Journey To The Center Of The Earth
It’s a cool concept when you can combine action/adventure with a little comedy. It’s another thing to make it family friendly without making the film really cheesy. Journey To The Center Of The Earth is all of the above (except the cheesy part). It’s got action, comedy, and it is a family film. Brendan Fraser stars here as Trevor Anderson, a quirky professor that takes his nephew Sean in search of the underground world referenced in Jules Verne’s novel. On their journey, they are accompanied by a “tour guide” named Hannah. The three of them had no idea what they were about to encounter, like fighting off fierce piranhas and getting chased by a huge dinosaur! At some parts, the movie felt like being in one a ride at Universal Studios. This experience was enhanced by the option to watch it in 3-D (glasses included). Another fun feature on the DVD was an interactive game called Adventure at the Center of the Earth Challenge. Here you get to use your remote control to steer a mine car ride and fight those pesky piranhas from the movie. Overall, it’s a DVD that adults can enjoy... but kids will probably have more fun with it.
There’s always one high school movie that stands out every decade. The 80’s had The Breakfast Club and the 90’s had Can’t Hardly Wait. Recently, they just released a 10th Reunion DVD of the film. It wasn’t as profound as The Breakfast Club was, but Can’t Hardly Wait was a fun film to watch. In the movie you got to see a nerd turn into a stud, a jock look like the prick that he is, and a guy win over his freshman crush. What’s not to like about a film like this? If you grew up in the 90’s, there are a lot of subtle jokes here that you’d really get. Speaking of the 90’s, one of the cool features in this DVD is a trivia game called “You Know Your '90s If...” After answering all the questions I found out I was “sooo 90’s.” I guess you can’t shake off certain things in life!
Can’t Hardly Wait: 10 Year Reunion Edition is out now on DVD.
Sex And The City was one of those shows that was real good after the first few seasons, and then ran out of ideas. I mean, how many times can you keep running around the same cycle of “Carrie hooks up with Mr. Big/ gets dogged by him/ goes and finds another boyfriend only to realize she still loves Big/ hooks back up with him/ gets dogged again/ and so on and so on? That’s not to say the show wasn’t funny. It was hilarious when it was at its best. However, I think they just ran out of juice to keep the show running. Anyway, this past year we got to see Sex And The City brought to the big screen. I didn’t read any reviews, so I'm not aware of what’s been said about it, nor do I really care. I just watched the DVD version and it felt like a very long final episode. That’s not a bad thing either. It had its hilarious moments and found a way to bring in some drama. Anyone who’s been burnt in a relationship before can relate to Carrie’s pain during the middle of the film. A lot of the scenarios in the film are predictable if you’re familiar with the history of the show. However, there’s a twist towards the end that puts the series to rest in a good way. Sex And The City won’t win any Oscars this year, but it does turn out to be a good film to kick back and have some laughs with.
In most of M. Night’s films, you always expect for the “surprise” to kick in at the end. Whether it’s the Sixth Sense or Signs, his films have a way of teasing you until the very end, where usually you are left with an expression of “Holy Shit!” I know his last film Lady in the Water has gotten some horrid reviews. I still haven’t watched it, so I can’t judge. But if it was as bad as I heard it was, then he needs to work hard to redeem himself. So I guess you can say The Happening is his chance for redemption. When a mysterious phenomenon strikes the Northeast U.S., apocalyptic paranoia spreads like wildfire. This invisible “attack” hits NYC, then Philadelphia, causing mass suicide in both cities. By the time it hits Philly, high school science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg) and his wife have fled the city, just in time to spare their lives. However, no matter where they run to, the invisible attack follows them. Theories abound as to what is causing it. But you are given no definite answers as to what it really is. You’re given a few options to come to your own conclusion, but that’s as far as the film goes. Some people may be pissed that the film ended the way it did. I didn’t mind it for the same reason I didn’t have a problem with Cloverfield. I’m ok with a film that ends that way because it makes you stretch your mind to form your own conclusion. It may drive you nuts, but it does get you thinking. Overall, it’s a suspenseful film that has its fair share of chilling scenes. One chilling part that stood out to me is when they arrived at the old woman’s home towards the end of the film. Her character was just as disturbing and mysterious as the unexplained phenomenon. If you expect the typical Hollywood film where everything gets wrapped up nice and tidy at the end, then you might be a little bothered. But if you watch The Happening with an open mind, I don’t think you’ll get let down.
Bright Lights, Big City 20th Anniversary Edition
I remember I was about 11 years old when this came out. I was already a fan of Michael J. Fox's films after seeing Back To The Future, Teen Wolf, and Secret of My Success. After watching the previews for Bright Lights, Big City, something felt different about it. To my surprise, I found out he was playing a cokehead in it! I couldn’t believe it. The same guy who played Alex from Family Ties and Marty McFly from Back To The Future was playing a junkie (when you’re 11 years old, news like that shocks you). I recently checked this film out after hearing about its 20th Anniversary DVD being released. This movie is just as relevant in 2008 as it was 20 years ago. Fox’s performance of Jamie Conway shows a realistic picture of someone’s life spinning out of control. The perception of Fox always playing “wholesome characters” is quickly shed after seeing him hooked on coke and alcohol in the film. The scene where he gives a drunken monologue to his co-worker is classic. Another thing worth mentioning is Kiefer Sutherland's role as Jamie's friend named Tad. He was convincing in his performance of Tad, who is a real asshole in the film. Overall, it’s a sobering movie that shows the reality of living a life dependent on drugs. It’ll make you sad, but as you get to the end you’ll see there is light at the end of the tunnel for Jamie.
I have a hard time with movies like this. It’s not because the acting is bad (it was great). It’s not because the story was lame (it wasn’t). It’s because movies like Snow Angels get me all worked up and can fuck up my entire day. The drama is so disturbing because of how realistic it is. The torn relationships and the tragedy that a family suffers here is hard for me to watch again. I can handle disturbing movies like A Clockwork Orange because it’s easy to disconnect from reality with a film like that. But Snow Angels? You feel like you’re a part of the small Pennsylvania town where the movie takes place, and it’s hard to not get affected. Watching the pain the characters experience can really give you heartburn. If you watch, get ready to cry, get angry, and be thankful your life isn’t like some of the characters here. It’s a very well done film, but one that’s hard to see multiple times.
Snow Angels is out now on DVD.
It's B-b-b-b-Baby Mama! In typical Tina Fey/SNL style that isn’t afraid to poke fun at people, this movie dares to take on the topic of single motherhood. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler work together to deliver lots of laughs in this film about a successful career woman who decides she wants to have a baby. When Kate’s (Fey) doctor says she’s unable to get pregnant, she hires Angie (Poehler) to be her surrogate mother. However, when they meet, Kate discovers that Angie is NOT the woman she expected to be carrying her baby. Angie is a free-spirited lady who still likes to party while Kate is the complete opposite. Although their personalities clash, they eventually learn a lot about themselves through each other. Baby Mama is a lighthearted comedy that both men and women can enjoy. It’s take on family life and relationships doesn’t contain a lot of gushy moments, which was great for me since I usually cringe at that kind of thing. Oh and how can I forget! Steve Martin’s role as a conceited, New-Age business owner of a health food chain is classic!
Baby Mama is out now on DVD.
The world of comedy is definitely missing the bumbling presence of Chevy Chase. I was reminded of this while watching him on The Fletch Collection, a 2-disc DVD set that contains the films Fletch and Fletch Lives. In case you were born too late to see these, or were asleep when they came out, Chase plays reporter Irwin Fletcher, known as “Fletch”. It’s hilarious watching him play this reporter/investigator/master of disguises. I don’t think anyone other than Chevy Chase could have pulled off a film like this. If it had been another comedian, the results might have been disastrous. This collection of both hilarious Fletch films is great to own if you appreciate some classic Chevy Chase. Another thing that stood out to me was a feature that included interviews with most of the original cast, except Chevy. What a bummer. One other cool thing is the box it comes in. It comes with this wheel that you spin to change Fletch’s face to one of his many disguises. The Fletch Collection is out now on DVD.
Before the franchise turned into shit, there was the original Child’s Play. That evil son-of-a-bitch toy known as Chucky scared everyone back in 1988. Now, in 2008 comes the 20th anniversary of the film and along with it Paramount has released a special Anniversary DVD. So what’s the big deal about this release? Well, like with any re-release of a classic film, you are treated to a hefty amount of interviews, commentaries, etc. The interviews with the creators of the film shed new light on where they got the idea to make a film about a killer doll. If you like horror films, then there’s no explanation needed as to why this is a classic. Let’s face it, dolls are creepy. Stare at one of them in a dark room for a while and I bet you’ll get the chills. Child’s Play took that creepiness about dolls and turned it into a full length horror film. At times the film comes off as silly, but it does have those chilling moments. If you’re in the mood for a good horror film, Child’s Play: Chucky’s 20th Birthday Edition should do the trick. Just make sure you clear the room of toys before you watch!
Special Features on the DVD also include:
- Audio Commentary with Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks and "Chucky" designer Kevin Yagher
- Audio Commentary with Producer David Kirschner and Screenwriter Don Mancini
- Select Scene Chucky Commentary
Iron Man
Possibly the most important film in Robert Downey Jr.'s career, and one of the best superhero movies made, Iron Man is about to come out on DVD. Next to The Dark Knight, I’d have to say this is the most anticipated DVD release of the year. What else can you say about this film that hasn’t already been said? The acting was great all around (although Terrence Howard seemed a little uncomfortable) and the story reached deep into the human soul. How could you not get pumped up seeing Tony Stark escape death’s hand and use his second chance to fight evil as Iron Man? Robert Downey Jr. totally owned the role of Tony Stark. His journey from arrogant playboy to a superhero paralleled Downey’s own struggle with getting sober. Combine all those factors with the explosive action sequences make it an all around AWESOME film. I haven’t been this impressed with a superhero film in a while. The DVD is being released on September 30th and I imagine the sales will be high. As a heads up, if you get the 2-Disc Special Collector's Edition, it’s loaded with hours of extra features. Some of which include lots of pre-production behind-the-scenes features that show the tremendous work put in this film to make it stay true to the comic. Be on the look out for Iron Man next week!
In Hollywood, we have watched heroes like Rambo and John McClane. But now there's Morgan Spurlock??? The same guy who did Super Size Me is going after the world’s most wanted terrorist: Osama. Yep, this movie director had enough balls to take himself to the Middle East and try to find Osama himself, and he documented every step of his journey. He made sure he covered all the hot spots, as he traveled to Egypt, Israel, Saudi, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan and Morocco. The whole time I was watching, I expected someone to do some crazy shit and attack Morgan. It's a good thing it never happened. Ironically, the only time someone actually laid a hand on him is when he was in a Hasidic neighborhood in Israel and this old man started pushing him. In the film, Morgan actually walks the streets and communicates with the locals, so you get a first hand glimpse of what life is like over there. It’s an eye-opener to see how the people react when being asked their opinion of America. As serious as the film is, Morgan has a way of making it humorous like when he walks in a Saudi Arabian mall or in the streets of Morocco and asks random people if they know where Osama is! Their initial reactions after being asked that are priceless. Overall it’s a humorous and sobering look at how far the War on Terror has gone, leaving you at the end with more questions than answers.
Van Helsing Collector's Edition
Van Helsing has been released again, this time in a special collector's edition. Universal Studios Home Entertainment has put out a 2-disc set that includes the film along with a bunch of bonus materials. This movie follows monster hunter Van Helsing as he sets out on a mission to Transylvania to help defeat the evil forces led by Dracula. The film includes other legendary horror characters such as Frankenstein, Werewolf, and Mr. Hyde. What this movie lacked in some areas, it made up for with some awesome visual effects. It was cool to see these classic monsters brought to life through modern technology. Since I mentioned this was released as a collector's edition, you can expect tons of bonus materials. Some of the extras include a 360 degree tour of the environments of Van Helsing and an inside look on how the monsters were created.
Van Helsing Collector's Edition is out now on DVD...
Sixty Six
From what I understand about Jewish culture, a boy's Bar Mitzvah is a big deal. Well in the film Sixty Six, 12-year-old Bernie is planning on having a bash for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. He believes that this is what he needs to turn his dull childhood around. After all, his dad has a bizarre obsessive compulsive disorder, his mom doesn’t have much time for him, and his older brother is constantly bullying him around. So he really is counting on this event to make him a man. In his own words, he wants to have “the Jesus Christ of all Bar Mitzvahs!” The problem is that this is the summer of 1966, and England is about to go to the World Cup. And if they do make it, no one will show up at his event since all of England will be watching the championship. Made by the creators of Four Weddings and a Funeral, this film is a hilarious take on a boy’s coming of age. It stars Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Rea, and Gregg Sulkin who steals the show as Bernie. Sixty Six is coming to theaters in New York on August 1st and spreading out through the month. If you get a chance to see this in your area, I recommend checking it out. If you do, get ready to laugh a lot.
Batman: Gotham Knight
Out now on DVD
Batman fever is high right now with the anticipated release of The Dark Knight. Warner Premier has chosen the perfect time to put out what I think is a very important film about the Caped Crusader. Batman: Gotham Knight is unlike any animated Batman show done before. This time, a team of visionary animators have helped to create this six part Anime style film called Batman: Gotham Knight. The animation on this film is some of the best I have seen 
and Batman’s persona fits perfectly with the dark art used here. This DVD is broken down into 6 different stories, each having their own unique style. Although they are separate, these stories interlock as they reveal Bruce Wayne’s journey to Dark Knight. As Batman faces fearsome villains such as Scarecrow, the Killer Croc and the marksman known as Deadshot, he also faces his own personal issues as Bruce Wayne. The PG-13 rating given to this film assures that this is not a Saturday morning Batman cartoon, but instead is a very dark journey into the story of Gotham City’s legendary hero.
The DVD is out now and it is a must see for any Batman fan.
Jumper
Despite what a lot of people had to say about Jumper, I enjoyed it. This film that stars Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson is about a “Jumper” named David. A jumper is someone who has the capability to teleport anywhere they want. As a teenager, David finds out that he has this gift, and as he grows up, he uses it to travel all over the world. He can go from Egypt to London and back to New York in less than 10 seconds. As he grows up, he eventually realizes that he needs some cash. Well when you are a Jumper, you can literally teleport into a bank’s vault and bring back sacks of money into your home in seconds. So David goes back and forth “borrowing” money from these banks without anyone knowing his secret. However, when word gets to Roland (Samuel L. Jackson) who is a “Paladin”, he knows exactly what David is up to. The Paladins are an elite group that hunts Jumpers for a living. And now it looks like David is the next target. What follows is an intense chase around the world, with David being the hunted. The concept for this film is very cool. Seeing the characters teleport to places like Rome and Egypt and other parts of the world made the film more interesting. The only issue I had was that the film seemed to wrap up too quickly at the end. I wish they made the conflict a little bit longer. Despite my issue with the ending, it was an enjoyable film. Hopefully, they will make a sequel that continues to follow David’s life as a "Jumper".
Jumper is out now on DVD.
Vantage Point
Don't believe everything you see...
After the President of the US gets shot during a peace summit in Spain, a large explosion done by a terrorist group follows, causing chaos everywhere. Time is running as the race is on to find the criminals responsible. In this intense thriller, things aren’t always what they seem. Just when you think you are close to finding something out, you realize you were wrong. Like a jigsaw puzzle scattered across the floor, things don’t start to make sense until the pieces are put together. In Vantage Point, the puzzle pieces are the different perspectives shown by witnesses of the event, or the criminals themselves. After you see the crime happen through one character’s eyes, the film rewinds the event and replays it through another character, and so on. Eventually, your head starts to feel like a ping-pong ball bounced around with the constant replaying. But that’s what makes this film unique. Vantage Point stars Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, and Forest Whitaker and it’s a fast paced thriller that doesn’t let down until the very end. There was plenty of action along with an intriguing story that kept my eyes glued to the screen as I waited for the mystery to be unveiled. It is definitely one of the better action/thriller films that have been recently put out.
Vantage Point is out now on DVD.
Superhero Movie
No superhero is safe from being spoofed in Superhero Movie. The Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, and Fantastic Four movies are targeted in this hilarious film from the same comedic minds behind The Naked Gun and Scary Movie 3 & 4. It’s hard to go a few minutes without laughing while watching this movie that pokes fun at those blockbuster films. Of course in a movie called Superhero Movie, there has to be some sort of “hero”. Well, the “hero” in this is a masked crime fighter called "The Dragonfly”, and he tries to save the world by stopping his enemy known as "The Hourglass". They duke it out up until the end, which leads up to a very "memorable" showdown. Overall, this spoof is one that delivers laughs at rapid pace, and doesn’t hold back from mocking everyone’s favorite heroes.
Superhero Movie is out now on DVD.
Be Kind Rewind
There's something about Jack Black that annoys the hell out of me. Then again, that's what he does best. He’s climbed his way up the Hollywood ladder by being an ass. His latest film on DVD is Be Kind Rewind. Jack still plays a dumbass here, and this time he is partnered with Mos Def. Together they play two buffoons from Passaic, NJ that wind up remaking classic films after Jack Black inadvertently erases a video store’s inventory of VHS tapes. The problem is that this store is where Mos Def works. So to keep business at the store from collapsing, the two men get to work and re-create the films that were erased. In an amateur attempt to do such films as Ghostbusters, Rush Hour 2, and Driving Miss Daisy, they wind up becoming local celebrities as the people become huge fans of these videos that they refer to as “Sweded”. Be Kind Rewind is a very funny movie that takes an unexpected turn into becoming sentimental. But it’s not the gushy kind of sentimentality. Later in the movie they show a picture of a community working together to help a video store in trouble. There is some great acting in this film that also includes Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, and some other actors I’m not familiar with. Out of the entire cast, I would have to say Jack Black and Mos Def stole the show with their performances of the town outcasts that become local celebrities. Overall, this is a smart comedy done by writer/director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).
Be Kind Rewind is out now on DVD.
Numb
I've always thought that Matthew Perry had the best movies out of the Friends cast. Even though it seems like he plays the same character in most of his films, his movies are always enjoyable. Most of the time, they are the perfect comedies to watch while snuggling up with a date. His most recent film titled Numb was released in May on DVD. This time, his neurosis is on spotlight as he plays Hudson Milbank, a man who's convinced that he's losing his mind. Hudson suffers from depersonalization disorder. What is that, you might ask? Here is a brief definition I found:
Depersonalization Disorder (DPD) is a disorder in which the sufferer is affected by persistent or recurrent feelings of depersonalization and/or derealization. The symptoms include a sense of automation, going through the motions of life but not experiencing it, feeling as though one is in a movie, feeling as though one is in a dream, feeling a disconnection from one's body, out-of-body experience, a detachment from one's body, environment and difficulty relating oneself to reality. For all, it is a rather disturbing illness, since many feel that indeed, they are living in a "dream".
That describes Hudson's character perfectly in the film. As he seeks help through a series of doctors, he finds that most are no help, and some are even as messed up as he is! He really finds that out when he starts sleeping with Dr. Blaine (Mary Steenburgen). But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Before that fling he has with Dr. Blaine, he dates the girl of his dreams. This girl named Sara seems like just what he needs to take his mind off of his disorder. However, their relationship gets rocky later on, especially when Hudson’s issues get in the way. You must stick with the film all the way through to see if he eventually works it out with Sara, or winds up losing the girl he really loves.
There is some real funny dialogue in this film, mostly coming from Matthew Perry’s character. I think he was exactly the right person to portray a guy suffering from this disorder. Amidst all the comedy, Numb takes seriously the pain and frustration that a lot of people with disorders like this go through. If you have ever felt like an outsider most of the time, or dealt with any type of issues like this, you’d probably relate to Hudson. There aren’t many films that can make you laugh while watching someone deal with issues just like the great “As Good As It Gets” did. But after watching Numb, I think it was able to pull off being another great comedy that takes itself seriously at the same time.
10,000 B.C.
All of civilization is at stake in the film 10,000 B.C. After a woman named Evolet is kidnapped by a group of warlords, a hunter known as D'Leh journeys to save her. However, Evolet isn’t the only one in trouble. The world is threatened by an evil empire led by a self-proclaimed “god” known as The Almighty. D'Leh must suddenly rise up and fulfill his destiny as he faces prehistoric creatures such as saber-toothed tigers along with fighting the bad guys that pose a threat to the people. Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day), 10,000 B.C. takes you on an epic journey into unknown prehistoric lands as it follows D’Leh on his quest to save Evolet and the rest of civilization.
10,000 B.C. is out now on DVD. Along with the film, the DVD includes deleted scenes and an extended ending.
