The Poster:

Cast & Crew:
Cast: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius
Written & Directed by: Sofia Coppola

The Trailer:

Technorati Tags: Sofia Coppola, Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Drama, Family, Actors, Movies, Somewhere, Focus Pictures

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: April 21, 1995
DVD Release Date: April 20, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.99

I hate to admit it, considering the way it will probably sound, but I love movies about drug addicts. I think it’s the dramatic aspect of them that appeals to me. As a writer, I love viewing the tormented soul and the length of destruction they will go through before they attempt to pull themselves, sometimes feebly, from the abyss. Unfortunately, truly amazing drug addict movies are hard to come by. In all honesty there are only a few that really stick with me. Three of these movies were made in the same decade. The first two are Where the Day Takes You and Sweet Nothing. The third is the only one currently on Blu-ray, and that is The Basketball Diaries.

Sweet Nothing and The Basketball Diaries actually have a fair bit in common. Both movies are based on true stories; the former is crafted from a diary found in a New York apartment and the latter is based on the life of writer, Jim Carroll. Both movies also star Michael Imperioli, though in one he’s the star and in the other he has a brief supporting role. Both movies are incredibly powerful, offering the highs and lows of addiction and life in general.

The Basketball Diaries has often been highlighted as a movie that is so violent that it creates the image that behavior seen in this film is acceptable in real life. Every so often a school shooting will happen and you will hear a third rate psychologist comment that the teenager had a copy of The Basketball Diaries on them or at their home. The fact of the matter is that this film is not disturbing for its violent content. Even the drug addiction scenes are eased over so nothing overly graphic is ever shown. None of this matters though because the acting is convincing enough for you to imagine the high and the desperation that comes when the main character cannot have it any longer. DiCaprio truly deserves to be celebrated for his work here.

Jim Carroll is the man of the hour. He was a creative teenager on the streets of New York living with a single mother. He had dreams of a basketball scholarship and played for one of the best Catholic School teams in the city. He also was a writer. His life took a turn for the worst when he decided to focus on drug use full time. This is his story.

I have seen this movie at least 100 times. If I ever murdered anyone they would probably blame it on the number of times that I have seen this. Now that I have it on Blu-ray, I will probably watch it even more. It’s one of my go-to movies. No matter what mood I am in, I can always watch this. The acting is superb, the story is moving, and the picture (in terms of the general film) is virtually flawless. If you haven’t seen this, you need to watch it. If you have, well there’s nothing more I need to say because you already know what I am talking about.

Sadly, Jim Carroll, the man that this film is based on, passed away last year on September 11. According to reports, he died of a heart attack, doing what he loved the most. He was at his desk writing. One can only hope we are all as lucky, to die doing what we love the most. Lord knows, most of us probably won’t be.

The Basketball Diaries Plot
The Basketball Diaries is based on Jim Carroll’s actual experiences as a teenager and a New York City heroin addict. The film takes place in the 90s (the book took place in the 60s) and Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a rising star on the hottest Catholic School basketball team in the city. Despite having the skills to become a star, it seems that many things are standing in his way. From traditional teenage angst to his best friend that is dying with leukemia (Imperioli), Carroll’s life is slowly falling apart.

His mother (Bracco) encourages him to be the best, and though she is, at times, overbearing, it’s obvious that she has his best interests at heart. None of that matters though because he’s dealing with the rigors of Catholic School, a creepy basketball coach (Bruno Kirby), and he’s flirting with drug use.

The more he huffs, pops pills, and snorts cocaine the deeper into the drug life he goes. He quits the basketball team and school after an ill-fated, drug induced game. His friends Mickey (Wahlberg) and Pedro (Madio) follow right along with him. Only one, Neutron (McGaw), continues on with occasional drug use while at school, so he can meet his goal of being on the All-Star team.

Carroll ends up on the streets, travelling the back rooms and underpasses of New York’s heroin world to survive on the only thing he can rely on. As his friends fall to the wayside and only the next high matters, it’s up to Carroll to learn the hard way, or die without trying.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The Basketball Diaries appears in Blu-ray with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a 1080p transfer. Despite this not being a new movie, it certainly passes with a pretty good video quality. The detail is higher than one would expect for an older film (made pre-Blu-Ray) and everything has a fairly natural appearance to it. The colors are strong and the blacks are acceptable, but they could be better. Things like edge enhancement and noise occur randomly, but these things are not present enough to cause huge problems. Overall, there really isn’t much to complain about with this release. It is worlds above and beyond the quality offered in the DVD that was previously released. Fans will definitely want to own this.

The Basketball Diaries offers two main, English audio tracks. I listened to select scenes with one audio and watched the entire film with the default, DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. The other track is LPCM 2.0. Both tracks sound good and have their benefits. I did not notice any audio defects on either track. The sound was strong, though in different ways, and there were no issues with volume toggling. The surround sound isn’t too dynamic, but it does what it needs to do in key scenes. The 2.0 track seems better at detailing some of the quieter moments, while the 5.1 track gives a more robust feel and sound to the overall picture. Like the video, this is a direct improvement over what is offered in the DVD.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are two main features here and some previews that round out the special feature section. There could have been more, but what is here is definitely worth watching. Normally, with a movie like this lacking features I would complain, but the ones here are short, sweet, and to the point, and I like that.

“Jim Carroll Interview & Reading” – The interview comes from a December 1981 interview while Carroll was in Toronto. He discusses writing, how he got started, and drug use. After the interview there is a reading of “Just Visiting” by Carroll.

“Interviews” – Plenty of short interviews are included with the cast and crew. The complete list is with Scott Kalvert, Liz Heller, Mark Wahlberg, James Madio, Patrick McGaw, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Kirby, Ernie Hudson, and Lorraine Bracco. Everyone talks about their part in the movie, including their characters, their impression, and what it was like making a movie on this particular topic.

That’s it, other than some standard previews for other Palm Pictures that will be or have been released.
Bonus Features: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Basketball Diaries is a modern day classic. Stories about drug use always have the potential to be powerful when put to screen, but Diaries offers stellar writing, exemplary acting, and it gives you characters along with real life emotions that you can relate to and care about. If you’ve never seen this movie you need to watch it. If you have, it will be no surprise that it comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Mark Wahlberg, Bruno Kirby, Juliette Lewis, The Basketball Diaries, Blu-ray Review, Jim Carroll, Drug Addict

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: March 6, 2009
DVD Release Date: April 20, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

Typically, when you think of royalty, you think of Queen Elizabeth (I or II), Henry VIII, or another, popular monarch. Though Queen Victoria served the longest term of the modern English monarchs, there haven’t been as many movies or stories told about her. Victoria led a very interesting life. While the majority of monarchs were men, she was one of the few female monarchs. She was the present monarch as the English monarchy moved from a political entity to a symbolic one, ushering a new era for England and expectations for the UK royal family.

Period pieces take a lot of work to film. They often involve elaborate costuming and like any historical movie, require a certain level of attention and care through the acting. Victoria’s reign accompanied the Victorian era, when England thrived industrially and Britain was still known as a dominant world power. Victoria also had control over other sovereign nations that were under English control, at this time, such as India. All of these things make her an incredibly interesting subject to use as the basis for a film. Luckily, the filmmakers paid attention to these details when painting the picture of Victorian England for this movie.

The acting is what makes The Young Victoria a worthy film. Emily Blunt is the title character, and she brings to life this long dead monarch. A supporting cast of Rupert Friend, as Victoria’s dashing husband, Prince Albert, Jim Broadbent as her uncle, King William IV (Victoria ascends the throne after his death), Miranda Richardson as the mother of Queen Victoria and Mark Strong as Sir John Conroy (who was suspected of being her mother’s lover), helps to round out this film. These actors are all quite competent in their roles and make The Young Victoria more enjoyable.

What I also find interesting is that this film was produced by Graham King, Martin Scorsese, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Tim Headington. The fact that the Duchess of York and Scorsese produced this together, makes me giggle like a school boy, but it makes sense as to why this film is such a success.

Queen Victoria, especially in her early years, led an incredibly interesting life. Her reign was before our time, so many of us who do not have extensive knowledge of British history, know little about her. The Young Victoria is a fun film. If you like dramatic period pieces, this movie will be right up your alley. With a decent plot, great acting and an intriguing story to be told, The Young Victoria, is a step above many of the other period dramas of late.

The Young Victoria Plot
In the mid-1800s, King William (Broadbent) of England is dying. His successor is his young niece, Victoria (Blunt) , who is just 17 years old. While the court is trying to get to know the young Princess, her mother, The Duchess of Kent (Richardson) and her advisor, Sir John Conroy (Strong) have kept Victoria in seclusion with their own political aspirations. The two set out to manipulate Victoria, whom has only one friend, her governess, Lehzen (Hain).

Victoria is set up with her cousin, Albert, who attempts to win her affection. Sick of being controlled, Victoria is put off by this initially, but Albert, too, has been manipulated and used, so the two find a kinship in this, with one another. Albert allows Victoria to dictate the path of their relationship and waits for her to make the next move. This earns Albert even more respect with Victoria, and they eventually have a romance that leads to marriage.

When King William dies, Victoria is crowned the Queen of England. Tired of her overbearing mother, she banishes her and Sir Conroy. She also gets a new advisor in Lord Melbourne (Bettany). With her romance blossoming, her new role as Queen and a public that seems to adore her, Victoria’s reign seems to be moving in the right direction. However, when politics seem to teeter the happiness in the royal court, she must figure out how to keep the people of England happy and allow her country to prosper. This is the story of the longest queen’s reign. This is the story of Queen Victoria.

Storyline/Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The Young Victoria utilizes a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and an anamorphic widescreen picture. The result, even for DVD, is nearly flawless. The colors are strong and rich, the blacks are spot on, and the picture lacks any glaring visual defects that will ruin a viewing experience. I was expecting something dazzling, considering the brand new nature of the film, but I actually ended up with more than I was expecting. This was a beautiful transfer.

Again, the audio succeeds on a pleasing level, as well. Dolby Digital 5.1 is generally the top of the line for most DVDs and this isn’t going to be any different. That being said, the sound is a very full, rich experience. The music booms through the speakers and sounds amazing. The dialogue is always front and center, so you never have to fight to hear it over one of the other sound elements. The limited special effects also sound near perfect. Like the video, there is nothing to complain about here. In addition to the English audio, subtitles and Closed Captioning are available.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a few special features here, which is more than I can say for most DVDs these days. Generally, you end up getting a bare bones DVD and a feature rich Blu-Ray. The Young Victoria offers DVD fans a nice selection of features, so if you only have a DVD you won’t miss out completely.

Deleted Scenes account for about 22 minutes of missing or extended scene watching. There isn’t anything here that is going to leave you amazed, but there are a few scenes that are definitely worth watching. Many of the scenes that were deleted were similar to other scenes, so when they were deleted you didn’t really lose anything. Still, these are worth watching to get a complete look at the film.

“Making of The Young Victoria” – This is just a quick six minute look at what it took to make the film. It appears that it was done more from a promotional aspect. It is fun to see actual royalty included in this film. All of the usual suspects are here along with a few interesting facts.

“Lavish History: A Look at the Costumes and Locations” – It’s only natural that this section was here considering the Academy Award win. This feature gives you a seven minute look at the costumes and the work that Sandy Powell put into the production. It would have been nice to see sketches of the clothing and a more in depth idea of design part of the production

“The Coronation” – This gives you a chance to hear more about the historical aspects of the production. It’s only about three minutes, so there isn’t too much here, but it’s worth a look.

“The Wedding” – This feature is about the same length as the last. You get to see some on screen footage and hear the thoughts of Julian Fellowes.

“The Real Queen Victoria” – This seven minute featurette actually includes some excerpts from Victoria’s diary, which is a cool addition. You get to see the actors talk about their initial impressions of the Queen and the thoughts that they had that were wrong. This isn’t the most informative, as the name might suggest, but it’s interesting enough.

The only other thing here is previews of other movies.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Young Victoria is a well acted, well written film that has a fun story about a woman long gone. Despite being royalty, any human can relate to Victoria and her story. Though a few liberties have been taken with the storytelling, most of this movie is historically accurate. Still, ignoring that aspect makes the film well worth watching. With great quality for a DVD and a nice selection of bonus features The Young Victoria comes recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Young Victoria, DVD Review, Oscar Winner, Academy Award, Period Movie, Royalty

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: February 26, 2010 (limited)
DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.99

Superhero movies have been big business for some time. You have your staples like X-Men, Batman, and Iron Man, to name a few. You even have your comic smartass ones that you never heard of like Blank Man. The common thing these movies all have in common is big name people. Defendor is certainly not a superhero movie like any of these. Well, at least not the first three. Created by Sony, this film is not going to offer you a big budget or lots of thrills. It will offer you Woody Harrelson and a basic plot, but that’s about all you’re getting.

I should point out that I like Woody Harrelson a great deal. He’s an unconventional actor with a boyish smile, plenty of talent, and he makes parts work that others would struggle with. At times though, I think he needs to lay off the hash. It’s hard to imagine going from The People vs. Larry Flynt to something like this. Harrelson did it though and despite this movie not being exceptional, I have no doubt that he will bounce back. Up until now I have made it sound like I hated Defendor and that’s not really a fair assumption. I didn’t hate it. That being said, it was mediocre and while it’s watchable enough to beat out an infomercial, I wouldn’t pit it against any of my favorite movies.

The huge problem, at least for me, is that this movie tries to do so much and fit into so many genres that it quickly loses itself and never manages to find its goal, once lost. Essentially, this is a mix of comedy and science fiction, but then the director tries to mix in some action (something most Sci-fi super hero movies have) and some drama, so it ends up being a jumble of not much of anything. It’s a story and there is a plot somewhere, but it doesn’t equal much at the end of the day.

I wanted to like Defendor, but I think the reason for that had more to do with Harrelson and less to do with the actual movie. I didn’t hate it, but I sure wasn’t impressed. It should have been a sign when I realized I never heard a thing about this movie being made. Even when it did it’s festival run (which was short and sweet) the buzz was nearly non-existant. So, this came as a surprise. I just wish it would have been more pleasant. Fans of Harrelson will probably watch this no matter what I say, and I can understand that. I just hope they’ll rent it first because it will save a lot of them money in the long run.

The Defendor Plot
Arthur Poppington (Harrelson) is Defendor. We learn this through flashbacks. In present, Poppington is under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Park (Oh) who is evaluating him prior to a criminal trial. The flashbacks teach us all we really need to know about Defendor. He’s an odd fellow that likes to dress in black or dark clothing and patrol the streets with the goal of helping those in need. He’s not your average crime fighter that’s for sure!

Defendor is obsessed with his arch nemesis, Captain Industry. He’s always on the lookout for him and Defendor is certain that he will one day capture him and bring him to justice. Unfortunately, he has more than one bout with the law before that day comes. The first time we see him get in trouble he allows a prostitute (Dennings) to get away from the detective (Koteas) that is forcing her to comply with sexual acts she’s uninterested in. While Defendor is taken in soon after this event, they let him go because he seems harmless enough.

Defendor spends time with the prostitute and forms a friendship with her. He tries to help her change her ways. Through this friendship he learns the identity of Captain Industry and becomes even more obsessed with bringing him down. Around this time the movie comes from primary flashbacks into the present day in order to offer the climax, and the eventual end.

You get 101 minutes and several themes are explored. It doesn’t seem like a lot and it’s not. Some central themes are rushed over and other unnecessary elements are made to look like key parts of the story. With a little more time and effort this could have been a lot better. Oh well, too little, too late.

Storyline/Plot: 2 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3 out of 5 stars
Directing: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
A good portion of Defendor occurs at night. That being said, I was glad to determine that the blacks are strong. If not, it could have offered serious problems for the film. Luckily the anamorphic widescreen (aspect ratio of 2.35:1) transfer looks fantastic for DVD. There is no Blu-ray offering for this lower budget superhero film, but it’s nice to see that it comes with a better than suitable transfer for DVD. There were minimal, if any, instances of grain, and no other visual issues to speak about. All in all coloring and detail are high, and things look great.

Like the video, the audio is acceptable, as well. It’s not as good as the video, but it’s certainly passable. The default audio is English Dolby Digital 5.1. The dialogue comes through without a problem. The surround sound could use a little work, but for a DVD it manages to be pleasing, but not perfect. Volume toggling was not a problem. In addition to English, there are audio tracks in Spanish, Thai, and Portuguese (also DD 5.1). Subtitles come in numerous languages including Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Defendor offers a few bonus features, but not much in terms of true content or quality. Yes, all the usual suspects are here. That does not mean that the usual suspects are worth putting here. You receive a semi-entertaining commentary with Harrelson, Dennings, and various crew members. That serves as one of the main offerings on this disc. Production featurettes are included that take you through the filmmaking process from start to finish. This is basically what you receive. Nothing super essential is presented, but it’s worth a look if you really enjoy the movie.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The basic idea of Defendor has some sense of promise, but that soon fizzled and the audience is left with little to hold on to as the film progresses. This movie has a good cast, so it’s hard to say you should pass on it, but it’s really not that good of a movie. Often the writing will make or break a film and that’s what happened here. The acting wasn’t terrible, but the actors had little to work with and the film ends up feeling rushed and scrambled as a result. If you have to see this, rent it. It’s not worth buying because chances are, you’ll only watch it once.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, DVD Review, Woody Harrelson, Superhero, Defendor

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date:
DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

I am not the mushy type. I don’t dig the chick flicks. I hate anything sappy. I am not your typical girlie girl! So, when I learned we had received The Blind Side, I had reservations. My mom was ecstatic to receive this film. I, on the other hand, with all its hype and hoopla was nervous. It could be a Remember the Titans style of inspiration story, with lots of fun football action, or it could be a sappy, Lifetime called and wants you on their network kind of ordeal.

This isn’t a new concept. We’ve seen many inspirational movies like this before. The subject matter makes this film considerable for awards, which is why it is getting so much hype. I did like this movie the one time I watched it (I had to trick Dom into watching it by pulling the ‘its a sports movie’ angle – even he thought it was okay). That being said, I don’t think this film has the kind of longevity other movies that have won Academy Awards do. This movie isn’t going to be something I seek out to watch again and again.

My problem with the real life situation with Michael Oher is two-fold. If you do not want any spoilers about this movie, leave now or forever hold your peace. Since you are still reading, you probably already know that Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy were questioned about their adoption of Michael. My first problem is with the IF. If they only adopted Michael to get him into their alma mater, Ole Miss, then that is morally wrong. BUT they did give him a better life in their home then he had on the streets. My second problem is with the officials. What parent doesn’t try to persuade their child, adopted or not, to go to their alma mater? That does not make a parent bad. This actually would reflect Michael was as much a part of the family as Collins and Sean Jr., the Tuohy’s biological children.

The real life events kind of put a damper on the movie, but the true victory is in Oher’s acceptance into the NFL. He doesn’t play for my team or even a team I like…BUT this boy who had a hard life growing up turned into a man with so many possibilities in his life. You don’t have to watch a movie that gives you warm fuzzies to know that is an accomplishment. In watching The Blind Side you, as an audience member, get the chance to pay homage to such an accomplishment and bask in the glow Michael felt when he realized life was about to get good.

The The Blind Side Plot
A female investigator is asking Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) questions. He asks to leave, but is denied. Thus, we are thrust into the mind and memory of Oher. Oher had a troubled childhood. His mom was a drug addict and his father in and out of prison, so Michael is put in a number of foster homes. Every time he’s moved, he runs away from the new foster home. This goes on for the first 16 years of Michael’s life.

While sleeping on the sofa of a friend, Mike is offered a chance to go to a prestigious Christian school in Memphis, by his friend’s father. The father tells the coach how good Mike is at football. Always able to use good players, the coach sets out to convince the principal to allow Michael, also known as Big Mike, into the school. He is enrolled, though he struggles academically.

At school, Michael and Sean “SJ” Tuohy Jr. (Jae Head) become friends. SJ’s mother, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) notices that Michael is alone, in the rain, walking somewhere around Thanksgiving. Feeling bad for him, she invites him into the home she shares with her husband, Sean (Tim McGraw), and their two children, SJ and Collins (Lily Collins). She invites him to spend the night, giving him a place to sleep, but when she gets up in the morning, he is already dressed and out of the house, leaving. Catching him in the driveway, Leigh Anne invites him to stay for Thanksgiving and thus begins his journey as a part of a family, for the first time in Big Mike’s life.

The transition is not easy for any of them. Friends warn the family Michael could ruin their reputation by associating with them. Nevertheless, Leigh Anne works with the school and Michael on his academics while Sean gets him involved with the school football team. Excelling on the field, but failing academically, the Tuohy’s hire a tutor who works with Michael, in the hope he can raise his GPA up to the 2.5 he needs in order to get a NCAA Division I Scholarship.

In the meantime, Michael begins to think about college. When SJ tells him his mother hates Tennessee, Michael begins to look at other schools, including the Tuohy’s alma mater, Ole Miss. When accusations arise over Michael’s interest in attending Ole Miss and corruption is validated on the part of his HS coach, Michael must confront the only family he has known about whether they only wanted him in their lives for his football prowess.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
If I could not report excellence for the video quality of The Blind Side I would have been rather upset. As a new film, there is little excuse for poor quality. Luckily, Warner Bros gives this movie the finishing touches that all new DVDs deserve. The aspect ratio is 1.78:1 and there are no serious defects to report. You receive good coloring, strong blacks, and a fairly detailed picture for DVD. There really isn’t anything here worth complaining about.

The audio is handled with a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix and it gets the job done as one would expect. Dialogue is kept to the front channels, but surround is used for any effects and for music, so it balances out nicely. Again, there isn’t anything here worth complaining about. It’s a new track for a new movie and it sounds just fine. In addition to English, there are language tracks in Spanish and French (also in Dolby Digital 5.1) and subtitles in all three languages.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Like many new movies, I am assuming that Warner Bros is encouraging people to buy the Blu-ray as opposed to the DVD. The reason I say that is because there are almost no special features here. In fact, other than promos/previews the only thing here is a set of Deleted Scenes that last for about seven minutes. These are like the majority of deleted scenes in the way that they don’t really add much to the show and were obviously deleted for a reason. I am sure the Blu-ray offers much more, so if you’re a fan of the movie you might want to keep that in mind.

Bonus Features: 1 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Blind Side is a movie you should see at least once. If you love those feel good, heartwarming kind of movies, this is your kind of movie. You’ll want to own it and watch it over and over again. Dom and I aren’t into these kinds of films, so keeping it around is more for my mom’s benefit than anyone else. She will be sure to make good use of this DVD. If you are like us, rent it or catch it when it’s on the premium channels in a month or so. Don’t get me wrong, the movie isn’t bad, it’s just not my kind of film. It comes somewhat recommended, because its audience is going to be limited.

Overall Rating: 3.43 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Blind Side, DVD Review, Movie, Sandra Bullock, Inspirational, Academy Award, DVD Release, Film, Drama

In one of the most moving portrayals of his storied career, De Niro leads an award winning ensemble that includes Drew Barrymore (He’s Just Not That Into You, Whip It), Kate Beckinsale (the Underworld Franchise, Pearl Harbor) and Sam Rockwell (G-Force, Frost/Nixon). Critics including Karen Durbin of Elle have praised the film’s “First-rate performances,” while Pete Hammond of Box Office Magazine singles out De Niro for his “Wonderful, award worthy work.”

Robert De Niro leads an acclaimed all-star cast- Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, and Sam Rockwell- In Everybody’s Fine, the heartwarming film that will move you to laugter and tears. When Frank Goode’s (De Niro) grown children cancel a family reunion, the recent widower sets off on a cross-country journey to reconnect with each of them. Expecting to share in the joys of their happy, successful lives, his surprise visits reveal a picture that is far from perfect. A family separated by physical and emotional distance finds a way to come together in a story that will touch your heart

I Understand

Cooking the Turkey

Good Team

Got a Girlfriend

Technorati Tags: Everybody’s Fine, DVD, Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, Movie, Drama, Family, Upcoming Release

Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: August 14, 2009
DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

While I had heard about District 9, I really did not know anything about the movie. What I did know was it was a Sci Fi movie and might involve aliens. That is about as far as my knowledge of this movie got. Despite any clue as to what this movie was about, I also heard it was good. Therefore, I wanted to check it out. I entered this film with a pretty much clean slate of knowledge.

After watching District 9 I must say it was money well spent for Peter Jackson. I am not a huge Jackson fan, but I can appreciate the efforts of a good producer who gives a chance to a budding creator/filmmaker. The story goes that Jackson was going to have Neill Blomkamp direct one of his projects. The project fell through, and Jackson decided to hand over his cash to let Blomkamp create his own movie. What he came up with is District 9.

Blomkamp had originally made his story for District 9 as a short film. This was an idea he’d filmed early in his career, and now, there was a chance to expand upon the idea. The millions of dollars that have been put into District 9 made the film a high tech, visually stimulating production. Of course, the story is what drives this movie and it is both well written and engaging.

Shadowing a world that South Africans knew well, District 9 explores the same kind of themes that were present during the 1980s in the apartheid era. Instead of racial discrimination, the discrimination is inter-species discrimination. Set in a modern world, we as audience members get a glimpse into what the world might be like if aliens showed up here on Earth, and sadly what happens isn’t pretty, though it does make for good storytelling.

District 9 Plot
It is the early 80s in Johannesburg, South Africa. A large UFO is hovering over the city. The beginning of the movie explains through news reports that it is believed the UFO is stuck on Earth. A million extraterrestrials that have arthropod-esque bodies have been stuck upon the Earth without a leader and many of them appear to be ill. Initially, they are welcomed to Earth, but when some partake in criminal activities humans demand that control be taken over the visitors.

Known as the “prawns”, a derogatory name for the aliens, they are stuck living in District 9. District 9 makes the ghetto look nice. It is a government controlled area in the city and is heavily controlled by the presence of police. After the beginning of the movie, it is close to present day. The prawns have been here over 20 years. MNU (Multinational United) is given the task of relocating the residents of District 9 to a new camp, District 10. A private military corporation helps to enforce the relocation. The military operation is overseen by Koobus Venter (David James).

The MNU sends Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) out to offer eviction notices to the prawns, and help coordinate their relocation. The prawns aren’t very happy and often have to be subdued by the military officers that accompany Wikus. As Wikus confiscates illegal items the aliens have and destroys some of the eggs, two aliens, one who has his small son with him, are putting special fluid into a container.

This alien is known as Christopher Johnson. When Wickus raids the shack they are in, he finds the container and some of it explodes onto him. It isn’t long before Wickus is puking his guts out. After returning home to a party thrown by his wife for his job promotion to field op, Wickus gets really sick and is taken to the hospital. His body is beginning to mutate into an alien body, and MNU confiscates him. Wickus is soon able to use alien weapons, something humans cannot do and MNU decides he’s valuable enough to kill and dissect, to study the alien form, before he fully transforms.

Upset and afraid, Wickus manages to escape. He is deemed a fugitive and has no place to go but District 9. There he must face possible capture, alien retribution and harassment from a local, Nigerian gang that sells to the prawns.

When Christopher and Wickus meet up and Christopher realizes what is happening to Wickus, he tells him he can help fix him, but he needs the canister back. It contains fluid that will reactivate the mothership and it took him 20 years to collect it. Wickus confiscated the canister, so they will have to go into MNU territory to retrieve it. With his wife lied to and his world falling apart, Wickus and Christopher form a kinship that transcends the human race and brings them up against a corrupt, unjust system of oppression.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
I wouldn’t know how to complain about District 9, if I wanted to, which I don’t. The 1080p transfer was realistically gritty and it made the movie that much better. Had this been a shining example of Blu-rays clarity, which in many ways it is, I would have been somewhat let down. District 9 is a movie that needs a little grit to make things shine. Despite it being gritty, the dirt and grime and the decay of the districts all look fabulous. This is probably because you know the purpose for these looks and they have nothing to do with a low budget. Seeing any ghetto done up in sparkling, vivid colors would have just been a disservice to the film. So, you have strong, deep colors that are neutral and dark in nature. The blacks are strong and the detail is amazing. It’s like you’re right there in the middle of the desolate prawn districts. I was in awe of this transfer and I’m sure that most fans will agree with me here.

The main audio is handled by a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. The dialogue is a shining example of Blu-ray sound. Likewise, the sound effects don’t disappoint. You might feel that this audio is not as strong as some of the newer movies out there to compare this with, but I didn’t notice anything to complain about. The differences in audio from the documentary film style to the actual in the moment movie are quite different. In either case, you hear everything you are supposed to (some thing are intentionally lower during those documentary scenes). The score is lovely for the movie and the sound effects can hit hard when there is a call for them to do so. A French DTS HD-MA 5.1 track is also included here. Subtitles are in English, French, and Hindi.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Before the movie begins you have to choose a human or an alien to get things rolling. I wasn’t sure at the time, but I learned later that the choice you make doesn’t make a difference. Either option leads you to the movie. District 9 includes a fair amount of special features, including the basics like commentary, digital copy of the film, and deleted scenes. The commentary is with the director, Neill Blomkamp. It appears that he did the commentary prior to the release of the movie. He talks a lot about the history of the film and how it was based off of his other works. He mentioned the housing issues in Johannesburg and other parallels that can be found in the movie. There isn’t a lot of blank space here. Blomkamp talks for nearly the entire movie and sounds intelligent the entire time. While I am not a big fan of commentaries, this one is definitely worth a listen.

The deleted scenes for District 9 last for close to 30 minutes. Normally I tell people that there is no point in watching the deleted scenes because they do not add anything to a movie. In this case, you end up with a mixed bag. I honestly wish that some of these would have made it into the final film. There are a few scenes here that did nothing for me. The scenes with various MNU members that were removed don’t make a big impact. However there are quite a few with Wikus that should have been left in. The scene where he lies to a Prawn telling it that he did not abort the Prawn’s baby/egg. There are also some scenes about eating dogs and cat food bribes that definitely should have made the cut. Those were the top three that were missing from the movie. There were some other good ones, but those were the ones to stand out. In any case, these are certainly worth watching.

“The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker’s Log” – You can play this in one piece or in various scenes as you prefer to watch it. Here you get a complete look at all of the various parts of the film. You learn about Halo and how they turned that into District 9. You also hear about ideas for the Prawns, various themes for the film, and more technical aspects of filmmaking, too. One of the most interesting pieces of this featurette deals with crafting the Prawn language.

“Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus” – This is a ten minute look at what it took to transform Wikus from a human into a Prawn. All of the important parts are covered from the falling off fingernails to the addition of Prawn parts. By the end of this it is easy to appreciate the work done by the actor, Copley, and the artists working on this film.

“Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9” – This gives viewers a chance to check out the work that went into the dialogue. Actually much of this was the brilliance of Copley. A majority of his script (all of the MNU training/documentary video) was unscripted. He would show up for work and make up his own lines on the spot. This really sheds some light on the awkwardness of the film in parts where some people might not have understood what was going on or why things were the way they were.

“Concept and Design: Creating the World of District 9” – This will be interesting for the techies watching the film. You get a chance to learn about the illustrations for the various weapons and a lot of the Prawn build and different parts. This deals with all of the non-computer illustrations. The next feature is all about the CGI and computer effects.

“Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of District 9” – This feature is a little bit shorter than the last, but watching how the computer effects were created makes watching it worthwhile. It is amazing to see what they did with this film on such a limited budget. They talk about the various camera styles, lighting, what it took to design various characters, and what it took to actually make the Prawn parts. It’s a pretty cool featurette!

“Joburg From Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9” – This Interactive Map is by far the coolest feature in the whole set. I haven’t had much of a complaint about anything, but this one takes the cake for sure! With the help of this map you get to take a tour of District 9. You can go around the shantytown, visit the mothership, or check out the headquarters of the MNU. If you hop on the mothership you get a chance to read all about the drop ship. You can also see scenes and check out Christopher’s shack. The MNU has weapons that they use and plenty of footage of the transformation of Wikus.

“Game Demo” – You need a PS3 for this, but if you have one you can put your disc into the PS3 and sample a pretty decent demo of God of War 3 that is well worth checking out.

“MovieIQ” – The best way to think of this is similar to a trivia track. You get a chance to learn who is in a scene, trivia style moments, stuff about the music, and general film facts. The best part here is that you have full ability to control the feature.

“Cinechat” – This gives you a chance to watch the film while talking/chatting to other people that are also watching the film. It blocks a good part of your screen and makes little sense to me, but hey, if you like that sort of thing, go for it!

The only other thing here is a set of previews for the following movies: Moon, This is it, 2012, Zombieland, and Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Everything about the District 9 Blu-Ray seems to be perfect. The movie is amazing and should be seen by anyone over the age of 15. Filled with bonuses and a Blu-Ray quality that does Peter Jackson’s mammoth budget proud, there is no other way to see this movie other than Blu-Ray. The District 9 Blu-Ray comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.93 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Blu-Ray, Review, District 9, Prawn, Wikus, Sci Fi, South Africa, Alien, Mothership, segregation

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 15, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $44.49

I am a huge fan of films involving Hannibal Lecter. I’m also a huge fan of William Petersen, Jodie Foster, Joan Allen, and Anthony Hopkins. That means I was pretty anxious to get my hands on a copy of the Hannibal Lecter Collection. This collection consists of Manhunter, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. While I had seen Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, as well as Red Dragon (the feature film version of Manhunter), I had never before seen the TV movie, Manhunter. I knew it followed pretty much the same storyline as Red Dragon does, I knew it had an excellent cast, and I had heard only good things about it. This made me very curious about seeing Manhunter.

Out of this set of three movies, the best is Silence of the Lambs. It’s hard to beat the story. In fact, Silence has been one of my favorite movies of all time for years. I can’t discount Manhunter, though. While I enjoyed Red Dragon, I have to say that William Petersen really made Manhunter worth watching. While it was weird to see Brian Cox in the role of Hannibal Lecter, considering I’ve only seen Hopkins play the role prior to watching Manhunter, I don’t think Cox did too bad a job. His Lecter was quite different from the one portrayed by Hopkins. While I find Hopkins is the definitive Lecter, I can’t dislike Cox’s portrayal too much, especially since it is so different from the one by Hopkins.

The only dead weight in this set is Hannibal. The biggest problem is that Jodie Foster isn’t in this. While Julianne Moore took over the role of Clarice Starling, and I generally like Moore, I just can’t see anyone else in the role but Foster. I am of the firm belief that for a sequel to exist, it needs to be a strong extension of the first film and I don’t feel that is what Hannibal offered. It wasn’t just about replacing Foster with Moore. The story just didn’t feel as connected to Silence as I feel it should have. That being said, for what the actors are given to work with, I don’t feel they did a horrible job. It’s rather mediocre, which is expected considering the expectations a sequel has after following a movie like Silence of the Lambs.

The big question I had when receiving this set was how worthy a purchase this Blu-ray set would be. All three movies have had multiple DVD releases, so if you own a past release it may not be worth it to upgrade. This review should shed light on how decent the Blu-ray quality is, how good the bonuses are, and whether it is going to be worth the upgrade. For those who do not own these movies, I’ll also try to make it clear whether it is good to purchase this three film collection just to have these movies.

The Hannibal Lecter Collection Plot
There are three discs, one for each movie. Manhunter is the first movie in the set. The second is Silence of the Lambs and the third is Hannibal.

Manhunter begins with Will Graham (played by Petersen). Graham used to be an FBI agent, but the trauma of capturing and almost being killed by the serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Lecktor) is nearly unbearable. This is what leads to his retirement from the FBI. Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina), asks him to come out of retirement to help with a new case. The case involves a killer known as The Tooth Fairy, who is killing entire families.

Graham, who has retired to a tranquil setting, is reluctant to come out of retirement and leave his family, but the profiler within him still exists. Graham is one of the best at what he does, especially since he has a very special ability. He is able to enter the mind of the killer, which has helped him to catch many, including Lecktor (Cox). This process is very hard on Will and has taken its toll on him physically. As Lektor points out, it was easy for Will to catch him because they are ‘alike,’ which is something Will would never admit about himself.

Graham tries to get into the mind of The Tooth Fairy, but there are many obstacles standing in his way; his own conscience, Lecktor’s smugness. and the interference by sleaze bucket reporter, Freddy Lounds (Stephen Lang). With Freddy revealing that Graham has come out of retirement to work on the case, he also has to constantly worry about his family, who are now at risk. With Hannibal intent on making his own rules and so many complications in the Tooth Fairy case, it looks as though Graham has the chance to lose everything, including himself, as he attempts to find one of the most elusive killers he’s had to track.

Silence of the Lambs takes place after the events in Manhunter. A trainee at the FBI academy, Clarice Starling (Foster), is asked by BSU head Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) to interview the cannibal serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). Starling assumes that the FBI wants the former psychologist to help with the capture of a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, though her suspicions of this aren’t immediately confirmed.

Lecter is being kept at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, under the care of a sadistic doctor, Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald). Lecter is smart enough to figure out why Starling is there. He immediately tries to get into her head, something Crawford warned her he would try to do. Unwilling to give her the information she seeks, Lecter sends Clarice out of the hospital. However, as she is leaving, another prisoner throws semen on her. The proper Lecter follows his own set of rules, and to make up for what he considers such a tasteless act, he gives her a major hint into the Bill case. He also, later, offers to provide a profile of Bill for the FBI and Starling, but only if he can be transferred out of Chilton’s hospital.

As this is unfolding, Bill abducts his next victim, Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith), the daughter of a U.S. Senator. With the stakes raised, he must force Starling to continue, but trusting a psychopath such as Lecter proves to be as much trouble as it is assisting. With no time to spare, Clarice must solve the case, and get to Catherine before she becomes the next part of the delusional Bill’s woman suit.

Hannibal is set ten years after The Silence of the Lambs. It is based on a book by Thomas Harris, as are the previous two films in this set. Starling (Julianne Moore), a full fledged FBI agent, as seen happening at the end of the last film, has lost all credibility with the FBI after a drug raid goes wrong. She had tried to stop the raid, but another officer went in without approval, and Starling is forced to take the blame for such actions. It doesn’t help that she had rejected going out with Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta), who is handling the investigation into the matter for the Justice Department.

The downfall of Clarice catches the eye of Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), the only one of Lecter’s victims to survive. Linking Starling to Lecter, a man he wants to exact revenge upon, Mason, who also happens to be a disgustingly harsh pedophile, wants to get her back involved in Lecter’s life, particularly so he can manipulate the situation and get even with Lecter. The wealthy yet disfigured and disabled Mason has Starling assigned to the Lecter case, again. Mason claims to have new information on Lecter, but will only let Starling come to assist him, hoping Lecter’s feelings for her will make him get sloppy and reveal himself.

In Italy, the curator of the Capponi Library disappears, and his replacement, Dr. Fell, is actually Lecter. Hearing of Starling’s trouble in the states, as Mason predicted, Lecter gets back in touch with her. Somehow, Starling is able to trace the letter back to Italy, and she looks for a connection to Lecter there. An investigator in Florence, Pazzi (Giancarlo Giannini) has seen Lecter, as Fell, while investigating the old museum curator’s disappearance. Using the FBI database, he learns who Lector really is. He also learns about the $3 million that Mason is offering to those who can help capture Lecter for him. As greed overwhelms the Chief Inspector, and Hannibal’s location is being compromised, Starling is sure this can only turn out badly, but how badly is anyone’s guess.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
All three movies offer similar aspect ratios and visual stats, but the quality is all somewhat different. Manhunter strays the most where the stats are concerned, with 1080p and an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Silence and Hannibal also offer 1080p, but the aspect ratios here are 1.85:1. All of the visuals offer some positives and negatives.

None of them are brand new movies and as they weren’t highly remastered none of them are going to appear as if they were the best that Blu-ray has to offer. Manhunter suffers from plenty of grain and a fair amount of softness that doesn’t completely distract but is always noticeable. The detail is not always horrible, but sadly it is nowhere near where it would need to be in order to impress. When you consider that I have nothing to compare it to in terms of previous DVD versions I suppose it’s not horrible. The quality wouldn’t stop me from watching this a second time, so it must not be a complete waste in any case.

Silence of the Lambs offers a better picture quality with more detail and a better color palette. Again, this movie fails to truly stun with its graphics, but it manages to be suitable enough to stop the fans from revolting. Finally, Hannibal is similar to the others, in the fact that it fails to impress. As it is the newest of the three movies it’s sad that the quality is as flat as it really is. The detail is bland, the colors are inconsistent and it’s just a sad affair all around. Again, it won’t stop a fan from watching but Blu-ray is capable of offering so much more than you get here.

All three movies offer a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, though not all qualities are similar. Manhunter suffers from a front speaker, inconsistent track that goes from loud to louder or too soft in an instant. The sound effects and music are occasionally effective and hearing the dialogue is usually not a problem, it’s just not the most stable track for something in the Blu-ray genre of films.

Silence of the Lambs offers a more stable track, but it’s not the most exciting track either. Some of the effects could stand to be clearer, but that’s the big complaint. Many of the other issues are so small they just blend together to make an unforgettable audio. That being said, it’s good enough that fans shouldn’t notice too many problems. Even with basic audio, the story is good enough to keep you occupied assuming you can hear.

Hannibal offers a more dynamic track, surprisingly enough. The sound effects pop when you hear them and that’s not meant in a bad way. The dialogue is always on par with what is necessary to hear a clear track and everything else while much more basic, is good enough to pass. The movies also offer French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks and Spanish and English subtitles.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
The special features section is where this set really lets fans down. Both Manhunter and Hannibal are devoid of special features, unless you count previews, which I don’t. Silence of the Lambs differs from the other two movies by offering a plethora of special features. The largest feature here is “Breaking the Silence.” Lasting for the entire movie, this serves as a picture in picture featurette, similar to a commentary, but better. Instead of just hearing others talk you get to hear from the cast and crew as they talk about working on the film and show various clips about their experiences. This is followed up by “Understanding the Madness,” which is an interesting featurette that discusses the BSU of the FBI and what is necessary for them to solve crimes.

“Inside the Labyrinth: Making of The Silence of the Lambs lasts for just over an hour. This is an in depth look back at the movie after ten years. Some of the more interesting topics touched upon include America’s interest with serial killers, the overall cast, the thoughts of the media concerning the film, and even information on the design aspects of the film. Of course, with an hour on the table you can expect that those involved in this feature talk about much more than all of this. Fans will really enjoy this featurette.

The final extended featurette is “The Silence of the Lambs: Page to Screen. While not as long as some of the others, at over 41 minutes, it’s still quite long. Peter Gallagher is the host for nearly an hour. He takes on the topic of Thomas Harris and how he wrote a novel that would make a movie that would be talked about for years to come. Some time is also spent on actors transforming into the characters and numerous other interesting topics.

The final two, smaller featurettes include “Scoring the Silence” and the original, 1991, Making Of. “Scoring” is all about the music in the film and the work that was done by the composer, Howard Shore. In the Making Of, you get to see about eight minutes worth of information about making the film. The new making of is definitely more superior on all levels, though it is fun to see what featurettes used to be like. Still, the information available here is not repeated elsewhere so that is a plus.

The special features come to an end with a mix of around 20 deleted scenes which total around 21 minutes worth of additional footage, a couple minutes worth of outtakes, some television spots, a teaser, a trailer, and a phone message from Anthony Hopkins.

If I was rating Silence alone, this rating would have been a 4.5, but when you consider that two out of the three movies here had absolutely no features the rating had to be suited to all three movies in this set.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Hannibal Lecter Collection has two out of three really awesome films. I recommend this collection on Blu-ray for those who are fans of the Hannibal Lecter series of movies, but only if you don’t already own these films. While the Blu-ray quality is a little better than average, it isn’t so stand out that this is a must have upgrade to Blu-ray. This collection was released in a DVD set in 2007, though I’m not sure how that quality compares to this one. When it comes to the movies, I recommend watching them, even Hannibal, at least once. You should own Silence if you don’t, and check out Manhunter. You won’t be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Fox Home Entertainment, MGM, Cannibal, Hannibal Lecter, Silence of the Lambs, Manhunter, Hannibal, Julianne Moore, Jodi Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray Review, Movie Review, Horror, BD Box Set

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: May 8, 2008
DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $25.99

When I think of Mila Kunis I think of happier things. I think of comedies and television. Lately though she has made an attempt to change the face of her perceived fluffiness. She’s done that by playing in harder roles. I don’t mean harder as in more difficult, I mean harder edged. It’s not often actors get to reinvent themselves, but when it happens it’s fun to watch. If Kunis continues to pick her roles wisely she could have quite the career on her hands. Boot Camp is just one of the wise roles that she’s picked lately.

No Academy Awards are going to be handed out for this movie. In fact, the most interesting part of this movie is not the writing or the acting, it’s the fact that Boot Camp is based on a true story. I’m a sucker for a true story, especially when it involves a boot camp for disruptive teens that end up being knocked around and brainwashed. The only problem is when you come across a movie based on a true story that has so little information about what is actually true and what is fictional. That’s the case here and it’s one of the major bummers of the film.

I did my best to find out some about the camp that this movie was based on, but didn’t come up with much information that I could compare it to that helped me learn a great deal more about the film. If you’re watching it without paying attention to the supposed back story, it has the possibility of being entertaining. The acting is decent and though there are some plot holes it’s a movie that is interesting enough. It’s easy to see how some parents would be up to the idea of sending their kids to a camp to set them straight. Hopefully, the ones brave enough to do it would be smart enough to pick the right place, unlikely the unsuspecting parents in this film. In any case, Boot Camp serves as a competent popcorn movie. It’s watchable and entertaining, but not a mandatory, life changing film.

The Boot Camp Plot:
When children are bad or unruly parents have a number of options. Some parents put their kids in therapy and others let them run wild. In Boot Camp the parents take all that they can stand and then send their kids to a rehabilitation Boot camp in hopes that the kids will be able to change their lives. The camp, located in Fiji gets each child on a specific basis and brings them to the camp. While the parents are assuming it’s a nice facility that will set their kids straight, the truth is that it’s more like a prison. Each “camper” is fitted with ankle bracelets. The camp is not blocked by walls or bars, but the sea that surrounds the facility makes it hard to consider the option of escape. Even if they did, the ankle bracelets would alert security if they tried.

The camp is run by Dr. Hail (Peter Stormare). In order to improve, or at least properly brainwash them the teenagers he forces them to work on a nonstop basis. The campers are in charge of everything from planting crops, cleaning up, and rebuilding the camp after a storm. Everything is very organized with color codes that explain how deep into their training they are. They start with black shirts and once they have been through enough to be considered rehabilitated they move to white shirts. The staff in charge of the campers smack them around and make sure the work is done to the standards that they set. Some of the staff even convince the girls to trade sex for other favors.

Sophie (Kunis) is sent to the camp and is forced to fight for her life and find a way to save her sanity as she tries to find a way out and back to a normal life. Her boyfriend, realizing she is in trouble, also gets sent there in hopes of finding a way to help her escape so that they can be together and away from that horrible place forever.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
We only received a screener copy of Boot Camp for review so I cannot comment too much on the quality of the audio and visual aspects of the film. I can say that the specs for the released DVD will include anamorphic widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and audio that includes Dolby Digital 5.1 with Closed Captioning and English subtitles.

Bonus Features:
I am not sure if Fox decided to leave any potential goodies off of this screener (they usually include them so I doubt it), but if not this comes with as little as possible. In fact, it only includes a trailer or two and that’s about it. This is incredibly sad since I am sure that people would have liked to learn more about the allegedly true story behind Boot Camp.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
In many ways Boot Camp was lacking in all of the areas where I wanted it to be strong. The acting was good and the basic idea of the story was interesting. However, the thing that really got me was that it was based on a true story. Unfortunately, in the Bonus Features potential fans were left high and dry and weren’t told anything about how much or little was true. For all I know it could be as true as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which has some obvious plot holes. If you have nothing better to do and want to see something with Mila that’s definitely darker than her usual work you should check this out. On the other hand, if you’re watching because you’re hoping to learn more about the back story, you may end up sadly disappointed.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Boot Camp, Movie, MGM, Thriller, Drama, Mila Kunis, Gregory Smith, Film

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: N/a
DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

Movies about Iraq, whether the soldier is heading to Iraq or coming home, are intriguing these days for obvious reasons. Naturally, some of them are better than others. Most of them have their own unique angle. Many of them look at the pain and devastation that war causes after the fact. American Son differs because it looks at the connections that suffer as someone prepares to leave for war.

It is easy to see why American Son was nominated for a Sundance Film Fest Grand Jury Prize in 2008. This is a relevant topic and when it is done well the film often receives the acclaim that they deserve. Film Festivals often help in this area because it seems that the majority of the films out recently on this topic are generally independent films. American Son is no different.

I could not even comprehend what it would be like saying goodbye to loved ones without knowing if I would be coming home or not. This is something that these soldiers are forced to do. This period of time is what American Son looks at. On the way home from Marine training, but before the war, you look at one soldier’s experiences prior to leaving for Iraq. In just a few days, the solider has to re-connect with family and deal with a close, newly made relationship with a girl that he meets before leaving.

The fact is, American Son is a movie that deserves to be seen. The main problem is that it does not delve into the subject matter deeply enough to leave a lasting connection. You end up wanting to know more, but only end up with surface details. It never goes as far as it could, or even should for that matter.

While the acting is capable enough, the performances are stifled by the inability to create multi-layered, dynamic characters. Due to the hampered writing, this becomes a movie that you want to like, but that leaves you with an empty feeling. It’s the kind of feeling that comes from watching a movie that offers no sense of impact.

The American Son Plot
This movie follows the life of Mike Holland (Nick Cannon). Mike is 19 years old. He seemingly has his whole life ahead of him. However, Mike is different. He’s enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he is certain he’ll be deployed after completing his basic training.

Near the beginning of the film, Mike has completed basic training. He is given four days to go home. This is over Thanksgiving. After his four day vacation, he’ll be deployed to Iraq. This is a hard thing for Mike to do. He’s now a private in the Marines, and he’ll be heading out to combat duty. It’s hard because he’s going to have trouble saying goodbye to his family and friends. He also fears what they’ll think or do if they find out he’s stationed in Iraq, so he decides not to tell them.

Mike returns home to Bakersfield, California via bus. On the trip home, he meets and hits it off with Cristina (Melonie Diaz). With only four days of time left before he deploys, he finds a way to fit time in with Cristina, but his busy schedule leaves little time for this. He wants to devote time to his mom and little sister, too. He also reconnects with his father for the first time in years.

During basic training things have changed in Bakersfield. He doesn’t have the same things in common with Jake, his best friend, anymore. He also meets a disabled soldier who was in Iraq, which kind of puts into perspective what he’ll endure in Iraq. In the end, Mike must face the very real truth that he might not be coming home again.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
There are some issues with this presentation, but for the most part things end up registering on the passable scale. The visuals make this film look like a documentary in many ways. The anamorphic widescreen and 1.85:1 transfer offer decent coloring, fair black levels, and a standard amount of detail. There is occasional blur and a few visual errors here and there, but there is never anything consistent enough to be a constant bother.

A Dolby Digital 5.1 track is included to handle the audio. Like the video, the audio is passable for a DVD, but it’s not spectacular. Volume toggling is not needed so that is a plus. Dialogue is consistent and the sound effects and music sound just fine. Things end up sounding somewhat restrained, which is noticeable in the bigger moments of the film. Closed Captioning is included for the English dialogue. No other languages are included though Spanish subtitles are available.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
The bonus features here end up feeling a lot like the movie. It’s nice that the makers of the film went out of their way to place these features here, but they are relatively pointless. I was hoping to learn more about the characters and the film as a whole, but these features didn’t seem to ever make that happen.

There are a couple of deleted scenes that come with optional commentary. These scenes were deleted for a reason in both cases. Personally, I didn’t get much of anything from them so it was easy to see why they were deleted. There is an audio commentary with the director Neil Abramson And Producers Danielle Renfrew And Michael Roiff. This is pretty basic and sticks to the general commentary formula. At best, it was forgettable, which is not great.

Finally, there is one lone featurette, “On Leave In Bakersfield: Behind The Scenes Of American Son.” This is the best of the bonus features, though I am not sure that means a whole lot. You get a chance to see some scenes occurring in the moment, see some clips, and hear from some of the cast and crew.

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
American Son left me wanting more and I am not saying that in a good way. If you want to find a movie about the feelings of a soldier, before or after the war you might want to seek out a different film. While the initial plot makes this feel like a movie that I haven’t seen before, it doesn’t offer enough to fulfill my interest level, making it feel like a waste of time. If you have to see this I recommend renting it.

Overall Rating: 3.14 out of 5 stars

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