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Garbage Pail Kids Movie

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 7th, 2005

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Here’s a blast from the 80’s past, remember the Garbage Pail Kids? Remember those cards and stickers? Those gross out cartoon characters? Well…a parental protest put them out of circulation. But here’s the movie, called…well…The Garbage Pail Kids Movie. The barebones plot involves a human kid, played by Mackenzie Astin, who works in an antique shop owned by Cap’n Mancini (Anthony Newley). Stay away from the garbage pail, but no. The garbage can spills and enter…the Garbage Pail Kids. These kids…
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Sleepover (1995)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 4th, 2005

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Synopsis

Teenage rites of passage during the summer vacation at the beach. The protagonist is a quiet, decent sort, but his close friend is a domineering alpha male who bullies everyone around him into doing whatever he wants. He is clearly pulling his companions toward serious trouble. The story builds to one night when the boys use each other’s homes as alibies: they are supposed to be having a sleepover, but in fact are out looking for girls. Things go wrong.

The storyline itself isn’t s…
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Bad Guy

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 3rd, 2005

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Synopsis

A silent pimp (the only words he speaks – a couple of brief sentences late in the film – are also the last words spoken in the film) sees a young college girl and instantly falls obsessively in love. When she humiliates him after rejecting his crude advances, he arranges events to drive her into debt and legal problems, and from there into prostitution. He watches her in the brothel every night through a two-way mirror, as she descends further and further into the degradation of this world.< ...
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on July 1st, 2005

Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy on September 13th. This disc will be presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with THX-certified DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. Extras will include two audio commentaries (the first with Executive Producer Robbie Stamp and Douglas Adams colleague Sean Solle; the second with Director Garth Jennings, Producer Nick Goldsmith and Actors Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy), a making of documentary, an extra …
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The Longest Yard (2005)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on June 29th, 2005

Paramount Home Entertainment will release the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard (starring Adam Sandler & Chris Rock) on September 20th. This disc will be presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include an Audio Commentary (by Director Peter Segal), Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes, an “Errtime” Music Video by Nelly, a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, and a collection of tTrailers.

Gone in 60 Seconds

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 27th, 2005

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Gone in 60 Seconds is a guilty pleasure – its vacuous and superficial, full of typical Hollywood produced “guy-movie” cues. Cars, guns, explosions, anti-heros, and Angelina Jolie abound, as well as comically evil villains, comically thin plot devices, and comically honourable car thieves. All that being said, though, the movie is great for what it is – a typical Bruckheimer celebration of over-the-top action. Its fun to get lost in the action, and director Dominic Sena imparts a great sense of …
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Staying Together

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 27th, 2005

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Staying Together is one of those small town family stories. Growing up is hard, especially when you own a chicken restaurant. Dad, unfortunately, gives in to “big business”, and sells his restaurant to a chain franchise. This sale puts the family into turmoil and makes the family members reevaluate their relationships with each other. The brothers of the McDermott family are featured most prominently. The three brothers, in typical movie fashion, are distinctly different. Dermot Mulroney plays Kit, the ro…
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Godfather Part III, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 26th, 2005

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Synopsis

If anything, the third part of the Godfather series of films is symbolic of when too many sequels are greenlighted, and consequently, the film is doomed to fail. More often than not, the reason why these films crash and burn are because of major studios acting like Adelphia executives and wanting more money, and in using the previous films’ successes as leverage, they lose sight of things like quality. It’s happened to other trilogies.

And if you put together previous films with th…
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First Amendment Project, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 25th, 2005

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The First Amendment Project is a collection of 3 short documentary films which deal with the theme of “freedom of speech”. The first film, and the best one, is “Fox vs. Franken”. Comedy writer, left wing activist, and Stuart Smalley himself (you know…“You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you”), Al Franken, is the target of a lawsuit filed by Fox News. The documentary follows the lawsuit, and it reveals two important things: Franken is still a funny guy and Fox is an idiotic …
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Tom Dowd and the Language of Music

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 24th, 2005

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What happens after a physics student works on the Manhattan Project? Well, at least for this person, he becomes the most influential recording engineer in music history. This man is Tom Dowd. In Mark Moorman’s fascinating documentary, Tom Dowd and the Language of Music, we are taken through the development of modern music through one of its most famous guides. The film is a mixture of interviews with Tom Dowd, as he also takes us to various biographical and musical locales in New York cities, and testament…
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Team America – World Police (Uncensored & Unrated)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 21st, 2005

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Only could Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the (gulp) geniuses behind South Park, could come up such a wildly crazy (and funny) film such as Team America: World Police. What is so wild about this film you ask? Well, the actors are marionette puppets, every other word is an f-sharp, and almost every big Hollywood actor is portrayed negatively. And what is wrong with this? Absolutely nothing. This film will not be for everyone, but for the loyal fans of South Park, this film is pure bliss. Not o…
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Lost Lake

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 20th, 2005

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Lost Lake is an incomprehensible mess. Think David Lynch with less sense. If that makes any. The story takes place at an isolated ski lodge. Cue the entrance of exotic hottie Kat Walker (played by Angel Boris). The movie is hard to describe. Letâ€™s just sayâ€¦the ski lodge has some really weird guests. And pee can make frozen privates thaw from metal. Didnâ€™t you know that? An avalanche also comes into play. Kat starts having â€œvisionsâ€. I dunno. The plot is convoluted and makes Mulholland D…
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Hitch

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 19th, 2005

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I was not too eager to see Hitch in the theater, thinking that DVD was just fine for a film such as this; it is after all only a romantic comedy. I was one of the few who thought this way, as Hitch killed at the box office, brining in over $175 million in its theatrical run. After seeing the film on DVD, I can see why it did so well at the box office – it is the ultimate date movie. You get a charismatic Will Smith, a funny Kevin James, and a gorgeous Eva Mendes – the perfect blend for any sure fire enjoyment by all.
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Until the Night

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 18th, 2005

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Until the Night is a “fly under the radar” movie. You haven’t heard of it, but then you watch it. And you’re quite taken with it. Until the Night is in the tradition of those relationship/talkie movies (indy god Cassavetes comes to mind). Night also has shades of Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Characters talk to a camcorder, and there are some Soderbergh moments of time fracture.

The plot (to call it one) revolves around a pair of relationships. Elizabeth (played wonderfully by …
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World Poker Tour – Season Two

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005

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Poker viewing on television has been a phenomenon that has exploded over the last few years. This 8-disc set of The World Poker Tour – Season Two (14 episodes and one disc with bonus material) is a viewing pleasure for any poker fan who just enjoys watching it or is looking to improve their game.

Each episode includes poker instruction and player profiles for an inside look at the professional poker world. The host team of Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten are very knowledgeable and add excitement t…
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National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005

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As usual, National Lampoon comes up with a silly but at times funny movie – if you like silly that is. The two leading goofballs are just off the wall enough to make this movie bearable.

Gold Diggers is about two young losers named Cal (Will Friedle) and Lenny (Chris Owen) who enter a life of crime trying to survive on the streets. Unfortunately, they are terrible at it and end up going in and out of jail a couple of times before things begin to look up for them – they attempt to rob two very old si…
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Being John Malkovich

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005

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In watching Being John Malkovich again recently, for the first time in awhile, the thing I was struck by is how unique it is (duh!). It doesn’t try too hard at being different, to the point that it’s going to suck, everything is matter of fact, and it’s hilarious. Its characters are flawed, but we feel for some of them a great deal. It’s funny, it’s touching, it’s dramatic, it works on many levels. I’d expected this to be a 112 minute MTV video from Spiegel heir Spike Jonze, but it’s clear that with his work, combined with Charlie Kaufman’s script, the result is a story about the 3 main characters experiencing deep, life-altering experiences, and from those experiences, finding (or wanting to find) love. How they get there though, that’s another story.
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I Am David

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005

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I remember my Junior High teacher reading us excerpts from the novel I Am David in English class. Raising social consciousness was not something we into at that age. Looking back, I can see what my teacher was trying to do. The novel, and this movie adaptation, follows the story of 12 year old David, who escapes a Communist gulag in order to deliver a letter to Copenhagen. David is equipped with nothing but a compass, a bar of soap, and a loaf of bread. His quest across the continent is a journey of enlig…
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Chicago (Collector’s Series)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on June 15th, 2005

Miramax Home Entertainment will release the Collector’s Edition of the Academy Award Winning Chicago on September 13th. This 3-disc set will be presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with both English Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS audio tracks. Extras will include an audio commentary (with the Director and Screenwriter), extended musical performances, song rehearsals, Chita Rivera’s Encore, a “From Stage To Screen: The History of Chicago” documentary,An Intimate Look at Director Rob Mar…
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Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 15th, 2005

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In the unnecessary sequel department comes Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous. Why make this movie? Because Sandra Bullock needs a hit? It doesn’t come here. Bullock, once again (and hopefully for the last time), plays Gracie Hart. Her involvement in a well known beauty pageant has made it impossible for Gracie to maintain a low FBI profile. So she has become the PR person for the bureau. But Gracie is “called back” into the line of duty (against the FBI’s wishes) when two of her friends (played by …
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Godfather Part II, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 14th, 2005

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The Godfather Part II is, quite simply, one of the best films of all time. Personally, I would actually place it above it’s predecessor, the original Godfather film, though both won Academy Awards for Best Picture. Part II, however, gave us not only Al Pacino in a genre-defining role, but also the young days of the original Godfather, played brilliantly by Robert De Niro, who impressively treads the line between believability and farce that is so fine with an actor like Marlin Brando.

In fact, i…
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A Separate Peace (2004)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 13th, 2005

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This Showtime version of John Knowles’ A Separate Peace will bring joy to high school teachers everywhere. Finally, there is a quality movie version to show in English class. Peace is usually mandatory reading in high school (I know I read it), and follows the story of Gene and Finny. Their prep school relationship is ambiguous, and character motivations are a little more complex in the novel (dare I say…a little more provocative?). But, at its core, the novel and this adaptation is a coming of ag…
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Swimming Upstream

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 9th, 2005

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Swimming Upstream is one of those “small” sports underdog films. It’s a true story about Aussie Tony Fingleton, a swimmer who vies to be National champion. Is he racing against all odds? Well…the odds are in the form of family. Geoffrey Rush plays Fingleton’s father, an abusive alcholic. So…not only is Fingleton trying to achieve athletic glory, but also trying to win the heart of his father. This is a paint by numbers sports story. The performances are the saving grace, however. Rush, Jesse Spencer …
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Get a Clue

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 9th, 2005

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Lindsay Lohan plays sassy Nancy Drew wanna be Lexy Gold. When one of her teachers goes missing (played by Ian Gomez), Lexy enlists her “hip” friends to help her crack the case. Another vehicle for Lohan. It’s a little boring, and the mystery plays out on the level of a Saved By the Bell episode. The point of the movie is to point out they sassiness of Lohan. She’s sooo hip. Like…totally.

Audio

The mix is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Not much originality in the mix. Some …
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Parent Trap, The (1998)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 6th, 2005

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The Parent Trap is a remake of the Hayley Mills classic. It stars none other than Lindsday Lohan. She’s actually pretty good here. In a pre-sex appeal role, Lohan plays two twins who have never met, but then do. They concoct a plan to switch identies on their respective divorced parents. Lohan pulls off both twin personalities quite well. The movie also stars the always reliable Dennis Quaid and the extremely talented Natasha Richardson. It might be fun for kids, and Lohan fans, but this is NOT a case of…
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