Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - (Page 12) REVIEWS BLU-RAY SPOTLIGHT I SCENIC NATIONAL PARKS: YOSEMITE Street 9/16 Questar, Documentary, $27.99 Blu-ray, NR. Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com Halmi Sr. and writer Simon Moore adds a framing device that involves Gulliver (Danson, barely attempting a British accent) returning home and being put in a mental hospital for telling his fantastic stories. This leads to a subplot about a rivalry with another doctor over the affections of Gulliver’s wife (Steenburgen). Much of the allegory Swift embedded into his original story was swept aside in the translation in favor of the spectacle, and the insane asylum storyline pretty much reduces the Gulliver character from dynamic explorer to passive observer. In aiming for the creation of a timeless, sweeping adventure, the screenplay loses some of its teeth. So the miniseries is still as vibrant as it was 12 years ago, but it may have been more interesting had the script attempted to modernize some of the satire to fit contemporary issues (which deep down aren’t really that different from Swift’s day). This special-edition DVD version adds a couple of behind-the-scenes tidbits made during the original production. One is a standard making-of featurette. The other is an extended interview with Omar Sharif, who at one point compares the scope of the production with Doctor Zhivago. – John Latchem I ’ve never been to Yosemite, but after watching this documentary on the spectacular national park, I feel like I’ve been there. That’s the magic of Blu-ray — and the reason big-box retailers focus on sports programming or natural wonder when showing content on their HDTV displays. The 1080p (1.33:1 aspect ratio) picture quality is flawless and makes you feel like you’re there looking at El Capitan or Half Dome. And the 5.1 surround sound brings Yosemite Falls to life. For a documentary there’s a nice blend of sounds to add life to the scenic imagery. This documentary serves two purposes. If you haven’t been to the park yet, it offers great recommendations for where to stay. There’s also an amusing segment on the park’s bear population and how to keep your food away from these intelligent creatures. In addition, the doc maps out the key attractions and delves into some history on John Muir and Ansel Adams. But if you’ve already experienced the majesty of this natural wonder, this disc is a great keepsake of the highlights of the park. This Blu-ray is actually a pair of documentaries. The second is Wild National Parks, which focuses on the wild creatures that inhabit national parks from Alaska’s Katmai to Arizona’s Montezuma’s Castle. Like Yosemite, the 1080p visuals make you feel like you’re there — and in this case, you don’t want to ever be this close to grizzlies or rattlesnakes. It’s a great buy and a wonderful way to prepare for a visit or remember your experience. – John Gaudiosi I GULLIVER’S TRAVELS Street 9/9 Genius, Adventure, $14.95 DVD, NR. Stars Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Peter O’Toole, Alfre Woodard, Omar Sharif. W hen it debuted in 1996, Gulliver’s Travels was among the most expensive miniseries ever produced. A joint production of the Jim Henson Co. and RHI Entertainment, the epic was one of the few adaptations of Jonathan Swift’s 18th century adventure novel to attempt to portray all four subplots of the story. Most versions simply make do with Gulliver’s encounter with the miniature Lilliputians. The version put forth by executive producer Robert I PETER COOK AND DUDLEY MOORE: THE BEST OF … WHAT’S LEFT OF … NOT ONLY … BUT ALSO … Street 9/9 BBC Video, Comedy, $24.98 DVD, NR. Stars Peter Cook, Dudley Moore. I 12 n the mid-1960s, Dudley Moore was hired to do a BBC show that highlighted his musical talents. After one appearance by Moore’s longtime friend Peter Cook, things quickly morphed into the variety show “Not Only But Also.” Sadly, after three seasons, the BBC erased the show from its lineup, as well as some of its master tapes, which was the practice at the time. The network has taken “what’s left” of the series and put out this 170minute release. The one-disc collection includes six episodes, which showcase a lot of the duo’s drymartini-soaked style. It also features a funny, funky cameo from the late John Lennon. There’s plenty of music here, intertwined with wacky sketches, which include the duo’s Pete and Dud and “Superthunderstingcar.” With some similarities to “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” the end result is more a Monty Python musical set to jazz. Aside from pairing up for the 1967 cult hit Bedazzled, the two eventually scored individual big-screen success. Of course, Moore went on to somewhere between the moon and New York City (in 1981’s Arthur) and even scored himself a 10 with Bo Derek. Cook also went on to star in several big-screen projects but is probably best known for his brief scene-stealing role in The Princess Bride. Fans of both actors, as well as classic BBC humor, will surely enjoy this unearthed gem. There’s also a great featurette titled “Success Story: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore,” a nice homage to both of the late comedians. – Rachel Cericola Home Media Magazine September 7–13, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 News Tweens Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 7, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Tweens (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Tweens (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - September 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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