Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-February 23, 2011 Issue

February 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & IV • Page 17 ‘Safe…Not Sorry’ is collection of nostalgic ﬁlms by Dennis Seuling Back in the day, school kids would smile when the teacher set up the 16-millimeter movie projector. They knew the short film to be screened would be an undemanding break from the regular classroom routine. “Safe...Not Sorry” (Kino International), Volume 3 in Kino’s Classic Educational Shorts series, is a collection of safety films, low-budget flicks dramatizing the threat of imminent death if you weren’t careful. Many techniques were employed to grab young viewers’ attention, from slapstick (“Step Right Up” on ladder safety), docudrama (“Our Obligation,” a large-scale reenactment of a tragic school fire), fantasy (“Safety: Harm Hides at Home,” which features an accident-fighting Wonder Woman clone named Guardiana), and animation (“Lucky You”). Made between 1954 and 1982, all are in color, except for one. Other topics covered include salmonella infection, reckless driving, gun and explosives safety, and obesity. Running times range from seven to 24 minutes so they could comfortably fit into a standard class period. In most, the tone is didactic, the actors stiff, and the narration condescending. The films in this collection circulated among schools and were rescued, decades “The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series” (Shout! Factory) is a 17-disc box set containing all 89 episodes of the comedy series about an insecure late-night talk-show host (Garry Shandling); his foulmouthed old-school producer, Artie (Rip Torn); and pompous announcer Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor). Most of the goingson are backstage or at Larry’s home, with a few segments showing him on the show. Celebrity guests include David Duchovny, Ellen De Generes, Sharon Stone, Roseanne, and Carol Burnett. The writing is topnotch all the way, and the comedy derives more from the characters’ quirks than with one-liners. The show premiered in 1992, the same year Johnny Carson retired from his 30-year stint as host of “The Tonight Show.” Though Larry is no Carson, the satirical look at late-night TV personnel is frequently riotous, with Shandling’s deadpan portrayal the show’s comic center. Included in the box set is the documentary, “The Making of The Larry Sanders Show.” Individual season sets are also available. “Birdemic: Shock and Terror” (MPI Media Group) is a horror tale with an ecological message inspired by Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” A sexy lingerie model (Whitney Moore) and successful software salesman (Alan Bagh) are on a weekend getaway ‘Safe... Not Sorry’ is a collection of short ﬁlms that caution viewers against the hazards of everyday living. later, by collectors, so the image and sound quality are not up to modern standards. They are nostalgic period pieces, unintentionally amusing and quaint. to a small northern California town. When the entire region is attacked by millions of homicidal birds, a picturesque paradise becomes a scene of horrifying death and destruction. The best thing about this inept film is an appearance by Tippi Hedren, the original Melanie of “The Birds.” Director James Nguyen seems to be a modern-era Ed Wood, if “Birdemic” is typical of his work. This could easily be a candidate for The Worst Movie Ever Made for many reasons. First, the story is far too ambitious for the budget. The actors are stiff and unbelievable, the effects awful, the pace deadeningly slow, the sound horrible, and logic obviously unimportant to the writers. The film could be considered a comedy, and it would certainly work better that way. Just be sure you’re not eating popcorn when birds start exploding. The movie can be a choking hazard. There are several extras, including deleted scenes, should you want to delve into the how, when, and why of this bizarre flick. “I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash” (A&E Home Entertainment) is the story of the October 1972 plane crash in the Andes. For 72 days, the world thought the 45 rugby team members who had been onboard were dead, but 16 survived. What they endured was perhaps worse than death, (continued on Crossword page) �� Featuring: The Wines of Spain Tuesday Mar. 7 • 6 pm Import Manager, Opici Wines Speaker: Mon-Thurs 11:30-10 Fri 11:30-11 Sat 12-11, Sun 12-10 OPEN 7 DAYS Authentic Cuisine from Spain Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails �� $ HAPPY HOUR �� 50 per person Call for reservations Sunday Brunch �� Join us for �� C • O • R • T• I • N • A R I S T O R A N T E Fine Dining For Lunch & Dinner �� Lunch Starts at $7.00 • Mon-Fri 11:30AM–2:30PM Dinner Starts at $12 • Mon-Thurs 5PM–9:30PM • Fri & Sat 5PM–10PM �� Dine & Dance - Live Entertainment March 11: Joe Zisa & Friends - 8pm Call for reservations �� March 25: Sounds of Sinatra Private Party Room For Up To 60 People • Call for Reservations - 973-942-1750 118 Berkshire Ave., Paterson, NJ (Totowa Section) • www.cortinarestaurant.com 2-23-11 LegendsSteakhouse(2-23-11) Charge