DVDpedia : Library : Title : C

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Cirrus Communications

Genre: Art House & International

Duration: 129

Summary: A middle-class teenage misfit living in '70s era Montreal dreams of abandoning his familiar hometown surroundings to seek a brighter future in director Jean-Marc Vallée's character-driven drama. A sexually-confused Christmas Day baby who likes to march to the beat of his own drummer, Zachary Beaulieu (Marc-André Grondin) nevertheless longs to live up to his old-fashioned father's (Michel Cote) decidedly more traditional expectations. As Zachary seeks solace in the sounds of Pink Floyd and David Bowie, his mother assures him that he's bound for greater things and testosterone-fueled siblings raise hell around the house. Despite feeling bound by his comparatively normal surroundings, the revelations provided by David Bowie's "Space Oddity" allows the disheartened Zachary the luxury of dreaming.

Theatrical: 1989

Studio: Eurovideo

Genre: Comedy / Crime

Duration: 108

Summary: "Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: German (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Subtitles), German (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: A movie about cooking and killing.
Cook and Mafia-hitman Oskar is back from prison, has a new girlfriend who demands no more violence, one last job to do, and hes planning to publish a book with the title Secréts. The godfather of the Russian Mafia in Vienna is not amused when he learns his ever-loyal henchman is obviously about to reveal the secrets of the organized crime. A German/Austrian production clearly aiming for the German mass-market and therefore ditching the typical Viennese dialect (which is hardly understood outside of Austria and Bavaria) in favour of plain German, it also throws away the famous Viennese charme (the movie could take place anywhere in Germany) and much of the voice-talents of Austrian cabaret artists and actors Josef Hader and Roland Düringer (who still had to be subtitled for Germany). The movie bristles with scurrile characters and ideas and even boasts a tarantino-esque finale (a real rarity for a German/Austrian movie!)... SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Posters, Interactive Menu, "

Theatrical: 1972

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Musical

Duration: 124

Summary: A female girlie club entertainer in Weimar Republic era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them.

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Showtime Ent.

Genre: TV Series / Comedy

Duration: 339

Summary: "Here we are," she thought, "at the edge of the world; the very edge of western civilization and all of us are so desperate to feel something, anything that we keep falling in to each other and f+++ing our way towards the end of days.

- Mia, Californication



Californication has got to be one of the best recent cable-channel series out to date. It's extremely smart and funny, contains a lot of dark humor, and happens to be extremely realistic. With a slight word of caution to parents I'd recommend this series to anyone with an open mind any day of the week.



Movies/television series with strong psychological or philosophical themes tend to be horribly boring. Or at the very least extremely dysfunctional (the final season of The Sopranos comes to mind). But on the rare occasion that the directors and screen writers get it right, what's the end result?



...A finely crafted series that has a light heart for everyone to enjoy! From the average television viewer to movie enthusiast, this well written and expertly delivered series will hook you immediately. Sounds like a dream come true? Check out the series starting from the very first episode and you won't be disappointed!



This adult series contains comedy both dark and overt, sexuality (discussions regarding it as well as nudity), great sound score and most of all and amazing and delicate balance which holds it all in the realm of reality. Complaints I've heard deal mainly with the "strong sexual content" but the truth is any adult in the modern world should be able to deal with it.



If you're not afraid to watch something which borders into the extreme at times, check out this witty fun series as soon as you can. Everything balances out into a perfect work of art... truly. This review is coming from someone who very rarely likes what they watch on television and was just waiting for an adult series like this.



Last but not least Duchovny will not disappoint. This role was made for him... saturated in drugs and alcohol somewhat melancholy Hank is portrayed in varying aspects throughout the story, all of them faithful to the real deal. Check it out today.

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Showtime Ent.

Genre: TV Series / Comedy

Duration: 339

Summary: "Here we are," she thought, "at the edge of the world; the very edge of western civilization and all of us are so desperate to feel something, anything that we keep falling in to each other and f+++ing our way towards the end of days.

- Mia, Californication



Californication has got to be one of the best recent cable-channel series out to date. It's extremely smart and funny, contains a lot of dark humor, and happens to be extremely realistic. With a slight word of caution to parents I'd recommend this series to anyone with an open mind any day of the week.



Movies/television series with strong psychological or philosophical themes tend to be horribly boring. Or at the very least extremely dysfunctional (the final season of The Sopranos comes to mind). But on the rare occasion that the directors and screen writers get it right, what's the end result?



...A finely crafted series that has a light heart for everyone to enjoy! From the average television viewer to movie enthusiast, this well written and expertly delivered series will hook you immediately. Sounds like a dream come true? Check out the series starting from the very first episode and you won't be disappointed!



This adult series contains comedy both dark and overt, sexuality (discussions regarding it as well as nudity), great sound score and most of all and amazing and delicate balance which holds it all in the realm of reality. Complaints I've heard deal mainly with the "strong sexual content" but the truth is any adult in the modern world should be able to deal with it.



If you're not afraid to watch something which borders into the extreme at times, check out this witty fun series as soon as you can. Everything balances out into a perfect work of art... truly. This review is coming from someone who very rarely likes what they watch on television and was just waiting for an adult series like this.



Last but not least Duchovny will not disappoint. This role was made for him... saturated in drugs and alcohol somewhat melancholy Hank is portrayed in varying aspects throughout the story, all of them faithful to the real deal. Check it out today.

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Image Entertainment

Genre: Drama

Duration: 108

Summary: A fictionalized account of the last days of opera singer Maria Callas (Ardant).

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Theatrical: 1991

Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Genre: Crime

Duration: 128

Summary: A recently-released rapist stalks the family of the attorney who defended him.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: HBO Home Video

Genre: TV Series / Mystery, Drama

Duration: 1440

Summary: Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 07/18/2006

Theatrical: 1943

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Drama

Duration: 103

Summary: A truly perfect movie, the 1942 "Casablanca" still wows viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made. "--Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Action & Adventure

Duration: 144

Summary: The most successful invigoration of a cinematic franchise since "Batman Begins, Casino Royale" offers a new Bond identity. Based on the Ian Fleming novel that introduced Agent 007 into a Cold War world, "Casino Royale" is the most brutal and viscerally exciting James Bond film since Sean Connery left Her Majesty's Secret Service. Meet the new Bond; not the same as the old Bond. Daniel Craig gives a galvanizing performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, yes, but also a "blunt instrument," reckless, and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. In classic Bond film tradition, his global itinerary takes him to far-flung locales, including Uganda, Madagascar, the Bahamas (that's more like it), and Montenegro, where he is pitted against his nemesis in a poker game, with hundreds of millions in the pot. The stakes get even higher when Bond lets down his "armor" and falls in love with Vesper (Eva Green), the ravishing banker's representative fronting him the money.






























For longtime fans of the franchise, "Casino Royale" offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, "Casino Royale" is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in "Private Benjamin", now I know what I've been faking all these years. "--Donald Liebenson "














Extras from " Casino Royale "



"Beginning Of Bond," featurettehigh bandwidth


See a clip from the action packed construction scene
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Music video "You Know My Name," by Chris Cornell:
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Stills from " Casino Royale" (click for larger image)




























































Beyond "Casino Royale" on Amazon.com










On Blu-ray





CD Soundtrack








Why We Love Daniel Craig
















The Amazon.com James Bond Store








"Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?"








"Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale " Book

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Genre: Anime / Adventure

Duration: 75

Summary: A young girl rescues a mysterious cat from traffic and soon finds herself the unwelcome recipient of gifts and favors from the King of the Cats, who also wants her to marry his son, Prince Lune. With the assistance of a fat, grouchy real cat and a an elegant cat statuette come to life (both characters featured in Studio Ghibli's earlier anime "Whisper of the Heart"), the girl visits the Cat Kingdom and narrowly escapes again.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: CENTRAL PARK MEDIA

Genre: Anime

Duration: 34

Summary: When little kitten Nyaako’s soul is stolen by Death, she and her brother Nyatta embark on a bizarre journey to get it back. "A visual extravaganza, a thoroughly bizarre and brilliant boat ride down the stream of consciousness." – Wizard Anime Insider "It’s Hello Kitty on acid!" – Video Store

Theatrical: 1970

Studio: Paramount

Genre: Action & Adventure

Duration: 121

Summary: Joseph Heller's novel was one of the seminal literary events of the 1960s, but Mike Nichols's film ultimately proved too literal in its attempt to bring Heller's fragmented fiction to the screen. Still, Nichols, who made this on the heels of "The Graduate", seemed the ideal candidate to tackle this Buck Henry adaptation. The story deals with bomber pilot Yossarian (Alan Arkin), who has flown enough missions to get out of World War II but can't because the number of missions needed for discharge keeps getting raised. The satire and absurdity of Heller's book get lost in Nichols's effort to give screen time to the members of his all-star cast, which includes Orson Welles, Jon Voight, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Richard Benjamin, and Martin Sheen, among others. "--Marshall Fine"

Theatrical: 1998

Studio: Miramax

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 113

Summary: The fortunes of a husband and wife differ drastically after they divorce.

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Ceská Televize

Genre: Documentary

Duration: 90

Summary: Two students from the Czech Film Academy commission a leading advertising agency to organize a huge campaign for the opening of a new supermarket named Czech Dream. The supermarket however does not exist and is not meant to. The advertising campaign includes radio and television ads, posters, flyers with photos of fake Czech Dream products, a promotional song, an internet site, and ads in newspapers and magazines. Will people believe in it and show up for the grand opening?

Theatrical: 1996

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Genre: Action & Adventure

Duration: 106

Summary: Anyone want to venture a guess that Keanu Reeves was sorry he passed up "Speed 2" to make this turkey? Both a ridiculous suspense piece about a renegade intelligence community and an ill-considered hunk of do-gooder agitprop about alternative energy technology, "Chain Reaction" makes Reeves and almost everyone else involved look about as dumb as dumb can be. Hollywood's own Little Buddha plays a streetwise lab technician who survives an organized assault on his hydrogen-power project. The FBI assumes he's really a spy working for some foreign power, but the truth is that a CIA offshoot is behind the project's funding. Morgan Freeman plays the ramrod-straight company man who sabotages Keanu's excellent experiment, and Rachel Weisz portrays a physicist who goes on the run with the alleged saboteur. Directed by Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive"), who seems more interested in seeing how many absurd places he can mount a chase scene than offering a solid clue as to who these characters are and why we should care about them. "--Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Warner Bros, Village Roadshow

Genre: Adventure

Duration: 115

Summary: A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world's most unusual candy maker.

Theatrical: 2000

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Action

Duration: 98

Summary: Three women, detectives with a mysterious boss, retrieve stolen voice-ID software, using martial arts, tech skills, and sex appeal.

Theatrical: 2008

Studio: Madhouse Studios

Genre: Anime / Family

Duration: 3

Summary:

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment

Genre: Musical

Duration: 113

Summary: Murderesses Velma Kelly (Who blanked out and killed her cheating husband) and Roxie Hart (Who killed her boyfriend in a jealous rage) strive for fame at any costs including scandal and lies in 1920s Chicago.

Theatrical: 2000

Studio: Dreamworks Animated

Genre: Animation

Duration: 84

Summary: Chicken Run is a comedy escape drama with a touch of passion set on a sinister Yorks chicken farm in 1950's England

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Universal Studios

Genre: Drama

Duration: 109

Summary: In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Sony Music Entertain

Genre: Music

Duration: 82

Summary: I agree the out of synch soundtrack has moments that are distracting but none of the tracks are studio versions. But someone obviously clipped the live performance recording and this clipped version does not synch visually with the performance at about 3 seperate noticeable moments in the concert. Still it is always a pleasure to watch a musician work his craft and after having seen Chris live and also owning this DVD I can honestly say it deserves a better rating than some give it for the few technical glitches that detract from an otherwise small and intimate concert venue

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay

Genre: Art House & International, Sci-Fi, Crime

Duration: 94

Summary: Paris, 2025: A tough cop haunted by a murder he could not stop. A young woman scarred by a dark secret from her past. A hunt for a killer with a taste for sadism. And a city where sleek technology meets a conspiracy of violence and corruption. You may think you've seen it before, but debut feature director Julien Leclercq now delivers a startling combination of eye popping visuals, shocking twists and explosive action scenes to create the most unique futuristic crime thrill in years.

Theatrical: 1996

Studio: Miramax

Genre: Drama

Duration: 102

Summary: This movie (directed by Wong Kar-wai) tells two separate stories. In the first one, a lonely cop who has just been left out in the cold by his girl-friend May, buys and eats expired cans of pineapple and meets a woman who turns out to be a ruthless heroin dealer (Brigitte Lin) who wears a blonde wig. In the second story, a cop who has been dumped by his girlfriend is really unhappy, moping round his apartment all day. Then he meets the waitress at the local fast food joint (Faye Wong), who dreams of going to California.I really liked watching this film. The imagery and camerawork is stunning, and it is amusing and sad in equal parts, telling the story of how lonely the people are. Another striking thing is the inventive use of music within the stories which is used to illustrate certain points - listen out for songs like "What A Difference A Day Makes" and the Mamas and the Papas classic hit "California Dreamin`". I didn`t expect to hear English songs in a Hong Kong movie.I think it's a nice change to see another type of Asian movie, one which isn`t all shooting or kung-fu. It has an experimental style, lots of energy, and is not afraid to be different. I highly recommend this tape to people who want to check out a different sort of HK film. If you pass it up, you`re missing out on a gem.

Theatrical: 2001

Studio: Cirque Soleil Canada

Genre: Circus

Duration: 90

Summary: This DVD features Cirque du Soleil, in performance, live in Sydney. Special features include a music video, a look behind the scenes, meet the artists, more.

Theatrical: 2001

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Circus

Duration: 89

Summary: The Chinese consider the lion a symbol of good luck, so it's a half-dragon, half-lion--a dralion--that is the symbol of the East-meets-West fusion of this Cirque du Soleil show, in which 36 Chinese acrobats join the renowned Canadian troupe. Celebrating the four elements as represented in four colors-- blue (air), green (water), red (fire), and ochre (earth)--"Dralion" combines ancient Chinese circus traditions with Cirque du Soleil's usual stunning elements: the techno-oriented single ring; the multicolored lights and costumes; the music that mixes rock, New Age, and various world influences (though not Chinese); and the madcap clowns that pull a victim out of the audience (he turns out to be a terrific sport).
But of course the main reason to watch a Cirque du Soleil show is the acrobatic stunts, those eye-popping displays of agility, balance, and strength. You'll see an acrobat balancing on one hand, a brawny juggler, a high-flying teeterboard act, a double trapeze, contortionists, a parasol turned and tossed atop a foot, furiously synchronized hoop-diving, unbelievable rope-skipping, and more. While nothing can match the experience of seeing this troupe live, the video does offer some choice close-ups that you would never get from your seat, and you can't ask the live performers to repeat your favorite stunts over and over again. And you'll "want" to see them over and over because "Dralion" is a dazzler. "--David Horiuchi"

Theatrical: 1941

Studio: Creative Design Art

Genre: Drama

Duration: 119

Summary: Powerful newspaper owner Charles Foster Kane was many things to many people, both in life and, as seen in retrospective here, in death.

Theatrical: 1998

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Drama

Duration: 114

Summary: Inspired by the modern classic, Wings of Desire, City involves an angel (Cage) who is spotted by a doctor in an operating room. Franz plays Cage's buddy who somehow knows a lot about angels.

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Alliance (Universal)

Genre: Drama

Duration: 130

Summary: Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.

Theatrical: 1995

Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios

Genre: Art House & International

Duration: 112

Summary: The fantastic visions of Belgian filmmakers Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet find full fruition in this fairy tale for adults. Evoking utopias and dystopias from "Brazil" to "Peter Pan", Caro and Jeunet create a vivid but menacing fantasy city in a perpetually twilight world. In this rough port town lives circus strongman One (Ron Perlman), who wanders the alleys and waterfront dives looking for his baby brother, snatched from him by a mysterious gang preying upon the children of the town. Rising from the harbor is an enigmatic castle where lives the evil scientist Krank (Daniel Emilfork), who has lost the ability to dream and robs the nocturnal visions of the children he kidnaps, but receives only mad nightmares from the lonely cherubs. Other wild characters include the Fagin-like Octopus--Siamese twin sisters who control a small gang of runaways-turned-thieves--Krank's six cloned henchmen (all played by the memorable Dominique Pinon from "Delicatessen"), and a giant brain floating in an aquarium (voiced by Jean-Louis Trintignant). Caro and Jeunet are kindred souls to Terry Gilliam (who is a vocal fan), creating imaginative flights of fancy built of equal parts delight and dread, which seem to be painted on the screen in rich, dreamy colors. "--Sean Axmaker"

Theatrical: 1994

Studio: Miramax

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 92

Summary: Before Kevin Smith became a Hollywood darling with "Chasing Amy", a film he wrote and directed, he made this $27,000 comedy about real-life experiences working for chump change at a New Jersey convenience store. A rude, foul-mouthed collection of anecdotes about the responsibilities that go with being on the wrong side of the till, the film is also a relationship story that takes some hilarious turns once the lovers start revealing their sexual histories to one another. In the best tradition of first-time, ultra-low budget independent films, Smith uses "Clerks" as an audition piece, demonstrating that he not only can handle two-character comedy but also has an eye for action--as proven in a smoothly handled rooftop hockey scene. Smith himself appears as a silent figure who hangs out on the fringes of the store's property. "--Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Weinstein Company

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 97

Summary: Lo and behold, "Clerks II" defies the odds as a sequel that even the most ardent "Clerks" fans can be happy about. Twelve years after Kevin Smith turned the independent film world upside-down with his $27,000 black-and-white comedy, perpetual slackers Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) return for another raucous romp in suburbia, but this time there's no beloved Quick Stop mini-mart to ensure their low-level employment. Now they're aimless 33-year-olds flippin' burgers at Mooby's, a fast-food joint with a cow theme that's "udderly delicious." Dante's engaged to his long-time girlfriend but has unexpectedly fallen in love with Mooby's manager Becky (and since she's played by Rosario Dawson, can you blame him?), and Randal's still holding out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of low ambition. The responsibilities of adulthood are rearing their ugly head, and with Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) still dealing weed and generally being obnoxious, well... something's gotta give, right? The way Smith has written this long-awaited follow-up, the dilemmas of Dante, Randal, and their ongoing friendship are something that anyone can relate to, and with Dawson lighting up the screen (in a role demanded by producer Harvey Weinstein to boost box-office appeal), the movie's romantic chemistry is surprisingly delightful. Rest assured, also, that Smith (shooting mostly in color this time, on a $5 million budget) hasn't forgotten where he came from: "Clerks II" is jam-packed with the same lewd, crude humor that made "Clerks" an indie-film phenomenon, and Smith's good-natured sincerity is still on full display, ensuring that only the most prudish viewers could possibly be offended. For everyone else, this is as enjoyable as any sequel could ever hope to be, with amusing cameos by Smith-movie veterans Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, among others. "--Jeff Shannon"

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 107

Summary: "Click" is a high-concept, low-brow variation on "It's a Wonderful Life" that will have Adam Sandler fans laughing even as it leaves Frank Capra spinning in his grave. In their third collaboration (after "The Wedding Singer" and "The Waterboy", Sandler and director Frank Coraci aim at the lowest common denominator and consistently hit their target, from scary casting (David Hasselhoff as Sandler's shallow, sexist boss; Sean Astin in a tight red Speedo) to a rancid menu of fart jokes, fat jokes, oversexed dogs, and other attempts at humor that rarely rise above the level of grade-school pranks. Sandler's "family comes first" sentiment somehow manages to survive the onslaught of rude, crude attitude that Sandler brings to his role as Michael Newman, a workaholic architect who learns the hard way that, well, family comes first. This happens after Newman gets a magical remote control from Morty (Christopher Walken, the film's one and only highlight), an eccentric oddball in the "Beyond" section of a Bed, Bath & Beyond store who's a devilish version of "Wonderful Life"'s benevolent guardian angel. But Sandler's no James Stewart as he uses his techno-marvel (complete with a DVD-like "life menu") to fast-forward through his life's most unpleasant moments, only to realize that he's been missing lots of good stuff, too. With Kate Beckinsale as Newman's neglected wife, impressive older-age make-ups by Rick Baker and a lot of digital wizardry to beef up the humor, "Click" won't disappoint Sandler's established fan base, and its $40 million opening weekend offered ample proof that Sandler's box-office clout remains remarkably consistent.--Jeff Shannon
Stills from "Click " (click for larger image)

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 95

Summary: Now here is a movie that's practically perfect for DVD. Shot over many years with eccentric actors, Jim Jarmusch's collection of black-and-white vignettes is as uneven as a collection of music videos (without songs). Even with the dull spots and the drop-dead-hip ambiance, there's something touching about this parade of frazzled people holding on to their coffee and cigarettes like life rafts--especially in the final sequence with Taylor Mead. There are some severely misconceived pieces, but the best are a treat: Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan in a hilarious Hollywood encounter, Tom Waits and Iggy Pop getting off on the wrong foot in a funky diner, and Cate Blanchett doing a dual role as herself and a jealous cousin. Bill Murray can't save one underwritten piece, but Jack and Meg White are amusing in an absurdist blackout. Use the Scene Selection menu, and revel in the fetishizing of java and butts. --Robert Horton

Theatrical: 1988

Studio: Paramount

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 114

Summary: Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at the same time. There are enjoyable sequences of Murphy's Prince Akeem applying his lordly manner to his new job in a fast-food emporium, and falling for the boss's spirited daughter (Shari Headley), who teaches him how to party down, American style. But the fish-out-water premise is never fully exploited. Star spotters will have a field day locating Cuba Gooding Jr., Donna Summer, Louie Anderson, Vondie Curtis Hall, "E.R."'s Eriq La Salle, and Samuel L. Jackson in their minuscule supporting roles. "--David Chute"

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Rhino / Wea

Genre: Music

Duration: 286

Summary: Exceptionally moving but not the least bit sentimental, "Concert for George" is a splendid tribute to the late George Harrison, whose contributions to the Beatles were so often hidden in the long shadows of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A year to the day after Harrison's November 29, 2001 death, Eric Clapton assembled some musicians--people who had played with Harrison and known him intimately, including McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Tom Petty--to perform his music at London's Royal Albert Hall. They take on not just the predictable ("My Sweet Lord" and "Something," beautifully sung by Billy Preston and Sir Paul, respectively), but also lesser-known fare like "Old Brown Shoe" and "Beware of Darkness," all to superbly empathetic effect. But the tune most likely to make you misty-eyed is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which brings together three of the five musicians who played on the original recording: Ringo on drums, Clapton replicating his own classic solo, and McCartney playing piano and harmonizing with Clapton's lead vocal. "Concert for George" enjoyed a brief theatrical release, but even those who caught it on the big screen will delight in this two-disc DVD edition. Disc 1 features the complete concert ("sans" interview and rehearsal footage, but with a few additional songs and in the original running order), while disc 2 contains the theatrical version and some additional backstage and photo material. All in all, a beautiful piece of work. Wish you were here, George--but man, what a way to be missed. "--Sam Graham"

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Miramax Films

Genre: Crime

Duration: 113

Summary: An adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impressario Chuck Barris, in which he purports to have been a CIA hitman.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Lions Gate

Genre: Crime

Duration: 97

Summary: Jake Vig (Burns) is a consummate grifter about to pull his biggest con yet, one set to avenge his friend's murder. But his last scam backfired, leaving him indebted to a mob boss (Hoffman) and his enforcer.

Theatrical: 1997

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Mystery

Duration: 135

Summary: Jerry Fletcher is a man who sees conspiracies everywhere. But if you keep doing that long enough, sooner or later you're going to get one right...

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Sci-Fi

Duration: 121

Summary: In the grand scheme of theological thrillers, "Constantine" aspires for the greatness of "The Exorcist" but ranks more closely with "The Order". Based on the popular "Hellblazer" comic book series, and directed with nary a shred of intelligence by music video veteran Francis Lawrence, it's basically "The Matrix" with swarming demons instead of swarming machines. Keanu Reeves slightly modifies his "Matrix" persona as John Constantine, who roams the dark-spots of Los Angeles looking for good-evil, angel-devil half-breeds to ensure that "the balance" between God and Satan is properly maintained. An ancient artifact and the detective twin of a woman who committed evil-induced suicide (Rachel Weisz) factor into the plot, which is taken so seriously that you'll want to stand up and cheer when Tilda Swinton swoops down as the cross-dressing angel Gabriel and turns this silliness into the camp-fest it really is. The digital effects are way cool (dig those hellspawn with the tops of their heads lopped off!), so if you don't mind a juvenile lesson in pseudo-Catholic salvation, "Constantine" is just the movie for you! "--Jeff Shannon"

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: The Weinstein Company

Genre: Art House & International

Duration: 122

Summary: In his elegiac debut, Anton Corbijn combines the music film with the social drama to stunning success. Based on Deborah Curtis's clear-eyed biography, "Touching from a Distance", "Control" recounts the wrenching tale of a working-class lad about to hit the highest highs only to be waylaid by the lowest lows. Born and raised in Macclesfield, a suburban community outside Manchester, Ian Curtis (newcomer Sam Riley in a remarkable performance) dreams of fronting a band. Just out of high school in the mid-1970s, he finds three like minds with whom he forms post-punk quartet Warsaw--better known as Joy Division (Riley and castmates ably recreate their somber sound). All the while, he falls in love, marries, and fathers a child with Deborah (Samantha Morton, turning a thankless role into a triumph). While Curtis should be enjoying parenthood and newfound fame, he's plagued by seizures. A diagnosis of epilepsy leads to powerful medications with unpredictable side effects. Then, while on tour, he falls in love with another woman. His solution to these problems is a matter of public record, but Corbijn concentrates on Curtis's life rather than his death. Just as "Control" establishes a link between such disparate black and white works as fellow photographer Bruce Weber's "Let's Get Lost" and kitchen-sink classics like "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner", the Dutch-born, UK-based director presents his subject not as some iconic T-shirt image, but as a deeply flawed--if massively talented--human being. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"

Theatrical: 2009

Studio: Universal Studios

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation

Duration: 100

Summary: A dark and creepy film about family relationships directed by Henry Selick of "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach" fame, "Coraline" is based on the haunting book "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman. The first stop-motion feature shot in stereoscopic 3-D, "Coraline" features big-headed, stick-bodied animated characters with huge eyes and demonic grins set against menacing backgrounds and an undercurrent of spooky music. Coraline is a teenager who has just moved to an old house in the middle of nowhere with her writer parents and she is bored, bored, bored. Her only companions are an annoyingly talkative boy Wybie (short for Why Born), some eccentric neighbors from the theater and circus, and a strange, button-eyed doll with a marked resemblance to Coraline which Wybie found in an old trunk of his grandmother's. When Coraline finds an old door hidden behind an armoire and papered over with wallpaper, she convinces her mother to unlock it, only to find a wall of bricks. When Coraline revisits the door later that night, the bricks magically disappear and she discovers a strange pathway to another world where everything is just what she wishes for. In stark contrast to the real world where Coraline's parents just don't have time for her, her "Other Mother" and "Other Father" in this alternate world are the perfect loving, attentive parents who anticipate her every need and desire. Initially comforted and quite happy in this new world, suspicion that things may not be quite as they seem grows inside Coraline and her disquiet is furthered by the mute "Other Wybie" and a strange-talking cat that seems to move between both worlds. Eventually, Coraline discovers some dark secrets about her "other parents" and the seemingly perfect "other world," but it may be too late for her to escape back to the real world. Teri Hatcher is especially effective in her dual (voice) role as Mom and "Other Mom" and Dakota Fanning also gives a great performance as Coraline. "Coraline" is a disturbing, intriguing film that both captivates and frightens. (Ages 11 and older) "--Tami Horiuchi"
Stills from Coraline (Click for larger image)

Theatrical: 2004

Studio:

Genre: Anime / Drama

Duration: 114

Summary:

Theatrical: 1984

Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

Genre: Crime

Duration: 127

Summary:

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Pioneer Video

Genre: Anime / Action

Duration: 625

Summary: Each of the snazzy 25-minute installments from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998 is a satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter. This is an elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (in the first of 26 episodes, one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance hunter with an ex-cop sidekick named Jet, a loopy fellow hunter named Faye, a teenage computer hack, and a genetically enhanced Welsh corgi assistant in tow. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format with as many wisecracks as punches being thrown. Unrated (suitable for ages 13 and older): violence, nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use, occasional ethnic stereotypes. "--David Chute"

Theatrical: 2001

Studio:

Genre: Anime / Action

Duration: 116

Summary: A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Ent

Genre: Animation

Duration: 10

Summary: There's nothing not to like about Aardman Animations' new "Creature Comforts" series, belatedly inspired by their Oscar-winning short film and the subsequent spin-off TV ads that turned out to be far more memorable than the product itself ("It's got to be easily turn-off-and-onable"). But if you stop and think about it for a moment, "Creature Comforts" is an extraordinarily un-PC concept. First of all, identify some members of the public who are willing to drone on about trivia that's really of no interest to anyone but themselves. (Ideally they will be working class and perhaps a bit dim, although it helps if they're over-articulate in the way that dull people often are when someone suddenly feigns an interest in them.) If they have a strong regional accent or are elderly, so much the better. Then sync up their interviews with a bunch of claymation cartoon animals, linking any extraneous noises to improbable snippets of on-screen action. Finally, sit back and watch as the very people you're patronising laugh their heads off at your efforts, thus proving that they were every bit as dim as you thought.
Cynicism aside, though, the ability of the British public to laugh at themselves is a national trait worth celebrating, and it's brilliantly exploited here by the company that brought you Wallace and Gromit. On this first volume you get six episodes, of which perhaps the funniest is "Working Animals", where we learn that egglaying is "very repetitive" and meet the greyhound who can never quite get his latest bit of portentous self-analysis out before the trap opens.
On the DVD: The "Creature Comforts Series 1, Part 1" DVD contains just the first six 10-minute episodes of the series. To add value, the disc also includes what is quite literally a making-of documentary, plus the original "Creature Comforts" short and sundry other items of interest. --"Roger Thomas"

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Paramount

Genre: Crime

Duration: 98

Summary: A French gang of thieves flies over to Chicago for a one time job. However things seem to get out of hand soon.

Theatrical: 1989

Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 104

Summary: Opthalmologist Judah Rosenthal has had an affair with Dolores for several years, and now she threatens to ruin his life if he doesn't marry her. When his brother Jack suggests to have Dolores murdered, Judah is faced with a big moral dilemma: destruction of his life or murder. Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Clifford Stern is trying to make a film of a philosophy professor, but instead he's commissioned to make a portrait of succesful TV producer and brother-in-law Lester, who to Clifford represents everything that he despises.

Theatrical: 1998

Studio: Twister Digital Video

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 123

Summary: This is very rare PAL DVD (EUROPEAN TV VIDEO STANDARD) without region coding, officially released in Russia by studio "TWISTER". Available Audio Tracks: original SERBO-CROATIAN and RUSSIAN (voice-over). Available subtitles: RUSSIAN (removable). CUSTOMERS FROM NORTH AMERICA and JAPAN: Please, make sure your DVD player supports PAL DVDS (Europe, Australia, and Asia) before bidding; otherwise you can watch PAL DVDS on computer with DVD-ROM. ....................................... Bosnian-born filmmaker Emir Kusturica made this farce, set in a Gypsy settlement along the banks of the Danube, where three generations of characters burst forth in manic and frenetic displays of charm, confusion, and chaos. Garbage dump godfather Grga Pitic (Sabri Sulejman) and cement czar Zarije Destanov (Zabit Memedov), both in their 80s, remain friends even though they haven't seen each other in 25 years. Zarije's son Matko Destanov (Bajram Severdzan) goes to Grga for a loan. Matko is double-crossed by his partner, gypsy gangster Dadan Karambolo (Srdan Todorovic), who demands that Matko's son, Zare Destanov (Florijan Ajdini), marry Dadan's small sister, Afrodita (Salija Ibraimova). Unfortunately, Afrodita and Zare have absolutely no interest in each other. Cute barmaid Ida (Branka Katic) and Zare fall in love and only have eyes for each other as plans get underway for the wedding of Zare and Afrodite. The sudden death of Zarije seems to offer a solution, since no gypsy would have a wedding and a funeral on the same day. However, Dadan delays the death announcement by hiding Zarije, packed in ice, in the attic. The wedding celebration gets underway amid numerous madcap mishaps and misadventures. With a soundtrack of gypsy music and songs, the funny film features numerous non-professionals in the cast.

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Universal

Genre: Adventure

Duration: 115

Summary: The wanted criminal Riddick arrives in Helion Prime and finds himself against the invading Necromongers, an army that plans to convert or kill all humans.

Theatrical: 2000

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Adventure

Duration: 120

Summary: Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are lead to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Theatrical: 1999

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Drama

Duration: 97

Summary: Kathryn makes a bet that her step-brother, Sebastian, won't be able to bed Annette (a virgin, who wants to wait until love). If he loses, Kathryn gets his Jaguar, if he wins, he gets Kathryn.

Theatrical: 2001

Studio: Dreamworks Video

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 103

Summary: An insurance investigator and an efficency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.