The Library DVD Shelf Frozen Planet David Attenborough, narrator BBC Earth 0780685180, .98, [URL="http://www.bbcearth.com"]www.bbcearth.com[/URL]. FROZEN PLANET features the original UK series narrated by David Attenborough and provides the series on 3 discs: the original 7-part BBC series in its entirety. FROZEN PLANET offers stunning images above and below the ice at the Arctic and Antarctic, and offers a lovely narrative that will fascinate any science fan. It comes to life on home TV sets and having the complete series in one DVD package assures that audiences can view it in its entirety time and again. BBC America [URL="http://www.bbcamerica.com"]www.bbcamerica.com[/URL] TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY (0780696883, .98) was a sensational and revolutionary Torchwood series: revolutionary because unlike the other Torchwood seasons of years past, it took a single premise and expanded it. MIRACLE DAY is a day when suddenly death is halted on the planet - bringing with it all kinds of ethical and practical issues for any alive on that day, now endowed with immortality. For the members of Torchwood it involves an ingoing investigation into the causes of Miracle Day - and the ultimate changes in the human psyche that it brings. It's simply an outstanding show, highly recommended for any prior fan or newcomer to the Torchwood world. Torchwood had its origins in Dr. Who and two new DVDs cover the John Pertwee years from 1970-74, offering episodes in 2-disc sets. DR WHO: THE DAEMONS (0780691946, .98) tells of a professor who opens a burial mound and a local white witch who foresees disaster, while black magic is involved in conjuring up an ancient devil. It's up to The Doctor, Jo and UNIT to intervene. The special DVD edition of DR WHO: CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS (0780671023, .98) includes audio commentary, early edits, behind the scenes accounts, and much more and tells of the Doctor's test flight in the TARDIS, landing on a cargo ship in 1926. A traveling showman from another world involves The Doctor and his companion in a dangerous game in this tense thriller. All are top recommendations for any science fiction DVD collection. Project Happiness Spring Communications c/o Beyond Words 20827 NW Cornell Rd. Suite 500, Hillsboro OR 97124-9808 No ISBN, .95, [URL="http://www.beyondword.com"]www.beyondword.com[/URL] PROJECT HAPPINESS focuses on four teens from Santa Cruz, California. Each faces personal obstacles to happiness and daily challenges, but through Project Happiness they are introduced to peers in Nigeria and India and become involved in conversations with all kinds of cultural notables, from actor Richard Gere to activist director George Lucas. Project Happiness offered them keys to a happier life, and is presented here as an inspirational choice for any DVD collection. Titanoboa: Monster Snake Smithsonian Channel c/o Inception Media Group 11620 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900 Los Angeles, CA 90025 No ISBN DVD, .98, [URL="http://www.smithsonianchannel.com"]www.smithsonianchannel.com[/URL] Titanoboa: Monster Snake tells of a snake that is longer than a bus and eats crocs for breakfast! Titanoboa, a snake that some 60 million years ago rules the world with an iron squeeze. Scientists provide inviting questions and facts about the truth of Titanoboa, presenting lab research and an expedition that reconstructed the snake's discovery, reconstruction, and life. Any natural history collection, especially those strong in prehistoric life, will find this a winner! Money & Medicine a film by Roger Weisberg Bullfrog Films, Inc. PO Box 149 Oley, PA 19547 5.00 [URL="http://www.bullfrogfilms.com"]www.bullfrogfilms.com[/URL] Winner of the Remi Award in the WorldFest at Houston, Money & Medicine is a documentary that scrutinizes one of the reasons American health care costs are skyrocketing out of control - overtreatment. The health care field is rife with moral, ethical, and financial dilemmas, that manifest as radically different rates in which certain expensive treatments (that just might be unnecessary!) are performed across the country. For example, some states have a much higher incidence of elective Cesarean Section deliveries than others, even though the procedure is a major surgery with significant risks. Money & Medicine also examines heartbreaking end-of-life choices, including the modern tendency to prolong the deaths of people whose severe organ failure means that it is almost impossible for them to recover. Other controversies arise over cancer screenings; should women start getting mammograms at age 40 or 50, given that the procedure has a small amount of risk? How aggressively should men screen for and treat prostate cancer, especially when surgically removing an anomaly that is statistically likely to be nonfatal can have lifelong negative side effects such as impotence or incontinence? There is no one-size-fits- all answer, but as health care costs continue to soar, these crucial questions and related problems concerning the phenomenon of overtreatment need to be faced head-on. Perhaps Money & Medicine's most important lesson lies in its emphasis on the importance of peer review and the group pooling of information among medical professionals; when doctors share what they know among themselves and collect aggregate data, they are better empowered to help their patients make difficult, life-changing decisions. Highly recommended. 83 min. This is Civilization Matthew Collings, host Athena c/o Acorn Media Group 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403 9781598288162 .99 [URL="http://www.acornonline.com"]www.acornonline.com[/URL] A modern update of BBC's notable 1969 series "Civilization", This is Civilization is a four-part documentary on two DVDs that explores what art has to say about humanity throughout the centuries. Spotlighting on masterpieces ranging from ancient Greek sculpture and the temples of Egypt to the geometric patterns of mosques, the fiery art of the French Revolution, pioneers of modern art such as Picasso and Pollack, and even the stinging indictments of commercialized pop culture crafted by Chinese artist and photographer Wang Qingsong. A grand showcase of artistic masterpieces, This is Civilization is the next best thing to attending museums in person, further enriched by host Matthew Collings extensive commentary on the rich interplay between art and human culture. Bonus features include a 12-page viewer's guide peppered with articles, and biographies of profiled artists, This is Civilization is an absolute must-see for art lovers, and highly recommended for public library DVD collections. 2 DVDs, 192 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles. Programmed To Be Fat? A documentary from Dreamfilm Bullfrog Films, Inc. PO Box 149 Oley, PA 19547 1937772160 0.00 [URL="http://www.bullfrogfilms.com"]www.bullfrogfilms.com[/URL] Licensed for public performance, Programmed To Be Fat? observes that first-world nations with a modern American lifestyle have populations that are heavier than ever. Is this entirely due to unhealthy diet and exercise habits? Programmed To Be Fat? explores the research that multiple scientists have done implying that man-made chemicals might have compounded the obesity epidemic. Could exposure to certain chemicals in the womb result in children who are genetically programmed to be fatter? Experiments with lab mice seem to indicate as much. The chemical BPA, which can be absorbed through the skin simply from handling printed receipts or ingested by drinking/eating from certain plastic containers, has been linked to weight gain, and is extraordinarily prevalent in our modern culture. Programmed To Be Fat? raises disturbing but vital questions about whether our current procedures for testing the safety of chemicals are comprehensive enough (especially when new chemicals seem to be "innocent until proven guilty"), and is highly recommended. 45 min., SDH captions. Monroe Series 1 Acorn Media Group 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403 9781598287868 .99 [URL="http://www.acornonline.com"]www.acornonline.com[/URL] Monroe Series 1 is a collection on DVD of the British drama following Dr. Gabriel Monroe (played by James Nesbitt, known for his work in "Murphy's Law"), a witty neurosurgical genius with a strong sense of right and wrong, and a maverick penchant for arrogantly defying the rules. An outrage to his colleagues, a terror to his interns, and yet a savior to his patients, Monroe and the rest of his surgical team must navigate thorny challenges in their personal lives as well as challenging life-or-death cases in their professional work. The extra twists of tight plotting and dry, unforgettable British humor cement "Monroe" as an absolute "must-see" for fans of medical drama! 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 274 min., 16:9 widescreen, SDH subtitles. Biophilic Design a documentary by Stephen R. Kellert & Bill Finnegan Bullfrog Films, Inc. PO Box 149 Oley, PA 19547 1937772101 0.00 [URL="http://www.bullfrogfilms.com"]www.bullfrogfilms.com[/URL] Licensed for public performance, Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life is a documentary that explores the intrinsic value of incorporating elements of nature and natural life into human living, working, and educational environments. "Green" architecture, which often allows spaces for living trees or even ecosystems, is not only environmentally friendly but also refreshing to the body and soul. Patients in hospitals with biophilic design recover more quickly and have less stress; workers in environments with biophilic design enjoy themselves more and find it easier to concentrate; and students in schools with biophilic design can benefit from whole new ways of learning that teach them about the value of nature. A thought- provoking study brimming with invaluable ideas especially for architects, policy makers, and interior designers, Biophilic Design is highly recommended. 60 min., SDH captioned. Take Me Home Monterey Media Inc. 566 St. Charles Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901 9781569943656 .95 [URL="http://www.montereymedia.com"]www.montereymedia.com[/URL] Take Me Home: A Comedy About The Road Less Traveled is a multiple award-winning independent film about two people who stumble into one another just as they are at the end of their respective ropes. Thom Colvin (played by Sam Jaeger) is desperately struggling to pursue his dream of being a professional photographer, but cannot scrape together enough money to avoid being evicted, and moonlights as an unlicensed cab driver to barely survive. Claire Barrow (played by Amber Jaeger) is struggling with a troubled marriage, and two terrible events in one day push her over the edge - an unexpected discovery of her husband on too-friendly terms with his attractive secretary, and the news that the emotionally distant father she hasn't seen in years has suffered a heart attack. When Claire randomly happens into Thom's cab and demands that he "just drive", it begins a cross-country odyssey that will ultimately lead each of them to learn from one another, and find the strength to confront their respective personal demons. A thoughtful film, Take Me Home balances light romantic comedy with soulful emotion, and is a journey that will entrance the viewer from beginning to end. Highly recommended. Bonus features include a "behind the scenes" segment and brief cast interviews. 97 min., closed captioned, 16:9 anamorphic, rated PG-13. Rails to the Twin Ports Pentrex 2652 East Walnut St. Pasadena, CA 91107 1563423022 .95 [URL="http://www.pentrex.com"]www.pentrex.com[/URL] Rails to the Twin Ports is a spectacular DVD tour of the railroad facilities of the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, as recorded in the late 1990s by Pentrex, the quintessential creators of entertainment for railroad aficionados. Featuring gorgeous camerawork of the major railroads that served the Twin Ports (Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific, Canadian national, Wisconsin Central, and ore-haulers Duluth, Missabe, & Iron Range), Rails to the Twin Ports is shows operations of these hardy industrial trains across all four seasons. Informative narration enhances this immersive documentary for railroad aficionados! 1 hour 54 min., standard definition, 4x3 format. Also a choice pick for railroad fans is the Pentrex documentary "UP 844 New Mexico-Arizona Centennial Special" (1563423294, .95, 1 hour 42 min.), which follows an extraordinary, history-marking tour of a veteran steam-powered train decades after the retirement of its model. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so. The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to: James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review 278 Orchard Drive Oregon, WI 53575-1129 To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price). James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review
