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Dvd release date: 02/02/2010

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Category: Horror
Rated: R

Nerdy college student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived the plague that has turned mankind into flesh-devouring zombies because he’s scared of just about everything. Gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) has no fears. Together, they are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other’s company. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin co-star in this double-hitting, head-smashing comedy. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 01/26/2010

Starring: Michael Jackson
Director: Kenny Ortega
Category: Documentary
Rated: PG

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts at London’s 02 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June 2009, this film was produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. In raw and candid detail, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his planned final London shows. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 01/26/2010

Starring: Ellen Page, Jimmy Fallon
Director: Drew Barrymore
Category: Comedy
Rated: PG-13

The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, stars Ellen Page (“Juno”) as Bliss, a rebellious Texas teen who throws in her small town beauty pageant crown for the rowdy world of roller derby. Marcia Gay Harden (“Mystic River”, “Pollock”) plays Bliss’ disapproving mother, while Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live”) and Juliette Lewis (“Old School”) play roller-derby stars. Also starring Eve, Jimmy Fallon and Daniel Stern. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

Overall: *** (out of four)

Dvd release date: 01/19/2009

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner
Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Category: Comedy
Rated: PG-13

From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series “The Office” and HBO’s “Extras”, comes the new romantic comedy “The Invention of Lying”. “The Invention of Lying” takes place in an alternate reality in which lying – even the concept of a lie – does not exist. Everyone – from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street – speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 01/12/2009

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Benedict Wong
Director: Duncan Jones
Category: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Rated: R

It is the near future. Astronaut Sam Bell is living on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earth’s primary source of energy, Helium-3. It is a lonely job, made harder by a broken satellite that allows no live communications home. Taped messages are all Sam can send and receive. Thankfully, his time on the moon is nearly over, and Sam will be reunited with his wife, Tess, and their three-year-old daughter, Eve, in only a few short weeks. Finally, he will leave the isolation of “Sarang,” the moon base that has been his home for so long, and he will finally have someone to talk to beyond “GERTY,” the base’s well-intentioned, but rather uncomplicated computer. Suddenly, Sam’s health starts to deteriorate. Painful headaches, hallucinations and a lack of focus lead to an almost fatal accident on a routine drive on the moon in a lunar rover. After returning to the base (with no memory of how he got there), Sam realized that he is fighting the clock to discover what’s going on and where he fits into company plans. (Publisher)

Summary of critic

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

Overall: *** (out of four)

Dvd release date: 01/12/2009

Starring: Kherington Payne, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Category: Music & Musicals
Rated: PG

“Fame” soars even higher with the Extended Dance Edition of the film, featuring over 15 minutes of thrilling dance footage you couldn’t see in theaters! Passions will be tested. Hearts will be broken. Talent, dedication and hard work will triumph! “Fame” is the inspiring story of a group of dancers, singers, musicians and actors at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, and their spirited drive to live out their dreams of stardom. In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, each student must shine amidst the tumult of school work, deep friendships, budding romance and self-discovery. Debbie Allen, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth co-star along side a group of gifted young performers in this soaring reinvention of the Oscar winning hit film.(Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 01/12/2009

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Mackie
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Category: Thrillers
Rated: R

When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James’ true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever in a movie that the NY Daily News says “deserves to stand as one of the defining films of the decade”. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 01/05/2009

Starring: Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell
Director: Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

“Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs” tells the story of an eccentric wannabe scientist, Flint Lockwood. His latest contraption is a miraculous device designed to solve the world hunger crisis. But when Flint bites off more than he can chew, he sets in motion a global disaster of epic proportions. Based on the #1 best-selling book by Judi and Ron Barrett. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

Overall: *** (out of four)

Dvd release date: 12/29/2009

Starring: Alan Oppenheimer, Tom Kane
Director: Shane Acker
Category: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Rated:  PG-13

From visionary filmmakers Tim Burton (“The Nightmare Before Christmas”), Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”) and Academy Award nominated director Shane Acker comes this visually stunning and original epic adventure. In the final days of humanity, a dedicated scientist gives the spark of life to nine of his creations. The world has turned into an unrecognizable landscape of machines and spare parts, but this group of nine finds that if they band together, their small community might just be able to change the course of history. Featuring the voice talents of Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly and Crispin Glover, it’s a thrilling, suspenseful story critics call, “richly imaginative.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).  (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

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

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

Dvd release date: 12/29/2009

Starring: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Karyn Kusama
Category: Horror
Rated: R

Sexy temptress Megan Fox is hotter than hell as Jennifer, a gorgeous, seductive cheerleader who takes evil to a whole new level after she’s possessed by a sinister demon. Steamy action and gore galore ensue as the male student body succumbs to Jennifer’s insatiable appetite for human flesh. Now it’s up to her best friend (Amanda Seyfried) to stop Jennifer’s reign of terror before it’s too late. (Publisher)

Summary of critic ratings:

Chicago Tribune: ** (out of four)
Rolling Stone: *** (out of four)
USA Today: ** (out of four)

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