DVD Monthly

Reviewer: Tim Isaac
Issue 101 March 2008

(2 votes, average: 7 out of 10)
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At least Cary Grant’s there to help.

The Lowdown: Gay, Canadian, Muslim Alim is living in London with his boyfriend, happy to be far away from the expectations of his Islami mother and family. When mum Nuru comes to visit, Alim tries to hide his relationship, but that proves tougher than he thought.

Review: Gay movies are a strange breed, largely because they often try so hard to be resolutely ‘GAY’, that the end result is that nobody, gay or straight, can identify with what they’re seeing (it’s also true that a lot are made by people who shouldn’t have progressed beyond shooting holiday videos). A Touch Of Pink on the other hand is a movie that aims its sensibilities at anyone with a vaguely open mind and is all the better for it. It’s slightly camp and takes its cues from the old style Hollywood screwball comedies, even to the point of having the spirit of Cary Grant, played by a surprisingly effective Kyle McLachlan, handing Alim advice.

It is essentially a straightforward romantic comedy, with most of the conflict coming from the ethnic, social and generational differences between Alim’s attitudes and that of his family. This is helped tremendously by Suleka Mathew, who puts in a tremendous performance as Alim’s mother, who has to come to terms with the fact she won’t be having grandchildren. The result is a film that ticks along nicely and has some very funny moments, but which never comes truly alive, partly because there’s a sense of the plot feeling the need to tick all the expected boxes. What’s a real shame is that there aren’t any special features, not even scene selection (although the movie itself is broken into chapters). Perhaps there weren’t many extras available for this low budget affair, but even so it feels like a waste.

FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 0

DVD Info:
Certificate: 12
Starring: Jimi Mistry, Kyle McLacklan, Suleka Mathew, Kristen Holden-Ried
Directed By: Ian Iqbal Rashid, 2006
Distributor: Lions Gate
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0
Visuals: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 88 mins
Price:            £15.99
Film supplied by: Rabbit Publicity

Special Features:
Trailers

Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 10)
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High, but not mighty…

The Lowdown: Affable junkies Dexter and Royce find themselves indebted to sinister drug-lord Omar after reneging on a debt. They agree to pay their way by flogging his produce for him. Unfortunately part-time hooker Matilda ODs on the produce, landing them in all sorts of bother…

Review: Cult director Allan Moyle may have blotted his copybook with the laughably un-cool Michael Jackson biopic Man In The Mirror (2004), but thanks to his irresistible early one-two punch, Pump Up The Volume and Empire Records, Moyle still has plenty of goodwill to spare. It is unfortunate then that Weirdsville is an awkward mish-mash of ideas that never really seems to fully gel. Moyle has reportedly spoken of his desire to create Canada’s answer to Trainspotting, but such a dated frame of reference speaks volumes about how out of touch Moyle and writer Willem Wenekers are with this baffling ensemble piece. Credit where credit is due – the film feels impressively slick, and the soundtrack is cool without being too obvious. It’s the rogue’s gallery of freaks and weirdoes, and the pile-up of off-kilter set-pieces that really do the damage. Despite Wes Bentley and Scott Speedman building up a likable rapport at the heart of the movie, the film has neither the jokes for a comedy nor the thrills for a thriller.

There is a decent array of bonus features, but, alas, most of the cast and crew type pieces will only be of interest to you if you actually enjoyed the film itself! Weirdsville could easily find itself a healthy cult audience if people respond favourably to its casually skewed aesthetic. If not, then everyone involved may well end up rueing a case of what could have been a low-key treat. A slacker comedy that’s too slack for its own good…    

FILM: 5 EXTRAS: 7

DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: Wes Bentley, Scott Speedman, Taryn Manning, Greg Bryk
Directed By: Allan Moyle, 2007
Distributor: Contender Films
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 90mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by: The Associates

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Director Allan Moyle, Writer Willem Wennekers & Producer Nicholas Tabarrok
‘The Unmaking Of A Title’ Featurette
‘Callbacks’ Featurette
‘Writing Weirdsville’ Featurette
‘A Brief Tour Of Weirdsville’ Featurette
‘The Bong Show’ Featurette
‘Go With Satan’ Featurette
Interview Gallery

Reviewer: Jordan Brown
Issue 101 March 2008

(6 votes, average: 7.67 out of 10)
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Star power.

The Lowdown: Journeying into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved Victoria, Tristan finds the beautiful Yvaine in the centre of the crater instead of the rock he expected. With multiple villains after the ‘star’, the pair tries to evade capture while discovering their feelings for one another.

Review: Few people could have expected Matthew Vaughn to direct a $65 million budget, ensemble-cast fantasy epic. While the Layer Cake director has proven to be a dab hand when it comes to directing British gangster films, you’d be forgiven for scepticism regarding the guy helming Stardust. However, if you count yourself among the doubters then you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Based on Neil Gaiman’s novella, the film takes place 150 years ago in the English town of Wall. Sat with his beloved Victoria, young lad Tristan witnesses a star falling to Earth. Offering to collect it in exchange for Victoria’s hand in marriage, he ventures out of the town in search of the intergalactic rock. Finding the stunning maiden Yvaine sat in the crater instead, he’s soon off on a whirlwind adventure evading witches and princes who want to harness the girl’s magical power for their own dubious ends. With nutty scenarios and barmy characters peppering the quest (Ricky Gervais’ con-man Ferdy, Robert De Niro’s cross-dressing pirate Captain Shakespeare), Stardust is a wacky, zany and utterly charming riot. Still, if one thing stands out as the film’s shining glory, it’s Michelle Pfeiffer’s turn as evil, seductive witch Lamia. Oozing a sinister sexiness, she hasn’t been quite so enjoyable since she donned all that PVC for Batman Begins. On the downside, the disc isn’t exactly inundated with extras. But when the feature is this much fun, you won’t want anything to spoil the magic.

FILM: 8 EXTRAS: 3

DVD Info:
Certificate: PG
Starring: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn, 2007
Distributor: Paramount
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 100 mins
Price:            £19.99

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Writer Jane Goldman & Director Matthew Vaughn

Reviewer: Jordan Brown
Issue 101 March 2008

(4 votes, average: 9.25 out of 10)
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Stan’s still the man.

The Lowdown: In celebration of what would have been Stanley Kubrick’s 80th birthday, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut have been given the two-disc treatment. Released in this lavish box set, these five masterpieces showcase the versatility of one of the greatest directors the world has ever known.

Review: A notorious perfectionist, Stanley Kubrick has been renowned for making some of the greatest films ever to grace cinema. Putting heart and soul into each and every piece, the scrupulous director’s films were initially given underwhelming releases on DVD. It’s a relief then to see that a bunch of his films have been re-released individually as special editions (£15.99 each) as well as in this box set. While some have had a significant upgrade, other titles haven’t had as much of a tune-up.

First up, 2001: A Space Odyssey finally gets the attention it deserves on DVD. Mesmerising film fans the world over, the groundbreaking tale sees a group of astronauts journey to Jupiter to investigate an alien signal sent there from the moon. As the mission goes awry, the crew find themselves at the mercy the ship’s supercomputer HAL.

Alluding to the future of mankind, the stunning saga of man versus machine has left audiences endlessly debating the movie’s ambiguous ending since its release. As such, it was a criminal injustice that DVD releases of the flick have, up until now, featured sod all in the way of extras. For the new release however, the sci-fi masterpiece has been given a new transfer and a yack-track from stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood. With a second disc boasting a Channel 4 documentary and some heavyweight featurettes, it makes a comprehensive package that does ample justice to one of the most widely interpreted films to ever grace the silver screen.

Also getting a worthwhile re-release is A Clockwork Orange – Kubrick’s controversial look at the morality of aversion therapy. When ultraviolent rapist and Beethoven enthusiast Alex DeLarge is jailed for murder, he finds himself the subject of a radical program that could see his psychotic tendencies curbed permanently. No longer posing a threat, Alex is released back into society where his treatment has left him nauseous at the thought of sex, repulsed by his beloved Beethoven and, more importantly, defenceless to physical attack.

Making a star out of Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange stands as a devastating look at a bizarre dystopian future. With its iconic soundtrack, superb acting and thought-provoking themes, it’s a movie that truly deserves a two-disc package. Trumping the previous edition that only had a trailer, this features a commentary from McDowell as well a stunning retrospective documentary. It’s just a shame that they haven’t given the picture a bit of spit and polish. Regardless, it’s still a fantastic re-issue. Unfortunately, that’s more than can be said for The Shining’s re-release.

Adapted from the bestselling Stephen King novel, the movie sees ex-alcoholic Jack Torrance as winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel. Snowed into the resort with his family, Jack eventually succumbs to madness and rounds on his wife and son with murderous intent. Is the cause for his psychotic descent the result of cabin fever or is it the work of malevolent spirits roaming the hotel’s vacant halls?

Even after 28 years, Kubrick’s haunted house yarn carries an inimitable sense of foreboding dread that has been unrivalled by any horror since. With its ethereal score giving the luxurious resort an otherworldly eeriness, it’s no surprise that many see it as the finest horror movie of all time. It’s therefore more than slightly irritating to see that the two-discer offers little on top of the standard DVD version. On top of Vivian Kubrick’s superb ‘making of…’ documentary and trailer, which both featured in the old edition, this package has been fattened up with a few new featurettes. The longer American version of the film (or at least the deleted scenes that were snipped out of the Brit version), is notably absent. Still, if you don’t already own the film, it’s still a must have title.

‘Nam classic Full Metal Jacket is another disc that’s been subject to an unworthy upgrade. As a group of Marine recruits are put through a rigorous and dehumanising training regime, the constant abuse of Drill Sergeant Hartman finally culminates in a devastating episode that sees Private Joker’s views of conflict drastically altered. Later, as a pacifist reporter for military newspaper Stars and Stripes, Joker finds himself forced to rely on his animalistic training when he’s thrust into the heart of the Vietnam War.

A mind-blowing look into the brutal transformation from fresh-faced recruit to mindless grunt, Full Metal Jacket has been given a spruce-up that’s less than fitting to a film of this calibre. On top of the trailer that was already on the original disc, this release features a neat new featurette and a cracking chat-track from the entire main cast (bar Matthew Modine). As good as the new extras are, they’re hardly enough to warrant the application of the ’special edition’ label.

And that brings us finally to Eyes Wide Shut. Stan’s final film before he shuffled off this mortal coil is an unyielding look at marriage and sex. When Dr. Bill Harford learns of his wife’s yearning to have an affair, he delves into New York’s exclusive nookie-ridden underbelly. When he’s caught infiltrating an exclusive sex cult, it appears his curiosity could have dire consequences. 

Sure, it was his last movie but with the likes of Lolita and Barry Lyndon notably absent, it’s a mystery exactly as to why this slow-paced and tepid thriller beat such heavy competition to get into the set. That said, its inclusion has been justified with a bulky amount of quality features, such as Kubrick’s acceptance speech from when he received the D.W. Griffith Award back in 1998.

Despite getting short-changed on the extras front with some titles, those who buy the box set get a bit of compensation in an extra disc featuring the documentary, Stanley Kubrick – A Life In Pictures. Although it’s great viewing, it’s nowhere near worth splashing out 50 quid if you already own a few of the titles featured (especially as the documentary was already an exclusive feature in the previous non-Special Editions Kubrick box set). If you don’t though, getting yourself this collection is a must.

FILM: 9 EXTRAS: 7

DVD Info:
Certificate: 18
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall, Vincent D’Onofrio, Matthew Modine, Malcolm McDowell, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman
Directed By: Stanley Kubrick, 1968-1999
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 682 mins
Price:            £49.99 (£15.99 each individually)
Film supplied by: Noble PR

Special Features:
‘Life In Pictures’ Documentary
2001: A Space Odyssey:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Keir Dullea & Gary Lockwood
Theatrical Trailer
‘2001: The Making Of A Myth’ Documentary
‘Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001’ Featurette
‘Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001’ Featurette
‘2001: A Space Odyssey – A Look Behind the Future’ Featurette
‘2001: FX and Early Conceptual Artwork’ Featurette
‘Look: Stanley Kubrick!’ Featurette
‘What Is Out There?’ Featurette

A Clockwork Orange:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Malcolm McDowell and Film Historian Nick Redman
Theatrical Trailer
‘Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange’ Documentary
‘Great Bolshy Yarblockos!’ Featurette
‘O Lucky Malcolm!’ Malcolm McDowell Career Profile

The Shining:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Steadicam Operator Garrett Brown & Biographer John Baxter
Theatrical Trailer
‘Making Of’ Documentary With Optional Audio Commentary With Director Vivian Kubrick
‘View From The Overlook: Crafting The Shining’ Featurette
‘The Visions Of Stanley Kubrick’ Featurette
‘Wendy Carlos, Composer’ Featurette

Full Metal Jacket:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey and Jay Cocks
‘Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil’ Featurette
Theatrical Trailer

Eyes Wide Shut:
Scene Selection
Scene Specific Audio Commentary With Sydney Pollack & Film Historian Peter Loewenberg
TV Spots
Theatrical Trailer
‘The Last Movie: Stanley Kubrick and Eyes Wide Shut’ Documentary
‘Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick’ Featurette
Kubrick’s 1998 DGA D.W Griffith Award Acceptance Speech
Interview Gallery

Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008

Who the fuck is Alice?

The Lowdown: After the ‘Raccoon City Incident’ in 2002, the T-Virus continues to spread, despite the nuclear destruction of the city. A now super-human Alice embarks on a trip across the scorched terrain of America, committed to vanquishing the zombie populace and waging war on the sinister Umbrella Corporation…

Review: For the third instalment of this inexplicably popular franchise, Milla Jovovich’s husband Paul W.S. Anderson has handed over the reigns to Russell Mulcahy (the director of cult classic Highlander, no less). In the early stages of the movie this seems like a wise move, as Mulcahy seems to inject a new sense of purpose into this decidedly stagnant franchise. Picking up where the previous outing left off, Resident Evil: Extinction bursts into life like an entertaining blend of Mad Max and Day of the Dead. The post-apocalyptic vibe is particularly well rendered, and you could be fooled into thinking you had a real treat on your hands. Unfortunately things don’t last and the movie is back on common ground before too long. Milla Jovovich still looks great and will be, for many, a key reason to invest time and money in this product.

With some imaginative kill-shots and a great sun-baked wilderness landscape, this movie certainly isn’t the waste of time it could have been. The extras are above average and consist of a decent audio commentary, a batch of watchable deleted scenes and a worthwhile four-part ‘making of…’ featurette. Fans of the first two movies will go wild for this high-octane slice of post-apocalyptic mayhem. Anyone who prefers their mindless action/horror hybrids a little less mindless is likely to lose interest before the film whizzes/wheezes to a close. 

FILM: 5 EXTRAS: 6

DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Release Date: February 18th
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, Oded Fehr
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy, 2007
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 90 mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by: DnA

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary With Director Russell Mulcahy, Writer/Producer Paul W.S. Anderson & Producer Jeremy Bolt
‘Beyond Raccoon City: Unearthing Resident Evil: Extinction’ Four-Part Featurette
Resident Evil: Degeneration Sneak Peek
Trailers

Reviewer: Lee Griffiths
Issue 101 March 2008

One-legged chicks in zombie town!

The Lowdown: An experimental bio-weapon causes havoc on a small Texas town and has turned the majority of the population into face-rotting zombies. However, the walking infected didn’t reckon on a one-legged stripper and her rough and ready boyfriend who aim to put things right!

Review: Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror arrives on DVD to complete the Grindhouse double bill, and while the split from its celluloid sibling hasn’t exactly done Planet Terror or Tarantino’s Death Proof any good, Rodriguez’s repulsive trash epic remains the more entertaining as a stand-alone feature.

Squelching its way through 101 minutes of face melting, puss-popping lunacy, Planet Terror is a triumph in bad taste and has no shame about brazenly flaunting its second-rate dialogue or its roster of ridiculous characters. Though silly, inane and undeniably dumb, Planet Terror succeeds where Death Proof failed by being an enjoyable experience. While Tarantino’s flick suffered from a choppy pace and meaningless dialogue, Rodriguez turns the insanity dials all the way up to 11 and lets loose with a high calibre helping of tough chicks with guns for legs, surly sheriffs, mad doctors and hideous zombies. All this is held together by the grainy, jumpy presentation of a film that looks like its been kicked around the filthy floors of 42nd Street cinemas during the 70s. Unlike Tarantino and Death Proof however, Rodriguez doesn’t get bored and give up on the visual gimmick about halfway through.

An impressive cast make up the list of memorable on-screen personalities, from the brilliant Josh Brolin and Tom Savini, to appearances from Bruce Willis and Tarantino. Danny Trejo, who stars in the faux trailer Machete, which preludes the main feature and sees the crazy Mexican as a Charles Bronson-like character hell-bent on revenge, is worth the £17.99 alone.

As well as a better feature, Planet Terror boasts a stronger DVD package than Death Proof too, including a chatty commentary from Rodriguez, who provides a non-stop accompaniment and touches upon all manner of subjects, from the origins of Machete (Rodriguez actually wrote it after Desperado as a vehicle for Trejo) to casting choices and the additional scenes for this extended cut. The ‘10-Minute Film School’ featurette is an entertaining piece that reveals some tricks of the trade, most notably how they did that leg thing with the gun and Rose McGowan. ‘The Badass Babes Of Planet Terror’ and its male counterpart include interviews with the main cast (Marley Shelton demonstrates her supple wrists to eerie effect), while the ‘Casting Rebel’ featurette merely sees Rodriguez banging on about his kid for five minutes. The ‘Audience Reaction Track’ features a real-life audience audio accompaniment, though the riotous laughter, screaming and cries of repulsion (alien to Brit cinema audiences) suggests that even if the Grindhouse double bill did actually make it to UK screens, the concept might not have worked anyway. Perhaps one day, we’ll get the chance to find out.

FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 7

DVD Info:
Certificate: 18
Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Marley Shelton
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez, 2007
Distributor: Momentum
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 101 mins
Price:            £17.99
Film supplied by:
Cathy Beck Communications

Special Features:
Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Robert Rodriguez
Audience Reaction Track
‘Comic-Con 2006’ Featurette
Photo Gallery
Trailers
‘10-Minute Film School’ Featurette
‘The Badass Babes Of Planet Terror’ Featurette
‘The Guys Of Planet Terror’ Featurette
‘Casting Rebel’ Featurette
‘Sickos, Bullets And Explosions: The Stunts Of Planet Terror’ Featurette
‘The Friend, The Doctor And The Real Estate Agent’ Featurette
Scene Selection

Reviewer: Lee Griffiths
Issue 101 March 2008

(2 votes, average: 8.5 out of 10)
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It’s never enough.

The Lowdown: A busker and an immigrant girl meet on the streets of Dublin and instantly click. Their friendship quickly blooms thanks to their mutual love of music, and each of their pasts is gradually revealed through their various musical collaborations (he on guitar, she on piano). 

Review: The Irish Glen Hansard and the Czech Marketa Irglova are the real-life musicians who are fortunate enough to discover one another in John Carney’s (former bassist for Hansard’s band, The Frames) loveable amalgamation of romantic drama and modern day musical. With Once being name-dropped throughout ‘Film 2007’s’ yearly round-up as being numerous Hollywood A-lister’s movie of the year, and with a guitar case full of awards functioning as a glowing seal of approval, Once shouldn’t have too much difficulty in finding its audience on DVD, though in case you need just one final nudge, we absolutely insist that you check this out.

Though the initial elongated acoustic musical numbers (courtesy of Hansard – a dead ringer for Zig of ‘Zig and Zag’ fame) suggest that some trying viewing is ahead, the gentle rhythm and the charmingly naturalistic performances quickly win you over. The merging of a kitchen sink style drama and the understated musical numbers make for some novel viewing, while Once’s delicate simplicity will no doubt burrow into your heart and have you smiling and humming the likes of ‘Falling Slowly’ for days after.

The disc includes two decent audio commentaries, though the tantalising prospect of the ‘Musical Commentary’ is actually a standard commentary on the musical numbers that feature in the film. The ‘Making A Modern Day Musical’ featurette provides some worthwhile behind-the-scenes info, as well as interviews with the cast and crew.

FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 6

DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Directed By: John Carney
Distributor: Icon
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 85 mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by:
Rabbit Publicity

Special Features:
‘Making A Modern Day Musical’ Featurette
‘More Guy, More Girl’ Featurette
Audio Commentary With Writer/Director John Carney And Actor/Musicians Glen Hansard And Marketa Irglova
Musical Commentary With Writer/Director John Carney And Actor/Musicians Glen Hansard And Marketa Irglova
Theatrical Trailer
Scene Selection

Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008

The secret life of a killer…

The Lowdown: Businessman Earl Brooks harbours a dark secret – he is also the notorious ‘Thumbprint Killer’. He wants to ignore his murderous urges, but his twisted alter ego Marshall spurs him on. However, when an amateur photographer known as ‘Mr. Cook’ catches Brooks in the act, events become tangled.

Review: Before the enjoyably twisted Mr. Brooks came along last year, who in their right mind would have admitted looking forward to a serial killer thriller starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and Dane Cook? Precisely no one! That’s what makes the slick, unpredictable thrills of Mr. Brooks so compelling. Using a selection of naff actors and a glorified Jekyll & Hyde ‘murderous alter-ego’ type storyline, Bruce Evans (whose only previous directorial credit is the Christian Slater action-comedy Kuffs (1992)) has concocted an impressively off-kilter movie. Of course, it doesn’t come close to something as intelligently evil as Se7en, but Mr. Brooks is certainly diverting enough for a cheap thrill.

In truth, the only thing really holding the movie back is the proliferation of underwhelming subplots that badly sap the film’s energy. Despite its potentially uneasy mix of serial killers, imaginary friends and intertwining fates, Mr. Brooks pulls things off with aplomb. Of course, the odd-but-intriguing cast helps. Costner is mesmerising as the maniacal, self-assured Brooks, and William Hurt is similarly demented as Marshall, the devilish presence on Brooks’ shoulder. Even Demi Moore impresses as the unorthodox cop determined to put the ‘Thumbprint Killer’ behind bars.

The audio commentary from Evans and long-term co-writer Raynold Gideon is worth a listen, but the deleted scenes add little to the package. There are also three cast and crew crammed featurettes, although none of them last longer than ten minutes. Not an all-time classic, but well worth a rental at least. 

FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 6

DVD Info:
Certificate: 18
Release Date: March 10th
Starring: Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Dane Cook, Demi Moore
Directed By: Bruce A. Evans, 2007
Distributor: MGM/20th Century Fox
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 115mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by: Premier PR

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Director/Writer Bruce A. Evans & Co-Writer Raynold Gideon
Deleted Scenes
‘The Birth Of A Serial Killer: Writing Mr. Brooks’ Featurette
‘On The Set Of Mr. Brooks’ Featurette
‘Murder On Their Minds: Mr. Brooks, Marshall and Mr. Smith’
Theatrical Trailer

Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008

Don’t believe the truth!

The Lowdown: Michael Clayton is an in-house ‘fixer’ for one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. Despite being jaded by his shady work, Clayton is faced with his toughest case yet – his company’s top litigator has suffered a psychological meltdown and risks sabotaging a key agrichemical settlement case.

Review: Even the most casual film fans out there will be able to recognise the split personality nature of George Clooney’s career. Clooney himself makes no bones about his willingness to divide his time between money-spinning crowd-pleasers like Ocean’s 11/12/13 and mature, intelligent critic-pleasers like Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and Syriana (2005). Tony Gilroy’s directorial debut falls firmly into the latter category. Fans who recognise Gilroy’s name from being the screenwriter on The Bourne Trilogy may be disappointed by the lack of high-octane action in Michael Clayton, but Gilroy’s flair for intrigue has clearly made it across intact.

Clooney is typically impressive in his role as shady fixer Clayton and he turns a potentially sly rogue into an assured yet edgy man whose life is in turmoil despite indications to the contrary. His believability and all too human flaws (gambling problem, ailing business, troubled son) ensure that you side with him despite the disingenuous nature of his work. Underneath that suave demeanour lies a tormented soul. As Clayton’s would-be nemesis, agrichemical in-house counsel chief Karen Crowder, Tilda Swinton adds another string to her already impressive bow with a similarly wracked performance. The rather measly selection of extras consists of a considered audio commentary courtesy of Gilroy and his editor (and younger brother) John Gilroy, and a brisk batch of deleted scenes accompanied by optional commentary from the duo. It may be too subtle for the popcorn crowd, but brutal indictments of corporate society don’t come much more self-assured than this.

FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 4

DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Tom Wilkinson
Directed By: Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Pathe Distribution
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 119mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by: Premier PR

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Audio Commentary With Director Tony Gilroy & Editor John Gilroy
Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Tony Gilroy & John Gilroy

Reviewer: Lee Griffiths
Issue 101 March 2008

An awfully big adventure.

The Lowdown: Based on a true story, Into The Wild recounts the fateful journey of University graduate Christopher McCandless, a man who abandoned all his possessions in order to achieve independence from modern society. After changing his name to Alexander Supertramp, the young traveller makes his way to Alaska in order to achieve ultimate freedom.

Review: In 1992, young Christopher McCandless was found dead in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan backwoods. He weighed 67 pounds and had been dead for two weeks. Left behind was a journal containing entries covering a total of 113 days. While the ensuing novel, ‘Into The Wild’ (by traveller Jon Krakauer), may have depicted young McCandless as a confused figure of arrogance, the on-screen McCandless is much more likeable, and his story is retold with great affection by writer/director Sean Penn. Wanting full approval of the McCandless family, Sean Penn apparently waited 10 years to make this movie, and his unwavering patience and dedication has now paid off. The wait was most certainly worth it.

Playing out like a haunting traveller’s journal, Into The Wild is by far Penn’s strongest directorial effort yet, and certainly one of last year’s most memorable and affecting flicks. The much-welcomed DVD release provides further opportunity to savour McCandless’ extraordinary journey in greater detail, and the troubled young man’s remarkable voyage looks stunning on the digital format.

Like a collage of picture-perfect postcards, Into The Wild chronicles McCandless’ journey in non-chronological fashion, flitting between the fated Alaskan backwoods and the gorgeous locales of the American wilderness. The structure provides an ever-present reminder of the protagonist’s doomed fate and achieves a sense of foreboding as the downbeat finale forever looms in the near distance. It makes for an absorbing if unsettling experience; inspirational yet heart rending, with Hal Holbrook’s teary-eyed proposition/plea at the film’s end providing one of the most profoundly moving scenes we’ve witnessed in a very long time.

And all of this is held together by a moody score from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, some astonishing cinematography and a collection of outstanding performances. The aforementioned Holbrook, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn and William Hurt all provide solid support to Emile Hirsch’s cocky but charming McCandless, who transforms from wide-eyed optimist to a withered shadow of his former self with impressive results.

Worthy of a purchase? Absolutely, and while the two bonus featurettes don’t add a huge amount to the experience, the additional 40 minutes of Into The Wild related chitchat is very much welcome, as McCandless’ story is one which you’ll find difficult to let go of. Breathtakingly beautiful, emotionally charged and deeply moving, Into The Wild is a journey well worth taking, and one you’ll not forget in a hurry.

FILM: 8 EXTRAS: 5

DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Vince Vaughn, Hal Holbrook
Directed By: Sean Penn, 2007
Distributor: Paramount
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 140 mins
Price:            £19.99
Film supplied by:
Shine Communications

Special Features:
‘Into The Wild: The Story, The Characters’ Featurette
‘Into The Wild: The Experience’ Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Scene Selection

Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008

Is Howard still a lame Duck? Yes.

The Lowdown: Cheeky, beer-swilling duck Howard is minding his own business over in Duckland when an experiment on Earth using a laser beam sucks him halfway across the cosmos to an alleyway in Cleveland, Ohio. Howard is ill at ease in his new surroundings, but local rock singer Beverly soon helps him settle in… 

Review: Howard The Duck’s dreadful reputation precedes it, and it is widely regarded as the worst Marvel comic adaptation of all time. After seeing it for myself I’d be hard-pressed to disagree… If stories are to be believed, George Lucas spent $2 million on the duck suit alone, and employed eight different actors to work inside the costume – which sums up quite how ridiculous this whole endeavour actually was. The resolutely unfunny, embarrassingly half-arsed dialogue and paper-thin plot are held together by a singularly unappealing lead character, and Howard The Duck remains too weird for kids and not weird enough for adults.

The word tiresome really doesn’t do it justice. Husband and wife team Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz had previously contributed screenplays to both American Graffiti and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and were actually held in fairly high regard before helming this debacle. Tellingly, neither of them worked on anything remotely important ever again. Often, yesterday’s filmic flops become today’s guilty pleasures. In the case of Howard The Duck however, time hasn’t managed to dull the film’s awfulness. This is an unequivocal mess of a movie that really shouldn’t exist. At least we can take solace in the fact that it scuppered George Lucas’s attempts at Hollywood domination! The sole extra is a theatrical trailer, so I guess that the cast and crew weren’t keen to revisit the scene of the crime and come up with a retrospective documentary.       

FILM: 3 EXTRAS: 1

DVD Info:
Certificate: PG
Starring: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Ed Gale
Directed By: Willard Huyck, 1986
Distributor: Metrodome
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0
Visuals: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 111mins
Price:            £12.99
Film supplied by: Metrodome

Special Features:
Scene Selection
Original Theatrical Trailer

Reviewer: Lee Griffiths
Issue 101 March 2008

No, it’s not Ashton Kutcher, thank f**k!

The Lowdown: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play Matt and Christina Drayton, an elderly couple who like to think of themselves as liberal and open-minded. However, their attitudes are put to the test when their daughter brings home her fiancée for them to meet, who happens to be black.

Review: It is impossible to outright dismiss any film boasting such a mouth-watering cast, and while Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner certainly has its fair share of problems, it’s a wholly satisfying experience to see Hepburn, Tracy and Poitier sharing screen time.

Socially conscious but ever so schmaltzy, Stanley Kramer’s plea for racial equality may have struck a controversial chord back in the day (according to the ‘A Love Story Of Today’ documentary, death threats were sent to certain cast members), but just three decades later, much of its power has diminished, leaving an enjoyable but somewhat condescending slice of melodrama. While it’s given a sense of profound poignancy due to Tracy’s diminishing health on screen (he died 17 days after filming), the film does feel a little old fashioned, and quick comparisons to those radical pictures from the same year like The Graduate and Bonnie And Clyde, only serves to highlight the film’s rather straight-laced approach.

This 40th anniversary Special Edition gathers together a trio of introductions from the likes of Steven Spielberg (Kramer’s one of his favourite directors), plus short but semi-interesting snippets from a couple of award shows. The ‘A Love Story Of Today’ 30 minute documentary remains the most worthwhile supplement, featuring flattering anecdotes and approving acknowledgments from admirers and Kramer affiliates.

FILM: 6 EXTRAS: 6

DVD Info:
Certificate: PG
Starring: Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn
Directed By: Stanley Kramer, 1967
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0
Visuals: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 103 mins
Price:            £12.99
Film supplied by:
DnA

Special Features:
Introduction By Steven Spielberg
Introduction By Tom Brokaw
Introduction By Karen Kramer
A Message From Quincy Jones
‘A Love Story Of Today’ Documentary
‘A Special Kind Of Love’ Featurette
‘Stanley Kramer: A Man’s Search For The Truth’ Featurette
‘Stanley Kramer Accepts The Irving Thalberg Award’ Featurette
‘2007 Producers Guild ‘Stanley Kramer’ Award Presentation To Al Gore’ Featurette
Photo Gallery
Scene Selection