Collection ID 442
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Jeff Kahn, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Ruivivar, Jack Black, Jay Baruchel
Genre: Comedy
Studio: DreamWorks   Release date: 2008   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, Mandarin (USA, UK, Germany)
Summary: Action movie star Tugg Speedman is on the downslide of his professional career. He wants to be considered a serious actor, but his latest serious role as the title character in "Simple Jack" resulted in negative reviews and ridicule. Comedian Jeff Portnoy is best known for his leading roles in sophomoric comedies, and may be less well known for his rampant drug use. Five time Oscar winner Kirk Lazarus is a serious method actor, who immerses himself in whatever the role. On location in southeast Vietnam, they are the stars of "Tropic Thunder", based on Vietnam war veteran 'Four Leaf' Tayback's memoirs of his rescue during the war, that rescue which was considered a near suicide mission for the assigned army force and resulted in him losing both hands. For his role, Caucasian Australian Lazarus even went through a controversial surgical skin dying procedure so that he could convincingly play a black man. Production is not going well since rookie director Damien Cockburn is unable to ...
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Collection ID 1616
Director:
Starring:
Genre: Short, Comedy
Studio: DreamWorks   Release date: 2008   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A behind-the-scenes mockumentary of Tropic Thunder (2008).
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Collection ID 567
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis, Jacob Smith
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (USA)
Summary: An ancient poem and a motion picture are two entirely different mediums, and should be judged accordingly. We as viewers (well, most of us) cut Peter Jackson some slack with his deviations from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," and we ought to give the same consideration to Wolfgang Petersen, who brings Homer's classic to vivid, sweaty life. And not only does Petersen pull off a cinematic coup, he makes watching TROY an outright fun and thrilling experience.The film centers around two characters--and they are not Helen and Paris. A beefed-up Brad Pitt plays Achilles, a fierce Greek warrior who is literally unbeatable. Yet Achilles is anything but a nice person: he is self-centered and pretentious, and he fights on his terms, often to the detriment of his countrymen. Achilles has but one quest: to be immortalized through history, and the Greek siege of Troy provides him the perfect opportunity. For such a shallow, narcissistic character, Pitt is perfectly suited for the role.Eric Bana, on the other hand, steals the show as Hector, Prince of Troy. Hector is a good, kind, and decent man who loves his family and his country. Faced with having to clean up the mess after his brother Paris (Orlando Bloom) brings Helen of Sparta (Diane Kruger) to his beloved land, Hector leads the Trojan army against the Greek invaders; his showdown with Achilles is inevitable, and is also the film's defining moment.Yet TROY is bursting at its wooden horse seams with other memorable performances, including a frail Peter O'Toole as Trojan King Priam, and his scene-chewing counterpart Brian Cox, who plays greedy King Agamemnon. Brendan Gleeson and Sean Bean are superb, too, as Greek kings Menelaus and Odysseus, while Bloom is less than stellar as a peach-fuzzed, pusillanimitic Paris.Director Petersen delivers a grand epic complete with stunning cinematography, fierce action, imaginative special effects, and a spellbinding story. His film does not detract, but instead enhances, Homer's classic. In the words of King Menelaus of Sparta: "May the gods keep the wolves in the hills and the women in our beds." How can an epic go wrong with a line like that?--D. Mikels
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My Review: As expected, this movie drew quite a bit of criticism. Why? Probably because it's based on the Iliad. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because Brad Pitt is in it? The movie is highly inaccurate; not true to the facts; etc, etc, etc. The facts? Most of the facts of the Hellenic age are based on conjecture and sparse journalism of the age. The movie was good. The characters were heroic. Visually stunning, the sets and locations were evocative. The action was mesmerizing, especially the personal combat. It was very well choreographed. The acting was excellent. The only problem was the accents. Hearing the Irish and English accents coming out of Greeks and Trojans was a bit disconcerting. A worthy summer treat.

Collection ID 1268
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis, Jacob Smith
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (USA)
Summary: An ancient poem and a motion picture are two entirely different mediums, and should be judged accordingly. We as viewers (well, most of us) cut Peter Jackson some slack with his deviations from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," and we ought to give the same consideration to Wolfgang Petersen, who brings Homer's classic to vivid, sweaty life. And not only does Petersen pull off a cinematic coup, he makes watching TROY an outright fun and thrilling experience.The film centers around two characters--and they are not Helen and Paris. A beefed-up Brad Pitt plays Achilles, a fierce Greek warrior who is literally unbeatable. Yet Achilles is anything but a nice person: he is self-centered and pretentious, and he fights on his terms, often to the detriment of his countrymen. Achilles has but one quest: to be immortalized through history, and the Greek siege of Troy provides him the perfect opportunity. For such a shallow, narcissistic character, Pitt is perfectly suited for the role.Eric Bana, on the other hand, steals the show as Hector, Prince of Troy. Hector is a good, kind, and decent man who loves his family and his country. Faced with having to clean up the mess after his brother Paris (Orlando Bloom) brings Helen of Sparta (Diane Kruger) to his beloved land, Hector leads the Trojan army against the Greek invaders; his showdown with Achilles is inevitable, and is also the film's defining moment.Yet TROY is bursting at its wooden horse seams with other memorable performances, including a frail Peter O'Toole as Trojan King Priam, and his scene-chewing counterpart Brian Cox, who plays greedy King Agamemnon. Brendan Gleeson and Sean Bean are superb, too, as Greek kings Menelaus and Odysseus, while Bloom is less than stellar as a peach-fuzzed, pusillanimitic Paris.Director Petersen delivers a grand epic complete with stunning cinematography, fierce action, imaginative special effects, and a spellbinding story. His film does not detract, but instead enhances, Homer's classic. In the words of King Menelaus of Sparta: "May the gods keep the wolves in the hills and the women in our beds." How can an epic go wrong with a line like that?--D. Mikels
My Rating:
My Review: As expected, this movie drew quite a bit of criticism. Why? Probably because it's based on the Iliad. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because Brad Pitt is in it? The movie is highly inaccurate; not true to the facts; etc, etc, etc. The facts? Most of the facts of the Hellenic age are based on conjecture and sparse journalism of the age. The movie was good. The characters were heroic. Visually stunning, the sets and locations were evocative. The action was mesmerizing, especially the personal combat. It was very well choreographed. The acting was excellent. The only problem was the accents. Hearing the Irish and English accents coming out of Greeks and Trojans was a bit disconcerting. A worthy summer treat.

Collection ID 355
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, Lisa Gay Hamilton, James Woods, Denis Leary
Genre: Crime
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German, English, Spanish, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Can an over-the-hill journalist uncover the evidence that can prove a death row inmate's innocence just hours before his execution?
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My Review: Clint Eastwood directs and stars (as Steve Everette) in this social activist murder mystery. Obviously made as a commentary on capital punishment. Clint Eastwood plays a womanizing, hard drinking, ill tempered, over-the-hill journalist. A man who's worn out more than his fair share of welcomes. On the outs with his wife, sleeping with his boss's (James Woods) wife, and drowning his liver nightly; Steve has just about smoked his last cigarette, when the boss is forced to enlist this hard nosed, old-school journalist on a 'Human Interest' story. Steve heads out to investigate the upcoming execution of Frank Beachum (played by Isaiah Washington). Beachum insists that he's innocent, and Steve is playing a hunch. Can Beachum's innocence prove to be Steve's salvation? In a vain and valiant effort to prove his worth, Steve embarks on a crusade to find the truth. In searching for the answers, he finds a few of his own. The story isn't all that surprising, and it's a bit formulaic but the casting was excellent and the direction smart. Eastwood and cast make it work. The pacing and suspense are well handled, making for a very good movie. I give it 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1087
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, Lisa Gay Hamilton, James Woods, Denis Leary
Genre: Crime
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German, English, Spanish, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Can an over-the-hill journalist uncover the evidence that can prove a death row inmate's innocence just hours before his execution?
My Rating:
My Review: Clint Eastwood directs and stars (as Steve Everette) in this social activist murder mystery. Obviously made as a commentary on capital punishment. Clint Eastwood plays a womanizing, hard drinking, ill tempered, over-the-hill journalist. A man who's worn out more than his fair share of welcomes. On the outs with his wife, sleeping with his boss's (James Woods) wife, and drowning his liver nightly; Steve has just about smoked his last cigarette, when the boss is forced to enlist this hard nosed, old-school journalist on a 'Human Interest' story. Steve heads out to investigate the upcoming execution of Frank Beachum (played by Isaiah Washington). Beachum insists that he's innocent, and Steve is playing a hunch. Can Beachum's innocence prove to be Steve's salvation? In a vain and valiant effort to prove his worth, Steve embarks on a crusade to find the truth. In searching for the answers, he finds a few of his own. The story isn't all that surprising, and it's a bit formulaic but the casting was excellent and the direction smart. Eastwood and cast make it work. The pacing and suspense are well handled, making for a very good movie. I give it 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1472
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Western
Studio: Paramount Pictures   Release date: 2010   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested.
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My Review: A remake of a classic western (the original stars John Wayne in the lead role/was directed by Henry Hathaway). I must admit I was quite concerned about a remake of this classic. Most remakes are horrid attempts to cash in on someone else's excellent work. After some hesitation, and numerous reports of accolades, I decided to give True Grit a try. The remake is written (screenplay) and directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. They did an excellent job on the remake. Staying true to period in more than costume, prop and setting, they also managed to get the dialog correct. The dialog is true to the linguistic practices of the setting (Late 1800s), and I found the lack modern language refreshing and intriguing. It definitely contributed to my enjoyment of the movie. The camera work, settings, costumes and dialog definitely took me back and time and convinced me that the events portrayed were actually happening. The acting by Jeff Bridges (U.S. Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn), Josh Brolin (Drifter/outlaw Tom Chaney), Matt Damon (Texas Ranger LaBoeuf) and Hailee Steinfield (Mattie Ross) was truly exceptional. Especially impressive was Hailee Steinfield - Her performance was outstanding. She really kept up with the veteran cast, the director didn't have to change the style or play down the ability of the other actors in order to make her look better. The story follows the basic plot of the book and original movie. When a former ranch hand murders her father, Mattie Ross leaves home in the dead of winter and sets forth on a quest to make sure that her Father's death is avenged. She's not so much interested in justice, as she is revenge. She wants Tom Chaney to 'pay' for what he did to her family, and she doesn't give a damn about trials. She hires the local Marshal, a gritty no-nonsense lawman/bounty hunter with a track record for getting the job done. Things are complicated when a Texas Ranger insists on accompanying Cogburn to capture this outlaw. Seems Tom is wanted back in Texas for the murder of a politician. When Mattie insists on accompanying the duo, things get even more interesting. The story is quite simple, and the characters charming but well textured. The locations are breathtaking and the camera work splendid. I can't believe I'm doing it, but I actually find this movie superior to the original. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1477
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Western
Studio: Paramount Pictures   Release date: 2010   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested.
My Rating:
My Review: A remake of a classic western (the original stars John Wayne in the lead role/was directed by Henry Hathaway). I must admit I was quite concerned about a remake of this classic. Most remakes are horrid attempts to cash in on someone else's excellent work. After some hesitation, and numerous reports of accolades, I decided to give True Grit a try. The remake is written (screenplay) and directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. They did an excellent job on the remake. Staying true to period in more than costume, prop and setting, they also managed to get the dialog correct. The dialog is true to the linguistic practices of the setting (Late 1800s), and I found the lack modern language refreshing and intriguing. It definitely contributed to my enjoyment of the movie. The camera work, settings, costumes and dialog definitely took me back and time and convinced me that the events portrayed were actually happening. The acting by Jeff Bridges (U.S. Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn), Josh Brolin (Drifter/outlaw Tom Chaney), Matt Damon (Texas Ranger LaBoeuf) and Hailee Steinfield (Mattie Ross) was truly exceptional. Especially impressive was Hailee Steinfield - Her performance was outstanding. She really kept up with the veteran cast, the director didn't have to change the style or play down the ability of the other actors in order to make her look better. The story follows the basic plot of the book and original movie. When a former ranch hand murders her father, Mattie Ross leaves home in the dead of winter and sets forth on a quest to make sure that her Father's death is avenged. She's not so much interested in justice, as she is revenge. She wants Tom Chaney to 'pay' for what he did to her family, and she doesn't give a damn about trials. She hires the local Marshal, a gritty no-nonsense lawman/bounty hunter with a track record for getting the job done. Things are complicated when a Texas Ranger insists on accompanying Cogburn to capture this outlaw. Seems Tom is wanted back in Texas for the murder of a politician. When Mattie insists on accompanying the duo, things get even more interesting. The story is quite simple, and the characters charming but well textured. The locations are breathtaking and the camera work splendid. I can't believe I'm doing it, but I actually find this movie superior to the original. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1735
Director: Henry Hathaway
Starring: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
Studio: Wallis-Hazen   Release date: 1969   Rated: G   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Her father's murder sends teenage tomboy Mattie Ross on a mission of "justice" to avenge his death. She recruits tough old marshal "Rooster" Cogburn because he has "grit" and a reputation for getting the job done. They are joined by Texas Ranger La Boeuf, who is looking for the same man for another murder in Texas. Their odyssey takes them from Fort Smith, Arkansas to deep into Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) to find their man.
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My Review: Directed by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne as Marshall Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn, Glen Campbell as La Boeuf, and Kim Darby as Mattie Ross. A great role for John Wayne - "Rooster" Cogburn is a one-eyed, older, overweight, gruff, no-nonsense lawman who operates out of Fort Smith, Arkansas. When a former ranch hand murders her father, Mattie Ross (played by Kim Darby) turns to the law, but the local law isn't interested in justice. They give her the "We're doing our best" speech, and she's left with little options. She decides to pay for justice. After a few recommendations, she hires "Rooster Cogburn", a Marshall with 'True Grit'. For the right price, he'll track down the killer, and bring him back to Arkansas to stand trial on charges of murder. Things are complicated when a Texas Ranger (Played by Glen Campbell) insists on accompanying Cogburn to capture this outlaw. Seems he's wanted back in Texas for the murder of a politician. When Mattie insists on accompanying the duo, things get even more interesting. The story is quite simple, and the characters charming. The locations beautiful and the camera work well done. The acting was excellent, and John Wayne's character was quite a change from his usual role. Here was a swearing, drinking, gruff, non-nonsense S.O.B. that still got the job done. The performance by Robert Duvall (as the notorious Ned Pepper) was outstanding, despite the fact that he was only on screen for approximately 15 minutes. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 242
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1994   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her.
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My Review: