In Marc Lawrence's directorial debut, ``Two Weeks Notice'' (audio: , video: , extras: 1/2), Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant play the romantic-comedy game of ``opposites attract.''
It's a formulaic flick, as predictable as Grant smirking at his own jokes or Bullock tripping over a potted plant.
George Wade, a rich developer, hires Lucy Kelson, a civic-minded hippie lawyer, as his chief counsel. After being called one too many times to give fashion advice instead of legal counsel, Kelson hands in her resignation. Before she walks for good, though, Kelson has to help Wade find a replacement.
Enter foil June Carter, played by young and cute Alicia Witt. Add a little sexual tension and some jealousy. Throw in a test of character. Shake with indecision. Bake for 102 minutes. And there you have it: ``Two Weeks Notice,'' what one critic called ``a reliable date movie.'' Roll the credits.
The commentary is neither enlightening nor uninformative. Bullock, Grant and Lawrence, who also co-wrote ``Miss Congeniality,'' share a few facts, but they won't teach a film student anything new. And they won't give general audiences any more laughs.
The ``Additional Scenes'' section consists of one generous scene cut from the film and an alternative ending. The DVD also features a unique way to watch bloopers and outtakes. Hit ``enter'' when a heart appears on the screen, and the movie branches into a short behind-the-scenes moment.
In the making-of documentary, Bullock says she thinks she can finally put this genre to rest. Some people, especially those with higher levels of testosterone, may respond, ``Let's hope so.'' (Enhanced wide-screen and full-screen, 2002, rated PG-13 for some sex-related humor.)
Deborah Markham
Published: May 2, 2003 in DAILY BREAK section, page E7

If you're thinking the 2002 anime film ``Metropolis'' (audio: , video: , extras: ) pays homage to Fritz Lang, you're off by a degree.
Director Rintaro's deepest respects go to Osamu Tezuka, the legendary Japanese comic book artist. Tezuka created his comic book ``Metropolis'' as a tribute to Lang's movie. So there's the connection, which cannot be gleaned by watching the pony-sized (3-inch) DVD of extras in the two-disc set.
The movie sends up plenty of classic silent films, and it has preserved the early 20th century's vision of the future. The animated city and some other elements are spectacular, but the characters have a cartoonish look that seems out of place with the intricate tri-level city and the story.
The story is a tale of twisted loyalty and fear. The loyalty is to Duke Red, the center of power in Metropolis, and the fear is of robots. Tima, a seemingly innocent human-looking robot created for Duke, is the destroyer and savior of the city. However, the story is missing some elements that would have given the plot more continuity.
Extras include the typical features, such as a making-of reel and interviews with the director and writer (Katsuhiro Otomo, best known for the anime classic ``Akira''). They also include a conceptual art gallery and multi-angle animation comparisons that show how each animated layer was built in various scenes. (Enhanced wide-screen, 2002, rated PG-13 for violence and images of destruction.)
Deborah Markham, The Pilot
Published: April 26, 2002 in DAILY BREAK section, page E2

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