Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (DVD)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom. Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) tries to weasel his way out of a blood debt with the ghastly Davey Jones (Bill Nighy), who looks like an octopus is sitting on his head. After the ultimate battle with the Kraken, a mighty beast from the depths, we learn that this movie, long as it is at two and a half hours, is just the set-up for a sequel, which will be released in 2007. Depp fans will not be disappointed, but I found the whole thing rather disappointing. Grade: B-

The Oh in Ohio (DVD)

The Oh in Ohio (2006) starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Danny DeVito. Priscilla (Posey) and Jack (Rudd) are a married couple on the verge of breakup because Priscilla can't achieve the big O, also known as an orgasm. Priscilla has an affair with a vibrator which seems to be going well when she decides it's not enough, and she breaks up with the vibrator by putting it down the garbage disposal. Later, stretching the bounds of credibility, it turns out that Wayne, the Pool Guy (DeVito) is the first man she's ever slept with who can bring her to orgasm. It's all low key and only mildly entertaining, but Posey is fun to watch. Grade: B

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin. A dysfunctional family embarks on a life-altering road trip to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, encountering mind-boggling obstacles along the way. This is a delightfully daffy movie. Grade: A-

The Ant Bully (DVD)

The Ant Bully (2006) with the voices of Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep. Kids might enjoy this animated tale about a boy who terrorizes an ant colony -- until he is shrunk down to ant size and becomes a member of the tribe. There is one set piece -- a battle with an exterminator -- that may prove especially exciting. But adults will be bored, as there is no meaningful subtext, no double entendres that both adults and children can enjoy. Grade: For kids, B+, for adults, C-

Goldeneye (DVD)

Goldeneye (1995) starring Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007, James Bond. Brosnan stars in his first Bond film, but the formula is pretty familiar by now. A little romance, a lot of action, some nifty gadgets thrown in, and a Bond girl/villain played by Famke Janssen. Her character's name is Onatopp (heh heh). You also get explosions. Lots and lots of explosions. Brosnan does all right in bringing off Bond's trademark cheeky attitude. At two hours and ten minutes long, though, this action/adventure film seems to go on forever. Grade: B-

Scoop (DVD)

Scoop (2006) starring Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen. A young American journalism student (Johansson) chances upon a major news story (the scoop of the title) while visiting London in this comedy directed by Woody Allen. Although it's not among Allen's best work, I found this simple tale to be entertaining enough. Then again, I'm a big fan of both Johansson and Jackman. Grade: B+

An Inconvenient Truth (DVD)

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) starring Al Gore. Gore, the former vice president of the United States and unsuccessful presidential candidate, explains global warming in pretty substantial detail. He paints a scary picture, and if he's right, we're in trouble. This movie is a bit dry at times, but is surprisingly engaging. Grade: A-

Who Killed the Electric Car? (DVD)

Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) In the 1990s, General Motors -- pushed largely by legal requirements instituted in California -- began production of the EV1, a zero-emissions electric car. This film documents the puzzling rise and fall of the electric car. Although it worked well and had enthusiastic drivers, the car was pulled from production, and all the cars that had been produced were withdrawn and destroyed by GM. Why did the electric car fail? Was it the oil companies, the government, the car manufacturers who wanted to see it fail? This documentary provides interesting and somewhat depressing answers. Grade: B+

Strangers With Candy (DVD)

Strangers With Candy (2005) starring Amy Sedaris. Sedaris portrays 46-year-old Jerri Blank, newly released from prison and looking to start life over again by going back to high school. The title is funny, the premise is promising, but there's little payoff in the form of funny jokes. Grade: C

Monster House (DVD)

Monster House (2006). Animated. Three kids -- D.J., his chubby friend Chowder and pretty Jenny -- go up against the house across the street, which seems to be possessed. The animation is excellent and atmospheric as the three friends seek out the secret of the Monster House. This is one cartoon movie that may actually be too scary for young children, so parental guidance is recommended. Grade: B+

Over the Hedge (DVD)

Over the Hedge (2006) with the voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Thomas Haden Church, Nick Nolte, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Avril Lavigne, William Shatner, Wanda Sykes. A group of forest animals awake in the spring to find themselves hemmed in on all sides by development. An outsider -- a raccoon, voiced by Willis -- convinces them to try to steal food from the humans who now surround them. Kids might like this animated movie, but even for a cartoon it's lacking in humor and warmth. Grade: C

The Break-Up

The Break-Up (2006) starring Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau. Aniston and Vaughn play a couple who break up, but can't afford to move because neither of them alone can pay the mortgage on their condo. So they stay together and torture each other in ways that are uncomfortable to watch. For a movie that's supposed to be a comedy, this one left me feeling awfully sad. Grade: C

Cars (DVD)

Cars (2006) with the voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt. Well made animated feature from Disney/Pixar about anthropomorphic cars. The story is chiefly for kids, but the movie also contains a paean to old Route 66 which will resonate with some adults. The DVD also offers a few extras (two short animated pieces and some commentary) that add value. Grade: B

Mission Impossible: III (DVD)

Mission Impossible: III (2006) starring Tom Cruise, Keri Russell, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hyper-kinetic, overly gimmicky, not even barely believable. Grade: C+

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (DVD)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). What a piece of crap. Grade: F

Reds (DVD)

Reds (1981) starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson. Beatty plays John Reed, an American correspondent with radical politics who got caught up in the spirit, euphoria and aftermath of Russia's 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Beatty also directed this movie, for which he won an Oscar. He mixes romance and politics in telling Reed's story, and Keaton is appealing as the romantic interest and Reed's wife. But will you want to spend three hours-plus watching it? I doubt it. Grade: B-

Slither (DVD)

Slither (2006) starring Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks. Written and directed by James Gunn. Tongue-in-cheek horror about a small town being invaded by parasites that turn humans into zombies. Might be good if you enjoy gore. More gross-out than scary. Grade: C+

Click (DVD)

Click (2006) starring Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, Christopher Walken, David Hasselhoff. Sandler, as a workaholic architect, discovers a "Universal" remote control which allows him to control real life. He uses it to skip through the bad parts of life, and some of the good. But the catch is, the remote is an intelligent device which learns his preferences and starts automatically controlling his life. Sandler is Scrooge in the last act of A Christmas Carol and George Bailey in the last act of It's a Wonderful Life, learning lessons about life even as he botches his own. It almost works, but I've never been able to actually like Adam Sandler. Grade: B-

Lucky Number Slevin (DVD)

Lucky Number Slevin (2006) starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley. A seemingly innocent man (Hartnett) is mistaken for someone else, and finds himself in the middle of a mob dispute. But all is not what it seems, and the film gradually spins into an elaborate revenge thriller. The script is, if anything, too clever. Grade: B-

A Prairie Home Companion (DVD)

A Prairie Home Companion (2006) starring Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline, Garrison Keillor. Directed by Robert Altman. The script, penned by Keillor, traces the last broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion," the fictional radio show based loosely on the real radio show of the same name. It's like watching an episode of the radio show brought to the screen, and if you're a fan of the radio show you're almost guaranteed to like the movie. Grade: B+

Pretty Poison (DVD)

Pretty Poison (1968) starring Anthony Perkins, Tuesday Weld. Perkins plays just-released-from-the-loony-bin Dennis Pitt. Posing as a secret agent, Pitt begins life anew in a tiny town and takes up with high school student Sue Ann Stepanek (Weld). At first it seems Pitt is the crazy one, but Stepanek proves more than his match. Grade: B+

Thank You for Smoking (DVD)

Thank You for Smoking (2005) starring Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Katie Holmes, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy. Big tobacco spin doctor Nick Naylor (Eckhart) is on a mission to make the country forget the dangers of his product. He works to promote smoking in the movies and hush former employees who bad-mouth cigarettes (namely, the Marlboro Man, who has cancer) -- all the while trying to remain a role model for his young son. Mildly entertaining, but somehow lacks bite. Directed by Jason Reitman, based on Christopher Buckley's novel. Grade: B

The Lake House (DVD)

The Lake House (2006) starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock. Remake of a Korean film about a magic mail box which allows two strangers, a doctor and an architect, to communicate with each other across a gulf of two years. The architect lives in the lake house in 2004, the doctor in 2006, yet when they place letters in the mail box the letters are delivered to the other as if by magic. There is never any explanation as to how this occurs, so don't look for one. If you can suspend your disbelief (a big "if"), you may find this to be a charming romance. There is an abundance of logical contradictions, but the chemistry between the leads is certainly good. Grade: B-

The Notorious Bettie Page

The Notorious Bettie Page (2006) starring Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page. Although she longed to be an actress, an unassuming girl from Nashville would ultimately become the nation's first bona fide bondage queen. Mary Harron directed this biopic about 1950s pinup girl Page, who innocently posed for sadomasochistic photos and movies before becoming the target of a U.S. Senate investigation and later retreating back into Christianity. Not as sensational as you might fear (or hope). Mol delivers a great performance. Grade: B

Wings of Desire (DVD)

Wings of Desire (1987). Wim Wenders won Best Director at the 1987 Cannes film festival for this vision about an angel (Bruno Ganz) who falls in love with a beautiful circus performer while drifting unnoticed through West Berlin. Overcome by the girl's beauty, the angel decides he wants to become human. Peter Falk co-stars as himself, and aids the angel in his decision-making process. At two hours plus, the movie is way too long. (In German and English, with English subtitles.) Grade: B-

Hope Floats (DVD)

Hope Floats (1998) starring Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr. A woman (Bullock) finds out on a Jerry Springer-like talk show that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. The movie is all about her return to her home town and her recovery from the devastating news. Except for the opening scene, the film is relatively formless, with no real narrative drive. Grade: B-

Hard Candy (DVD)

Hard Candy (2006). Newcomer Ellen Page stars in this story about the encounter between an online predator and the 14-year-old girl who agrees to meet with him. After meeting in a cafe, he convinces her to come to his house, where she proceeds to turn the tables on him. It's a pretty interesting movie, but tends to get repetitive. Grade: B-

Friends with Money (DVD)

Friends with Money (2006) starring Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand. Slice-of-life drama about four women who have remained friends into adulthood even though one (played by Aniston) has failed to prosper and is working as a maid. The movie is interesting to watch but has an incomplete feel to it. Grade: B-

United 93

United 93 (2006). A cast of unknown actors stars in the harrowing story of the flight in which the passengers rose up against their Muslim hijackers. A well told and affecting film. Grade: B

Parenthood (DVD)

Parenthood (1989) starring Steve Martin and a great supporting cast. This is a funny and affecting movie about the drama and the humor of raising kids. It's really worth seeing. Grade: B

Inside Man (DVD)

Inside Man (2006) starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster. Not terribly exciting heist flick. Washington plays a negotiator, Owen is the chief bank robber, and Foster is a free agent brought in for no obvious reason. The script could have used a little work. Grade: C+

Eight Below (DVD)

Eight Below (2006). Starring eight dogs and a cast of unknown humans. Weather conditions force a scientific team to leave behind a team of eight sled dogs in the Antarctic. This movie tells the story of how the dogs, or most of them, miraculously survive. There are several moments which stretch the credulity of the viewer. Grade: B-

Mostly Martha (DVD)

Mostly Martha (2002) is an unassuming, surprisingly moving little film about a chef named Martha who is thrust into the role of parent when her sister dies. She and her niece have great difficulty adjusting to one another -- Martha is neurotic, and the niece has lost her mother. It is touching to watch them struggle toward tolerance, then love for one another. In German, with English subtitles. Grade: B

House of Games (DVD)

House of Games (1987) starring Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna. Written and directed by David Mamet. A psychologist and author (Crouse) wants to help out a patient, so she seeks out the man (Mantegna) to whom he is indebted. In trying to cancel the man's debt, she becomes involved in the world of the confidence man, and is soon in way over her head. It's a fascinating look at con men for her and for the viewer of the movie. Only in the movie's final act does it veer into familiar and overly simple territory. Grade: B+

When Harry Met Sally... (DVD)

When Harry Met Sally (1989) starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher. This romantic comedy, set in New York City, has aged well. Personally, I don't care for Crystal that much, but Ryan is cute as a button in this, one of her earliest movies. As a couple, they work just fine, and the dialog is pretty sharp. Especially memorable is Ryan's scene in a restaurant, where she demonstrates to Crystal (and us) that yes, a woman CAN fake an orgasm. Grade: A-

Open Your Eyes (DVD)

Open Your Eyes (1997). Spanish film with English subtitles. I watched this movie twice trying to make sense of it. It's a kind of sci-fi psychodrama thriller, set in the present -- but actually half of it takes place in the year 2145. The protagonist, Cesar, is a handsome womanizer who is disfigured in a terrible car accident. One night, he gets drunk and wakes up the next day lying in the gutter. Miraculously, or so it seems, his life takes a turn for the better -- much better. His woman loves him again despite his scars, and then doctors announce that there is a new operation that can restore his looks. Everything is looking up, but it soon degenerates into a kind of strange nightmare where it is hard to tell dream from reality. This film was supposedly a big hit in Spain when it was first released, but made scarcely a ripple in the U.S. Penelope Cruz appears as Cesar's love interest, the only face that will be familiar to American viewers. Grade: B-

Weeds (DVD)

Weeds (Season 1). Mary-Louise Parker stars in this Showtime series as a widowed suburban mom who keeps her family afloat financially by dealing marijuana. It's full of good stoner humor, as well as varieties of family angst. According to this series, you'd be surprised by just how many people in the suburbs smoke dope. Two discs. Grade: B+

Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2005) stars a cast of British actors who will be unfamiliar to most American filmgoers. The only familiar face is Gillian Anderson, who makes a brief appearance as herself. The film is a moderately interesting story about the making of a movie based on an old book about the character Tristram Shandy. Grade: B-

Benny's Video (DVD)

Benny's Video (1992) in German with English subtitles. Sociopathic teenager, inspired by home video of a pig being slaughtered, kills a girl he has just met. As an added fillip, he videotapes himself killing her, and later shows the video to his parents.
This is an early work from the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, who smugly seems to think he has discovered the idea that there is too much violence in the media. While "exposing" it, he exploits it. Grade: D

Wag the Dog (DVD)

Wag the Dog (1997) starring Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche. Based on a book that claimed the Persian Gulf War had been faked, this movie makes a surprisingly relevant statement about the relationship between the media, the government and the truth. When the president is accused of sexual misconduct by a teenage girl, spin doctors De Niro and Hoffman are called in to figure out a way to distract the public. Their solution: a phony war with Albania, complete with war footage, a stirring theme song, and a returning hero. Plus, a terrorist plot about a nuclear device that's being smuggled into the U.S. from Canada. It's all fictional, but it's all too familiar. Grade: B

Funny Games (DVD)

Funny Games (1998) in German with English subtitles. Written and directed by Michael Haneke. There's nothing funny about this movie, in which a pair of sadistic young men torture and kill a family of three. Although the director claims to be making a statement about the portrayal of violence in film, I didn't really feel this film had anything to say that justified the carnage. If I had seen it in a theater, I would have walked out half way through. Grade: F

Evil (DVD)

Evil (2003). Swedish drama about a rebellious high-school boy. Beaten by his brutish stepfather, thrown out of public school for fighting, he tries to survive in a tough boarding school without getting expelled. I found it compelling. With English subtitles. Grade: A-

The President's Last Bang (DVD)

The President's Last Bang (2005) in Korean, with English subtitles. Details the events surrounding the 1979 assassination of corrupt South Korean leader Park Chun-hee. Supposedly a satiric retelling of what happened, but if so I didn't get the joke. Grade: C+

Syriana (DVD)

Syriana (2005) starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Siddig, Chris Cooper. "Syriana" is a serious, tough-minded, issues-oriented film about the American addiction to oil and the effects it has on government, business, and the foreign countries that have the oil. Anyone looking for light entertainment should avoid this movie. Grade: A

Munich (DVD)

Munich (2005) starring Eric Bana, Daniel Craig. Directed by Steven Spielberg. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, terrorists of Black September, a Palestinian group, took 11 Israeli athletes hostage and ended up killing them all. This movie is about Israel's response, a counter-terror exercise in which 11 Arabs, all believed connected to the Munich massacre, are targeted for assassination. Avner (Eric Bana) is chosen as the group leader for a small cell (five men) whose mission it is to kill as many of the 11 as possible. The movie gets interesting as the killing begins, and Avner begins to have doubts about the mission and what it is accomplishing. What is most remarkable to me is how amateurish and naive the killers seem. They are not men who have made their livings by killing, but men who have been recruited for a difficult mission that involves killing. The film inevitably raises questions about the current "war on terror." If we capture or kill Osama bin Laden, will he not be replaced by someone just as bad or worse? Can a "war" of tit-for-tat terrorism ever be won? The movie compellingly brings such questions to the fore, without trying to provide answers. At two hours, 44 minutes, it's a bit long. Rated R for lots of violence, some nudity and sex. Grade: A

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (DVD)

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan. Comic noir thriller set in Los Angeles has Downey's small-time crook posing as a private eye to stay close to the woman he fancies -- who, coincidentally enough, he knew in high school back in the Midwest. The narrative is full of twists and turns and references to other movies, all very entertaining if you can follow it. Grade: B+

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic (DVD)

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic (2005). Comic Sarah Silverman wrote and stars in this quasi-concert film, which features her irreverent wit and dirty mind. Those who don't "get" her humor may actually think she's a racist as she skates right along and sometimes over the boundaries of "good taste" and political correctness. As for me, there were points in this film where I laughed out loud, so she must have been doing something right. Grade: A-

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (DVD)

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) starring Bette Davis, Joan Crawford. Camp horror classic with Davis as the former child star, Baby Jane Hudson, who faded when she reached adulthood, and Crawford as her sister, Blanche, who had a successful acting career as an adult. Blanche now lives as an invalid in a household where her chief caregiver is the increasingly unhinged Jane. Grade: B

Moonstruck (DVD)

Moonstruck (1987) starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis. Directed by Norman Jewison. Delightful romance set in Little Italy in New York City, with Cher and Cage as a couple who defy logic and follow their hearts. Filled with acutely observed vignettes about Italian-American life. Cher and Dukakis won Oscars for their work. Grade: A

Jarhead (DVD)

Jarhead (2005) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx. Directed by Sam Mendes. Based on the book by Anthony Swofford. Gyllenhaal plays Tony Swofford, who wrote the book "Jarhead" about his experiences as a Marine in the Persian Gulf War. It's not really a war movie, though, because the Persian Gulf War was primarily fought from the air. This film is more concerned with the experiences of the grunts who went to the desert and waited, and waited, and waited for the war to start. Once it started, it was over in four days because Saddam's army had been decimated by the bombing campaign. The waiting, though, is made interesting because we see the Marine Corps from an insider's point of view -- and it's pretty weird. Grade: B

King Kong (DVD)

King Kong (2005) starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody. Directed by Peter Jackson. Watts stars as Ann Darrow, the woman who wins Kong's heart. Jack Black plays Carl Denham, the showman who conceives the idea of putting Kong on display. Andy Serkis, who inhabited Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies, here provides the convincing ape-like motion of King Kong. At a running time of three hours, the movie seems overlong, and the climactic scene atop the Empire State Building seems to go on forever. As another reviewer has said, however, this is the definitive version of "King Kong," and there would seem to be no reason to remake it again, ever -- or at least until films go 3-D. The special effects are fantastic, and the acting, especially by Watts, is terrific. Some scenes may be too intense for young children. Grade: A-

Brokeback Mountain (DVD)

Brokeback Mountain (2005) starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway. Directed by Ang Lee. Known to late-night comedians everywhere as the "gay cowboy movie," this is, of course, much more. Although some viewers will be uncomfortable with the homosexual-themed love story, the movie is superbly photographed, well acted and tightly scripted. It's interesting to watch and involving. And the theme of intolerance is universal. Grade: B+

Freeway (DVD)

Freeway (1996) starring Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland. Written and directed by Matthew Bright. "Freeway" is all about girl power. Within the rough framework of the Little Red Riding Hood story, Oscar-winner Witherspoon plays a white trash teen-ager named Vanessa who rises to the challenge when her mother and stepfather are arrested and taken away. Vanessa ends up hitching a ride with "Bob Wolverton" (get it?), played by Sutherland, who turns out to be the infamous "I-5 Killer." At first she seems to be at his mercy, but she soon turns the tables and the movie is off and running. Grade: B+

Il Postino (The Postman) DVD

Il Postino (The Postman) (1994) featuring an Italian and French cast that will not be familiar to Americans. In Italian with English subtitles. Poignant and unforgettable, the story of a feckless man (Mario) and how delivering mail to a famous poet changes his life. At first, Mario seems at best unintelligent, but later we come to realize he might be a poet himself. Still later, he takes on the dimensions of a tragic hero. Grade: B+

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (DVD)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) starring a cast of (mostly) unknowns. Although I had mixed feelings while watching this movie, I have good memories about having seen it. While it has obvious flaws, I enjoyed seeing the four children go on their adventure. I have a strong feeling children will love this movie, and most adults who like it will like it because it is something wholesome for their children to watch. I guess the good outweighs the bad. Grade: B

The Long Good Friday (DVD)

The Long Good Friday (1979) starring Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren. British mobster Hoskins is putting together the biggest deal of his life when things start to go wrong. Close associates are killed. Bombs destroy first a car, then a restaurant he owns. Hoskins is under attack, but it takes him most of the movie to figure out where the attack is coming from. When he does figure it out, he decides to fight back, and it is not until the film's final scene that he realizes how heavily the odds are stacked against him. This is a great little gangster movie. Unfortunately, this DVD lacks the all-important (to me) English subtitles which would allow me to understand all the various British accents. On the bonus side: A couple of brief scenes by a very young Pierce Brosnan as an Irish thug. Grade: A-

The New World (DVD)

The New World (2005) starring Colin Farrell, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Christian Bale. The New World is a misnomer, since it leads one to believe that the film is going to be about the struggles of European colonists establishing settlements in the Americas during the 1600s. While that's admittedly part of the narrative, it's not the biggest part. This is really the story of Pocahontas (Kilcher), the Native American princess who provided aid to the settlers of Virginia, fell in love with Captain John Smith (Farrell), was exiled by her father, and became the dutiful wife of tobacconist John Rolfe (Bale). All of this occurs against the backdrop of the uneasy relationship that exists between the tribes of "naturals" and the English interlopers. I'm not a big fan of director Terrence Malick, and this film was no exception. The first half of the film was pretty effective, with Captain Smith being captured by the natives, being captivated by their lifestyle, and falling in love with Pocahontas, the chief's daughter. But it really falls apart after Smith returns to Jamestown and becomes re-involved with his fellow Englishmen and their plight there. There are some exciting scenes when fighting breaks out between the natives and the English, but mostly it's just confusing and boring. Grade: C

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (DVD)

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews. A truly awful movie. The beautiful Anne Hathaway is wasted in this unnecessary sequel to "The Princess Diaries," which was a pretty entertaining film. The only reason this one doesn't get an F is that maybe, just maybe, young girls might enjoy it. Grade: D-

Rumor Has It ... (DVD)

Rumor Has It ... (2005) starring Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine. I keep waiting for Jennifer Aniston to make a good movie, but this one continues the string of disappointments. It doesn't help that I don't like Mark Ruffalo, or Kevin Costner for that matter. It was really kind of creepy watching Costner seduce Aniston, especially given the plot of the movie that made him (possibly) her father. This one's a real clunker. Grade: C-

Paradise Now (DVD)

Paradise Now (2005). In Arabic, with subtitles. Two best friends, Palestinians, are recruited to be "martyrs" by becoming suicide bombers. What they propose to do is wrong, but this movie gives them human dimensions and makes us sympathize with them as people. Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your point of view. Whether this is a good film or not is a different question entirely. There's a long middle section where the two have gotten separated and are trying to find each other that could've been tightened up a bit. We don't get to see either one of them blow himself up, which some viewers will doubtless find to be a relief. I found the film to be engaging for the most part, with all sides of the moral question examined, and all points of view represented. Interesting. Grade: B-

The Family Stone (DVD)

The Family Stone (2005) starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams. Parker plays Meredith, the uptight girlfriend of Everett (Mulroney), who goes with him to visit his family at Christmas time. The large Stone family immediately see that Meredith is not right for Everett, and they each react in their individual way. I think this was meant to be a comedy, but it's so intense that any intended jokes get lost (or just aren't funny). The ultimate "happy ending" seems forced and artificial, and didn't add to my enjoyment of the movie at all. Grade: C

Fun with Dick and Jane (DVD)

Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) starring Jim Carrey, Tea Leoni, Alec Baldwin. The thing that's missing in this "comedy" is the fun. Carrey and Leoni are two people capable of being very funny, but the script and direction let them, and the viewer, down. Grade: C

Shopgirl (DVD)

Shopgirl (2005) Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman. Based on the novel by Steve Martin, adapted for the screen by Steve Martin. Danes plays a young woman who sells gloves in a ritzy department store, and Martin plays the millionaire who shows up in her life and begins buying her gifts. It's not funny, if that's what you're looking for from Steve Martin. It's a straight-up drama about a May-December "romance." Martin, playing Ray Porter, "makes it clear" that he just wants a roll in the hay. He treats Danes' character very well, but is unable to love her. She -- and this part is a little hard to believe -- wants more from him emotionally. The movie has kind of a happy ending, but is not deeply moving. Grade: B-

Pride and Prejudice (DVD)

Pride and Prejudice (2005) starring Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike. Beautifully photographed, though at two hours it has no luck including the whole of Jane Austen's novel. Knightley is luminous in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, a young lady blossoming into a woman. MacFadyen is adequate, but uninspired, in the role of Mr. Darcy, her antagonist-turned-love. As so often happens, I found the dialog difficult to understand, especially as it's all spoken with an English accent. I was saved by the subtitle feature of the DVD, however, and was able to enjoy the movie. Other viewers should be cautioned, however, that it is ultimately a romantic fairy tale, and certain men will consider it a "chick flick." Grade: A-

Match Point (DVD)

Match Point (2005) starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson. Directed by Woody Allen. Allen's latest effort has human drama and suspense, but it fails in the last act. Without giving away too much I can only say that the police give up way too easily when investigating a crime. Haven't they ever watched "Law and Order"? Maybe that's why the movie is set in England. Grade: B-

Breakfast at Tiffany's (DVD)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard. It's a little dated, but anyone who considers themselves to be a movie fan should see this one. Hepburn is perfectly cast as Holly Golightly, winsome, winning young lady from the sticks who goes mod in New York. Mickey Rooney is laughably miscast as her Japanese landlord. Theme song, "Moon River," won an Oscar. Grade: B+

Magnolia (DVD)

Magnolia (1999). Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Jason Robards, Philip Baker Hall, Tom Cruise, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Indescribable. A movie that has to be seen to be believed. It seems Altman-esque to me, in that Anderson has assembled a large cast who play disparate characters, all inhabiting the same geographical space on a given day. We see the characters go through the day separately as Anderson switches back and forth among their story lines, which sometimes intersect. The characters are all vividly drawn, and even at a playing length of three hours the film has enough forward momentum to carry the viewer on inexorably to the end. Some who see this movie will feel cheated by the ending, which includes an event of Biblical proportions which affects the outcome of the story. But Anderson has laid the groundwork for his ending, and it worked for me. Grade: A-

Memories of Murder (DVD)

Memories of Murder (2003). This Korean film has no stars that American audiences will recognize. Based on a true story, detectives pursue South Korea's first known serial killer. Over a period of six years, the killer murders 10 young women, and is never caught. I think this film wants to be taken seriously, but it has a Keystone Kops quality that I couldn't ignore. The Korean detectives in this movie are so inept it's laughable. Also, I watched it dubbed in English with English subtitles, and the two frequently didn't agree. You'd hear the character say one thing in English and the subtitles would say something else. This effect, also, was humorous. This might be a good movie to watch while stoned. Otherwise, I can't recommend it. Grade: C+

The Godfather (VHS video)

The Godfather (1972) starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and a fine supporting cast too large to enumerate. Over thirty years later, this film -- winner of the Oscar for Best Picture -- still holds up well. Brando won an Oscar for his portrayal of the godfather of the Corleone crime family, and Pacino was nominated as Best Supporting Actor as the son who finds himself dragged into the family business. The video copy which I found on my bookshelf lacks the sound and picture quality of a good DVD, but the film still had a sweeping momentum and strong emotional impact. Among the few drawbacks are the three-hour running time and the profusion of violence, which may bother some viewers. Grade: A

Big (video)

Big (1988) starring Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. Hanks stars as a boy who has graduated to an adult body and is not quite sure what to do with it. Perkins plays the unwitting young woman who falls for him. The scenes after Hanks joins a toy company are priceless, as he impresses the CEO with his knowledge of what kids really want. Hanks' impression of a kid in an adult body is frequently spot-on, with charming, sometimes hilarious results. Grade: A-

Good Night, and Good Luck (DVD)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) starring David Strathairn, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, George Clooney. Strathairn is masterful in the lead roll as Edward R. Murrow, the CBS newsman who brought down the demagogue Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. But I suspect most viewers will find this movie rather dry and boring, as it consists mostly of talk about political issues. It is a well made movie, directed by George Clooney, but has limited appeal. Grade: B

Young Frankenstein (DVD)

Young Frankenstein (1974) starring Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Marty Feldman. I loved this movie when I first saw it, in 1974, and I still harbor an abiding affection for it. But the jokes were fresh then, and have lost their impact now. I'm only speaking for myself, though. I suspect that viewers who are lucky enough to come across this movie for the first time will still reap belly laughs from the outrageous antics of Frederick Frankenstein (Wilder), grandson of Victor Frankenstein. The younger Frankenstein returns to his grandfather's castle for the reading of a will, and ends up replicating his ancestor's work of reanimating dead flesh into a living creature. Everything is played for laughs and there are some unforgettable scenes. Grade: B+

Derailed (DVD)

Derailed (2005) starring Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel. Let me start by saying I'm glad I didn't pay box-office fare to see this movie. But let me add that, trashy though it is, I still kind of enjoyed it. Owen and Aniston play a man and women who start an affair but end up getting mugged, beaten up and raped. The story has a twist that, no, I did not see coming, and then another twist near the end. They both worked on me, but as the cliche goes, the devil is in the details -- and this movie is soooo bad when it comes to details. Probably at the top of the list is believability -- which it totally lacks. The villain is so evil that he comes across as something out of a horror movie rather than a thriller. I can't recommend this movie, but some viewers will find that they like it in spite of its flaws. Grade: C+

Walk the Line (DVD)

Walk the Line (2005) starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon deserved the Oscar she won for portraying June Carter, the love of singer Johnny Cash's life. But the rest of the movie is too long, with too much attention paid to soap opera and not enough to the music. Phoenix is not bad as Cash, but them's awful big shoes to fill. Grade: B

Proof (DVD)

Proof (2005) starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis. Paltrow plays Catherine, the daughter of a famed mathematician (Hopkins). The story focuses on her as she struggles with memories of her recently deceased father, along with doubts about her own sanity and her own talent as a mathematician. Fortunately, you don't have to know much about math to follow the story, which folds romance into the plot about a mathematical proof and the authenticity of its authorship. I found the movie watchable, but not riveting. Grade: B

Cinderella Man (DVD)

Cinderella Man (2005) starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti. Crowe plays Jim Braddock, a real-life boxer of the late 1920s and early 1930s. The story takes place during the Great Depression, and that is what sets it apart from other boxing movies. Braddock starts out as a good boxer whose career is cut short by injuries. Then comes the Depression, and he and his long-suffering wife Mae (Zellweger) must struggle to hold their little family together. After a few desperate years for the family, Braddock's manager (Giamatti) gets him a fight with a decent payday. Braddock is expected to lose, but the fight re-ignites his career. All this is pretty typical stuff for a boxing movie, except for the Depression-era setting. At almost two and a half hours, the film is too long -- even though the fight scenes are exciting, the story that takes place between fights is bit too drawn out. The climactic fight, in which Braddock takes on heavyweight champion Max Baer, is thrilling -- but it's a long journey to get there. Grade: B

A History of Violence (DVD)

A History of Violence (2005) starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris. "A History of Violence" lacks one thing, and that's a protagonist we can root for. Mortensen, as a small-town cafe owner, seems to fill the bill at first, but what the film reveals about his past and about his true nature make him someone undeserving of sympathy. While the unfolding of the film is fascinating and is executed with great skill, there is, ultimately, no one to cheer for. ... On the other hand, the movie has the structure of a classic Western: A man with a violent past tries to go straight, but events transpire which force him to deal with bad guys who won't leave him alone. On that level, it is satisfying. Grade: B-

Bleak House (DVD)

Bleak House (2005) starring Gillian Anderson ("The X Files"), the only cast member likely to be familiar to Americans. There are, however, a number of good performances in this BBC production of the book by Charles Dickens. Furthermore, the actors portray engaging characters, some admirable, some villainous, some comic. Viewing "Bleak House" is no small undertaking, as it takes up eight hours on three discs. I had to stretch it out and watch it over a period of two or three weeks, but I found it to be a rich and rewarding experience. Grade: B+

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (DVD)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. The fourth installment in the Harry Potter series is a bit of a disappointment. Michael Gambon, as Dumbledore, just lacks the charm and sparkle of the late Richard Harris. Great chunks are missing from the book, an effect not so apparent in the earlier Harry Potter films. The music, too, is less magical. Grade: B-

Capote (DVD)

Capote (2005) starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener. Hoffman won an Oscar for his turn in the title role, but otherwise this movie isn't an especial standout. It tells the story of Truman Capote's writing of his famous book, "In Cold Blood," and of what it costs him to write it. While the movie was intellectually engaging, I didn't find it especially moving emotionally. Neither Capote, nor the killers he writes about, elicit much sympathy. Capote's high, whiny voice, as portrayed by Hoffman, is just plain irritating. Grade: B

The Squid and the Whale (DVD)

The Squid and the Whale (2005) starring Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline. Directed by Noah Baumbach. "The Squid and the Whale" is an exquisite miniature, a portrait of a family disintegrating before our eyes. It takes place in 1986 in Brooklyn, and many scenes were filmed on location in Brooklyn. All the characters are interesting, especially Jeff Daniels as the consummate, self-involved jerk, and the father in the family. This is one of the few movies I've seen where I felt it was too short and wanted to see more. There was Oscar buzz about this low-budget indie, and it was well deserved. Grade: A-

The Door in the Floor (DVD)

The Door in the Floor (2004) starring Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Jon Foster, Mimi Rogers, Bijou Phillips, Elle Fanning. Based on John Irving's novel "A Widow for One Year," "The Door in the Floor" tells the story of one summer in the life of a family that is breaking up. Ted, the father, is a famous writer of children's books. Marion, the mother, has been turned to stone by the tragedy of a car accident in which both her sons were killed. Elle Fanning, Dakota's younger sister, plays Ruth, the four-year-old daughter. Eddie, the writer's assistant hired for the summer, is played by unknown Jon Foster. Ted and Marion, played by Bridges and Basinger, are not admirable characters. Both have flaws that make them unlikable. Foster, as Eddie, should be the center of the story, as it is told from his point of view. But his presence on screen is so weak that he seems to fade into the background of nearly every scene he's in. Many viewers will find "The Door in the Floor" unpleasant to watch, as there are no characters to admire. But I found it to be an absorbing study of dysfunctional people, and it was interesting to note the points of connection between the book and the movie. Grade: B

The 40 Year Old Virgin (DVD)

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks. Some reviewers really liked this movie, but I'm not one of them. It falls into the "OK" category with me -- passable but not transcendent. The basic structure of the movie is good and works rather well, but it is overlong and has a few too many tiresome, tasteless jokes thrown in to fill out the running time. Catherine Keener is a delight as the main love interest of the title character, and the last 10 minutes of the film are enjoyable. It's just a long journey to get there. Grade: B-

The Weather Man (DVD)

The Weather Man (2005) starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Hope Davis. A relentlessly downbeat movie masquerading as a comedy, "The Weather Man" leaves the viewer feeling slightly let down, despite a (somewhat) happy ending. The running joke in the movie is that Nicolas Cage, as weather man David Spritz, keeps getting hit by items of fast food thrown by "fans." It's not a very funny joke, and it gets old early on. The rest of the movie is consumed by David's campaign to get back together with his ex-wife (Davis), who clearly has no desire to try to make their marriage work again. Grade: C

Welcome to Sarajevo (DVD)

Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) starring Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Emira Nusevic, Kerry Fox, Goran Visnjic, Emily Lloyd. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. With the present war in Iraq, it is easy to forget the horrors that came about in the 1990s. "Welcome to Sarajevo" reminds us of the tragedy that occurred when Yugoslavia broke up into warring nations, including Bosnia and Serbia. Peoples who had lived side-by-side in peace for centuries turned on one another in savage "ethnic cleansing." This movie tells the story of one journalist (Dillane) who is covering the siege of Sarajevo, and his decision to try to save one orphan from life in the war zone. The film is hard to watch at times, but worth the effort for those who are willing to remember. Grade: B+

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (DVD review)

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). Animated. Mildly amusing, but mostly aimed at children. Won the Oscar for an animated film. Grade: B

In Her Shoes (DVD review)

In Her Shoes (2005) starring Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, Shirley MacLaine. Two sisters are polar opposites, except for their shoe size. Collette plays Rose, the button-down lawyer who has her professional life together but her love life not so much. Diaz is Maggie, the ditzy party girl who gets drunk, has sex in the public bathroom, and ends up sleeping on her sister's couch. MacLaine is the long-lost grandmother who ends up bringing the two sisters back together after they have a horrible fight. It's tempting to brush this movie off as a chick flick, but it probably deserves more than that. It didn't quite work for me because the story was told in a herky-jerky fashion wherein big changes take place suddenly without explanation. And at 130 minutes, the movie is long enough to spell things out for us. Collette should get props for her acting. Grade: B

The Best of Youth (DVD review)

The Best of Youth (2003) features a cast that no one in America will recognize. Airing originally as a miniseries on Italian television, it is now available on DVD, in Italian with English subtitles. The six-hour running time will seem forbidding to some, but it is well worth the investment of time. The story follows the lives of two brothers, Matteo and Nicola, from the 1960s to 2003. The sweep of the narrative follows their lives as they mature from youths to men, form relationships with women and have children. Parallel to their individual stories is the development of Italian society and politics over the same period of time. Both of their lives are suffused with love and tragedy, but "The Best of Youth" rises above soap opera. Also notable are numerous scenes featuring beautiful scenery and beautiful Italian actresses. Grade: A

North Country (DVD review)

North Country (2005) starring Charlize Theron. Theron delivers a convincing performance in what is basically a by-the-numbers, "Norma Rae" type movie. One woman who needs her job in a Minnesota mine faces sexual harassment by good ole boys who don't think women should be taking jobs that otherwise would go to men. She fights back, battling not only the men but the other women who work there, her parents, and even her kids, none of whom stand with her at first. The story's arc is pretty much predictable, and the courtroom scenes feel familiar, but the performances are good enough that the viewer can easily get emotionally involved. Grade: B

Zathura (DVD review)

Zathura (2005) starring Tim Robbins as the father and three unknowns as the kids. Two brothers, Danny and Walter, find an old game called Zathura and start playing it. Zathura is a space adventure game, and the conceit of this movie is that what happens in the game really happens to the kids playing it. The game and its workings make for some good fun moments, but what this movie is really about is the relationship between Danny and Walter. At the beginning of the movie Walter is the mean older brother and Danny is the younger, neglected one. But through their adventures playing Zathura and fighting the Zorgons, Danny and Walter move their relationship to a new, more brotherly level. There are some logical inconsistencies that may bother adults, but for the children's audience that is the main target of this film I don't believe there will be any complaints. Grade: B+

Wedding Crashers (DVD review)

Wedding Crashers (2005) starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Christopher Walken. What a disappointing mess this movie is. Wilson and Vaughn start out kind of funny as a couple of opportunists who go to weddings to pick up girls -- who they figure will be feeling romantic because of the wedding atmosphere. But the movie veers off into a mixture of raucous comedy and romantic mushiness that just doesn't work. It doesn't help that the chemistry between Wilson and McAdams never achieves liftoff. Grade: C

The Aristocrats

The Aristocrats (2005) A cast of dozens of comedians take turns telling the legendary joke that ends with the punchline "The Aristocrats." The joke has a flexible structure so that it can be as dirty as the comic wants to make it, and some of the versions in this movie are almost unbearably embellished with scatology, incest, bestiality, you name it. And yet the movie, which is essentially a documentary, offers us a peak inside the world of comedians -- and there are a lot of funny people here. Many viewers will find this movie distasteful, and it certainly is tasteless. But I'm glad I saw it. Grade: B-

Broken Flowers (DVD review)

Broken Flowers (2005) starring Bill Murray and an interesting supporting cast. Murray plays Don Johnston, a middle-aged man who retired early after making a fortune "in computers." On the day his girlfriend leaves him, he gets a mysterious letter telling him he may have a 19-year-old son whom he has never met. The movie is about his exploration of his past, through the women he thinks could be the kid's mother. In the process he takes a road trip and goes back to meet these old flames. The disappointment at the end of the film is that the mystery of the son is left unanswered, and thus the point of the movie becomes the journey, not the destination. Some viewers will find this satisfying, while others will be frustrated. Grade: B