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E-mailNew DVD releases include 'Wanted'
Garrett Conti can be reached via e-mail or at 412-380-5685.
A twisting and turning dish of violence is served up nicely in the explosive "Wanted," an action-packed thrill ride that blasts off the screen like a speeding bullet. Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and the talented James McAvoy lead the way in Russian director Timur Bekmambetov's American feature film debut. Based on the clever graphic novels of Mark Millar, the best characteristic of "Wanted" is its unpredictability. The story is above par, and it'll keep viewers guessing till the very end. Surely, the violent tendencies of "Wanted" were a selling point for moviegoers, but between the gunplay and knife-wielding clips, a tight script emerges from the death and destruction. There are some ridiculous sequences of action, but that's easily forgivable. That tone is set early on, and to his credit, Bekmambetov never returns to the world of reality. Wesley (McAvoy) is a simple office slug, drudging through his daily life until he's recruited by the mysterious Fox (Jolie) to join a fraternity of assassins. Wesley goes through days of tough training to become an assassin under the watchful eye of Sloan (Freeman), the leader of the group. When he's assigned to his toughest mission, he realizes he might not be doing dirty jobs for the good team after all. "Wanted" is available in a scaled-down, one-disc package and a two-disc special edition. A deluxe collector's set also hits shelves. The special edition is the best buy, as it includes the majority of the extras, including slick featurettes on the stunts, special effects, Bekmambetov's vision, bringing the graphic novel to life on the silver screen and much more. R; 2008. Our Take: 3 Stars.
Buy It: Start the holidays off with a big bang.'The X-Files: I Want to Believe'
As it turns out, the return of agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) isn't out of this world. "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" moves the two skeptical agents past the hit TV show and into post-FBI life, as they're teamed up again to solve another mysterious case. Unlike the first feature-length film in 1998, this one steers away from UFOs and turns more toward the monster side of things. Scully works as a doctor, and Mulder has become a recluse living in the country. When an unexplained case emerges in the FBI, both agents return to help. What they find is a horrific medical experiment gone wrong. This second helping is entertaining, but it doesn't succeed in satisfying fans of or paying homage to the terrific TV show that ran for close to a decade. "I Want to Believe" seems only to scratch the surface of its predecessor's depths. It's light stuff and not as intelligent as what viewers have come to expect from creator Chris Carter. Single- and double-disc editions of the film are available. The double-disc set includes a nice three-part documentary on the making of the film. Standard extras also are available. PG-13; 2008. Our Take: 2 Stars.
Rent It: Mulder and Scully should’ve found a better case to draw them out of retirement.
'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'
Most of the gang's all here for the second step in "The Chronicles of Narnia." This one, titled "Prince Caspian," has a new enemy posing a threat in the enchanted world of Narnia. Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan must stave off King Miraz and the Telmarine army from wiping out magic in Narnia. The film takes the quartet back into Narnia after a distress call from Prince Caspian, a young man who's been driven from the castle by Miraz. When they return, they realize a lot of time has passed, and the Narnians have been driven underground. Teaming with Caspian and a rugged army, they must find it in themselves to restore Narnia to its rightful place. The younger sorts will enjoy the film, but it's less evolved than the comparable "Lord of the Rings" franchise. Nevertheless, children will enjoy the C.S. Lewis-inspired feature. The sequel will be available in one- and two-disc packages. While the single-disc set includes only commentary, the special-edition upgrade is stacked with in-depth looks at the CGI and tours of the film's sets and locations. Commentary and interviews also are available. PG; 2008. Our Take: 2.5 Stars.
Rent It: A stocking stuffer for the kids.
'Step Brothers'
Low expectations are the best way to approach "Step Brothers," a comedy re-teaming Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Ponder their most recent -- Ferrell in "Semi-Pro" and Reilly in "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" -- and awful memories of two of the worst comedies of the past decade re-emerge. This addition to their resumes takes a surprising step in the right direction. Directed by Adam McKay, the flick makes great use of the give-and-take chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly as the focal point. "Step Brothers" has Ferrell and Reilly playing 40-year-old losers still living with their single parents. Brennan Huff (Ferrell) lives with his mother, Nancy (Mary Steenburgen), and Dale Doback (Reilly) lives with his father, Robert (Richard Jenkins). When Richard and Nancy meet at a conference, sparks fly and they marry. This forces Brennan and Dale under the same roof. Initially, they hate each other, but, eventually, a great relationship is forged. Together, they're able to move out of arrested development and finally find something useful to do with their lives. The film arrives in unrated single- and double-disc sets. The two-disc package is packed with goodies, including hilarious extended scenes, three versions of the film and cool featurettes. Unrated; 2008. Our Take: 3 Stars.
Buy It: A wonderful family comedy for the holiday season.
Other new releases
• "The Longshots": This football-themed film might have been inspired by a true story, but it dashes in the same ingredients used for most sports movies these days. Yeah, it's all here in "The Longshots," the story of a young girl who joins her area's Pop Warner football team and leads them to a national championship. Ice Cube and Keke Palmer lead the cast in another textbook drama about succeeding on the field of play. Interestingly enough, "The Longshots" is the feature-length directorial debut of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Like his music, this one's largely unoriginal. A look at Jasmine Plummer, the girl who inspired the film, is the best of the extras. Interviews with Durst and Ice Cube, a lackluster making-of featurette and deleted scenes are included. PG; 2008. Our Take: 1.5 Stars.
• "Fly Me to the Moon": It was just a week ago that three chimps heading to outer space cruised onto DVD. This week, flies are getting in on the act. "Fly Me to the Moon" is the first animated flick created for DVD, and those flies sure are cute. But, that's about all, as the feature doesn't really add anything to the genre. Christopher Lloyd, Kelly Ripa, Nicollette Sheridan, Ed Begley Jr., Tim Curry and astronaut Buzz Aldrin lend their voices in this family friendly adventure that finds three flies hitching a ride on Apollo 11. Besides the 3-D glasses, "Fly Me to the Moon" also includes two versions of the film (2-D and 3-D) and an interactive game for the kids. G; 2008. Our Take: 2 Stars.
• More releases: "Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fourth Season" (seven discs, 22 episodes, extras), "Law & Order: The Sixth Year" (five discs, 23 episodes), "The Best of Dr. Katz" (one disc, 110-minute collection, extras), "Cannon: Season One, Volume Two" (four discs, 12 episodes), "Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Volume Two" (three discs, 11 episodes), "Perry Mason: Season Three, Volume Two" (four discs, 13 episodes), "Nickelback Live at Sturgis 2006" (music performance, unrated, extras) and "Curious George: Leads the Band and other Musical Mayhem" (one disc, eight episodes, extras).
