ElasticDog’s DVD Library

Total Number of DVDs: 312
Last Updated: 26 May 2008

Title : # | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y

Page Number: 4 / 25

Director: Steve Rash
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson, Courtney Gains, Tina Caspary, Seth Green
Genre: Comedy
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.2 (4,956 votes)
Duration: 94
Release: Aug 2002
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0717951002785
Purchased On:

Summary: Nowhere-man Ronny Miller is secretly in love with Cindy Mancini, the prettiest, most popular girl on campus. When Cindy finds herself in a desperate predicament, Ronny steps in to save the day ... for a price! Cindy must pose as Ronny's girl so that her popularity might rub off on him. But the road to popularity takes an unexpected twist when Ronny becomes so "cool" that his former friends feel the chill, Cindy is left toally out in the cold, and Ronny himself discovers that money might buy you popularity, but it can't buy you love!

Can't Hardly Wait

Director: Harry Elfont
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli
Genre: Comedy
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.1 (12,382 votes)
Duration: 101
Release: Dec 1998
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780767819619
Purchased On:

Summary: This underrated teen comedy from 1998 is guilty of being a proud underachiever, and it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, but look closely and you'll find the makings of a much better movie buried under all the keg-party antics. The basic story is typical for this kind of comedy. A young, aspiring writer named Preston (Ethan Embry) has been lusting after class beauty Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt, from TV's "Party of Five") for four years of high school, but he's never had the nerve to tell her. Now that they're about to graduate he's finally worked up the courage to write her a soul-baring love letter. At the raucous graduation keg party that takes up most of the movie's 98 minutes, Preston agonizes while Amanda's selfish jock ex-boyfriend tries to win her back, and delivering his love letter turns out to be more difficult than he ever imagined. What's interesting about "Can't Hardly Wait" has little to do with its attractive leads, however. The most engagingly real and entertaining characters are the misfits who show up in the subplots, including a geek (Charlie Korsmo) who turns into the life of the party, and a pair of old friends (Seth Green, Lauren Ambrose) who confront each other about their mutual needs and insecurities. There are some really good scenes between these two, and this modest movie has a few other pleasant surprises up its sleeve. That doesn't make it particularly good, but it does make it an agreeable waste of time. "--Jeff Shannon"

Capote

Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Allie Mickelson, Kelci Stephenson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Craig Archibald, Bronwen Coleman
Genre: Drama
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.7 (24,326 votes)
Duration: 114
Release: Mar 2006
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0043396126480
Purchased On:

Summary: Bolstered by an Oscar®-caliber performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the title role, "Capote" ranked highly among the best films of 2005. Written by actor/screenwriter Dan Futterman and based on selected chapters from the biography by Gerald Clarke, this mercilessly perceptive drama shows how Truman Capote brought about his own self-destruction in the course of writing "In Cold Blood", the "nonfiction novel" that was immediately acclaimed as a literary milestone. After learning of brutal killings in rural Holcomb, Kansas, in November 1959, Capote gained the confidence of captured killers Perry Smith (Clifton Collins, Jr.) and Dick Hickock (Mark Pellegrino) in an effort to tell their story, but he ultimately sacrificed his soul in the process of writing his greatest book. Hoffman transcends mere mimicry to create an utterly authentic, psychologically tormented portrait of an insincere artist who was not above lying and manipulation to get what he needed. Bennett Miller's intimate direction focuses on the consequences of Capote's literary ambition, tempered by an equally fine performance by Catherine Keener as Harper Lee, Capote's friend and the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird", who served as Capote's quiet voice of conscience. Spanning the seven-year period between the Kansas murders and the publication of "In Cold Blood" in 1966, "Capote" reveals the many faces of a writer who grew too close to his subjects, losing his moral compass as they were fitted with a hangman's noose. "--Jeff Shannon"

Casino Royale

Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 8.1 (85,460 votes)
Duration: 144
Release: Mar 2007
# of Discs: 2
UPC: 0043396148598
Purchased On:

Summary: The most successful invigoration of a cinematic franchise since "Batman Begins, Casino Royale" offers a new Bond identity. Based on the Ian Fleming novel that introduced Agent 007 into a Cold War world, "Casino Royale" is the most brutal and viscerally exciting James Bond film since Sean Connery left Her Majesty's Secret Service. Meet the new Bond; not the same as the old Bond. Daniel Craig gives a galvanizing performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, yes, but also a "blunt instrument," reckless, and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. In classic Bond film tradition, his global itinerary takes him to far-flung locales, including Uganda, Madagascar, the Bahamas (that's more like it), and Montenegro, where he is pitted against his nemesis in a poker game, with hundreds of millions in the pot. The stakes get even higher when Bond lets down his "armor" and falls in love with Vesper (Eva Green), the ravishing banker's representative fronting him the money.

For longtime fans of the franchise, "Casino Royale" offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, "Casino Royale" is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in "Private Benjamin", now I know what I've been faking all these years. "--Donald Liebenson "

Chappelle's Show - Season 1

Director: Andre Allen (II), Bill Berner, Todd Broder, Rusty Cundieff, Bob Goldthwait
Starring: Liz Beckham, Anthony Berry, Billy Burr, Dave Chappelle, DJ Cipha Sounds
Genre: Television
Rated: NR

My Rating:

IMDB Rating:
Duration: 283
Release: Feb 2004
# of Discs: 2
UPC: 9781415700587
Purchased On:

Summary: The 2003 debut of "Chappelle's Show" on Comedy Central marked a high point for the cable channel, and now the entire, wildly creative first season can be seen, with hundreds of bleeps removed. That's not to say "Chappelle's Show" is perfect entertainment: there are too many moments among the 12 episodes here that descend into pointless scatology and booty fever. But for the most part, Chappelle, a talented comic slowly growing into greatness, is trying to push the sketch-humor envelope and succeeds at surprising us with original concepts and merciless execution.
The merely clever material includes "National Geography's Third World Girls Gone Wild," basically an update on those topless-native-women gags of yore, and Chappelle's "Educated Guess Line," in which the sage comic eschews psychic powers to logically deduce racial insights from his callers' questions. Far more wicked is an in-your-face satire on such autobiographical film fare as "Antwone Fisher" and "8 Mile", in which Chappelle plays himself ascending from street hustler to rapper-comedian to bona fide savior of America. The best thing here, however, is a parallel-universe version of "The Real World", in which the usual racial proportions on MTV's workhorse series are reversed, thrusting a token white guy into a Hoboken houseful of crazy African Americans. There are also laughs in "Ask a Gay Guy with Mario Cantoned," as well as a sketch about an "inner-thoughts cam" and a nasty piece about Chappelle's Make-a-Wish visit to a dying child, which decays into a cruel video game competition. Overlooking the series' weaker material, this is outstanding television comedy. "--Tom Keogh"

Chasing Amy

Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Ethan Suplee, Ben Affleck, Scott Mosier, Jason Lee, Casey Affleck
Genre: Art House & International
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.5 (45,421 votes)
Duration: 113
Release: Jun 2000
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788815485
Purchased On:

Summary: Writer-director Kevin Smith ("Clerks") makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relationship is attacked, however, by his business partner (Jason Lee), who pulls a very unsubtle Iago act to cast doubt over the whole affair. The film has the same sense of insiderness as "Clerks"--this time, Smith takes us within the arcane, funny world of comic-book cultism--but the themes of jealousy, deceit, and the high price of growing up enough to truly care for someone make this a very satisfying movie. "--Tom Keogh"

Children of Men

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Juan Gabriel Yacuzzi, Michelle Hussain, Rob Curling, Jon Chevalier, Rita Davies
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 8.2 (65,900 votes)
Duration: 110
Release: Mar 2007
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0025193251329
Purchased On:

Summary: Presenting a bleak, harrowing, and yet ultimately hopeful vision of humankind's not-too-distant future, "Children of Men" is a riveting cautionary tale of potential things to come. Set in the crisis-ravaged future of 2027, and based on the atypical 1993 novel by British mystery writer P.D. James, the anxiety-inducing, action-packed story is set in a dystopian England where humanity has become infertile (the last baby was born in 2009), immigration is a crime, refugees (or "fugees") are caged like animals, and the world has been torn apart by nuclear fallout, rampant terrorism, and political rebellion. In this seemingly hopeless landscape of hardscrabble survival, a jaded bureaucrat named Theo (Clive Owen) is drawn into a desperate struggle to deliver Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), the world's only pregnant woman, to a secret group called the Human Project that hopes to discover a cure for global infertility. As they carefully navigate between the battling forces of military police and a pro-immigration insurgency, Theo, Kee, and their secretive allies endure a death-defying ordeal of urban warfare, and director Alfonso Cuaron (with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki) capture the action with you-are-there intensity. There's just enough humor to balance the film's darker content (much of it coming from Michael Caine, as Theo's aging hippie cohort), and although "Children of Men" glosses over many of the specifics about its sociopolitical worst-case scenario (which includes Julianne Moore in a brief but pivotal role), it's still an immensely satisfying, pulse-pounding vision of a future that represents a frightening extrapolation of early 21st-century history. "--Jeff Shannon"

Chocolat

Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss, Judi Dench, Antonio Gil-Martinez
Genre: Art House & International
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.3 (33,287 votes)
Duration: 122
Release: Aug 2001
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788827006
Purchased On:

Summary: With movies like "Chocolat", it's always best to relax your intellectual faculties and absorb the abundant sensual pleasures, be it the heart-stopping smile of chocolatier Juliette Binoche as she greets a new customer, an intoxicating cup of spiced hot cocoa, or the soothing guitar of an Irish gypsy played by Johnny Depp. Adapted by Robert Nelson Jacobs from Joanne Harris's popular novel and lovingly directed by Lasse Hallström, the film covers familiar territory and deals in broad metaphors that even a child could comprehend, so it's no surprise that some critics panned it with killjoy fervor. Their objections miss the point. Familiarity can be comforting and so can easy metaphors when placed in a fable that's as warmly inviting as this one.
Driven by fate, Vianne (Binoche) drifts into a tranquil French village with her daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol, from "Ponette") in the winter of 1959. Her newly opened chocolatier is a source of attraction and fear, since Vianne's ability to revive the villagers' passions threatens to disrupt their repressive traditions. The pious mayor (Alfred Molina) sees Vianne as the enemy, and his war against her peaks with the arrival of "river rats" led by Roux (Depp), whose attraction to Vianne is immediate and reciprocal. Splendid subplots involve a battered wife (Lena Olin), a village elder (Judi Dench), and her estranged daughter (Carrie-Anne Moss), and while the film's broader strokes may be regrettable (if not for Molina's rich performance, the mayor would be a caricature), its subtleties are often sublime. "Chocolat" reminds you of life's simple pleasures and invites you to enjoy them. "--Jeff Shannon"

The Chronicles of Riddick

Director: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: Unrated

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.3 (25,527 votes)
Duration: 134
Release: Nov 2004
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9781417030392
Purchased On:

Summary: A lot of diverse comments have been written about this movie. I just plainly love it. Don't mistake me, I don't like Vin Diesel this much but in this movie, he is part of a greater good. I really liked the interaction between Vin Diesel, Judi Dench - one of my favorites actors, Thandie Newton and Karl Urban. No, it's also the perfect picture quality of this HD-DVD which makes me really want to watch this film. The CGI is amazing, the sunrise on Crematoria, the exhaust plumes of the starships of the Necros and more. This is really stunning! I also own the directors cut DVD but this is far away from what we see on this HD-DVD. I enjoyed the whole movie much more and felt much more in the movie than with the SD-DVD. This DVD doesn't have the emotional touch of Batman Begins but it is as good from picture quality.
If you are into Sci-Fi and Action and want to see a consistent story, I highly recommend the HD-DVD for you.
Be prepared to 'see more' on this HD-DVD than you saw before.

The Cider House Rules

Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Michael Caine
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.4 (27,642 votes)
Duration: 125
Release: Aug 2000
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788818363
Purchased On:

Summary: Honored with two Academy Awards(R) -- Best Supporting Actor, Michael Caine, and Best Adapted Screenplay, John Irving -- THE CIDER HOUSE RULES tells a compelling and heartwarming story about how far a young man must travel to find the place where he truly belongs! Homer Wells (Tobey Macguire -- PLEASANTVILLE, THE ICE STORM, WONDER BOYS) has lived nearly his entire life within the walls of St. Cloud's Orphanage in rural Maine. Though groomed by its proprietor, Dr. Larch (Caine), to be his successor, Homer nonetheless feels the need to strike out on his own and experience the world outside. Then, while working at an apple orchard, Homer falls for the beautiful Candy (Charlize Theron -- REINDEER GAMES, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE) and learns some powerfully indelible lessons about life, love, and home! Based on John Irving's best-selling American classic and featuring a sensational all-star cast including Delroy Lindo and newcomer Erykah Badu, this entertaining motion picture earned raves from critics and moviegoers everywhere!

The City of Lost Children

Director: Marc Caro
Starring: Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet, Dominique Pinon, Jean-Claude Dreyfus
Genre: Art House & International
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.8 (16,823 votes)
Duration: 112
Release: Oct 1999
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780767811064
Purchased On:

Summary: The fantastic visions of Belgian filmmakers Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet find full fruition in this fairy tale for adults. Evoking utopias and dystopias from "Brazil" to "Peter Pan", Caro and Jeunet create a vivid but menacing fantasy city in a perpetually twilight world. In this rough port town lives circus strongman One (Ron Perlman), who wanders the alleys and waterfront dives looking for his baby brother, snatched from him by a mysterious gang preying upon the children of the town. Rising from the harbor is an enigmatic castle where lives the evil scientist Krank (Daniel Emilfork), who has lost the ability to dream and robs the nocturnal visions of the children he kidnaps, but receives only mad nightmares from the lonely cherubs. Other wild characters include the Fagin-like Octopus--Siamese twin sisters who control a small gang of runaways-turned-thieves--Krank's six cloned henchmen (all played by the memorable Dominique Pinon from "Delicatessen"), and a giant brain floating in an aquarium (voiced by Jean-Louis Trintignant). Caro and Jeunet are kindred souls to Terry Gilliam (who is a vocal fan), creating imaginative flights of fancy built of equal parts delight and dread, which seem to be painted on the screen in rich, dreamy colors. "--Sean Axmaker"

Clerks

Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonhauer, Jason Mewes
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.9 (61,720 votes)
Duration: 92
Release: Jun 1999
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788816031
Purchased On:

Summary: Before Kevin Smith became a Hollywood darling with "Chasing Amy", a film he wrote and directed, he made this $27,000 comedy about real-life experiences working for chump change at a New Jersey convenience store. A rude, foul-mouthed collection of anecdotes about the responsibilities that go with being on the wrong side of the till, the film is also a relationship story that takes some hilarious turns once the lovers start revealing their sexual histories to one another. In the best tradition of first-time, ultra-low budget independent films, Smith uses "Clerks" as an audition piece, demonstrating that he not only can handle two-character comedy but also has an eye for action--as proven in a smoothly handled rooftop hockey scene. Smith himself appears as a silent figure who hangs out on the fringes of the store's property. "--Tom Keogh"

Clerks II

Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Jake Richardson
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.9 (29,581 votes)
Duration: 97
Release: Nov 2006
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0796019795982
Purchased On:

Summary: Lo and behold, "Clerks II" defies the odds as a sequel that even the most ardent "Clerks" fans can be happy about. Twelve years after Kevin Smith turned the independent film world upside-down with his $27,000 black-and-white comedy, perpetual slackers Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) return for another raucous romp in suburbia, but this time there's no beloved Quick Stop mini-mart to ensure their low-level employment. Now they're aimless 33-year-olds flippin' burgers at Mooby's, a fast-food joint with a cow theme that's "udderly delicious." Dante's engaged to his long-time girlfriend but has unexpectedly fallen in love with Mooby's manager Becky (and since she's played by Rosario Dawson, can you blame him?), and Randal's still holding out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of low ambition. The responsibilities of adulthood are rearing their ugly head, and with Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) still dealing weed and generally being obnoxious, well... something's gotta give, right? The way Smith has written this long-awaited follow-up, the dilemmas of Dante, Randal, and their ongoing friendship are something that anyone can relate to, and with Dawson lighting up the screen (in a role demanded by producer Harvey Weinstein to boost box-office appeal), the movie's romantic chemistry is surprisingly delightful. Rest assured, also, that Smith (shooting mostly in color this time, on a $5 million budget) hasn't forgotten where he came from: "Clerks II" is jam-packed with the same lewd, crude humor that made "Clerks" an indie-film phenomenon, and Smith's good-natured sincerity is still on full display, ensuring that only the most prudish viewers could possibly be offended. For everyone else, this is as enjoyable as any sequel could ever hope to be, with amusing cameos by Smith-movie veterans Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, among others. "--Jeff Shannon"

Closer

Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Nick Hobbs
Genre: Drama
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.4 (39,464 votes)
Duration: 104
Release: Mar 2005
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0043396048478
Purchased On:

Summary: Four extremely beautiful people do extremely horrible things to one another in "Closer", Mike Nichols' pungent adaptation of Patrick Marber's play that easily marks the Oscar-winning director's best work in years. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer who specializes in portraits of strangers; Dan (Jude Law) is an obituary writer struggling to become a novelist; Alice (Natalie Portman) is an American stripper freshly arrived in London after a bad relationship; and Larry (Clive Owen) is a dermatologist who finds love under the most unlikely of circumstances. When their paths cross it's a dizzying supernova of emotions, as Nichols and Marber adroitly construct various scenes out of their lives that pair them again and again in various permutations of passion, heartbreak, anger, sadness, vengeance, pleading, deception, and most importantly, brutal honesty. It's only until you're more than halfway through the movie that you'll have to ask yourself exactly why you are watching such a beautifully tragic tale, as "Closer" is basically the ickiest, grossest, most dysfunctional parts of all your past relationships strung together into one movie. Ultimately, it falls to the four actors to draw you deeper into the story; all succeed relatively, but it's Law and Owen whose characters will cut you to the quick. Law proves that yet again he's most adept at playing charming, amoral bastards with manipulative streaks, and Owen is nothing short of brilliant as the character most turned on by the energy inherent in destructive relationships--whether he's on the giving or receiving end. "--Mark Englehart"

Confidence

Director: James Foley
Starring: Edward Burns, Rachel Weisz, Morris Chestnut, Leland Orser, Louis Lombardi
Genre: Drama
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.8 (10,938 votes)
Duration: 97
Release: Sep 2003
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9781588179319
Purchased On:

Summary: Bathed in self-conscious cool, "Confidence" is a heist caper in which the heist is unimportant. As you might expect from "Glengarry Glen Ross" director James Foley, this pulpy concoction is more interested in giving good actors a lot of hip, salty dialogue as they scheme their way to the royal scam. It's a poor man's "Ocean's Eleven", just as enjoyable in its own way, beginning when con artist Jake (Edward Burns) discovers he's accidentally stolen from an eccentric crime boss (Dustin Hoffman, oozing threat in a fine character turn). Promising to make amends by pulling the biggest con of his career, Jake adds a feisty pickpocket (Rachel Weisz) to his crew, which includes scene-stealer Paul Giammatti and Andy Garcia as a disheveled FBI agent (or is he?). With a cast like this you can't go wrong, but "Confidence" cons itself into thinking it's original, while Burns's abundant voice-overs state the obvious and plot twists unfold with minimal surprise. It hardly matters; "Confidence" may be derivative, but it's still recommendable. "--Jeff Shannon"

The Count of Monte Cristo

Director: Kevin Reynolds
Starring: James Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, James Frain, Dagmara Dominczyk
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.5 (24,250 votes)
Duration: 131
Release: Sep 2002
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788838125
Purchased On:

Summary: Revenge rarely gets sweeter than it does in "The Count of Monte Cristo", a rousing, impeccably crafted adaptation of Alexandre Dumas père's literary classic. Filmed countless times before, the story is revitalized by director Kevin Reynolds (rallying after "Waterworld") and screenwriter Jay Wolpert, who wisely avoid the action-movie anachronisms that plagued 2001's dubious Dumas-inspired "The Musketeer". Leading a superior cast, Jim Caviezel ("Frequency") expresses a delicate balance of obsession and nobility as Dantes, the wrongly accused Frenchman who endures 13 years of prison and torment, then uses a hidden treasure to finance elaborate vengeance on those who wronged him. "Memento"'s Guy Pearce is equally effective as Dantes's betraying nemesis, and Richard Harris tops his "Harry Potter" wizardry with a humorous turn as Dantes's fellow prisoner and mentor. Filmed on stunning locations in Ireland and Malta, "The Count of Monte Cristo" easily matches "Rob Roy" for intelligent swashbuckling entertainment. "--Jeff Shannon"

Cradle 2 the Grave

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Starring: Jet Li, DMX, Kelly Hu, Anthony Anderson, Tom Arnold
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 5.4 (8,107 votes)
Duration: 101
Release: Jun 2004
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780790772608
Purchased On:

Summary: The intriguing cross-pollination of rap and kung-fu continues with "Cradle 2 the Grave", co-starring high-profile rapper DMX and Hong Kong superstar Jet Li. Master thief Fait (DMX) hits a diamond exhange but comes away with a bag of black gems of mysterious origin. When a crime kingpin steals the gems from Fait, an international arms dealer kidnaps Fait's beloved daughter--and Fait can only get her back with the help of Su (Li), a Taiwanese intelligence agent tracking the gems himself. A summary of the plot doesn't do "Cradle 2 the Grave" justice; while the basic story elements suggest a dozen generic action flicks, the cast (including Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union, and Kelly Hu) has genuine charisma and the movie layers action on top of action to strong effect. All in all, a much more engaging thrill ride than you'd expect. "--Bret Fetzer"

Crank

Director: Brian Taylor, Mark Neveldine
Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, Dwight Yoakam
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.0 (25,678 votes)
Duration: 87
Release: Jan 2007
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0031398206927
Purchased On:

Summary: Action anti-hero Jason Statham is competing with himself to make the most relentless, non-stop action flick imaginable. In "Crank", Statham stars as a hit man named Chev Chelios who's been poisoned by some Chinese toxin; the only way to stave it off is to keep his adrenalin flowing, which requires him to drive at top speeds through crowded traffic, start fights in bars, and run pell-mell down hospital corridors while wearing one of those humiliating smocks that tie in the back. In other words, "Crank" is high-end pop-trash, filled with many preposterous/ingenious stunts and over-the-top performances (Dwight Yoakam, "Sling Blade", is downright droll as a doctor offering Chev assistance), marred by an unpleasant attitude towards women (Amy Smart, "Outside Providence", will not look back on this as one of her signature roles). This is a movie for the audience who enjoyed "Transporter" and "Transporter 2" but wanted Statham's perpetual scowl to become a kind of theatrical mask, a perpetual signifier of intensity that begs--nay, demands--that everything around it rise to a mutual level of absurdity. Fans of Luc Besson ("Leon/The Professional", "District 13") will find "Crank" to be simpatico. "--Bret Fetzer"

Crash

Director: Paul Haggis
Starring: Karina Arroyave, Dato Bakhtadze, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Art Chudabala
Genre: Drama
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 8.2 (93,757 votes)
Duration: 122
Release: Sep 2005
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 0031398179382
Purchased On:

Summary: Movie studios, by and large, avoid controversial subjects like race the way you might avoid a hive of angry bees. So it's remarkable that "Crash" even got made; that it's a rich, intelligent, and moving exploration of the interlocking lives of a dozen Los Angeles residents--black, white, latino, Asian, and Persian--is downright amazing. A politically nervous district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his high-strung wife (Sandra Bullock, biting into a welcome change of pace from "Miss Congeniality") get car-jacked by an oddly sociological pair of young black men (Larenz Tate and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges); a rich black T.V. director (Terrence Howard) and his wife (Thandie Newton) get pulled over by a white racist cop (Matt Dillon) and his reluctant partner (Ryan Phillipe); a detective (Don Cheadle) and his Latina partner and lover (Jennifer Esposito) investigate a white cop who shot a black cop--these are only three of the interlocking stories that reach up and down class lines. Writer/director Paul Haggis (who wrote the screenplay for "Million Dollar Baby") spins every character in unpredictable directions, refusing to let anyone sink into a stereotype. The cast--ranging from the famous names above to lesser-known but just as capable actors like Michael Pena ("Buffalo Soldiers") and Loretta Devine ("Woman Thou Art Loosed")--meets the strong script head-on, delivering galvanizing performances in short vignettes, brief glimpses that build with gut-wrenching force. This sort of multi-character mosaic is hard to pull off; Crash rivals such classics as "Nashville" and "Short Cuts". A knockout. "--Bret Fetzer"

Crazy/Beautiful

Director: John Stockwell
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez, Bruce Davison, Herman Osorio, Miguel Castro
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.3 (7,746 votes)
Duration: 99
Release: Nov 2001
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780788831324
Purchased On:

Summary: Opposites attract in this love story for the younger set. Carlos is a straight-laced poor boy working his way toward a better life. Nicole is a rich girl with a wild streak who can't seem to stay out of trouble. Can it be that they're meant for each other? Yes, of course it can. "Crazy/Beautiful" follows a familiar pattern--the two young lovers come from different worlds, and no one else understands them--but has a few intelligent wrinkles to the standard star-crossed plot. Nicole's dad, for example, actually likes Carlos and worries that Nicole will corrupt him. Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez give assured performances as the young lovers, and the movie's message of tolerance comes across without being preachy. As teen love stories go, you could do far worse. Adults may be left cold by "Crazy/Beautiful", but teens--especially those with a dramatic streak--will enjoy this well-intentioned romance. "--Ali Davis"

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Chang, Sihung Lung
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: PG-13

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 8.1 (74,847 votes)
Duration: 120
Release: Jun 2001
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780767861441
Purchased On:

Summary: An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

The Crow

Director: Alex Proyas
Starring: Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Ling Bai
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.4 (33,251 votes)
Duration: 101
Release: Mar 2001
# of Discs: 2
UPC: 0786936142723
Purchased On:

Summary: Catch the explosive, action-packed hit that thrilled moviegoers and dazzled critics everywhere! Brandon Lee (RAPID FIRE) plays Eric Draven, a young rock guitarist who, along with his fiancee, is brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals. Exactly one year after his death, Eric returns -- watched over by a hypnotic crow -- to seek revenge, battling the evil crime lord and his band of urban thugs, who must answer for their crimes. Loaded with intense, nonstop action and a hot #1 hit soundtrack, THE CROW delivers exhilarating, fast-paced entertainment!

Cruel Intentions

Director: Roger Kumble
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Louise Fletcher
Genre: Drama
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 6.6 (42,727 votes)
Duration: 97
Release: Aug 1999
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9780767835107
Purchased On:

Summary: This modern-day teen update of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" suffered at the hands of both critics and moviegoers thanks to its sumptuous ad campaign, which hyped the film as an arch, highly sexual, faux-serious drama (not unlike the successful, Oscar-nominated "Dangerous Liaisons"). In fact, this intermittently successful sudser plays like high comedy for its first two-thirds, as its two evil heroes, rich stepsiblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), blithely ruin lives and reputations with hearts as black as coal. Kathryn wants revenge on a boyfriend who dumped her, so she befriends his new intended, the gawky Cecile (Selma Blair), and gets Sebastian to deflower the innocent virgin. The meat of the game, though, lies in Sebastian's seduction of good girl Annette (a down-to-earth Reese Witherspoon), who's written a nationally published essay entitled "Why I Choose to Wait." If he fails, Kathryn gets his precious vintage convertible; if he wins, he gets Kathryn--in the sack. When the movie sticks to the merry ruination of Kathryn and Sebastian's pawns, it's highly enjoyable: Gellar in particular is a two-faced manipulator extraordinaire, and Phillippe, usually a black hole, manages some fun as a hipster Eurotrash stud. Most pleasantly surprising of all is Witherspoon, who puts a remarkably self-assured spin on a character usually considered vulnerable and tortured (see Michelle Pfeiffer in "Dangerous Liaisons"). Unfortunately, writer-director Roger Kumble undermines everything he's built up with a false ending that's true to neither the reconceived characters nor the original story--revenge is a dish best served cold, not cooked up with unnecessary plot twists. "--Mark Englehart"

Cube

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Julian Richings
Genre: Horror
Rated: R

My Rating:

IMDB Rating: 7.5 (27,212 votes)
Duration: 90
Release: Jan 1999
# of Discs: 1
UPC: 9786305238065
Purchased On:

Summary: If Clive Barker had written an episode of "The Twilight Zone", it might have looked something like "Cube". A handful of strangers wake up inside a bizarre maze, having been spirited there during the night. They quickly learn that they have to navigate their way through a series of chambers if they have any hope of escape, but the problem is that there are lethal traps awaiting if they choose their route unwisely. Having established some imaginative and grisly punishments in store for the hostages, cowriter and director Vincenzo Natali turns his attention to the characters, for whom being trapped amplifies their best and worst qualities. The film is, in fact, similar to a famous episode of Rod Serling's old television series, though Natali's explanation for why these poor people are being put through hell is a lot closer to the spirit of "The X-Files". "Cube" has some solid moments of suspense and drama, and the sets are appropriately striking: one is tempted to believe at first the characters are lost inside a computer chip. "--Tom Keogh"

Created using DVDpedia