July 2006

Empty Chest

  • Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
  • IMDB: link

pirates-dead-mans-chest-posterPirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest is a perfect example why sequels shouldn’t be made.  There’s nothing original here as the film gives us action scene after action scene, without any real story to hold them together. 

Nor does it help that the film steals plot, characters, scenes and more from Clash of the Titans (the Kracken, the floating coffins), King Kong (the island and its multicultural tribe, the running time), The Return of the Jedi (the Quarren, the Sarlaac, the Ewok village, the ceremonial fires and the exact scene as Han Solo tries to blow the fire out), Raiders of the Lost Ark (the tribe chasing the explorers through the jungle to the safety of the plane, the giant boulder), The Matrix Reloaded (the search for an oracle, the gathering together of forces on an adventure in the next film) and others even including American Gladiators (atlasphere)!

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A Blacksmith, a Pirate, and a Lovely Lass

  • Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • IMDB: link

pirates-curse-of-the-black-pearl-posterA movie about pirates AND it was based off a amusement park ride?  With two strikes like that against it there should be no way Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is this good.  But it is!

Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) washed up onto a ship as a boy, rescued by Governor Wetherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce) and the royal navy.  Now Will is an assistant blacksmith who is in love with the Governer’s daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightly), who fancies him as well, but due to social customs is unable to admit his feelings.

Into our story comes the very odd Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) a pirate without a ship whose arrival begins a series of events that leads to his imprisonment, Elizabeth’s kidnapping, and the discovery of a dark curse aboard Cap’n Jack’s former ship the Black Pearl.

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The Pirate’s Gold

The early 80’s gave loose to many pirate films, from the funny and classic Princess Bride to the campy and silly The Pirate Movie. Many of the films created for high sea adventures in the 80’s aren’t all that bad, even if they were a bit cheesy and over the top. It was the 80’s after all; the era of big hair, leg warmers, mini-skirts with lace, “The Brat Pack” and some really crappy one hit wonders. What else would you expect from a bundle of pirate films from way back when?

But why stop there, now we have the new and improved pirate films, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest and whatever they are calling part 3.

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Philip K Dick: The Movies

From the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic comes alien technology, metaphysics, simulacra (artificial life forms designed to mimic humans), soothsaying, philosophy, alternative universes and futures, and death.  Not the happiest of universes I’ll grant you, but one that bursts with a distinct vision resulting in original and uncompromising tales.

Several of Philip K Dick’s works have been translated into film.  We’ll have the review for the latest, A Scanner Darkly, tomorrow.  Today though we take a look back at how Hollywood has translated Dick’s different worlds onto screen over the years.  Enjoy…

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New on DVD

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got Pierce Brosnan as an assassin in Mexico, a Doctor who travels through time (if not space), more people finding meaning in dance lessons, a trio of beautiful detectives, and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

The Matador – Pierce Brosnan shines as a hit man who is slowly losing his nerve (and mind) when he happens to cross paths with Greg Kinnear in a Mexican bar.  The DVD contains commentary tracks by writer/director Richard Shepard, and Brosnan and Kinnear, deleted and extended scenes, trailers and TV spots, and a featurette on the making of the film.  Check out our original reviews: you can read December’s review here, or mine here.

The Libertine – Lush but lackluster big budget production starring Jonny Depp as the master of debauchery, the Earl of Rochester.  Grainy, gritty, and pretty empty and unfulfilling.  The DVD includes commentary by director Laurence Dunmore, deleted scenes, and a featurette on the making of the film.

Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School – Yet another dance movie where characters find meaning of their lives by learning to dance.  Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, and John Goodman star.  The DVD includes commentary and a short 1990 film that was the basis for this feature.

Firecracker – The small independent film from last year deals with murder in the small Kansas town, an abusive family, new love, and a sideshow carnival.

Animated/Family:

The Legend of Prince Valiant – The Complete Series, Volume One – After losing his kingdom the Prince of Thule journeys to find the fabled Camelot and become a knight of King Arthur.  The set includes interviews with creators and Arthur historians, commentaries for two episodes by creators, writers, and artists, storyboards and slideshows, and DVD-Rom episode scripts.

TV:

Doctor WhoThe Complete First Season – The return of the Doctor was a little disappointing.  True Christopher Eccleston is a good pick for the next incarnation of the role and Billie Piper works well as Rose, but was anyone else disappointed that the TARDIS never left the Earth, and could only get out of modern day London in a scant handful of episodes!?!  All 13 episodes are available here on five discs.  Extras include commentary on every episode by writers and producers, an interview with Eccleston, a video diary, storyboards, trailers, and a collection of featurettes on the the new series narrated by Simon Pegg.

Charlie’s AngelsThe Complete Third Season – All 24 third season episodes of the gals (Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd, and Jaclyn Smith) and ol’ Bosley (David Doyle) solving crimes in sunny California.

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