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Click on the title for details. |
APRIL 11 - 17, 2006
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APRIL 11 - 17, 2006 |
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THE DARK (dir: John Fawcett, R) – Maria Bello and Sean Bean star in this ghost story set on the Welsh coast. It’s from the director of cult favorite GINGER SNAPS, so expect THE DARK to be a smarter-than-your-average horror movie. |
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*DEEP BLUE (dir: Andy Byatt / Alastair Fothergill, G) – If MARCH OF THE PENGUINS hadn’t stolen its thunder by beating it to the theaters, the crowds might have been lining up for this arctic-regions underwater animal documentary from the makers of THE BLUE PLANET. | |||
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ELLIE PARKER (dir: Scott Coffey, R) – Naomi Watts gives one the great comic performances of the decade in what is, unfortunately, a really poorly made movie about a struggling Australian actress in Hollywood. Playing a similar role, Watts is equally as impressive as she was in the much worthier MULHOLLAND DRIVE. |
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FUN WITH DICK AND JANE (dir: Dean Parisot, PG-13) – Here’s Jim Carrey filling his quota for one brainless mug-fest for every interesting movie he makes. But as an entry in the “seemingly normal suburban couple with dangerous secret lives” genre, it can’t be any worse than MR. & MRS. SMITH. | |||
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THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED (dir: Bill Paxton, PG) – TWISTER-star Bill Paxton’s only other directing credit is the criminally underappreciated gothic horror FRAILTY, which we here at the DVD Explosion! stand behind one-hundred percent. So we’re willing to give this inspirational golfing movie the benefit of the doubt, despite its mixed critical reception. |
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INTOXICATING (dir: Mark David, Not Rated) – The downward spiral of an unrepentant drug addict/alcoholic is well-worn territory in the world of independent film, but the breakthrough performance by mostly-unknown Kirk Harris sets this one apart from the rest. Eric Roberts stars as his drug dealer, obviously. | |||
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^LITTLE FISH (dir: Rowan Woods, R) – All of Australia’s finest actors (plus Dustin Nguyen from 21 JUMP STREET) show up for this subtle drama about lost innocence. Cate Blanchett plays an ex-junkie trying to open a video store in a Vietnamese neighborhood, but Sam Neill and Hugo Weaving muck up the works by throwing some drug-related crime her way. |
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PRAY (dir: Yuichi Sato, Not Rated) – You know you’re in a Japanese horror movie when you kidnap a young girl only to have her parents refuse to pay the ransom because she was killed exactly a year ago. Uh-oh! | |||
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RETURNING MICKEY STERN (dir: Michael Prywes, PG-13) – If a vaguely supernatural comedy about two older guys (Joseph Bologna and Tom Bosley) trying to recapture the glory days of their youth appeals to your sensibilities, then this cute, baseball-themed movie is for you. |
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THE SCORNED (dir: Robert Kubilos, Not Rated) – A bunch of reality-tv “stars” got together and made a cheesy horror movie. Watch it if you care. | |||
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SHADOW: DEAD RIOT (dir: Derek Wan, R) – Finally, a zombie movie set in a women’s prison! By all reports, this is a cult classic in the making. |
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AN UNFINISHED LIFE (dir: Lasse Hallström, PG-13) – Youngsters Jennifer Lopez and Josh Lucas meet up with oldsters Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman for some old-fashioned family drama in Wyoming cattle country. Easily watched, and even more easily forgotten. | |||
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WOLF CREEK (dir: Greg McLean, Unrated) – Greg saw this Australian slasher flick in the theater and I think maybe he was disappointed by it, but I can’t remember so I’ll give it his seal of approval anyway. Besides, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez both loved it, so who’s Greg to disagree? | |||||
| * = Greg's pick of the week ^ = Bart's pick of the week | ||||||