Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - (Page 22) REVIEWS Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com I POPE DREAMS Street 8/26 PorchLight, Drama, $24.98 DVD, NR. Stars Phillip Vaden, Stephen Tobolowsky, Julie Hagerty, Noel Fisher. A I THE LITTLE MERMAID: ARIEL’S BEGINNING Street 8/26 Disney, Animated, $29.99 DVD, NR. Voices of Jodi Benson, Samuel Wright, Sally Field, Parker Goris. T his peek at the little mermaid’s earliest life is a Freudian analyst’s dream. The seeds of all of Ariel’s later passions, obsessions and even her little neuroses can be traced to the events dramatized in this direct-to-video prequel. Once they were one big happy amphibious family. King Triton, Queen Athena and their seven daughters were the underwater equivalent of the Kennedys, ruling over a soggy version of Camelot. But when evil pirates murder Athena, Triton gives in to his grief and anger. He decrees that there will be no more music in his kingdom. One day Ariel secretly follows Flounder to a club where music is celebrated and all manner of fish and crustaceans boogie down. Unfortunately, Ariel is not the only secret visitor. The scheming nanny Marina, who seems to be Ursula’s evil grandmother, also follows the singing scofflaws to their secret after-hours club. Disc extras include deleted scenes, which are distinguished by director Peggy Holmes, who explains why the three clips did not make the film’s final cut. Four of the film’s songs are given the music video treatment and can be played with lyrics, subtitled along the bottom of the screen. The “Mermaid Discovery Vanity Game” is an interactive feature that allows users to look at items on each of the princess’ vanities. “Splashdance” is a making-of documentary in which the director talks about the challenges and rewards of directing an animated feature. Also included is a backstage look at Disney’s Broadway production of The Little Mermaid. The original animated film set a pretty high bar for animated musicals, and this film does not rise to that lofty level. Still, it is appealing and will certainly please its target audience. – Anne Sherber coming-of-age story as interested in a little sass and rock ‘n’ roll as much as heart and soul, Pope Dreams, written and directed by Patrick Hogan, is an effective and genuinely moving dramedy likely to appeal to multiple age groups. Newcomer Phillip Vaden stars as Andy, a 19-year-old, hard-rocking drummer whose soft-spoken personality is a contrast to the driving musical beat he provides. Perhaps Andy uses drumming as a way to escape from some of his real-life problems. His beloved mother, played by Julie Haggerty, is dying, and Andy is desperate to find a way to send his mother to the Vatican — her long-cherished dream — before she dies. I 3 LITTLE WONDERS Street 8/26 Passion River, Children’s, $19.95 DVD, NR. T his new entry into the burgeoning early childhood video category is a series of three shorts that focus on stimulating baby’s primary senses. In each of the three segments, two of which are largely wordless and brightly colored, images slowly dissolve to illustrate a central theme. The first, “Baby’s Stroll Through Nature,” includes lovely, live-action pictures of the flora and fauna that one might see on a nature walk, with colors so saturated they appear to be watercolor paintings. Occasionally, viewers catch a glimpse of baby sneakers peeking out of a stroller, but the segment is meant to mimic the perspective that a baby might animation, musical instruments become sources of fanciful wonder. And in “Wheel Time Express,” the third segment, all manner of wheels spin soothingly, including tires of motorcycles, spinning wheels, Ferris wheels, potter’s wheels and trains. All three segments are accompanied by music both familiar and original. The video will captivate babies as its brightly colored images move slowly from one to the next. The have as he or she is wheeled along music is calming and rhythmic. And on a family nature walk. each segment focuses on aspects of In the second segment, “Cellos, baby’s world that he or she will find Bassoons and Musical Toons,” delightful. which combines live action and – Anne Sherber Andy also is dealing with pressure from his father, played by Stephen Tobolowsky, who wishes his son were a little more ambitious. Meanwhile, Andy finds a possible unexpected romance in the form of Brady (Marnette Patterson), a beautiful young woman who wasn’t expecting to become involved with someone like Andy, but finds herself in an opposites-attract situation. Throw in a discovery of Andy’s music talents by Broadway producers, and Andy’s life is filled quickly with surprises both good and bad. Pope Dreams is smarter and livelier than most early-adult coming-of-age stories, with strong dialogue and a willingness and ability to travel from comedic to serious — not always easy. It’s helped by a nice performance from Vaden, alternately beleaguered and bedazzled as the struggling but ever-hopeful Andy. Also, veteran character actors Haggerty and Tobolowsky provide weight and their usual solid skills. – Dan Bennett 22 Home Media Magazine August 24–30, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 Contents News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News TV DVD Fourth Quarter/Holiday Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Contents (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Contents (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Fourth Quarter/Holiday (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Fourth Quarter/Holiday (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Fourth Quarter/Holiday (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Fourth Quarter/Holiday (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Reviews (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 33) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 34) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 35) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 36) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - August 24, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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