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Paramount Pictures
2005, Color, Rated PG-13, 2 Hr
3 min
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16x9 enh)
English Dolby Digital 5.1
Directed by Breck Eisner
Starring Penélope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey, Lennie James,
Delroy Lindo, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy
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Violence
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"Sahara"
Synopsis
In the
latter part of the Civil War, an ironclad ship, laden with gold from the
Confederate Army, disappears.
Now,
140 years later, Dirk Pitt (McConaughey), who searches for sunken ships
as a member of NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Administration), is in
Africa on his latest mission to recover lost treasures for an African
country.
He
rescues Dr. Eva Rojas (Cruz), who is being attacked by a gang of
murderers that are working for the president of the country, General
Zateb Kazim (James). General Kazim does not want her to discover the
true nature of a disease that seems to be killing local tribe members.
In the
process of the rescue, Pitt finds a piece of gold from the lost ironclad
ship, and so, Pitt, his sidekick Al Giordino (Zahn), and Eva, set off in
search of the ship.
During
the search, the trio discovers why the locals have been dying, and now
they must stop the general before he destroys the entire continent.
Commentary
I have been a Dirk Pitt fan
for many years (books written by author Clive Cussler), and McConaughey
does not fit the character at all. Pitt is dangerous, and McConaughey
plays him as a not too serious fun loving adventurer.
As a result, the story
comes off as dull, sort of like a James Bond movie that did not have
enough money for all the requisite big sets and fancy special effects.
If you must watch Sahara,
watch the 1943 film by the same title, starring Humphrey Bogart. It is
much more entertaining.
Technical
The film has blown out
whites and uses the surrounds only sparingly.
Extras
These
include Across the Sands, Visualizing Sahara, Director's Commentary,
Deleted Scenes, and other things.
-
John E. Johnson, Jr. -
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Columbia Tristar Hom
2005, Color, Rated PG-13, 1 Hr
41 min
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Dolby Digital 5.1
Directed by Lee Tamahori
Starring Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson, Willem Dafoe, Peter
Strauss, Sunny Mabrey, Scott Speedman
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Violence
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Yes |
Sex
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Mild |
Language
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Bad |
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"XXX:
State of the Union
Synopsis
Secretary of State General George Octavius Deckert (Dafoe) wants to take
over the U.S. Government, because President James Sanford (Strauss) is a
pacifist.
C.I.A. Agent Augustus
Gibbons (Jackson) needs special help in fighting Deckert, so he brings a
former agent, XXX Darius Stone (Cube), who was convicted of treason and
is now in prison, back into duty.
Darius has special talents,
and works alone.
He meets Charlie (Mabrey),
a Washington insider, and enlists her help in finding the proof they
need to nail Deckert.
Things get complicated when
Darius discovers that General Deckert is bringing in an entire
attachment of soldiers who are loyal to his cause, and now he has to
worry about the safety of the President because he knows Deckert is
about to pull off a coup.
Commentary
This film was a 100 million
dollar project, and failed miserably at the box office.
The question is why, since
it is actually a pretty good story. It has a plot that is easy to
follow. The action is great. I guess you can never predict how a film
will do once the audience is asked to plunk down their money.
Extras
These include The
Director's Commentary, The Making Of, Bullet Train Breakdown, Top Secret
Military Warehouse, and other things.
- John E. Johnson, Jr. -
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Warner Brothers
2005, Color, Rated PG-13, 1 Hr
41 min
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16x9 enh)
Dolby Digital 5.1
Directed by Robert Luketik
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda
Sykes
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"Monster-in-Law"
Synopsis
Charlotte "Charlie" Cantelini (Lopez) is a Temp. That is someone who
fills in for employees when they go on vacation, or when an extra set of
hands is needed. She also paints and runs a catering service.
She
meets Dr. Kevin Fields (Vartan) at a party she is catering, and they hit
it off. In fact, they hit it off so well, Kevin takes her home to meet
his mother, Viola (Fonda). Viola is taken aback by the fact her son is
in love with a Temp. She thinks he should aim higher, and tries
everything she can to upset their plans to get married.
Viola's assistant Ruby (Sykes) is on Kevin's side, but she has to walk a
fine line not to upset her boss.
Viola
has a serious panic attack, and her doctor recommends that she be given
some TLC (tender loving care). Kevin is busy at the hospital, so Viola
ends up staying at Charlie's house, with predictable results.
Soon,
Charlie discovers what Viola is up to, and tries a few tricks of her
own.
Commentary
The film is harmless family fun, and Fonda is terrific as the would be
romance breaker. Sykes' character Ruby is perfect. Between the two, they
make the movie enjoyable. Lopez and Vartan's parts in the story take a
back seat to Fonda's and Sykes' comedy.
Extras
These include
Commentary, Blooper Reel, Deleted Scenes, Ruby's Makeup Bag, and other
things.
- John E. Johnson, Jr. -
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Lion Gate
Films
2003, Color,
Rated PG-13, 1 Hr 30 min
Aspect Ratio:
4:3
Dolby Digital
Directed by
Jeff Balsmeyer
Starring Rhys Ifans, Miranda Otto, Justine
Clarke, Rhys Muldoon
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Violence |
Mild |
Sex
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Mild |
Language |
Mild |
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"Danny Deckchair"
Synopsis
Cement worker Danny Morgan is stuck at home due to his
girlfriend canceling their camping trip, so he begins crawling the
walls and emptying the cupboards with boredom. He
thinks, what about filling multiple jumbo balloons with helium and
attach them to his deck chair, and then ride to the
stratosphere. You know, just to see if it
would work.
So, Danny fills enough balloons to lift him off the
ground, and he soars into the sky, straight into a massive
storm. The storm not only takes Danny far away from home
(Sydney, Australia), but also causes the rescue crew to lose
track of him. A violent crash landing in a tree brings Danny
smack dab into the back yard of Glenda. Soon Danny and
Glenda find much needed change in their boring lives and
proceed to masquerade around her small town as old
university friends.
Meanwhile, back at Danny's home, his wife Trudy and friends are
worried sick, so they decide to use the horde of television
reporters camped outside to help locate him. This soon
elevates Danny into becoming an intriguing mystery and
national celebrity. It also brings attention and fame to Trudy,
which she devours.
Soon, all the attention catches up with Danny, and he is
located. Discovering that he has less at home than in
Australia, he follows his heart back to Glenda.
Commentary
Sounds pretty far fetched doesn't it.
Man straps helium balloons to deck chair and floats off to a
new life. Well, Danny wasn't the first to try this. In fact,
back in 1982, Larry Walters actually did this trick in California.
After reaching about 16,000 feet (Jet Liner territory), he
descended by way of a BB gun. In fact, it was that story that
intrigued me, ultimately leading me to rent this movie
However, the film is less about the journey and more about
the reason for the flight. Being able to escape one's boring
life is a daydream for many people, and the way in which
Danny does it is very unique. Nonetheless, it is the
characters in the movie that are far more entertaining that
the flight itself. A delightfully light romantic comedy that
was very fun to watch. Nothing too
deep or dark.
Technical
The dialogue is clear, and the
surrounds are used very lightly.
Nothing spectacular visually, however. Don't expect this to
be your next reference disc.
Extras
These include The Making Of, Director's
Commentary, and Trailer.
- Jared Rachwalski -
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