David Bowie

The rise of teen culture in 1950s Britain provides the backdrop for Julien Temple's unconventional rock musical Absolute Beginners. The film centers on Colin, an 18-year-old with a talent for photography and a fondness for the neon nightlife of British jazz clubs. He also is in love with Crepe Suzette, an impulsive, ambitious young beauty who abandons him after attracting the attention of a powerful fashion designer. Depressed and aimless, Colin turns for help to a flashy ad executive (David Bowie) who promises to make him a star photographer. The former lovers take parallel paths to success, capitalizing on the youth mania gripping the nation. The film's nostalgic yet gently satirical look at teen culture is tempered by a recognition of the era's social tension, particularly a disturbing rise in racism. Despite these serious undertones, however, the film tells its story with a colorful vibrancy reminiscent of both MTV and old Hollywood musicals, filled with such show-stopping numbers as a memorable sequence in which Bowie dances on a giant typewriter. Critical reception was mixed, with some hailing the film's spectacular cinematography and ambitious scope, while others found the mixture of tones and style too inconsistent. The film also drew lukewarm response at the box office, with the memorable soundtrack receiving more attention than the film itself. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

On the heels of his first foray into romantic comedy, versatile French filmmaker Luc Besson breaks new ground yet again with this computer-animated, family-friendly adaptation of his own children's book Arthur and the Minimoys. Arthur is a wide-eyed ten-year-old whose vivid imagination is fueled by the colorful bedtime stories his grandmother reads to him each night. His dreams are filled with images of African tribes and the remarkable inventions detailed in the enigmatic book that his grandfather left behind after mysteriously disappearing four years ago. Arthur and his family are in danger of losing their home to an unscrupulous real-estate developer, but if there is any truth to the tales of a treasure hidden deep beneath their garden and the tiny, fairy-like creatures that his grandmother so frequently sketches, there may still be hope of saving their home before it's too late. Now, with nothing to guide him but the clues left behind by his grandfather, Arthur will set out to find the mythical world of Seven Kingdoms where the Minimoys are said to dwell and ensure that his troubled family always has a place to call home. An imaginative children's fantasy in the vein of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Arthur and the Invisibles features the voices of David Bowie, Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Mia Farrow, and Freddie Highmore. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Goldie and David Bowie star in this fast-paced, gritty crime thriller. The film opens with Ray (writer-director Andrew Goth) and Terry (Goldie) getting released from jail. The two are cousins, long-time friends, and fellow gang members. Ray wants to go straight, have a family and a real job. Terry wants to get back in the business and does so with a vengeance. He makes a killing selling drugs to school kids, enlarges his already sizeable arsenal, and intimidates all who encroach on his turf, especially a mysterious Chinese gang that looks to claim new ground. During Terry's incarceration, gang matters were left to the button-down super-efficient dealings of Bernie (Bowie); after his release, tensions between the two thugs rapidly build. Seeing Ray's return to the straight life as weakness, the ever evil Terry kidnaps and tortures Ray's girlfriend. Ray resolves to get revenge and an ultra-violent shoot out soon ensues. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

A video celebrating the incredible career of Tina Turner. The main attraction is a reprise of Turner's 60th birthday concert, featuring duets with Bryan Adams. Clips of her past performances with Cher, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart are interspersed with testimonials to her artistic achievements from stars like Paul McCartney, Sting, and Oprah Winfrey. Some of the songs featured on the video are "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Talk to My Heart," "When the Heartache Is Over," "Let's Stay Together," and "The Best."

~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide

A depressed aspiring filmmaker falls in love with a suicidal young woman in this off-beat French drama, the second feature from director Leos Carax. Both have been recently dumped by their lovers and neither is coping very well. They meet via an apartment intercom system. Later the filmmaker sees her by the Seine. They finally meet in person at an elegant party and begin a long, strange conversation over a kitchen table. During the course of their talking, the two find themselves unable to resist their mutual neediness and this leads them to tragedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this loose adaptation of the 1942 horror classic of the same name, a 2001-style opening montage establishes some sort of sacrificial, mystical union between panthers and an ancient tribe of humans. Flash forward to 1980's New Orleans, where waifish Irina (Natassja Kinski) meets her older brother, Paul (Malcolm McDowell), a minister, for the first time since their animal trainer parents died and she was sent to a series of foster homes. Paul's Creole housekeeper, Female (Ruby Dee), helps Irina settle into her brother's home, but Paul himself disappears. Cut to a fleabag motel where a blasé prostitute finds an angry panther instead of a client; after mauling her, the cat is captured by police and a team of zoologists: Oliver (John Heard), Alice (Annette O'Toole), and Joe (Ed Begley Jr.). The next day Irina finds herself in the zoo where these scientists work; drawn to the newly captured panther, she befriends Oliver and takes a job in the gift shop. Shortly after the panther's violence turns deadly, it escapes, and soon Paul turns up spouting an unbelievable story about his family's were-cat heritage and his inevitable sexual union with little Irina. On the run from her dangerous brother, Irina takes refuge in a sexually frustrated romance with Oliver, afraid of what might happen if she consummates their passion. Astute viewers will notice that the zoologist characters refer to the film's panthers as leopards; "panther" is actually a generic term for any large cat, especially a black one, but Cat People's panthers are in fact leopards whose black color comes from a recessive trait known as melanism. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The concert film David Bowie: A Reality Tour features the singer taking over two hours to perform almost 30 of his compositions dating from every phase of his lengthy career, including such classics as "Changes," "All the Young Dudes," "Ziggy Stardust," "Heroes," "Rebel Rebel," and "Under Pressure." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise combines footage of the famous star performing songs off of the album of the same name with interview footage of Bowie discussing his life, his career, and his work on the album. Also included are three of the music videos produced for songs that appeared on the Black Tie White Noise album. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Many know of David Bowie as the glam-rocker behind such immortal classics as "Space Oddity," "Young Americans," and "Ziggy Stardust," but what preceded stardom? This unauthorized look at Bowie's life from Chrome Dreams attempts to answer that question and more. David Bowie: Origins of a Starman takes an in-depth look at the life of Bowie using interviews and rarely seen archival footage. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Charismatic rock legend David Bowie is captured live in Vancouver in this concert performance staged during his 1983 Serious Moonlight tour and featuring an impressive set list comprised of his most popular tracks. By 1983, fans knew well of Bowie's reputation as a tireless rock showman, and with a set list that includes such classics as "Rebel Rebel," "Space Oddity," "China Girl," "Let's Dance," and many more, the man once called Ziggy Stardust certainly does not disappoint. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide