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“COLD MOUNTAIN”

Like World War II, there never seems to be an end to the stories that can be and are told on film about our country’s tragic Civil War. This filming of the best-seller based on the author’s family history tells more about life off the battlefield than on, following the survival of a Southern belle in a small town besieged by self-styled vigilantes who are too cowardly to go to war. Jude Law is outstanding, as usual, as a young man who goes off to battle and has to leave his beloved behind to face untold hardships. Nicole Kidman is unfortunately wooden as the girl he left behind, but Renee Zellweger is a revelation as the roughshod girl who helps her while he’s away, and won the supporting Oscar for her performance. The battle scenes are pretty grim, but then, so was the war. From Buena Vista/Miramax.



“UNDER THE LIGHTHOUSE DANCING”
This is a tender love story about friends who gather for a weekend on a resort island off the Australian coast. It’s easy-going until we learn that one of the young women doesn’t have long to live. It has beautiful scenery and atmosphere and ensemble acting by a cast including Jack Thompson, Jacqueline McKenzie, and Naomi Watts. I really liked this one and recommend it highly. From BFS Video who brings us such good British, Canadian, and Aussie movies.





“DOCTOR FINLAY, SET 2”
The further adventures of a village doctor in Scotland after World War II, with David Rintoul and Ian Bannen reprising their outstanding performances in set 1. One critic called the popular Masterpiece Theater series “first-rate, splendid, absolutely fabulous,” and that’s not saying enough. Based on characters created by A.J. Cronin and in the tradition of “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” Spend a few hours with this series and you will feel they were well-spent. From BFS Video.




“SHARPE’S”
The Masterpiece Theater TV classic is a rip-roaring adventure treat on DVD. Who could ask for anything more?: stalwart Sean Bean as the fictional Brit soldier Sharpe in Napoleonic War adventures based on Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling novels. Series One holds four full-length movies:

“SHARPE’S RIFLES,” “SHARPE’S EAGLE,” “SHARPE’S COMPANY,” and “SHARPE’S ENEMY.” Six and a half hours of pure entertainment from BFS Video. I can’t wait to see the next four movies in the series.

“TIPTOES”
A surprise independent hit at the 2004 Sundance Festival, this film from writer-director Matthew Bright is about a pregnant young woman (Kate Beckinsale) and her marriage-shy lover (Matthew McConaughey) who says he has cold feet because dwarfism runs in his family. Yes, it’s a comedy, but also what critics call “a provocative and inventive drama that proves love comes in all sizes.” Off-beat and worth seeing, from Columbia-TriStar.

“SMILEY’S PEOPLE”
John Le Carre’s companion to “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” has Alec Guinness reprising his role as the British super spy, with Patrick Stewart as his Soviet counterpart in classic Cold War intrigue. “Marvelously riveting,” said the New York Times, and one critic said it was Guinness in the role he was meant to play. Digitally remastered and beautifully produced and acted, with support from Michael Gough, Eileen Atkins, Sian Phillips, Alan Rickman, Beryl Reid and other great Brit actors. From Acorn Media.



“CROSSROADS”
A romantic adventure with lots of blues music is packed into this surprise hit. Ralph Maccio plays a gifted young guitarist who meets up with a man who is a master of the blues harmonica. The story involves Maccio trying to break a contract he made with the devil. Off-beat and very good. From Columbia TriStar.



“WAITING LIST”
The feel-good movie on the month. A definitely different romantic comedy about some strangers who become friends at a rundown bus station in Cuba. “A gentle and appealing fable” said one critic. You’ll like this one very much. From Wellspring.

 

“MALICE IN WONDERLAND”
Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander play Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, the two Hollywood gossip column mavens who hated each other in this entertaining 1985 made-for-TV movie. This is fun stuff with lots of movie nostalgia. Bet you never knew how bitchy these two columnists were. From BFS Video.

“13 GOING ON 30”
Jennifer Garner stars winningly in this romantic comedy that zaps from 1987 to 2004 as a girl fast-forwards through her life from age 13 to 30 in one night. Mark Ruffalo co-stars. It’s definitely different, and some critics call it the best romantic comedy of the year and a terrific date movie. From Columbia-TriStar.

“GIDGET”
Maybe teenagers today will laugh and think they’re kinda dated, but the Gidget movies were very popular between 1961 and 1963 when Sandra Dee introduced the series and Deborah Walley kept it going. The girl-next-door romantic comedies with music take us back to a kinder, gentler time when the boy-next-door might be a handsome surfer called “Moondoggie,” as played in all three movies by James Darren. I howl at that. “GIDGET,” “GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN” and “GIDGET GOES TO ROME” are all good summer family viewing from Columbia Tri-Star, and they’re all three in one set.

"BEFORE I SAY GOODBYE"
Mary Higgins Clark’s thriller comes to DVD with Sean Young as the wife of an architect under investigation for alleged real estate fraud. When he and some business friends are killed in an explosion aboard his boat, Young tries to clear his name, but she becomes a target for death. Also “WE’LL MEET AGAIN,” another Clark romantic thriller, about a socialite paroled after six years in prison for being falsely accused of murdering her husband. Both from Ardustry.

THE THREE STOOGES IN COLOR!

You got to be kidding! The Stooges comedies were always in black and white. Until now. Columbia TriStar is introducing its new colorization process on DVD with two Stooges collections: “GOOFS ON THE LOOSE” and “STOOGED and CONFOOSED.” The idea is to introduce classic black and white films to younger generations of viewers by colorizing them. But forget what you thought of earlier attempts at coloring black and white movies. This new process gets it as close to color-right as possible. And, just for purists, the discs also contain the black and white versions of the comedies.

SUMMER VACATION
How about going to Greece for a living-room summer vacation? It’s easy as watching two new DVDs on Greece: “VISIONS OF GREECE” and “THE GREEK AMERICANS,” both of which were seen on Public Television. Learn about the history of Greece and how Greek immigrants came to America and made an impact on our culture, politics, and social life. Each disc is over two hours long, in color and stereo, from Acorn Media.

 

FOREIGN PICKS OF THE MONTH

Three French treats from the early 1980s are recommended DVD viewing: Francois Truffant’s “THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR,” a romantic drama with Gerard DePardieu and Fanny Ardant rekindling a previous love affair; and two classy classics from Eric Rohmer: “THE AVIATOR’S WIFE,” a romantic comedy about a young man’s affair with a slightly older woman; and “A SUMMER’S TALE,” another comedy in which a young man has to choose between three women at a seaside resort. All good summer viewing from Fox Lorber/Winstar.

From TV to DVD

You can have some good summer viewing with these television series now on DVD:

“MANCHILD”
The complete first season of this very popular British TV comedy series has been called “Sex and the City for Men.” It also is light-hearted and politically incorrect, about four men who try not to believe they may be past their prime in womanizing. One of my favorite Brit actors, Nigel Havers, stars. This is lots of fun, from BBC and Koch Vision.

“SOAP - THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON”
Further adventures of the Tates and Campbells in the spoof on soap operas. Billy Crystal, Katherine Helmond, Robert Guillaume and the gang romp through 22 episodes involving typical family hang-ups such as kidnapping, murder, prison escapes, blackmail, UFOs, and demonic possession. Just your typical American soap family fare. Lots of laughs from Columbia Tri-Star.

“THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW”
The complete first season of a more modern take on family life with stand-up comic Jeff, blue-collar and all, trying to juggle being a husband, father, and small business owner in these precarious times. Rednecks to the rescue in the canine days of summer! More laughs from Columbia Tri-Star.

“SIGNIFICANT OTHERS”
This TV series from the makers of “PARTY OF FIVE” follows three twentysomething best friends on their romantic travails living in Los Angeles. With one of my favorite young actors, Scott Bairstow (“POF” star), and Jennifer Garner and Eion Bailey. Six episodes from the series, from Columbia Tri-Star.

 

DOCUMENTARY PICKS OF THE MONTH

 

“GETTYSBURG: THREE DAYS OF DESTINY” is a dramatization of the infamous Civil War battles, filmed at the massive 140th annual reenactment event. Critics call it “a powerful depiction of a moment in American history” and “Masterful storytelling with emotional intensity in the tradition of the great Hollywood historical epics.” The battles of Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, Pickett’s Charge and others are vividly recreated. A very ambitious project well done from Ardusty.

“WORLD IN THE BALANCE” is a NOVA special exploring the consequences of civilization’s (and I add, George Bush’s) impact on planet Earth. What will Earth look like in 2050? It depends on many things including population, biodiversity, and the world’s food supply, not to mention a change in leadership thinking on environmental concerns. If it keeps going as it has, at least in forests, I won’t have anything to lift my leg on when I need to go potty. From WGBH Boston Video.

MUSIC ON DVD

 

“JONI MITCHELL - PAINTING WITH WORDS AND MUSIC” has the queen of folk/rock in a 98-minute concert featuring her hit songs including “Woodstock” and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” “JOE COCKER AND BAND” features 17 of the singer’s top hits at the Berlin concert including “You Are So Beautiful.” Both DVDs from Eagle Rock Entertainment.

PUPPY AND KID STUFF

 

“SOCCER DOG: EUROPEAN CUP”

I can do a few tricks, but nothing like the dog in this family comedy about a pooch who sets the international soccer world on its ear. Kids, soccer, and a soccer-playing dog. Sound like fun? It is. From Columbia TriStar.

“THE WORST WITCH”

Shades of Harry Potter, Diana Rigg plays a witch at a school for witches-in-training. Fairuza Balk is a student witch who runs away and has to put all her magical knowledge to play to get safely back. From BFS Video.

“SPACE TREKKERS”

Kid learn about the planets, moons, and other cosmic bodies that make up our solar system in this adventure for elementary school-aged children. From Thinkeroo.

“MOMMY AND ME”

Tim Conway and Caroline Rhea are the voices in this series of DVDs to help mothers spend some fun and educational time with their children through interactive play. “FUN AND FRIENDS,” “SPLISH SPLASH,” and “LULLABY & GOODNIGHT” are full of songs, games, and rhymes for kids 6 months to 5 years. From Madacy Entertainment.

BONES TO PICK

Okay, everyone, let’s each of us send $50 to Tom Cruise so the multi-millionaire who claims he got religion doesn’t have to sell pencils on the street or make another movie like “COLLATERAL.” The pretty boy prince of violence must have made this one for his kids: he plays a killer who holds a cab driver hostage to drive him around Los Angeles while he kills strangers with his own personal weapon of mass destruction. Just what we need today: more mindless violence in which Hollywood teaches impressionable young minds that human life is, after all, worthless. This canine pooper is right up there with Robert Redford’s and Kenneth Branagh’s “HOW TO KILL YOUR NEIGHBOR’S DOG.” I lift my leg on such trash. “COLLATERAL” is a disgusting movie from DreamWorks which appears to be selling out from its pledge of making worthwhile movies.

On the same subject of trash, I was offered review DVDs of four new animated movies from AnimEigo, but turned them down. Here’s the copy that went with the offer: “AnimEigo launches its new Metal Munching Manicas line with four Robotic Combat titles - Gourmet Damage, Robot Club & Grill MAYhem, Robot Assault, and 2003 Nationals. Each one full of damage, destruction, and no-holds-barred robotic death matches. Only the strong survive! The weak are buried in dumpsters.” No thanks. You won’t read reviews of these mindless movies here.

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