"The South Rises Again"
The film "Gods and Generals" was not a major hit when it played in theaters. People did not flock to this prequel to the film "Gettysburg." Maybe it was its length, three plus hours; or maybe people just weren't in the mood to rehash the Civil War. But now that it is on video history buffs can have a field day.
This film tells the story of the War from its early days of conflict up till the time of the Battle of Gettysburg." Since that is the limited amount of time of the film, and since the South won most of the early battles, the film was definitely more popular in the South than anywhere else.
Robert Duval replaced Martin Sheen in the role of General Robert E Lee while Stephen Lang took the pivotal role of Stonewall Jackson. It is his life around which the film is centered and Lang plays this pious man perfectly.
On video you can hit the pause button when you get too tired, and then resume the story later. That is a definite plus. So get this video and see an authentic reenactment of the War in the early days, with a fascinating story to hold you in thrall.
Frances McDormand is one of my favorite actresses. I have been a fan of hers for a long time, even before she won an Oscar for "Fargo." So I was more than pleased when "Laurel Canyon" became available on video/DVD. This movie did not play in many theaters around the country.
In the film McDormand plays a freewheeling mama in the music industry who has a strait-laced son (Christian Bale). He and his fiancée' (Kate Beckinsale) come for a visit and the two worlds collide.
McDormand is superb as the wild woman who lives life by her own rules. So get this movie and see Frances in action. She is worth watching any time, and especially when she has good co-stars like Bale and Beckinsale.
For comedy there is "Shanghai Knights." This one stars Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson repeating their roles from "Shanghai Knights." Sadly there is no Lucy Liu in the sequel and she is sorely missed.
The movie finds the two partners in London where they get involved in an assassination plot on Queen Victoria's life. There is a lot of action, some comedy, and some banter between the two leads. The problem is that it seems we have seen and heard all of this before.
Jackie Chan is always fun to watch, and Owen Wilson is always droll and clever - but this movie does not present them at their best. "Shanghai Knights" is only passable entertainment.
If you want real comedy watch "Friends: The Complete Fourth Season." Every episode in this collection is funny but the best of the bunch is the episode entitled "The One With Chandler In the Box." They don't come any better than that one.
This was the season where Janice got a lot of screen time as Chandler's girlfriend. It was also when Ross and Rachel were on and off and on and off. This is the season when Phoebe got pregnant and carried her brother and his wife's child. And it all ends with Ross getting married again.
"Friends" is a classic TV series and this season was one of its best. Don't miss getting this collection to keep forever.
"Pinocchio" is a classic fairy tale, but the movie Roberto Benigni made of it is pure drivel. How could the man who did everything right with "Life Is Beautiful" make a movie this bad, this boring, this tedious! But he did.
Nothing in this movie works so please do not inflict it on your children. This is not the Disney version and it is not something they would enjoy. Just avoid this movie at all costs.
If you liked "A Mighty Wind," or "This Is Spinal Tap" then you will probably get some kicks out of "Fear Of A Black Hat." This is a mockumentary about "gangsta' rap" and it is funny. Just make sure that you realize it is a spoof as the artists and the songs have a valid sound and look to them.
Finally for horror fans there is "May," a creepy movie about a strange young girl and her bizarre life. She becomes fixated on a man with unsuspected results. Angela Bettis and Jeremy Sisto star and they give the movie more appeal and stature than you would expect.
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