May 2004 DVD Reviews & Video Reviews

The Lion King 1 1/2
by

Walt Disney Home Video

ISBN# B0000E32WJ
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 or as low as $6.14 from Amazon.com!

One of the most successful animated features in Disney history was "The Lion King." This one probably should have left it at that. This small story is supposed to be the pre-quel to The Lion King II, a direct-to-home-video release from 1998. You can learn how as a clumsy youth Timon left his home and mother to search for a perfect home. On the way he found a perfect friend, his warthog pal Pummba, and they both moved into the perfect home. One day they run across the young Simba. Timon & Pummba teach the lion to eat bugs instead of them and the three of them are having a lazy and lovely time. One day Simba finds his childhood sweetheart, the lioness Nala. Once again he falls for her and together they go back to fight the good fight and defeat his Uncle Scar and the weasels.

All the original voices are back this time and they are still wonderful performers. Two new characters and voices have been added. Julie Kavner voices Timon's mom and Jerry Stiller is the voice of Timon's Uncle Max.

The extras include deleted scenes from the original "The Making of The Lion King," and a new song that is sung by Raven. You can play games like a virtual safari called "Hidden Mickey Hunt." There is even a quick take-off on The Millionaire game with TV hostess Meredith Vieira helping you to play this new game, "Who Wants To Be King?" The most fun is a documentary bit about Timon where Peter (Mission Impossible) Graves interviews friends and relatives about the famous meerkat Timon.

This is a DVD aimed at children who will love the simplistic story and remember the old cast. The two new meerkat characters are both good, giving some background to Timon.

For the adults out there, be sure to see the original "The Lion King," which was made for you and me. Also, if you can treat yourself to the wonder of the Broadway stage show by the same name, do it! It took years for the production to get to our town, and I loved it! Someday I hope they finally break loose with a DVD of the stage show. I can't afford to see the theatrical productions more than once.

As I said, get this video for the kids. You can't go wrong here.

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl
by

Walt Disney Home Video
DVD
ISBN# B00005JM5E
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 or as low as $6.18 from Amazon.com!

Don't miss out on this gem! This is an unabashed swashbuckling adventure. If you saw the film in the theater, you already know how good it is. Now you can see it again and again at home, and it's still fabulous fun. Johnny Depp is our pirate anti-hero. He is a dandy pirate who is charming and viscious, and deserved the Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy Awards. Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow, and he lost his pirate ship to mutineers. He finds himself in Port Royal where he meets most of the other characters like Elizabeth Swann, the beautiful daughter of the Governor, played by Keira Knightley. And a salty female she is! She is loved from afar by a young man named Will Turner, portrayed by teen hearthrob Orland Bloom. Young Will works in a smithy, specializing in making swords.

The saga moves along fast with the arrest of Jack Sparrow, as he is put in a jail that looks a lot like the one in the film's namesake Disneyland attraction. Eventually Jack, Will, and Elizabeth find The Black Pearl, and the hideout of the bad pirates who are all really just ghosts. For more details, see our original review of Pirates of the Caribbean.

There is a lot of excitement and not a single dull moment in this film. It is all tongue-in-cheek humor. I must admit I could not believe it would be possible to make a movie using the theme park ride as a premise. I was very wrong. I loved this movie, and I enjoy the DVD and all the extras that come with it. The scenes of bloopers and interviews with the actors are special treats for fans.

Poirot - The Complete Collection
by

A & E Home Video

ISBN# B000068QOE
Suggested Retail Price: $59.95 or as low as $32.99 from Amazon.com!

Although I know I have seen all of these episodes before, either on the PBS series Mystery! or on A&E Television, I am usually blessed with no memory of the solutions. This makes each of the adventures almost like new for me. It must be the British accents or something, because I never tire of Hercule. I mostly admire the perfection of David Suchet's performance. He assumes his role as the prissy Belgian detective with perfection.

One of the mysteries is called "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd." In this one, Poirot has retired and is puttering in his garden. His neighbor is murdered, and Inspector Japp (Phillip Jackson) draws Poirot into a new adventure. When he begins to investigate the household of the murdered man, everyone looks suspicious. Our hero will straighten it all out and bring the villain to justice. Another of the tales in this set brings Poirot back to London where he meets and is enchanted by a famous actress. She talks him into visiting her husband to try to convince him to agree to a divorce. The husband is murdered before Hercule can try to meet with him.

There are some wonderful new characters that appear in each of the episodes, and I enjoy the regular members of Hercules' companions, Captain Hastings and Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon.

Then there are the extras that have really sold me on changing to DVD. Cast interviews and commentaries are especially fruitful in adding to the enjoyment of these programs.

FM
by

Anchor Bay Entertainment

ISBN# B00003ETJ1
Suggested Retail Price: $19.98 or as low as $19.99 from Amazon.com!

From time to time, we would like to remind you of some of the oldies that are goodies to us. "FM" is one of these. It's still available on home video and I still enjoy watching it. This is the story of a FM radio station. Michael Brandon plays Jeff Dugan, who is a top rock deejay and the program director the station. He is in charge of an eclectic group of co-workers that has to keep up the ratings of their station, QSKY. The time is the 1970's when rock stations on FM radio were hitting their stride, inspiring the catchy Steely Dan title song, "No Static At All."

Now a money-hungry group of investors want to change the format of the stations. They will destroy the style of this unique radio station. The workers all strike back by locking the doors and doing a sit in marathon.

The movie is achingly funny and filled with well-known actors and a lot of good rock music classics. It's also a wide-screen presentation. When you recognize the cast, you will become a fan of this nostalgic tour-de-force. Give it a whirl! It's the movie version (and likely inspiration) of one of my favorite TV sitcoms, "WKRP in Cincinnatti."

Originally released in 2002, you may have trouble finding this on DVD, but it is still available.