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“LOVE ACTUALLY”

Fall in love with romantic comedy all over again in this delightful, warm-as-toast, feel-good sweetheart of a movie. Seldom has a new film had such an audience-pleasing cast as this one, headed by Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Hugh Grant, in such a fun and loving movie. From Universal. See it with someone you love, even if you only watch it with your dog (or cat). (hehe) Some may be offended by the nudity and some other crude sex the director mistakenly thought was necessary but wasn't. I don't recommend it for teenagers, although they will probably think you're a prude.


“THE WOODEN MAN’S BRIDE”
This drama from China is one of the most unusual and fascinating movies in years. Director Jianxin Huang adapted a haunting folk tale set in rural China in the 1920s that tells of a beautiful young bride-to-be who is kidnapped on the way to her arranged marriage. To tell more would be criminal, because what follows is your good fortune to witness. Critics have said about it: “Hypnotic… epic… stunning… spectacularly cinematic.” I say, Be prepared to be astounded. From Koch Lorber.
Max’s rating: Two paws up, lots of “Woo Woo’s” and tail wags.


These others all get at least two paws up:


“ALI”
I prefer rassling to boxing, for a canine sport, but liked this new movie about the one-and-only Muhammad Ali (the name means “worthy praise.” Will Smith deserved his Oscar nomination for playing the heavyweight boxing legend in Michael Mann’s biopic. Ali’s life could fill several movies, so this one crams a lot into a little over two hours, from his rise as Cassius Clay, an Olympic champion, to adopting Islam and becoming the world’s heavyweight champion as Muhammad Ali, then becoming one of the world’s most beloved American ambassadors of goodwill. This director’s cut DVD includes never-before-seen footage, commentary by Mann, and a new documentary on the making of the movie. From Columbia Tri-Star.




“MONSIEUR IBRAHIM”
Omar Sharif plays an elderly widower who owns a grocery store in a poor part of Paris who befriends a lonely teenage boy. Together, they discover a transcendent father and son relationship. It’s a wonderful “feel good” movie for our troubled times. “A beautiful testament to the power of love,” says CNN’s Paul Clinton. “A wonderful story that celebrates what holds us together rather than what pulls us apart.” That could be the subject for a good Presidential speech (hehe). From Columbia Tri-Star.



“A SOLDIER’S TALE”
Igor Stravinsky’s music and R.O. Blechman’s whimsical art are a perfect match in this delightful, Emmy-winning animated telling of the 1918 Russian fable. The story of a soldier who makes a pact with the devil was a PBS Great Performances TV special in 1980, now beautifully restored in picture and sound from Koch Lorber.


“FOYLE’S WAR, SET 2”
The further adventures of enigmatic detective Christopher Foyle, as played flawlessly by one of my favorite British actors, Michael Kitchen. Set 2’s boxed set of four DVDs takes us to four new entries in the award-winning British television series in which Foyle solves unusual mysteries in the south coast of England during World War II. If you prefer your detective stories more on character and mystery than blood and car crashes, you’ll love this set. From Acorn Media.

“NICHOLAS NICKLEBY”
My master and I have seen several versions of Charles Dickens’ tale of a young man trying to make his way in the world despite an uncle who tries to keep him from his inheritance. This is by far the best. Not only does it re-create Victorian England magnificently, it has terrific performances by a perfect cast. James D’Arcy, a handsome fellow who never overplays his roles, breathes new life into Nicholas, and Charles Dance, who was so romantic in “The Jewel in the Crown,” plays about as mean an uncle as you could imagine. If you want to escape today’s problems, step back into another time and place in this wonderful escapist drama from Acorn Media. It could only have been better if there had been a dog in it. (hehe again.)


“THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS”
This Cannes Film Festival grand prize winner from Italian director Ermanno Olmi is the very moving story of a family struggling to survive under oppressive rule. No, it isn’t set in the United States in 2004, it’s Italy in the early 1900s, following a father who tries to find wood to make his son a new pair of clogs. But you know what they say about “if the shoe fits.” (hehe again, again.) Andrew Sarris of The Village Voice said, “To see it, is to be stirred to the depths of one’s soul… a cinematic miracle.”
From Koch Lorber.

“VACUUMING COMPLETELY NUDE IN PARADISE”
No, it isn’t about Jennifer Lopez’s home life, it’s a very funny British comedy from Danny Boyle who gave us “Trainspotting.” Timothy Spall, whom you’ll instantly recognize from many fine supporting performances in British comedies and dramas, comes into his own as an off-the-wall vacuum salesman who will go to almost any length to get a customer’s signature on a contract. Michael Begley also is hilarious as his apprentice who can’t fully enjoy his stripper girlfriend until he sells his first vacuum cleaner. A BBC comedy from Koch Vision.

“50 FIRST DATES”
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were fun together in “The Wedding Singer,” and are again in this romp about a bachelor marine biologist who falls in love at first sight with his idea of the perfect woman. But the next day, he can’t remember he ever met her. Imagine trying to find new ways every day to get the same girl to fall in love with you all over again. “A romantic comedy with lots of heart,” said one critic. From Columbia Tri-Star.

“THE MAN FROM COLORADO”
In this off-beat drama from 1948, director Henry Levin was one of the first to portray the “psychological western.” No singing cowboys or school marms in this one. Glenn Ford, usually a movie hero, plays a Union colonel who returns from the Civil War with mental scars and an itchy trigger finger. He becomes a federal judge who abuses his power, to the chagrin of his best friend, played by William Holden. It isn’t great, but it’s very good, and any time you can see Glenn Ford and William Holden in the same picture and looking so young, go for it. From Columbia Tri-Star.

"THE LEGEND OF LEIGH BOWERY"
Leigh Bowery may not be on your most famous list, but he is well-known in music and fashion designing. Australian-born, he spent most of his adult life in London as a musician with the rock group Minty, as an actor, and most notably as a clothing and costume designer in the 1980s. He also designed stage costumes and danced as part of the Michael Clark dance company. Flamboyant Bowery is the subject of the Broadway musical "Taboo" starring Boy George and produced by Rosie O'Donnell. Bowery died of AIDS in 1994, but remains an inspiration to many artists. The documentary is from Palm Pictures.

SUPER SHARP
If you haven’t yet seen a DVD movie in Columbia Tri-Star’s super sharp “Superbit” format, take a look at the new special edition of  “BLACK HAWK DOWN.” The war action has never been more exciting in Superbit, which the Wall Street Journal said is “Sensational.” And for the girls, Josh Harnett and Ewan McGregor never looked better. (hehe)

“DAS BOOT” and “SPIDER-MAN” are back out on DVD in special editions. The acclaimed World War 2 German submarine drama is the director’s original uncut version in a 2-disc set.  “SPIDER-MAN” is a deluxe edition 3-DVD set of one of the top-grossing films of all time. It also includes a free movie ticket to see the sequel, “SPIDER-MAN 2.”

 

Best Documentary of July

After you've seen Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which just became the highest-grossing documentary of all time, taking in $21.8 million in its first weekend of release, see the DVD of "AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: VIETNAM."  The 11-hour DVD collection analyzes the costs and consequences of the controversial war. “Meticulously researched and carefully balanced,” said the New York Times. “It brings the war to life,” said Newsweek. “An extraordinary film record,” said the Wall Street Journal. Is Iraq another Vietnam? Judge for yourself after seeing this outstanding documentary on DVD from WGBH Boston Video.

From TV to DVD

Reprising popular television series on DVD has found a very strong niche audience. New this month are these, all from Columbia Tri-Star:

“WHO’S THE BOSS?”
The complete first season of the eight, from 1984-1992, the family sit-com has Tony Danza and Judith Light as a couple who compete for who’s head of the household.

“JUST SHOOT ME!”
The first and second seasons of the popular comedy series that ran for seven seasons, about the goings-on at a New York fashion magazine. David Spade, George Segal, Wendie Malick, and Laura San Giacomo are fun to watch in these 31 episodes.

“TOUR OF DUTY”
The first season of the first television series about the Vietnam War. The 5-disc boxed set contains all 21 original episodes following a platoon of GIs through their one-year tour of combat duty in the late 1960s. A pre-“Band of Brothers” saga that was highly acclaimed and Emmy Award-nominated. With Terence Knox, Stephan Caffrey, and Miguel Nunez Jr. in lead roles.

For Puppies and Kid Stuff

 

“THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: BEARS GET A BABYSITTER”
The cuddly, fuzzy bears created by Stan and Jan Berenstain teach kids not to be afraid when they’re left in the care of a babysitter, and other helpful lessons for kids aged 2 to 5.

 

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