Less filling than our full-length reviews but still informative, our DVD capsule reviews offer technical and supplemental information for each release, along with a quick look at whether the title is any good and/or entertaining or enjoyable.
The 1980s must have been the decade of parental longing and business guilt as they not only produced "Mr. Mom" and "3 Men and a Baby," but also "Baby Boom," yet another film where a busy business executive suddenly finds themselves unexpectedly saddled with having to raise a child, but predictably learns that family is more important than one's career. Here, Diane Keaton ("Annie Hall") plays that lucky/unlucky character and turns in a wonderfully deft performance. The humor, of course, as in the other films, stems from her not knowing how to raise/take care of a child, and the obligatory mishaps and awkward moments that follow. Yet, all of that's done in such a warm, witty and cheerful way that you probably won't be able to stop yourself from enjoying the proceedings. Also starring Sam Shepard, Harold Ramis and James Spader.
Baby Boom is now available for purchase by clicking here.
Length: 98 minutes
Screen Formats: 1.85:1, 16x9
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Sides: 1
Extras:
Scene selection/Jump to any scene.
"Making Cherry 2000" - 6 minute look at the making of the film, including interviews, footage from the film and behind the scenes footage.
Theatrical trailer.
Something of a combination of "The Stepford Wives" with "Mad Max/The Road Warrior," this 1988 sci-fi tale -- of a husband learning that the real thing (in the form of a flesh and blood tracker) -- is better than the android wife he's trying to locate and replace -- was, and still is, the epitome of a decent "B" flick. Despite the somewhat silly and/or preposterous premise, plot developments and characters and their dialogue, the film is goofy and energetic enough that fans of cinematic kitsch should enjoy themselves while watching it. Featuring Melanie Griffith ("Working Girl"), veteran actor Ben Johnson ("The Last Picture Show") and Lawrence "Larry" Fishburne ("What's Love Got To Do With It").
Scene selection/Jump to any scene (with moving images).
Running audio commentary by director Michael Ritchie.
3 Deleted Songs & 4 Full-Length Songs.
11 Deleted Scenes.
Alternate Ending - 2+ minutes.
Jump to a Song: Instant access to the film's individual songs.
Theatrical trailer.
You'd think that the longest running musical on Broadway would have received a bit more of a respectable treatment for its cinematic debut, but "The Fantasticks" - based on Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's stage play that's been continuously running for more than 40 years - unceremoniously arrived in a few scant theaters in 2000, five years after originally being filmed. Now, this pumped-up version (with "Oklahoma" type, widescreen vistas and a larger orchestra taking over from the mostly bare-bones stage show) hits the video shelves with a little more honor and more supplemental features than one would expect for a film that barely was released (and reportedly only due to the efforts of Francis Ford Coppola who stepped in to re-edit and considerably shorten it).
The result is an old-fashioned type piece of entertainment that looks great (and like it cost a lot more than it will ever make back), features some decent musical numbers (including the well-known "Try to Remember" ditty), and may just appeal to fans of the all but long lost musicals of yesteryear. For everyone else, this is pretty much an otherwise instantly forgettable musical -- no matter its lengthy Broadway run and pedigree -- that won't likely reinvigorate the genre. Featuring Joel Grey ("Cabaret"), Barnard Hughes ("Doc Hollywood"), Jean Louisa Kelly ("Mr. Holland's Opus"), Joe McIntyre (formerly of the pop group New Kids on the Block) and even Teller (of "Penn and Teller" fame).
Length: 96 minutes
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Sides: 1
Extras:
Scene selection/Jump to any scene (with moving images).
Running audio commentary by martial arts expert Phillip Rhee.
Cast biographies and filmographies.
Until the recent success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," martial arts films had their devout followers and name-brand action stars, but rarely crossed over to the masses due to their reputation for being far more concerned about fighting than with story, characters or efforts to give the mostly Asian pictures a decent English dub job. The occasional exception to that rule have been some of the films starring Jackie Chan, the Asian, martial arts-laden reincarnation of Buster Keaton. The joy of watching Chan not only comes from his jaw-dropping physical prowess and ability to use everyday items as both offensive and defensive weapons, but also his charming, self-deprecating and near clownish ways in which he avoids his attackers and generally acts.
With the relatively recent success of films such as "Shanghai Noon" and especially "Rush Hour," Chan's older films are coming out of the woodwork, obviously hoping to capitalize on his name recognition. "Jackie Chan is the Prisoner" is one of those films. Originally released in 1990 as "Huo shao dao," this isn't your typical Chan flick, however, and the actor isn't really even the star of this gritty, non-comedic prison picture. Instead, he's just one part of a larger ensemble piece that recycles just about every prison movie cliché known to moviegoers, albeit with a martial arts angle.
It's hard to tell if this was a serious and calculated effort to legitimize the martial arts genre - and it's certainly a step up from most such films - but it clearly doesn't stand out either as an effective drama or a rousing action piece, and the preposterous John Woo type "shoot 'em up" ending seems tacked on to meet some unseen quota for onscreen mayhem. Although there are a few decent martial arts scenes and moves, this is mostly a mediocre attempt and clearly won't appease those looking for normal Jackie Chan type stunts and shenanigans. The film also features Sammo Hung (the TV series "Martial Law"), Andy Lau ("An zhan") and Tony Leung ("Gorgeous").
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