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New DVD reviews - April 29, 2008 |
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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Tuesday, 29 April 2008 |
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Tahoe World movie critic Lisa Miller reviews the latest DVDs to hit video stores and Netflix on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.
(Ratings are out of four stars)
THE GOLDEN COMPASS
(2007)
* *1/2
Directed by Chris Weitz
Starring Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliot, Eva Green, Ben Walker, Christopher Lee
Voices of Ian McKellen, Freddie Highmore, Ian McShane, Kathy Bates, Kristin Scott Thomas
New Line/Rated PG-13/Fantasy/113 min
Based on a series of books by British author, Phillip Pullman, “Golden Compass” unfolds in a parallel universe closely resembling our own. Here the human soul lives outside the body in the shape of an animal or daemon (pronounced daymon). An adult’s daemon is permanently set, but childrens’ daemons are shape shifters.
“Dust” is one of Pullman’s ideas poorly translated. The little we see of the stuff involves a golden cloud swirling within a golden compass that functions like a crystal ball. After her best friend is taken, young Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) discovers her destiny is to rescue him and other orphans kidnapped by “Gobblers.” Appearing to be set early in the 20th century, art deco motifs and turn of the century machinery give the film a romantic sweep into which an alabaster and gold Mrs. Coulter is dropped.
The seductive character, depicted by Nicole Kidman, disrupts the narrative flow. Somehow she cajoles Lyra’s Oxford scholar protectors into allowing Lyra to accompany her to the North Pole. To rescue the orphans, Lyra is counseled by crusty aeronaut, Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott, in plain-talking cowboy mode) to hire Iorek Byrnison, a huge ice warrior bear. The troubled beast speaks in the melancholy timber of McKellen’s baritone.
Lyra’s panoramic rides, atop the galloping bear crossing frozen ice, make viewers long for a bear of their own. Nevertheless, the studio’s cumbersome directives -- stripping the film of its religious overtones -- cause the plot to creep and lurch awkwardly. Operating from a position of political correctness, the film adaptation declaws Pullman’s story and defangs his characters.
HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE
(2007)
* * *1/2
History Channel/Not Rated/Documentary/94 min
The story of planet earth is the story of our origins. Incredible computer graphics depict earth’s formation 4.5 million years ago. From there, the History Channel documentary leapfrogs through our planet’s milestone events. The formation of earth’s continents, 3.5 billion years ago, the advent of plant life a billion years later and the process of oxygenation that transformed our olive green oceans and red skies into life-giving, blue jewels over a billion year period. Reasons for the rise and fall of various life forms is explained by geologists who unearth evidence preserved in rock.
The DVD’s cardboard packaging is earth-friendly, but flimsy. Special features include a documentary about our volcanically active planet. DVD features: Additional Scenes, Documentary: Inside the Volcano, DD Stereo English language track(s), full-screen.
TIM AND ERIC AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB!: Season One
(2007)
* *1/2
Created by Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim
Starring Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, John C Reilly, Zach Galifianakis, Weird Al Yankovic, Bob Odenkirk
Warner/Not Rated/Comedy/115 min
Created for TV’s “Adult Swim” collection, the live action, 15-minute show stars creators Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim as a congenial pair of dim-bulbs. The comedy and skits seem a random stream of consciousness, performed and filmed in an amateur style that thumbs its nose at accepted standards. Each episode opens with a skit to set its recurring theme. In one instance, Tim’s father writes a note congratulating Eric on being the more talented member of the duo, in another, Tim transforms himself into a tabby cat then is unable to change back. The kitty purrs while Eric feels frightened and alone.
Among their recurring characters are a married news anchor team, extreme hacky sack competitors, or white-boy rappers. One song, detailing Tim’s reasons for sitting down to pee, is a gutt-splitter. Half or more of the humor falls flat, but when they hit their sweet spot, it’s awesome.
DVD features: Lost Gems and deleted scenes, Great (but not great enough) Extended Scenes and Missing Moments, How’d Dey Do Dat?, Awesomecon, Oops and Ding Dongs, Promos, DD 2.0 SS English language track(s), full-screen.
INTELLIGENCE: SEX, DRUGS AND SPIES
(2006)
* * *
Created by Chris Haddock
Starring Ian Tracey, Klea Scott
Acorn Media/Not Rated/Drama/676 min
Set in Vancouver, this spy-versus-spy-versus-drug-dealers crime drama examines the inner workings of intelligence gathering. Mary Spalding (Scott), a black woman clawing her way to the top of the Canadian spy network, schemes to expose her morally bankrupt coworkers while obtaining impressive field intelligence. To make important busts, Spalding relies on information provided by crime boss, Jimmy Reardon (Ian Tracey). In exchange, Spalding allows Reardon to operate freely. The pair’s personal relationships are a quagmire of disillusionment. There are custody battles with drug abusing exes and philandering spouses. Each gains an advantage thanks to cooperation from the other, further strengthening their alliance. Creator Chris Haddock scripts Reardon as having a firm moral compass while Spalding is more calculating.
4-Disc DVD Box Set features: Behind-The-Scenes featurette, Text Galleries: Character Descriptions, Filmographies, DD English language track(s), widescreen.
ALIEN NATION ULTIMATE MOVIE COLLECTION
(1994-1997)
*1/2
Directed by Kenneth Johnson
Starring Gary Graham, Scott Patterson, Eric Pierpoint, David Faustino, Kristin Davis, Michele Scarabelli, Pamela Gordon, Terri Treas, Lauren Woodland
Fox/Not Rated/Sci-Fi/447 min
Fox brings together five “Alien Nation” TV movies produced between 1994 and 1997. Like the two-year television series (1989-1990) preceding them, the films ask what might happen if earth were descended upon by a quarter-million extraterrestrial refugees. The Tenctonese, a humanoid race with two hearts and superior strength, assimilate into Los Angeles -- with minor glitches. The pivotal relationship belongs to Gary Graham, a Los Angeles police detective and his alien partner (Eric Pierpoint). Together the pair investigate crimes, often involving the Tenctonese. Like the series, the films aren’t sure whether humor or serious drama constitute the best approach -- and the final product suffers. Hoping to attract Trekkies to its morally upright themes, “Alien Nation” lacks the strong central characters, visionary thought and tight storylines to boldly go there.
3-Disc DVD set features: Director and cast commentaries, 4 Making-of featurettes, The Director and Actors Look Back on Alien Nation, Outtakes, Gag Reel, Still galleries, 5 Storyboards, Concept Art, Standard Screen, DD Stereo English or Spanish language track(s), full-screen.
DEAD MAN’S BOUNTY aka Summer Love
(2006)
*1/2
Directed by Piotr Uklanski
Starring Boguslaw Linda, Karel Roden, Katarzyna Figura, Krzysztof Zaleski, Val Kilmer
Lionsgate/Rated R/Drama/93 min
Conceptual artist, Piotr Uklanski, tries to distill the Western genre into its iconic elements. He sets the action in a dusty Polish outpost where the Stranger (Roden), planning to collect his bounty from the Sheriff (Linda), arrives with the corpse of the Wanted Man (Kilmer). Seemingly confused over what defines a Western movie and what crosses into arthouse territory, Uklanski’s unnamed archetypes only convey a portion of the irony that escapes him.
DVD features: DD 5.1 or DD 2.0 English language tracks, Spanish subtitles, widescreen.
CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(2007)
*1/2
Directed by Daniel M. Cohen
Starring Breckin Meyer, Adam Scott, Monica Keena, Bess Armstrong, Laura Harris, Melinda Page Hamilton
Anchor Bay/Rated R/Comedy/99 min
When computer programmer, Ted (Meyer), is promoted to management, he becomes disillusioned by corporate greed. Unable to prevent the company from installing underdeveloped computer systems into nuclear power plants, Ted seeks relief in the from high class call girls provided to placate company executives. Though the company’s malfeasance is urgent and important, the film’s fixation on Ted’s sexual misadventures robs the story of meaning and destroys the corporate satire.
DVD features: DD 5.1 SS or DD 2.0 Stereo English language track, widescreen.
THE FINAL SEASON
(2007)
* *
Directed by David M. Evans
Starring Sean Astin, Powers Boothe, Rachael Leigh Cook
Sony/Rated PG/Drama/118 min
This love letter to a small town championship baseball team, examines the impact of high school sports on the economy and pride of Norway, IA. Kent Stock (Astin) takes over for the school’s longtime baseball coach (Boothe) during their final season before the school is moved to a larger town. Against all odds, Stock leads his team to victory. Sadly, the nonstop, inspirational score and sentimental cliches, leave viewers little room to enjoy it.
DVD features: Commentary with Director, Actor Sean Astin, Executive Producer Carl Borack and Producer Michael Wasserman, or commentary with Producer Tony Wilson and coaches Kent Stock and Jim Van Scoyoc, 2 featurettes: Making-of, The Spirit of Norway, DD 5.1 English language track(s), French or Spanish subtitles, widescreen.
HOW SHE MOVE
(2007)
* * *
Directed by Ian Iqbal Rashid
Starring Rutina Wesley, De Ray Davis, Keyshia Cole, Tre Armstrong
Paramount Vantage/Rated PG-13/Drama/91 min
It’s rare for a movie filmed in Toronto to be set there, but this one occurs in that city’s troubled Jane-Finch corridor. A family tragedy forces exceptional student, Raya Green (Rutina Wesley), to forfeit her education at a posh private school for public school in the old hood. Though accused of snobbery by classmates, Raya “steps”New DVD reviews - April 29, 2008 her way into a serious step-dancing crew competing for a large cash prize. The energetic dancing plays out against the backdrop of class, race and gender bias.
DVD features: featurettes: The Characters, From Rehearsal to Film, Telling Her Story, Theatrical Trailer, DD SS 5.1 English or Spanish lt, widescreen.
27 DRESSES, DVD or Blu-Ray
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Anne Fletcher
Starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Ed Burns, Melora Hardin, Judy Greer
Fox/Rated PG-13/Comedy/105 min
Katherine Heigl plays Jane, a perpetual bridesmaid whose busy itinerary sometimes obligates her to appear in two wedding parties on the same day. To make matters worse, Jane’s handsome, dim-witted boss (Burns) passes up the chance to date her in favor of rushing Jane’s bimbo sister (Akerman) to the altar. Jane’s hopes for a wedding of her own could be looking up when she meets handsome journalist, Kevin (Marsden). However, the writer feigns interest in Jane to gather material for his story about the bridesmaid unable to get a proposal of her own. Heigl nicely carries Jane’s romantic aspirations along with all that wedding cake.
DVD features: Clips & Highlights Inside Look: What Happens in Vegas, Featurettes: The Wedding Party, You’ll Never Wear That Again, Jane’s World, The Running of the Brides, Trailers, DD 5.1 SS English or Dolby SS French language track(s), Spanish subtitles, widescreen. Blu-Ray features same as above plus: Deleted Scenes, DTS 5.1 HD Lossless Audio English or Dolby SS French language track(s), Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, or Spanish subtitles.
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