Tag Archives: Video Verdict

A wealth of new titles hit video stores this week, including two of the best films from the first half of 2008.

In Bruges
4 stars
Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use
Universal Studios
Available on: DVD
At the midpoint of 2008, this small but beautifully made film is the best picture to receive a theatrical release.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star as Ray and Ken, assassins who are ordered to take downtime in Bruges, Belgium, after botching a job in England. As writer-director Martin McDonagh unspools his clever plot, viewers learn that Ray — a fledgling hit man — is struggling to come to terms with his English debacle. Meanwhile, Ken — an aging veteran — is worried about what’s next.

Both men have reason for concern, as their hard-nosed boss (Ralph Fiennes) isn’t the type to tolerate mistakes, and he’s letting them sweat things out in the best-preserved Medieval city in Belgium. That means Ray and Ken spend their days sightseeing while their minds wander in anticipation.

The film is an oddball mix of dark humor, drama and action-violence, but McDonagh has so carefully crafted the feature that the parts gel beautifully. Like the best work of Quentin Tarantino, “In Bruges” is funny, poignant and just plain entertaining.

DVD extras include a making-of feature, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

 
The Spiderwick Chronicles
3 1/2 stars (out of four)
Rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements
Paramount
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
It’s not as remarkable as “In Bruges,” but “The Spiderwick Chronicles” also ranks among the best of 2008. Freddie Highmore is featured, in an amazing dual-role performance, as twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace.

When the Grace boys move from New York City to a country home with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) and sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), they discover a world of fanciful creatures living just beyond human perception. Trouble is, not all those creatures are friendly, and a particularly nasty ogre leads an assault against the children.

“Spiderwick” is often frightening, particularly for a PG-rated movie, but it’s also a terrific fantasy effort that can stand proudly alongside the Harry Potter franchise. Director Mark Waters and his crew did a great job with the special effects and the young cast is believable whether battling monsters or simply discovering the wonders of the strange new world surrounding them.

The movie is available in multiple versions, including a two-disc special edition. Extra features vary by release.

 
10,000 BC
2 stars
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

It’s not often that one gets to watch herds of wooly mammoths saunter across the screen, so “10,000 BC” has value in terms of spectacle. Look beyond the flash, however, and the picture derails.

The action centers on a prehistoric hunter named D’Leh (Steven Strait) who is forced to become a hero when his small tribe is attacked by marauders. They kidnap many of D’Leh’s people, including the woman he loves, Evolet (Camilla Belle). In hopes of freeing their friends, D’Leh and fellow hunters track the marauders across untamed lands.

The action sequences are decently staged, and the special effects are respectable, especially considering the grand scope of the film. Unfortunately, the relationships between characters — including that of D’Leh and Evolet — have little resonance.

DVD extras include an alternate ending and deleted scenes.

 
Definitely, Maybe
3 stars
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking
Universal Studios
Available on: DVD
Disturbed by her parents’ choice to get a divorce, Maya Hayes (Abigail Breslin) asks her father, Will (Ryan Reynolds), to detail his relationship with her mother. What follows is a complicated but extremely likable romantic story in which Will frankly recounts his romantic ups and downs with several women. The catch is, he uses assumed names for each of the ladies, so Maya — and audience members — have to guess which is her mother.

Reynolds and his leading ladies — Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher and Elizabeth Banks — turn in nice performances, and the plotting is smarter and considerably more entertaining than that of the average romantic comedy.

The movie is available in both widescreen and full screen DVD transfers, and extra features include making-of features, an audio commentary by Brooks and Reynolds, and deleted scenes.

 
The Hammer
3 stars
Rated R for brief language
Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD

Radio host and comedian Adam Carolla is the writer-producer-star of this underdog sports comedy. He plays Jerry “The Hammer” Ferro, a 40-year-old construction worker who loses his full-time job, becoming dependent on his part-time gig as a boxing coach. But what seems like bad luck, turns good when the middle-aged fighter — a former Golden Gloves slugger — is offered the opportunity to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

“The Hammer” could have become a typically sappy sports flick, but Carolla filled it with enough of his trademark humor to keep things fresh even when the plotting isn’t groundbreaking. Fans of the comic’s radio show should have a great time with the film, but his shtick is unique, so those on different bandwidths could be left cold.

Fan or not, Carolla is a likable screen presence, and “The Hammer” has more heart and creativity than much of what makes the multiplex circuit these days.

DVD extras include a commentary by Carolla and co-producer Kevin Hench, behind-the-scenes promotional bits, outtakes, deleted scenes and a photo gallery.

 

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Charlie Bartlett”: Anton Yelchin stars as Charlie, a wealthy teen who becomes the self-appointed “psychiatrist” for his new high school. Robert Downey Jr., Kat Dennings and Hope Davis also star.

“Persepolis”: Oscar-nominated animated film that tells of an Iranian girl’s coming of age in a difficult political environment. Presented in multiple languages with subtitles when necessary.

“Honeydripper”: The owner of a 1950s juke joint (Danny Glover) teams with a hotshot guitar player in a desperate attempt to save his club. Written and directed by Academy Award nominee John Sayles.

“The Furies”: Director Anthony Mann’s 1950 melodrama starring Walter Huston as a wealthy ranch owner and Barbara Stanwyck as his impetuous daughter. Presented by the Criterion Collection.

“Before the Rain”: Multi-pronged story with elements of everything from political intrigue to romance. The film, released by the Criterion Collection, is noteworthy as the first made in the newly independent Republic of Macedonia.

“Futurama — The Beast With a Billion Backs”: Feature-length, direct-to-DVD movie featuring characters from the animated television series.

This week’s new video releases offer something for everyone, including a touching drama by two of America’s most-loved actors and a tasteless comedy from its prime purveyor of blue-collar humor.

 
The Bucket List
4 stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play Edward Cole and Carter Chambers, aging men who discover that they’re dying of cancer and decide to go out with a bang. Despite vast differences in personality and background — Cole is a health-care tycoon and Chambers an auto mechanic — they make a pact to fulfill their dying wishes together.

Chambers is the sentimental sort, and his bucket list — things he wants to do before kicking the bucket — includes intangibles such as “see something majestic.” But Cole is into more materialistic experiences like skydiving, racing cars and great meals. Together, they’re a fine pair, and they change each others lives profoundly.

During it’s theatrical run, “The Bucket List” was criticized for being sentimental and manipulative, and it is those things. But I don’t have a problem being manipulated when a story is good and told with the type of conviction that director Rob Reiner offers here. It’s also tough to beat a movie featuring great outings from two of America’s most talented and charismatic actors.

DVD extras include an interview with writer Justin Zackham and John Mayer’s “Say” music video.

 

Jumper
2 1/2 stars
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some language and brief sexuality
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
If it weren’t for an ending that lacks all closure, “Jumper” would be a decent action film. The story is built around David Rice (Hayden Christensen), a young man who discovers he has the ability to transport himself anywhere in the world … as long as he’s been there at least once before. This, of course, opens the door to a unique lifestyle, as David is capable of lifting money from banks and traveling the world in the blink of an eye.

The catch is that there are other jumpers in the world, and a super-secret society of people — known as Paladins — have made a mission of killing them. David learns this when he meets a fellow jumper named Griffin (Jamie Bell) while trying to show the Roman Coliseum to the love of his life, Millie (Rachel Bilson).

Rapidly, “Jumper” becomes a cat-and-mouse adventure as David and Griffin combat a lethal group of Paladins led by a nasty fellow named Roland (Samuel L. Jackson). The special effects are outstanding and director Doug Liman does a nice job with the action sequences, but there’s nothing deep or important about the film. Still, it is pretty entertaining right up until the conclusion, when things wrap so quickly and with so many cliffhangers that it feels like the first installment of a three-part miniseries. Sequel anyone?

The movie is available on two-disc and single-disc editions. Extras vary by release, but both versions have an audio commentary, and several making-of shorts.

 

Funny Games
No stars
Rated R for terror, violence and some language
Warner Bothers
Available on: DVD
Supposedly, writer-director Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games” is an artsy exploration of the way violence is depicted in our society, but the project is so morally bankrupt that it doesn’t deserve that sort of credit, let alone an audience.

A remake of Haneke’s 1997, foreign version of the movie, the story is centered on an upper-class family taken hostage in their country vacation home. Naomi Watts is Ann, the family matriarch, Tim Roth is her husband, George, and Devon Gearhart is their son, Georgie.

Each cast member is a fine performer, which makes it all the more horrific to watch them undergo the horrors they endure when two white-gloved psychopaths (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) take over their home.

The movie may pretend to be an examination of violence, but the safe bet is most people who watch and enjoy it will get off purely on the suspense and adrenaline rush that comes from viewing the torture of the three family members. If Haneke actually believes the majority of filmgoers are taking more from his film, he is sadly mistaken. There is nothing funny or rewarding about his mess of a movie.

The DVD has no extra features.

 

Witless Protection
1 star
Rated PG-13 for crude and sex-related humor
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
The world didn’t need another Larry the Cable Guy comedy, but writer-director Charles Robert Camer didn’t ask the world before charging forward with this ridiculously unfunny and sloppily produced picture.

It’s safe to say nobody other than Larry’s fans will want to watch this picture, but even fans will have to endure glaring continuity errors, rushed storytelling and poorly defined characters. Larry stars as Deputy Larry Stalder a small-town law man who dreams of one day joining the FBI.

When a beautiful woman (Ivana Milicevic) rolls into town accompanied by several men in black suits and shades, he assumes that she has been kidnapped. So, he nabs her and takes her into protective custody.

When Larry learns that she is due to testify in a high-profile criminal case in Chicago, he decides that he’s going to deliver her personally, even though she tells him that she was already in FBI custody. The plot gets increasingly convoluted, but further explanation is pointless, as Camer doesn’t unfold his tale with much grace or humor.

Throw in a handful of racist and otherwise offensive one-liners and you have a pretty good idea of what “Witless Protection” is about. In other words, the film doesn’t Git-R-Done.

The movie is available in both full screen and widescreen editions, and extra features include a few shorts on the making of the film.

 

Sidekick
3 stars
Unrated
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD
Typically, this column sticks to the mainstream, but now and again it’s nice to watch a film made outside the Hollywood system to see what ambitious filmmakers are doing with perseverance and guts alone. It’s also nice to see what they can do without the seemingly endless flow of cash powering most mainstream flicks.

For “Sidekick,” an independently financed Canadian superhero movie, the budget was well below $50,000, and it shows. But that doesn’t ruin the experience. Although “Sidekick” lacks polish, production value and high-end acting talent, it has a lot of heart and, more importantly, a good story compliments of writer-producer Michael Sparaga.

The feature centers on Norman Neale (Perry Mucci), a nerdy computer tech who discovers that one of his co-workers has telekinetic abilities. Because he’s obsessed by comic books, and because he’s a generally nice guy, Norman approaches said co-worker, a handsome salesman named Victor (David Ingram), about refining his power.

At first Victor is reluctant, but it’s not long before he and Norman are engaging in nightly training sessions. When it becomes clear that Victor could do immense good with his abilities, Norman tries to convince him to become a costumed hero. But Norman is disappointed to learn that Victor isn’t as altruistic as he would like.

Because “Sidekick’s” shoestring budget is obvious, the film won’t be for everyone, but there are rewards for superhero fans who can look beyond the surface.

DVD extras include a filmmakers commentary, deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews, and outtakes.

 

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

The Other Boleyn Girl: Historical drama starring Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman as Mary and Anne Boleyn, sisters competing for the affection of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) of England.

John Adams: HBO miniseries starring Paul Giamatti as America’s second president. Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane, David Morse and Sarah Polley also star.

Heavy Metal in Baghdad: Documentary about the struggles of an Iraqi heavy metal quartet trying to stay viable despite the war-time violence surrounding it.

There’s plenty of variety in this week’s DVD crop with a Will Ferrell comedy, a Jessica Alba thriller and a goofy parody of “300” competing for viewer attention.

Semi-Pro
2 stars (out of four)
Available unrated and in the theatrical cut, which was rated R for language and some sexual content
New Line
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

Will Ferrell has leveled his comedic sites on anchormen, NASCAR drivers and figure skaters, so he probably saw basketball as the next logical step. It wasn’t.

Although Ferrell is an immensely likable comic, he is at the mercy of his material, and the screenplay for “Semi-Pro” didn’t do him any favors. He plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit pop singer who traded the earnings from his music career for ownership of an American Basketball Association team. This is professional sports at its least romantic, meaning Jackie is not only the team owner, but the coach, dance team choreographer and power forward. Despite the multifaceted role, he keeps things rolling with clever promotions and sheer willpower … until it’s announced that the ABA is about to fold.

Jackie is devastated, but when he learns that the National Basketball Association will absorb the ABA’s four top teams, he sees a glimmer of hope. Trading a washing machine for an aging, former-NBA guard named Monix (Woody Harrelson), Jackie assembles what he believes will be his championship team. The only thing left is for the ragtag group of players to actually win.

“Semi-Pro” has moments but they don’t appear as consistently as in the recent Farrell comedies “Blades of Glory” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” What’s more, Ferrell’s typically raucous comedy is even cruder than usual thanks to “Semi-Pro’s” release into theaters with an R rating. Crude can be humorous, but the off-color gags in “Semi-Pro” were designed primarily for shock value. In other words, “Semi-Pro” is only semi-funny.

The movie is available on two-disc and single-disc editions. The latter contains only the R-rated cut of the film, while the two-disc version has the R-rated cut, an unrated version and a digital copy for mobile devices.

The Eye
2 1/2 stars
Rated PG-13 for violence/terror and disturbing content.
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

Thought we’d seen the last American remake of an Asian horror film? Think again.

Because fresh ideas are at a premium, Hollywood studios continue to mine foreign markets for the next big idea, and that means movies like “The Eye.” Adapted from the Hong Kong picture “Jian Gui,” the film tells the story of Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba), a blind musician whose vision is restored by a corneal transplant. Since she’s been blind for decades, the emergence of a new sense is startling, and her discomfort is amplified when she begins seeing things that nobody else does.

At first, Sydney’s visions are chalked up to hallucinations, but she quickly realizes they are actually glimpses into the supernatural world. Directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud do a respectable job building tension and intrigue in the first couple acts, but the ending is so flat that it undermines the entire project.

The film is available on a single-disc release and as a two-disc special edition containing a digital copy of the film. Extra features vary by edition.

Meet the Spartans
1/2 star
Available unrated and in the theatrical cut, which was rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language and some comic violence
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

For a parody film to work, it has to be nearly as smart as the movies it’s satirizing, but “Meet the Spartans” is about as intelligent as gasoline is affordable.

Using the plotting of “300,” writers/directors Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg (“Date Movie,” “Epic Movie”) poke merciless fun at all things pop culture, including Budweiser commercials, Paris Hilton and “Spider-Man 3.” In fact, they’ve packed so many gags into their sub-80-minute feature that the odds favor at least some of them being good. Don’t let that fool you.

Despite decent production design and a competent technical crew, Seltzer and Friedberg have crafted a movie that is virtually laugh-free. “Meet the Spartans” is so unfunny , in fact, that it’s difficult to imagine anyone agreeing to finance it.

Not only is the screenplay terrible but the biggest names in the feature are Carmen Electra, who simply has to look hot, and Diedrich Bader, who was far better as Oswald on “The Drew Carey Show.” Since neither star is fighting off roles in prestige films, the “Spartans” paycheck probably looked good. Something had to.

The film is available in two different versions, one unrated and the other containing the PG-13 theatrical cut. Extra features vary by edition.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: As Vaughn, star of “Wedding Crashers” and “Swingers,” tours the country performing with other comedians, the camera captures the action.

Flawless: Thriller starring Demi Moore and Michael Caine as put-upon London Diamond working bees who decide to relieve their company of its treasure. Directed by Michael Radford (“Il Postino”).

The Onion Movie: The newspaper famous for parodying current events brings its satirical look at the world to film with a direct-to-DVD effort that … well … parodies current events.

Mama’s Boy: Jon Heder stars as a man who is happily living at home with mother (Diane Keaton) until she brings home a new boyfriend (Jeff Daniels).

Mannix — Season One: The long-running drama starring Mike Connors as detective Joe Mannix gets its DVD debut.

Control: Feature film detailing the tragic life story of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Sam Riley and Samantha Morton star.

This week’s DVD releases are anchored by the return of Rambo, the emotionally scarred Vietnam veteran who loves to wreak havoc on his enemies. But if action flicks aren’t your thing, you can choose between two understated and beautifully acted dramas.

 

Rambo
2 1/2 stars (out of four)
Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
First, Sylvester Stallone revitalized Rocky Balboa by bringing the aging fighter back after 16 years of silver screen retirement. Now, he’s done the same for John Rambo, the American super soldier who has been missing in action for two decades.

Stallone wore many hats for “Rambo,” serving not only as the star but as director and co-writer, but the character revival wasn’t entirely successful because Stallone ramped up the violence and gore to ridiculous levels. This was an unfortunate choice because as a pure action film, “Rambo” has merit.

The film is set in the recent past, with Rambo living in Thailand and making a living as a river boat pilot and snake wrangler. He’s happily minding his own business when a group of Christian missionaries ask him to transport them into Burma, better known today as Myanmar. At first, Rambo refuses because the country’s military leadership is at war with rebel fighters, but a pretty missionary named Sarah (Julie Benz) convinces him to make the trip.

Of course, Sarah and her party are taken captive by the military government, prompting Rambo to go on a rescue mission with a group of mercenaries hired by her church. From that point forward, the movie is little more than a fast-paced shoot ’em up and, as such, it’s fairly entertaining. Unfortunately, there’s no avoiding the cringe factor that comes with exploding heads and severed limbs.

The DVD is available in a variety of versions including full-screen and widescreen single-disc editions and a two-disc special edition. Extra features vary, but the special edition and Blu-ray discs contain an audio commentary by Stallone, deleted scenes and six shorts on the making of the film. Fans of the franchise can also purchase Rambo: The Complete Collector’s Set, a six-disc boxed collection containing “Rambo” and the three prior movies.

 

Grace is Gone
3 stars
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, brief strong language and teen smoking
The Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD
John Cusack turns in a heartbreaking performance as Stanley Phillips, a conservative store manager who goes into shock when he learns that his wife, Grace, has been killed in the Iraq war. Unsure how to tell his two young daughters, Heidi (Shelan O’keefe) and Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk), he whisks them away on a trip to a Florida amusement park.

Most of the film is spent dealing with Stanley’s internal struggle, as he mourns privately while trying to avoid breaking the devastating news to his children. Heidi, the older of the two girls, realizes that something is wrong but doesn’t have enough information to put the puzzle together.

Although the film is only 85 minutes long, director James C. Strouse occasionally lets the storytelling drag, primarily because it’s focused so tightly on a confined moment in the characters’ lives. But that’s nitpicking. Overall, “Grace is Gone” is a wonderfully acted and emotionally poignant story about grief, loss and the sometimes-ugly responsibilities of parenthood.

DVD extras include a couple short features on the making of the film and a profile on the military’s Tragedy Assistance Program, which is designed to help families deal with the loss of a loved one.

 

Cassandra’s Dream
3 stars
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some sexual material and brief violence
The Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD
Writer-director Woody Allen delivered one of the finest films of 2005 in the thriller “Match Point,” and he sticks with the same genre for “Cassandra’s Dream.”

Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell play brothers who, finding themselves in severe financial distress, agree to commit murder for their wealthy uncle (Tom Wilkinson) in return for his help. But the film isn’t about the crime so much as the brothers’ struggle to come to terms with what they are about to do.

McGregor and Farrell are terrific and they have exceptional chemistry, but the film bogs at points, easing the tension and making things less suspenseful than would desire. Still, the excellent acting, coupled with Allen’s smart script and smooth direction, make the film worth watching.

The DVD contains no extra features.

 

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Darfur Now: Writer-director Ted Braun points his camera at Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, where violence and death have become the norm. The film follows six people, including actor Don Cheadle, who are working to make a difference in the region.

The Thief of Bagdad: The Criterion Collection has given this 1940 adventure classic a deluxe treatment with a new digital transfer of the film, audio commentaries from film experts and a second disc devoted solely to extra features. The film, inspired by “The Arabian Nights,” won Oscars for art direction, cinematography and special effects.

Holocaust: This Emmy Award-winning, 1976 miniseries follows a Jewish family’s struggle to survive during World War II. Meryl Streep, James Woods and Michael Moriarity star.

Cleaner: Direct-to-DVD release starring Samuel L. Jackson as a former cop who makes his living sterilizing crime scenes. But, after cleaning up the remains of a grisly murder, he discovers he may have unknowingly participated in a cover-up. Also stars Ed Harris and Eva Mendes.

Lipstick Jungle — Season One: Based on a book by “Sex and the City” author Candace Bushnell, this NBC comedy-drama follows the exploits of three high-profile businesswomen. Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price star.

Only one of this week’s video releases — “National Treasure 2” — is big in stature, but there are plenty of smaller films to fill the gaps, including a new adventure from horror master George A. Romero.

 

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
2 stars (out of four)
Rated PG for some violence and action
Walt Disney Video
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
The first “National Treasure” film felt like an ill-conceived attempt to capitalize on “Da Vinci Code” fever, so it’s no surprise that part two is pretty dull.

Nicolas Cage returns as treasure hunter Ben Gates, who is forced to look into the Abraham Lincoln assassination when a mysterious man named Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) asserts that Ben’s great grandfather was a conspirator. This, of course, leads to a lengthy treasure hunt that has Ben, his assistant Riley (Justin Bartha), his father (Jon Voight), and his girlfriend (Diane Kruger) deciphering historical documents and traveling the world. Because Ben lacks common sense, his adventures even lead him to kidnap the president of the United States and break into Buckingham Palace.

The movie has moments, including some decent action sequences and impressive set pieces, but it ultimately feels like a stale rip off of the Indiana Jones franchise.

“Book of Secrets” is available in a single-disc version and as a two-disc collector’s edition. Extra features vary by release, but both versions have an audio commentary by director Jon Turteltaub and Voight.

 
George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead
2 1/2 stars
Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, and pervasive language
The Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD

Romero, master of the zombie film, continues the franchise he started in 1968 with “Night of the Living Dead.” This time, he allows a group of film students to document what happens when corpses begin coming back to life and attempting to eat the living. The entire movie is presented “Cloverfield”- and “Blair Witch Project”-style, with the footage supposedly shot by the actual character.

In typical Romero fashion, “Diary” is extremely gory, with heads splitting open, eyeballs exploding and characters being eaten from start to the finish. That said, it’s also a little goofy, as the director often pauses for dark comedy and political statements about everything from the mainstream media to the degradation of American moral values.

Because of the in-your-face gore and general campiness of the presentation, mainstream viewers will want to steer clear, but horror fans — particularly Romero devotees — should find this diary compelling.

DVD extras include some making-of features and a commentary by Romero, director of photography Adam Swica and editor Michael Doherty. The Weinstein Company is also rolling out a remastered, 40th anniversary DVD of “Night of the Living Dead.” It is available separately and makes a nice companion to “Diary.”

 
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Strange Wilderness”: Steve Zahn plays Peter Gaulke, the host of a wildlife show with failing ratings. In hopes of picking up viewers, he decides to go in search of Bigfoot, accompanied by a crew of goofballs played by Allen Covert, Jonah Hill and Justin Long.

“Company”: Video of the Tony Award-winning, 2006 revival of composer Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company.” This production originally aired as part of the “Great Performances” series on PBS.

“Cranford”: Five-episode BBC drama adapted from writer Mary Gaskell’s works about 19th-century British life. Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Simon Woods, Lisa Dillon and Imelda Staunton star.

“The Muppet Show” — The Complete Third Season: The titles says it all. Twenty-four episodes of Muppet mania for folks who loved the 1970s-’80s show. Guest stars include Sylvester Stallone, Raquel Welch and Liberace.

“Hamburger Hill” — 20th Anniversary Edition: Re-release of director John Irvin’s chronicle of the brutal, Vietnam War battle for Hill 937.

“Operation Homecoming: Stories From the Heart”: Documentary film about U.S. soldiers wrapping up their tours in Iraq and returning to life in the U.S.

This week’s major video releases include an ill-advised thriller and an unfunny comedy, so it’s a good thing Denzel Washington saved the day with his latest directorial effort.

 

The Great Debaters
3½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for depictions of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality
The Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD
Denzel Washington’s second film as a director is nearly as good as his first, “Antwone Fisher.” And that’s saying something because “Fisher” was one of the best offerings of 2002.

With “The Great Debaters,” Washington tells the story of all-black Wiley College’s award-winning, 1935 debate team. Segregation was the rule in the Jim Crowe South, and the movie looks at both the debate team’s struggle to find white schools willing to compete against it and at the living conditions of black Americans in the 1930s.

Along with directing, Washington stars as the team leader, poet and professor Melvin B. Tolson. He’s a charismatic man who is able to get the most out of his students, but he’s also a rebel who spends his nights working to help sharecroppers unionize. This puts him on the wrong side of the law and also places his students in danger.

“The Great Debaters” works well as an underdog sports movie – if debating can be considered a sport – but because it also looks at racial issues, it’s deeper than most films of that genre. Plus, the movie is extremely well-acted. Washington is joined by Forest Whitaker and lesser-knowns Denzel Whitaker (no relation to Forest), Nate Parker and Jurnee Smollett.

The movie is available as a single-disc release and as a two-disc special collector’s edition. As would be expected, the extras vary drastically depending on the version, but both releases include a making-of feature and two music videos.

 
Untraceable
2 stars (out of four)
Rated R for some prolonged sequences of strong gruesome violence, and language
Sony Pictures
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Presumably, “Untraceable” was designed to make Americans address the increasingly blurred line between entertainment and violence, as it focuses on a serial killer who broadcasts his murders on the internet, allowing traffic to his Web site to determine how fast the victims die. In one situation, for instance, he places a man beneath a host of sun lamps in front of a Web cam. The more people who log on to watch the man die, the hotter the lamps get.

Sadly, director Gregory Hoblit spends so much time with each gruesome scenario that rather than calling attention to a cultural sickness, he actually sells the idea that violence is entertaining.

That’s too bad because the picture is relatively well-acted, with Diane Lane playing Jennifer Marsh, the head of an FBI cyber crime unit that is trying to find the tech-savvy killer before he claims more victims. Also turning in nice performances are Joseph Cross, as the killer, and Colin Hanks, as one of Jennifer’s FBI associates.

Aside from a melodramatic ending, the movie’s plotting is smart, and Hoblit paces things relatively well. Had he spent less time on the graphic depiction of murders, the film might have been worthwhile. But, as presented, it feels like a snuff show.

DVD extras include a commentary with several of the filmmakers and four features on the making of the picture.

 
Mad Money
1 star (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language, and brief drug references
Anchor Bay
Available on: DVD
Diane Keaton is a great actress, but she doesn’t always deliver great movies. Think back to a couple of her biggest failures, “The First Wives Club” and “Hanging Up,” and you’ve got an idea how disappointing “Mad Money” is.

Keaton plays Bridget Cardigan, an upper-class lady who faces losing her home and plush lifestyle when her husband (Ted Danson) gets downsized. To help pay the bills, she goes to work as a janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank and quickly hatches a plan to rob it.

It’s surprisingly easy for her to recruit accomplices, one a hard-working single mother whose job is shredding “worn out” cash (Queen Latifah), and the other a young wife (Katie Holmes) who moves carts of old money from place to place.

The heist portion of the film is inventive and well-executed, but just about everything else is dull. Keaton’s and Holmes’ characters don’t even resemble real people, yet the film isn’t a particularly broad comedy. What’s more, director Callie Khouri (“Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”) doesn’t spend a moment building camaraderie between the three leads.

Don’t waste your money, mad or otherwise.

DVD extras include a commentary by Khouri and a behind-the-scenes feature.

 
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Indiana Jones – The Adventure Collection:  To cash in on the May 22 release of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Paramount has rolled out new DVD versions of the three previous Indy movies, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Temple of Doom” and “Last Crusade.” They can be purchased in a boxed set or individually.

“Youth Without Youth”: Unusual, new drama by director Francis Ford Coppola. The film tells the story of an elderly man (Tim Roth) who is struck by lighting and begins to age in reverse.

“Two and a Half Men” – The Complete Third Season: More sitcom hijinks from Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer, who play Charlie and Alan, brothers of drastically different personalities living together and raising Alan’s young son.

“Mission Impossible” – The Fourth TV Season: If Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” movies have fogged your memories of the 1960s-’70s television show that inspired them, this set could bring everything back into focus.

“Saturday Night Live” – The Complete Third Season: Hours of sketches from classic “SNL” personalities, including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray.

“The Lovers”: Director Louis Malle’s 1958, French drama starring Jeanne Moreau as a housewife who leaves her husband and lover for a younger man. It is being released in French with English subtitles by the Criterion Collection.

“The Fire Within”: Also released by the Criterion Collection and also directed by Louis Malle this dark, French drama tells the story of a despondent writer (Maurice Ronet) who decides to reconnect with old friends before ending it all.

Not much good news to report on the home video front this week. Although we have a healthy crop of mainstream titles, none of them are particularly inventive or engaging.

 
P.S. I Love You
2½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity.
Warner Home Video
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

You know a film has troubles when its most likable character kicks the bucket in the first act. So, when Gerry Kennedy (Gerard Butler) dies in “P.S. I Love You,” the warning sirens start screeching.

Butler is a charming actor, and it’s fun to watch him on screen, but “P.S.” is built around the fact that Gerry must die. The premise is such: Before exiting, Gerry sets up an elaborate plan allowing his wife, Holly (Hilary Swank), to receive notes from him after he’s gone. It’s a sweet concept, and sentimental viewers will find themselves wiping away a few tears as Holly receives one letter after another from her dead husband.

Unfortunately, there’s no getting away from the schmaltz that accompanies this story and, even worse, there are a number of sketchy performances. Swank is solid, although not at her best, but Nellie McKay is unbelievably bad as her sister, Ciara. Add to this an uneven performance from Harry Connick Jr. – as a befuddled bartender – and even the great Kathy Bates can’t turn things around.

Too bad because the movie has romantic moments and its heart is certainly in the right place.

DVD extras include a short about adapting the Cecelia Ahern novel into this film, a collection of deleted scenes and a James Blunt music video.

 
Over Her Dead Body
1 star
Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language
New Line Home Entertainment
Available on: DVD

Eva Longoria Parker may be one of the best parts of the television show “Desperate Housewives,” but that doesn’t mean her film career is going to catch fire. In fact, if she uses “Over Her Dead Body” as a calling card, it might just croak.

In the film, she plays Kate, a screechy, unlikable bridezilla who is crushed by an ice sculpture on her wedding day. The film doesn’t do much to build on the relationship she had with her much more charismatic fiance, Henry (Paul Rudd), but we are led to believe that he is devastated. So devastated that he reluctantly agrees to see a psychic named Ashley (Lake Bell) who is supposed to contact Kate’s ghost and help him move on.

Ashley is game, mostly because she wants Henry to move on into her bedroom, but things get complicated when Kate’s ghost doesn’t play along. Dead or not, she wants Henry all to herself, so she starts haunting Ashley, who is the only human who can see her.

What follows is a lengthy supernatural catfight that isn’t the least bit funny or entertaining, especially when coupled with a lame subplot involving Ashley’s possibly gay catering partner, Dan (Jason Biggs).

For the record, Biggs is the best part of the movie, but that’s something like saying fire is the best part of Hell.

The DVD doesn’t come with extra features, which is just as well, as the film isn’t recommended for anyone with a pulse.

 
I’m Not There
2½ stars
Rated R for language, some sexuality and nudity
The Weinstein Company
Available on: DVD
Writer-Director Todd Haynes’ meditation on the many aspects of musician Bob Dylan’s life is both fascinating and frustrating.

The concept – using six actors to portray the different sides of Dylan – is genius, and it offers an unusual and compelling look at the man’s extraordinary career and the mythology surrounding it. Unfortunately, the film’s pieces don’t blend into a satisfying whole, leaving audiences with good moments but an experience that is disjointed overall.

In an attempt to reduce audience confusion, Haynes gives each actor who portrays Dylan a different character name. That allows them to be viewed as separate characters, but it will be obvious to Dylan fans that they are all part of the musician’s whole.

“I’m Not There” garnered a good deal of acclaim when it was released into theaters, even earning a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for Cate Blanchett, who plays Dylan at the height of his career. Her performance is decent, but in my mind the Oscar nod was a result of voters wowed only by the fact that she played a man. Surely, she was no better than her co-stars, including Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin and the late Heath Ledger.

“I’m Not There” may prove a pleasant distraction for moviegoers who enjoy abstract works, like those of filmmaker David Lynch. But those who prefer entertainment that takes a mainstream course will be better off looking elsewhere.

The movie was released on a two-disc collector’s edition that includes a commentary by Haynes, on-screen song lyrics, deleted scenes, outtakes, footage from the film’s premiere and a still gallery.

 
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“First Sunday”: Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan play petty thugs who decide to rob a church to solve their money problems. Of course, the heist goes bad and they are forced to re-examine the direction their lives have taken.

“Bella”: Independent drama about a former soccer star and New York City waitress who connect in an unexpected, but mutually beneficial, manner. The film won the People’s Choice Award at the 2007 Toronto International film Festival.

“Teeth”: Horror-comedy about a teen girl named Dawn (Jess Weixler) who discovers she has a toothed vagina that can be put to good use when she’s a victim of sexual violence. Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein.

“A Collection of 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films”: Terrific collection boasting all the films nominated for best live action short at this years Oscar celebration, plus three of the five shorts nominated in the animation category. Both winners, “The Mozart of Pickpockets” (live action) and “Peter & the Wolf” (animated), are included.

“Speed Racer – The Next Generation”: New animated series based on the 1967 Japanese cartoon about high tech racing. This show was made in the U.S. and focuses on a boy who is son to the original Speed. It’s being released now to promote and cash in on the live-action “Speed Racer” film, which opens May 9.

“Crossing Jordan” – Season 1: Fans of this TV drama, about a coroner (Jill Hennessy) who solves crimes, can finally sit down with all 23 of the first season episodes.

“The 4400” – The Fourth Season: Final season of the USA Network show about 4,400 people who were mysteriously abducted and then returned to Earth in a single swoop.

“Bewitched” – The Complete Sixth Season: This season of the popular TV comedy about a mortal man married to a witch (Elizabeth Montgomery) will always be remembered for its historic casting change. Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darrin – the mortal – changing the feel of the show forever.