Max's Best DVD Picks

This terrific new James Bond film set among terrorists in the famous European gambling casino, is one of the best of the long series, or even the best. Daniel Craig is just right as OO7 -- suave, smart, dangerous, and sexy. Even he likes how he looks in a tux. Director Martin Campbell (GOLDENEYE) keeps the pace brisk and characters believable. The opening action scene is breathtaking. Judi Dench is wonderful as Bond’s superior at M16, the British Secret Service, and Eva Green is Bond’s beautiful leading lady. Bonus features include a feature on how Craig got the role, an inside look at the action and stunts, and a retrospective on Bond’s past leading ladies. Probably the action hit of the year, from Sony Pictures.

NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Judi Dench was nominated for the best actress Oscar and Cate Blanchett for supporting actress in this “spellbinding” and “explosive” drama. They play high school teachers who at first seem to be kindred spirits, until Dench suspects that Blanchett is having an affair with one of the students. “A wicked delight,” said Newsweek’s David Ansen. “You’ll hang on every twist and turn.” Seldom do you see two actresses at the top of their skills play as excitingly against each other. From 20th Century-Fox.

STRANGER THAN FICTION

This quirky romantic comedy stars Will Farrell as a lonely and bored IRS auditor who hears voices that seem to be narrating his life. Emma Thompson is the voice, playing an author who is writing a novel in which she plans to kill him off. Confusing, yes; entertaining, yes. Emma is always a delight to watch, but I wish she would get better parts. Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gyllenhaal costar. From Sony Pictures.

It’s advertised as the final chapter of the boxing series that seems endless, but since Sylvester Stallone can’t seem to find anything else to do but play the heroic street fighter and has made a lot of money out of him, I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s almost a blow-by-blow remake of the first film from 1976, although Rocky is now older and reportedly wiser and decides to step into the ring again. Rocky is 60 now, so who knows if he can come out still a champ? From Sony Pictures.

The Soviets send two spies to England in 1965 but haven’t heard from them in 25 years. They send a beautiful and ambitious Russian agent to find the “sleeper” agents, but they don’t want to be found. They like their secret life in the West. Nigel Havers and Warren Clarke star as the sleepers in this delightful BBC spy caper first seen on PBS Masterpiece Theatre. It’s an often hilarious send-up of the international secret agent game, a 2-DVD boxed set from Acorn Media.

Jeremy Brett (Sherlock Holmes) stars in Ford Madox Ford’s novel which first aired on Masterpiece Theatre in the early 1980s. Two upper-class couples, one British, one American, meet annually at a German spa to renew a long-standing friendship. Trouble is, the friendships start to unravel. Robin Ellis (Poldark) and Susan Fleetwood co-star. “Superb, gorgeous,” says the NY Times. Excellent drama from Acorn Media.

MILE HIGH

BBC Television’s fast and sexy series about eight young flight attendants both on and off the job. If you like(d) FOOTBALLERS WIVES and/or THE OFFICE, you will probably like this entertaining series. The complete series one is in a 4-DVD boxed set from Koch Vision.

The classic mystery, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which became an unlikely hit Broadway musical, is now back as heavy drama in a new BBC drama. Ray Winstone stars in this thriller set in 18th Century London, from Acorn Media. Not for the feint-hearted.

Set Eight of the popular BBC Television mystery series with John Nettles as likable cop Tom Barnaby solving grisly crimes in villages inhabited by eccentric characters. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, this 2-DVD boxed set holds three mysteries each 100 minutes long, from Acorn Media.

Series 2 of the BBC Television hit in which two young ladies investigate six new cases. Caroline Catz and Lisa Faulkner star as the bickering, bantering crime-solvers in upscale suburban London. Six intriguing new mysteries in a 2-DVD boxed set from Acorn Media.

Helen Baxendale stars in the true story of a police sergeant investigating crimes for the Royal Military Police in this 1997 British television drama. Off-beat and entertaining, from Acorn Media.

The ancient Myan civilization comes to life again in this NOVA documentary about the reign of notorious King Yax K’uk Mo. A team of archaeologists and historians explore the lush Honduran rain forest to uncover the rise and fall of Copan civilization. From WGBH Boston Video.

Natural disasters and record high winter temperatures worldwide may be temporary glitches in our global climate or the result of global warming. NOVA and Frontline scientists join forces to determine “What’s Up with the Weather?” in this documentary from WGBH Boston Video.

Yoga teacher Shiva Rea takes viewers on an “evolutionary approach to flow yoga” in this new exercise DVD from Acacia.
You can choose from over three hours of yoga in 20-minute segments to suit your time and energy level.

E.B. Whites’ beloved barnyard classic in a delightful new animated rendering the whole family will enjoy. The voices are from an all-star cast: Julia Roberts as Charlotte, Robert Redford as Ike, Oprah Winfrey as Gussy, Kathy Bates as Bitsy, and others. The DVD’s special features include a music video by Sarah McLachlan, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more. From Walden Media.

A delightful, heart-warming adventure of a boy and a dog.
Who could ask for anything more? A performing dog escapes from his mean master in Victorian England and becomes the mascot at a small rural railway station and the favorite of children at the local orphanage. Thomas Sangster, one of the adorable children in NANNY McPHEE, plays one of the orphans in this lively, exciting adventure. From BFS Entertainment.

Movie writer Steve Knopper recently penned a feature for The Chicago Tribune naming the top 10 movies in which telephones played an important part in the plot. Sure, “Dial M for Murder” and “Pillow Talk” were obvious choices. But he failed to include “Sorry, Wrong Number” with bedridden Barbara Stanwyck frantically hearing a killer call her, and “The Great Ziegfeld” with its Oscar-winning telephone scene with Luise Rainer. I think they rank ahead of others Knopper selected, including “United 93,” “The Departed,” and “Superman.” That just had a phone booth where Clark Kent turned into the Caped Crusader.

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

		April 2007

	by Max (with Walt Oleksy)	view previous issues here