Related Resources • New DVD Releases • DVD Release Schedules • Recommended October, 2003 Releases

by Ivana Redwine

Let's take a look at the selection of new DVDs and videos for October, 2003.

October 7, 2003

“Down With Love”

Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor star in this romantic comedy, which is rather in the spirit of a Doris Day-Rock Hudson movie. The film is set in 1962, and Zellweger plays Barbara Novak, an author who has just written a feminist book titled “Down With Love.” McGregor portrays a playboy named Catcher Block, a magazine writer who sets out to make Barbara fall in love with him just to prove she doesn’t believe the stuff she writes.

“Hollywood Homicide”

Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett play Hollywood police detectives in this action comedy. Joe Gavilan (Ford) and K.C. Calden (Hartnett) are assigned to investigate the quadruple homicide of hip-hop performers, but they have other interests as well. Gavilan is trying to sell real estate, while Calden teaches yoga and wants to become an actor. Also, Gavilan is involved with a psychic (Lena Olin) and has been seen with a madam (Lolita Davidovich).

“The In-Laws”

Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks star in this comedy, a remake of the 1979 film of the same name starring Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. Brooks plays Jerry Peyser, a podiatrist whose daughter is about to get married. Her husband-to-be is the son of Steve Tobias (Douglas), a loose canon undercover CIA agent. Jerry soon finds himself traveling with Steve overseas, where a swishy arms dealer (David Suchet) gets a crush on him.

 “The Italian Job”

Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton star in this slick caper film. A team of thieves steals $35 million in gold bars in Venice, but soon one team member (Norton) kills the team leader and makes off with the loot. Then Charlie Croker (Wahlberg) joins forces with the slain team leader’s daughter (Theron) in a quest to get revenge and recover the gold. This movie is a remake of the 1969 film starring Michael Caine.

“The Lion King”

Disney aimed this 1994 animated feature at children, but adults generally find it entertaining. The story is basically “Hamlet” transposed to the animal kingdom. The young lion Simba (voice of Matthew Broderick) is in line to become king when his father (voice of James Earl Jones) dies. But Simba’s uncle Scar (voice of Jeremy Irons) kills the king, and young Simba has trouble deciding what to do. There’s music by Elton John and Tim Rice, including “Hakuna Matata” and “Circle of Life.”

“Willard”

Crispin Glover stars in this horror film, a remake of the 1971 movie with Ernest Borgnine. Michael Jackson’s “Ben” is sung twice. In the remake, Glover plays a morose, troubled loner named Willard Stiles who can control rats. Willard wants the small white rat Socrates to lead his pack, but Socrates’ leadership is challenged by the large rat Ben. The movie’s horror element derives from Willard periodically unleashing his army of rodents.

October 14, 2003

“The Matrix Reloaded”

This action sci-fi film is the second in the Matrix trilogy, and Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss are all back from “The Matrix” (1999). In “Reloaded,” a Machine Army seeks to destroy Zion, the last human city. But Morpheus (Fishburne) still believes the One will fulfill the Oracle’s Prophecy, ending the war. Neo (Reeves), who is gaining a better command of his powers, is the great hope, but he is beset with doubts.

“Wrong Turn”

This horror film stars Eliza Dushku, Desmond Harrington, Jeremy Sisto, and Emmanuelle Chriqui. Some attractive, citified young adults have traveled deep into the West Virginia backwoods when their vehicles become disabled. It’s not long before they find themselves being hunted by disfigured, inbred mountain men. The bloodthirsty mountain men are cannibals who are out to murder the young people, and things get grisly.

October 21, 2003

 “28 Days Later”

Directed by Danny Boyle (“Shallow Grave,” “Trainspotting”), “28 Days Later” is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror film that is well-liked by critics. A bike messenger has a bad accident in London and he comes to four weeks later to find a virus has killed most of the world’s people and infected zombies attack the few non-infected survivors. He teams with other survivors, and they seek sanctuary with an army unit, only to end up in a new set of harrowing circumstances.

“Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”

This action-adventure movie is the sequel to “Charlie’s Angels” (2000), and Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu are back as the Angels, private investigators who get assignments from Charlie (voice of John Forsythe). This time around they are tasked with recovering two rings that contain the names of everyone in the federal witness protection program, and along the way they encounter a former Angel (Demi Moore).

“It Runs in the Family”

Three relatives of Michael Douglas appear in this drama with him: his father Kirk Douglas, his mother Diana Douglas, and his son Cameron Douglas. Michael plays attorney Alex Gromberg, Kirk and Diana play Alex’s father and mother, and Cameron plays Alex’s 21-year-old son. The Grombergs struggle with a number of issues, including the emotional strain between Alex and his father, Alex’s marital problems, and Alex’s son getting in trouble with the law.

October 28, 2003

“Hulk”

This is the first movie to feature the Marvel Comics superhero known as the Hulk. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) is a scientist who accidentally absorbs an enormous dose of gamma radiation and thereafter transforms intermittently into a massive, rampaging, green creature with superhuman strength. But there are those who want the Hulk for military reasons. Ang Lee directed this film, which also stars Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, and Sam Elliott.

“Whale Rider”

This unusual coming-of-age tale was a favorite of festival audiences and critics during its theatrical release. Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is a 12-year-old girl who dreams of becoming the leader of her people, a Maori tribe in a beautiful part of present-day New Zealand. Her grandfather is the current chief, and she seems worthy, but tradition works against her. However, the movie avoids clichés and handles this material in unexpected ways.

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