Total Number of DVDs in Collection Library 403 Sorted by Title

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Title

American Pie 2 Collector's Edition - Widescreen @ Amazon

Starring: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott

Theatrical: 2001
Genre: Comedy
Director: James B. Rogers (II)
Studio: Universal Studios

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen ()	Sound: Dolby
Duration:	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor, pushing the R rating with such unabashed ribaldry that you'll either be appalled or surprised by its defiant celebration of the young-adult male libido. Females will be equally shocked or delighted, because like American Pie this appealing, character-based comedy puts the women in control while offering a front-row view of horny guys in all their dubious glory. Which is to say, American Pie is mostly about sex--or, to be more specific, breasts, genitalia, "potential" lesbianism, blue silicone sex toys, crude methods of seduction, "the rule of three" (just watch the movie), a shower of "champagne," phone sex, tantric sex, and, oh yeah... superglue. In the case of college freshman Jim (Jason Biggs), performance anxiety plagues his upcoming reunion with sexy Czech exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), but his buddies from American Pie have a solution: rent a Lake Michigan beach house for the summer, throw wild parties to lure the local "hotties," and score big-time. Beach Party this ain't: blessed with a complete cast reunion from AP1 (including Eugene Levy as Jim's dad), this sequel is anything but innocent, and with the exception of drugs (which are conspicuously absent), pretty much anything goes. The gags are almost nonstop, and director J.B. Rogers (recovering from his debut debacle Say It Isn't So) handles them with laudable precision, allowing his young cast (particularly Biggs, who epitomizes comedic good sportsmanship) to run with lines that most people wouldn't dare utter aloud. The result is a liberating and eminently good-natured comedy that needn't apologize for its one-track mind. --Jeff Shannon

American Wedding - Widescreen Extended Party Edition @ Amazon

Starring: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas

Theatrical: 2003
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jesse Dylan
Studio: Universal Studios

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 96	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, Spanish, French,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: Spanish, French

Comments: This time they're going all the way.

Summary: The producers of the American Pie movies pushed their luck with a third slice of their lucrative raunchy comedy franchise, and American Wedding cooked up surprisingly well. It's the sourest serving of Pie, with half of the original cast missing, and there's something undeniably desperate about comedic highlights (involving dog poop, a lusty old lady, two strippers to offset the absence of Shannon Elizabeth, and the ill-advised use of a trimming razor) that arise more from obligation than inspiration, on the assumption that another penile mishap is guaranteed to please. And yet, that's just what this movie does for devoted Pie-munchers: It gives 'em what they want, especially when the notorious Stifler (Seann William Scott) nearly ruins the frantic nuptials of Jim (Jason Biggs) and his band-camping sweetheart Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). Eugene Levy and Eddie Kaye Thomas also return for some reliable comic relief, but the one who's laughing most is three-time Pie writer Adam Herz--laughing loudly and often, all the way to the bank. --Jeff Shannon

And Then Came Summer @ Amazon

Starring: Jesse Petrick, Mathieu Smith, Mark Bennington, Rusty Burns, Alec Call

Theatrical: 2000
Genre: Adult Entertainment Rated R
Director: Jeff London
Studio: Wolfe Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound:
Duration: 115	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: Life was simple and then came summer

Summary: A reunion of family and friends becomes an unforgettable vacation when two teenage boys discover their feelings for each other, only to be found out by their families.

Angels & Demons @ Amazon

Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino

Theatrical: 2009
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Ron Howard
Studio: Sony Pictures

My Rating:

Rated: PG-13

Discs: 2	Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: AC-3
Duration: 138	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, French

Comments:

Summary: If the devil is in the details, there's a lot of wicked fun in Angels & Demons, the sequel (originally a prequel) to The Da Vinci Code. Director Ron Howard delivers edge-of-your-pew thrills all over the Vatican, the City of Rome, and the deepest, dankest catacombs. Tom Hanks is dependably watchable in his reprised role as Professor Robert Langdon, summoned urgently to Rome on a matter of utmost urgency--which happens to coincide with the death of the Pope, meaning the Vatican is teeming with cardinals and Rome is teeming with the faithful. A religious offshoot group, calling themselves the Illuminati, which protested the Catholic Church's prosecution of scientists 400 years ago, has resurfaced and is making extreme, and gruesome, terrorist demands. The film zooms around the city, as Langdon follows clues embedded in art, architecture, and the very bone structure of the Vatican. The cast is terrific, including Ewan McGregor, who is memorable as a young protégé of the late pontiff, and who seems to challenge the common wisdom of the Conclave just by being 40 years younger than his fellows when he lectures for church reform. Stellan Skarsgard is excellent as a gruff commander of the Swiss Guard, who may or may not have thrown in with the Illuminati. But the real star of the film is Rome, and its High Church gorgeousness, with lush cinematography by Salvatore Totino, who renders the real sky above the Vatican, in a cataclysmic event, with the detail and majesty of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. --A.T. Hurley

Stills from Angels & Demons (click for larger image)

Another Gay Movie @ Amazon

Starring: Michael Carbonaro, Jonah Blechman, Jonathan Chase, Mitch Morris, Ashlie Atkinson

Theatrical: 2006
Genre: Comedy
Director: Todd Stephens
Studio: Tla

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 92	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, Dolby Digital 5.1
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English

Comments:

Summary: In the dirtiest, funniest, most scandalous gay-teen-sex-comedy-parody ever, four gay friends make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of the summer. But that's easier said than done, as the boys face giant sex toys, naked celebrities, masochistic teachers and an uncontrollable romance with a quiche. With a dozen jokes a minute and who's who of gay celebrities. Another Gay Movie is a candy-colored romp where getting laid is all that matters!

Apt Pupil @ Amazon

Starring: Brad Renfro, Ian McKellen, Joshua Jackson, Mickey Cottrell, Michael Reid MacKay

Theatrical: 1998
Genre: Drama
Director: Bryan Singer
Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 111	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English

Comments: If you don't believe in the existence of evil you have a lot to learn.

Summary: A boy blackmails his neighbour after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.

The Art of Being Straight @ Amazon

Starring: Peter Scherer, Jesse Janzen, Jesse Rosen, Rachel Castillo, Johnny Ray Rodriguez

Theatrical: 2008
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jesse Rosen
Studio: E1 Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: AC-3
Duration: 87	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: After John takes an entry-level position, Paul, an executive at the firm, takes a special interest in him. Although John always swore he was straight, he soon ends up in Paul's bed, and his world is turned upside down.

As Luck Would Have It @ Amazon

Starring: Jean-Claude Brialy, Sabine Haudepin, Antonio Interlandi, Julien Bravo, Elena Noverraz

Theatrical: 2002
Genre: Art House & International
Director: Lorenzo Gabriele
Studio: Picture This! Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 90	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: I enjoyed As Luck Would Have It (Le Hasard Fait Bien Les Choses) so much, I watched it two days in a row. It's that lovely a film, and hard to believe that it was made for TV, though from a few other French TV movies I've seen, I shouldn't be surprised.

Jean-Claude Brialy (a French actor with a superb resume dating back to the 50s) portrays Jean-Pierre, a university professor of a generation for whom being gay had to remain a deep dark secret. Brialy would seem to have everything, a satisfying and prestigious job, a luxurious apartment, a caring housekeeper, and a very handsome and much younger Cuban boyfriend Armando, played by dancer Antonio Interlandi. But rather than be proud of this relationship, he hides it from the world, to the consternation of Armando.

Fate (Le Hasard) intervenes when Jean-Pierre is obligated by law to take charge of Antoine, a musically talented 17 year old orphan, played by Julien Bravo. In order to squirm out of this obligation, Jean-Pierre asks his long absent wife (yes, he married 10 years ago to satisfy his mother and to give Alice (Sabine Haudepin) Swiss citizenship) to help convince the judge that his is not a proper home for Antoine.

At times this film reminded me of The Birdcage (because as in that film, Jean-Pierre must hide his gay relationship from a world he fears will not understand it). The resemblance is only superficial, though, as As Luck Would Have It never allows its characters to become stereotypes.

I did wonder for a minute if an overweight 60ish closeted professor could possibly have such a handsome and well-built 30something boyfriend in the real world, however casting that doubt aside (Brialy has been a movie star leading man for well over 40 years, after all), the film won me over with its warmth and humor.

Besides Brialy, who is excellent as one would imagine, there is also Interlandi, who creates a truly believable gay character, never overplaying Armando's gayness (I'd be surprised if the actor turned out to be straight, he's that spot on perfect). Haudepin, who apparently began her career as a child actress, is a wonderful comedienne; Elena Noverraz has lovely moments as Jean-Pierre's Portuguese maid, who suspects a lot more than J-P could imagine; and young Julien Bravo, in his first film, shows both talent and movie star looks (the camera loves him) as the initially rebellious Antoine.

There are many comic moments in this movie, but ultimately it was the heart-warming ones that truly got to me. Get your handkerchiefs ready for the last 20 minutes of the film! This is a great film for gay and straight audiences alike, with a wonderful message of love and acceptance, and a film that gives hope that yes, things are actually changing for the better, at least in certain parts of the world.

Australia @ Amazon

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown, David Wenham

Theatrical: 2008
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Studio: 20th Century Fox

My Rating:

Rated: PG-13

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: AC-3
Duration: 165	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French, Spanish
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Comments:

Summary: Watching the early reels of Australia, there's certainly no doubt who's in charge: this could only be a film by Baz Luhrmann, that wacky purveyor of all things over-the-top. In this old-fashioned, 165-minute hymn to his native continent, Luhrmann travels back to the late 1930s/early '40s, for a scenario that would not have been out of place at MGM in that era. Straightlaced Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) journeys Down Under and is put under the protection of--crikey--a rugged cattle driver known only as the Drover (Hugh Jackman). When the two are forced to team up (along with a motley crew of misfits) to take a herd of cattle through the hostile landscape, their way is challenged by the dastardly plans of the local beef baron (Bryan Brown) and his elaborately evil lieutenant (David Wenham). At some point you realize that this film's main commodity is not cattle, but corn: Luhrmann piles on the melodrama and the old-school climaxes with his usual frantic glee. Employing "When You Wish Upon a Star" and the Japanese air force to make his case is not beyond Luhrmann, and he reaches big here. Those with a taste for un-ironic silliness might just go for this stuff, but even fans of the Baz will have their patience tested by the broad comedy and the absence of discernable chemistry between Kidman and Jackman. Australia does manage to skewer the culture's prejudices against the Aboriginal people, but in this context such a victory comes across as rather tinny. --Robert Horton

Beyond Australia on Blu-ray
The Secret Life of Bees
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Mamma Mia!

Stills from Australia (Click for larger image)

Available Men @ Amazon

Starring: Brian Gattas, Jack Plotnick, Richard Ruccolo, Kostas Sommer, Jack Conley

Theatrical: 2006
Genre: Comedy
Director: David Dean Bottrell
Studio: Wolfe Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 105	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: A Hollywood agent (dispatched to sign a "hot" new writer) and a sensitive gay man (waiting for a blind date), mistake each other for the person they were expecting to meet.

Summary: AVAILABLE MEN: A comedic case of mistaken identity when two guys meet up for a blind date with the wrong guys. STRAIGHT BOYS: Ben thinks hes found true love in his straight college roommate Morgan. Being honest with Morgan may be Bens straightest path to happiness, regardless of the outcome. HELLO, THANKS: An amusing and bittersweet look at the fine art of writing personal ads to summarize yourself and attract others. TUMBLEWEED TOWN: In this animated cowboy tale, produced in 1999, Todd hitchhikes through the Texas desert seeking true love. Also includes THE UNDERMINER, IRENE WILLIAMS: QUEEN OF LINCOLN ROAD, SISSY FRENCHFRY.

The Awakening of Spring @ Amazon

Starring: John Aniston, Gary Bisig, Yuval David, Nicholas Downs, Briana Feehan

Theatrical: 2008
Genre: Drama
Director: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Studio: E1 Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.78 : 1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 90	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: Growing up in a provincial town, three youths discover their sexuality, but are tragically condemned by the oppressive patriarchal society.

Bad Education @ Amazon

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Lluís Homar, Javier Cámara

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Drama
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Studio: Columbia Tristar Hom

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 106	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: This exceptional film is entirely unique in its intensity and depth, but not how I expected. The priestly molestation is rather matter-of-fact, and not dramatized to the extreme as so many movies have done of late. The sex & nudity is very carefully placed, not at all gratuitous (unfortunately-more would have been welcomed albeit unnecessary for the story). In fact I can not tell why this version is NC-17, have Americans really become That Victorian?

Much has been written about the story, what I didn't know prior to viewing was the intensity of plot twists and turns. I won't spoil any secrets here, but suffice it to say that it isn't even the secrets that are so intense, it is the masterful way in which things are revealed. This is really a film about sex as power, and all of the power plays which don't make anyone happy.

Almodovar's direction and cinematography are stunning, erotic, and intensley emotional. He tells so much of the story visually without dialogue. What a treat.

The film ends on a realistic note. There are no firey car crashes, no earth-shattering explosions, no full-frontal nudity, none of the usual supects, but this film sneaks up on you, shakes you to your being, and as you are drawn in by the sensuality and drama, the film demonstrates that life isn't fair, kind, or even very pretty sometimes.

The Bank Job @ Amazon

Starring: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner

Theatrical: 2008
Genre: Mystery & Suspense
Director: Roger Donaldson
Studio: Lionsgate

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 2	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: AC-3
Duration: 110	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 0	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: The true story of a heist gone wrong... in all the right ways.

Summary: A cheerful, energetic, and completely entertaining movie, "The Bank Job" follows some small-time hoods who think they've lucked into a big-time opportunity when they learn a bank's security system will be temporarily suspended--little suspecting that they're being manipulated by government agents for their own ends. The result is that the movie doubles its pleasures: While the robbery itself has the usual suspense of a heist film, when the robbery is over the hoods find themselves being hunted by the police, the government, and brutal criminal kingpins who were storing dangerous information in a safety deposit box. "The Bank Job" won't win any awards, but it's enormously fun. Director Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out, Species") propels the action along with vigor, editing zippily with perfect clarity among multiple storylines and various colorful characters. Jason Statham ("Snatch, The Transporter"), as the leader of the bank robbers, successfully steps away from his usual bone-crunching roles to a more human presence. The rest of the cast--including Saffron Burrows ("Deep Blue Sea"), Keeley Hawes ("Tipping the Velvet"), David Suchet ("Poirot"), and many faces familiar from British film and television--give their characters the right degree of personality and flavor without getting fussy or detracting from the headlong rush of the story. A little sex, a lot of action, a sly sense of humor, and a twisty plot; if more movies had these basic pleasures, the world would be a happier place. --"Bret Fetzer"

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BASEketball @ Amazon

Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Dian Bachar, Yasmine Bleeth, Jenny McCarthy

Theatrical: 1998
Genre: Comedy
Director: David Zucker
Studio: Universal Studios

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 103	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: Spanish, French

Comments: From the director of the "Naked Gun" and starring the creators of "South Park"

Summary: Gross-out comedy reached its peak (or nadir, if you will) when this celebration of juvenile crudeness was released in the summer of 1998. There's Something About Mary was a surprise box-office smash at the same time, and it's a much funnier and (dare we say it?) more intelligently conceived comedy, but there's something to be said for a couple of dudes who blissfully embrace bad taste and improper decorum. As they proved with their popular cartoon series South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are shameless purveyors of scatological humor, and no bodily function escapes their baser instinct for gutter-level guffaws. Here they play a couple of guys who are fed up with the hyper-commercialism of professional sports, so they invent "baseketball"--a hybrid of baseball and basketball--and soon find themselves in the middle of a booming national craze. As baseketball leagues thrive, so does the movie's appetite for puerile shock-jokes and disgusting gags. There are some great throwaway lines and a lot of funny cameos by the likes of Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Jenny McCarthy, Robert Stack, Reggie Jackson, and others, but let's face it--a little of this stuff goes a long, long way. If you laugh a lot, you may be suffering (as Parker and Stone clearly do) from an acute case of arrested development. --Jeff Shannon

The Beach @ Amazon

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet, Robert Carlyle

Theatrical: 2000
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Danny Boyle
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 119	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: Innocence never lasts forever.

Summary: Leonardo DiCaprio sought to distance himself from the purity of his character in Titanic, and his role in The Beach is in many ways a polar opposite. As Richard, a young American seeking to "suck in the experience" of freestyle travel in Thailand, he's a chronic liar, a pot-smoking hedonist, an amoral lover, and ultimately an unstable snake in a doomed Garden of Eden. This crazy descent might be expected from the filmmakers of Trainspotting, but The Beach is a movie without a rudder, venturing into fascinating territory, promising a stimulating adventure, and then careening out of control. After receiving a not-so-secret map to a secluded island from a stoned-out loony (Robert Carlyle, full of dark portent and spittle), Richard sets out to find the hidden paradise with a young French couple (Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet). What they find is a tropical commune existing in delicate balance with Thai pot farmers, and before long--as always--there's trouble in paradise. There's trouble in the movie, too, as DiCaprio is reduced to histrionics when the plot turns into a muddled mix of Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now, with shark attacks tossed in for shallow tension. Director Danny Boyle attempts perfunctory romance and a few audacious moves (notably DiCaprio's vision of life as a violent video game), but what's the point? Tilda Swinton registers strongly as the commune's charismatic leader, but her character--and the entire film--remains largely undeveloped, and pretty scenery is no guarantee of a laudable film. --Jeff Shannon

Beau Travail @ Amazon

Starring: Denis Lavant, Michel Subor, Grégoire Colin, Richard Courcet, Nicolas Duvauchelle

Theatrical: 1999
Genre: French
Director: Claire Denis
Studio: New Yorker Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Duration: 92	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: French
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English

Comments:

Summary: The movies of French director Claire Denis (I Can't Sleep, Trouble Every Day) are magical to some viewers and maddening to others because of the indirect way she tells her stories. Plot and character are revealed through what feel like inconsequential moments, while the important events seem to happen between the scenes. Beau Travail is more accessible than most, partly because of the simplicity of its plot (a jealous Foreign Legion sergeant ruins his own career when his beloved commander becomes fond of a young recruit) but mostly because of the vividness of its imagery, particularly sensuous shots of muscular men sweating in the sun or swimming in the ocean. It's unabashedly homoerotic, but it's also a compelling portrait of the basic emotional drives felt by men in extreme circumstances. --Bret Fetzer

Beautiful Thing @ Amazon

Starring: Linda Henry, Meera Syal, Glen Berry, Martin Walsh, Steven M. Martin

Theatrical: 1996
Genre: Drama
Director: Hettie MacDonald
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Duration: 90	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: German, English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: An urban fairytale.

Summary: This absolute winner, based on a stage play by Jonathan Harvey and adapted by him, is a kind of enchanted, urban slice-of-life tale about a gay teen, Jamie (Glen Berry), who is in love with the boy next door, Ste (Scott Neal). Hampering Jamie's progress on the romantic front is his fear that his mother (Linda Henry) will find out, as well as concern over complicating Ste's existing problems. Beautiful Thing is a relationship movie, to be sure, but that description doesn't really describe the buoyant tone of this British television production. Democratic in its inclusive regard for each character (whether camera-pretty or not), the film--well-directed by Hettie Macdonald--is full of surprises. Chief among them is the terrific personality of Jamie's mum, a strong and independent woman who truly worries over and adores her son. But this is a movie involved in a kind of happy dialogue with itself: the tunes of Mama Cass, for instance, play a part in both the story and overall ambience, while a strategic placement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" during an act of love is fun and exciting. --Tom Keogh

Bedrooms & Hallways @ Amazon

Starring: Kevin McKidd, Julie Graham, Simon Callow, Con O'Neill, Harriet Walter

Theatrical: 1998
Genre: Comedy
Director: Rose Troche
Studio: First Run Features

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pan And Scan)	Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Duration: 96	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: Re-model Your Love Life.

Summary: Leo (Kevin McKidd) is an endearing pup of a blue-eyed lad looking for old-fashioned romance with a happily ever after. Convinced to join a friend's drum-thumping New Men's Group ("Let these strong loving men heal you!" begs leader Simon Callow, who all but steals the film as a man in touch with his inner guru), Leo confesses an attraction to another member of the circle in the spirit of sharing. He's the only gay man in the group but his confession starts a cascade of sexual reassessment, all encouraged by Callow's hilarious new age Iron John. Meanwhile Leo's gadfly of a roommate is having sex in other people's bedrooms all over town with his new real estate agent lover (a sly, haughtily confident Hugo Weaving) and Leo reconnects with his childhood girlfriend Sally (Jennifer Ehle), who brightens the film with her sunny smile and wounded yet spirited tenderness. Rose Troche, whose guerrilla American indie Go Fish transformed a lesbian love story into a classic romantic comedy, here straddles screwball farce and sophisticated sitcom with a clumsy style that skews more toward the latter, but she invests it with genuine affection. As the funny but flippant comedy winds up to almost painfully trite pairings between the ricocheting couples-to-be, Troche's loving direction allows everyone their dignity and their charm, even through the most contrived and kooky complications. --Sean Axmaker

Beetlejuice @ Amazon

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Annie McEnroe, Maurice Page, Hugo Stanger

Theatrical: 1988
Genre: Comedy
Director: Tim Burton
Studio: Warner Studios

My Rating:

Rated: PG

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 92	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French, Spanish, Soundtrack
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Comments: In This House... If You've Seen One Ghost... You Haven't Seen Them All.

Summary: Before making Batman, director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton teamed up for this popular black comedy about a young couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) whose premature death leads them to a series of wildly bizarre afterlife exploits. As ghosts in their own New England home, they're faced with the challenge of scaring off the pretentious new owners (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones), whose daughter (Winona Ryder) has an affinity for all things morbid. Keaton plays the mischievous Beetlejuice, a freelance "bio-exorcist" who's got an evil agenda behind his plot to help the young undead newlyweds. The film is a perfect vehicle for Burton's visual style and twisted imagination, with clever ideas and gags packed into every scene. Beetlejuice is also a showcase for Keaton, who tackles his title role with maniacal relish and a dark edge of menace. --Jeff Shannon

Beetlejuice @ Amazon

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Annie McEnroe, Maurice Page, Hugo Stanger

Theatrical: 1988
Genre: Comedy
Director: Tim Burton
Studio: Warner Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: PG

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 92	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish

Comments: Say it once... Say it twice... But we dare you to say it THREE TIMES

Summary: Before making "Batman", director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton teamed up for this popular black comedy about a young couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) whose premature death leads them to a series of wildly bizarre afterlife exploits. As ghosts in their own New England home, they're faced with the challenge of scaring off the pretentious new owners (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones), whose daughter (Winona Ryder) has an affinity for all things morbid. Keaton plays the mischievous Beetlejuice, a freelance "bio-exorcist" who's got an evil agenda behind his plot to help the young undead newlyweds. The film is a perfect vehicle for Burton's visual style and twisted imagination, with clever ideas and gags packed into every scene. "Beetlejuice" is also a showcase for Keaton, who tackles his title role with maniacal relish and a dark edge of menace. "--Jeff Shannon"

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