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Movie reviews are only for those I see, unfortunately, I do not do this for a living, on my free time which is getting less and less due to work. I apologize now for not having as many as I used to.

All links on all names are from www.imdb.com and are for informational use only. No copyright infringement intended, these links are only for research and as the best informational resource to find any data on any actor/actress you can think of, at least in my opinion.

All movie reviews by Skrit (me) are expressed as objectively as I can be, I see a lot of movies, so when I see a movie, I tend to approach it from the perspective of, "if you liked insert title here, then you would like this."

Reviews from Skrit

 

The Incredibles DVD Release

The minute this hit the store my wife and I got a copy of it. As soon as we got home, I played it. There are a lot of goodies on this DVD. The next morning I listened to the commentaries on the movie. The commentaries on the DVD are so much fun to listen to. Two commentaries are available on the DVD. One is the animators’ the other is Director Brad Bird and Producer John Walker.

What makes the commentary so great to listen to is that they do not bore with detail after detail. You get to hear a lot of the stories behind some scenes and some funny side comments on various props and set designs. Just a couple to list: Mr. Incredible hums his own theme song, Squeaker the cat (in the first 15 minutes-Toy Story tie-in), and of course among others, Mr. Incredible’s room has an album of him singing. What makes that scene so funny is that the director says it was kind of like William Shatner with his album. The commentary is provides a lot of insight on the animation process and tricks of photography. They practically tell you how to do it to get 2d to 3d look while maintaining the 3d imaging.

You can adjust the movie in different widescreen modes for your TV, depending on the size of your TV. Also there is an optimizer so you can adjust the viewing mode to enhance the colors for different TV’s. Languages provided are French and Spanish.

In the trailer section of the DVD, there are some previews of some upcoming films by Miyazaki (Spirited Away). The three clips presented are for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, and The Cat Returns. Watching movie trailers on this DVD is quite fun. Also included on the trailers is a clip for the video game, which provides a password to unlock all levels for the video game.

All this is just on disc one.

Disc Two of course has bonus features galore. A new animated short is available: Jack-Jack, the baby from the movie, with the babysitter. The short Boundin’ originally shown in theaters with the movie is also included. An alternate opening sequence and deleted scenes (some in storyboard form), introductions, behind the scenes documentaries, ‘top secret’ files of super heroes, commentary by super heroes, and of course it would not be a Pixar film without a blooper reel.

The DVD menus are easy to understand, the bonus features are chock full of useful information, not just for the audience, but also for aspiring animators/artists. The documentaries and commentaries are so extensive that if they crammed anymore on these discs, it would be like the Lord of the Rings documentaries.

As if that was not enough for you, there is an additional package you can pick up at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club stores. The Incredibles’  CD-Rom Print Studio is attached to the movie as a kicker. You can make calendars, photo cubes, stationery, door hangers, pictures for framing, and much more.

Star Wars Trilogy DVD -- Wow, this is a great collection of the best sci-fi movies ever made and in even better quality than the special editions. I have to admit the ships are so cleaned up and outer space, whew!! This DVD trilogy is phenomenal. Also included on the Bonus material disk are plenty of featurettes for the die hard fan who wants to know even more about how Star Wars came to be. Included on this bonus disk within the documentaries are some original stock footage that wound up on the cutting room floor and some outtakes as well. Of course, if you have the home theater system, these DVDs have the 5.1 surround sound and everything. If you never bought a home theater and wanted the best DVDs to play these would be them.

 

To read the feature article I wrote in tribute to Christopher Reeve please visit the following page: www.skritweb.com/manofsteel.html

 The dates listed are the actual release dates in Columbus, Ohio.

Dec. 25, 2005

Life Aquatic -- Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), Owen Wilson (Shanghai Noon), Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings), Anjelica Huston (Addams Family), round out just half of the cast in this comedy about Steve Zissou. Zissou is this explorer who tries his best to come up with documentary footage that will maintain his career which is winding down. Unfortunately, his partner gets eaten by a mythical  jaguar shark and he wants revenge. Very similar to the Royal Tennenbaums and directed by the same guy, Wes Anderson. Only this movie is reminiscent of Jacques Cousteau with a few mythical creatures added in for effect. Drier than Royal Tannenbaums, yet loaded with much wit. If you are unsure of whether you want to see this movie or not, watch Royal Tannenbaums and if you enjoy that style of movie, add some interesting creatures, and place it underwater, you will have this movie.

Dec. 22, 2005

Kinsey -- Liam Neeson (Star Wars Ep. 1), Laura Linney (Mystic River). Neeson plays Alfred Kinsey, and Linney portrays his mate, Clara McMillen or Mac as he calls her. This is about the life and times of Alfred Kinsey, the first scientist who actually took the time to study the sexual nature of humanity in 1948. The movie is a drama/history. The content of the movie has some graphic discussions about adult situations.

Meet the Fockers -- Robert De Niro , Ben Stiller (DodgeBall), Dustin Hoffman (Runaway Jury) star in this sequel to Meet the Parents. This is the story of what happens when both sides of the marriage party meet for the first time, craziness ensues. If you liked the first one you will more than likely enjoy this.

Phantom of the Opera -- Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000), Emmy Rossum (Mystic River), Patrick Wilson (The Alamo), play Phantom, Christine, and Raoul respectively. This is the movie adaptation to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and it is done very well considering they added some backstory and some possibilities as to what happens after. The styles of Webber are not changed hardly at all and FX are done beautifully. The costumes, the sets, and even the infamous chandelier scene are  so vivid and appropriate. This is the movie to see for great music numbers, the actors were convincing with their singing. CHICAGO fans,  eat your heart out.

 

After the Sunset -- Pierce Brosnan (007) and Salma Hayek (Frida) star in this adventure after a master thief achieves his last big heist, when the FBI agent who promised he'd capture him is about to do the same thing.

Alexander --Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) Colin Farrell (The Recruit) Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider) are part of the many actors that play the characters that tell the story of the conqueror of half of Europe. If you liked Troy , then you will like this.

Blade Trinity -- Wesley Snipes (Blade), Kris Kristofferson (Blade's Whistler),Jessica Biel (7th Heaven), Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder), take on the vampire fight against the legendary Dracula. I have to say this movie went off the path the first two movies started out on. Written by the same writers that wrote the first two, this is basically what Star Trek: Nemesis was to the Star Trek universe. For the serious Blade fans and comic book lovers this is going to gather a lot of criticism. Whereas if you like movies like Nemesis, Dardevil, and Alexander, you will like this one.

Bridget Jones -- Renée Zellweger (Chicago) is Bridget Jones again , this time she is trying to continue her relationship with her boyfriend from the first movie as her old boss still confesses her feelings for her. Pretty much the same as the first movie.

Christmas w/the Kranks -- Tim Allen (Home Improvement), Jamie Lee Curtis (True Lies),  are the Kranks. They decide to skip the holidays by taking a vacation just by themselves, when their daughter decides to come home for the holidays at the last minute.This is your typical Tim Allen role.

Closer -- Natalie Portman (Star Wars), Jude Law (Sky Captain), Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman , Clive Owen (King Arthur) are two couples that are constantly caught cheating on each other. This is the movie where one does the other quite literally. Is it good? Well, that depends on whether or not you like soaps.

Finding Neverland -- Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Carribean) and Kate Winslet (Titanic) play opposite roles in this drama about a playwright who comes up with the concept of Peter Pan after spending time with a family.

Flight of the Phoenix -- Dennis Quaid (Frequency), Giovanni Ribisi (Sky Captain), Tyrese (2 Fast 2 Furious). Basically a crew gets stranded in the desert and they have to work together to rebuild a plane so that they can get back to civilized society. They do however, encounter a few problems with some other people. This is one of those survival movies.

Grudge -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (TV's Buffy). This is a movie about a cursed house where something bad happens to any who visit it. Rated PG-13 and it is pretty good, much better than SAW. Produced by Sam Raimi (Spider Man director). This falls into the category of Americanized Japanese horror. Based on Ju-on:The Grudge written by Takashi Shimizu who also directed this movie

I Heart Huckabees -- Dustin Hoffman (Runaway Jury), Jude Law (Sky Captain), Mark Wahlberg (Italian Job), make up just part of the cast in this existential comedy. Two parents try to play detective and solve their kids issues (existential ones).

Incredibles -- Craig T. Nelson (TV's Coach), Holly Hunter (Moonlight Mile), Samuel L. Jackson (Star Wars-Mace Windu), Jason Lee (Dogma) provide the voices for this superhero animated movie.The heroes powers' are based on the Fantastic Four which is obvious, but this is a movie for the whole family. There is at least one Star Wars inspired scene. This is THE movie. Made by Pixar, the ones who made TOY STORY.

Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events -- Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty) portrays Count Olaf, a distant uncle of three talented children orphaned by their parents who died in a fire. It is up to the children to discover the truth behind their parents' deaths and bring justice to the killer. Meryl Streep (The Hours) also plays a distant aunt. Narrated by Jude Law (Closer/Alfie). Based on the book series about a series of unfortunate events that happen to the children in the course of their childhood.

National Treasure -- Nicolas Cage (ConAir and soon to play Ghost Rider), Jon Voight (Tomb Raider), Diane Kruger (Helen from TROY). This is the tale of a man who finds clues to our nation's greatest treasure buried deep somehwere and the Declaration of Independence has a map on the back of it which yields the clues as to the location of it. Kind of a far-fecthed idea but it provides entertainment for those who liked Tomb Raider movies. Just remove Lara Croft and insert Nicolas Cage.

Oceans Twelve -- This stars all the same cast from the previous one with George Clooney. Only this time Catherine Zeta-Jones and a few others are added to the mix. Basically the premise is that they all have to pay back what they stole in the first movie, so they all work three diffenrent heists in Europe. Much like the first one.

Polar Express -- Tom Hanks (The Terminal) is the lead voice in this adaptation of the children's storybook about a train that goes to the North Pole only some kids wind up lost in the North Pole. They actually digitally scanned every facet of Tom Hanks' face into the computer when they constructed the character. From what people have been saying about this movie when they come out: 'this movie is like a video game on steroids' and 'can they cram any more special FX in that movie?'

Ray -- Jamie Foxx (Any Given Sunday) is Ray Charles. This is about the life and times of Ray Charles from the beginning of his life and the end. This is one of those movies that stands on its own. If you like Ray Charles music and always wanted to see a movie based on his life, then by all means come see this movie.

Saw -- Cary Elwes(Twister), Danny Glover(Lethal Weapon), are the leads in this movie only it is Leigh Whannell (the voice of the Animatrix' Axel) who makes this movie worth watching at all. The premise is that the villain comes up with ways to make people mutilate themselves to escape from his traps, only they wind up, well 6 feet under. The idea of the movie is good, however, Cary Elwes is more comical than anything I have ever seen in any horror movie. And yes there are talks of making a sequel already with Leigh.

Spanglish -- Adam Sandler (SNL comic), Téa Leoni (Deep Impact). Sandler plays a professional chef who begins to make a name for himself, who has an insecure wife. They hire a woman (Paz Vega) and her daughter who are immigrants from Mexico to help out in their home. This movie is for all you fans of romantic comedy.

Spongebob Squarepants Movie -- Based on the ever popular kids show on Nickolodeon TV, this is the full length movie where Plankton tries to take over Bikini Bottom by stealing the Krabby Pattie formula from Mr. Krabs. Guest starring Baywatch's David Hasselhoff.

 

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