Reviews

The 21st century has had its share of high-tech enhanced flicks, but the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and Pixar's "Finding Nemo" have proven that it is the inclusion of compelling characters and wonderful stories that makes for a great movie.

"Finding Nemo" has everything a discerning moviegoer could hope for. Ellen DeGeneres's Dory and Albert Brooks' Marlin are perfect casting and this movie will lure in audiences of all ages. Hook, line and sinker.

If you could roll the respective significance of `Citizen Kane,' `Gone With the Wind' and `Lawrence of Arabia' into one film, you might have somewhat of an idea what the Beatles mean to contemporary music. Indeed, while Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly laid the groundwork, the Beatles forever defined the musical and artistic boundaries by which all future pop players would be judged. Indeed, the DVD format has provided modern day audiences with a chance to see why the Fab Four's legacy is something much more significant than a mere history lesson. `The Beatles Anthology' (released April 1, 2003 on DVD) picks up where the 2002-issued collector's edition release of `A Hard Day's Night' left off, providing more insight into the minds and music of the band that put Liverpool on the map. In addition to the in-depth chronology taking viewers on a magical mystery trip through the 1960s, new and never-before-seen material features interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison at Abbey Road Studios in May 1995 as they listen to classic Beatles tracks with producer George Martin. The jewel of the release is additional footage of the three one-time mop tops jamming together in George Harrison's garden.

DVD extras? You get them here. Indeed, the DVD release features a bonus disc featuring approximately 80 minutes of material more than the deluxe, eight-volume VHS release that expanded on the ABC special broadcast on Nov. 19, 22 and 23, 1995. Needless to say, all fans of rock music and 20th century pop culture should own this collection.

Although there have been thousands of science fiction films released over the past 100 years, only a handful are required viewing for film buffs. In addition to Fritz Lang's 1927 classic `Metropolis,' Stanley Kubrick's `2001: A Space Odyssey' and the original `Planet of the Apes' epic released in 1968, `Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn' is a standout in the genre. The 23rd century-set adventures of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise - while often entertaining and insightful - rarely were displayed with the kind of cinematic greatness in 1982 under the capable direction of Nicholas Meyer. `The Wrath of Kahn' revisits a storyline that was started in the original 1960s television series (in the first season episode `Space Seed'), where the leader of a genetic super race of humans led by Khan (Ricardo Montalban) escapes from the dying world where he was left by James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and takes control of another Federation starship. Rather then flee, Khan decides to pursue a course of vengeance against Kirk and the Enterprise while also stealing a top-secret scientific project known as Project Genesis. The movie never falters, nor does this impressive Director's Edition of the classic first released in 1982. The print and sound featured on the 2003-issued Director's Edition DVD are wonderful, and the many insights into the production prove to be icing on the cake. Extras include commentary by director Nicholas Meyer; text commentary by Michael Okuda (co-author of `The Star Trek Encyclopedia'); `The Captain's Log' featuring new cast & crew interviews with Meyer, Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban and writer Harve Bennett; trailer; original interviews with Deforrest Kelley, Shatner, Nimoy and Montalban; storyboard archives; `Designing Khan' featurette; and much more.

Of the countless actors who have portrayed Tarzan since Elmo Lincoln first appeared in 1918's `Tarzan of the Apes,' Gordon Scott remains the best to ever don a loincloth. So it's no surprise that `Tarzan and the Trappers' is one of the better Tarzan films of the past 80 years. The 1958 film was actually intended to comprise the first three episodes of a television series, but instead was made into a better-than-average Sol Lesser production that runs 74 minutes. The film's story remains contemporary, with Tarzan forced to fight for his own life while stopping greedy traders from illegally trapping and removing wildlife from the jungle.

With the future of much of the world's wildlife in question, the story is as compelling now as it was 45 years ago...

For discerning fans of classic filmmaking, the surviving work of director F.W. Murnau remains some of the most significant and stunning of the silent era. Filmed entirely in Tahiti, `Tabu' would prove to be Murnau's last film (he died in a tragic car accident on March 11, 1931, just weeks before the film's premiere) and most unusual - he actually collaborated with director Robert Flaherty (`Nanook of the North') in this tale of two doomed lovers that unintentionally transports `Romeo and Juliet' into the South Pacific. Unlike his landmark expressionist titles such as `Nosferatu' and `Faust,' Murnau's `Tabu' is set mostly outdoors and features dazzling images of beautiful young native men and women at home in their Polynesian paradise in the first part of the film, with haunting images used to chronicle tragedy and paradise lost in the second half of the 81 minute classic.

Although no members of the cast were professional actors, the performances by Matahi (as a young pearl fisherman) and Reri (as the `tabu' island girl) are moving. More than 70 years after its release, `Tabu' remains essential viewing, and UCLA's restoration of this classic has been a highlight of the schedule of new DVD releases in 2002. In fact, the film's luxurious black-and-white cinematography garnered cameraman Floyd Crosby an Oscar. DVD extras include audio commentary by UCLA Film Professor Janet Bergstrom; outtake footage; theatrical trailer; still gallery; short film titled `Reri in New York.'