DVD Pick of the week: Pirate radio (Universal studios Home entertainment)
AFTER DARK HORROFEST: 8 FILMS TO DIE FOR (lionsGate Home entertainment): The latest selection of independent big-screen shockers that have toured the nation as a selfcontained film festival: Lake Mungo stars Rosie Traynor and David Pledger; The Graves features clare Grant, Bill moseley, Amanda Wyss and Tony Todd; Dread, produced by clive Barker and adapted from his Books of Blood collection, stars Jackson Rathbone and shaun evans; the horror spoof Zombies of Mass Destruction stars Janette Armand, Doug Fahl and cooper Hopkins (all in their film debuts); Hidden stars kristoffer Joner and cecilie mosli; The Final stars marco Donato and Justin Arnold; Kill Theory stars two lovelies in Agnes Bruckner and Taryn manning; and The Reeds stars Anna Brewster, emma catherwood and Geoff Bell. All of the films are rated R (for obvious reasons). each DVD retails for $19.98; a boxed set of all eight films retails for $159.98.
THE BARBARA STANWYCK COLLECTION (Universal studios Home entertainment): A sixfilm collection ($49.98 retail) commemorating the legacy of legendary Hollywood leading lady Barbara stanwyck (1907-’90): co-starring with Joel mccrea (as Dr. kildare) and lloyd Nolan in Internes Can’t Take Money (1937); again opposite mccrea in William Wellman’s 1942 adaptation of The Great Man’s Lady; opposite Robert cummings, Robert Benchley and young Natalie Wood in the 1946 comedy The Bride Wore Boots, based on a Harry segall play; rolling the dice with Robert Preston in the 1949 cautionary tale The Lady Gambles; opposite Richard carlson and maureen o’sullivan in Douglas sirk’s adaptation of All I Desire (1953); and opposite Fred macmurray and Joan Bennett in sirk’s 1956 adaptation of Ursula Parrott’s novel There’s Always Tomorrow.
BATTLE FOR TERRA (lionsGate Home entertainment): An engaging, fast-moving, award-winning, animated science-fiction parable about a group of scientists who decide to settle on the title planet after earth has been rendered uninhabitable because of environmental destruction. Thematically similar to James cameron’s Avatar, but not as successful at the box-office. The all-star lineup of voice talent includes James Garner, Dennis Quaid, evan Rachel Wood, Brian cox, Danny Glover, luke Wilson, Rosanna Arquette, Amanda Peet, chris evans, Beverly D’Angelo and mark Hamill. Rated PG.
COUPLES RETREAT (Universal studios Home entertainment): Actor-turned-director Peter Billingsley makes his feature debut with this flabby, sitcom-level comedy about four couples (Vince Vaughn and malin Akerman, Jon Favreau and kristin Davis, Jason Bateman and kristen Bell, Faizon love and kali Hawk) on vacation at a tropical getaway. Vaughn also produced and collaborated on the screenplay with Favreau. A box-office hit, although hopefully not enough of one to justify a sequel. one’s enough. Rated PG-13. CRAVINGS (lionsGate Home entertainment): Despite the DVD cover art, this is not at all the traditional vampire film. originally titled Daddy’s Girl, writer/director DJ evans’ moody psycho-drama stars Richard Harrington as a troubled psychiatrist trying to probe the case of a deranged teenaged girl (Jaime Winstone) with a taste for blood, only to also become involved with her mother (louise Delamere). Rated R.
DANTE’S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC (Anchor Bay entertainment): The title tells all in this high-decibel adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s 14th century poem as created by multiple Asian animation studios, with Graham mcTavish providing the voice of the title character. other familiar voices amid the bombast include mark Hamill and Victoria Tennant. Designed as a companion piece to the electronic Arts video game of the same name.
GODKILLER: WALK AMONG US (Halo8 entertainment): The first episode in an animated film series set in a murky, grungy, nihilistic, postapocalyptic future, based on the comic book created by writer/director matt Pizzolo. As much fun as it sounds. The voiceover line-up includes lance Henriksen, Danielle Harris, Tiffany shepis, katie Nisa and Bill moseley.
“KOURTNEY & KHLOE TAKE MIAMI”: SEASON ONE (lionsGate Home entertainment): For those who can’t get enough of the gals from “keeping Up With the kardashians,” this two-DVD boxed set ($19.98 retail) contains all nine episodes from the 2009 season of the e! entertainment reality series, which brings the sisters to miami.
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS (Anchor Bay entertainment): Producer Grant Heslov makes his feature directorial debut with this rollicking (and fact-inspired!) military satire, based on Jon Ronson’s non-fiction best-seller, about a covert Us special Forces team trained to exercise their psychic abilities. Uneven at times, but pushed across by a terrific cast: George clooney (also a producer), ewan mcGregor, kevin spacey, Jeff Bridges, stephen lang, Robert Patrick and stephen Root. Rated R.
“MONK”: SEASON EIGHT (Universal studios Home entertainment): executive producer and leading man Tony shalhoub bids farewell to his signature character, the obsessive, multi-phobic detective with an unerring knack for solving crime, in all 16 episodes from the 2009 (and final) season of the critically acclaimed, award-winning UsA Network series. This four-DVD boxed set retails for $59.98.
O JERUSALEM (Anchor Bay entertainment): said Taghamaoui and JJ Feild (who uncannily resembles singer michael Bolton) play best friends — one muslim, one Jewish — who find themselves on opposite sides during the early, hard-fought days of Israel’s independence. Although sincerely intentioned, director elie chouraqui’s award-winning adaptation of larry collins and Dominique lapierre’s 1972 best-seller turns potentially incendiary (and insightful) historical drama into hokey soap opera. maria Papas plays the girl in the middle, with appearances by Tom conti, director chouraqu, a bewigged Ian Holm as David Ben-Gurion and a severe Tovah Feldshuh as Golda meir (a role she previously played on stage). Rated R.
“PARTY DOWN”: SEASON 1 (starz entertainment/Anchor Bay entertainment): A group of aspiring entertainers (and misfits) find themselves employees at the “Party Down” catering company, working one night at a time in all 10 episodes from the debut 2009 season of the starz entertainment situation comedy. The regular cast includes ken marino, Adam scott, lizzy caplan, Ryan Hansen and martin starr, with ongoing appearances by Jane lynch and megan mullally. This two-DVD boxed set (replete with bonus features) retails for $29.97.
TRAPPED ASHES (lionsGate Home entertainment): A five-part horror anthology directed by Joe Dante, ken Russell, sean cunningham, monte Hellman and John Gaeta. sometimes erotic and sometimes silly, and like a lot of anthologies it’s hit-or-miss — but not bad overall. An international co-production between canada, Japan and the Us, the cast includes John saxon, lara Harris, Jayce Bartok, Rachel Veltri, Dick miller and the late Henry Gibson. Rated R.
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll all figure prominently in writer/ director Richard curtis’ rambunctious, nostalgic comedy, loosely inspired by actual incidents.
Originally titled The Boat That Rocked (which is a dead giveaway), Pirate Radio humorously details the history of Radio Rock, a ship anchored outside of Britain’s territorial waters, which broadcasts rock ‘n’ roll all day and all of the night (to quote a kinks tune), attracting a listening audience that comprises nearly half of the nation’s population.
Bill Nighy plays the dandified owner of the floating radio station, and his cool crew of disc jockeys and music mavens include Philip seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Ralph Brown,
Tom Brooke and Tom Wisdom (as mark, “the sexiest man in the world”). Tom sturridge plays a teenager sent by his mother (emma Thompson) to spend the summer aboard Radio Rock, where he comes of age amidst a barrage of classic rock tunes.
Opposition is personified by smug, officious sir Alistair Dormandy (kenneth Branagh) and his sycophantic hatchet man mr. Twatt (Jack Davenport), who are determined to clean up the nation’s airwaves by means fair or foul — the government, of course, justifying either.
The cast is both engaging and engaged, the humor is consistent and consistently funny, and the music’s great. What’s not to love? Rated R.
ALSO ON DVDAFTER DARK HORROFEST: 8 FILMS TO DIE FOR (lionsGate Home entertainment): The latest selection of independent big-screen shockers that have toured the nation as a selfcontained film festival: Lake Mungo stars Rosie Traynor and David Pledger; The Graves features clare Grant, Bill moseley, Amanda Wyss and Tony Todd; Dread, produced by clive Barker and adapted from his Books of Blood collection, stars Jackson Rathbone and shaun evans; the horror spoof Zombies of Mass Destruction stars Janette Armand, Doug Fahl and cooper Hopkins (all in their film debuts); Hidden stars kristoffer Joner and cecilie mosli; The Final stars marco Donato and Justin Arnold; Kill Theory stars two lovelies in Agnes Bruckner and Taryn manning; and The Reeds stars Anna Brewster, emma catherwood and Geoff Bell. All of the films are rated R (for obvious reasons). each DVD retails for $19.98; a boxed set of all eight films retails for $159.98.
THE BARBARA STANWYCK COLLECTION (Universal studios Home entertainment): A sixfilm collection ($49.98 retail) commemorating the legacy of legendary Hollywood leading lady Barbara stanwyck (1907-’90): co-starring with Joel mccrea (as Dr. kildare) and lloyd Nolan in Internes Can’t Take Money (1937); again opposite mccrea in William Wellman’s 1942 adaptation of The Great Man’s Lady; opposite Robert cummings, Robert Benchley and young Natalie Wood in the 1946 comedy The Bride Wore Boots, based on a Harry segall play; rolling the dice with Robert Preston in the 1949 cautionary tale The Lady Gambles; opposite Richard carlson and maureen o’sullivan in Douglas sirk’s adaptation of All I Desire (1953); and opposite Fred macmurray and Joan Bennett in sirk’s 1956 adaptation of Ursula Parrott’s novel There’s Always Tomorrow.
BATTLE FOR TERRA (lionsGate Home entertainment): An engaging, fast-moving, award-winning, animated science-fiction parable about a group of scientists who decide to settle on the title planet after earth has been rendered uninhabitable because of environmental destruction. Thematically similar to James cameron’s Avatar, but not as successful at the box-office. The all-star lineup of voice talent includes James Garner, Dennis Quaid, evan Rachel Wood, Brian cox, Danny Glover, luke Wilson, Rosanna Arquette, Amanda Peet, chris evans, Beverly D’Angelo and mark Hamill. Rated PG.
COUPLES RETREAT (Universal studios Home entertainment): Actor-turned-director Peter Billingsley makes his feature debut with this flabby, sitcom-level comedy about four couples (Vince Vaughn and malin Akerman, Jon Favreau and kristin Davis, Jason Bateman and kristen Bell, Faizon love and kali Hawk) on vacation at a tropical getaway. Vaughn also produced and collaborated on the screenplay with Favreau. A box-office hit, although hopefully not enough of one to justify a sequel. one’s enough. Rated PG-13. CRAVINGS (lionsGate Home entertainment): Despite the DVD cover art, this is not at all the traditional vampire film. originally titled Daddy’s Girl, writer/director DJ evans’ moody psycho-drama stars Richard Harrington as a troubled psychiatrist trying to probe the case of a deranged teenaged girl (Jaime Winstone) with a taste for blood, only to also become involved with her mother (louise Delamere). Rated R.
DANTE’S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC (Anchor Bay entertainment): The title tells all in this high-decibel adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s 14th century poem as created by multiple Asian animation studios, with Graham mcTavish providing the voice of the title character. other familiar voices amid the bombast include mark Hamill and Victoria Tennant. Designed as a companion piece to the electronic Arts video game of the same name.
GODKILLER: WALK AMONG US (Halo8 entertainment): The first episode in an animated film series set in a murky, grungy, nihilistic, postapocalyptic future, based on the comic book created by writer/director matt Pizzolo. As much fun as it sounds. The voiceover line-up includes lance Henriksen, Danielle Harris, Tiffany shepis, katie Nisa and Bill moseley.
“KOURTNEY & KHLOE TAKE MIAMI”: SEASON ONE (lionsGate Home entertainment): For those who can’t get enough of the gals from “keeping Up With the kardashians,” this two-DVD boxed set ($19.98 retail) contains all nine episodes from the 2009 season of the e! entertainment reality series, which brings the sisters to miami.
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS (Anchor Bay entertainment): Producer Grant Heslov makes his feature directorial debut with this rollicking (and fact-inspired!) military satire, based on Jon Ronson’s non-fiction best-seller, about a covert Us special Forces team trained to exercise their psychic abilities. Uneven at times, but pushed across by a terrific cast: George clooney (also a producer), ewan mcGregor, kevin spacey, Jeff Bridges, stephen lang, Robert Patrick and stephen Root. Rated R.
“MONK”: SEASON EIGHT (Universal studios Home entertainment): executive producer and leading man Tony shalhoub bids farewell to his signature character, the obsessive, multi-phobic detective with an unerring knack for solving crime, in all 16 episodes from the 2009 (and final) season of the critically acclaimed, award-winning UsA Network series. This four-DVD boxed set retails for $59.98.
O JERUSALEM (Anchor Bay entertainment): said Taghamaoui and JJ Feild (who uncannily resembles singer michael Bolton) play best friends — one muslim, one Jewish — who find themselves on opposite sides during the early, hard-fought days of Israel’s independence. Although sincerely intentioned, director elie chouraqui’s award-winning adaptation of larry collins and Dominique lapierre’s 1972 best-seller turns potentially incendiary (and insightful) historical drama into hokey soap opera. maria Papas plays the girl in the middle, with appearances by Tom conti, director chouraqu, a bewigged Ian Holm as David Ben-Gurion and a severe Tovah Feldshuh as Golda meir (a role she previously played on stage). Rated R.
“PARTY DOWN”: SEASON 1 (starz entertainment/Anchor Bay entertainment): A group of aspiring entertainers (and misfits) find themselves employees at the “Party Down” catering company, working one night at a time in all 10 episodes from the debut 2009 season of the starz entertainment situation comedy. The regular cast includes ken marino, Adam scott, lizzy caplan, Ryan Hansen and martin starr, with ongoing appearances by Jane lynch and megan mullally. This two-DVD boxed set (replete with bonus features) retails for $29.97.
TRAPPED ASHES (lionsGate Home entertainment): A five-part horror anthology directed by Joe Dante, ken Russell, sean cunningham, monte Hellman and John Gaeta. sometimes erotic and sometimes silly, and like a lot of anthologies it’s hit-or-miss — but not bad overall. An international co-production between canada, Japan and the Us, the cast includes John saxon, lara Harris, Jayce Bartok, Rachel Veltri, Dick miller and the late Henry Gibson. Rated R.
