New DVDs This Week
Comedy, R, 100 mins.
Harold and Kumar fans unite! The hilarious duo from 2004's Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle is back again in another lowbrow comedy that suggests that the current political climate may not be nearly as sensitive as some people think.Given that in the first movie all they really wanted to do was get something to eat and now they're suspected terrorists on the run from the law, it seems safe to assume that we can expect big things from our old stoner buddies. Except for big thoughts, of course.
SHINE A LIGHT
Musical Documentary, PG-13, 122 mins.
Director Martin Scorsese teams up with one of the biggest bands in history for this in-depth documentary about the career-span of the Rolling Stones. Scorsese aimed to capture the band's raw energy over a two-day period during the "Bigger Bang" tour, reportedly the highest grossing music tour in history. Filmed on location in the Beacon Theater in New York City in the Fall of 2006.
NEVER BACK DOWN
Action, PG-13, 110 mins.
Thoughtless Karate Kid ripoff seems to shoot for a young audience, too young and unfortunate to remember what real martial arts movies look like. Although it's overflowing with teen cliches and has barely a thin clothesline of a plot, the movie does feature the hugely talented Djimon Hounsou, probably best known as Solomon from Blood Diamond. Maybe rent that movie instead.
DOOMSDAY
Action-Suspense, R, 113 mins.
Futuristic suspense thriller in the vein of movies like Outbreak and 28 Days Later about a lethal virus that tears through the British Isles, infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. The movie explores what would be a modern government's slim options in such a situation, but really gets going 30 years after the inevitable mass quarantine, as several elite specialists are forced to re-renter the hot zone to contain another outbreak. It's a jungle in there...Determined to show their resolve to destroy the virus, the British government provides their crack team of antivirus specialists with a nice Bentley in which to explore the heavily infected quarantine zone.
THE LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE
Comedy/Action/Horror/Thriller, etc, R, 94 mins.
This sequel to the 1987 cult classic takes place in the fictional surf town of Luna Bay, California. Beautiful vacation spot, but with an unfortunately high concentration of vampires. Siblings Chris and Nicole Emerson lose their parents in a car accident and move in with their eccentric Aunt Jillian, only to find themselves tangling with the shady locals. Subtle homages and welcome cameos are more of a tie to the original film than much about the story, but unfortunately this direct-to-video follow-up may have slightly too big of shoes to fill.
WAR GAMES: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Comedy, Drama, Thriller, PG, 114 mins.
It's interesting how the story of War Games seems to get better with age. With each year that goes by, it becomes more charming and amusing to see a movie about a kid with a computer who hacks into the Defense Department's war computer and pretends to be nothing less than the Soviet Union, thus inadvertently almost starting World War III. Oh how times have changed! The 1980s cyber-thriller classic is lacking in the extra features for a 25th Anniversary Edition DVD, but it's good to see it on the shelves again.
