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Listed chronologically by release date.
Dear America
(USA
1987)
Director: Bill Couturie
Release Date: 11/01/2005
Price: 19.97
MPAA Rating: PG
Tom Berenger (),
Ellen Burstyn (),
J. Kenneth Campbell (),
Willem Dafoe (),
Robert DeNiro (),
Brian Dennehy (),
Kevin Dillon (),
Matt Dillon (),
Michael J. Fox (),
John Heard (),
Harvey Keitel (),
Superior HBO documentary with assorted famous voices reading letters sent from those serving in the Vietnam conflict and the whole accompanied by news clips and songs from the time. You know what you are going to get, but this is an exemplary delivery. Highly recommended.
Hammett
(USA
1983)
Director: Wim Wenders
Release Date: 11/01/2005
Price: 14.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Frederic Forrest (Hammett),
Peter Boyle (Jimmy Ryan),
Marilu Henner (Kit Conger/Sue Alabama),
Roy Kinnear (English Eddie Hagedorn),
Elisha Cook (),
Lydia Lei (Crystal Ling),
R. G. Armstrong (Lt O'Mara),
Richard Bradford (Det Bradford),
Michael Chow (Fong Wei Tau),
David Patrick Kelly (The punk),
Sylvia Sidney (Donaldina Cameron),
Wim Wenders' homage to Hollywood mystery movies. Gorgeously filmed, well acted by a once-in-a-lifetime cast, but somehow the thing leaves me cold, and I've tried to like it, really.
Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith
(USA
2004)
Director: George Lucas
Release Date: 11/01/2005
Price: 29.98
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Ewan McGregor (Ben Kenobi),
Natalie Portman (Senator Amidala),
Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker),
Ian McDiarmid (Supreme Chancellor),
Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu),
Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa),
Frank Oz (Voice:Yoda),
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO),
Christopher Lee (Count Dooku),
Keisha Castle-Hughes (Queen of Naboo),
Silas Carson (Ki-Adi-Mundi/Nute Gunray),
Lucas wraps up the first trilogy. Eye-boggling visuals, dark plot line (as it should be for the birth of Darth Vader). Doesn't really engage the emotions until the succession of final images that hark back to the 1st (er, 4th) film. Ian McDiarmid has a field day as the evil emperor. Yoda gets the best single moment.
War of the Worlds
(USA
1952)
Director: Byron Haskin
Release Date: 11/01/2005
Price: 14.99
MPAA Rating: G
Gene Barry (Clayton Forrester),
Ann Robinson (Sylvia Van Buren),
Les Tremayne (General Mann),
Lewis Martin (Pastor Matthew Collins),
Robert Cornthwaite (Dr. Pryor),
Sandro Giglio (Dr. Bilderbeck),
William Phipps (Wash Perry),
Paul Birch (Alonzo Hogue),
Jack Kruschen (Salvatore),
Vernon Rich (Col. Ralph Heffner),
Houseley Stevenson (aide to General Mann),
Astonishing special effects even by today's standards, highlight this version of H.G. Wells little tale of Armageddon. Spoiled somewhat by lethargic performances from the leads and the heroine-will-twist-her-ankle mentality of the time. Mr. Spielberg has remade the thing, in case you hadn't noticed.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(USA
2005)
Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: 11/08/2005
Price: 28.98
MPAA Rating: PG
Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka),
Freddie Highmore (Charlie Bucket),
David Kelly (Grandpa Joe),
Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs Bucket),
Noah Taylor (Mr Bucket),
Missi Pyle (Mrs Beauregarde),
James Fox (Mr Salt),
Deep Roy (Oompa Loompa),
Christopher Lee (Dr Wonka),
Adam Godley (Mr Teavee),
Tim Burton brings his trademark sensibility and acid-trip type visuals in this remake of the family favourite. I could live without the musical numbers and Depp is a bit too weird, but this is a candy treat. Recommended.
Devil's Rejects
(USA
2005)
Director: Rob Zombie
Release Date: 11/08/2005
Price: 17.98
MPAA Rating: R
Sid Haig (Captain Spaulding),
Bill Moseley (Otis),
Sheri Moon (Baby),
William Forsythe (Sheriff wydell),
Ken Foree (Charlie Altamont),
Matthew McGrory (Tiny),
Leslie Easterbrook (Mother Firefly),
Geoffrey Lewis (Roy Sullivan),
Priscilla Barnes (Gloria Sullivan),
Danny Trejo (Rondo),
Tom Towles (George Wydell),
Rob Zombie continues in his efforts to bring late 70s style horror (complete with suitable casting choices) to the 00s. This one takes his loveable homicidal maniacs on the road. Ghoulish fun.
Fag Hag
(USA
1998)
Director: Damion Dietz
Release Date: 11/08/2005
Price: 14.98
MPAA Rating: UR
Stephanie Orff (Destiny Rutt),
Saadia Billman (Sasha Cardona),
Wil Wheaton (Bookstore owner),
For those who've wondered what became of Wil Wheaton after Star Trek. Deliriously over-the-top tale of misfits who aspire to be a beauty queen and a white HIV-positive rapper respectively. Think John Walters. Not recommended to conservative America.
Kingdom
(Denmark
1998)
Director: Lars Von Trier
Release Date: 11/08/2005
Price: 34.98
Udo Kier (Aage Kruger),
Ernst Hugo Jaregard (Dr. Helmer),
Kirsten Rolffes (Sigrid Drusse),
Holger Juul Hansen (Dr. Moesgaard),
Soren Pilmark (Dr. Jorgen Hook),
Ghita Norby (Dr. Rigmor),
Jens Okking (Bulder Drusse),
Otto Brandenburg (orderly),
Annevig Schelde Ebbe (Mary),
Baard Owe (Dr. Bardo),
Birgitte Raaberg (Judith),
Lars Von Trier's pastiche of hospital soap opera and gothic horror finally arrives on DVD. Far superior to the US remake. Funny, compelling, ridiculous and genuinely scary all at the same time, kinda like Twin Peaks. Highly recommended.
Madagascar
(USA
2005)
Director: Eric Darnell
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Price: 29.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Ben Stiller (Alex the Lion),
Chris Rock (Marty the Zebra),
David Schwimmer (Melman the Giraffe),
Jada Pinkett (Gloria the Hippo),
Sacha Baron Cohen (King Julian the Lemur),
Cedric the Entertainer (Maurice the Lemur),
Tom McGrath (Skipper the Penguin),
Frenetic and hip animated tale of zoo critters that find themselves in the wild. The penguins are a scream. Not quite as charming as the Pixar films that Madagascar aspires too, this is still a kiddie must have.
Safety Last
(USA
1923)
Director: Fred/Taylor Newmeyer
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Price: 29.95
MPAA Rating: G
Mildred Davis (The Girl),
Harold Lloyd (Harold Lloyd),
Bill Strothers (),
Noah Young (The Law),
Impeccable silent classic comedy from Harold Lloyd. This one features his famous clock dangling antics guaranteed to sicken those with vertigo. Disc also includes seven other Lloyd gems (including Why Worry?). Highly recommended.
Skeleton Key
(USA
2005)
Director: Iain Softley
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Price: 29.98
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Kate Hudson (Caroline Ellis),
Gena Rowlands (Violet Devereaux),
John Hurt (Ben Devereaux),
Peter Sarsgaard (Luke),
Joy Bryant (Jill),
Maxine Barnett (Mama Cynthia),
Suitably gothic Southern voodoo horror almost comes off. A few more scares would have helped. At least the wrap up has a nice logic to it, unlike many recent horror offerings. Why didn't they release this for Halloween? Enjoyable.
Sound of Music
(USA
1965)
Director: Robert Wise
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Price: 26.98
MPAA Rating: G
Julie Andrews (Maria),
Christopher Plummer (Baron Von Trapp),
Richard Haydn (Max Detweiler),
Peggy Wood (Mother Abbess),
Anna Lee (Sister Margaretta),
Portia Nelson (Sister Berthe),
Ben Wright (Herr Zeller),
Daniel Truhitte (Rolfe),
Norma Varden (Frau Schmidt),
Marni Nixon (Sister Sophia),
Gil Stuart (Franz),
I had to be bound and gagged in order to sit through this, but the film does have a legion of fans, so who am I to pass judgment? I note that some of the songs are tolerable; if you've managed to go your entire life without them being played to death. I always root for the Wehrmacht.
Stealth
(USA
2005)
Director: Rob Cohen
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Price: 28.95
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Josh Lucas (Lt. Ben Gannon),
Jessica Biel (Kara Wade),
Jamie Foxx (Henry Purcell),
Sam Shepard (Capt. George Cummings),
Richard Roxburgh (Keith Orbit),
Joe Morton (Capt. Dick Marshfield),
Ian Bliss (Lt. Aaron Shaftsbury),
Top Gun meets The Forbin Project in this slick by-the-numbers sci-fi horror. Very dumb.
9 Songs
(UK
2004)
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Release Date: 11/22/2005
Price: 24.99
MPAA Rating: NR
Kieran O'Brien (Matt),
Margo Stilley (Lisa),
Infamous for non-glamorous sexual encounters filmed with no thought for the censor. Zero plot, just music and sex. The only time I've seen more people walk out on a movie was for Jaws when families realized that the tiny tots shouldn't be there. Provocative though.
Alien 5: Alien vs. Predator
(USA
2004)
Director: Paul Anderson
Release Date: 11/22/2005
Price: 26.98
MPAA Rating: UR
Sanaa Lathan (Alexa 'Lex' Woods),
Raoul Bova (Sebastian Wells),
Lance Henriksen (Charles Bishop Weyland),
Ewen Bremner (Graham Miller),
Colin Salmon (Max Stafford),
Tommy Flanagan (Verheiden),
Joseph Rye (Connors),
Agathe De La Boulaye (Adele Rousseau),
Carsten Norgaard (Quinn),
Sam Troughton (Thomas),
Petr Jakl (Stone),
Efficient, but not-quite-gripping enough title bout between familiar slimy beasties with a few token humans thrown in. Simultaneously better and worse than one expected... better than the title would have you believe but falls short of at least three and maybe four of the preceding films. Hopefully this unrated edition will redeem the thing!
King Kong
(USA
1933)
Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Release Date: 11/22/2005
Price: 26.99
Robert Armstrong (Carl Denim),
Bruce Cabot (John Driscoll),
Dick Curtis (Sailor),
James Flavin (Second Mate),
Sam Hardy (Weston),
Noble Johnson (Native Chief),
Ethan Laidlaw (Mate),
Vera Lewis (Theater Patron),
LeRoy Mason (Theater Patron),
Paul Porcasi (Apple Vendor),
Frank Reicher (Captain Englehorn),
The original great ape movie finally makes it to DVD (check off another of the few remaining missing movies from the AFI 100 top films).While I've always admired the Empire-state-of-the-art special effects, I always thought the movie was kinda dumb - doesn't he realize the relationship would never work out?
King Kong
(USA
1976)
Director: John Guillermin
Release Date: 11/22/2005
Price: 14.98
MPAA Rating: PG
Rene Auberjonois (Baggley),
Jeff Bridges (Jack Prescott),
Charles Grodin (Fred Wilson),
Jessica Lange (Dawn),
John Randolph (Capt. Ross),
Julius Harris (Boan),
Jack O'Halloran (Joe Perko),
Dennis Fimple (Sunfish),
Ed Lauter (Carnahan),
Mario Gallo (Timmons),
John Lone (Chinese cook),
Unecessary remake of the 1933 classic. Much hyped special effects turn out to be mostly a hapless Rick Baker in the monkey suit. Jessica Lange is suitably decorative completely hiding the fact that she would become a talented actress.
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