What It’s About: The big scary, but loveable ape comes to life again in Peter Jackson’s epic (and by epic we mean looooong) film. I guess based on the positive reception to the “Lord of the Rings” movies, Jackson thought it meant audiences were craving long movies. While “King Kong” is a great film, it really could use with some trimming of the fat.
The fact is, this movie isn’t really about the story. What is worth checking out about Kong, is the special effects. They truly do take over the movie. You never really get emotionally involved with the movie or its characters, but you find yourself whispering “Whoa” under your breath a lot. Which is still a good enough reason to see a movie in my books.
Synopsis: Based on the original story by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace, which became the classic 1933 RKO Radio Pictures film. Naomi Watts ("21 Grams") portrays Ann Darrow, an actress from the world of vaudeville who finds herself out of a job in Depression-era New York. Her luck changes when she meets Carl Denham, played by Jack Black ("School of Rock"). Denham is an entrepreneur, raconteur, adventurer and filmmaker who is struggling to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Bold, ebullient and charismatic, Denham has a natural sense of showmanship and an appetite for greatness, which ultimately leads to catastrophe. Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") steps into the role of Jack Driscoll, a New York playwright, who becomes an unlikely hero in a romantic adventure story which will test his physical courage and his heart.
Technical Stuff: The picture is presented is anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. I don’t think I even have to tell you that it’s beautiful and flawless.
The sound is super-realistic and powerful in a Dolby Digital 5.1 with optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles. It sounded like the brontosaurus stampede was happening in my basement. Which really worried my cat.
Extras? There are two versions of King Kong. The two-disc special edition has more features which is the one to get if you’re into those, but we received the single disc widescreen for review which had the following:
· The Volkswagen Toureg & King Kong
· Wish You Were Here
Final Verdict: While the technical stuff surely surpasses the movie itself, King Kong still remains a must for your DVD library. It’s the perfect film to whip out when you buy that brand new LCD television or new subwoofer to enjoy your new gadgets.

What It’s About: I wasn’t expecting to like "Dreamer". I was expecting to be cheesed out by Dakota Fanning and her posse, acting all holier-than-thou and sickly sweet. I was wrong.
Not that it’s not sickly sweet—it can be. But somehow, the movie rises above all the clichés and comes out a winner. Fanning is not obnoxious which is a great start. She’s backed up by Kurt Russell, Kris Kristofferson and Elizabeth Shue. So we have a stellar cast. The movie is based on a horse named Mariah’s Storm who broke a leg and came back to win races. But although it’s inspired by it, it’s not the retelling. I can’t put my finger on what exactly let’s this movies escape the stereotypical cheesy horse drama but I think it’s the love and care it’s told with. The characters are believable and likeable. Dreamer is a modern day Black Beauty and both children and adults will be captivated.
Synopsis: Ben Crane was once a great horseman, whose gifts as a trainer, were wasted on making other men's fortunes. Sonya was once a great horse, whose promising career on the racetrack was cut short, suddenly, by a broken leg. Considered as good as dead to her owner--who also happens to be Ben's boss--Sonya is given to Ben as his severance pay, along with his walking papers. Now, it will take the unwavering faith and determination of Ben's young daughter, Cale, to bring these two damaged souls together in a quest for a seemingly impossible goal: to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. However, the true miracle might be that, in helping this injured horse, what they are actually healing is their own family.
Technical Stuff: The film is being release in a fullscreen and widescreen version and since we think the fullscreen is evil, and we got the widescreen to review, that’s what we’re talking about here. The picture is stunning. Seriously. The 2.40:1 anamorphic ratio picture is flawless, beautifully coloured and detailed and simply gorgeous. It made me want to jump into it.
The sound comes in a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that’s also perfect—crisp, clear and dynamic when need be. There is also a 2.0 track and a 5.1 French track. There are optional subtitles in English, French, and Spanish
Extras?
· Director audio commentary
· Behind the scenes featurette
· Working and Filming with Horses featurette
· How to Care for a Horse featurette
· Feature with the cast
Final Verdict: So it’s a little sappy and predictable. I got sucked in. And I’m pretty cynical. So I think you’ll get sucked in too and love this little movie about and horse and a girl who never gave up and …I’m getting all teary just thinking about it.

What It’s About: Who doesn’t remember watching “The Ten Commandments” at some point as a kid? I certainly do, and it became a yearly tradition at Easter, like “The Sound of Music at Christmas”. It was a serious, powerful and huge movie, and used to bore me to tears during all the parts that weren’t the highlights of Moses’ life (parting of the sea, burning bush, etc).
Watching it again as an adult for this review was pretty interesting. I wasn’t as bored as when I was a kid, but I found a new cheesiness to it as well. Charlton Heston plays Moses and is very stiff and commanding, but still manages to remain quite human. Every line in this film sounds like something out of Days of our Lives. It’s very serious, solemn and powerful. It’s like all the actors knew this was a “Big Movie” and had to treat it as such. And while the special effects aren’t as good as they would be today, they still look pretty impressive.
Synopsis: For sheer pageantry and spectacle, few motion pictures can claim to equal the splendor of Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 remake of his epic THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Filmed in Egypt and the Sinai with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture, this version tells the story of the life of Moses (Charlton Heston), once favored in the Pharaoh's (Yul Brynner) household, who turned his back on a privileged life to lead his people to freedom. With a rare on-screen introduction by Cecil B. DeMille himself, this unforgettable movie experience is enhanced by a Dolby surround stereo soundtrack. This 3-disc set includes The Ten Commandments Special Collector's Edition (1956 version) and The Ten Commandments (1923 silent version).
Technical Stuff: Kind of like Heston, it looks pretty good for its age but does have some damage. The picture is presented in an anamorphic widescreen image and has a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. It shows some scratches and nicks and the colour is over saturated as was the case in the 1950s. Still, for 50 years, it looks pretty good.
The sound is available in a Dolby Digital 5.1 and also sounds quite good. Not what we’re used to today but considering its age, it’s a solid remastering. The DVDs also offer DD 2.0 surround English and DD 2.0 mono French tracks. Optional English subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.
Extras?
· Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille's Epic, The Ten Commandments
· Hand-tinted Footage of the Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea Sequence
Final Verdict: This is a classic! If you own the previous release, the only reason you would be buying this one is for the 1923 silent version as pretty much everything else is the same. If you don’t own it, it’s a solid investment and a great addition to your collection.

What It’s About: I loved this little movie! I had heard good things about “The Squid and the Whale” but never really knew what it was about or if it was even playing in theatres. As soon as I started watching this movie on DVD, I knew I was in for a real treat.
Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are perfect as parents who separate, leaving their kids to try and cope with their new lives. It’s touching, it’s hilarious and it’s beyond charming. It’s also smart, creative and has many layers. It’s a film that’s hard to explain without just telling you to go see it…so go see it!
Synopsis: Based on the true childhood experiences of director Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale tells the story of a patriarch (Jeff Daniels, Dumb & Dumber, Speed) of an eccentric Brooklyn family who once had been a great novelist, but has settled into a teaching job. When his wife (Laura Linney, Exorcism of Emily Rose, Kinsey) discovers a writing talent of her own, jealousy divides the family, leaving two teenage sons to forge new relationships with their parents. Linney's character begins dating her younger son's tennis coach (William Baldwin, Backdraft, Flatliners). Meanwhile, Daniels' character has an affair with the student (Anna Paquin, X-Men, Almost Famous) his older son is pursuing.
Technical Stuff: It was a low-budget film and has been mastered in High Definition and is presented in anamorphic widescreen, 1.85:1. And it looks great! There is a tiny bit of grain, but nothing to complain about by any means.
You can listen to the film in English Dolby Digital 5.1 or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, with subtitles in English and French. Again, very impressive for a lower budget movie. Good job Sony!
Extras?
· Director commentary
· Behind-the-scenes featurette
· A conversation with director Noah Baumbach and Philip Lopate
Final Verdict: I loved it! This is a real heart-warming but gut wrenching film with lots of funny and uncomfortable moments. Go for it!

What It’s About: Nominated for a bunch of Academy Awards, “Good Night, and Good Luck” is sure to be a hit on DVD no matter what publicity it gets at this point. The nice thing is—it absolutely deserves it.
George Clooney directed this film and shot it in black and white, which gives you a surreal feeling when watching it that it’s an old film but it’s not. Sure it has its dry moments but on the whole, it’s a movie worth watching for the history lesson it serves. Clooney is starting to garner some serious industry respect and if he keeps piping out films of this calibre, it won’t be long before he has one of those little gold men for directing on his mantel.
Synopsis: Good Night, and Good Luck is set in 1950s America as Senator Joseph McCarthy, the powerful chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, is at the height of his unrelenting campaign to rid America of the “Red Menace”. Edward R. Murrow is host of a popular CBS news program, “See it Now” and the talk show “Person to Person.” Good Night, and Good Luck chronicles the clash of these two powerful public figures as America is gripped by fear and paranoia. Using outright lies, scaremongering and bullying tactics, McCarthy destroys the lives and careers of countless people by falsely accusing them of being Communists or Communist sympathizers.
Backed by a dedicated staff, led by producer Fred Friendly (Clooney), Murrow exposes the Senator’s so-called ‘evidence’ and suspect methods and, in turn, becomes a target of McCarthy’s vitriol himself.
Technical Stuff: Everything looks sharp and clean including the old kinescopes included throughout the film, which must have been some undertaking to clean up. The black and white picture is flawless.
The sound is also wonderful but not because it completely surrounded me with noise, but because despite the Dolby 5.1, it almost all came out of the centre speaker giving me the illusion that I was watching television in the 1950s. Clever.
Extras?
· Audio commentary by George Clooney and Grant Heslov
Final Verdict: Slow-moving at times but ultimately satisfying, “Good Night, and Good Luck” is a must-watch for history buffs, politics fans and those who just enjoy a well-made film.

What It’s About: While I’m not exactly the biggest Trekkie on earth, even I have to admit this is a pretty cool idea—bring together the umpteen spin-offs into collections based on themes. This one is centred around the Borgs, really creepy and evil bad guys that are pretty much impossible to stop.
This collection contains ten episodes that feature Borgs and they come from Enterprise, Voyager and The Next Generation. It’s interesting to see the differences and similarities between the series when they’re lined up like this with something in common. Trek fans are sure to adore this!
Synopsis: The Borg Fan Collection has the top ten most popular Borg episodes as picked by the fans. Witness all the characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Enterprise and Voyager as they defend their ships, galaxies, and their own kind. For thousands of years the Borg have been spreading throughout the galaxy, conquering, assimilating and thus destroying countless civilizations. Following every encounter, the Borg catalogue each new species with a numerical designation instead of a proper name.
Technical Stuff: Since the episodes range from 1989-2003, picture quality varies but remains pretty sharp throughout. All episodes are in full frame except Enterprise since it’s the newest show.
The Dolby 5.1 sounds great on all episodes no matter their age. Also includes English 2.0 Surround; English 2.0 Stereo (episode 142, 174 on The Next Generation) along with English subtitles and closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired.
Extras?
· Audio commentary by Mike Sussman and Phyllis Strong on select episodes
· Text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda on select episodes
Final Verdict: A brilliant marketing strategy from those geniuses in the Trek universe and a collection sure to give die-hard Trekkies the giggles.

What It’s About: Bored soldiers waiting for action during the Gulf War. This was a big role for Jake Gyllenhaal, who I think, is better here than in "Brokeback Mountain". He plays a rookie Marine excited to head out into war and see some action. The truth of what the soldiers went through out there is beautifully portrayed in this film. It wasn’t action so much as a lot of waiting. And waiting. Enough waiting to drive a man crazy.
The film is action-packed at first and very fast-paced. Then, it really becomes about a whole lot of nothing. Which is the point. Because what happened out there really was w hole lot of nothing. “Jarhead” got some mixed reviews when it hit theatres but I really enjoyed it and upon a second viewing on DVD, I stay by my assertion that it’s a well-made, intelligent film that gets at the heart of a pointless war.
Synopsis: Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal), a third generation enlistee, arrives at Marine basic training eager to be initiated into “Jarhead” lore and discipline as he prepares for action in the Persian Gulf. “Swoff” graduates from the intense regimentation of boot camp to hunkering down with a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound rucksack in the blistering Kuwaiti desert, where he and his fellow Marines await orders under the command of veteran Sergeant Sykes (Jamie Foxx). Primed for combat and alienated from home and family, the young Marines face enforced inaction waiting for an enemy they can’t see defending a cause they don’t understand.
Technical Stuff: Impressive. The cinematography for “Jarhead” is very gritty, washed out and rough. All of this comes through perfectly in the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer.The sound comes through in a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that packs a wallop. It was booming and clear and all around my head. Fantastic. Also comes with Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Extras?
· Swoff’s Fantasies with Commentary by Director Sam Mendes and Editor Walter Murch
· News Interviews in Full with Commentary by Director Sam Mendes and Editor Walter Murch
· Deleted Scenes with Introduction by Director Sam Mendes and Editor Walter Murch
· Feature Commentary with Director Sam Mendes
· Feature Commentary with Screenwriter William Broyles, Jr. & Author Anthony Swofford
Final Verdict: We really enjoyed this commentary-on-war flick and thought Gyllenhaal was great. If you missed it in theatres, definitely give it a try on DVD.

What It’s About: Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman star in a movie made out to look like a very funny romantic-comedy through its trailers. But when you sit down you watch it a sad reality creeps in—all the funny parts were shown in those very trailers.
What’s left is a movie that tries hard, has great acting but never really surfaces as entertaining. I found myself drifting off at several points in the film because, well, nothing really happens. Sure, there’s some convoluted plot about a therapist whose patient who is dating her much younger son. But despite great turns from Streep who is known for doing a fantastic funny (see Adaptation) and Thurman who isn’t known for it but does it oh-so-brilliantly (see The Producers) the movie never really takes off. Which is a real shame.
Synopsis: When Rafi (Uma Thurman), a 37-year-old divorcee, meets David (Bryan Greenberg), a 23-year-old painter, it’s love at first sight. But that love gets complicated – fast – when Rafi discovers that David is also the son of her therapist (Academy Award ® winner Meryl Streep)! Rafi’s about to discover that professional help is going to get very personal.
Technical Stuff: The film is very cheerful and colourful and that all comes through in a lovely 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen picture that’s clean and polished without any boo-boos.
Not too much to listen for in terms of sound here except the dialogue which is perfect thanks to the fact that we have here a new major studio release. Dolby Digital 5.1 in English or French.
Extras?
· Deleted Scenes: Fans of the film will get to see even more romantic fun with these deleted scenes
· Outtakes: Laugh along with the film’s cast in these hilarious outtakes
· Prime Time Players: In this behind-the-scenes feature, writer/director Ben Younger takes fans through the making of Prime
· Feature Commentary with writer/director Ben Younger and producer Jennifer Todd
Final Verdict: It’s not great, but if you’re a fan of Streep or Thurman you’ll probably get a kick out of their interactions and subtle comedic performances. Rent it.