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New DVD reviews - April 1, 2008 |
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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Monday, 31 March 2008 |
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Tahoe World movie critic Lisa Miller reviews all the new DVDs hitting video stores on Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
(Ratings are out of four stars)
PAINKILLER JANE
(2007)
*1/2
Created by Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Quesada
Starring Kristanna Loken, Noah Danby, Alaina Huffman, Sean Owen Roberts, Stephen Lobo, Rob Stewart
Anchor Bay/Not Rated/Sci-Fi/1012 Min
Based on the 1995 graphic novel, the series recycles elements from “X-Men,” “Dark Angel,” and other firsts. The protagonist, Jane Vesco, played by Loken, is forcefully recruited to serve a covert squad chasing down “neuros,” a fancy name for “X-Men”-like mutants. Jane’s mysterious ability to heal herself is news to her and her coworkers, and is an invaluable asset.
Finding the source of her ability should provide a multi-episode story arc, but by the time it’s addressed, the series has fallen into a freak-of-the-week-syndrome. Loken, larger than many men, reveals plenty of well-muscled flesh, but is hampered by the requirement she deliver trite voiceover narration.
Action, rather than acting, is her strength, and there’s precious little of the former. Attempting to mask its low budget under eye-straining low light, the gloomy series telegraphs its imminent demise.
6-Disc DVD set features: commentary on selected episodes by Kristanna Loken and Noah Danby, Behind Budapest: Making-of, DD 2.0 Stereo English language track.
ANIMAL PLANET: GROWING UP WILD CATS
(2007)
* * * *
Genius/Not Rated/Documentary/170 min
Loss of habitat, poaching and the exotic pet trade are forces rapidly diminishing big cat populations in the wild. Fortunately, a global effort to preserve big cat breeding stock is underway. Animal Planet’s “Growing Up...” series showcases the dedicated individuals giving time and money to this gargantuan effort.
Each segment documents the arrival of newborn lions, cheetahs, tigers or leopard to a sanctuary where caregivers undertake the complex job of rearing a healthy animal. Cubs are frequently kept company by house cats serving as social integrators and teachers of cat skills.
In “Growing Up Tiger,” a woman, occasionally helped by her husband, bottle feeds a pair of litter mates every two hours round the clock. In the lion segment, another care giver, exhausted by the needs of five cubs in various stages of development, mistakes the youngest male for his sister and names him Amy. The name sticks. As cubs blossom into 100 pound-plus juveniles, placing them into captive prides is a necessity everyone regrets, but until home litter boxes grow much larger, what choice have they?
DVD features: DD English language track(s), full-screen.
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: Season Six
(2004)
* * *1/2
Created by Dick Wolf
Starring Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Richard Belzer, B.D. Wong, Ice-T, Dann Florek, Diane Neal
Universal/Not Rated/Drama/1067 min
Investigations by primary detectives, Benson and Stabler (Hargitay and Meloni), give way to slightly expanded roles for secondary investigators, Munch (Belzer) and Tutuola (Ice-T). The sacrifice of each detective’s personal happiness finds expression on the job. In one example, Stabler’s anger -- over his marital split -- endangers his dealings with victims and perps, in another, a shooting briefly reunites Tutuola with his son, causing the detective to recognize the gulf between them.
In a faltering attempt to counterbalance this male angst, Benson becomes ultra-empathetic with her victims -- even dead ones. A.D.A. Casey Novak (Neal) is brutally attacked in her office, but recovers both her health, and determination, taking on the military for its dubious medical practices in the Middle East. Alfred Molina and Angela Lansbury appear in a notable episode focused on a wealthy, socially inept murderer.
Ever macho and intense, Stabler prepares himself and his interrogation room to grill a suspect in a fulfilling episode departing from the show’s usual format. A second attempt to change up the show’s formula less successfully pits the squad against a serial rapist-murderer leaving enigmatic messages that may be used to stop him. As usual, the series benefits from excellent writing, compelling cases, layered themes and fleshed out officers seeking to bring down New York City’s worst.
5-Disc DVD Set features: 5-Disc Digipak With Outer Box, Special Letters Unit, DD 5.1 SS English language track(s), Spanish subtitles, widescreen.
SPIRAL
(2007)
* *1/2
Directed by Adam Green, Joel David Moore
Starring Joel David Moore, Zachary Levi, Amber Tamblyn
Anchor Bay/Rated PG-13/Thriller/91 min
Mason (Moore), a possibly delusional telemarketer, works for his bossy best friend, Berkeley (Levi), but harbors dreams of becoming a painter. The arrival of new employee, Amber (Tamblyn), reinvigorates Mason’s artistic yearnings and provides the possibility of romance. But as Mason paints Amber’s portrait, creepy, violent visions overtake him. The viewer becomes bogged down trying to discern what Mason’s visions mean, and whether they are real. Though slow to reveal the truth, the actors perform admirably while the film’s technical aspects make the most of its small budget.
DVD features: commentary with directors, actors, producers, writers, and crew, Making-of featurette, trailer, promos, DD 5.1 SS or DD SS 2.0 English language tracks, widescreen.
ADAM’S APPLES
(2007)
* * *
Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Bro, Ali Kazim, Paprika Steen, Ole Thestrup
Repnet/Rated R/Drama/94 min
Idiosyncratic “Adam’s Apples” examines faith and human nature through black comedy. Evil incarnate, neo-Nazi Adam (Ulrich Thomsen) is paroled to community service at a church and its expansive grounds, overseen by optimistic vicar, Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen). Required to set a goal, Adam chooses to bake an apple pie using fruit from a church tree that appears to be perfection itself. Ivan sees the devil at play when Adam must subsequently defend the fruit from worms, crows and lightning. However, Adam is certain the unaccountably cheery vicar is a moron in need of beatings and cruel reality checks. Ivan turns the other cheek not only to Adam, but to live-in parolees, Gunnar (Nicolas Bro), an alcoholic, ex-tennis champ, and Khalid (Ali Kazim), an unreformed robber. Determined to make Ivan see the error of his ways, Adam’s journey is incredibly violent, but never dull.
DVD features: DD Danish language track(s), English subtitles.
EYE OF THE BEAST
(2007)
-Bomb-
Directed by Gary Jates
Starring James Van Der Beek, Alexandra Castillo, Arne MacPherson
Genius/Not Rated/Horror/90 min
Having eaten all the fish inhabiting a large freshwater lake, A tentacled monster expands its diet to include people. Marine biologist, Dan Leland (Van Der Beek), arrives to investigate. He suspects a giant squid has taken up residence, but is pooh-poohed by peers, and by the locals who think he’s loco. For 85 long minutes, evidence of the Sci-Fi Channel original movie monster is limited to suction cupped tentacles wrapped around its prey -- to the best of the thick rubber appendage’s abilities. Finally, the creature pulls up alongside a boat where it considerately remains motionless while doddering humans attempt to kill it.
DVD features: DD Stereo English language track(s), widescreen.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: Regular or Special Ed., DVD or Blu-ray
(2007)
* *
Directed by Tim Hill
Starring Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Janice Karman
Voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney
Fox/Rated PG/Comedy/min
Jason Lee turns in a dull performance as a doofus songwriter hoping to find fame and fortune by exploiting a trio of singing chipmunks. Alvin, Theo and Simon, agree to record and perform for the songwriter in exchange for food, shelter and television privileges. Happily, those chipper voices, less obnoxious than during their cartoon heyday, are unleashed on a bevy of pop songs crying out to be ‘munked. The filmmakers seem to have a firm grasp on these CGI critters laid atop live action, but the comedy recycles too many family movie cliches.
DVD features: Chipmunk History, music featurette, trailers. Blu-Ray features same as above plus: Witch Doctor Music Video, Digital copy.
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
(2007)
* * *
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Paramount/Rated R/Musical, Comedy/116 min
Burton, Depp and Carter say, “We do,” one more time to their 3-way movie-marriage. Casting Depp, Burton’s annointed muse, was never in doubt though Burton’s wife, Carter, took singing lessons prior to her audition. Following a long and unjust prison sentence, 19th century barber, Sweeney Todd (Depp), plots revenge against a corrupt judge (Rickman) and the judge’s cronies. Todd’s victims become filling for meat pies sold by Mrs. Nellie Lovett (Carter). Adapted from the stage play, songs are trimmed and the plot slightly altered. Sparse dialog fills in the gaps between songs fitting the plot and Burton’s dark visuals, like a glove.
DVD features: Burton + Depp + Carter = Todd featurette, DD 5.1 SS English, French or Spanish language track(s), widescreen.
Released in new formats
HIDALGO, Blu-Ray
(2004)
*1/2
Directed by Joe Johnston
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif
Buena Vista/Rated PG-13/Action/136 min
Though scholars dispute the existence of a 3,000 mile horse race across the Arabian desert, Viggo Mortensen’s Frank T. Hopkins finds the time and money to enter such an event, rescue a sheik’s daughter, and survive assorted conspiracies thanks to his trusty mustang Hidalgo. Many laughs, none intended. Blu-ray features: DD 5.1 SS English language track(s), widescreen.
COYOTE UGLY, Blu-Ray
(2000)
*1/2
Directed by David McNally
Starring Piper Perabo, Maria Bello, Melanie Lynskey
Buena Vista/Rated PG-13/Comedy/101 min
This exploitative film lacks the camp attribute that might have elevated it. A young singer, hoping to take New York by storm, becomes a barmaid at club Coyote Ugly, a nightspot notorious for employing flirtatious, sexy young women. The film achieves something rare when watching lovely women strut their stuff is less fun than howling at the moon. Blu-ray features: DD 5.1 SS English language track(s), widescreen.
UNBREAKABLE, Blu-ray
(2000)
* *1/2
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright Penn
Buena Vista/Rated PG-13/Thriller/106 min
Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan’s new story centers around the sole survivor of a train wreck (Willis) who is subsequently persuaded to explore his omnipotence by a comic book enthusiast (Jackson). The director’s stylish cinematography is gratifying, but his overly contrived philosophy and the film’s phony resolution, are spoilers. Blu-ray features: DD 5.1 SS English language track(s), widescreen.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 March 2008 )
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