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Idiocracy

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on February 18th, 2007

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Synopsis

I grew up with Beavis & Butthead, the so stupid it hurts MTV cartoon show that basically would launch MTV programming and put it on the map for future series. Mike Judge was the creator behind that masterpiece. He would go on later to be the guy behind King of the Hill and a few assorted good shows. However, somewhere along the way he decided to direct a couple of movies. His most recent affair, Idiocracy; a feature film staring Luke Wilson (Old…
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Working Girl (1988)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 15th, 2007

Certain aspects of Working Girl have not aged well, but the film remains a quality production that showcases Melanie Griffith in her best role, with Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver as superb, lightly humorous supporting characters.

Tess McGill (Griffith) is a secretary struggling to rise in the New York business world. After a series of bad experiences with chauvinistic managers, she’s transferred to a new secretary role, this time under a female boss (Weaver).
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Babel

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 14th, 2007

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Some films can be intensely personal. Written and directed by one individual, the stories are fairly long in runtime and epic in terms of hopes and dreams, with characters that intertwine either coincidentally or a little bit more directly. They always seem to have a big name marquee star or two in them and always end on a message of hope or optimism.

Take the case of Babel. Written by Guillermo Arriaga and directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who were the creative team behind the Amores Perros and 21 Grams films comes perhaps their grandest idea yet.
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The Guardian (2006)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 14th, 2007

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In the great tradition of Hollywood rehashes, The Guardian applies a new coat of paint to a tried-and-true formula. In this case, we’re talking about the story of Top Gun with Coast Guard rescue swimmers in place of Air Force fighter pilots. Oh, and maybe throw in a little Officer and a Gentleman for good measure.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. They’re the elite, the best of the best. Their training program is the most difficult in the world, and it will weed out anyone who can’t cut it in their dangerous profession.
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Dead Mary

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 13th, 2007

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A group of former college friends (now apparently weathered by life, though they look as if they are CURRENT college friends) gather at beach cottage for a reunion. Stresses and resentments within the various marriages and couplings quickly put a damper on the weekend, and a desultory evening’s conversation leads to a few members of the group playing the party game that consists in reciting “Dead Mary” in front of a mirror. Inevitably, the evil spirit is summoned, and people start being killed off.
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Band of Angels

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 12th, 2007

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It’s really hard for me to review films such as this one. On the one hand, I firmly believe in film preservation, and the importance of not shying away from history, no matter how painful it may be. On the other hand, it’s difficult for me to enjoy a film that so casually deals with the trade of humans. Band of Angels tells the story of the daughter of a plantation owner who is sent away to school. Her father is a good and kind man, for he has never beaten his slaves. When he falls deathly ill, she rushes back…
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Hollywoodland (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 8th, 2007

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There are a few early sequences in Hollywoodland that show two important aspects of the film. First these sequences show us the type of man that George Reeves was trying to become (simply trying to get noticed) and, possibly more important, the type of actor that Affleck is becoming as his career becomes more about making quality films than making sure-fire moneymakers.
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Hollywoodland

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 8th, 2007

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Ever write off a movie based solely on the buzz? I did that with Hollywoodland before I’d ever heard the actual title – someone asked, “did you hear about Ben Affleck’s new movie? I hear it stinks.” Given Affleck’s recent string of box office flops, that’s all it took for me to avoid the film.

Of course, it’s not just an Affleck movie; it also stars Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Diane Lane (Under the Tuscan Sun) and Bob Hoskins (Mrs. Henderson Presents).
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Incubus

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 5th, 2007

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Three young couples on a road trip leave their turtled vehicle and march through the dark woods, hoping to find the highway again. (Clearly Mensa candidates, each and every one.) They stumble upon an apparently abandoned secret facility, and naturally blunder in. A psychically powered lunatic uses astral projection to do bad things to them. People start to die. No great loss.

Think through this equation for me, will you? Direct-to-video + walking-around-tunnels-plot + Tara Reid = ?
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Half Baked (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 30th, 2007

Iï¿½m sure Iï¿½m not the only person wondering why on Earth a studio like Universal, with so many classics in their vault, would release Half Baked so quickly onto HD DVD. One can presumably assume that the only reason they chose to release it at this particular time is to bank on the recent popularity of David Chappelle. The only unfortunate part here is that Chappelleï¿½s performance, while sometimes funny, shows that his talent was best used elsewhere.
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The Grudge 2

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 29th, 2007

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Amber Tamblyn, playing Sarah Michelle Gellar’s sister, comes to Tokyo to help Gellar, currently in a hospital and considered insane. The help is too little too late, and soon Tamblyn is contending with the same evil ghosts. Two other storylines intertwine with this one: a young American student goes into the evil house on a dare, and she and her two friends attract the unwelcome attentions of the spectral mother and son. And back in the States, a blended family moving into a new apartment is gradually torn apart by the influence of the malevolent duo.

The Marine

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 29th, 2007

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John Cena is The Marine. Though, as matters develop, The Maroon might be a better handle. At any rate, after being discharged for having Disobeyed a Direct Order in Iraq (where, in a scene distinctly reminiscent of the opening of The Naked Gun, our boy shoots up one of those elusive Al-Qaeda training camps that nobody else seems to be able to find). Readjustment to civilian life is difficult, but then, while heading out for a little holiday with his wife (Kelly Carlson), an unfortunate stop at a gas station results in Carlson being abducted by a violent gang of jewel thieves headed up by Robert Patrick (who comes across, as was pointed out to me, like the love child of Martin Sheen and Chandler Bing).
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Film Collection

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 28th, 2007

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The relationship between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor appeared to blossom when they were both on the set of Cleopatra. The epic film was famous, not for the success of the film but more for the near bankruptcy of the studio and for the romance that blossomed between the two. Warner Brothers has recently been releasing groups of films surrounding various film icons, and this set of four titles focuses on the two acting giants.
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Brokeback Mountain (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 23rd, 2007

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Wow. Itï¿½s already been over a year since hearing the endless ï¿½I canï¿½t quit youï¿½ pander that many labeled Brokeback Mountain with. Sitting down to see this one for the 3rd time, I feared that the initial power the film had over me would be diminished. Such isnï¿½t the case here as Brokeback Mountain is still the same excellent film it was over a year ago.
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Scary Movie 4 (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 23rd, 2007

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Itï¿½s hard to believe, but after six years and three movies, this fourth film proves the Scary Movie franchise is still good for a cheap laugh.

For those of you that have lived under a rock and arenï¿½t familiar with the Scary Movie series, I will enlighten you. Some of the horror movies coming out these days are just begging to be parodied, and the comic brains of the Wayans brothers did so in 2000 with first instalment simply titled Scary Movie. This movie poked fun of then-recent movie…
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The Sting (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 20th, 2007

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Con movies are nothing new to Hollywood. Each has that character who thinks theyï¿½re on top of the world behind this bullet proof armor only to eventually realize that theyï¿½ve either been played or been watched the entire time. I suppose what makes con films work on the level they do is that these characters (admit it!) are all committing acts weï¿½d love to even THINK about committing. The only problem is that weï¿½re not even that badass of a person to even attempt it. Having never seen this film, I figured Iï¿½d get a fairly entertaining film with decent acting and an interesting enough plot. Boy was I mistaken about this one. Oscar awarded 1973 film The Sting has easily become my favorite con film.
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Factotum

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 19th, 2007

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Back in 1979 (that’s a whole generation ago, kids!) Matt Dillon was appearing in films that would make the average reader of Tiger Beat swoon. He was in plenty of material like Little Darlings, Rumble Fish and The Outsiders that didn’t help that idea too much in the eyes of his female fans (of which there are scores). But since the early ’80s, he’s gone through a bit of a rediscovery, and in the film Factotum, based on the works of author Charles Bukowski, he may have hit his best stride to date.
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Clerks II (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 16th, 2007

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10 years ago, Clerks was released, appealing to the ever-growing population of the subculture of slackers. For a generation of grunge-music-listening, going-nowhere, fast-food-working young adults, Clerks became a cult favourite. With the release of Clerks II, Iï¿½m sure the very same people are attracted to this title, whether they have grown up and want to revisit that nostalgic feeling, or are still flipping burgers and living the slacker lifestyle. Whether you live in your parentsï¿½ basement or …
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1900

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 13th, 2007

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Bernardo Bertolucci is no stranger to controversy. His Last Tango In Paris caused quite a bit of noise when it was released. Novecento, as 1900 is known in its original Italian, has been a subject of controversy for decades. Since its 1976 original Italian release, American studios have been cautious about releasing the film in the states, at least as it was originally intended. First there is the running time. The film clocks in at over 5 hours. Theaters in the US face fierce competition for movie goers’ dollars.
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Facing the Giants

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 11th, 2007

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Certain Christian churches and organizations in North America preach something often called ï¿½the prosperity gospel.ï¿½ In a nutshell, this refers to the idea that God wants us to be rich, physically, emotionally and materially.

Itï¿½s a pretty controversial message, but also a very attractive one. After all, what could be better than marrying Christianity to the American dream?
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Jackass – Number Two

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 9th, 2007

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Four years after Jackass: The Movie took the popular MTV franchise to the big screen, Johnny Knoxville and his gang returned to theatres with Jackass – Number Two. The sequel is bigger, bolder and much more disgusting. But is it better?

In my humble opinion, the sequel equates to more of the same. If you loved the original, you’ll eat this up. If you hated it – and we both know those are the only two options – you can happily make indignant remarks to any friends or family in the “love it” camp.
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Murder Set Pieces

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 8th, 2007

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Sven Garrett plays the Photographer, who, when not exercising his profession of photographing beautiful women, is busy torturing and killing them. His girlfriend’s little sister (Jade Risser) thinks there’s something creepy about him, but isn’t listened to. Meanwhile, the bodies pile up.

There’s not a heck of a lot more to the plot than that. The title is an apt description of the film: it is basically a collection of set pieces. References to Nazi Germany and footage of 9/11 are tossed in to no very compelling purpose.
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The Breakfast Club (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2007

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Truth be told ladies and gentlemen, before receiving The Breakfast Club in for review, I couldnï¿½t even begin to fathom the fan base this film has had since its 1985 release. After all how interesting does a film where 5 students are put in detention sound? After seeing the film, I believe the interest lies not necessarily in the basic premise of the film, but the overall impact the five students have on themselves and, more importantly, the viewer.
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Field of Dreams (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2007

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For the longest time I avoided Field of Dreams. This is simply because Iï¿½ve never really liked Kevin Costner as an actor, and mainly because I figured a film about baseball starring him would be boring. Boy was I wrong on this one. Sure Field of Dreams isnï¿½t the best film ever made, but damn if itï¿½s not a film that one canï¿½t help but enjoy slowly falling for the story, characters and surroundings.

Ray Kinsella (Costner) is a simple man who has a lovely wife named Annie (Amy Madigan). Ray decides to move to Iowa soon buying a farm.
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Shottas

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 5th, 2007

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Here we go, with another rise and fall story in the underworld. Two young friends in Jamaica, Biggs and Wayne, grow up separately to become powerful gangsters (the “shottas” of the title). After a prolonged separation, they reunite in Kingston, and the story takes them back and forth between that city and Miami as they climb the drug totem pole, heading for the inevitable fall shown pre-credits.

All the characters speak Jamaican patois, making subtitle necessary.
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