Top Picks: The new Pink Floyd album 'The Endless River,' 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' on DVD, and more
PBS's 'Navy SEALS: Their Untold Story' looks at the history of the SEALs and their predecessors, the Lifetime biopic 'Aaliyah' depicts the rise to fame of the star, and more top picks.
PBS
Naval documentary
Honor Veterans Day by checking out Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story on PBS. The documentary, directed by Carol L. Fleisher and narrated by actor Gary Sinise, looks back at the history of the SEALs and their predecessors, from their part in D-Day to their famed mission against Osama bin Laden. According to Fleisher, this is the first time Naval Special Warfare has helped with the research for such a program. It premières Nov. 11 at 9 p.m.
Favorite dragon returns
The animated movie How to Train Your Dragon 2 continues the story of Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a Viking teenager, and his dragon, Toothless. In the new installment, Hiccup struggles with the idea of becoming the leader of the clan ruled by his father, Stoick (Gerard Butler). It’s more emotionally powerful than the first film, and the dragons are expertly brought to life. The movie arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 11.
Pink Floyd’s final cut
The Endless River is a prism for the ambient side of Pink Floyd’s spectrum, its rainbow hues a stark contrast to the dark side of albums such as “The Wall.” The late Richard Wright is the star player on these mostly instrumental tracks. His oboe-like keyboards on “It’s What We Do” and beatific organ on “Autumn ’68” beautifully complement Nick Mason’s drizzling drums and David Gilmour’s rocket-launched guitar solos. “Louder Than Words” provides a glorious sunset to this final Pink Floyd album.
Music insiders
How is a hit record measured today? The new PBS program Hitmakers looks back at the history of the music industry and examines how music reaches listeners in the Digital Age, when consumers have so many choices. Music executives and artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Lorde, and Questlove share how the revolution has changed their careers but what has also stayed the same. “Hitmakers” airs Nov. 14 at 9 p.m.
R&B princess
Aaliyah, dubbed Queen of Urban Pop, had unprecedented success as a young R&B artist in the early 1990s in addition to roles in major films before she was killed in a plane crash at the age of 22. Lifetime presents an unofficial biopic of the rising star with Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. It premières Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. EST.