watch my unwatched dvds

I haven’t been working on this for a while. My computer crashed over a year ago and I lost my updated DVD list after having spent months of effort updating it to current. I’ve been so frustrated at that, I haven’t cataloged any of my new DVD purchases in the past year nor have I bothered to put them in the racks after I’d gone to all the trouble of alphabetizing them.

My plans for this year are as follows:

Retype the DVD list from the printed version updating my last saved version.

Catalog all the new purchases.

Put together the new shelves.

File all the unfiled DVDs.

Take at least one unwatched DVD with me to watch while on call.

When A Stranger Calls 2006
4 out of 5 stars
Good film and acting, though I wouldn’t consider it a true remake.

Shortbus
4 out of 5 stars
Fascinating look at relationships and the sexual nature of them.

David
4 out of 5 stars
Good production values and twice the action.

The Exorcism Of Emily Rose
5 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Fantastic Four Volume 1
3 out of 5 stars
Okay cartoon but nothing outstanding. Four episodes on this DVD, and the coloration was wrong on Hank Pym.

The Brick Dollhouse
2 out of 5 stars
60s exploitation film that had lots of nude women but a rather simplistic script. What else would expect from this genre though?

The Sweet Sickness
2 out of 5 stars
60s exploitation documentary about the trouble young women get into in Hollywood including rape and pornography.

Stick It
4 out of 5 stars
Nice film about women’s gymnastics written and directed by a former gymnast, but it would’ve been better if it had focused more on the actual gymnastics.

Smell Of Honey, Swallow Of Brine
2 out of 5 stars
The best of the three 60s exploitation films I bought recently, and it featured the classic line “I may be a bitch, but I’ll never be a butch.” Otherwise the film is quickly forgotten other than the distaste of the tease who drove men to rape and murder.

Tooth Fairy
4 out of 5 stars
Decent thriller with interesting effects and mythology, though some of it seemed as though we’d seen it before.

Ethan
3 out of 5 stars
Lackluster performance though good cinematography.

The Darkroom
4 out of 5 stars
Interesting film about a man who doesn’t remember his past and the story his mind builds. Nice twists.

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life Of Ethan Green
5 out of 5 stars
Nice adaptation of the comic strips with a decent cast, and a lot of humor.

GGW Spring Break
3 out of 5 stars
Poor lighting and production values for this so-called platinum edition.

Slayer
3 out of 5 stars
The best part of this film was Lynda Carter in a supporting role as Caspar Van Dien’s commanding officer.

Deja Vu
5 out of 5 stars
Nice set-up and eventual wrap-up to an untypical action film with sci-fi elements.

Queer Duck The Movie
4 out of 5 stars
Okay animation and humor with some excellent voice work.

Venture Bros. Season 2
5 out of 5 stars
Very funny stuff here, but if you’re looking for decent commentary tracks you won’t find them here. The tour of Astro Base and the deleted scenes were great.

Seven Doors Of Death
3 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Army Of Darkness
3 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Shock To The System
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent second film in the PI series that improved upon the performances from the first film.

See No Evil
4 out of 5 stars
Good horror film with nice effects and an interesting killer, who could become a legend like Jason or Freddy.

Stan Lee Presents: The Condor
3 out of 5 stars
Okay animation but pretty bland plot and characters with the prerequisite unnecessary and distracting Stan Lee cameos.

Land Of The Dead
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Another Gay Movie
5 out of 5 stars
Funny parody of the American Pie films that put a gay spin on the teen sex comedy.

The Ant Bully
4 out of 5 stars
Good message in this animated feature though the animation left somethings to be desired.

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker
5 out of 5 stars
Great action adventure spy film about a teenager who winds up being a spy after his uncle is killed. This is an adapation of a book.

Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift
4 out of 5 stars
Nice driving sequences and good casting in this spinoff of the series.

Bidazzled
2 out of 5 stars
Poor casting and direction lead me to fast-forward through it.

The Sentinel
4 out of 5 stars
Okay political thriller with a good cast, but bland surprises.

Ultimate Avengers
4 out of 5 stars
Interesting take on the Avengers that makes me want to consider trying out the Ultimate comic line.

United 93
4 out of 5 stars
Real-time portrayal of that fateful flight that never really gave you a sense of who these people were. Much more interesting was the documentary about the making of the film where you saw the cast meeting the families of those they were portraying.

Ultimate Avengers 2
4 out of 5 stars
Nice follow up to the first film and built upon the mythology while also delivering shocking conclusions to characters.

The Hills Have Eyes 2006 version
4 out of 5 stars
Very good remake of the original with amped up gore and effects, but still the same message and ending.

The Omen 2006 version
4 out of 5 stars
Well done remake of the original, though I wasn’t happy with the portrayal of certain characters.

13 Seconds
2 out of 5 stars
I was distracted by the bad dubbing of the sound though the plot twist did earn it an extra star.

Hank
4 out of 5 stars
Nice production values, but otherwise forgettable.

Blue Steel
4 out of 5 stars
Jamie Lee Curtis pulled this up a star with her performance, but the writing was simply dreadful.

The Good Shepherd
3 out of 5 stars
Long historical drama that had a good cast but at times was hard to follow as it kept jumping around in time.

Black Christmas 2006 version
4 out of 5 stars
This remake was quite different from the original and doesn’t really fit the image of a remake in my mind. There were some good performances, and nice effects in this horror film.

Made In Britain
3 out of 5 stars
Interesting film about a punk in Britain in the 70s and how he was treated (or mistreated) by society. Good look at British society and politics of the time, but nothing really appealed about anyone in this.

The Hitcher
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

The Hitcher 2
4 out of 5 stars
Great follow-up to the original which picked up years in the future with a new hitchhiker, but also showed the effects of the first film on the characters that had survived. Some shocking events in this film that lead to more terror.

Rollerball
4 out of 5 stars
This remake lacked the political commentary that the original had, but made up for it with great action sequences.

Saw 3
5 out of 5 stars
What a great conclusion to this horror thrillogy. Great way to develop multiple stories and tie everything together from the first two films.

Speedway Junkie
4 out of 5 stars
Sanitized film about street hustlers that I would’ve rated lower but some good acting made up for what the visuals lacked.

Henry Fool
4 out of 5 stars
I’d forgotten I’d seen this movie in the theatre. Great performances by Parker Posey and the others in this independent film about creativity.

Essential Music Videos Classic ‘80s
4 out of 5 stars
Just six videos on this DVD, and three of them were excellent while the other three were just okay.

The Covenant
5 out of 5 stars
I actually just watched the director’s commentary track on this DVD but loved this film when it first came out. This was a fun film with awesome special effects and fight scenes.

Kinsey
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Hellboy Sword Of Storms
4 out of 5 stars
Nice animated follow-up to the live-action movie with the same actors lending their voices. Okay plot and action sequences.

Cat People
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Curse Of The Cat People
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Devil’s Den
3 out of 5 stars
This horror film should’ve been so much better with Kelly Hu and Devon Sawa, but in fact it didn’t come close to the fun of From Dusk To Dawn which was the basic premise with just a different type of monster.

The Departed
4 out of 5 stars
Intense thriller with lots of shocking action as two undercover agents on both sides try to ferret each other out. Great performances by Matt Damon and Leo DiCapprio.

Me Myself I
4 out of 5 stars
Well-written Rachel Griffiths film that had both elements of drama and comedy throughout her having to choose what kind of life she really wanted.

Stonewall And Riot
4 out of 5 stars
Very graphic animated feature that introduced an interesting cast of characters.

29 Palms
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Open Water
5 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

The Brood
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Slither
4 out of 5 stars
See my review here.

Congo
4 out of 5 stars
Good adventure film with Dylan Walsh and Laura Linney on a quest in Africa for a perfect diamond and dealing with intelligent apes. Nice effects and feel good ending.

Stranger Than Fiction
4 out of 5 stars
Finally a role in which I actually liked Will Ferrell. Don’t expect stupid comedy here, as this is intelligent and well-performed.

Snow Day
4 out of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by this film as I don’t really care for Chevy Chase. This was actually fun, and had a good message about taking chances in your life.

State of Grace
3 out of 5 stars
Standard undercover film that had decent performances by an excellent ensemble cast, but nothing that made me care about the characters.

Munich
3 out of 5 stars
Well-written and acted historical film that gave insight into the aftermath of the 1972 Olympic hostage situation. The movie was long though and I lost interest before the film was half over though I did watch through to the end.

16 Blocks
3 out of 5 stars
Good plot and surprisingly advanced acting by Bruce Willis, but I preferred the alternate ending to the one that made the theatres.

Firewall
3 out of 5 stars
Finally a film about computers that actually reflects current technology accurately. Good thriller but you fail to connect with the hostages or Harrison Ford’s character.

40 Days and 40 Nights
4 out of 5 stars
Funny comedy about abstaining for lent. Ignoring the fact that as a Catholic you’re always supposed to abstain from premarital sex, this film made me laugh out loud a few times. Chris Kline shined throughout especially during his physical comedy scenes.

Circuit
5 out of 5 stars
This film would not be everyone’s cup of tea. It was fiction but played as a kind of documentary of the circuit lifestyle utilizing a film within a film premise. The film was long, and the ending seemed cliche but it still ranks high in my mind.

Take The Lead
4 out of 5 stars
Real-life story of a dance instructor that decided to teach ballroom dance to inner city children to help them understand how to relate to each other as people. Excellent dancing and interesting characters.

Scent Of A Woman
5 out of 5 stars
See my detailed review here.

Magnolia
3 out of 5 stars
Great performances by a stellar cast including Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Some characters were more interesting than others, and the dramatic resolution at the end failed to deliver an epiphany to me.

The Hidden
4 out of 5 stars
Interesting sci-fi film about aliens that take over human bodies. Great early performance by Kyle MacLachlan.

Royal Tenenbaums
4 out of 5 stars
A stellar cast really brought this material upward that a lesser cast would have not been able to do. The characters were interesting and innovative, and even when it was a character I didn’t care for, I was still riveted to the screen.

Eden
3 out of 5 stars
Good acting and writing for this period piece, but the story of a woman with MS who astral travels didn’t connect with me as much as the story of the students did.

Too Young To Die
2 out of 5 stars
This made for tv movie seemed disjointed in the editing on DVD. I’m sure this cutting back and forth in time worked when there were commercial breaks, but as a film it detracted almost as much as Brad Pitt’s performance as a pimp.

The Rules Of Attraction
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant writing and cinematography in a film that shows you the same scene from three characters’ points of view and jumps back and forth in time. Great performances by Fred Savage, Ian Somerholder, James Van Der Beek, and Jessica Biel.

Silent Hill
4 out of 5 stars
I was not happy with the ending, but that’s probably because I’ve watched too many horror films with this type of ending recently. Still it had a great unique ghost story plot, and had plenty of well done action and effects.

Waiting
5 out of 5 stars
With Ryan Reynolds and Justin Long, this stellar cast delivered laugh after laugh. You may never trust your waiter or waitress again after seeing what’s done to the bad patrons at this fake restaurant. I laughed out loud, and watched it again for the commentary tracks.

Serenity
4 out of 5 stars
I never watched Firefly but I didn’t feel I was missing anything in watching this sci-fi film. The plot and characters stood on their own, and you grew to care what happened to them by the end.

Blood Angels
3 out of 5 stars
It had a lot of potential in this cross between a vampire film and Coyote Ugly, but it fell to the old cliches and not even Lorenzo Lamas could make it more than a B-film because of it.

Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid
4 out of 5 stars
I watched this after watching the original, and this is one of the rare times when the sequel is better than the original (which I only gave 3 stars). The special effects were better, as was the acting.

Transamerica
4 out of 5 stars
Felicity Huffman really transformed herself in this role of a male to female transgender. It was basically a road movie, but the characters were well developed and their interaction made you want them to succeed. The Hollywood ending was avoided which made this movie even better.

V For Vendetta
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliantly filmed adaptation of the Alan Moore graphic novel. How can you ever hope to forget Guy Fawkes Day after seeing this dystopian future done apart by the follies of the government itself. I’d recommend it to our current leadership, but I think the allegory would go over their heads.

My Brother’s Keeper
3.5 out of 5 stars
This independent film was written and produced by twins about a set of twins played by Aaron and Shawn Ashmore. The writing was okay, and the performances strong, but this seemed more like a made-for-tv film than a feature.

Voodoo Moon
3 out of 5 stars
While one might look at this as strictly a tale of zombies, it’s more a tale of redemption as Eric Mabius and Charisma Carpenter strive to overcome the tragedy they witnessed as children. Nice effects throughout, but nothing that hasn’t been done before.

Jackass Number Two
4 out of 5 stars
Just when you thought they couldn’t get any more demented, the unrated DVD shows you just how far they’re willing to go. From drinking horse sperm to a beer enema, this latest go around is the majorly disturbing but also funny as hell.

The Long Kiss Goodnight
4 out of 5 stars
Geena Davis was incredible in this film as she went from amnesiac school teacher and mother to the government spy and killer that she was originally. Great action sequences and thrilling adventure.

Village Of The Damned/Children Of The Damned
4 out of 5 stars
This double feature DVD had both the original black and white film and it’s color sequel. Interesting social commentary of the times they were filmed, both delivered strong performances and left you thinking long after the films had finished.

The Notebook
4 out of 5 stars
Flashback tale of love growing and lost, this film did a good job of adapting the novel. Strong performances by Ryan Gosling, James Garner and Gena Rowlands.

Evil Remains
3 out of 5 stars
Standard horror fare though billed as more. Similar in plot to Blair Witch Project but with better production qualities.

Poster Boy
4 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected based on the cover and preview, but it was so much better. This is a thoughtful look at the subject matter, and showed the impact not just from one point of view, but from all sides.

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile
4 out of 5 stars
Typical American Pie humor, this one takes a virgin Stiffler and places him and his friends in the hands of a drunken cousin on campus in time for the naked mile. This rating is based on the extras on the DVD that enhanced the movie, which otherwise would’ve gotten only 3 stars.

Haven
3 out of 5 stars
I bought this in a two-pack and didn’t know anything about it. It’s similar to Crash and other films that have multiple stories that occasionally intersect. A strong cast helped but the characters never made me invest in them.

Cowboys And Angels (2000)
5 out of 5 stars
Starring Adam Trese, this film tells the story of a cowboy and his quest for love after being dumped by his fiancee. While the Touched By An Angel bits can be too much at times, the genuine love story that develops is one of the best I’ve seen in ages.

Waking Life
4 out of 5 stars
Fascinating art film utilizing varying styles of animation, this philosophical journey leaves you with more questions than answers. At the same time you’re inspired to watch it again and again.

The Ringer
3 out of 5 stars
If you’ve seen the trailer for this film, you’ve seen most of the best bits. Mindless humor and predictable antics, this film doesn’t insult as much as it leaves you feeling stupid for having watched it.

Grandma’s Boy
4 out of 5 stars
I laughed out loud several times at the antics in this film, especially with stellar performances by Shirley Jones and Doris Roberts. Lots of sex and pot jokes throughout, and a halfway decent plot.

The Descent
4 out of 5 stars
The ending left me unsatisfied, even after listening to the commentary track to find out what was intended. Great acting by the female cast, and brilliant cinematography especially during the fight scenes in the caves.

Soldier’s Girl
4 out of 5 stars
True life tale come to film, the cast makes you care about the characters and what inevitably happens. Nicely filmed, it informed as well as entertained.

The Producers
4 out of 5 stars
Broderick and Lane brought their stage act to the big screen and delivered up to a point. While the movie did a fine job of adapting the play, the film version pales to what it could be to experience it live on stage. If you’re not a theatre-goer, you’ll love this film.

Rendezvous at the Golden Gate Bed & Breakfast
4 out of 5 stars
The most graphic of Greenwood/Cooper films I’ve ever seen, but the lighting was poor and detracted from much of the action.

Cursed
4 out of 5 stars
Wes Craven does werewolves right in this cameo filled film. Sexy and scary at the same time, the cast delivers both frights and laughs as they deal with their infestation. The film worked in the R rated or unrated versions, but the PG-13 version was hacked to bits leaving too many gaps.

Breaking The Cycle
4 out of 5 stars
Sometimes the one you’re looking for is right in front of your eyes. This film takes that premise to its logical conclusion, but along the way various possibilities are explored with mixed results.

London
4 out of 5 stars
Wow! Chris Evans’ descent into a drug induced madness was brilliant beyond belief. You really could feel his despair at losing the love of his life even if he hadn’t realized it before it was too late. A strong supporting cast rounds out the film.

Team America World Police
4 out of 5 stars
If you love South Park or Orgazmo, then you’ll love this puppet-filled film. Filled with songs and vulgarity, you’ll laugh and be offended at the same time. I was very impressed with the puppet love scene which was much more graphic than most R movies as far as positions go. And who doesn’t love a song that goes “America Fuck Yeah!” and a forced blow job to prove your loyalty to America. The culmination of the film features a battle with major Hollywood stars, and an exposition about dicks, pussies and assholes. I don’t think they could’ve gone more over the top than what they did.

Closer
4 out of 5 stars
Well cast, the actors made this film about four lovers who interconnect over the course of time. Adapted from a play, this film would have been better if it had taken a stage approach and left out some of the settings.

Venture Bros. Season One is something I recommend every adult with a sense of humor go out and buy. This cartoon spoofs Jonny Quest and the Hardy Boys and just about every other cheesy adventure show from the late 60s early 70s. There’s a good mix of homage with adult humor (testicular tortion anyone?), and not a single episode disappoints. Make sure to look at all the extras on the DVD too, especially the interviews for the live action movie. I’m so pleased there’s new episodes on Cartoon Network Sunday nights now. Five out of Five stars.

The Brothers Grimm was a neat movie as it integrated the characters and stories into the lives of the supposed authors. Sure there were flaws here and there, and it wasn’t the best vehicle for either Matt Damon or Heath Ledger, but it was still a fun romp and earned four out of five stars from me.

Cry_Wolf actually put the thrill back in thriller. Just like with any new kid in a school, there’s games that are played with him. This film just took those games to a higher level. Twists and turns throughout the film made you start to wonder what was real and what wasn’t, much like in the game the characters were playing. The final revelation delivered the payoff that you needed in order to accept your investment in the movie and characters. This should’ve been another Saw but it didn’t connect with people the same way. If only everyone could hear the director commentary. Four out of five stars.