| Seasonal Reviews DVD/VIDEO Review |
| By Matthew G |
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| COMING SOON: |
| Bringing Down the House |
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| Just Married Rated: PG-13 |
| Slap-Stick Humor At Heart |
| Despite what the previous critics said when this romantic comedy hit theaters in early January, if you like slapstick humor, you'll love "Just Married". Tom (Ashton Kutcher) & Sarah (Brittney Murphy), play a recently married couple on their honeymoon from hell. This light film has funny jokes, which I promise I won�t spoil. Tom & Sarah�s chemistry lessens as their honeymoon continues to go wrong, & they both split. But don�t worry there�s a happy ever after ending, which both Tom & Sarah deserve, especially after their honeymoon from hell. |
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| Die Another Day Rated: PG-13 |
| Classic Bond Is Back! |
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| �Die Another Day� is a spectacular action/adventure movie! Pierce Brosnan (James Bond) does an outstanding job as the spy who always gets the girl (Halle Berry who plays Jinx). As the film begins, there is a hover tank chase scene in a minefield that will leave you at the edge of your seat, and it�s only the beginning. Invisible cars, deadly lasers, & surfboards join the list of Bond weapons. The scenes of spear fighting are quite intense, and Madonna makes her guest appearance then. The settings are quite eccentric and the ice-building hotel is probably the best (which eventually melts, because it�s a Bond film). A killer soundtrack plays in the background, and the new 007 theme (Paul Oakenfold remix) is equal too Moby�s previous remix of the catchy tune. |
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| *MATT'S Pick* |
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| Movie Review Key |
| 3 STARS |
| 3 STARS |
| Agree or Disagree with any of MY reviews? Post your constructive commments in the guestbook! |
| Other Review Pages: |
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| Warning: Not for the antzy audience member |
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| The Hours Rated: PG-13 |
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| Three woman, all in different times & places. They all want a different life, but their surroundings do not allow. The novel is "Mrs. Dalloway" written by Virginia Woolf (perfectly portrayed by Nicole Kidman) in 1925. "The Hours" show VIrginia (the writer), Laura (Julianne Moore) the reader, & Clarissa (Meryl Streep) the main character in "Mrs. Dalloway". The movie will be quite confusing when it begins with all three woman having breakfast, but very understandable when it ends with all three woman emotionally distraught. This film was made for an audience who can sit through lets say "Oceans 11". Because by the end of the film everything makes sense, but you must watch and take in the story to get there. A great pick for the audience member who enjoys twisted plot, excellent acting, & moody supsense. Major kudos to Kidman & Moore for their roles! Also stars a notable performance by Ed Harris. |
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| 3 STARS |
| I wasn't expecting much when I first heard this film hit theaters back in February of 2003. But after all the screening buzz & talking to friends it seemed as if Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey had pulled off a delightful romantic comedy. Well they did more than that in "How to Lose A Guy". The story is genius, but not the most realistic. Still, the chemistry between Hudson & McConaughey is superb. This flick is also hilarious & the audience may find themselves rolling around on the ground (Hudson scores the most laughs). And even the male audience, if not big into romantic comedies, will still have the sexy & talented Hudson to watch & laugh at during her quirky behaviors. Hudson stars as Andie, a magazine "How-To" writer who is sick of reporting about shoes & clothes at the girly magazine she is currently employed. Her boss tells her that she will be able to write about whatever she likes, if she writes an article on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". McConaughey (Ben) works in advertising & is told by his boss if he can get any girl to fall in love with him in 10 days, he will be able to lead the advertisting company. Of course he picks Andie, but while she trys all in her power to lose Ben and write the article, he obviously won't let her go. Andie realizes after all her hilarious charades of making Ben's life misearble, that the kind of guy she was looking for all along is Ben. Worthwile deleted scenes accompany the special features on this DVD. |
| Guys: The perfect gift for your girlfriend's birthday |
| 4 STARS! |
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| How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days Rated: PG-13 |
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| We are all taught at a young age to live life to its fullest. That message is carried out in the comedy/drama "About Schmidt". Warren Schmidt, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, is a newly retired insurance agent who lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his 42-year married wife Helen (June Squibb). Warren realizes early on that without his grueling job & daughter (who is at present grown up and engaged) he has no life. Schmidt also realizes that he has never made a difference to a single person in his pathetic life. After Helen passes away, Schmidt is faced to carry on by himself (which is not a good thing). Warren decides to journey out in his former wife's 35-foot Winnebago Adventurer, which they planned to travel in with their retirement. Schmidt decides this, for he has no one to turn too. Warren writes many letters to Ndugu throughout the film, a 6-year old Tanzanian boy he sponsors each month, but what makes the audience chuckle is how he uses the letters he writes as long confessionals. He speaks of how he took his wife for granted & how he was never present in his daughter's life when she was young. After Schmidt finds out who he really is and decides to change his life for good, he travels to Colorado to attend his daughter Jeannie's (Hope Davis) wedding. The problem is, Warren does not approve of the supposed buffaon she is marrying, Randall Hertzel (Dermot Mulroney), a washed out water-bed salesman. The ever hilarous Kathy Bates plays Randall's mothers, Roberta, and conjurs up the most laughs in the movie (she even won an Oscar this past year for Best Supporting Actress in this film). The audience will find that is funny how unlike Nicholson is to the character Warren Schmidt, and how Warren has a slow-developing hunger to make a difference in some one's life. Warren Schmidt makes me depressed as I watched the film, for there is so much more he could of done with his life, but the climatic ending may prove the audience wrong into believeing his life was wasted. |
| Warren Schmidt Is A Sad, Sad Man |
| 3 STARS |
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| About Schmidt Rated: R |
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| There Are Not Many Reasons For Behavior in "Unfaithful" |
| Unhappy marriages can end in affairs. Or in Connie Sumner's (Diane Lane) case empty lives can lead to an affair. Sure Connie has the loving husband Edward (Richard Gere), picture-perfect suburban homelife, & one bouncing bundle of joy (child Charlie, played by Erik Per Sullivan). But one fine day Connie is blown, literally, into Paul Martel (Oliver Martinez), a book dealer while visiting Soho, NYC. Paul invites Connie up to his apartment for Band-Aids and tea. What attracts Connie to Paul is how he has the Calvin Klein model looks (French accent) & brawny intellect. Out of lust Connie journeys back to Paul's apartment, well, this time for something other than Band-Aids and tea. I think the audience will get the picture. Their passionate affair continues too movie theaters, restrooms, & apartment hallways. Of course Edward supsects all too well what his wife is up too. He hires a public investigator while he travels out of town on business for a weekend. When he returns he unhappily learns his wife is having an affair. But when you think the movie is turning into a murder mystery, it doesn't. Sure Edward does confront Paul at his apartment but as the audience finds out more of a marital tragedy occurs. Some scenes of "Unfaithful" will have the audience on their edge of their seat, especially between Connie & Edward after the "secret" is exposed. The movie ends the audience with many questions, just as we may ask why Connie in the first place had the affair. |
| Old School Rated: R |
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| 3 STARS |
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| The first scenes of "Old School" immediately signal this will be one funny & raunchy film. Luke Wilson plays a businessman (Mitch) who recently ends a longtime relationship with his girlfriend. Mitch's friends, Frank, (Will Ferrell) is just recently married, while over-controlling Beanie (Vince Vaughn) has a stable family. Mitch buys a new home too start up a new life for himself & without his consent Beanie & Frank turn his residence into party central. Sadly, Mitch is told that he will be evicted because his humble home is placed in heritage zoning of a local college. Beanie & Frank take another advantage and hold auditions for a fraternity so Mitch can work around his eviction. But Beanie makes sure that the group has nothing to do with the school itself & is open to all guys regardless of age. Uneasy Mitch gives in after finding out he is called the "Godfather" by fellow frat boys. The major story of the boys opening a fraternity is solid, but the studio trys to throw in a new love interest for Mitch which doesn't work as smooth. Still, a normal society would think that Mitch should be the only one out of this bunch to be partying & having a grand ol' time. But Frank (who streaks through a neighborhood) & Beanie (who use the frat boys as a waiting staff for his son's birthday party) clearly don't want to be left out of all the party antics. What is suprising in this flick is how well these three acor's abilities collide to make a decent comedy without going overboard. Be sure to watch for hilarious guest spots by Andy Dick & Sean William Scott. Also, make sure not to miss the outtake & blooper reel on the DVD! It seems as if "Old School" was prepared leadinlgy so the cast/crew would have a fun time while shooting the film & after seeing the final result that is perfectly ok in my book. |
| Reminisce Those College Years While Viewing "Old School"... |
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| *MATT'S Pick* |
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| 3 STARS |
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| Unfaithful Rated: R |
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