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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.
Beverly Hills Cop II: The heat's back and Eddie Murphy is cool as ever in this sequel to the first film. Axel Foley (Murphy) is back - back where he doesn't belong. He's going "deep, deep, deep undercover" into the chic wilds of Southern California, unleashing his arsenal of blazing gunfire and rapid-fire gags against a gang of international munitions smugglers. Back too, are Judge Reinhold and John Ashton as Murphy's sidekicks. "Top Gun's" director Tony Scott takes over the helm for this second film in the series. Beverly Hills Cop III: Axel Foley (Murphy) journeys back to Beverly Hills for a real roller coaster thrill ride at the Wonderworld amusement park. Joined by old pals Billy Rosewood (Reinhold) and Serge (Bronson Pinchot), Axel becomes the hottest new attraction as he chases down the bad guys on the rides, through the shows and in the underground maze beneath the park. Probably to no one's surprise, the original 1984 film is the best of the three. Mixing comedy and some hardcore violent action (a formula that had previously worked quite well in "48 Hours"), the film works better at the former than the latter, with much of its success riding firmly on Murphy's confidant shoulders. While no piece of high art, it's a rather entertaining film. Highly successful, that film obviously spawned a sequel that arrived in 1987 with the main cast intact, but Tony Scott replaced Martin Brest in the director's seat. Unfortunately, and despite trying to copy/emulate the successful formula that made the first film so entertaining, this one just doesn't work as well, with fewer laughs and an artificial feel to the whole proceedings. That's even more apparent in the third film in the series that took another seven years before hitting the big screen in 1994. This time around, director John Landis tries to breathe some new life into the now tired and repetitive plotline, but neither he nor the return of Pinchot can save this unremarkable film.
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Length: 100 minutes
Screen Formats: 1.85:1, 16x9, Full Screen (Pan & Scan) Languages: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Sides: 2 |
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But everything changes after he meets the Italian racing team - an encounter that ultimately leads him and his friends (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern & Jackie Earle Haley) to challenge the local college boys in the town's annual bike race.
A delightful film that's just as fresh, engaging and simply a joy to watch as it was back when it was released decades ago, the 1979 picture is one of those timeless, coming of age comedies that easily withstands repeat viewings.
With terrific performances from the cast, credible chemistry among the many characters in their various relationships, a smart, award-winning script from Steve Tesich and pitch perfect direction from Peter Yates ("Bullit," "The Deep"), the film is marvelous from start to finish. It should also be required viewing for any aspiring - and even some veteran - filmmakers to show how good movies can be and what they should be aiming for. We highly recommend it.
Breaking Away is now available for purchase by clicking here.
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Length: 101 minutes
Screen Formats: 1.85:1, 16x9 Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Sides: 1 |
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Teamed with a relentlessly cheerful producer (Andie MacDowell) and a smart-aleck cameraman (Chris Elliot), TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. After a surprise blizzard traps him in small-town hell, things get even worse: Phil wakes the next morning to find it's Groundhog Day all over again...and again...and again.
Writer/director Harold Ramis and co-writer Danny Rubin put a fun twist on an old Twilight Zone type plot by having Murray's character be the only one who realizes his day is constantly repeating itself, with all of his efforts being wiped away in the middle of the night, essentially returning him back to where he started the previous morning.
While that sounds like it could be fun for a while but eventually turn boring, the filmmakers keep putting enough twists and turns into how that day can be changed, and Murray takes the character and runs with it to such a fun degree that the film is an absolute delight to watch, particularly once his character starts to enjoy the routine of manipulating events to his liking. Arguably Murray's best work, this is an incredibly entertaining film that we highly recommend.
Groundhog Day (Special Edition) is now available for purchase by clicking here.
MUHAMMAD ALI - THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD
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Length: 104 minutes
Screen Formats: 1.78:1, 16x9 Languages: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Sides: 1 |
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Muhammad Ali - Through the Eyes of the World is now available for purchase by clicking here.
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