| October DVD Releases | |
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Here's a selection of new movies on DVD for October 2007.
October 2, 2007
1408 DVD
Based on a Stephen King story, this is a horror movie of the creepy, psychological thriller type. The main character is Mike Enslin (John Cusack), a writer of books debunking paranormal phenomena. He learns that in room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel in Manhattan a number of people have died under mysterious circumstances. Although warned not to do so by the Dolphin manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin checks into 1408 so he can write about it. There the writer experiences unnerving things that threaten his sanity.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer DVD
In this sequel to Fantastic Four (2005), the quartet of Marvel Comics superheroes is again portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans. Also, Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon) is back. This time around Reed (Gruffudd) and Sue (Alba) are about to get married when there are widespread power grid failures and meteorological disasters. The cause turns out to be the arrival of a metallic celestial entity known as the Silver Surfer (voice of Laurence Fishburne), and the Fantastic Four must stop him.
Jindabyne DVD
Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne star in this drama based on Raymond Carver's short story "So Much Water So Close to Home." The film is set in the Australian town of Jindabyne, where Stewart (Byrne) runs a gas station. One day he and three pals go on a fishing trip to a place that is hours from civilization. There they find the body of a murdered Aboriginal woman, but they delay notifying authorities until they've finished fishing. The story is mostly about the reaction to the men's behavior, particularly that of Stewart's wife (Linney).
28 Weeks Later DVD
The events in this sci-fi horror film follow shortly after those depicted in 28 Days Later (2002), although the newer movie has different characters and makes no reference to the earlier one. This time around, authorities have declared the zombie infestation that wiped out the population of Britain to be over, and NATO is reintroducing humans to a secure area in London. But it turns out the zombie virus is still present, and some uninfected people end up trying to get to safety without being attacked by zombies or shot by the military.
Steve Carell stars in this comedy, a spin-off from Bruce Almighty (2003), which starred Jim Carrey and had Carell in the minor role of Evan Baxter. In Evan Almighty, Carell again plays Evan, who is now the main character, and Carrey is completely absent. In the newer movie, Evan gives up his job as a TV anchorman when he gets elected to the U.S. Congress. But when God (Morgan Freeman) calls on him to build an ark, Evan grows long hair and a beard, dons a flowing robe and animals in pairs start to follow him around.
Reign Over Me DVD
Adam Sandler abandons his comedic persona to play a serious role in this drama. Here he's paired with Don Cheadle in a buddy movie where two men help each other get through rough patches in their lives. Charlie Fineman (Sandler) hasn't been good for much of anything since his wife and children were killed in the 9/11 attacks. Alan Johnson (Cheadle) is a successful dentist, but family responsibilities and business obligations have left him in a malaise. But after Charlie and Alan meet, the lives of both men start to get better.
Surf's Up DVD
This computer-animated comedy is about penguins who ride waves on boards. The main character is young Rockhopper penguin Cody Maverick (voice of Shia LaBeouf), who leaves his home in Antarctica and goes to Pen Gu Island to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off. There he meets a cute lifeguard (voice of Zooey Deschanel) and gets some coaching from the legendary Big Z (voice of Jeff Bridges). The movie takes the form of a faux documentary. Other voices heard include those of Jon Heder and James Woods.
October 16, 2007
The Invisible DVD
In this drama aimed at the teen market, Nick (Justin Chatwin) is a smart high school senior who wants to go study in London. But due to a misunderstanding involving a friend, he is beaten senseless by troubled classmate Annie (Margarita Levieva). Nick barely survives, hovering in limbo between life and death. His spirit leaves his body and can see and hear everything, but the living are unaware that his spirit is even there. Will Nick's body be found before it's too late? Will Annie somehow be able to find redemption?
A Mighty Heart DVD
Starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Michael Winterbottom, this docudrama is based on the book by Mariane Pearl, widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. In 2002 Danny and Mariane Pearl (Dan Futterman and Angelina Jolie) are a married couple, both working as journalists in Karachi, Pakistan. One day while following a lead on a terrorist, Danny drives away in a taxi and never comes back. The story unfolds like a police procedural, and it is eventually discovered that he was brutally murdered.
The Reaping DVD
Hilary Swank stars in this horror movie. Katherine Winter (Swank) is an LSU professor who specializes in supplying rational explanations for what others take to be supernatural events. She travels to the bayou town of Haven, Louisiana, where the river turns blood-red. When frogs drop out of the sky, it seems possible that plagues like the ones in the Old Testament book of Exodus have come to Haven. And then there's the strange girl (AnnaSophia Robb) who may have something to do with a Satanic cult.
Transformers DVD
Directed by Michael Bay, this actioner is based on Hasbro toys. The parts of each toy are movable so it can be changed back and forth between a robot and, say, a vehicle. In the movie, two groups of extraterrestrial robots - the good Autobots and the evil Decepticons - come to Earth, and humans get caught up in the war between them. One of the Autobots transforms into a car owned by an eleventh grader (Shia LaBeouf). But one of the Decepticons appears as a helicopter, then transforms into a robot that attacks a U.S. military installation.
October 23, 2007
Hostel: Part II DVD
In the horror film Hostel (2005), three young men bumming around Europe wander into a hostel in Bratislava, Slovakia, and find they've stumbled into a bizarre business where clients pay to torture and kill people. In Hostel: Part II, three young women (Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo and Bijou Phillips) are touring Eastern Europe and end up in that same hostel. This time around, the inner workings of the business are revealed, and it's conducted by way of auction. Among the high bidders are two wealthy American businessmen.
Meet the Robinsons DVD
This is an animated comedy loosely based on William Joyce's children's book A Day With Wilbur Robinson. In the movie, Lewis is a 12-year-old orphan who invents a device that displays memories on a screen. But a villain called Bowler Hat Guy steals the device. Then 13-year-old Wilbur Robinson appears and takes Lewis into the near future. There Wilbur and Lewis must stop Bowler Hat Guy from using the device for nefarious purposes. Also, Lewis meets the eccentric Robinson family and learns some life lessons.
Mr. Brooks DVD
Kevin Costner stars as the title character in this suspense thriller. Earl Brooks is a respected businessman in Portland, Oregon, and he has managed to keep it secret that he is a serial killer. Most of the time Brooks lives a seemingly normal life, but every so often an alter ego he calls Marshall emerges and eggs him on to commit a murder. Marshall exists only in Brooks's mind, but the movie gives him corporeal form, and he is played by William Hurt. The homicide detective trying to solve the case is portrayed by Demi Moore.
October 30, 2007
El Cantante DVD
Jennifer Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony are the stars of this biopic about singer Héctor Lavoe. The story is narrated by Puchi (Lopez) in 2002 as she looks back over her life with Héctor (Anthony). In 1963 the young Héctor relocates from Puerto Rico to New York, teams up with trumpeter-trombonist Willie Colon (John Ortiz), and they popularize a style of Latin music that comes to be known as salsa. Héctor meets and marries the assertive Puchi, and he becomes famous, but he fights a losing battle with drug addiction.
License to Wed DVD
Robin Williams, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski (from TV's The Office) star in this romantic comedy. Sadie (Moore) and Ben (Krasinski) meet at Starbucks, fall for each other and decide to wed. But before tying the knot, they must successfully complete a marriage preparation program run by Reverend Frank (Williams). Not only does the engaged couple soon learn unpleasant things about themselves, they must take care of two robot babies. Also, the clergyman bugs their bedroom to make sure they are abstaining from sex.
Spider-Man 3 DVD
This is the follow-up to Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are back, as is director Sam Raimi. This time around Spider-Man must face three villains: Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Venom and New Goblin. Also, Peter Parker (Maguire) gets exposed to a poisonous extraterrestrial substance that brings out his dark side, and his red Spider-Man costume turns black. The change in Peter's personality causes problems in his relationship with his girlfriend Mary Jane (Dunst).
Talk to Me DVD
In this lively and often funny biopic, Don Cheadle gives a strong performance as Washington, D.C., radio personality Petey Greene. When the movie opens in 1966, Greene is serving time for armed robbery, but happens to meet Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), program director at Washington's WOL. Then when Greene is released from prison, Hughes gets him an on-air job at the station. Greene's frank talk about race is controversial, but he becomes a huge hit with listeners. Taraji P. Henson plays Greene's feisty girlfriend.
