Live Free or Die Hard (DVD)

Live Free or Die Hard (2007) starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long. Willis reprises his role as John McClane, kick-ass New York cop, this time up against a group of Internet terrorists. The bad guys are intent on taking over the United States' information infrastructure, though why isn't entirely clear. That doesn't really make a lot of difference, as there is still time for lots of gunfights, smashups and explosions. McClane even succeeds in taking out a helicopter with a car.
This disc, however, rented from Netflix, proved to be unplayable about half way in. So I have to give Neftlix an F.

Sicko (DVD)

Sicko (2007) directed by Michael Moore. Moore takes aim at the American health care system. Why is health care free in Canada, England and France, while even Americans with insurance are being denied the treatment they need? It's a fascinating question, and Moore does a great sales job for universal health care. The disc also includes several interesting extra features. Grade: A

Grindhouse: Planet Terror (DVD)

Grindhouse: Planet Terror (2007) starring Freddy Rodriguez, Rose McGowan, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Michael Biehn, Marley Shelton, Josh Brolin, Michael Parks, Jeff Fahey. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. El Wray (Freddy Rodriguez), Cherry Darling (McGowan) and a ragged band of survivors battle an army of zombies infected with a biochemical weapon. Conveniently, these zombies stay dead when you kill them, mainly by shooting. And boy, do they have to kill a lot of zombies. There's lots of gore in this movie, plus lots of explosions, and it's taken to such extremes that it's a joke -- no doubt intentional. I was entertained, but not enough that I'd ever want to see this movie again. Grade: B-

In Between Days (DVD)

In Between Days (2006) starring Jiseon Kim. Newly transplanted Korean immigrant Aimie is trying to adjust to her new surroundings. Her only friend, Tran, regards her as "just a good friend." This film is a snapshot of her struggle with adolescence and assimilation. Supposedly it won a Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, but for the life of me I can't see why. I found it boring in the extreme. Grade: C+

La Vie en Rose (DVD)

La Vie en Rose (2007) starring Marion Cotillard, Gerard Depardieu, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory. Cotillard throws herself into the role of beloved Parisian singer Edith Piaf. Piaf's tragedy-filled life and early death are portrayed lovingly, but the songs are all in French without subtitles. Plus, the subtitles that come with the movie are uncomfortably small when viewed on a TV screen. Unless you speak French, or you have a big-screen HD-TV, you will not enjoy the full experience of seeing this movie. By the time I finished viewing it, however, I was swept up in the emotion of it. Grade: B

Paris, Je T'aime (DVD)

Paris, Je T'aime (2007). A collection of 20 five-minute films, all set in Paris. Each features a different director, with actors ranging from the famous to the obscure. It's mostly in French with English subtitles, if that kind of thing matters to you. The short films vary from romantic to funny to surreal to supernatural, and it's all very entertaining. Grade: B+

Talk to Me (DVD)

Talk to Me (2007) starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer. Cheadle delivers a star turn as real life radio trailblazer Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who leveraged a prison disc jockey gig into a stint at a Washington, D.C., radio station, where he became a popular talk-jock. For a brief time, he even had a television show. The movie turns from comedy to tragedy as, in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated and the blacks in Washington riot. Greene goes on the radio and becomes a voice of reason which helps calm the riots. Later, his manager gets him stand-up gigs, where he succeeds, and an appearance on the "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson, where he flops. It's a vivid portrait of a cultural icon who has been all but forgotten, but who deserves to be remembered. Grade: B+

Grindhouse: Death Proof (DVD)

Death Proof (2007) starring Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Land, Vanessa Ferlito. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Russell is suitably creepy as Stuntman Mike, a serial killer who uses his revved-up car to terrorize groups of women on the road. But in the second half of this faux-exploitation film, he decides to terrorize the wrong group of women.
The "Grindhouse" double feature, two movies interspersed with fake trailers, was meant to be seen as a block in a movie theater. Seeing this half of the twin bill at home instead of in a theater kind of defeats the purpose, but it's the only viable option for me. As it turns out, I ended up enjoying this movie. Grade: B

A Mighty Heart (DVD)

A Mighty Heart (2007) starring Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Futterman) is kidnapped while researching a story in Pakistan. His pregnant wife, Mariane (Jolie) must do what she can as she awaits news as to his fate. Since this is a true story, there is little tension over Daniel Pearl's ultimate fate. We know that he dies at the hands of the terrorists who abducted him. Is there any suspense in this story? Not much. The viewer only sees Daniel Pearl in brief flashbacks and one scene that takes place at the beginning of the movie. So how are we to learn to care about him? We cannot and we do not. This is Mariane Pearl's story, and it all has a slight whiff of melodrama which detracts from its impact. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, based on Mariane Pearl's memoir. Grade: B-

Transformers (DVD)

Transformers (2007) starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight. The Transformers are alien robots that can disguise themselves as cars, airplanes, tanks, trucks and more. Some of them are "good" (Autobots), some "bad" (Decepticons). The Decepticons attack humans, but mainly fight the Autobots. The script is of comic-book quality, but the machines are cool. Probably best if seen in a movie theater. Directed by Michael Bay. Rated PG-13. Grade: C