Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 24th, 2003
Who would have thought that a Lego animated film would be so cool? This CGI animated feature film, Lego’s first venture into a mainstream feature-length movie, is great for all ages; it contains an interesting story line, good characters, and amazing animation. If you have not been privy to the past stories of Bionicle, you should really jump in and explore Mask Of Light…
”Discover the latest chapter in this legendary story in an all-new CGI animated movie. It's nonstop action as Jaller and his bes...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 24th, 2003
Synopsis
Jon Abrahams plays Lenny Burroughs. He’s about to get married and, to his fiancee’schagrin, continues to earn money by driving mob guy Peter Greene around. On this particularday, what he thinks is a simple errand turns out not to be when Greene kidnaps top mobster JeffBridges, the promptly gets himself killed. A terrified Abrahams holes up in his van with Bridgesat gunpoint, while the mysterious currents of the mob war play out around him. The cast is quiteimpressive (add M...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 23rd, 2003
Synopsis
A terrible virus called Rage (which just happens to be the French word for rabies, thatdistinctly English fear) gets loose and ravages the population of Britain. 28 days after the initialrelease, Cilian Murphy wakes up in a deserted hospital. He wanders around empty London,wondering where everyone has gone, until, come night, he is attacked by a horde of the infected,who move like George Romero zombies on speed. He is rescued by Naomie Harris, and togetherthey then hook up ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 23rd, 2003
If you like to nitpick the “that couldn’t happen” stuff in a sci-fi film, this is not the movie for you. The only thing you’ll get out of The Core is a ride. The plot is completely absurd and unlike the very similar Armageddon, this film doesn’t deliver near the action. Special effects range from quite cool to the obvious animations and matte paintings. What impresses me most is that the cast got through this with a straight face. The Core deservedly didn’t perform well at the box office but it is still worth a watch.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 21st, 2003
Synopsis
Welcome to North Bath, New York, a small town where everyone knows everyone, and thebest-known figure is Sully (Paul Newman). His landlady (Jessica Tandy) is his former 8th-gradeteacher. He works off and on for Bruce Willis, and while the two men appear to hate each other,they also weirdly look after each other. Newman flirts shamelessly with Willis’ neglected wife(Melanie Griffith). Newman walked out on his own family many years ago, but during theChristmas season his son ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 20th, 2003
Synopsis
Catherine Keener and Emily Mortimer are the neurotic daughters inevitably produced bytheir neurotic mother Brenda Blethyn. Keener is trying (unsuccessfully) to sell her art (tiny chairsmade of twigs). Mortimer is a desperately insecure actor. Blethyn is about to undergo liposuction,which isn't going to help with the body image of her young, African-American adopted daughter.All the men these women are involved with are jerks, but Keener's life takes an unexpected turnwhen, ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 18th, 2003
Synopsis
Terminal loser William H. Macy hatches a scheme to get out of his debt problems: hire SteveBuscemi and Peter Stormare to kidnap his wife, then get the ransom from his father-in-law.Naturally enough, everything goes spectacularly wrong. Bodies pile up, and hugely pregnantSheriff Frances McDormand investigates. All the elements of prime Coen work are present:wonderful character turns from a top cast, dialogue to die for, cinematography that will take yourbreath away, and a sc...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 17th, 2003
Synopsis
Following the death of a legendary folk music impresario, his son organizes a tribute concertwith the acts the father made famous. Through interviews and rehearsals, we see the groups (TheFolksmen, Mitch and Mickey, and The New Main Street Singers) prepare for the big show. Thecast is talented and funny, and the music is a well-nigh perfect pastiche. The creative team seemsa bit too close to the music, however, and so the comedy lacks the bite it could have. The wholeprotes...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 16th, 2003
Synopsis
In 1924, a mysterious death occurred on a yacht owned by newspaper tycoon WilliamRandolph Hearst. This story imagines what might have happened amongst the variousHollywood luminaries who were aboard that ship. Along with Hearst and his young lover MarioDavies (Kirsten Dunst) are (among others) Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard), writer Elinor Glyn(Joanna Lumley) and up-and-coming gossip columnist Louella Parsons (Jennifer Tilly). Jealousyand deception are the order of the day a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 14th, 2003
Alias might well be the first TV series better on DVD than its original broadcast. I tried to get into this show when it began two years ago. Fans could have warned me that any attempt to join this series mid-season is a big mistake. Each episode ends in a cliffhanger and the plots are complicated enough that it can be hard to keep up with the intrusion of preemptions and repeats. These DVD's allow you to watch the show in a logical order without fear of missing an episode which could leave you completely lost.
