Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Eleventh Season Review

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(More customer reviews)During the 1994-1995 season, people in the industry (writers, producers), although loyal to the weekly whodunit, found that the show was becoming formulaic and hard to keep sophisticated week after week. As such, it was not easy for the star of the show to keep her depiction of Jessica Fletcher unique either.
In its eleventh season, Murder She Wrote had other obstacles and challenges to overcome, besides trying to keep a sense of originality and a dedicated weekly audience. In a constant-changing industry such as television, the competition for the weekly mystery series was, at times, mammoth to bear. During the late Nineties, the popular whodunit was up against shows like: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures," "NBC's SeaQuest DSV," and "The Simpsons." However, according to Nielson's Media, Murder She Wrote ended in the #9 position, tying with the ever popular, "Roseanne."
The show triumphant in the charts for the year's most popular show, but only after falling below the top ten most watched TV shows of the season. The rumor mill buzzed about whether Ms. Lansbury would leave her role as Jessica Fletcher. However, by January 1995, the star had devoted herself to the subsequent 1995-1996 season, which would be, regrettably (for all us devoted watchers out there), the swan song of the weekly detective series.
Whatever the reason(s) for continuing with the show during its eleventh year, whether it was money, work ethics, or both, Lansbury shined in her role as amateur sleuth, Jessica Fletcher. All of the episodes included in this DVD box set will irrefutably entertain every committed fan of this rare gem of TV history. Highlights of the season include, "A Nest of Vipers," "Amsterdam Kill," "Death in Hawaii," "Murder of the Month Club," "Death N' Denial," "School for Murder," and "Another Killing in Cork."
1) "A Nest of Vipers" (Los Angeles)
2) "Amsterdam Kill" (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
3) "To Kill a Legend" (London England; Cabot Cove, Maine)
4) "Death in Hawaii" (Honolulu, Hawaii)
5) "Dear Deadly" (San Francisco, California)
6) "The Murder Channel" (New York City)
7) "Fatal Paradise" (Martinique, West Indies; Washington, D.C.)
8) "Crimson Harvest" (San Francisco, California; Sonoma Valley, California)
9) "Murder By Twos" (Cabot Cove, Maine)
10)"Murder of the Month Club" (New York City)
11)"An Egg to Die For" (St. Petersburg, Russia; Miami Beach, Florida)
12)"The Scent of Murder" (Riverton, South Carolina)
13)"Death `N Denial" (Cairo, Egypt)
14)"Murder in High C" (Genoa, Italy)
15)"Twice Dead" (Long Island, New York; New York City)
16)"Film Flam" (Los Angeles)
17)"Murder a la Mode" (Paris, France)
18)"The Dream Team" (Cabot Cove, Maine)
19)"School for Murder" (Cabot Cove, Maine)
20)"Another Killing in Cork" (Kilcleer, Ireland)
21)"Game, Set, Murder" (New York City)T.B. Grant

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Read between the lines of Jessica Fletcher’s famous novels and you’ll discover what her legions of fans already know—mystery has a way of following this witty writer wherever she goes. Angela Lansbury returns to her iconic role in all 21 sensational Season 11 episodes of the Primetime Emmy® Award and Golden Globe®-nominated series, Murder, She Wrote. Join guest stars Jeffrey Nordling (24), Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond), Ann Cusack (The Informant!), Jeri Ryan (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager), and more as they become part of Jessica’s acclaimed investigations that span the globe from hometown Cabot Cove to tropical Martinique. With two bonus episodes from Season 12 (the final season), no crime lover’s collection is complete without these entertaining adventures from the literary sleuth whose life is a real page-turner.

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Bedknobs and Broomsticks (30th Anniversary Edition) (1971) Review

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(More customer reviews)In 1971, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a film many call a Mary Poppins rip-off, premiered at Radio City Music Hall, but in a version in which nearly half an hour of footage, including full songs, was removed. For its 25th Anniversary in 1996, Disney re-inserted all of the deleted footage except for one musical number in which the picture was lost. The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences screened this in 1996, but it didn't get a theatrical release, and for years, the only way Americans could get it was either by the 1997 laserdisc release, an import of a European video, or by catching it on occasion on the Disney Channel.
Finally, in 2001, for the film's 30th Anniversary, Disney released a DVD with this extended version of the film. Restored and remastered, the film now has a clearer plot, extended musical numbers, and songs previously deleted. The brilliant "Portobello Road" number is now restored to its original running time, as well as Miss Price's response verses, titled "Don't Let Me Down" during Mr. Browne's song "Eglantine," and the previously entirely deleted songs "With A Flair" and "Nobody's Problems" are restored to the film.
The DVD is a mixed bag. The transfer is quite nice, but Lowry Digital, who did the recent Mary Poppins, Bambi, and Cinderella DVD restorations, could punch it up a little, as on occasion, I saw a bit of grain, and the occasional film artifact, especially during the closing credits and Walt Disney Pictures logo. However, this film has still never looked better on home video, so it's fine with me.
The extras could have been better. An actual making-of on the film would have been nice, including footage used in the Music Magic featurette. While that featurette does give some nice insight on the restoration, there's nothing behind-the-scenes about it except for the creation of the music score. Nothing about the effects, actors, nothing. But it's worth a look for info on the film's 1996 restoration. A larger gallery would have been nice. I do like the inclusion of the two cartoons. And of course, I'm happy to see that they have included theatrical trailers.
The best supplement, however, is the deleted song A Step In The Right Direction. That song was the catalyst that jump started this restoration project to begin with, so there's a bit of irony here in the fact that they couldn't find the footage of the song. So the supplement on the DVD, which is ported over from the 1997 laserdisc and was shown after the movie when the Disney Channel aired the restored version, is reconstructed using still photos of the scene and the original soundtrack. Hopefully one day, the footage will be found and they will be able to reinstate the number into the film, or at least they'll decide to include the photo reconstruction a la the restored version of A Star Is Born with Judy Garland.
Some have complained that there isn't an option to watch the original, shorter version due to its length and/or the poor dubbing of the voices in deleted scenes. (For much of the non-musical deleted footage, original dialogue soundtracks could not be found, so many of the deleted scenes had to be re-dubbed.) While I prefer the restored version despite the dubbing flaws, I think it would be wise of Disney to release both versions on DVD. Next year is the 35th Anniversary - maybe Disney will make a 2-disc DVD featuring both editions, with bonuses spread out on each disc, to appease all fans. Or better yet, a 3-Disc Collector's Edition, with discs 1 and 2 containing both cuts of the film and disc 3 with all the supplements. While neither edition is likely, the 2-Disc is a more likely option.
In conclusion, I can heartily recommend this DVD. The film has been lovingly restored and remastered, featuring almost all of the footage left on the cutting room floor in 1971, and features a nice handful of bonuses.

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An Academy Award(R) winner for Best Visual Effects (1971), BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is a magical blend of live action and animation that makes it one of Disney's most enduring classics. This magical 30th anniversary edition version of the film is now yours to enjoy in digital splendor on this remastered, fully restored DVD! BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is the enchanting story of an amateur witch who, along with three precocious orphans, flies into one fantastic adventure after another aboard a bewitched bed. The legendary Angela Lansbury is charming as the witch, and the inimitable David Tomlinson (MARY POPPINS) delights as the amusing professor whose help Lansbury and the children enlist in order to find an ancient incantation that will save the country from hostile invaders! This special edition BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS DVD includes many bonus features and is sure to be a film the entire family will want to watch again and again!

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Fantasia 2000 (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie is a worthy successor to the original Fantasia movie. The artwork in all the pieces was superb (although, you could tell the art from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is old). This movie, as with the original, gave me a greater appreciation of classical music, while entertaining me with impressive visual imagery.
The pieces are as follows:
Beethoven, Symphony #5. A classical piece of music (who can't identify it upon hearing it?) portrayed as a good vs. evil contest.
Respighi, Pines of Rome. Flying whales!! A great piece of music which builds to a fantastic finish. Has some cute moments with a baby whale.

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue. Easily the best (and longest) piece in the movie. Done in the drawing style of Al Hirschfeld, a magical tale is told of four people in Depression-era New York. A heartwarming, moving piece.

Shostakovich, Piano Concerto # 2 Allegro Opus 102. A charming piece of music, used to tell the story of the Steadfast Tin Solder. Some of the scenes in this piece may be scary for little kids.

Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals, Finale. A (very) short, but very funny piece which answers the age old question: "What happens when you give a flamingo a yo-yo?" I was laughing out loud at this one.

Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. This is the same piece as from the original 1940 movie. Still worth watching after all these years.

Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance. Donald and Daisy Duck star in this reinactment of the story of Noah's Ark. Fun to watch and enjoyable.

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite. A wonderful story about life, death and rebirth. The piece builds to a wonderful ending, both in the story and in the music. Some of the younger children may be scared by some of the scenes in this piece as well.


Overall, this movie is a wonderful addition to any home video library.

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The Pirates of Penzance (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)Unlike a previous reviewer, I am a long-time Gilbert and Sullivan lover who loved this movie--I first saw it some 15 years ago, and I waited for many years for it to come out on video. Needless to say, when I finally bought a VCR, I bought this as soon as I could find it.
The three key roles in Pirates are the Major General, the Pirate King, and the Sergeant of Police. All are well cast here. Tony Azito has a bit less vocal heft than a true Savoyard would like in the Police Sergeant's role, but he is superb at the physical comedy the role demands. George Rose is a superb Major General (that's, in Anna Russell's immortal phrase, "the little man who prances around and sings the patter song.") Best of all, Kevin Kline turns in a terrific performance as the Pirate King, showing once again what a wonderfully versatile actor he is.
Of the rest of the cast, Linda Rondstadt and Rex Smith, as the young lovers, are good. As Mabel, Rondstadt's job is primarily to sing with gusto, which she certainly does. G&S purists may be annoyed by Smith's casting as Frederic, since he does not have the pure tenor voice the role calls for, but he acquits himself well in the comic moments.
All in all, this is a movie to be enjoyed over and over. And for any of you out there who don't like it, a suitable penalty has been prepared. Something with boiling oil in it, I fancy. Yes, boiling oil or molten lead.

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PIRATES OF PENZANCE - DVD Movie

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