DVD Releases for May 16th

Did You Hear About the Morgans? – B- (Wait for It)

Hmm, Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker in a romantic comedy, that doesn’t sound familiar at all does it? Everything about this movie is mediocre at best. The story is entirely predictable; Grant and Parker play the typical husband and wife having marital problems, and even the small town they go to lives up to every country stereotype in the book. When they witness a murder and must be placed in protective custody, they are sent to a country town in Wyoming. While there they stay with the town sheriff and his wife, whose 50 year marriage seems to teach them the true meaning of being married. It has its laughs and moments, but they are few and far between. The movie does nothing to try and separate itself from any other movie in its genre. It may be worth watching once it hits TBS but should be completely skipped otherwise.

The Fourth Kind – B (Gotta Rent)

The Fourth Kind is a Sci-Fi movie about alien abductions that supposedly took place in Nome, Alaska. The opening scene starts with the main character, played by Milla Jovovich and the director saying how the movie is based on true events. It adds a bit of mystery to the film, thinking that what you are watching actually took place. They even add some interviews of the “real” psychologist that Milla plays and play them side by side with Milla’s interviews. If you believe in aliens and UFO’s then you’ll likely find this film frightening and chilling. Otherwise you’ll probably laugh at many of the scenes where the characters are possessed. Like many of today’s thrillers, such as Paranormal Activity, much of what is supposed to be scary is either not in focus, the camcorder becomes scrambled, or the voices are inaudible. Overall this is a good sci-fi thriller for the specific niche that likes alien movies, everyone else should probably just pass on it.

DVD Releases for March 9th

Old Dogs – B (Gotta Rent)

Old Dogs is an entertaining enough comedy about 2 old friends trying to manage newly acquired children and an important career move at the same time. It isn’t a laugh-out-loud movie that will have your side aching, but it does have its slapstick moments that provide a chuckle. It is a decent family film that everyone can watch and be entertained without having to worry about censoring to protect the kids. John Travolta and Robin Williams are the main characters with Kelly Preston, Seth Green and Justin Long all playing smaller roles. Most of the laughs rely on physical comedy (such as repeatedly hitting a golf ball into a man’s nether regions) rather than dialogue like we are used to from Williams and Travolta. Don’t expect a spectacular film and you’ll be pleasantly surprised as it’s a good family rental.

Planet 51 – B- (Wait for It)

Planet 51 was a major disappointment for me. It had all the potential having an American astronaut landing on an unknown planet and meeting an entire community of aliens. However, the writers didn’t have any fun with the script at all. The movie is made for kids, yet they didn’t bother bringing out their inner kid in the movie. Everything on the planet was named exactly what it is named on Earth. They even speak better English than most people in the country today. They should have had fun with it by saying something like “let’s take the trash can to the tree” instead of the car to the store. The voices were cast just fine, nothing really standing out one way or the other. Kids will probably still enjoy the film because it’s a cartoon, but it could have been a great film in the same breath as Shrek, enjoyable by all. If you have little kids then it is worth a rent, otherwise just wait until its on cartoon network and watch it then.

Precious – A- (Gotta Rent)

The fact that such strong performances were given by an unknown teenager, a stand-up comic and a multi-platinum singer is what really makes this film stand out. The story rivals that of Revolutionary Road and Requiem for a Dream as one of the most depressing stories that’s been told. The story is about a girl named Precious who has a terrible life, living with an alcoholic and abusive mother, a teenage mother herself, and has nothing going for her. The movie is also very well written and directed. That being said, with all of the hype that it got as one of the top 5 movies of the year, I think it’s quite a bit overrated. It is well made and well acted, but I would never watch it again. The story is very depressing, and is basically just a mixture of many stories before it. I’ve seen the same plot of a teenager living in poverty with nothing going her way and just trying to make the best of it many times before. It is definitely worth watching once as it is really a testament to great acting, but I wouldn’t place it as a top-5 movie of 2009.

Boondock Saints 2 – B+ (Gotta Rent)

The first Boondock Saints is such a classic that it is hard to live up to, however this does come pretty close. All of the original characters return as the brothers return to avenge the murder of a priest. The film is very similar to the first one with its style of action and dialogue. The new girl that plays the investigator (Julie Benz) comes across a little annoying at first and isn’t nearly as good as Willem Dafoe in the first one. The action scenes are all just as impressive as the first one, including an awesome climactic ending that rivals any of the scenes in the first film. The new characters don’t add all that much to the movie, if anything they detract from it a little bit. Any fan of the first Boondock Saints will enjoy this, although not quite as much.

Up in the Air – A (Gotta Own)

It is hard to turn such a tough situation as massive layoffs into a very comical film, but Jason Reitman was able to do just that. George Clooney turns in an Oscar-worthy performance as a man whose job is to go around to various companies throughout the country and fire its employees. Firing someone is one of the most uncomfortable and gut-wrenching tasks of running a business and Clooney adds a very humorous touch to it without coming across as a complete jerk. Reitman also does a great job at showing the hardships that many of today’s workers are going through as the country suffers through a recession. Anna Kendrick gives out a career performance as the new hot-shot of the company who wants to remove the personal aspect of firing someone and streamline it into a computer program. What really makes this film great is that there are so many layers to the story and to the overall tone of the film. It is just as much about George Clooney’s life in the air as it is about the rapid increase of unemployment. Just when you think you’re watching a drama you find yourself laughing at the situation instead. Up In the Air is one of the best films of the year and shouldn’t be missed.

DVD Releases for March 2nd

2012 – B (Gotta Rent)

Given the 200+ million dollar budget, there is really only one reason to watch 2012, and that is it’s impressive visuals. The story is based on the belief that the Mayan calendar predicts the world will end in 2 years. As the world begins to come to its inevitable demise, John Cusack must find a way to protect and save his family from their impending doom. The story is pretty stupid and the end result isn’t much better. Although I think this film was supposed to be serious (dealing with the end of the world and all) it actually comes across as quite humorous. Woody Harrelson is quite funny as he plays a crazy conspiracy theorist that knows what is coming. The absolute ridiculousness of the action scenes aren’t all that riveting and suspenseful, but rather make you laugh at how someone could actually come up with such an insane scene. The movie could be a little terrifying to those that believe this will actually happen in a few years, but to most everyone else it’ll be a good laugh and some nice eye candy with its impressive CGI.

DVD Releases for February 23rd

The Box – C (Wait for It)

It takes about 20 minutes or so to realize that you are watching another complete mind-trip of a film by Richard Kelly, the same guy that brought us Donnie Darko and Southland Tales. The Box starts off as a drama with an intriguing storyline, and then becomes seemingly random science fiction movie that instead of a giant bunny has Santa Claus. The movie just gets more and more confusing as it progresses, making very little sense. I’m starting to wonder if big name actors like Cameron Diaz even read through a whole script before collecting their paycheck. This may become a cult classic like Donnie Darko that you must watch a few times to even begin to understand what is going on. If you’re looking for a good drama with some sci-fi elements then get the “Cube” series or Donnie Darko itself. Otherwise be prepared to watch this a couple of times to have any clue of what you’ve just watched.

Sorority Row - B- (Wait for It)

Sorority Row is a B- movie when compared to other movies of its genre, as it will ultimately please who it is geared towards. Teenagers looking for a slasher flick that doesn’t include an unnecessary amount of gore, like the Scream series, Valentine or I Know What You Did Last Summer, will probably be the only ones that actually enjoy this movie. It is however quite satisfying seeing a shotgun-wielding Carrie Fisher, and Audrina Patridge get offed in the first 10 minutes of the film. It doesn’t add anything new to the genre, however is entertaining enough to rent if you’re just wanting a horror movie without the abhorrently graphic gore that My Bloody Valentine and many of today’s horror movies include.

Everybody’s Fine – A (Gotta Rent)

Everybody’s Fine might be the best under-the-radar film of the year. With such an all-star cast it’s hard to believe how little attention this movie has got as the script and acting are fantastic. Robert De Niro reveals another layer to his acting repertoire playing a recent widower struggling to keep his family intact. When his children aren’t able to make it to a planned get together, he takes it upon himself to travel across the country and surprise them. His performance is nothing short of Oscar worthy as he exudes so much emotion in his undying love for his family. His children, played by Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell all give great supporting performances doing everything in their power to protect their father from feeling any pain from the truth of what their lives have become. The family portrayal is very realistic and believable and doesn’t seem to be fabricated just for the big screen. It’s very heartfelt, at times tear jerking and shouldn’t be missed.

DVD Releases for February 16th

Law Abiding Citizen – A- (Gotta Rent)

Finally Gerard Butler has come out with a movie worth watching since 300, 4 years ago. His latest movies have all either been horrible action movies (Gamer, Rocknrolla) or terrible romantic comedies (Ugly Truth). Law Abiding Citizen however is a great action-drama about a man who takes the law into his own hands when his wife and child are brutally murdered. Jamie Foxx plays a lawyer for the DA’s office that made a deal with the murderer of Butler’s family, essentially letting him off scot-free. Butler’s revenge is unrelenting and targets anyone and everyone who was remotely involved in the case. It has plenty of drama, action and twists that keep you enthralled until its climactic ending. It’s quite a bit more graphic then I was expecting, violence wise, but I guess that should be expected with Butler as its main star. The movie points out a lot of the flaws of our justice system and the ways in which it can manipulated and even circumvented altogether. It’s definitely worth a watch and maybe even a purchase after you know how it ends.

DVD Releases for February 9th

A Serious Man – B- (Wait for It)

Most of the Cohen Brothers films are instant classics. No Country for Old Men, Fargo and Big Lebowski are all movies that most everyone love and will watch over and over. That being said, I feel like A Serious Man was their worst film yet and didn’t come close to living up to their previous films. The story is about a man whose life pretty much sucks all around, as he tries to deal with every aspect of his life coming crashing down. The first 15 minutes has nothing to do with the rest of the movie and I have no idea what the “hidden” meaning of it is. I honestly have no idea as to why it was nominated for Best Picture for this year’s Oscars as I found myself confused at times, bored throughout, and never really caring what would happen next. The Cohens are fantastic storytellers and always have a way to keep you intrigued until the very end, but this one is a complete flop in my mind. Maybe I just missed the meaning of the movie entirely and this really is a “best picture” worthy film, but I don’t plan on re-watching it to find out.

Couples Retreat – B (Gotta Rent)

I had a lot of high hopes before I watched this film, and for the most part those hopes were at least semi-fulfilled. Having Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Jason Bateman all star in a movie about failing marriages has the potential for comedy gold. The movie isn’t laugh-out-loud hilarious and isn’t even something I would necessarily watch again, but it is funny enough to watch once. The first half of the movie is where the vast majority of the humor comes in, as the last 20 minutes or so becomes more serious and about solving their marriage problems. The male roles were all cast perfectly, but I think what really makes this not a great comedy is the actresses that play the female leads. Kristin Davis was the worst of the 3, becoming an increasingly hated character and not very funny at all. Having Kristen Bell and Malin Akerman star as the other two weren’t terribly miscast, but there’s no way that Vaughn and Bateman could ever land those women. Ironically enough Vaughn’s character is the most likeable, when I assumed his would easily be the one that I would have hated the most. Overall it’s a decent comedy that is worth watching, but don’t expect to be in hysterics by the end.

The Time Traveler’s Wife – A- (Gotta Rent)

I found this to be far more enjoying than I was anticipating. It is a pleasant and heart-warming romance story about a woman who is in love with a man that uncontrollably bounces through time. The story follows McAdams’s character, having to try and live her life as normal as possible while the love of her life will periodically disappear for weeks, months, or even years. The relationship and chemistry between Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana is perfect, with McAdams specifically doing a great job. One key problem with all time travel movies is all of the paradoxes that are created. This film is no different, but does do a pretty good job tying up all the loose ends. As long as you do not dwell on the minor continuity errors and “think” too much about the movie then it can be very enjoyable. It takes a minute at first trying to figure out the concept of Bana’s character disappearing and reappearing at completely different stages in his life, while McAdams’s character is progressing through life at a normal pace, but once you establish yourself it’s fairly easy to follow and figure out what will happen. The Time Traveler's Wife is a perfect date movie that even a guy can enjoy.

DVD Releases for February 2nd

Zombieland - A (Gotta Own)

Anyone who likes Zombie movies or even a good comedy should watch Zombieland. It takes the concept of the end of the world via man-eating corpses and turns it into a hilarious comedy. It’s basically an American version of Shaun of the Dead, replacing British humor with good ole fashion guns and Twinkies. Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenberg all star as the misfit group of survivors doing anything they can to both survive, and track down the elusive last packs of Twinkies. Harrelson is hilarious as the redneck of the group, trying to get "Zombie killer of the week". I had my reservations for this going in as I was not a fan of Shaun of the Dead, and the trailer didn’t really have anything special to convince me that this would be worth a watch. That being said, I thought it was one of the best zombie flicks that have been made, and by far the funniest. Everyone looking for a laugh or a fresh take on zombies should watch this film.

Love Happens – C+ (Wait for It)

The most appealing reason to watch Love Happens is because its filmed and takes place in Seattle. It stars Aaron Eckhart as a self-help motivational speaker who just recently lost his wife, and Jennifer Aniston as a woman that has sworn off men, that is until she meets Eckhart. The main problem with this movie is that it barely develops Aniston’s character, to the point that she shouldn’t even really be in the movie. If the entire movie just focused on the fact that Eckhart is professing all these ways to overcome the death of a loved one, yet he hasn’t even come to terms with the death of his own wife. It should have been a drama solely about Eckhart, and not try to be just another Romantic Comedy. It has its touching moments, however they would have been there without Aniston anyways. I’d say this is a complete Don’t Bother but since there isn’t very many films that take place locally, it’s nice to see one, even if it isn’t all that good.

DVD Releases for January 26th

Saw VI – B (Wait for It)

Saw 6 is more or less the same as the other 5 installments in the perennial horror series. Its story is much more political then its predecessors as it attacks the health insurance business, providing plenty more victims for Jigsaw to terrorize. Fans of the series will likely see this as one of the best of the series, as it focuses quite a bit more on the story and not just on how gruesome the death scenes can be. It does a great job mixing into the rest of the movies, and making it almost believable from the very beginning the series was meant to go 10 or more installments. This one introduces many new characters that can be used to continue the series. I can see it lasting at least another 4 movies as the production costs are minimal and the series still has a decent following. It is definitely worth watching if you’ve seen the others as this is the best one since Saw II.

Surrogates – B (Wait for It)

Surrogates is a very promising Sci-Fi flick that suffers from being “hollywoodized.” The premise of everyone using avatars (a computerized version of what they want themselves to be) to live their lives is intriguing and could have really become a great science fiction movie, instead settling as just being decent. Its main problem is that it shifts into unnecessary action scenes that could have been left out altogether. I have to say that I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, which is a refreshing change. Hopefully this will be the last avatar themed movie for a while as the genre will get old fast with Gamer and Avatar both coming out at the same time. The look of the film is quite impressive, although seeing a 30 year old Bruce Willis with perfectly toned skin is a little creepy. Overall it’s an above average film that would be worth watching (especially on Blu-Ray).

Whip It - A- (Gotta Rent)

Drew Barrymore combines about 4 different types of movies all in one in her directorial debut, Whip It. She uses a great ensemble cast to create a coming-of-age, romantic comedy, sports movie that is much better than I had was expecting. Ellen Page stars as a total misfit in Bodeen, Texas that finds Roller Derby as an escape from her both her small-town life, and her beauty pageant obsessed mother. She combines both her witty humor as well as an edgy toughness to perfect the role. Page once again shows that she is one of the best young actresses of our generation. Marcia Gay Harden plays the overbearing mother that only wants Page to follow in her footsteps. Kristen Wiig and Barrymore are just a few of her teammates that team up to provide lots of laughs. If Jimmy Fallon was half as funny in his late-night show as he is as the derby announcer then he might actually get a decent audience. Overall you’ll find yourself laughing and thoroughly enjoying the film and it might even generate a little interest in seeing what roller derby is all about.