Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio

Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio Review

This DVD Documentary on the FAB FIVE'S greatest album of all time....RIO....is a must have for all DURANIES!!! I'll admit, my first one had the "skipping" issues and flaws (bought it at Virgin Megastore), but once I purchased it through Amazon, I had no further problems! It is such a wonderful "look back" at a great album (my personal favorite out of all their albums). The guys look great and give some wonderful insight to the songs and the music. My only "down side" to the disc was that they did not discuss every song on the album(apparently for time purposes). Two of my favorites that were not discussed were "Lonely in your Nightmare" and "Last Chance on the Stairway". I guess since they were not "hits', they were passed by. To bad....those are great songs! But, the disc is wonderful and it is loaded with alot of information and history that every Duranie can their teeth into! So buy it and enjoy.........I love mine!!!! Bye...Donna "RHO" Rasco/Yucaipa, CA

Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio Overview

This latest addition to the acclaimed Classic Albums series takes us to the early eighties and the release of Duran Duran's second album "Rio". Released against a backdrop of riots, record unemployment and the Falklands War this optimistic and celebratory album would generate a string of hit singles and groundbreaking videos and catapult Duran Duran to global stardom. This DVD tells the story behind the writing, recording and subsequent success of the album through newly filmed interviews, musical demonstrations and both new and archive performances.

TRACK LISTING: Features excerpts from: Rio, My Own Way, Hungry Like The Wolf, New Religion, Save A Prayer, The Chauffeur & more...

Bonus Features: Brand new session performances filmed in Boston especially for this DVD of: 1) Save A Prayer 2) The Chauffeur 3) New Religion 4) Hungry Like The Wolf 5) Rio. Additional interviews and demonstrations not included in the broadcast version.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 01, 2010 01:40:05

Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection) Review

First let me say that I like this movie. I'm British by birth so I am duty bound to deduct one star for the most unsuccessful attempt at a British accent ever to be immortalized on film. It shows how much the standard of acting has improved when you hear the flawless British accents of actors like Rene Zellweiger or Johnny Depp. Dick Van Dyke simply can't do a British accent and should never have been cast in the part. There was a British actor/singer at the time called Tommy Steele, who already had an impressive stage and screen resume and who would have been perfect in the role. However, he was overlooked for the bigger name (in the US) of Van Dyke. Ironically, Julie Andrews was passed over a year earlier for the movie of 'My Fair Lady' for the non-singing, but better-known, Audrey Hepburn (whose cockney accent was almost as bad as Van Dyke's). Andrews showed what a mistake that was by winning an Oscar for this film. However, that quibble aside, this is a joyous, entrancing movie.

The funny thing I referred to in the title of this review is that in most movie adaptations of books, like say the Harry Potter series, angry reviewers spend much time and energy complaining that the movies don't follow the books. Hardly anyone (I did find one such review) says that about 'Mary Poppins', even though the movie bears little resemblance to the book and, in particular, the character of Mary Poppins is completely changed.

Personally, I've never felt that movie adaptations need to follow the books on which they were based. Movies are a totally different medium and the only criterion should be whether the movie works as a movie. In that respect, 'Mary Poppins' works admirably.

Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection) Overview

There is only one word that comes close to accurately describing the enchanting Mary Poppins, and that term was coined by the movie itself: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even at 2 hours and 20 minutes, Disney's pioneering mixture of live action and animation (based on the books by P.L. Travers) still holds kids spellbound. Julie Andrews won an Oscar as the world's most magically idealized nanny ("practically perfect in every way," and complete with lighter-than-air umbrella), and Dick Van Dyke is her clownishly charming beau, Bert the chimney sweep. The songs are also terrific, ranging from bright and cheery ("A Spoonful of Sugar") to dark and cheery (the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee") to touchingly melancholy ("Feed the Birds"). Many consider Mary Poppins to be the crowning achievement of Walt Disney's career--and it was the only one of his features to be nominated for a best picture Academy Award until Beauty and the Beast in 1991. --Jim Emerson

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 29, 2010 11:40:06

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Review

I was spellbound by this when I got it. Great archvial footage, interviews with the band, and just a great look at their transformation from Anthem of the Sun to American Beauty (hence the title). Includes live footage, studio footage, and them talking about track layers, and how a lot of the songs came together (including Robert Hunter talking about his inspiration with a lot of classic songs). I especially loved when Robert Hunter talked about going to London for the first time and the songs that came from his first few hours there (hint: Ripple is one of them!) Pick this up, light up and kick back. Heartwarming.

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Overview

The Grateful Dead are a unique phenomenon. One of the most successful live touring bands in the world, their longevity is founded on their desire to play music their way, coupled with an extraordinarily close relationship to their huge following. From Anthem to Beauty tells the story of the band and their journey from the experimental "Anthem of the Sun" (recorded in 1967/1968) to the accessible, countryish "American Beauty." It is told in the band's own words and includes a rare interview with lyricist Robert Hunter. The film also features a wealth of rare vintage film footage of the Grateful Dead in their prime, including television appearances, home videos, and classic recordings like "Ripple," "Box of Rain," "Truckin'," and "Mountains of the Moon," and it all adds up to a riveting portrait of one of the rock world's most controversial bands. 75 minutes.

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Specifications

This installment of the Classic Albums series follows the making of two Grateful Dead albums, the fiercely experimental Anthem of the Sun and the understated masterwork American Beauty, which spawned melodic gems like "Sugar Magnolia" and "Ripple." Between the archival scenes and contemporary interviews with band members, the DVD shows a band making seismic inroads in pop music--and five young guys coming to terms with artistry, mortality, and, yes, the pursuit of happiness. There is priceless footage of Neal Cassady driving Ken Kesey's bus and of the Dead, surrounded by martini-sipping hipsters, on Playboy After Dark. The best scenes involve band members talking about specific songs (you will never hear Phil Lesh's "Box of Rain" again without thinking of it as a gift to his dying father) or deconstructing a tune by playing each track separately. Intimate and surprisingly cohesive, Anthem to Beauty is a rare glimpse into how the Dead's magic was made. --Anne Hurley

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 16, 2010 15:20:10