August 2005
Listed chronologically by release date.

Alexander (USA 2004)
Director: Oliver Stone
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 29.95
MPAA Rating: R
Anthony Hopkins (Ptolemy), David Bedella (Scribe), Jessie Kamm (Alexander as child), Angelina Jolie (Olympias), Val Kilmer (Philip), Fiona O'Shaughnessy (nurse), Connor Paolo (young Alexander), Patrick Carroll (young Hephaiston), Brian Blessed (Wrestling trainer), Colin Farrell (Alexander), Jared Leto (Hephaiston),

Um. There are so many good things here, in this epic tale of the classic military leader, that one wished one liked it more. Certainly not the disaster it has been painted, but definitely fatally flawed. One had hoped that the director's cut version has solved a problem or two ~ it hasn't. The accents are a problem. The hero's bisexuality is dealt with by having Jared Leto flutter his eyelashes from time to time and the haircuts suck.

Annie (USA 1982)
Director: John Huston
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 14.94
MPAA Rating: PG
Albert Finney (Daddy Warbucks), Carol Burnett (Miss Hannigan), Ann Reinking (Grace Farrell), Tim Curry (Rooster), Bernadette Peters (Lily St. Regis), Aileen Quinn (Annie), Geoffrey Holder (Punjab), Edward Herrmann (F.D.R.), Lu Leonard (Mrs. Pugh), Irving Metzman (Beadles), Amanda Peterson (Orphan Girl),

Cute red-haired moppet movie musical, that succeeds and fails simultaneously. I can only stand watching it for the work of Carol Burnett and Tim Curry who are excellent.

Boatniks (USA 1970)
Director: Norman Tokar
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Robert Morse (Ensign Thomas Garland), Stefanie Powers (Kate Fairchild), Phil Silvers (Harry Simmons), Norman Fell (Max), Mickey Shaughnessy (Charlie), Wally Cox (Jason), Don Ameche (Taylor), Joey forman (Lt. Jordan), Vito Scotti (Pepe Galindo), Tom Lowell (Wagner), Bob Hastings (Chief Walsh),

Silvers, Shaughnessy and Fell make up a trio of inept jewel thieves in this featherweight live-action Disney offering typical of the studios 70s output. Harmless fun.

Crucible of Horror (UK 1969)
Director: Viktors Ritelis
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 7.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Michael Gough (Walter Eastwood), Yvonne Mitchell (Edith), Sharon Gurney (Jane), Simon Gough (Rupert), Olaf Pooley (Reid), David Butler (Gregson), Nicholas Jones (Benjy), Mary Hignett (Servant), Howard Goorney (Gas attendant),

Interesting horror-drama featuring the rise and fall of a sadistic father played by Gough. Good performances all round.

Death Rides a Horse (Italy 1969)
Director: Giulio Petroni
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 5.99
MPAA Rating: NR
Lee Van Cleef (Ryan), John Phillip Law (Bill), Mario Brega (One-Eye), Luigi Pistilli (Wolcott), Anthony Dawson (Manina), Jose Torres (Pedro),

Lurid lesser spaghetti western showcasing Van Cleef as the Clint-with-no-name. Silly but enjoyable if you like spaghetti.

Downfall (Germany 2004)
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 29.95
MPAA Rating: R
Bruno Ganz (Adolf Hitler), Alexandra Maria Lara (Traudl Junge), Corinna Harfouch (Magda Goebbels), Ulrich Matthes (Joseph Goebbels), Juliane Kohler (Eva Braun), Heino Ferch (Albert Speer),

Most excellent telling of the last days of the Third Reich from the unique viewpoint of Hitler's secretary, Traudl Junge. Highly recommended.

Guess Who (USA 2005)
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 28.95
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Bernie Mac (Percy), Ashton Kutcher (Simon Green), Zoe Saldana (Theresa Jones), Judith Scott (Marilyn Jones), Chad Gabriel (waiter), Jessica Cauffiel (Polly), Andy Morrow (Jason), RonReaco Lee (Reggie), Gus Lynch (co-worker),

OK comedy of racial tensions, but insipid compared to its ancestor, "Guess who's Coming to Dinner". One feels there is a good movie to be made on the subject - but this ain't it.

High and the Mighty (USA 1954)
Director: William Wellman
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: NR
John Wayne (Dan Roman), Claire Trevor (May Holst), Laraine Day (Lydia Rice), Robert Stack (Sullivan), Jan Sterling (Sally McKe), Phil Harris (Ed Joseph), Robert Newton (Gustave Pardee), David Brian (Ken Childs), Paul Kelly (Flaherty), Sidney Blackmer (Humphrey Agnew), Julie Bishop (Lillian Pardee),

Early all star airline disaster movie, very well done with a great ensemble cast AS WELL as The Duke. Alas, Airplane! has rendered these type of things almost unwatchable.

Island in the Sky (USA 1953)
Director: William Wellman
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 14.99
MPAA Rating: NR
John Wayne (Captain Dooley), Lloyd Nolan (Stutz), Walter Abel (Col. Fuller), James Arness (McMullen), Andy Devine (Moon), Allyn Joslyn (J.H. Handy), Jimmy Lydon (Murray, navigator), Harry Carey (Hunt), Hal Baylor (Stankowski), Sean McClory (Frank Lovatt, co-pilot), Herbert Anderson (Breezy),

More aerial drama for The Duke, this time crash-landing in frozen wastes. Once again, a good example of the genre with a terrific roster of Warner's contract players. Loaded two disc version available with commentary from surviving cast and Leonard Maltin.

Thin Man (USA 1934)
Director: W. S. Van Dyke
Release Date: 08/02/2005
William Powell (Nick Charles), Myrna Loy (Nora Charles), Maureen O'Sullivan (Dorothy Wyant), Nat Pendleton (Lt. John Guild), Minna Gombell (Mimi Wyant), Porter Hall (MacCauley), Henry Wadsworth (Tommy), William Henry (Gilbert), Harold Huber (Nunheim), Cesar Romero (Chris Jorgenson), Edward Ellis (Wynant),

Delightful tale of sleuth husband and wife team, Nick and Nora Charles excellently brought to life by William Powell and Myrna Loy. Film clips along and the chemistry between the stars is a delight. Many sequels follow. Let's hear it for Asta!

World's Greatest Athlete (USA 1973)
Director: Robert Scheerer
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: G
Tim Conway (Milo), Jan-Michael Vincent (Nanu), John Amos (Coach Archer), Roscoe Lee Browne (Gazenga), Dayle Haddon (Jane), Billy DeWolfe (Dean Maxwell), Nancy Walker (Mrs. Petersen), Danny Goldman (Leopold Maxwell), Don Pedro Colley (Morumba), Vito Scotti (spectator), Philip Ahn (),

Kurt Russell must have been busy that week, so Jan-Michael Vincent stepped into his running shoes for this 70s Disney opus. Inoffensive lightweight comedy.

Wuthering Heights (UK 1998)
Director: David Skynner
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Price: 19.95
MPAA Rating: NR
Robert Cavanah (Heathcliff), Orla Brady (Cathy),

Rather good adaptation of the Emily Bronte bodice ripper produced by PBS and LWT.

My Left Foot (Eire 1989)
Director: Jim Sheridan
Release Date: 08/16/2005
Daniel Day-Lewis (Christy Brown), Brenda Fricker (Mrs. Brown), Alison Whelan (Sheila), Kirsten Sheridan (Sharon), Declan Croghan (Tom), Eanna MacLiam (Benny), Marie Conmee (Sadie), Cyril Cusack (Lord Castlewelland), Fiona Shaw (Doctor Eileen Cole), Hugh O'Conor (Christy Brown (child)), Adrian Dunbar (Peter),

Terrific biopic of Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy. Awesome performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and the generally neglected Hugh O'Conor as Christy at different ages. Avoids sentimentality and that's the winning ingredient.

Sin City (USA 2005)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Release Date: 08/16/2005
Price: 29.99
MPAA Rating: R
Jessica Alba (Nancy Callahan), Devon Aoki (Miho), Alexis Bledel (Becky), Powers Boothe (Senator Roark), Rosario Dawson (Gail), Benicio Del Toro (Jackie Boy), Michael Clarke Duncan (Manute), Carla Gugino (Lucille), Josh Hartnett (The Man), Rutger Hauer (Cardinal Roark), Jamie King (Goldie/Wendy),

Comic book meets film noir in a stylish violent fusion and an all-star cast to boot! From the same sort of Tarantino mentality as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, which means, for me at least, that while impressive, this is a film I couldn't love. Recommended.

Top Hat (USA 1935)
Director: Mark Sandrich
Release Date: 08/16/2005
Price: 19.97
MPAA Rating: NR
Fred Astaire (Jerry Travers), Ginger Rogers (Dale Tremont), Edward Everett Horton (Horace Hardwick), Erik Rhodes (Alberto Beddini), Eric Blore (Bates), Lucille Ball (Flower Clerk), Helen Broderick (), Donald Meek (Curate), Leonard Mudie (Flower Salesman), Edgar Norton (London Hotel Manager), Dennis O'Keefe (Elevator Passenger),

My fav of the Astaire Rogers musicals, mainly because it contains the "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" number. The MGM box set of which this is but one title (the others are Swing Time, Follow the Fleet, Shall We Dance and The Barkleys of Braodway) are some of the very best musicals put out and a must have for devotees of the cinema's most elegant hoofer.

Gladiator (USA 2000)
Director: Ridley Scott
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Price: 39.99
MPAA Rating: R
Russell Crowe (Maximus), Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus), Connie Nielsen (Lucilla), Oliver Reed (Proximo), Richard Harris (Marcus Aurelius), Derek Jacobi (Gracchus), Djimon Hounsou (Juba), David Schofield (Falco), John Shrapnel (Gaius), Tomas Arana (Quintus), Ralph Moeller (Hagen),

Loaded-beyond-belief version of Ridley Scott's sword and sandal epic. 17 extra minutes of film re-incorporated and oodles of making-of featurettes. A must have for afficianados. Perfect cinema. Highly recommended.

Red Tent (USSR 1970)
Director: Mikhail Kalatozov
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Price: 14.99
MPAA Rating: G
Sean Connery (Amundsen), Claudia Cardinale (Nurse Valeria), Hardy Kruger (Aviator Lundborg), Peter Finch (General Umberto Nobile), Massimo Girotti (Romagna), Mario Adorf (Biagi, Radio Operator),

Interesting fusion of Russian and Western sensibilities in this Arctic exploration rescue epic. Offbeat and rewarding, but not the action film it might look like.

Ring 2 (USA 2005)
Director: Hideo Nakata
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Naomi Watts (Rachel Keller), Simon Baker (Max Rourke), David Dorfman (Aidan Keller), Elizabeth Perkins (Dr Emma Temple), Gary Cole (Martin Savide), Sissy Spacek (Evelyn), Ryan Merriman (Jake), Emily Vancamp (Emily), Kelly Overton (Betsy), Daveigh Chase (Samara), Kelly Stables (Evil Samara),

Another trip to the well for fans of the killer-video Ring series. Original director Hideo Nakata gets the chance to remake his own sequel. The result is decidedly watered down. Shame, really.

Truman Show (USA 1998)
Director: Peter Weir
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Jim Carrey (Truman Burbank), Laura Linney (Meryl Burbank), Noah Emmerich (Marlon), Natascha McElhone (Lauren/Sylvia), Holland Taylor (Truman's Mother), Brian Delate (Truman's Father), Ed Harris (Christof), Paul Giamatti (Control Room Director), Una Damon (Chloe), Philip Glass (Keyboard artist),

The ultimate TV Reality show focusing on one ignorant human being, Truman, who's every move is transmitted to an eager audience. Dead-on satire from Peter Weir that runs the risk of becoming reality any second now. Nice music from Philip Glass who pops up in the film too.

Witness (USA 1985)
Director: Peter Weir
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: R
Harrison Ford (John Book), Kelly McGillis (Rachel), Josef Sommer (Schaeffer), Lukas Haas (Samuel), Jan Rubes (Eli Lapp), Alexander Godunov (Daniel Hochleitner), Danny Glover (McFee), Brent Jennings (Carter), Patti Lupone (Elaine), Angus MacInnes (Fergie), Frederick Rolf (Stoltzius),

Another peerless Harrison Ford movie, as he hides out in an Amish community to protect a young witness from bad cops. Something for everyone - a terrific action movie and a beautiful love story too. Highly recommended.

Blues Brothers (USA 1980)
Director: John Landis
Release Date: 08/30/2005
Price: 22.98
MPAA Rating: R
John Belushi (Joliet Jake), Dan Aykroyd (Elwood), Cab Calloway (Curtis), John Candy (Burton Mercer), Ray Charles (Ray), Murphy Dunne (Piano Player), Carrie Fisher (Mystery Lady), Cindy Fisher (Daughter #2), Ralph Foody (Police Dispatcher), Aretha Franklin (Waitress), Kathleen Freeman (Sister Mary Stigmata),

John Landis' 80s revision of the musical just keeps getting better with age. Endlessly quotable, terrific perfomances from a whole pile of music biz legends, and a phenomenal car chase. 25 years anniversary edition. Highly recommended.

Fire and Ice (USA 1983)
Director: Ralph Bakshi
Release Date: 08/30/2005
Price: 34.95
MPAA Rating: PG
Randy Norton (Larn), Cynthia Leake (Teegra), Steve Sandor (Darkwolf), Sean Hannon (Nekron), Leo Gordon (Jarol), William Ostrander (Taro), Stephen Mendel (Additional Voice), Maggie Roswell (Additional Voice), Susan Tyrrell (Juliana),

Interesting animated attempt to bring to life the fantasy art of Frank Frazetta. Highly recommended to 15 year old boys everywhere (including me, ahem!). Loaded release from the Blue Underground people.

Major Dundee (USA 1964)
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Release Date: 08/30/2005
Price: 19.94
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Charlton Heston (Major Amos Charles Dundee), Richard Harris (Captain Benjamin Tyreen), Jim Hutton (Lieutenant Graham), James Coburn (Samuel T. Potts), Senta Berger (widow), Mario Adorf (Sgt. Gomez), Brock Peters (Aesop), Warren Oates (O. W. Hadley), Ben Johnson (Sergeant Chillum), R. G. Armstrong (Rev. Dahlstrom), L. Q. Jones (Arthur Hadley),

Lesser Peckinpah is still better than the competition, here we see him honing his Western skills before his masterpiece, The Wild Bunch. Heston plays a jaded prison warden out hunting renegade Apache. This release features an extended cut in an effort to reproduce the original concept.

Pretty Woman (USA 1990)
Director: Garry Marshall
Release Date: 08/30/2005
Richard Gere (Edward Lewis), Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward), Ralph Bellamy (James Morse), Jason Alexander (Philip Stuckey), Laura San Giacomo (Kit De Luca), Alex Hyde-White (David Morse), Amy Yasbeck (Elizabeth Stuckey), Elinor Donahue (Bridget), Hector Elizondo (The Hotel Manager), Judith Baldwin (Susan), Hank Azaria (Detective),

The film that put Julia Roberts on the map. Winningly wholesome romantic comedy tale of prostitute, Roberts, and jaded yuppie, Gere. Julia is just a delight, and doesn't seem to be acting at all.