September 2008
	by Max (with Walt Oleksy)	view previous issues here

History, politics, crime-fighting, humor, and ballet make for good late summer DVD viewing this month
It may all remind you of the current Presidential electioneering, except for the ballet. Bow wow and woo woo woo!

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Twenty-Four Eyes

This new movie from Japan is an elegant, emotional chronicle of a teacher's unwavering commitment to her students, her profession, and her sense of morality. Set in a remote rural island community and spanning Japanese history from 1928 through World War II and beyond, Keisuke Kinoshita's film takes both a sober and sentimental look at the epic themes of aging, war, and death, all from the lovingly intimate perspective of Hisako Oshi (Hideko Takamine), as she watches her pupils grow and deal with life's harsh realities. Though little known in the United States, the movie is one of Japan's most popular and enduring classics. From Criterion.

Edward the King

Edward, son of Queen Victoria of England, had to wait nearly 60 years to wear the crown, because she thought he was too frivolous and untrustworthy to succeed her. She was wrong. He proved to be a skillful diplomat king as Edward VII. The 13-part British television series which won best drama and actress awards when it aired in England in 1975 is now on DVD in a 4-disc boxed set from Acorn Media. Timothy West stars as Edward and Annette Crosbie as his long-reigning monarch mother. The series also won awards for its richly detailed sets and costumes. The stars and others also provide interesting background information in commentaries. Supporting players include some of Britain’s best: Robert Hardy, Francesca Annis, Charles Dance, Felicity Kendal, and the incredible Sir John Gielgud.

Midsomer Murders Set Eleven

One of the most popular British television crime series adds four new feature-length dramas to entertain and baffle. Set in the cozy villages of Midsomer County are often sinister secrets. Aching to uncover them are Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (played by John Nettles) and his young but efficient protégé, Detective Constable Ben Jones (played by Jason Hughes). Guest stars on the 4 DVD-set of mysteries include George Baker, Sian Phillips, Elizabeth Spriggs, and Simon Callow. “The House in the Woods” is in supposedly haunted Winyard where a young couple dies a grisly death. A former Old Apple Festival queen is found drowned in “Dead Letters,” but was her death suicide? An oft-married baronet dies unexpectedly at a family gathering in “Vixen’s Run,” leaving an estate worth killing for. And the shotgun murder of an accountant leads Barnaby and Jones on a trail of blackmail in “Down Among the Dead Men.” Some good late-summer chills in this new set of Midsomer Murders from Acorn Media.

The Jury

A mild-mannered teenage Indian boy is accused in a brutal London murder. It looks bad for him, but the victim’s family sets out to make it even worse by attempting to influence the jury to convict him. Derek Jacobi, Gerald Butler, and Anthony Sher star. Now on DVD from BFS Entertainment, the original six-part television series was the first show ever allowed to be filmed in London’s famous Old Bailey Courthouse. “Absorbing, melancholy, intelligent, and excellently performed,” said the L.A. Daily News.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

A charming comedy that won’t tax the mind on a hot day.
Academy Award nominee Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Academy Award winner Frances McDormand star in this light romance about finding a new life and a new love, all in one day. Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) becomes the new "social secretary" to glamorous singer and actress Delysia Lafosse Adams), although she knows nothing about the job. But it’s nice work and she’s got it. From Universal Studios.

Mister Roberts

The very funny Tony Award winning stage play and movie that starred Henry Fonda a few decades ago later became a live television production that is now available on DVD from Acorn Media. Robert Hays of “Airplane” hilarity stars as Navy Lt. Doug Roberts who is at war in 1945 with his ship’s tyrannical and very oddball captain, played by Charles Durning. Kevin Bacon plays Ensign Pulver who provides most of the laughs. The TV movie followed the original Broadway script and was supervised by Joshua Logan who co-wrote and directed the stage play. It’s great fun based on Thomas Heggen’s best-selling book.

Trial and Retribution

A very popular British television crime drama series from 1997 to 2000, new to American audiences, from the imagination of Lynda LaPlante, creator of the Prime Suspect series. David Hayman plays an intense, hot-tempered chief investigator and Kate Buffery his cool, competent second in command. Each of four feature-length episodes follows a single case from the police investigation to the final, often surprising courtroom verdict. Lovers of both sleuthing techniques and trial drama will welcome this new series to their DVD viewing. Guest stars include James Wilby, Ian Glen, Simon Callow, and Richard E. Grant. Included in extras in the 4-DVD boxed set are interviews with and a biography of Ms. LaPlante. From Acorn Media.

First Among Equals

Sex, power, money. Now that I have your attention, they’re all part of the 20-year careers of four British politicians who aspire to become Prime Minister. The drama takes us from their first day in Parliament to all sorts of political intrigue both in and outside the halls of government. Tom Wilkinson, David Robb, James Faulkner, and Jeremy Child star as the four MPs, with guest stars Joanna David, Diana Hardcastle, Anita Carey, and Clive Swift. If you think nasty things go on in our halls of Congress, take a peek inside Parliament, as conceived by best-selling author Jeffrey Archer. From Acorn Media.

The Red Green Show, 2000 Season

Red and his pals from Possum Lodge in the Canadian back woods are at their craziest in the 19 episodes from their 10th season of very funny television that ran for 15 years. Creator and star Steve Smith plays the handyman who offers off-kilter advise while conceiving preposterous inventions. The adventures include assembling an army jeep from a kit, trying to trap a wild animal, and living with the tragedy of running out of duct tape. The boxed set of 3 DVDs is great late summer fun from Acorn Media.

Ballet Shoes

Oh, yes, we promised ballet this month. It’s a British movie from a very popular book by Heidi Thomas, following the adventures of three adopted girls who encounter many obstacles on their way to growing up. One of the stars, Victoria Woods, says she loved the book so much when she read it as a girl that she slept with a copy beneath her pillow. It’s excellent pre-teen and teen girl viewing, head and shoulders above most other coming-of-age movies for girls that come out of Hollywood. From Koch Vision. Highly recommended.

Flying the Secret Sky

The exciting true story of American civilian pilots who came to the aid of the British Royal Air Force during the Nazi air strikes of 1940 that were intended to wipe Britain off the map. Surviving pilots tell about the GI “Cowboys of the Air” who flew the dangerous North Atlantic in primitive, unarmed aircraft to bring crucial supplies to the RAF. One pilot even ferried Winston Churchill across the ocean in an appeal for US help before America got into World War II. Excellent history from VanDerKloot Film and Television and WGBH Boston Video.

Storm Over Everest

Each year some really adventuresome people climb mountains, and among them are those who choose to climb Mount Everest in Nepal. This documentary tells of a blizzard that caught three climbing teams on the slopes in 1996. World-renowned climber and filmmaker David Breashears, who aided in their rescue, returns to Everest to tell the fuller story of what happened on that legendary climb, the worst climbing tragedy in Mount Everest’s history. It was shown on Public Television’s Frontline, and the DVD is from WGBH Boston Video.

Mystic Iran, The Unseen World

Filmmaker Aryana Farshad took her camera on a spiritual journey deep into the heart of her native country to capture on film rites and rituals hidden from Westerners for centuries. “Eye-opening… an enlightening portrait” says other reviewers and I agree. This is essential viewing about a country that is in the news every day. The DVD is from Questar Entertainment.

Jack Canfield’s The Secret Law of Attraction

Success advice from a man who has been coaching corporate leaders and others for 30 years on how to achieve personal and professional goals. Canfield also is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. From WGBH Boston Video.

Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre

One of the best visualizations of classic fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and others ever to be seen on television is now available in a giant-sized boxed set. All 26 fairy tales come to life on seven DVDs. Also in the box are a handsome 112-page storybook describing each fairy tale and a deck of cards game. Stars of the tales include Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, James Earl Jones, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Liza Minnelli, Eric Idle, and Shelley herself. This is one of the very best adaptations of classic fairy tales that are sure to enchant children. They’re all here… Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Rip Van Winkle, Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, and The Emperor’s New Clothes (like the ones George Bush wears). A genuine treasure from Koch Vision.

Animalia

The popular preteen books by Graeme Base come to life in this animated adventure for children 6 to 9 as Zoe and Alex, both 11 years old, are swept through a magical portal into the fantasy world called Animalia. Their adventures with a wide variety of animals will delight and educate young viewers. From Burberry Productions and Doublebase.

Where the Wild Things Are

The classic picture book that won a Caldecott Medal and five more stories by Maurice Sendak are on one DVD that will delight and playfully scare kids. And I don’t like the title story just because the boy and I share the same name. A wild rumpus show from Scholastic Storybook Treeasures.

Garfield’s Fun Fest

New antics of Garfield in his new full-length computer animated feature film. Written by Garfield creator Jim Davis, for ages 6 to 12, a DVD box also contains a comic booklet and DVD-ROM games. From 20th Century Fox Entertainment.

Bob the Builder On Site

Bob and his Can-Do crew tackle new construction projects that involve not only big machines but positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and what every golfer tries to do: follow-through. From Lionsgate.

Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon’s Tale

The first five episodes of the popular animated television program about a 12-year-old girl who rescues a prince in distress. Dragons, knights, jousting and other goings-on are in this very entertaining DVD from Shout Factory.

Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

These and other questions kids ask are answered in this Billy Blue Hair and Me animated adventure for ages 3 and up. The boy with blue hair journeys around the world and introduces kids to giraffes, apes, monkeys, zebras, lions and other animals. Entertaining and educational fun from Kayo Media.

Dinosaur King: The Adventure Begins

An animated fantasy adventure of three young dinosaur enthusiasts who enter a world of danger and dinosaurs. The DVD comes from the popular television series and Shout Factory.

Good grief! Have you ever seen such a dismal line-up of new movies and television series for fall? It must all be aimed at imbeciles. More violence, cop shows, crude sex shows, reality stupidity, and bathroom humor for four-year-olds. And the creators and stars get millions of dollars for this mindless doo-doo. One actor is going to get a quarter of a million dollars for each television episode of a series I don’t watch because it is so dumb. I lift my hind leg on it all. Thank heaven my master has a large collection of classic movies on DVD and watches Turner Classic Movies!