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	12 Angry Men
	"The film is a masterpiece.... but you'll wish there were more extras on the DVD"	2008-04-04
--THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2008 ANNIVERSARY EDITION-- 12 Angry Men is directed by Sidney Lumet, and stars Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Ed Binns, Jack Warden, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, and Robert Webber. The musical score is provided by Kenyon Hopkins. * A teen from the slums has been accused of murdering his father. Following the trial, a jury of 12 men from completely different walks of life convenes in the jury room, to vote on the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Amongst the jurors are a timid bank employee, a hard-headed businessman/father, a sports fan who is more interested in the evening's baseball game than the trial, a doubtful architect, an old man, and an immigrant proud to be an American. As a murder case, finding the young man guilty means the electric chair. Following the preliminary vote, one man has doubts in his mind about the defendant's guilt - and it becomes his responsibility to go against the other 11 men, and convince them that the young man might not be guilty of the crime after all. * An absolute classic that stands the test of time, 12 Angry Men is as fresh and entertaining now as it was when it was released theatrically half a century ago. Despite being filmed on a low budget and nearly the entire film taking place in a single room, the experience always stays interesting, with debate and drama around every corner. The characters are all well-played and interesting, and the plot is simple and to the point. And perhaps even more interesting about the storyline is the fact that it's still a relevant one to American society. A lot of films get called "classics" on a regular basis, but it's debatable as to how many of them live up to that title. 12 Angry Men is one of them. * The acting in 12 Angry Men is one of the film's greatest assets. We're given 12 characters that couldn't be more different from one another. And despite them remaining nameless for the film's duration, they are more engrossing and interesting than characters in just about any other film out there, past and present alike. Henry Fonda steals the show as the initial lone juror who holds out against his fellow jurors to defend the accused. Also worth mentioning are Lee J. Cobb as the primary opponent to the defendant's innocence, Jack Warden in a terrific early performance as a man who cares more about ball games than the life that hangs in the balance, and Joseph Sweeney as the elderly juror. Everyone puts up a great performance from beginning to end. * Perhaps one of the reasons this classic stands the test of time is because it's a storyline that, while simplistic, remains relevant in American society. It's an easy-to-follow film, and it's a subject that just about every America citizen can relate to. * The movie was filmed on a low budget, but the crew doesn't let this show. The action of the movie is confined to the jury room, but this doesn't limit things. It's the performances that steal the show here, not a fancy big-budget production job. * Few movies stand the test of time as well as this one. An absolute must-see film for any fan of movies, 12 Angry Men is a masterpiece on all fronts. There are not enough good things than can be said about this classic. --- Image And Sound: nlike some earlier releases of the film, this one presents the movie in an anamorphic widescreen format. The image is crisp and clean for a movie as old as this, though there are a few scenes that suffer from heavy grain. Naturally, we can't expect perfect image quality, though, considering the source material is over half a century old. The sound has no major issues, and all of the dialogue is easy to understand, with no noticeable flaws. It's definitely the best the movie has looked and sounded on a home video format. --- Special Features: The bonus features here are surprisingly limited, considering how many times the movie has been released on DVD before, and the fact that this is a big anniversary for the movie. As far as the bonus material goes, we get three major features here. First up is an enlightening commentary from film historian Drew Casper, which is well worth checking out for any fan of the movie. The other featurettes include a "behind the scenes" feature with surviving cast and crew members, sharing their experiences on the filmmaking process, and a "jury room" feature that focuses mostly on what was changed for the movie, in an effort to make the film more dramatic. Omitted from earlier DVD releases, however, is the theatrical trailer. Also, it would have been nice to have had the 1954 CBS Studio One television version included as a bonus feature, as a complete recording of it was recently discovered (though it most likely wasn't included for legal reasons.) Still, this is a disappointingly sparse amount of extras considering that the movie has had multiple DVD releases in the past. Final Words: If you haven't had a chance to add this cinematic masterpiece to your collection, don't hesitate to pick up this newly-released edition - it's the best version of the movie currently on the market, though you'll still wish there were more bonus features included. But that doesn't change the fact that this is one of the greatest motion pictures of all time.
	The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep [Blu-ray]
	"An entertaining film for the whole family"	2008-04-04
The Water Horse is directed by Jay Russell, and stars Alex Etel, Emily Watson and Brian Cox. The musical score is composed by James Newton Howard. * In the time of a Europe that is torn by World War II, a boy named Angus stumbles across a strange egg. The egg eventually hatches, and a much-fabled and rare creature known as a Water Horse hatches. He makes an effort to keep this creature a secret from his family - but this isn't an easy task, considering how quickly it grows. * The Water Horse has received generally favorable reviews, and with some good performances and a heartwarming story, it isn't hard to see why. This isn't a great film, and it's certainly nothing original, but it's still a terrific family movie. * Where the movie tends to shine brightest is through its performances. Every member of the cast puts on a pretty good performance, even if the whole of what they're doing is nothing really new. Alex Etel gives a good performance as Angus, the young man who stumbles across the egg and befriends the Water Horse. And Brian Cox is terrific as the figure narrating the tale. All of the performances, supporting and leading alike, are good. * The cinematography and special effects are well done, too. The movie is shot in drab tones that tend to reflect the war times, in which the movie is set. And the creature itself is well-animated, and you wont want to take your eyes off the screen whenever it is featured. To put it simply, the movie looks fantastic. * It's not a perfect movie, though. The subplot about the war could have been aborted entirely, and the overall main storyline with a boy befriending a creature is nothing new - it seems like every generation tries to cash in on this storyline. Still, these are minor problems in the long run. * Ultimately, despite its flaws, the Water Horse is an entertaining family film that tended to get overlooked during its stay in theaters. It's definitely good enough to give a recommendation to. --- Image And Sound: The cinematography, one of the greatest strengths of the film, is ported well to the DVD format. This is a movie that was intentionally never made to look bright and vibrant, and this version of the film does that justice. Apart from some minor grain in a few spots of the film, there are no issues. Both fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen versions of the film are included. The audio is terrific, there aren't any serious flaws at any point in the film. Special Features: As far as bonus features go in this set, there's not a whole lot apart from some featurettes. The deleted scenes are a nice little extra, but they're all pretty brief and don't really add anything to the experience. Fortunately, the remainder of the bonus material, the 6 featurettes, are all done very well. Each one of these is compelling and sheds new light on the process of making the film. You'll wish there were more bonuses, but what can be found here is good stuff. Final Words: If you're looking for a movie that will entertain your kids but keep you engrossed all the while as well, the Water Horse will make for a worthwhile rental if nothing else.
	Juno [Blu-ray]
	"An excellent film"	2008-04-04
Juno is directed by Jason Reitman, and stars Ellen Page (X-Men: The Last Stand), Michael Cera (Superbad), Jason Bateman (The Kingdom), Jennifer Garner (Daredevil), and J. K. Simmons (Spider-Man series.) The musical score is composed by Mateo Messina. * Juno is the story of a teenage girl who, after a fling brought on by her sexual curiosity, ends up pregnant. After considering an abortion, her emotions get the better of her and she opts to have the baby, and let it be adopted by a couple who have been unsuccessfully attempting to have a child. But the pregnant life isn't an easy one, as she quickly discovers - and things take a turn for the worst when the potential baby adoption parents have marital difficulties. * This is one of those movies that came out of nowhere.... And almost instantly, it was received with overwhelmingly positive reviews. It won a number of awards, and Roger Ebert even declared it the best movie of 2007! Does the movie live up to this reputation that has so quickly been built around it? * The movie may be a tad overrated, but it's certainly good enough to recommend. The movie always feels authentic and emotional - never raunchy or over-the-top, the cast members are all excellent, and the direction throughout is solid. The end result is a movie that perfectly balances comedy and drama. For the most part it lives up to the steadily growing reputation it has built. * Where the movie succeeds finest is its star. Ellen Page has been in a number of films before this one, often in supporting roles. Here she takes the lead role, and fills it beautifully. Her character has a razor-sharp wit that will get more than a few laughs out of the viewer, but she always feels authentic too, and you'll sympathize with her situation throughout the movie. I can confidently say that Page has a huge acting career ahead of her. The supporting cast is also impressive, featuring J. K. Simmons as the title character's father, Michael Cera as the boy with whom she had the fling that caused her pregnancy, and Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the potential adoptive parents of the baby. * As a whole, the movie has a more authentic, realistic feel to it than most movies of its kind. The experience is never over-the-top, nor is it ever a raunch-fest, despite the theme being a teen pregnancy. You'll feel for the characters and enjoy the story all the way through - it's a comedy, but it's got a heart too. How many movies with this subject can you say THAT about? * Ultimately, Juno is a very good movie, and it's good to see that it's catching on and getting a positive reception. Well worth checking out, this is one of the best movies that hit theaters last year. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener disc that has a "20th Century Fox Home Entertainment" watermark pop up periodically during the film. So naturally this doesn't reflect the image quality of the actual DVD release.. --- Special Features: The DVD, while single-disc, does feature quite a few pieces of bonus material. There are a number of deleted scenes featured on the disc, and while rightfully cut out of the final version of the movie to keep it from exceeding the hundred-minute mark, they're well worth watching if you enjoyed the presentation. A gag reel and gag take are included, as well as some screen tests, for those of you audiences who are into that sort of thing - they essentially deliver what they promise. But the main highlights on the disc come in the form of the behind-the-scenes featurettes, and the writer/director commentary track. It's great to get the cast and crew's perspective on what went on during the making of this little gem. *** Additionally, FOX is releasing a two-disc version of the movie, but the second disc is just a "digital copy" of the movie you can upload to an iPod through iTunes on your computer - this seems to be becoming a regular kind of release for FOX these days. --- Final Words: Juno is a fantastic film that succeeds beautifully in comedy and drama alike. The cast, the characters, the direction - everything this movie does, it does well. Ellen Page definitely has a future in the acting world, and when you're done watching this film, you'll see why. Strongly recommended!
	Bonnie and Clyde [Blu-ray]
	"A classic film gets a fantastic DVD upgrade"	2008-04-04
--THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2008 2-DVD SET-- Bonnie and Clyde is directed by Arthur Penn. The film stars Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Gene Wilder, and Estelle Parsons. * Bonnie and Clyde is the fact-based story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Set in the time of the Depression, Clyde had just gotten out of a jail sentence on good behavior. Teaming up with Bonnie Parker, a café waitress, and enlisting a gas station attendant as a getaway car driver, the twosome embarked on a crime spree of murders and robberies lasting nearly three years.... Until fate caught up with them. * An undisputed classic film that stands the test of time, Bonnie and Clyde is a masterpiece. Director Arthur Penn brilliantly combines criminal action and humor, making the criminal duo, played brilliantly by Beatty and Dunaway, into likable characters despite their devious actions. The film never backs away from showing violence, and while the violence is tame by today's standards, was unheard of in 1967, and only helped to show the realism of the title duo's crime spree actions. Any way you look at it, there's no denying that the film is a classic for the ages. * Solid direction is just one of the many reasons the film stands the test of time. Arthur Penn does a brilliant job here, keeping the storyline simple and to the point, yet making the characters likable by combining elements of humor with the not-so-comical realism of their actions. The movie is well-paced, and it's all over in just under two hours. He also scores serious points for not being afraid to show the violence as it happened. * Also noteworthy are the performances in the film. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway give two of the best performances of their careers, starring as the title duo. They breathe new life into these historic criminal figures, and it's not likely the movie would have been as memorable with anyone else in the parts. *** Bonnie and Clyde is classic American filmmaking at its finest. Strong direction, pacing, acting, and a more realistic depiction of violence than similar films keep the experience strong from start to finish. --- Image & Sound: This is the best Bonnie and Clyde has ever looked. The people at Warner have done a fantastic job restoring the picture, which shows throughout the course of the movie. Granted, some scenes do look a little grainy and dark, but this is most likely a source material issue. --- Sound quality: Slightly less impressive than the visual quality. While the audio tracks here are free of any major flaws, they don't exactly go above and beyond either. You'll wish they'd done a little more work on the audio. Special Features: The first disc contains the obligatory trailers, while the bulk of the issues are relegated to the second. By far the best extra included in this set is the lengthy 40th Anniversary documentary on the making of the film, which gives numerous perspectives into what went on behind the scenes of this classic's production. Also of interest is a History Channel documentary on the real Bonnie and Clyde, also running for a lengthy duration and revealing a lot of information. Also included are some Warren Beatty wardrobe tests, and some deleted scenes, which naturally show their age and lack of completeness. This is the definitive edition of the film and these bonus features beautifully back that claim up. --- Final Words: Bonnie and Clyde is a cinematic masterpiece. If this film isn't in your DVD collection yet, you don't have a DVD collection. A great film and an incredible DVD presentation of it, this package gets my strongest recommendation.
	Bonnie and Clyde
	"A classic film gets a fantastic DVD upgrade"	2008-04-04
--THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2008 2-DVD SET-- Bonnie and Clyde is directed by Arthur Penn. The film stars Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Gene Wilder, and Estelle Parsons. * Bonnie and Clyde is the fact-based story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Set in the time of the Depression, Clyde had just gotten out of a jail sentence on good behavior. Teaming up with Bonnie Parker, a café waitress, and enlisting a gas station attendant as a getaway car driver, the twosome embarked on a crime spree of murders and robberies lasting nearly three years.... Until fate caught up with them. * An undisputed classic film that stands the test of time, Bonnie and Clyde is a masterpiece. Director Arthur Penn brilliantly combines criminal action and humor, making the criminal duo, played brilliantly by Beatty and Dunaway, into likable characters despite their devious actions. The film never backs away from showing violence, and while the violence is tame by today's standards, was unheard of in 1967, and only helped to show the realism of the title duo's crime spree actions. Any way you look at it, there's no denying that the film is a classic for the ages. * Solid direction is just one of the many reasons the film stands the test of time. Arthur Penn does a brilliant job here, keeping the storyline simple and to the point, yet making the characters likable by combining elements of humor with the not-so-comical realism of their actions. The movie is well-paced, and it's all over in just under two hours. He also scores serious points for not being afraid to show the violence as it happened. * Also noteworthy are the performances in the film. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway give two of the best performances of their careers, starring as the title duo. They breathe new life into these historic criminal figures, and it's not likely the movie would have been as memorable with anyone else in the parts. *** Bonnie and Clyde is classic American filmmaking at its finest. Strong direction, pacing, acting, and a more realistic depiction of violence than similar films keep the experience strong from start to finish. --- Image & Sound: This is the best Bonnie and Clyde has ever looked. The people at Warner have done a fantastic job restoring the picture, which shows throughout the course of the movie. Granted, some scenes do look a little grainy and dark, but this is most likely a source material issue. --- Sound quality: Slightly less impressive than the visual quality. While the audio tracks here are free of any major flaws, they don't exactly go above and beyond either. You'll wish they'd done a little more work on the audio. Special Features: The first disc contains the obligatory trailers, while the bulk of the issues are relegated to the second. By far the best extra included in this set is the lengthy 40th Anniversary documentary on the making of the film, which gives numerous perspectives into what went on behind the scenes of this classic's production. Also of interest is a History Channel documentary on the real Bonnie and Clyde, also running for a lengthy duration and revealing a lot of information. Also included are some Warren Beatty wardrobe tests, and some deleted scenes, which naturally show their age and lack of completeness. This is the definitive edition of the film and these bonus features beautifully back that claim up. --- Final Words: Bonnie and Clyde is a cinematic masterpiece. If this film isn't in your DVD collection yet, you don't have a DVD collection. A great film and an incredible DVD presentation of it, this package gets my strongest recommendation.
	12 Angry Men
	"The film is a masterpiece.... but you'll wish there were more extras on the DVD"	2008-04-04
--THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2008 ANNIVERSARY EDITION-- 12 Angry Men is directed by Sidney Lumet, and stars Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Ed Binns, Jack Warden, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, and Robert Webber. The musical score is provided by Kenyon Hopkins. * A teen from the slums has been accused of murdering his father. Following the trial, a jury of 12 men from completely different walks of life convenes in the jury room, to vote on the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Amongst the jurors are a timid bank employee, a hard-headed businessman/father, a sports fan who is more interested in the evening's baseball game than the trial, a doubtful architect, an old man, and an immigrant proud to be an American. As a murder case, finding the young man guilty means the electric chair. Following the preliminary vote, one man has doubts in his mind about the defendant's guilt - and it becomes his responsibility to go against the other 11 men, and convince them that the young man might not be guilty of the crime after all. * An absolute classic that stands the test of time, 12 Angry Men is as fresh and entertaining now as it was when it was released theatrically half a century ago. Despite being filmed on a low budget and nearly the entire film taking place in a single room, the experience always stays interesting, with debate and drama around every corner. The characters are all well-played and interesting, and the plot is simple and to the point. And perhaps even more interesting about the storyline is the fact that it's still a relevant one to American society. A lot of films get called "classics" on a regular basis, but it's debatable as to how many of them live up to that title. 12 Angry Men is one of them. * The acting in 12 Angry Men is one of the film's greatest assets. We're given 12 characters that couldn't be more different from one another. And despite them remaining nameless for the film's duration, they are more engrossing and interesting than characters in just about any other film out there, past and present alike. Henry Fonda steals the show as the initial lone juror who holds out against his fellow jurors to defend the accused. Also worth mentioning are Lee J. Cobb as the primary opponent to the defendant's innocence, Jack Warden in a terrific early performance as a man who cares more about ball games than the life that hangs in the balance, and Joseph Sweeney as the elderly juror. Everyone puts up a great performance from beginning to end. * Perhaps one of the reasons this classic stands the test of time is because it's a storyline that, while simplistic, remains relevant in American society. It's an easy-to-follow film, and it's a subject that just about every America citizen can relate to. * The movie was filmed on a low budget, but the crew doesn't let this show. The action of the movie is confined to the jury room, but this doesn't limit things. It's the performances that steal the show here, not a fancy big-budget production job. * Few movies stand the test of time as well as this one. An absolute must-see film for any fan of movies, 12 Angry Men is a masterpiece on all fronts. There are not enough good things than can be said about this classic. --- Image And Sound: nlike some earlier releases of the film, this one presents the movie in an anamorphic widescreen format. The image is crisp and clean for a movie as old as this, though there are a few scenes that suffer from heavy grain. Naturally, we can't expect perfect image quality, though, considering the source material is over half a century old. The sound has no major issues, and all of the dialogue is easy to understand, with no noticeable flaws. It's definitely the best the movie has looked and sounded on a home video format. --- Special Features: The bonus features here are surprisingly limited, considering how many times the movie has been released on DVD before, and the fact that this is a big anniversary for the movie. As far as the bonus material goes, we get three major features here. First up is an enlightening commentary from film historian Drew Casper, which is well worth checking out for any fan of the movie. The other featurettes include a "behind the scenes" feature with surviving cast and crew members, sharing their experiences on the filmmaking process, and a "jury room" feature that focuses mostly on what was changed for the movie, in an effort to make the film more dramatic. Omitted from earlier DVD releases, however, is the theatrical trailer. Also, it would have been nice to have had the 1954 CBS Studio One television version included as a bonus feature, as a complete recording of it was recently discovered (though it most likely wasn't included for legal reasons.) Still, this is a disappointingly sparse amount of extras considering that the movie has had multiple DVD releases in the past. Final Words: If you haven't had a chance to add this cinematic masterpiece to your collection, don't hesitate to pick up this newly-released edition - it's the best version of the movie currently on the market, though you'll still wish there were more bonus features included. But that doesn't change the fact that this is one of the greatest motion pictures of all time.
	The Host [Blu-ray]
	"An unusual and entertaining monster movie experience"	2008-03-28
The Host is directed by Bong Joon-Ho, and stars, Ko A Sung, Bae Doo Na, Byun Hee Bong, Park Hae Il, and Song Kang Ho. The film's musical score is composed by Byeong Woo Lee. * The Host follows the rampage of an evil creature - one the government claims has become the host of a mysterious new virus. Almost instantaneously, the creature begins going on a terror spree. Amongst those hit by the monster's attacks are a young girl. When she vanishes, her family departs on an attempt to recover her from the powerful creature. * Unusual and "out there" for its entire duration, with its style bouncing around all over the place, everywhere from terrifying to slapstick, The Host certainly isn't your average monster movie. It's a weird film that takes chances in every field of filmmaking, and ends up a better product as a result. * The basic premise behind The Host is, let's be honest, nothing new. But the way director Bong Joon-Ho handles the material keeps things strange and interesting. A lot of strangeness hits you from every direction as you watch the movie, with the overall mood never staying consistent. While this uneven nature would have been the kiss of death for just about any other film, it actually works as a strength here. You won't know what's around the next corner - and the film keeps you guessing all the while in a most unusual way. The whole "takes you by surprise" tone of the movie more than compensates for the mediocre special effects and other minor shortcomings. * Typical American moviegoers aren't going to recognize the names of the cast members and director. But don't let that fool you - there are a lot of good performances to be experienced here. Combined with the ever-changing tone of the movie, their performances here are made all the more entertaining. * Following its release, the movie broke numerous records. In its native South Korea, due in no small part to the enormous hype built around the movie pre-release, it has become that nation's highest-grossing film of all time. It has also been the recipient of numerous film awards in a number of countries - further proof that the film is an unlikely, underrated gem. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener disc, so picture quality on it doesn't represent the commercially-released disc. Special Features: The best is on the main disc featuring an audio commentary track from the director Bong Joon-Ho and one of the visual effects artists on the film. It's quite a good commentary track filled with trivia covering shooting locations, what's digital and what isn't and casting. * "Director Bong Joon-Ho's Reflections" is a brief featurette that features the director focusing on the themes played out in his movie. We also get deleted scenes that round out the extras on the first disc and while none of them were essential a couple of them are humorous. * The second disc features a multi-part documentary on the production of the film. "Making of the Host" is broken down into everything from production design, location shooting, storyboards, scoring the film to the creature done in both San Francisco and at Peter Jackson's WETA workshop in Australia. Many of the extras feature the production staff speaking Korean so you'll need to follow the subtitles. * We also get a gag reel that wasn't all that amusing along along with "Saying Goodbye" where cast and crew discuss working together as well as trailers. --- Final Words: The Host isn't for everyone, but anyone who comes into the film will experience one of the most unusual monster movies of recent years, along with a fresh new take on an age-old formula. Definitely worth your time.
	The Host [HD DVD]
	"An unusual and entertaining monster movie experience"	2008-03-28
The Host is directed by Bong Joon-Ho, and stars, Ko A Sung, Bae Doo Na, Byun Hee Bong, Park Hae Il, and Song Kang Ho. The film's musical score is composed by Byeong Woo Lee. * The Host follows the rampage of an evil creature - one the government claims has become the host of a mysterious new virus. Almost instantaneously, the creature begins going on a terror spree. Amongst those hit by the monster's attacks are a young girl. When she vanishes, her family departs on an attempt to recover her from the powerful creature. * Unusual and "out there" for its entire duration, with its style bouncing around all over the place, everywhere from terrifying to slapstick, The Host certainly isn't your average monster movie. It's a weird film that takes chances in every field of filmmaking, and ends up a better product as a result. * The basic premise behind The Host is, let's be honest, nothing new. But the way director Bong Joon-Ho handles the material keeps things strange and interesting. A lot of strangeness hits you from every direction as you watch the movie, with the overall mood never staying consistent. While this uneven nature would have been the kiss of death for just about any other film, it actually works as a strength here. You won't know what's around the next corner - and the film keeps you guessing all the while in a most unusual way. The whole "takes you by surprise" tone of the movie more than compensates for the mediocre special effects and other minor shortcomings. * Typical American moviegoers aren't going to recognize the names of the cast members and director. But don't let that fool you - there are a lot of good performances to be experienced here. Combined with the ever-changing tone of the movie, their performances here are made all the more entertaining. * Following its release, the movie broke numerous records. In its native South Korea, due in no small part to the enormous hype built around the movie pre-release, it has become that nation's highest-grossing film of all time. It has also been the recipient of numerous film awards in a number of countries - further proof that the film is an unlikely, underrated gem. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener disc, so picture quality on it doesn't represent the commercially-released disc. Special Features: The best is on the main disc featuring an audio commentary track from the director Bong Joon-Ho and one of the visual effects artists on the film. It's quite a good commentary track filled with trivia covering shooting locations, what's digital and what isn't and casting. * "Director Bong Joon-Ho's Reflections" is a brief featurette that features the director focusing on the themes played out in his movie. We also get deleted scenes that round out the extras on the first disc and while none of them were essential a couple of them are humorous. * The second disc features a multi-part documentary on the production of the film. "Making of the Host" is broken down into everything from production design, location shooting, storyboards, scoring the film to the creature done in both San Francisco and at Peter Jackson's WETA workshop in Australia. Many of the extras feature the production staff speaking Korean so you'll need to follow the subtitles. * We also get a gag reel that wasn't all that amusing along along with "Saying Goodbye" where cast and crew discuss working together as well as trailers. --- Final Words: The Host isn't for everyone, but anyone who comes into the film will experience one of the most unusual monster movies of recent years, along with a fresh new take on an age-old formula. Definitely worth your time.
	District B13 [HD DVD]
	"An entertaining action film"	2008-03-28
District B13 (originally titled Banlieue 13 in its native France) is directed by Pierre Morel, and stars Bibi Naceri, David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Tony D'Amario, and Dany Verissimo. * District B13 takes place in France in the not-so-distant future. The worst parts of the country have been literally sealed off by walls, isolating and quarantining the residents within. In these sectors there is no law and order, and the drug lords reign supreme. One man refuses to put up with the drug lords, and destroys a valuable shipment. His sister is abducted in retaliation, and his plot to rescue her fails, landing him behind bars. Eventually, he joins forces with an undercover officer - and the twosome must find a deadly neutron bomb before it can be set off. * As far as "purely action" movies go, District B13 is a fine French import. It's light on the story and plot development, but when it comes to action and stunts, the film is on a plane all its own - and the film spares no expense on the thrills. The movie feels more like a collection of stunts and action scenes than something with a flowing, truly coherent storyline. But at the end, after having been thoroughly entertained by all of this, who am I to complain? If it's action you seek, this is your film. * The personnel who worked on this film really show their stuff off in the action scenes, making the entire movie entertaining. Belle and Raffaelli are more than just actors, they largely do their own stunt work - and the results speak for themselves. The filmmakers here edit these action scenes excellently, and when you watch the movie, you'll see that the results speak for themselves. The crew here, on both ends sides of the camera, accomplishes everything they set out to do. * Yes, the characters are a bit on the shallow and one-dimensional side. But this isn't the kind of movie that puts its emphasis on character development. For action fans, there's no finer foreign film. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener disc, so picture quality on it doesn't represent the commercially-released disc. --- Special Features: None on the screener disc I reviewed. Final Words: District B13 is a fun-filled, non-stop, action-laden thrill ride that makes no apologies for what it is - and is all the more entertaining because of it. If you're looking for a dosage of cinematic action, District B13 is for you.
	The Architect
	"Fantastic urban drama"	2008-03-28
The Architect is directed by Matt Tauber, and stars Anthony LaPaglia, Viola Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Hayden Panettiere, and Sebastian Stan. It is based on a play written by David Grieg. * The Architect, based on the play of the same name, follows the life of an architect who has constantly designed buildings for the Chicago area. However, one of the buildings he designed two decades ago has seen better days, has become run down, and become a center of gang and drug activity. A woman from a family that couldn't be more different has started a petition to have the complex torn down, and the confused architect must decide whether or not to sign something to demolish a complex he designed. The movie jumps back and forth between both families, their stories, and conflicts. * Despite being made on a low budget, The Architect stands as a solid urban drama. It's not a great film, and doesn't pretend to be. But what it does serve up is terrific performances from all of its players, a believable premise and setting, and a human feeling throughout that never feels contrived or over-the-top. * Easily the greatest thing about the architect is its cast. Anthony LaPaglia absolutely steals the show as the title character. Over the years, this is a man who has played people from all walks of life, rarely failing to please. He's certainly come a long way from playing the store manager in Empire Records! And equally impressive here is better half, played by Isabella Rossellini. The other true stand-out performance comes from the equal-yet-opposite petitioner, played by Viola Davis. Her acting paints a picture of a totally different world from LaPaglia's title character, and yet the entire experience on both ends of the spectrum is believable, and always feels authentic. * The only real issues I had with the film were its obvious low budget and far-too-short length. It's clear from beginning to end the filmmakers didn't have a whole lot to work with, but they definitely make the best of what they have at their disposal. The other issue is the run time, which only narrowly exceeds 80 minutes - very short for a motion picture by today's standards. Flaws aside, there's still enough to recommend the film. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener copy, so it doesn't represent the final released product. --- Special Features: None on the screener disc I watched. Final Words: There are some issues with The Architect, but the good outweighs the bad here. You'll feel for these characters, due to the strong acting and direction throughout. Definitely an urban drama worth your time.
	It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
	"Well worth picking up if you didn't already get the 2003 DVD"	2008-03-28
It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown originally aired in 1974 on the CBS network. The special features the voices of Todd Barbee, Melanie Kohn, Stephen Shea, Linda Ercoli, Lynn Mortensen, James Ahrens, and Bill Melendez. The musical score is composed by Vince Guaraldi, and the presentation is directed by Phil Roman. * Just in time for Easter, the classic Peanuts special has been given the remastering treatment, and released again as a "special edition." * It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown was one of the many television specials released based on the comic strips of Charles Schulz. Naturally, this special focuses on the holiday of Easter, and a number of adventures that befall our young heroes. Amongst the plots crammed into the 25-minute television presentation are Peppermint Patty's efforts to dye Easter eggs, only to have her plans be ruined by awkward pal Marci, Linus frequently preaching to everyone that the "Easter Beagle" will come on Easter Sunday, and Snoopy's efforts to get his bird friend Woodstock a decent place to sleep. *** All of the Peanuts television specials are classics, and well worth watching. But one thing I won't deny is that the Easter Beagle does fall short of earlier outings. For instance, the episode tends to focus more on the commercial aspects of Easter than the deeper, religious meanings (which the earlier A Charlie Brown Christmas did to perfection.) It's still worth picking up if you're a fan of the comic strip or these characters, though. --- Image And Sound: While this still isn't a great DVD transfer, it's definitely a step up from the 2003 DVD release. The 2003 release had a rather soft picture, and plenty of grain throughout. The picture this time around is sharper, and while there's still some grain in many places, I won't deny that this is the best the special has looked in a home video release to date. --- Special Features: Despite being billed as a "Special Edition", there are only two bonus features here. The first is the 1976 special, It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. This was included as a bonus feature on the original DVD issue as well, so it's nothing new to the DVD presentations of this special. The new, more noteworthy special featured here is the In Full Bloom: Peanuts on Easter featurette. This features a variety of interview footage, and while you'll probably learn some things you didn't know, at just 15 minute it leaves you wanting more. Whether or not you want to buy this special on DVD again based on the inclusion of one little new documentary is up to you. --- Final Words: This is one of many classic television specials based on Charles Schulz's classic characters, but it's definitely not up to the earlier specials, namely the Christmas and Halloween ones. Should you buy this DVD? If you're a Peanuts fan and don't have this on DVD yet, go for it. But if you bought the 2003 DVD, the only things you're getting here that weren't on that DVD are improved picture quality and a new documentary that only runs about 15 minutes. It's up to you to decide whether or not the double dip is worth it.
	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
	"Well worth picking up if you didn't already get the 2003 DVD"	2008-03-28
It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown originally aired in 1974 on the CBS network. The special features the voices of Todd Barbee, Melanie Kohn, Stephen Shea, Linda Ercoli, Lynn Mortensen, James Ahrens, and Bill Melendez. The musical score is composed by Vince Guaraldi, and the presentation is directed by Phil Roman. * Just in time for Easter, the classic Peanuts special has been given the remastering treatment, and released again as a "special edition." * It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown was one of the many television specials released based on the comic strips of Charles Schulz. Naturally, this special focuses on the holiday of Easter, and a number of adventures that befall our young heroes. Amongst the plots crammed into the 25-minute television presentation are Peppermint Patty's efforts to dye Easter eggs, only to have her plans be ruined by awkward pal Marci, Linus frequently preaching to everyone that the "Easter Beagle" will come on Easter Sunday, and Snoopy's efforts to get his bird friend Woodstock a decent place to sleep. *** All of the Peanuts television specials are classics, and well worth watching. But one thing I won't deny is that the Easter Beagle does fall short of earlier outings. For instance, the episode tends to focus more on the commercial aspects of Easter than the deeper, religious meanings (which the earlier A Charlie Brown Christmas did to perfection.) It's still worth picking up if you're a fan of the comic strip or these characters, though. --- Image And Sound: While this still isn't a great DVD transfer, it's definitely a step up from the 2003 DVD release. The 2003 release had a rather soft picture, and plenty of grain throughout. The picture this time around is sharper, and while there's still some grain in many places, I won't deny that this is the best the special has looked in a home video release to date. --- Special Features: Despite being billed as a "Special Edition", there are only two bonus features here. The first is the 1976 special, It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. This was included as a bonus feature on the original DVD issue as well, so it's nothing new to the DVD presentations of this special. The new, more noteworthy special featured here is the In Full Bloom: Peanuts on Easter featurette. This features a variety of interview footage, and while you'll probably learn some things you didn't know, at just 15 minute it leaves you wanting more. Whether or not you want to buy this special on DVD again based on the inclusion of one little new documentary is up to you. --- Final Words: This is one of many classic television specials based on Charles Schulz's classic characters, but it's definitely not up to the earlier specials, namely the Christmas and Halloween ones. Should you buy this DVD? If you're a Peanuts fan and don't have this on DVD yet, go for it. But if you bought the 2003 DVD, the only things you're getting here that weren't on that DVD are improved picture quality and a new documentary that only runs about 15 minutes. It's up to you to decide whether or not the double dip is worth it.
	District B13 [Blu-ray]
	"An entertaining action film"	2008-03-28
District B13 (originally titled Banlieue 13 in its native France) is directed by Pierre Morel, and stars Bibi Naceri, David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Tony D'Amario, and Dany Verissimo. * District B13 takes place in France in the not-so-distant future. The worst parts of the country have been literally sealed off by walls, isolating and quarantining the residents within. In these sectors there is no law and order, and the drug lords reign supreme. One man refuses to put up with the drug lords, and destroys a valuable shipment. His sister is abducted in retaliation, and his plot to rescue her fails, landing him behind bars. Eventually, he joins forces with an undercover officer - and the twosome must find a deadly neutron bomb before it can be set off. * As far as "purely action" movies go, District B13 is a fine French import. It's light on the story and plot development, but when it comes to action and stunts, the film is on a plane all its own - and the film spares no expense on the thrills. The movie feels more like a collection of stunts and action scenes than something with a flowing, truly coherent storyline. But at the end, after having been thoroughly entertained by all of this, who am I to complain? If it's action you seek, this is your film. * The personnel who worked on this film really show their stuff off in the action scenes, making the entire movie entertaining. Belle and Raffaelli are more than just actors, they largely do their own stunt work - and the results speak for themselves. The filmmakers here edit these action scenes excellently, and when you watch the movie, you'll see that the results speak for themselves. The crew here, on both ends sides of the camera, accomplishes everything they set out to do. * Yes, the characters are a bit on the shallow and one-dimensional side. But this isn't the kind of movie that puts its emphasis on character development. For action fans, there's no finer foreign film. --- Image And Sound: My review is based on a screener disc, so picture quality on it doesn't represent the commercially-released disc. --- Special Features: None on the screener disc I reviewed. Final Words: District B13 is a fun-filled, non-stop, action-laden thrill ride that makes no apologies for what it is - and is all the more entertaining because of it. If you're looking for a dosage of cinematic action, District B13 is for you.
	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
	"Well worth picking up if you didn't already get the 2003 DVD"	2008-03-28
It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown originally aired in 1974 on the CBS network. The special features the voices of Todd Barbee, Melanie Kohn, Stephen Shea, Linda Ercoli, Lynn Mortensen, James Ahrens, and Bill Melendez. The musical score is composed by Vince Guaraldi, and the presentation is directed by Phil Roman. * Just in time for Easter, the classic Peanuts special has been given the remastering treatment, and released again as a "special edition." * It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown was one of the many television specials released based on the comic strips of Charles Schulz. Naturally, this special focuses on the holiday of Easter, and a number of adventures that befall our young heroes. Amongst the plots crammed into the 25-minute television presentation are Peppermint Patty's efforts to dye Easter eggs, only to have her plans be ruined by awkward pal Marci, Linus frequently preaching to everyone that the "Easter Beagle" will come on Easter Sunday, and Snoopy's efforts to get his bird friend Woodstock a decent place to sleep. *** All of the Peanuts television specials are classics, and well worth watching. But one thing I won't deny is that the Easter Beagle does fall short of earlier outings. For instance, the episode tends to focus more on the commercial aspects of Easter than the deeper, religious meanings (which the earlier A Charlie Brown Christmas did to perfection.) It's still worth picking up if you're a fan of the comic strip or these characters, though. --- Image And Sound: While this still isn't a great DVD transfer, it's definitely a step up from the 2003 DVD release. The 2003 release had a rather soft picture, and plenty of grain throughout. The picture this time around is sharper, and while there's still some grain in many places, I won't deny that this is the best the special has looked in a home video release to date. --- Special Features: Despite being billed as a "Special Edition", there are only two bonus features here. The first is the 1976 special, It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. This was included as a bonus feature on the original DVD issue as well, so it's nothing new to the DVD presentations of this special. The new, more noteworthy special featured here is the In Full Bloom: Peanuts on Easter featurette. This features a variety of interview footage, and while you'll probably learn some things you didn't know, at just 15 minute it leaves you wanting more. Whether or not you want to buy this special on DVD again based on the inclusion of one little new documentary is up to you. --- Final Words: This is one of many classic television specials based on Charles Schulz's classic characters, but it's definitely not up to the earlier specials, namely the Christmas and Halloween ones. Should you buy this DVD? If you're a Peanuts fan and don't have this on DVD yet, go for it. But if you bought the 2003 DVD, the only things you're getting here that weren't on that DVD are improved picture quality and a new documentary that only runs about 15 minutes. It's up to you to decide whether or not the double dip is worth it.
	101 Dalmatians (Limited Issue)
	"Finally gets the DVD treatment it deserves!"	2008-03-08
101 Dalmatians, based on the book by Dodie Smith, is directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman. The film features the voices of Rod Taylor (The Time Machine (1960 Version)), Cate Bauer, Betty Lou Gerson (Cinderella), and Ben Wright (The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid.) One of the most famous of all the Disney feature-length animated features, 101 Dalmatians features two Dalmatians who fall in love, and consequently, so do their owners. The two dogs give birth to a litter of puppies, but the joy is short-lived. Cruella De Vil, an old acquaintance of the household's wife, wants to get her hands on the dogs so she can make a dog-skin coat. When the owners refuse to relinquish the dogs, she hires burglars to steal them. Once in the home that could be their final resting place, however, the puppies meet up with a gaggle of other store-bought dogs that will be victims of the evil scheme. It's up to all of the dogs to work together to break free, and get home safely. *** It's no surprise that 101 Dalmatians remains one of the most popular films in the entire Disney catalogue. There are lovable protagonists, one of the most iconic villains in Disney history, and an easy-to-follow storyline that works better than you'd expect. Everything comes together nicely. It's truly one of the best films to ever come from the Disney catalogue. If there's one thing in this movie that people remember (apart from the obvious gaggle of pups), it's Cruella De Vil. Voiced here brilliantly by Betty Lou Gerson (she also voiced the narrator in the Disney version of Cinderella), the character is one of Disney's finest central antagonists. In many ways, she's a far more memorable and effective character than any of the heroes. There are a few weaknesses with 101 - fewer songs than in your typical animated Disney adventure, relatively short run time, lack of a central hero to cheer for - but in the long run these are nothing more than little flaws. It's still one of the best movies in the Disney library. One thing that will immediately catch your eye when you see the case for this DVD is that the image is presented in a 1:33:1 full screen aspect ratio, not the typical widescreen presentation you'd expect. But fear not! Weird as it may sound, even long after most theaters began using widescreen as the standard presentation for movies, Disney still went ahead and shot 101 in the old full screen format. In other words, it was actually theatrical airings and other widescreen presentations that had a cropped image. This is the first time (to my knowledge) the movie has ever been made available in its original aspect ratio on the DVD format. The image itself has gotten much needed remastering - and it looks absolutely incredible. I had no idea Disney could make the picture of a nearly half-century old movie look so good. The audio quality is clean and without blemishes of any kind. To put it simply, it both looks and sounds fantastic. Even if you bought an earlier issue of the film on some format, this one is worth investing in for the uncropped picture and image quality alone. As with most of their reissues of classic animated films, Disney really went overboard on 101 Dalmatians - and they've got plenty of bonus material, so much so that the package is two discs! The first disc contains the movie itself, the two pop-up fact tracks, and the music videos. The pop-up tracks are a nice extra feature, with the so-called "family" track focusing on the differences between Dodie Smith's book and the film, and the "fan" track emphasizing interesting facts dealing with the making of the film and the production process. Lastly is the Selena Gomez music video, which this DVD could seriously have done without (I know there's an audience out there for this stuff, but it's not going to have much appeal to older fans of the movie.) Disc two contains the rest of the extras. Plenty of DVD-ROM material and games are included on this disc, but like the music video on the first disc, it's mostly only going to appeal to the youngsters. Of particular interest is a collection of deleted songs, consisting of both music that wasn't used in the final film, as well as some alternative versions of cuts that did make the movie - stuff that any fan of the film will definitely want to check out. The best material on here is the Redefining The Line making-of documentary, which runs for over half an hour, and gives some interesting insight into the making of process. There are also two lesser featurettes - one of which dealing with Cruella De Vil, and another dealing with communications between Walt Disney and Dodie Smith (author of the book on which the film was based.) While interesting, both of these featurettes will leave you wanting more. Lastly is a collection of film-related art, as well as various trailers and television spots for the movie, and even radio spots promoting the film. Disney did a terrific job with the extras on this set, I only wish they'd focused more on the behind-the-scenes and making-of stuff than the kiddie material. A classic for the ages, 101 Dalmatians is one of the best films the Walt Disney company ever created. Everything here comes together nicely, making for a terrific film that has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so. A more than worthy addition to your DVD collection.
	Raiders of the Lost Ark
	"Once again, Lucas gives his biggest fans the finger"	2008-03-06
Before I get into this review, I want to make it clear that the 1-star rating is, in no way an indication of my feelings about the actual movie, which is a 5-star masterpiece. The review refers exclusively to these reissues. George Lucas doesn't know when to quit. You'd think after the fiasco with the Star Wars Trilogy DVDs, he would have learned his lesson. It took three waves of long-awaited DVD releases before he finally gave fans what they wanted - the original unadulterated films. And when he finally released them they were relegated to being unremastered, non-anamorphic "bonus features." And when he finally released his directorial debut, THX 1138 on the DVD format, he ONLY released it as a heavily modified director's cut. There was no original theatrical cut included. All right, enough rambling. Let's get right down to the important stuff. Everyone knows Lucas finally released the Indiana Jones films on DVD a few years back, in a very well put-together, remastered box set - complete with a whole disc of bonus features. It seemed this was the one franchise that Lucas had finally given the perfect treatment to on DVD. Well, Mr. Lucas can never resist the infamous double-dip! After getting his fans to shell out the money for the box set, Lucas now reissues the films separately - WITH BONUS FEATURES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BOX SET. So to those of you who thought you had the ultimate Indiana Jones set that encompassed every bonus feature out there - think again. Lucas has screwed us yet again! I don't see why these bonus-laden versions of the films weren't the ones he included in the box set to begin with. It would have saved us fans a lot of hassle - and it would have spared me having to write this review. If you already bough the box set, don't give Lucas any more of your money. I, for one, and sick and tired of the guy rehashing the same old movies over and over again just so he can make another few million - and throwing new features into the mix is the ultimate slap-in-the-face to those of us who bought the box. Mr. Lucas - you're an absolute creative genius when it comes to the world of cinema. But leave the marketing to someone else. For those who are curious, or those of you who are such Indy die-hards that you must have every bonus feature ever made, here's a list of the features on this disc: -- "Raiders of the Lost Ark": An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas -- Indiana Jones: An Appreciation--The cast and crew of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" pay tribute to the original trilogy. -- The Melting Face--A recreation of the amazing physical effect of the villain's melting face in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas commenting on the evolution of visual effects and CGI. -- Storyboard Sequence--The Well of Souls -- Galleries -- Illustrations & Props -- Production Photographs & Portraits -- Effects/ILM -- Marketing -- "LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures" Game Demo and Trailer Good stuff? Yes. But don't fall for the double-dip. Teach Lucas a lesson by not investing in these DVDs.
	Airplane!
	"One of the best comedies ever made"	2008-02-03
Airplane! Is directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The film stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Barbara Billingsley, and Lorna Patterson. Elmer Bernstein contributes the musical score. Airplane! is a parody of "aircraft in distress" movies. The film primarily parodies the film Zero Hour, but throws in elements of other similar films, including the Airport series. But this doesn't keep it from spoofing other films, including Jaws, Saturday Night Fever, Casablanca, and From Here To Eternity. The plot of the film follows Ted Striker, a war veteran whose stewardess lover has left him and decided to move on. In an effort to win her back, he buys a ticket on her next flight - but gets more than he bargained for. Both pilots and numerous passengers fall victim to food poisoning. It's up to Striker, who has never flown an airliner before, to land the plane - with laugh-out-loud nonsensical gags, puns, and flashbacks occurring all the while. The Zucker/Abrahams team never fails to get laughs from its audience - and no film epitomizes that like this one does. From the film's infancy on the ground, right up to the laugh-laden jet ride across the country, the laughs never stop, with great scenes around every corner. It's one of the greatest comedies ever made - no questions asked. The cast of Airplane! Could not have been better selected. Amongst the stand-outs in the cast are Robert Hays as Ted Striker, the war veteran on a quest to get back his lover, Robert Stack as an on-the-ground captain who has to instruct Striker how to land the plane (and it doesn't help things any that their characters have a bad past), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as himself masquerading as a first officer on the ill-fated flight, Peter Graves as a pedophiliac captain, and of course, Leslie Nielsen as the doctor on board the plane - who keeps a straight face no matter how ludicrous what he says is. Perhaps even more amazingly is that, despite his great performance here, this was Nielsen's first comedy role ever! And it changed the direction of his career forever. Great cast, enough said. Elmer Bernstein composed the musical score for the film. A legendary film composer, he had scored films of various genres as far back as the early fifties. For Airplane!, he composes a "serious" score, despite the comical nature of the movie. Not only does this actually work in the movie's favor, but it's a move countless composers since have copied. Airplane! Has received two DVD releases from Paramount over the years. The first release was a bare-bones issue, not unlike most of Paramount's early DVD releases. Fortunately, the company has decided to go back and rerelease most of their popular films - this time with worthwhile extras. In the case of Airplane!, the new edition is the "Don't Call Me Shirley!" Edition, after one of Leslie Nielsen's most priceless lines in the film. There are a ton of new bonus features included here, and it puts the old DVD to shame. Needless to say, be sure it's the version you're picking up! It's tough to review comedies, but rest assured - Airplane! Is a masterpiece. With lightning-fast humor coming from a brilliant cast, you won't stop laughing. Thumbs up
	Ferris Bueller's Day Off
	"A comedy classic for the ages"	2008-02-03
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is directed by John Hughes. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein, Richard Edson, and Edie McClurg. Contributors to the musical score include Ira Newborn, Arthur Baker, and John Robie. Ferris Bueller is a Chicago high school student who, like so many others, is sick and tired of long, boring school days. So he comes up with the ultimate plan - fake an illness to get out of going to school, and use that day to get together with his friends, and do everything fun the city has to offer. Once he is up and about, he teams up with his girlfriend and his reluctant, constantly depressed and nervous buddy. And borrowing the latter's father's priceless sports car, the trio heads downtown to partake of numerous activities. But what Ferris doesn't know is that the school's dean is aware of his less-than-stellar attendance habits, and is out to bust him by any means necessary. The movie is a classic - one of those few eighties movies that really stands the test of time, and never manages to feel dated. Prior to shifting over to the world of family-friendly cinema, John Hughes was the master of teenage angst films. And perhaps no movie he ever participated in demonstrates that more than this one. There are laughs to be experienced around every corner, and yet the film is never raunchy or explicit. It's a success on every level. Ferris Bueller's Day Off's cast is one of the greatest assets the film has going for it. Matthew Broderick brilliantly portrays the title character. Always entertaining and always lovable, Broderick's performance here is arguably the finest of his career. The other stand-out is Alan Ruck as Cameron, Ferris' always-fearful companion from a broken home. Other great performances include Jennifer Grey as the title-character's uptight sister, Jeffrey Jones as the high school's over-the-top dean who will stop at nothing to bring Ferris down, and Edie McClurg as the dean's goofy secretary. Some brief (but no less memorable) performances include Ben Stein as the boring, monotone economics instructor, Charlie Sheen as a drug addict in a police station, and former Sonic Youth member Richard Edson as a crooked parking attendant. The movie is filled with excellent performances. Alongside its cast, another great thing the film has going for it is the storyline, and the way the film explores it. It's a simple, to-the-point storyline so many people can relate to - who among us all hasn't wanted to ditch school for the sake of having a great day? The trio goes all across the city, and the comical scenes never stop. The tone of the film is perfect - always comical and entertaining, yet never raunchy or explicit. Music for the film is composed by multiple composers. Amongst them is Ira Newborn, who would also compose the music for numerous other films/shows/artists/etc, including the Naked Gun films. The songs featured in the film come from a variety of sources and cover numerous genres - each one of which always suiting a certain scene in the film perfectly. Sadly though, John Hughes refused to release a soundtrack album, as he felt the songs wouldn't work well together as an album. As such, many songs featured prominently in the film, including the Flowerpot Men classic Beat City, are now highly sought after. Great music.... I only wish there was a soundtrack that had it all together! Ferris Bueller's Day Off has gotten two DVD releases in America. The first issue was a bare-bones release - something Paramount did for most of their catalogue when doing the first releases of movies on the DVD format. It included a commentary track, but no other noteworthy extras. But the more recent Bueller Bueller Edition has a ton of featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage previously unreleased. It puts the old DVD release to shame, but sadly fails include the old version's commentary track. Still, if you're going to buy the movie, go for the Bueller Bueller version. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is John Hughes at his finest - arguably the best of his classic "teenage angst" eighties films. A comedy classic for the ages, it has stood the test of time for all the right reasons.
	Ferris Bueller's Day Off
	"A comedy classic for the ages"	2008-02-03
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is directed by John Hughes. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein, Richard Edson, and Edie McClurg. Contributors to the musical score include Ira Newborn, Arthur Baker, and John Robie. Ferris Bueller is a Chicago high school student who, like so many others, is sick and tired of long, boring school days. So he comes up with the ultimate plan - fake an illness to get out of going to school, and use that day to get together with his friends, and do everything fun the city has to offer. Once he is up and about, he teams up with his girlfriend and his reluctant, constantly depressed and nervous buddy. And borrowing the latter's father's priceless sports car, the trio heads downtown to partake of numerous activities. But what Ferris doesn't know is that the school's dean is aware of his less-than-stellar attendance habits, and is out to bust him by any means necessary. The movie is a classic - one of those few eighties movies that really stands the test of time, and never manages to feel dated. Prior to shifting over to the world of family-friendly cinema, John Hughes was the master of teenage angst films. And perhaps no movie he ever participated in demonstrates that more than this one. There are laughs to be experienced around every corner, and yet the film is never raunchy or explicit. It's a success on every level. Ferris Bueller's Day Off's cast is one of the greatest assets the film has going for it. Matthew Broderick brilliantly portrays the title character. Always entertaining and always lovable, Broderick's performance here is arguably the finest of his career. The other stand-out is Alan Ruck as Cameron, Ferris' always-fearful companion from a broken home. Other great performances include Jennifer Grey as the title-character's uptight sister, Jeffrey Jones as the high school's over-the-top dean who will stop at nothing to bring Ferris down, and Edie McClurg as the dean's goofy secretary. Some brief (but no less memorable) performances include Ben Stein as the boring, monotone economics instructor, Charlie Sheen as a drug addict in a police station, and former Sonic Youth member Richard Edson as a crooked parking attendant. The movie is filled with excellent performances. Alongside its cast, another great thing the film has going for it is the storyline, and the way the film explores it. It's a simple, to-the-point storyline so many people can relate to - who among us all hasn't wanted to ditch school for the sake of having a great day? The trio goes all across the city, and the comical scenes never stop. The tone of the film is perfect - always comical and entertaining, yet never raunchy or explicit. Music for the film is composed by multiple composers. Amongst them is Ira Newborn, who would also compose the music for numerous other films/shows/artists/etc, including the Naked Gun films. The songs featured in the film come from a variety of sources and cover numerous genres - each one of which always suiting a certain scene in the film perfectly. Sadly though, John Hughes refused to release a soundtrack album, as he felt the songs wouldn't work well together as an album. As such, many songs featured prominently in the film, including the Flowerpot Men classic Beat City, are now highly sought after. Great music.... I only wish there was a soundtrack that had it all together! Ferris Bueller's Day Off has gotten two DVD releases in America. The first issue was a bare-bones release - something Paramount did for most of their catalogue when doing the first releases of movies on the DVD format. It included a commentary track, but no other noteworthy extras. But the more recent Bueller Bueller Edition has a ton of featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage previously unreleased. It puts the old DVD release to shame, but sadly fails include the old version's commentary track. Still, if you're going to buy the movie, go for the Bueller Bueller version. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is John Hughes at his finest - arguably the best of his classic "teenage angst" eighties films. A comedy classic for the ages, it has stood the test of time for all the right reasons.
	Ferris Bueller's Day Off
	"A comedy classic for the ages"	2008-02-03
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is directed by John Hughes. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein, Richard Edson, and Edie McClurg. Contributors to the musical score include Ira Newborn, Arthur Baker, and John Robie. Ferris Bueller is a Chicago high school student who, like so many others, is sick and tired of long, boring school days. So he comes up with the ultimate plan - fake an illness to get out of going to school, and use that day to get together with his friends, and do everything fun the city has to offer. Once he is up and about, he teams up with his girlfriend and his reluctant, constantly depressed and nervous buddy. And borrowing the latter's father's priceless sports car, the trio heads downtown to partake of numerous activities. But what Ferris doesn't know is that the school's dean is aware of his less-than-stellar attendance habits, and is out to bust him by any means necessary. The movie is a classic - one of those few eighties movies that really stands the test of time, and never manages to feel dated. Prior to shifting over to the world of family-friendly cinema, John Hughes was the master of teenage angst films. And perhaps no movie he ever participated in demonstrates that more than this one. There are laughs to be experienced around every corner, and yet the film is never raunchy or explicit. It's a success on every level. Ferris Bueller's Day Off's cast is one of the greatest assets the film has going for it. Matthew Broderick brilliantly portrays the title character. Always entertaining and always lovable, Broderick's performance here is arguably the finest of his career. The other stand-out is Alan Ruck as Cameron, Ferris' always-fearful companion from a broken home. Other great performances include Jennifer Grey as the title-character's uptight sister, Jeffrey Jones as the high school's over-the-top dean who will stop at nothing to bring Ferris down, and Edie McClurg as the dean's goofy secretary. Some brief (but no less memorable) performances include Ben Stein as the boring, monotone economics instructor, Charlie Sheen as a drug addict in a police station, and former Sonic Youth member Richard Edson as a crooked parking attendant. The movie is filled with excellent performances. Alongside its cast, another great thing the film has going for it is the storyline, and the way the film explores it. It's a simple, to-the-point storyline so many people can relate to - who among us all hasn't wanted to ditch school for the sake of having a great day? The trio goes all across the city, and the comical scenes never stop. The tone of the film is perfect - always comical and entertaining, yet never raunchy or explicit. Music for the film is composed by multiple composers. Amongst them is Ira Newborn, who would also compose the music for numerous other films/shows/artists/etc, including the Naked Gun films. The songs featured in the film come from a variety of sources and cover numerous genres - each one of which always suiting a certain scene in the film perfectly. Sadly though, John Hughes refused to release a soundtrack album, as he felt the songs wouldn't work well together as an album. As such, many songs featured prominently in the film, including the Flowerpot Men classic Beat City, are now highly sought after. Great music.... I only wish there was a soundtrack that had it all together! Ferris Bueller's Day Off has gotten two DVD releases in America. The first issue was a bare-bones release - something Paramount did for most of their catalogue when doing the first releases of movies on the DVD format. It included a commentary track, but no other noteworthy extras. But the more recent Bueller Bueller Edition has a ton of featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage previously unreleased. It puts the old DVD release to shame, but sadly fails include the old version's commentary track. Still, if you're going to buy the movie, go for the Bueller Bueller version. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is John Hughes at his finest - arguably the best of his classic "teenage angst" eighties films. A comedy classic for the ages, it has stood the test of time for all the right reasons.
	Airplane!
	"One of the best comedies ever made"	2008-02-03
Airplane! Is directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The film stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Barbara Billingsley, and Lorna Patterson. Elmer Bernstein contributes the musical score. Airplane! is a parody of "aircraft in distress" movies. The film primarily parodies the film Zero Hour, but throws in elements of other similar films, including the Airport series. But this doesn't keep it from spoofing other films, including Jaws, Saturday Night Fever, Casablanca, and From Here To Eternity. The plot of the film follows Ted Striker, a war veteran whose stewardess lover has left him and decided to move on. In an effort to win her back, he buys a ticket on her next flight - but gets more than he bargained for. Both pilots and numerous passengers fall victim to food poisoning. It's up to Striker, who has never flown an airliner before, to land the plane - with laugh-out-loud nonsensical gags, puns, and flashbacks occurring all the while. The Zucker/Abrahams team never fails to get laughs from its audience - and no film epitomizes that like this one does. From the film's infancy on the ground, right up to the laugh-laden jet ride across the country, the laughs never stop, with great scenes around every corner. It's one of the greatest comedies ever made - no questions asked. The cast of Airplane! Could not have been better selected. Amongst the stand-outs in the cast are Robert Hays as Ted Striker, the war veteran on a quest to get back his lover, Robert Stack as an on-the-ground captain who has to instruct Striker how to land the plane (and it doesn't help things any that their characters have a bad past), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as himself masquerading as a first officer on the ill-fated flight, Peter Graves as a pedophiliac captain, and of course, Leslie Nielsen as the doctor on board the plane - who keeps a straight face no matter how ludicrous what he says is. Perhaps even more amazingly is that, despite his great performance here, this was Nielsen's first comedy role ever! And it changed the direction of his career forever. Great cast, enough said. Elmer Bernstein composed the musical score for the film. A legendary film composer, he had scored films of various genres as far back as the early fifties. For Airplane!, he composes a "serious" score, despite the comical nature of the movie. Not only does this actually work in the movie's favor, but it's a move countless composers since have copied. Airplane! Has received two DVD releases from Paramount over the years. The first release was a bare-bones issue, not unlike most of Paramount's early DVD releases. Fortunately, the company has decided to go back and rerelease most of their popular films - this time with worthwhile extras. In the case of Airplane!, the new edition is the "Don't Call Me Shirley!" Edition, after one of Leslie Nielsen's most priceless lines in the film. There are a ton of new bonus features included here, and it puts the old DVD to shame. Needless to say, be sure it's the version you're picking up! It's tough to review comedies, but rest assured - Airplane! Is a masterpiece. With lightning-fast humor coming from a brilliant cast, you won't stop laughing. Thumbs up
	Batman
	"By far the best of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series"	2008-01-25
Batman is directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, and William Hootkins. Danny Elfman contributes the musical score, and Prince contributes the songs. Gotham City is in a period of fear and unrest, brought on by the criminal empire of Carl Grissom. And all across the city, rumors have spread of a masked crimefighter - which two journalists set out to investigate. Jack Napier, Grissom's second in command, is severely injured during an ill-fated chemical plant raid, when Batman interferes - and he falls into a shaft of dangerous chemicals. However, he does not die. Emerging from this near-death experience, he declares himself "The Joker" and kills Grissom, taking over his criminal empire. Bruce Wayne continues to lead his double life, romancing one of the journalists investigating the "bat" rumors, and simultaneously playing the role of the bat himself - dealing with the threat brought on by the city's latest menace. Of all of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series, the first film is by far the best. After the campy sixties series, numerous fans had doubts about the film, and whether or not would be any good. Fear not! Those doubts will be shattered just minutes into watching the film. This is Batman brought to life, the way the character was meant to be enjoyed. The characters are portrayed by an all-star cast. Michael Keaton plays the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. One thing that initially turned off a number of Batman comic fans was the fact that Keaton was cast in the lead - most of his credits prior had only included comedies. But it isn't long before he shows he can take on a more serious role. In the Burton/Schumacher series of Batman films, Keaton is the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman. Perhaps the only thing more impressive about Batman himself in this film is his antagonist. The legendary Jack Nicholson is absolutely incredible in the role of Jack Napier/The Joker. A high-ranking official in Carl Grissom's crime empire gone psychotic following his chemical factory accident, Nicholson makes the character all his own. He'll get plenty of laughs, but never overplays this character to the point that the film no longer feels serious. Easily the finest villain of the Burton/Schumacher series. Jack Nicholson rarely fails to please, and his role here is no exception. The supporting cast is, for the most part, equally impressive. Amongst its ranks are Kim Basinger and Robert Wuhl as journalists investigating the Batman rumors, Pat Hingle as police commissioner Gordon, Michael Gough as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred, Billy Dee Williams as Gotham's district attorney, Jack Palance as crime lord Carl Grissom, and William Hootkins as a corrupt policeman. I won't deny that not all of the supporting cast and characters were needed for the film, though - and at times the roster of minor characters feels needlessly overwhelming. But everyone gives a good performance, no questions asked. The place Batman shines brightest is its set design and cinematography. Gotham City looks absolutely incredible, as does just about every other visual aspect of the film. My words here don't do the film's look justice. It's a movie that has to be seen in action to be appreciated. Tim Burton puts his own creative element on the film, but never does this at the expense of veering too far from Bob Kane's original vision. The director never oversteps his boundaries here, as he would in the lackluster sequel, Batman Returns. The music for the film comes from two brilliant sources. The score of the film comes from Danny Elfman, who scores virtually every Tim Burton film. The main overture he composed for this film is one of the finest pieces he has ever composed, and remains an undeniable classic. Every scene that calls for instrumental music gets a piece that suits the scene at hand perfectly. The songs for the soundtrack, on the other hand, were composed by eighties pop/rock legend Prince. Prince is one of the most diverse musicians out there, and his Batman soundtrack shows this off beautifully. Elfman and Prince's contributions to this film are one of its greatest strengths. The original DVD release of the film was a bare bones issue with very minimal bonus features. Fortunately, to commemorate the release of Batman Begins, the Burton/Schumacher series was reissued on DVD, in the form of two-disc sets - the second disc of each film containing a plethora of bonus material. Bonus material on these DVDs is widely diverse, including documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage with cast and crew, deleted/alternate scenes, animatics, music videos - the list goes on. If you're going to buy the Burton/Schumacher films, make sure you get the remastered ones. Or, you can get them all together in the Batman Motion Picture Anthology set. A common question that seems to be under debate is what film is better, this one, or the more recent Batman Begins. I won't turn this review into a debate between the two films, so I'll just say this - both movies are worthy, five-star efforts in their own right - but they are very different films. Begins is, by far, the Batman film closest to the comic books of origin. On the other hand, this film is a dark and powerful one, but many elements have been changed from the source material, and it's undeniably a Tim Burton film. Not that the changes to the story necessarily hurt the film, though. Both movies are spectacular - but in their own, different ways. The Burton/Schumacher Batman series first entry is also its finest. Gritty and dark, comical at times but never campy, it remains one of the finest films to ever feature the Batman name. Thumbs up
	Batman
	"By far the best of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series"	2008-01-25
Batman is directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, and William Hootkins. Danny Elfman contributes the musical score, and Prince contributes the songs. Gotham City is in a period of fear and unrest, brought on by the criminal empire of Carl Grissom. And all across the city, rumors have spread of a masked crimefighter - which two journalists set out to investigate. Jack Napier, Grissom's second in command, is severely injured during an ill-fated chemical plant raid, when Batman interferes - and he falls into a shaft of dangerous chemicals. However, he does not die. Emerging from this near-death experience, he declares himself "The Joker" and kills Grissom, taking over his criminal empire. Bruce Wayne continues to lead his double life, romancing one of the journalists investigating the "bat" rumors, and simultaneously playing the role of the bat himself - dealing with the threat brought on by the city's latest menace. Of all of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series, the first film is by far the best. After the campy sixties series, numerous fans had doubts about the film, and whether or not would be any good. Fear not! Those doubts will be shattered just minutes into watching the film. This is Batman brought to life, the way the character was meant to be enjoyed. The characters are portrayed by an all-star cast. Michael Keaton plays the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. One thing that initially turned off a number of Batman comic fans was the fact that Keaton was cast in the lead - most of his credits prior had only included comedies. But it isn't long before he shows he can take on a more serious role. In the Burton/Schumacher series of Batman films, Keaton is the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman. Perhaps the only thing more impressive about Batman himself in this film is his antagonist. The legendary Jack Nicholson is absolutely incredible in the role of Jack Napier/The Joker. A high-ranking official in Carl Grissom's crime empire gone psychotic following his chemical factory accident, Nicholson makes the character all his own. He'll get plenty of laughs, but never overplays this character to the point that the film no longer feels serious. Easily the finest villain of the Burton/Schumacher series. Jack Nicholson rarely fails to please, and his role here is no exception. The supporting cast is, for the most part, equally impressive. Amongst its ranks are Kim Basinger and Robert Wuhl as journalists investigating the Batman rumors, Pat Hingle as police commissioner Gordon, Michael Gough as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred, Billy Dee Williams as Gotham's district attorney, Jack Palance as crime lord Carl Grissom, and William Hootkins as a corrupt policeman. I won't deny that not all of the supporting cast and characters were needed for the film, though - and at times the roster of minor characters feels needlessly overwhelming. But everyone gives a good performance, no questions asked. The place Batman shines brightest is its set design and cinematography. Gotham City looks absolutely incredible, as does just about every other visual aspect of the film. My words here don't do the film's look justice. It's a movie that has to be seen in action to be appreciated. Tim Burton puts his own creative element on the film, but never does this at the expense of veering too far from Bob Kane's original vision. The director never oversteps his boundaries here, as he would in the lackluster sequel, Batman Returns. The music for the film comes from two brilliant sources. The score of the film comes from Danny Elfman, who scores virtually every Tim Burton film. The main overture he composed for this film is one of the finest pieces he has ever composed, and remains an undeniable classic. Every scene that calls for instrumental music gets a piece that suits the scene at hand perfectly. The songs for the soundtrack, on the other hand, were composed by eighties pop/rock legend Prince. Prince is one of the most diverse musicians out there, and his Batman soundtrack shows this off beautifully. Elfman and Prince's contributions to this film are one of its greatest strengths. The original DVD release of the film was a bare bones issue with very minimal bonus features. Fortunately, to commemorate the release of Batman Begins, the Burton/Schumacher series was reissued on DVD, in the form of two-disc sets - the second disc of each film containing a plethora of bonus material. Bonus material on these DVDs is widely diverse, including documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage with cast and crew, deleted/alternate scenes, animatics, music videos - the list goes on. If you're going to buy the Burton/Schumacher films, make sure you get the remastered ones. Or, you can get them all together in the Batman Motion Picture Anthology set. A common question that seems to be under debate is what film is better, this one, or the more recent Batman Begins. I won't turn this review into a debate between the two films, so I'll just say this - both movies are worthy, five-star efforts in their own right - but they are very different films. Begins is, by far, the Batman film closest to the comic books of origin. On the other hand, this film is a dark and powerful one, but many elements have been changed from the source material, and it's undeniably a Tim Burton film. Not that the changes to the story necessarily hurt the film, though. Both movies are spectacular - but in their own, different ways. The Burton/Schumacher Batman series first entry is also its finest. Gritty and dark, comical at times but never campy, it remains one of the finest films to ever feature the Batman name. Thumbs up
	Back to School
	"One of Rodney Dangerfield's finest films - but be sure you're getting the Extra-Curricular Edition!"	2008-01-25
Back To School is directed by Alan Metter. The film stars Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert Downey Jr., Paxton Whitehead, Sam Kinison, Terry Farrell, M. Emmet Walsh, Adrienne Barbeau, William Zabka, and Ned Beatty. Danny Elfman contributes the film's musical score. Back To School is the story of Thornton Melon (Dangerfield), a man who got rich when he opened a chain of clothing stores that catered to larger people - appropriately called "Tall And Fat" stores. His son Jason (Gordon) is attending school, but doesn't fit in, and plans to drop out. It doesn't help things any that Jason's best friend (Downey) is the weirdest kid on campus. Following Thornton's divorcing his second wife, he and his long-time friend and chauffeur (Young) decide to pay the school a visit. To discourage his son from dropping out, he enrolls with him - but it quickly becomes clear Thornton is more interested in the part aspect of campus life than the classes. Easily one of the best film's of Rodney Dangerfield's career. With a combination of great actors and characters, humor that never wears out its welcome, and a fun storyline that works better than you'd think, it's a great film from start to finish. I shouldn't have to tell you that Rodney Dangerfield is great in the film. His character here is certainly one of his most memorable, serving up his traditional one-liners. His character here is a man who has incredible wealth, but quickly discovers having a lot of money and partying endlessly won't get him through school, like he intended to show his son to begin with. Easily one of the best characters Dangerfield has ever portrayed. While it's Dangerfield that steals the show, his co-stars are also impressive. Amongst the supporting cast are Burt Young (Rocky series) as the strong, mostly-silent chauffer, Keith Gordon (Jaws 2, Christine) as the son struggling to fit in and complete school, Sally Kellerman as the teacher turned love interest, Ned Beatty (Superman, The Toy) as the school's dean, Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric friend, and even Sam Kinison in an all-too-brief role as a loudmouthed history teacher. Every member of the cast is well selected for their respective part. There are a number of classic scenes in the film, all of which contribute to its greatness. A lavish party with Melon's soon-to-be ex-wife, a comical stunt to kill the registration lines in the college, a bar room brawl, a party with Oingo Boingo playing.... The list goes on! Music for the film was composed by Danny Elfman, probably best known for being the composer on a number of Tim Burton's films. He's also a member of Oingo Boingo, and has a cameo in his band in the film, during the party scene. The score isn't your typical over-the-top Elfman music, but it works just fine for the film. The film was released on DVD twice. The first release was a horrid one, lacking extras of any kind. But the Extra-Curricular Edition fixes all these issues. In addition to improved sound and picture quality, there are a ton of new featurettes. Among them are "remembering" featurettes for Rodney Dangerfield and Kurt Vonnegut (who as a cameo in the film), as well as a making-of look at the film, and photos and TV spots. Most of these features aren't too lengthy, but they make for a massive improvement over the old DVD. Again, make sure you're getting the Extra-Curricular Edition! Great movie, enough said. Rodney Dangerfield at his best. Thumbs up
	Back to School
	"One of Rodney Dangerfield's finest films - but be sure you're getting the Extra-Curricular Edition!"	2008-01-25
Back To School is directed by Alan Metter. The film stars Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert Downey Jr., Paxton Whitehead, Sam Kinison, Terry Farrell, M. Emmet Walsh, Adrienne Barbeau, William Zabka, and Ned Beatty. Danny Elfman contributes the film's musical score. Back To School is the story of Thornton Melon (Dangerfield), a man who got rich when he opened a chain of clothing stores that catered to larger people - appropriately called "Tall And Fat" stores. His son Jason (Gordon) is attending school, but doesn't fit in, and plans to drop out. It doesn't help things any that Jason's best friend (Downey) is the weirdest kid on campus. Following Thornton's divorcing his second wife, he and his long-time friend and chauffeur (Young) decide to pay the school a visit. To discourage his son from dropping out, he enrolls with him - but it quickly becomes clear Thornton is more interested in the part aspect of campus life than the classes. Easily one of the best film's of Rodney Dangerfield's career. With a combination of great actors and characters, humor that never wears out its welcome, and a fun storyline that works better than you'd think, it's a great film from start to finish. I shouldn't have to tell you that Rodney Dangerfield is great in the film. His character here is certainly one of his most memorable, serving up his traditional one-liners. His character here is a man who has incredible wealth, but quickly discovers having a lot of money and partying endlessly won't get him through school, like he intended to show his son to begin with. Easily one of the best characters Dangerfield has ever portrayed. While it's Dangerfield that steals the show, his co-stars are also impressive. Amongst the supporting cast are Burt Young (Rocky series) as the strong, mostly-silent chauffer, Keith Gordon (Jaws 2, Christine) as the son struggling to fit in and complete school, Sally Kellerman as the teacher turned love interest, Ned Beatty (Superman, The Toy) as the school's dean, Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric friend, and even Sam Kinison in an all-too-brief role as a loudmouthed history teacher. Every member of the cast is well selected for their respective part. There are a number of classic scenes in the film, all of which contribute to its greatness. A lavish party with Melon's soon-to-be ex-wife, a comical stunt to kill the registration lines in the college, a bar room brawl, a party with Oingo Boingo playing.... The list goes on! Music for the film was composed by Danny Elfman, probably best known for being the composer on a number of Tim Burton's films. He's also a member of Oingo Boingo, and has a cameo in his band in the film, during the party scene. The score isn't your typical over-the-top Elfman music, but it works just fine for the film. The film was released on DVD twice. The first release was a horrid one, lacking extras of any kind. But the Extra-Curricular Edition fixes all these issues. In addition to improved sound and picture quality, there are a ton of new featurettes. Among them are "remembering" featurettes for Rodney Dangerfield and Kurt Vonnegut (who as a cameo in the film), as well as a making-of look at the film, and photos and TV spots. Most of these features aren't too lengthy, but they make for a massive improvement over the old DVD. Again, make sure you're getting the Extra-Curricular Edition! Great movie, enough said. Rodney Dangerfield at his best. Thumbs up
	Batman
	"By far the best of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series"	2008-01-25
Batman is directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, and William Hootkins. Danny Elfman contributes the musical score, and Prince contributes the songs. Gotham City is in a period of fear and unrest, brought on by the criminal empire of Carl Grissom. And all across the city, rumors have spread of a masked crimefighter - which two journalists set out to investigate. Jack Napier, Grissom's second in command, is severely injured during an ill-fated chemical plant raid, when Batman interferes - and he falls into a shaft of dangerous chemicals. However, he does not die. Emerging from this near-death experience, he declares himself "The Joker" and kills Grissom, taking over his criminal empire. Bruce Wayne continues to lead his double life, romancing one of the journalists investigating the "bat" rumors, and simultaneously playing the role of the bat himself - dealing with the threat brought on by the city's latest menace. Of all of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series, the first film is by far the best. After the campy sixties series, numerous fans had doubts about the film, and whether or not would be any good. Fear not! Those doubts will be shattered just minutes into watching the film. This is Batman brought to life, the way the character was meant to be enjoyed. The characters are portrayed by an all-star cast. Michael Keaton plays the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. One thing that initially turned off a number of Batman comic fans was the fact that Keaton was cast in the lead - most of his credits prior had only included comedies. But it isn't long before he shows he can take on a more serious role. In the Burton/Schumacher series of Batman films, Keaton is the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman. Perhaps the only thing more impressive about Batman himself in this film is his antagonist. The legendary Jack Nicholson is absolutely incredible in the role of Jack Napier/The Joker. A high-ranking official in Carl Grissom's crime empire gone psychotic following his chemical factory accident, Nicholson makes the character all his own. He'll get plenty of laughs, but never overplays this character to the point that the film no longer feels serious. Easily the finest villain of the Burton/Schumacher series. Jack Nicholson rarely fails to please, and his role here is no exception. The supporting cast is, for the most part, equally impressive. Amongst its ranks are Kim Basinger and Robert Wuhl as journalists investigating the Batman rumors, Pat Hingle as police commissioner Gordon, Michael Gough as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred, Billy Dee Williams as Gotham's district attorney, Jack Palance as crime lord Carl Grissom, and William Hootkins as a corrupt policeman. I won't deny that not all of the supporting cast and characters were needed for the film, though - and at times the roster of minor characters feels needlessly overwhelming. But everyone gives a good performance, no questions asked. The place Batman shines brightest is its set design and cinematography. Gotham City looks absolutely incredible, as does just about every other visual aspect of the film. My words here don't do the film's look justice. It's a movie that has to be seen in action to be appreciated. Tim Burton puts his own creative element on the film, but never does this at the expense of veering too far from Bob Kane's original vision. The director never oversteps his boundaries here, as he would in the lackluster sequel, Batman Returns. The music for the film comes from two brilliant sources. The score of the film comes from Danny Elfman, who scores virtually every Tim Burton film. The main overture he composed for this film is one of the finest pieces he has ever composed, and remains an undeniable classic. Every scene that calls for instrumental music gets a piece that suits the scene at hand perfectly. The songs for the soundtrack, on the other hand, were composed by eighties pop/rock legend Prince. Prince is one of the most diverse musicians out there, and his Batman soundtrack shows this off beautifully. Elfman and Prince's contributions to this film are one of its greatest strengths. The original DVD release of the film was a bare bones issue with very minimal bonus features. Fortunately, to commemorate the release of Batman Begins, the Burton/Schumacher series was reissued on DVD, in the form of two-disc sets - the second disc of each film containing a plethora of bonus material. Bonus material on these DVDs is widely diverse, including documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage with cast and crew, deleted/alternate scenes, animatics, music videos - the list goes on. If you're going to buy the Burton/Schumacher films, make sure you get the remastered ones. Or, you can get them all together in the Batman Motion Picture Anthology set. A common question that seems to be under debate is what film is better, this one, or the more recent Batman Begins. I won't turn this review into a debate between the two films, so I'll just say this - both movies are worthy, five-star efforts in their own right - but they are very different films. Begins is, by far, the Batman film closest to the comic books of origin. On the other hand, this film is a dark and powerful one, but many elements have been changed from the source material, and it's undeniably a Tim Burton film. Not that the changes to the story necessarily hurt the film, though. Both movies are spectacular - but in their own, different ways. The Burton/Schumacher Batman series first entry is also its finest. Gritty and dark, comical at times but never campy, it remains one of the finest films to ever feature the Batman name. Thumbs up
	Apocalypse Now Redux
	"Good, but theatrical cut is the superior movie"	2008-01-22
This review is strictly for the Redux version of the film. For my comments on the movie itself, check out my review on that item's respective page. When Francis Ford Coppola was filming Apocalypse Now, he had shot several hours worth of footage, and was forced to throw his footage together rather quickly in order to have a version of the film ready for release. That version of the film was the classic 1979 theatrical release we have all come to know and love. But what was to become of all that extra footage Coppola shot? What he decided to do was go back, re-edit and remaster the movie, and incorporate nearly an hour's worth of lost footage back into the movie. The end result was Apocalypse Now Redux, Coppola's newly-made "directors cut" of the film. Does this effort improve the film? Or is the extra footage unnecessarily added to an already-great film? The original theatrical version of Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite films of all time, going where no Vietnam movie before had ever gone. And as much as I love the movie, the scenes added to the Redux version do nothing to improve it - it makes you wonder why Coppola didn't just go ahead and release his unaltered five-and-a-half hour rough cut of the film - demand is certainly high enough for it! Every scene taken from the old footage and put in the Redux contributes nothing to the overall storyline, and to top things off, many of these scenes make this already-long film drag on needlessly longer. It's a classic example of "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I'll be sticking with the original theatrical cut - and I advise you to do the same. Don't bother checking out the Redux version unless you're a die-hard fan. Coppola should have given us the full-length rough cut - not something halfway between it and the theatrical cut. Needless to say, fans of the original will be curious as to what has been added/changed in the movie. Here's a list of the changes and this reviewer's comments on them (the list is NOT all-inclusive.) -Extra footage is added to the end of the Kilgore scene, including his surfboard being stolen and his chasing after the crew to get it back. Honestly, one of my biggest complaints with the original movie is that we didn't see enough of Kilgore. But these scenes feel like outtakes, and they just don't add anything to the storyline. Kilgore did leave the film on a high note, and this added footage is mostly disposable. -Added scene of a visit to a French plantation and the burial of Mr. Clean. This scene will instantly look familiar to anyone who watched the classic documentary, Hearts of Darkness. Unfortunately, the scene doesn't add anything to the storyline, instead adding a lengthy and rather pointless "side trip" to the movie. Of all the scenes added to the Redux, this seems to be the one whose significance is most debated. -A scene in which Willard trades some fuel for some time alone with the Playboy girls from the harbor party. Arguably the most unneeded scene added to the film - hell, I was never a fan of the whole harbor party scene in the theatrical version to begin with! Not only does this scene build on a scene that should have been left out of the theatrical cut to begin with, it changes Willard's personality from a distraught, mission-oriented human being to a sex-crazed one (which isn't helped by the added love scene with him and the woman at the plantation.) -An added scene at the Kurtz compound, with Kurtz reading a Time Magazine regarding American success in the war. Again, an unneeded scene that just helps to weigh down the movie. -Not really an added scene, but the Satisfaction water-skiing scene is moved to later in the film. Probably the only change I feel benefited the film, as its inclusion later in the film feels more appropriate. What it ultimately comes down to is that the added scenes feel more like extra baggage than worthwhile additions to the film. I don't see why these scenes couldn't have just been included as a separate feature on the first Apocalypse Now DVD. That would have made more sense than taking half-f