Post by sparklingblue on Nov 23, 2003 16:58:58 GMT -5
A fully loaded 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'
11/23/03
From wire reports
The delightful family classic "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," celebrating its 35th anniversary, comes out Tuesday in a special edition two-disc DVD. It's crammed with extras about the stars and movie that featured Dick Van Dyke as the imaginative inventor of a magical car that had the power to make dreams come true.
Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries and Benny Hill co-star in the adaptation of an Ian Fleming children's book.
It all centers around Van Dyke's extraordinary car that drives, flies and floats. The car leads him, his two children and his lady friend into a magical world of pirates, castles and adventure. They meet characters including Bomburst of Vulgaria, a lovable village toymaker and an evil child catcher.
A long list of extras includes new high-definition digital transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, the documentary with Van Dyke "Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "A Fantasmagorical Motorcar" about the designing of the car, "The Ditchling Tinkerer," "The Potts Children" and the "Dick Van Dyke Archival Press Featurette."
There also are a sing-along option, a read-along feature, two interactive games, coloring pages, three original trailers, six television spots, poster concepts and a 32-page story booklet.
Martie Zad, The Washington Post
License to gouge
In the category of live another day (for more profits), all 20 James Bond films have been put together in three new box sets. These are the most recent versions of the films that include extras such as commentaries, trivia, etc. Not unexpectedly, they are not in chronological order. Each set has a mixture of different eras and Bonds and quality, so you can't be logical in choosing if you just want one.
Of course, you can look at Bond films as one big movie with 20 variations - just change the girls, the sardonic jokes, the action sequences and 007 himself.
The last film, "Die Another Day" (directed by Lee Tamahori and on the third set), proves that Pierce Brosnan is as good, if not better than, Sean Connery.
No, the film's not better than any of the others. It pretty much follows the formula. But Brosnan wears the 007 role as elegantly as he does a tuxedo. Plus it boasts the best Bond girl - Halle Berry, who is Bond's equal.
And in an homage to Ursula Andress' scene in the initial Bond film, "Dr. No" (1962, part of the first set), Berry is first seen emerging in a bikini from the ocean, which no doubt left many male fans shaken and stirred.
"The James Bond 007 Special Edition DVD Collection, Volumes 1-3" is being released by MGM. Each set lists for $124.96).
Here are the details:
Volume 1: "Dr. No," "Goldfinger," "The Man With the Golden Gun," "The Spy Who Loved Me," "License to Kill," "GoldenEye" and "Tomorrow Never Dies."
Volume 2: "From Russia With Love," "You Only Live Twice," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Moonraker," "For Your Eyes Only," "The Living Daylights" and "The World Is Not Enough."
Volume 3: "Thunderball," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Live and Let Die," "A View to a Kill," "Octopussy" and "Die Another Day."
Rob Lowman, Los Angeles Daily News
© 2003 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
11/23/03
From wire reports
The delightful family classic "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," celebrating its 35th anniversary, comes out Tuesday in a special edition two-disc DVD. It's crammed with extras about the stars and movie that featured Dick Van Dyke as the imaginative inventor of a magical car that had the power to make dreams come true.
Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries and Benny Hill co-star in the adaptation of an Ian Fleming children's book.
It all centers around Van Dyke's extraordinary car that drives, flies and floats. The car leads him, his two children and his lady friend into a magical world of pirates, castles and adventure. They meet characters including Bomburst of Vulgaria, a lovable village toymaker and an evil child catcher.
A long list of extras includes new high-definition digital transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, the documentary with Van Dyke "Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "A Fantasmagorical Motorcar" about the designing of the car, "The Ditchling Tinkerer," "The Potts Children" and the "Dick Van Dyke Archival Press Featurette."
There also are a sing-along option, a read-along feature, two interactive games, coloring pages, three original trailers, six television spots, poster concepts and a 32-page story booklet.
Martie Zad, The Washington Post
License to gouge
In the category of live another day (for more profits), all 20 James Bond films have been put together in three new box sets. These are the most recent versions of the films that include extras such as commentaries, trivia, etc. Not unexpectedly, they are not in chronological order. Each set has a mixture of different eras and Bonds and quality, so you can't be logical in choosing if you just want one.
Of course, you can look at Bond films as one big movie with 20 variations - just change the girls, the sardonic jokes, the action sequences and 007 himself.
The last film, "Die Another Day" (directed by Lee Tamahori and on the third set), proves that Pierce Brosnan is as good, if not better than, Sean Connery.
No, the film's not better than any of the others. It pretty much follows the formula. But Brosnan wears the 007 role as elegantly as he does a tuxedo. Plus it boasts the best Bond girl - Halle Berry, who is Bond's equal.
And in an homage to Ursula Andress' scene in the initial Bond film, "Dr. No" (1962, part of the first set), Berry is first seen emerging in a bikini from the ocean, which no doubt left many male fans shaken and stirred.
"The James Bond 007 Special Edition DVD Collection, Volumes 1-3" is being released by MGM. Each set lists for $124.96).
Here are the details:
Volume 1: "Dr. No," "Goldfinger," "The Man With the Golden Gun," "The Spy Who Loved Me," "License to Kill," "GoldenEye" and "Tomorrow Never Dies."
Volume 2: "From Russia With Love," "You Only Live Twice," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Moonraker," "For Your Eyes Only," "The Living Daylights" and "The World Is Not Enough."
Volume 3: "Thunderball," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Live and Let Die," "A View to a Kill," "Octopussy" and "Die Another Day."
Rob Lowman, Los Angeles Daily News
© 2003 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
