Video

Fiction

This lackluster horror anthology series comes from two of Hollywood's heaviest-hitting directors, the Scott brothers—Ridley (Gladiator, Alien) and Tony (Top Gun, Man on Fire)—and is hosted by veteran actor Terence Stamp. Resembling an erotic Tales from the Dark Side, The Hunger is all about style, so much so that the fast, frenetic cuts and gothic atmosphere often overpower its substance, which is limited at best. The stories are generally flimsy and predictable despite writing credits that include horror greats F. Paul Wilson, Harlan Ellison, and Graham Masterson. There are a few gems among these noirish sexploitation parables, e.g., "Room 17," in which traveling salesman Curtis Armstrong beds a porn star who emerges from the adult channel on his motel room TV. This series may appeal to those who crave a bit of erotica with their horror, but even there it falls short. The show is loaded with sex but little genuine sexiness. A marginal purchase for erotica collections.—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY

This mystery/thriller, which originally aired on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in 1998 and 2000, is a somewhat dark and complex tale of murder and stolen art. Maggie Sheridan (Helen Mirren) and her sister and brother-in-law plot to retrieve the purloined titular painting by 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi, a follower of Caravaggio. To do so, Maggie must transform herself into a Polish countess and enter the London/New York art world. How does Sebastian, the son of the murdered owner of the painting, fit in? In addition to the plot complexities, there are numerous allusions to famous artworks, including a notable reference to Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat when Maggie is in the bath. In this mystery, life definitely imitates art. Bonus features include a biography of the award-winning Mirren. This program will appeal to both British mystery fans and viewers with an interest in art.—Susan Clayton, Lake Cty. Lib., Lakeport, CA

Jeff Miller is a Chicago-based furnituremaker and the author of Children's Furniture Projects and Chairmaking and Design, among other titles. Here, he demonstrates chairmaking skills and provides detailed instructions for building framed, post-and-rung, and plank-seat chairs. He also offers techniques for joinery and for laying out compound angles, strengthening chairs with corner blocks, constructing and repairing curved backs, making cushions, and weaving and upholstering chair bottoms. This excellent-quality DVD is for the do-it-yourselfer and public and academic library woodworking collections.—Ravonne Green, Valdosta State Univ. Lib., GA

This Tony Award-winning play, which spawned a 1955 Academy Award-winning movie, adapts well to live television. Set on a U.S. Naval cargo ship during World War II, it features Robert Hays (Airplane) as Mister Roberts, a man of great character and wisdom, keeping up morale for the men under his command yet determined to find his way into combat. His efforts are always denied by the detestable Captain Morton (ably played by Charles Durning) and abetted by goofball Ensign Pulver (a very young Kevin Bacon) and the knowing Doc (Howard Hesseman). The combination of humor and pathos works well, pulling in the DVD viewer as much as the audience in front of which this production was taped in 1984. The extras aren't much more than biographies of some cast members and info on the play. However, seeing a "live" play that works well and involves the viewer compensates for the lack of bonus features. The acting as a whole is quite distinguished. Recommended for theater fans.—B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara Cty. Lib., CA

Underprivileged minority high school students, dedicated music teachers, duct-taped instruments, and tons of enthusiasm combine for an uplifting and inspiring documentary that is a joy to watch. Frank W. Ballou High School is in the toughest neighborhood in Washington, DC. Thanks to tenacity, heart, and an extremely committed faculty, the Ballou marching band has become one of the premier high school marching bands in the country. The film touches briefly on the state of the community and the personal lives of some of the students, but it mainly focuses on band practice and performances. It could have been enhanced with more information on the music director and other staff, but the story is moving nonetheless. DVD extras help fill in the gaps with extended and deleted scenes, engaging director commentary, and interviews. An excellent choice for fans of Mad Hot Ballroom and similar documentaries; highly recommended.—Manya Shorr, Omaha P.L.

This morbidly fascinating and extremely well-written, -directed, and -produced feature tells what it's like to be a devoted New York Mets fan. They're all here: frozen ticket buyers waiting in line for several days, opening-day tailgaters, Mets memorabilia collectors, Shea left-field ashes scatterers, player groupies, fan families, families with divided loyalties…each story riveting, each person unwavering despite consecutive Mets collapses in 2007 and 2008. As they say, "Ya' gotta believe!" With seven nice additional features, plus deleted scenes. Highly recommended for Mets fans especially. More info at mathematicallyalive.com.—Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

This fascinating portrait of barkeep/restaurateur Bernard "Toots" Shor (1903–77) and the significant influence he had on Manhattan nightlife in the 1940s and 1950s was deftly made by his granddaughter, an award-winning documentarian. As Jacobson never met her grandfather, she researched old television shows like This Is Your Life, early TV interviews, and a long oral history made in the mid-1970s. Jacobson's mother had maintained silence about her father but opens up on camera, and the result is a phenomenal program that gives viewers a visceral feeling for the absolute excitement of New York City during Shor's time. Jacobson skillfully weaves taped interviews with some significant New Yorkers who counted Shor a friend with generic clips of city nightlife, sports, and socializing so that the city itself becomes a character. Her well-rounded portrait delves into Shor's mob connections and his tragic childhood. Extras include longer interviews. A vibrant picture of a complicated man; highly recommended for those who like bios of the larger-than-life type.—B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara Cty. Lib., CA

Verse, song, and artistic expression have been mainstays of movements of social protest for centuries and continue to this day—except recently in Albuquerque, NM, where several high school teachers were fired for not censoring antiwar poetry and artwork created by their students. The larger question of freedom of expression led to the community's division in support as well as condemnation of the dismissed staff. The main portion of this one-sided program tries to follow the saga of one of those teachers, but it sometimes strays back and forth to other topics. A wide variety of graphic techniques intended to add an element of "hipness" doesn't contribute to the flow of the story. Highlights are the segments featuring students presenting their own works in an electronic version of a poetry slam. Chapter selection is available for maximum versatility, and a few bonus features complete this affordable, if somewhat disjointed selection, which might find a place in the largest of collections.—Dwain Thomas, William Rainey Harper Coll. Lib., Palatine, IL

This enormous 60's boxed set provides nearly 30 hours of documentaries broadcast by the History Channel over the last several years, some of which your library may already own. Titles include King (one disc), 1968 with Tom Brokaw (one), The Vietnam War (two), The Race to the Moon (two), Voices of Civil Rights (two), JFK: A Presidency Revealed (two), Days of Rage and Wonder (two), and several shorter programs. A few of these episodes (JFK, Bay of Pigs Declassified) take advantage of recently released material to revise significantly accepted history. Production standards are as professional as one would expect of A&E affiliates. Being TV broadcasts, they tend to play up dramatic elements and conflict, often teasing us with upcoming material so we don't leave during commercials. Some programs include bonus material, such as fuller versions of the Brokaw interviews. Certain of these issues are still popular term paper topics, so public and school libraries will want to add. An excellent set, but check your holdings.

A microcosm of those turbulent years, People's Park recalls how in 1969 some Berkeley, CA, residents landscaped a tract of unused land. The University of California owned the property, though, and then-Gov. Ronald Reagan responded with bulldozers and a chain-link fence, triggering confrontations with police and the death of a bystander. Burch's film documents the issues, which made national headlines, as well as later festivities surrounding the park but offers no coherent narrative or sequence of events. Colorful celebrations of the park from 1993 and 2008 only make the film seem padded. Local residents try to explain the park's importance but succeed more in fostering unfortunate stereotypes. While passions clearly ran high and the casualties remain tragic, unless your patrons live in the Bay Area, they will almost certainly be indifferent and would find the participants' fervor unconvincing.—John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.

At a dig on the lush Iowa prairie, Ioway elders join historians and archaeologists to tell the dramatic and true story of the small tribe that once claimed the territory between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers from Pipestone, MN, to St. Louis. In 1824, during the twilight of Native American dominion, Ioway leaders and brothers White Cloud and Great Walker meet with William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) to sign a treaty; they are at odds about the future of their people and their lands. White Cloud foresees domination by the white man and thinks cooperation is best for their survival. Great Walker regrets and fights the loss of their homeland. The incident leads both men to tragic destinies. A fascinating journey into America's Native past and present, Lost Nation features an Ioway language track, additional commentary, and over an hour of bonus materials. For history buffs and historians and those interested in our Native origins.—Margaret B. Miller, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion

Don't look to Generation M for a concise, well-rounded look at the portrayal of women in contemporary mass media and feminist objections to it. In fairness, it transcends vilifying such obvious targets as Paris, Britney, hip-hop performers, and advertising to cover such topics as unhealthy ideals of feminine beauty and the "genderization" of certain activities and characteristics. But a worthwhile study of misogyny in the media must at least glance at what factors may be at the heart of gender-specific hostility and how both media and consumer awareness can be used by individuals to counter that negativity. Generation M ignores the former and has too little of the latter and would only be worthwhile if used alongside materials that fill those gaps, in classes that take time to examine and discuss how media shape thought and perception. A competent production, its best feature is a succinct, illuminating discussion of "Media Literacy, Education, and Choice." Suitable for teen viewers and up.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB

This disc whets the appetite for world travel and exotic eats. From a glimpse into the slow-food movement to salt and pepper, these 30-minute segments allow just enough time to begin a voyage, sample the topic, and return to Gourmet's kitchen for an "at-home" replication. The episode featuring chef José Andrés is particularly exciting as he deconstructs a meal and creates amazingly delicious variations inside his kitchen-lab. A show on water takes the audience into the art and science of oyster farming, a fascinating and little-known industry. The most important element of the season is its focus on the local, slow, and organic food movements. Diary is an intelligent program on the most complex and also the simplest items that we put into our mouths. Highly recommended for foodists and ecologically minded chefs. Fans can also download full episodes and recipes at www.gourmet.com/diaryofafoodie/season1/season1.—Claire A. Moitra, Providence

This entertaining program features singer Patti LaBelle demonstrating five recipes: brisket of beef, macaroni & cheese, cabbage shuffle, seared salmon and grits, and fried apple pie. The visuals are good, with plenty of close-ups, and during each step the ingredients are written on the bottom of the screen. The sound quality is excellent as well. There is some "selling" of LaBelle's products, but that can be ignored. Also, LaBelle can be a little chatty, but it doesn't interfere with the lesson. There is also a segment on entertaining: setting the table, lighting, ambiance, etc. Including the outtakes from the production is unnecessary as they don't seem all that funny. A companion book, LaBelle's Recipes for the Good Life (Pocket), is also available. Not a first purchase for public library collections, but the recipes look good and all ingredients and directions are here.—Michele Lauer-Bader, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY