Those of us fortunate enough to have attended the theatrical screening of Queen Rock Montreal enjoyed a once in a lifetime thrill. Not only did we did we get to experience the film on the big screen and with big sound, but we also got to view this fantastic concert with hundred of other Queen fans.
Now this film is available on DVD and you can watch it in the comfort of your own home.
Queen put this event on film during a sold out concert at the Montreal Forum, at the height of their popularity in 1981. These were the only concerts ever shot on film by Queen. Since then, the film has been digitally restored and the sound has been newly mixed and mastered.
Freddie Mercury was at his incredible best and the entire band sounds exactly like what they were, the biggest and most popular rock and roll band in the world. And considering how far special effects have come in the years since this concert was shot, it is amazing what the band did with smoke and lights.
Queen performs some of its most popular music in this concert, including We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and We Are The Champions, as well as more than twenty other numbers.
And for those of you who want it all, this DVD also comes in a special edition double DVD, Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid. That's two Queen concerts in one package.
Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who
Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones
Two exiting feature-length films about one of the most influential rock bands in history.
The first film, Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who, is a documentary that follows the rise of The Who from complete obscurity to one of the great bands of the rock era.
The film features all new, never before seen interviews with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and others; rare and recently discovered concert footage; artist profiles; and much more.
The second film, Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones was conceived as a complimentary piece to take the viewer inside the world of rock music and show the forces that drive a rock band to the heights of the music world.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Adam Sandler is at his comedic best as he teams up with Kevin James, in one of the funniest films of the year. The two guys play best friends and fellow firefighters who pretend to be gay and who enter into a domestic partnership in order to ensure that Larry's kids get his pension. Their worlds are turned topsy turvy as they try to convince everyone that they are true partners, in every way possible.
This is another Adam Sandler hit that should not be missed.
Talk To Me
A much overlooked film when it was released theatrically, this is an inspiring and funny movie about an outrageous ex-con who becomes a popular radio personality.
Don Cheadle plays Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, an outspoken, charismatic character who talks his way into becoming a radio disc jockey in 1960s Washington, D.C. Petey actually welcomed controversy and made it the hallmark of his radio career at a volatile time in the history of race relations in the United States. When Martin Luther King is assassinated, the only one who can calm the angry mobs, is Petey Greene.
The film is filled with the soul music of the 60s and provides a vivid reconstruction of the places and of the atmosphere of the times. An excellent film that deserves a much bigger audience than it received when it played the theatre circuit.
Evening
Another film that under performed in the theatres and which will now find a larger and more appreciative audience on DVD.
This film looks at the secrets that women carry to their death beds, some of which even their daughters may never learn about.
In this case, Ann Grant, played by Vanessa Redgrave, calls out the name of a man her daughters have never heard about. Ann is dying, and in her delirium, she dreams about her first true lover and calls out his name. Her daughters, (Toni Collette and Natasha Richardson) try to figure out who their mother is talking about. It is only when Ann's close friend arrives (played by Meryl Streep) that the girls finally get a glimpse of what their mother had experienced more than fifty years before.
This is a touching drama sure to become a DVD favourite for many women.
You Kill Me
This is a small film that brings big dividends to viewers. This is a funny, poignant story about the mob that features powerful performances by Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni and Luke Wilson.
Kingsley plays a mob hit man with a drinking problem. When he sleeps through a hit, his boss sends him to San Francisco to clean himself up. There he winds up working at a mortuary and meets a number of unusual characters.
The results are often funny and absurd, but they make for some wonderful entertainment.
Fantastic 4: Rose of the Silver Surfer
This sequel to the original Fantastic Four is a much better and more entertaining film than the original. This time, the superhero team, The Fantastic Four, meets its greatest challenge, the Silver Surfer, who races around the globe wreaking havoc.
Not only does the Fantastic Four have the Silver Surfer to worry about, but Dr. Doom returns and creates his own set of challenges to the team.
Great special effects and terrific action scenes, this film will bring lots of fun and excitement to the millions of Fantastic 4 fans.
Away From Her
Great first feature film by director Sarah Polley and the highest grossing English language Canadian film of the year. Based on the Alice Munro short story, The Bear Came Over The Mountain, Away From Her tells the story of a man who must place his wife of nearly 50 years in a nursing home after she develops Alzheimer's disease.
Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent give outstanding performances as the wife who develops the illness and as the loving husband who suffers almost as much as his wife when he has to institutionalize her. This is a beautifully nuanced love story.
Turn Left At The End Of The World
One of the top grossing films in Israeli history finally makes it onto DVD.
Set in a remote area in the desert, the film shows life in an economically deprived area of the country and focuses on the relationships between the different ethnic groups inhabiting the town. Moroccan Jews come into contact with a group of East Indian Jews and cultures and attitudes clash. Add to this mix a coming of age story, and we have all the ingredients for comedy and drama of the first order.
(Hebrew with English subtitles.)
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997
Eagle Rock Entertainment keeps releasing some seminal performances by great American musicians. In this case, it is Ray Charles, one of the true pioneers of soul music. This concert was filmed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1997 and features Charles and his orchestra and the Raelettes. The 13 music tracks include Georgia On My Mind, I Can't Stop Loving You and What'd I Say.
Tina Turner: Celebrate
Tina Turner celebrates her 60th birthday with this explosive 1999 concert. She performs a mix of material from throughout her career, including songs from her days with Ike Turner, and selections from her resurgence in the 1980s. 15 tracks that include River Deep Mountain High, What's Love Got To Do With It, and two duets with Bryan Adams.
Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Paul Mann
The classic and very popular rock band recorded this concert at the famed Royal Albert Hall in London, England in a two-hour, 13-track performance with heavy emphasis on improvisation. This is a great DVD that Deep Purple fans will have to add to their collection.
Elton John: Someone Like Me
This all new documentary goes behind the glitter to delve into the life of music icon, Elton John. This film covers Elton's life from a chubby, self-conscious school boy to the heights of being knighted by the Queen. Filled with interviews by friends and foes alike, the film gives us the most compelling and informative look at one of the unique performers of rock and roll the world has ever seen.
