DVD Releases for January 19th

Gamer – C (Wait for It)

Gamer should not be watched for its story or its acting, but instead for its non-stop, full throttle action. Its style is very similar to that of Crank, in that there isn’t really an understandable or well thought out story. It relies purely on the crazy amount of action and the lengths in which it will go. The story itself is basically the same as Death Race or The Condemned, where inmates must play a game of life or death in order to earn their freedom. The twist with this movie is that it’s much more futuristic and technologically based; with fans controlling their favorite inmate and playing them just like a character in a video game. The movie could also be viewed as an upcoming path for our own society, seeing as how dependant we have become on technology, and just how advanced it is. Gerard Butler brings out the Spartan in him and Michael C. Hall (Dexter) brings out yet another side to his acting repertoire as the mastermind of the game itself. Hardcore fans of either video games or insane action movies will likely thoroughly enjoy this film.

Whiteout - B- (Wait for It)

Whiteout is a very promising and interesting concept about a U.S. Marshal being stuck in some of the worst environmental conditions imaginable with a cold-blood killer on the loose. Kate Beckinsale stars as the Marshal posted in Antarctica trying to solve the continent’s first murder before she gets stuck there for 6 months. Having to deal with both a killer environment as well as an ice-pick wielding murderer poses should be an intense and suspenseful thriller. However, the director executes this very poorly, ruining even the most suspenseful of moments. Its climactic and dramatic scenes are ruined by the characters being tethered to a rope and chasing one another at a snail’s pace. I actually liked its ultimate twist, although once again the way it was revealed was quite disappointing. Overall it’s an alright movie, but its potential is wasted with a poor director.

Pandorum - B+ (Gotta Rent)

This mix between a sci-fi and a horror flick creates both an intense and chilling feeling despite an incoherent story. The overall feeling and setting is a kind of mix of no less than 6 movies including Aliens, The Descent and the first Resident Evil. The aliens, or monsters, or whatever the evil creatures are supposed to be aren’t all the scary and frankly are about as lame as the “zombies” from I Am Legend. The story itself is either not clear enough to be really understood, or not interesting enough to be fully understood. However, the eeriness and sometimes frightening atmosphere that the movie creates through its dark pathways, startling noises and evil tone more than makes up for its flaws. Overall if you want a modern day scary movie then this is a good choice, especially if you “enjoyed” watching the other sci-fi horrors of recent years.

Invention of Lying - A- (Gotta Own)

This has to be one of the most hilarious concepts for a comedy in the last decade. Imagine a world where no one could tell a lie. You don’t realize just how much our society relies on lies until you’ve seen this movie. Invention cracks some hysterical jokes on everything from religion, to dating to the difference between Coke and Pepsi (here’s a hint, Coke is better). Ricky Gervais plays the first man who realizes what a lie is, and uses it quite hilariously to his advantage. The movie really accomplishes its goal when it pokes fun of our society, especially in the first half of the movie. The second half gets a little more serious and follows the same flow that your typical romantic comedy follows. At that point it becomes predictable and loses a little bit of its uniqueness that made the first half so great. Fans of Ricky Gervais will not be disappointed as he brings his same sarcastic wit as he has in Ghost Town and The Office. Everyone should watch this comedy if only for its great premise and laugh-out-loud first half.

DVD Releases for January 5th and 12th

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - A- (Gotta Rent)

Based on a children’s book of the same name, Cloudy is a great animated movie that both kids and adults can enjoy. I found myself laughing throughout most of the film. The animation is top notch, as is the voice acting. The characters are all funny, including a hilarious monkey whose few lines are spoken by Neil Patrick Harris, and a policeman voiced by Mr. T. Cloudy actually comes from Sony and not Dreamworks or Pixar. If Sony makes a few more as good as this it will establish itself as the 2^nd best animation studio in the business. Where Dreamworks failed in Monsters Vs. Aliens with a boring story and poor character development, Cloudy succeeds in both areas. This is definitely worth a rent and for most families will be worth the purchase.

The Final Destination      C-             (Wait for It)

As a big fan of the series this is the biggest disappointment of all 4. It is definitely a movie that if you do not see it in 3-D, then you probably shouldn’t see it at all. The movie is made to be seen in 3-D, to the point that certain scenes and characteristics seem completely out of place since they can’t jump out of the screen at you. The best part of the other movies are the unique and eccentric death scenes, making you look over your shoulder in real life, wondering if something crazy could actually happen to you. The death scenes in FD4 are a complete joke compared to its predecessors and almost all of them are ruined by the trailer. I would recommend just not watching the trailer since it leaves nothing to the imagination and leaves virtually no surprises. If you’re a die hard fan of the series I would recommend buying it instead of renting it since the retail version is at least in 3-D.

Adam - B+ (Gotta Rent)

Adam is a cute and quirky romantic-comedy that stars Hugh Dancy as a man with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder thataffects one’s social capabilities. His neighbor, played by Rose Byrne, falls for him following a couple awkward interactions. If you liked movies such as Mozart and the Whale or Lars and the Real Girl then you will probably adore this film. Both do a great job in their roles as well as have some great chemistry, despite being completely different characters. Hugh does an especially great job and makes you believe that he actually has Asperger’s. Its only downfall is the ending as it feels like there isn’t as much thought put into it as the rest of the film. It also felt kind of rushed in the last 10-15 minutes. That being said it’s definitely worth a watch.

Moon - A+    (Gotta Own)

This ode to 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the best films of the year, and one of the best space movies out there. Sam Rockwell, pretty much the only actor in the entire film, plays an astronaut that is serving a 3-year term working on the moon all alone. His only companion is a robot, GERTY, voiced by Kevin Spacey. After an unexpected incident, the meaning of Rockwell’s entire existence comes into question. The story is gripping and doesn’t unveil the answers until the very end. Sam Rockwell deserves at the very least an Oscar nomination as this was his defining performance. He must deal with the complete isolation from the world with only the occasion video being sent back from Earth. This movie should not be missed and any fan of space themed movies, great acting performances or character driven plots should watch this.

Post Grad – C     (Wait for It)

Post Grad starts off with a very promising story that many of today’s college grads could relate to. Alexis Bledel plays Ryden, a girl who had her whole life planned out after she graduated college, only to find that life can’t be planned out. She is stuck looking for any job, not just her dream job. However, once she is forced to move back home the story turns its focus to her annoying father (played by Michael Keaton), her little brother, and her friend that wants nothing more than to marry her. Her mom, played by the hilarious Jane Lynch (Glee) is the only supporting character that should have received any screen time is given but a few minutes. The movie suffers from very unlikeable characters, unnecessary plotlines and gaping plot holes. If it would have stuck with her problems and not tried to turn it into a romantic comedy then it could have been a success. The story loses its focus and its connecting point to the audience and never recovers. 

Hurt Locker - A+  (Gotta Own)

Just when you think enough Middle East war movies had been released, a masterful work in Hurt Locker comes out and shows everyone how it’s done. Where most of today’s war movies take a Call of Duty type approach and just see how epic they can make the battle sequences, Hurt Locker provides both a great story as well as characters that you actually care about and feel as if you know. The story follows a small platoon that has a mere 38 days until they get to go back home, if they can survive that long. Jeremy Renner gives an Oscar worthy performance as Staff Sgt. William James, a soldier who excels at diffusing anything that blows up. The movie doesn’t try and ride star power or a major budget; it instead provides non-stop suspense that will keep you in your seat until the very last frame. Hurt Locker will be a major contender at all the award shows this year as its one of the best war films of the last decade.

DVD Releases for Month of December

The Hangover - A (Gotta Own)

The Hangover is the funniest movie of the year and should be considered an instant classic. It provides non-stop laughter from start to finish. When I first saw the trailer to this I thought it would be just another stupid comedy; however I quickly learned I was very wrong. It doesn’t make the same mistake that other recent comedies such as The Goods made and be unnecessarily vulgar or overly crude. Everything is done in perfect moderation but still provides incredible laughter. The best thing about the movie is that it never shows you exactly what or how their unforgettable night unfolds. All you see is the hilarious devastation the next day, and how they try and fix their mistakes from the night before. Bradley Cooper plays a total jerk that you’ll still love by the end of the movie. This one is not only worth a rent, but also needs to be a part of your collection.

Inglourious Basterds – A (Gotta Own)

Coming from someone who thinks Quentin Tarantino is one of the more overrated directors in Hollywood, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Inglourious Basterds is a great WWII movie about what it would be like if the Jewish people could have turned the tables on Hitler and the Nazis. Brad Pitt leads a group of soldiers whose sole mission is to find and scalp as many Nazis as possible, and Brad Pitt wants him his scalps. Much of the movie is subtitled, but even if you don’t like to read during movies you shouldn’t let that deter you from watching this. Pitt is essentially the only well known actor in the film, different then most of Tarantino’s movies which usually brings along a good deal of star power. The title is like most of his movies and stolen from another, lesser known film. Tarantino fans will be salivating over this film, and even Tarantino haters should enjoy this unique take on history.

World’s Greatest Dad - B+ (Gotta Rent)

World’s Greatest Dad is a dark comedy starring Robin Williams and takes place in Seattle. After an unexpected event, Williams’ life is suddenly changed forever. In an effort to salvage the situation he catapults both his professional and personal life. During the entire film you find yourself wanting to laugh, although not quite sure you should. The comedy is almost perverse as it tries to find the humor in as well as characterize the harsh truths about death. It emphasizes how people’s feelings towards someone changes once they die. Williams further shows his versatility as both a dramatic actor and comedian. He doesn’t need to force the laughs on you; they simply come from the situations presented. Overall it’s a well written and acted film that is definitely worth the watch.

Public Enemies - A- (Gotta Rent)

Public Enemies is a top-notch gangster movie about John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and how the FBI came about in the early 1930s. Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, Michael Mann was able to create a film that perfectly captured the emotions of the era. The performances are all fantastic, especially Depp’s who steps away from his Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka type characters and really becomes John Dillinger. History buffs may notice that while most of the events in the movie actually occurred, hardly any of them occurred in the same order. Its one downfall is that the runtime is almost 2.5 hours and can drag a little at times. With the attention span of society shorter than ever, the movie runs about a half an hour too long. Public Enemies is definitely one of the best movies of 2009, and one of the better gangster movies since Goodfellas.

Julie and Julia - A- (Gotta Rent)

In what I expected to be an attempt at taking two of the top actresses and combining them with the most famous chef of all time just to make a quick dollar, Julie and Julia turned out to be one of the most charming films of the year. Meryl Streep did a perfect job as Julia Child, capturing both the voice and mannerisms flawlessly. Amy Adams on the other hand continued to show that she is one of the top actresses of her time creating a very likeable and relatable character. Time and time again she seems to be less of an actor and more just being herself. The film transitions back and forth between the present where Adams is trying to cook every recipe in Child’s cookbook and back to the 1950s to when Child was learning how to be a cook and develop her world famous cookbook. It is a funny and light-hearted comedy with a unique story that is well worth the watch.

The Other Man – C- (Don’t Bother)

This film can best be characterized as a huge waste of some great talent. Antonio Banderas and Oscar nominated actors Liam Neeson and Laura Linney try and salvage this story about revenge and infidelity. After Neeson finds out Banderas is sleeping with his wife, he vows revenge and gets close to him until the perfect moment. The interactions between the two had a lot of potential but add virtually nothing to an already bland story. They tried to focus on too many emotions rather than just centralize on one. Linney is given very little screen time and the “shocking twist” at the end isn’t much of a twist and is not very shocking. If they would have extended the short playtime of only 80 minutes then maybe the director could have added a bit of character development or a subplot that could have gave the audience some reason to keep watching.

Taking Woodstock – B (Wait for It)

If you’re a younger generation trying to experience Woodstock for the first time, or if you’re trying to relive the festival, then you should probably look for the documentary Woodstock. However, if you want to know how Woodstock came about, and you want a few laughs along the way then this will suit you just fine. Taking Woodstock is about the young man who brought Woodstock to the small town of Bethel, New York. Liev Shreiber is hilarious as a cross-dressing ex-military man, as does Emile Hirsch as a Vietnam veteran. My main problem with the movie was that it had virtually no music from the festival itself. I’m baffled at how you can make a film about the greatest music festival in history, and then not include any of the music. The film gives you a taste of what the festival was all about, but never really gives you the full helping. If you want a behind the scenes look then check this out, but if you want to experience the show then watch the documentary instead.

G-Force – B (Gotta Rent for kids)

G-Force is good for what it was made to be, a fun and entertaining children’s movie. I’m not sure why today’s audience has such an obsession with movies about rodents and other small furry animals, but this one is no different. Where many other kids’ movies have at least something to attract the adults, this is purely geared towards kids. It doesn’t include any subtle jokes or innuendoes like movies such as Shrek. It is a purely PG film that the parents can let their children watch with no worries. The movie is filled with non-stop action, decent CGI, and a fun soundtrack consisting mostly of today’s hottest pop hits. Overall it is a great rental for the kids so the parents can watch something a little more adult.

All About Steve – C (Don’t Bother)

In the last year Bradley Cooper and Sandra Bullock have each had multiple films that were critically acclaimed box office smashes. Cooper starred in Yes Man and The Hangover, while Bullock had the best year of her career with The Proposal and The Blind Side (each earning her a Golden Globe nomination). This one however, is one of their biggest flops. Bullock plays a very clingy crossword puzzle constructor who falls madly in love with Cooper, a news reporter. When Cooper tries to distance himself from her, she becomes obsessive and will do anything to have him. The casting is completely wrong for nearly every part. The laughs are few and far between. Bullock, a normally very likeable actress, comes across as just annoying. Somewhere in there might have been a decent script but it was completely lost along the way. Luckily for the both of them it will be forgotten quickly and lost among their movies that are actually worth a watch.

Extract - B (Gotta Rent)

Extract is the next comedy from Mike Judge, the creator of Office Space and Idiocracy. Extract isn’t quite as good as either of its predecessors, however still contains enough laughs to be worth a watch. Jason Bateman’s character is very similar to his Arrested Development one and also has issues with his life away from the job. When Mila Kunis joins his workforce Bateman struggles with the desire of infidelity as well as his guilty conscience. Ben Affleck plays a very small role as a bartender whose terrible advice jumpstarts the plot. Affleck does great in these short comedic style roles, rather than his lead roles in such disasters and Daredevil or Paycheck. Kristen Wiig plays his wife, and should have been given a lot more screen time. It’s an entertaining and funny enough film to be worth a watch, but don’t expect an Office Space type gem.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – C (Wait for It)

This direct-to-DVD film has a promising story, but suffers from poor directing and editing. When Jesse Metcalfe, an upcoming reporter wants to expose a dirty D.A., he does it the only way he thinks will work. He attempts to implement himself in a murder in an attempt at getting the D.A. to plant evidence. The plot is interesting enough and the cast is strong enough that the film should have been a success. The scene transitions are pretty terrible and sometimes it seems as if scenes are completely out of place. The director tries to add too much to the ending for shock value. Amber Tamblyn gives an honorable performance, and Michael Douglas does his best to save the film. Overall it’s a movie that would be a good watch when it gets to cable T.V.

DVD Release Reviews for November 17th

Four Christmases - C+ (Don’t Bother)

Four Christmases was about 3 Christmases too long. From the very beginning the chemistry between Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon just isn’t there. The reported tension on the set of filming clearly came through as they weren’t remotely a believable couple. Vince Vaughn was miscast and the leading male role should have been someone with a more likeable personality. Even the families of both characters came across as very annoying and not very funny. With a star-studded cast like this one, the film should have been a huge hit. Being your typical romantic-comedy the plot is predictable and not very interesting. If you love Christmas movies then you may enjoy this film, otherwise go with a rom-com such as The Proposal instead as it is better in every aspect.

Bruno - B- (Wait for It)

This came very close to being a complete disaster, and in fact I almost turned it off after the first 15 minutes. The crudeness and number of people that it offends far surpasses that of Borat, and was almost to the point of being unwatchable at first. However, once it focused more on the people Bruno interacted with and less on himself, it became quite hilarious. Just like Borat, the opinions and reactions of some of the people filmed are easily the funniest parts of the whole movie. It’s not nearly as good as Borat as that was almost non-stop laughing the first viewing. It’s definitely not for the younger crowd, but is funny enough to be watched once. Although, also just like Borat one viewing will be more than enough.

My Sister’s Keeper - A- (Gotta Rent)

Anyone with a child, brother, sister or a heart will be thoroughly moved by this film. Cameron Diaz plays the mother of her child who is dying from leukemia. In an attempt to save her life she has a 2nd child that is genetically altered to be a perfect match to her cancer stricken daughter. Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva turn in such strong performances as sisters that it breaks your heart to see what they are both going through. The way the story plays out is very unique. It shows their lives at different points through each of their eyes. It helps you understand why the son is so distant, why Breslin is so hesitant to continue donating her body to her sister, and why the mother will do whatever it takes to save her dying child. Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack also costar and play key roles in determining the fate of the family. If you want a heart-wrenching film that will bring you to tears there is no better choice then My Sister’s Keeper.

Star Trek - A- (Gotta Own)

Coming from someone who has never seen a single Star Trek episode or movie, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was a great action-packed sci-fi film that also provided something that few of the other 2009 blockbuster summer hits did, a decent and intriguing story. J.J. Abrams (the mind behind Lost and Cloverfield) really grabs hold and makes it his own. Unlike most other space-themed movies, it doesn’t across as cheesy or fake looking. My only major concern with the movie was the casting choices. The 2 main characters, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto were perfectly cast as Kirk and Spock. However, the choices for the rest of the cast kind of perplexed me. Tyler Perry, Simon Pegg, John Cho (Harold from Harold & Kumar) and Wynona Rider are just a few of the actors that play smaller roles. They weren’t necessarily bad in the roles, just really unexpected for a big-budget sci-fi flick. Even if you are not a Star Trek fan at all or have never seen anything Trek related this is still definitely worth a watch.