Library

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Summary: Beyond Babylon A.D.
Mirrors
Jumper
Shutter


Stills from Babylon A.D. (Click for larger image)

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Your most dangerous enemies are the friends you've double-crossed.

Summary: If you have a hearty appetite for fiery explosions, heavy ordnance, and nonsensical mayhem, "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" is just for you. This mindless action flick is so wrong-headed that even its ungainly title is inaccurate: as expert assassins on the fringes of government intelligence, FBI agent Ecks (Antonio Banderas) and Defense Intelligence agent Sever (Lucy Liu) aren't battling each other at all. Instead, he's trying to find his missing ex-wife (the stunning but expressionless Talisa Soto) and young son, while she's pursuing an agency turncoat (Gregg Henry) who's stolen the ultimate micro-technology for clandestine killing. United against a common enemy, Ecks and Sever lay waste to half of Vancouver (the film's budget-conscious location), and it all makes as much sense as meatballs on a vegetarian menu. Banderas and Liu look fabulous as corpses pile up around them, but Thai action director Kaos (a.k.a. Wych Kaosayananda) must have confused his nickname with the incomprehensible plot of his movie. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: A huge comedy with tiny balls

Summary: "Balls of Fury" will score points with anyone who ever wished that "Enter the Dragon" played out in the subterranean "underbelly of ping pong" instead of the world of martial arts. Tony Award-winner Dan Fogler ("The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"), joining the ranks of Jack Black, Seth Rogan, and Jonah Hill as a schlub (romantic?) hero, stars as Randy Daytona, a Def Leppard-loving ping-pong wizard who, as a 12-year-old, was disgraced at the 1988 Olympics. Nineteen years later and gone to seed, he is reduced to performing a novelty act in Reno until an FBI Agent (George Lopez, and yes, at one point, he will proclaim, "Say hello to my little friend" a la Al Pacino in "Scarface") recruits him to infiltrate an underground ping pong tournament run by Feng (Christopher Walken), the arch villain who killed Daytona's father. Co-written by "Reno 911" colleagues Robert Ben Garant (who also directed) and Thomas Lennon (who costars as Daytona's taunting East Berlin rival), "Balls of Fury" is hit and miss, but it fitfully kills with some ace performances, including Walken, bringing more cowbell, as Feng, resplendent in silks and red fingernails (his Christopher Walken impression, while perhaps not as uncanny as Kevin Spacey's or Jay Mohr's, is dead-on). James Hong puts a wicked spin on the clichéd role of mentor, and action babe Maggie Q rocks as his niece. Look quick for David Koechner as hopeless entertainer Rick the Birdmaster, Patton Oswalt as an obnoxious early opponent, Kerri Kenney-Silver as a showgirl, and Diedrich Bader as one of Feng's imprisoned sex slaves (don't ask). With less go-for-the-groin humor than the title might indicate, "Balls of Fury" brings its A-game with some subversive bits of business, such as an ominous moment that is undercut when a menacing character is forced to re-enter the scene to ask for directions back to the highway. "--Donald Liebenson"

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Subtitles: Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

Comments: They depended on each other. And the world depended on them.

Summary: An impressively rigorous, unsentimental, and harrowing look at combat during World War II, "Band of Brothers" follows a company of airborne infantry--Easy Company--from boot camp through the end of the war. The brutality of training takes the audience by increments to the even greater brutality of the war; Easy Company took part in some of the most difficult battles, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. But what makes these episodes work is not their historical sweep but their emphasis on riveting details (such as the rattle of a plane as the paratroopers wait to leap, or a flower in the buttonhole of a German soldier) and procedures (from military tactics to the workings of bureaucratic hierarchies). The scope of this miniseries (10 episodes, plus an actual documentary filled with interviews with surviving veterans) allows not only a thoroughness impossible in a two-hour movie, but also captures the wide range of responses to the stress and trauma of war--fear, cynicism, cruelty, compassion, and all-encompassing confusion. The result is a realism that makes both simplistic judgments and jingoistic enthusiasm impossible; the things these soldiers had to do are both terrible and understandable, and the psychological price they paid is made clear. The writing, directing, and acting are superb throughout. The cast is largely unknown, emphasizing the team of actors as a whole unit, much like the regiment; Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston play the central roles of two officers with grit and intelligence. "Band of Brothers" turns a vast historical event into a series of potent personal experiences; it's a deeply engrossing and affecting accomplishment. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Some friendships last forever... like it or not.

Summary: For thinly scripted fluff, "The Banger Sisters" sure is a lot of fun. With Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon as former groupies now settling into their fifties, this predictable comedy gets a zesty boost of vitality and unsentimental nostalgia. Trouble is, Lavinia (or Vinnie, played by Sarandon) is an uptight Phoenix housewife with a lawyer husband, two spoiled daughters, and a calendar full of charity benefits. Free-spirited Suzette (Hawn) remained true to their past as the notorious rocker-lovin' Banger Sisters, and when she visits Vinnie after decades apart, it's not long before Vinnie rediscovers the lively self she'd buried under her drably expensive wardrobe. It's conspicuously formulaic, with Geoffrey Rush as another buttoned-up character liberated by Suzette's fun-loving wisdom. And yet, as Goldie channels the "Penny Lane" vibe that her daughter, Kate Hudson, brought to "Almost Famous", this light and laugh-worthy movie reminds us that it's never too late to indulge a bit of rock & roll abandon. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: There's only one way out.

Summary: An adrenaline-charged action thriller, Lionsgate's "Bangkok Dangerous" stars Nicolas Cage ("Leaving Las Vegas, National Treasure") as "Joe," an anonymous assassin takes an unexpected turn when he travels to Thailand to complete a series of contract killings. Joe (Nicolas Cage), a remorseless hitman, is in Bangkok to execute four enemies of a ruthless crime boss named Surat. He hires Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm), a street punk and pickpocket, to run errands for him with the intention of covering his tracks by killing him at the end of the assignment. Strangely, Joe, the ultimate lone wolf, finds himself mentoring the young man instead whilst simultaneously being drawn into a tentative romance with a local shop girl. As he falls further under the sway of Bangkok’s intoxicating beauty, Joe begins to question his isolated existence and let down his guard …just as Surat decides it’s time to clean house. Directors The Pang Brothers ("The Eye") paint an explosive picture of the Bangkok underworld, illuminated with neon and saturated in violence. From a screenplay by Jason Richman, "Bangkok Dangerous" is based on the Pang Brothers’ wildly popular Hong Kong action film of the same name. Starring alongside Cage are Shahkrit Yamnarm ("Belly of the Beast"), Charlie Young ("Seven Swords"), Panward Hemmanee and Dom Hetrakul ("Sniper 3"). The film is produced by Jason Shuman, William Sherak, Nicolas Cage and Norm Golightly. Andrew Pfeffer, Derek Dauchy, Denis O’Sullivan and Ben Waisbren serve as the executive producers.

Beyond "Bangkok Dangerous" on DVD
"Bangkok Dangerous" the Soundtrack
"Bangkok Dangerous" on Blu-ray

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: The true story of a heist gone wrong... in all the right ways.

Summary: A cheerful, energetic, and completely entertaining movie, "The Bank Job" follows some small-time hoods who think they've lucked into a big-time opportunity when they learn a bank's security system will be temporarily suspended--little suspecting that they're being manipulated by government agents for their own ends. The result is that the movie doubles its pleasures: While the robbery itself has the usual suspense of a heist film, when the robbery is over the hoods find themselves being hunted by the police, the government, and brutal criminal kingpins who were storing dangerous information in a safety deposit box. "The Bank Job" won't win any awards, but it's enormously fun. Director Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out, Species") propels the action along with vigor, editing zippily with perfect clarity among multiple storylines and various colorful characters. Jason Statham ("Snatch, The Transporter"), as the leader of the bank robbers, successfully steps away from his usual bone-crunching roles to a more human presence. The rest of the cast--including Saffron Burrows ("Deep Blue Sea"), Keeley Hawes ("Tipping the Velvet"), David Suchet ("Poirot"), and many faces familiar from British film and television--give their characters the right degree of personality and flavor without getting fussy or detracting from the headlong rush of the story. A little sex, a lot of action, a sly sense of humor, and a twisty plot; if more movies had these basic pleasures, the world would be a happier place. --"Bret Fetzer"

Stills from "Bank Job" (click for larger image)

Languages: French

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby

Comments: A provocative new comedy about sex, friendship, and all other things that invade our lives.

Summary: The intriguing Denys Arcand (director of "Jesus of Montreal" and "Stardom") returns to the lusty, cantankerous intellectuals of his first film, "The Decline of the American Empire". Remy (Remy Girard), a history professor, is dying of cancer, and his estranged and financially successful son Sebastien (Stephane Rousseau) returns to care for the old man. With the power of money, Sebastien cuts through bureaucracy and the law to give his father some comfort--comfort that Remy accepts with reluctance, because in his eyes the unintellectual Sebastian has betrayed all of Remy's principles. Old friends arrive and soon the conversation turns to sex, religion, history, sex, academia, sex--"The Barbarian Invasions" isn't very focused, but the very breadth of its ideas makes it worth seeing; few movies even try to grapple with morality or the state of our culture, let alone with this kind of intelligence and grace. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Everyone's gettin' lined up.

Summary: With enough lively banter to keep its customers happy for years, "Barbershop" is a loose, lanky comedy with its heart--and its humor--in all the right places. Ice Cube plays Calvin, reluctant heir to his late father's barbershop on Chicago's South Side--a neighborhood institution that seems like a trap for a guy with bigger dreams. But Calvin is devoted to his employees and local customers, and when he makes an ill-considered deal with a loan shark (Keith David), the future of the barbershop hangs in the balance. There's a goofy subplot involving a stolen cash machine, but what gives "Barbershop" its abundant charm is its compassionate, feel-good vibe for its likable characters--not just scene-stealer Cedric the Entertainer (as Eddie the veteran barber, whose shaving lesson is a shining pearl of wisdom), but the entire well-chosen cast. It may seem like a lot of casual rap, but look and listen closely, and "Barbershop" will reward you with its danceable rhythms of life. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Back in business.

Summary: Ice Cube triumphantly returns as Calvin Palmer, proud proprietor of a neighborhood barbershop in "Barbershop 2". The first "Barbershop" was a surprise smash; even more surprising is how good this sequel is. The plot isn't much--there's a corporate haircutting chain opening across the street, leading to the usual sentiments about the importance of small businesses and neighborhoods--but the well-conceived characters and the loose, genuine banter give this movie a striking richness of feeling. "Barbershop 2" cuts back and forth in time, flashing back to when Eddie (garrulous Cedric the Entertainer), the shop's oldest and most outspoken barber, first came to work for Calvin's father. Glimpses of black history give weight to the modern-day struggles; most impressively, this device doesn't feel forced or cynical. Also returning are Eve, Troy Garity, and Sean Patrick Thomas; Queen Latifah ("Bringing Down the House") is a new face on the block. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby SR

Comments: A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can't resist the danger.

Summary: The take-no-prisoners sex thriller from 1992 now stands as a milestone in the career of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven "Basic Instinct" is an undeniably stylish and provocative study of obsession. In the role that made her a star (and showed the audience a little more skin than she intended), Sharon Stone plays the cleverly manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell who snares San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) with her insatiable sexual appetite during the investigation of her boyfriend's murder. Tramell is the prime suspect, but the plot twists and turns until Curran is trapped in a dangerous cycle of dead ends and unsolved murders, never sure if Tramell is committing the crimes or if it is some other, unknown suspect. With a plot that keeps viewers guessing, "Basic Instinct" is the work of a director who is clearly in his element. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Summary: "Batman Begins" discards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-parody by 1997's "Batman & Robin". As the title implies, "Batman Begins" tells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it. But are there forces even more sinister at hand?
Co-written by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan ("Memento"), "Batman Begins" is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of "Spider-Man 2" (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes ("Dawson's Creek") is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane. "--David Horiuchi"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Why So Serious?

Summary: "The Dark Knight" arrives with tremendous hype (best superhero movie ever? posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger?), and incredibly, it lives up to all of it. But calling it the best superhero movie ever seems like faint praise, since part of what makes the movie great--in addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision--is that it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralyzed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman. Further complicating matters is that Dent is now dating Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, after Katie Holmes turned down the chance to reprise her role), the longtime love of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Eckhart and Oldman also shine, but as good as Bale is, his character turns out rather bland in comparison (not uncommon for heroes facing more colorful villains). Director-cowriter Christopher Nolan ("Memento") follows his critically acclaimed "Batman Begins" with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like "Spider-Man 2" and "Iron Man" because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism--there are no suspension-of-disbelief superpowers here. At 152 minutes, it's a shade too long, and it's much too intense for kids. But for most movie fans--and not just superhero fans--"The Dark Knight" is a film for the ages. "--David Horiuchi"
Product description The follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves effective, but soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. Heath Ledger stars as archvillain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast as Rachel Dawes. Returning from Batman Begins are Gary Oldman as Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.
Blu-ray features: Movie with Focus Points (picture in picture) Explore your favorite movies through BD-Live™, an interactive gateway to exclusive content 2.40:1 aspect ratio, with IMAX sequences in 1.78:1Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene: Director Christopher Nolan and creative collaborators unmask the incredible detail and planning behind the film, including stunt staging, filming in IMAX®, and the new Bat-suit and Bat-pod. Batman Tech: The incredible gadgets and tools (in HD) Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight: Delve into the psyche of Bruce Wayne and the world of Batman through real-world psychotherapy (in HD)    Gotham Tonight: 6 episodes of Gotham Cable's premier news program  The Galleries: The Joker cards, concept art, poster art, production stills, trailers and TV spots Digital Copy of the feature film Stills from " The Dark Knight " (click for larger image)

Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Where can you hide?

Summary: This movie is for everyone who misses the old Roger Corman monster movies, only it has animatronics and computer effects instead of papiermâché. The title of "Bats" pretty much sums up the plot: Crazed bats are running amok, disemboweling people and cattle. Only beautiful wildlife zoologist Dina Meyer ("Johnny Mnemonic", "Starship Troopers") and stalwart sheriff Lou Diamond Phillips ("La Bamba", the "Young Guns" movies, "Courage Under Fire") can save the day! Let's be frank: The scenario is ludicrous, the dialogue God-awful, the special effects unconvincing--try as they might, the bats just "aren't" that scary--but what does it matter? The movie rips along effectively. There's always a bat attack just around the corner and the director makes liberal use of all kinds of editing and camera effects, including a distorted bat-cam point of view that makes no sense at all but is pretty entertaining. Various scenes imitate Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds", but lack even a hint of that movie's eerie precision. The actors play it straight without trying to be particularly serious. All in all, "Bats" knows what it is--trash-horror--and accomplishes its ends with good humor. Not quite up to the standard of "Tremors" (still the definitive trash-horror flick), but better than most recent efforts. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, Dolby Digital 5.1; French; Commentary by director Roger Christian and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos, Unknown

Subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Dutch

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Prepare For Battle

Summary: When "Battlefield Earth" was released in May 2000, this inept sci-fi epic qualified as an instant camp classic, prompting "Daily Variety" to call it "the "Showgirls" of sci-fi shoot-'em-ups." Other reviews were united in their derision, and toy stores were left with truckloads of "Battlefield Earth" action figures that nobody wanted. As the film's star and coproducer, John Travolta must have felt an urge to enlist in the witness protection program.
Recklessly adapted from the novel by sci-fi author and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and set in the year 3000, the film is no worse than many cheesy sci-fi flicks, but the sight of Travolta as a burly, dreadlocked alien from the planet Psychlo provokes unintentional laughter from first frame to final credits. As Terl, the Psychlo security chief who conquers Earth and hatches a secret scheme to steal all the gold from Fort Knox (which sits conveniently in wide-open vaults), Travolta hams it up as if he knows he's in a camp-fest. (In a cameo as a long-tongued Psychlo seductress, Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, only adds to the absurdity.) Barry Pepper (the praying sharpshooter from "Saving Private Ryan") tries his best to convey charisma as Jonnie, the human slave who leads an uprising against Terl's tyranny, but he's adrift in a foolish plot that makes even smart humans look stupid.
The decrepit look of a dreary future is convincingly established (the ruins of Washington D.C. recall "Logan's Run" on a grander scale), but in the wake of its ludicrous climax, the best that "Battlefield Earth" can hope for is a "Dune"-like fate: it "might" improve in a longer director's cut--but that's wishful thinking. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English

Sound: DTS 5.1

Comments: It is an age of sorcery and savagery, of brave deeds and bloody battles. It is the age of THE BEASTMASTER.

Summary: As mentioned in previous reviews I too first watched this years ago and the chance to see & own it on DVD Directors Cut had to happen!
Most people I know don't actually like it, whether it's because people now subconsciously size every fantasy movie up to The Lord of the Rings or whether it had to be watched when you were younger I do not know but I love this film regardless. Here we see a fantasy movie a bit different from the rest, the main warrior/hero being a tad more 'human' than the usual muscle-bound idiot and obviously the animals used in the film add a new layer too (as they can't have been easy to work with).
As someone said though it is "Digitally Remastered", they could have done allot more in the way of cleaning this classic film up, sound is ok but there is visible marks and blips that appear from time to time throughout that aren't a major problem but as I say it would do it justice if it was remastered properly. Who knows maybe more people would respect this underrated fantasy flick more? As well as this some extras wouldn't have gone amiss.
But seriously, if you like your sword & sorcery/fantasy films like Willow, Krull, Ladyhawk, Red Sonja and Conan (as well as loads of others) you can't go wrong! Give it a go, it's cheap enough on Amazon :)

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: He Saw The World In A Way No One Could Have Imagined.

Summary: Winner of 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, A Beautiful Mind is directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard and produced by long-time partner and collaborator, Academy Award winner Brian Grazer. A Beautiful Mind stars Russell Crowe in an astonishing performance as brilliant mathematician John Nash, on the brink of international acclaim when he becomes entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. Now only his devoted wife (Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly) can help him in this powerful story of courage, passion and triumph.

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

Comments: Meet the Devil. She's giving Elliott seven wishes. But not a chance in Hell.

Summary: Brendan Fraser stars in "Bedazzled" as Elliot, a dweebish office worker who yearns for Alison (played by Frances O'Connor from "Mansfield Park"), a coworker who barely knows he exists. When he blithely says he'd give his soul for Alison, the Devil appears (Elizabeth Hurley, "Austin Powers") and says she'll give him seven wishes in exchange. Elliot is dubious at first, but agrees out of desperation. Unfortunately, his every wish always leaves the Devil a little wiggle room. When he asks to be rich and powerful, the Devil turns him into a drug lord beset on all sides. When he asks to be a successful, well-endowed writer, the Devil adds a male lover to the mix. The setup and situations are clever, though "Bedazzled" doesn't delve into any real moral or theological questions and has a little less bite than the original it's based on (from 1968, starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook). But it does provide some better comic substance than Fraser has had in most of his previous roles ("George of the Jungle", "Encino Man"). Fraser demonstrated in "Gods and Monsters" that he could hold his own dramatically with the likes of Brit thespian Ian McKellen, and he's consistently been a charming presence in movies enjoyable ("The Mummy") and not so enjoyable ("Dudley Do Right"). "Bedazzled" may not give him any more movie-making clout, but it does give his fans something to enjoy. O'Connor is entirely pleasant in her largely straight role, and Hurley fills out her part by delectably filling out a number of revealing outfits. An enjoyable bit of froth. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, German, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Brewed in 2006

Summary: While it didn't quite spark a trend in chug-a-lug brew comedies, "Beerfest" is the kind of zany time-killer that's a lot funnier if you're within reach of a six-pack and Doritos. In other words, this is yet another low-brow laff-a-thon from the Broken Lizard gang ("Super Troopers") that's likely to draw a bigger audience on DVD than it did in theaters, especially since there's a lot of duds (and flat suds) to sit through while waiting for the next big beer-belly-laugh. It's the kind of movie that thinks masturbating frogs are funny (OK, you decide), while serving up a gang of guzzling Americans (the aforementioned Broken Lizard troupe, who also write this stuff with director Jay Chandrasekhar) who compete in an epic beer-drinking contest against the nefarious German challenger Baron Wolfgang Von Wolfhausen (played by German actor Jurgen Prochnow, whose starring role in "Das Boot" inspires one of this movie's better jokes). When it's not trying to top itself in terms of sheer stupidity and juvenile humor, "Beerfest" satisfies its target audience (basically, frat-rats and party animals) with some gratuitously bare-breasted babes, rampant consumption of alcohol, and the welcomed appearance of Cloris Leachman, who sort-of reprises her "Frau Blucher" persona from "Young Frankenstein". So basically what you've got here is a dim-witted but energetic comedy called "Beerfest" that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a movie with that title. Who says truth in advertising is dead? "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Say it once... Say it twice... But we dare you to say it THREE TIMES

Summary: a couple of nice homebody ghosts, trying to rid their house of afamily of trendsetting human beings, is hell-bent on making theirhome unlivable -- even for the dead.

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can.

Summary: While too many movies suffer the fate of creative bankruptcy, "Being John Malkovich" is a refreshing study in contrast, so bracingly original that you'll want to send director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman a thank-you note for restoring your faith in the enchantment of film. Even if it ultimately serves little purpose beyond the thrill of comedic invention, this demented romance is gloriously entertaining, spilling over with ideas that tickle the brain and even touch the heart. That's to be expected in a movie that dares to ponder the existential dilemma of a forlorn puppeteer (John Cusack) who discovers a metaphysical portal into the brain of actor John Malkovich.
The puppeteer's working as a file clerk on the seventh-and-a-half floor of a Manhattan office building; this idea alone might serve as the comedic basis for an entire film, but Jonze and Kaufman are just getting started. Add a devious coworker (Catherine Keener), Cusack's dowdy wife (a barely recognizable Cameron Diaz), and a business scheme to capitalize on the thrill of being John Malkovich, and you've got a movie that just gets crazier as it plays by its own outrageous rules. Malkovich himself is the film's pièce de résistance, riffing on his own persona with obvious delight and--when he enters his own brain via the portal--appearing with multiple versions of himself in a tour-de-force use of digital trickery. Does it add up to much? Not really. But for 112 liberating minutes, "Being John Malkovich" is a wild place to visit. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Get off the bench and get into the game.

Summary: Credit "The Benchwarmers" for achieving the impossible: It makes the 2005 remake of "The Bad News Bears" look like a masterpiece. They're essentially the same film, with the same lowbrow PG-13 humor (mostly involving bodily functions, broad slapstick, little people, nerds, geeks, and nose-picking), but this baseball comedy earns a few brownie points for its heart-warming message about including non-athletic kids (i.e. "benchwarmers") in Little League baseball, if only to boost their confidence and give them a moment of ball-field glory. It's a pleasant sentiment intended to encourage under-achievers to feel good about themselves, and that makes this loose-and-goofy vehicle for Rob Schneider, David Spade, and "Napoleon Dynamite"'s Jon Heder an easygoing time-killer. Parents with good taste should be warned that his movie has no taste at all (it's hopelessly mired in the swamp of fart jokes and juvenile sight-gags), and is there really a need for mild profanity in a movie like this? That said, there are a few laughs in the efforts of Schneider and his ultra-nerdy pals as they form a team of rejects and go to bat against an enemy squad of current and former school-bullies, led by former late-night talk-show host Craig Kilborn. In addition to Schneider and Spade, "Saturday Night Live" alumni Jon Lovitz and Tim Meadows show up for an easy paycheck, and director Dennis Dugan handles the dumb-and-dumber shtick as if he were on vacation, sipping margaritas and shamelessly going for the easy laughs. If that's what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: In Detroit a cop learns to take the heat. In L.A. he learns to keep his cool. [Theatrical Australia]

Summary: This is currently the most economical way to get the three Beverly Hills Cop movies, and of course you already know that each one of these films is a brilliant movie and Eddie Murphy stays on par for the character of Axel Foley all the way through. The third one sort of starts to stray but it's still just as fun as the first two, so no worries. So if you're willing to put up with just the single case for all three of these marvelous films, get this version.

Languages: English

Subtitles: Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: A comedy that gets away with murder.

Summary: Charlie is an ex-teacher turned reluctant call-center employee who gets fired on the first day. Distraught and unable to provide for his family, he partners up with Gus, an aspiring scam artist, on a seemingly snag-free plan to make some cash: blackmail Reverend Smalls, a man of the cloth, who has frequently turned up in a database of visitors to illegal adult websites. With the help of Gus' ex, a one-time pageant queen, the plan moves ahead... but it all goes wrong as Reverend Smalls dies, thanks to this trio. And that's just the beginning of their troubles...

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Comments: Adventure doesn't come any bigger!

Summary: Once you settle into the realization that this 1986 John Carpenter ("Halloween") film is not going to be one of the director's more masterful works, "Big Trouble in Little China" just becomes a full-tilt comic blast. Kurt Russell is hilarious as a drawling, would-be John Wayne hero who steps into the middle of a supernatural war in the heart of Chinatown. While kung fu warriors and otherworldly spirits battle over the fate of two women (Kim Cattrall and Suzee Pai), Russell's swaggering idiot manages to knock himself out or underestimate the forces he's dealing with. The whole thing is dopey, but it's supposed to be dopey and Russell's game performance brings an ironic edge. Carpenter directs some nifty spook effects (the sudden arrival of three martial arts demigods from out of nowhere is worth applause), and he also wrote the music. "--Tom Keogh"

Languages: English

Comments: Survival of the fastest.

Summary: When the movie started I was excited, I love bikes. But as this movie kept playing I was trying real hard to ignore the bad dialogue. Then the really bad acting. and then it just went down hill from there. I really tried to understand this movie. But I can't get nothing out of this. and I want the minutes I spent trying to watch this movie back. lol. This was really dissapointing.

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Summary: Like, radical, dude--but not nearly as funny as it should be, even though it was a box-office hit. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are a pair of dim Valley boys, whose life is made heinous by a school history project. Enter George Carlin as a futuristic dude with a time-traveling phone booth. So Bill and Ted go back in time to round up a gang of historical figures (Socrates, Joan of Arc) to bring back for their presentation. Abe Lincoln at the mall? That's about as witty as it gets, rendering this the kind of comedy that gives teenaged audiences a bad name. "--Marshall Fine"

Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Summary: It is the future. Society has at last solved all its major problems, thanks to amiable lunkheads Bill and Ted and the inspiring music of their band, Wyld Stallyns. Only one man is dissatisfied with the way things have turned out, the evil De Nomolos. In an effort to change the future, De Nomolos sends evil Bill and Ted robots back in time to prevent the real Bill and Ted from winning a pivotal Battle of the Bands. What follows is a spirited journey through the afterlife as Bill and Ted try to rescue their girlfriends, save the future, and, oh, yeah, learn how to play the guitar. "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" swings easily between childish and clever humor, and is good at both: a Bergman reference is quickly followed by an equally funny bit about Death's stinky feet. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter seem happy to be reprising their roles and even manage to add funny spins on Evil Robot Bill and Ted. William Sadler very nearly steals the movie as Death, playing both his wounded dignity and budding desire to be funky to a T. As if that weren't enough, George Carlin returns as Rufus and Pam Grier does a cameo just for the hell of it. "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" is ample proof that not all sequels suck. Sometimes they're even better than the original. "--Ali Davis"

Languages: English

Subtitles: French

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: A journey that begins where everything ends!

Summary: Disney's foray into big-budget science fiction, close on the heels of "Star Wars", had some of the most impressive special effects to grace theater screens in the 1970s. Graced by handsome production design--most notably a glass and latticework interstellar craft that looks like a battleship crossed with a modern skyscraper--"The Black Hole" is in many ways the most beautiful science fiction film of its era. Unfortunately, the graceful and gorgeous picture is jarred by dialogue that wouldn't pass muster in a comic book and a silly conclusion that plays like a murky, dime-store knockoff of "2001". Too bad, because the visual realization of the film is a veritable haunted house of futuristic phenomena, from the cloaked zombie-like drones shuffling through corridors to the devilish, crimson robot Maximillian, the strong arm of the mad scientist played by Maximilian Schell (a kind of wild man Captain Nemo with an even more ruthless temperament). Only the way-too-cute robot V.I.N.CENT (voiced by Roddy McDowall), a merchandising gimmick that looks like a Fisher-Price toy, mars the technological landscape. Robert Forster is the quietly authoritative captain of an exploration ship that stumbles across the seemingly derelict ship, and Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and Joseph Bottoms fill out his crew. This is one case of a triumph of art direction and special effects over story--it's worth sitting through it to see the magnificent scene of the fireball rolling through the ship's enormous hull alone. The rest is just atmospheric gravy. "--Sean Axmaker"

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: He's About To Get Medieval On You.

Summary: In "Black Knight", Martin Lawrence plays an amusement park employee who is magically transported back to medieval times and helps return a queen to her rightful throne (while learning some valuable lessons along the way). Despite the script's lack of logic and originality, Lawrence is an engaging performer, with a loose-limbed amiability that makes him most enjoyable company, even if he's not necessarily a better actor than most comedians. If Lawrence ever does a movie with a decent script, he might really have something; as it is we'll have to settle right now for the cheesy yet funny sight of Lawrence teaching a medieval band to play some Sly and Family Stone. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Man Has Made His Match... Now It's His Problem

Summary: When Ridley Scott's cut of "Blade Runner" was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn't done it right the first time--11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what's been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what's been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream). Star Harrison Ford originally recorded the narration under duress at the insistence of Warner Bros. executives who thought the story needed further "explanation"; he later confessed that he thought if he did it badly they wouldn't use it. (Moral: Never overestimate the taste of movie executives.) The movie's spectacular futuristic vision of Los Angeles--a perpetually dark and rainy metropolis that's the nightmare antithesis of "Sunny Southern California"--is still its most seductive feature, an otherworldly atmosphere in which you can immerse yourself. The movie's shadowy visual style, along with its classic private-detective/murder-mystery plot line (with Ford on the trail of a murderous android, or "replicant"), makes "Blade Runner" one of the few science fiction pictures to legitimately claim a place in the film noir tradition. And, as in the best noir, the sleuth discovers a whole lot more (about himself and the people he encounters) than he anticipates.... With Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Rutger Hauer, and M. Emmet Walsh. "--Jim Emerson"

Languages: English

Summary: I am a really big Wesley Snipes fan, not to mention a Blade Fan to. So I was so happy when this DVD collection came out. It's a great thing to have if your a big fan like me.

Languages: English, Japanese

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Kick Some Ice

Summary: Take two male figure skaters, throw in a preposterous storyline, and you've got "Blades of Glory", a surprisingly funny film that almost makes you forgive Will Ferrell for his back-to-back 2005 clunkers "Kicking & Screaming" and "Bewitched". This time around, Ferrell eats the scenery in his role as a sex-addicted, cocky skating champ named Chazz Michael Michaels. When he gets into an on-podium fight with his nemesis and co-gold medallist Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder, "Napoleon Dynamite"), both skaters are banned from competing in men's figure-skating events. Forever. Their fall from grace is brutal. Chazz is forced to work for a D-list skating show, while pampered Jimmy is disowned by his wealthy and cold-hearted adoptive father (excellently played by William Fichtner), who only wants to be around winners. When Jimmy points out that he tied for gold, his dad cruelly says, "If I wanted to share, I would've bought you a brother." Flash forward 3-1/2 years and Jimmy's No. 1 stalker Hector (Nick Swardson) says he's found a loophole. Jimmy's been banned from men's singles events, but there's nothing that says he can't compete in pairs skating. After a chance meeting with Chazz, mayhem ensues as the two rivals team up to go against the brother-and-sister team of Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (played by Will Arnett and his real-life wife, Amy Poehler of "Saturday Night Live" and "Mean Girls" fame). The Van Waldenbergs will stop at nothing to beat the competition, even if that means literally beating up the competition. They have no qualms manipulating their sweet little sister (Jenna Fischer, "The Office") to seduce both men to try to break up the team.
The finale will be no surprise to moviegoers who know that comedies like this aren't set up to make its leading men losers. But there is one brief skating sequence set in North Korea that will surprise (and shock) many viewers because of its brutality. Ferrell and Heder make a great comedy team. Though he has been accused of playing the same role since his breakthrough performance in "Napoleon Dynamite" and, to a certain extent, plays a similar type of role here, Heder is spot-on as Jimmy. He manages to convey innocence, bitterness, and longing--all within the span of a few seconds and while wearing a peacock unitard (You can understand why Hector is so enthralled with him). Look for guest appearances by real-life skating champs Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Nancy Kerrigan, and Sasha Cohen, who gets to sniff Chazz's jockstrap. "--Jae-Ha Kim"

Beyond "Blades of Glory"
More "Blades" on DVD
More DVDs with Will Ferrell
The Soundtrack Stills from "Blades of Glory" (click for larger image)

Languages: English, Spanish, French

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0

Comments: you can't go forward until you go back... the blair witch experience more terrifying than ever

Summary: This thoroughly second-rate follow-up to the groundbreaking (and highly profitable) horror flick "The Blair Witch Project"--produced by "Blair Witch" directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez--plays with the notions of reality and fantasy that surrounded the hype of the original movie, and attempts to throw in some scares along the way. A year after the release of the original film, a group of five Blair Witch aficionados--four out-of-towners led by one seriously unhinged "tour guide"--venture into the woods outside Burkittsville, Maryland, on a tour of the sites made famous by missing documentarians Heather, Mike, and Josh. After a drunken night of camping out in hopes of communing with the spirit of the Blair Witch, the five wake up to find that their seemingly innocent sleep may have been disturbed somehow. But what exactly happened? If you're expecting suspense of the first degree and a horrifying payoff similar to the one that climaxed the first film, you'll be sorely disappointed. After retreating to an old, run-down broom factory (get it? Broom factory? Blair Witch? Oh well...), the five go over their videotapes of the night in question to get some answers, and basically wind up screaming at each other for the remainder of the film, and shedding some blood along the way. Documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger (of the highly acclaimed "Paradise Lost" and "Brother's Keeper") proves that he should definitely stick to nonfiction filmmaking, and the entire cast is grating and unpleasant, aside from a scene-stealing turn by Kim Director as a goth chick with attitude to burn and a no-nonsense approach to this Blair Witch stuff. Strictly for hard-core "Blair Witch" fans only, and even then this sequel may prove to disappoint. "--Mark Englehart"

Languages: English, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Never give a saga an even break!

Summary: Mel Brooks scored his first commercial hit with this raucous Western spoof starring the late Cleavon Little as the newly hired (and conspicuously black) sheriff of Rock Ridge. Sheriff Bart teams up with deputy Jim (Gene Wilder) to foil the railroad-building scheme of the nefarious Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman). The simple plot is just an excuse for a steady stream of gags, many of them unabashedly tasteless, that Brooks and his wacky cast pull off with side-splitting success. The humor is so juvenile and crude that you just have to surrender to it; highlights abound, from the lunkheaded Alex Karras as the ox-riding Mongo to Madeline Kahn's uproarious send-up of Marlene Dietrich as saloon songstress Lili Von Shtupp. Adding to the comedic excess is the infamous campfire scene involving a bunch of hungry cowboys, heaping servings of baked beans and, well, you get the idea. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish

Subtitles: Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: He may be blind but he don't need no dog.

Summary: If you liked the old "Kung Fu" TV series, you'll like this movie. Soft spoken and easy going Nick Parker (Rutger Hauer), like Kwai Chang Caine, roams the civilized world in search of ... peace and tranquility? And, like our Kung Fu hero of the Old West, he is ready to come out of his mild mannered shell to defend the weak and fight evil. How he acquired such fighting skills is even stranger than how Kwai Chang Caine became a Kung Fu Master. Especially considering he is blind.



So what sets this movie apart from other action movies? Rutger Hauer.



Rutger Hauer is a really good actor when he applies himself, which he does not always do in his films. But he is at his pinnacle here, making you believe that what you see is what you get. He will make you believe a blind man can develop a six sense (with a little help from a mysterious tribe somewhere.)



I took a half star off because of a lame attempt at humor. I like a laugh as much as the next guy and there was some decent humor interlaced in the story but, a blind man driving around in heavy traffic, going up one-way streets, is something I expect to see in a three stooge's movie. It was out of place here. Still, this is a good action movie. 3 1/2 stars.

Languages: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Based on a True Story.

Summary: Based on a true story, 'Blow' chronicles the high-speed rise and fall of George Jung (Johnny Depp, 'Pirates of the Caribbean'), who became the largest importer of Columbian cocaine to the United States, forever changing the face of drugs in America. Set in the decadent 70's and 80's, 'Blow' traces George Jung's partnership with Pablo Escobar, one of the most infamous and dangerous drug lords in history. Ray Liotta ('Goodfellas'), Penelope Cruz ('Vanilla Sky') and Paul Reubens ('Mystery Men') also star in this rivetting film.

Subtitles: French, English

Comments: Shoot First Translate Later

Summary: When a crime is committed on the border of Quebec and Ontario, everyone is forced to come together, whether they want to or not. As the investigation gets underway, we meet David Bouchard and Martin Ward, members of their respective provincial police forces who are forced to work together. The two men couldn't be more different. In fact, the only thing they appear to have in common is that they are both cops, albeit cops with totally different styles.

With English - French Dialogue, With French English Subtitles.

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: Chinese, English, French

Sound: Dolby

Comments: You thought it was a just a story... but it's real.

Summary: Every culture has one - the horrible monster fueling young children's nightmares. But for Tim, the Boogeyman still lives in his memories as a creature that devoured his father 16 years earlier. Is the Boogeyman real? Or did Tim make him up to explain why his father abandoned his family? The answer lies hidden behind every dark corner and half-opened closet of his childhood home - a place he must return to and face the chilling unanswered question does the Boogeyman really exist?

System Requirements:
Running Time: 88 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: Fear. In The Flesh.

Summary: A young woman with a long-term phobia of the boogeyman voluntarily checks herself into a mental health facility with the hope of conquering her overwhelming fears.System Requirements:Run Time: 93 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR/DEMONS Rating: UNRATED UPC: 043396193796 Manufacturer No: 19379

Languages: English

Summary: Adapté d'une nouvelle de Constance Beresford-Howe, "The Book of Eve" est le 12è film du réalisateur québécois Claude Fournier. Mettant en vedette Claire Bloom et le chanteur Daniel Lavoie, ce long-métrage fait également un portrait nuancé et original de la génération que l'on appelle pudiquement celle de nos "aînés".
Ève a 65 ans. Elle est mariée depuis près de 40 ans à Mr Smallwood, un homme riche et tyrannique. Tous deux vivent dans un quartier huppé de Montréal jusqu'à ce qu'Ève réalise que sa vie est en train de lui filer entre les doigts. Sans préavis, ni dispute, elle s'en va donc et malgré sa toute petite pension de retraite, recommence à croire en ses rêves. Elle y trouvera la liberté et l'indépendance qu'elle désirait, et même l'amour.
"The Book of Eve" est un film (peut-être trop) plein d'intentions louables. Cherchant à nous montrer que la vie ne s'arrête pas à l'âge de la retraite, il souffre néanmoins de quelques dialogues maladroits et de divers inserts oniriques alourdissant plutôt le récit. Heureusement, la douce relation qu'entretiennent Ève (Claire Bloom, espiègle) et Johnny (Daniel Lavoie, le sourire enjôleur) et les apparitions rafraîchissantes de Mari-Jo Thério, Luck Mervil et Dan Bigras suffisent tout de même à rendre ce film charmant et plein de tendresse. -- "Helen Faradji"

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: He was the perfect weapon until he became the target.

Summary: Academy Award Winner Matt Damon stars in this explosive, action-packed hit film with incredible fight sequences. Found with two bullets in his back, Jason Bourne discovers he has the skills of a very dangerous man and no memory of his violent past. Racing to unlock the secret of his own identity, he discovers the deadly truth: he's an elite government agent, a 30 million dollar weapon the government no longer trusts. Now this top operative is the government's number one target in this super-charged, thrill-a-minute spectacular loaded with "Non-stop action!" (Bill Zwecker, FOX-TV)

Languages: English, German, Italian, Russian, French, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: They should have left him alone.

Summary: Good enough to suggest long-term franchise potential, "The Bourne Supremacy" is a thriller fans will appreciate for its well-crafted suspense, and for its triumph of competence over logic (or lack thereof). Picking up where "The Bourne Identity" left off, the action begins when CIA assassin and partial amnesiac Jason Bourne (a role reprised with efficient intensity by Matt Damon) is framed for a murder in Berlin, setting off a chain reaction of pursuits involving CIA handlers (led by Joan Allen and the duplicitous Brian Cox, with Julia Stiles returning from the previous film) and a shadowy Russian oil magnate. The fast-paced action hurtles from India to Berlin, Moscow, and Italy, and as he did with the critically acclaimed "Bloody Sunday", director Paul Greengrass puts you right in the thick of it with split-second editing (too much of it, actually) and a knack for well-sustained tension. It doesn't all make sense, and bears little resemblance to Robert Ludlum's novel, but with Damon proving to be an appealingly unconventional action hero, there's plenty to look forward to. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: This Summer Jason Bourne Comes Home

Summary: The often breathtaking, final installment in the" Bourne" trilogy finds the titular assassin with no memory closing in on his past, finally answering his own questions about his real identity and how he came to be a seemingly unstoppable killing machine. Matt Damon returns for another intensely physical performance as Jason Bourne, the rogue operative at war with the CIA, which made him who and what he is and managed to kill his girlfriend in the series' second film, "The Bourne Supremacy". Now looking for payback, Bourne goes in search for the renegade chief of CIA operations in Europe and North Africa, partnering for a time with a mysterious woman from his past (Julia Stiles) and constantly--constantly--on the run from assassins, intelligence foot soldiers, and cops. Directed by Paul Greengrass "(United 93)" with the director’s thrilling, trademark textures and shaky, documentary style, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is largely a succession of action scenes that reveal a lot about the story’s characters while they’re under duress. Joan Allen, Albert Finney, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, and Paddy Considine comprise the film’s terrific supporting cast, and the well-traveled movie leads viewers through Turin, Madrid, Tangiers, Paris, London, and New York. Overall, this is a satisfying conclusion to "Bourne’s" exciting and protracted mystery. --"Tom Keogh"


Beyond "The Bourne Ultimatum" on DVD
More "Bourne"
More Action from Universal Studios
More Matt Damon


Stills from "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Click for larger image)

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Confronted by violence five teens make a change.

Summary: Michael Moore's superb documentary (following in the footsteps of "Roger & Me" and "The Big One") tackles a meaty subject: gun control. Moore skillfully lays out arguments surrounding the issue and short-circuits them all, leaving one impossible question: why do Americans kill each other more often than people in any other democratic nation? Moore focuses his quest around the shootings at Columbine High School and the shooting of one 6-year-old by another near his own hometown of Flint, Michigan. By approaching the headquarters of K-Mart (where the Columbine shooters bought their ammo) and going to Charlton Heston's own home, Moore demands accountability from the forces that support unrestricted gun sales in the U.S. His arguments are conducted with the humor and empathy that have made Moore more than just a gadfly; he's become a genuine voice of reason in a world driven by fear and greed. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, French, Hungarian, Czech, Polish, Russian

Subtitles: Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: Beware

Summary: With dizzying cinematic tricks and astonishing performances, Francis Coppola's 1992 version of the oft-filmed Dracula story is one of the most exuberant, extravagant films of the 1990s. Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, as the Count and Mina Murray, are quite a pair of star-crossed lovers. She's betrothed to another man; he can't kick the habit of feeding off the living. Anthony Hopkins plays Van Helsing, the vampire slayer, with tongue firmly in cheek. Tom Waits is great fun as Renfield, the hapless slave of Dracula who craves the blood of insects and cats. Sadie Frost is a sexy Lucy Westenra. And poor Keanu Reeves, as Jonathan Harker, has the misfortune to be seduced by Dracula's three half-naked wives. There's a little bit of everything in this version of "Dracula": gore, high-speed horseback chases, passion, and longing.

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

Comments: What kind of man would defy a king?

Summary: Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning 1995 "Braveheart" is an impassioned epic about William Wallace, the 13th-century Scottish leader of a popular revolt against England's tyrannical Edward I (Patrick McGoohan). Gibson cannily plays Wallace as a man trying to stay out of history's way until events force his hand, an attribute that instantly resonates with several of the actor's best-known roles, especially "Mad Max". The subsequent camaraderie and courage Wallace shares in the field with fellow warriors is pure enough and inspiring enough to bring envy to a viewer, and even as things go wrong for Wallace in the second half, the film does not easily cave in to a somber tone. One of the most impressive elements is the originality with which Gibson films battle scenes, featuring hundreds of extras wielding medieval weapons. After Eisenstein's "Alexander Nevsky", Orson Welles's "Chimes at Midnight", and even Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V", you might think there is little new that could be done in creating scenes of ancient combat; yet Gibson does it. "--Tom Keogh"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: A detective story.

Summary: High school collides with hard-boiled film noir in the twisty, cunning "Brick". When he gets a mysterious message from his ex-girlfriend, a high school loner named Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Mysterious Skin") starts to dig into a crisscrossed web of drugs and duplicity, eventually getting entwined in the criminal doings of a teenage crime lord known as the Pin (Lukas Haas), his thuggish henchman Tugger (Noah Fleiss, "Joe the King"), and a mysterious girl named Laura (Nora Zehetner, "Fifty Pills"). "Brick" has not only the seductive, labyrinthine plot of a crime thriller by Dashiell Hammett ("The Maltese Falcon") or Raymond Chandler ("Farewell, My Lovely") but also a dense high-school version of hard-boiled lingo that's both comic and poetic. The movie unfolds with headlong momentum as Brendan manipulates, fights, and staggers his way through layers of high-school society. Gordon-Levitt is excellent; between this and the equally compelling "Mysterious Skin", he's left his "3rd Rock from the Sun" days behind. Also featuring Meagan Good ("Waist Deep") and Richard Roundtree ("Shaft"). "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish

Subtitles: Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Bollywood meets Hollywood... And it's a perfect match

Summary: The exotic sounds, vibrant colors, and ecstatic dancing of Bollywood collide with the cunning storytelling of Jane Austen in "Bride & Prejudice" (from the writer/director of previous East/West hybrid "Bend It Like Beckham"). When smart, outspoken Lalita Bakshi (Indian beauty Aishwarya Rai) meets Will Darcy (Martin Henderson, "The Ring"), she finds this American businessman arrogant and conceited--but because his best friend is falling in love with her sister, Lalita agrees to travel around India with Darcy. On the trip, a childhood friend of Darcy's named Johnny (Daniel Gillies, "Spider-Man 2") both tickles Lalita's fancy and confirms her worst suspicions about Darcy. But as events unfold, Lalita wonders if she hasn't misjudged Darcy--and Johnny. Austen fans will be find much to criticize; "Bride & Prejudice" transplants the basic plot of "Pride & Prejudice" to modern India, but not much of Austen's sly wit or her insights about character and society have survived the translation. Henderson, though handsome, lacks the intimidating charisma of previous Mr. Darcys (including Laurence Olivier and Colin Firth). Thank goodness for the delightful Rai, here making her first all-English-language movie. She commands the screen like a true star (unsurprisingly, she's hugely popular in India, and previously starred in a more homegrown Austen adaptation: "I Have Found It", based on "Sense & Sensibility"). For Western audiences unfamiliar with the freewheeling exuberance of Indian movies--wild musical numbers can break out at almost any moment--"Bride & Prejudice" offers an engaging taste of this fantastic cinematic style. "--Bret Fetzer"

Languages: English, French

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

Comments: Prepare to Go Ballistic

Summary: John Travolta is Vic Deakins, a bomber pilot who launches a devilish plan to hijack two nuclear missiles for big-time extortion. Vic never sweats, spews out great one-liners, knocks off money men with glee, toys with killing half a million people... he even smokes!
If you giggled at his "Ain't it cool" line from the trailer, you're in the right frame of mind for this comedic action film. Never as gritty or semi-realistic--or for that matter as heart-thumping--as the original "Die Hard", "Broken Arrow" still delivers. If Travolta is cast against type, everyone else is by the numbers; Christian Slater as Hale, the earnest copilot looking to foil the plot, Samantha Mathis as the brave park ranger caught in the middle, Frank Whaley as an eager diplomat, Delroy Lindo as a right-minded colonel. As with his previous script (the superior "Speed"), writer Graham Yost moves everything quickly along as Hale and the ranger try to cut off Deakins's plan over a variety of terrains. We have plane crashes, car chases, a pursuit through an abandoned mine, a helicopter-train shootout, and lots of fighting between boys. Each time Hale finds himself perfectly in place to foil Deakins. You're suppose to laugh at the unbelievable situations. That's where "Arrow" is deceptive: its tone is right for the laughter compared to the mean-spirited Schwarzenegger and Stallone action films with labored jokes. Hong Kong master director John Woo ("The Killer", "Hard Target") pulls out all the stops--slow motion of Hale and Deakins's gymnastic gun play, nifty stunts, countdowns to doomsday. Woo may know action, but he needs more guidance in creating unique and stunning special effects. This is action entertainment at its cheesiest. Travolta and Woo later reteamed for "Face/Off". "--Doug Thomas"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: Eliminating Evil Since 1812

Summary: Fairy tales come vividly to life in "The Brothers Grimm", a long-delayed fantasy/horror comedy that greatly benefits from the ingenuity of director Terry Gilliam. In lesser hands, the ambitious screenplay by prolific horror specialist Ehren Kruger (who wrote the American versions of "The Ring" and "The Ring 2") might have turned into an erratic monster mash like "Van Helsing". But Gilliam's maverick sensibility makes the film more closely comparable to Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" and Neil Jordan's "The Company of Wolves", with the added benefit of impressive CGI effects and lavish (though cost-efficient) production design, making the most of a challenging $75 million budget. Kruger's clever conceit is to turn "folklore collectors" Wilhem and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, respectively) into 19th-century con artists who perform bogus exorcisms of "evil enchantments" while traveling from village to village in French-occupied Germany. The two soon find themselves ensnared in a genuinely supernatural crisis involving the curse of the Mirror Queen (Monica Bellucci) and such fantastical marvels as the Big Bad Wolf, the Gingerbread Man, and a host of other truly enchanted (and not altogether friendly) flora and fauna. It's kind of a mess, switching from over-the-top humor (mostly from Peter Stormare as a manic villain) to serious fantasy involving the beautiful Angelika (Lena Headey), who proves to be the Grimm Brothers' most reliable ally. And like many of Gilliam's films, "Grimm" suffered from production delays (during which Gilliam filmed "Tideland"), distributor fallout, and several changes in its theatrical release date, but none of these issues prevent the film from being a welcomed addition to Gilliam's remarkable list of credits. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: How would you handle the most awesome responsibility in the universe?

Summary: Bestowing Jim Carrey with godlike powers is a ripe recipe for comedy, and "Bruce Almighty" delivers the laughs that Carrey's mainstream fans prefer. The high-concept premise finds Carrey playing Bruce Nolan, a frustrated Buffalo TV reporter, stuck doing puff-pieces while a lesser colleague (the hilarious Steven Carell) gets the anchor job he covets. Bruce demands an explanation from God, who pays him a visit (in the serene form of Morgan Freeman) and lets Bruce take over while he takes a brief vacation. What does a petty, angry guy do when he's God? That's where Carrey has a field day, reuniting with his "Ace Ventura" and "Liar, Liar" director, Tom Shadyac, while Jennifer Aniston gamely keeps pace as Bruce's put-upon fiancée. Carrey's actually funnier "before" he becomes Him, and the movie delivers a sappy, safely diluted notion of faith that lacks the sincerity of the 1977 hit "Oh, God!" Still, we can be thankful that Carrey took the high road and left "Little Nicky" to Adam Sandler. "--Jeff Shannon"

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Sound: AC-3

Comments: A comedy of biblical proportions

Summary:
Steve Carell rides the wave of "40-Year-Old Virgin" stardom (and a biblical flood) in this bizarre, effects-heavy comedy about a modern-day Noah's ark. The film is nominally a sequel to "Bruce Almighty", although it bears little relation to the 2003 Jim Carrey hit--except for the divine intervention of Morgan Freeman, who returns in his role as God. Even Carell's character is much altered from his supporting part in the first film; here, Evan Baxter says goodbye to the news-anchoring business in favor of his job as a naive freshman congressman. When God orders him to build an ark and prepare for an impending inundation, Evan sheepishly takes on the task (it's hard to turn down the job when your hair and beard grow to Old Testament lengths and God wants you to walk around in sackcloth).
Carell gets to do silly dances and mix it up with a variety of animals (real and computer-generated), all of which reminds us of the film's family-friendly tone and the PG rating. The kid stuff works just fine, although the religio-environmental message-mongering makes this a most curious kind of Hollywood blockbuster. When the flood comes, the film shifts into a mammoth-sized CGI extravaganza, recalling the era of overstuffed techno-comedies such as "1941" and "Howard the Duck" (and not to be nit-picky, but the tsunami-like disaster that overtakes Washington, D.C., looks as though it would snuff out the lives of quite a few citizens). Capable comic support comes from John Michael Higgins, Wanda Sykes, and Jonah Hill, with John Goodman and Lauren Graham filling out stock roles of fatcat politico and loyal wife, respectively. Carell is even better at being sincere than being funny, a talent that comes in handy here and bodes well for his future versatility. "--Robert Horton"

Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Comments: An epic of miniature proportions.

Summary: There was such a magic on the screen in 1995 when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, "Toy Story". Their second feature film, "A Bug's Life", may miss the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty, it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible.
Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 ("Antz"), "A Bug's Life" is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict.
As with "Toy Story", the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.
More gentle and kid-friendly than "Antz", "A Bug Life's" still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in "Saving Private Ryan".
The video also contains Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, "Geri's Game". Box art varies. "--Doug Thomas"

Languages: English, Spanish, French

Subtitles: Cantonese, English, French, Spanish

Sound: Dolby

Comments: A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal.

Summary: The tremendous charisma of Chow Yun-fat anchors this entertaining comic-book romp. "Bulletproof Monk" centers around a monk with no name (Chow) dedicated to protecting a sacred scroll that can give world-manipulating power to anyone who reads it. A hidden Nazi has been pursuing the scroll for 60 years and has finally caught up with the monk in present-day New York City; meanwhile, the monk suspects he may have found a disciple in a petty thief (Seann William Scott, "Dude, Where's My Car?", "American Pie") who's learned kung fu from watching double-feature chopsocky flicks. Don't let the presence of Chow Yun-fat lead you to expect much substance--this doesn't have the emotional scope of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or the visual panache of "Hard-Boiled". But "Bulletproof Monk" is a cheerful, tightly edited, unpretentious action flick with flashes of humor, good for a mindless evening's entertainment. Also featuring Jaime (a.k.a. James) King ("Blow"). "--Bret Fetzer"