Renee Zellweger plays businesswoman Lucy Hill in the romantic comedy "New in Town."
It’s a slow week on the DVD front, with only one major theatrical release making its way to home video.
Tag Archives: reviews
Video Verdict: New DVDs for May 19
Tom Cruise plays Col. Claus von Stauffenberg in the World War II drama "Valkyrie."
This week’s DVD releases include a World War II thriller starring Tom Cruise, a goofy comedy featuring Kevin James and the first season of an excellent television drama led by Anna Paquin.
Filed under Video Verdict
Video Verdict: New DVDs for May 12
Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills in "Taken."
This week’s DVD releases are anchored by a prequel to the popular “Underworld” franchise and an action-packed thriller featuring Liam Neeson.
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Video Verdict: New DVDs for April 28
Kate Hudson, left, and Anne Hathaway face off in the comedy "Bride Wars."
This week’s DVD releases form an eclectic group. There’s a star-studded comedy, a mainstream horror film, an easygoing family flick and a drama that earned multiple Critics Choice Award nominations.
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Video Verdict: New DVDs for April 21
Mickey Rourke was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his starring role in "The Wrestler."
This week’s DVD releases include two films nominated for multiple Oscars, plus a biopic about the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.
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Video Verdict: New DVDs for April 14
Gabriel Macht plays the title character in the comic strip-inspired film "The Spirit."
This week’s DVD releases are highlighted by a comic book adaptation from writer-director Frank Miller and the post-World War II drama that helped Kate Winslet land her first Oscar.
Filed under Video Verdict
‘Witch Mountain’ is fun despite flaws
From left to right, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig and Dwayne Johnson in "Race to Witch Mountain."
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
2 ½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG for sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements
98 minutes
Walt Disney Pictures
Disney’s re-imagining of the 1975 family adventure “Escape to Witch Mountain,” has its share of flaws but it’s still a likable feature, in large part thanks to the winning cast.
Dwayne Johnson stars as Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas cab driver with a sketchy past. Despite his desire to go straight, former associates are trying to lure him back to a life of crime, but that becomes a minor concern when two children, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), wind up in his cab and offer him $15,000 for an extraordinarily long journey.
It doesn’t take long for Johnson to learn that the kids have special abilities and that they’re being hunted by both the U.S. government and something far worse. When Sara and Seth tell Jack they are actually extraterrestrial, he balks. Still, he sticks with them, trying to keep them out of harm’s way despite increasing trouble and the nagging thought that they’re telling the truth. Eventually, Jack recruits a beautiful scientist named Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino) to the cause.
The story has a number of plot holes, most notably that the children regularly fail to use their abilities at times when they would come in most handy and that elite government agents are depicted as bumbling goons. This may bother demanding viewers, but the youngsters in the audience should be able to look right past the trouble spots and enjoy the ride. Truth is, adults can do that too, and those who like Johnson’s affable demeanor probably will. He is winning from start to finish and Robb, Ludwig and Gugino only serve to make him better.
Credit also goes to director and co-writer Andy Fickman who keeps the pace fast enough that viewers don’t have much time to dissect the nagging inconsistencies.
Filed under Movie Reviews
Video Verdict expands to new markets
I’m pleased to report that my weekly Video Verdict column was picked up this week by two additional newspapers: The Lansing State Journal (Lansing, MI) and Florida Today (Brevard and Melbourne counties in Florida). So, if you live in those areas, you will now be able to find my DVD reviews in print each week.
Thanks to my friends at both papers for adding the column. If you live outside the markets that carry the column in print, you can always find it right here at ForrestHartman.com. Also, I’m continually looking to add new outlets, so if you’d like to see me in your favorite paper, give management a call and send them to this Web site.
Filed under Quick Hits
Video Verdict: New DVDs for March 24
Bolt the superdog and his pal Rhino in a scene from the Oscar-nominated, animated film "Bolt."
This week’s DVD releases include the latest James Bond thriller and two animated films, one for adults and one for the kiddies.
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Video Verdict: New DVDs for March 17
Doug Hutchison, rear, and Ray Stevenson in a scene from "Punisher: War Zone."
Both of this week’s major video releases are built on fantasy, but the titles are nothing alike in tone or presentation.
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