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Superman Returns was a big hit at the theaters this summer, though not as big as the studio had hoped (despite making just over $200 million it came up short of making back its $270 million price tag).  Still Superman proved he could be a powerful force at the box office.  The film comes out on DVD today and we’ve got a quick look.

Superman Returns
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I enjoyed Superman Returns in the theater, but had some problems with the script, continuity errors, and the lack of originality (all of which you can read more about in my original review).  December liked the film a little more than me (as you can read here).  So it’s been a couple months, and now it’s out on DVD, so let’s get to it.

After a five-year absence Kal-El (Brandon Routh) returns from the wreckage of Krypton to his adopted home of Earth.  On arriving he discovers life has moved on without him.  Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) is engaged and has a young son, and Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has been busy making some withdrawals from the Fortress of Solitude.

The film works as well, if not slightly better on DVD than in the theater, given it’s length and breadth, though you also have more opportunity to wonder at the lunacy of Lex Luthor’s plan.  The effects work just as well on DVD and with a proper stereo system you can sit back and crank John Williams score.

I stick by my qualms with the film.  However, I will say that with each viewing I like Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth more and more in their respected roles.  Though Routh is no Christopher Reeve, he does have a little of his openness and charm that grows on you.  And Bosworth shines in what is one of the oddest casting decisions of the year.

But I still hate that new suit!

Is it a must have for your collection?  Probably not.  But the DVD does give you the remastered John Williams score and some nice performances and fun moments.  Aside from the look at the Marlon Brando scenes, I’m not sure the Special Edition warrants the added cost, except for huge fans of the film, and I think the single disc will serve most viewers just fine.

Bond Week is over.  Did you miss something?  Don’t fret 007 Fans, here’s a nice little collection of links to all the Bond Week posts – just for you.  Enjoy!

Bond Week
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Bond Week Giveaway
Bond Girls are Forever
Sean Connery Bond Flicks
Roger Moore Bond Flicks
Pierce Brosnan Bond Flicks
Timothy Dalton Bond Flicks
The Forgotten Bond, George Lazenby

So what’s out there this week?  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released which include family style main stream films accompanied by a few kick butt limited release. This week’s films include Flushed Away, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, En Soap and Umrao Jaan.

C’mon in and let us get you ready for the week!

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more?  Just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look?  Just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Opening Friday:

Flushed Away

Do you think that DreamWorks Animation my actually “Flush Away” this year’s Oscar chances with their new state-of-the-art computer animated comedy? From the folks that brought us Shrek and Wallace & Gromit: The Cures of the Were-Rabbit, it’s Flushed Away a story about a royalty pampered pet mouse, Roddy St. James (Hugh Jackman), who finds himself flushed down the toilet and out to survive in the sewers of London. Underground, Roddy finds a new life, rather a new way of life; he meets up with Rita (Kate Winslet), a girl with a mission who knows her way around the back alleys of the sewer. Roddy stumbles over a bit of danger with a nasty old Toad (Sir Ian McKellen), who hates all rodents and sends Le Frog (Jean Reno) to wack Roddy and Rita both. Does Roddy and Rita escape, will they fall in love and have hundreds of baby rodents, you will have to go and see for yourself. Flushed Away promises some serious toilet humor, wicked awesome animation, brilliant and colorful characters and top-notch voice talents. I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m going to say that Flushed Away could be the Oscar’s animation contender of the year; then again, there is very little competition for that spot. Rated PG for crude humor and some language and opening wide this Friday November 3rd, all ages should get a few laughs out of various levels of humor; go ahead take the family. I forecast a rating of 3.5 razors for Flushed Away.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

No, not another, listen The Santa Clause 1 was cute and funny, but 2 sucked on every level, 3 has got to be either really bad or really really bad. Now that I’ve said that, I’ll go see it, just because it’s tradition, I’ve experienced every level to the Clause films and have to see it through. Tim’s got to be running out of steam and Martin Short has to be completely desperate for a part in a film, think about it, how long has it been since we have seen either one of them in a movie? In round 3 Scott Calvin/Santa Clause (Tim Allen) and wife Carol/Mrs. Clause (Elizabeth Mitchell) invite up the whole family for the holidays, including the in-laws. Santa, on top of dealing with the in-laws and a new baby on the way, must keep Jack Frost (Martin Short) under control. Jack Frost spends his time trying to figure out how to take over Santa’s kingdom and holiday. With the help of the family and elves Santa beats Jack Frost at his little scheme and keeps him in his place. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause should be humorous and innocent for the whole family; the past Clause films have proven to be good wholesome family holiday entertainment. I forecast a rating of razor bombs for The Santa Clause 3.

Opening Friday, in Limited Release:

En Soap

Charlotte (Trine Dryholm) leaves her abusive boyfriend and moves out on her own, becoming an upstairs neighbor to a transsexual. Veronica (David Dencik) is the transsexual who lives down stairs from a 32-year-old Charlotte, Veronica sells herself to raise money for her operation and is pretty much a loner who stays in her apartment all day hooked on an American soap opera. The two have a chance meeting after an assault and become close friends in their own little soap opera. It’s hard to find much on En Soap, except it’s a Danish film, not Hollywood at all, the two lead characters are rich and well portrayed by the talent and the film has a bit of humor with a twist of drama. I must admit, that I am quite curious about En Soap, but bet it will be a hard one to find for viewing purposes. This is a very hard forecast, but from what I can tell I’m going with 3.5 razors for En Soap.

Umrao Jaan

Umrao Jaan is a Bollywood style film based on 1982 classic, with the same name, and an adaptation of the Urdu novel “Umrao Jan Ada” by Mirza Haadi Ruswa from 1905.  O.P. Dutta, both the director and screenplay writer, has a great deal to live up to in this historic tale of love and strength about an intelligent and poetic courtesan. A little girl found her father imprisoned and she herself sold to Khannum Sahib (Shabana Azmi), owner of a ‘kotha’ in Lucknow. (kotha was a place of cultural activities such as dancing, literature, music and poetry) The little girl was given her name, Umrao (Aishwarya Rai), and was raised within the confines of the ‘kotha’, brought up with an education and in style.  As she became a young lady her writing abilities flourished along with her great beauty, every man wanted to watch her sing and dance. Every man wanted her, but only the elite were allowed to be in her company. Her true love, a young man who is seen as an outlaw, Faiz Ali (Suneil Shetty), is the only man for her, but she must deceive all she knows to be with him. Umrao Jaan is a true Bollywood romance, it’s beautifully shot and lavishly costumed with a raw mix of very talented actors that work together with every respect to the story. I forecast 4.5 razors for Umrao Jaan.

So what’s out there this week?  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released which include a great deal of limited release and indie films like The Bridge, Climates, Cocaine Cowboys, Conversations with God, Cruel World, Death of a President and Shut Up & Sing. Don’t worry, there are a few you will get to see at tyour local theaters like Catch A Fire and Saw III.

C’mon in and let us get you ready for the week!

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more?  Just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look?  Just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Opening Friday:

Catch A Fire

From a powerful storyteller and director, Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence), Catch A Fire is a heartbreaking and heroic South African journey. Based on a real-life hero, Patrick Chamusso, this political thriller of a normal everyday guy who lives a close edged life during the new Africa under apartheid. He coaches, provides for his wife and two daughters and stays out of the politics; keeps his nose clean until Colonel Nic Vos suspects him of a sabotage against the oil refinery. Wrongly accused and put through brutal torture, not only on himself, but his wife too, Patrick begins to fight back and becomes what they have accused him of. Be prepared for a powerful and heart tugging tale.

Saw III

The puppet-master is back for the third round of cruel, twisted and sadistic crap. What a sick franchise Saw has become, when will it ever stop? I can’t stomach one ounce of this human torture and grotesque displays of bondage and torment, but someone must, cause it’s back again. Same guy abducts another young innocent and puts her through hell to keep another one of the master’s puppets alive as he goes through self mutilation and torture to solve the puzzle. Just in time for Halloween, I sure do miss the less gruesome days of Freddy and Jason.  Director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II) returns with Tobin Bell, a.k.a. Jigsaw.

Opening Friday, in Limited Release:

Cocaine Cowboys

Director, Billy Corben (Raw Deal: A Question of Consent) creates a documentary about the cocaine trade in Miami since the 70’s and how it has turned the glamorous paradise into a homicidal cesspool. Amongst the glamour, partying hot spots and good times of the early 80’s to the destruction of a beautiful place through the cartel, Cocaine Cowboys is a gritty film about real life tragedy.  Alan was lucky enough to see this at this year’s FilmFest KC just weeks ago.  The film opens in limited release on Friday in select cities, but if you aren’t in a city where it will be showing you can always check back with us on Friday and check out Alan’s review.

Conversations with God

Based on the true story of Neale Donald Walsch, a down and out on his luck kind of guy who finds God and millions in his international best seller from it. If I sound like a bit of a pessimist, that’s because I am. If you are a true believer and God answered your needs, do you really sell it to the highest bidder?  Sorry, had to go on a bit of a personal rant. Here is another way to help boost sales of an internationally acclaimed book that has “helped millions worldwide”. Conversations with God gives the audience a play by play of what happens to this down and out man between the point of despair to the answers he received within and finally ending with being a bestselling author.

Cruel World

Indeed it is a very Cruel World, but that isn’t exactly what the film is about. A sore loser from the reality show becomes completely off his rocker and traps the 9 other contestants into his own reality show. One by one, as they are voted off the island (if you will), the coeds are slaughtered. What a twisted and sick thing to throw upon an unexpected audiences, a reality show full of coeds, Edward Furlong and death all wrapped up in a very low budget package.  Also starring are Susan Ward, Sanoe Lake, Laura Ramsey, Aimee Garcia, Nicole Bilderback, Andrew Keegan, and Jaime Pressly.  It opens in limited release on Friday.

Death of a President

From the films site: DEATH OF A PRESIDENT follows the investigation of the fictional assassination of President George W. Bush in October 2007. Combining real archival footage with a credible but fictional story, “Death of a President” presents a fascinating and thought-provoking political thriller. Read further details. I’m going to have to see this film; it’s going to be one hell of a controversy.  Directed by Gabriel Range and co-writtne by Simon Finch; the pair worked together in the past to make The Men Who Broke Britain and The Day Britain Stopped.  The film opens in limited release in select cities on Friday.

The Bridge

The Bridge is a documentary of the most famous jumping off points in life, The Golden Gate Bridge. Shot from two different perspectives and hundreds of hours of film with interviews from suicides friends and families, film makers Eric Steel, Peter McCandless and Sabine Krayenbuhl put together this somber look at human inner sufferings while the rest of the world goes on their daily chores. The film was shot in 2004 capturing the smallest human link between 24 people and their 4 seconds to death.  It’s Rated-R for it’s pull-no-punches subject matter, so not your typical family fare.  The documentary opens in limited release on Friday.

Shut Up and Sing

Rock on Dixie Chicks. Spend a day in their shoes, see what it was like to be the country music’s lead female group to speak their minds against our noble president. Shut Up and Sing is a documentary that follows the Dixie Chicks lives through out the past 3 years of tours, marriage, death threats, family, political attacks and making music after the comment about Bush. I’m glad we are in another country fighting for their rights and freedom of speech (keeping women from being hidden and abused), but all along we are suppose to oppress our true believes and stay under an invisible veil in our own country. What makes all of this wrong is not only the opposition the government took against these 3 young ladies, but what we as a nation did. What ever happened to freedom of speech and having our own beliefs? I must question, would the same exact interrogation had happened to a male who would have spoke the same way? Is it time for us to burn our bras again?

Borat crosses boundaries to a different country and a harder comedy.
This is a great year for comedy. One one hand, you’ve got Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, a perfect example of how mindless humor can work so well. On the other hand, you have Little Miss Sunshine, proof that there’s always a place for a film that can carry heavy loads of humor and drama at the same time. They’re two opposite ends of the spectrum that perfectly balance each other out while making the audience’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
If you’ve somehow managed to sprout a third hand somewhere on your torso, however, you’d be holding Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in it. Borat isn’t just a silly good time like Talladega Nights. It doesn’t attempt to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside a la Little Miss Sunshine. No, Borat makes a spectacle out of the offensive; you stand a better chance of feeling more comfortable at a KKK gathering than in a theater showing the film. But if you don’t mind jokes aimed at prostitutes, mentally handicapped people and of course, Jews, then you’ll laugh your ass off