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The W - Movies & TV - 218 NEW DVDs COMING OUT 5/8/07
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CRZ
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Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 17 days
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#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.00
(For previous weeks' lists, click on the "DVD" thread icon, or use these individual links: week beginning
1/2 - 1/9 - 1/16 - 1/23 - 1/30
2/6 - 2/13 - 2/20 - 2/27
3/6 - 3/13 - 3/20 - 3/27
4/3 - 4/10 - 4/17 - 4/24
5/1)

Hello.

We have 218 items to share with you - these are the ones that appeared in Amazon's new listings for the week beginning Tuesday, 5/8. There were another 150 or so that show release dates BUT come up unavailable. You don't get those. You get THESE! All of these new releases are actually in stock (pending me performing any edits) and you should be able to see Amazon's current price by hovering over those titles.

If you have seen any of these films, or are particularly excited by any particular release, please pitch in your two cents by adding a reply to this thread!

Repeat visitors who may have made some purchases are encouraged to let us know how the stuff they bought turned out - assuming you got around to actually watching it! (I never do!)

Links abound - click on the IMDb icon for IMDb information, click on the tv.com icon for episode lists, click on other links to be moderately entertained!

You can also email me directly at CRZ.DVD@gmail.com.

Let's begin with two releases that snuck up on me but nonetheless made it up to the top of the listas my

CO-PICKS OF THE WEEK:
That Thing You Do! - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition) (The W at Amazon) (1996) Now, listen - I like this movie a lot, and if I happen to swing by it while channel surfing I inevitably stick around to watch it - but a director's cut with an extra *39* minutes? I think you're testing my faith, Tom Hanks. Yes I do. Plus it goes without saying there are a gazillion extras on disc two, but I'll say it for the benefit of the keyword searchers
Big - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition) (1988) Speaking of Tom Hanks... also Elizabeth Perkins - Another 25 minutes added to this cut and loads of extras on the second disc



MOVIES!

BIG MOVIES OF THE WEEK:
Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition) (2007) Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, wasn't this out only three months ago?
Music and Lyrics (Full Screen Edition)

Catch & Release (2007) Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant Went To My High School
Catch and Release [Blu-ray]

Because I Said So (Widescreen Edition) (2007) Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore
Because I Said So (Full Screen Edition)

Breaking and Entering (2007) Jude Law, Vera Farmiga

Fur - An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006) Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr.

The Painted Veil (2007) Naomi Watts, Edward Norton

SHOW OFF YOUR EXPENSIVE SYSTEM - NEW ON HD DVD:
Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD] (1965)
UNCOMMON BACH - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, HD DVD DTSHD Surround Music Disc (HD DVD)

NEW VERSIONS OF MOVIES YOU ALREADY BOUGHT:
Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut) (1997) Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, and an additional...20 minutes, I think
Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]

Revenge (Director's Cut) (1990) Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn - listed as 100 minutes, but the original was 124 minutes, so....maybe wait for the reviews?
Revenge (Unrated) [Blu-ray]

Dirty Dancing (20th Anniversary Edition) (1987) Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze - you'll have THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE watching all the extras included on the second disc
Dirty Dancing - 20th Anniversary [Blu-Ray]

CLASSICS:
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition) (1955) Cary Grant, Grace Kelly - directed by Alfred Hitchcock

The Caine Mutiny (Collector's Edition) (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Jos Ferrer

The Guns of Navarone (Collector's Edition) (UK/USA, 1961) Gregory Peck, David Niven

David and Lisa (1962) Two crazy kids meet in the crazy house

The Secret Life of Words (Spain, 2005) Sarah Polley, Tim Robbins

MGM DOUBLE FEATURES:
Platoon/Windtalkers
Fargo/Rain Man
Out of Time/The Mighty Quinn
The Magnificent Seven/The Alamo
Easy Money/Back to School Rodney Dangerfield
Semi-Tough/Gator Burt Reynolds

UNIVERSAL COLLECTIONS:
Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 1 (The Texas Rangers / Canyon Passage / Kansas Raiders / The Lawless Breed)
Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 2 (The Texans / California / The Cimarron Kid / The Man from the Alamo)
Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)

MGM MEGASETS:
Ultimate Westerns DVD Giftpack - 10 releases: The Big Country, Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Extended Cut (2-Disc Collector's Edition), Hang 'Em High, Heaven's Gate, Hour of the Gun, The Magnificent Seven (Collector's Edition), The Missouri Breaks and Red River
Ultimate War DVD Giftpack - 10 releases: The Great Escape, Flyboys, 633 Squadron, The Battle of Britain, The Devil's Brigade, Exodus, Paths of Glory, Platoon, Run Silent, Run Deep and Zulu
Ultimate Summer Break DVD Giftset - 10 (mostly crappy) releases: National Lampoon: Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (Unrated), National Lampoon: Class Reunion, National Lampoon: Dorm Daze, National Lampoon: Gold Diggers (Unrated), National Lampoon: Going the Distance, National Lampoon: Movie Madness, Cooley High, UHF, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

SHREK OF THE WEEK:
Original films paired with the short based on the Universal Studios "Shrek 4-D" ride (2003)
Shrek / Shrek 3D - Party in the Swamp (2001)
Shrek 2 (Widescreen) / Shrek 3D - Party in the Swamp (2004)
Shrek 2 (Full Screen) / Shrek 3D - Party in the Swamp

NEW LINE RERELEASES?:
Boogie Nights (1997)
Magnolia (1999)

More movies after the television on DVD!



TV!

Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Eighth Season (CBS, 2003-4) 23 episodes on 5 discs
Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete First Eight Seasons

The 4400 - The Complete Third Season (USA, 2006)

Jason of Star Command - The Complete Series (CBS, 1979-81) Another example of the glorious live-action available Saturday mornings during a certain TV era
Mission - Magic! (Complete Series) (ABC, 1973-4) Who doesn't love heavily accented, animated Rick Springfield?

Voltron - Defender of the Universe - Collection Three (1984) Episodes 31-45 PLUS ?

The Waltons - The Complete Fifth Season (CBS, 1976-7) 24 episodes, 5 discs
The Waltons - The Complete First Five Seasons GOOD NIGHT (John-Boy)

That '70s Show - Season 6 (FOX, 2003-4)

Cagney & Lacey - Season 1 (CBS, 1982-3) Technically, episodes 7-28, but the first season's worth containing the Gless/Daly pairing

3rd Rock from the Sun - The Complete Seasons 1- 6 I think that's all of 'em

The Adventures of the Black Stallion - The Complete Second Season (1991-2) 26 episodes on 4 discs

Clatterford - Season 1 (Jam & Jerusalem - BBC, 2006) From the women behind "Absolutely Fabulous" - six episodes

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:
National Geographic: In the Womb - Multiples
National Geographic: In the Womb - Animals

PBS:
American Experience - Summer of Love (PBS, 2007) WGBH companion site (pbs.org)
Masterpiece Theater: Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (BBC/CBC, UK/Canada/Romania, 2006) More at WGBH (pbs.org)

UNIVERSAL TRIES TO GET YOU INTERESTED:
Las Vegas - Seasons One & Two
House M.D. - Seasons One & Two
Battlestar Galactica (2004): Seasons 2.0 & 2.5

AUSTRALIAN TV OF THE WEEK:
McLeod's Daughters Complete Second Season (Channel Nine, 2002) Episodes 23-44

AND FINALLY, "60 MINUTES:"
60 Minutes - At the Center of the Storm (April 29, 2007) George Tenet - 60 Minutes (cbsnews.com)
60 Minutes - Armed and Dangerous (April 29, 2007) Should mentally ill folks be allowed to own guns? If you don't know the answer, you better head over to 60 Minutes (cbsnews.com)



MORE MOVIES!

PLATINUM DISC TV MOVIES:
Acts of Contrition (Original Sins, made for TV, 1995) Mark Harmon, Julianna Phillips
Summer of Fear (made for TV, 1996)
Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss (Hallmark Channel, 2007) Lea Thompson, Joe Penny return in the latest in series of TV movies

REPUBLIC PRESENTS JOHN WAYNE:
John Wayne Collection, Vol. 1 (The Quiet Man / The Sands of Iwo Jima / Flying Tigers / The Wake of the Red Witch)
John Wayne Collection, Vol. 2 (Rio Grande / A Lady Takes a Chance / The Fighting Kentuckian / Dakota)
Flame of Barbary Coast/Santa Fe Stampede
Westward Ho/The Fighting Kentuckian
Sands of Iwo Jima/Flying Tigers
The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch
Dark Command/A Lady Takes a Chance
Dakota/In Old California

EVEN MORE JOHN WAYNE:
The John Wayne 100th Anniversary Collection Ten discs and almost 38 hours of John Wayne - giant list at Passport Entertainment (passportdvd.com)

DOCUMENTARIES OF THE WEEK:
Basketball Man (2007) A look at Dr. James Naismith
The Fearmakers Collection Assmebled documentaries of "horror's greatest directors" - yes, Kim, Dario Argento IS in it!
638 Ways to Kill Castro (made for TV, UK, 2006) But none of them have worked!
Deliver Us from Evil (2006) Stories of a priest's 30 year history of pedophilia and his sheltering by the Catholic church
Whole (made for TV, UK/USA, 2003) The story of people who long to become amputees - no, REALLY
A Life Without Pain: A Documentary (2005) People who have congenital analgesia - I'm starting to think Melody Gilbert (who also brought you "Whole" above) has a thing about .... certain things

CHINESE FILMS AND DOUBLE FEATURES FROM CINEMA EPOCH (http://www.cinemaepoch.com/foreign.htm#spring):
The Big Road/Queen of Sports Two silent films from Sun Yu - (Dalu - China, 1934) (Ti Yu Huang Hou - China, 1934)
Crossroads/Daybreak (Shizi Jietou - China, 1937) (Tianming - China, 1933)
Song at Midnight (Ye Bang Ge Sheng - China, 1937) Just like "Phantom of the Opera"
Spring in a Small Town (Xiao Cheng Zhi Chun - China, 1948)
Street Angel/Twin Sister (Malu Tianshi - China, 1937) (Zi Mei Hua - China, 1934)
Young Aphrodites (Mikres Aprhodites - Greece, 1963) Hey wait, Greece isn't anywhere NEAR China
SAMMO HUNG OF THE WEEK:
Legend of the Dragon (Long Wei Fu Zi - China/Hong Kong, 2004)

CRASH MASTERS:
Axing of Coffin (Hong Kong?, 1969)
Son of Swordsman (Hong Kong?, 1969)

SHAW BROTHERS WIN AGAIN:
Heaven & Hell: Shaw Bros Special Edition (Di San Lei Da Dou - Hong Kong, 1980)

PUTTING THE "FU" BACK IN FURN:
Blind Woman's Curse (aka "Black Cat's Revenge" - Kaidan Nobori Ryu - Japan, 1970)
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor (Japan, 1969)

AND THE REST OF THE FURN FILMS:
Tolrance (France, 1989)
The Jaguar (Le Jaguar - France, 1996) Jean Reno
Blissfully Yours (Sud Sanaeha - Thailand/France, 2002)
Don't Look for Me (Such Mich Nicht - Germany, 2004)
The Tiger and the Snow (La Tigre e la Neve - Italy, 2005)
Linda Linda Linda (Japan, 2005)
El Calentito (Spain, 2005) A story of Madrid in the (hey remember the) 1980s
Arang (South Korea, 2006)
Things to Do (Canada, 2006)
Black Eyed Dog (Canada, 2006)
Guide De La Petite Vengeance (Little Book of Revenge - Canada, 2006)
Violette (Violette Nozire - France/Canada, 1978)
Violette/Girl from Paris above, with (Une Hirondelle a fait le Printemps - France, 2001)
Comedy of Power (L'Ivresse du pouvoir, Germany/France, 2006)
Comedy of Power/God Is Great, I'm Not Above, with Audrey Tautou comedy (Dieu est Grand, Je Suis Toute Petite - France, 2001)
Family Classic Collection Road to Avonlea, Lantern Hill and the Wild Pony - three Canadian made-for-TV movies produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan

Man, a lotta French/Canadian stuff this week for some reason...

HEY, LET'S PUT OUT A "GRINDHOUSE" COLLECTION AND STIRKE WHILE THE IRON IS - OOPS, TOO LATE:
Skin in the 60's I think they mean the 1960s, not that the actresses are in their 60s - The Madam (1969) , L'Amour de Femmes (France/Switzerland, 1982) , and Take Them as They Are (?)

ONE MORE TRIPLE FEATURE FOR SPECIALISED TASTES:
White Slave Collection Naked Amazon (Feiti&ccdeil;o do Amazonas - Brazil, 1954) , White Slave (Schiave Bianche: Violenza in Amazzonia - Italy, 1985) and Sacrifice of the White Goddess (?)

AS TIMELY AS A WWE SKIT:
Backslash: The Ultimate Internet Predator (Back Slash - 2005)

MILL CREEK COLLECTION OF MYSTERY:
Heroes of War 10 Movie Pack

ONE MORE MEGASET:
Girls Gone Bad - The Delinquent Dames Collection 25 "campy cult classics" - "Reefer Madness" is on it, for instance - giant list at Passport Entertainment

WHY BOTHER:
National Lampoon's Lost Reality 1 and 2 Compilation of previous 2004 and 2005 direct-to-video releases:

DEEZER D SIGHTING OF THE WEEK:
Lord Help Us (direct to DVD, 2007) Possibly also the MOST ECLECTIC CAST OF THE WEEK, includes Al Jarreau, Nadia Turner, Debra Wilson, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Diva

CANNIBALISM OF THE WEEK:
How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman (Como Era Gostoso o Meu Francs - Brazil, 1971)

AND THE REST:
The Stranger Beside Me (made for TV, 1995) Tiffani-Amber Thiessen wonders if husband Eric Close is committing the series of rapes that are terrorizing the neighbourhood - I bet my wife has seen AND loved this movie on one of those Lifetime networks

In the Woods (Special Edition Release) (1999)

Blood Rites (2003) Trailer at Brain Damage Films (braindamagefilms.com)

From Other Worlds (2004) There's something alien in Brooklyn
Virgin Again (2004)

You and Your Stupid Mate (Australia, 2005) Two wacky lads rush to save their favourite soap from cancellation - I don't either of the two dudes, but I recognise Rachel Hunter
Graveyard Alive (Canada, 2005) For those who enjoy their horror in black & white - and Canadian
Swamp Zombies (2005) Trailer at Brain Damage

Zen (2006) Info over at Chocolate Star (chocolatestar.net)
The Faithful and the Foul (2006)
Shift (short, 2006)
The System Within (2006)
Broken Glass (2006)

Cope Trailer at Brain Damage
Section 8 (2007)
Cadaverella (2007) Title is probably the best thing about this movie
Mustang Ironheart: Preludes of Iron (2007)



ET CETERA!

COMEDY:
Little Britain Live Comedy duo from the UK

HOOPS:
Florida Gators - Back 2 Back National Champions 2006 - 2007

VROOM:
NASCAR Unauthorized Oooooh, UNAUTHORIZED - http://www.crystalentertainmentgroup.com/movies/nascar.php

WEW:
Women's Extreme Wrestling, Vol. 13-16

HUMAN KINETICS:
Multicultural Folk Dance Vol 1 More info at Human Kinetics (humankinetics.com)
Multicultural Folk Dance Volume 2 More info at Human Kinetics
Sigi Schmid's Completed Collection of Soccer Tactics I call him "Siegfried" - Human Kinetics

KARATE:
Shotokan Karate Kata Volume 2: Black Belt Forms

HEY, DR. MIKE, QUIT POINTING AT ME:
You on a Diet With Dr Michael Roizen

SWEAT:
Jamie King- Rock Your Body
Complete Kickboxing 1 Martina Sprague and Keith Livingston
Self - Dance Your Way Slim Kimberly Spreen
Self - Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast Violet Zaki

SWAT:
S.W.a.T. Behind the Scenes I'm SURE I've listed this before - http://www.crystalentertainmentgroup.com/movies/swat.php

KIDZ:
Fungus the Bogeyman (BBC, 2004) Just don't call him Shrek - based on the book
Baby Road Trip: City featuring NUMBERS
Baby Road Trip: Beach featuring COUNTING
Kids Birthday Sing-A-Long
Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear (1983) Animated Peter O'Toole is the voice of Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet (1983)
Sherlock Holmes en Un Estudio en Scarlata En espaol; - so, probably not Peter O'Toole there
Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse (1983)

HELP ME HELP YOU:
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Only Olivia Newton-John can bring Deepak Chopra to the masses - unless you're Bill Duke, Dave Stewart or Tina Mickelson

LEARN TO HEAL ANIMALS:
Margrit Coates with Perry Wood: Animal Healing Umm....sure. The critters on the cover look comforted, anyway

OTHER LEARNIN':
Exploring the Deserts of the Earth 12 episode film series
The Tower 8 episode series surrounds the history of Tower of London
Aviation Library: Combat Zone 3 discs
Steve Irwin: Ocean's Deadliest (import) If he were alive today, Steve himself would tell you that the deadliest of all is man...but the stingray's a close second

WWII:
Bearers of the Flag Old dudes talk about WWII - sorry, I meant to say "they truly were...the Greatest Generation"

MAKING MONEY OFF THE DEAD:
Anna Nicole Smith: Tribute aka "collection of photographs on a DVD"

ANIME:
Disgaea 3 - The Netherworld War (Vol. 3)
Kyo Kara Maoh - Season 2 Vol. 4
Ah! My Goddess: Season 2, Vol. 1 - Everyone Has Wings
Guyver, Vol. 4: Innocence and Wrath

NOT ANIME, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH:
Cat Girl Kiki Man rescues kitten, which turns into real live girl - craziness ensues

MUSIC:
Nomad Poets Live in Germany Spooky Tooth reunites (!) to pay tribute to the late Greg Ridley
Live from Montreux George Benson
Tokyo 1961 & London 1965 Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
Double X Vision Bonfire (import) 2 discs
Trane Tracks The Legacy of John Coltrane
Up Close and Personal Rainbow (DVD + book) Also listed in French
Up Close and Personal Thin Lizzy (DVD + book) Amazon listing says it's in French - beware!
Tribute Concert Antonio Carlos Jobim and Friends (1995)
Live Natalie MacMaster
Live in Prague 1978 Sarah Vaughan (import)
Live from Atlantic City Grover Washington Jr.
From Major to Minor Gonzales
Celebration of Gospel - Taking You Higher!
Communicants Section 25
Z-Ro Vision
Tranquility
50 Years of Hits George Jones & friends
Tommy-the Movie-Collector's Edition (Region 2 PAL / import) The Who - 2 discs
Dean Evenson and Soundings Ensemble: Eagle River - At Ease Relaxation Series

DECCA:
On Stage at World Cafe Live Living Colour
On Stage at World Cafe Live Rhett Miller
On Stage at World Cafe Live David Poe
On Stage at World Cafe Live The Knack (REALLY?)

CLASSICAL/BALLET/OPERA:
Mozart on Tour 13 discs (yikes)
Earle Brown: Chamber Works
Baden Powell: Self Portrait
Membra Jesu Nostri
Signes
Signes:Ballet By Carolyn Carlson Musi
Verdi - La Traviata
Verdi:La Traviata

EN ESPAOL:
El Buscabullas (Mexico, 1976)
El Gallo Giro (Mexico, 1948)
Rio Escondido (Mexico, 1948)
Viaje a La Luna (Mexico, 1958)

SMUT:
Playboy: No Boys Allowed 4
Blondes On Parade
Punk Rock Girls #1 (adult)
Punk Rock Girls #2 (adult)
Punk Rock Girls #3 COVER OF THE WEEK
Punk Rock Girls #4

YES, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING WILD:
Girls Gone Wild: Best of Blondes, Vol. 2
Girls Gone Wild: Best of Mardi Gras

SOFTCORE:
The Sexual Story of O (Historia Sexual de O - Spain, 1984) http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0087413/] A *sexual* story?? That's my favourite kind of story! Directed by Jesus Franco
The Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle (Las Orgas inconfesables de Emmanuelle - Spain, 1982) aka "Emmanuelle Exposed" aka "Emmanuelle Forever" - also directed by Jesus Franco under a pseudonym

SEX & VIOLENCE:
Punch Up, Vol. 3 "More brutal boxing from London's Caesar with all of the blood, beatings, and bad topless girls."
Punch Up Boxing Volumes 1-3 in one box(ing box)!

AND FINALLY:
JuggleVision 1 Sorry, dudes.... it really IS about juggling

Come back tomorrow for any edits and Amazon's Top 24 preorders!

BYE



I AM CRZ
Promote this thread!
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 17 days
Last activity: 9 days
ICQ:  
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.00
No edits! Here's Amazon's Top 24:

1 Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition) (The W at Amazon)
2 The 4400 - The Complete Third Season
3 The Painted Veil
4 The Waltons - The Complete Fifth Season
5 Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Eighth Season
6 Because I Said So (Widescreen Edition)
7 Catch & Release
8 Cagney & Lacey - Season 1
9 That '70s Show - Season 6
10 Because I Said So (Full Screen Edition)
11 Music and Lyrics (Full Screen Edition)
12 House M.D. - Seasons One & Two
13 Dirty Dancing (20th Anniversary Edition)
14 To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
15 Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)
16 That Thing You Do! - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
17 Voltron - Defender of the Universe - Collection Three
18 Breaking and Entering
19 McLeod's Daughters Complete Second Season
20 The Caine Mutiny (Collector's Edition)
21 Battlestar Galactica (2004): Seasons 2.0 & 2.5
22 Big - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
23 Clatterford - Season 1
24 Daniel Boone - Season Three - Currently unavailable

Interesting about #24. I had it listed, then it went unavailable, so I didn't list it. Now I'm wondering if it just sold out? Is that possible?

I guess that could be an edit. Here's the listing for the currently unavailable) Dan'l Boone box:

Daniel Boone - Season Three (NBC, 1966-7) 28 episodes on 8 discs



I AM CRZ
Karlos the Jackal
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: The City of Subdued Excitement

Since last post: 3002 days
Last activity: 1957 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
With all apologies to my street cred, I have to say that I liked Music and Lyrics quite a bit. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't find Hugh Grant charming -- there's quite a lot of skating on that charm here -- or if you hate romantic comedies or, you know, music in general.

The songs are written by Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger -- I'm not a huge Fountains of Wayne fan, but one thing that's tough to find is a movie about pop music that has pop songs that are worth listening to. I can't stand movies about bands who "make it big" while their songs are duller than a comatose James Blunt swaddled in foam rubber. This movie has a couple of good tracks, especially the great '80s supposed-smash-hit "Pop! Goes My Heart" ("I said I wasn't gonna lose my head / but then POP! *newwavedrumsound* goes my heart").

The last movie before this that had a "hit song" that you could actually believe was a hit song was Dreamgirls, I guess (I really liked "Cadillac Car"), and before that? Probably That Thing You Do! featuring songs by...Adam Schlesinger.

Anyway. It's fun and frothy and probably not particularly accurate re: the way the contemporary pop world operates, but I enjoyed it.

-----

Linda Linda Linda follows a group of Japanese schoolgirls for three days as they try to get ready for a "Rock Festival" at their school, a process that is complicated by the fact that they have just recruited a new singer, a Korean exchange student whose shaky grasp of Japanese causes some communication difficulties.

Actually, the language barrier may not matter, since most of the characters have difficulty communicating with one another, preferring instead to stare awkwardly at (or past) each other in hunched silence, as the camera sits, motionless, waiting. But if the movie is purposefully short on closure, it nevertheless has some really pretty great musical catharsis.

-----

The Painted Veil is based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, and stars Edward Norton and Naomi Watts as a young married couple in the 1920s who travel to small-town China during a cholera epidemic. He's there because he's a bacteriologist; she's there because he is punishing her for her infidelities.

They were married without really knowing each other, and once in China, finally grow to do so mostly by living around the edge of each other, each showing no interest in sitting down and talking things over. He dives into his work with little outward concern for anything else; she grows increasingly bored, finally begging the nuns at the local convent (including Diana Rigg!) to find some tasks for her to do.

My lovely and brilliant wife says that she really appreciated the "emotional depth" of the characters. I can't pretend that it's really "my thing," but I'll say: if you're sad that half of Merchant Ivory has passed away, you should definitely check it out.

---

And that's all I watched. I picked up a copy of the Pirates of the Golden Age collection but haven't looked at it yet. It's got four pirate movies for the price of one! Errol Flynn! Yvonne DeCarlo! Donald O'Connor??? It should be great to keep around for some rainy night when only pirates will do. Man, I sure wish they'd come out with a new Pirate movie someday!

--K

(edited by Karlos the Jackal on 11.5.07 1420)


Last 5 movies seen: Linda Linda Linda ***1/2 - The Painted Veil *** - Music and Lyrics ***1/2 - Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? ***1/2 - Little Children *** - This Boy's Life ***
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