We hope you survived Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, but if you are suffering from it, our prayers are with you.
Where did summer go? It was fun but went too fast, even though my master and I had lots of outings to parks and daily walks. Now the neighborhood kids are back in school, but we get to see them after school and on weekends. I saw some good movies on DVD with my master but we skipped most of the new ones because most of them are for dumb dogs. Once again, as in most previous months, we recommend a few foreign films, mainly because so many of them tell good stories.
IN A BETTER WORLD
“Magnificent. Exceptional. Richly humanistic Extraordinary!” These are some of the critics’ raves for this Danish drama that won this year’s Academy Award and Golden Globe for best foreign language film. It’s a powerful story of two ten-year-old boys and their fathers who are all victimized one way or another by others and have to decide between revenge and forgiveness. A theme seldom explored in films and a very contemporary dilemma in this often violent world. I don’t want to give away the plot but highly recommend this film which keeps you guessing and in suspense up to the very end. Directed by Susanne Bier from her story and the screenplay by Anders Thomas Jensen, with a cast that is unfamiliar to American audiences but which is perfect. The boys are especially terrific actors. In Danish with English subtitles. A Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Sony Pictures Classics.
Max’s rating: Two paws up and lots of “Woo woo’s!”
THE HARMONISTSI missed this when it came out a few years ago, but highly recommend it. It’s based on the true story of six men who formed a singing group called the Comedian Harmonists in Germany in 1927. With their blend of humor and harmony, they quickly became national favorites and a kind of Beatles phenomenon, their fame spreading all over Europe. Then the rise of Hitler’s Nazi regime forced them into being banned in 1934 because three of the Harmonists were Jewish. It’s a fascinating film and has some great music, German-Austrian-made, in German with English subtitles, the DVD from Miramax. All the singing is from remastered recordings of the original Harmonists concerts. The film won awards at several film festivals when audiences cheered it as it smartly captures the details of a jazzy, uneasy age of European cabaret and theater in the shadow of a dark history. A real surprise for DVD watchers, with its message that “friendship is the most cherished gift of all.”
Max’s rating: Two paws up and lots of tail wags.
Also recommended:
INSPECTOR LEWIS 4
Four new mysteries to be solved by the masterful inspector:
one involves murders at an all-female college, another about the poisoning of a bishop, a third is about a clinical trial, and the fourth involves a sinister blackmail plot. Inspired by the Inspector Morse novels of Colin Dexter, they will be seen this month and next on PBS Television’s Masterpiece Mysteries series and are on both Blu-ray and DVD from PBS Distribution.
A Blu-Ray Treasure:
CITIZEN KANE
It’s in black and white, but what a picture, and even more terrific in Blu-ray. The 1941 Orson Welles classic, which tops the American Film Institute’s list of greatest films of all time, has been remastered from the original nitrate elements. The boxed 3-DVD set of the 70th Anniversary Collector’s Edition includes three hours of bonus content including deleted scenes, interviews with film critics, one of the film’s stars, Ruth Warrick, and editor Robert Wise. Also, a 48-page photo book, a 20-page reproduction of the original 1941 souvenir program, lobby cards, and reproductions of rare correspondence related to the film. This is a classic you must see on Blu-ray. From Warner Home Video.
Documentaries:
3-D SAFARI AFRICA
Hosted by Emmy award winner Hunter Ellis (of television’s reality series SURVIVOR), this is an amazing travelogue of up-close encounters with the lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and other wildlife of the African Savannahs. See it in Blu-ray or Blu-ray 3D all on one disc, from Wild Eyes Productions and Millennium Media. This is a 90-minute adventure for the whole family.
DOGS AND MORE DOGS
My favorite subject stars in four DVD specials from the PBS Explorer Collection, first seen on television as NOVA science specials. DOGS: MAN’S BEST FRIEND tells of the origins and history of dogs and their many varieties. DOGS DECODED tells how dogs respond to human emotions. DOGS AND MORE DOGS tells how dogs evolved from wolves to playful pets. HOW SMART ARE ANIMALS? introduces a dog with a vocabulary of more than 1,000 words! THROUGH A DOG’S EYES shows how dogs are helpmates to people with disabilities. These four DVDs cover just about everything you ever wanted to know about dogs. Each disc is an hour long and of course I highly recommend you see the complete collection. Watch it with your dog. If you don’t have one, what are you waiting for? The collection is from PBS Distribution.
NOT IN OUR TOWN, LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
This strong documentary about a hate crime killing traces a New York state community’s reaction to a fatal attack on a local immigrant resident. Stunned by the violence, diverse citizens openly confront the crime and the divisive atmosphere, and take actions to prevent future hate crimes and intolerance. The film provides a message of hope, as civic leaders, students, grandmothers, librarians and store owners take action to repair a culture that has been torn apart by bigotry and fear. A strong subject worth viewing, from PBS Distribution.
SCOTLAND EXPLORED
Tom Weir takes armchair travelers on a wonderful walking journey in Scotland, visiting scenic villages, historic monuments, beautiful lochs and landscapes. A bonnie good 2-DVD set from BFS Entertainment.
OZ & JAMES’ BIG FRENCH WINE ADVENTURE
James May, a beer drinker, knows zilch about wine, so award-winning wine writer Oz Clarke gives him an education about the grape. You’ll learn more about wine too, following the odd couple as they travel through France’s most beautiful wine regions. A 2-DVD set from BBC and BFS Entertainment.
For puppies and kids:
ARTHUR’S MAGIC JAMBOREE
Arthur the aardvark, a favorite of millions of children watching PBS Kids on television will enjoy this 100-minute DVD of eight fun-filled episodes from the series that helps kids develop an interest in reading and writing, and encourage positive social skills. Special features on the DVD include printable coloring pages and activities. The DVD comes just in time for back-to-school. From PBS Distribution.
See you next month at the same fire hydrant, and stay dry!
