'Americana' DVD Review

Avery Wells (David Call) has fought alcoholism and depression for some time. A film editor by trade he was on task to be something special in the film industry. One night he and his sister Kate (Kelli Garner) were driving along and hit a young boy killing him. Wells would begin to drink himself into oblivion at his cabin because of the guilt feelings for killing the child. Calib Andrews (Jack Davenport)  comes to the cabin one day out of the blue and wants Wells to come clean up a movie he has been working on called 'Americana'.

What's ironic is Wells sister Kate is acting in the movie. Wells cleans up his act and tries to reconnect with family and friends. One day he begins to receive death threats over the phone and the caller is threatening to reveal all of Wells' darkest secrets. What makes this even worse is his sister Kate is murdered soon after the calls begin to come. Wells turns to his old buddy the bottle. Then he's troubled with questions about what caused this tragedy to befall him. Did this have anything to do with the tragedy long ago? Did this have anything to do with his sister's death? He just didn't know but he would become determined to find out why this all happened.

Candy Factory brings this drama to us on DVD on March 28th, 2017. The sights and sounds of the DVD are excellent and the quality of the DVD is exquisite. This mystery is a must for that personal library. Watch a man tear himself apart and put himself back together. As a film editor Avery Wells is one of the best. As a sleuth he is a novice but because of the connection of his sister being involved Wells puts his all into uncovering her murderer. His lawyer Ben (Peter Coyote), though may drive him over the edge with paranoia about all that is going on. So take the time and pick this one up. Enjoy.

'Heidi' DVD Review

Johanna Spyri wrote the story of 'Heidi' back in the 1880's. Since that time it has been made into numerous movies and about 50 million copies in print. The story is rather simple and open. A young girl lives with her Grandfather in the Swiss alps and is whisked to the big city only to be returned to her glorious mountains. There, one could say that's our story in a nutshell, but don't think that's all there is about our young little Heidi. She is orphaned at a young age and she does go to live with her Grandfather Alpohi ( Bruno Ganz). He is somewhat of a hermit and doesn't really associate with many people. He has his goats and that's what makes him happy. There's more though, her grandfather shows her how to live. He shows her how to be her own person. Heidi (Anuk Steffen) lives in a simple cabin in the heart of the Swiss alps. Heidi does find a friend in Peter (Quirin Agrippi). He's a goat herder who is just a little older than her. Together the two youngsters learn what it is to be happy.

One day Heidi's Aunt Dete (Anna Schinz) comes to take her off the mountain and down to live in Frankfurt. Heidi is supposed to stay with the Sesemann family and be a playmate for their wheelchair bound daughter Klara (Isabelle Ottman).  Heidi gets along fine with Klara the two become close friends but it's not enough. Heidi begins to learn to read and write and soon has a passion for books. It's still not enough to fill the void of her beloved mountain home.

Omnibus Entertainment brings this adaptation of 'Heidi' to us on DVD on April 4th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. The scenery is out of this world. This is a wonderful film and you will enjoy it tremendously. It would be a nice addition to that personal library. You can pick this DVD up at Walmart exclusively so don't waste any time and do it today. Enjoy.

'Saving Banksy' DVD Review

The art world changes its flavors or what it enjoys almost daily. What might be in vogue today could be trash tomorrow. Street art used to be called vandalism. A person would take the side of building and spray paint it sometimes with gang colors to simply a peace sign. The next day the owner would get out there and paint over it or hire someone to do it. Most of the time the artist would never be caught so the owner would have to pay for his own repairs.

What happens when a very well known street artist chooses the side of your building and paints something on it? Well, back in April 2010, an artist by the name of Banksy painted a picture titled "Haight Street Rat". A few years later the painting is getting a good look by collectors and some want to tear it down and auction off the Rat. Then comes those who want to save it. One can ask who is more misguided the collector or those wanting to save it?

Now, one person wanting to save it is named Brian Greif. He decides to make a documentary about his efforts as not all are happy with his efforts. He would take a lot of flak from city officials. He would be snubbed by museums and there would be those who would offer hundreds of thousands of dollars for the painting.

This behind the scenes look at street art or graffiti is most enlightening. You will get to take in some of the thoughts of artists and how they feel about the Rat. Some of these are the tops in street art like Ben Eine, Risk, Anthony Lister,and Doze Green just to name a few. Candy Factory brings this  wonderful story to DVD on May 2nd, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. So this is an excellent look at street art and graffiti and would be an excellent addition to that personal library. Enjoy.

'Bob Hope Salutes The Troops' DVD Review

Bob Hope...comedian, singer, actor was probably the greatest entertainer that ever lived. For some 50 years he traveled the world to entertain American servicemen and woman around the world. The shows would be taped and shown each Christmas Season. This three disc DVD collection has seven shows from 1963-1991 and has a special show on Hope's memories of shows that he did during WWII. His wife Dolores takes part in this one and its a joy to watch. The boost in moral that a show could give to the troops was remarkable.

The Christmas show that aired in 1963 was taped from the 1962 Chrismas tour that included places like Japan, Korea, Guam, the Philippines, Okinawa, Formosa and the USS Kitty Hawk would also have a show. The show would include Miss America's Amadee Chabot, Lana Turner, and former Miss America Anita Bryant nothing was to good for our troops.

Bob would take the shows to places like Vietnam. Yes, that's right, Vietnam and that was when we were fighting a war over there. Stars would line up to be asked to participate in Bob's Christmas shows. People like Rosey Grier, Marie Osmond, Jill St. John, Roman Gabriel, Lola Falana, Redd Foxx would join Bob all over the world to perform for our men and women in uniform. Bob wanted to bring as many people as he could to boost the moral of our troops. He wanted to show them what they were fighting for.

Bob took the show to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in January 1991. Marie Osmond and Ann Jillian and the Pointer Sisters would perform for our men and women that year. The troops loved this show and so did the American public.

TimeLife brings the three disc DVD set to us on May 2th, 2017. The quality of the DVD's are excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is history retold and for some of us it's a journey back to our youth when the family would settle in by the TV and watch Bob Hope entertain the troops at Christmas. This is a must for that personal DVD library and it will be a joy to bring them out to see  for years to come. Enjoy.

'Agatha Christie's The Witness For The Prosecution' DVD Review

Emily French (Kim Cattrall) is a wealthy widow. She goes through lovers like most people go through toilet paper. Her housekeeper Janet (Monica Dolan) simply sits back and takes it all in. It's 1923 and the roaring 20's are in full swing. Emily's latest lover is a young man named Leonard Vole (Billy Howie). Now what's rather interesting is Emily has left this young man her fortune in case she should pass away.

One day Emily is found murdered in her home and all the evidence points to Leonard Vole. He contends that his wife Romaine (Andrea Riseborough) can attest to his innocence. Romaine is a chorus girl by profession which might imply a dubious background but what's worse is that when she finds out what was going on behind her back she changes her story. Romaine eventually gives state evidence against her husband but Leonard knows he is innocent.The trial begins and everyone is looking at it as a scandalous crime that it is and Solicitor John Mayhew (Toby Jones) believes that this case will be his undoing. This simply adds to tension of the court.

Our story is one of Agatha Christie's best and this adaptation is actually one of the best made. You will not push pause anytime during your viewing of this show. You simply will be glued to the TV. Acorn brings this to DVD on April 25th, 2017 and you simply will want to pick one up. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are wonderful. The acting is right on, and this will definitely have to be added to your DVD library. So don't waste  any time and pick this one up you will not do wrong by doing so. Enjoy.

'800 Words Season 2, Part 1' DVD Review

George Turner (Erik Thomson) is a recent widower trying to give his family a fresh start. Shay (Melinda Vidler) and Arlo (Benson Jack Anthony) are George's two children and are devastated with the loss of their mother. George moved his family to a quaint seaside town in New Zealand. The family had been living in Sydney, Australia but with the move to Weld many changes began to take place.

George was a newspaper columnist when he lived in Sydney. George was now unemployed looking for work. Shay was living still in Australia. Arlo was having his issues with all this change but seemed to be handling everything well. George wasn't finding steady work in Weld and was having a tough time finding a new love. There are eligible women in Weld but no one seemed to fit in well with George. This sweet refreshing family drama out of Australia is one of the best. It will keep you glued to your TV set and when all is said and done you walk away refreshed and with a feel good kind of feeling. 

Acorn brings '800 Words Season 2, Part 1' to DVD  on April 18th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sound are exquisite.'800 Words' also stars Emma Leonard, Michelle Langstone, Bridie Carter, and Rick Donald. The show brings a good feeling out of you. This would be a wonderful addition to that personal DVD library and makes for some really good wholesome entertainment. Don't waste any time and get out there and pick this up. 

'The Carol Burnett Show: The Best Of Tim Conway' DVD Review

'The Carol Burnett Show' was a TV show that everyone was watching back in the 1970's. One of the reasons was a young comedian by the name of Tim Conway. Conway in the beginning was making guest appearances on the show. It was in 1975 that Conway would become a member of the show. No matter what character Tim Conway played the one thing you knew you could count on was that you would come away feeling a lot better. It was due to the fact that you laughed all the way through Conway's appearance on the show.

Over the years Conway had accumulated a repertoire of characters like The Oldest Man, Mr. Tudball, The Virgin Prince, or the Dentist. On this DVD you will receive four complete episodes one being episode 312 which aired on December 8th, 1969. On this episode, Conway plays the Oldest Man character playing the head of a pit crew on a racetrack crew. Also with this episode you get Conway playing The Virgin Prince. Now, the Prince is a swashbuckling force that likes to eat flies and lives for  destruction. In another episode, 423, Conway plays The Lone Ranger. In episode 513, Conway along with Harvey Korman The Dentist sketch is aired. This one would become a classic for the show. Carol Burnett had a great show but Tim Conway helped her keeping it great each week for many years.

Time Life brings some of 'The Carol Burnett Show: The Best Of Tim Conway' to DVD on April 4th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is great and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is definitely history for your viewing pleasure. This DVD is a great addition to that personal library and will keep you laughing for years to come.

'Jack Taylor Set 3' DVD Review

Jack Taylor (Iain Glen) is an old school type of Gardai /Irish Police at least he was before he went off on a politician that had been pulled over. Now a former cop working as a private detective in Galway Taylor finds he is working cop cases that they don't want to work on. Helping him work these cases are detective Kate Noonan (Siobhan O'Kelly) and her cousin Darragh (Jack Monaghan). These are not simple fly by night cases these are cases that Taylor could call the hardest of his career.

Taylor went through a bad time after being fired from the Gardai. He drank to extreme and would find himself in trouble all over the place. He has been able to control himself and actually is doing well in his new career.

'Jack Taylor Set 3' finds Taylor in a case that is truly bizarre. A man is found crucified and it seems that his brother might be involved. His brother was involved in a hit and run death of a woman. Taylor thinks that maybe the women's family is seeking revenge on the man. In another story, Taylor is looking for a man that has been kidnapped and held for ransom. The man is named Ronan Meyers a former nemesis of Taylor's from days gone by. Finally, in our last story Taylor is hired by a CEO of a software company to retrieve the theft of important data. The main suspect in the theft takes a liking to Taylor and he to her. She turns up dead and Taylor goes after the CEO thinking he murdered her.

Acorn brings this interesting detective series to DVD on March 28th, 2017. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are perfect. This is definitely a must for that personal library and is always a pleasure to watch. Enjoy.

'The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 3' DVD Review

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) moved to the quiet sleepy little town of Brokenwood, New Zealand some time ago. Now, he thought he was leaving the chaos of the big city behind him but what he didn't know is that Brokenwood is boiling under the surface. If you were a visitor to this sleepy village you would think what a great place to settle down in, but once you've been around for awhile this place is nuts. Shepherd along with his partner Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and an eager young DC by the name of Sam Breen (Nic Sampson) come across some of the most interesting murder cases you've ever seen.

In 'The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 3', the Detectives will investigate the death of a local tour guide. In their search for the answers to this horrible murder they'll investigate another tour guide just to see if the rivalry went too far. Another murder that takes place is of the local poet Declan O'Grady (Mark Mitchinson) but what makes this an even more interesting case is that when the funeral was taking place the casket fell to the ground and opened and it wasn't Declan. It was an unknown dead women's body and now the gang have two corpses to find, or do they? An interesting case that Shepherd and his team have to find the answers to is that of the murder of the Mayor. The Mayor had been sharing some holiday cheer as Santa in the local holiday parade but is later found dead. Now, this has the team looking at any and all of the Mayors political rivals. 

Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on March 21st, 2017. The quality of the DVD is great and the sights and sounds are perfect. 'The Brokenwood Mysteries' are filmed in some of the most beautiful locales in New Zealand. The acting is superb and it is enjoyable to watch. This will make a wonderful addition to your personal DVD library.