March 2005
Listed chronologically by release date.

Adventures in Babysitting (USA 1987)
Director: Chris Columbus
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 9.99
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Elisabeth Shue (Chris Parker), Maia Brewton (Sara Anderson), Keith Coogan (Brad), Anthony Rapp (Daryl), Calvin Levels (Joe Gipp), Vincent D'Onofrio (Dawson), Penelope Ann Miller (Brenda), George Newbern (Dan), Marcia Bennett (), Ron Canada (Graydon), John Chandler (Bleak),

Chris Columbus earned his director's stripes with this energetic teenage farce. Enjoyable and harmless as are his two Harry Potter movies.

Adventures of Baron Munchausen (UK 1988)
Director: Terry Gilliam
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 14.94
MPAA Rating: PG
John Neville (Baron Munchausen), Eric Idle (Desmond/Berthold), Sarah Polley (Sally Salt), Oliver Reed (Vulcan), Charles McKeown (Rupert/Adolphus), Winston Dennis (Bill/Albrecht), Jack Purvis (Jeremy/Gustavus), Valentina Cortese (Queen/Violet), Jonathan Pryce (Horatio Jackson), Bill Paterson (Henry Salt), Peter Jeffrey (Sultan),

Eye-popping shaggy dog story in the inimitable Gilliam style. Everything seems perfect, yet it fails, possibly because it's a tad on the dull side.

Bambi (USA 1942)
Director: David Hand
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 29.99
MPAA Rating: G
Hardie Albright (Bambi), Peter Behn (Thumper), Sterling Holloway (Flower (adult)), Paula Winslowe (Bambi's Mother), Stan Alexander (Flower),

Chock-full of goodies release of the Disney favourite. Film is criticism proof for its target audience. A dear film.

Brassed Off (UK 1996)
Director: Mark Herman
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 14.99
MPAA Rating: R
Pete Postlethwaite (Danny), Tara Fitzgerald (Gloria), Ewan McGregor (Andy), Stephen Tompkinson (Phil), Jim Carter (Harry), Philip Jackson (Jim), Peter Martin (Ernie), Sue Johnston (Vera), Mary Healey (Ida), Melanie Hill (Sandra), Kenneth Colley (Greasley),

From the same stable as The Full Monty comes this tale of a miner's brass band fronted by the irrepressible Pete Postlethwaite who gets the lines that front Chumbawumba's Tubthumping anthem: "I though that music mattered...". Thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Bringing Up Baby (USA 1938)
Director: Howard Hawks
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 26.99
MPAA Rating: G
Katharine Hepburn (Susan Vance), Cary Grant (David Huxley), Charlie Ruggles (Major Applegate), Walter Catlett (Slocum), Barry Fitzgerald (Mr. Gogarty), May Robson (Mrs. Elizabeth Carlton Random), Fritz Feld (Dr. Lehman), Leona Roberts (Mrs. Gogarty), George Irving (Mr. Peabody), Tala Birell (Mrs. Lehman), Virginia Walker (Alice Swallow),

For 1930s (1940s and 1950s too come to that) cinema this is as good as it gets. The perfect cast in the perfect vehicle, crackling dialogue, Cary Grant at his most charmingly bemused. Finally on DVD!

Brotherhood of the Wolf (France 2001)
Director: Christophe Gans
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 46.98
MPAA Rating: R
Jacques Perrin (Thomas Age), Christian Marc (Servituer Thomas Age), Karin Kristrom (Bergere du Rocher), Samuel Le Bihan (Gregoire de Fronsac), Mark Dacascos (Mani), Philippe Nahon (Jean Chastel), Virginie Darmon (La Bavarde), Vincent Cespedes (Soldat), Jeremie Renier (Thomas d'Apcher), Hans Meyer (Marquis d'Apcher), Jean-Paul Farre (Pere Georges),

Good fusion of whodunnit, martial arts and monster movie finally gets a decent release in the US in this loaded edition. Very good, but I wasn't particularly surprised by the 'twists'.

Exorcist IV: The Beginning (USA 2004)
Director: Renny Harlin
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 27.95
MPAA Rating: R
Stellan Skarsgard (Father Merrin), Izabella Scorupco (Sarah), James D'Arcy (Father Francis), Remy Sweeney (Joseph), Julian Wadham (Major Granville), Andrew French (Chuma), Ralph Brown (Sergeant Major), Ben Cross (Semelier),

Father Merrin: The Early Days. THE train wreck of a movie of 2004 arrives on DVD. The first version of this was notoriously thrown in the trash and done over with a new director on board. Did it help? Apparently a resounding NO.

Firefox (USA 1982)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 9.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Clint Eastwood (Mitchell Gant), Freddie Jones (Kenneth Aubrey), David Huffman (Buckholz), Warren Clarke (Pavel Upenskoy), Ronald Lacey (Semelovsky), Kenneth Colley (Col. Kontarsky), Dimitra Arliss (Natalia), Bernard Behrens (William Saltonstall), Ward Costello (General Rogers), Michael Currie (Capt. Seerbacker), Richard Derr (Admiral Curtin),

As though to celebrate Clint's oscar win, someone decided to humble him by releasing one of his most awful films. This tale of hi-tech plane theft just refuses to convince.

Flight of the Phoenix (USA 2004)
Director: John Moore
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 29.98
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Dennis Quaid (Frank Towns), Tyrese (A.J.), Giovanni Ribisi (Elliott), Miranda Otto (Kelly), Tony Curran (Rodney), Kirk Jones (Jeremy), Jacob Vargas (Sammi), Hugh Laurie (Ian),

Harmless update of a classic adventure yarn wherein the survivors of a plane crash seek to rebuild their craft so as to escape the desert.

One False Move (USA 1992)
Director: Carl Franklin
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 9.95
MPAA Rating: R
Bill Paxton (Chief Dale "Hurricane" Dixon), Cynda Williams (Fantasia/Lila), Billy Bob Thornton (Ray Makaola), Michael Beach (Pluto), Jim Metzler (Dod Cole), Earl Billings (McFeely), John Mahon (Chief Jenkins), Robert Anthony Bell (Byron), Natalie Canerday (Cheryl Ann), Robert Ginnaven (Charlie), Kevin Hunter (Ronny),

If you can take the astonishingly violent opening, this settles down into one of the most satisfying film noirs in recent times. Excellent work from the entire cast, particularly Michael Beach and Bill Paxton. Highly recommended.

Philadelphia Story (USA 1940)
Director: George Cukor
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 26.99
MPAA Rating: G
Cary Grant (C. K. Dexter Haven), Katharine Hepburn (Tracy Lord), James Stewart (Macaulay (Mike)Connor), Ruth Hussey (Elizabeth), John Howard (George Kittredge), Roland Young (Uncle Willie), John Halliday (Seth Lord), Mary Nash (Margaret Lord), Virginia Weidler (Dinah Lord), Henry Daniell (Sidney Kidd), Lionel Pape (Edward),

Did someone sacrifice to the Gods of classic film? Loaded two-disc treatment for the second Grant/Hepburn classic of the month. Oh and, look, Jimmy Stewart is in it to.

Tall Guy (UK 1989)
Director: Mel Smith
Release Date: 03/01/2005
Price: 9.99
MPAA Rating: R
Jeff Goldblum (Dexter King), Rowan Atkinson (Ron Anderson), Emma Thompson (Kate Lemon), Geraldine James (Carmen), Anna Massey (Mary), Kim Thomson (Cheryl), Hugh Thomas (Dr. Karabekian), Emil Wolk (Cyprus Charlie), Harold Innocent (Timothy), Joanna Kanska (Tamara), B. J. Rambo (Chorus),

Re-release of this early comedy effort from Four Weddings scribe, Richard Curtis. Draggy in the latter half, but funny, honest and occasionally wonderfully rude. The sex scene set to The Thieving Magpie is one of MY favourites!.

Charly (USA 1968)
Director: Ralph Nelson
Release Date: 03/08/2005
Price: 14.95
MPAA Rating: PG
Claire Bloom (Alice), Leon Janney (Dr. Nemur), Barney Martin (Hank), Cliff Robertson (Charly), Lilia Skala (Dr. Anna Strauss), Dick Van Patten (Bert), Ruth White (Mrs. Apple),

Adaptation of the play Flowers for Algernon, Cliff Robertson plays the child like Charly "cured" by science. Brilliant performances and direction from the tragically underrated Ralph Nelson make for a great film that makes you reach for the hankies without overdoing it. Algernon is a mouse by the by.

Alfie (USA 2004)
Director: Charles Shyer
Release Date: 03/15/2005
Price: 29.95
MPAA Rating: R
Jude Law (Alfie), Jane Krakowski (Dorie), Marisa Tomei (Julie), Omar Epps (Marlon), Susan Sarandon (Liz), Sienna Miller (Nikki), Nia Long (Lonette), Gedde Watanabe (Wing),

Misjudged remake of a sixties classic. As modern day lothario Alfie eventually becomes a better man. Nice cast though.

Incredibles (USA 2004)
Director: Brad Bird
Release Date: 03/15/2005
Price: 29.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Brad Bird (Edna), Holly Hunter (Helen Parr), Samuel L. Jackson (Lucius Best), Jason Lee (Syndrome), Craig T. Nelson (Bob Parr), Elizabeth Pena (Mirage), John Ratzenberger (), Wallace Shawn (Buddy Pine), Sarah Vowell (Violet Parr),

Another instant classic from the fine folk at Pixar. Kind of The Fantastic Four meets the Simpsons. Entertains and provides eye popping digital animation if you like that kind of thing. Possibly for more sophisticated viewers than the likes of Finding Nemo.

Way Out West (USA 1937)
Director: James W. Home
Release Date: 03/15/2005
Price: 19.98
MPAA Rating: G
Stan Laurel (Stan), Oliver Hardy (Ollie), Sharon Lynn (Lola Marcel), James Finlayson (Mickey Finn), Rosina Lawrence (Mary Roberts), Stanley Fields (Sheriff), Vivien Oakland (Sheriff's Wife), Jim Mason (Patron),

FINALLY, a some decent Laurel and hardy released under the title Laurel & Hardy II, which contains this film and Block-Heads. Treat yourself to the world's funniest guys in their finest vehicle. It is essential that you own this, I have spoken.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (USA UK 2004)
Director: Beeban Kidron
Release Date: 03/22/2005
Price: 29.98
MPAA Rating: R
Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones), Gemma Jones (Mum), Jim Broadbent (Dad), James Faulkner (Uncle Geoffrey), Celia Imrie (Una Alconbury), Dominic McHale (Bernard), Colin Firth (Mark Darcy), Donald Douglas (Admiral Darcy), Shirley Dixon (Mrs Darcy), Neil Pearson (Richard Finch), Rosalind Halstead (Receptionist),

Credibility stretching second installment of the life and times of Ms. Jones. Funny moments are there and Hugh Grant effortlessly steals the flick. Not sure this really deserves that R rating.

Electra Glide in Blue (USA 1973)
Director: James W. Guercio
Release Date: 03/22/2005
Price: 14.95
MPAA Rating: PG
Robert Blake (John Wintergreen), Elisha Cook (Willie), Royal Dano (Coroner), Billy Greenbush (Zipper Davis), Jeannine Riley (Jolene), Mitchell Ryan (Harve Poole),

Yes, we noticed Robert Blake is in it. Tale of motorcycle cops in Arizona is one of the best 70s downers representative of the mood of the period. Double-bill it with Dirty Harry and relive 1973 as it really was. Highly recommended.

Bunker (USA 1981)
Director: George Schaefer
Release Date: 03/29/2005
Price: 14.96
MPAA Rating: PG
Anthony Hopkins (Hitler), Richard Jordan (Albert Speer), Cliff Gorman (Joseph Goebbels), James Naughton (James O'Donnell), Michel Lonsdale (Martin Bormann), Piper Laurie (Magda Goebbels), Susan Blakely (Eva Braun), Martin Jarvis (Johannes Hentschel), Michael Kitchen (Rochus Misch), Robert Austin (Wagner), Andrew Ray (Guenter),

I'll assume that this is the chopped down version of this TV movie version of the last days of Adolf and the boys in Berlin. Interesting material has never been done quite right.