|
"A SHINE OF RAINBOWS" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) Rated PG Studio: Fox Faith Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Based on the best-selling book by Lillian Beckwith, “A Shine of Rainbows” tells the story of a young Irish boy named Tomás, who is adopted by a loving mother in the 1920s. When she brings him back to live on her beautiful Irish isle, Tomás soon finds it a struggle to warm up to his new father. When tragedy strikes the family, Tomás and his new father must find a way to reconcile.
WHAT I LIKED
I’m not wild about the Fox Faith line of films, I’ll admit. Not that I have a problem with Fox or with faith, but these films tend to be notoriously cheesy and amount to little more than a made-for-TV movie loaded with unnecessary drama.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with “A Shine of Rainbows.” It’s not heavy handed like so many other films like it I’ve seen. In fact, it’s surprisingly uplifting, and it uses some tense drama to do this. The story is sweet and tender, and it’s modestly self-contained. Sure, it deals with some heavy topics and subjects, but it doesn’t beat the viewer over the head with it.
A lot of this is because of the cast, which is quite good in their roles. Connie Nielsen is beautiful, tender and strong in her role as the mother. Aidan Quinn, who tends to crop up in these Irish-centric films regardless of budget, carries the rest of the movie as the reluctant father. Quinn is a strong actor in his own right, but he pulls back on the role, not being too overbearing... just a bit distant. All of this is balanced by John Bell as Tomás, who gives a lot of the energy to the script. The kid has acting chops, and he comes by the emotion of the film honestly.
The DVD sent to me came with a package of tissues branded with “A Shine of Rainbow” marketing, so I was expecting a tear jerker. I didn’t use them, but these might not be a bad thing to have handy for people who like these kinds of films.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I really didn’t have many problems with the film, actually. It’s not perfect, and there are some effects and pacing issues, with the effect problems coming from the symbolic baby seal Tomás finds in the sea. However, this film rises above the made-for-TV feel of so many other titles in this line.
DVD FEATURES
There’s only once special feature, which is “So Many Colours: The Making of A Shine of Rainbows,” but it’s a decent, in-depth look at the film’s production from the ground level. It’s actually a refreshing angle on the behind-the-scenes documentary, compared to the self-love you see on so many DVDs nowadays.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like a good tear-jerker.
|
"SCARECROW AND MRS. KING: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: Warner Bros. Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
In the second season of the hit 80s television series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” Amanda King (Kate Jackson) continues working closely with the CIA, namely with the agent “Scarecrow” (Bruce Boxleitner), who discovered her. As the season rolls on, Scarecrow is presented with many dilemmas that need that special touch of a D.C. housewife that only Amanda King can help with. This season takes the two to bigger and better places, including London and the Caribbean, and Amanda sees some real danger as she’s targeted for a white-slavery ring. And there’s also a chance to see the on-screen couple pretend to be married on a romantic wedding cruise, which was a mighty big deal for fans of the show.
WHAT I LIKED
As I said in my season one review of “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” I wasn’t a watcher of the show when it was on the air in the 80s. However, my wife has been a fan for years. In fact, this is what has given me my inferiority complex to Bruce Boxleitner for years. Damn you, Bruce, and your sexy smile!
After I got past my male strutting to ensure the adoration of my wife, I warmed up to the series. In fact, I warmed up to it a lot. Along with “Remington Steele,” “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” was the quintessential rom com series in the 80s. I pointed out in my season one review that it reminds me a lot of the current spy show “Chuck” on NBC, only more down-to-earth and less geeky.
The key to this show is the chemistry between Jackson and Boxleitner... and the supporting case as well. Kate Jackson is just so charming and sweet in the show. Even though I look at her differently now (as a man nearing 40, I now realize that she was quite a catch at any age), she still exudes the likeability of any of the best TV moms. Mrs. Cunningham might be the top of the heap, but Mrs. King ain’t far behind.
This season shows some bigger production values with location shooting overseas and some more action. This is a result of the show’s popularity, but they never get away from the real heart of the show, which was the relationship between Scarecrow and Mrs. King. In fact, with the wedding episode and others that put the two in a dangerously intimate situation, this film worked the sexual tension perfectly.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
My only problems with this series were elements of 80s television. Now with television series being far more cinematic and slicker, it’s easy to lose sight of what a show like this was. “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” wasn’t trying to be a television version of James Bond. It had that dangerous spy angle, but only in the context of a dime store paperback romance. If you can’t handle that, it’s not something you should watch.
DVD FEATURES
Like the previous season, there are no special features on these discs.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of the series and those who’ll like spy work that fits in a romance novel rather than a Bond film.
|
"HANNAH MONTANA: THE FINAL SEASON" DVD Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars) DVD EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Studio: Disney Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The fourth season of the wildly popular Disney Channel series brings the saga of Hannah Montana to a close. Miley Stewart reveals to the world that she is, indeed, Hannah Montana, and she deals with a backlash of parents and the entertainment press. Additionally, she has to deal with the drama of what she’s going to do after school and stay close to her BFF Lily, as well as how to juggle famous boyfriends. The series comes to a close in the much publicized finale.
WHAT I LIKED
I say to heck with all the Hannah Montana haters out there. This was a darn cute show for its run. It’s from the Disney Channel, after all, which has always produced relatively low-budget pop entertainment for tweens. I’ve enjoyed watching it over the years. Sure, it’s overacted, and it’s cheesy, but it’s a cute, wholesome show for the family to watch.
This final season was handled quite well. In particular, it was refreshing to see the big reveal of who Hannah Montana really is. Were we honestly expecting this to go on forever?
The real-life drama behind “Hannah Montana” spills into the show quite a bit in this final season, giving Miley Cyrus and her dad a chance to vent about the overzealous fans and all the haters out there. This fourth season becomes rather meta, which is something that I do enjoy if it’s not taken too far. Here, they go just far enough, driving home the fact that Miley Cyrus (like her on-screen counterpart) is just a teenage girl and not really an immortal superstar.
Where the first three seasons (and, admittedly, the start of this fourth season) deal mostly with the secret identity issue, which tends to get old, the last half of this season gets interesting. Disney and the Cyruses knew the show was coming to an end, so they were afforded the luxury of wrapping things up, and that was nice. It offered something a little more in terms of story and character, and it was decidedly different from the first three seasons.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Aside from the general foibles of a Disney Channel show (somewhat low-brow writing, cheesy elements and some shots of really bad acting), there’s not a whole lot to dislike from the perspective of a “Hannah Montana” season.
The biggest problems that crept into my thoughts on this season were more of the behind-the-scenes drama we saw played out in the tabloids, with Miley Cyrus toking on a bong (yes, yes, it was legal, but it was still a stupid thing to do) and the divorce of her parents. This turn into the tabloids taints the wholesomeness of the show, and it didn’t help to have Miley Cyrus try to defend herself on “Saturday Night Live,” which came across as pathetic.
But it is a far cry from former Disney star Lindsay Lohan. Miley Cyrus is a teenage girl, after all, and no one ever accused that demographic of being reasonable, rational and restrained. I just hope for her sake, she weathers her post-awkward years and doesn’t end up as the female Leif Garrett of the future.
DVD FEATURES
The special box set of “Hannah Montana: The Final Season” comes with a special 28-page memory booklet featuring a slew of neat things for the fans, including a look back at guest stars, a fold-out fashion spread, cast quotes, a time capsule and a tribute to the blonde Hannah wig.
On the discs, you’ll find an alternate ending to the season finale, cast good-byes and original auditions (which is probably the most entertaining element of the whole shebang).
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Tweens who grew up with the series.
