Two different films, both with delightfully simple stories
Written by Pollo MisteriosoDirector Aaron Katz comes from Portland, Oregon and arms himself with low budgets, handheld cameras and unknown actors. In his two short films, both a little more than an hour long, he has scripted and directed two very simple stories that are both satisfying and deceptively minimal. Nominated for an Independent Spirit…

This blue-ribbon documentary presents a lyrical and moving slice of modern rural life in America.
In 2003, filmmaker Joe Myers took his camera crew to Centre Hall, Pennsylvania and documented the eight months leading up to the 130th Annual Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair.Although there are many large and thriving agricultural fairs held in the United States each year, the Centre County Grange Fair is unique in being "an encampment…

Equal to the original in terms of the movie and disc.
Like the original, this follow-up to the 2003 action/horror piece has almost no plot to back its intense, violent, and brutal action. The gore factor here is at least twice as high, and the hand to hand combat leads to some wild brawls. For sheer intense action, Underworld Evolution delivers, but the movie’s dark world feels like it offers…

It has finally been given the grandiose DVD release it so richly deserves.
Written by El Puerquito MagnificoIf the term “epic film” is ever introduced into the dictionary, it should be accompanied by a reproduction of the poster for El Cid, Samuel Bronston’s masterpiece, which has finally been given the grandiose DVD release it so richly deserves.The film, directed by Anthony Mann, was released in 1961…

Suicide or murder?
The writers sure went to a lot of trouble to make Cooper look like the text-message killer, especially with the cryptic fight between him and Logan. A female soldier was strangled near where they were stationed in Iraq and, the best I can figure, they both suspect the other of being guilty. When pressed by Logan about the DNA match, Cooper…

Strong performances overcome a “quirky” but familiar story.
There seems to be an emerging niche genre in Hollywood – quirky, off-beat dramas featuring eccentric characters. The movies try to be funny and smart, tearful and hopeful at the same time (Sideways and Little Miss Sunshine come to the fore immediately). Many of the films tend to succeed, but they all have a similar feel to them, one that allows…

Atonement is one of the best motion pictures to reach theaters during the seventh year of the new millennium.
After helming 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, director Joe Wright has taken the reins of another adapted British love story in Atonement. Atonement is an absolutely marvelous screenplay executed to near perfection. The first half of the film is exceptional; it tests the audience and tells the story from two conflicting vantage points. The…

Surprisingly, Norbit did not make the cut.
For some reason, filmmakers really knew how to make movies about war and crime this year. That having been said, my number one pick has neither. 10. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead "Easiest money we'll ever get." For those of you who thought A Stranger Among Us, Guilty as Sin and Gloria marked the end of the great Sidney…

Even with added boobs since its Sci-Fi Channel airing, there’s no reason to revisit Lake Placid.
It’s fine if a company wants to make a direct-to-cable sequel to a cult favorite. Failing to acknowledge the original or nearly writing it out entirely is inexcusable. That’s what happened with this pseudo-sequel, forgetting the original (saying it was a myth even though it only happened eight years prior) and failing to bring back any…

Writers’ strike got you down? Try out some of these British shows available on DVD.
As we all know by now, the television and film writers are on strike. One of the things they're requesting is an increase in the residuals from DVD sales. This can put the consumer in something of an awkward bind – there's not much on TV right now and there's a whole lot you want to watch that's out on DVD, but you don't want…