DVD Rundown

Today is practically a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY at your local video store. I'm sure if JESUS were alive today he might show up at a Best Buy, WalMart, or a mall near you to drive out all the money changers listed below! It's just that awful. Remember this beatitude: Blessed are the greedy... for theirs is the hugest bank! (I guess I should remember this beatitude: Blessed are the judgmental... for they have the best soap boxes!)

The Passion of The Christ (R)
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, and Monica Bellucci
Director: Mel Gibson

We'll not fault Mel for the greed factor this week. Admittedly, his marketing campaign for The Passion was brilliant, but I suppose it had to be since most of the funding for this film came straight from his own pocket. You can read my full review here.

Jesus Christ, Superstar (G)
Starring: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Elliman
Director: Norman Jewison

And so the greed begins with this classic. Somebody has had the video distribution rights for this film all along. So, why did they wait until this week to put on our shelves? You guessed it! GREED! They can make more money selling it this week than they could have six months ago.

NBC News: The Last Days of Jesus (NR)
Starring: Stone Phillips

But this one takes the cake, my friends! How many made for television documentaries do you see on DVD at your local video store? I'd wager there isn't a single one and yet, for some strange reason, NBC News decides they wanna put one out this week. Gee... I wonder what that reason could be? Oh, yeah! GREED!

South Park: The Passion of The Jew (NR)
Starring: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Director: Trey Parker

Now you might be wondering why I'd even bother listing this one considering it is bound to border on irreverent. Well, I'll tell ya'! At least Parker and Stone have the guts to admit they are trying to cash in on Jesus this week! They make absolutely no pretense. I have way more respect for them than I do for NBC and the keepers of Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Twisted (R)
Starring: Ashley Judd, Samuel Jackson, and Andy Garcia
Director: Philip Kaufman

The title of this film sums up this weeks releases in a single word! TWISTED! Regardless, Judd plays a detective who is after a serial killer that strikes too close to home. Hey, at least its a normal movie, perhaps the only one this week.

Slacker (R)
Starring: Richard Linklater and Nobody Else You Ever Heard Of In Your Entire Life
Director: Richard Linklater

Linklater's ground-breaking celluloid meandering that led to so many bigger and better things. There's not really a great way of explaining what the film is about except to say it is really about nothing. It's more like a series of conversations caught on film rather an actual story, but it does draw you in. I lived about a block away from The Drag in Austin so most of the locations in this film bring back a memory or two.

The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (NR)
Starring: A Whole Bunch of Sell-outs!
Director: Does it matter?

A better title would have been: The Lion King 2: Simba's Complete Lack of Pride. At least The Lion King 1 1/2 was and original concept (filling in the gaps of The Lion King from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective) but this hunk-of-junk from 1998 will now have its run on DVD. I guess if your desperate for home entertainment good for all ages, it might be worth your twenty dollar bill.

The Star Wars Trilogy hits DVD in 21 days.