Director: Adam Shankman
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: PG

It's rare that a movie captures the intensity and excitement of a live Broadway musical production while appealing to a broader movie-going audience, but the 2007 "Hairspray" is an energetic, powerfully moving film that does just that. A remake of the 1988 musical film "Hairspray", the new "Hairspray" is a film adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical and features more likeable characters than the original film and an incredible energy that stems from a great cast, fabulous new music, and the influence of musical producer Craig Zadan. What remains constant throughout all three versions of "Hairspray" is the story's thought-provoking exploration of prejudice and racism. Set in Baltimore in 1962, the film opens with chubby girl Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) singing her heart out in a rendition of "Good Morning Baltimore" that, while admittedly a bit too long, sets the farcical tone for the film. Viewers quickly become immersed in Tracy's teenage world of popular television dance shows, big hair, the stigma of being different, and the first hesitant steps toward racial integration within a segregated world. The Corny Collins (James Marsden) television dance show is a teenage obsession in Tracy's world and Link Larkin (Zac Efron) is every girl's dream partner, so when a call for auditions goes out, Tracy skips school to try out, but is rejected by station manager Velma von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) because of her large size and the threat of competition for Velma's own daughter Amber (Brittany Snow). Perseverance and the support of her friend Penny (Amanda Bynes), father Wilbur (Christopher Walken), and negro dancer Seaweed (Elijah Kelley) lead Tracy to the spotlight and the chance of a lifetime, but more and more Tracy discovers that fairness and equality for those who are different does not come without a fight and that sacrifices must be made to effect change. While the message is serious, "Hairspray" is first and foremost a comedy with stellar performances by John Travolta as Edna Turnblad (who ever imagined "Saturday Night Fever"'s iconic star would appear onscreen as a woman?), Christopher Walken, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Part of what makes "Hairspray" so powerful is the exceptional music composed by Marc Shaiman, including songs newly composed for the movie like "Ladies' Choice," "The New Girl in Town," and "Come So Far," and the awesome vocal talents of Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle) and a cast of heretofore musically-unknown actors like Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, and Brittany Snow who really can sing. Notable trivia includes Jerry Stiller's appearance in both versions of the film (as Wilbur in the 1988 film and as Mr. Pinky in this 2007 rendition), and a cameo appearance by 1988 director and screenplay writer John Waters. "Hairspray" is one of the best films of the year--it's powerfully moving entertainment that leaves you energized and motivated to fight for what you believe in. "--Tami Horiuchi"

Director: Waters, John
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: PG

John Waters made his bid for PG respectability with this enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame. (Waters himself turns up as a weirdo psychiatrist.) This transitional film for Waters is rough going at times and not as interesting or funny as his later features "Cry-Baby" and "Serial Mom", but it's worth a look. "--Tom Keogh"

Director: Rick Rosenthal
Genre: Horror
Studio: Dimension
Rated: R

Number 8 in the "Halloween" line maintains connections to John Carpenter's original. "Resurrection" picks up the thread of "Halloween: H2O", with poor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) now in a psychiatric hospital and determined to shut down homicidal Michael Myers once and for all. After this prologue, the story shifts to the old Myers house, where a TV reality show has enticed six teenagers to spend a single night in the spooky home. Needless to say, things are spoiled when Michael barges in: "I "so" did not sign up for this," sighs the young heroine, when the bloodletting begins. The mayhem is being broadcast live on the Internet, which makes the film a bit like "Rear Window" with Instant Messaging. The interesting premise is routinely handled, but that's enough to make this one of the better sequels in the series. Maybe they finally finished off Michael in this one, wink wink. "--Robert Horton"

Director: Rob Zombie
Genre: Horror
Studio: Weinstein Company
Rated: Unrated

More of a supercharged revamp than a remake, Rob Zombie's take on John Carpenter's "Halloween" expands the back story of masked killer Michael Myers in an attempt to examine the motivation for his first deadly attack, as well as some reasons for his longevity as a horror icon. Zombie's Myers is a blank-eyed teen (played by Daeg Faerch) whose burgeoning mental problems are left unchecked in a horrific home environment; harassed by schoolmates, a randy sister, and his mother's deadbeat boyfriend (William Forsythe, terrific as usual), Myers' homicidal explosion seems inevitable, and intervention by Dr. Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell, who offers a fast-talking, hippiefied version of the Donald Pleasance character) does little to impede his development into a mute, unstoppable killing machine (Tyler Mane) bent on finishing off the only survivor of his family's massacre--his sister, now grown into teenaged Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton). Opening up the psychological motivation of a cipher like Michael Myers is an interesting approach, but Zombie's script possesses neither a depth of character nor dialogue to offer more than a clichéd thumbnail character sketch, and devoting over a hour of the unrated cut's 120-minute-plus running time to this history feels bloated and self-indulgent (especially when compared to the lean efficiency of the Carpenter original). Zombie's "Halloween" isn't terribly suspenseful, either; he has a keen eye for visuals and the details of chaotic environments, but his scares are nothing more than brutal showcases for his special effects team. The end result barely surpasses the original film's numerous sequels, though the Who's Who of cult and character actors in the cast (including Zombie regulars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and Ken Foree, as well as Brad Dourif, Udo Kier, Clint Howard, Richard Lynch, Danny Trejo, Dee Wallace, and Danielle Harris) adds a touch of late-night monster movie charm. However, the film's best performance belongs to the director's spouse, Sheri Moon Zombie, who brings unexpected pathos to the role of Myers' downtrodden mother.
The two-disc Unrated Director's Cut offers a full disc's worth of extras that should please Zombie fans; chief among the supplemental features is his commentary, which details the film's shooting history and the numerous edits required to deliver the theatrical version. A making-of featurette offers further details of Zombie's vision for the film, and there are featurettes on his cast choices and the many masks that Myers makes while incarcerated. Seventeen deleted scenes (two of which feature Adrienne Barbeau and Tom Towles) and an alternate ending (all with Zombie's commentary) are also provided, as well as footage from the casting sessions. A blooper reel, which is highlighted by unchecked mischief by McDowell and Dourif, offers the set's sole moment of levity. "-- Paul Gaita"

Director: Joe Wright
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: PG-13

Raised by her father (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA agent, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna's upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one. Sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe, eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence.

Director: Ridley Scott
Genre: Crime
Rated: R

Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after "The Silence of the Lambs", Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.
Taking the basic plot contraptions from Thomas Harris's baroque novel, "Hannibal" is so stylistically different from its predecessor that it forces you to take it on its own terms. Director Ridley Scott gives the film a sleek, almost European look that lets you know that, unlike the first film (which was about the quintessentially American Clarice), this movie is all Hannibal. Does it work? Yes--but only up to a point. Scott adeptly sets up an atmosphere of foreboding, but it's all buildup for anticlimax, as Verger's plot for abducting Hannibal (and feeding him to man-eating wild boars) doesn't really deliver the requisite visceral thrills, and the much-ballyhooed climatic dinner sequence between Clarice, Dr. Lecter, and a third unlucky guest wobbles between parody and horror. Hopkins and Moore are both first-rate, but the film contrives to keep them as far apart as possible, when what made "Silence" so amazing was their interaction. When they do connect it's quite thrilling, but it's unfortunately too little too late. "--Mark Englehart"

Director: Peter Webber
Genre: Horror
Studio: Weinstein Company
Rated: R

Though "Hannibal Rising's" Lecter (Gaspard Ulliel) is a pussycat compared to Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs", this sequel's story of revenge is grizzly enough to satisfy lovers of Thomas Harris's epic tale. After young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) is forced to watch his little sister, Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska), devoured by starving soldiers in his homeland Lithuania, Hannibal vows to avenge his sister's death by slaying those who committed not only war crimes against the Lecters, but also against other families during WW II. In detailing Hannibal's revenge plan, the film investigates the psychological implications of witnessing cannibalism to justify Hannibal's insatiable appetite for human flesh. The most interesting aspect of "Hannibal Rising"—its analytical connections drawn between Hannibal's childhood traumas and his murderous adult obsessions—is also the film's weak point. The links oversimplify Lecter's complex character. For example, though titillating to see flashbacks of Lecter's sister hacked up and boiled while Lecter visits a Parisian meat market, the reference is too obvious. One learns why he excels in his medical school classes dissecting cadavers, and we're given explicit explanation for why he slices off and eats his victims' cheeks. The story only complicates when Hannibal interacts with his sexy Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li). When Murasaki educates him in the art of beheading, the viewer sees Hannibal's sword fetish as a manifestation of physical lust. "--Trinie Dalton"

Director: Anthony C. Ferrante
Studio: Asylum Home Ent
Rated: Unrated

In this modern retelling of the classic horror tale, teen siblings are enslaved by a psychotic recluse within her gruesome house of horrors in the woods.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Horror
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: R

You'd expect the end of the world to be no day in the park, but in M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening", a day in the park is where the end begins. One otherwise peaceful summer morning, New Yorkers strolling in Central Park come to a halt in unison, then begin killing themselves by any means at hand. At a high-rise construction site a few blocks over, it's raining bodies as workers step off girders into space. And all the while, the city is so quiet you can hear the gentle breeze in the trees. That breeze carries a neurotoxin, and what or who put it there (terrorists?) is a question raised periodically as the film unfolds. But the question that really matters is how and whether anybody in the Middle Atlantic states is going to stay alive. "The Happening" is Shyamalan's best film since "The Sixth Sense", partly because he avoids the kind of egregious misjudgment that derailed "The Village" and "Lady in the Water", but mostly because the whole thing has been structured and imagined to keep faith with the point of view of regular, unheroic folks confronted with a mammoth crisis. Focal characters are a Philadelphia high-school science teacher (Mark Wahlberg, excellent), his wife (Zooey Deschanel) and math-teacher colleague (John Leguizamo), and the latter’s little girl (Ashlyn Sanchez). Instinct says get out of the cities and move west; most of the film takes place in the delicately picturesque Pennsylvania countryside, with menace hovering somewhere in the haze. There are no special effects (apart from a wind machine and some breakaway glass), but the movie manages to be deeply unsettling in the matter-of-factness of its storytelling. Especially effective is its feel for what we might call the surrealism of banality. One warning sign that someone has been infected by the neurotoxin is irrational or erratic speech and behavior, yet Shyamalan has a genius for dialogue that sounds normal and everyday as it's spoken, yet flies apart grenade-like a second later as its logic (or illogic) sinks in. Then there's Deschanel's eye-rolling dodginess about the messages some guy has been leaving on her cellphone. Or the fellow (Frank Collis) who addresses his greenhouse plants as though they were his children--has a stray toxic zephyr wafted his way, or is this just his idea of normal? "--Richard T. Jameson"


Beyond "The Happening " on DVD
"Jumper" on DVD
"Street Kings" on DVD
"Deception" on DVD


Stills from "The Happening" (Click for larger image)

Director: Daniel Waters
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: R

"Happy Campers" vacillates from being a ridiculous parody of summer-camp life to being a genuine examination of adolescence. Camp counselors Brad Renfro ("Apt Pupil", "The Client") and Dominique Swain ("Face/Off", "Lolita") have very different approaches (she's super-perky, he's a moody rebel), but find themselves irresistibly attracted to each other as the camp falls into chaos over the course of the summer. What keeps this basic plot from being completely cheesy is a basic honesty about youth--"Happy Campers" doesn't shy away from the cruelty, sexual frustration, and general awkwardness of being a teen. Despite its inconsistencies of tone, the movie is a more compelling portrait of adolescence than any John Hughes movie, and the attractive, likable cast--also featuring James King ("Pearl Harbor") and Emily Bergl ("The Rage: Carrie 2")--will keep you engaged. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Don Roos
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Lions Gate
Rated: R

"It's a comedy, sort of," a title card announces at the start of "Happy Endings"--just after Mamie (Lisa Kudrow) has been hit by a car. So it is, but talk about an unhappy beginning! Never fear, writer/director Don Roos will fulfill the promise of that title in several unexpected ways. The story then flashes back to 1983 for Mamie's life-altering encounter with her stepbrother. Mamie and Charley (Steve Coogan) will struggle with its consequences for the rest of the film. Does her teen pregnancy explain the fact that she became an abortion counselor or that he came out of the closet? Roos doesn't say, but nor does he judge. He loves his characters--foibles and all--in his ambitious, Altman-esque follow-up to the acerbic, yet heartfelt "The Opposite of Sex". As before, Kudrow is the center around which the other plotlines revolve (and her uptight, yet likable Mamie couldn't resemble TV’s Phoebe less). In the end, though, Maggie Gyllenhaal's seductive Jude and Tom Arnold's sensitive Frank are Roos' most inspired creations. Their relationship is one of contemporary cinema's oddest and most touching. The happy ending for one will be real, the other imaginary, but everyone will earn the one they get. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"

Director: Christopher Münch
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Tla
Rated: Unrated

Harry is a former boy band idol who is watching his younger brother Max follow in his footsteps. Harry escorts Max on a long-promised camping adventure to the San Gabriel mountains above Los Angeles, but things quickly turn serious as the boys discuss Harrys contradictory relationship with their family. Maxs longing to connect with Harry both physically and emotionally grows even more, wanting to bring stability to Harrys life. In an effort to create a type of alternative family for his brother, Max goads Harry to rekindle his affections for his former girlfriend, Nikki. Back from the weekend, Max realizes that he must redefine his relationship with his brother.

Director: Chris Columbus
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG

First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by "Sorcerer's Stone" director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, "Chamber" honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. "--Jeff Shannon"

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13

Bring the adventure of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" into your home in HD on Blu-ray 3D.

Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction - the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever... but Dark Forces in their midst threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort... alive.

This pack also includes the 2D version of the film on standard Blu-ray, DVD and Ultraviolet Digital Copy.

Blu-ray Special Features (Presented in 2D):

- Maximum Movie Mode

- The Seven Harrys

- On The Green With Rupert, Tom, Oliver And James

- Dan, Rupert and Emma's Running Competition

- Additional Scenes

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1: Behind The Soundtrack

Note: To watch the 3D version of this movie, you need a 3D HDTV, compatible 3D glasses, a Blu-ray 3D player (or PlayStation 3) and a high-speed HDMI cable.

Director: Mike Newell
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13

The latest entry in the "Harry Potter" saga could be retitled "Fast Times at Hogwarts", where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.
But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in "Goblet of Fire". When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. "Goblet", the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other "Potter" films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. "--Ellen A. Kim"

Director: David Yates
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG

The sixth installment of the "Harry Potter" series begins right where "The Order of the Phoenix" left off. The wizarding world is rocked by the news that "He Who Must Not Be Named" has truly returned, and the audience finally knows that Harry is "the Chosen One"--the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort in the end. Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly attempt to penetrate the protected walls of Hogwarts School. This is no longer the fun and fascinating world of magic from the first few books—it's dark, dangerous, and scary.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be a new Death Eater recruit on a special mission for the Dark Lord. In the meantime, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) seems to have finally removed the shroud of secrecy from Harry about the dark path that lies ahead, and instead provides private lessons to get him prepared. It's in these intriguing scenes that the dark past of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) is finally revealed. The actors cast as the different young versions of Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane) do an eerily fantastic job of portraying the villain as a child. While the previous movies' many new characters could be slightly overwhelming, only one new key character is introduced this time: Professor Horace Slughorn (with a spot-on performance by Jim Broadbent). Within his mind he holds a key secret in the battle to defeat the Dark Lord, and Harry is tasked by Dumbledore to uncover a memory about Voldemort's darkest weapon--the Horcrux. Despite the long list of distractions, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) still try to focus on being teenagers, and audiences will enjoy the budding awkward romances. All of the actors have developed nicely, giving their most convincing performances to date.
More dramatic and significant things go down in this movie than any of its predecessors, and the stakes are higher than ever. The creators have been tasked with a practically impossible challenge, as fans of the beloved J.K. Rowling book series desperately want the movies to capture the magic of the books as closely as possible. Alas, the point at which one accepts that these two mediums are very different is the point at which one can truly enjoy these brilliant adaptations. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is no exception: it may be the best film yet. For those who have not read the book, nail-biting entertainment is guaranteed. For those who have, the movie does it justice. The key dramatic scenes, including the cave and the shocking twist in the final chapter, are executed very well. It does a perfect job of setting up the two-part grand finale that is to follow. "--Jordan Thompson"

Director: David Yates (II)
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13

Alas! The fifth "Harry Potter" film has arrived. The time is long past that this can be considered a simple "children's" series--though children and adults alike will enjoy it immensely. Starting off from the dark and tragic ending of the fourth film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" begins in a somber and angst-filled tone that carries through the entire 138 minutes (the shortest of any "HP" movie despite being adapted from the longest book). Hopes of winning the Quidditch Cup have been replaced by woes like government corruption, distorted media spin, and the casualties of war. As the themes have matured, so have the primary characters' acting abilities. Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson), and especially Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) are more convincing than ever--in roles that are more demanding.
Harry is deeply traumatized from having witnessed Cedric Diggory's murder, but he will soon find that this was just another chapter in the continuing loss he will endure. Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned and, in an attempt to conceal this catastrophe from the wizarding public, the Ministry of Magic has teamed up with the wizard newspaper "The Daily Prophet" to smear young Potter and wise Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)--seemingly the only two people in the public eye who believe the Dark Lord has returned. With no one else to stand against the wicked Death Eaters, the Hogwarts headmaster is forced to revive his secret anti-Voldemort society, the Order of the Phoenix. This welcomes back characters like Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), kind Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), fatherly Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), and insidious Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), and introduces a short list of intriguing new faces. In the meantime, a semi-psychotic bureaucrat from the Ministry (brilliantly portrayed by Imelda Staunton) has seized power at Hogwarts, and Harry is forced to form a secret society of his own--lest the other young wizards at his school be left ill-equipped to defend themselves in the looming war between good and evil. In addition, Harry is filled with an inexplicable rage that only his Godfather Sirius seems to be able to understand.
This film, though not as frightening as its predecessor, earns its PG-13 rating mostly because of the ever-darkening tone. As always, the loyal fans of J.K. Rowling's books will suffer huge cuts from the original plot and character developments, but make no mistake: this is a "good" movie. "--Jordan Thompson"

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG

Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of "Y Tu Mamá También", director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), "The Prisoner of Azkaban" is a Potter-movie classic. "--Jeff Shannon"

Director: Chris Columbus
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG

Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up. "--Doug Thomas"

Director: Benjamin Cantu
Genre: Drama, Romance, TV Movie
Studio: TLA Releasing
Rated: Unrated

Two young farmhands meet and tentatively begin a relationship in this absorbing German drama.

Special Features:

Interview With Director Benjamin Cantu Philadelphia QFest: Q&A With The Director Original Trailer TLA Releasing Trailers

Director: Tommy Stovall
Genre: Mystery & Suspense
Studio: Image Entertainment
Rated: R

Nice guy accountant Robbie lives an idyllic life with his partner Trey in a quiet suburban neighborhood. But when a venomous neighbor moves in and starts harassing them, hate sparks violence. Recipient of the Best Feature Award at the Outtakes Dallas and

Director: Jan de Bont
Genre: Horror
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Rated: PG-13

Suffering from the extreme bad luck of being released at the same time as the low-budget "The Blair Witch Project", this adaptation of "The Haunting of Hill House" attempts to update Shirley Jackson's psychologically terrifying ghost story to the era of big-budget, computerized special effects. Does it work? Well, let's just say that showing isn't exactly the same as telling. A prime example of bloated studio filmmaking, "The Haunting" telegraphs all its frights so blatantly that it forsakes any of Jackson's subtle horrors for the remedial scares of a clunky carnival ride. The story remains basically the same, with four people called to an old mansion for experiments in the supernatural, but instead of getting inside the heads of its main characters (as the 1963 adaptation by Robert Wise did so well), Jan DeBont's film deserts character development for the huge, glorious set design provided by Eugenio Zanetti ("Restoration"). Thus, instead of a well-drawn story you get... a well-drawn house, one that four very talented and underutilized actors--Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, and Owen Wilson--wander around in endlessly (as Zeta-Jones puts it, the house is "sort of Charles Foster Kane meets the Munsters"). Taylor, as the hypersensitive Nell, is the unknowing lynchpin in the battle between good and bad ghosts and gets saddled with most of the expository dialogue of the mansion's gothic backstory. Zeta-Jones (showing some spark) and Neeson (showing none) are sadly reduced to providing reactionary shots of the film's disastrous climax, which mixes hapless new-age affirmations with computer-generated effects of ghosts and exploding windows, walls, doors, etc. For this haunted-house story, take a quick tour of the breathtaking rooms, but definitely "don't" stay the night. "--Mark Englehart"

Director: John Kavanaugh
Genre: Documentary, Horror
Studio: New Dominion Pictures
Rated: NR

The day Karen and Ed Parker move into their dream home, ominous clues of its chilling funeral parlor past greet them: crucifixes on doors, toe tags and coffin keys in the basement. Their 14-year-old son, Paul, claims he sees apparitions and hears voices. Soon, the house is plagued by dark forces that torment the entire family, and it will take a desperate call to Edward and Lorraine Warren-investigators of the Amityville haunting-to offer any hope of relief.

Director: Peter Cornwell
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Studio: Lionsgate
Rated: PG-13

Based on a chilling true story, Lionsgate's The Haunting in Connecticut charts one family's terrifying, real-life encounter with the dark forces of the supernatural. When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house a transformed funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner's clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to cross over. Now, unspeakable terror awaits when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the dead, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family.

Director: Barbara Kopple
Genre: Drama
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: Unrated

After making her name in "The Princess Diaries", Anne Hathaway takes a radical detour with this edgy independent drama. As Allie, a wealthy gangsta wannabe, she makes no excuses for her delinquent behavior: "We're just teenagers and we're bored." When her Pacific Palisades posse, including pal Emily ("Bully"'s Bijou Phillips), starts hanging out with a Latino gang (including "Six Feet Under"'s Freddy Rodríguez), they learn what thug life is really about. Hathaway couldn't be more game: She swears, she fights--she disrobes (several times). Written and directed by Oscar winners Stephen Gaghan ("Traffic") and Barbara Kopple ("American Dream"), "Havoc" plays like a B movie, in the vein of the superior "crazy/beautiful", and was released straight to video. For Hathaway fans, it's a chance to see this young talent in a "very" different light, but for Gaghan and Kopple followers, this lurid morality tale is sure to come as a letdown. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"

Director: Marco Berger
Genre: Drama, Romance, TV Movie
Studio: La Noria Cine
Rated: Not Rated

Martin seeks for a temporary job at Eugenio's house. When they recognize to be childhood friends, Eugenio offers him work for the summer. A power and desire game starts and their relationship grows beyond their friendship.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Genre: Action, Thriller
Studio: Lionsgate
Rated: R

Gentleman filmmaker Steven Soderbergh leads a pretty charmed professional life exploring themes, genres, and intensely personal subjects that capture his fancy any time the spirit moves him. Thanks largely to the huge success of the "Ocean's" series, he's earned A-list clout and pretty much carte blanche to follow the combination of whimsy or serious interest that has become his M.O. in alternating projects that are either for "them" (Hollywood capitalists) or strictly for him. Hot on the heels of "Contagion", his deadly serious and terrifyingly authentic thriller from late 2011, "Haywire" is a different kind of exercise in genre and formal technique, but cut from the same Soderbergh cloth of enthusiasm and impeccable craftsmanship. Both movies also seem to bring together the for-me and for-them elements of his career, letting him follow a highbrow personal style while also creating terrific pieces of entertainment that are easily accessible to the wants of cinema sophisticates and lovers of thrills, action, and dramatic ingenuity alike. "Haywire" is certainly more fun than "Contagion" as an out-and-out action extravaganza, with a silly and largely superfluous plot thread wound around private covert intelligence operatives, the shadowy government entities that employ them, and the double-crosses that ensue when operations go wrong. Using a back-and-forth narrative structure that shifts time and scrambles events as they unfold, "Haywire" is primarily a showcase for Gina Carano, a superstar in the world of mixed martial arts. Carano makes her screen debut as Mallory Kane with understated hotness and a constant barrage of fighting stunt work that reduces almost every high-profile costar into a mass of broken bones. The series of operations she instigates or participates in take her on a stylishly globetrotting adventure to Spain, Ireland, New Mexico, rural New York State, and points in between. She stumbles into and wriggles out of danger everywhere she goes with aplomb, kicks, punches, strangulations, and gunshots that are spectacularly choreographed and do not rely on flash cuts or the kind of utterly confusing shifts in spatial relationships that mark most run-of-the-mill action sequences. Though the substance is largely beside the point--motivations and resolutions are not nearly as important as the polished, methodical, or frenzied bouts of kinetic energy--there is some semblance of comprehension conveyed in the spare script by Soderbergh's screenwriter collaborator Lem Dobbs. Carano is only able to strike a few notes in her acting ability between kicks, leg strangulations, and other acrobatic acts of violence. Fortunately the rest of the ensemble cast make the most of their supporting roles by lending winking humor and reliable nuance to parts that might otherwise seem like stock caricatures. Ewan McGregor is charmingly devious as the private black-ops chief who is Mallory's boss and also her ex-boyfriend. Michael Fassbender plays an MI6 agent who proves no match for Mallory's Special Forces training; ditto Channing Tatum, who also underestimates Mallory's prowess as a lover and a fighter. Antonio Banderas is a mysterious go-between who plays a crucial role in the fiasco that comes to be known simply as "Barcelona," and Michael Douglas stands tall as an exasperated government pencil pusher who resents yet can't operate without the help of private-sector security and intelligence operatives. In spite of her inexperience, Carano holds the screen with her smoldering charisma as Soderbergh pours on the tense or languorous action with wit and skill. "Haywire" may be a trifle in the continuing experimental career of Steven Soderbergh, but it is a delicious confection nonetheless. --"Ted Fry"

Director: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Genre: Drama
Studio: SF Studios

A remote fishing village in Iceland. Teenage boys Thor and Christian experience a turbulent summer as one tries to win the heart of a girl while the other discovers new feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights, it's time to leave the playground and face adulthood.

Director: Randall Wallace
Genre: Drama
Studio: Sony
Rated: PG

Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling book, Heaven is for Real recounts the true story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son's extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world. Starring Academy Award® nominee Greg Kinnear (Best Supporting Actor, As Good As It Gets, 1997) as Todd Burpo, the real-life father whose son Colton claims to have visited Heaven during a near death experience. Colton shares the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaks matter-of-factly about things that happened before his birth ... things he couldn't possibly know.

Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: R

Sometimes grace and hope come in surprising packages. The title character of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", a would-be glam-rock star from East Germany, undergoes a botched gender-change operation in order to escape from the Soviet bloc, only to watch the Berlin Wall come down on TV after being abandoned in a trailer park in middle America. Hedwig gets involved with Tommy, an adolescent boy who steals her songs and becomes a stadium-filling musical act. Suffering from a broken heart and a lust for revenge, Hedwig follows Tommy's tour, playing with her band (the Angry Inch) at tacky theme restaurants. Into this simple storyline, writer-director-star John Cameron Mitchell packs an astonishing mix of sadness, yearning, humor, and kick-ass songs with a little Platonic philosophy tucked inside for good measure. A visually dazzling gem of a movie. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: John Kozak
Genre: Drama
Studio: Ariztical
Rated: Unrated

For 48 hours you will witness an energy fueled by resentment, a deadly energy without focus or direction. Marty, Andy and Leslie are bored, fourteen and restless. The hellish teens vent their frustration through senseless acts of violence that lead to heartless brutality. Reminiscent of the angst in "Bowling for Columbine" and "Gummo", the chaotic lives of Marty, Andy and Leslie find their ultimate affirmation of power with the most deadly of deeds.

Director: J.T. Petty
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller
Studio: Circle of Confusion
Rated: R

The Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, a team of blasphemous ministers who live in a constant state of debauchery, work to drag the worst of demons back to Hell.

Director: Gene Kelly
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: G

They just don't make musicals like this any more. There are some who would be grateful for that--the plot is but a flimsy excuse to string together song and dance numbers. Some of us, however, love big, splashy, overdone musical scenes, of which there are many. Glittering stage numbers showcase a commanding Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levy, a New York matchmaker who can find a mate for anyone. Anyone but herself, that is. Determined to marry wealthy Walter Matthau, she lures him out of Yonkers and sets about wooing him.
Don't worry about the lack of a solid story or Gene Kelly's pedestrian direction. Watch instead for the musical numbers and the lavish costumes. Listen to Jerry Herman's score, and dance around the living room when a sequined Streisand arrives in a club as Louis Armstrong strikes up the title tune for her benefit. (Just pull the shades first.) Based on Thornton Wilder's play "The Matchmaker", "Hello, Dolly!" won Academy Awards for best sound, art direction, and musical score. "--Rochelle O'Gorman"

Director: Michael Showalter
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Studio: Red Crown Productions
Rated: R

A self-help seminar inspires a sixty-something woman to romantically pursue her younger co-worker.

Director: Stephen Cone
Genre: Drama
Studio: Cone Arts
Rated: Unrated

HENRY GAMBLE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY takes place over the course of 24 hours, at the 17th birthday pool party of preacher's kid Henry Gamble. As Henry treads through various sexual possibilities, seeking to come into his own, so too do the adults and teenagers of the party, all struggling to navigate the public and private, and their longing, despite themselves and their faith, for earthly love.

Director: Angela Robinson (III)
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Rated: G

The simple pleasure of watching a living car squirt oil in a villain's face just never goes away. Disney, in their effort to revitalize the "Herbie" franchise, has made the wise choice of not trying too hard--aside from a small bit of skateboarding action, just about every element of "Herbie: Fully Loaded" would fit right into the 1963 original (groovily titled "The Love Bug") or its various sequels. Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan, the fiery-tressed starlet of "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday") wants to join her family's dynasty of race car drivers, but her father (Michael Keaton, "Batman Returns") worries that she'll get hurt. Instead, as a college graduation gift, he buys her a junked-out Volkswagen Beetle--which turns out to be Herbie, a car with a mind of its own. Soon Maggie and Herbie are racing against an arrogant racing champion (Matt Dillon, "Crash", "There's Something About Mary") and duking it out with monster trucks, e! ventually hoping her father's heart will change. "Herbie: Fully Loaded" is formulaic fluff, but executed with cheerful enthusiasm; everyone involved has clearly embraced the mix of slapstick hijinks and light family drama. There's even a handful of cameos by NASCAR drivers. The result is every bit as ridiculous yet entertaining as its forebears. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Adrián García Bogliano
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated: Unrated

A couple's son and daughter inexplicably reappear after being lost overnight on a desolate, cave-riddled mountainside. Becoming withdrawn and beginning to exhibit strange behavior, their parents quickly assume something sinister happened to them. But after hearing an ominous local legend, the concerned mother and father begin to realize that their children may have fallen prey to something inhuman and that this dark, unstoppable evil has now returned home with them.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13

Genre master Clint Eastwood tries something different with the languid, introspective "Hereafter"--and succeeds (for the most part). All of the characters at the heart of Peter Morgan's screenplay, which has the feel of a European art film, have suffered a loss or survived an ordeal. They feel disconnected from those who can't relate, which is most everybody. George Lonegan (Matt Damon, "Invictus"), a Bay Area factory worker, developed psychic powers after a childhood illness but just wants to lead a normal life, despite his brother Billy's efforts to turn him into a John Edwards-like celebrity (Jay Mohr plays Billy). Marie LeLay (the versatile Cécile De France), a TV reporter, emerges unharmed from 2004's Indian Ocean earthquake, only to find her Parisian existence slipping away from her (the tsunami sequence that opens the film is frightfully convincing). And in London, soft-spoken 12-year-old Marcus (Frankie McLaren) loses his twin, Jason (George McLaren), only to end up in foster care. While George reaches out to a lovely, if insecure woman (the overly jittery Bryce Dallas Howard) he meets in a cooking class, Marie writes a book about her experience, and Marcus seeks spiritual guidance. In a "Babel"-like turn of events, all three find themselves in the United Kingdom, where they cross paths, but what sounds contrived plays out in a surprisingly believable fashion. Eastwood and Morgan ("The Queen") don't presume to know what happens after death, suggesting instead that those who search for answers deserve something other than disrespect and derision. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"

Genre: Television
Studio: Universal
Rated: Unrated

Arguably the most talked-about television show of the 2006-2007 season, the Emmy-nominated fantasy "Heroes" gives viewers blends comic book-style adventure with plotting and characters as rich and layered as any graphic novel or drama series. Creator Tim Kring's premise is deceptively simple - ordinary individuals in locations around the globe discover that they have, for lack of a better term, super powers, and wrestle with this reality while facing challenges both global (the destruction of New York City, for one) and personal (indestructible cheerleader Hayden Panetierre has family issues - serious ones, as the true identity of her adoptive father reveals; Milo Ventimiglia's Peter Petrelli, who absorbs other powers, must overcome his own insecurities). Add to this mix a terrific villain - Zachary Quinto's Sylar, who hunts and kills people with extraordinary powers like our heroes - and viewers have a riveting series that exhibits an almost-perfect balance of cliffhanger thrills (the action and special effects are truly impressive for a network program) and genuine drama that sets the show apart from most speculative fiction (save, perhaps, the revived "Battlestar Galactica", which it compares too favorably). The seven-disc set of "Heroes: Season One" offers a wealth of extras for fans, who may be familiar with some of them through the NBC.com website, especially the cast commentaries, which are featured on half of the episodes. Kring is featured on the 73-minute uncut pilot episode, which for some viewers, may be even better than the network version; the main difference is the degree of character development, including an entire storyline for D.L. Hawkins that isn't featured in the broadcast version. Also on deck are some 50 deleted scenes from the episodes, several by-the-books making-of featurettes, including coverage of the special effects and stunt work, and a profile of artist Tim Sale, whose illustrations are used for Isaac Mendez's prophetic artwork. Prospective buyers should note that while all of these supplemental features are included on the HD-DVD version of this set, the special Web-connectivity elements are not available here. " -- Paul Gaita"

Genre: Television
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: NR

Don't believe the hype: though some critics and viewers decried the sophomore season of the hit fantasy series Heroes, the core of the program remained as strong as in its debut network run. To be sure, the 2007-2008 Writers Guild strike hobbled the show, and producers stumbled by stranding two of its most intriguing characters: Super-charged Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) is taken out of the action after being struck with amnesia, while Hiro (Masi Oka) is sent to feudal Japan, where he encounters his own idol, Takezo Kenzei (David Anders). Both are overcomplicated story arcs, even by Heroes standards, and their connection to the rest of the season occasionally requires some mental gymnastics. But the crux of the season--the Company's development of the power-draining Shanti virus and its potentially devastating effects on both average citizens and superhumans like Niki Sanders (Ali Larter), The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) and primary villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto)--is solid, gripping material. The introduction of new characters like the lethal Maya (Dania Ramirez) and Kristen Bell as the electrically charged (in both the literal and figurative sense) Elle Bishop also up the dramatic stakes, even if their presence may require a scorecard for some viewers. In short, the few kinks in the armor of Heroes: Season 2 ultimately don't detract from the show's drive and vision. Season two spreads its supplemental features across all four of its discs; chief among these are commentary tracks by the cast and crew on all eleven episodes. The participating talent ranges from creator Tim Kring and stars Ventimiglia, Oka, Quinto and Greg Grunberg to composers Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin, which helps to provide a wide variety of information about almost every aspect of the show's production. Featurettes cover everything from the history of Takezo Kenzei to in-depth looks at scenes from the season, while "Untold Stories" explores storylines that were left unfinished due to the writers' strike. The key extras are, of course, the alternate ending to the season finale (which is unfortunately revealed by the rear cover-art text) and an info-heavy sneak peek at Season 3. --Paul Gaita


Beyond Heroes – Season 2 on DVD
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Stills from Heroes – Season 2 (Click for larger image)

Genre: Drama
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: Unrated

Experience all the explosive action and shocking twists as Heroes: Season 3 comes to DVD! Rediscover the phenomenon in this six-disc set that includes all 25 suspenseful episodes from the third season’s volumes, Villains and Fugitives. Plus, go behind the scenes with the show’s writers, stars and artists as you explore hours of exclusive and revealing bonus features.

Director: Spencer Susser
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Lionsgate
Rated: R

Director: Amos Guttman
Genre: Drama

Director: Noam Gonick
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Strand Home Video
Rated: Unrated

Turn in, Turn On, Spin the DVD . . . A prairie boy’s libido triggers an apocalypse! DJ Sabu scratches apocalypse in his mythic quest to sleep with 2000 guys. Will he achieve his goal before the cumming of the great flood? Or will the evil Spanky OiNeil unleash the Armageddon of an acid queen? A smashing soundtrack charges this authentic, tripped-out rave movie. Conceived, shot, and edited under the influence of opiates and a love of skater trash.

Director: Didier Bivel
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Studio: Lizland Films
Rated: Not Rated

Nathan, 16, lives alone with his father Stephane. A newcomer in high school, he is invited to a party and falls in love with Louis, a boy in his class. They find themselves out of sight and kiss each other, but someone takes a picture of them. Soon, the photo is published on Facebook and a storm overtakes their lives as they face bullying and rejection.

Director: John Polson
Genre: Mystery & Suspense
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: R

Dakota Fanning--the elfin star of "Uptown Girls", "The Cat in the Hat", and "Man on Fire"--trades in her blond locks for a semi-gothic brunette do in "Hide and Seek". Fanning plays Emily, a young girl whose mother commits suicide. To help Emily through the trauma, her father David (Robert DeNiro), a psychologist, takes her to an isolated house in upstate New York. But instead of healing, Emily gets dark circles under her eyes, mutilates her favorite doll, and develops an imaginary friend named Charlie. In no time at all, things get spooky and David suspects this imaginary friend isn't so friendly. "Hide and Seek" owes a lot to "The Shining", but whether the creepiness is borrowed or not, there's a decent dose of it (though the twist at the end is unlikely to surprise many viewers). DeNiro does his job with professional gloss, but Fanning carries the movie; she's got the kind of charisma that goes beyond acting ability--that ineffable glow that makes an audience want to watch her. "Hide and Seek" also features Famke Janssen ("X-Men"), Elisabeth Shue ("Leaving Las Vegas"), and the ever-dependable Dylan Baker ("Happiness"). "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Carl Franklin
Genre: Drama
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: PG-13

A welcomed reunion of "Kiss the Girls" costars Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman makes "High Crimes" a worthwhile thriller with vivid, likable characters. Efficiently directed by Carl Franklin, this military mystery doesn't have the unpredictable edginess of Franklin's "Devil in a Blue Dress", but its twisting plot is sure to hold anyone's attention. Judd plays a successful, happily married lawyer whose husband (Jim Caviezel) is accused of killing innocent citizens during his military service in El Salvador some 13 years earlier. A cover-up implicates a powerful Brigadier General (Bruce Davison), but when Judd hires a maverick attorney (Freeman), Judd is caught in a potentially lethal trap of threats and deception. Attentive viewers will stay ahead of the action, and alleged villains are posed as obvious decoys. Still, Judd and Freeman have an appealing rapport (shared with Amanda Peet, playing Judd's vivacious sister), and Freeman's character flaws add worldly spice to yet another rich performance. "--Jeff Shannon"

Director: Jeff Bleckner
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Mpi Home Video
Rated: NR

In a town ruled by racial prejudice, only a boy had the courage to take a stand. Oscar®-winner LOUIS GOSSETT, JR. (An Officer and a Gentleman) and JOSEPH MAZZELLO (Jurassic Park) head the cast of this compelling and intense drama. USA, the 1930s. Walter Osgood is the only black man left in the town of High Lonesome. He’s lost almost everything dear to him, including his wife and son. But no one in High Lonesome will speak out to defend Walter’s rights when the town unites to drive him away from the community. Except for one person – a young boy named Charlie. Not only does Walter’s extraordinary friendship with Charlie teach the boy the true meaning of love and courage, but it is also a dramatic flashpoint which forces the townspeople to confront their own cruel prejudices.

Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Rated: NR

Fans of stoner humor will hit the jackpot with "High School", a super-silly comedy with drug jokes galore. Whether you really love "High School" or not depends on how funny you think it is for teenagers to get high or to be unwittingly dosed with marijuana. The stars, including Michael Chiklis, Colin Hanks, and Matt Bush, who plays straight-arrow valedictorian Henry, are all excellent and put their all into their performances. They are eclipsed, though, by Adrien Brody, whose pot dealer Psycho Ed is hilariously creepy, a refugee from "Pulp Fiction" by way of "Apocalypse Now". The premise is thin but makes for a wealth of gags: Henry, on track to sail through graduation with a scholarship to MIT, gets high for the first time. Surprise! The principal (Chiklis) decides to hit the entire student body with a random drug test. The only solution, suggests stoner student Travis (Sean Marquette), is, of course, to dose every single student with pot so that "everyone" will fail the drug test. While many of the jokes are truly funny, others will appeal only to big fans of stoner humor. And the notion of secretly drugging teens may seem like a pretty appalling premise for a film to a lot of parents. --"A.T. Hurley"

Director: Alexandre Aja
Genre: Horror
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: Unrated

Boasting an upgrade in production values, "The Hills Have Eyes" should please new-generation horror fans without offending devotees of Wes Craven's original version from 1977. There's still something to be said for the gritty shock value of Craven's low-budget original, made at a time when horror had been relegated to the pop-cultural ghetto, mostly below the radar of major Hollywood studios. With the box-office resurgence of horror in the new millennium--and the genre's lucrative popularity among the all-important teen demographic--it's only fitting that French director Alexandre Aja should follow up his international hit "High Tension" with a similarly brutal American debut to boost his Hollywood street-cred. Working with cowriter Gregory Levasseur, Aja remains surprisingly faithful to Craven's original, beginning with a bickering family that crashes their truck and trailer in the remote desert of New Mexico (actually filmed in Morocco), where they are subsequently terrorized, brutalized, and murdered by a freakish family of psychopaths, mutated by the lingering radiation from 331 nuclear bomb tests that were carried out during the 1950s and '60s. After several killings are carried out in memorably grisly fashion, it's left to the survivors to outsmart their disfigured tormentors, who are blessed with horrendous make-up (especially Robert Joy as freak leader "Lizard") but never quite as unsettling as the original film's horror icon, Michael Berryman. In Aja's hands, this newfangled "Hills" is all about savagery and de-evolution, reducing its characters to a state of pure, retaliatory terror. It's hardly satisfying in terms of storytelling (since there's hardly any story to tell), but as an exercise in sheer malevolence, it's undeniably effective."--Jeff Shannon"

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Genre: Comedy
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: R


The play's the thing in "The History Boys". Unlike most stage-to-screen transitions, Nicholas Hytner assembled the entire original cast for the celluloid version of Alan Bennett's award-winning work. (The two previously joined forces for "The Madness of King George".) As in Hytner's National Theatre production, a group of Sheffield sixth-form boys, Timms (James Corden), Lockwood (Andrew Knott), Rudge (Russell Tovey), Scripps (Jamie Parker), Crowther (Samuel Anderson), Akhtar (Sacha Dhawan), Posner (Samuel Barnett), and Dakin (Dominic Cooper)--the latter two standouts--spend an extra term in 1983 preparing for their Oxbridge exams. Hector (Richard Griffiths) and Dorothy Lintott (Frances de la Tour) are their regular instructors (both performances garnered Tony Awards), while Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore, Bright Young Things) is the enigmatic new history teacher. The Headmaster (Clive Merrison) brings him on board to lend the precocious lads "polish." Irwin, however, is more interested in encouraging them to think creatively--not merely to recite facts. The boys just want to get into Oxford and Cambridge. If that means withstanding the occasional grope from Hector and harsh word from Irwin, so be it. In the end, which boy gets in where isn't insignificant, but Bennett's greater concern is what they learn along the way. If Hytner isn't always successful in reconciling the intellectual with the more earthbound, "The History Boys" is one of the funniest films yet about Britain's educational system--and education in general. --"Kathleen C. Fennessy"
Stills from "The History Boys"

Genre: Music Video & Concerts
Studio: Sony
Rated: NR

Uh... yeah.... There's not much else to say,
everyone already said it-- just get it!!!!
This is the definitive starter collection for Real Maiden Die Hards, and new discoverers alike---10 stars!!!!

Director: Dave Meyers
Genre: Action
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: R

20 years is a long time in the lifeline of movie plot-arc necessities. It's also a pretty big generational stretch in the lives of audience demographics, which may be part of the reason the producers of this remake of the 1986 cult horror classic felt the need to update the original spare "mano-a-mano" backbone into a girl-and-"mano-a-mano". The "Twilight Zone"-ish setup is still a pretty neat idea: regular guy on a lonely highway picks up a hitchhiker who turns out to be a psychopathic killer with some very unsettling supernatural might. Fans of the original could hardly hope for a demon villain with such creepy charisma as Rutger Hauer. But Sean Bean makes a respectable replacement, with his understated stare and stewing rage that brings a new brand of hair-raising devilry to the role of hitcher John Ryder. The lone "good guy" originated by a boyish C. Thomas Howell has been upgraded to a lovesick couple. In a twisty touch, Jim (Zachary Knighton, sorta unknown) and Grace (Sophia Bush, of "One Tree Hill" fame) trade gender roles, with Jim turning wimpy and feminine and Grace becoming a shotgun-toting testoster-ette. The body count's a little higher and the gore factor increased by the power of 20 (years), but some of the original film's set pieces remain much the same-- body-snapping case in point being an 18-wheeler being put to use as a old-fashioned torture rack. While the original might have placed a bit more emphasis on the philosophical and existential elements of evil passing from soul to soul, it wasn't exactly an intellectual thrill ride. Likewise, 2007's "The Hitcher" is no art film, and it can't be faulted for choosing fright and might for audiences that are always looking for bigger and more elaborate splats for their horror entertainment buck. And if you stick out your thumb for this one, expect plenty of splat." --Ted Fry"

Director: Peter Jackson
Studio: New Line/Eurpac
Rated: PG-13

A fellow named Bilbo Baggins lives in the Shire--but perhaps you've made his acquaintance already? If you're familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's epic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and the films that Peter Jackson wrought from them, of course you have. And here is Bilbo, played again by Ian Holm, shuffling about his hobbit hole and recalling a grand adventure from his past, when he left the Shire with a wizard and some dwarves and found a certain ring and a very peculiar creature named Gollum. This is "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", which Jackson and his "LOTR" crew have expanded on from Tolkien's 1937 novel. And boy, have they expanded: this 169-minute escapade is merely the first of three separate movies made from that one book, and it gets the young Bilbo (played by Martin Freeman) only a little ways into his grand trek. Many loud, garish battles and chases fill the time, along with some (it pains one to say it) fairly tedious adolescent-level humor. Jackson tends to dally with scenes that might have been more effective in half the time, and the bumptious dwarves are some of the least charming characters in the Tolkieniad. Thank goodness, there's Gollum (played, as before, by the digitally transformed Andy Serkis), who shares a riddle-trading scene with Bilbo that sends genuine shivers up the spine. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf, and a few other "LOTR" folk make cameos, but the more "An Unexpected Journey" goes on, the less you sense the magic afoot. Despite the fun moments, this feels like a prologue for the actual movie, which is still to come. (Originally released on many screens in 3-D, the film was also showcased in some theaters in a pioneering format that increased the clarity of the image--or made it look like a soap opera, depending on your receptiveness to the flat, frictionless technology.) "--Robert Horton"

Director: Peter Jackson
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13

Hobbit, The: The Battle of the Five Armies (Blu-ray 3D+ Blu-ray + DVD +UltraViolet Combo Pack)

Director: Peter Jackson
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: PG-13

After successfully crossing over (and under) the Misty Mountains, Thorin and Company must seek aid from a powerful stranger before taking on the dangers of Mirkwood Forest--without their Wizard. If they reach the human settlement of Lake-town it will be time for the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to fulfill his contract with the dwarves. The party must complete the journey to Lonely Mountain and burglar Baggins must seek out the Secret Door that will give them access to the hoard of the dragon Smaug. And, where has Gandalf got off to? And what is his secret business to the south?

Director: Andrew Davis
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Rated: PG

Fans of author Louis Sachar's book "Holes" will be delighted with this scrupulously faithful adaptation. After being wrongly found guilty of stealing a pair of sneakers, Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) gets sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility in the bed of a long-gone dry Texas lake. There--under the watchful eye of overseer Mr. Sir (a zesty Jon Voight), sneakily mean therapist Dr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson, "O Brother Where Art Thou?"), and the cool and cruel Warden (Sigourney Weaver)--Stanley and dozens of other delinquents are forced to dig an endless series of holes that the Warden hopes will lead her to a precious secret left behind by a long-dead female outlaw (Patricia Arquette). Sachar's book is beloved for its vivid characters and suspenseful plot; by sticking close to its source, "Holes" has become a dynamic, exciting, and surprisingly touching movie. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Kyle Newman
Genre: Horror
Studio: First Look Pictures
Rated: R

I purchased the DVD The Hollow from this website alittle while ago, It's an amazing movie to have in your collection. If you enjoy teen slasher flicks or if your favorite member of the Backstreet boys is Nick Carter because he plays a big role in this movie. It is a must have for any backstreet boys fan. If you purchase this movie you won't be sorry, i am even thinking about buying another one for a friend on mine. So if you don't have this DVD secured in your collection what are waiting for, it's just a click away.

Director: Stéphane Clavier
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Picture This Home Entertainment
Rated: Unrated

Marc (Lambert Wilson) is a 39-year-old Catholic priest, a model for his entire parish. Fully dedicated to his religious duties, he is one of the few enthusiastic advocates of priestly celibacy, having even written a book about it. Cherished by the media, he has become a star of sorts and is only too happy to serve God through his celebrity. But trouble comes knocking at his door one day, in the form of a smart-ass teen-ager who claims to be his son. Now Marc has a problem on his hands. He can't get rid of the little bastard, but he has no time for him either. To make matters worse, the kid smokes dope and the mother is in jail! So our good priest strikes a deal with his offspring: he will take care of him, but on condition of absolute secrecy. Inevitably the secret starts wearing thin! Moreover, Marc has trouble staying detached from his son and even more trouble not falling in love with the child's mother when she comes out of jail!

Director: Rusty Gorman
Genre: Crime, Drama, Sport, TV Movie
Studio: Screen Media
Rated: PG-13

High school journalist Robert Gar Gartland (Haley Joel Osment) has been assigned to cover the town s state championship-bound high school basketball team. Gar's best friend and all-star point guard, Matt Morrison (Ryan Merriman) is entangled with breaking and entering gone awry. Trapped, Matt and Gar have nowhere to turn. A coming-of-age tale set in the heartland of Basketball country Indiana, Home of the Giants is a compelling thriller about the ties that bond friends in the most dire of situations.
A fantastic sports thriller! In the vein of: Varsity Blues, Remember the Titans, and Glory Road.
Also starring Danielle Panabaker of Friday the 13th

Director: Gary Fleder
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: R

Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth star in this action-packed thriller about how far one man will go to protect his family. Widowed ex-DEA agent Phil Broker (Statham) retires to a quiet Southern town with his 10-year-old daughter and discovers that the idyllic setting is riddled with drugs and violence. When a riveting chain of events forces him to face off with psychotic local drug lord Gator Bodine (Franco), Broker must retaliate using the fearsome skills he hoped to keep in his past. From screenwriter Sylvester Stallone, Homefront is “an absolute blast! A thrill ride from start to finish!” (Chris Parente, FOX-TV)

Director: Karen Skloss
Studio: Arts+Labor
Rated: TV-MA

On prom night, a group of kids wander deep into the woods and come back changed forever.

Director: Wil Shriner
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: PG

The natural beauties of Florida find some young champions in "Hoot", based on the young adult novel by satirical crime writer Carl Hiaasen. While trying to resist being bullied on the school bus, Roy (Logan Lerman, "Jack & Bobby") becomes intrigued by a barefoot boy running frantically along the sidewalk. As he investigates, Roy learns that a nearby construction site is a habitat for a protected species of burrowing owl and that a tough girl at his school named Beatrice (Brie Larson, "Sleepover") has some connection with the barefoot boy, who has some connection with vandalism at the construction site. "Hoot" has been attacked by conservative critics for promoting eco-terrorism--a charge most viewers may find overheated--but the movie's real weakness isn't political but artistic; the clumsy dialogue barely sounds like human speech and the plot takes some hard-to-believe turns. At one point, as part of protecting the burrowing owls and their chicks, a kid releases poisonous cottonmouth snakes onto the construction site; apparently his ecological knowledge doesn't include the feeding habits of these snakes, which eat birds. The colorful scenery and the affable presence of Luke Wilson ("Bottle Rocket", "Old School") keep the movie alive. Also featuring Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Holes") and singer Jimmy Buffett, whose tropical honky-tonk bubbles up all over the soundtrack. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Alexandre Aja
Studio: Anchor Bay
Rated: R

A supernatural thriller driven by fantasy, mystery, and romance, Horns follows Ig Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe), the number one suspect for the murder of his girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple). Hungover from a night of hard drinking, Ig awakens one morning to find horns growing from his head and soon realizes their power drives people to confess their sins and give in to their most selfish and unspeakable impulses–an effective tool in his quest to discover what happened to his girlfriend and exact revenge on her killer. Based on the best-selling novel by Joe Hill.

Director: Nick Moore
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Studio: Vertigo Films
Rated: PG

When Henry fails yet again to hand in his homework for the umpteenth time, he has no idea that this will set off a chain of events which will see him forming an unlikely alliance with Moody Margaret, the infuriating girl next door, and his irritating little brother Perfect Peter, outwitting corrupt School Inspectors and toppling an evil Headmaster, winning a talent contest and facing his ultimate nemesis with no way out - all because he is trying to save the very school which he has always professed to hate!

Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Rated: Unrated

Get an instant library of some of the greatest horror classics ever to come out of Hollywood on twelve double-sided DVDs. Never has such a comprehensive collection of great classic horror films been assembled in one exciting package, all for an amazingly low price!

Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Genre: Drama
Studio: Lions Gate
Rated: R

At home, hardened police detective Aidan Breslin (Dennis Quaid) has grown increasingly distant from his two young sons, Alex (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Sean (Liam James), since the death of his wife. At work, he finds himself thrust into an investigation of perverse serial killings rooted in the Biblical prophecy of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The White Horseman, a master of deception and the unexpected leader hell-bent on conquest; The Red Horseman, a sharp-witted warrior intent on turning man against man, with an innocence that hides a burning rage within; The Black Horseman, a manipulative and dark tyrant, unbalanced but always one step ahead; and The Pale Horseman, an executioner with disarming strength, determined to spread death through surgical precision.

Director: Andrew Niccol
Studio: Open Road Films
Rated: PG-13

From Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the worldwide phenomenon The Twilight Saga, comes this daring and romantic thriller based on The New York Times #1 bestselling novel.When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over humans’ bodies and erasing their minds, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) risks everything to protect the people she cares about most, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world. The Host is a passionate and powerful epic love story co-starring Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, Frances Fisher, Max Irons and William Hurt.

Director: Florent Emilio Siri
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Miramax
Rated: R

You get two hostage crises for the price of one in "Hostage", an overwrought but otherwise involving thriller grounded by Bruce Willis's solid lead performance. Making a dramatic pit-stop on his way to "Die Hard 4", Willis plays a traumatized former Los Angeles hostage negotiator, now working as a nearly-divorced police chief in sleepy Ventura County, California. Willis suddenly finds himself amidst two potentially deadly stand-offs when a trio of hapless teenagers seize hostages in the fortress-like home of an accountant (Kevin Pollack) whose connections to organized crime result in Willis struggling to rescue his estranged wife and daughter, who are being held hostage by faceless thugs at an undisclosed location. Having directed two of Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell" video games, director Florent Siri brings plenty of slick, competent filmmaking to Willis's desperate dilemma, and the film boasts a gritty, graphic style that draws attention away from implausible plot twists. The bothersome, over-the-top performances by the teenaged villains also slightly compromise this gloomy but emotionally gripping adaptation of Robert Crais's novel, named as one of Amazon.com's best books of 2001. "--Jeff Shannon"

Director: Eli Roth
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Studio: G.C.T.H.V
Rated: PG

The hallowed tradition of the post-college European backpacking trip turns into an unimaginable nightmare for two unsuspecting American 20-somethings in Eli Roth's (CABIN FEVER) sensational second outing. Paxton (Jay Hernandez) and Josh (Derek Richardson) have embarked upon a hedonistic tour of the continent, and somewhere along the way they picked up an Icelandic lunk named Oli (Eythor Gudjonsson). In Amsterdam the trio partakes of the pastimes most dear to frat boys everywhere: weed, prostitutes, and nightclubs. But when a fellow traveler tells these thrill-seekers about the decadent scene that awaits them in Bratislava, they find themselves unable to resist its lures; enticed by the promise of a hostel full of beautiful girls who love Americans, they set out for the remote areas of Eastern Europe. There, the sex farce to which the film's first half is devoted slowly turns ominous, as the boys hook up immediately with the gorgeous Natalya (Barbara Nedeljakova) and Svetlana (Jana Kaderabkova), whose eagerness masks more sinister intentions.<br><br>Soon, the disagreeable backpackers find themselves on the other side of the flesh trade, sold by the girls into an exclusive human trafficking operation that gives its customers the opportunity to torture and kill a helpless victim. Much of what follows consists of the squirm-inducing surgical horrors that characterize precursors such as SAW, with the implications regarding the capitalist system and the human soul becoming ever darker. Produced by Quentin Tarantino, the film amps up the gore factor as much as it can get away with, and, in the tradition of the best horror films, offers a satirical socially conscious commentary.



Theatrical Release: JANUARY 6, 2006



Muze/MTS Inc.

Director: Eli Roth
Genre: Horror
Studio: Sony Pictures
Rated: R

With repulsion levels at least comparable to "Cannibal Holocaust", Herschell Gordon Lewis' "Blood Feast", and other gory slasher landmarks, Eli Roth's "Hostel 2" reconfigures ideas of violence to test how down and dirty a horror film can get. The film raises the stakes, leaving those who wish to make a sicker film out in the lurch for the time being. This sequel, like the first "Hostel", is set in and around a Slovakian factory where European students are kidnapped, tortured, and killed by rich businessmen who pay enormous sums to experience death firsthand. An international elite, all tattooed with a bulldog insignia, bid on young people to slaughter in a mob-organized, high-end, sex-slave trade catering to those with a death fetish. In "Hostel 2", three girls from Rome, Beth (Laura German), Whitney (Bijou Phillips), and Lorna (Heather Matarazzo), are lured to Slovakia by a sultry, vampiric hottie (Vera Jordonova) who modeled for them in figure drawing class. Sidetracked and disoriented by some Pagan Slovakian festivals and luxurious hot springs, the girls slip away one by one, until the film moves inside the torture chambers. One client sits in a bathtub beneath her victim, who she slices with a scythe to bathe in blood, Elizabeth Bathory-style. Body parts fly as clients entering the facilities select their weapons of choice in a room full of knives, power tools, and rubber clothing. As ridiculous as it sounds, haunting soundtrack and cinematography set a disturbing mood. Morbid humor, for example when a chainsaw unplugs centimeters from a victim's face, pays homage to "Hostel 2's" schlocky predecessors. Fortunately, one survivor remains, providing an ounce of vengeful, and sexy, satisfaction. As in the best exploitation films, gratuitous sex and violence are the norm here. What will be a warning to some to avoid this gruesome movie will be to others a cue to head straight to the theater. "--Trinie Dalton"

Director: Sebastian Michael, Adam Berzsenyi Bellaagh
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Studio: Optimist Creations

Theo goes looking for someone who can tell him about his dad and the person he loved. His quest leads him into the Alps, where George has been living as a recluse for ten years. As they meet, the two men start to make sense of their lives.

Director: Mark Tonderai
Studio: Relativity Media
Rated: PG-13

Terror hits home in the chilling Unrated Cut of House at the End of the Street - with a shocking added twist you didn't see in theaters! Academy Awardr Nominees Jennifer Lawrence* (The Hunger Games) and Elisabeth Shue** star in this edge-of-your-seat horror hit packed with heart-pounding thrills and gripping suspense. Newly divorced Sarah (Shue) and her teenage daughter Elissa (Lawrence) have just moved to the suburbs for a fresh start. But their hopes quickly shatter as they learn that, years earlier, a grisly murder took place next door when a deranged girl killed her parents and disappeared. The girl's older brother Ryan (Max Thieriot) still occupies the house, and when he befriends Elissa, his secretive past could become her worst nightmare!

Director: Uwe Boll
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Live / Artisan
Rated: R

The usual slasher-movie teens charter a boat to attend a rave in Washington's San Juan islands, find zombies there, and splatter their guts all over the place. "House of the Dead" shows early promise when the boat captain is the dude from "Das Boot" (Jürgen Prochnow) and the mate is the inimitably weird Clint Howard. Alas, things devolve from there. The movie includes frequent flashes from its video game inspiration, not that we need much reminding of the obvious source. Amongst the rotten dialogue, bad acting, and gratuitous topless scenes, there's one looooong shootout sequence in the middle of the picture that should be the main attraction for fans of this kind of thing. Otherwise, it's at the level of every other slasher movie, video game or no video game, in which stupid people do stupid things to keep themselves in harm's way. "--Robert Horton"

Director: Spencer Schilly
Studio: TLA Releasing
Rated: Unrated

From director Spencer Schilly (Summer Thunder), The Houseboy is fearlessly raw yet surprisingly tender. Aimless and barely in his twenties, disarmingly cute Ricky is content to play boy toy to a pair of hot thirty-something lovers. That is until he overhears them whisper about a new toy for Christmas. Crushed and totally alone while his couple vacations, Ricky binges on internet hookups, random tricks, and hardcore drugs. Unable to kill the pain, Ricky contemplates the end. But a chance meeting with Blake, a sweetheart college kid with a thousand watt smile, makes Ricky wonder if there s something to live for after all..

Special Features:

Original Trailer Deleted Scenes Extra Footage Photo Gallery

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated: R

Set in the near-future UK, Saoirse Ronan plays Daisy, an American teenager sent to stay with relatives in the English countryside. Initially withdrawn and alienated, she begins to warm up to her charming surroundings and strikes up a romance with the handsome Edmund (George MacKay). But on the fringes of their idyllic summer days are tense news reports of an escalating conflict in Europe. As the UK falls into a violent, chaotic military state, Daisy finds herself hiding and fighting to survive.

Director: Bob Dolman
Genre: Comedy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Rated: PG

The popular 1973 kid's book "How to Eat Fried Worms" gets a respectful, straightforward translation with this 2006 movie. When bullies put worms in his thermos, Billy fights back--and only gets in deeper trouble when he makes a stomach-churning bet that he can eat ten worms. Using a variety of cooking schemes, the pack of bullies make a slimy meal even more repulsive, but Billy--to his own surprise--takes on everything they throw at him. As the disgustingness escalates, he discovers that not everyone is what they seem. Though many story elements are changed from the book, "How to Eat Fried Worms" treats the situation and characters with intelligence and integrity. There are a few cartoonish moments (including some inventive animated sequences), but overall the movie is down-to-earth and sincere, delivering some simple and unforced messages about courage and friendship along with the gross-out humor. The kids--including Luke Benward ("Because of Winn-Dixie") as Billy and Hallie Kate Eisenberg (probably best known from a series of popular Pepsi ads) as a too-tall girl who shares Billy's outsider status--aren't overly slick, and the scenes between Billy and his father (Tom Cavanaugh, from the TV show "Ed") feel honest and unpatronizing. A modest but heartfelt movie. "--Bret Fetzer"

Director: Andrews Jenkins
Genre: Comedy
Studio: IFC Films
Rated: Unrated

Half of the fun of writer-director Andrew Jenkins' feature debut - a heist film that gets everything right about a crime that goes all too wrong - is keeping track of who is doing what to whom and why. Who is robbing the bank? What are they after? These are the simple elements that keep rearranging themselves as Jinx (Nick Stahl) and Jessica (Erika Christensen) find themselves trapped inside a vault, with bank-robber Simon (Gavin Rossdale), stuck on the other side of the vault door, and the police stuck outside the bank. A fresh, freewheeling take on a genre perennial, Jenkins' film playfully hits the reset button every time things seem to settle into place.

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rated: NR

From the Academy Award nominated film How to Train Your Dragon comes the next chapter in the epic trilogy. When Hiccup and Toothless discover a secret ice cave filled with hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of an epic battle to save the future of men and dragons! Also includes the all-new adventure Dawn of the Dragon Racers!

Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Studio: DreamWorks
Rated: PG

This Blu-ray 3D & DVD combo pack contains "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D on Blu-ray plus a DVD edition of movie. The Blu-ray 3D disc is also able to play in 2D mode.

A winner with audiences and critics alike, DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story. Hiccup is a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends one of his deadliest foes - a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. Together, the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds in this "wonderful good-time hit!" (Gene Shalit, "Today").

Note: To watch the 3D version of this movie, you need a 3D HDTV, compatible 3D glasses, a Blu-ray 3D player, and a high-speed HDMI 1.4 cable.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Studio: Paramount Studios
Rated: PG

In resourceful orphan Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield, an Oliver Twist-like charmer), Martin Scorsese finds the perfect vessel for his silver-screen passion: this is a movie about movies (fittingly, the 3-D effects are spectacular). After his clockmaker father (Jude Law) perishes in a museum fire, Hugo goes to live with his Uncle Claude (Ray Winstone), a drunkard who maintains the clocks at a Paris train station. When Claude disappears, Hugo carries on his work and fends for himself by stealing food from area merchants. In his free time, he attempts to repair an automaton his father rescued from the museum, while trying to evade the station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen), a World War I veteran with no sympathy for lawbreakers. When Georges (Ben Kingsley), a toymaker, catches Hugo stealing parts for his mechanical man, he recruits him as an assistant to repay his debt. If Georges is guarded, his open-hearted ward, Isabelle (Chloë Moretz), introduces Hugo to a kindly bookseller (Christopher Lee), who directs them to a motion-picture museum, where they meet film scholar René ("Boardwalk Empire"'s Michael Stuhlbarg). In helping unlock the secret of the automaton, they learn about the roots of cinema, starting with the Lumière brothers, and give a forgotten movie pioneer his due, thus illustrating the importance of film preservation, a cause to which the director has dedicated his life. If Scorsese's adaptation of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" isn't his most autobiographical work, it just may be his most personal. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"

Director: Ang Lee
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: PG-13

When the Hulk gets angry, his movie gets good, so you wish he'd get angry more often. Accepting this challenge after the triumphant "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", director Ang Lee has created an ambitious film, based on the Marvel comic created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, that succeeds as a cautionary tale about mad science and traumatized children coping with legacies of pain. That's the Hulk's problem: After accidental exposure to gamma radiation, scientist Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) turns into the huge, green, and indestructible Hulk when provoked, and repressed childhood memories fuel his fury. Hobbled by the obligatory "origin story" (to acquaint neophytes with the character's Jekyll-and-Hyde-ish fate), there's room for little else in a sluggish film that struggles to reconcile Lee's stylistic flair (evident in his visual interpretation of comic-book technique) with the razzle-dazzle of a megabudget franchise. What's good is good (Jennifer Connelly essentially echoes her role from "A Beautiful Mind", and Nick Nolte is righteously tormented as Banner's father), but the movie's schizoid intentions remain largely unclear. "--Jeff Shannon"

Director: Paul Hough
Studio: Xlrator
Rated: Unrated

: Eighty people are abducted from a city street by an unknown entity and forced to participate in a brutal race to the death. The rules are simple; follow the arrows or you will die, step on the grass and you will die, get lapped twice and you will die. Only one participant will survive. Race or die.  There can only be one winner, but who will survive and for what purpose?

Director: William Friedkin
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Paramount
Rated: R

William Friedkin's taut direction highlights "The Hunted", a bloodsport thriller that works best without dialogue. It's a prime vehicle for costars Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro, whose rugged screen personas are perfectly matched in a manhunt between a military assassin and the man who trained him to kill. Traumatized by atrocities in Kosovo four years earlier (the site of an action-packed prologue), Hallam (Del Toro) is seemingly psychotic and now killing in the forests of Oregon; Bonham (Jones) is lured out of retirement by a tenacious FBI agent (Connie Nielsen) to end Hallam's murder spree. The hackneyed plot is derivative to a fault (no surprise from the screenwriters of "Collateral Damage"), and the whole movie's a foregone conclusion, but Friedkin inspires fine work from his well-trained stars while exploring the ambiguity of Hallam's character. Lushly photographed by Caleb Deschanel, "The Hunted" is a survivalist's dream, militarily authentic and most effective when its primal instincts are cinematically expressed. "--Jeff Shannon"