New Videos Coming Out This Week
The new releases scheduled for August 7, 2001, include Chocolat, The Mexican, 3000 Miles to Graceland, and Recess: School's Out. Let's take a quick look at these videos/DVDs, along with additional releases of interest, and take a sneak peek at next week.
3000 Miles to Graceland
Tagline: "Crime Is King."
Length:
125 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, sexuality and language
Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, and Courteney Cox star in this action/adventure caper film. Michael (Russell), Murphy (Costner), and three others dressed as Elvis impersonators rob the casino at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. A bloody shoot-out occurs during the robbery, and then the surviving gang members squabble over dividing up the loot, resulting in more deaths. Michael and his girlfriend Cybil (Cox) drive toward the Canadian border to launder the stolen money, and Murphy heads that way, too. But Federal Marshals are in hot pursuit, leading to more bloodshed when they all converge in the Pacific Northwest.
Formats Available: DVD, VHS
Chocolat
Tagline: "One Taste Is All It Takes."
Length: 121 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
for a scene of sensuality and some violence
Lasse Hallstrom (Cider House Rules) directs this charming English-language film that stars Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, and Judi Dench. In a small French town in the 1950s, Vianne (Binoche) opens a chocolate shop in a space rented from an older woman (Dench). Because Vianne opens the shop during Lent, she faces stiff opposition from many of the townspeople, but this is gradually overcome as Vianne and her chocolate confections help several of the locals solve their problems. Along the way, Vianne becomes romantically involved with a gypsy named Roux (Depp).
Formats Available: DVD, VHS
The Mexican
Tagline: "Love with the safety off."
Length: 123 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for violence
and language
Starring Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, The Mexican is a quirky comedy where the two superstars don’t share much screen time. In L.A., Jerry (Pitt) has promised his girlfriend Samantha (Roberts) that he will take her to Las Vegas, but his job as errand boy for the mob suddenly requires him to travel to Mexico and pick up a rare pistol called the Mexican. Angry with Jerry, Samantha heads for Vegas on her own, but is soon kidnapped by a hit man (James Gandolfini from The Sopranos). While Jerry runs into all kinds of complications in retrieving the gun, Samantha and the hit man have some fascinating conversations.
Formats Available: DVD, VHS
Recess: School’s Out
Length: 82 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
This animated children’s comedy is a spin-off from the television series Recess, featuring the grammar school student T.J. Detweiler. In the movie Recess: School’s Out, T.J. learns that his elementary school is being used for a diabolical purpose: Dr. Benedict, a former U.S. Secretary of Education, is there working on a pet project to shift the moon’s orbit, which will eliminate summer, thus putting an end to schools giving students summers off. T.J. and a few of his classmates work together to try to stop Dr. Benedict, and along the way they have their usual run-ins with Principal Prickly and Miss Finster.
Formats Available: DVD, VHS
Additional Releases of Interest
Any Given Sunday - Special Edition Director's Cut - Oliver Stone Collection (1999)
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information refers to the DVD; this film is also available on VHS.
El Hazard: The Magnificent World (1995) - Boxed Set
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information refers to the DVD; this film is also available on VHS.
Next page A Sneak Peek at Next Week Page1, 2
