All-Star Superman

Given the fact that he’s virtually indestructable, not to mention uncorruptable, it’s always been hard for writers to come up with a new and interesting adventure for the Man of Steel. The fact that this DC Universe animated original movie radically reinvents the mythos of Superman in a single 75 minute movie is an outstanding achievement. On top of that, the film perfectly captures the look of the Grant Morrison story it’s based on. Hardcore fans and those who haven’t picked up a comic in decades will both be thrilled.

Leaving

Kristin Scott Thomas is amazing. There are not many actresses who can light up the screen with joy or plunge an audience to despair the way she can; the fact that the English-born actress is doing it all in French boggles the mind. In the movie, she plays a housewife trying to redefine who she is by going back to work as a physical therapist. Her plans for changing her life take a crazy detour when she falls in love wth the burly construction guy hired to work on her new office. The lesson of the film that love really doesn’t conquer all hits like a hammer to the heart.

Jeff Beck: Rock N Roll Party Honoring Les Paul

As a way of paying tribute to one of the most influential guitarists in the world, legendary musican Jeff Beck gathered together a few friends and played a night of rockabilly at the famous Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. The disc gives you an extreme close-up of Beck’s fingers as they glide up and down the fret board making sounds that few other guitarist could ever come close to, but the night only really takes off when the sultry Imelda May gets behind the microphone to sing. Her version of Walking in the Sand will give you goosebumps.

Sweet Smell of Success

More than 50 years after it first hit theaters this movie still cuts like a knife. The acting is superb, particlarly Tony Curtis’ performance as the slimy PR man who is willing to do anything — to anybody — to get his client’s name in the paper. Burt Lancaster matches him beat for beat with his chilling portrayal of a powerful columnist who uses his clout to create and kill careers. From the score to the cinematograhy, it’s a near-perfect movie experience, and there are plenty of extras included to enrich the experience.

Around the World in 80 Days

While it was probably a big budget extravaganza when it was first broadcast on television back in 1989, this mini-series looks pretty dated today. All of he exotic locations that Phileas Fogg and his devoted man-servant, Passepartout travel though all look like they were shot on a Hollywood back-lot, but the fake look of it all somehow grows on you as the hours pass. The same goes for most of the performances. Pierce Brosnan makes for a perfect Fogg, and he has a nice chemistry with Eric Idle, who plays his servant with an absolutely awful French accent. Peter Ustinov is annoying as the detective on Fogg’s heel, and the list of guests stars is hit or miss mix of once- famous celebrities

The Lady Hermit

This kung fu classic from the Shaw Brothers Studio is a departure from their usualmartial arts mayhem because it stars twowomen as the protagonists. that’s both a blessing and a curse. It’s great to see Pei-pei Cheng and Lieh Lo prove that you don’t have to be a guy to kick butt in an action movie, but director Meng Hua Ho is far less successful in proving that a story starring women doesn’t have to have a cheesy romantic subplot to make it ‘feminine.” All is forgiven, however, once the women take their final stand against the bad guys.

Jefferson

A slave owner who wrote the immortal lines in the Declaration of Independence that ‘almen are create equal. A fiscalconservative who was always in debt. A devoted family man who fathered a number of children out of wedlock. It’s clear that Thomas Jefferson wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s scandal hungry world, but, as this intriguing documentary shows, its also clear that he was the perfect man for the his time. Although the story of hislife could have been treated like a Fox News scandal, the presentation in this HistoryChannel special is fair, yet still provocative