Todd Patti

The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's 2001 concert production of Stephen Sondheim's witty shocker is musically superb and (even without scenery) theatrically effective. The performers are in costume and use a few essential props such as Todd's razor, but more than these details the quality of their singing and acting makes this production stand out. It looks like a final seal of approval at the end when Sondheim comes out, smiling, to take a bow. Sweeney Todd evokes a special balance of horror and comedy because injustice, revenge, and cannibalism are the subjects of its grisly humor, balanced with moments of romantic idealism. George Hearn in the title role and Patti LuPone as the enterprising, utterly amoral pie seller Mrs. Lovett are both brilliant, with an excellent supporting cast. Members of the orchestra are occasionally seen behind the action, but frequent, effective close-up shots of the singers generate a dramatic atmosphere. --Joe McLellan

Concert performance of the musical Sweeney Todd.

CD set that goes with PBS series. Include origianl cast recordings from many important muscials

Singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, cult figure, gadfly, self-promoting visionary, and techno-geek provocateur for any number of revolutionary musical and home-entertainment breakthroughs--which Todd Rundgren would you anthologize? On this 27-track, double-disc compendium, Rhino has ably distilled Rundgren's restless, often overblown ambitions and playfully obtuse artistic vision into what passes for its original essence. With the exception of the Nazz's emblematic "Open Your Eyes," these songs are culled mostly from the handful of solo albums Rundgren produced during a 15-year span that also saw him produce hit records for everyone from Grand Funk to XTC, as well as front the prog-rock Utopia. What the CD reveals is an artist not only fueled by the Beatles-led Brit invasion of his teens and Bell Records soul of his native Philadelphia, but one whose heartfelt romantic ballads ("I Saw the Light," "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference") are so perfectly crafted that they sound like nothing short of outtakes from Carol King's Tapestry. Given his tendency to zig when others anticipated zag, there is a sense of determined exotica at work here, too--one whose most obvious fruits are the Caribbean-tinged radio drive-time staple, "Bang the Drum All Day." If you only know "The Runt" from early hits like "Hello It's Me" and "We Gotta Get You a Woman," you may find this collection to be variously adventurous yet satisfyingly familiar. --Jerry McCulley

The FBI, the Mafia, and the Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) fight to the death in this nonstop action thriller starring Russell Crowe (Gladiator). FBI agent Zack Grant (Crowe) sends beautiful rookie operative Seiko (Kelly Hu) on a sting operation against the depraved, skinhead son of a Mafia kingpin. Little does he know that Seiko is on a revenge mission of her own. This bloody situation escalates into all-out war, as the Mafia kingpin, Frank Serlano (Michael Lerner), and the head Yakuza, Yuji (Etsushi Toyokawa), get into the act. Grant is forced to go renegade from the bureau when Serlano kidnaps his young son, a plot point that certainly raises the story's emotional stakes. During an exciting airplane hijacking sequence, we meet Mary (Helen Slater), a dizzy blonde flight attendant who introduces an unexpected note of comic relief to the proceedings (along with a touch of romance). Crowe is convincing in Dirty Harry mode, bringing his characteristic intensity and empathy to the role. It's fun to watch a former Miss Hawaii, Kelly Hu, display her martial arts mastery, and the performances of Slater and Toyokawa are a cut above the action-genre norm. Still and all, No Way Back falls squarely into the "guilty pleasure" movie category. Writer-director Frank A. Cappello (American Yakuza), provides plenty of slam-bang, shoot-'em-up action, plus enough nail-biting suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. --Laura Mirsky

The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's 2001 concert production of Stephen Sondheim's witty shocker is musically superb and (even without scenery) theatrically effective. The performers are in costume and use a few essential props such as Todd's razor, but more than these details the quality of their singing and acting makes this production stand out. It looks like a final seal of approval at the end when Sondheim comes out, smiling, to take a bow. Sweeney Todd evokes a special balance of horror and comedy because injustice, revenge, and cannibalism are the subjects of its grisly humor, balanced with moments of romantic idealism. George Hearn in the title role and Patti LuPone as the enterprising, utterly amoral pie seller Mrs. Lovett are both brilliant, with an excellent supporting cast. Members of the orchestra are occasionally seen behind the action, but frequent, effective close-up shots of the singers generate a dramatic atmosphere. --Joe McLellan

This delicious production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Ba rber of Fleet Street, a musical thriller of revenge and romance set in Victorian Engla nd, features Broadway diva Patti LuPone as Mrs. Lovett and veteran stage actor George Hear n in the title role. Premiering in 1979, the legendary Sweeney Todd--winner of nine New York Drama Critics Circle Awards and eight Tony Awards--is recorded with the San Fran cisco Symphony as conducted by Rob Fisher. Cast: Patti LuPone: Mrs. Lovett George Hearn: Sweeney Todd Davis Gaines: Anthony Hope Lisa Vroman: Johanna Neil Patrick Harris: Tobias Ragg Timothy Nolen: Judge Turpin John Aler: Beadle Victoria Clark: Beggar Woman Stanford Olsen: Pirelli

After Megan and Abby Graves become lost in the Arizona desert, they are guided to Skull City Mine in hopes of finding an interesting tourist attractio

Perfect Stranger is saved from conventional starlet-in-distress mediocrity by a certain refreshing unwholesomeness, a tawdry strain that runs all the way through its climactic series of kickers. Halle Berry plays a "gotcha" reporter, currently undercover to nail a famous advertising tycoon (Bruce Willis)--not for a story, but because Berry thinks he might be involved in a friend's murder. The distasteful nature of Berry trying to seduce the married exec adds some spice, and so does her pervy assistant (Giovanni Ribisi), whose voyeuristic tendencies indicate more than customary comic relief--at the least, he's a hefty red herring. There are other red herrings, mostly beginning to smell, in the rather ramshackle script. Director James Foley, who has a talent for hothouse intensity (Glengarry Glen Ross, At Close Range) gives this material more edge than it probably deserves, although he can't make Berry convincing, and she and Ribisi are completely wrong as simpatico best friends. Willis looks good by comparison, turning a one-note role into a subtle act of professionalism. --Robert Horton

No Description Available.Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: RRelease Date: 21-AUG-2007Media Type: Blu-Ray

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Todd Rundgren, Jonathan Richman, Nico, Captain Beefheart, Richard Hell, John Otway, Rio Reiser, Richard Lloyd, Iggy Pop, Bryan Ferry, John Cale, Gene Vincent, Syd Barrett, Marc Bolan, Arthur Lee, Johnny Thunders, Steve Peregrin Took, Mick Ronson, Peter Hammill, Alex Chilton, Roky Erickson, Nick Lowe, Link Wray, David Johansen, Dave Faulkner, Andy Shernoff, Brinsley Schwarz, Ivan Kral, Sky Saxon, David Peel, Wayne Kramer, Dickie Peterson, Ivan Julian, Jayne County, Mick Farren, Bryan Maclean, Michael Erlewine, David Thomas, Ron Asheton, Wilko Johnson, Dave Brock, Patrick Vian, Kim Salmon, Alan Vega, Hasil Adkins, Randy Holden, Ken Forssi, Paul Rudolph, Sean Bonniwell, Jobriath, Stefan Weber, James Williamson, Ross the Boss, Michael Davis, Laurence B. Miller, Niagara, Peter Laughner, Martin Rev, Bette Bright, Scott Asheton, Andy Ellison, Scott Thurston, Mickey Finn, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Johnny Echols, Rob Tyner, Gene Tyranny, Gypie Mayo, Bill Legend, Ben Miller, Urban Blitz, Richard Strange, Dennis Thompson, Stoner, Leigh Stephens, Phil May, Ethan James, Tim Blake, Peter Dilemma, Jimmy Recca, Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer. Excerpt: Don Van Vliet (pronounced ; born Don Glen Vliet, January 15, 1941) is an American musician and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, which was active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12 studio albums. Noted for his idiosyncratic singing voice with its wide range, Van Vliet also occasionally played the harmonica, saxophone, bass clarinet, piccolo oboe, shehnai and keyboards. Often impossible to categorize, Van Vliet's music blended rock, blues and psychedelia with free jazz, avant-g... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=63283

Authentic Autographed Item!