The Italian Connection - La Mala Ordina

Quentin Tarantino’s legacy in Hollywood is not only for his movies, “Pulp Fiction” certainly being his most famous. He is also responsible for resurrecting the careers of some actors (e.g. John Travolta, Pam Grier, Robert Forster), and for recreating characters from movies that influenced him. One of them is a tour-de-force by the name of “The Italian Connection” (La Mala Ordina), an almost forgotten jewel from the Italian cinema of the seventies, directed by legendary Fernando Di Leo, now available in a glorious Blu-ray edition.

The film stars Henry Silva and Woody Strode as Dave Catania and Frank Webster, respectively, two New York hit men that are hired by Corso (Cyril Cusack) to kill Luca Canali (Mario Adorf). Luca is a pimp in Milan who has been wrongly accused of stealing a shipment of heroin. Corso tells Catania and Webster that Canali shall be killed in such a way that “the whole Milan will talk about it; the whole of Italy must talk about it.” So, off they go, the two assassins for hire, where they will try to find and kill poor Canali.

Once in Italy, Catania and Webster are welcomed by Eva Lalli (Luciana Paluzzi), who was ordered by Corso to assist them in anyway she can. They quickly meet crime boss Don Vito Tressoldi (veteran actor Adolfo Celi, from James Bond’s “Thunderball”), who says that he can get Canali for them. Canali, on the other hand, despite being a pimp, is a likable character, very popular in the neighborhood – you really like the guy. However, he manages to avoid the hit men, and in doing so, his good nature slowly vanishes, and his desperation gives away to the worst of him, which he will need to survive. Tressoldi’s ineptitude in capturing Canali makes Catania and Webster tell him that he has “some jerks” working for him, and that “only dickheads hire jerks.” Tressoldi, on the other hand, likes to say that “if a man needs his mother’s prayers, he’s useless.” It is said that Quentin Tarantino used Catania and Webster as reference for his two hit men (Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson) in “Pulp Fiction.” That is clearly the case, as Catania is white and Webster is black, and both have different ways of looking at life.

“The Italian Connection” is a drama, spiked with great humor, making it fun to watch. I can say that I missed many of these movies in the seventies, because I was watching Edwige Fenech’s sexy movies instead. And I’m sorry about this, because Fernando Di Leo’s films, in addition to being action-packed, are also loaded with great nudity, which is the case of “The Italian Connection.” In addition, I shall mention that it is always a pleasure to watch Henry Silva, who is almost forgotten by US audiences. Furthermore, the Blu-ray edition is simply awesome, with the colors looking sharp as any of today’s films, and it includes the documentary “Alle Origini della Mala,” director’s biography and filmography, improved subtitles, and more. “The Italian Connection” is part of the fantastic “Fernando Di Leo: The Italian Crime Collection,” which also features gorgeous Blu-ray editions of “Caliber Nine”(1972), “The Boss [Wipeout!]” (1973) and “Rulers of the City” (1976), as well as an informative booklet about the director. (Italy, 1972, color, 100 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on January 30, 2012. Raro Video Blu-ray

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The Piano

I have to begin by stressing that “The Piano” is a really well-made movie in every sense. With good reason it was nominated for eight Oscars, earning three, as well as receiving 27 nominations and 58 wins in other circles. Now, after quite some wait, this magnificent film is available in its Blu-ray edition. And what a delight to the eyes it is!

Holly Hunter plays Ada McGrath, a mute woman who moved to New Zealand, with Flora (Anna Paquin), her young daughter. She is meeting Alistair Stewart (Sam Neill), her new husband from an arranged marriage. Once arriving to the island, she is left at the beach with Flora, their few belongings, and her piano. However, when Alistair arrives to pick her up, he informs her that they will not be able to take the piano with them, because the house is deep inside, and they can not transport it through the jungle. This breaks Ada’s heart, for the piano is her most valued material possession.

Once at their home, Ada, for some reason, doesn’t have chemistry with her husband – maybe because of the piano –, and they have trouble consummating the marriage. Enter George Baines (Harvey Keitel), one of Alistair’s workers at the plantation, who goes to the beach, picks the piano, carries it with some guys through the jungle, and takes it to his house. This action makes Ada happy, but George takes advantage of the situation, by telling her that she can have the piano back if she teaches him how to play it. Of course, George has something else in mind, and, as you can imagine, there will be trouble in paradise.

“The Piano” is a beautiful movie to watch. It has lush cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh; excellent acting, which resulted in Oscars for Hunter (Best Actress) and Paquin (Best Supporting actress); great directing by Jane Campion (who won an Oscar for Best Screenplay written for the Screen); and awesome production design by Andrew McAlpine. Of course, we already now that Anna Paquin stole the movie – her charm is just mesmerizing. This is one Blu-ray to have. (Australia / New Zealand, France, 1993, color, 120 min). Reviewed on January 30, 2012. Miramax – Lionsgate Blu-ray

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The Double

Richard Gere is certainly one of the good old time movie stars that we still have around. His career has had ups and downs, and I don’t know how he will be judged in cinema’s history. But he has a charisma that is difficult to ignore, and you wish he could reach greater heights. This is what I felt when I watched “The Double,” an electrifying and intriguing film that will keep you glued to your seat until the very end.

The film opens with the assassination of US Senator Dennis Darden (Ed Kelly), who we briefly see earlier on TV arguing with another senator about Russia’s resurgence. We then meet Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA agent who is an expert on an extremely dangerous Russian spy by the codename of Cassius, who is suspected to be the senator’s assassin. Shepherdson is informed by Tom Highland (Martin Sheen) that he will be partnered with Ben Geary (Topher Grace), who happens to be an FBI expert on Cassius, too. Shepherdson objects this decision, because Geary’s experience on Cassius is only on paper, and he doesn’t have the instinct to read or understand the soviet assassin. After a while, as you probably guessed, they get to work together. But that is when the story takes a quick turn, and we very early get to know who the real Cassius is, which entirely changes the dynamic of the film, making us guess until the film’s final frame.

I have always enjoyed great, non-formulaic, intelligent spy movies, and “The Double” is one of them. It truly gives you food for thought in regards to the people around us. The DVD has an audio commentary by writer-director Michael Brandt and writer-producer Derek Haas, and more. (USA, 2011, color, 98 min plus additional material). Reviewed on January 30, 2012. Image Entertainment Blu-ray

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Fireflies in the Garden

These are times in which movie audiences are subjected to extreme doses of special effects, action, animation, violence, sex and the like. And, in each category, the moviemakers are trying to outdo each other, in terms of being more innovative. So it is an immense risk to make old-fashioned dramas, not necessary romantic, but about life’s daily struggles. Despite all the trends, they still need to be made, as to document our times. The very engaging “Fireflies in Garden” does just that: it is a painful and passionate look at a given modern family, like many others in this crazy planet.

Right at the beginning of the film, we meet Michael Taylor (Ryan Reynolds, in a well-acted dramatic role), a successful writer that is on his way to his hometown to celebrate his mother Lisa’s (Julia Roberts) graduation from college. Michael is kind of hard to read or understand, and you can feel that for some reason he is unwillingly going back home. Once he arrives to his hometown, tragedy strikes, and what was supposed to be a happy celebration turns into an incredibly sad occasion. Once in the house, facing the harsh reality in his life, he is sadly taken to his past and his relationship with his disturbingly strict father Charles (Willem Dafoe), a successful college professor of literature, who is being groomed to be the president of his prestigious teaching institution. Michael also has to re-examine his bonds with his sister Ryne (Shannon Lucio), and his aunt Jane (Emily Watson).

Well-directed by Dennis Lee, “Fireflies in Garden” is about how the past defines the present, and the struggles that we have to endure to accept it. It goes right to the heart and I’m glad that I watched it. The DVD includes a making-of documentary. (USA, 2007, color, 89 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on January 30, 2012. Sony Pictures

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X – The Unheard Music

Some time during the eighties, my cousin invited me to a concert at the California State University at Long Beach. I don’t remember if it was a freebie or if we had to pay, but the band which was playing was X, and it was a truly eye-opening experience. That concert and that night was my introduction to punk rock. Watching the fascinating “X – The Unheard Music” brought me a smile and great memories of that day. It is a sincere and satisfying film, which introduces us the band during its peak years.

The movie is really a collage of many things: interviews, images from the city of Los Angeles, live performances, recording sessions, and more, all delightfully glued together by director W.T. Morgan, who was also the writer. We meet the original band members: John Doe (singer, bassist), Exene Cervenka (singer), Billy Zoom (guitarist), and DJ Bonebrake (drummer). They are interviewed at different locations and talk about the band’s origins, their Whisky aGoGo concerts, their families and influences, the LA scene, and they show clips of home-made movies. There is also an interview with Ray Manzarek (legendary keyboardist of The Doors), who produced X’s seminal album “Los Angeles.” A lot of time is spent in making the point that the band’s music was a hard sell to the public, and the major record companies did not want to sign them, so they went from label to label, trying to find the best distribution and success. We even see them signing records at a Music Plus (record store chain that went out of business) for their album “X – Under the Big Black Sun.” There are also interviews with music executives that speak about X’s not being “commercial for most masses’ demographics,” as well as Tommy Hadges, program director of KLOS-FM, and Jello Biafra.

The film is also loaded with performances, including “The Unheard Music,” “Los Angeles,” “The Hungry Wolf,” “Year One,” “Soul Kitchen,” “Come back to me,” “We’re Desperate,” and more, taken from the albums “Los Angeles,” “Wild Gift,” “More Fun in the New World,” and “Under the Big Black Sun.”

Believe me, if you haven’t seen or heard X, you are missing part of music’s history. It is said that this band “established among the first wave of American punk,” and that their albums “Los Angeles” and “Wild Gift” were among Rolling Stone’s magazine 500 greatest albums of all time. “X – The Unheard Music” was originally released in 1986. This new, awesome Silver Anniversary Blu-ray edition includes new interviews with John Doe and Exene Cervenka, outtakes, The Unheard Music song book, and more. One more thing: I still remember watching Billy Zoom stance while playing his guitar during that 80s concert. The man never moved during the whole show! You’ll see that in this film, too. (USA, 1986, color, 84 min plus additional material). Reviewed on January 25, 2012. MVD Visual Blu-ray

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City of Life and Death

I don’t know if I am following trends in film industry the proper way, but it seems to me that China is kind of coming out of the closet in regards to its history – cinema speaking, that is. I say this, because I have been reviewing many Chinese films about this subject lately, and they mainly deal with aspects of their tortured, but glorious past. They are also done with great production values that have nothing to envy to Hollywood. The most recent one, “City of Life and Death” is great example of that. It is a gripping and passionate look at Nanking massacre – quite a magnificent movie.

The film, believe it or not, is in black & white, but don’t let that fool you. In fact, after a while, you won’t even notice, because the story and the action justify it. It begins with the intense and bloody attack of the Japanese army on the Chinese city of Nanking in 1937. The battle scenes are as realistic as in “Saving Private Ryan,” and we really feel the pain of the invaded. We see some resistance by the Chinese soldiers, in which they are eventually defeated, with the result of approximately 500 of them captured. All of them, with maybe two exceptions, end up either burned alive, buried alive, or shot. They died while yelling, “Long Live, China! China will not perish!”

The second half of the film is what happens to the few civilian survivors of the massacre, who found refuge at the German embassy, under the protection of Mr. John Rabe (John Paisley) -- the so-called Nazi representative --, with the heroic assistance of Mr. Tang (Fan Wei), his aide. The embassy became an international safety zone, much to the displeasure of the Japanese, who made life miserable for those living inside, in ghetto-like conditions. As you may imagine, with a city full of sex-starving Japanese soldiers, the women had the worst part of the whole ordeal. It gets much worst when the Nazis side with the Japanese and kick Mr. Rabe out of the country. Realism doesn’t get better.

Written and directed by Lu Chuan, with cinematography by Cao Yu, “City of Life and Death” is narrated by using post cards, presumably sent by those that went through this sad chapter of Chinese history, which claimed 300,000 victims. The war is also seen through the eyes of Officer Kadokawa (Hideo Nakaizumi), who is mortified of watching what his fellow soldiers do to the Chinese. And, of course, there is a sadistic Japanese officer by the name of Osamu Ida (Ryu Kohata), who will remind you of Amon Goeth, the Nazi assassin from “Shindler’s List.” But I have to say that the scene that most impacted me was when Mrs. Tang (Lan Qin), was separated from her husband. Her suffering is difficult to forget; I haven’t seen unforgettable scene like that in a long time. Powerful film. The 2-disc Blu-ray edition includes an extended documentary on the making of the film (China / Hong Kong, 2009, B&W, 113 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on January 25, 2012. Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Dirty Girl

Some time ago, I watched the trailer for “Dirty Girl,” and I told myself that I needed to see this film – it looked really funny. However, having finally watched the whole movie, my impression is now a little bit different. Yes, it is funny, as I saw in the trailer, but it switches to drama probably after the first half, and the result is just fascinating, a delightful surprise, a little undiscovered gem.

The story takes place in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1987, and we immediately meet Danielle (Juno Temple), an incredibly flirtatious and vivacious young lady that is attending high school. It seems that she is only interested in boys and having fun, and getting away with anything she wants. Her three Ds of dating are: discriminate, designate, and dump. However, her world begins to crumble when the principal calls her to his office, informing her that she was going to be removed from her regular class and dumped in the “challenge” class, which is attended by problematic students. She reluctantly has to accept the demotion – for a lack of a better word – and joins that group. There, she is assigned to work on a project with Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), another student, who happens to be fat and of her dislike. However, they do need to do that project or they will fail school, so they put their act together, and, in doing so, they discover and/or realize some of their problems and deep secrets. This search will take them to Los Angeles in a joint adventure, without their parents knowing about it. On the way, they share some hilarious moments as well as some sad ones –a true life-changing experience for all involved, including us.

“Dirty Girl” will really surprise you. Mixing comedy and drama can be fatal most of the times, but director Abe Sylvia somehow does it successfully. This is a story about broken homes and dysfunctional families, and their long-term effects. It really touched me. Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier are amazing, and the fantastic cast – Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy, Dwight Yoakam, and the always dependable Mary Steenburgen -- provide great support. The DVD includes commentary by the director and deleted and extended scenes. (USA, 2010, color, 90 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on January 10, 2012. The Weinstein Company / Anchor Bay Entertainment

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1911 Revolution

Dynamic actor Jackie Chan is working hard in trying to leave a firm and strong legacy in Chinese cinema and cinema in general. Perhaps he wants to demonstrate that his talents are not exclusively in martial arts films and comedies, but also in dramatic roles. And I’m happy to say that he successfully does that in “1911 Revolution,” a formidable and epic film about one of China’s defining moments in its tortured history. Historical movies just don’t get better than this.

The film opens with the execution of Qiu Jin, in Shaoxing. She was a member of the Tongmenghui, a revolutionary council that wanted to end the imperial government. We are then taken to San Francisco, on April 26, 1911, when Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (Winston Chao) is speaking at a fundraiser to the Chinese community in that city, in order that money could be collected for the revolutionary army that was fighting the Qing Dynasty. It was thought, we learn, that “overseas Chinese people were the mothers of the revolution.” Next, we see Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) commanding an attack on the governor’s mansion, in the so-called Guangzhou uprising. Sadly, the uprising fails, but Huang Xing survives and continues the insurrection. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen remains in foreign countries trying to provide funds for the revolution and stop the support of the Qing Dynasty by foreign powers. From then on, we witness, step by step, the history of the revolution that ended feudalism in China and brought down the Qing, the final dynasty in the history of the republic.

“1911 Revolution” is magnificently full of historic information, which directors Jackie Chan and Li Zhang were able to condense in the film’s 99 minutes. It is a true epic, with overpowering cinematography, astonishing production design and dramatic battle scenes. Joan Chen shines as Qing Empress Dowager (Longyu), who finally abdicated on February 12, 1912, ending 2,000 years of monarchy. And don’t expect funny and martial arts scenes from Jackie Chan – well, there is one fighting scene, which I suspect was placed just for the hell of it. This is a serious role for Chan, who does it well. In addition, it is my understanding that this might be Chan’s 100th film. The two-disc Blu-ray edition of the movie also includes deleted scenes, making-of feature, interview with actress Li Bing Bing, and more. (China, 2011, color, 99 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on January 10, 2012. Well Go USA Blu-ray

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Welcome to L.A. – Metro Goldwyn Mayer

If you happen to live or spend some time in Los Angeles, California, you develop all kinds of feelings in regards to this one special city. In my case, this feeling has varied depending on my mood or a particular time where something alters the dynamic of the city. I’m sure that producer Robert Altman (yes, the famous movie director) and writer-director Alan Rudolph felt something about being in L.A. that motivated them to make “Welcome to L.A.,” a fascinating and quite unique look at the City of the Angels.

There are so many things that can be written about Los Angeles, really, most of them centered on Hollywood. The stories that Rudolph glued together for his film are, in fact, related to show business, music being the background for the script. The main character is Carroll Barber (Keith Carradine), who doesn’t talk much, but commands the screen with no effort. Carroll is in town to write the lyrics for an album by Eric Wood (Richard Baskin). While in Los Angeles, he meets his father Carl (Denver Pyle), a successful business man, who heads Barber Dairy Industries, and who is not happy that Carroll did not follow his footsteps. In the meanwhile, and with lots of time to kill, Carroll gets lucky with the ladies, who fall for him with no effort, too. His housekeeper (Sissy Spacek) likes to vacuum-clean topless, his real-state agent (Sally Kellerman) is desperate for an adventure, the album’s photographer (Lauren Hutton) is always ready for a one-night stand, and his agent (Viveca Lindfords) is aging without love. Yet, the woman that steals Carroll’s heart or libido is Karen Hood (the wonderful Geraldine Chaplin), who happens to be married to Ken (Harvey Keitel). Karen is not happy in her marriage, and thinks that she is going to die (I don’t think I have very long to live”).

“Welcome to L.A.” takes another interesting look at Los Angeles, a city with a lot of ambitious people that are craving to be famous and many other that are lonely, like in the case of this film. The story is also continuously aided by Baskin’s singing, with lyrics mostly related to the characters and the city in general. In the end, one of the lessons from the film, as Kellerman tells Carradine, is that, “Day dreams and traffic – that was Los Angeles is all about.” And, if you happen to like nudity, I guarantee that you will never forget Geraldine Chaplin’s famous scene almost at the end of the movie. This film is part of the MGM Limited Edition Collection and is only produced by demand. (USA, 1976, color, 103 mins). Reviewed on December 12, 2011.

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Velvet Goldmine – Miramax / Lionsgate Blue-ray

As a music fan, I have always enjoyed films that showcase the lives of certain musicians, especially the rise and fall of some of them. There is always something that you learn about these, and the last great one that I watched was “Rock Star” (2001), which unfortunately didn’t find an audience and deserved better. But, before that, there was the exciting, colorful and unforgettable “Velvet Goldmine,” which documents some of the excesses and good times of early seventies rock.

Somewhere during the beginning of the film, we watch Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a famous glam rock star, performing to a frenzied crowd. Just before he began singing, he is tragically shot by somebody at the aisles. The whole incident was witnessed by a young Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), who was a fervent Slade fan. Years later, Arthur is a journalist, and he is asked by his editor to write a piece about Slade and what happened to him -- it is rumored that his death was a hoax --, which Arthur reluctantly agrees to do. At this juncture, the movie goes back and forth between Arthur’s early life and Slade’s rise and fall. In between, what we get is pure sex, drugs and rock & roll, vividly reenacted by director Todd Haynes , as well as by Maryse Alberti’s glorious cinematography. Even though I am not a fan of the so-called glam rock, I must say that the performances by Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor (as Curt Wild), are mesmerizing, making the soundtrack very enjoyable. In the film, Curt Wild – who looks incredibly similar to Kurt Cobain --, is a huge influence in Slade’s career. For his part, Brian Slade eerily looks like David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. On the other hand, the always dependable Toni Collette is also amazing as Slade’s wife.

“Velvet Goldmine” magically captures a special time in the history of rock music, and how it affected the lives of all involved. In the end, Curt Wild tells Arthur Stuart, “We set out to change the world, [and] ended up changing ourselves.” This is definitely a movie that deserves a new audience. The Blu-ray edition includes commentaries by director Todd Haynes and producer Christine Vachon, and more. (UK/USA, 1998, color, 119 mins plus additional materials). Reviewed on December 12, 2011. Miramax / Lionsgate Blue-ray

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Triple Tap – Well Go USA Blu-ray + DVD

You know, sometimes when I’m watching a so-called foreign movie, I wonder why I didn’t hear about this film before, especially if it is a great one. That is precisely what I felt when watching China’s “Triple Tap,” a smart and gripping thriller that will keep you glued to your seat until its very last frame.

“Triple Trap,” which means quickly shooting three times at exactly the same spot, begins at a shooting range that looks like a movie set, where a competition is taking place. We meet Inspector Jerry Wong (Daniel Wu), who just successfully established a record in his category by scoring a double tap (shooting quickly two times at the same spot). He is followed by Ken Kwan (Louis Koo), a competitive shooter. Kwan beats Wong with a new record, scoring a triple tap. Once the competition is finished, and while on his way home, Kwan finds an armored truck robbery taking place, and decides to take action, shooting and killing some thieves, while trying to save a traffic cop. One of the thieves escapes. However, Ken is captured by the police as a suspect, with Inspector Wong handling the case. Wong, being an honest cop, and knowing that Kwan is a successful investor with a clean record, decides to charge him with murder and possession of arms, the reason being that Kwan broke the fire arm legislation. However, as expected, Kwan is found not guilty at the trial, and goes free. Simple and easy, Right? Not so. This is when the good stuff begins, as Inspector Wong gets suspicious of Kwan, who happens to be too smart for his own good. The story then moves to who is smarter than the other.

“Triple Trap” is not only about competition in the shooting range, but also in real life, as the movie takes place in the world of high-finance, at Hong Kong’s Wall Street, during our current economic crisis. It is clever and suspenseful – great entertainment directed by Tung-Shing Yee. The Blu-ray + DVD edition includes deleted scenes, interviews and more. (Hong Kong, 2010, color, 118 mins plus additional materials). Reviewed on December 12, 2011. Well Go USA

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Our Idiot Brother – The Weinstein Company / Anchor Bar Entertainment Blu-Ray

I have to admit that, before watching “Our Idiot Brother,” I was thinking that it would be a movie with the type of humor of “The Hangover,” “The 40 year old Virgin,” “Bridesmaids,” “SuperBad,” “Knocked Up,” or along those lines. After all, Paul Rudd, who plays the main character in this film, has appeared in some of them. What I watched, instead, was a light, charming comedy, which left me with a nice smile at the end of the film. In other words, it is a feel-good movie, with a little twisted humor, that will conquer your heart.

Paul Rudd is Ned, a good-natured, nothing-worries-me kind of guy, who also happens to be quite naïve in the ways of life. Right at the beginning of the movie, he is arrested for selling pot, trying to be good to be a cop. He is released after a while, and, penniless, goes to live with his girlfriend. Unfortunately for Ned, she now has a new boyfriend, and doesn’t want anything to do with him. Ned then goes to live with his mother, who loves him, but things again don’t work out for him. However, he has three sisters and he tries his luck by spending time in their homes. He moves in with Liz, who is married to Dylan (Steve Coogan), an obnoxious fellow that doesn’t like Ned. Ned also tries living with Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), and her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott), who likes Ned better than Dylan. Ned is also allowed to live with Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), who happens to be lesbian and shares an apartment with Cindy (Rashida Jones), where he is accepted by both. To his bad luck, and due to his naiveté, Ned is too sincere in his statements when he opens his mouth, and gets people – his sisters included – in trouble. Add to this, all three sisters have different personalities and problems of their own, and you will have volatile and funny at times situation.

“Our Idiot Brother’s” main message, I think, comes with Ned himself. He believes in the good in everybody and always gives people the benefit of the doubt, thinking that they will reciprocate to his goodness. We all know that this is not the case in real life, but we would love it to be that way. The Blu-ray edition of the film includes commentary by director Jesse Peretz, deleted and extended scenes, and a making-of feature. (USA, 2011, color, 90 mins plus additional materials). Reviewed on December 12, 2011. The Weinstein Company / Anchor Bar Entertainment Blu-Ray

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The Adventures of Tintin – Season One – Shout Factory

It is almost a sure bet that the name Tintin is unfamiliar to most people in the United States – that is, of course, if you are not thinking about good ol’ Rin Tin Tin. And that is okay, because the gigantic machinery of animation in the United States, via Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera, and others have done a fantastic job in promoting their creations with a great dose of patriotism. For that reason, Tintin, as well as Asterix and Obelix, are only known by few people in our country, even though they are and have been huge in Europe and other parts for many years. But now, maybe due to the imminent release of Steven Spielberg’s film “The Adventures of Tintin,” we are finally able to see the original animated TV series the way it is meant to be, with the release of the delightful DVD “The Adventures of Tintin – Season One.” And trust me, what a treat it is! If you haven’t read the comic books yet, then you will love this series.

“The Adventures of Tintin” was created by Georges Rémi (1907-1983), who the world would know as Hergé, and it first appeared on January 10, 1929, with a total of 24 books published over many years. It is said that these books have been translated to 80 languages, and that more than 350 million copies have been sold.

Tintin happens to be a very young Belgian journalist who can’t say no to a good story, and always gets involved in some dangerous adventures. His dog, Snowy, usually accompanies him on his missions, which include a series of characters that have recurrent roles, such as Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, and detectives Thomson and Thompson, two look-alikes who, even though are incredibly inept in their actions, actually help to solve crimes.

The TV series, which is the one presently reviewed and recommended, debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes aired for three seasons. It was produced by Ellipse, in France, and Nelvana, in Canada. The language of the series is English, but any visual signs and the like on the screen are in French.

The two-disc DVD edition of the series is comprised of seven episodes, six of them divided into two parts, including “The Crab and the Golden Claws,” “The Secret of the Unicorn,” “Cigars of the Pharaoh,” “The Blue Lotus,” “The Black Island,” and “The Calculus Affair.” However, all these stories are presented as 13 episodes, in both English and Spanish.

Tintin reminds me of the animated TV series Johnny Quest, another favorite of yours truly. Both are about young men getting involved in adventures by accident, usually fighting evil characters. And, like Asterix, the quality of the art in Tintin is amazing – it is colorful and with lots of attention to detail. Tintin is also clean, fun entertainment for both adults and children. I was lucky to read a couple of the books some years ago – they are available in the USA --, and I recommend that you read the comics or watch the DVD before you see the Spielberg film. As I understand, the movie compressed three books of the Tintin series into one, and may be confusing for some. Needless to say, we all know that these books will be transformed for the tastes and consumption of the public in the United States, Hollywood-Style. Thanks to Shout Factory for finally bringing Tintin to the US market. (France / Canada, 19911993, color, approximately 5 hrs). Reviewed on December 6, 2011. Shout Factory

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Great Directors – Kino Lorber

Every once in a while, filmmakers release documentaries in which they describe the work and profound admiration to directors that have influenced them and/or cinema’s history. In most cases, these features include the same cast of characters: Spielberg, Coppola, Lucas, Scorsese, Fellini, Bergman, Kurosawa… you know the deal. However, Angela Ismailos has helmed the “Great Directors” that I have wanted to watch for quite some time, one that includes some truly great directors that have not received the respect that they deserve. And Ismailos’ version triumphs in every way. It is a remarkable accomplishment that gives voice to some of the best filmmakers of our time.

“Great Directors” is well-assembled and edited, and is full of anecdotes and historical information. Ismailos gives each director enough time, so that we can understand their mind and vision, as well as get familiar with some of their work. She briefly introduces each moviemaker, one by one, and then interjects scenes when one discusses the work of another. She begins with Bernardo Bertolucci, who talks about Pier Paolo Pasolini, his mentor, as well as some of his films, such as “1900” (my favorite), “Commare Secca,” “Last Tango in Paris,” and “Before the Revolution.” Ismailos continues with Catherine Breillat – the so-called Bad Girl of French Film --, who talks about Bergman, as well as some of her provocative movies, like “A Real Young Girl,” “36 Fillette,” “Romance,” and “Anatomy of Hell.” Next comes David Lynch, who discusses his contributions to midnight films, such as “Eraserhead,” “Elephant Man,” and “Blue Velvet.” This is a remarkable interview, because Lynch, who doesn’t open up easily, really goes in detail about his work. Ismailos continues with Agnès Varda, known as the Grandmother of the New Wave, who helmed “La Pointe Courte,” “Cleo from 5 to 7,” and “Gleaners and I.” In addition, Angela Ismailos also interviews legendary directors Liliana Cavati, Stephen Frears, Todd Haynes, Ken Loach, John Sayles, and Richard Linklater. As you can see, this is really a feast for any movie lover and historian.

Angela Ismailos’ “Great Directors” is an important companion to any other documentaries about visionary directors that are often ignored by other documentarians. Here are represented filmmakers from USA, France, UK, and Italy – not the usual suspects. I truly enjoyed and learned from this movie. The 2-disc DVD edition features extended interviews with each director. (USA, 2009, color & B&W, 87 mins plus additional materials). Reviewed on December 6, 2011. Kino Lorber

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A Message of Peace & Compassion – His Holiness The Dalai Lama UK Visit 2004 – The Meridian Trust

Throughout my life, I have read stories and heard jokes – mostly jokes – about the man at the top of the mountain, you know, the man that we will find when climbing the highest peak, the man with all the answers and all the wisdom. I know you have. The answers, many find, are in religion, whatever one makes you happy or you are forced to belong to or believe in. These days, in addition to the Pope, perhaps the other name that is well-respected and admired due to his wisdom – not necessary religious – is the Dalai Lama. So, if you are searching for his teachings, you don’t have to go to Tibet. It’s all available in the illuminating and engaging “A Message of Peace & Compassion – His Holiness The Dalai Lama UK Visit 2004 – The Meridian Trust,” one of several DVDs that the Meridian Trust has made available with the Dalai Lama’s important teachings and approval.

This particular episode -- The Dalai Lama UK Visit 2004 – is mostly parts and pieces of the extensive tour that his Holiness did to that part of the world. Here, we witness his visit to Liverpool, London, Glasgow, among other places, in which he receives honorary degrees, meets mayors, foreign secretaries, Parliament members, as well as the public. In each meeting, he is truly treated like royalty. But, most important for acquiring this DVD other than the historical footage, are the lectures that he provides at some of the places that he visits. He talks about secular ethics and educated institutions, with the aim of “becoming happier, more open-minded, more compassionate, in order that we can build a happy family, and, eventually, a happy humanity everywhere.” He also talks about how to utilize time in a more constructive way, about violence, sources of conflicts, compassion, compromises, potentials to create a better world, importance of media to build a better society, altruism, mundane aspirations, nature of consciousness, definition of mantra, and much more. He even answers questions about Tibet’s political relations with China.

“A Message of Peace & Compassion – His Holiness The Dalai Lama UK Visit 2004 – The Meridian Trust” is a great start to try to get into the world of the Dalai Lama. It is the shorter of the DVDs of the series that I have, as the rest of them are much longer and with much more educational materials and information. Other titles include “A Guide to Walking Meditation,” “Buddhist Philosophy,” “Meditating with the Dali Lama,” “The Power of Compassion,” “Dealing with Anger and Emotion,” and many more. (UK, 2010, color, 60 plus minutes). Reviewed on December 6, 2011. The Meridian Trust

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West Side Story

I’ll begin by admitting that, of all the genres of movies, one of my least favorites is the so-called musicals. They have to be well-executed to work and to impress audiences and critics alike. However, there are notable exceptions, and the marvelous “West Side Story” is one of them. This is a triumph of mayor proportions in the history of cinema, and now, with the release of its delicious Blu-ray edition, this important film looks better than ever – a must have.

With the exception of the late Natalie Wood, the cast of “West Side Story” is mostly of relatively unknown actors, whose careers were mostly known in Broadway, some of which participated in the original stage production of the movie, by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince, and the book written by Arthur Laurents.

The film’s beginning and end are just astonishing and original, as the story itself. It takes place in New York City, where there was racial tensions in the working-class neighborhoods, between some whites (of assorted ethnical origins) against Puerto Ricans. The first group, of course, believed that the second was invading their turf. These groups or gangs had names – the Puerto Ricans were the Sharks, led by Bernardo (George Chakiris) and the others were the Jets, whose leader was Riff (Russ Tamblin). Unfortunately, the daily confrontations escalate to dangerous levels once Maria (Wood), Bernardo’s sister, gets is love with Tony (Richard Beymer), one ex-Jets who has reformed himself and is living a decent life. That doesn’t matter, of course: a Jet will always be a Jet, and the Shark, as one characters says, is “Once an immigrant, always an immigrant.” In-between all this rubble, there is the magnificent and fiery Anita (Rita Moreno).

“West Side Story” is many things at once: a well-elaborated musical, which mixes the reality of the times with music and dance; a story about prejudice and tolerance; or a modern love story a la Romeo and Juliet (as it has been referred). The result is just fascinating in every sense. The music works, the message works, and the dancing works – everything works. And it has to be that way, with the choreography by Jerome Robbins, the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the music by Leonard Bernstein, and the direction by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, all geniuses in their own fields. And then there is the excellent, colorful and masterful cinematography by Daniel Fapp. The film won ten Academy Awards in 1961, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Chakiris) and Best Supporting Actress (Moreno, who steals her scenes). If you are ever going to buy a musical, this is it, for sure. The fantastic Blue-ray 3-disc edition includes the DVD of the film, song-specific commentary by Sondheim, West Side Memories, Storyboard-to-film comparison montage, and much more! (USA, 1961, color, 153 min plus additional materials). Reviewed on November 29, 2011. Metro Goldwyn Mayer

To purchase DVD, click here or on image above.