The Movies
December 2003
For Nature Lovers
"Winged Migration" (2003) -- This Semi-documentary took four years to shoot and is one of the most fascinating slices of reality
 ever seen. The camera follows numerous species of birds on their annual migrations (sometimes there and back again), detailing the obstacles and hazards that befall the feathered sets as they fly. Beautifully photographed, the birds take on personalities of their own. Truly wonderful. (John Orr note: The DVD includes a making-of featurette that is almost more thrilling than the feature itself. Fascinating.)
Also recommended: Any "Animal Planet" video, most "National Geographic" specials, "The Living Planet."
For Manly He-Men and the Women Who Like Them
"The Indiana Jones Adventures" (2003) -- This box set contains all three Indiana Jones movies digitally restored to look not just
as good, but better than they did when they were first released. Harrison Ford is the ultimate adventure hero, the scruffy-looking
 archaeologist with a penchant for getting into trouble and unearthing beautiful women. Always in the wrong place at the
right time, Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "The Temple of Doom" and "The Last Crusade" leaps from one escapade
to the next, trusty whip at one side, weather-beaten fedora on his head as he makes a heart-stopping escape from certain death
look like just another day at the office. Lots of goodies abound, and not just the usual boring featurettes, but interesting looks at
how the movies were made, by the people who made them. A must.
Also recommended: "Rocky" movie, "The Man Show" volumes one and two, the "Die Hard" collection and "Slap Shot."
For Puzzle Solvers
"Cube" (1997) -- This Canadian-made indie flew under a lot of radars when it came out. Its no-name cast (Nicole de Boer was a regular on the last season of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9") and its being
 ostensibly a scifi horror hybrid (there are a few graphic death scenes) may have caused some to underestimate it. But it's terrific. Six complete strangers find themselves in a high-tech prison with no apparent way out, where the rooms change position without warning, and lethal booby
traps ensnare the unwary. Escaping the Cube requires courage, intelligence and an impressive knowledge of math. This movie
doesn't take the intelligence level of its audience for granted.
Also recommended: "Murder on the Orient Express," "Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons and Dragons Adventure" and virtually any
PBS "Mystery! series.
For X-treme Sports Junkies
 "Dumb and Dumber" (1994) -- Not that you'll find a lot of extreme sports in this, but it fits, somehow.
Smoke some blunt, pop a cold one, and enjoy the magic of Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels.
Also recommended: Any "White Knuckle Extreme" title, "New World Disorder" and "XXX."
For Five-Hankie Weepaholics
"Beaches" (1988) -- Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey star as two unlikely friends who form an unbreakable bond as girls on the
 Atlantic City Boardwalk, but see that bond tested by career choices, romantic choices, and life choices. Through thick and
thin, the two are there for each other, although not always helpful to each other. The chemistry between the two leads is
undeniable, and the movie's conclusion will have you flat-out bawling. Whenever Da Queen wants a good cry, this is what she
sticks into the DVD player.
Also recommended: "Steel Magnolias," "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Philadelphia."
For Hopeless Romantics
"Ladyhawke" (1985) -- C'mon, what's not to like? Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer are two compelling, beautiful leads who
 make perhaps the ultimate couple with a problem: By day one's a hawk, by night the other's a wolf. Affected by a terrible curse,
they stumble onto a young thief (Matthew Broderick) who may hold the key to breaking the curse -- or be the catalyst that parts
the two lovers forever. A great choice for a romantic night for two in front of the DVD player.
Also recommended: "Romeo and Juliet" (the 1968 Zeferelli version, not the waste-of-time Baz Luhrmann mess from 1996), "The
Princess Bride" and "Casablanca."
For Baseball Purists
"Field of Dreams" (1989) -- If you build it, he will come. A magnificent allegory that links baseball with the decline of America
 and is a metaphor for the relationship between fathers and sons. Kevin Costner is never better than as an Iowa farmer who hears
voices commanding him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield, then is treated to games by the deceased Chicago Black
Sox, as well as other dead stars of the era. Unforgettable performances by James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster make
this a winner even for the non-fan.
Also recommended: "The Natural," "Bull Durham," "Eight Men Out," "Pride of the Yankees" and the Ken Burns "Baseball"
documentary.
For War Movie Buffs
"Saving Private Ryan" (1998) -- Perhaps the most realistic depiction of war to date, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg team up to
 produce a compelling, edge-of-your-seat war movie that sends a squadron onto the beaches of Normandy in 1944, and then deep
into France to find a single soldier and bring him home. While allegorically "Saving Private Ryan" is about saving ourselves, on another
level it is even more successful in introducing us to the kinds of men who went to war in Europe in 1942.
Harrowing and intense, it may be too much for sensitive types.
Also recommended: "The World at War" collection, the "Band of Brothers" miniseries, "Gods and Generals" and "Das Boot."
For Suburban Cowboys
"Lonesome Dove" (1989) -- An epic miniseries that follows a cattle drive from Texas to Montana, and then the lonely journey a
 single man makes for his friend from Montana back to Texas. Few movies ever really capture the mystique of the cowboy as well
as does this one. The loyalty and comradeship, the unbending, no exceptions code by which they live, all make cowboys what
they are today - absolute catnip for single women. If they had DVD players by the campfires, this is what the range riders would have
popped in.
Also recommended: Any John Wayne/John Ford movie such as "Rio Grande," "Fort Apache" or "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"; "Dances with Wolves," "The Magnificent Seven" and "8 Seconds."
For Reality TV Junkies
"Series 7: The Contender" (2001) -- A take on reality programs that also flew under the radar, but is surprisingly good. Filmed
 on video, it posits a reality TV show that is the ultimate "Survivor": The contestants must kill each other off, one by one. The
winner is the one left standing at the end. Return champion Brooke Anne Smith is trying to survive one last time, on the run
while pregnant and close to giving birth, all the while followed by the neverblinking cameras that capture every excrutiating. Writer/director Dan Minahan wrote this years before the reality TV craze began, and was at one time a producer for "The Real World." If you like your humor dark, this is the one for you.
Also recommended: "The Truman Show," "EdTV," "The Running Man" and "The 10th Victim."
For Suave Superspies
"La Femme Nikita" (1990) -- A French espionage thriller that inspired an American version ("Point of No Return"), a terrific
 syndicated series ("La Femme Nikita") and an even better network series ("Alias" - well, it's an illegitimate stepchild, at the very
least). Anne Parillaud is a young junkie forced to work for an intelligence agency as a spy and assassin. A movie that virtually
defines "intensity," it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Far better than the pale imitations, it's better than Bond only because she
needs no stinkin' gadgets.
Also recommended: Any James Bond movie (such as "Dr. No"), "The Bourne Identity," "XXX" and the two Flint movies ("Our Man Flint" and
"In Like Flint").
For Bottom Line Workaholics
"Wall Street" (1987) -- Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko is the poster boy for the Reagan-era "greed is good" mindset that has
 led directly to the CEO corruption and mutual-fund abuses we have seen in recent years. Gekko is Kenneth Lay with a
better barber, and if you need proof, this movie is it. If you are trying to send the message that there is more to life than a career,
this is the movie to send it with.
Also recommended: "Working Girl," "Disclosure," "Anti-Trust" and "Hook."
For Children at Heart
"Hook" (1991) -- There is a fine line between childlike and childish, and this movie never approaches the less palatable of the
 two. Robin Williams is Peter Pan -- er, Peter Banning -- a grown-up Peter who gave up eternal childhood for love. He is in danger
of losing both, as he has become a work-obsessed businessman with no time for his children or their needs. A trip back to the
London of his youth at Christmastime reveals his true identity, made real again when his children are kidnapped by his old
nemesis, Captain Hook. An all-star cast including Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins makes this an absolute joy to
watch over and over again. No surprise that Spielberg directed.
Also recommended: "Big," any Disney animated feature ("Fantasia," for instance) and "Home Alone."
For Teacher's Pets
"Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995) -- We are all influenced by our teachers, but there's always one who always stands out as the one
 who shaped us the most. Richard Dreyfus plays the kind of teacher who would stand out on a lot of kids' lists. A
reluctant music teacher who's only teaching to pay bills until his musical career takes off, it turns from a temporary job into a
lifelong career. All the while, he struggles to find the time to write his masterwork. Not only is this a tribute to teachers and
their roles in our lives, it's a tribute to passion about the arts. Highly recommended for anyone who takes the teaching profession
for granted.
Also recommended: "Stand and Deliver," "Dangerous Minds," "The Emperor's Club" and "Dead Poet's Society."
For Marchers to Different Drums
"Memento" (2000) -- A brilliant movie told backwards, about a man (Guy Pierce) who can't make short-term memories. He is
 desperately trying to find the man who murdered his wife and crippled him. Organized and dogged, he writes notes to himself on
Polaroids he takes of people and on tatoos on his own body. Nobody is as they seem in this unconventional take on a crime drama. One of the best indie films ever produced.
Also recommended: "The Prisoner" series, "The Naked Lunch" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
For Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists
"JFK" (1991) -- Oliver Stone's ultimate conspiracy movie has paranoid poster boy Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) exploring the
 mystery behind the assassination of President Kennedy. A shadowy government conspiracy seems to thwart Garrison at every
turn, threatening his family, his career and ultimately, his country. While it is admirable that Garrison refused to accept the
inconsistancies of the Warren Commission findings, it seems a bit over-the-top today. Still, "JFK" is excellent filmmaking,
wielding an emotional clout that shows us that even now, 40 years after the fact, the assassination is a raw wound for many of us.
Also recommended: "Conspiracy Theory," the "X-Files" series and movie; "The Holcroft Covenant" and "Enemy of the State."
For Action Junkies
"Brotherhood of the Wolf" (2001) -- I'm deliberately shying away from the big Hollywood action blockbusters because I assume
 that most action junkies already have most of them. This one is a French martial arts/action/horror/historical piece, based on
an actual incident, in which a monster, which appears to be a gigantic wolf, terrorizes a rural French countryside. King Louis
dispatches a naturalist and nobleman (Samuel Le Bihan) and his Mohawk companion (Mark Dacascos) to investigate. Some
impressive fight sequences, wonderful visuals and enough action to keep even the most virulent junkie sated for a while.
Also recommended: "The Transporter," any John Woo film (especially from his Hong Kong days, such as "The Killer"), the "Once Upon a Time in China" trilogy,
and "The Boondock Saints."
For Gang Bangers
"Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998) -- It seems kind of odd that the best gangster movies these days are coming from
 England. This one was a critical rave here in the States that went generally overlooked by audiences, and is best known these
days for having been directed by Mr. Madonna, Guy Ritchie, and stars up-and-coming stars Jason Statham and Jason Flemying.
Four working stiffs stake one of their number into a high-stakes poker game run by local mobster Hatchet Harry, only to wind
up owing him half a million pounds in the rigged game. The gangster gives the four men a week to come up with the cash; many
plots, subplots and miniplots begin to interweave, all revolving around grand larceny of one sort or another, until they all gel
and run into each other in an explosion of comedy, action and who knows what else in the final 30 minutes. A great alternative if
they already have "The Godfather trilogy, or you don't want to spring for the boxed set.
Also recommended: "High Heels and Low Lifes," "GoodFellas," the aforementioned "Godfather" trilogy boxed set (this is the one
to get if you're willing to spring for something and your recipient doesn't already have it) and "Snatch."
For Con Artists
"The Sting" (1973) -- The greatest of all con movies, with Redford and Newman reteaming after "Butch Cassidy and the
 Sundance Kid" with director George Roy Hill. An aging veteran and a young
grifter with something to prove try to con a brutal criminal (Robert Shaw) in Depression-era Chicago. With a near-perfect
support cast that includes Harold Gould and Ray Walston, the twists and turns on this thing are just as entertaining as they were
the first time you saw the movie. A true classic; you may want to hold off on buying the DVD for this one until the
inevitable deluxe edition comes out, as I'm sure one will soon.
Also recommended: "The Heist," "The Italian Job" (either one, or both), "Confidence" and "Oceans 11" (again, either one. With George or with Frank).
For Political Commentators
"All the President's Men" (1976) -- Maybe the best political movie ever made, it chronicles the story that reporters Bob
 Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered that eventually toppled the Nixon White House. Whether you love the disgraced
former president or hate him, this a gripping account of the events of the time, and a fascinating look at how the
media and politics often blur the lines between themselves.
Also recommended: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (how we would like the political system to work),
the first season of "West Wing" and "Dennis Miller live from Washington D.C." (a hysterical commentary on politics).
For High-Tech-o-holics
"Tron" (1982) -- Even the computer graphics are primitive
 by today's standards, but it still holds up as maybe the ultimate geek
movie. A video game designer (Jeff Bridges) is sucked into the world of his
own games by an A.I. with an agenda of its own. The end user must fight not
only to survive, but to retake control of his company from a corrupt
executive (David
Warner). A lot of people who got into computers got into them after seeing
this movie. The new special edition is one of the
nicer presentations that's come down the pike.
Also recommended: "The Matrix" trilogy ( "The Matrix,"
"The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions." The latter
hasn't been released on DVD yet.), "Johnny
Mnemonic" (Keanu Reeves emotes woodenly in a pre-Matrix cyberpunk role),
"The Net" and "Startup.com."
For Scream Queens
"The Ring" (2002) -- I watch a lot of horror movies,
 most of them garbage, but this one is one of the best, and chances are any
horror afficionado will have it already. If not, what are they waiting for?
A reporter (Naomi Watts) latches on to an urban legend about a videotape
that will cause the viewer to die within seven days of
seeing it. Creepy, scary with a minimum of visual effects, it works because
its atmosphere is genuinely frightful.
Even I had trouble watching this one in a dark room. Just do yourself a
favor; unplug every phone in the house and turn off
your cellular before watching "The Ring."
Also recommended: "Re-animator," "Halloween,"
"Crimson Rivers" and "The Evil Dead" trilogy
("The Evil Dead" (Book of the Dead edition), "Evil Dead
II'' and "Army of Darkness" (Boomstick Edition) .
Happy shopping!
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The Guide
Yes, Virginia, there is a holiday shopping season, and we're in it, with plastic Santas popping up like mushrooms and that bright, hopeful gleam is coming into the eyes of retailers everywhere.
Is it more of a Blessing to give than to receive? Sure! And we turn our minds toward those important, personal, reflective questions: What do we buy Aunt Ethel, Uncle Merv and those jerks down at the office?
Trust us: Movies are great gifts for just about everyone on your holiday gift list. After all, just about everybody loves movies (except maybe cousin Claude the curmudgeonly mutant), and DVDs are a breeze to purchase, wrap and ship.
But, what movies to buy? What's out there, and who should
receive it?. Never fear; we're here, dear, to help. What to buy for what kind of person.
Where to buy
Want one of this year's blockbusters? Think price. "X2," "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Two Towers" are available almost anywhere, so it makes sense to shop around.
Big-box retailers such as Fry's Electronics, Costco, Target, K-mart and Sam's Club will usually have good prices, and very often will have sales on specific items. Video retailers such as Blockbuster, Suncoast and Sam Goodys generally are a bit more expensive, but the convenience
factor can be a big deal.
The ultimate convenience is shopping on the Internet -- and the prices are often very competitive. Amazon.com and Overstock.com are two good sources. Triviana works with Amazon.com, which offers free shipping on orders over $25. (Most of the movies listed here have links to Amazon.com, usually for widescreen DVDs. If you want some other format, such as full screen or VHS, follow the link, then switch in Amazon.) There are many other online sites at which DVDs can be purchased, but be careful. Be sure it is an established, reputable site such as the two we mentioned.
Selection is another huge advantage to the Internet. Most web-based merchants can afford to have a wider variety of stock
because storage space is almost always cheaper than retail space. Titles that local video retailers can't possibly afford to stock are readily available on many Internet sites. Sure, most bricks & boards retailers will order any title, it can take days and will generally cost more.
Amazon offers several options for shipping, from free to extra bucks for overnight. Another benefit of buying from Amazon is gift wrapping. It's possible to do all your holiday buying, wrapping and delivery from your computer.
Two caveats about online shopping for DVDs:
First, the most recent studio blockbusters are sometimes cheaper at the big box stores, at least initially.
Second, you're adding at least a day and a trip to your package when you buy online. It's possible to get gifts overnighted -- at extra cost -- but usually it will take a few days. That free shipping from Amazon takes a few days, usually. When you buy from a big box, you take it home that day.
Trivians have done a lot of shopping via Amazon.com over the last few years, and the only shipping problems occurred when the local UPS driver didn't read the address correctly and dropped the box down the street.
Be on the look-out for coupons and deals -- your local newspaper, and online for retailers. Some Web retailers offer deals to first-time customers, and many -- including Amazon.com, Electronic Arts (EA.com) and others -- send deals to registered users in email. Sometimes these deals are
advertised, sometimes they aren't. It never hurts to ask. These can range widely to a couple of bucks off to free
product with a minimum purchase. Sometimes these coupons and discounts are way better than anything you'll find in a brick
and mortar establishment.
Know your recipient
If Guido is a sports nut, why would you buy him "Steel Magnolias"? And sometimes a gift certificate makes sense, especially for known movie buffs. Maybe Gertrude already has "Scent of a Woman" on VHS, LaserDisc and DVD. Let her pick her own movie with a gift certificate, for a bricks and boards box, or an online retailer.
What to buy
If you're reasonably confident that you know the extent of your recipient's library, but aren't sure what movie to get them, here
are some suggestions, at left. Onward.
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