March 2008

August Rush on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: August Rush
  • IMDB: link

“Not everyone can hear it.”

August Rush is the story of an orphan named Evan (Freddie Highmore), a child of two musicians (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a musical prodigy, who escapes to New York to search for them.

As Evan, now renamed August Rush, falls in with a band of young street musicians lorded over by a not too stable Robin Williams in a cowboy hat, Lyla (Russell) begins to search for her son as Louis (Meyers) searches for her.  They are brought together in the film’s final moments through the power of music.  For more on the plot of the film read my original review.

For those who missed the film in theaters here’s a nice family friendly rent you all can enjoy.  If you’ve already seen it there’s nothing extra here to make you go back, unless you’d just like to see the film again (and maybe, like me, you’ll like it a better the second time).  Although I’m still bothered by some of the writing of the film, the actors bring these characters to life and raise the bar and make this one worth watching.

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Never Back Down

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Never Back Down
  • IMDB: link

“Win, lose, it makes no difference.  This is my fight; everyone’s got one.”

never-back-down-poster

Ripping off the plot of The Karate Kid the film focuses on a high school student in a new school trying to fit in only to get bullied by the local martial arts stud (Cam Gigandet).  Jake (Sean Faris) is an angry young man who blames himself for the death of his father (Steve Zurk), and although he is never looking for a fight, somehow one always manages to find him.

Jake makes the move with his little brother (Wyatt Smith) and mother (Leslie Hope) who disappears for large stretches of the film only to show up to treat her son like shit, until, of course, the plot calls for her to gain insight and understanding and support him in his big moment.

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Nanking

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Nanking
  • IMDB: link

“We have to keep in mind that it’s not just about the numbers of people who died; it’s also the manner which many of these victims met their deaths. “
—Iris Chang

nanking-poster

To tell the story a group of actors is assembled together.  Each is assigned a role and will read the letters, diaries, journal entries, and accounts of that person which are then intercut with real footage of Nanking.  This unusual set-up takes a little to get used to, but by the time the historical context is covered and the film moves into the gory and ghastly details of the Rape of Nanking you have forgotten the actors and are completely immersed in this horrific tale.

Nanking was the Chinese capitol in 1937 when the Japanese army invaded the country and took control of the city.  The occupation of Nanking lasted for more than six weeks and visited such atrocities on the civilian population it has been named the Nanking Massacre and The Rape of Nanking.  A small group of missionaries from foreign countries including America and Germany created a safety zone in the city for refugees and survivors.

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RF’s Top 5 Dr. Seuss Tales

/ / Top Tens & Lists

Every now and again the RF staff, with the help of some friends, gives you, our loyal RF viewers, short (but sweet) lists on all kinds of interesting things.  Today we look at the tales, both short and both long, from the imagination of a doctor named Seuss they belong.  Tales of Sneetches, fishes, and things you can think, filled with everything and more, (‘cept the kitchen sink).  So take it easy, sit down and relax, oh, and did I mention there’s also a Lorax?

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