April releases ended with a comedy as folks got another look at Nick Cannon as his last film, LOVE DON'T COST A THING, was released on DVD. Featured cast members include Steve Harvey, Christina Milian, and Kenan Thompson. This month's releases will bring out lots of films that are comedic, fantastic, dramatic, and romantic. Helen Mirren, who recently recently returned to the small screen with another great performance in the Prime Suspect series, was the candle that guided a group of women to new heights in CALENDAR GIRLS. Mandy Moore plays the First Daughter looking for love and adventure in CHASING LIBERTY. One of the best films that came out in 2003 was THE LAST SAMURAI starring Tom Cruise and featuring an electrifying performance by Ken Wantanbe. Blackfilm.com writer Julian Roman described PETER PAN as "a masterpiece of fantasy and storytelling that will whisk you away like a dream." And finally, the first season of THE BERNIE MAC SHOW arrives on DVD, so if you have missed an episodes, now's your chance to catch up.
| Love Don't Cost a Thing (Full Screen Edition)
(2003)
- Starring: Nick Cannon, Christina Milian, Vanessa
Bell Calloway, Kal Penn, Steve Harvey
- Director: Troy Beyer
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Full Screen
- Rated:
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: April 27, 2004
- Summary: An unpopular but super-intelligent
teenage boy, Alvin Johnson (Cannon), hires a cheerleader (Milian)
(by paying to fix her mother's car which she has recently wrecked)
to pose as his girlfriend so that he can improve his reputation
in school, which leads to high jinks and shenanigans that are
both romantic *and* comedic.
Interview: Nick
Cannon
Short Review by Wilson Morales: "Love Don't Cost a Thing"
is an update of the 80s teen film, "Can't Buy Me Love"
that starred Patrick Dempsey. Because of repeat viewings on television,
that film is loved by many. With Beyer's film, Nick Cannon simply
can't pull it off. His change from dork to stud isn't convincing
enough to lure an audience. Saying that, the saving grace of the
film is by the comedians in the film. Steve Harvey is absolutely
hilarious. His scences with Nick are just a joy to watch.
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| Calendar Girls (2003)
Starring: Julie Walters, Helen Mirren, Penelope
Wilton, Annette Crosbie
Director: Nigel Cole
Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby
Rated: 
Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid
DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004
Summary: This film tells the true (but slightly
fictionalized) story of 11 middle-aged women, ages 45 to 60, from
the small village of Rylstone in Yorkshire, England who posed naked
for the annual calendar of local branch of the Women's Institute,
to raise money for medical research, after one of the husband, John
Baker, of one of the members, Angela Baker (Walters), becomes terminally
ill from leukemia. |
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| Chasing Liberty (Widescreen Edition) (2004)
Starring: Mandy Moore, Jeremy Piven, Annabella
Sciorra, Mark Harmon, Matthew Goode, Beatrice Rosen
Director: Andy Cadiff
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
Rated:
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004
Summary: While on a diplomatic trip to Europe
with her parents, budding teenage beauty Anna Foster extracts a
promise from her father, the President of the United States, which
allows her a night alone, unescorted by the battalion of Secret
Service agents that safeguard her from danger. But when her dad
has a change of heart, Anna decides to take things into her own
hands. In a wild escape, incognito Anna meets mysterious stranger
Ben Calder, who reluctantly aids her European getaway.
Short Review by Wilson Morales: Mandy Moore continues to improve
on her acting skiles as she's quickly getting more leading roles.
Chasing Libery is a simple story of romance and adventure but the
chemistry between Moore and Matthew Goode looks genuine as well
as the budding romance between the characters played by Jeremy Piven
and Annabella Sciorra. What also serves as a plus to the film is
the backdrop of Europe serving as an uncredited character.
DVD Features:
Commentary by actors Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode
Additional scenes
Gag reel
Entire concert performance of "The Seed" by The Roots
"Passport to Europe" - On-set tour of the European shot
with cast and crew
Widescreen anamorphic format |
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| The Last Samurai (Widescreen Edition)
(2003)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly,
Tony Goldwyn, Ken Watanabe
Director: Edward Zwick
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
Rated:
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004
Summary: Set in Japan during the 1870s, The
Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise),
an American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train
the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the government
attempts to eradicate the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation
for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies, Algren finds himself
unexpectedly affected by his encounters with the Samurai, which
places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two
worlds, with only his own sense of honor to guide him.
DVD Features:
Disc One
Theatrical Film With Commentary by director Edward Zwick
Disc Two
Deleted Scenes with commentary
History vs. Hollywood: The Last Samurai {History Channel Documentary
Tom Cruise: A Warrior's Journey
Edward Zwick: Director's Video Journal
Making an Epic: A Conversation with Edward Zwick and Tom Cruise
A World of Detail: Production Design with Lilly Kilvert
Silk and Armor: Costume Design with Ngila Dickson
Imperial Army Basic Training
From Soldier to Samurai: The Weapons
Japan Premieres {Tokyo & Kyoto red carpet)
Theatrical Trailer
Widescreen anamorphic format
Number of discs: 2
Interview: Tom
Cruise
Review by Wilson
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Peter Pan (Widescreen Edition) (2003)
- Starring: Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter,
Rachel Hurd-Wood, Ludivine Sagnier, Olivia Williams, Lynn Redgrave
- Director: P.J. Hogan
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen,
Dolby, Surround Sound
- Rated:
- Studio: Universal Studios
- DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004
- Summary: Based on the classic fairy tale, Peter
Pan, the boy who never ages from Neverland, gives three young children
the ability to fly. Soon, they're off to Neverland where, joined
by Peter's friends, they ensue in a battle against the evil Captain
Hook.
- DVD Features:
Five sections featuring 11 featurettes:
Darling House: Alternate Ending, Deleted Scenes, Me & My Shadow,
In the Dog House with Nana
Neverland Forest: Explore the Forest, Tinkerbell: Behind the Fairy
Dust, I Do Believe in Fairies, and Princess Tiger Lily
Black Castle: Enter the Castle, Learning to Fly, The Mermaids Tale,
DVD-Rom
Pirates' Ship: Board the Pirate Ship, Through the Eyes of Captain
Hook, The Pirates vs. The Lost Boys, The Lost Pirate Song
Home Under The Ground: Dig Under the Home, The Legacy of Pan, Hosted
by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess's Outtakes, Lost Boys on the Set!
Widescreen anamorphic format
- Review by Julian Roman: “All children
grow up…except for one”.
These magical words begin one of the greatest stories of all time,
and now, the most enchanting adventure in recent cinema history.
Oh what a beautiful film, my heart is still soaring from the thought
it. It is amazing, a masterpiece of fantasy and storytelling
that will whisk you away like a dream. Peter Pan is such a
phenomenal movie. Universal has a real classic on their hands.
This film will astonish people with how good it is. In a year
of big budget sequels and CGI cartoons, Peter Pan is clearly the
best film. It’s told with such alacrity of vision.
I could picture myself as a kid reading the story, imagining myself
flying over the rooftops to Neverland. It’s also very
unexpected. It churns up emotions because it is primarily
about love. The love story aspect, especially because it’s
between two pre-teen children, treads risqué ground, but
is so innocent and pure. You’re reminded of what your
first love was like. The circumstances here are the stuff
of fairy tales. Peter Pan is a magnificent accomplishment.
It’ll take time to really digest it, but as it stands right
now, this is the best film experience I’ve had in a long time. |
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The Bernie Mac Show - Season 1
- Starring: Bernie Mac, Kellita Smith, Camille
Winbush, Jeremy Suarez, Dee Dee Davis
- Format: Color
- Rated: NR
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004
- Summary: This hilarious sitcom features standup
comedian Bernie Mac playing a fictional version of himself. Mac
is a successful comedian living the high life in Los Angeles,
but trouble arises when his sister is sent to rehab in Chicago
and he takes over the parental duties of her three adolescent
children. Although charming, the mere presence of Vanessa, Jordan,
and Bryana is enough to put Bernie through the wringer on a daily
basis. THE BERNIE MAC show is an inventive sitcom that allows
Mac to exploit his comic skills to the fullest. Contains all twenty-two
episodes from the Emmy-winning first season.
- DVD Features:
22 episodes on four discs
Commentary by Bernie Mac on the pilot
A&E TVography
Full-screen format
Number of discs: 4 |
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| Scary Movie 3
- Starring: Cast: Anna Faris, Charlie Sheen,
George Carlin, Fat Joe, Queen Latifah, Ja Rule, Master P, Denise
Richards, Redman, Regina Hall, Eddie Griffin, Jeremy Piven, Simon
Rex, Anthony Anderson, Peter Boyle, Darrell Hammond, Leslie Nielsen,
Camryn Manheim, Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, D.L. Hughley
- Format: Widescreen, Color, Dolby
Rated:
- Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: May 11, 2004
- Summary: The third spoof in the "Scary
Movie" series that aims at new pop culture trends, and recent
sci-fi/fantasy films, including "Lord of the Rings,"
"The Ring," "Harry Potter," and "The
Matrix Reloaded."
- DVD Features:
Commentary by director David Zucker, producer Robert K. Weiss
and writers Craig Mazin & Pat Proft
Alternate Ending
Outtakes and Bloopers
Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
"Hulk vs. Aliens: Behind the Alternate Ending"
"The Making of Scary Movie 3"
"The Making of Scary Movie 3...FOR REAL"
Widescreen anamorphic format
Interviews: Fat
Joe
Interviews: Anna
Faris & Regina Hall
Review: click
here
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| Paycheck
- Starring: Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart,
Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, Kathryn Morris, Joe Morton
- Director: John Woo
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
- Rated:
- Studio: Paramount Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
- Summary: Ben Affleck stars as Michael Jennings,
a brilliant computer engineer hired by high-tech corporations
for specialized top-secret projects. Once a job is complete, Jennings
routinely has his short-term memory erased so as not to divulge
any sensitive company information to future clients. Highly paid
for his work, he expects to earn $4.4billion at the end of his
latest 3-year project. But upon completion of the job, instead
of a big paycheck, Jennings is handed an envelope filled with
random objects and told that he has agreed to forfeit all payment.
With his memory erased as usual, Jennings has no way to prove
them wrong until he discovers the objects are clues to the puzzle
that once was his past. But with Federal agents hot on his heels,
Jennings quickly learns that more than just his paycheck is at
stake. In a race against time, Jennings must put the pieces together
with the help of Rachel (Uma Thurman), the woman he has worked
with and loved for the past three years who rekindles his memory
of their life together, before the people he once worked for have
him killed.
- DVD Features:
Commentary by John Woo, director
Commentary by Dean Georgaris, screenwriter
Featurettes: "Paycheck: Designing the Future" and "Tempting
Fate: The Stunts of Paycheck"
7 extended/deleted scenes
Widescreen anamorphic format
Interview: Joe
Morton
Review by Julian
Roman
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| Torque (Full Screen Edition) (2004)
- Starring: Martin Henderson, Ice Cube, Jaime
Pressly, Jay Hernandez, Monet Mazur, Christina Milian
- Director: Joseph Kahn
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Full Screen
- Rated:
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
- Summary: Biker Cary Ford (Martin Henderson)
returns to his hometown to reunite with his girlfriend (Monet
Mazur). Once home, Ford is framed for a murder he didn't commit,
targeted for revenge by the victim's brother (Ice Cube) and pursued
by the FBI as he tries to clear his name and outrace his enemies.
Review by Julian
Roman
Interview: Ice
Cube
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| You Got Served (2004)
- Starring: Omarion Grandberry, Marques Houston,
Raz B, Lil Fizz, Jennifer Freeman, Meagan Good, Lil Kim, &
Steve Harvey
- Director: Chris Stokes
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen,
Dolby
- Rated:
- Studio: Columbia Tristar Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
- Summary: This hip-hop comedy explores the social
subculture of street dancing, focusing on a pair of friends, David
(Omarion) and Elgin (Houston), who want to open their own hip-hop
dance and recording studio, but in order to do that, they must
first win a street dance competition against another group of
street dancers to prove that they have talent.
- DVD Features:
Video and audio dance commentary by cast and crew
Commentary by director and cast
"Serve It Up: The Making of You Got Served"
"Badaboom" Music Video by B2K featuring Fabolous
Battle of the Beat clip compilation
Dance Breakdown: interactive multi-angle featurette
Widescreen anamorphic format
Interview: Chris
Stokes
Review by Wilson
Morales
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| Miracle (Widescreen Edition) (2004)
- Starring: Kurt Russell, Eddie Cahill, Noah
Emmerich, Nathan West, Patricia Clarkson
- Director: Gavin O' Connor
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen,
Dolby
- Rated:
- Studio: Buena Vista Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
- Summary: This is the true story of coach Herb
Brooks (Russell), who in 1980 had the distinction of having been
the last player cut from the U.S. hockey team the last time the
team won the Gold at the Olympics (in 1960). Brooks got his chance
at being part of a medal-winning team, however, when he led the
U.S. hockey team to victory over the Soviets (who had won the
medal the last four times: 1976, 1972, 1968, and 1964 since that
1960 U.S. win) at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid despite
overwhelming odds. For a country still entangled in a decades-long
"Cold War" with the U.S.S.R., the sports victory was
seen as patriotic and symbolic of "our side" beating
"their side."
- DVD Features:
Commentary by director Gavin O'Connor, editor John Gilroy and
director of photography Daniel Stoloff
"The Making of Miracle"
"First Impressions: Herb Brooks with Kurt Russell and the
filmmakers"
Outtakes
Miracle ESPN roundtable with memebers of the 1980 team, actor
Kurt Russell and host Linda Cohn
"From Hockey to Hollywood: The Actors' Journey" featurette
The Sound Of “Miracle” behind the scenes featurette
Widescreen anamorphic format
Number of discs: 2
Interview: Kurt
Russell
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| The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the
King (Widescreen Edition)
- Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen,
Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies, Cate Blanchette, & Liv
Tyler
- Director: Peter Jackson
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
- Rated:
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
Summary: The Fellowship's journey is coming to an end. Sauron's
forces have attacked Gondor's capital of Minas Tirith in his final
siege against mankind. Watched over by a fading steward, the once
great kingdom has never been in more desperate need of its king.
But will Aragorn find the strength to become what he was born
to be and rise to meet his destiny? As Gandalf desperately tries
to move the broken forces of Gondor to act, Théoden unites
the warriors of Rohan to join in the fight. Even in their courage
and passionate loyalty, the forces of men – with Éowyn
and Merry hidden among them – are no match against the swarming
legions of enemies raining down on the kingdom. With each victory
comes great sacrifice. Despite their great losses, The Fellowship
charges forward in the greatest battle of their lifetime, united
in their singular goal to give Frodo a chance to complete his
quest. Traveling across treacherous enemy lands, Frodo must rely
increasingly on Sam and Gollum as The Ring continues to test his
allegiance and, ultimately, his soul.
- DVD Features:
Three in-depth documentaries:
"The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision" (23:05)
"A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Return of The King"
(28:30)
"National Geographic Special: Beyond the Movie" (45:57)
Six featurettes
--Aragorn's Destiny (3:25)
--Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor (3:10)
--The Battle of Pelennor Fields (2:14)
--Samwise the Brave (4:32)
--Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan (3:45)
--Digital Horse Doubles (4:35)
The Battle For Middle Eath Continues--Video Games from EA (3:00)
"The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer (6:45)
3D Animated Menus
DVD-ROM: Weblinks to exclusive content
Widescreen anamorphic format
Number of discs: 2
Review
by Julain Roman
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| Broken Lizard's Club Dread (2004)
- Starring: Bill Paxton, Kevin Heffernan, Paul
Soter, Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske
- Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
- Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby
- Rated: Not for sale to persons under age 18.
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
Summary: At Club Dread, an alcohol (and other substances) drenched
swinging-singles-style island resort off the coast of Costa Rica,
the festivities are interrupted by the presence of a machete-wielding
serial killer, so it's up to the staff (the Broken Lizard guys
who made "Super Troopers") to try to stop (or at least
hide) the bloodshed before they lose all their business (and of
course, their swank jobs).
- DVD Features:
Commentary by director Jay Chandrasekhar
Commentary by Broken Lizard comedy troupe
Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats
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| Welcome To Mooseport (Widescreen
Edition) (2004)
- Starring: Gene Hackman, Ray Romano, Christine
Baranski, Marcia Gay Harden, Fred Savage
- Director: Donald Petrie
- Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby
- Rated:
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
Summary: After completing his two terms in the White House, a
former president settles down in a small coastal New England town
to write his memoirs and enjoy his retirement. He's soon asked
to run for the office of mayor of the town however, with the local
hardware store owner (Romano) running against him "just to
keep things honest". The president's life-long experience
of political campaigns leads him, however, to accelerate the competitive
nature of the race, to the point that it becomes one of the most
contentious fights of his career.
- DVD Features:
Director's commentary
6 deleted scenes with optional director's commentary
Outtake reel
Soova Commerical
2 easter eggs
Widescreen anamorphic format
Review
by Julian Roman
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| Underworld (Unrated Extended Cut)
(2003)
- Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman,
Bill Nighy, Danny McBride, Michael Sheen
- Director: Len Wiseman
- Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen,
Dolby
- Rated: Unrated
- Studio: Columbia Tristar Home Video
- DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
Summary: Set in the secret nocturnal and supernatural world of
vampires and werewolves, two groups that have been at war for
centuries, this is the story of a romance between a female vampire
warrior, Selene (Beckinsale), who's famous for her strength and
werewolf-hunting prowess, and a peace-loving human, Michael (Speedman),
who wants to end the war.
- DVD Features:
Theatrical trailer(s), TV spot(s)
"The Making of Underworld" featurette
Creature effects featurette
Stunts featurette
Sights and sound featurette
Finch music video: "Worms of the Earth"
Storyboard comparison
New to this edition:
12 minutes of additional footage
11 minutes of replacement footage
Commentary by director Len Wiseman and actors Kate Beckinsale
and Scott Speedman
"Fang vs. Fiction": 45-minute documentary examining
the history of vampires and werewolves
Designing Underworld
The Visual Effects of Underworld
The Look of Underworld
Outtake reel
Collectible production sketch notebook
48-page mini comic book
Widescreen anamorphic format
Number of discs: 2
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| Nora's Hair Salon (2004)
- Director: Jerry LaMothe
- Format: Color
- Starring Jenifer Lewis, Tamala Jones, Tatyana
Ali, Jean Claude Lamarre, and Lil' Kim
- Rated: Not for sale to persons under age 18.
- Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
- Summary: Nora (Jennifer Lewis) runs a neighborhood
hair salon where hair takes a backseat to gossip, romantic problems,
and even the occasional fight. Besides being the boss, Nora also
is also a motherly figure for her employees--stargazing Clo (Tamala
Jones), driven Lilleana (Tatyana Ali), and sexually confused Devin.
Bobby Brown and Lil' Kim make cameos in this knowing comedy in
which high drama meets hype hair.
- DVD Features:
Featurette
Full-screen format
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