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Volume III, Issue 2 |
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| Video Flash |
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Monthly selections of materials for children, nonfiction, new release blockbusters and anime are collected here to help you find what you need as quickly as possible.
Kid’s Picks Highlights
Heads Up!
Upcoming Anime Highlights
Nonfiction Picks Highlights
New! Classic Features on DVD
| Kid's PICKS Highlights |
The original “Hey, hey, hey!”
Bill Cosby’s Saturday morning cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, never short on messages or moral, followed Fat Albert and the gang in and out of adventures from 1972 to 1984. Now those adventures are coming to DVD. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids: The Original Animated Series Vol. 01 includes the first 12 episodes from 1972-1973 plus an exclusive audio CD of original music performed by Fat Albert, Weird Harold, Rudy, Mushmouth, Dumb Donald and the rest of the crew as they sing, laugh and rejoice their way into history.
Into Africa
Elspeth Huxley’s memoirs of her adventures in the wilderness of East Africa shine in the British production of The Flame Trees of Thik. When Elspeth’s parents leave Edwardian England to pursue their dream of a thriving coffee plantation in Kenya, their struggles challenge their dreams and leave an indelible memory on their 11-year-old daughter.
Idol idyll
Here’s your chance to know the girl behind the image. Kelly Clarkson, America’s first “American Idol” and one of the hottest pop stars on the planet is featured in Kelly Clarkson: Behind Hazel Eyes with never-before–seen footage, 6 music tracks, the making of the Breakaway music video and bloopers.
School was different then
Thomas Hughes’ classic novel of courage and friendship is faithfully adapted for television in this 1971 Emmy Award-winning version produced by the BBC for Masterpiece Theatre. Tom Brown is a lovable, principled boy whose ideals earn him the contempt of the school bully and the support of Rugby School's prestigious headmaster. Based on Thomas Hughes experiences at England’s prestigious Rugby School in the 1830s, Tom Brown’s School Days will appeal to the whole family.
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| Heads Up! |
Finding Neverland (2004) (PG-13)
This title will also be included in We Recommend…(March 2005/Level 1). Well-known playwright James M. Barrie finds his career at a crossroads when his latest play flops and doubters question his future. Then by chance he meets a widow and her four adventurous boys. Together they form a friendship that ignites the imagination needed to produce Barrie's greatest work. Rated PG-13 (mild thematic elements and brief language). ****--Premiere, ****-- New York Post, *** _--Seattle Post-Intelligencer, *** _--Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, *** _--Chicago Tribune. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards and 5 Golden Globes.
The Incredibles (2004) (PG)
This title will also be included in We Recommend…(March 2005/Level 1). Mildly put, The Incredibles is the action-packed animated adventure about the mundane and incredible lives of a house full of superheroes. The critics love it, the Academy loves it, and with good reason. Rated PG (action violence). Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Screenplay. ****--Hollywood Reporter, ****--New York Magazine, ****--Variety, ****--Entertainment Weekly, ****--LA Weekly.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (PG)
This title will also be included in We Recommend…(March 2005/Level 1). There's trouble brewing in Bikini Bottom. Someone has stolen King Neptune's crown, and it looks like Mr. Krab, SpongeBob's boss, is the culprit. Though he's just been passed over for the promotion of his dreams, SpongeBob stands by his boss, and along with his best pal Patrick, sets out on a treacherous mission to Shell City to reclaim the crown and save Mr. Krab's life. Rated PG (some mild crude humor). ****-- Christian Science Monitor, *** _--Hollywood Reporter, ***--New York Times, ***--LA Weekly, ***--Los Angeles Times
Virginia’s Run (2004) (PG)
When 13-year-old Virginia’s mother dies in a riding accident, her father sells the horse and vows never to let his two daughters ride. Defying him, Virginia nurses the horse’s new colt, Stormy, and secretly trains with him at night. But when Stormy is sold, Virginia’s sister and a sympathetic trainer must help convince her father that a girl needs free rein to grow. Rated PG (reckless behavior and language).
Available on DVD for the first time:
After School Specials
After School Specials is releasing the next two-disc sets in the series spanning the years 1978-1980. Set 3 (1978-1979) contains It’s a Mile From Here to Glory; Thank You, Jackie Robinsonl; My Other Mother and Gaucho. Set 4 (1979-1980) contains A Special Gift, What Are Friends For?, The Gold Test and Schoolboy Father. Look for Set 5 and Set 6 in the near future.
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Smart in their bell-bottoms and feathered 70s hair, Shaun Cassidy, Parker Stevenson and Pamela Sue Martin portray
Joe & Frank Hardy and Nancy Drew respectively with a squeaky cleanness typical of TV kids 30 years ago. Based on the immensely popular books, the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries follows the multitalented super sleuths who can both investigate spooky mysteries as well as carry such tunes as “That's Rock and Roll” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.” Features all 14 Season One episodes including the pilots.
Mother Goose Stories
Jim Henson parodies some of the world’s best-known nursery rhymes in story form in this charming Emmy-Award winning anthology, with live-action puppetry produced for television in the late 1980s. Mother Goose Stories gives a humorous twist to rhymes which include Humpty Dumpty; Mother Hubbard; Little Boy Blue; It’s Raining, It’s Pouring; Dicky Birds and Little Girl with a Curl. And a second volume includes Jack & Jill, Pat-a-Cake, Old King Cole, Miss Muffet, Pussy Cat Pussy Cat and Man in the Moon. Each volume also includes two bonus episodes.
The Wind in the Willows
Releasing on the heels of the award-winning, original feature-length film, Kenneth Grahame’s classic adventures of Toad and company continue with The Wind in the Willows: The Complete First Season, the first of five seasons featuring the further adventures of the fun-loving foursome based on the classic novel.
A Separate Peace
Based on John Knowles' best-selling novel, A Separate Peace (1972) is the involving story of a young man's first glimpse of adult emotions and motivations. Gene and Finny are roommates at prep school at the beginning of World War II. Jealous of Finny's popularity, Gene betrays his roommate and is responsible for a crippling accident in a moment of anger and treachery. The repercussions of his act bring Gene face to face with his inner nature and its symbolic parallel to men at war.
Thunderhead, Son of Flicka
Mary O'Hara's second novel in the Flicka trilogy stars a teenage Roddy McDowell in the role of Ken McLaughlin. Flicka has foaled a scraggly colt Ken names Thunderhead. As he grows he becomes an excellent racer and embarks on an adventure in Thunderhead: Son of Flicka.
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| Upcoming Anime Highlights |
Cromartie High School Vol. 01: Cromartion Rhapsody
Mild mannered student Takashi Koyaman finds himself enrolled at Cromartie High, where everybody is a delinquent. Therefore he must be the toughest in his class--by the rather twisted logic that only a really tough rabbit would lie down with lions. Thus begins a story that parodies every cliche of tough-guy anime that you've ever heard of and some you haven't! Suitable for ages 14+.
New Getter Robo Vol. 01: Rude Awakenings
Huge monsters stalk the earth. Resembling the ancient legends of Oni, the monsters begin attacking the laboratory where Professor Saotome is developing the Getter Robo, a robot so powerful it overwhelms ordinary pilots. Saotome then locates three of the most dangerous men on the planet to draft as pilots: Ryoma the Fighter, Hayato the Berzerker and Benkei the Giant. Suitable for ages 16+.
Noir Vol. 01: Shades of Darkness (High Definition)(Boxed Set 2)
DVD 1 is presented in Windows Media High-Definition Video--up to 6 times the quality found on standard DVD video. This disc is playable on computers with DVD-Rom drives, Windows Media Player 9 or 10, and WMV HD compatible DVD players. DVD 2 features a brand new English DTS 5.1 and Dolby 5.1 audio mix in standard definition video.
The beautiful and renowned assassin Mireille Bouquet receives a mysterious e-mail beckoning her to "make a pilgrimage to the past, with me." Intrigued by the cryptic message, and the hauntingly familiar music box melody attached to it, Mireille travels to Japan to meet the source of the email, Kirika Yuumura. A quiet young girl, Kirika is also well versed in the killing arts, but she struggles to come to terms with her own mortality through a past clouded by amnesia. In an effort to uncover Kirika's memories, as well as her mysterious links to Mireille’s own troubled past, these two young women form an uneasy alliance as the assassin duo known as 'Noir'. Suitable for ages 14+.
Pokémon Master Quest II Collector’s Boxed Set
Join the Pokémon Master Quest with Ash, Brock and Misty on their journey. Quest II begins with the Whirl Islands then travels on through Blackthorn City. Suitable for all ages.
Tree of Palme
From Takashi Nakamura (Akira) comes this visually compelling, existential retelling of the classic story of Pinocchio. In a remote corner of the planet Arcana, Palme--a sentient android crafted from a mystical wood that is said to absorb the memories of the civilizations it roots in--is awakened by Koram, a wounded warrior from the Sol tribe. Entrusting him with the mystical “Egg of the Roof,” she implores Palme to take it to the legendary realm of Tamas. Galvanized with purpose for his existence, he accepts Koram's quest to deliver the relic to its source: the center of the planet, which is threatened by a malevolent and destructive force. Suitable for ages 14+.
Anxious for more Anime? Check out “Lists to the Side” on the homepage of ipage®.
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| Nonfiction Picks Highlights |
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State (2005)
Timed to release shortly after the PBS television premiere, this BBC documentary will be the definitive television history of Auschwitz and the Nazi State. The six-part series tells the story of the Auschwitz Death Camp, site of the largest mass murder in the history of the world. Writer Laurence Rees and his team interviewed over 100 eyewitnesses, including former Nazi perpetrators who speak on the record for the first time. A series of six follow-up discussions with historians and scholars is included on the DVD.
Frazetta: Painting with Fire
Fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta is the subject of this informative documentary. Spanning a career of over half a century, Frazetta is best known as the artist behind Conan the Barbarian. His detailed and intricate art is unmatched in his field and is highly praised by some of the most respected names in fantasy and sequential art.
Overhaulin’: The Complete First Season
This is Pimp My Ride for grownups. The 15-man crew has one week to completely overhaul some great cars--from a 1950 Ford Coupe to a 1971 Chevelle--without the owner’s knowledge. When you consider the condition of the original car, this becomes quite a feat. Best of all, the result is so much better than when the original was new.
The Overnight Music Series
Perfect for all ages, these uniquely designed videos are the perfect way to learn to play instruments overnight. In Play Guitar Overnight, instructor Steve Ross teaches basic guitar in Volume I and rock guitar in Volume II. And in Play the Piano Overnight, instructor Patty Carlson teaches the white keys in Volume I, and the black Keys in Volumes II. Available in VHS and DVD with a practice audio CD included. Also available: Play the Harmonica Overnight.
The Poetry Lounge (2004)
Learn the fundamentals of writing and performing spoken word poetry from some of the most accomplished poets of the current movement. The DVD includes a lesson plan and guidebook for curriculum-based study.
Sacred Planet (2004)
Narrated by Robert Redford, and premiering on Earth Day, this Walt Disney/IMAX production is a journey around the world to some of the most exotic and beautiful places that still exist delivering the message that we are responsible for the condition of the planet. An ideal program for the classroom.
Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre (2005)
Produced by the National Gallery of Art to promote the exhibition of Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, this film traces the relationship between the aristocratic painter and the avant-garde culture of Montmartre, using works of art by Lautrec and his colleagues, rare archival footage and sound recordings, period photographs, and interviews with contemporary scholars.
The Yes Men
The Yes Men is a comic, biting and revelatory documentary which follows a small group of prankster-activists as they gain worldwide notoriety for impersonating the World Trade Organization on television and at business conferences around the world. ****--Christian Science Monitor, *** _--Chicago Tribune, ***--Entertainment Weekly, ***--LA Weekly, ***--Slate.
Available on DVD for the first time:
Jane Fonda (1991-1993)
Jane Fonda, the first to widely promote exercise routines in a video format, introduces three value-added DVDs that combine two or more VHS programs into one low priced DVD. Fun House Fitness for Kids contains Swamp Stomp for kids 3-7 and Fun House Funk for kids 7+. Jane Fonda's Personal Trainers Series includes Abs, Buns, Thighs, Low Impact Aerobics & Stretch, and Total Body Sculpting. And lastly, Jane Fonda’s Complete Workout and Stress Reduction are combined. What took her so long?
Lenny Bruce: Without Tears (1972)
Originally released on VHS in 1992, Fred Baker’s straightforward film about his friend, Lenny Bruce, is an honest account of a man who was ahead of his time and who paid a high price for his fame.
A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America (1998)
Originally released on VHS as a PBS Home Video title, this is the fascinating story of America's fight against polio. Grass roots organizations, and a purpose shared by millions of Americans determined to protect their young, was the driving force behind the movement to eradicate the disease. The DVD features a history of polio timeline, three short documentaries on epidemic disease and biographies.
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| New! Classic Features on DVD |
DVD releases of classic titles are coming fast and furious as DVD becomes the preferred format for today’s viewers. This new addition to the newsletter will highlight notable features new to DVD, or “super” Special Edition releases available previously on DVD that belong in a core collection. Several of these titles will be included in We Recommend… Level 3 and will be noted with (WR).
Apollo 13
Universal is releasing an Anniversary Edition of Apollo 13 in a 2-disc Boxed Set. Unique to this release is the all-new version that released in IMAX theatres and the featurettes Conquering Space and Beyond and Lucky 13: The Astronaut’s Story. ****--James Berardinelli’s ReelViews, ****--Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, ****--The New York Times, ****--Time, ****--USA Today, ****--San Francisco Examiner, ****--Chicago Tribune.
Epic Fritz Lang
Kino released The Fritz Lang Epic Collection with two new-to-DVD titles included. Spies (1928) is the restored authorized edition running 143 minutes in length. Woman on the Moon (1929) at 169 minutes is the longest running version ever released in the US. The 5-hour epic Die Nibelungen (1924) and the classic Metropolis (1927) round out the collection. Order the set for the best price.
Classic Comedies
Warner’s Classic Comedies Collection includes special editions of Bringing Up Baby (1938) (WR) and The Philadelphia Story (1942). Also included in this release are Dinner at Eight (1933), Libeled Lady (1936), Stage Door (1937) and To Be Or Not To Be (1942). The boxed set comes at a great low price, but ordered individually, expect to pay about twice as much.
Leave Her to Heaven
Gene Tierney stars as a woman whose selfish, possessive love ruins lives in Leave Her to Heaven (WR). The 1946 drama earned an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. ***--Leonard Maltin.
A Letter to Three Wives
Three wives spend a fretful day pondering the state of their marriage and the affection each of their husbands has for the alluring Addie, after they each receive a letter informing them she has left town with one of their husbands. A Letter to Three Wives (WR) earned Academy Awards for Best Director (Joseph L. Mankiewicz) and Best Screenplay. ****--Leonard Maltin.
Palm Beach Story
When a frustrated wife played by Claudette Colbert hops a train to Florida to secure a divorce, she unwittingly attracts the attention of the world's richest man, John D. Hackensacker III, while her husband - in pursuit to win her back - becomes the prey of John's man-crazy sister, Princess Centimillia in Palm Beach Story (1942) (WR). *** _ --Leonard Maltin.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
James Dunn received an Academy Award for his supporting role as an alcoholic father to an ambitious young girl trying to rise above poverty, living in the tenements in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (WR). ****--Leonard Maltin.
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