MBR: The Library DVD Shelf
 

The Library DVD Shelf

Horatio Hornblower: Collector's Edition
A&E Videos
c/o A&E Television Networks
235 East 45th Street New York , NY 10017
DVD, 1422915239, $59.95 www (dot) aetv (dot) com

The entire swash-buckling film series appears on 8 DVDs in this
collector's edition of HORATIO HORNBLOWER, following the sailor from
midshipman to commander and offering many high-seas adventures. In
having all eight films connected in one DVD package, viewers enjoy an
unbroken series in this Emmy-winning adaptation of the classic novels
of C.S. Forester. Also included in the DVD presentation: an interview
with star Ioan Gruffudd, filmmaker commentary, 3 bonus related sailing
programs and an expose on the making of Hornblower, and more
information on both the novels and the films they inspired. DVD
libraries will find it a top pick.

Stay Rich Forever & Ever with Ed Slott
WGBH Boston Video
SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781593758844, $24.95 www (dot) ssapr (dot) com

Stay Rich Forever & Ever with Ed Slott is a special edition DVD based
on the popular, public television show hosted by CPA Ed Slott. In
today's era, corporate pensions are going the way of the dinosaur,
social security is troubled, and the baby boomer generation is
reaching retirement. How is one to protect one's retirement savings,
especially when Uncle Sam is eager to take up to 70% of them for
himself? Ed Slott walks to the viewer through how to protect one's
money from excess taxation, how to take advantage of laws enacted to
protect one's tax-deferred savings, and more. The special edition
includes an overwhelming amount of bonus content, such as ten
questions to ask one's financial advisor, ten potential fiscal
disasters to avoid, question-and-answer sessions, and much more. An
absolute must-see for all Americans, especially in today's economic
climate! 54 minutes plus 2 hours of bonus material.

Bayview Entertainment
pr@bayviewent (dot) com
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www (dot) 411videoinfo (dot) com www (dot) bayviewentertainment (dot)
com

Two cardio kickboxing DVDs hosted by ACE certified fitness expert and
black belt martial artist Lynn Hahn make for a vigorous addition to
workout DVD libraries. Punch & Firm: Cardio Kickboxing ($19.99, 62
min.) is filled with user-friendly, martial arts stances designed
especially to build upper body strength, overall agility, and fitness.
Two user-friendly workouts that can be done individually or together
comprise Punch and Firm, which can be enjoyed by any fitness
enthusiast regardless of personal familiarity with the art of
kickboxing. In Kick: Cardio Kickboxing ($19.99, 61 min.) the two
workouts one can follow consist of kicking drills and original
combinations designed to keep one moving. Applying traditional methods
in a format designed to be challenging, but presented with the help of
a monitor for anyone who needs the intensity toned down a bit, Kick:
Cardio Kickboxing is a high-impact experience sure to put fitness
buffs in high spirits!

Yoga to Have Fun
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www (dot) 411videoinfo (dot) com www (dot) yogatohavefun (dot) com

Two DVDs introduce people of all ages and experience levels to the joy
and health benefits of Yoga. In Yoga for Families ($19.95, 31 min.),
Yoga to the Stars instructors Ingrid Von Burg and Tom Morley host a
family-friendly instructional video suitable for viewers of all ages
from four to one hundred and four. Filled with laughing, jumping,
dancing, and singing, Yoga for Families offers a choice of music in
its dynamic sections: relaxing/meditative or high energy/silly. Shot
in hi-definition in Cancun, Mexico, Yoga for Families consists of a
warm-up routine, a "karate warrior" dynamic, a "cookie jar crunch"
dynamic, breathing and relaxation sections, and namaste (closing
poses). A great way to spend family time together engaged in healthy
activity. In Yoga for Grandparents ($19.95, 40 min.) Ingrid Von Burg
and Yves Vacheresse walk viewers through a yoga routine designed
especially to cultivate flexbility, fitness, and calm in seniors. The
dynamic track sections have a choice of music between contemplative/
meditative or instructional/traditional. Filmed in hi-definition
overlooking the majestic Santa Monica Mountains, Yoga for Grandparents
includes the section for warming up, dynamic, a focus on breathing and
relaxation, and namaste (closing poses). A wonderful, easy-to-follow
introduction that is deliberately gentle on one's body and bones, Yoga
for Grandparents is the perfect gift for elderly relatives who enjoy
the benefits of physical activity. Both DVDs are excellent additions
to public library or family fitness collections.

Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years
MVD Entertainment Group
H-840 North Circle Drive, Oaks, PA 19456
DVD, $14.95 www (dot) MVDb2b (dot) com

Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years is a DVD offering an inside perspective
of how Bob Dylan, a Jewish folk singer from the Midwest, came to
embrace Jesus Christ and Christianity. Passionate for his new faith,
Dylan made three Gospel albums, and won a Grammy for "Gotta Serve
Somebody". Yet the Christian direction of his music alienated fans and
sparked the ire of critics, especially when he preached apocalyptic
passages from the "Book of Revelation." Telling the story of Bob
Dylan's transformation through interviews with notable figures ranging
from "Slow Train Coming" producer Jerry Wexler to background singer
Regina McCrary to San Francisco Chronicle rock reporter Joel Selven
and many more, Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years includes rare photos,
exclusive live concert footage from 1978-1981, and an interview from
1981 in which Bob Dylan himself speaks of the impact Jesus Christ had
on his art and soul. Bonus features include full soundtrack MP3s!
Highly recommended especially for Bob Dylan fans who wish to better
understand and appreciate this turning point in his life's work. 120
minutes.

Lascaux: A New Look
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
9781562905507 www (dot) crystalproductions (dot) com 1-800-255-8629

Lascaux: A New Look is a DVD visit to the ancient Lascaux cave hosting
paintings that are evidence of the emergence of Home sapiens sapiens,
modern man, roughly 35,000 years ago. Breaking away from familiar
interpretations of these early artworks, Lascaux: A New Look examines
four pivotal questions about the cave paintings: What precisely do we
see? What do we believe in our minds that we see? What do we truly
know, as determined by evidence? What do we believe we know, supported
by conjecture as well as evidence? A stunning presentation of the
amazing experience shared only by those few permitted to enter the
cave, Lascaux: A New Look is a top-quality presentation, highly
recommended especially for public and school library collections, as
well as for any individual curious about the earliest known history of
art. 53 minutes, color.

Breaking the Maya Code
David Lebrun
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
DVD, $24.95, www (dot) firstrunfeatures (dot) com

Breaking the Maya Code: The 200-Year Quest to Decipher the Hieroglyphs
of the Ancient Maya is a DVD documentary about the scientific and
linguistic quest to rediscover the literary heritage of an entire
civilization. In the 16th century, Spanish invaders burned Mayan books
and remorselessly exterminated their hieroglyphic literacy. For two
hundred years, scientists and linguists have worked to relearn the
knowledge once lost, and uncover the mysteries and heritage of an
ancient civilization. Though scholars from around the world applied
their brainpower to the puzzle, the final breakthrough came from an 18-
year-old boy who had been immersed in the glyphs since his early
childhood. Revealed, the ancient hieroglyphs tell of an astonishing
cosmic mythology, held by a people who burned their blood to invoke
the Vision Serpent, that interleaves the deeds of mythical heroes with
the cycles of planets and stars. Recounting a treasury of cultural
heritage not only for history and archaeology, but also for the six
million Maya living today, Breaking the Maya Code is highly
recommended especially for public library DVD collections.

Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www (dot) woodworkerslibrary (dot) com 1-800-345-4447

British-trained designer and furniture maker Ian Kirby hosts two
excellent DVDs about woodworking. "Sharpening Planes & Chisels with
Ian Kirby: A Sharp Edge in 60 Seconds" (9781933502212, $21.95, 65
min.) is an in-depth, how-to DVD for woodworkers of all skill and
experience levels to sharpening and adjusting one's planes and chisels
for maximum success. Grinding equipment, how to grind the blade,
sharpening with waterstones, setting up a sharpening table, back
sharpening, and more are all discussed at length in this quality
reference. In "Using a Hand Plane with Ian Kirby: Tuning, Setting the
Blade, and Planing Techniques" (9781933502229, $21.95, 68 min.) the
viewer learns step-by-step how to plane parts and turn the plane, use
the plane against a bench step, cross grain planing, edge and end
planing, preparation of stock, and more, culminating in an overall
demonstration of techniques in the creation of a kitchen cutting
board. Both DVDs are the perfect gift for woodworking enthusiasts
everywhere!

Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
www (dot) anchorbayentertainment (dot) com

Two new fitness DVDs in the Crunch series are sure to add vigor,
spice, and spirit to one's daily exercise regimen! In "Crunch Yoga
Body Sculpt: Perfect Yoga Poses to Tone & Sculpt Your Entire
Body" ($14.98, 41 min.), instructor Bethany Lyons guides the viewer
through yoga poses designed to promote not only relaxation, but also
strengthen the body and core resulting in a firmer belly, as well as
buns and thighs. No equipment is necessary, although a suitable yoga
mat is recommended. Suitable for yoga practitioners of all ages and
experience levels, "Crunch Yoga Body Sculpt" is an excellent addition
to personal fitness DVD libraries. In "Crunch Latin Rhythms: Fat
Blasting Dance" ($14.98, 38 min.), professional dancer and certified
group fitness instructor Jennifer Galardi demonstrates a zesty Latin
dance cardio workout that blends excitement and fun with sheer calorie
burning. Moves from the mambo, cha cha, merengue, samba, and more are
incorporated into this enthusiastic celebration of the joy of
movement. A wonderfully fun high-energy workout, highly recommended.

The Minotaur's Island
Bettany Hughes
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
DVD, $24.99 www (dot) acornmedia (dot) com

Hosted by historian Bettany Hughes, The Minotaur's Island is an
amazing documentary on DVD about Europe's first civilization, Crete.
The Minoans had a thriving culture nearly five thousand years ago,
more than two millennia before Homer created "The Iliad". Then their
civilization died, leaving behind little record. Archaeologists
continue to discover new wonders that bring insight into Minoan
culture - magnificent palaces, hinged doors, flush toilets, painted
designs of acrobatic individuals leaping over bulls, and much more.
Did Minoan society meet its doom from natural disasters, foreign
invaders, religious strife, or a perfect storm combination of factors?
The Minotaur's Island explore the many clues to the daily life and
final end of this amazing ancient civilization. Highly recommended. 98
minutes, color, full screen.

Inspector Lewis Series I
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
WG42609, $29.95, www (dot) ShopPBS (dot) org, www (dot) ssapr (dot)
com

A spin off from the enormously popular Inspector Morse BBC mystery
series, "Inspector Lewis Series I" chronicles the adventures of
British police inspector Robert Lewis (flawlessly portrayed by Keven
Whately) and his new partner Detective Sergeant James Hathaway
(Laurence Fox) where they confront complicated and devious crimes from
the streets of Cambridge to the halls of Oxford University in three
new mysteries. With sophisticated plots, populated with memorable
characters, and characterized by superb attention to set designs and
backgrounds, the three featured mysteries include 'Whom The Gods Would
Destroy'; 'Old School Ties'; and 'Expiation'. The DVD format allows
for the additional features of scene selection, closed captions, and
access to the Masterpiece Theatre website. "Inspector Lewis Series I"
will make a popular addition to any community library DVD collection,
and should be considered a 'must see' by the legions of Inspector
Morse fans.

The Real McCain
Robert Greenwald, et al.
The Disinformation Company
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010
DIS049, 9781934708132, $9.95, www (dot) disinfo (dot) com

All too often in the course of American political history, good and
descent men have sacrificed their own honor on the altar of
presidential ambition. John McCain is simply the latest to do so. "The
Real McCain: Less Jobs, More Wars" is a one hour documentary DVD
comprised of ten shorts enhanced with commentary that include 'John
McCain vs John McCain'; 'Less Jobs, More War', 'Why Won't McCain
Support the G.I. Bill?'; 'John McCain Sings Bomb Iran'; 'Big Oil Fuels
the Straight Talk Express'; 'McCain's Spiritual Guide Wants American
to Destroy Islam'; 'John McBush 2008'; Leaked - ABC's Stephanopoulos
Interviews McCain'; 'Why Do Women Give McCain a Zero?'; and 'McCain's
Youtube Problem Just became a Nightmare. It's somewhat ironic that the
McCain campaign's descent into character assassination politics
against his Democratic opponent Barack Obama should come from a man
who himself was the smear campaign target in the Republican
presidential primaries of 2008 from the team of George Bush, Dick
Cheney, and Karl Rove.

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