Archive for January, 2009

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City of Ember

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Dvd release date: 01/20/2009

Starring: Bill Murray, Toby Jones
Director: Gil Kenan
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

A heart-thumping, edge-of-your-seat adventure comes to light in this exhilarating family film based on the best-selling novel by Jeanne Duprau. For centuries, the residents of the underground “City Of Ember” have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the city’s massive power generator begins to fail, the street lamps start to fade – along with the hopes and dreams of the townspeople. Now it’s up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient Builders and find a way out of Ember before their world is plunged into darkness forever. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: *** (out of four)
New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
Rolling Stone: ** (out of four)
USA Today: **1/2 (out of four)

Overall: **1/2 (out of four)

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The Express

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Dvd release date: 01/20/2009

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown
Director: Gary Fleder
Category: Drama
Rated: PG

Witness the inspirational true story of a real American hero! Rising from the humblest of beginnings, Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) overcame impossible odds to become the first African-American to win college football’s greatest honor – the Heisman Trophy. Starring Dennis Quaid as the hard-nosed coach that helped drive him to greatness, “The Express” is a powerful story of triumph on and off the field that will have you cheering again and again. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: *** (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

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Henry Poole Is Here

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Dvd release date: 01/20/2009

Starring: Luke Wilson, Adriana Barraza
Director: Mark Pellington
Category: Comedy
Rated: PG

“Henry Poole Is Here” stars Luke Wilson as Henry Poole, a disillusioned man who attempts to hide from life only to discover he cannot escape the forces of hope. Shattered by circumstances beyond his control, Henry Poole (Wilson) settles in to suburban isolation, but his well-meaning busybody neighbor (Academy Award Nominee Adriana Barraza of “Babel”), destroys his exile when she discovers a mysterious stain on Henry’s stucco wall that is seen to have miraculous powers. With the help of the beautiful young divorcee next door (Radha Mitchell of “Finding Neverland”), and her daughter Millie (Morgan Lily), Henry finds himself gradually drawn back towards life as he realizes his plan to live out his days in quiet desperation is going to be much harder than he ever imagined. Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and George Lopez (“The George Lopez Show”) also star in this modern day tale about the unexpected wonders of the everyday from director Mark Pellington (“U2 3D”, “The Mothman Prophesies”). (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: ** (out of four)
New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: ** (out of four)

Overall: ** (out of four)

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Igor

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Dvd release date: 01/20/2009

Starring: John Cusack, Steve Buscemi
Director: Tony Leondis
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

This hilarious animated twist on the classic monster movie is must-see family fun! Determined to prove he can create his own diabolical invention, a mad scientist’s (John Cleese) nice-guy assistant Igor (John Cusack) creates a female Franken-monster. But his creation, Eva (Molly Shannon), is sweet and sings show tunes! That is, until she falls into the clutches of Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard) and his shape-shifting girlfriend (Jennifer Coolidge). Now it’s up to Igor and his sidekicks (Steve Buscemi and Sean Hayes) to save Eva – and their country – from real evildoers, including sneaky Prince Malpert (Jay Leno). (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

New York Post: ** (out of four)
USA Today: **1/2 (out of four)

Overall: **1/2 (out of four)

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Appaloosa

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Dvd release date: 01/13/2009

Starring: Ed Harris, Robert Knott
Director: Ed Harris
Category: Action & Adventure
Rated: R

In Marshal Virgil Cole and deputy Everett Hitch’s line of work, you shoot quick, you shoot clean, and you reload straightaway. No remorse. No looking back. No feelings. Feelings get you killed. Paired as rivals in “A History Of Violence”, Ed Harris (who also directs, produces and co-scripts) and Viggo Mortensen stand together as longtime friends and for-hire peacekeepers Cole and Hitch in this character-driven, bullet-hard Western based on Robert B. Parkers novel. As the woman who arrives in town with only a dollar and a keen sense of survival, Renee Zellweger adds feelings – those things that get you killed – to a quest to bring murderer Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons) to justice. Blood will spill in the town called “Appaloosa”. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: **1/2 (out of four)
New York Post: *** (out of four)
Rolling Stone: ***1/2 (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

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