Paul Walker in "2Fast2Furious"
courtesy of Universal Home Video
"Catching Up With Video Releases"

A few weeks ago two DVD's were released and somehow I didn't get them in this column. Since they are both items I think will interest you, I will take the time to play catch up now.

The first is "2Fast2Furious," the sequel to the highly successful film "The Fast and the Furious" which starred Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. This time out Walker is back but Diesel is not - and he is missed. Tyrese steps in as Walker's partner but he doesn't have the menacing presence Diesel had.

Still the film is full of exciting car chases and the DVD has some extras involving the cars. And as an added treat Eva Mendes is in the film. Believe me that is an added treat. 

So get the DVD and enjoy all the hair-raising action, as Walker and Tyrese race through the streets of Miami. Director John Singleton keeps it all moving and guarantees a good time for one and all.

You should also pick up the "20th Anniversary Edition of Scarface." The Al Pacino/Michelle Pfeiffer classic has been digitally re-mastered and now you can hear all those four letter words in startling clarity.

Pacino is at his roughest, toughest best and Pfeiffer is at her most glamorous. With that combination the movie can't help but entertain. So get it!

Moving from the adults to the kids, you will want to pick up "George of the Jungle 2." The first movie starred Brendan Fraser and was a surprise hit. This one stars Christopher Showerman as George. He can do all the same tricks, like swinging into trees, that Fraser did so well.

Thomas Haden Church is back as George's nemesis Lyle, and Julie Benz plays his true love Ursula. Angus T Jones is on hand as George, Jr. You can see how much like Dad he is, and isn't.

Along these cartoon lines, be sure and pick up "The Looney Tunes Classics." This is a collection of the best of all the Looney Toon cartoons and is meant to get us in the mood and ready for the feature length film "Looney Tunes: Back In Action" which stars Brendan Fraser. See it all comes full circle.

A really strange but beautiful film is "Naqoyqatsi." This film was produced by Stephen Soderberg and features the music of Phillip Glass. In the movie everyday images are skewed and heightened against this musical backdrop. Yo Yo Ma is one of the featured soloists.

If you care for the unusual, this is a film you must see. It isn't for everyone but it may surprise and entertain you.

"NASCAR Winston Cup 2002" is also aimed at a specialized audience. But it is a big group. Racing fans will race down to get this DVD which features highlights of the 2002 season and great footage from the tracks. This is as good as it gets for racing car fans - second only to being at all the races.

To round out the week we have two horror films. The first is "Anatomy 2" in which a young woman (Franke Potente) stumbles on a group of doctors conducting bizarre experiments in the name of science. The question is whether she can expose them before she becomes a corpse for their experiments.

Then we have "Mimic 3: The Sentinel." This film like the first two deals with shape shifting creatures that are almost unstoppable. You never know when and where they are going to turn up. Karl Geary, Amanda Plummer and Lance Henriksen are the stars and they are pretty good actors for a horror flick.

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 Jackie K. Cooper

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