New DVDs cover a wide variety

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Nov 5, 2004 by Chris Hicks Deseret Morning News

A wide variety of new DVDs have landed on the shelves this week, ranging from 1970 rock performances to an animated adaptation of George Orwell to the singular artistry of Cirque Du Soleil.

-- "Festival Express" (New Line, 2004; R for some language; $24.98, two discs). I saw this unique concert film at the Broadway Centre Theatre downtown just a couple of weeks ago, and here it is on DVD already.

The 90-minute film chronicles the gathering of some seminal '60s rockers -- The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Buddy Guy, Ian & Sylvia, and others, all in their prime -- on a train that travels through Canada, stopping for performance dates. Think "Woodstock" on wheels.

Surviving participants are interviewed, and there's plenty of backstage footage. In fact, perhaps a bit too much, which may make you wish there could be more performance footage. And, of course, this DVD release grants that wish.

Included are more interviews and a music-only track and a photo gallery -- but what makes it worth the price is the inclusion of 10 addition musical performances by many of the principles.

As Sha Na Na sings, "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay"!

Extras: Widescreen, deleted performances, optional music-only tracks, extended interviews, making-of featurette, trailer, photo gallery, subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.

-- "Animal Farm" (HVE, 1954, not rated, 24.95). This British animated feature -- an adaptation of Orwell's allegory about socialism that was intentional "anti-Disney" -- is not for children. But it's a wonderful adaptation, despite the ending being changed. (Hey, it was the 1950s!)

The story has farm animals revolting against their drunken, tyrannical master and taking over the business, and making the farm prosper. Soon, however, the pigs in power, led by arrogant Napoleon, become just as tyrannical as their former master, and they begin changing the rules so they can get ahead while oppressing the other animals.

This is the story that has the famous line, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

There is also a fine half-hour British TV program that explains the history of the film and includes interviews with some of people who made it happen.

Extras: Full frame, audio commentary (by historian Brian Sibley), British TV episode, storyboards, liner notes, optional English subtitles, chapters.

-- "Fire Within: Cirque Du Soleil" (Columbia/TriStar, 2004, not rated, $39.95, three discs). Fans of Cirque Du Soleil will be more than pleased with this TV miniseries that aired on Bravo, a sort of reality program that follows a few new members of the unique Canadian circus troupe, as they become integrated into the rigors of peforming athletically and artistically.

There is humor and heartbreak, as with the best reality shows, except that in this case it involves genuine talent and creativity, in addition to aggressive behavior.

Extras: Widescreen, 13 episodes, reunion special, interviews, promos, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese), chapters.

-- "La Nouba: Cirque Du Soleil" (Columbia/TriStar, 2004, not rated, $28.96, two discs). This one is a show, filmed at a Disney venue, and it includes clowns, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, incredible acts of balance, and it's quite remarkable. One quibble might be that the camera moves around a bit too much, but the show itself is great fun.

Extras: Widescreen, featurettes, interviews, promos, photo gallery, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese), chapters.

-- "Building Big" (WGBH, 2000, not rated, $69.95, five discs). These five shows, hosted by David Macaulay, the author and illustrator of "The Way Things Work," are detailed explorations of each of the subjects -- "Bridges," "Domes," "Skyscrapers," "Dams" and "Tunnels" -- including historical context and explanations of how the biggest and best of each subject were built. Fascinating stuff.

Extras: Widescreen, interactive activity, printable 40-page activity guide, optional English subtitles, chapters.

E-mail: hicks@desnews.com