Is 'splendored' a word?
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 04/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The five volumes in FOX HOME VIDEO's PERFECT DATE MOVIES all have a "Love & ____" theme. The four titles in each set are on individual discs and presented in widescreen format. Quality of the transfers is excellent. Provided extras are those typical of full-priced, single release DVDs: commentary tracks, theatrical trailers, "making of" featurettes, deleted and extended scenes, etc.
The first edition of this series includes a 1950's classic that won three Oscars (for music and costuming).
SYNOPSES for PDM #1 (Love & Romance)--
LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT-- A reporter interviews a homeless psychic, who tells the lady that she will die in a few days, so she immediately tries changing her life patterns in an effort to avoid it.
LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING-- An American war correspondent covering the Chinese Communist Revolution meets and falls in love with a widowed mixed-race physician. Her family tries to break up their relationship.
ONE FINE DAY-- A foul-up in school transportation brings an architect (Pfeiffer) and news reporter (Clooney) together, along with their kids, who both missed going on a field trip. During this shared day, the two recently-divorced adults project negative opinions of their ex's onto each other. They soon come to rely on the other however when childcare problems endanger their jobs.
SAY ANYTHING...-- In high school, Lloyd is a kickboxer and Diane is simply, a genius. They meet after graduation, and become a couple. This unlikely romance is threatened when Diane is awarded a scholarship to study in England. Watch for John Cusack's sister (Joan) in a cameo as a teacher.
The theme of PERFECT DATE MOVIES, Vol. 2 is "Love and Desire."
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
(5.6) Life or Something Like It (2002) - Angelina Jolie/Edward Burns/Tony Shaloub/Stockard Channing
(6.6) Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) - William Holden/Jennifer Jones/Virginia Gregg/Philip Ahn
(6.1) One Fine Day (1996) - Michelle Pfeiffer/George Clooney/Charles Durning/Pete Hamill/Robert Klein/Amanda Peet/Michael Badalucco
(7.5) Say Anything... (1989) - John Cusack/Ione Skye/John Mahoney/Lili Taylor/Bebe Neuwirth/Eric Stoltz/Chynna Phillips (uncredited: Joan Cusack)"