| New Video and DVD Releases | |
| Part 1: This Week's New Releases on Video/DVD |
by Ivana Redwine
There are some interesting video/DVD releases scheduled for December 24, 2002, including "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever," and "Trapped." On December 27, 2002, "Blood Work" starring Clint Eastwood will be released on video/DVD. Other releases of interest this week include "Dot" and "Trois 2: Pandora's Box." In addition, we'll take a sneak peek at next week's movies on video/DVD.
December 24 - Video and DVD Releases
"The
Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002)
Tagline:
"The man on the moon."
Length:
95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, sexual humor and language
This sci-fi comedy stars Eddie Murphy, but the overwhelming majority of critics think it is one of the worst movies the talented and charismatic actor has ever been in. The film is set on the moon in the 2080s, when domed cities have sprung up at various places on the lunar surface. In one of those cities, ex-con Pluto Nash (Murphy) uses a robot called Bruno (Randy Quaid) as a bodyguard and runs a nightclub where he employs a waitress named Dina Lake (Rosario Dawson). When gambling is legalized on the moon, thugs with mob connections try to coerce Pluto into selling his club, but he refuses. Then the club is blown up, and Pluto, Bruno, and Dina spend most of the rest of the movie trying to avoid being killed while looking for a way out of the dire situation they find themselves in.
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"Ballistic:
Ecks vs. Sever" (2002)
Tagline:
"Antonia Banderas is Agent Ecks. This September, he's going ballistic."
Length:
91 minutes
MPAA Rating:
R for strong violence
It seems promising that Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu are the stars of this action movie, but be advised that of 88 reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes Web site, all are negative. FBI agent Ecks (Banderas) is after an evil man named Gant (Gregg Henry), and trained killer Sever (Liu) is a former DIA operative who is after the same man. (Do the letters DIA here stand for Defense Intelligence Agency?) Both Ecks and Sever have personal reasons for pursuing Gant, but there's also the fact that he's in possession of a diabolical killing device. Somehow Gant, Ecks, and Sever—who are all Americans—end up in Canada, where they are involved in a series of long action sequences that use automatic weapons, rocket launchers, explosives, etc. It's worth noting that the director of this movie goes by the name Kaos.
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"Trapped"
(2002)
Tagline:
"It was the perfect plan until she refused to be the perfect victim!"
Length:
105 minutes
MPAA Rating:
R for violence, language and sexual content
Charlize Theron, Kevin Bacon, and Courtney Love star in this suspense thriller. Karen Jennings (Theron) lives with her husband Will (Stuart Townsend) and their daughter Abby (Dakota Fanning) in a nice house. But when Will is away on business, a trio of criminals kidnaps Abby and demands a huge ransom. The criminals are (1) Cheryl Hickey (Love), who monitors Will at his hotel; (2) Joe Hickey (Bacon), who stays at the house with Karen; and (3) Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince), who keeps the kidnapped girl captive in a remote cabin. But a hitch develops when it turns out the girl is severely asthmatic and could die unless she gets her medication. Also, the kidnappers failed to reckon with the determination and resourcefulness of the parents, as they do everything they can to rescue their daughter.
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
December 27 - Video and DVD Releases
Tagline:
"The key to catching a killer is only a heartbeat away."
Length:
108 minutes
MPAA Rating:
R for violence and language
Clint Eastwood stars in and directed this crime drama, which is set in the Los Angeles area. Eastwood plays Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI agent who is recovering from a heart transplant. One day a woman named Graciella Rivers (Wanda De Jesus) comes to McCaleb and asks him to investigate the murder of her sister. Because of his health, he is reluctant to get involved, but feels he must when he learns that his transplanted heart came from the victim. Over the objections of his cardiologist (Anjelica Huston), McCaleb begins to use his law enforcement contacts to gather information about the case. Also, a romantic relationship slowly develops between McCaleb and Graciella. Eventually, with the help of a neighbor (Jeff Daniels), the ailing McCaleb starts to make progress in solving the murder.
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
Next Page - Additional Video/DVD Releases of Interest This Week
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