Home Media Magazine - September 16-22, 2007 - (Page 22)

The new name in breakthrough films Available 9-25-07 REVIEWS www.homemediamagazine.com The American Dream Indian style Kas Lalani's flight touches down in Bombay. His cell phone is ringing off the hook.The CEO of a small British outsourcing firm, he is working hard to cash in on the global gold rush of telemarketing jobs from the West. Bombay provides him with access to well-educated, English-speaking youths eager to get ahead and willing to sacrifice almost anything to do it. For their efforts, they are paid more money than their parents ever dreamed of earning. And they spend it, frequenting a new brand of all-night discos that cater to their unusual office hours. Bonus Options: Directors' audio commentary; India concert; Filmmakers' bios. In English with French subtitles option. I DREAMS TO REMEMBER: THE LEGACY OF OTIS REDDING Street 9/18 I DEATH PROOF Street 9/18 Genius/Weinstein, Action, B.O. $25 million, $29.95 two-DVD set, Unrated. Stars Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Jordan Ladd, Vanessa Ferlito, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zoe Bell. Dramatic Footage of an Epic Expedition Being Caribou is a compelling film by a husband and wife of their five-month, 1000mile, trek from the central Yukon to coastal Alaska and back as they follow the Porcupine caribou herd. The couple, environmentalist Leanne Allison and wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer, follow the caribou through a wild and remote landscape, skiing across mountains, swimming icy rivers and traveling through swarms of mosquitoes.They encounter grizzly bears, wolves and other wildlife. Hunger, fatigue, and pain, as well as awe-inspiring beauty are part of both their journey and the film. Awards: Winner of over a dozen awards, including the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Grand Prize. emme-fueled powerhouse or gratuitous, misogynistic misfire? The jury’s still out on Death Proof, one half of the Grindhouse film duet between Death Proof director Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror). This DVD release, expanded with scenes cut to accommodate the double theatrical bill, should fuel both sides of the argument. Death Proof follows sociopath Stuntman Mike (Russell), who preys upon pretty young things with a souped-up stunt car capable of dealing death unto others while protecting its driver. Mike is addicted to the thrill of the chase-and-kill, and who better to follow than helpless young women? Of course, that simplistic set-up could describe any horror flick, most of which unequivocally subjugate women. Not so with Tarantino’s film. As in Kill Bill, Tarantino’s girls are smart, feisty and full of surprises. A previously cut scene shows vulnerable “Butterfly” (Ferlito) give Mike a different kind of thrill ride with a se- F ductive (though chaste) lap dance that feels like a revelation rather than superfluous, adding depth to her character. Death Proof still hits some potholes. The dialogue, especially in the film’s second half, lacks the ferocious realism that made a film like Reservoir Dogs such a hoot. You can only hear Rosario Dawson and company talk about making out with boys while name-dropping the film Vanishing Point so many times before you wonder if Tarantino has lost his touch. But despite issues, the film keeps your head spinning for days. Take the central murder scene. It’s shocking, given a quick plot turn, and to top it off, nauseatingly grisly. So why do you immediately want to watch it again? The second disc of this release allows Tarantino to talk up his collaborators, many of whom are strong women he keenly admires. The best feature shows the actors saying hello to editor Sally Menke in different scenes of the film, as she first sits down to edit Tarantino’s glorious mess. One featurette includes a brief sequence in an airport that isn’t in the final film. A director’s cut of Planet Terror hits Oct. 16. Conspicuously absent in both releases are the theatrical parody trailers, indicating a future Grindhouse release may be forthcoming. — Billy Gil Stax, Music, $14.98 DVD, NR. $ 14.98 MSRP Call: (866) 410-9000 ive me them church chords.” What a moment it must have been — sitting there at the piano hearing unknown Otis Redding sing “These Arms of Mine” in a studio for the first time after uttering those words. Guitarist and co-songwriter Steve Cropper, then at the piano, describes Redding’s soulladen voice as making his hairs stand up six inches off his arms. Cut down in the very prime of his recording career at 26 in a tragic plane crash that claimed most of his backing band, Redding’s brief but thrilling story is one of the greatest in rock ‘n’ roll or soul — wherever you place him. Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding, a poignant documentary on Otis’ life, effectively and often beautifully reveals this story, rightly focusing on interviews with key figures in his life and surviving performance reels. Because his wife, fellow musicians and friends are allowed to speak so freely, and because Redding emanated such charismatic, positive energy — in his songs and in life — the documentary is a refreshing change from the typical “drugs, sex and ruin” story to which “Behind the Music” has inured us. Whether unveiling rare concert footage, such as a Cleveland performance filmed less than 24 hours before his death, or offering impassioned retellings of the singer’s incredibly influential life, Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding is a must for any fan of soul, rock n’ roll or R&B. “G — J.R. Wick 22 Home Media Magazine September 16–22, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - September 16-22, 2007

Contents News Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Christian Entertainment Review

Home Media Magazine - September 16-22, 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.