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New DVD releases - Aug. 4, 2008 |
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Written by By Lisa Miller/ Special to the World
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
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 NIM'S ISLAND, DVD or Blu-Ray
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin
Fox-Walden/Rated PG/Fantasy, Comedy/95 min
"Nim's Island" relies on likable stock characters to deliver overly manufactured emotions. Eleven-year-old Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her father Jack (Gerard Butler) happily occupy an unspoiled, volcanic island somewhere in the South Pacific. A widower and marine researcher, Jack hasn't gotten over his wife's death a decade earlier. Nim assumes adult duties such running the household, but her longing for childhood activities is expressed in friendships with island animals and a fantasy life tied to the books by author-adventurer, Alex Rover (Jodie Foster). While at sea studying plankton, Nim's father's boat is crippled by a storm. Alone on the island, Nim fears the worst and emails her concerns to Alex Rover.
Unknown to Nim, Alexandra Rover is a germaphobic shut-in living in San Francisco talked into helping Nim by her macho alter ego, Alex (also played by Gerard Butler). While Alexandra tackles the mental and physical gymnastics necessary to reach the girl, Nim attempts to rid her island of unwanted tourists. While Foster mugs and protests from the confines of tiny planes, rickety boats, and a storm battered heliocopter, Nim and her animals concoct endearing schemes to frighten away their human invaders. Out at sea, there's no doubt that Renaissance man Jack, will repair his vessel and return to Nim. While struggling to strike a balance between wackiness and whimsy, the film's troubled characters manage to persuade us they are meant to be together.
SUNSET TAN: Season One
(2007)
Starring Erin Tietsort, Nick D'Anna, Holly Huddleston, Molly Shea, Janelle Perry, Keely Williams, Roxanne
Lions Gate/Not Rated/250 min
An upscale tanning salon may sound glamorous, but seen from the perspective of Sunset Tan, one such establishment catering to the Beverly Hills elite, it's an ugly business all about shallow people. Nick D'Anna, the store's star salesman, persuades a concerned mother to purchase a $1,300 tan for her tween daughter. Dutifully waiting while his girlfriend bronzes, Chris Kattan endures the brainless flirtations of Holly and Molly, a pair of air-head bleached blondes nicknaming themselves the Olly girls. Erin Tietsort, an Oklahoma transplant, protests the same freewheeling lifestyle she's obviously attracted to while Janelle, her manipulative supervisor, outmaneuvers and stabs Erin in the back at every turn. Roxanne, the regional supervisor, allows the store to slide downhill, criticizing store manager Keely Williams for questioning Roxanne's lack of involvement. It won't surprise anyone to learn this E! Channel series also features celebrity visitations from the likes of Britney Spears and Kato Kaelin, the exact sort of ding-a-lings we'd expect to find there. DVD features: Learn how to do stuff the Olly Girls' way, deleted scenes, Red Carpet Interviews, DD 2.0 English, Full-screen format.
GROWING UP SAFARI
(2008)
Directed by Cory Taylor
Starring Louise Joubert
* * *
Genius/Not Rated/Documentary/169 min
Animal planet collects four one-hour episodes of its "Growing Up" series onto one DVD. Rather than study animals in their native habitats, this series follows the efforts of dedicated caregivers and animal conservationists to raise orphaned wild animal youngsters. Though all four episodes are winners, two stand out. In "Growing Up Zebra," Sanwild Animal Sanctuary founder, Louise Joubert, manages 21,000 acres while caring for Cassidy, a badly injured foal. Charming and mischievous, Cassidy undergoes three operations to repair abdominal injuries. Louise struggles to coordinate Cassidy's release into a herd living on her preserve, but when little Shadow arrives, she revises her plan, and after rescuing Sky, Louise makes further alterations. In "Growing Up Hyena," an animal long thought of as a skulking scavenger, Homer and a pair of motherless orphans prove to be intelligent and affectionate. Episodes featuring an orphaned Rothschild giraffe and two motherless Rhinos, are also compelling. Those seeking quality family programming need look no further. DVD features: DD 2.0 English language track, full-screen.
OUT ON HOME VIDEO Shorts
ROGUE
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Greg McLean
Starring Radha Mitchell, Michael Vartan, Sam Worthington, John Jarratt, Stephen Curry, Heather Mitchell
Genius/Unrated/Horror/98 min
Creature feature enthusiasts will want to see this sleeper and it's 25-foot, man-eating croc. Set in the Australian outback, the plot places travel reporter Pete (Vartan) aboard a small tourist boat captained by Kate (Mitchell), and filled with a "one each" variety of locals. After the croc disables their boat, the survivors seek refuge on a small island that will soon be submerged by the rising tide. The plot moves along briskly, with its climax, set in the croc's den, constituting the highlight. DVD features: director commentary, Making-of documentary, Gallery of mini-documentaries, The Real Rogue, theatrical trailer, DD 5.1 English language track(s), Spanish subtitles, widescreen.
NIM'S ISLAND, DVD or Blu-Ray
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin
Fox-Walden/Rated PG/Fantasy, Comedy/95 min
Nim's island takes viewers to the idyllic home of young Nim (Breslin), her marine biologist father (Butler) and her many animal friends. When Nim's father goes missing at sea, she pleads for help from adventure author Alex Rover (Foster), unaware that the phobic Alexandra never ventures beyond her own front door. Egged on by her courageous alter ego (also played by Butler), the author braves a dangerous world -- and a wild heliocopter ride -- to come to Nim's aid. DVD features: commentary with Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin or commentary with Directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, 3 Deleted Scenes, featurettes: Nim's Friends, Abigail's Journey, Working on Water, Forced Trailers: Ice Age 3, Horton Hears a Who, Angel Wars: Guardian Force, Garfield Fun Fest, Dr. Dolittle 5, Elephant Tales, Picture This, DD SS 5.1 English, DD Stereo French or Spanish language track(s), widescreen. Blu-Ray Features same as above plus: Nim's Spyglass BonusView Mode enabling Picture-in-Picture Playback of Behind-the-Scenes Production Footage and Cast and Crew Interviews, Write Your Own Alex Rover Adventure, Coconut Soccer Game, Seaside Shuffle Shell Game, Nim's Island Trivia Track, DTS HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 English language track(s).
SHARK WEEK: OCEAN OF FEAR
(2008)
* * *
Image/Not Rated/Documentary/377 min
The Discovery Channel, home of "Shark Week," offers a collection of its infamous programming. One episode reenacts a massive shark attack on 900 men after the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in 1945. Why do some believe they can handle sharks without fear? Do sharks intend to eat people, or is it a case of mistaken identity? Although some of this programming seeks to sensationalize and exploit our fears, the marine biologists and intrepid adventurers seen here seem sincere in their efforts to unravel the behavior of these much maligned predators. 2-Disc DVD features: 6 programs: Perfect Predators, Ocean of Fear: Worst Shark Attack Ever, Shark Tribe, Top Five Eaten Alive, Shark-Feeding Frenzy, Sharkman, DD 2.0 English lt, widescreen.
BLACK COFFEE
(2005)
* * *
Directed by Irene Angelico
BFS Entertainment/Not Rated/Documentary/174 min
There's more to this stimulating beverage than meets the eye. Three programs illuminate the origins and development of coffee as a pick-me-up, and an agent of social change. Filmmaker Irene Angelico travels to Ethiopia, where the coffee bean's properties were first discovered and exploited. The bean's journey reverberates through various cultures as Middle Eastern, European and American politics feel the effects, prompting Popes and Imams to defend the drink. How coffee is grown, roasted, packaged and delivered to your cup involves many steps that merit this carefully drawn study. 3-Disc DVD features: Three Programs: The Irresistible Bean, Gold In Your Cup, The Perfect Cup, English language track, full-screen.
Released in New Formats
THE SIXTH DAY
(2000)
* *1/2
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rapaport, Wendy Crewson, Robert Duvall
Sony/PG-13/Sci-Fi/ 124 min
Arnie plays both helicopter pilot Adam Gibson and Gibson's clone. Michael Drucker (Tony Goldwyn), the Bill Gates of cloning, routinely violates the "6th Day" law, making it illegal to clone humans. He and his staff of assassins have all been killed repeatedly, (several times each in this movie alone), prompting Gibson to note, "No one stays dead anymore." Count the techno-dazzlers in dozens. The bathroom mirror reads out the day's schedule, football helmets project pertinent facts inside the visor, and Little girls have realistic, talking dolls for friends. DVD features: includes Digital Copy, DD 5.1 SS or DD 2.0 English, French, or Spanish language track(s), widescreen.
GATTACA, Special Ed. DVD, or Blu-Ray
(1997)
* *1/2
Directed by Andrew Niccol
Starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Ernest Borgnine, Alan Arkin, Tony Shalhoub, Elias Koteas
Sony/PG-13/Sci-Fi/106 min
In a near future-world, genetically engineered people known as valids, receive the best jobs, relegating naturally conceived in-valids to underclass status. Born with a heart defect, in-valid Vincent (Ethan Hawke), buys an accident victim's valid identity in hopes of fulfilling his dream of becoming an astronaut. Uma Thurman is thanklessly cast as Vincent's girlfriend. Often slow, this unevenly paced tale depicts a wholly unpleasant, unattractive future world that unequivocally condemns genetic enhancement. DVD features: Includes Digital Copy, DD 5.1 English, French, Portuguese or Spanish language track(s), widescreen.
FORTRESS
(1993)
*1/2
Directed by Stuart Gordon
Starring Christopher Lambert, Loryn Locklin, Kurtwood Smith, Lincoln Kilpatrick
Lions Gate/Rated R/Sci-Fi/95 min
Imagining a grisly future world that turns China's "One Child Law" into a terrible nightmare, "Fortress" uses its premise to deliver plenty of gratuitous blood and guts. Christopher Lambert seems dazed and confused by the role of John Brennick, sent to prison, along with his wife Karen (Locklin), for conceiving a second child. The prison, constructed deep underground, is run by bio-human Poe (Smith) in cooperation with Zed-10, a remorseless computer. Prisoners are implanted with thought-monitoring devices and contraptions that enforce obedience through pain, or explode to kill a would-be escapee. When Poe forces Karen to become his companion, John plots a daring escape. It's all by-the-numbers from here and dated special effects don't help. DVD features: cast and crew information, production notes, theatrical trailer, DD 2.0 English language track(s), full-screen.
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF: I Love the 80's Ed.
(1986)
* *1/2
Paramount/PG-13/Comedy/102 min
Directed by John Hughes
Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Ben Stein, Jeffrey Jones
In this light, wholesome flick, high school senior Ferris plays hookey, and persuades his two best friends (Ruck and Sara) to join him for a carefree romp in the city. Broderick, 24 at the time, plays straight man to Stein as a hapless teacher, Jones as angry Principal Rooney and Edie McClurg as Rooney's ditzy secretary. DVD features: director commentary, bonus CD includes music by a-ha, Echo & The Bunnymen, INXS and Erasure, DD 5.1 SS or DD 2.0 SS English, DD 2.0 SS French language track(s), widescreen.
STAR TREK: The Original Series Season Two
(1967)
* * *
Created by Gene Rodenberry
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley
CBS Paramount/Not Rated/Sci-Fi/1311 min
There's no denying the kitchiness of the original "Star Trek's" special effects, but many would call that part of the charm. Remastered from high definition, this new issue includes enhanced visual effects. Set in the 23rd century, the series chronicles the intergalactic adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the outer reaches of space. Considered by many to the best of its three seasons, the second year delves into Vulcan culture. Spock's (Nimoy) father, played by Mark Sarek, is a popular recurring character.
The season contains the series' most lighthearted episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles," and one of its darkest, "The Doomsday Machine." It boldly adds Russian navigator, Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), to the crew, though at the time, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were locked in a cold war. As always, the Spock-Kirk-Bones triumvirate carry these plots through good times and bad. 8-DVD Boxset features: Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies Part 2, "More Tribbles, More Troubles" episode from the Star Trek Animated Series, "Trials and Tribble-ations" episode from the Star Trek Deep Space Nine, 4 new collector data cards, DD 5.1 English, DD Mono Spanish or French language track(s), full-screen.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 August 2008 )
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