News: BBC America Wishes You an Even Happier Holiday Season with Shopping Sprees, Surprises and Specials

From Doctor Who and Torchwood to Mistresses and Gavin and Stacey to Fawlty Towers and The Mighty Boosh, BBC America has consistently delivered the best in British Entertainment both on its popular channel and beloved home entertainment releases available online.

Whether first giving the US a taste for shows we would later adapt like The Office, Coupling, Life on Mars and many others, or inspiring Danny Boyle to cast an actor on Skins for the Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire or unleashing Sandra Bullock's inner auto enthusiast with their popular Top Gear, we've always looked to the BBC for the cutting edge in TV programming.

And with the unbelievable hits including the recent Boosh, which lit up Stella McCartney's store for the holidays after taking America by storm this past summer along with Torchwood's stunner Children of Earth, BBC America's Shop has become a fan favorite for stellar gifts.

In addition to offering free shipping on orders over one hundred dollars, the store is giving you the opportunity to win a $1,000 shopping spree of its online store. Yet keeping in mind the holiday spirit, the gift certificates will be delivered in a pair so that you and that special someone in your life will receive $500 each to enjoy the best the BBC has on DVD/Blu-ray or in a variety of one-of-a-kind gifts.

Enter today to win a $500 Gift Certificate for you and a friend!

Buy your favorite BBC Sci-Fi DVDs, including Doctor Who, today!

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com

Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

Music DVD Review: Christmas with the King Family (2009)

Now Available to Own

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Listen to The First Family of Song

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With the holidays upon us, it's a given that we will soon be inundated with photo cards of loved ones near and far, usually dressed up in some variation of either Christmas versions of vivid Cosby Show style sweaters or matching color schemes to rival that of a sports team. And these annual mementos arriving in our mailbox each and every year have become a favored tradition that allows us to witness the passage of time as appearances change, new faces enter the picture as the years go by.

Yet, instead of leaving us with simply a thin stack of seasonal snapshots, for two decades (the '60s and '70s respectively) America's First Family of Song provided us with seventeen television specials including twelve holiday specific programs that brought those photographs musically to life. Long before video cameras became a staple of family celebrations from the '80s onward and we embraced the idea of family sing-alongs (or sync-alongs) complete with matching apparel or their infamous sweaters as witnessed on The Cosby Show, the King Family gave us the real thing.

Although they also starred in specials which focused on other holidays and/or seasons, it was their distinctly authentic family themed Christmas creations filmed in October but aired closer to the date during those two decades that really set them apart. And garnering an audience in the '60s and '70s was no small feat, when you consider that it was essentially an era of variety shows ranging from Carol Burnett to Laugh In to extraordinarily lavish musical specials featuring stars like Mitzi Gaynor, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and others.

However, the four original Grammy nominated beloved King Sisters transferred their background performing in the recording studio as a Big Band sensation and in their appearances in Hollywood films to the silver screen with a very unique twist on TV's new variety special craze. Rather than fill their hour long programs with celebrity guest stars singing their latest chart toppers or tying in appearances with an upcoming feature film, the King Sisters chose a more natural approach.

Reasoning that it's how they would be spending the holidays anyway since the Kings always emphasized the importance of learning an instrument from childhood up through adulthood and music was a very real part of their conversation with one another, the King Sisters opted to build a show around their entire family.

While the family freely admits in this fascinating documentary that some have labeled the specials “corny,” there was nothing phony about the Kings themselves. Instead of annual televised family reunions nor the type of insensitive reality show gimmicks we see employed on television today, within just a few notes contained in this informative documentary you intuitively sense their true enjoyment and love for one another.

This being said, when you discover that the Kings young enough to be in school had to work eight additional hours every day for rehearsal after their classes finished, the succinct but revealing comment that the teen members in the special have come to appreciate their involvement more with age seems very understandable.

Just as in the classic programs, which found the extended family children broken up into two distinct age groups of the adorable, unaffected King Kids and the tight-knit King Cousins who reveal that they were together so much they feel closer to siblings, in the documentary they're largely interviewed in groups by age.

And throughout this extremely well-edited documentary accompanied by a wonderful full length special that recently aired on PBS from the producers of last year's similarly themed classic TV celebration of Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle, the Kings are introduced to another generation to celebrate the 45th anniversary of their original TV appearance.

Bound by their love of one another as well as the groundbreaking musical experimentation they created in the spirit of the original King Sisters who were pioneers of four-part harmony, singing in rounds, and their Uncle Alvino Rey's magical sounding guitar, it's fascinating to see the footage of twenty-five to roughly forty relatives in the vintage footage through their eyes today.

Although I realized that I'd been mildly acquainted with the Kings as the Sisters appeared in a recent Esther Williams film I reviewed for a Turner Classic Movies/Warner Brothers set as well as being unknowingly familiar with the King musical legacy via their relatives who have formed the successful, critically acclaimed indie rock band Arcade Fire, I welcomed the opportunity to learn more.

Additionally I appreciated their gorgeous harmonies which hearkened to a Pet Sounds era Beach Boys and the fact that like the Boys or a modern day example or Rufus and Martha Wainwright, when relatives sing together, the result is harmonious magic. Yet more than that, I was also incredibly moved by what has easily become the family's most cherished memory of the 1967 special.

A standout in the documentary that's sure to drive you to tissues, luckily the “reunion” moment is again repeated to powerful emotional effect without the narrative interruption in the extra feature on the DVD. In this unforgettable segment, we witness the heartrending surprise of their Aunt Alyce who was unexpectedly greeted with the return of her Vietnam veteran son Ric during her tearful rendition of “I'll Be Home for Christmas” that she'd been singing to his framed photograph.

Similar to the family's adherence to the idea that not only did they avoid egos and the fears of upstaging one another with their gorgeous harmonies, it's immediately evident that not only did their sound benefit by singing together but that their relationship did as well. Moreover, it grew stronger with each successive note, song, or special with their unique legacy of a very rare version of a Christmas card shared by the Kings with audiences who kept tuning in year after year.

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com
Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

Music DVD Review: Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows: The Classic Performances

Now Available to Own on DVD

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Although originally he'd vowed never to invite the man he would eventually describe as a "decent and fine boy" on his popular television show-- when rival host Steve Allen beat Ed Sullivan's ratings with the debut appearance of Elvis Presley on Allen's variety series-- eventually Ed Sullivan caved.

And sure enough the paperwork was completed in the summer of 1956 as Sullivan signed Presley to the tune of fifty thousand dollars to appear for three exclusive performances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

However, tragically a horrific head-on collision found Sullivan ordered to miss five weeks of hosting duties as friends filled in guest-hosting the show while he was convalescing following the car crash. Sadly, much to his disappointment-- (and regardless of the fact that he'd be there for the subsequent two appearances)-- ultimately the host ended up making television history as one of more than 72 million viewers who tuned in when Charles Laughton introduced the the young and relatively new singer to the world.

Seeing the shy, polite Southern country boy in his record-breaking premiere on September 9, 1956 make this newly released DVD that much more compelling since it offers us a chance to look back at the icon before he went into the army and met the teenager who later became his wife, before he went Hollywood and long before the pressures of being "The King" began to affect him.

Likewise, it's a fascinating opportunity to witness the way that Elvis Presley began working on his stage persona. Since, even when delivering a hit like "Love Me" where he appears to forget the words twice and/or gets lost in the crowd we can hear him experiment with different vocal approaches including some that would become his signature and others that as a fan of the music, I had never heard before.

Additionally you must bear in mind that this was during the controversial era of religious outcry over Elvis and the music he sang. For on the DVD, it's quickly visible that every so often he becomes overwhelmed by the magnitude of the experience given what sounds like a few slurred words, melodic mix-ups (wherein he puts a finger to his ear to adjust his tone) and a strange stab at a humorous ironic lead in to "Hound Dog" as a sad song that baffles even his band.

However, the little quirks make him that much more endearing as viewers simply couldn't care less. Moreover, even now in 2009, it's easy to be utterly drawn in by what is arguably the greatest entertainer of all time performing for millions in his prime. Beautiful, nervous, and consciously provocative with the abundance of hip gyrations-- even though Sullivan's studio gave him a dull music note background, your eyes only focus directly on the man himself.

And fortunately, Presley's confidence in front of a live television audience would increase with not just their ecstatic screams but each successive appearance-- whether he was actively helping to support the Hungarian relief effort for which he performs a moving rendition of "Peace in the Valley" or celebrating his [then] biggest record with rocking performance of "Don't Be Cruel."

Indeed, by the time the third appearance of Presley's occurred, he was so relaxed that the hip thrusts had gotten him in trouble to the point wherein the undeniably soulful, sexy singer was filmed from the waist up to avoid public outcry.

While a majority of entertainers today would've taken that as their cue to try and shock even more as the mainstream media seems to prefer behavior that can be considered salacious over actual substance, Presley was unflappable under what must have been the most appalling scrutiny and judgment. Instead, filled with kindness-- after of course, letting it rip in his usual level of rock 'n roll-- when Presley took Sullivan's stage during the holiday season, he addressed his viewers as "friends," politely thanking them in a way that seemed both genuine and truly humble.

Given the age of the footage, it's not the cleanest presentation imaginable with visible dirt and grain but it's a true find to see the Sullivan appearances back to back to back. And while on paper in the press release or on the back of the box, the bonus features seem as though they're going to offer some truly mind-blowing footage for devotees of the King to accompany the forty-seven minute disc, unfortunately the promos for the appearances are extremely dull, the remembrance interview footage is dated and the special moments and home movies feel very familiar.

However, the one very brief treasure included on the disc is the very first recorded video footage of Presley. Captured near Houston, Texas by a young couple testing out their brand new 8mm video camera-- the historical artifact presents us with the man before he'd been discovered let alone signed by Colonel Tom Parker. Featuring an upbeat and impossibly young, casual looking Elvis Presley performing at a local, disorganized outdoor gig-- it's the one extra that you should jump to before the rest in this slight yet otherwise fan-friendly DVD.

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com
Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

New on DVD & Blu-ray for the Week of 8/16/09

Jen's Video Picks of the Week

For the Art-House Collectors



(Note: All of the Above I Have Yet to See but They're of Particular Interest)

For the Kids



(Note: I've only caught Donald & last season's iCarly but felt LeapFrog was appropriate for Back-to-School)

For TV Lovers: Guilty Pleasures Edition

(Notes: Devoured the GG set which is gorgeous and loaded with extras-- nearly Blu-ray quality but have yet to review. DSM was a series I truly enjoyed yet missed the final episodes of following ABC's cancellation)

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Adventures of TinTin



The Beast: Season One



Big Windup: Part 1 (Episodes 1-13)



Bleach, Vol. 19



Bridge to Nowhere



Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, Part 1



Dexter: Season 3



Diary of a Nobody



Dirty Sexy Money:
The Complete Second & Final Season



Donald in Mathmagic Land



Eli Stone: Season 2



Everybody Hates Chris: The Final Season



Final Destination: Trilogy



Five Deadly Venoms (Dragon Dynasty Collection)



The Garden



Ghost Adventures: Season One



Go [Blu-ray]



The Golden Boys



Gossip Girl: Season 2



Greek: Chapter 3



Gunslinger Girl 2: Il Teatrino--The Complete Series



Hack//G.U. Trilogy



Hannah Montana: The Movie



The Helen West Casebook



How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Deluxe Edition



Husbands



iCarly: Season 2, Volume 1



Icons of SciFi: Toho Collection



Inglorious Bastards 2: Hell Heroes



Julia



Kagemusha (Criterion Collection Blu-ray)



The Last House on the Left



The Last Starfighter



LeapFrog: Let’s Go to School



Man vs Wild: Season Three



Minnesota Vikings: Five Greatest Games



Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!?



Pete's Dragon: High Flying Edition



Playtime (Criterion Collection Blu-ray)



Ride a Wild Pony



Simon and Simon: Season 3



The Simpsons: Season 12



The Smurfs: Smurfy Tales



Sons of Anarchy: Season 1



The Strangeness



Surveillance



Swan Princess



These Old Broads



Total Drama Island: The Complete Series



True Tears



Tyson



UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida



Visions of Britain and Ireland [Blu-ray]



Visions of Italy [Blu-ray]



The Wedding Bros.



Wyvern