|
|
|
|
A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
January DVD Selections - A Big Variety!
The Bourne Identity
Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne in Robert Ludlam's spy thriller that was filmed entirely on location mainly in Paris and Prague. When he is rescued in the ocean with two bullet holes in his back, amnesiac Bourne's only clue to his identity is a Swiss bank account number that had been embedded in his skin. He makes his way to the bank and inside the box he discovers several passports (all with his picture but different names and different countries), a large amount of money, and a gun. He takes everything but the gun. Bourne enlists the aid of a woman, Marie (played by Franka Potente), who basically has no real life of her own, and together they follow the clues to his identity. Car chase fans will undoubtedly enjoy the chase scene as Bourne maneuvers his car through the streets, down steps, and between buildings.
The DVD contains commentaries, alternate endings, deleted scenes, a "Making- Of" feature and the music video "Extreme Ways" by Moby. The Bourne Identity is rated PG-13 for violence and some language.
The Children's Hour
When a young girl makes up a lie, the consequences are deadly.
Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine star as two friends running a girl's boarding school. Most of the girls are well behaved, but young Mary is a brat and continually requires disciplining. Mary runs away to her grandmother's house and tells her the headmistresses are lovers. This is not only a shock and surprise, but back in 1961 this was one of the worst things that could happen in a girls school. So the grandmother spreads the "news" and within hours all the girls are taken out of the school, leaving Karen and Martha to wonder what happened.
They confront the old woman, but she refuses to believe their side of the story. Mary wouldn't lie. So, the vicious gossip leaves the two women without any income and with tarnished reputations. This one little girl has successfully destroyed both their lives, as well as the life of Karen's fiancé played by James Garner.
This black and white movie, directed by William Wyler, is an adaptation of a Lillian Hellman play. There are no fancy sets or elaborate costumes. What this movie has is a great dramatic story. The 1 hour 48 minutes are filled with good acting and plenty of drama. It's a simple film about a simpler time yet it captures the attention of the audience from the very beginning. If you're looking for a good drama, this is it.
One Way Out
Harry Woltz (Jim Belushi) is a homicide detective with a secret life. He loves to gamble and isn't very good at it. As a matter of fact, he owes the gambling club a lot of money. The Russell Brothers, co-owners of the club, are willing to wipe out his debt if he does one thing for them. They want their partner killed. They know Harry won't murder her, but they want him to devise a foolproof plan and instruct the partner's husband on exactly what to do. If Harry refuses, they'll kill his former partner/lover, Gwen (Angela Featherstone). He has no choice.
He devises a perfect plan for the husband, John Farrow (Jason Bateman). But something goes wrong at the last minute and Harry has to step in. So, with his perfect plan down the drain, Harry tap-dances around the police department while coaching John on exactly what to say and how to act during the police interviews. This is the hard part because Gwen is assigned to the case and Harry knows she is a good detective. When Gwen comes to a dead end in the investigation, Harry is given the ball. This is exactly what he wants. He's almost out of the woods now, but not quite. The perfect plan that wasn't so perfect is an example of how best laid plans can go completely awry. One Way Out runs about 90 minutes and is rated "R."
Blue Crush
Move over Gidget. There's a new surfer girl in town. "Blue Crush" is a fresh look at the Hawaiian surfing lifestyle through the eyes of Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth), a twenty-something girl, along with her little sister Penny (Mika Boorem) and roommates Eden (Michelle Rodriguez) and Lena (Sanoe Lake).The three girls work as maids in a ritzy hotel. Their job is secondary to the time they spend surfing and training Anne Marie for the Pipe Masters competition. To these girls, surfing is their life. When Anne Marie starts dating football quarterback Matt (Matthew Davis) who is in Hawaii with the rest of his team, she begins to doubt her surfing abilities and her commitment to the sport. Will she give up on the one dream that has been with her through her life?
The photography in this film is phenomenal. The underwater scenes are beautifully done, and all the surfing scenes take the audience right into the waves with the surfers. 40 percent of the film was shot on the water. Even though this is set in Hawaii, don't expect to see a lot of tropical scenery. The film focuses mainly on the surfing action and the storylines between the characters.
Blue Crush is a "can do" movie. It'll get your blood pumping as you watch the waves crash over surfer after surfer. This is the one way to catch a big wave without getting hurt. It is rated "PG-13" for Sexual Content, Teen Partying, Language and a Fight. The DVD contains extras like a behind-the-scenes bonus, the techniques they used to film the incredible scenes, some deleted scenes, some of the big wipeouts that occurred, and an inside look at the world of surfing.
The Good Girl
Jennifer Aniston sheds her "Rachel" persona and turns in a winning performance as an unhappy young woman stuck in a dead-end job and an unsatisfying marriage. Justine (Aniston) hates her job until Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal) comes to work at the Retail Rodeo. She is fascinated by him and his passions. He quickly falls in love with her and they begin a steamy clandestine affair. In the meantime, Justine and her husband (John C. Reilly) are trying to have a baby, but it just isn't happening. He's happiest when he's high, and she's happiest when she's with Holden. She juggles her home life, work and Holden, really keeping all three up in the air. But something's gotta give.
The Good Girl is billed as a comedy, however it is more of a drama. The sad lives of these people and the events that bind them are explored in depth, and they are definitely not comical. But the acting is top notch.
The additional DVD features include a gag reel, commentaries, several deleted scenes, and an alternate ending. Both full screen and widescreen versions are integrated into the one disc. The movie runs 94 minutes and is rated "R" for sexuality, some language and drug content.
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Elvis returns to Hawaii in this 1966 musical filled with plenty of songs and beautiful Hawaiian scenery. It's amazing to see how much less crowded Waikiki was 35 years ago, and how simple life was in those days.
After playboy Rick (Elvis) is fired from his piloting job, he returns to his home in Hawaii and together with his friend Danny they start Danrick, a tourism business choppering people around the islands. Getting a new business off the ground (ahem, no pun intended) is not an easy task, but Elvis enlists the help of his girlfriends to steer business their way. He has a girl in every port; make that a girl on every island. Soon their business takes off and it looks like everything is going smoothly. Then things start to go awry. Who would have thought transporting a bunch of dogs in a helicopter from one island to another would be so dangerous and cause a lot of problems? Yet, in true Elvis style, he manages to include a song during the flight.
Young Donna Butterworth plays Jan, Danny's daughter who loves flying and singing (yes, Elvis needs someone to sing with). This little stand-out appeared in The Family Jewels the year before but that is basically the extent of her film career.
Comparing this film to today's standards it is simple and the excitement level is low, but it's a favorite among Elvis fans, whose popularity hasn't waned even though he has been dead for years. Last year's Lilo and Stitch added even more life to this icon. Paradise, Hawaiian Style is rated "G" and runs 90 minutes.
The Devil at 4 O'clock
Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy join forces to save a group of children from an exploding volcano. Tracy plays Father Doonan, an aging priest who has made the island of Talua his home and personally built a small hospital for leper children on the mountain. When a volcano starts erupting, dooming the little island, the route to the hospital is cut off, trapping the children and the few workers. Doonan enlists the help of three convicts (including Sinatra) to parachute to the hospital and lead the children to safety. But they must do it by 4 o'clock the next day or there will be no way for them to get off the doomed island. Their escape down the mountain is not easy, as they encounter lava, landslides, and treacherous terrain.
This suspenseful tale pits good against evil, and man against nature. Will they succeed in saving the children before the impending demise of the island? This is a well acted, well-directed film from 1961 has a running time is 127 minutes.
Snow Queen
Gerda and her father run a remote hotel. Years before, Gerda's mother was killed during a harsh winter storm, and ever since Gerda has disliked winter. She is not a happy person, that is until Kai moves in and becomes the bellboy. The two fall in love.
Then the Snow Queen arrives and takes Kai away with her. Gerda is devastated and leaves on a journey of her own with one goal in mind - to find Kai and bring him back. In order to do this, Gerda must travel through the four seasons, and along the way she meets some interesting characters. All the while, Kai is under the influence of the Snow Queen, yet his love for Gerda keeps him from falling completely.
The moral of the story is true loves wins out over evil. Spring, summer, and autumn provide plenty of obstacles in this fantasy, along with plenty of mysterious and whimsical creatures. Bridget Fonda stars as the Snow Queen, Chelsea Hobbs as Gerda, and Jeremy Guilbaut as Kai. Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen, the movie runs 180 minutes (yes, it is 3 hours long) and the DVD includes a "making of" featurette, photo gallery, and trailers. For those who love fantasies and fairy tales, this is a treat.
Calling Dr. Caillou and Other Adventures
That adorable little bald boy from the PBS series is back with another DVD filled with many adventures. Caillou, his little sister Rosie, and their Mom and Dad share the everyday challenges and fun of life.
When Caillou is afraid to go to the dentist he soon discovers the dentist doesn't hurt him and makes his teeth clean, bright and shiny. When his dad is sick with the flu, Caillou tends to him with juice and lots of TLC. And when Caillou gets laryngitis, not talking for an entire day isn't so bad when they play Charades. The show emphasizes reading, and Caillou's mom introduces him to the wonders and excitement of books and story time at the library. Sometimes people are different, which is what Caillou learns when he befriends a little deaf boy.
With loveable characters and every day activities, the series focuses on the "relationship between small children and the world around them." Additional features on the DVD include character bios, sing alongs with Caillou, interactive games (matching shapes, dressing Caillou for the different seasons, a body puzzle), and a parents corner to get the most out of the show. With 80 minutes of fun adventures and the additional features, this DVD is sure to be a favorite among small kids.
Sagwa's Storybook World
Amy Tan's book inspired the many adventures of Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat. This DVD is filled with 90 minutes of escapades and exploration with Sagwa and her friends and family. They live in a small village in ancient China, where her family serves the magistrate and they live a good life. The disc is divided into segments with different stories followed by short documentaries about relevant topics.
In their many adventures, Sagwa's brother Dongwa discovers the magic of fireflies and the realization that being a grown up is harder than it looks. When Sagwa is not allowed to join her brother's club, she starts her own "Explorer's Club," but the two groups soon learn it's better to work together. Interspersed with the episodes, children get an understanding of different cultures. The Chinese music in the background adds to the flavor of the stories, but the characters are the main attraction. Sagwa is a well-liked character among children. Just check the shelves at FAO Schwartz some day for all the stuffed Sagwa cats!
The stories promote self-confidence, cooperation and curiosity. The fun-loving felines, along with their other furry, and not so furry friends, are a joy to watch. Included on the DVD is a note from Amy Tan and an interactive trivia game.
Signs
Mel Gibson plays Graham Hess, a widower and father of two young children. He had been a minister until the death of his wife six months earlier caused him to rethink his feelings and attitudes. Graham grief led him to lose all his faith in God, so he left the church. Graham has turned his back on religion, faith, and prayer. When he discovers crop circles in his cornfield. Graham thinks the local kids are responsible. But then reports of crop circles and crop signs begin showing up around the world at the same time, everyone has the feeling that this is more than just "local kids."
The film has been described as a modern "War of the Worlds," but the real story is not the aliens. Rather, it is the spiritual conflict within Graham, and man's convictions, passion, and faith.
Additional features on the DVD include deleted scenes, storyboards, and a documentary about the project from its inception to the final product. There's also a clip from filmmaker Shyamalan's first sci-fi project, which will probably inspire young filmmakers to follow their dreams. Signs runs 101 minutes and is rated "PG-13" for Frightening Moments.
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure
Poor little Patch feels overwhelmed being one of 101. He wants to be one-of-a kind, but when you have all those brothers and sisters, that's almost impossible. With the family in the midst of a move to their country Dalmatian Plantation, keeping track of everyone is a chore, and little Patch gets left behind. He sets off on his own to London where he meets up with his TV idol, Thunderbolt. In the meantime, Cruella discovers the new location of the puppies and sends her thugs to collect them all. Soon it's up to Patch and Thunderbolt to save the puppies.
This adorable little movie runs 70 minutes and is rated "G." It has all the charm and excitement of the original, and most likely will be generate sales of Patch puppies from the Disney store! He's cuddly and lovable and definitely one-of-a kind. This film is destined to be another Disney classic.
The bonus features on the DVD include a behind the scenes "Dog-umentary" from the view of a dog, an interactive "Lost in London" game, an inside look at Thunderbolt's dressing room and bloopers, and two music videos.
The Moon-Spinners
This 1964 is still fun and exciting today. Sure, it's a little less sophisticated than modern action films, but it has a charm of it's own that has lasted through time. Haley Mills received her first screen kiss in this film, and confessed she was nervous about it.
The Moon-Spinners was filmed partly on location in Crete, with all the wonderful scenery the Mediterranean isle has to offer. Cast opposite Mills is Peter McEnery. Eli Wallach plays the jewel thief who is hiding his stash in the bay with Mark Camford (McEnery) hot on his trail and Nikky Ferris (Mills) close behind. Nikky, who unwittingly gets caught up in this intrigue, at one point has to escape from a windmill by jumping onto a sail and riding it down to the ground. There is definitely suspense that will hold your interest in the film.
The two make a delightful team, and it would have been fun to see them paired in other films. This thrilling mystery is a delightful change for Haley Mills fans. This Disney film has all the makings of a Hitchcock movie, minus Hitchcock. The young audience, for which it was designed, will no doubt enjoy the story, and older audiences will delight in seeing a maturing Mills surrounded by beautiful backdrops.
The Moon-Spinners is rated PG for action violence. It has a running time of 119 minutes.
Who is Cletis Tout?
This movie winds its way through a cops and robbers story with uniqueness and fun. Christian Slater plays a convict who escapes from prison with his diamond-stealing friend Richard Dreyfuss. They take on new identities with the help of a coroner. Unfortunately, Slater is given the identity of a man wanted by the mob. When the mob discovers the man they killed is not dead, they send a hitman after him. This hitman (Tim Allen) is not the usual hitman. Critical Jim is obsessed with movies and can recite lines from almost any film ever made, along with the studio where the film was made and the date. He locates Slater and realizes he is an imposter. While listening to Slater's story, Critical Jim adds bits and pieces from movies to enhance the story. He's not your average hitman, that's for sure.
With the mob after them, the two fugitives join forces with Dreyfuss' daughter (Portia De Rossi) and devise a plan to dig up the stash of stolen diamonds that he hid before going to prison. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan.
This is a cute story filled with twists and turns, magic, well-devised intricacies, and surprises. It's clever and has an interesting cast of characters. Critical Jim (Tim Allen) makes the film.
Who is Cletis Tout is rated "R" for language, some violence and sexuality, and runs 92 minutes.
3-2-1 Penguins: Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt
The 3-2-1 Penguin series teaches life lessons in a fun and entertaining way. The four wacky Penguins from space join forces with their earth friends for adventures filled with fun and positive values. In this episode little Michelle joins the Penguins as they fix the beacon at Lightstation Kilowatt. Through their attempts to restore the light, Michelle and the Penguins learn that pride can sometimes get in the way. They learn that accepting help from others is sometimes the best way to go, even though personal pride might get bruised. Michelle is a cute little character that kids can identify with, especially when she tells everyone about her "panache."
The additional features on the DVD include an interactive storybook, a course from the Space Academy School on how to talk to aliens, a Family Fun activity called "Toxic Waste" where everyone learns to work together, Recipes from Grandmum's kitchen, a Space Maze game, Trivia questions, bios of the characters, interesting features about making the film, and a DVD-ROM bonus where kids can draw and color the characters. There are many other cool bonus features too.
Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt runs about 30 minutes, but the bonus features add hours of additional fun for kids.
The Amazing Carnival of Complaining is the other new release in this series. In this episode, it is Jason who joins the Penguins in another exciting adventure. For those not familiar with this series, Jason and Michelle are two young kids who experience out-of-this-world adventures after a toy spaceship and four toy penguins come to life. Each video is filled with wacky humor and a lesson in values.
Rugrats Mysteries
Tommy and the gang join together for 8 fun-filled episodes in this new DVD. First, they all take a train ride and discover intrigue and suspense in "Murmur on the Ornery Express," a never before seen double-length episode. Then everyone learns about the art of Feng Shui. And 3-year old Angelica enlists Phil to pretend to be a baby so she can play mommy with a couple 4-year old girls. There are five episodes centering on grandpa, including his story about Bigfoot, his lost teeth, and his rather unfulfilling experience with a retirement home.
The Rugrats continue to be a popular franchise, and every kid will enjoy the escapades and antics of the band of babies on this disc, which has a total running time of 105 minutes.
The Banger Sisters
Suzette (delightfully played by Goldie Hawn) and Vinnie (amusingly played by Susan Sarandon) are true friends who earned their nickname for banging all the musicians and roadies in the bands. It's been twenty years since these two women have seen each other. They now have completely different lives. Suzette loses her job bartending on the Sunset Strip so she decides to drive to Phoenix to see her old buddy. Along the way she picks up a quirky man named Harry (played by Geoffrey Rush). Suzette is still the raucous, booze drinking, fun gal she was in her hay-day. But Vinnie, now known as Lavinia, is married to a lawyer with his eyes on a political office, and has two daughters who know nothing about her former life.
Over the next couple days Lavinia turns back into Vinnie and rediscovers herself, with the hands-on help of her dear friend. Together they relive their glory days when they were free and had the times of their lives. Vinnie comes out of her stuffy shell and rediscovers the woman she is, was, and wants to be. The film is rated "R" for Sexuality, Some Language and Drug Content. The running time is 94 minutes.
Additional features on the DVD include the HBO special about the film and the actors, and a funny blooper reel.
Tadpole
This offbeat but humorous story focuses on a 15-year old high school boy who is in love with his stepmother. While home for the holidays, he ends up having an affair with his step mom's best friend, then trying to hide it from his parents. The young lad is exceptionally mature for his age and enjoys reading deep and thought provoking books and does not find the girls his age to be the least bit interesting. His obsession is his stepmother.
Sigourney Weaver plays the stepmother, John Ritter is the father, Bebe Neuwirth is the best friend, and Aaron Stanford plays young tadpole. The short film (78 minutes) took the critics by surprise and delighted audiences everywhere.
Tadpole is rated "PG-13" for sexual content, mature thematic elements and content.
© 2003 Francine Brokaw
Let's Talk About It!
Issues newsgroup
Join us to talk about this article!
|
|
|
