Shine a Light
Directed by Martin Scorsese and recorded at New York’s Beacon Theatre during the fall of 2006, featuring performances by The Rolling Stones with special guests Christina Aguilera, Jack White, and Buddy Guy.
Documentaries
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – August 2008
Attenborough in Paradise: and Other Personal Voyages
A collection of seven of David Attenborough’s celebrated nature programs. Topics covered include: the courtship displays of birds in New Guinea; the “music” of the wild; David Attenborough’s career as a nature filmmaker.
Earth: The Biography
Earth is an incredible, exceptional planet with an amazing life story full of cataclysmic disasters, eleventh-hour coincidences that save it from extinction, and an astonishing power to continually regenerate. Uses breathtaking footage and special imaging to tell the story of the great forces that shape the planet – volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice. Traveling from Ethiopia’s unique lava lake to an ice cave under a glacier in Greenland and amazing locations in between, examine the forces that have helped create and foster life on Earth. Narrator, Iain Stewart.
Originally broadcast on the BBC in 2007.
Found in China: A Documentary
A group of six Midwestern families with Chinese adoptive daughters take a heritage trip to China. The documentary focuses on the 9- to 13-year old girls and their feelings about being adopted as they learn about the culture of their homeland and the circumstances of their adoption.
Galápagos: the Islands that Changed the World
The inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution, the Galápagos Islands are a living laboratory, a geological conveyor belt that has given birth to and seen the death of many species of plants and animals. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Originally broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation, 2006.
Incredible Britain
Join actor Robbie Coltrane as he shows viewers the back roads of London to Glasgow, stopping along the way to learn of some of the more interesting customs of the local people. Includes fun facts map and biography.
Life in Cold Blood
David Attenborough tells the epic story of the most enduringly successful animals to ever walk on land – reptiles and amphibians. The latest technology enables extraordinary and previously unseen behavior to be captured in intimate detail.
Life in the Freezer
Hosted by David Attenborough, this BBC-TV six-episode television series explores the landscape, wildlife, and underwater reaches of Antarctica.
Life in the Undergrowth
David Attenborough guides the viewer through a miniature universe teeming with life, never normally seen, yet all around us. New technology reveals surreal vistas and their extraordinary inhabitants.
The Life of Birds
David Attenborough journeys across seven continents filming thousands of species of birds, revealing their patterns of behavior.
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – July 2008
Train Your Dog
Learn to train your dog with a positive and gentle method from two Los Angeles trainers, Nicole Wilde and Laura Bourhenne.
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – June 2008
The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Training
Step-by-step instruction teaching basic behaviors and solving common problems using techniques that are fun for your dog. Best selling author and trainer Paul Owens, is the author of The Dog Whisperer and The Puppy Whisperer.
My Kid Could Paint That
Examines the rise to fame and subsequent noteriety of Marla Olmstead, a little girl discovered to be a painting prodigy, upon which a 60 minutes piece brought suspicions of fraud.
30 Day Shred
Jillian Michaels winning trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” helps you lose big–up to 20 pounds in 30 days! Her DVD includes three 20-minute circuit-training workouts that burn mega calories and build strong lean muscle. Each workout is progressively harder so start with the Level 1 and when you are ready progress to Level 2 and then Level 3. Each level contains a 20-minute workout based on Jillian’s exclusive 3-2-1 Strength/Cardio/Ab training circuit: 3 minutes of strength 2 minutes of cardio and 1minute of ab work. There’s also a brief warm-up session and a cool-down stretch.
You: Staying Young Workout
America’s most trusted doctor team and authors of the #1 New York Times best-selling You series, are tackling another major obstacle: Aging. The DVD contains 3 total body workouts all under 20 minutes: 2 levels by celebrity trainer Joel Harper and a Chi Gong workout by kung fu master Karl Romaine. It teaches strength conditioning, mat work, core training, yoga , and even ways to improve posture. These techniques can be used by viewers at any level, from advanced to beginner. All brought to you by the YOU docs-Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen.
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – May 2008
American Idiot: the Ultimate Critical Review
American Idiot is the Grammy award-winning album which transformed the group into global superstars capable of filling the biggest stadiums on earth. Featuring rare concert footage and the reflections of the band along side the views of a leading team of music critics and studio insiders, this is the independent critical review of the album that rocked the world the how and why of American Idiot and how it works its magic.
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – April 2008
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Examines a rivalry between two top players of the video game Donkey Kong. Featuring Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Walter Day. MPAA rating: PG-13
War Dance
A group of children in war-ravaged Northern Uganda are invited to compete in a national music and dance championship, and experience a normal childhood and the taste of victory for the first time. MPAA rating: PG-13
Documentaries and Nonfiction DVDs – March 2008
Ancient Rome
This program highlights the Roman Empire’s history, civilization and architecture, including the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon. Featuring graphics, computer animation, and location footage.
Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel
This History Channel program examines the development of the steel industry and the part Andrew Carnegie played in it.
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Collection 2
Chef and author Anthony Bourdain travels the world sampling local foods and culture.
Art Across the Ages
In this 4 part set from The Teaching Company, Professor Ori Z. Soltes has crafted a course in Western visual art that serves as both a mind-broadening survey and an essential introduction. It is designed to give anyone interested in Western art a firm familiarity with its basics, acquainting you with major artists and styles in various media and providing a broad foundation for deeper exploration.
Black Gold: The Story of Oil
Originally produced as an episode of the television program Empires of industry on the History Channel, a fascinating history of the petroleum industry in the U.S. DVD 665.5 BLA 2005
Egypt’s Golden Empire
This episode of PBS’s Empires series examines 500 years of Egyptian history, from 1567 B.C. to 1085 B.C., via the preserved letters and personal accounts of pharaohs and ordinary citizens.
Empires in the Americas
This fascinating program highlights the amazing parallels between the two great American societies of the Aztecs and the Incas — two nations doomed to violent destruction.
The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Presents the story of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica, in which 27 men found themselves stranded in the ice for 635 days.
Europe to the Max: Alpine Secrets
Several episodes of Rudy Maxa’s populat video travel program: includes: Bologna and Emilia Romagna, Italy’s Veneto and Dolomites, Switzerland and the Alps, and Alpine Christmas.
Europe to the Max: Great Cities of Europe
Several episodes of Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features many different cities in Europe, including: Barcelona and Costa Brava, Madrid, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.
Europe to the Max: Mysteries of Greece and Rome
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: including: Athens and Delphi, the Greek Islands, and more.
Europe to the Max: Romantic Germany and Beyond
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features Germany’s Romantic Road, Rhine and Mosel River, Prague and Budapest, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.
Europe to the Max: Splendors of France
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features France’s Champagne Region, Normandy, Carcassonne, the Pyrenees, and more.
Europe to the Max: Treasures Outside London
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features Dublin and Beyond, Ireland’s West Coast, Bath, South Wales, Edinburgh and Scotland.
Fat to Firm Fitness Ball Workout for Dummies
This workour DVD offers step-by-step instructions of 15 exercises that work the entire body. It also ten rules for healthy living, an excerpt from the book Dieting for dummies.
15-Minute Workouts for Dummies
Step-by-step instructions for 26 toning and shaping exercises
The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, charts the rise, glory, demise, and legacy of ancient Greece, focusing on prominent figures of the times including Cleisthenes, Themistocles, Pericles, and Socrates. Includes comments from scholars.
The James Bond Story
This documentary looks at the different characterizations each actor has bought to the role of James Bond. It also traces the character back to its origin, the Bond novels by Ian Fleming. Features interviews and film clips.
Jeff Dunham Arguing with Myself
A recorded live performance of ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, portrays a comedian whose revival of an old-fashioned art has made ventriloquism more relevant to modern societal concerns. Starring his six main characters, from Bubba Jay, a Nascar-obsessed hick, to Peanut, a flamboyant gay monkey.
Jeff Dunham Spark of Insanity
Ventriloquist Dunham welcomes two never-before-seen partners “Achmed the Dead Terrorist,” and “Melvin the Superhero.” Long-time favorites “Peanut,” “Walter” and Jose Jalapeno are back in an entirely original show taped at the historic Warner Theater in Washington D.C.
Live to Tell about It: Self Defense Techniques
Learn simple self-defense techniques to help prevent sexual assault, assault at gunpoint, assault at knifepoint, domestic violence and more. Taught by a woman for women.
The Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical centers in the country, and GAIAM, the health and wellness experts, team up to present this series of integrated health action plans on DVD.
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Athritis
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Back Pain
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Diabetes
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Fibromyalgia
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Heart Health
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for High Blood Pressure
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Insomnia
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Menopause
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Weight Loss
The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, tells the tale of one family’s ambition and of Europe’s struggle to emerge from the ravages of the Dark Ages. The Medici used charm, skill and ruthlessness to garner unparalleled wealth and power, ruling Europe for more than 300 years.
Monarchy Set 2
David Starkey continues his multi-part examination of the English throne, with five episodes covering nearly 250 years, from Charles II to Victoria. Replete with infidelities, betrayals, and rivalries, English history emerges as a compelling family saga.
My Favorite Universe
The Great Courses series pesents lectures by Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson based on essays written by him for Natural History magazine.
No End in Sight
An insider’s look at the decisions that led to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the handling of the occupation. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officials, as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers and prominent analysts. Examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy helped to create the insurgency and chaos that Iraq faces today.
Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming is a unique documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American troops through their written words. Interviews and dramatic readings by such actors as Robert Duvall, Josh Lucas, Beau Bridges, Blair Underwood, Justin Kirk, Aaron Eckhart, Chris Gorham, and John Krasinski, transform selections from this collection of writing into a deep examination of life on the front lines. At the same time the film provides depth and context to these experiences through a broader look at the universal themes of war literature. The writing in Operation Homecoming covers: poetry, fiction, memoirs, letters, journals, and essays. Originally broadcast as a segment of the PBS television series, America at a Crossroads.
The Roman Empire in the First Century
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, tells the story of the emperors, slaves, poets, and peasants who wrested order from chaos, built the most cosmopolitan society the world had ever seen, and shaped the Roman Empire in the First Century. DVD 937 ROM 2005
Rome and Pompeii
Imagine being among the bloodthirsty thousands at a gladiator bout in the Colosseum, or at the chariot races in the Circus Maximus. Think of yourself among the decadent few in the ancient baths, theatres, temples, or palaces. Be an eyewitness to the burning of Nero’s Rome. See the devastation caused by Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. Meet the ancients, experience their daily customs, and visit the imperial cities of Rome and Pompeii as they appeared 2,000 years ago. This program makes it all possible through computer recreations and a renowned team of Italian archeologists and historians
Secrets of Lost Empires: Inca
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to an archaeological site where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Explore the magnificent mountainside citadels – and marvel as villagers create a 150-foot suspension bridge using nothing but grass.
Secrets of Lost Empires: Pyramid, Obelisk
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to an archaeological site where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Face the challenge of quarrying, chieseling, hauling, and mounting an obelisk – using stones, ropes, logs and dirt.
Secrets of Lost Empires: Stonehenge; Colosseum
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to two archaeological sites where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Watch a band of experts move, raise, and cap a structure like the mysterious Stonehenge – armed with Stone Age tools.
Shaping Up with Weights for Dummies
Demonstrates how to perform twelve dumbbell exercises for toning the upper and lower body as well as burning calories.
Superstring Theory: The DNA of Reality
From the Teaching Company, twenty-four lectures delivered by Professor S. James Gates, Jr., University of Maryland at College Park.
True Life Adventures. Volume 4. Nature’s Mysteries
Disney’s acclaimed, groundbreaking nature series captures the wonder of animals and nature.
War Planes of World War II
During World War II, many men and women worked to build war planes for the military. Some companies which changed from commercial to military aircraft were Boeing, Lockheed, and McDonnell Douglas.
New DVDs – January 2008
The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard
This BBC-TV story follows Ros Pritchard (Jane Horrocks), a supermarket manager who tries to improve her world in small ways. Just to prove that she could do better than the established politicians, she runs for a seat in Parliament. No one is more surprised than she when she wins the General Election and becomes the next Prime Minister. Not Rated
American President
The widowed President of the US (Michael Douglas) courts an attractive environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening). His opponent in the upcoming election takes advantage of the situation, playing up the role of “the President’s Mistress.” Rated PG-13
Angel in the Family
An ailing widowed father and his two estranged daughters experience a miracle when their late matriarch returns to spend Christmas with them. Cast: Tracey Needham, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Ronny Cox, Meredith Baxter. Not Rated
The Apocalypse
When the Roman Emperor unleashed a virulent campaign against the Christians in 90 A.D., the apostle John (Richard Harris) struggles to break free of imprisonment and save Christianity from extinction. Not Rated
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop III
A street-smart Detroit cop (Eddie Murphy) is transplanted in California. All Rated R
The Bible Collection:
Abraham
Abraham (Richard Harris) leaves the pagan land of Ur for the promised land of Canaan. Not Rated
David
The story of a simple shepherd boy chosen to be the king of Israel. Not Rated
Jacob
Matthew Modine and Laura Flynn Boyle star in one of the greatest love stories from the Bible. Not Rated
Joseph
Cast into a pit by his jealous brothers, young Joseph pleads for mercy but is sold into slavery in Egypt. Not Rated
Moses
The story of reluctant leader Moses leading the Jews out of bondage in Egypt. Not Rated
Samson and Delilah
A bewitching Philistine betrays the shepherd she loves out of loyalty to her people. Not Rated
A Big Hand for a Little Lady
This wonderfully wild western comedy from 1966 features Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, and Burgess Meredith. Not Rated
Body & Soul
This miniseries from 1993 is t moving story of a young nun (Kristen Scott Thomas) in a family crisis who is forced to choose between two conflicting worlds, and the very different values they represent. Not Rated
Brideshead Revisited
In this classic adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel, the life of the British nobility is seen through the eyes of a young Oxford student who befriends the son of aristocrats and becomes one of the family. Cast: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, John Gielgud. Not Rated
The Crown Prince
After entering into an unhappy marriage of convenience, Archduke Rudolf, the young heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne begins a fateful affair with the Baroness Mary Vetsera. cast that includes Klaus Maria Brandauer, Christian Clavier and Omar Sharif. Not Rated
The Crusades: Crescent and the Cross
Using CGI-enhanced visuals and dramatic reenactments, The History Channel brings the key battles of the Crusades to life. See rare locations, including a vast chain of Crusader castles and get a feel of what day-to-day life was like. Not Rated
A Dance to the Music of Time
This miniseries chronicles a half century of British upper-class life through the eyes of protagonist Nicholas Jenkins. Based on the novels by Anthony Powell. Not Rated
The Dark Ages: The Fall of Civilization, The Rise of a New World Orderm DVD 940.1 DAR 2006
Between the Fall of Rome and the dawn of the Renaissance, Europe plunged into a dark night of constant war, splintered sovereignties, marauding pagans, and more. This History Channel production covers the chaos that threatened to cause the demise of European society, as well as other brave souls who fought for peace and enlightenment.
Dial M for Murder
A man plots to murder his wife for her money. The wife manages to stab the would-be attacker, and the husband is forced to change plans. Alfred Hitchcock directed this 1954 suspense classic featuring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. Not Rated
The Dresden Files
Harry Dresden is a private detective who also happens to be a real wizard. Harry finds himself helping the Chicago police solve crimes and battle dark in the city streets. Not Rated
Elizabeth
Palace intrigue mixes with historical drama to tell the life story of Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen who ruled England in the 16th century. Featuring Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush. Rated R
15 Minutes
A crime thriller about a hot-shot homicide detective who teams with a fire marshal to find a pair of media-hungry serial killers. In the meantime, a sensationalist TV-talk-show host courts both sides of the law. Cast: Robert De Niro, Edward Burns, Kelsey Grammer, Avery Brooks. Rated R
Figure Skating: Ladies’ & Pairs DVD 796.912 FIG 2006
Highlights of the Pairs & Ladies’ figureskating at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.
Figure Skating: Men’s & Ice Dancing DVD 796.912 FIG 2006
Highlights from the men’s figure skating and ice dancing at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games.
The Golden Door
Salvatore, a very poor farmer and widower, decides to emigrate to U.S. with his entire family. Italian dialogue, English subtitles. Rated PG-13
Grosse Pointe Blank
A comedy about a hit man, a high school reunion, and the girl he left behind. Cast: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin. Rated R
High Fidelity
Rob Gordon’s record store is semi-failing, and his long-time girlfriend has just walked out on him. In order to figure out where things went wrong, he examines his past relationships with other women. Cast: John Cusack, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Joelle Carter, Joan Cusack, Sara Gilbert. Rated R
The In-Laws
A mild-mannered doctor meets his new in-laws for the first time right before his daughter’s wedding. Things get wild when he discovers they’re CIA operatives. Cast: Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Candice Bergen. Rated PG-13
Istanbul DVD 914.961 IST 2004
This episode from the Globe Trekker series features an exploration of the Topkapi palace, sightseeing at Gallipoli, the site of an infamous World War I battlefield, as well as a tour of Istanbul, with visits to the opulent Pera Palace Hotel, the Grand Bazaar, and the Blue Mosque.
The Last Legion
As invading Goths besiege the crumbling Roman empire, a daring general, a powerful wizard and a master warrior attempt to lead one last legion of faithful soldiers to victory against all odds. Cast: Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai, Peter Mullan, Kevin McKidd, John Hannah, Iain Glen, Thomas Sangster. Rated PG-13
Love’s Unending Legacy
Unable to work the land on her own, Missie LaHaye and her young son move back to her father’s ranch hoping to put the past behind her. Based on the books by Janet Oke, the fifth film in the series directed by Michael Landon, Jr. Not Rated
Mary, Queen of Scots
Vanessa Redgrave was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Mary, the ill-fated Catholic Queen of Scotland. The sharp-edged Glenda Jackson portrays her jealous cousin, Queen Elizabeth I in this critically acclaimed drama from 1971. Not Rated
The Meaning of Food DVD 394012 MEA 2005
This PBS special explores the variety of cultural significance of food among various walks of life in the United States. Topics covered in these three programs include: Italian weddings; Bengali fertility feast; last meals; fasting.
Monarchy with David Starkey DVD 923.1 MON 2006
This British television production features vivid descriptions and analysis of historical personalities with costumed actors, historical locations, and portraits to visually enliven the story of the English crown from the fall of Rome to the 1660s.
Mr. Deeds
When a small town man (Adam Sandler) inherits controlling interest in a media empire, he attempts to use his newfound power to transmit positive messages. Rated PG-13
Mr. Mom
When a Detroit auto engineer (Michael Keaton) loses his job, his wife (Teri Garr) takes up a career in advertising while he takes over running the household. Rated PG
Once upon a Time When We Were Colored
The changes experienced by a rural town in Mississppi are witnessed by a boy coming-of-age in the era of racial segregation and civil rights in the South. Rated PG
The Paper Chase
A moving story of a first-year Harvard Law School student who comes to terms with his dreams in America’s most competitive school. Cast: Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman, Edward Herrmann, James Naughton. Rated PG
Passion of Mind
A woman (Demi Moore) seems to be living parallel lives — one as a single New Yorker and the other as a widowed mother of two. Rated PG-13
Prime Suspect 7 The Final Act
Academy-award winner, Helen Mirren, is featured as Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison in this joint production by Granada television and WGBH Boston. Not Rated
The Quick and the Dead
When a homestead family is threatened by a gunslinging gang, a mysterious stranger (Sam Elliott) rides to their safety. Not Rated
Rome: Season 2
In this HBO drama, the year is 44 B.C. Julius Caesar has been assassinated and civil war threatens to destroy the Republic. Cast: Polly Walker, Ray Stevenson, James Purefoy, Lindsay Duncan, Kevin Mckidd, Ray Stevenson. Rated TV-MA
Ruth Rendell Mystereis: Set 2
This six tales of suspense examines the jealousy, betrayals, and resentments that lead to tragedy. Not Rated
Sleepless in Seattle
A widower’s son calls a talk show about his father’s conviction that love happens only once in a lifetime. Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Rob Reiner and Rosie O’Donnell. Rated PG
The Song of Bernadette
In 1858 a peasant girl sees a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes and incurs local wrath because of her experience. Jennifer Jones starred in the academy award-winning film. Not Rated
These Foolish Things
In 1930s England, a struggling young actress, a fledgling director and an ambitious playwright become embroiled in an emotional love triangle as they strive for recognition, fame and fortune in a world on the brink of World War II. Cast: Joss Ackland, Lauren Bacall, Anjelica Huston, and Terence Stamp. Not Rated
3:10 to Yuma
A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who’s awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. Cast: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, Logan Lerman. Rated R
To Catch a Thief
A reformed thief on vacation in the South of France becomes the prime suspect in a series of robberies. But what he’s really interested in stealing is time with a beautiful American on vacation with her rich mother. Afred Hitchcok directed this thriller featuring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Not Rated
24: Season 6
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has been released after two years in a Chinese prison, but only so he can be handed over to a particularly nasty villain who proposes to trade Jack’s life for the location of the mastermind behind the current reign of terror. That’s only the beginning, of course. Not Rated
Uncovered
An art restorer (Kate Beckinsale) discovers an unresolved murder from centuries ago and realizes that her work triggered a new wave of murders. Rated R
Underground Pittsburgh DVD 974.886 UND 2007
WQED’s Rick Sebak embarks on a tour around the Pittsburgh area to show us what’s hidden underground.
Victor Victoria
An unsuccessful female nightclub vocalist (Julie Andrews) is recast as a man performing as a woman. The trick works, but things get strange when a macho male (James Garner) finds himself attracted to the singer in drag. Rated PG
The Vikings DVD 948 VIK 2006
This PBS NOVA special investigates a new image of the Vikings that goes far deeper than their savage stereotype as raiding marauders. They were expert shipbuilders, superb artisans, canny merchants, and bold colonizers.
Working Girl
A secretary works to advance herself, only to have her best idea appropriated by her boss. Feeling cheated and undervalued, she decides to engineer a big brokerage deal by herself. Cast: Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Melanie Griffith, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack. Rated R
More New DVDs – December 2007
Absolute Power
A professional thief witnesses a murder that puts his life in jeopardy when his existence becomes known. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris. Rated R
An Affair to Remember
A shipboard romance conflicts with prior engagements. The lovers (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) postpone their affair and plan to meet later under different circumstances. Rated PG
Batman and Robin
Super heroes Batman and Robin are joined by Batgirl in their fight to save the human race from destruction at the hands of Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy. Cast: George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Elle MacPherson. Rated PG-13
Batman Forever
Batman befriends an acrobat whose family is killed in a tragic circus accident. The young man joins Gotham City’s crime fighter as Robin and together they do battle against Two Face and The Riddler. Cast: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O’Donnell. Rated PG-13
The Bible: Esther
A dramatization of the story of Esther, Queen of Persia. Cast: Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham, Jurgen Prochnow, Thomas Kretschmann. Not Rated
The Bible: Genesis
A dramatization of the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the flood. Not Rated
The Bible: Jeremiah
A dramatization of the story of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah. Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Klaus Maria Barndauer. Not Rated
The Bible: Solomon
A dramatization of the story of Solomon, King of Israel. Cast: Ben Cross, Vivica A. Fox, David Suchet, G.W. Bailey, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Anouk Aimee, Max Von Sydow. Not Rated
The Camden 28
In Camden, New Jersey, a group of 28 Vietnam War protesters plan to break into a local draft board office and destroy records during the summer of 1971. Little do they know that a mole has been planted in their group. Not Rated
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
This film presents an authentic account of the Vietnam War taken from the letters of the men and women who served over there. This film includes newsreel and home-movie footage shot by the servicemen themselves. Rated PG-13
Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower
In this docudrama the Pilgrims story is explored including: their self-imposed exile in Holland, their crossing of the Atlantic, their first year in the new world and how they came to live and prosper in an unfamiliar land.
The Devil’s Advocate
Hotshot attorney Kevin Lomax’s 64-0 case record has brought him a tempting offer from an elite New York firm. But the job Lomax accepts isn’t what it seems. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Judith Ivey. Rated R
Dexter: The First Season
Dexter Morgan is a Miami police forensics expert who moonlights as a serial killer of criminals who he believes have escaped justice. From Showtime and based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. Not Rated
Die Hard
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Bruce Willis stars as New York cop, John McClane in this series of action films. All Rated R
The French Revolution
This History Channel documentary uses a combination of reenactment, commentary from scholars, and narration, to explores the turbulent years of the French Revolution. Not Rated
The Good The Bad and The Ugly
A bounty hunter, a crook, and an Army sergeant scramble to find a fortune in gold hidden in a coffin. Their uneasy alliance is tested by the vicissitudes of war. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffre. Rated R
High Society
In this sophisticated musical comedy, the society wedding of the beautiful Tracy Lord is being arranged in Newport, R.I. Her ex-husband arrives to try to win her back. Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, Louis Armstrong and his Band. Not Rated
I Claudius
The BBC award-winning dramatization of Robert Graves’ version of the times of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Claudius told through the dying Claudius (Derek Jacobi) as he sets down the history of his family. Not Rated
Lilies
In this BBC TV production, Iris, May, and Ruby are sisters living in post-WWi Liverpool, struggling through poverty, passions, and profound disappointments. Not Rated
Man From Earth
John Billingsley, William Katt, Ellen Crawford and Tony Todd co-star in this provocative final work by Jerome Bixby, renowned as one of the greatest science-fiction authors of all time. Not Rated
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
A small town tuba player (Gary Cooper) inherits a fortune. When he wants to give it to the needy, a pack of greedy relatives and lawyers attempts to have him declared insane. Not Rated
My Best Friend’s Wedding
When her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) announces he’s getting married, Julianne (Julia Roberts) realizes she loves him, and plots to stop the wedding. Rated PG-13
Night Shift
A wimpy morgue attendant (Henry Winkler) is drawn into the wild schemes of his co-worker (Michael Keaton). The pair turn the morgue into a nighttime brothel. Rated R
Prime Suspect: The Last Witness
In the sixth installment of the series, Tennison (Helen Mirren) is ripe for retirement in the eyes of some, but is still up for a fight, and she’ll need all the energy she can muster when she takes on the British government in search of a sadistic killer with a guilty past. Not Rated
Project Runway: The Complete Third Season
International supermodel Heidi Klum returns as hostess with a glamorous panel of celebrities and fashion icons in search of the next great fashion designer. Rated TV-14
Rome: The Complete First Season
This HBO saga is set during the last years of Julius Caesar’s reign, and centered on two Roman soldiers and their families. Cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kenneth Cranham, Ciaran Hinds. Rated TV-MA
Sabrina
A remake of the classic romance about two wealthy brothers — one a playboy, the other a solid, hard working businessman — who both fall in love with the chauffeur’s daughter. Cast: Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear, John Wood, Nancy Marchand, Richard Crenna, Angie Dickinson, Lauren Holly. Rated PG
The Sacketts
Louis L’Amour’s epic western saga of brothers who blazed a name across the untamed post-Civil War New Mexico frontier. Cast: Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, Glenn Ford, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens. Not Rated
The Simpsons Movie
Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he himself created. Rated PG-13
Smart Travels Europe with Rudy Maxa Switzerland and the Alps, Christmas in Switzerland.
American Public Television’s travel host Rudy Maxa takes a video journey to this beautiful and mountainous country.
The Sopranos: the Complete First Season
HBO’s modern day morality tale about New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfino), as he deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life. Rated TV-MA
Stardust
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. An all star cast features: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro. Rated PG-13
Superbad
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. Rated R
Trading Places
Two wealthy investors pit heredity against environment when they switch the roles of a young preppie floor trader and an uneducated street hustler. Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Jamie Lee Curtis. Rated R
Undeclared: The Complete Series
College life as seen through the eyes of Steven Karp, a freshman determined to reinvent himself at a new school. Not Rated
While You Were Sleeping
A young woman saves the life of a stranger she has fallen in love with from afar and then meets and falls in love with her make-believe lover’s brother. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden. Rated PG
WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete First Season
Join WKRP’s hilarious staff–both on and off the air as they take their floundering station from hard times to hard rock. Not Rated
New DVDs – December 2007
Alias: The Complete Fourth Season
When Sydney (Jennifer Garner) leaves the CIA to join a powerful new Black Ops unit, she has no idea of the reunion in store for her.
Alias: The Complete Fifth Season
Secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) returns to settle the score once and for all.
Amazing Grace
Based on the life of William Wilberforce and his perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century and the people who pushed him to pursue it to the end. Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Ciaran Hinds, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney. Rated PG
Book of Stars
A story about the relationship between two sisters, Mary, a terminally ill but resilient 16-year old and Penny, a jaded ex-poet who doesn’t believe in her sister’s magical vision of life. It’s up to Mary to believe for both of them. Cast: Mary Stuart Masterson, Jena Malone, Karl Geary, D.B. Sweeney, Delroy Lindo. Not Rated
The Bourne Ultimatum
Bourne (Matt Damon) races to discover the final mysteries of his past while a government agent tries to track him down after a shootout in Moscow. Rated PG-13
The Christmas Blessing
A young doctor (Neil Patrick Harris) encounters romance and deals with his past when he returns to his hometown during the holidays. Not Rated
A Christmas Memory
In this adaptation of Truman Capote’s short story, a young boy who was abandoned by his parents is raised by some older unmarried cousins. Cast: Patty Duke, Piper Laurie, Jeffrey Demunn, Anita Gilette, Eric Lloyd. Not Rated
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The widow McDowell and her seven-year-old son Thomas ask the gruff Jonathan Toomey, the best wood-carver in the valley, to carve the figures for a Christmas creche. Not Rated
The Christmas Shoes
A workaholic attorney (Rob Lowe) crosses paths with a young boy on Christmas Eve and rediscovers the true meaning of love, life, and the holiday season. Not Rated
Criminal Minds: The First Season
Join an elite team of FBI profilers as they analyze the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they can strike again. Cast: Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler. Not Rated
Deck the Halls
Two neighbors (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) go to war when one of them decides to decorate his house with so many Christmas lights that they are visible from space. Rated PG
Grey’s Anatomy: Season Three
A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of surgical interns and their supervisors at Seattle Grace Hospital.
Hairspray
A plump teenager girl teaches 1960s Baltimore about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden. Rated PG
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) turns 15, and along with adolescence come changes, including his first major crush. Rated PG-13
Hidden Blessings
A female detective investigates the murder of the wife of a prominent architect. Even though the husband is the prime suspect of this seemingly open and shut case, the detective finds herself hopelessly falling in love with him. Not Rated
High School Musical 2 Extended Edition
During the summer vacations a talent show is organized in a local country club and Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor take part in it. Rated TV G
The House Without a Christmas Tree
A young Nebraskan girl named Addie wants nothing more for the holidays than a Christmas tree. Her bitter, widowed father (Jason Robards) refuses, but slowly learns the spirit of the season. Not Rated
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Two Brooklyn firefighters (Kevin James & Adam Sandler) pretend to be gay so that they can receive domestic partner benefits. Rated PG-13
In the Land of Women
Heartbroken and depressed, Carter (Adam Brody) escapes L.A. to suburban Michigan to care for his sick grandmother. Rated PG-13
J.K. Rowling & the Birth of Harry Potter
This biographical film offers an insight into the author’s “rags to riches” story, exploring Rowling’s meteoric rise to fame as well as the people and places that shaped her as an author. Not Rated
Jack Frost
A dead man’s spirit returns to his family in the form of a snowman. Cast: Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston. Rated PG
Live Free or Die Hard
John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back to take on an Internet-based terrorist organization who is systematically shutting down the United States. Rated PG-13
Lonely Hearts
A murderous couple finds their victims by answering personals ads in the newspaper. Resourceful detectives attempt to track them down. Cast: John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Jared Leto, Salma Hayek, Scott Caan, Alice Krige, Laura Dern. Rated R
Lord of the Flies
Adaptation of William Golding’s novel about a group of English boys who are stranded on an uninhabited island. Without adult control, the boys regress to savagery. Rated R
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Tom Hanks narrates this IMAX film that transports you to the lunar surface, where you can walk alongside the 12 extraordinary astronauts who have been there, experiencing what they saw, heard, and felt. Not Rated
Mr Bean’s Holiday: Disaster is Just a Small Step Away
Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two come back together. Rated PG
Midsomer Murders: Set 9
The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these British mysteries based on the novels of Caroline Graham and originally broadcast on A&E TV. Not Rated
The Namesake
The son of Indian immigrants born in America wants to fit in with fellow New Yorkers, but his family is unwilling to let go of their traditional ways. Based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri. Rated PG-13
Neverwas
A psychiatrist (Aaron Eckhart) leaves an academic career behind to work at an institution where his novelist father lived before writing a renowned children’s book. Acclimating to his position, he befriends a schizophrenic man who helps him discover the book’s secrets. Rated PG-13
Ocean’s Thirteen
Danny Ocean and his band of thieves return, this time teaming up with their old nemesis, Terry Benedict. Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Ellen Barkin, Andy Garcia. Rated PG-13
Pathfinder
A Viking boy is raised by Native Americans and becomes a hero when his tribe fights the Norsemen. Rated R
The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
A demented doctor kidnaps an opera singer so that he can turn her into a mechanical nightingale. Not Rated
Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun-Fat, Geoffrey Rush. Rated PG-13
Pittsburgh
Actor Jeff Goldblum stars in this fly-on-the-wall mockumentary in which he plays himself taking a career hit by playing Harold Hill in a regional theatre production of The Music Man. Not Rated
Planet Earth: the Complete Series
This BBC production presents footage from diverse parts of the earth, showing a variety of creatures in their natural habitats. Narrated by David Attenborough. Not Rated
Ratatouille
In this animated feature, a rodent with a fondness for good food moves to Paris in order to pursue his dream of becoming a great chef. Rated G
Rescue Dawn
Director Werner Herzog’s film about Dieter Dengler, a German pilot (Christian Bale) who joins the U.S. military, fights in Vietnam, and is captured by Vietcong guerillas. Based upon his documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. Rated PG-13
Russian Bride
Natasha finds a new life through an Internet marriage agency, but her dreams are shattered in an abusive household. Rated R
Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Santa (Tim Allen) tries to juggle his family life with stopping Jack Frost, a cold foe who wants to put an end to Christmas. Rated G
The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton
The BBC-TV production based on the life of Isabella Beeton, author of Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management and the most famous cookbook author in British history. Isabella was an accomplished business woman who couldn’t cook but ended up producing the world’s most famous recipe book. Not Rated
Severance
A team-building weekend in the mountains of Eastern Europe goes horribly wrong for the sales division of a multinational arms manufacturer. Rated R
Shrek The Third
King Shrek? Not if he can help it. When his father-in-law dies, Shrek does everything he can to stay out of the castle and stay in the swamp. Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz reprise their roles in this animated feature. Rated PG
Sicko
Filmmaker Michael Moore is back with a comedy about the state of the health care system the U.S. Rated PG-13
Slow Burn
A district attorney (Ray Liotta) is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang leader (LL Cool J) and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney (Jolene Blalock) and a cryptic stranger. Rated R
Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Four men, dressed in identical garb, separate a car from a subway train and demand that New York City pay them one million dollars in ransom. Cast: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo. Rated R
Tara Road
Two women (Andie MacDowell and Brenda Fricker), one American and one Irish, agree to a two-month house exchange in order to find healing and strength through new surroundings and the kindness of others. Rated PG
To Market To Market To Buy a Fat Pig
A celebration of market houses, market places, and farmers’ markets across the United States. Rick Sebak checks out crab cakes in Baltimore’s Lexington market, shops with a chef in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty Farmers’ Market, and more. Not Rated
Transformers
Dueling alien races, the Autobots and the Decepticons, bring their battle to Earth, leaving the future of humankind hanging in the balance. Rated PG-13
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
Set during the Great Depression, a 12-year-old girl is sent to live with her Aunt in the country where she enlists the town’s dogs into a colorful holiday pageant that reminds the inhabitants that even the hard times can’t ruin the magical spirit of Christmas. Rated G
The Up Series
A series of six films that, every seven years, visits fourteen individuals from different parts of England to examine the current state of their lives. The first film shows them at age 7; the sixth revisits twelve of the original at 42 in 1998. Not Rated
Vacancy
A couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) stranded at an isolated motel realize they are in the middle of horror film. Rated R
Waitress
When Jenna, a waitress in a cheery southern diner, discovers that she’s pregnant, she doesn’t exactly jump for joy. Cast: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly, Eddie Jemison, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith. Rated PG-13
The War: A Ken Burns Film
Tells the story of ordinary people in four quintessentially American towns – Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and Luverne, Minnesota – and examines the ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America. Not Rated
You Kill Me
A hit-man (Ben Kingsley) trying to turn his life around gets a job in a mortuary, where he meets a woman who is a relative of one his hits. Rated R