Total Number of DVDs in Collection Library 403 Sorted by Title

Page Number: 9

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Title

Hackers @ Amazon

Starring: Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, Laurence Mason

Theatrical: 1995
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Iain Softley
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios

My Rating:

Rated: PG-13

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 107	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Comments: their only crime was curiosity

Summary: As a depiction of the computer-hacker underground, this movie is bogus to the bone. As a thriller, it's cartoonish and conventional. The premise (computer-happy kids hack into the wrong system, and the Forces of Repression come after them) is recycled from John Badham's 1983 "WarGames". And the corporate-creep bad guy, played by Fisher Stevens, steeples his fingers and growls mossy villainous clichés. ("By the time they realize the truth, we'll be long gone with all the money.") For all its postmodern trappings the movie is working with sub-prehistoric storytelling tools. But it does succeed on one level, as a movie about adolescent bonding and alienation. The director, Iain Softley, helmed the Beatles-in-Hamburg biopic "Backbeat", and he seems to have an instinct for the emotions that pull kids together around common interests and the insecurities that drive them apart. The familiar crises of loyalty and betrayal have an ache of real loneliness. It doesn't hurt that the two stars, Jonny Lee Miller (Sick Boy Williamson in "Trainspotting") and Angelina Jolie ("Gia"), are just about equally gorgeous and charismatic; their longing glances steam up the screen. "--David Chute"

Hairspray @ Amazon

Starring: Paul Dooley, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta, Christopher Walken

Theatrical: 2007
Genre: Comedy
Director: Adam Shankman
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: PG

Discs: 2	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 117	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: Get ready for something big July 20th!

Summary: 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"

Half a Person @ Amazon

Starring: Nigel Smith, Michael Majeski, Taylor Trowbridge, Joanna Haughton, Andrew Udell

Theatrical: 2007
Genre: Art House & International
Director: Adam Santangelo
Studio: Ariztical Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 ()	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 70	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: Two twenty-something best friends take a road trip from their rural Canadian home town to the big city of Toronto.Alex (Nigel Smith) is straight introverted and desperately single. His best friend Mark (Michael Majeski) is charismatic irresistibly sexy and in a committed gay relationship yet harbors a dark and self-destructive side.Amidst traveling mishaps through the countryside of Northern Ontario eye-opening adventures in the city with a pair of younger girls and a journey delving deep into Alex's past the friendship is ultimately put to the test by the boys' belated coming-of-age and their unspoken feelings towards each other.System Requirements:Running Time: 70 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/GAY & LESBIAN UPC: 631008067995 Manufacturer No: CQC679

Hancock @ Amazon

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head, Eddie Marsan

Theatrical: 2008
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Peter Berg
Studio: Sony Pictures

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 ()	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 92	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, French, Spanish
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese

Comments: There are heroes. There are superheroes. And then there's...

Summary: "Hancock" turns the standard superhero movie inside-out: The title character (Will Smith) can fly, has superstrength, and is invulnerable, but he's also a sloppy, alcoholic jerk who causes millions of dollars in property damage whenever he bothers to fight crime. When he saves the life of a public-relations agent named Ray (Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"), Ray decides to improve Hancock's image--starting by having Hancock surrender himself to the authorities and go to prison for his lawless behavior. The idea is that once he's in prison, the crime rate will go up, and people will start to realize Hancock might be of value after all. This is only the first act of "Hancock"--from there, the movie takes several clever turns that shouldn't be revealed. "Hancock" isn't a great movie (among other things, director Peter Berg overuses close-ups with a hand-held camera to a degree that may cause motion sickness), but it is an extremely entertaining one. The script, which holds together far better than most superhero movies, has a propulsive plot, good dialogue, some compassion for its characters, and even an actual idea or two. The spectacular action at least gestures towards obeying the laws of physics, which actually makes the special effects more vivid. The three leads (Smith, Bateman, and Charlize Theron as Ray's wife, Mary) deftly balance the movie's mixture of comedy, action, and drama. All in all, a smart subversive twist on a genre that all too often takes itself all too seriously. --"Bret Fetzer"

Stills from "Hancock" (click for larger image)

The Hangover @ Amazon

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham

Theatrical: 2009
Genre: Comedy
Director: Todd Phillips
Studio: Warner Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 108	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Comments:

Summary: If you like your humor broadside up, hold the subtlety, you'll want to nurse this "Hangover" with your best buds. The ensemble cast meshes perfectly--it's like a super-R-rated episode of "Friends": silly, slapstick, and completely in the viewer's face. When four pals go to Vegas to celebrate the imminent nuptials of one of them, they partake in a rooftop toast to "a night we'll never forget." But they're in for a big surprise: their celebration drinks were laced with date-rape drugs, so when they awake in their hotel room 12 hours later, not only are they hung over, but they can't remember what they did all night long. Oh, and they're missing the groom-to-be.
The film is so cheerfully raunchy, so fiercely crude, that the humor becomes as intoxicating as the mind-altering substances. The standout in the ensemble is Zach Galifianakis, who is alternately creepy and hilarious. Ed Helm ("The Office"), in addition to his memory, loses a tooth in uncomfortably realistic fashion, and Bradley Cooper ("He's Just Not That into You") has deadpan comic timing that whips along at the speed of light. "Ma'am, you have an incredible rack," he blares to a pedestrian from the squad car the guys have "borrowed." "I should have been a [bleeping] cop," he tells himself approvingly.
Director Todd Phillips brings back his deft handling of the actors and the dude humor that worked so well in "Old School", as well as the unctuous Dan Finnerty, memorable as a lounge/wedding singer in both films. But it's the nonstop volley of jokes--most cheerily politically incorrect--that grabs the audience and thrashes it around the hotel room. Just watch out for the tiger in the bathroom. "--A.T. Hurley"

Happy Campers @ Amazon

Starring: Brad Renfro, Dominique Swain, Keram Malicki-Sánchez, Emily Bergl, Jordan Bridges

Theatrical: 2001
Genre: Comedy
Director: Daniel Waters
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 94	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English

Comments:

Summary: 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

Happy Endings @ Amazon

Starring: Lisa Kudrow, Steve Coogan, Jesse Bradford, Bobby Cannavale, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Theatrical: 2005
Genre: Comedy
Director: Don Roos
Studio: Lions Gate

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 128	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: All's well that ends swell.

Summary: "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"

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle @ Amazon

Starring: John Cho, Ethan Embry, Robert Tinkler, Fred Willard, Kal Penn

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Comedy
Director: Danny Leiner
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 88	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English,
Region: 4	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: Fast Food. High Times.

Summary: Buttoned up Harold and laidback Kumar are stoners who want to get food at a White Castle Burgers joint, which becomes a perilous journey full of strange obstacles.

Harry and Max @ Amazon

Starring: Name

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Comedy
Director: Christopher Münch
Studio: Tla Entertainment Gr

My Rating:

Rated: Unrated

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 141	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Comments:

Summary: 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.

He's Just Not That Into You @ Amazon

Starring: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly

Theatrical: 2009
Genre: Comedy
Director: Ken Kwapis
Studio: New Line

My Rating:

Rated: PG-13

Discs: 2	Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital
Duration: 129	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: Are you the exception...or the rule?

Summary: Based on the bestseller by two Sex and the City scribes, He's Just Not That Into You confirms that the HBO series was more than just a television show--it was a cultural institution that spawned tours, catchphrases, fashion trends, and more. Ironically, the resulting film is both smarter and funnier than the big-screen version of Carrie and the gang. Of the nine central characters, the sweet, if clueless Gigi (Big Love's Ginnifer Goodwin) makes the most vivid impression. The Maryland career girl tends to fall for friendly guys, like Conor (Entourage's Kevin Connolly), who are "just not that into" her. At a local watering hole, she meets bar manager Alex (Justin Long, Goodwin's Ed co-star), who sets her straight about the difference between what men say and what they mean, adding that there are exceptions to every rule. Her seemingly settled co-workers, Beth (Jennifer Aniston) and Janine (Jennifer Connelly), have relationship issues of their own: Beth's boyfriend of seven years, Neil (Ben Affleck), doesn't believe in marriage, and Janine's husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper), has a wandering eye... for singer/yoga instructor Anna (Scarlett Johansson). Alt-weekly ad saleswoman Mary (executive producer Drew Barrymore) provides the link between this loose-knit community. An avid Internet dater and full-time technophile, she bemoans the fact that "people don't meet each other organically anymore." At 132 minutes, Ken Kwapis's movie could use a few trims, but he brings these complicated romantic entanglements to a convincing conclusion and the confessions from random passers-by add to the laughs. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Heights @ Amazon

Starring: Chandler Williams, Bess Wohl, Glenn Close, Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Drama
Director: Chris Terrio
Studio: Columbia Tristar Hom

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound: Dolby
Duration: 93	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: With wit and sympathy, "Heights" traces the crossed paths and messy lives of New York theater people, journalists, and artists. At the middle of everything is Isabel (Elizabeth Banks, "The Sisters"), a struggling photographer whose mother, Diana (Glenn Close, "Dangerous Liaisons"), is the grand dame of the theater world. Isabel's fiance, Jonathan (James Marsden, "X-Men"), is being pursued by a writer for Vanity Fair about his relationship with a lionized photographer. Meanwhile, Diana, though married, casts her eye on a young actor named Alec (Jesse Bradford, "Happy Endings"), who lives in the same building as Isabel... This only begins to unravel the tangle, but a clever script, clean direction, and nicely pitched performances keep "Heights" from tripping over its own plot lines or sagging into soap opera. Close, in particular, has a blast doing an uncanny Meryl Streep impression, and deft supporting performances by Isabella Rosselini ("Blue Velvet"), Eric Bogosian ("Talk Radio"), George Segal ("California Split"), and musician Rufus Wainwright keep the edges of the stories lively. "Heights" doesn't achieve the emotional fullness of the best of Robert Altman's ensemble movies, but it stakes a claim in that cinematic territory. "--Bret Fetzer"

Held Up @ Amazon

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Nia Long, Barry Corbin, John Cullum, Jake Busey

Theatrical: 2000
Genre: Comedy
Director: Steve Rash
Studio: Vidmark/Trimark

My Rating:

Rated: PG-13

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Letterbox)	Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 89	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

Comments: To control a hostage situation... Act calm Think fast and have a Big mouth!

Summary: In Held Up, a romantic trip turns sour when Rachel (Nia Long) learns that Michael (Jamie Foxx) used the down payment for their future home to buy a classic car. Disgusted, she leaves him at a roadside gas station in the middle of the Nevada desert. Soon the car is stolen, thieves descend to rob the place, and the untimely arrival of the police creates a hostage situation with Michael in the middle. The circumstances want to cascade into mounting absurdity, but the ending doesn't quite provide a strong capper. Still, getting there is entertaining. Foxx is engaging, and the supporting cast--including Julie Hagerty, John Collum, Barry Corbin, and Jake Busey--create a colorful collection of locals. --Bret Fetzer

Hellbent @ Amazon

Starring: Dylan Fergus, Bryan Kirkwood, Hank Harris, Andrew Levitas, Matt Phillips

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Horror
Director: Paul Etheredge-Ouzts
Studio: Liberation Ent

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound:
Duration: 85	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: When The Night Belongs To The Devil, The Party Goes To Hell.

Summary: "Hellbent" is a fantastic horror film, done with great care, featuring good performances and cute guys, decent scares, a good balance of humor, a great musical score, and is filmed during the actual West Hollywood Halloween festival. Rather than trying to create a back-story for the killer, which I feel too many horror films try to do which sometimes results in an unbelievable explanation, the story lets you simply wonder, and that makes it scary. Not knowing what the deal is with this masked, buff psycho and instead focusing on likeable main characters being relentlessly stalked gives this film a more basic effect that actually works really well. The story revolves around four gay friends, and each character is decently written, and fun. Dylan Fergus is very cute indeed, and is a very capable actor. He plays the lead character with an easy going, boy next door goodness. Hank Harris, as Joey, is supposed to be the "average" looking guy, but his natual ease, goofy and naive character makes him very appealing and cute, actually. I have seen Harris in other films as well, and he is a pretty good young actor. I really liked how the writers show these young gay characters as real people, not stereo-types, fleshing out each of the four characters with their own distict personalities. The gore is just right, and is just about what one expects from this genre of film. "Hellbent" isn't overly complicated, has likeable actors, a great location for the action sequences, and directed decently. When I saw this in the theatres, it was sold-out, and the audience was lively and it was obvious everybody had a great time. It will definatly gain a cult following on dvd and hopefully a sequal is in the near future. Kudos to everybody involved for making a great gay orientated horror film, easily worthy of repeat viewings. I really like this movie.

Hey, Happy! @ Amazon

Starring: Jérémie Yuen, Craig Aftanis, Clayton Godson, John Simone, Dita

Theatrical: 2001
Genre: Adult Entertainment Rated R
Director: Noam Gonick
Studio: Strand Releasing

My Rating:

Rated:

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound:
Duration: 75	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: 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.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy @ Amazon

Starring: Peter Jones, Simon Jones, David Dixon, Sandra Dickinson, Mark Wing-Davey

Theatrical: 1982
Genre: Television
Director: Alan J.W. Bell
Studio: BBC Video

My Rating:

Rated: NR

Discs: 2	Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Video)	Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Duration: 190	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: Don't panic!

Summary: The production values aren't the greatest here, but this adaptation does capture some of the ebullient, hilarious anarchy of Douglas Adams's book. Arthur Dent discovers that his friend, Ford Prefect, isn't human at all but an alien on assignment, writing for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Many of Adams's delicious asides are dropped off here, like the woman who figures out the meaning of life right at the moment that she gets blown up with the rest of the Earth, but it retains what it can. Sure, the book was better, and the realization of Zaphod Beeblebox and Trillian are, well, just different, but it's a great introduction to the series for the uninitiated. --Keith Simanton

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy @ Amazon

Starring: Bill Bailey, Anna Chancellor, Warwick Davis, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel

Theatrical: 2005
Genre: Comedy
Director: Garth Jennings
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: PG

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: ()	Sound:
Duration: 109	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: Don't Panic

Summary:
Don't panic! After twenty years stuck in development (a mere blink compared to how long it takes to find the answer to life, the universe, and everything), "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" has finally been turned into a movie. Following the radio play, TV series, commemorative towel, and books, this latest installment in the sci-fi-comedy franchise is based on the screenplay and detailed notes by Douglas Adams. 
For those unfamiliar with the story, everyman Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) wakes up one morning to discover that his house is set to be demolished to make room for a bypass. Little does he know the entire planet Earth is also set to be destroyed for an interplanetary bypass by the Vogons, a hideous and bureaucratic race of aliens realized in the film by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Whisked off the planet by his best friend, alien-in-disguise Ford Prefect (Mos Def), Dent embarks on a goofy jaunt across the galaxy accompanied by his trusty Hitchhiker's Guide, which looks like a really fancy PDA.
The guide itself provides some of the funniest bits of the movie, little animated shorts that explain the ludicrous life forms and extraterrestrial phenomena our heroes encounter. Along the way Arthur meets the two-headed party animal/president of the galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell) and develops an unrequited crush on fellow earthling Trillian (Zooey Deschanel). The creatures and sets are inspired and answer to the sci-fi fan's primal need to see lots and lots of cool stuff. In particular, there's John Malkovich's creepy, CGI-enhanced Humma Kavula. He's a guru leading a religion that worships the gigantic nose that allegedly sneezed the universe into existence (naturally all their prayers end not with "Amen" but with "Bless you.") The aliens the team encounters are inspired creations, eminently worthy of action figure-ification, and the sets belie an attention to detail worthy of freeze-framing. Fans of the other "Hitchhiker" manifestations, namely the British TV series, will be amused by a number of in-jokes sprinkled throughout the movie. 
Where the story stumbles is in the telling--as books, the "Hitchhiker's Guide" was foremost about goofy and brilliant ideas that raised questions about our place in the universe while getting a laugh. The cast seems at times bewildered, at least when Sam Rockwell isn't picking pieces of scenery out of his teeth, perhaps a natural reaction to an adaptation of a book with no traditional plot. The movie has enough trouble figuring out how to get the characters from one fantastical location to the next that Adams's funniest concepts often feel left in the dust. While the reverence the filmmakers felt toward Adams's legacy is apparent, one wonders what we could have expected had the creator of this science fiction universe lived to see it with his own eyes. "-- Ryan Boudinot"
A Guide to the "Guide" 
Interviews with The Cast and Director

Holding Trevor @ Amazon

Starring: Jay Brannan, Brent Gorski, Melissa Searing, Eli Kranski, Christopher Wyllie

Theatrical: 2007
Genre: Comedy
Director: Rosser Goodman
Studio: Liberation Ent

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (Widescreen)	Sound:
Duration: 86	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments:

Summary: A NEW PATH BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

A moving and funny drama about growing up and breaking free, 'Holding Trevor' is the story of a beautiful and intelligent gay twenty-something (screenwriter Brent Gorski) who vows to take his life in a brand new direction. After breaking up with old-boyfriend with bad habits (Shortbus'
Jay Brannan), Trevor faces the challenge of a mature relationship with Ephram, an ambitious medical intern. Rich in emotion and detail, 'Holding Trevor' is an unforgettable portrait of figuring where we fit in.

The Hollywood Knights @ Amazon

Starring: Robert Wuhl, Tony Danza, Fran Drescher, Leigh French, Randy Gornel

Theatrical: 1980
Genre: Comedy
Director: Floyd Mutrux
Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen (Anamorphic Widescreen)	Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Duration: 91	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, Spanish,
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

Comments: The days are wild and the nights are rockin'!

Summary: You've got to give credit to the Hollywood Knights. They may be crass, juvenile, sex-mad pranksters, but they have an open-door policy: nerds and jocks alike are welcome, as long as they show proper disrespect for authority. "The Hollywood Knights", a minor 1980 cult comedy poised somewhere between the innocent nostalgia of "American Graffiti" and the raunchy humor of "Animal House", chronicles the antics of a practical-joking high school gang on Halloween night, 1965. In tribute to the last night of their favorite hangout, a Beverly Hills drive-in marked for destruction by the snooty Chamber of Commerce, the gang's court jester Newbomb Turk (Robert Wuhl in his film debut) leads the Knights in an all-out assault on the forces of law and order, conformity, and good taste. Nestled in the parade of toilet humor, fart jokes, mooning rebels, and topless co-eds, however, are the ruminations of the end of an era: the times they are a changin'. The doo-wop and surf soundtrack gives way to Motown, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Byrds as high school sweethearts Tony Danza and Michelle Pfeiffer weather the transition from puppy love to adult romance and Vietnam looms on the horizon. It's a schizophrenic film, bopping from juvenile anarchy to thoughtful drama and back again with a sloppy but energetic drive and a rowdy rebelliousness that will never be accused of sensitivity, decency, or dignity. Fran Drescher, Gary Graham, and a hilarious Stuart Pankin also star. "--Sean Axmaker"

A Home at the End of the World @ Amazon

Starring: Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts, Robin Wright Penn, Sissy Spacek, Matt Frewer

Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Mayer (VI)
Studio: Warner Home Video

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs:	Aspect Ratio: WideScreen ()	Sound:
Duration: 96	Video Format: NTSC	Languages:
Region: 1	Media: DVD	Subtitles:

Comments: Family can be whatever you want it to be.

Summary: Colin Farrell takes a break from action flicks (S.W.A.T., Alexander) to make A Home at the End of the World, an intimate film based on a novel by Michael Cunningham (author of The Hours). As a boy, Bobby (played as an adult by Farrell) loses both parents and his beloved older brother, ending up more-or-less adopted by the family of his best friend, Jonathan (played as an adult by Dallas Roberts). Jonathan's feelings for Bobby go beyond friendship; Bobby is open to the possibilities. Bobby follows Jonathan to New York and falls into a relationship with Clare (Robin Wright Penn, The Princess Bride). The three form an alternative family, move out to the country, and discover that even alternative families have their dysfunctions. Bobby is so innocent and open he sometimes seems like a pansexual Forrest Gump, but Roberts, Wright Penn, and Sissy Spacek give rich performances. --Bret Fetzer

The Hurt Locker @ Amazon

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes, Evangeline Lilly

Theatrical: 2009
Genre: Action & Adventure
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Studio: Summit Entertainment

My Rating:

Rated: R

Discs: 1	Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 (Widescreen)	Sound: AC-3
Duration: 130	Video Format: NTSC	Languages: English, Spanish
Region: 1	Media: Blu-ray	Subtitles: English, Spanish

Comments: You'll know when you're in it.

Summary: The making of honest action movies has become so rare that Kathryn Bigelow's magnificent "The Hurt Locker" was shown mostly in art cinemas rather than multiplexes. That's fine; the picture is a work of art. But it also delivers more kinetic excitement, more breath-bating suspense, more putting-you-right-there in the danger zone than all the brain-dead, visually incoherent wrecking derbies hogging mall screens. Partly it's a matter of subject. The movie focuses on an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, the guys whose more or less daily job is to disarm the homemade bombs that have accounted for most U.S. casualties in Iraq. But even more, the film's extraordinary tension derives from the precision and intelligence of Bigelow's direction. She gets every sweaty detail and tactical nuance in the close-up confrontation of man and bomb, while keeping us alert to the volatile wraparound reality of an ineluctably foreign environment--hot streets and blank-walled buildings full of onlookers, some merely curious and some hostile, perhaps thumbing a cellphone that could become a trigger. This is exemplary moviemaking. You don't need CGI, just a human eye, and the imagination to realize that, say, the sight of dust and scale popped off a derelict car by an explosion half a block away delivers more shock value than a pixelated fireball.
The setting may be Iraq in 2004, but it could just as well be Thermopylae; "The Hurt Locker" is no "Iraq War movie." Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal--who did time as a journalist embed with an EOD unit--align themselves with neither supporters nor opponents of the U.S. involvement. There's no politics here. War is just the job the characters in the movie do. One in particular, the supremely resourceful staff sergeant played by Jeremy Renner, is addicted to the almost nonstop adrenaline rush and the opportunity to express his esoteric, life-on-the-edge genius. The hurt locker of the title is a box he keeps under his bunk, filled with bomb parts and other signatory memorabilia of "things that could have killed me." That none of it has killed him so far is no real consolation. In this movie, you never know who's going to go and when; even high-profile talent (we won't name names here) is no guarantee. But one thing can be guaranteed, and that is that almost every sequence in the movie becomes a riveting, often fiercely enigmatic set piece. This is Kathryn Bigelow's best film since 1987's "Near Dark". It could also be the best film of 2009. "--Richard T. Jameson"

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