Our Picks Reviews

"Our Picks" provides reviews of new DVDs, CDs and books that our readers would enjoy.

Easy Rider—Blu-ray edition
DVD ($38.96)

Two hippie motorcyclists (Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper) experience the psychedelic highs and roadside lows of an open-air trip across America, accompanied by the soundtrack sounds of Steppenwolf, The Band, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. Still as cool—and as controversial—as ever 40 years later, this '60s classic comes to Blu-ray with a 32-page photo booklet and commentary by Hopper, who co-wrote (with Fonda) and directed.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/22/2009

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Dogtown
Hardcover, 294 pages ($26)

A companion book to the National Geographic Channel's hit show of the same title, this collection presents true stories about pooches in peril and their loving caretakers at Dogtown, a haven for unwanted canines in Kenab, Utah. Animal lovers will melt at the tales of Georgia, a pit bull rescued from disgraced NFL star Michael Vick's dog-fighting compound, Rush, a shepherd mix airlifted from a Middle Eastern war zone, and 13 other heart-tugging accounts of rescue and rehab.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/22/2009

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Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book
Hardcover, 244 pages ($24.99)

Originally published in 1977, this newly updated edition showcases more than 85 images from the archives of Norman Rockwell's artwork interwoven into a heartwarming collection of classic Christmas carols, poems and stories from writers like Robert Frost, O. Henry and Mark Twain. With eight removable, ready-to-frame Rockwell prints, it's a treasure trove of Christmas memories sure to stir the holiday sprit in even the bah-humbuggiest of Scrooges.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/22/2009

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The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies
By Ray Didinger and Glen Macnow
Softcover, 352 pages ($19.99)

"Rocky." "Hoosiers." "Caddyshack." When Hollywood turns its cinematic gaze on the world of sports, the results can make us cheer. Professional sportswriters (and movie lovers) Didinger and Macnow colorfully dissect 100 of their all-time favorites, with praise, criticism and notes on goofs, pivotal scenes, memorable quotes, trivia and other factoids. A fine, fun read for sports fans and film buffs alike.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/22/2009

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The Shield: The Complete Series Collection
DVD ($159.95)

In a gritty sector of Los Angeles underbelly, a group of corrupt cops gets the job done-but dig for themselves an ever-deepening hole of moral and criminal compromise as they continually cross the line between right and wrong. The acclaimed, award-winning FX network series comes to DVD in a hefty, 28-disc collector's package with all 88 episodes and several bonus features, including a 34-page scrapbook and a documentary about the real police scandal of the late 1990s that inspired the show.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/15/2009

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Almanac of the Infamous, The Incredible and the Ignored
Written and illustrated by Juanita Rose Violini
Softcover, 295 pages ($19.99)

Phantom hitchhikers, spontaneous combustions, showers of stones. These and 363 more of history's mysteries—one corresponding to every day of the year—are here for you to ponder in this entertaining, engrossing and altogether enchanting chronicle of oddities, enigmas and other assorted wrinkles of weirdness. Well-researched and creatively illustrated, it's a refreshing stretch for the imagination. Read and marvel!
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/15/2009

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Herblock
By Haynes Johnson and Harry L. Katz
Hardcover, 304 pages ($35)

Signing his work as "Herblock," Herb Block of "The Washington Post" was one of America's most significant political cartoonists of the 20th century. This collection, timed to what would have been his 100th birthday, features 250 reproductions of Block's artistry—plus another 18,000 more on an accompanying DVD. It's an opinionated, pen-and-ink snapshot of a changing, often turbulent world, from the Great Depression to the modern era of international terrorism, with commentary that puts every cartoon into context.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/15/2009

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An American Family: Three Decades With The McGarveys
Photographed by Pam Spaulding
Hardcover, 224 pages ($42)

In 1977, "Louisville Courier Journal" photojournalist Spaulding began following a local family for what was intended to be a yearlong project about new parents. It turned into 30 years—and the most complete, comprehensive snapshot of a family ever recorded. Spanning three generations and presented now in book form, these images—of backseat car squabbles, graduations, pet burials and the McGarveys' many other rituals, routines, celebrations and sorrows—are a remarkable window onto a world of personal moments that represent a sweeping, spectacular view of the greater American experience.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/15/2009

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The Proposal
DVD ($39.99)

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in this screwball comedy about a business-arrangement odd couple forced to follow through on a backfired matrimonial scheme. Betty White is a hoot as a say-anything grandma, and Oscar Nuñez (from TV's "The Office") crops up repeatedly—and hilariously—as a shopkeeper moonlighting in several surprising sidelines. Bonus features include bloopers, outtakes, commentary and an alternate ending.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/8/2009

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The American Brew
DVD ($24.99)

An insightful documentary about America's enduring love affair with beer, this hour-long PBS project comes with 45 minutes of bonus material, including a tour of a secret Prohibition-era beer cellar, a peek at an amazing collection of brew-related memorabilia and an investigation into a topic that has long divided wine sippers and beer quaffers: Which beverage goes best with cheese? Cheers! (To order, go to shopPBS.org)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

posted on: 11/8/2009

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