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Denzel Washington , E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial , Lucille Ball , Robert Mitchum , Steven
Spielberg , Wong Kar Wai , Desperate Housewives , Spielberg , Spielberg ET ,
Entertainment News
3 5 1 1React
Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyDVDs: E.T. Remains Spielberg's
Masterpiece
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E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITION ($34.98 BluRay combo; Universal)
STEVEN SPIELBERG: A RETROSPECTIVE ($35; Sterling)
E.T. : FROM CONCEPT TO CLASSIC ($24.99; Newmarket) -- Steven Spielberg had suffered the first
ignominious flop of his career with 1941 . Then he was spurned after asking to direct a James Bond film.
He responded with Raiders of the Lost Ark, regaining his magic touch. And when the director of Jaws,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders decided what world-beating smash to create next, he
focused instead on a modestly budgeted little film about a boy who befriends an alien. The result -- to
everyone's astonishment -- was the biggest hit of his career, a family classic that endures today as one of
the most perfectly realized gems imaginable. Of the many facets that make this so, just think about the
two key child actors. Drew Barrymore had the family tree, but she still gives an adorable turn, while
Henry Thomas is deadly serious as only an adolescent can be. This sparkling edition is the original film
print beautifully restored, a chat with Spielberg (some day I'll record the audio commentary he never has
for this film) and some on-set footage to go along with bonus features we've seen before. Coming out just
as Lincoln is set to be another Oscar contender, it's proof that this was the film he should have won BestDirector for so many years ago. Richard Schickel has a new book about Spielberg but it's mainly anexcuse for a coffee table offering, filled with loads of striking photos from his many movies. Schickel'smain point is that Spielberg is unappreciated because his work is more versatile than any other greatdirector in history (sci-fi, period drama, war movies, action adventure and so on). Well, Howard Hawksand Michael Curtiz immediately spring to mind as other examples. Still, the modest quotes fromSpielberg that are included provide some new tidbits for fans. More satisfying is the reissue of a bookabout the making of E.T . that includes the entire script and detailed information on the production,
technical challenges and life on the set for the kids. If you're a fan, this is a quick, but content-rich book.
Trump Announcement A
Gigantic, Pointless Bust?
Coulter Uses Slur Against
Obama
Another Day In Polls, Still
Neck-And-Neck
WATCH: Vivica A. Fox SLAMS
Stacey Dash's Romney
Endorsement
'Grey's Anatomy' Sneak Peek:
Cristina's New 'Sex Friend,'
Jackson's Lady Troubles &
More
Allred Goes To Court Over
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Testimony
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Gangnam-Style
Louisiana Woman May Have
Set Herself On Fire In
Dubious Race-Related Attack
(UPDATED)
DON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS 1 of 5
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Other
Tavis Smiley
The Top 20 (Cause 10 Ain’t
Enough) Reasons (Excuses) Black
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Bieber
Teen Mom's New 16,000Dollar Face
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES : THE COMPLETE COLLECTION ($149.99 DVD; ABC Studios) -- If
for some reason you're a big fan of the show but haven't purchased any of the previous seasons, this is a
low-priced collection of all eight seasons. The Marc Cherry blockbuster was a genuine original for
primetime, building on the likes of Peyton Place and others but offering a light satirical touch thanks to
the narration and the gleeful absurdity of some of the storylines. Exceptionally well cast, from the leadsdown to boy toys like Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives knew exactly how silly and sexy it wanted to
be. It got lost in its own success, but that can't disguise the fact that it brought an original voice to TV.Beyond the price, this boxed set has little to offer, thanks to poor packaging. It's in a handsome, sturdyrectangular box that will take up a lot of space on your shelf. The individual seasons don't have the nameof the series on the spine (they just say "The Complete First Season" and so on), so if you want to takethem out to store the box it's simply not that appealing an option when they're lined up on the shelf andyou have to guess which show they are. A bonus disc is cleverly contained in an apple-shaped holder butthat holder is flimsy cardboard, an unfortunate hint of things to come. Worst of all, the individualseasons are flimsy, fold-out affairs with discs held in awkward cardboard slots. Without exception, thecardboard "holders" are coming apart on my set with just a dab of glue holding the thin paper in place
while discs slide out the other side or get glue on them. I keep pressing the cardboard slots down and
they keep coming loose again. Unlike the show, it looks like it was designed to last about an hour.
Desperate Housewives deserved better.
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 1 of 2
HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
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WATCH: Vivica A. Fox
SLAMS Stacey Dash's
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Adele's 'Skyfall' Made
Daniel Craig Cry
Snoop Dogg Explains Why
He's Voting For Obama
Lindsay Lohan's
Incredible Debate Tweets
ROCK OF AGES ($35.99 BluRay combo; Warner Bros.)
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR ($29.98 BluRay; Capitol/Apple)
YELLOW SUBMARINE ($34.98 BluRay; Capitol/Apple)
SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS ($34.99 DVD; Oscilloscope) -- Rock Of Ages is the deeply silly
excuse of a Broadway musical that shoehorns tons of 1980s pop and metal hits into its score. The film
version naturally cast famous actors, but having Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand andthe like somehow spoils the fun, as if it meant the film was taking itself too seriously. The Beatlescertainly didn't take themselves too seriously with Magical Mystery Tour, the single most self-indulgent
act of their entire career. By a mile. It's an almost unwatchable TV special that engendered derision fromall quarters and kept the accompanying album from being fully appreciated for many years. Here it'spresented in all its slap-dash lack of glory, along with mild commentary by Paul McCartney andespecially welcome footage that gives you a chance to see a number of songs performed for the film onset. The extras are far more compelling than the film itself. Yellow Submarine was of course a happy
accident, with the Beatles discovering their music would be used in an animated film, offering up scraps
of new songs for a project they had nothing to do with and being astonished when the end result was very
Beatlesque in spirit and quite innovative and influential in its own right. The film is best enjoyed in bitsand pieces and the extras tell its story well. LCD Soundsystem said goodbye at Madison Square Gardenand this exemplary document captures the finale, from the film Shut Up And Play The Hits presenting
interviews and music to a complete presentation of their last waltz.
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE ($39.95 BluRay; Criterion) -- Immediately hailed as a classic on its release,
this masterpiece by director Wong Kar-wai has only risen in stature since it came out in 2000. Deeply
romantic, visually stunning, technically flawless and gorgeously acted, it's the story of a businessman and
a woman who are drawn to each other as they realize their spouses are having an affair. That doesn't
begin to hint at the dreamlike, overwhelming absorption in the moment that this film creates with its use
of slow-motion, pop songs that echo and re-echo in your brain and two sexily compelling actors -- Tony
leung and Maggie Cheung -- at the peak of their desirability. This sterling Criterion release presents the
film beautifully, along with copious extras like a making-of by Wong Kar-wai, press conferences,
interviews and even the original short story that inspired it. An essential film.
GIVE UP TOMORROW ($24.95 DVD; First Run Features) -- If I suffered a miscarriage of justice, the
first call I made might not be to a lawyer. I might just call a filmmaker instead. This passionatedocumentary uncovers a terrible misdeed without ever downplaying the pain of the families that havesuffered on all sides, whether it's the families of two young women who were murdered or the family ofan innocent young man who was pulled into the crime despite a mountain of evidence he was hundredsof miles away and surrounded by numerous compelling witnesses. This aired on PBS and is now out onDVD but after a decade, justice has still been denied. This nightmarish tale offers no solace to the peopleinvolved, but will chill you with what can happen.
COMBAT! 50TH ANNIVERSARY FAN FAVORITES ($24.98 DVD; Image)
BONANZA SEASON FOUR ($58.98 DVD; Paramount)
I LOVE LUCY SEASONS 1-4 ($19.99 each DVD set; Paramount) -- Combat! is a sober, understated
adult drama about soldiers fighting in Europe during WW II. It's an under-appreciated link in the growth
of the TV drama that led to the likes of Hill Street Blues and The Wire. It's not as explicitly violent as
later works about war and of course it can't capture the sweep of battle in a TV show. But the devastatingemotional impact of war on soldiers is a constant in this grim, terse show. This set includes 20 of the bestepisodes. Unfortunately, they're the edited versions for syndication missing some minutes each but theprints are good and this is the best we're likely to get for a long time, if ever. Talent like Robert Duvalland Robert Altman pop in every once in a while. Bonanza was much tamer fare; problems were always
solved on the Ponderosa by the end of the hour. But in an era when westerns were king, this was one ofthe most popular. The best of this repackaging of TV shows has to be I Love Lucy, the stellar sitcom that
was a ground breaker in so many ways. These aren't remasters but they were done well in 2005 or so andstill look great. You get all the extras plus 30 or so episodes in slimmer cases with colorful packaging. Ifyou haven't started collecting the show, this is the version to begin with. All they need know is a
definitive greatest hits package with the 20 best episodes of all and I Love Lucy will have been done right.
THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE ($29.99 BluRay; Disney)
A CAT IN PARIS ($34.95 BluRay; New Video)
CHICO & RITA ($39.95 BluRay; New Video) -- Disney languished for many years when it came to
animation and director Ron Clement is a key reason they pulled out of that slump. He helmed Aladdin
and before that The Little Mermaid, the musical that announced to the world that Disney was back. But
aficionados knew the turnaround had begun when Clement made his directorial debut with The GreatMouse Detective in 1986. This retelling of Sherlock Holmes had snap and style while building on the
classic strengths of the Disney brand. It's a pity they never made a sequel. Surely this and Tarzan cried
out for new adventures? Vincent Price does some of the best voice work of his career as the villainRatigan. Disney and Pixar happily are not the only ones pushing the envelope in animation as two Oscar-nominated films can attest. A Cat In Paris is a slight affair at just over 60 minutes and the nifty touches
are better appreciated by adults. But this noir-ish look at cat burglars and a little girl has its charm. Thosewho know Ralph Bakshi was headed in the right direction will enjoy Chico & Rita, a tale of passion and
jazz in pre-revolutionary Cuba. Happily, the deluxe set comes with a full soundtrack or you'd have to runout and start buying albums by Chano Pozo, Tito Puente, Charlie Parker and others.
FOLLOW ENTERTAINMENT
THE DENZEL WASHINGTON FILM COLLECTION ($49.99 DVD; MGM/Fox)
THE ROBERT MITCHUM FILM COLLECTION ($49.99 DVD; MGM/Fox) -- These two stars have a
lot in common. They're both often the best part of a movie, thanks to their innate talent and charm. Both
are tough guys who don't suffer fools gladly and never play fools because it just wouldn't work. Youwouldn't buy it for a second and would spend the entire film waiting for them to reveal their true smarts.Not that they always triumph: both are great in the hardboiled tradition of heroes who get suckerpunched by the system, laugh it off and go on their way. Washington will be gunning for an Oscar thanksto his acclaimed, complex portrayal of an airline pilot in Flight, a role Mitchum would have savored. Here
he has eight films, none of them among his best. Still, Unstoppable (the fun, train out of control movie),
Out of Time , The Mighty Quinn and Courage Under Fire all show why Washington has remained on top
for so long. Mitchum fares better with ten movies, a number of which are solid and one of which ( Night
of the Hunter ) is a stone cold classic. He's also got the WW II spectacle The Longest Day , the sweet (!)
romance Heaven Knows. Mr. Allison, not one but two movies directed by Dick Powell and the b moviegem about moonshine Thunder Road. They never met, but I'm pretty sure Washington and Mitchumwould have recognized a kindred spirit.
*****
Most titles listed here will be available in multiple formats and in multiple combinations, includingDVD, Blu-ray, digital download, video on demand, streaming and the like. The format listed is theformat provided for review, not all the formats available. It is often the most expensive version with themost extras. Do check individual titles for availability in all their various guises and price points.
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the co-host of Showbiz Sandbox , a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion
makers as guests. It's available for free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog .
Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and alsoavailable for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.
Note : Michael Giltz is provided with free copies of DVDs and Blu-Rays with the understanding that he
would be considering them for review. Generally, he does not guarantee to review and he receives farmore titles than he can cover.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
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47 minutes ago (10:11 AM)
Biggest hit does not equate to masterpiece. That would be Jaws and as far as form his TV film Duel
is also superior to the very likable ET.
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Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from
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Michael Giltz
Freelance writerGET UPDATES FROM MICHAEL GILTZ
Read more
Denzel Washington , E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial , Lucille Ball , Robert Mitchum , Steven
Spielberg , Wong Kar Wai , Desperate Housewives , Spielberg , Spielberg ET ,
Entertainment News
3 5 1 1React
Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyDVDs: E.T. Remains Spielberg's
Masterpiece
MOST POPULAR ON HUFFPOST 1 of 2
Mourdock On Abortion:
Pregnancy From Rape Is
'Something God Intended'
Was The Whole Donald
FOLLOW US
Celebrity TV Political Hollywood Features Hollywood Buzz Videos
This Might Be The Most Important
Vote You'll Cast This YearOctober 24, 2012
Edition: U.S.
Chip Davis Tavis Smiley
James Franco Gov. Jennifer M. GranholmHOT ON THE BLOG
HuffPost Social Reading
Like 117
Posted: 10/22/2012 12:11 am
SHARE THIS STORY
Submit this storySPONSOR GENERATED POST
Recommend 94kMovie Trailers Live Better America iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More Log in Create Account
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITION ($34.98 BluRay combo; Universal)
STEVEN SPIELBERG: A RETROSPECTIVE ($35; Sterling)
E.T. : FROM CONCEPT TO CLASSIC ($24.99; Newmarket) -- Steven Spielberg had suffered the first
ignominious flop of his career with 1941 . Then he was spurned after asking to direct a James Bond film.
He responded with Raiders of the Lost Ark, regaining his magic touch. And when the director of Jaws,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders decided what world-beating smash to create next, he
focused instead on a modestly budgeted little film about a boy who befriends an alien. The result -- to
everyone's astonishment -- was the biggest hit of his career, a family classic that endures today as one of
the most perfectly realized gems imaginable. Of the many facets that make this so, just think about the
two key child actors. Drew Barrymore had the family tree, but she still gives an adorable turn, while
Henry Thomas is deadly serious as only an adolescent can be. This sparkling edition is the original film
print beautifully restored, a chat with Spielberg (some day I'll record the audio commentary he never has
for this film) and some on-set footage to go along with bonus features we've seen before. Coming out just
as Lincoln is set to be another Oscar contender, it's proof that this was the film he should have won BestDirector for so many years ago. Richard Schickel has a new book about Spielberg but it's mainly anexcuse for a coffee table offering, filled with loads of striking photos from his many movies. Schickel'smain point is that Spielberg is unappreciated because his work is more versatile than any other greatdirector in history (sci-fi, period drama, war movies, action adventure and so on). Well, Howard Hawksand Michael Curtiz immediately spring to mind as other examples. Still, the modest quotes fromSpielberg that are included provide some new tidbits for fans. More satisfying is the reissue of a bookabout the making of E.T . that includes the entire script and detailed information on the production,
technical challenges and life on the set for the kids. If you're a fan, this is a quick, but content-rich book.
Trump Announcement A
Gigantic, Pointless Bust?
Coulter Uses Slur Against
Obama
Another Day In Polls, Still
Neck-And-Neck
WATCH: Vivica A. Fox SLAMS
Stacey Dash's Romney
Endorsement
'Grey's Anatomy' Sneak Peek:
Cristina's New 'Sex Friend,'
Jackson's Lady Troubles &
More
Allred Goes To Court Over
Mitt Romney Divorce
Testimony
WATCH: U.N. Chief Dances
Gangnam-Style
Louisiana Woman May Have
Set Herself On Fire In
Dubious Race-Related Attack
(UPDATED)
DON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS 1 of 5
Chip Davis
Halloween Is a Night Like No
Other
Tavis Smiley
The Top 20 (Cause 10 Ain’t
Enough) Reasons (Excuses) Black
Folk Will Give if Obama Loses
TOP VIDEO PICKS 1 of 9Like 10k
Like 40k
Like 227
Like 1k
Like 5k
Recommend 1k
Recommend 859
Recommend 32k
Kim K. Posts Shirtless Photo
Liam Neeson Pokes Fun at
Bieber
Teen Mom's New 16,000Dollar Face
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES : THE COMPLETE COLLECTION ($149.99 DVD; ABC Studios) -- If
for some reason you're a big fan of the show but haven't purchased any of the previous seasons, this is a
low-priced collection of all eight seasons. The Marc Cherry blockbuster was a genuine original for
primetime, building on the likes of Peyton Place and others but offering a light satirical touch thanks to
the narration and the gleeful absurdity of some of the storylines. Exceptionally well cast, from the leadsdown to boy toys like Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives knew exactly how silly and sexy it wanted to
be. It got lost in its own success, but that can't disguise the fact that it brought an original voice to TV.Beyond the price, this boxed set has little to offer, thanks to poor packaging. It's in a handsome, sturdyrectangular box that will take up a lot of space on your shelf. The individual seasons don't have the nameof the series on the spine (they just say "The Complete First Season" and so on), so if you want to takethem out to store the box it's simply not that appealing an option when they're lined up on the shelf andyou have to guess which show they are. A bonus disc is cleverly contained in an apple-shaped holder butthat holder is flimsy cardboard, an unfortunate hint of things to come. Worst of all, the individualseasons are flimsy, fold-out affairs with discs held in awkward cardboard slots. Without exception, thecardboard "holders" are coming apart on my set with just a dab of glue holding the thin paper in place
while discs slide out the other side or get glue on them. I keep pressing the cardboard slots down and
they keep coming loose again. Unlike the show, it looks like it was designed to last about an hour.
Desperate Housewives deserved better.
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 1 of 2
HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
Katy Perry
San Francisco
Giants
Abortion
John McCain
Todd Akin
Tigers
Robert Gibbs
Justin
Timberlake
Pennsylvania Buy a link here Sponsored Links
"Strange Bean Burns Fat"
Celebrity Doctor proclaims this strange bean
magic for weight loss.
www.iconsumerknowledge.org
Weird Loophole in New York
Long Island City - New trick helps drivers getcar insurance for as low as $9…
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The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle TrickHas Botox Doctors Worried
www.consumerproducts.com
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WATCH: Vivica A. Fox
SLAMS Stacey Dash's
Romney Endorsement
Adele's 'Skyfall' Made
Daniel Craig Cry
Snoop Dogg Explains Why
He's Voting For Obama
Lindsay Lohan's
Incredible Debate Tweets
ROCK OF AGES ($35.99 BluRay combo; Warner Bros.)
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR ($29.98 BluRay; Capitol/Apple)
YELLOW SUBMARINE ($34.98 BluRay; Capitol/Apple)
SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS ($34.99 DVD; Oscilloscope) -- Rock Of Ages is the deeply silly
excuse of a Broadway musical that shoehorns tons of 1980s pop and metal hits into its score. The film
version naturally cast famous actors, but having Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand andthe like somehow spoils the fun, as if it meant the film was taking itself too seriously. The Beatlescertainly didn't take themselves too seriously with Magical Mystery Tour, the single most self-indulgent
act of their entire career. By a mile. It's an almost unwatchable TV special that engendered derision fromall quarters and kept the accompanying album from being fully appreciated for many years. Here it'spresented in all its slap-dash lack of glory, along with mild commentary by Paul McCartney andespecially welcome footage that gives you a chance to see a number of songs performed for the film onset. The extras are far more compelling than the film itself. Yellow Submarine was of course a happy
accident, with the Beatles discovering their music would be used in an animated film, offering up scraps
of new songs for a project they had nothing to do with and being astonished when the end result was very
Beatlesque in spirit and quite innovative and influential in its own right. The film is best enjoyed in bitsand pieces and the extras tell its story well. LCD Soundsystem said goodbye at Madison Square Gardenand this exemplary document captures the finale, from the film Shut Up And Play The Hits presenting
interviews and music to a complete presentation of their last waltz.
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE ($39.95 BluRay; Criterion) -- Immediately hailed as a classic on its release,
this masterpiece by director Wong Kar-wai has only risen in stature since it came out in 2000. Deeply
romantic, visually stunning, technically flawless and gorgeously acted, it's the story of a businessman and
a woman who are drawn to each other as they realize their spouses are having an affair. That doesn't
begin to hint at the dreamlike, overwhelming absorption in the moment that this film creates with its use
of slow-motion, pop songs that echo and re-echo in your brain and two sexily compelling actors -- Tony
leung and Maggie Cheung -- at the peak of their desirability. This sterling Criterion release presents the
film beautifully, along with copious extras like a making-of by Wong Kar-wai, press conferences,
interviews and even the original short story that inspired it. An essential film.
GIVE UP TOMORROW ($24.95 DVD; First Run Features) -- If I suffered a miscarriage of justice, the
first call I made might not be to a lawyer. I might just call a filmmaker instead. This passionatedocumentary uncovers a terrible misdeed without ever downplaying the pain of the families that havesuffered on all sides, whether it's the families of two young women who were murdered or the family ofan innocent young man who was pulled into the crime despite a mountain of evidence he was hundredsof miles away and surrounded by numerous compelling witnesses. This aired on PBS and is now out onDVD but after a decade, justice has still been denied. This nightmarish tale offers no solace to the peopleinvolved, but will chill you with what can happen.
COMBAT! 50TH ANNIVERSARY FAN FAVORITES ($24.98 DVD; Image)
BONANZA SEASON FOUR ($58.98 DVD; Paramount)
I LOVE LUCY SEASONS 1-4 ($19.99 each DVD set; Paramount) -- Combat! is a sober, understated
adult drama about soldiers fighting in Europe during WW II. It's an under-appreciated link in the growth
of the TV drama that led to the likes of Hill Street Blues and The Wire. It's not as explicitly violent as
later works about war and of course it can't capture the sweep of battle in a TV show. But the devastatingemotional impact of war on soldiers is a constant in this grim, terse show. This set includes 20 of the bestepisodes. Unfortunately, they're the edited versions for syndication missing some minutes each but theprints are good and this is the best we're likely to get for a long time, if ever. Talent like Robert Duvalland Robert Altman pop in every once in a while. Bonanza was much tamer fare; problems were always
solved on the Ponderosa by the end of the hour. But in an era when westerns were king, this was one ofthe most popular. The best of this repackaging of TV shows has to be I Love Lucy, the stellar sitcom that
was a ground breaker in so many ways. These aren't remasters but they were done well in 2005 or so andstill look great. You get all the extras plus 30 or so episodes in slimmer cases with colorful packaging. Ifyou haven't started collecting the show, this is the version to begin with. All they need know is a
definitive greatest hits package with the 20 best episodes of all and I Love Lucy will have been done right.
THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE ($29.99 BluRay; Disney)
A CAT IN PARIS ($34.95 BluRay; New Video)
CHICO & RITA ($39.95 BluRay; New Video) -- Disney languished for many years when it came to
animation and director Ron Clement is a key reason they pulled out of that slump. He helmed Aladdin
and before that The Little Mermaid, the musical that announced to the world that Disney was back. But
aficionados knew the turnaround had begun when Clement made his directorial debut with The GreatMouse Detective in 1986. This retelling of Sherlock Holmes had snap and style while building on the
classic strengths of the Disney brand. It's a pity they never made a sequel. Surely this and Tarzan cried
out for new adventures? Vincent Price does some of the best voice work of his career as the villainRatigan. Disney and Pixar happily are not the only ones pushing the envelope in animation as two Oscar-nominated films can attest. A Cat In Paris is a slight affair at just over 60 minutes and the nifty touches
are better appreciated by adults. But this noir-ish look at cat burglars and a little girl has its charm. Thosewho know Ralph Bakshi was headed in the right direction will enjoy Chico & Rita, a tale of passion and
jazz in pre-revolutionary Cuba. Happily, the deluxe set comes with a full soundtrack or you'd have to runout and start buying albums by Chano Pozo, Tito Puente, Charlie Parker and others.
FOLLOW ENTERTAINMENT
THE DENZEL WASHINGTON FILM COLLECTION ($49.99 DVD; MGM/Fox)
THE ROBERT MITCHUM FILM COLLECTION ($49.99 DVD; MGM/Fox) -- These two stars have a
lot in common. They're both often the best part of a movie, thanks to their innate talent and charm. Both
are tough guys who don't suffer fools gladly and never play fools because it just wouldn't work. Youwouldn't buy it for a second and would spend the entire film waiting for them to reveal their true smarts.Not that they always triumph: both are great in the hardboiled tradition of heroes who get suckerpunched by the system, laugh it off and go on their way. Washington will be gunning for an Oscar thanksto his acclaimed, complex portrayal of an airline pilot in Flight, a role Mitchum would have savored. Here
he has eight films, none of them among his best. Still, Unstoppable (the fun, train out of control movie),
Out of Time , The Mighty Quinn and Courage Under Fire all show why Washington has remained on top
for so long. Mitchum fares better with ten movies, a number of which are solid and one of which ( Night
of the Hunter ) is a stone cold classic. He's also got the WW II spectacle The Longest Day , the sweet (!)
romance Heaven Knows. Mr. Allison, not one but two movies directed by Dick Powell and the b moviegem about moonshine Thunder Road. They never met, but I'm pretty sure Washington and Mitchumwould have recognized a kindred spirit.
*****
Most titles listed here will be available in multiple formats and in multiple combinations, includingDVD, Blu-ray, digital download, video on demand, streaming and the like. The format listed is theformat provided for review, not all the formats available. It is often the most expensive version with themost extras. Do check individual titles for availability in all their various guises and price points.
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the co-host of Showbiz Sandbox , a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion
makers as guests. It's available for free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog .
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47 minutes ago (10:11 AM)
Biggest hit does not equate to masterpiece. That would be Jaws and as far as form his TV film Duel
is also superior to the very likable ET.
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