The Princess and the Pea (DVD) A gorgeous Russian version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA tells the tale of a young prince's difficult quest for love. hard-pressed to find a wife who is not vain and overdelicate, the prince devises a secret test for all of the princesses in the kingdom. Directed by Boris Rytsarev and starring Alisa Frejndlikh and Andrei Podoshyan, this 1976 production is lush and romantic.
Directing: Boris Rytsarev
Stay Tuned (DVD) Letterboxed A hilarious look at contemporary television hits in a series of satirical sketches, with titles like Sadistic Hidden Videos, Northern Overexposure, Thirtysomething-To-Life, Golden Ghouls, and Beverly Hills 90666. ...A hilarious look at contemporary television hits in a series of satirical sketches, with titles like Sadistic Hidden Videos, Northern Overexposure, Thirtysomething-To-Life, Golden Ghouls, and Beverly Hills 90666.
Directing: Peter Hyams
ACTORS: John Ritter, Pam Dawber, Eugene Levy, Salt-N-Pepa
Devil's Advocate (DVD) Promising young lawyer Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) has never lost a case--even when his client is guilty. When Kevin is seduced away from his sleepy hometown in Florida to work for a flashy, charming lawyer (Al Pacino, in a role he seems born to play), his mother (Judith Ivey) has reservations. But as he works his way up the corporate ladder, Kevin manages to put them aside, along with his wife's (Charlize Theron) needs and the stirrings of his conscience over knowingly defending the guilty. However, his vanity won't let him start losing now. As Kevin's career skyrockets, his neglected wife Mary Ann begins to see evil, violent visions. Hoping a visit from his mother will help, instead Kevin finds himself confronted with a secret his mother has never told him. As Mary Ann seemingly descends into madness, Kevin begins to suspect his boss may be much more than he seems, and he finds himself faced with a choice between saving his own life and saving his soul. Thought-provoking, inventive, and entertaining, director Taylor Hackford's film is reminiscent of psychological horror films like ROSEMARY'S BABY. Andrzej Bartkowiak's lush, innovative cinematography complements the smart script and dead-on acting.
Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory DVD Vol. 2 (DVD) Taking place in UC 0083, this iteration of the GUNDAM series, a 13 part OAV, is one of the best; it retains the characteristics of its predecessors while giving the series a more modern look and a larger scope. In these episodes, Federation pilot Kou Uraki is hot on the trail of the stolen Gundam, piloted by Zeon's ace, Anavel Gato. Unfortunately, Kou's pursuit ends in defeat, a defeat that brings him into contact with a former Zeon soldier who becomes his mentor.
Chance Pop: Session 1 (DVD) At a concert given by a renowned young product of an illustrious music school, three young girls meet and share their passion for music and their idol. Determined to become stars as well, the girls enroll in their idol's university and are brought together when each are put in a special class for those who are especially talented. Now determined more than ever to join together to achieve success, the girls face the rigors of school and the social life that comes with it hoping they can stay together long enough to propel each other into superstardom.
Father of the Bride (DVD) The comic trials and tribulations that beset a family, mostly the father, prior to their daughter's wedding day. Taylor and Tracy give wonderful performances and it's easy to understand why this was remade in 1991. The colorized version doesn't add much. Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Picture, Best Actor-Spencer Tracy, Best Screenplay.
Directing: Vincente Minnelli
ACTORS: Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Billie Burke, Don Taylor
