Reviews: DVD

The Queen

Directed by Stephen Frears, starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen

The superlative performance by Helen Mirren stands out in a year rich in thespian accomplishment. She is regally aloof, yet humanly accessible. She embodies the royalty with subtlety and credibility, which explains the turn of events in the immediate aftermath of Princess Diana's death.

The movie is a kind of docudrama that takes us behind the scene for a peep into the inner workings of the British monarchy. It is neither tabloid gossipy, nor tragically hefty, but witty like an Oscar Wilde comedy. Devoid of dramatic outbursts, it is the quiet moments that shine throughout this comedy of royal manners.

The Tony Blair of Michael Sheen is equally convincing whereas the characters of Mrs. Blair and Prince Philip provide comic relief for the tragedy-induced palace drama.

Raymond Zhou

Happy Feet

Directed by George Miller, starring Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams

Most viewers will have a foot-tapping good time watching this cleverly crafted animated feature by the people who also brought us the Babe movies.

On the South Pole, Emperor Penguins each have a unique heart song, which expresses their individuality, however one poor penguin just can't sing. Instead, this fellow can dance like Gene Kelly. Mumbles (Wood) tries to convince the other penguins his feet tapping ability is worthy of respect to no avail. He takes action and kids watching this cartoon caper learn it's OK to be different. On another level there's a strong environmental message, which adds icing to the simple plot.

Robin Williams is hilarious as the Mexican-accented fairy penguin and watch out for a cameo performance by the late Steve Irwin, the Aussie Crocodile Hunter who was killed last year. He plays a sea lion, which guides the nimble-toed hero in the right direction in the same way the movie does for us.

Patrick Whiteley

Scoop

Directed by Woody Allen, staring Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen

An American journalism student (Johansson) scoops a big story in London, and begins an affair with an aristocrat (Jackman) as the incident unfurls.

Some critiques have said this is the funniest of all Woody Allen films, but what makes it a little different from his previous works is a distinct warmth of the garrulous elderly magician (Allen).

Frankly, the other stars do not match up to Allen, either in performance or in his sense of humor. One also expected to see more of the British aristocratic way of life than a party and a small museum of antiques.

However, it's interesting to get an inside look inside the newsroom of the renowned Guardian and see how a top British journalist is eulogized by colleagues.

There is an unpleasant implication about how women reporters get their news. But the subject is treated in such a humorous way that most viewers will just brush it aside.

Liu Jun

(China Daily 02/15/2007 page20)