Now out on DVD
"Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition": Walt Disney's second animated feature ("Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was the first) has never looked or sounded better. Using a new process, the brilliant colors will jump right at you. The entire family will love the story of toy maker Geppetto, who dreams of Pinocchio, one of his puppets, coming alive.
The Blue Fairy appears, and agrees to make Pinocchio a real person, as long as he can prove to be honest, loyal and brave. To make sure that this happens, she has Jiminy Cricket becoming his guide and conscience. Music plays a big role in the film, with songs such as "When You Wish Upon a Star," "I've Got No Strings," "Little Wooden Head" and many more.
Bonus features on the two-disc set include audio commentary with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg and J.B.Kaufman, Pinocchio fun facts, a sing-along component in which lyrics appear on the screen, featurettes, deleted scenes, alternative ending, art galleries, deleted songs, Pinocchio puzzles, live action reference footage, and footage of "The Sweat Box," which was a small projection room where Walt Disney went over the story reels, rough animation and dailies of his films in progress. It is a fascinating piece of history.
"Imperial War Museum: The True Glory": Anyone who is interested in the real story of the history of World War II should add this great documentary to their collection.
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1946, this was the brain-child of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He commissioned the recording of the progress of "Operation Overlord," and documents every major engagement from D-Day to the fall of Berlin.
The program includes footage from 1,400 different cameramen and footage provided from a dozen countries. The Allies' progress is easy to follow with maps that are intercut within the film. The servicemen tell their stories in their own words, and the footage is difficult to watch at times. Gen. Eisenhower introduces the film, and the set includes "From Italy to D-Day," "From D-Day to Paris," "From Paris to the Rhine" and "From the Rhine to Victory."
"Stevie Wonder: Live at Last": Stevie Wonder is a great artist who has won 25 Grammy Awards and has sold more than 100 million records. For his first DVD release, Stevie Wonder filmed his concert at the 02 Arena in London last October. With his 14-piece band, Stevie performed some new songs and many of his hits. They include "Superstition," "Sir Duke," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "Higher Ground," "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," "Part-Time Lover," "Overjoyed," "My Cherie Amour," "Isn't She Lovely," "I've Just Called to Say I Love You" and many more.
Available next week
"Bolt"
"Elegy"
"Mr. Belvedere: Seasons One and Two"
"My Zinc Bed"
"The Matador"
"Three Stooges Collection 1946-1948"
"Twilight"
"Velveteen Rabbit"
"Walled In"
"WWE: No Way Out 2009"