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Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

DVD Report – June 12th

The newest adventure of Sherlock Holmes arrives on DVD this week, and has gained the tepid approval of the Criticker community — which is a real accomplishment considering our general distaste for all things Guy Ritchie. (A dose of Robert Downey Jr. apparently offsets the Ritchie-ness). But the best film of the week is Agnieszka Holland’s WWII drama In Darkness, about Polish Jews who hid in the sewers to escape the Nazis. Sounds like a charmer.

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows @ Amazon

Ghost Rider: Spirit of VengeanceAverage Tier 2.81

As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance @ Amazon

In DarknessAverage Tier 6.27

Veteran director Agnieszka Holland focusses on a little-known phenomenon in Second World War Poland, Jews hiding in the underground sewer systems of the major cities to escape deportation and the death camps. (tiff.net)
In Darkness @ Amazon

Good DeedsAverage Tier 4.22

Businessman Wesley Deeds is jolted out of his scripted life when he meets Lindsey, a single mother who works on the cleaning crew in his office building.
Good Deeds @ Amazon

Thin IceAverage Tier 5.17

An insurance agent looking for a way out of frigid Wisconsin is blackmailed by an unstable locksmith in the theft of a rare violin that belongs to a retired farmer.
Thin Ice @ Amazon

DVD Report – March 12th, 2012

There are four great new films appearing on DVD this week, and one dud (a film with such a ridiculous premise that I first thought it was a joke). Let’s concentrate on the good. We were skeptical about the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (rather, annoyed by Hollywood’s penchant for remaking already-great recent foreign films), but David Finch beat expectations and delivered a thriller that might even surpass its model. Likewise, The Muppets could have been a train wreck, but was one of the Criticker community’s favorite films of the year.

John LeCarre gets another cinematic adaptation in the excellent Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a film which Criticker users praised for its smarts. And almost everyone had nice things to say about Carnage, Roman Polanski’s bitter comedy based on the hit stage play. So, four great films to choose from. Please just stay away from Hop.

The Girl with the Dragon TattooAverage Tier 6.92

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Mara), a young computer hacker.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo @ Amazon

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, SpyAverage Tier 6.72

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6′s echelons.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy @ Amazon

The MuppetsAverage Tier 6.90

With the help of three fans, The Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon.
The Muppets @ Amazon

CarnageAverage Tier 6.57

Tells the story of two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl.
Carnage @ Amazon

HopAverage Tier 2.91

The Easter Bunny is accidentally hit by a car, and it’s up to the offending driver to save Easter.
Hop @ Amazon

DVD Report – February 7th

James Marsh wowed Criticker users with his 2008 documentary Man on Wire, about tightrope walker Philippe Petit. His new documentary likewise earns solid praise, though with some complaints. Project Nim tells the story of Nim, a chimpanzee raised as a human as part of a radical experiment done in the 1970s. Most Criticker users appreciated the touching story of the chimp, though some took issue with the documentary’s lack of interest in the actual science behind the project. Anyway, it’s the best new DVD of the week by far, and deserves a watch.

The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, The @ Amazon

Fireflies in the GardenAverage Tier 5.19

The semi-autobiographical story centers on the complexities of love and commitment in a family torn apart when faced by an unexpected tragedy.
Fireflies in the Garden @ Amazon

Six years have elapsed since Guantanemo Bay, leaving Harold and Kumar estranged from one another with very different families, friends and lives. But when Kumar arrives on Harold’s doorstep during the holiday season with a mysterious package in hand, he inadvertently burns down Harold’s father-in-law’s beloved Christmas tree. To fix the problem, Harold and Kumar embark on a mission through New York City to find the perfect Christmas tree, once again stumbling into trouble at every single turn.
Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, A @ Amazon

AnonymousAverage Tier 3.87

A political thriller about who actually wrote the plays of William Shakespeare– Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford– set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her. (imdb)
Anonymous @ Amazon

Project NimAverage Tier 6.71

The story of Nim, the chimpanzee, following his extraordinary journey through human society, and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way. In the 1970s, Nim became the focus of a landmark experiment which aimed to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child.
Project Nim @ Amazon

DVD Report – November 22nd

A trio of strong films make this a good week for new DVDs on the market. The most high-profile is J.J. Abram’s Super 8, a monster-movie tribute to 80s films like The Goonies. But perhaps even more worthy of your time and dollars is the French drama Sarah’s Key, about a reporter delving into the mysterious story of two Jewish children struggling to survive through WWII. Finally, Dominic Cooper takes on the role of both Saddam Hussein’s son Uday, and the madman’s body-double, in The Devil’s Double. All three films come recommended from the user base at Criticker.

Super 8Average Tier 6.19
After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon. Super 8 @ Amazon

Conan the BarbarianAverage Tier 2.53
Based on the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard, this action-driven adventure breathes new life into the story of Conan the Barbarian, a warrior who rises to defend the people of Hyboria after evil forces slaughter his family and fellow villagers. Conan the Barbarian @ Amazon

Sarah’s KeyAverage Tier 6.43
While researching an article on the Vel’d'Hiv Roundup in 1942 France, Julia, an American journalist stumbles across the story of Sarah, a ten year old Jewish girl who desperately tried to save her younger brother from the police by locking him in a cupboard. Through her research, Julia comes across a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah and change the way she sees the world. Sarah’s Key @ Amazon

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the WorldAverage Tier 2.62
Former Spy Kids Carmen and Juni Cortez return as teenagers to help 10-year-old twin siblings Rebecca and Cecil Wilson save the world with their stepmother — a retired secret agent who’s been called back into service to stop a conniving smuggler. Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World @ Amazon

The Devil’s DoubleAverage Tier 6.08
Dominic Cooper stars as Uday Hussein — Saddam Hussein’s depraved, decadent elder son — and as Latif Yahia, the army lieutenant forcibly drafted to be his body double, in this drama based on Yahia’s autobiographical novel. With his family’s fate on the line, Yahia surrenders his identity to embody the hated figure but gains a conspirator in Uday’s concubine, Sarrab (Ludivine Sagnier), as he plots his escape. The Devil’s Double @ Amazon

DVD Report – November 8th

The final installment in the franchise which helped define a generation has arrived on DVD. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was a major success, both in terms of box office and quality, and Criticker users loved it. And do you remember where you on July 24th, 2010? Thanks to the power of the internet and a unique effort made by documentary filmmakers all over the world, that day has been captured in a series of montages, in the film Life in a Day. Sounds a little gimmicky, but most users at Criticker approved.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2Average Tier 6.84
In the second installment of the two-part conclusion to the popular Harry Potter series, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort’s formidable skills. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 @ Amazon

The Change-UpAverage Tier 3.82
A comedy in which a married father accidentally switches bodies with his best friend, leading to a series of wildly complex difficulties. Change-Up, The @ Amazon

Life in a DayAverage Tier 6.57
A documentary shot by filmmakers all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. Life in a Day @ Amazon

Atlas Shrugged: Part IAverage Tier 3.69
A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. Based on the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand. Atlas Shrugged: Part I @ Amazon

DVD Report – August 30th

The pick of the week is The Perfect Host, starring Clayne Crawford and David Hyde Pierce. This thriller from first-time director Nick Tomnay didn’t get universal praise, but quite a few Criticker users found it chilling and funny, with a special appreciation for Pierce’s performance.

The Perfect HostAverage Tier 5.55
John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) is bleeding profusely, flooded with adrenaline and having an overall terrible day. He’s just robbed a bank, you see, and things, as they are wont to do, went nowhere near as planned. Now he’s stumbling through a posh neighbourhood dripping blood and in desperate need of cover. When he lands upon the luxurious home of a certain Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) and finds a postcard in the mailbox, he has all the information he needs to scheme his way inside. (Fantasia International Film Festival) The Perfect Host @ Amazon

PromAverage Tier 3.18
A group of teenagers get ready for their high school prom. Prom @ Amazon

WreckedAverage Tier 2.91
A man trapped in a car wreck at the bottom of a ravine must overcome incredible odds to survive. Wrecked @ Amazon

Madea’s Big Happy FamilyAverage Tier 3.00
Madea jumps into action when her niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health. All Shirley wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can’t manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again… Madea’s Big Happy Family @ Amazon

SkatelandAverage Tier 5.00
In the early 1980s, in small-town Texas, dramatic events force a 19-year-old skating rink manager to look at his life in a very new way. Skateland @ Amazon

DVD Report – July 19th

Bradley Cooper missed out on his chance to star as Green Lantern after a botched audition, but still got his chance at super powers in the box office hit Limitless. And given the undeserved critical thrubbing GL has been getting, he seems happy enough about how the audition turned out. Although… my theory is that if anyone but Ryan Reynolds had starred in Green Lantern, critics would have been a lot more pleasant. It seems nobody except People Magazine likes that guy.

LimitlessAverage Tier 5.15
A copywriter discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities. Limitless @ Amazon

TekkenAverage Tier 2.41
When young Jin Kazama (John Foo) discovers an opportunity to avenge the death of his mother, he enters a martial arts tournament sponsored by the futuristic Tekken Corp. to gain access to the man he wants to punish. But as Kazama closes in on his goal, he uncovers dark secrets regarding his own past and the true nature of Tekken. Tekken @ Amazon

CracksAverage Tier 5.67
In an austere and cloistered girls boarding school in 1930′s England, the girls’ unhealthy bond with their beloved teacher, Miss G, is threatened by the arrival of an exotic and beautiful foreign student – whose rejection of Miss G’s attentions threatens the status quo and brings tragic consequences for them all. (Element Pictures) Cracks @ Amazon

PoticheAverage Tier 5.71
Mr Pujol rules his factory with an iron fist. When he suffers from a stroke, his wife surprisingly takes over… with some unexpected consequences… Potiche @ Amazon

Take Me Home TonightAverage Tier 5.21
From the writers of “That ’70s Show” comes this retro dramatic comedy set a decade later, in the financial boom of the late 1980s, about a recent college grad trying to figure out what to do with his life. Amid the goings-on at a raucous Labor Day party, brilliant but underemployed Matt Franklin (Topher Grace) learns a slew of lessons about life and love Take Me Home Tonight @ Amazon