Our Picks Reviews - Page 28

Here’s one CD kids and parents can agree on. It’s part of a new series of releases featuring “hit songs for kids that won’t drive parents crazy,” covering some of the classics of Motown, Broadway, jazz, the ‘80s and today’s hitmakers, all with songs parents will dig and even younger children will think are fun. These Car tunes include “Our House” by Madness, Chuck Berry’s rollicking version of “Route 66,” Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” and nine other tracks that’ll keep you rollin’ merrily down the road.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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Based on a true story, this stylish and smart 2008 movie depicted a group of brainy college students who learn to count cards and make a fortune on weekend casino-busting runs to Las Vegas. Led by a shady math professor (Kevin Spacey), they become intoxicated with winning, seduced by the high-roller lifestyle—and caught up in a spiral of deceit that starts to spin out of control. Bonus features include commentary, featurettes and a digital copy of the movie that can downloaded onto a computer or portable player. (Rated PG-13)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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The era of civil rights, free love, peace movements, drug culture and Viet Nam had its own lingo, touchstones and personalities. Whether your interest in the ’60s is academic, nostalgic or merely curious, this A-Z compendium is a groovy way to re-examine the many wonderful, way-out colors of the decade’s cultural kaleidoscope.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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How cool were the Muppets? Cool enough to attract “shock rocker” Alice Cooper, singing cowboy Roy Rogers, sexy Raquel Welch, hilarious Gilda Radner, Charlie’s Angels’ Cheryl Ladd and a host of other all-star guests to the zany puppet party for the show’s 1978-79 TV season. In addition to all 20 season-three half-hour episodes, this collection also includes a trio of bonus features, including a documentary on creator Jim Henson and his fellow “Muppeteers” at work.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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If you’ve ever wondered about those “little” movies honored each year at the Oscars—the animated and live-action shorts from around the world—here’s your chance to find out what all the ado is about. These seven mini-movies, averaging around 25 minutes each and all nominated for 2008 Academy Awards, take you on a kaleidoscopic journey of joy, heartbreak and humor with a bittersweet Christmas in a cancer ward, a wacky substitute teacher, a priest with a machine he says can take people to heaven, a bizarre train ride and other beguiling tales from filmmakers in France, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Canada, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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All across Australia on one particular March evening in 1976, TV sets were tuned to a massive concert in Sydney as American singing superstar Neil Diamond cranked out the hits for a three-hour televised concert, the last stop on his Down Under tour. This DVD time capsule re-presents the event in its entirety, as an arena full of Aussie fans thrill to his showmanship and a melodic cascade of hit tunes, including “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am…I Said” and “Play Me.” DVD extras include a 50-minute interview filed for Australian television. —Neil Pond, American Profile

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Three decades before Harry Potter, this 1963 Disney-fied version of the King Arthur legend captivated audiences with its high-spirited tale of wizards, apprentices, talking animals and magic spells. Its simple charms may seem a bit flat by today’s standards, but it remains nonetheless a nostalgic reminder of the masterful, family-friendly Disney touch from a bygone era. Bonus features include an interactive game, a pair of classic Disney “wizard” shorts starring Mickey Mouse and Goofy, and an interview with Richard and Robert Sherman, the brothers who crafted the film’s memorable songs.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

from Amazon.com

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Rollerskates, disco, Olivia Newton-John—it can only be Xanadu, the spectacularly over-the-top 1980 movie musical that drew raspberries from critics but nonetheless went on to become a camp classic. As a goddess summoned to Earth to make a struggling artist’s “dreams come true,” Newton-John is ray of playful sunshine; Hollywood hoofer Gene Kelly likewise shines in a role that would turn out to be his last movie musical. A bonus CD includes the entire soundtrack, a pumped-up collection of songs by the Electric Light Orchestra—including “I’m Alive,” “All Over the World” and the title track—plus the Newton-John hit “Magic.” (Rated PG-13)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Mickey Rooney as Archie Bunker? He didn’t want the part, worried about the public’s response to the bigoted, blue-collar loudmouth. Producers didn’t think Sandra Bullock was right for Baywatch. Rosie O’Donnell didn’t work out as Elaine on Seinfield. Lisa Kudrow was turned down for a cast spot on Saturday Night Live, freeing her up for Friends. How different would other TV shows be had someone else been cast in the starring roles? That’s the premise behind this addictive encyclopedia of nearly 500 shows and the often life-altering, career-making decisions behind who’d ultimately end up playing their parts.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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As Batman fever takes hold of moviegoers this summer with The Dark Knight, bookworms can snuggle up with this page-turner that puts the reader into the story. This “Interactive Mystery” takes you inside the mysterious world of Batman’s home, where a long-ago murder unfolds with forensic clues, police reports, journal entries, maps, newspaper clippings, photos and letters. As Batman works to solve the crime, you do, too—finding out by opening the sealed document at the end of the book if you’ve been following clues correctly. Holy Whodunit!
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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