Sundance Shorts 2008: Animation (2008)

Available only as instant viewing on Netflix, this collection of eight animated short films is impressive in its inventiveness and originality: [1] Because Washington Is Hollywood for Ugly People (South Park meets JibJab as a writhing melange of grafted images blends the Bush administration and presidential candidates plus Saddam, Osama, and Jesus with dancing women, weapons, poo, and more in an antiwar message that remained cryptic even after two viewings, 4.5 stars), [2] Chonto (an autobiographical mockumentary about a pop musician gone to seed and his adventure gone awry with an ape named Chonto, 4.5 stars), [3] Gas Zappers (South Park meets a fight-global-warming video game, 5 stars), [4] I Have Seen the Future (three kids taunt a father and son playing tennis to the son's Zenlike reflections, 4.5 stars), [5] Madame Tutli-Putli (a captivating tale of a tatty marionette on a creepy train ride, 5 stars), [6] Paradise (a lyrically creative CGI ecosystem, 4.5 stars), [7] Teat Beat of Sex (one woman's musings on sex and morality, 4 stars), and [8] The History of America (Silverado meets Heavy Metal in a wry mockumentary on the founding of America, with known history turned on its ear, after a cowboy/astronaut war fought in rotoscopic mayhem, 4.5 stars), overall 4.5 stars.

I Love This Movie! (2007)

TV. Available only for instant viewing on Netflix, I Love This Movie! is a series of two-minute capsule presentations on 26 movie classics from the 1930s to the 1980s. I don't know who picked the movies but the selection (from classic to neonoir to postmodern adolescent) and presentation (pop glam with popcorn and a couch cushion) seem geared to teens: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Airport, All Quiet on the Western Front, American Graffiti, The Andromeda Strain, The Birds, The Breakfast Club, The Bride of Frankenstein, Cape Fear, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Double Indemnity, Dracula, Duck Soup, Earthquake, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Harvey, Imitation of Life, The Jerk, MacArthur, Marnie, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Psycho, Rumble Fish, Slap Shot, The Sugarland Express, and Vertigo. The script, talent, editing, and production are all quite tight -- you could set your watch by the trivia question and answer snippets. Despite others' gripes, the hosts do a fine job (though they are absent from IMDB and, apparently, all of Google). At 2 minutes each, these movie capsules are like snacking on popcorn and better than a trailer. I'd never heard of Marnie before and I've also made plans to see Slap Shot and The Sugarland Express. 3 stars.

Unsolved History: Inside Hitler's Bunker (2004)

Documentary. The most comprehensive analysis of Hitler's bunker's construction and his last days yet, if still unsatisfyingly vague and inconclusive on key details. A sonar and lidar survey of the largely sealed site of Hitler's final bunker -- now covered by a parking lot -- enabled a digital reconstruction of the entire complex, frequently with the aid of testimony from two surviving staff members (a driver and a courier). This program presents the deepest penetration I have yet seen of the bunker's secrets and Hitler's last days, though what is not known is still big enough to fill the bunker that Germany would like to forget. 4 stars.

Unsolved History: JFK: Death in Dealey Plaza (2004)

Documentary. This program impressed me as an exceptional effort since it digitally and seamlessly united all known video and photo evidence of the JFK motorcade, repeatedly played (walked us) through what happened with commentary, and then discussed (analyzed) the testimony in that light. Replication of Oswald's marksmanship under measured conditions showed he that could have squeezed off three precise shots in eight seconds. The grassy knoll and other issues are extensively debated, yielding (as I recall) doubt and no firm conclusion. I caught this on TV as my first JFK documentary and it seemed quite diligent and thorough, without a whiff of wild-eyed conclusion jumping. 4 stars.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

TV. A holiday-defining classic that is simply not to be missed, full of funny original bits (Snoopy vs. Red Baron, Great Pumpkin, "I got a rock"). I pity the adult or child who does not "get" and love this show. (The need to teach character in the midst of adversity does not go away because society has become politically correct.) Some complain that the characters' challenges are ominous and depressing while others complain that the name-calling ("Blockhead," "Stupid") only encouraged the same in their children. Charles Schultz had a keen and abiding sense of what is human, including our deepest emotional and spiritual yearnings, and this show presupposes that its viewers are familiar with the milk of human kindness. (A child who starts acting like a brat was predisposed to do so -- or not predisposed not to do so. Don't blame the show, train the child.) The point is to empathize with poor put-upon Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Linus -- not the bullies -- because to think bullies no longer exist in modern days is a greater fantasy than Snoopy's heroic delusions. 5 stars.

Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire and the Legend of the Lost Tribe (1999)

TV. Robbie the Reindeer is Wallace & Gromit meets Rex the Runt with reindeers. It's hilariously inventive in characters and ripostes (comebacks) without being cliched in the least. As one running gag, Robbie is Santa's new navigator and the son of the most famous reindeer named R--- (no one is allowed to say his name, presumably for copyright reasons). Santa wears Coke-bottle glasses -- though he also likes stylin' and bling -- and his wife and infant child sport identical beards. Robbie must save the day amidst two evil plots hatched by the nefarious Blitzen, assisted first by gnomish elves and then Vikings. For those with young innocents to protect, Donner is a strong female and Robbie's eventual love interest while Vixen is a female who is mildly suggested as naughty and Blitzen apparently gets blitzed at a campfire. The doughnut mouths are cute and evocative of Davey & Goliath stopmotion animation. The voice talent (Ben Stiller, James Woods, James Belushi, Jerry Stiller, Hugh Grant, Jeff Goldblum, Britney Spears and many more) is simply great! I can't say enough about how funny the pratfalls and prattle are in this show -- I love it! 5 stars.

Fairly Oddparents: Channel Chasers (2004)

TV. Fairly Oddparents is absolutely one of my favorite kids' cartoon shows. It's witty and fast-paced with action and dialog that even adults can enjoy on multiple viewings. Channel Chasers adds spice to the usual manic silliness (Wanda: "Cosmo, you're an idiot!" Cosmo: "Yeah, but I'm your idiot!") by spoofing about two-dozen popular TV shows. I love parodies and, while brief, the spoofs in Channel Chasers never cease to amuse. Catch this show yourself and see pilloried versions of The Jetsons, Terminator, Scooby Doo, Peanuts, Speed Racer, Tom & Jerry, The Simpsons, Blue's Clues, Batman, Sesame Street, Pokemon, Dragonball Z, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more. Timmy has to use time travel to stop the evil babysitter Vicky, who has become a future global dictator. Twists, turns, and plenty of Matrix- and ninja-style action. 5 stars.

King of the Hill: Season 3 (1998)

[Review 1 of 2] TV. You've gotta love King of the Hill. In every episode, you learn more about the past and present psychology of each of the characters, and every quirky, blurted factoid only makes them shine as flawed yet functioning family members and neighbors. The Hills live in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas in Heimlich County, which several episodes place as a 4-hour drive from Dallas as well as Port Aransas. While other episodes present inconsistencies that suggest Arlen is closer to Houston or Laredo, the most likely fictional milieu is the central Texas vicinity of Austin (home of series creator Mike Judge, whose address the Hills are said to share), which is exactly a 4-hour drive from Port Aransas but a 3.5-hour drive from Dallas or its suburbs Garland or Denton. Disc 1: Peggy Pageant Fever (Peggy decides she can win the Mrs. Heimlich County beauty pageant, forcing Hank to find a middle path between loyalty and reality); Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men (Hank's obnoxious father subverts his riding-lawnmower focus group but Hank empanels the jury to win the day); Good Hill Hunting (Hank fails to give Bobby every Texan son's rite of passage: his first deer kill); Pretty, Pretty Dresses (when the pathetic Bill finally wigs out--literally--Hank turns therapist: "He's just suicidal, he's not crazy"). Disc 2: The Wedding of Bobby Hill (Bobby is made to wed Luanne to teach him responsibility); Sleight of Hank (a magic act drives Hank crazy); John Vitti Presents: 'Return of La Grunta' (the vilified resort causes Hank and Luanne to crusade against sexual harassment); Escape from Party Island (Hank rescues his mother and friends in Port Aransas during spring break). Disc 3: Death and Texas (a prison inmate turns Peggy into an unwitting cocaine mule); Wings of the Dope (Luanne's late boyfriend returns as an angel); Take Me Out of the Ball Game (Hank learns to trust Peggy's killer pitching talent); As Old As the Hills: Part 1 (Hank and Peggy get drunk on their 20th anniversary, with a season cliffhanger). It all happens in Texas, where hunting, grilling, and mowing compete as religions with churchgoing. (As Dale chides Hank: "You go to church more than you go huntin'. You should be ashamed.") [Note: This season includes 25 episodes on three double-sided discs; this review covers all episodes on side 1.] 5 stars.

Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures (2001)

Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures is Nick Park's earliest and arguably his best work. The subtle expressions and gestures of all the characters are spot-on -- from cheese-loving window-washing inventor Wallace and his right-hand dog Gromit to the chicken-burglar penguin and Shaun the sheep and all the accompanying characters. If you love impossibly contrived Rube Goldberg-type contraptions, Keystone Cops-style chase scenes, British silliness, and physical humor, stop right here and watch the whimsy of The Wrong Trousers (Wallace's robotic trousers are hijacked by a nefarious penguin), A Grand Day Out (our duo takes a ship to the moon in search of cheese), and A Close Shave (sheep rustlers frame Gromit but get foiled in the end). For extras, don't miss the 10 minishorts called Cracking Contraptions -- my favorite is the Snoozotron! Chicken Run and Curse of the Were-Rabbit are grander productions with more going on, but for comically genius stopmotion animation these Three Amazing Adventures are my favorites. 5 stars.

Christmas Carol: A Musical (2004)

Kelsey Grammer ably plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in a Christmas Carol production filmed mostly outdoors and in the daylight. The musical elements are serviceable but not especially memorable. A must-see for Christmas Carol, Kelsey Grammer, and Tiny Tim completists. I got this through Blockbuster since Netflix doesn't list it. 3 stars.

Lourdes: Pilgrimage and Healing (2006)

Documentary. Lourdes: Pilgrimage and Healing is a basic documentary about Bernadette of Lourdes and the Marian shrine at Lourdes. Catholics will be gently moved by seeing the rivers of pilgrims in procession -- millions attend this best-known Marian shrine annually, according to the film and Wikipedia -- but hearing dozens of pilgrims speak about their spiritual experiences may produce the greatest impression to anyone with a listening ear. As one pilgrim said, assisting and identifying with the sick and infirm is itself a spiritual healing. This film is low-key and feels dated but its straightforward message moved me to begin to learn more. 3 stars.

Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist: Season 1 (1995)

TV. Dr. Katz has a lowkey, professional demeanor that helps him deal with his therapy patients, sullen redhead receptionist, and slacker adult son. His patients are actually standup and improvisational comedians, so the timing and patter of the dialog is perfect. This show is so funny! It's as melancholy as but funnier than The Critic and about as funny as Family Guy if less antic. This is the crew that also created Brendan Small's Home Movies, which has a similar comic feel. I like Squigglevision just fine. (I'm also enthused Home Movies and A Scanner Darkly.) I suppose I should only give Dr. Katz 5 stars if the dialog goes snap-crackle-pop but I think it's near genius just with a gentler pace. 5 stars.

Linnea in Monet's Garden (1993)

Linnea in Monet's Garden is a deliberately, artfully drawn animation about a young girl named Linnea and her elderly neighbor, Mr. Bloom, who share an appreciation for fine art, esp. the paintings of Monet. Together they examine an art book of Monet prints -- which the program reproduces for the closer study of the viewer -- and then travel to visit the garden that Monet created and painted so voluminously. Actual photos of Monet in his garden then and the garden itself now are woven into the pair's art adventure and solid information is imparted to help more deeply appreciate Monet's work -- including closeups and discussion of his brush-stroke technique. The program conveys Monet the artist's connectedness with nature; at one point, as Linnea achieves her dream and stands on Monet's Japanese bridge, gazing at the skies reflected in the water, she murmurs, "It's never been more 'now' than right now." Any child can appreciate this story, forthrightly drawn and told, as can any adult who loves art. 4 stars.

How Can I Celebrate Advent? (2004)

How Can I Celebrate Advent? is a well-done, chatty, and child-friendly explanation of the Advent wreath -- its purpose, its parts, and its scriptural basis. Kids should enjoy the puppet characters Beth and Digger even if adults may be amused by how fast their heads bounce as their mouths open so wide. The voice talent and script is fairly smooth even if the tone is a bit rah-rah ("So, God is love, huh? Wow, I'll have to remember that!" "Yeah, you've got the idea!" -- not an actual quote). The producer is connected to the Catholic Glenmary organization but I didn't notice any denominational bias so this film can be used by any family that wants to use a scriptural symbol of light and hope in their homes during the pre-Christmas season. 3 stars.

How Can I Celebrate Halloween? (2004)

How Can I Celebrate Halloween? is a cute and cogent discussion about Halloween as the Christian holiday Hallow(ed) E(v)en(ing) to help kids accept the fun of the holiday and discount its scary themes as well as fundamentalist fearmongering about the devil, evil spirits, etc. Since every society has seasonal festivals, pagans needn't snipe "we had Samhain first"; this film in fact credits Halloween's origins as such (though not by name) and is perfectly entitled to focus on how the Church celebrates in its own way (All Saints' Eve). Even though the widemouth puppets remind me of Pac-Man or the baby in South Park (and the boy sounds like Cartman), their discussion is very clear, educational, and witty. Their conversations are interwoven with illustrated scenes from the Bible about God's protection and Christ's salvation and a very catchy pumpkin song. For children aged 4-8, this film should aptly serve families or Sunday school classrooms where Halloween is seen with rainbow colors instead of only black and white. 3 stars.

Stephen's Test of Faith (1998)

Stephen's Test of Faith is for evangelical children aged 12 or so whose parents want to begin to discuss with them how to grow in courage for their witness to Christ and the Bible -- to not back down. The staging and acting is so-so and the script is overly didactic but the sets and costumes are pretty good for an ultra-low-budget production. (It's not The Hiding Place.) Daniel Kumatz gets credit as the young leading man whose classmates ridicule him after he makes a touching presentation about his grandfather's WWII Bible. He then has a series of dreams about St. Stephen, John Wycliffe, and other Christians being persecuted throughout the ages -- some of the scenes probably too intense with implication for children under age 10. There is what could be construed by Catholics as a shot at the pre-Reformation hierarchy, which did in fact oppose and persecute those who translated the Bible into English. The message of the inspirational song at the end is that persecution brings joy in the morning. This movie could use some polish -- though it seems suitable for family or Sunday school class discussion -- so for technical reasons I give it 2.5 stars.

The Go-Go's: Live in Central Park (2001)

Music. The Go-Go's rock! The girls have fun on stage, play a steady stream of their hits, and show how they appreciate their audience. The video is good but the audio could have been better; Belinda's vocals lacked fidelity. Belinda has the lowest energy quotient of all the band but she slinks her way through every performance. (She is not even 50! At least, until August 17, 2008. For an insight into how two decades can mature a rocker, a guy fan called out "Belinda! I love you!" and she replied "Really? You don't even know me" and chuckled.) The Go-Go's are infectiously fun and still the only girl band (all playing their own instruments) with a #1 album on the charts. Talented pioneers in the '80s with better chops than ever, the Go-Go's have still got it! (And remember: Strong, sexy, rockin' girls are supposed to sweat!) 3 stars.

Merle Haggard: Live at Billy Bob's Texas (2004)

Music. Classic country music icon Merle Haggard plays for (he guesses) his 60th time at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, "the world's largest honky-tonk" saloon, seating more than 6,000. If you love this man and his music -- and here's hoping you do -- give this concert a listen. Merle, may you keep on pickin'! 3 stars.

Christmas Do-Over (2006)

Christmas Do-Over is Meet the Parents meets Groundhog Day. It is not a Groundhog Day clone because that movie required Bill Murray to keep perfecting the one day until he got it right; in this movie, Jay Mohr doesn't know in which direction he has to go or if he will ever be able to escape. At first, he's a cynical, self-absorbed 35-year-old adolescent who's intent on ruining Christmas for everyone -- esp. once he realizes there's no escape from his predicament. Next he tries dozens of variants in several different directions; the permutations never fail to amuse. Only when he turns the tables on the situation, works to gain every advantage, and does more than mouth the right words but actually becomes the person he used to be for his son and ex-wife can he begin to have hope -- and even then nothing is certain. Every member of the family does a great job in their roles; you really grow familiar with their personalities over time. (Ruta Lee as Granny is a character as well as a septuagenarian dish while Daphne Zuniga as Kevin's ex-wife Jill is kindhearted and genuine. I enjoyed how Kevin eventually steals the initiative from Jill's boyfriend Todd -- he is so devious!) Based on my personal experience, I would not say this movie is insensitive or unrealistic regarding divorced families (beyond encapsulating a story of Christmas magic in a very tight Hollywood timeline). Warning: One scenario's tumult involves a tussle with sullen neighbors dressed as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Christmas Do-Over is hilariously entertaining as well as heartwarming. I really enjoyed it and would be happy to watch it every year from now on. 4 stars.

The Chances of the World Changing (2006)

Documentary. From the cover art and description, I thought this story would be a green person's paradise. Instead of terrariums, however, we get tubs. Richard Ogust has given up his writing career and turned his Manhattan apartment into a warehouse full of opaque plastic tubs housing 1,600 turtles. While he has altruistically taken it upon himself to preserve numerous endangered turtle species, he is burning out by doing all the work himself -- and as inefficiently as possible, lugging and dumping individual tubs and snipping greens by hand! Much is made of a farm property he intends to take over to found a turtle research institute but these plans fall through as do all of his fundraising efforts. To save the three-hour daily commute, he takes to camping outside temporary storage space in New Jersey. (No mention is made of whether he has electricity and water for self or turtles.) He looks tense and intense and he admits to being depressed on a daily basis. The photography is washed-out and lackluster and the focus of this film is on his personal dilemma rather than the turtles. I gave up after watching one-third of this dull, defeatist treatise on a depressed terrapin collector who seems to have had none of the expected and beneficial qualifications that could have averted the ultimate failure of his self-appointed mission. 2 stars.

Blood Simple (1984)

Frances McDormand makes her debut (as in Fargo, always with a dead-on local accent) and Emmet Walsh steals the show as the crafty good-old-boy private dick/gunsel/slimeball in the Coen brothers' first film. The story and scenery should grab you and not let you go till it's over with plenty of plot twists and double-crosses for everyone. By the way, I saw the 2001 edition, which a faux introductory narrator intones "has received a digital swabbing. All the boring parts have been removed." 4.5 stars.

Sundance Shorts 2008: Drama (2008)

Shorts. August 15th (China, 22 min, crimes are committed on a mountain-road bus, 4 stars), Cherries (UK, 15 min, Homeland Security reaches into a racially tense private boys' school, 3.5 stars), Crossbow (Australia, 15 min, neglected son of emotionally unavailable parents seeks an exit, 4.5 stars), Dugong (Australia, 18 min, a long-lost brother shows up with a quiet surprise for his kid brother's wedding, 4 stars), Lloyd Neck (US, 16 min, two teen boyfriends hang out with kid sister tagging along, 2 stars), Man (US, 16 min, a teen girl has a rendezvous with an Internet horndog and a sister "has her back" in several ways, 4 stars), On the Assassination of the President (US, 6 min, high-tech forensic briefing is unsealed, 5 stars), Pariah (US, 27 min, lesbians visit a strip club, 1 star) [viewed only 3 min], Scoring (Ireland, 3 min, paraplegic narrates closeups of kissing, 4 stars), Smile (Canada, 18 min, Chinese emigrant family prepares for a portrait, 4.5 stars), Soft [instant viewing not available], The Deep (US, 7 min, Brazil meets Pi, 5 stars), The Execution of Solomon Harris (US, 6 min, state execution goes awry, 4.5 stars), The Loss of a Wrestling Match (US, 9 min, undefeated high-school wrestler loses a match, 3 stars), The Second Line (US, 20 min, two Katrina survivors find day labor for another FEMA camper that goes awry, 3.5 stars), The Sound of People (Ireland, 8 min, an intensely personal examination of death, 5 stars), Wind Ten Years Old (Iran, 23 min, girl attends Islamic school with anti-Western aspirations, 4.5 stars). Overall 4 stars.

In the Arms of Angels (2004)

Short. This 13-minute film made a good choice for free instant viewing on Netflix, however, I didn't realize till afterward that it's a Mormon testimony from ldsfilms.com. Now I wonder if every one of the 55 two-sentence reviews are from Mormons packing the ballot box (not that that would be wrong). Nevertheless, I was moved from the beautiful opening scenes and the hymn "Come Thou Font of Blessing" played throughout this short film. It's a true story set in 1885 and the extras in the film are played by descendents of Ms. Richards. The crucial "miraculous" moment is very vaguely described and clearly a matter of personal and communal belief -- amazing only if you accept it on faith: you believe it because you are predisposed to do so. Also known as A Pioneer Miracle, this film is an inspiring story about heartfelt prayer, angelic intervention, and children of God learning obedience to their heavenly and earthly fathers. 4 stars.

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)

Woody Allen has a lock on playing the nattering nebbish who attracts alluring women -- so people should stop complaining that they don't find him to be a credible romantic interest in his movies. It's his schtick to be neurotic, nerdy, and antic -- and if Henry Kissinger can attract Jill St. John in real life, why can't Woody Allen attract Helen Hunt in his own movie? Speaking of the movie, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion isn't jaded just formulaic. The story lurches through its paces. Allen, as an old-school seat-of-the-pants insurance investigator in 1940, clashes with Helen Hunt as the newly hired efficiency expert. Their chemistry could clearly use more fire but the best dialog in the film is the parting shots between these two in scene after scene (in the droll manner of "Don't let the door hit your backside on the way out and cause spinal damage"). Allen also bandies some trademark one-liners with Charlise Theron's sultry siren ("You like athletic men? Because I could maybe fit in a pushup or two before you come over"). As a movie, Jade is fun but wooden. Woody has done better. Intellectually, I recognized the wittiness of Allen's patter but emotionally, I never laughed as with his earlier work, though I nearly chuckled once. Helen Hunt showed more spunk in As Good As It Gets and at one point looks downright haggard. Jade is such a pale homage to The Thin Man that I long for Myrna Loy and William Powell. Its period jazz soundtrack is a delight but I thought Night in a Persian Market was overused as a theme. 3 stars.

The Net (1995)

The Net is the quintessentially clueless, impossibly premised computer-technology movie. It's worse than Sneakers, and would be worse than War Games if hadn't tried so hard. Sandra Bullock is attractive and can fake looking smart -- and even act on occasion -- but everything the script has her doing betrays any intelligence the premise claims her character would have. The fact is, Hollywood people just don't grasp technology; they don't have a clue. (And why should they? They have people for that.) And it wouldn't be so bad except that it seems like they are incapable of wanting to even try to understand technology -- but they insist on writing scripts about killer computers and killer viruses and whatever other trendy nouns gone amok they may run across. Computers in movies are like guitars in cartoons: Only once in my life have I ever seen either one portrayed accurately. In fact, as editor of a computer magazine at the time, I attended the Macworld convention where the closing scenes were filmed; I missed seeing Ms. Bullock, but I was told her words gave the impression that she had just seen her first computer. I think it's great that she got to play an Eraser-like role (minus Ahnuld's macho histrionics) and I wish her all success in her career but there's not much that can be done with this limp paper towel of a script. It's a fun popcorn movie if you have a wide capacity for the suspension of disbelief but I would watch Air Force One again -- or Firewall -- before this one. 2.5 stars.

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)

TV. Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus gives Steve Guttenberg the acting chops he's so lacked since Short Circuit. He still mugs awkwardly but he passably fills the role of Nick Jr. (the son who must take over Santa's reins after Christmas Eve). Oh dear, his parents want him to get married by then -- in two weeks! What's he going to do? Not to worry, Armin Shimerman (Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), who plays Santa's business manager, has narrowed down a neatly calligraphed list of candidates, all located in (naturally) southern California. Our would-be Romeo has his own path to find, though, and since this is a Hallmark movie, it lurches on quite predictably towards that end. Treacly is indeed the best word to describe this film confection; it only gets weird when Guttenberg begins ho-ho-ho-ing a bit too mawkishly. The ending is just what you'd expect, and it's a happy and sentimental one. Incidentally, this is a movie that Netflix lacks but Blockbuster has (though neither service stocks the 2005 sequel Meet the Santas). 3 stars.

The Scent of Green Papaya (L'odeur de la papaye verte) (1993)

The Scent of Green Papaya is Girl With a Pearl Earring meets Babette's Feast but in 1950s Saigon. It's a sensory feast that presents each sight and sound as if it were new, with little dialog to get in the way. I can still hear the crackle of the split papaya's flesh. See it also if you (like Mui) appreciate lizards, frogs, and crickets and living in harmony with nature. Man San Lu and Tran Nu Yen-Khe play the servant girl Mui at ages 10 (in 1951) and 20 (in 1961). The family's mother treats Mui well because her own mother does nothing but mourn the loss of a granddaughter who also would have been 10. The youngest boy (about 5) finds ways to torment Mui but she remains faithful to her duties and at peace with her life and the world around her. (If you wonder why his parents didn't spank him, please remember that they are Buddhists.) Half the joy of this movie is to see how life was lived in a 1950s Saigon neighborhood. The open walls and windows, the flora and fauna, the rains, the music, the prayers, and all the daily routines -- we see all the sights and hear all the sounds. (We have to imagine the feel of the papaya flesh and its seeds within.) The minimal dialog is culturally true; I love the scene where Mui displays variations of the facial expressions of a supplicant or servant for several minutes. Time here is not what it is in urban America, thank the Maker. Life is rooted and fully human, each moment lived with purpose and intent -- almost languorously -- and beauty, because even in uncertainty, even in sorrow, the prepared soul can find beauty and peace. This is cinema -- unpretentious and authentically human. It may change you profoundly. Incidentally, Netflix hasn't stocked it in months so I acquired it through my public library interbranch request system. 5 stars.

SquarePants: Atlantis SquarePantis (2007)

TV. Never have such high-quality production values (animation, color palette, music, storyline, audio, voice talent, quirkiness) been made to serve such mindless dopiness (dreck). It was on TV and my son loves the show so I had no choice. OK, I've seen it; don't sue me, esp. if I try to warn you from it. If you're a Spongebob fan, there's nothing I can say to dissuade you (short of a rolled-up newspaper). It is better than an average Spongebob episode and better than the movie (although it spares us The Goofy Goober song by throwing in a space aliens subplot). Let me put it this way: If you love Spongebob, it goes without saying you'll love this. It also goes without saying there's little medical science can do for your appreciation of what constitutes fine art. On the other hand, if you can stay away, just do so. You'll thank me. It's true they underused David Bowie and the music was no great shakes but at least there was no Goofy Goober song (which was great but goobery). 4 stars for Spongebobiness and 2 stars for intelligence required for a net 3 stars.

Walking with Dinosaurs: Bonus Material (1999)

Documentary. This making-of feature is more interesting than the Walking with Dinosaurs episode itself, from the technical perspective of how dinosaurs did everything to how the producers recreated same (anatomy, construction, locomotion, fighting, feeding, sex, giving birth) in addition to humor (human/dinosaur interaction in between segments). Don't miss this bonus disc (clearly titled as Bonus Material and described as presenting a making-of-the-documentary documentary as opposed to the documentary itself -- to those who read listings anyway). It's very informative, illustrative, and (esp. to children, I'm sure) exciting! 4 stars.

King of the Hill: Season 3 (1998)

[Review 2 of 2] TV. King of the Hill has the most consistent and consistently funny family storyline on the tube. Its low-key humor is at least as funny as The Simpsons and Family Guy and funnier than American Dad but with less of the dysfunction and edgy bits that are offensive to those who believe in "family values." The Hill family is, in fact, as authentically American and patriotic as apple pie; Hank, Peggy, and Bobby have their foibles, but they form a stable core and a foil for the dysfunctions of others (chiefly neighbors Dale, Bill, Boomhauer, Khan, and Hank's father Cotton). Disc 1: Death of a Propane Salesman: Propane Boom 2 (after the Mega Lo Mart explosion, Hank discovers he fears propane), And They Call It Bobby Love (Bobby falls for an older girl who breaks his heart), Peggy's Headache (Peggy learns the truth about Nancy's headache treatments from John Redcorn), Pregnant Paws (Hank seems to care more about breeding his hound Ladybird than impregnating Peggy), Next of Shin (Hank's father tries to abandon a pregnant Didi). Disc 2: A-Firefighting We Will Go (Reno 911! has nothing on these volunteer firefighters), To Spank With Love (Peggy gets assertive with a discipline problem as a substitute schoolteacher), Three Coaches and a Bobby (Hank brings back his old football coach as Bobby defects to the soccer team), De-Khanstructing Henry (Hank causes a competitive Khan to lose his job). Disc 3: Love Hurts ... And So Does Art (a Dallas art exhibit invades Hank's medical privacy as Bobby gets gout from an addiction to rich deli food), Hank's Cowboy Movie (Hank hopes to attract the Cowboys' training camp from Wichita Falls to Arlen), Dog Dale Afternoon (Dale aggravates Hank with a new riding mower), Revenge of the Lutefisk (Bobby burns down the church at a holiday dinner). [Note: This season includes 25 episodes on three double-sided discs; this review covers all episodes on side 2.] 5 stars.

Spider-Man: Bonus Material (2002)

Bonus. If you love Spider-Man, of course you want to see this companion disc of bonus materials. It's packed full of relevant and substantive details and shows more than the usual creativity. So what if there are no deleted scenes? 4 stars.

King of the Hill: Season 2 (1997)

TV. Humor as dry and Texan as you can find on the tube. Almost every line has a subtle barb that says something ironic about conservative Texan attitudes about guns, football, childrearing, the workplace, the schools, emotional repression, etc. Disc 1: How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying (gifted Bobby and inept Hank enter a father/son shooting competition), Texas City Twister (Hank sends Luann back to the trailer park -- and a tornado), The Arrowhead (unethical academics excavate Hank's front yard), Hilloween (Hank puts on a haunted house as a fundamentalist calls him a Satanist), Jumpin' Crack Bass (Hank seeks custom fish bait but mistakenly buys crack), Husky Bobby (Bobby becomes a husky size model but Hank saves him from humiliation). Disc 2: The Man Who Shot Cane Skretteburg (teens cap Hank and his neighbors in several paintball raids till Hank & Co. study and outflank the enemy), The Son That Got Away (Bobby and friends explore a cave and get lost), Bobby Slam (Bobby takes up wrestling and so does Connie as their school exhibits gender discrimination), The Unbearable Lightness of Laying (Hank experiences psychosomatic blindness after seeing his mother in bed with her new Jewish lover), Meet the Manger Babies (Luann creates a church puppet show and forces Hank to choose between it and his Super Bowl party). Disc 3: Snow Job (Hank is disillusioned to learn his propane sales boss has an electric stove), I Remember Mono (Peggy learns how Hank really got mono in high school), Three Days of the Khando (the Hills go as guests on a Mexican timeshare vacation with their neighbors and the men get stuck south of the border), Traffic Jam (Hank takes a comedy defensive driving class where Chris Rock picks on him while inspiring Bobby to become a comic), Hank's Dirty Laundry (Hank cannot buy a clothes dryer and must exonerate his name after Arlen Video claims he rented and lost a porn tape). Disc 4: The Final Shinsult (Hank's obnoxious war-hero father steals Gen. Santa Ana's false leg), Leanne's Saga (Luann's mama gets out of prison and raises hell), Junkie Business (Hank hires a drug abuser rather than a qualified Hispanic woman), Life in the Fast Lane: Bobby's Saga (Bobby sells sodas at the racetrack and his boss nearly gets him killed), Peggy's Turtle Song (Peggy becomes a full-time mother and writes a song that confuses the feminists), Propane Boom: Part I (Hank, laid off, hires on in the Mega Lo Mart's lowball propane department until the store is leveled by a propane blast). Does Hank survive the cliffhanger ending? 4.5 stars.

A Century of Science Fiction: Sexy Sci-Fi (1998)

Documentary. Bookended by a stilted Christopher Lee against a backdrop of seriously outdated special effects, this 25-minute production ranges extensively in touching on more than 55 "science fiction" movies from the 1920s to the 1980s that continue the tradition of pulp magazines by their inclusion of "scantily clad women for no particular reason but the obvious." 3.5 stars.

A Century of Science Fiction: Artificial Intelligence (1998)

Documentary. Hosted by a stilted Christopher Lee against a backdrop of seriously outdated special effects, this production does a barely adequate job of glossing over the "artificial intelligence" themes of nearly two-dozen "science fiction" movies from the 1950s to the 1980s, from Demon Seed to Weird Science to Futureworld to Terminal Man to The Last Starfighter and more. 3 stars.

Visit to the Sepulcher (1979)

Music. A beautifully sung, authentically staged production of the 12th-century medieval resurrection play Visit to the Sepulcher (Visitatio Sepulchri) at the Abbey St. Benoit de Fleury in the Loire Valley of France, the original and traditional site of its presentation. This is the 1979 reenactment, performed by the Washington Cathedral choristers (http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/cwn0v.htm), not the remastered 2002 version. 4 stars.

Nativity: The Art and Spirit of the Creche (2004)

Documentary. Nativity: The Art and Spirit of the Creche is a beautiful presentation of dozens of folk-art and artisan-crafted nativity sets from numerous lands with a detailed historical and cultural discussion of why Christianity values the creche scene so much. After the cross, it is the most recognizable symbol of the coming of Jesus Christ; the standalone nativity scene (separate from architectural embellishment) greatly grew in popularity with its introduction by St. Francis of Assisi; it depicts the Holy Family as the exemplar of familial love, devotion, and piety; it depicts the rich and the poor alike who are called to witness the event; and (as one of a half-dozen priests and creche experts commented) children can relate to the Christ Child, esp. knowing that "this is a child their parents have to obey." Exquisite classical music accompanies the documentarians' discussions. The presentation is only 27 minutes but it is packed with more cultural artifacts and historical perspective than I have ever seen in less than half an hour. 4.5 stars.

Let's Go to Mass (2006)

Let's Go to Mass is a blend of slightly dated (vintage) as well as timeless objects, images, music, and rituals presented in aural and visual vignettes designed to acclimate children aged 0-5 to attending Catholic Mass. The visuals are mostly rich and colorful, esp. the floral arrangements. The music is mostly beautiful hymns played on a grand piano or a spinet, however, one-third of the accompaniment was on an upright piano and more tinnily played than any adult accompanist I've ever known in a Catholic liturgy. Catherine Hicks speaks for 5 minutes at the end about how parents may use the program as a support to introduce their children to creating a habit of attending Mass and having a relationship with God. Think of this program as Teletubbies on the cheap -- with one angel puppet that bobs almost as much as a bobblehead against a black backdrop -- and most useful through repeat viewing and a springboard for teaching moments. This disc is from the Paulists and thus very Catholic -- it sure isn't (say) Episcopal -- it's just not doctrinal because the target age is children aged 0-5, including preverbal infants. 3 stars.

Arthur: It's Only Rock & Roll (2002)

TV. The Backstreet Boys' vocal collaboration suffuses this single 50-minute special episode of Arthur with original music from Francine and her rockin' band of school musicians. It should remain a popular disc to kids (even after 2007) as it addresses the fame of superstardom and the value of remaining true to one's roots (as Francine's group sings, "the music is all I need"). The Boys were modeled and drawn as animal characters in the Arthur world (as two bunnies and three bears) and their vocal performances are fluid and intimate. Bonus materials include four brief making-of segments, including the in-studio video of the Backstreet Boys performing the Arthur theme song. Fun, more mature, and impressive for an Arthur production. 4.5 stars.

The Quiet Man (1952)

The Quiet Man is a true classic romance (and Irish slice-o'-life) movie with plenty of social and romantic tension, drama, and whimsy (bein' Irish an' all). They just don't make 'em like this anymore! John Wayne plays his trademark taciturn manly-man though with a visible vulnerability: A financially independent American bachelor, he has come to Ireland to buy his childhood home in Innisfree (paying a multiple of the asking price), apparently to take an early retirement -- and to put something painful in his past behind him. He promptly spies Maureen O'Hara as the fiery redheaded sister of his bachelor neighbor, a surly blockjawed cuss of a man played by Victor McLagen, and decides then and there that he will marry her as soon as possible. (First, of course, he must court her, as they sit on opposite sides of the surrey, with Barry Fitzgerald as the quintessential Irishman, Michaleen Oge Flynn, between them as matchmaker and chaperone, advising, "No pattyfingers, if you please. The proprieties at all times.") Red, as her brother is known, will have none of it, however, and he does everything in his power to block the lovers and to ruin their love. Even with the townsfolk's loving collusion and many a festive musical interlude, Wayne's dark secret eventually comes out as he realizes he has no choice but to face his fear and to fight the man for the honor of his woman. (He does not fear fighting, but winning.) The final scenes shift gears to become a maudlin romp. O'Hara's fiesty interaction with Wayne is half the fun of the movie; the Irish townsfolk's shenanigans are the rest. Theirs is a rich human community of sympathy, compassion, and collaboration (Red notwithstanding). Passion, mischief, and a special relationship are evident between the chaste lovers, and the movie rarely misses a chance for a spot of wry Irish humor. (My favorite scene is when the minister spies the bed after the wedding night, jumps to a conclusion, and remarks, "Impetuous! Homeric!") The Catholic and the Church of Ireland ministers add their own charm to that of the broguish rogues of the town. For a bonus, here is O'Hara's confession in Irish to her priest after the wedding night: "Níor lig mé m'fhear chéile isteach i mo leaba liom aréir. Chuir mé fuinneamh air a chodladh i -- Ó, i mála codlata! Mála codlata!" 4.5 stars.

Arthur Saves the Day (2003)

TV. Three Arthur episodes about courage and competitiveness come off largely as fun and whimsical as usual: Buster Baxter, Cat Saver (after he circumstantially saves a cat, the town's praise goes to Buster's head until his friends change his tune, with a twist), D.W. All Wet (D.W. conquers her octopus phobia), and The Big Blow-Up (a playground tiff escalates between Francine and the Brain until Arthur and Buster decide to "write" what's wrong). 3.5 stars.

Tom Holland: Total Body Workout (2004)

Exercise. A refreshingly solid cardio and strength-building workout in four (roughly) quarter-hour segments. Tom Holland is about work and results (no puffery) and the music doesn't get in the way (aggravate). Finally, a workout disc *by* a manly man *for* manly men (no Richard Simmons)! It's so good I got my own copy. 3.5 stars.

Arthur's Best Friends (2003)

TV. Arthur's Best Friends is even more imaginative and heartwarming in matters of childhood whimsy than usual. All three episodes are full of mini-scenarios depicting the imagination of Arthur, D.W., Buster, and friends: D.W.'s Deer Friend (D.W. gets to see and learns how not to scare away a deer she named Walter), Arthur's Faraway Friend (Arthur and Buster begin writing their own swashbuckling adventures and continue while Buster travels the world with his dad for the summer), and Buster's Back (Arthur is worried Buster will have become so worldwise that he won't want to play checkers anymore). One scene pays homage to Star Wars and the Fantastic Four as Arthur imagines Buster landing vertically in a space shuttle with hydraulic landing gear. In short, solid (if simple to the eye) animation, voice talent, and family dynamics integrate well throughout each story. 4.5 stars.

Arthur Gets Lost (2005)

TV. This disc of three episodes gets back to the fun and whimsy we expect from Arthur: Lost! (Arthur falls asleep on the city bus and learns to ask for help to get home), Arthur Cleans Up (Arthur reluctantly leads the kids in a city park cleanup brigade), and D.W. Gets Lost (D.W. loses her mom in the All in One Mart and learns to ask for help). D.W. remains the most interesting character in the series because of her assertiveness (to put it nicely) and imagination. I got this disc through interlibrary loan since Netflix doesn't list this disc nor does IMDB, though Blockbuster has it. 4 stars.

Eloise at Christmastime (2003)

Eloise at Christmastime is a delightful live-action movie, presented by a talented cast in the spirit of the popular books by Kay Thompson as well as the animated episodes that feature the voice talent of Lynn Redgrave as Nanny and Tim Curry as Mr. Salamone. Now we have Julie Andrews as Nanny (who sounds and is often shaped just like Nanny in the books and animations, however, her face and hair still look much too au courant) and Jeffrey Tambor as Mr. Salamone (who has perhaps four lines in the entire show). Introduced as the true chief executive of the Plaza Hotel is Victor Young as Mr. Peabody (who delivers a thoroughly creditable role), leading a romantic subplot in which his daughter, Rachel (Sara Topham), whom he sent to college in France, has returned to her childhood home in the Plaza to marry Brooks (Rick Roberts). It is a prospect that gradually (and rightly) makes her feel increasingly uncomfortable, esp. after Eloise learns that the man Rachel loved, and was separated from by her father, is Eloise's best adult friend Bill the stage-talented waiter (Gavin Creel). Sophie Vassilieva does an incredible job as the spirited imp Eloise and Christine Baranski performs up to snuff (and her namesake) as the hotel's wedding coordinator Prunella Stickler. If you love assertive little girls or New York City at Christmastime, see this movie. The extras include a retrospective on the life of the accomplished stage talent, Kay S. Thompson herself. I got this disc through interlibrary loan; Netflix does not list it but Blockbuster stocks it. 4.5 stars.

Arthur Writes a Story (1997)

TV. Three Arthur episodes centered on the theme of reading and writing play with the perspective of just how much imagination may be safely allowed: Arthur Writes A Story (Arthur learns to omit fantastic embellishments in his school report), Locked in the Library! (Francine's not talking to Arthur but she'd better start when the two get locked in the library), and I'd Rather Read It Myself (D.W. can't read but, using only a book, she holds the Tibble twins with rapt attention). 3.5 stars.

Arthur's Baby (1997)

TV. Baby Kate is as cute as a bug in two episodes that overlap somewhat (Arthur's Baby and D.W.'s Baby) where Kate's older siblings come to terms with caring for their youngest sister. Arthur also learns to take the upper hand in his first babysitting gig with the out-of-control Tibble twins. Every disc contains an And Now From Us Kids segment; here, children engagingly talk about new arrivals and helping care for younger siblings in their families -- notice the initial wobbly camera angles that mimic a child's nervous sway at the news of a new sib. 4 stars.

Arthur's Best School Days (2001)

TV. This disc's three episodes (Arthur and the Square Dance, Team Trouble, and Buster Hits the Books) are slightly less imaginative and authentically humorous than usual, however, Square Dance entertainingly posits the question of whether Francine likes Arthur (and vice versa) and Buster Hits the Books amusingly spoofs Willy Wonka and the Seussian corpus. Notice how Mr. Ratburn's slide projector strobes realistically. 3.5 stars.

Arthur's Teacher Trouble (1997)

TV. The first and title episode of this disc, Arthur's Teacher Trouble, is one of the most popular, probably because of its inventive depictions of grade-school student/teacher angst. (Mr. Ratburn is rumored to be a tough teacher, so Arthur's third-grade friends sweat a bit until they learn from "the Rat" himself.) Arthur's Spelling Trubble shows Arthur doing a good job preparing for and participating in the school spelling bee. Arthur Plays the Blues (also included on the Arthur's Musical Medley disc) shows Arthur learning a bit more about preparation and performance discipline. 4 stars.

Mary Engelbreit: Night Before Christmas (2004)

Netflix does not list this spirited display of the artwork of Mary Engelbreit from her storybook version of Clement C. Moore's Night Before Christmas poem. The CGI is fairly good and Santa flies with magical sparkles under the reindeers' hooves. Basically Mary inserts a subplot after the first two lines of the poem where a vainglorious Christmas fairy would ruin Christmas but is thwarted by a good-hearted mouse who was still stirring. Mary's fans will love the program plus the extras, esp. the Meet Mary sitdown session in her studio. Blockbuster as well as Amazon and the New York Times credit Kevin Kline as narrator yet IMDB has no listing for this program. 3 stars.

Glory to God Alone: The Life of J.S. Bach (2002)

Documentary. A good program for an elementary or a Sunday school class (or any curious adult) about Bach and his deeply human and spiritual influence on the whole of Western classical music. It covers the dates, places, and persons of influence in his musical career -- he was an expert organ player and builder at age 17 -- and provides professionally recorded excerpts of numerous Bach compositions as well as glimpses of original Bach musical manuscripts while Harvard professor Christopher Wolff and classical guitarist Christopher Parkening explain the "layering" and complexity of Bach's music. Produced as a Mosaic "video magazine" episode by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America but with no denominational territoriality at all. 3.5 stars.

Breasts: A Documentary (1996)

Documentary. This movie humanized a part of women's bodies that so many people objectify and sexualize, and it did so with emotional warmth, candor, and humor -- enlightening anyone who wants to see breasts as their owners see them: the pluses and minuses in the process of coming to peace with them. Reminiscent of the closing scene in Real Women Have Curves, we see human beings who happen to be women instead of women who happen to be human beings. You may also enjoy the world-music vocal stylings of the talented twins Ananda and Rehana Ellis. 3.5 stars.

Eloise in Hollywood (2007)

More endearing and inventive than the average Eloise episode. Eloise has an adventure in Hollywood, where she is a natural (in the good sense) and plays well with a new cast of persons. Yet she misses her life in the Plaza so she extricates herself to return to her beloved home. A strong 4 stars.