"Superman: The Richard Donner Cut"

Gene Hackman
Christopher Reeve
Margot Kidder
Marlon Brando
Ned Beatty
Terrence Stamp
Sarah Douglas
Jack O’Halloran
Valerie Perrine
E.G. Marshall


PG           115min           2006

“Superman II: The Donner Cut” is a representation of what Richard Donner’s Superman II would have looked like if he would have been able to complete the film.

It’s basically the same story told by that hack Lester with more of a tone of the first film. As a fan of the original Superman I never liked the second because of the things happening in the film. Richard Donner’s changes are better because they related to the character that we have come to love. Although it’s not complete and taken from several different sources such as screen test, its better and one of my top ten favorites.

To most it will probable be the same movie, but to me the changes make the movie significantly better. The things that Lester changes in the original Superman II change the fundamental character of Superman. Superman never had the power to disappear and reappear. And his outfit changing after he lost his power was another thing that I always disliked with the original.

Richard Lester basically tarnished what was the fundamental character of Superman. Being a Frenchman he didn’t respect the institution that is Superman and didn’t have knowledge of the character. It’s one of the reasons that most people will respect “Superman II: The Donner Cut” of the film. You should check out this film for that reason alone.

There are a few special features and one of the features is hosted by Mark McClure and explains the trials that this film went through to get make. It also contains a feature on some of the characters and actors. There’s a tribute to Christopher Reeve. Although it’s light on features they are ones that fans will appreciate.

Anyone that’s a fan of Richard Donner’s Superman will love “Superman II: The Donner Cut”. It’s not the complete version he would have put out but a representative of the version with the available film and audio that could be found and restored. If you’re a fan of Superman then you should see this film.

I give it 5/5Gs

"Eurotrip"

Scott Mechlowicz
Jacob Pitts
Michelle Trachtenberg
Travis Wester
Jessica Boehler
Kristin Kreuk
Vinnie Jones





Unrated           90min           2004

“Eurotrip” is about a high school graduate who after his girlfriend breaks up with him he finds out that his German pen pal Mieke is not a dude but a girl who wants to meet him. Now Scotty and friends traverse Europe on a trip that they will never forget.

This takes the after high school European trip to new comedic heights. The premise is believable and this trip leads into an outlandish tale that if were true would be in a Ripley’s believe it or not. It has the standard acting and all the right ingredients to make a good teen comedy. But what makes this DVD worth seeing is the extras on the DVD.

“Eurotrip” an easy enough premise. Its basic and simple and it gave the writers the room to use their imaginations and that’s what they did. Taking their characters to on a trip that they will never forget and all the while having fun. They make Europe seem like the destination of choice, for graduates were as another film Hostel makes Europe seem like the outer rim of hell.

Acted my mostly relative unknowns this does displays a mature Michelle Trachtenberg. She was displayed more as women than little Penny from Inspector Gadget. As the major female presence in a male dominant film she shines in one of the funniest yet more disturbing scene, if it were true, in the film. Boast some funny cameos from Fred Armistice, Matt Damon, and Lucy Lawless.

This is a top teen comedy. “Eurotrip” gives you memorable scenes and a catchy tune to remember, “Scotty Doesn’t Know” but where this DVD shines is the extra. It has a sex scene index, hilarious deleted scenes, and some of the funniest commentaries. The Party Along commentary features the three writer/directors playing a college drinking party and getting stupid drunk. It’s funny to hear them getting drunker and having to go to the bathroom. It’s a drinking that seemed to be enjoyable.

“Eurotrip” is one of those memorable teen comedies. It boasts a funny premise, featuring some funny cameos, and situation that keep you laughing from beginning to end. This DVD has some of the best DVD extras and that’s what makes “EuroTrip” worthy to buy.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Swordfish"

John Travolta
Hugh Jackman
Halle Berry
Don Cheadle
Sam Shepard
Vinnie Jones
Drea de Matteo
Rudolf Martin
Camryn Grimes




R           99min           2001

“Swordfish” is about a computer hacker (Jackman) commissioned to write him a program by a mysterious figure (Travolta) and his associate (Berry).

“Swordfish” is a movie that when it came was one of the first to take advantage of the “Matrix bullet-time” to create one of the most outrageous movie sequences on the film. The action is over the top but you go with it. The story is one that could be believable.

This has some of the best action sequences in the film. The open sequence using “Matrix Bullet-time” is one of best sequence in film history. Action is continuous, dynamic lets you know that you are about to go for an interesting ninety minutes.

The action is at time gratuitous and over the top but you go with it. Most lines in the beginning is exposition and based on that exposition it’s a world that most people don’t live in and won’t understand. Once you take that at face value you can get behind the rest of the film. How can say there aren’t men in the world like this, they all can’t be like ‘Jack Bauer’.

One of the reason I went with the story is on the basis of the opening monologue by Travolta.. Although Travolta is made out as the bad guy I felt that he was a hero. Everything that Travolta does is about it protecting out freedom; a message I could get behind. He’s doing anything to protect our way of life. Travolta asks a question toward the end of the film: “How far would you go to protect our way of life?” If you drop the preconception and just go with the film, it is be satisfying and enjoyable.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Blood Diamond"

Leonardo DiCaprio
Djimon Hounsou
Jennifer Connelly
Kagiso Kuypers
Michael Sheen
Arnold Vosloo
Antony Coleman
Benu Mabhena
Anointing Lukola
Marius Weyers
Stephen Collins







R           143min           2006

“Blood Diamond” is about an ex-mercenary turned smuggler (DiCaprio), A Mende fisherman (Hounsou), amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman’s son, conscripted as a child solider into the brutal rebel forces ripping a wraith of torture and bloodshed across the country side.

This movie shines a light on something that Americans overlook just to have their diamonds and something that is the one of the reason that Africa is a face the problems it faces today.

“Blood Diamond” is a movie that tells a gripping tale without being too sentimental. This film showcase some of Africa’s beautiful country while its in the thralls of conflict. Every character has an arc and in those arcs you come to care for these characters. This is an exceptional film with 5 academy award nominations.

Filming in Africa, it shows some stunning countryside that is rarely seen unless the country is visited. But it also highlighted the conditions of a country being lost in conflict. The sea of tents, and the reason’s for them can be daunting and make you feel helpless. It is sad that this film is a fiction that could be in-fact a reality in our day and age.

Djimon Hounsou acting is spectacular. He shows the love of a father and the lengths he will go to for his family. He is gripping to watch and your heart goes out to him during his journey. He was truly a man lost in a world that he loved trying to keep his family together. Although nominated in the supporting actor category I felt that he was the star of this film.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the ex-mercenary turned smuggler beautifully. At the start you know he is a despicable character doing his part to fuel the fire that is engulfing Africa. During his journey for the pink diamond he see hints that his character is facing a cross road in his life. Its not until he is faced with that life changing moment do you really know if he will make that turn or not.

Jennifer Connelly plays an American journalist in the middle of this conflict. I believed the heartbreak on her face and of her character. But I do believe she was too stunning as the journalist. The camera loves her and its probable hard for her to look bad, which she never did, even in the middle of bullets exploding around her. She is almost distracting but a vital part of the film.

Edward Zwick put together a great film. “Blood Diamond” highlights topics that are tragic and also have solution if the world would open its eyes to them. He shows the consequences that Africans face standing up to the problems and how much money is behind keeping our heads in the sand. This is a film that you should see, not just for the actors in the film but also for the message that Zwick is trying to tell.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"White Noise"

Michael Keaton
Chandra West
Deborah Kara Unger
Ian McNeice
Keegan Connor Tracy

PG13           101min           2005

“White Noise” is about An architect's (Keaton) desire to speak with his wife (West) from beyond the grave, becomes obsessed and with his obsession starts to break the barrier between life and death leading to supernatural repercussions.

This film is marginal good. I think this film isn’t really scary so much as it plays on peoples paranoia. Most television now a days goes to a blue screen when not signal is picked up or may its just mine. But if I did take something from this film is leave the other side alone.

There is a barrier between life and dead and it should not be cross but people want too anyway. It’s one of the reasons why psychics and shows like ‘Ghost Whisper’ are so popular. People want to know that there is another side and death is not just it.

“White Noise” is a cautionary tale about meddling with the other side. Keaton’s character need to talk to his wife lead to his downfall and were supposed to feel that it was tragic; I felt that it was stupid and he should have pulled back several times in the film.

It became predictable after the architect’s wife’s death. The film maker never showed how he loved her so much that he would become obsessed with talking to her and that’s where the movie lost me. From that point on it was like it was just going through the motion of a scary thriller as I anticipated everything coming.

I give it 2/5 Gs

"Last Holiday"

Queen Latifah
LL Cool J
Timothy Hutton
Alicia Witt
Gerard Depardieu
Giancarlo Esposito






PG13           112min           2006


”Last Holiday”is the story of a shy woman decides to take a European vacation, after she's diagnosed with a terminal illness.

A fun escapist film, that Queen Latifah imbues with a everyone vibe. Her character starts out being a shy under the radar woman, who realizes, after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, that she hasn’t lived. This leads her to drop everything fulfill her “dying” wishes.

The Queen shines in this comedy with the quirky pairing of LL Cool J, who plays timid salesman, and not the usual ladies man. Queen Latifah character Georgia Byrd is a person everyone should have in their life and if you don’t then you’re probable it. Georgia starts out quiet and meek, once she is misdiagnose she throws caution to the wind, and becomes, strong, confident, tells it like it is.

”Last Holiday” is a humorous comedy that commentates on people should strive for their dreams before its too later. It’s something that people struggle with everyday. In it humorous way its saying throw caution to the wind and find what makes you happy before its too late.

In Georgia’s European vacation she meets a cast of “characters” that need her help but also help her face things in her life that have held her back. When she thinks her time is running out she reevaluates her priority and the person she wants to spend the rest of her life as.

”Last Holiday” is just a funny feel good movie. Finding actors in out of type casting, that is a pleasant surprise to the viewer. It’s a film that you will enjoy because it allows you to escape your problems and enjoy Georgia Byrd on her journey of self-discovery, re-evaluation of her life, and fulfilling her dreams.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"The Pursuit of Happyness"

Will Smith
Jaden Smith
Thandie Newton
Brian Howe
James Karen
Dan Castellaneta









PG13           117min           2006

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is a film based on the daunting life of Christopher Gardner. In 1981, Christopher Gardner is a struggling salesman of portable bone density scanners while his wife works double shift to help support their family that includes 5 year Christopher. When their desperation reaches the boiling point, Chris has the inspiration to try a competitive stockbroker internship, where only one in twenty go on to have a career in the field. When his wife leaves, Chris is determined to keep his son with him, and the stresses and struggles of homeless, jail time, and tax seizures, see Gardner come out on the other side a respected millionaire.

This film is heartbreaking, inspirational and a true American success story. Although most of the things in this film really happen they did take liberties with Christopher Gardner’s story and those liberties almost pushes this film too dramatic. I still feel that it showed one mans pursuit of life, liberty and happiness that can inspire even the most cynical person on the planet.

One of the shinning points of this film and what makes “The Pursuit of Happyness” work is Jaden’s delivery of his lines. It’s his delivery that Will reacts to and their natural relationship shines through the words. Will Smith and his son Jaden, show the subtle beats that come from a functional relationship rarely seen between father and son. It’s those beats that are found naturally in the relationship that Will and jaden have in real life. Its these intangibles that would not have been there if they weren’t father and son; this is what makes this film so powerful and moving.

Watch it with tissue handy because it’s a tearjerker. It’s almost maddening to see a decent man struggle this hard to provide for his family but a welcomed relief when he succeeds. Christopher Gardner’s tale is one that you can find strength in when you’re at a low point. What Will portrays in this film is a reflection of the real Chris Gardner. You can tell from the way he walks by in his cameo at the end of the film.

“The Pursuit of Happyness”is a film that should not be missed. It’s a great addition to your movie collection or a great gift to anyone. It has strong performances by Will and Jaden Smith. It will inspires and move the viewer to tears.

I give it a 5/5 Gs.