The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition)

The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition) Review

This visual and musical masterpiece features Yul Brynner's Academy Award(r) winning performance, an inforgettable Rodgers and Hammerstein(r) score, and brilliant choreography by Jerome Robbins. It tells the true story of an Englishwoman, Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), who comes o Siam as schoolteacher to the royal court in the 1860's. Though she soon finds herself at odds with the stubborn monarch (Brynner), over time, Anna and the King stop trying to change each other and begin to understand one another.

High School Musical, The Concert - Extreme Access Pass

High School Musical, The Concert - Extreme Access Pass Review

High School Musical, The Concert - Extreme Access Pass Feature

• Be a part of an incredible concert as the worldwide phenomenon goes extreme! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE CONCERT invites you behind the scenes and puts you in the middle of the action with a spectacular "Extreme Access Pass." Step out of the audience and jump on stage with Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Drew Seeley and more of the cast of the award-winning hit

To bridge the gap between the smash hit Disney Channel original movie and its 2007 sequel, the cast of High School Musical embarked on a North American tour in 2006-2007. If you missed out on the experience of hearing thousands of screaming tween-age kids (probably 80% girls), never fear: the concert is now on DVD. The almost-complete cast comes out to perform every number from the movie, plus numbers by Vanessa Hudgens ("Say OK"), Corbin Bleu ("Push It to the Limit," "Marchin'"), and Ashley Tisdale ("We'll Be Together"), all promoting their solo albums. It's not a stage version of the movie--while there's choreography and video clips, the songs aren't performed in order and there's no plot explanation. And at 56 minutes, the DVD is a bit shorter than the actual concert was (missing some solo numbers and stage banter). But the kids put out tons of energy and continually thank their fans. Also on hand are Lucas Grabeel, who serves as MC, and Monique Coleman. The only principal absent is Zac Efron (who was filming Hairspray), but Drew Seeley (who cowrote "Get'cha Head in the Game" and reportedly dubbed Efron in the movie) does a good job filling in. DVD bonus features include four songs from the opening set by Jordan Pruitt, a nine-minute making-of featurette, an option to choose camera angles, and a half-minute peek at High School Musical 2. --David Horiuchi High School Musical has swept the world with its great songs, fabulous production, and positive role models. Now the TV phenomenon is hitting the road with High School Musical on tour! Most of the television stars will be a part of the cast, including Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman, with Drew Seeley (who wrote "Get’cha Head in the Game") taking the part played by Zac Efron on TV.

High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition)

High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition) Review

High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition) Feature

• It's time to sing and dance because there's so much more to celebrate in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2: EXTENDED EDITION. Experience the movie in a whole new way with a never-before-seen music sequence and rehearsal footage, plus sing lead vocals with High School Karaoke. The East High Wildcats are gearing up for big fun as they land the coolest summer jobs imaginable. Troy (Zac Efron), Gabriella

What time is it? Time for High School Musical 2, the sequel to the Disney Channel smash that aired on Aug. 17, 2007 and became the most-watched basic-cable show ever. School is out, and Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) are looking forward to a summer to remember, but Troy also needs to make bank so he can go to college. As it turns out, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), the self-proclaimed primo girl of East High, has her eye set on primo-boy Troy, and gets him a job at the country club her parents own. It looks great for Troy when Gabriella and the rest of the Wildcats are hired also, but when he gets preferential treatment from the club manager (Mark Taylor) and others, it puts all of his relationships in hot water.

Everyone's back from the original movie, including Zac's buddy Chad (Corbin Bleu), Sharpay's brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Gabriella's friend Taylor (Monique Coleman). And the songs on the hit soundtrack often parallel the originals and are just as catchy: the Troy-Gabriella duet ("You Are the Music in Me," which is later Sharpay-ized into a rock version), the sports-flavored hip-hop number ("I Don't Dance," but this time on the baseball diamond instead of the basketball court), the Gabriella lament ("Gotta Go My Own Way"), the climactic stage duet ("Everyday"), and the mass-ensemble closer ("All for One"). But the sequel doesn't just stick to the status quo. Other songs include a flashy opener ("What Time Is It"), Sharpay's poolside feature ("Fabulous"), a percussive ensemble number ("Work This Out"), and Zac's solo ("Bet On It"), and the dances are even bigger this time around, relentlessly high-energy and often spectacular. In addition, the "let's put on a show" angle ! is only a subplot and the romance is now front and center--which means High School Musical has lost a bit of its innocence. But it's still wholesome viewing for tweens of all ages. Sharp-eyed Disney Channel fans will spot Miley "Hannah Montana" Cyrus as an extra. --David Horiuchi

On the DVD
The extended-edition DVD adds one new scene, in which Sharpay and Ryan perform the Hawaiian-themed "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a," which not only is fun but adds a bit of character development for Ryan. This number (which was on the CD as a bonus track) is incorporated into the movie and also accessible from the bonus-features menu, along with a four-minute blooper reel and music videos for "You Are the Music in Me" (one U.S. version and a Mexican version with Paulina Holguin and Roger) and "Gotta Go My Own Way (Canadian versions in French and English, both with Nikki Yanofsky). A "dance rehearsal cam" shows the choreographers and cast working on nine numbers (36 minutes total). Director-choreographer Kenny Ortega coaches, offers pep talk, and declares, "If it wasn't for Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, we wouldn't be here!" There are two sing-along options, one with English subtitles and a "karaoke" version with English subtitles but no vocals. --David Horiuchi

Beyond High School Musical 2

Our High School Musical Headquarters	High School Musical 2 on Blu-ray	High School Musical 2 soundtrack
High School Musical	High School Musical (Remix Edition)	High School Musical, The Concert: Extreme Access Pass

Schools out and Troy, his teammates, and Gabrielle all get jobs at a country club for the summer. Sharpay s father runs the club so she is used to getting her way around there. Sharpay is determined to win the club s summer talent show, an event she has dominated for the last six years. She thinks getting Troy to perform with her will cinch the win, so she dumps Ryan as her partner and schemes to get Troy away from Gabriella so she can perform with him.

Sesame Street Presents Elmo's Musical Adventures - Peter & The Wolf

Sesame Street Presents Elmo's Musical Adventures - Peter & The Wolf Review

Elmo and all your favorite Sesame Street characters get together to show how music and imagination can tell a story in this delightful Sesame Street special! Watch special guest stars Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra, along with Elmo and your Sesame Street friends, tell the musical story of Prokofiev's children's classic "Peter and the Wolf."

1776 (Restored Director's Cut)

1776 (Restored Director's Cut) Review

1776 (Restored Director's Cut) Feature

• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• Anamorphic; Closed-captioned; Color; Director's Cut; Dolby; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC

The hit Broadway musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards became the basis for this 1972 film about America's first congress and the nation's declaration of independence from Britain. Most of the original cast members are aboard, including William Daniels as John Adams. The film is a little stodgy and moves stiffly from scene to scene--the adaptation to the screen is not a smooth success. But it is nonetheless captivating, considering that so few films have dealt directly with America's birth. Directed by Peter H. Hunt. --Tom Keogh You'll be seeing stars and stripes as the most fascinating leaders in American history come to life in 1776, a musical about the birth of a nation! With the Boston Harbor still stained from over-taxed British tea, a revolution is brewing in the colonies! And now England has thousands of troops headed for America's shores to squelch her subjects' freedom-loving spirit! It's up to John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to convince a stubborn congress of British colonists to unite as American patriots turn the inevitable war with England into a Declaration of Independence!

The Sound of Music (45th Anniversary Edition) (Two-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo in DVD Packaging)

The Sound of Music (45th Anniversary Edition) (Two-Disc DVD/Blu-ray Combo in DVD Packaging) Review

Experience the world's most beloved family film as never before with this three-disc 45th Anniversary Edition of Rodgers & Hammerstein's® The Sound of Music, winner of five 1965 ACADEMY AWARDS®, including Best Picture!

In this true-life story, Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves the convent to bring love and music to the home of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) and his seven children.

The GiggleBellies Musical Adventures Volume #2

The GiggleBellies Musical Adventures Volume #2 Review

The GiggleBellies Musical Adventures Volume #2 Feature

• 13 fully animated songs
• Downloadable coloring pages
• Downloadable fully illustrated lyrics sheets
• Downloadable mp3 songs
• Approximately 30 minute runtime *Region 0 *NTSC

The creators of the multi-award winning DVD "The GiggleBellies Musical Adventures" are excited to bring more giggles and wiggles into your homes. Engaging animation that combines colorful whimsical worlds, endearing characters, and fun upbeat music that parents can enjoy too! Enjoy unique twists to beloved traditional children's songs and hum along to original GiggleBellie tunes. This fully 3D animated musical DVD will keep your toes tapping and everyone can join the fun by singing and dancing along. DVD Features: The entire DVD is approximately 30 minutes and includes 13 fully animated songs including: *Down By The Bay *Busy Bumble Bee *Head Shoulders Knees & Toes *Colors Of The Rainbow *If You're Happy & You Know It *Itsy Bisty Spider *The Really Cool Space Team *Mr. Sun *Working On The Railroad *Bucky *Eat 'Em All Up *All The Little Raindrops *Fly Away With Me Downloadable Bonus Freebies (You need a computer with a DVD drive to access these bonus features): *10 coloring pages *13 Fully illustrated lyric sheets *Create your own music CD with mp3s of all the songs! -Approximately 30 minute runtime *Region 0 *NTSC

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: American Musicals (The Band Wagon / Meet Me in St. Louis / Singin' in the Rain / Easter Parade)

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: American Musicals (The Band Wagon / Meet Me in St. Louis / Singin' in the Rain / Easter Parade) Review

EASTER PARADE Strolling along 5th Avenue or bumming around as A Couple of Swells, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire lead a parade of music (17 Irving Berlin tunes and an Academy Award-winning adaptation score) and gotta-dance fun in this neverending delight co-starring Ann Miller and Peter Lawford. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS She's in love with the boy next door. And movie fans are forever in love with her Judy Garland in a nostalgia and humor-filled tale of life with the Smith family in 1903 St. Louis. Songs include The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. SINGIN IN THE RAIN Considered by many to be the greatest movie musical ever! Silent movies are giving way to the advent of sound and a Hollywood matinee idol (Gene Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his buddy (Donald O'Connor), prospective sweetheart (Debbie Reynolds) and vocally-challenged co-star (Jean Hagen). THE BAND WAGON Fred Astaire dazzles in a train station (By Myself), a penny arcade (A Shine on Your Shoes), a back-lot Central Park (Dancing in the Dark) and a smoky café (Girl Hunt), the latter two with incomparable Cyd Charisse. Nanette Fabray, Jack Buchanan and Oscar Levant co-star, and as the movies hallmark song goes, That's Entertainment!

Scooby Doo! Music of the Vampire

Scooby Doo! Music of the Vampire Review

When Daphne becomes the star of a vampire film, the production is thrown into chaos by a real vampire, forcing the Scooby-Doo team to investigate who's behind this monstrous mayhem.

Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition)

Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) Review

Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) Feature

• Condition: Used, Very Good
• Format: DVD
• Full Screen; Color; Dolby; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC

Riding the strange '50s nostalgia wave that swept through America during the late 1970s (caused by TV shows like Happy Days and films like American Graffiti), Grease became not only the word in 1978, but also a box-office smash and a cultural phenomenon. Twenty years later, this entertaining film adaptation of the Broadway musical received another successful theatrical release, which included visual remastering and a shiny new Dolby soundtrack. While this 2002 DVD release contains retrospective interviews with the cast and director Randal Kleiser, it's unfortunately full screen. As a result, the widescreen dance numbers are instead panned and scanned, destroying the symmetrical, lively choreography. A widescreen version is also available and is highly recommended because without the vibrant colors, unforgettably campy and catchy tunes (like "Greased Lightning," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want"), and fabulously choreographed, widescreen musical numbers, the film has to rely on a silly, cliché-filled plot that we've seen hundreds of times. As it is, the episodic story about the romantic dilemmas experienced by a group of graduating high school seniors remains fresh, fun, and incredibly imaginative.

The young, animated cast also deserves a lot of credit, bringing chemistry and energy to otherwise bland material. John Travolta, straight from his success in Saturday Night Fever, knows his sexual star power and struts, swaggers, sings, and dances appropriately, while Olivia Newton-John's portrayal of virgin innocence is the only decent acting she's ever done. And then there's Stockard Channing, spouting sexual double-entendres as Rizzo, the bitchy, raunchy leader of the Pink Ladies, who steals the film from both of its stars. Ignore the sequel at all costs. --Dave McCoy

John Travolta solidified his position as the most versatile and magnetic screen presence of the decade in this film version of the smash hit play Grease. Recording star Olivia Newton-John made her American film debut as Sandy, Travolta's naive love interest. The impressive supporting cast reads like a "who's who" in this quintessential musical about the fabulous '50s. Grease is not just a nostalgic look at a simpler decade--it's an energetic and exciting musical homage to the age of rock 'n' roll!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Feature

• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• Color; Dolby; DVD; Letterboxed; Widescreen; DTS Surround Sound; NTSC

Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Joseph certainly isn't revolutionary musical theater, but if you view it as a kids' show, it's a silly good time (though there are poignant moments too). Parents should note, however, that this production might warrant a little discretion due to one suggestive scene and some risqué costumes. --David Horiuchi A humourous musical retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 4-MAR-2003
Media Type: DVD