Predators on DVD

I just wasn't convinced of Adrien Brody as the tough and rugged type. This installment was better than the previous two, but was no where near as suspenseful and scary as the first film. And of course, they leave the ending open for a possible sequel. I hope that doesn't happen.

Ip Man on DVD

 


In the last great war one man defied an empire . . .

Jacket: "Ip Man, starring Donnie Yen, is the award-winning film adaptation about the life story of Ip Man, grandmaster of Wing Chun and mentor to legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee.

Set in Fo Shan, China during the Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man vividly brings to life the brutality of the infamous Japanese occupation, where once proud men are forced to fight till their death for a precious bag of rice. Defined by courage and humility, Ip Man, whose fighting skills are revered all over China, rises to the fore front.

Upon refusing to teach his martial arts to the invading Japanese soldiers, he is forced to fight for the honor of his country in a series of battles that will culminate ina kill-or-be-killed showdown with Japan's greatest fighter."

This was so good I had to add it to my collection! Donnie Yen gives a moving performance as Wing Chun master, Ip Man, and the trials he and his city must endure during the Japanese occupation. 

Jonah Hex on DVD

Jacket: "Out of the pages of legendary comics and graphic novels steps Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin), a scared drifter and bounty hunter of last resort who has survived death and can track anyone ... and anything. Jonah's violent history is steeped in myth and legend and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the "other side." His one human connection is with Lilah (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own.  But Jonah's past catches up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can't refuse: to wipe out the warrants on his head, he must hunt and stop dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich).  But Turnbull, now gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah's oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead."


I think this one is best left on the page! Hopefully the animated graphic will be more interesting.

Splice on DVD

Jacket: "Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, they secretly take their experiment underground - risking their careers to push the boundaries of science and serve their own curiosity and ambition. The result is Dren, who exceeds their wildest dreams - and threatens to become their worst nightmare."

This film had potential, but it had a slow progression and lackluster ending.

Get Him to the Greek on DVD

Jonah Hill and Russell Brand make a great combo in the bawdy & colorful comedy of two misfits that have to get it together and make it to the concert on time. This is full of LOL moments, so check it out.


Jacket: "Jonah Hill and Russell Brand reunite with the director of Forgetting Sara Marshall in this outrageous comedy about Aaron Green (Hill), an aspiring music executive, who has 72 hours to deliver the wild rock legend, Aldous Snow (Brand), from London to Los Angeles for a comeback concert. In order to keep his job, Aaron must navigate a minefield of mayhem and debauchery to get Snow to the world famous Greek Theatre on time!"


Crazy lines:

• Azari: "I woke up with glitter on my d*@k." 

• Aldous Snow: "When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke the furry wall."

• Pharrell Williams: "You're five zippers away from "Thriller"."
• Sergio Roma: "Oh, and you're one shirt away from Carlton, muthafucka."

Harry Brown on DVD

 

Think "Death Wish" on a pension.

Don't miss this opportunity to watch Michael Caine kick ass!

Jacket: "... Michael Caine ... stars as Harry Brown, an ordinary, law-abiding citizen who justs wants to quietly live in fear of drug dealers who rule the streets ... and the police offer little protection. When Inspector Alice Frampton (Emily Mortimer) can't convict the thugs who killed Harry's best friend, he decides to take the law into his own hands. Using skills honed as a Royal Marine, Harry begins to serve his own brand of justice - and no one will stop him."

REPO MEN

Jacket: "Remy (Jude Law) and Jake (Forest Whitaker) are best friends and The Union's most dangerous repossession men, reclaiming top-dollar organs when recipients fall behind on their payments. But after an on-the-job accident forces Remy to be outfitted with a top-of-the-line heart replacement, he finds himself in debt and unable to pay.

Now, the hunter becomes the hunted as Jake will stop at nothing to track him down to finish the job."

What a snoozer! I think the funniest scene included the nine-year-old back alley surgeon. Leave this one on the shelf.

When in Rome on DVD

Jacket: "... When Beth, an unlucky-in-love New York curator (Kristen Bell), takes a whirlwind trip to Rome for her sister's wedding, an unexpected crush takes her by surprise. Quickly let down, she defiantly plucks coins from the Fontana de Amore, magically igniting the passions of some comically unsuitable suitors. As a charming reporter (Josh Duhamel) becomes zealously smitten. Beth is skeptical that he's the real deal."

The cheese factor is high on this one. While I avoided its fumes and walked out of the room while this played, my guest stayed on to watch and enjoy it. Go figure. 

the short second life of bree tanner (an eclipse novella) by Stephenie Meyer

 

 
 

This was an entertaining, complementary story to the Twilight saga.

Product description : "Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion."

Clash of the Titans (2010)

There's two hours I'm never getting back! This was a horrible remake of a classic film. And they don't include Bubo the owl! Really? The mythic story of Perseus was completely chewed up (not that the original was completely accurate, but it was so much closer than this) and what was regurgitated is an overly technical, boring, choppy, wanna-be epic action flick that Hollywood pooped out for the pre-teens. Next time they should spend more time on the story and less on the technology. Watch the original film. It's much more entertaining.

The Wolfman on DVD

Jacket: "... Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro tear up the screen in this action-packed thriller. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is lured back to his family estate to investigate the savage murder of his brother by a bloodthirsty beast.  There, Talbot must confront his childhood demons, his estranged father (Hopkins), his brother's grieving fiancee (Emily Blunt) and a suspicious Scotland Yard Inspector (Hugo Weaving).  When Talbot is bitten by the creature, he becomes eternally cursed and soon discovers a fate far worse than death.

Inspired by the classic Universal film that launched a legacy of horror, The Wolfman brings the myth of a cursed man back to its iconic origins."

As mentioned above, this film is a throwback to the Gothic horror films we watched as kids. The story is a little choppy and can drag at times, but I appreciated the simplicity of it.

From Paris with Love on DVD

Jacket: "James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), personal aide to the U.S. ambassador to France, is secretly moonlighting as a low-level CIA operative. Looking for more action, Reece accepts a job that teams him with wisecracking special agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta), a trigger-happy loose cannon sent to Paris on a mission of international importance. Now, Reece finds himself on the wildest ride of his life as the new partners pull out all the stops to annihilate the enemy ..."

This was just okay. John Travolta salvages the film with his over-the-top bad-ass character, Charlie Wax.