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Rent (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

Actors: Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal
ASIN : B000E1YVZU
Sales Rank : 2393
Director : Chris Columbus, Jeffrey Schwarz
Brand : Sony
Studio : Sony Pictures
Region Code : 99
Format : AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0043396111554
UPC : 043396111554
Release Date : December 21, 2006
Publisher : Sony Pictures
Manufacturer : Sony Pictures
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Sony Pictures
Running Time : 135

Product Description

In new yorks east village a group of bohemians struggle to express themselves through their art & strive for success & acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty illness & the aids epidemic. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/27/2006 Starring: Rosario Dawson Jesse L Martin Run time: 135 minutes Rating: Pg13

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Rent, the show that in 1996 gave voice to a Broadway generation, has finally become an energetic, passionate, and touching movie musical. Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, it focuses on the year in the life of a group of friends in New York's East Village--"bohemians" who live carefree lives of art, music, sex, and drugs. Well, carefree until Mark, an aspiring filmmaker (Anthony Rapp), and Roger, an aspiring songwriter (Adam Pascal), find out they owe a year's rent to Benny (Taye Diggs), a former friend who had promised them free residence when he married the landlord's daughter. Roger has also attracted the attention of his downstairs neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), while Mark's former girlfriend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), has found a new romance in a lawyer named Joanne (Tracie Thoms). Philosophy professor Tom (Jesse L. Martin) finds his soul mate in drag queen Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia). But because this is the late-'80s, the threat of AIDS is always present.

The remarkable thing about Rent the movie is that nearly 10 years after the show debuted on Broadway, six of the eight principals return in the roles they originated. They're a bit older than would be ideal for their characters, but they do have the advantage of having learned the show directly from creator Jonathan Larson (who died of an aortic aneurysm while the show was in previews), plus they started young--we're not exactly talking Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford here. Alongside a polished performance like Rapp's--sometimes observer-commentator, sometimes participant in two of the score's showstoppers, "The Tango Maureen" and "La Vie Boheme"--the two new additions (Thoms in place of Fredi Walker, Dawson in place of the edgier Daphne Rubin-Vega) slip comfortably into the ensemble; the pivotal Dawson makes a seductive case as Mimi when she tempts Roger in the mesmerizing "Light My Candle" or burns up the stage of the Catscratch Club in "Out Tonight." Moviegoers who have an aversion to people who break into song while walking down the street probably won't have their minds changed by Rent (even if they are singing rock songs), and the gritty subject matter and lack of big-name stars make it unlikely to cross over to general audiences the way Chicago did. But fans of musicals should find "Seasons of Love" as stirring as ever, and the show's passionate admirers--the "Rentheads"--probably couldn't have wished for a more sympathetic director than Rent fan Chris Columbus, or a more faithful representation of the show they love. --David Horiuchi

On the DVD
Three powerful musical numbers cut from the final film are the highlight of the two-disc DVD. In the aftermath of the funeral scene, Anthony Rapp sings "Halloween," and he, Adam Pascal, and Rosario Dawson share "Goodbye Love" (both songs were in the stage version). Then in an alternate ending, the cast finishes "No Day But Today" on the bare stage on which the film began. There are worthwhile arguments for why these scenes were cut or replaced, so it's fortunate that the DVD lets us see these at all. Those musical numbers have optional commentary by director Chris Columbus, Rapp, and Pascal (two other cut scenes have no commentary), including one funny moment in which Rapp explains in great detail the technical challenge of shooting "Halloween" only to have Columbus say, "Yeah, but I don't know if that's the take we used." The three also provide commentary on the film itself, with Columbus discussing various decisions, criticizing the critics, and marveling "I still don't know how we got the PG-13," and Rapp and Pascal occasionally recalling differences in the stage version.

The other whopper of a feature is No Day But Today, a nearly two-hour documentary that uses video clips, still photographs, and interviews with family and friends to celebrate the short life of Jonathan Larson and his creation. Topics include his early interest in musical theater ("I want to write the Hair for the '90s."), the support of Stephen Sondheim, the impact of the AIDS epidemic, the long and difficult road of Rent (casting the show, Larson learning to collaborate, the transfer to a Broadway stage, and the Rentheads), and Larson's tragic death. The last 20 minutes covers the making of the film, director Chris Columbus, the decision to rely on most of the original cast (the only two principals who didn't appear in the movie, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker-Browne, are interviewed in earlier segments, but only mentioned in passing here), recording sessions, and location shooting. If the movie of Rent was a tribute to Jonathan Larson, the DVD is all that and more, a moving and incredibly detailed look at an extraordinary talent whom the world lost far too soon. --David Horiuchi

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Movie soundtrack
Original Broadway cast recording
Anthony Rapp's Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical "Rent"

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Hans Christian Andersen

Actors: Danny Kaye, Farley Granger, Zizi Jeanmaire, Joseph Walsh, Philip Tonge
ASIN : B000056H2A
Sales Rank : 992
Director : Charles Vidor
Brand : TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Studio : MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code : 1
Format : Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780792849087
ISBN : 0792849086
UPC : 027616859136
Release Date : December 06, 2001
Publisher : MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer : MGM (Video & DVD)
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Label : MGM (Video & DVD)
Running Time : 112

Description

Once upon a time, there lived in Denmark a young shoemaker named Hans Christian Andersen whose magical tales delighted boys and girls throughout the land. Filled with music, laughter and "wonderful, glittering fun" (L.A. Examiner), this charming fable follows the adventures of the legendary storyteller and "recaptures the spirit of fairyland make-believe for children of all ages" (Southern California Motion Picture Council). Nominated* for six OscarsÂ(r), Hans ChristianAndersen is pure enchantment! Danny Kaye "is a delight" (Cue) as Hans, who one day journeys beyond the borders of his small village, across the sea and into the dazzling city of Copenhagen. There he encounters marvels and wonders beyond his wildest dreams...and finds the inspiration forsome of his most unforgettable characters such as "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "Thumbelina" and many more! *1952: Art Direction (Color), Cinematography (Color), Costume Design (Color), Scoring of a Musical Picture, Song, "Thumbelina", Sound

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Of all the Danny Kaye movies, this musical biography of the legendary vagabond storyteller is definitely the most poignant, extending the performer's range far beyond his usual comic shtick. It may not be as funny as Wonder Man, but it has so much more going for it. In fact, the film is really more about Kaye than Andersen, providing rare insight into his humanitarian ideals and rapport with children. The Frank Loesser score is beautiful, as is the Technicolor cinematography. Among the songs performed, "Inchworm," "Thumbelina," and "Ugly Duckling" are the standout favorites. --Bill Desowitz

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Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Actors: Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimura, Hisako Kyôda, Gorô Naya, Ichirô Nagai
ASIN : B0001XAPZ6
Sales Rank : 1307
Director : Hayao Miyazaki
Studio : Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Region Code : 1
Format : Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780788824005
ISBN : 0788824007
UPC : 786936175240
Release Date : December 22, 2005
Publisher : Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : Walt Disney Home Entertainment
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Label : Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Running Time : 84

Product Description

Warrior/pacifist princess nausicaa desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/22/2005 Run time: 117 minutes

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Hayao Miyazaki gained widespread attention in Japan for his complex ecological manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982), which he adapted for the screen two years later. One thousand years after a war devastated much of the Earth, humanity clings to existence at the fringes of a vast, polluted forest inhabited by monstrous insects. Only Nausicaä, the princess of the tiny realm of the Valley of the Wind, grasps the environmental significance of the forest. She sees beyond petty wars and national rivalries to the only viable future for the planet. In Nausicaä, Miyazaki began to explore elements he would develop more fully in his later films: daring, compassionate heroines; exciting flying sequences; colorful side characters; strong interpersonal relationships; and a call for an ecologically sustainable way of life. Nausicaä prefigures Sheeta in Castle in the Sky and Chihiro in Spirited Away, just as the rough and ready Asbel anticipates Pazu in Castle in the Sky and Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke. For years, Nausicaä was available in the United States only as the badly re-edited Warriors of the Wind. The new English dub from Disney presents the film in its entirety, with strong vocal performances by Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, Alison Lohman, and Edward James Olmos. (Rated PG: violence, frightening imagery) --Charles Solomon

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Funny Girl

Actors: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon
ASIN : B00005O3VD
Sales Rank : 1623
Director : William Wyler
Brand : Sony
Studio : Sony Pictures
Region Code : 99
Format : Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780767824934
ISBN : 0767824938
UPC : 043396030893
Release Date : December 23, 2001
Publisher : Sony Pictures
Manufacturer : Sony Pictures
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Label : Sony Pictures
Running Time : 151

Product Description

Only her mother believes fanny can make it in show business. When she gets her first break at keeneys music hall her hilarious debut as a rollerskating chorus girl gets her hired as a comedienne. A year later fanny is working for florenz ziegfeld in his famous follies and brings the house down. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 11/27/2007 Starring: Barbra Streisand Omar Shariff Run time: 147 minutes Rating: G

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Ah, Barbra. Of all her onscreen personas, she sparkles in none as she does in her role as 1930s comedian Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl. Portraying the life of this star of stage and radio, Brice preens and prances and sings, captivating her audience both onscreen and off. Fanny Brice started life on the Lower East Side of New York, the daughter of a Jewish saloon owner. Not the prettiest girl around, Brice still managed to quickly rise to stardom as a performer in the Ziegfield Follies. A shrewd, obstinate woman, Brice dictated her own success story on stage; things were a different matter in romance. Falling hard for the stunning Nick Arnstein (suavely played by Omar Sharif), Brice must navigate a difficult marriage. While kids may love the tunes (which include the now-infamous "People," as in "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world"), the plot is definitely adult-oriented. Enjoy this one, but don't go too far out of your way for the sequel, Funny Lady. --Jenny Brown

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Pure Country

Actors: George Strait, Lesley Ann Warren, Isabel Glasser, Kyle Chandler, John Doe
ASIN : 630493629X
Sales Rank : 2465
Director : Christopher Cain
Brand : Warner Brothers
Studio : Warner Home Video
Region Code : 1
Format : Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780790735535
ISBN : 630493629X
UPC : 085391259329
Release Date : December 27, 1998
Publisher : Warner Home Video
Manufacturer : Warner Home Video
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Label : Warner Home Video
Running Time : 112

Description

After 25 chart-topping hits, the singing star becomes a movie star! George Strait makes his film debut in an entertaining look into the heart and soul of country music from Young Guns director Christopher Cain.

Superstar Dusty Chandler (Strait) is tired of the smoke, the strobe lights and the overmiked sound of his arena spectaculars. One night, something snaps. "I'm just going to take a little walk," Dusty says as he walks out of the empty hall, ditching his beard, ponytail - and temporarily, his career - to reclaim his down-home country roots. But his manager (Leslie Ann Warren) retaliates: a stand-in (Kyle Chandler) lip-synchs his songs in concert. And a romance with a lovely rancher (Isabel Glasser) is on again, off again like a rodeo cowboy. The simple life can be complex, but it's nothing a revitalized country boy can't handle!

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A Grandpa for Christmas

Actors: Ernest Borgnine, Katherine Helmond, Juliette Goglia, Richard Libertini, Tracy Nelson
ASIN : B001B3LILU
Sales Rank : 2543
Director : Harvey Frost
Studio : Genius Products (TVN)
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0796019815192
UPC : 796019815192
Release Date : December 21, 2008
Publisher : Genius Products (TVN)
Manufacturer : Genius Products (TVN)
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Genius Products (TVN)
Running Time : 85

Product Description

An estranged family discovers that to understand the past, they first have to face it. For a dear old man on Christmas, the reward is being called Grandpa for the first time in his life. Eighty-year-old Bert Riley is a former movie tough guy living comfortably and surrounded by good friends all vets from Hollywood s Golden Age. With a scrapbook full of memories, life has been pretty good to him. But he never expected any more surprises out of it. That s before he receives word on Thanksgiving that Marie, the estranged daughter he hasn t seen in decades, is in the hospital following a car accident. What s more, Becca, the ten-year-old granddaughter he s never even met, is moving in with him!

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If "To err is human, to forgive divine," that counts double during the holidays. When her single mother, Marie (Tracy Nelson), is injured in a traffic accident, 10-year-old Becca (Joan of Arcadia's Juliette Goglia), is left without a guardian. Due to a rift in the family, she’s never met her grandfather, Bert (Golden Globe nominee Ernest Borgnine), who also lives in Los Angeles. Long divorced from his wife, who has since passed away, Bert is also alone, except for a community of retired actors and agents. When a social worker asks if he can take care of Becca until Marie recovers, he's happy to try. At first, Becca just wants to sulk, but then she starts to enjoy the company of her grandfather and his friends, like the piano-playing Roxie (Soap's Katherine Helmond) and chess-playing Karl (All of Me's Richard Libertini). With their encouragement, she participates in her school’s Christmas pageant. With Marie on the mend, things are looking up for Becca, so it comes as a disappointment that her mother can't see the goodness in Bert, who's doing his best to make up for lost time. Marie only remembers how hurt she felt when her parents split up and has always blamed Bert, but sees him in a new light when she finds out the whole story. Produced for the Hallmark Channel, A Grandpa for Christmas finds the right balance between realism and wish fulfillment, and the 90-year-old Borgnine gives one of his most enjoyable performances to date. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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The Sandlot

Actors: Brandon Quintin Adams, Karen Allen, Keith Campbell, Victor DiMattia, Grant Gelt
ASIN : B00005RT3N
Sales Rank : 1998
Brand : Team Marketing
Studio : 20th Century Fox
Region Code : 1
Format : Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0024543029243
UPC : 024543029243
Release Date : December 29, 2002
Publisher : 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer : 20th Century Fox
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : 20th Century Fox
Running Time : 101

Description

It's the early 1960s and fifth-grader Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) has just moved into town with his folks (Karen Allen and Denis Leary). Kids call him a dork—he can't even throw a baseball! But that changes when the leader of the neighborhood gang recruits him to play on the nearby sandlot field. It's the beginning of a magical summer of baseball, wild adventures, first kisses, and fearsome confrontations with the dreaded Beast and its owner (James Earl Jones) who live behind the left field fence. Soon nine boys have become best friends, Scotty is part of a team, and their leader has become a local legend in this hilarious and warmhearted comedy.

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When egghead Scotty Smalls moves to town just before the summer vacation of 1962, his first priority is to make friends. He heads to the nearby sandlot only to humiliate himself before the local kids, but star player Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez befriends the awkward boy, teaches him the basics of baseball, and welcomes him to the team. It's a summer filled with camaraderie and fun until Smalls hits his first home run. Problem is, Smalls's home run sends his stepfather's "Babe Ruth" autographed baseball into a neighboring yard that's patrolled by a snarling, slobbering monster called "The Beast." Creativity reigns and hilarity ensues when the boys risk everything to retrieve the ball. A final heroic encounter with "The Beast" and his owner yields some very surprising results. Action, humor, and friendship permeate this 101-minute film appropriate for ages 5 and older. Rated PG due to name-calling and some pubescent behavior. --Tami Horiuchi

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Rent (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Hans Christian Andersen

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All I Want for Christmas

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Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

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Funny Girl

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Rooster Cogburn (...and the Lady)

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Pure Country

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A Grandpa for Christmas

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Jack Frost

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The Sandlot

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