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by Ivana Redwine

Here's a selection of new movies on DVD for February, 2006.

February 7, 2006

"Doom"
The Rock stars in this sci-fi movie based on a video game. The film is set in the near future when a portal has been discovered that allows for fast travel from Earth to Mars. Earthlings have established a research facility on the Red Planet, but something goes awry and the people at the research station are being killed. Sarge (The Rock) leads an eight-man commando team to rescue the researchers and prevent the problem from spreading to Earth.

"Elizabethtown"
Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst star in this comedy that was written and directed by Cameron Crowe. Drew (Bloom) is an Oregon shoe designer who is at a low point in his life when he flies to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to take care of his father's funeral. On the journey, he meets flight attendant Claire (Dunst). In Kentucky, Drew begins to put his life back together as he gets to know his extended family and becomes romantically interested in Claire.

"Just Like Heaven"
Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo are paired in this sweet romantic fairytale. Elizabeth (Witherspoon) is a driven young doctor, and David (Ruffalo) is a melancholy widower. But when David moves into an apartment, he finds Elizabeth's ghostly presence there. As David and Elizabeth fall for each other, they try to figure out what is going on. The concept here is that emotional connections can reach beyond the grave.

"Waiting…"
This workplace slice-of-life comedy chronicles a day in the lives of employees of a chain restaurant called Shenanigan's. The ensemble cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Justin Long, Luis Guzman and Chi McBride. The employees deal with a variety of personal issues, customers are obnoxious, and food workers commit unsanitary acts.

"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"
This British animated comedy marks the feature film debut of the characters Wallace and Gromit, who already have a cult following through their appearances in shorts. Wallace (voice of Peter Sallis) is a cheese-loving inventor, while Gromit is his silent pet dog. In this movie, they're up against a giant mutant rabbit that's loose in a town obsessed with gardening. Other voices heard in the film include those of Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes.

February 14, 2006

"Proof"
Leading lady Gwyneth Paltrow and director John Madden worked together on the London stage production of "Proof," and they were reunited for this movie adaptation of the play. Catherine (Paltrow) spent years caring for her recently deceased mathematician father (Anthony Hopkins), who suffered from progressive dementia. When a proof is found in his papers, she claims credit for it, but there's concern that she may have inherited her father's mental illness.

"Saw II"
This horror movie is the sequel to "Saw" (2004), and Tobin Bell returns as the sadistic killer Jigsaw. Also, Shawnee Smith reprises her role as Amanda. This time around Jigsaw has trapped eight people inside a house where they will die unless they figure certain things out. One of Jigsaw's prisoners is the son of a cop (Donnie Wahlberg), who tries to come up with a way of dealing with the deranged killer. The film features a lot of gore.

"Zathura"
Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, this is a family-oriented action-adventure movie. The heroes are two brothers, six-year-old Danny and 10-year-old Walter. One day Danny discovers an old space-themed board game called Zathura in his basement and begins to play it. Soon he and his brother find their house in orbit, and they get caught up in a series of adventures, involving a giant robot, lizardlike aliens and an astronaut (Dax Shepard).

February 21, 2006

"Domino"
Directed by Tony Scott, this is a biopic inspired by the life of Domino Harvey (Keira Knightley). Although she is the daughter of actor Laurence Harvey ("The Manchurian Candidate") and a model, Domino rebels against that lifestyle and becomes a bounty hunter for a bail-bondsman. She and her partners then get involved with a reality TV show and a case that ends up in a violent mess. The storytelling is kinetic and has the flavor of a tall tale.

"North Country"
Charlize Theron stars in this drama based on a landmark sexual harassment case. The movie was directed by Niki Caro ("Whale Rider"). In an attempt to make a better life for herself and her kids, Josey (Theron) goes to work in a Minnesota iron mine, but the male miners torment her relentlessly. She files a class action suit against the company for sexual harassment, and the film chronicles her quest for justice, as well as what happens in her personal life.

"Rent"
In this screen adaptation of the long-running Broadway rock musical, six of the eight major roles are reprised by the stage performers (Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp). New to the cast are Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Tracie Thoms as Joanne. Inspired by Puccini's opera "La Bohème," "Rent" is about the bohemian life in Manhattan's East Village in 1989-90. The show's best-known song is "Seasons of Love."

"The Weather Man"
Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine star in this downbeat character study. Dave Spritz (Cage) is a successful Chicago TV weatherman whose prospects are good for moving up to a national morning show in New York. But in his personal life, Dave is miserable. He can't get over the failure of his marriage, although his ex-wife (Hope Davis) has a new boyfriend. Also, Dave has difficulty connecting with his troubled kids. Worst of all, he's a disappointment to his novelist father (Caine), who is dying of lymphoma.

February 28, 2006

"The Ice Harvest"
John Cusack stars in this black comedy based on Scott Phillips's novel. Set on an icy Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas, the story is about what happens to mob lawyer Charlie (Cusack) and a pornography seller (Billy Bob Thornton) after they steal two million dollars from the local crime boss (Randy Quaid). Among other things, Charlie must deal with a drunken pal (Oliver Platt), a sexy strip joint manager (Connie Nielsen) and the crime boss's enforcer (Mike Starr).

"Pride & Prejudice"
Keira Knightley shines in the role of Elizabeth Bennet in this generally faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel. Set in late 18th-century England, the story is about Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn) and their five daughters. The film concentrates on the second daughter, Elizabeth, particularly her relationships with suitors. It is with some difficulty that she finally comes to terms with her feelings about one suitor, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden).

"Walk the Line"
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon star in this straightforward biopic of singers Johnny Cash and June Carter, focusing on their lives during the 1950's and '60's. Cash is in his early 20's when he auditions at Sun Records in Memphis and soon goes on tour. He meets Carter as both build successful musical careers, but both are married to others, plus he develops a prescription drug problem. It takes years, but things finally come together for the pair, both personally and professionally.

"Yours, Mine & Ours"
Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo star in this comedy, a remake of a 1968 film with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. Widower Frank (Quaid) is a military man who is strict with his eight children, but widow Helen (Russo) is a free spirit who uses a relaxed approach in raising her 10 kids (her brood is racially diverse via adoption). When Frank and Helen get married, they move with their 18 children into a lighthouse. But the kids are unhappy with the arrangement and reluctantly work together to try to split up the marriage.

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