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DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of March 31, 2008
This week's DVD and video releases
The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and video releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies on video have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account DVD releases' extra content.
Entertaining comedy with music in which the three familiar animated warblers befriend a failing ad man and would-be composer (Jason Lee) and inspire him to write a hit Christmas song, which they record, while also trying to reunite him with the ex-girlfriend to whom he could not commit, before then being tempted by a greedy record producer who seeks to exploit them. Director Tim Hill's film is full of enjoyable chaos, yet manages to send messages about family solidarity and rule keeping that parents will appreciate. Some crude and scatological humor. DVD extras include a history of the Chipmunks, including an interesting interview with the son of their creator, songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, and another on recording the soundtrack for the film. The double-sided disc includes both full-screen and widescreen versions. Spanish language and title options. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) (Also available in Blu-ray) 2007
Meandering New York-based tale of a commercial-jingle writer (Martin Freeman), whose relationship with his live-in girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow) has soured, so he begins to fantasize about an idealized woman (Penelope Cruz), and with the help of a New Age dream expert (Danny DeVito), works to conjure her in his sleep (even during the day) to escape his increasing doldrums. Despite decent performances, viewers of writer-director Jake Paltrow's feature-film debut may find refuge in sleep themselves. Pervasive rough language and casual profanity, crude expressions and sexual references, a nonmarital living arrangement, brief upper female nudity, sexual groping and implied masturbation. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) 2007
Fact-based crowd-pleaser set in the late 19th century about a guilt-ridden cowboy (Viggo Mortensen), who enters a grueling 3,000-mile race across the Arabian Desert, during which he and his underdog horse, Hidalgo, must endure sandstorms, brain-baking heat and desert raiders. Part old-fashioned adventure, part redemption parable, director Joe Johnston's film weds sweeping visuals and a strong narrative to craft a winning tale of friendship, fate, forgiveness and the indomitable spirit of man. Recurring adventure violence and some mild sexual innuendo. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) (Buena Vista Home Entertainment) 2004
Scholarly but accessible hourlong documentary, hosted by Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa, exploring the relationship between the four canonical Christian Gospels and the many apocryphal or heretical gospels that were not included in the Bible. Beginning with a discussion of the Jewish and pagan uses of the phrase "good news" (in Greek, "evangelion"), the seven academics featured in director David Wright's film, who are affiliated with both Catholic and non-Catholic institutions, explain the rise of Christian Gnosticism, a dualistic philosophy that rejected the material world and the Creator God of the Jewish Scriptures and that produced such well-known second-century texts as "The Gospel of Thomas" and "The Gospel of Judas." Noncanonical but orthodox Christian writings, like the "Infancy Gospel of James," are also examined, as are too the criteria used by the church in determining the New Testament canon. The DVD includes further analysis of these topics by Father Pacwa. (Ignatius Press, www.ignatius.com or 800-651-1531 2007
Bloody but artful screen version of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical (and now a staple of opera houses) recounting the Victorian legend of the crazed barber (an intense Johnny Depp, singing surprisingly well) determined to exact revenge on the lecherous judge (Alan Rickman) who robbed him of his wife and daughter years before. He sets up his business over the shop of a shady baker (Helena Bonham Carter), who minces his victims into her pies. The songs notwithstanding, this is familiar territory for director Tim Burton, who has an affinity for the Grand Guignol aspects of the story, and creates an atmosphere of great tension, but the streams of blood, however stylized, and basic premise will be a turnoff for many. Brief but grisly bloodlettings and grinding of flesh, implied cannibalism, a couple of uses of the s-word, brief irreverence in lyrics and underage drinking. The DVD includes bountiful and excellent background extras, including a making-of feature, and others on the history of the legend and the theatrical tradition of Grand Guignol, so named for a Paris-based theater housed in a deconsecrated chapel, plus the original stage piece, the London of Sweeney's time, and more. Spanish language and title options. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (DreamWorks Home Entertainment) 2007
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.
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