Denise Richards Movie:

		List Price: $39.95		Label: NEW VIDEO GROUP Salesrank: 12239 Released: October 28, 2008
		Our Price: $15.85
		Used Price: $26.87
		MPAA Rating: G (General Audience) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
An "engrossing, delightful film" (The Washington Post), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL is the bonafide sleeper theatrical hit of the year. The film's endearing guide is Mark Bittner, an aging bohemian, but the supporting cast members, a rambunctious flock of urban parrots, are the true stars, and their surprisingly humanlike behavior makes for a wondrous and rare experience. The film follows the ups-and-downs of these wild birds within the green niches of San Francisco as Bittner befriends, feeds, and names the members of the flock. Along the way, we meet many unforgettable characters: among them Connor, the grouchy yet lovable outcast of the flock, crying for a mate but luckless in his pursuits, and "the lovers," Picasso and Sophie, inseparable until Sophie is forced into mourning when Picasso disappears. More than a mere birdwatcher, Bittner finds solace in his immersion with these strikingly beautiful creatures - but how will he cope when he's evicted from his sanctuary and forced to live away from the parrots? Packed with romance, comedy and a surprise ending that "makes you feel like you could fly out of the theater" (San Jose Mercury News), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL shows just how wondrously similar the human and animal worlds really can be. DVD Features: Origins of the Flock; Urban Legends; Update: Mingus at the Oasis; Parrots Music Video; Mark Bittner's Home Movies; Flock Updates; Deleted Scenes; Theatrical Trailer; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; California Quail Bonus Short; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Description of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (Special Two-Disc Collector's Edition):
Quiet patience and an observant eye turn a seemingly unpromising subject into a rich and fascinating movie. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill captures the life of Mark Bittner, a gentle homeless musician who's befriended a flock of wild parrots in a neighborhood of San Francisco. Following Bittner, the camera zooms in on individual parrots, revealing their individual personalities and the traits of their species. This leads to Bittner's own life, the network of friendships that support him, and the ways in which the parrots--a non-native species--interact with both the natural ecosystem and the city government; just about every topic opens up another until a flock of colorful birds represents a microcosm of nature and society.

Filmmaker Judy Irving has created an exemplary documentary simply by paying attention to the details of the world around her subject. Everything you expect from a Hollywood blockbuster--romance, violence, humor, sorrow, strong personalities in conflict--is here in spades, except that the heroes and heroines have bright red and green feathers. Utterly rewarding. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description:
An "engrossing, delightful film" (The Washington Post), The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the bonafide sleeper theatrical hit of the year. The film's endearing guide is Mark Bittner, an aging bohemian, but the supporting cast members, a rambunctious flock of urban parrots, are the true stars, and their surprisingly humanlike behavior makes for a wondrous and rare experience. The film follows the ups-and-downs of these wild birds within the green niches of San Francisco as Bittner befriends, feeds, and names the members of the flock. Along the way, we meet many unforgettable characters: among them Connor, the grouchy yet lovable outcast of the flock, crying for a mate but luckless in his pursuits, and "the lovers," Picasso and Sophie, inseparable until Sophie is forced into mourning when Picasso disappears. More than a mere birdwatcher, Bittner finds solace in his immersion with these strikingly beautiful creatures - but how will he cope when he's evicted from his sanctuary and forced to live away from the parrots? Packed with romance, comedy and a surprise ending that "makes you feel like you could fly out of the theater" (San Jose Mercury News), The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill shows just how wondrously similar the human and animal worlds really can be.

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Ned: There's a scene early on where you ask, "Why don't you cut your hair?" Mark says, "I'm not going to cut my hair until I have a girlfriend." So I wondered, "Will there be a scene at the end where he cuts his hair?" Did you know what was going to happen when you recorded that scene?

Judy: I recorded that close to the beginning of the project. I didn't know how things would end up. As I was editing, I knew what I was doing, though. Like in dramatic films, I wanted to have setups and payoffs throughout the movie. That was one of them. I also wanted folks almost to forget it after it happened.

Ned: I was struck by the narrative quality of Parrots. It’s almost like a fiction film. There’s Connor, the outcast. He's like the tough guy who turns out to have a heart of gold, sticking up for the injured birds as their fellow cherry heads attack them. Then he suffers his apparent tragic demise—like the brother in Slumdog Millionaire.

Judy: Connor was the classic outsider. I didn’t make anything up. The cherry heads didn't like him because of his blue head. Discrimination happens even in the bird world.

Ned: Another part of the story arc was where you create this beautiful world, and then it has to end. Mark has to leave. What's going to happen to the birds?

Judy: That all happened while I was filming. Mark was living in the cottage, and the owners had to ask him to move because it was literally sliding down the hill. I knew that might happen when I started filming. I just hoped I’d get enough shot before he had to go. So his moving became part of the story. But in a documentary you can't control those things. There's no script. That's the risk you take. You just hope events will unfold in a way that makes a good story. I much prefer storyline documentaries to standard “talking heads and b-roll” type documentaries

Ned: In the movie you’re not antagonistic exactly, but you keep asking Mark questions like, how come you don't get a job? Gradually, that changes. There’s more to him than you thought.

Judy: When I first met Mark, I wasn't sure he was movie material, frankly. (Laughs.) After awhile I realized he was a great storyteller, with a good voice and screen presence. I needed to ask the questions that the audience would ask.

Ned: The film is not at all what most people expect it to be.

Judy: Right. And because of the title, a lot of guys aren’t interested in watching it. Then their girlfriends or wives drag them to it, and they’re moved. They find out that it's about much more than just parrots. It's about personality, consciousness, and life and death.

Ned: And love.

Judy: (Laughs.) And love.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (Special Two-Disc Collector's Edition) Reviews:
Loved this movie The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
2009-08-30 - This documentary is the most adorable, inspirational love story to watch. If you love animals such as beautiful, colorful parrots and entering the world of a homeless man whose wings are born when he takes on the task of caring and thinking of something other than himself you will truly enjoy this escape in time. These birds and their story will capture your imagination! Enjoy!

How little we know about our wildlife
2009-08-20 - I have watched this DVD over and over again and still anticipate watching it again. What great gifts God gave us when we gave us animals. Tragically, we all to quickly abuse them too often. What a GREAT DVD. Thank you so much.

Surprising...
2009-08-08 - I recently came to San Francisco and selected a few movies to watch that were made here. I wanted to see a few streets, landmarks, places of interest etc. I didn't expect much from this to be honest. I just wanted to see bits of SF. After a minute I was engrossed.
It's a super documentary. I got so much more than I was expecting. I'm marching straight up to Telegraph Hill tomorrow!
When I get home, I will make this DVD a Christmas present to myself :o)

A film for misguided idealists
2009-08-01 - 1. Ok, so I bought into the hype about this movie... and I was duped (as happens once in a while).

2. Many have already commented on the pros / cons of this film, but ultimately it is a very sad commentary on the certain percentage of those who think this film is great, on the the film maker and on the primary human subject of this film. Why? While idealism has a proper place in all of our lives, misguided romantic notions of life are destructive to one's life as well as those close to that person as well as the greater society, simply because such notions are not realistic. And in thus in the end, such unrealistic views on life and how one should live only serves to negatively affect that individuals life. While on the other hand, those who champion and laud such folks, feel sophisticated and superior because they are "enlightened", but do so at the expense of these misguided characters. One could interpret such things as a form of exploitation or at least disingenuousness.

3. If the above ramblings are a bit too obtuse, the bottomline is--> depending on your philosophy of life, you may like this film or not. Those who are liberal will love it. Those who are conservative, will not like it. Those who don't know what those terms mean... will probably like it.

Wild About the Wild Parrots
2009-07-08 - You don't have to like parrots or even San Francisco to love this documentary. It tells a story about friendship, loyalty and life, that everyone can enjoy. You will want to own it so that you can watch it over and over again.