVD for the first time, featuring the lovable, mischievous barnyard character in slapstick humor and classic silent comedy. For ages two and up, from Aardman Animations Ltd., HIT Entertainment, and Lionsgate.

HOW’D THEY BUILD THAT?

Preschoolers can learn how fire trucks and big trucks of all kinds are built, from factory frame stamping to assembly, engine installation, paint, final inspection, and going out onto the road. Kids go on a tour of the Seagrave Fire Apparatus plant in Clintonville, Wisconsin, the oldest continuously operating fire truck manufacturer in the U.S. A big truck tour is at the International Truck Assembly Plant in Springfield, Ohio which has been in operation for more than 100 years and has built more than five million trucks. Fun and educational, from Marvelous Media.

SNOW DAYS

Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam, and Pingu all show how to have fun in the snow in six festive episodes on a DVD called SNOW DAYS. It’s from HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate. More from them this month are: BOB THE BUILDER’S BIG COLLECTION, a three-DVD boxed set that includes a collectible scoop truck toy; THOMAS & FRIENDS WHISTLE EXPRESS COLLECTION, a three DVD set with a train whistle included; and PINGU’S SOUTH POLE ADVENTURES, a 40-minute DVD featuring the lovable penguin in eight adventures.

Oldies Coming to DVD

My master and I can hardly wait to see these classics coming this month to DVD.

QUO VADIS

The 1951 epic stars Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr in a Christians-vs.-Romans spectacular with an off-the-wall interpretation of Emperor Nero by Peter Ustinov. Thousands of extras filled the Roman coliseum in the wide-screen extravaganza, reportedly including Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren who couldn’t resist appearing in the coliseum crowd scenes, although without pay and uncredited. If the sight of humans being mauled and eaten by wild lions turns you off, be comforted in knowing that dummies were used in the film. And no dogs were cast, even in supporting roles.

MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS

The complete series of manic antics by the funniest comedy ensemble ever has been digitally restored and remastered for a new collector’s edition from A&E Entertainment. I just howl at their antics. They didn’t even need a laugh track. Why do they put laugh tracks in television shows, anyway? Do dogs need a bark track to tell us when to bark? If it's worth barking at, we just bark.

CHRONOLOGICAL DONALD, VOL. 4

The final volume of Donald Duck animated shorts includes every entry shown in movie theaters from 1951 to 1961. The DVD set is in a tin box from Disney and Buena Vista. Donald is my favorite Disney cartoon character because he reminds me of how frustrated my master gets at times, looking like he’s going to pieces yelling and flailing his arms when something goes wrong. You can believe I stay away from him when he does his Donald Duck impersonation. Everything I learned about self-control I learned from Donald.

Bones to Pick

Harrison Ford sneers in his movies, Mel Gibson pops his eyes, and Renee Zellwegger pouts. I can’t think of any actor today who doesn’t whisper or mumble their lines so you can’t hear them. Whatever happened to directors? If animal trainers can teach dogs not to bark, why can’t directors teach actors not to sneer, pop their eyes, pout, or mumble?

Maureen O’Hara asks about the mumbling in her recent autobiography, ‘Tis Herself. The stage-trained red-haired, green-eyed lass of THE QUIET MAN, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and other classic films really lets her flaming hair down in her “memoir.” It’s a wonderful read in which she chews on some really juicy bones about the great director John Ford and some of her leading men and an actress or two. But she discreetly does not name the leading man she saw in the arms of and being kissed by the great director. It isn’t hard to guess who he was. Far be it from me to “read and bark,” so I highly recommend you buy this book or get it from the library. Thank you, Maureen, for sharing your life and career with us. You loved most of both, and now so do we. Woof! Woof!

See you next month at the same fire hydrant.