Salaam "Bombay Dreams"

Salaam "Bombay Dreams" Review

This is an excellent DVD if you accept what it is: the DVD extras without the show. There are several of the musical numbers, but it is about the genesis of the show, it is not the show itself. I missed the actual show when it came through and, having watched this, I am very disappointed. I am equally disappointed that it seems to be playing nowhere in the world, and that the book (mentioned in the interviews) does not seem to be available either. I ordered the CD Bombay Dreams (2002 Original London Cast) as a result of this and look forward to watching more Bollywood releases.

Salaam "Bombay Dreams" Overview

In June 2002, London’s West End was taken by storm when Andrew Lloyd Webber presented a new musical phenomenon – AR Rahman’s Bombay Dreams. This lavish and breathtaking production which combines the glamour of the movies, heart-aching romance and epic spectacle, won the acclaim of audiences and critics alike. It was labelled as London’s "hottest most exotic new musical", "one of the wonders of the West End" and "the best musical since The Phantom of the Opera".

Salaam Bombay Dreams is an exclusive and exciting look behind the scenes of the musical and includes footage and interviews with the team behind this spectacular epic. From Madras and Mumbai, to London, you can follow the producer, the creative team and the cast as they bring together this lavish production. Glimpse into the world of phenomenal Indian composer AR Rahman, of magnificent sets, glittering costumes, inspirational choreography, superb script writing and brilliant lyrics.

From rehearsal to opening night and a Gala Performance with a visit by Her Majesty the Queen, Salaam Bombay Dreams also features the sights and sounds of the show providing a fascinating journey through this Bollywood musical hit.

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Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni Review

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Quest for Camelot / Cats Don't Dance

Quest for Camelot / Cats Don't Dance Review

I purchased this DVD for the movie Cats Don't Dance but my nephew liked Quest for Camalot too. Cat's Don't Dance had an original plot and nice animation. Both are great for younger children.

Quest for Camelot / Cats Don't Dance Overview

Your quest for family entertainment is fulfilled! A young girl who wonders why only boys can become Knights of the Round Table proves her heroism as she joins a blind hermit and a hilarious two-headed dragon on a journey to recover King Arthur's magical sword, Excalibur. Frederik Du Chau (Racing Stripes) directs Quest for Camelot (Disc 1), with voices by Cary Elwes, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, Eric Idle and more. A star-struck feline steps out to become a dancer in 1930s movies in Cats Don't Dance (Disc 2), a romp that's part Hollywood salute, part wisecracking comedy and part paw-tapping musical. Mark Dindal (Chicken Little) guides this imaginative funfest featuring songs by Randy Newman and voice

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The Beatles - Help!

The Beatles - Help! Review

When I watch this movie (again), I remember how I loved the Beatles in the 60's. The plot is inane, the music is classic Beatles, and the Beatles play themselves. Leo McKern (later Rumpole of the Bailey) was hilarious in this film. When my grandchildren, who are ages 6 and 9 come for an overnight stay, they love to watch this movie with me. The 9 year old is now a true Beatles fan - the 3rd generation!
Watch this movie again just for fun and remember the good times in the 60's.

The Beatles - Help! Overview

After the worldwide success of A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles and director Richard Lester reunited for a follow-up film, Eight Arms to Hold You. Well, that wasn't the final title; a pleading Lennon-McCartney tune provided the catchier handle: Help! A loose semispoof of the globe-trotting James Bond pictures, Help! has always been considered a somewhat disorganized comedown from its predecessor; but it presents "the famous Beatles" even more clearly as the English cousins of the Marx Brothers. The plot has an Eastern religious cult declaring that the new ring on Ringo's finger is the key element in a human sacrifice; they will stop at nothing to obtain it. Meanwhile, a mad scientist (crazed Victor Spinetti, who also appeared in A Hard Day's Night and Magical Mystery Tour) believes that if he has the ring, he could--dare we say it?--rule the world. The songs, including "Ticket to Ride" and "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," are filmed with gleeful ingenuity, in locations such as the Bahamas, an Austrian ski resort, and the Salisbury Plain. The relentless nonsense becomes nearly the equivalent of a swinging-'60s Alice in Wonderland: for instance, Paul shrinks to the size of a gum wrapper, John fishes a season ticket out of his soup, George wears a top hat on the ski slopes, the lads sing the "Ode to Joy" to a lion. Oh, and the film is dedicated to Elias Howe, "who in 1846 invented the sewing machine." Brilliant. --Robert Horton

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Mozart - Famous String Quartets / Gewandhaus Quartet

Mozart - Famous String Quartets / Gewandhaus Quartet Review

Recorded for the recent "24hours Mozart" broadcast celebration of his 250th birthday, this excellent DVD presents 3 major Mozart string quartets along with the ever popular Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Watching this EuroArts DVD reminded me that there are great stylistic differences inevitably imposed by geography on the performance of Classical and Romantic era music. Listening to the Emerson Quartet play two of these quartets, for example, one hears forceful, analytic Mozart. Not inauthentic, just different: Mozart for the New World, perhaps. Listening to the Hagen Quartet play another one of these quartets, on the other hand, one hears a more ambiguous, lyrical Mozart with darker hues in the strings. The Gewandhaus-Quartett are in the latter category. Their Mozart is lyrical, laid-back, somewhat blithe, emotionally ambiguous with darkness at the edges. This seems to be a Mittel Europa style, perhaps a true Mozartean style born of two centuries of experience with this glorious music.

These performances were filmed 11-13 May 2005 in the beautiful Baroque castle of Rammenau in Saxony. The Gewandhaus-Quartett are certainly poised to provide a "true" Mozartean performance style. Amazingly, they are the longest continually active string quartet in existence. There has been a Gewandhaus-Quartett in Leipzig since 1809, and since the 1838-39 season it has been an official adjunct of the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra. The present line-up hasn't been together quite that long. Rather, they have been performing together since 1993.

The program begins with one of the two "Haydn Quartets" that are presented on this disc: the string quartet no.19 in C Major K.465 "Dissonance". This is followed by the string quartet no.21 in D Major K.575, the first "Prussian" quartet, composed for the cello playing King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, who had commissioned six quartets following his introduction to Mozart in April 1789 by Prince Karl von Lichnowsky. Next on the program is the Serenade in G Major K.525, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik". Finally, first of the "Haydn Quartets", string quartet no.14 in G Major K.387 "Spring". It is a well chosen program of Mozart's finest quartets. I've watched this disc many times and I never tire of this sublime musique du chambre. The Gewandhaus-Quartett seem to hit all the right buttons, emphasizing the lyricism as well as emotional ambiguity and drama that is the hallmark of Mozart's finest mature work. If you have any interest in Mozart's string quartets, or if you desire a good introduction to the glorious music that awaits you, this disc is a fine place to start.

The picture format of this DVD is NTSC with a region code of 0 worldwide. The film is shot in 16/9 anamorphic widescreen and looks beautiful. The sound formats available are PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 Digital Surround. The DTS 5.1 sounds crystalline with rich presence and superb spatial localization of the strings. The Dolby 5.1, slightly less focused is nonetheless equally present and clear. PCM stereo is also excellent, though obviously less spatially deep. There are the usual menus. Extras include a short photo documentary about the recording: Behind the Scenes. Running time of this disc is 102 minutes.

This is an excellent DVD of some of the finest string quartets ever composed. I enjoy this disc immensely. Very strongly recommended for everyone, especially for lovers of Mozart and chamber music.

Mike Birman

Mozart - Famous String Quartets / Gewandhaus Quartet Overview

W A MOZART:FAMOUS STRING QTS - DVD Movie

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Savage Garden - Superstars And Cannonballs: Live And On Tour In Australia

Savage Garden - Superstars And Cannonballs: Live And On Tour In Australia Review

Taken from the Brisbane concert on the Affirmation World Tour of 2000, "Superstars and Cannonballs" captures the amazing energy of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones onstage as well as behind-the-scenes. The very complete concert portion features a mix of songs from Savage Garden (Break Me Shake Me, I Want You, Santa Monica, To The Moon And Back, Truly Madly Deeply) and Affirmation (The Best Thing, The Lover After Me, Hold Me, Two Beds and a Coffee Machine, Crash and Burn, You Can Still Be Free, The Animal Song, Gunning Down Romance, Chained To You, I Knew I Loved You, Affirmation), clocking in at a hefty 110 minutes. The concert can be played all the way through or you can select individual songs.

Also included is the band's commentary, displayed via a pop-up window in the lower right-hand corner of the screen regarding their feelings on the new songs from Affirmation, three music videos (two studio versions of Crash and Burn and I Knew I Loved You and a concert montage of Affirmation), several multi-angle songs, a discography, and the intriguing documentary "Parallel Lives" that traces Savage Garden's roots in Brisbane (Darren revisits his childhood home with original carpet and fence), life on the road, the price of fame, and silly moments with the band. We see Darren at press conferences and meet and greets, and it's clear from both Darren and Daniel how much their fans mean to them personally and not just as (Australian) dollar signs.

Special mention goes to the awesome title menu. So often, boring, static backgrounds are used, but there is a minute-long animation of fascinating imagery (Russian religious icons, tribal sculptures, botanical prints) that introduces the DVD and the concert itself. The concert is beautifully photographed as well, with the mind-boggling lighting and special effects. A real treat for Savage Garden fans and anyone looking for those elusive "Finally, a concert DVD done justice!" moments.

Savage Garden - Superstars And Cannonballs: Live And On Tour In Australia Overview

SUPERSTARS & CANNONBALLS:LIVE & ON TO - DVD Movie

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The Music Never Ends (Two-Disc Special Edition)

The Music Never Ends (Two-Disc Special Edition) Review

Wow! Though i wasn't a big fan of this style of music i can't help but be blown away by this man's amazing vocal range. The older i get the more i appreciate talent and here is one that is loaded with it. He is a living example and pattern for all other singers to watch and listen and learn from. This DVD is lovingly directed by one of my favorites Clint Eastwood and it shows beautifully the almost magical talent and charismatic charm of Bennett as he proves that he's one of our greatest singers even at 80 and still going strong. This DVD is as warm and inviting as a fireplace on a cold night and this crooner deserves all the accolades he gets and like fine wine and time he has truly stood the test and God has definatley smiled down on Tony Bennett, just watch this concert/interview film for living proof.

The Music Never Ends (Two-Disc Special Edition) Overview

Brings together rarely seen archival clips, exclusive new performance footage of Tony's Monterey Jazz Festival premiere and revealing conversations with interviewer Clint Eastwood. The two legendary entertainers share an easy on-screen rapport as they reflect on the singer's life and career. Woven together masterfully by director Bruce Ricker, the film brings Tony Bennett's warmth, heart and soul to the screen just as he brings it to each of his songs.

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