Josh Hartnett in "30 Days of Night"
courtesy of Sony Home Entertainment
"Best Vampire Movie Ever"

You know the old saying - been there, done that. Well that is the way I usually feel about vampire movies. Well not so fast there, Jethro. In the new DVD "30 Days of Night" there are a few twists and turns thrown in that make this one just a little bit different. So in watching "30 Days of Night" you end up having two hours of scary, thrilling, chilling fun.

The movie is set in the town of Barrow, Alaska. This town is so far north that every year there is a period of thirty days of night. And what better place for vampires to lurk than an extended dark habitat because you know these guys don't like the sun.

The Sheriff of Barrow is Eban Oelson (Josh Hartnett), a conscientious soul whose marriage to Stella (Melissa George) has gone bad. She is in town for a few days as part of her job but wants to get out of town before the extended dark days arrive. Guess what? She doesn't make it.

She misses her plane and comes back to town. Just as she arrives a stranger (Ben Foster) does too. He warns of impending doom and he sure knows what he is talking about. When the sun sets a crowd of vampires led by a savage named Marlowe (Danny Huston) swarm into town killing any and every one who gets in their way.

Eban, Stella and a few more take refuge at the jail but they know they are going to need food and other supplies. They are going to have to hang in there for thirty days, at the end of which the sun will come to their rescue.

One of the plusses for this film is the stellar cast. Hartnett, George, Foster and Huston are all perfect for their roles. In addition they treat the material seriously, no camping it up here. Another plus is the script, based on the comic book "30 Days of Night." Everything in the plot sets up something else. And lastly there is David Slade's direction. It is tight and fast.

The film is rated R for violence and profanity but this is no gore fest like some other recent films. It is bloody for sure but it is never gratuitously so. There are many, many situations in the movie where it could go all "Hostel" on us, but it never does.

This is a perfect DVD for the cold nights of winter. It is creepy and chilling; but also well acted, written and directed. Hartnett's career has been on a slow path to nowhere lately but this movie might just give his star power a boost. You will remember his last scene in this film for a long time to come.

Vampire movies usually aren't impressive to me but this one is different. It has just enough of an edge to make it above average. Rent it today!

Not quite as good as "30 Days" but still holding some entertainment value is the DVD of "Highlander: The Source." Adrian Paul returns to the role of Duncan MacLeod and his appearance makes all the difference in getting the feel of the series back once more. 

This franchise has had numerable incarnation s from movie to TV series to comic book, etc. Its tale of immortals and their quest for love and revenge is pure dynamite. In this latest movie Duncan and his crew are hunting for "the source" of their immortality. When they get close they find there is a guardian who will do anything and everything to keep it from them. 

Paul, Thekla Reuten, Christian Somiento and Peter Wingfield are members of the cast and they all know and fit their roles perfectly. Plus on the DVD you get a "Behind the Scenes" documentary as well as other "extras." So if you are a "Highlander" fan this is a must see for you.

If you are an extreme sports fan then the DVD you must have is "World Combat League: Season One." The DVD contains all fourteen episodes of the TV series and all of them are hosted by Chuck Norris. This is more action than you can shake a stick at and it is all there for you to watch and enjoy.

As a companion piece there is "World Combat League: Season One - Greatest Knockouts and knockdowns." This DVD is just what the title says and is for the viewer who just wants the highlights. So take your pick or take both, this is World Combat League action at its most exciting!

Tigger and Pooh are probably two of your children's favorite Disney characters. Therefore it is great news that they have a new DVD out full of their adventures. It is titled "My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Friendly Tails."

Darby and Buster join Tigger, Pooh and all the gang in their adventures in the hundred acre wood. It is a fun time for all plus "extras" that enhance the pleasure of the DVD.

Another children's favorite "101 Dalmatians" has been restored to pristine beauty. This delightful Disney animated film also has some deleted songs included on the two disc DVD set that is now in stores. There are also numerous bonus features for the kids to enjoy.

Kids love this story about the kidnapped puppies and the evil woman who covets their fur. She is Cruella DeVille and she is one of Disney's best villains. So watch the puppies, Pongo and Perditta who are the mom and dad dogs, and Cruella in this remastered "101 Dalmatians."

Early in this century a prodigy of sorts was discovered. Her name is Marla Olmstead and she is an artist. Only four years old her paintings were thought to be masterpieces. They sold for five figures and a genius was declared. But then the word seeped out that maybe her father was responsible for the works. That question led to the documentary "My Kid Can Paint That."

The Olmsteads invited documentary filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev to take his cameras into the Olmstead home in order to prove/disprove the story. You have to watch the movie to see the results.

Anime is a popular form of animation and "Blood+: Part One" is a series of movies that illustrate its charm. A collection of twenty-five episodes from the Adult Swim series is available on a six disc DVD set. The series deals with a student named Saya who is drawn into a fight against vampire like creatures.

"Blood+: Volume One" is a single disc DVD that has the first five chapters of the series. Again the storyline is the same but you get only a limited number of the adventures. In both it is the anime art that is the big draw.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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