DVD Rundown
Here are today's new releases on DVD:
The Village (PG-13)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, and Brice Howard
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Shyamalan's latest is a totally predictable genre-bending tale set in the woods where Those Whose Names We Dare Not Speak threaten their way of life. Or are there other forces at worked threatening their Utopian world? I gave it a MATINEE rating over at GCM. Or, you can find it right here on The Hot Corner.
Without a Paddle (PG-13)
Starring: Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Ethan Suplee
Director: Steven Brill
A crass comedy with a promising cast, Without a Paddle had a pretty good run at the box office so we'll keep an eye on it and see how well it does on DVD. Paddle is the story of a group of friends that get involved in a treasure hunt on a canoe trip.
Alice Through the Looking Glass (NR--Family)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Ian Holm, and Penelope Winton
Director: John Henderson
Alice Through the Looking Glass is another retelling of the classic story starring none other than my current favorite actress as Alice--Kate Beckinsale. Now that she's gained some name recognition this past year, folks have decided to release this flick. I don't know much else about it besides what I've shared so far. I'm just still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she's got blonde hair in this flick. Maybe I can crack the piggy-bank and rent a copy.
Paparazzi (R)
Starring: Cole Hauser, Tom Sizemore, and Robin Tunney
Director: Paul Abascal
A bomb. A pan. Rent at your own risk.
Also, two Luc Besson movies I adore will be getting the proverbial special edition/double disc treatment this week:
Leon (R) aka The Professional
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, and Natalie Portman
Director: Luc Besson
The sweet yet harsh enduring story of an isolated hitman who takes in an orphaned child. This film was trimmed down and tamed a bit for its U.S. release and renamed The Professional. Copies of the full length Leon have been hard to come by in this country with a price tag around 30 bucks in recent months. (I scored one years ago dirt cheap! It was one of the first DVD's I ever bought.) Ranked #75 on Bull Durham's Top 100 and #62 on IMDb, now it won't be so difficult or expensive to watch Beson's masterpiece as originally intended. Oldman is delicious as the villain, Reno perfect as Leon, and Natalie Portman's charm shines through as the girl who will certainly grow up to be a Cleaner. That's a sequel I'm still hoping for one day. HOT DATE
The Fifth Element (R)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Gary Oldman
Director: Luc Besson
Although not anywhere near the merits of La Femme Nikita or Leon, The Fifth Element introduced us to Chris Tucker, pairing him with Bruce Willis who is in top wise-cracking form for this flick. The pace is perfect, the story funny and entertaining, although somewhat flawed. Lavish costumes by Jean Paul Gautier, special effects way ahead of its time, and expansive sets combine to bombard the viewer with brilliant imagery and offer us a glimpse at the future according to Besson. MATINEE
The Village (PG-13)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, and Brice Howard
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Shyamalan's latest is a totally predictable genre-bending tale set in the woods where Those Whose Names We Dare Not Speak threaten their way of life. Or are there other forces at worked threatening their Utopian world? I gave it a MATINEE rating over at GCM. Or, you can find it right here on The Hot Corner.
Without a Paddle (PG-13)
Starring: Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Ethan Suplee
Director: Steven Brill
A crass comedy with a promising cast, Without a Paddle had a pretty good run at the box office so we'll keep an eye on it and see how well it does on DVD. Paddle is the story of a group of friends that get involved in a treasure hunt on a canoe trip.
Alice Through the Looking Glass (NR--Family)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Ian Holm, and Penelope Winton
Director: John Henderson
Alice Through the Looking Glass is another retelling of the classic story starring none other than my current favorite actress as Alice--Kate Beckinsale. Now that she's gained some name recognition this past year, folks have decided to release this flick. I don't know much else about it besides what I've shared so far. I'm just still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she's got blonde hair in this flick. Maybe I can crack the piggy-bank and rent a copy.
Paparazzi (R)
Starring: Cole Hauser, Tom Sizemore, and Robin Tunney
Director: Paul Abascal
A bomb. A pan. Rent at your own risk.
Also, two Luc Besson movies I adore will be getting the proverbial special edition/double disc treatment this week:
Leon (R) aka The Professional
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, and Natalie Portman
Director: Luc Besson
The sweet yet harsh enduring story of an isolated hitman who takes in an orphaned child. This film was trimmed down and tamed a bit for its U.S. release and renamed The Professional. Copies of the full length Leon have been hard to come by in this country with a price tag around 30 bucks in recent months. (I scored one years ago dirt cheap! It was one of the first DVD's I ever bought.) Ranked #75 on Bull Durham's Top 100 and #62 on IMDb, now it won't be so difficult or expensive to watch Beson's masterpiece as originally intended. Oldman is delicious as the villain, Reno perfect as Leon, and Natalie Portman's charm shines through as the girl who will certainly grow up to be a Cleaner. That's a sequel I'm still hoping for one day. HOT DATE
The Fifth Element (R)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Gary Oldman
Director: Luc Besson
Although not anywhere near the merits of La Femme Nikita or Leon, The Fifth Element introduced us to Chris Tucker, pairing him with Bruce Willis who is in top wise-cracking form for this flick. The pace is perfect, the story funny and entertaining, although somewhat flawed. Lavish costumes by Jean Paul Gautier, special effects way ahead of its time, and expansive sets combine to bombard the viewer with brilliant imagery and offer us a glimpse at the future according to Besson. MATINEE
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