Lauren London and Tip Harris in "ATL"
courtesy of Sony Home Entertainment
"Living In Atlanta, GA"

Tip "T.I." Harris, Antwan Patton and Lauren London star in the movie "ATL." This movie, now on DVD, tells about life in Atlanta, Georgia - specifically the life of some high school students who hang out together, go to the roller rink together, and always watch out for each other's backs.

Their world can be fun but it can also be dangerous. There is always the presence of street crime and drugs. But there is also laughter and love waiting for them. Harris is particularly good as the "older brother" who tries to protect his family.

You can see some great scenes of Atlanta in this movie. You can also get extras on the DVD such as deleted scenes, a music video, and a documentary by the director, Chris Robinson.

In 2005 the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film went to a film from South Africa titled "Tsotsi." This movie is now available on DVD and you will want to make the effort to watch it. The film concerns a young street thug named Tsotsi who lives in Johannesburg. Life in the slums is tough and just staying alive takes an effort. Tsotsi has to do everything he can just for to survive.

One day he is involved in a violent act in which a woman is killed. Tsotsi steals her car and discovers later that her child is in it. The way he reacts to this child is the beginning of awareness for Tsotsi. The movie follows that awareness.

The film is blunt, brutal and totally absorbing. It earned its award and will thoroughly entertain you. With the DVD you also get extras like deleted scenes, alternate endings, as well as commentary. This all adds to the understanding and enjoyment of the movie.

Christina musician Michael W Smith makes his acting debut in the powerful film "The Second Chance." Smith plays a minister named Ethan who is frowned on by church leaders because of his musical tastes. To straighten him out they send him to an inner city church.

At this new church Ethan has to overcome his own prejudices and feelings of superiority in order to have a common ground with his parishioners. How he gets to this new awareness makes up the basis of the film.

Smith is very good as both a musician and an actor in this film. The strong moral values it projects should also appeal to a family audience. Take a chance and watch "The Second Chance."

If you suffer from claustrophobia in any way you might want to avoid the new DVD "The Cavern." In this scary film eight explorers discover a new cave system and enter the ground to scope it out. Once underground they find they are being pursued by a mysterious presence. Things go horribly wrong as they flee deeper and deeper underground.

There are not any recognizable actors in this movie but that doesn't matter. The horror is the star. And a "pursuer" plus being trapped underground should be enough to scare anyone. On the DVD you also get commentary from the director who explains how it all went down.

Justin Timberlake joins powerhouse actors Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey in a movie about police corruption, "Edison Force." Timberlake plays a young reporter trying to get the true story about corruption within the ranks of the police. Freeman plays his mentor and Spacey plays an investigator.

Timberlake is not yet up to Freeman and Spacey standards but he does all right in his role as righteous journalist. The script for "Edison Force" helps him out, as it is taunt and tricky as the plot unweaves, You might want to mark this one down as one to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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