Music in High Places - India Arie (Live in Brazil) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to admit that I had never heard any of India Arie's music before purchasing this DVD. The reason why is because I rarely listen to the radio anymore. It hurts me a little because I don't stay up to date with the newer artist. But sooner or later I get to hear them all. I actually purchased the DVD because of my interest in Brazil. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she decided to do a DVD in Bahia which is one of my favorite areas of Brazil. Her music is actually a combination of folk music and R&B. Although she records on Motown she does not play the Motown sound that most of us are familiar with. Actually her music is quite relaxing but the strength of her songs is definately the lyrics. Her voice is ok but not as powerful as say Jill Scott, Angie Stone or Mary J. The camera work is great and the sound is outstanding. She discusses each song and Brazil thoughout the video. She also features several local Brazilian groups and singers in some of her songs. The videos also feature plenty of sights in Bahia. Her and her band really seem to fit in well with the locals. Music critics like to refer to her type of music as "Neo-Soul" or new soul but let's face it, Bill Withers was doing this type of music back in the 1970s! But it is refreshing to hear something besides rap music from new musical artist. So purchase this DVD even if you are not a fan. The beautiful scenery and relaxing songs help to make this a very good DVD. I should add that although I am a fan of Bryant McKnight, I like India's DVD better.
Note: Several famous Brazilian musicians including Olodum, Ile Aiye and Margareth Menezes stop by and jam with India Arie in the DVD!

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Music in High Places, the ultimate international music and traveladventure series, takes top recording artists to the most ancient sites on earth. Eachexpedition takes music's biggest artists to the four corners of the globe and featuresexciting acoustic performances set against the backdrop of earth's most intriguing naturallocations. Take an intimate journey with India.Arie as she discovers the culture, historyand spirituality of Bahia, Brazil! Songs: Always In My Head, I See Good in You,Promises, Beautiful, India#s Song, Video, Strength, Courage & Wisdom.

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Good Girl Gone Bad Live (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Usually I'm not the kind of person to go buy a concert of an artist. I was on my way from the USA on Lufthansa and saw this video in the in-flight entertainment menu - decided to give it a try - was pleasantly surprised. Bought the DVD as soon as I got back home. Would definately recommend this to ANY Rihanna fan! It's just awesome!!!!

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Rihanna releases over 90 minutes of live performance footage on her new Good Girl Gone bad Live DVD. this DVD features nineteen, live performances from a December, 2007, sold-out, Manchester, UK show including the #1 hits: Umbrella, SOS, Shut Up and Drive, hate that I Love You and many more!the DVD also features a behind-the-scenes documentary of life on the road with rihanna and a special hidden video. Following the original album, Good Girl Gone Bad: Re- Loaded, which has already been certified double platinum and boasts huge hit singles including: Disturbia, take a bow, Umbrella, hate that I Love You and Don't Stop the Music - this DVD is guaranteed to offer new and exciting content for Rihanna fans. Rihanna is a multi-platinum MTV VMA, Grammy and American Music award winning artist and Cover Girl spokesperson.

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Tom and Jerry Tales, Vol. 1 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)There's plenty of reviews here happily reporting "my kids/grandkids love these." So here's an opinion from an adult who grew up on the classic Tom & Jerry shorts of the 1940's and 50's. I was really concerned that these new cartoons would bear no resemblance to the older ones. After all, modern-day incarnations of Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, Popeye, and many others are hard for us classic animation fans to watch. But I'm happy to report that Tom & Jerry Tales actually retains the spirit of the original Hannah-Barbera shorts. Sure, the animation has a slightly more contemporary look, with regard to shading of the characters. But it's not nearly as grating as the three-dimensional effects most hand-drawn animation goes for these days. Most importantly, the action and sense of fun are still there. I wasn't surprised to find the violence toned down a bit (unlike the original theatrical shorts, these cartoons ARE aimed at children), but poor ol' Tom still gets pounded with regularity.
We adults who still enjoy cartoons are fortunate that so many Golden Age shorts are now available. But if you're itching to try something new that honors the cartoons you grew up with, give this one a try. I know I'll be buying the rest of the volumes in this series. No, they'll never replace the Tom & Jerry of the Good Ol' Days. . .but these well-made cartoons are the closest we'll ever come to seeing animation like that again.

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They're back on TV with their first animated series in 30 years -- and their chase capers are as nutty and neverending as ever. With Tom and Jerry Tales Vol. 1, you can enjoy their most most catfighting, roughmousing new adventures over and over again on DVD! Through 12 cartoon capers full of fur-flying, fun-packing chases and calamities, Tom and Jerry are still ever-determined to beat each other to the punch...no matter what it takes!

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Deadwood: The Complete Seasons 1-3 (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, "Deadwood" has the most constantly profane and racist language, and graphic sex and violence I have ever seen on mainstream film. So, those who are offended by material of this nature should not watch. But if you can get past that, "Deadwood" is brilliant.
Let me begin by giving an example of the writing. In the following scene, Al Swearengen, Deadwood's ruthless leader, deplores the fact that the self righteous Sheriff, Bullock, is too involved in his adulterous affair with Alma (who controls a rich gold mine) to focus on the political struggles the community is facing in its attempt to be annexed into the United States. Swearengen watches Bullock leave the hotel after being with Alma. One of Swearengen's men remarks that Bullock means no disrespect. Swearengen replies:
"Horror is, you are f**kin' right. He don't know if he's breathin' or takin' it through f**kin' gills. He is that f**king c**t-struck. They're afloat. In some fairy f**kin' bubble, lighter than air, him, her snatch, and his stupid f**kin' badge...Self-deceiving c**k-sucker I am, I thought, when America took us in, Bullock would prove a f**kin' resource. Look at him, stridin' out like some randy, maniac Bishop."
"Deadwood" is a true western because it is the story of the creation of a community on the frontier. The town of Deadwood was born when gold was discovered in the Black Hills, lands ceded to the Sioux by treaty. All kinds of non-Native Americans, Europeans, and Chinese invaded the area. This action was illegal under the laws of the United States and, of course, considered grounds for war by the Sioux. So, the people who founded Deadwood, of every class, were all true outlaws. And Deadwood had no law but custom and the knife and gun. In three seasons, "Deadwood" tells the story of how the town was founded and ultimately annexed to Dakota Territory.
Many of the characters portrayed are based on historical personages. Formost among them is Al Swearengen the "Bloody King of Deadwood," who operated the town's first saloon and bordello. Swearengen is played by Ian McShane. It is the role of McShane's career and he is astounding. As the episodes progress, Swearengen's charachter evolves to amazing complexity, far beyond the simple villain he at first appears. We come to root with guilty pleasure for Swearengen, the murderer and whoremonger, and to admire his cunning as he allies with Bullock and others who attempt to hold their own against even worse and more powerful and morally corrupt forces; Cy Tolliver, the despicable overlord of a competing gambling house, Wolcott, mining engineer, serial killer of prostitutes and agent of the ruthless, implacable mining magnate, George Hearst, and against corrupt and idiotic politicians from Yankton who would deprive Deadwood's founders of political rights of self determination.
The thing I enjoyed most about "Deadwood" is the fact that it is brilliantly and blatantly Shakespearian. Scenes of high drama are artfully alternated with comic vignettes. A number of characters actually engage in soliloquies with strange yet understandable sentence structure. It is surprising and pleasing to see how well such scenes work in a western. For example, Swearengen keeps the head of a dead Indian in a box. When he is beset by fools, his lackeys, Swearengen, like Hamlet to Yoric, confides his feelings, questions and stratagems to "The Chief." In one such scene, Swearengen complains to The Chief about one of his men. Swearengen says:
"Dead, and without a body, you still outstrip him for intelligence."
There are a few pure and good souls represented in this savage work. Calamity Jane, played by Robin Weigert is a true Shakespearian "wise fool." In one of my favorite scenes (it made me laugh and cry) Calamity visits the grave of the murdered Wild Bill Hickock, who she adored. It is her custom each night to tell Wild Bill the news of Deadwood. On this night, she is joined by Charlie Udder, Wild Bill's other closest friend. She allows Charlie to tell Wild Bill the news. But he breaks down. He asks Calamity:
"Can I...can I tell `im some more tomorra?"
Calamity replies with kindness:
"Sure. What the f**k you askin' me for? I don't make the rules."
The scene is at once melancholy, hilarious, and profound. And there are many such scenes in this brilliant masterpiece.
"Deadwood" is an innovation, in the American western, so profound that it will be studied by many over time. Whether it will ever be matched is an open question.




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(2007) Timothy Olyphant; Ian McShane

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Masterpiece Theatre: My Family and Other Animals (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Readers of "My Family and Other Animals" might approach this BBC adaptation with some reluctance. How could the producers ever hope to convey the wisdom and humor of Gerald Durrell's book into 90 minutes? An ideal adaptation should probably be at least four hours, if not more but this film does not do badly.
The casting was well done with Imelda Stauton (who starred in Vera Drake) being a perfect choice for as Mrs. Durrell. Spiro and Theo appear exactly as I would picture them as are Larry's impossible friends. Gerald is well cast and his curiosity in nature is brought to the film but there is no time to deal with the animals individually. We can see that Gerald has an owl but we don't get any details about him. The scene with the scorpions is in the film and nicely brought off and the Rose-Beetle Man is perfectly done. The actor's have done a remarkable job in capturing the personalities of the Durrell family and the magical beauty of Corfu is nicely conveyed as Gerald investigates the island with his dog Roger.
There are so many humorous episodes for the writers to choose from that I am sure some viewers will be somewhat dismayed that their favorite was not select. The magpies have their five minutes in the film but their antics are not as clearly drawn as they are in the book. They do raid Larry's room but we do not learn about how Larry was trying to keep them out, and we do not get to see them calling after Spiro as he sets out on yet another errand.
So, I found this version of "My Family and Other Animals" to be a delight but I wish it was longer. I could not help but recalling episodes that were not included or cut short. I do recommend the film as it captures the essence of Gerald Durrell's book; it is just a slice of the book but a fairly good helping.


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When the dreary English weather of 1935 gets to be too much for the eccentric Durrell family, they set off for the rustic, sun-drenched Greek island of Corfu, and the unknown. The lively clan is headed by Mrs. Durrell, a middle-aged widow who gives in to the whims of her children and who patiently tolerates their adventures. Her eldest son Larry, a budding avant-garde writer with wild friends, has no regard for his mother, while her second son, Leslie, is a gun-obsessed sportsman who shoots at everything in sight. Her only daughter, Margot, is a teen beauty who changes boyfriends as quickly as she does bathing suits. But her youngest son, 12-year-old Gerald, is the heart and soul of this lively saga. Filling his family°¶s villa with an impressive menagerie of animals and insects, Gerald discovers his life°¶s vocation in nature and animals, as well as his own voice as an author. Based on Gerald Durrell°¶s childhood memoir, Academy Award-nominee Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Matthew Goode (Match Point), and Eugene Simon (Casanova) bring My Family and Other Animals humorously to life.

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