LIVE FEED

A GROUP OF FRIENDS ON VACATION RUN AFOUL OF AN ASIAN GANG AND ARE TORTURED AND MURDERED AS A RESULT.
THE DIRECTOR OF THIS MOVIE HAS SAID HE WANTS TO MAKE THE SICKEST, MOST PERVERTED, BLOODIEST MOVIES HE CAN MAKE.  LIVE FEED EASILY FILLS THOSE SHOES.  THERE IS SEX, BLOODY VIOLENCE, BLOODY TORTURE, CANNIBALISM, VOYEURISM AND IT ALL TAKES PLACE IN AN ASIAN PORNO THEATRE.  THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.  IF YOU ARE INTO THIS GENRE, THEN THIS MOVIE IS FOR YOU.  IF NOT, THEN PASS ON IT.
RATING  2.5 OUT OF 5

THE DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE A MAKING OF FEATURE, DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES AND AN AUDIO COMMENTARY.

LIVE ANIMALS

AFTER A PARTY ONE NIGHT A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS GET KIDNAPPED AND ARE HELD HOSTAGE BY A SLAVE TRADER.  WHEN TWO OF THEM ESCAPE, THE CHASE IS ON.
NOT A GREAT MOVIE.  BAD ACTING, WEAK STORY AND PLOT HOLES THAT ARE UNFILLABLE.  THE SLAVE TRADER IS A LITTLE CHILLING SINCE HE IS A MEAN NASTY PERSON BUT HAS A GENTLENESS ABOUT HIM.  THE VICTIMS GENERATE NO SYMPATHY AT ALL AND THUS YOU REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM.  ONLY WATCH THIS IF YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE.
RATING  1.5 OUT OF 5

 

PETER AND VANDY

PETER AND VANDY TELLS THE STORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO TITLE CHARACTERS.  JASON RITTER PLAYS PETER AND JESS WEIXLER PLAYS VANDY.  THE MOVIE IS VERY NON-LINEAR, SHOWING SCENES FROM THEIR FIRST MEETING, TO THEIR BEING IN LOVE, TO THEIR EVENTUAL BREAKUP IN A RANDOM ORDER. 
I FOUND THIS MOVIE TO BE SOMEWHAT AVERAGE.  THE ACTING WAS GOOD; I ESPECIALLY LIKED SOME OF THE FACIAL REACTIONS OF VANDY.  AND WHILE THE MOVIE WAS NON-LINEAR, IT WASN'T HARD TO FOLLOW AND THAT STYLE DOES FORCE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION AND STAY INTERESTED.  I FOUND THE CHARACTERS TO BE BELIEVABLE IN THEIR ACTIONS AND WHAT THEY SAID.  BUT, I JUST COULDN'T SEEM TO GET THAT INTERESTED IN THEM AND CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.  THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT EMOTIONS, BUT THE MOVIE ITSELF ISN'T THAT EMOTIONAL.  THAT WAS MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH IT.
RATING  3 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD HAS NO BONUS FEATURES. 

GOOD DICK

THE GIRL (MARIANNA PALKA, WHO ALSO WROTE AND DIRECTED) LIVES LIKE A HERMIT, HATES MEN, HATES HER LIFE, HAS SOME SERIOUS MENTAL ISSUES AND RENTS SOFT CORE PORN ON A DAILY BASIS.  THE GUY (JASON RITTER) LIVES IN HIS CAR, IS A RECOVERING ADDICT, WORKS AT THE VIDEO RENTAL STORE AND IS ATTRACTED TO THE GIRL.  HE DISHONESTLY INSERTS HIMSELF INTO HER LIFE AND THEN WE GET TO WATCH THEM TRY AND ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT MOVIE.  THE GIRL -- THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS ARE NOT NAMED -- HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND THAT TRAUMA OVERSHADOWS HER ENTIRE LIFE.  AS A RESULT, SHE IS SUSPICIOUS OF EVERYONE, MOSTLY MEN, ACTS OUT IN UNCONVENTIONAL WAYS AND JUST WANTS TO BE LEFT ALONE.  THE GUY IS VERY PUSHY, SOMEWHAT DISHONEST, BUT IS ATTRACTED TO THE GIRL AND TRIES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.  IF HE SUCCEEDS OR NOT IS THE PAYOFF OF THIS MOVIE.  YOU SHOULD WATCH IT TO FIND OUT.
RATING  3.5 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE A GAG REEL AND A REPORT FROM THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.

SUPER 8

IT'S THE SUMMER OF 1979 AND SIX TEENS ARE MAKING A ZOMBIE MOVIE.  ONE NIGHT THEY WITNESS A TRAIN WRECK, AND THE SMALL OHIO TOWN THEY ARE LIVING IN IS SOON OVERRUN BY THE MILITARY AND THEN SOME VERY STRANGE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN.  THE TEENS CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR MOVIE, BUT IN THE PROCESS GET INVOLVED IN THE STRANGE EVENTS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
THIS IS A BIG BUDGET SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE, SO YOU GET ALL YOU WOULD EXPECT: GOOD STORY, EFFECTIVE ACTING AND SPECTACULAR SPECIAL EFFECTS.  HOWEVER, I THINK THE EFFECTS GOT IN THE WAY OF THE STORY A LITTLE BIT, AND IT DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIAL FEEL TO IT.  AS I WAS WATCHING IT I WASN'T DRAWN INTO THE STORY ENOUGH TO GET THAT SENSE OF WONDER THE TEENS WERE FEELING.  THE ONLY OTHER CRITICISM I HAVE IS THAT THIS WAS A PG-13 WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS GOOD WITH A PG RATING. 
RATING  3.5 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD HAS NO EXTRA FEATURES.

SOURCE CODE

AN AIR FORCE HELICOPTER PILOT IS RECRUITED FOR A MISSION TO FIND A TRAIN BOMBER.  THE MISSION IS DONE THROUGH RELIVING THE LAST EIGHT MINUTES BEFORE THE EXPLOSION OVER AND OVER UNTIL THE BOMBER IS FOUND.  THE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THIS IS CALLED THE SOURCE CODE.
JAKE GYLLENHAAL PLAYS THE PILOT, VERA FARMIGA PLAYS HIS COMMANDING OFFICER, MICHELLE MONAGHAN PLAYS THE LOVE INTEREST AND JEFFERY WRIGHT IS THE SCIENTIST WHO DEVELOPED THE SOURCE CODE.  THE MOVIE BEGINS WITH THE PILOT ON THE TRAIN NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON, AND AS THE AUDIENCE WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING EITHER.  AS THE PILOT LEARNS THIS NEW WORLD WE ALSO LEARN ABOUT IT AND ABOUT HIM.  IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF TELLING A STORY AND KEEPING THE AUDIENCE INVOLVED.  AS MUCH AS THIS IS A MYSTERY AND SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER WITH PLENTY OF ACTION, IT IS ALSO A LOVE STORY AND A STORY OF HOPE.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.
RATING  4 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE A COMMENTARY TRACK, A TRIVIA TRACK, INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST AND DIRECTOR AND A SECTION THAT GIVES BRIEF HISTORIES ON CERTAIN IDEAS BROUGHT UP IN THE MOVIE.  

THE FOREVER DEAD

A ZOMBIE BUNNY ESCAPES FROM A LAB, STARTS BITING PEOPLE TURNING THEM INTO ZOMBIES, WHO BITE OTHERS, AND SO ON.  A GROUP OF SIX END UP IN A HOUSE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SURVIVE.
ACCORDING TO IMDB, THE BUDGET FOR THIS MOVIE WAS $10,000.  FOR THAT AMOUNT, THE MOVIE DIDN'T TURN OUT TO BAD, HOWEVER IT IS FAR FROM BEING ANYTHING GOOD.  THE STORY IS RATHER STUPID, THE ACTING IS BAD, THE LIGHTING IS BAD AND AT TIMES THE FILM SEEMS TO WASH OUT, SO THEY MAY HAVE BEEN USING BAD FILM STOCK.  BUT, THE EFFECTS ARE WELL DONE, AND IF YOU ARE INTO A LOT OF BLOOD AND GUTS THEN THIS IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU.
RATING  2 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD EXTRAS ARE A MUSIC VIDEO AND A STILL SHOT GALLERY.

CONTAGION

AN OUTBREAK OF A DEADLY VIRUS BEGINS IN CHINA AND QUICKLY SPREADS ACROSS THE GLOBE.  THIS MOVIE TELLS THE STORY OF HOW THAT OUTBREAK IS DEALT WITH, FROM THE DOCTORS AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL TO THE OFFICIALS FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 
AN ALL STAR CAST -- MARION COTILLARD, MATT DAMON, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, JUDE LAW, GWYNETH PALTROW, KATE WINSLET AND MANY OTHERS YOU WILL RECOGNIZE -- MAKE THIS A VERY GOOD THRILLER.  COTILLARD, FISHBURNE AND WINSLET PLAY DOCTORS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO STOP THE VIRUS; DAMON AND PALTROW ARE CITIZENS WHO ARE AFFECTED TRAGICALLY BY THE VIRUS; LAW IS A BLOGGER TRYING TO EXPOSE THE CORRUPTION BEHIND IT ALL.  THE FILM MOVES BETWEEN THESE THREE STORY LINES QUITE WELL, KEEPING YOU INTERESTED IN ALL THREE AND WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE.  AS FOR THE OUTCOME, YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT IT IS BEFORE YOU START, BUT THE INTEREST IS IN HOW THEY GET THERE AND WHAT HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY.  I THINK THE MOVIE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN SHOWING THAT.  REALISTIC THINGS HAPPEN, PEOPLE GET INFECTED WHO YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO AND OTHERS DO THINGS THAT AREN'T EXACTLY LEGAL BUT ARE DONE FOR PERSONAL REASONS.  A GOOD INTERESTING THRILLER.
RATING  4 OUT OF 5

WATCHED ON http://www.1channel.ch/ 

THE 8th PLAGUE

WHEN NIKKI DOESN'T COME HOME FROM A CAMPING TRIP, HER SISTER LAUNA GETS WORRIED AND DECIDES TO GO LOOKING FOR HER.  LAUNA ENDS UP AT AN ABANDONED PRISON, AND WITH THE HELP OF TWO FRIENDS, A DEPUTY SHERIFF AND AN EX GUARD, THEY SEARCH THE PRISON FOR NIKKI.  HOWEVER, WHAT THEY FIND IS A EVIL PRESENCE THAT TURNS PEOPLE INTO DEMON ZOMBIES.
THIS IS A LOW BUDGET HORROR MOVIE, SO YOU WOULD EXPECT BAD LIGHTING, CHOPPY EDITING AND SUB PAR ACTING, WHICH THIS MOVIE HAS.  THE FIRST HALF OF THE MOVIE MOVES VERY SLOW, BUT ONCE THEY REACH THE PRISON, THE ACTION PICKS UP AND IT BECOMES SUSPENSEFUL.  ALSO, IF YOU LIKE YOUR HORROR MOVIES BLOODY AND GORY, YOU WILL GET THAT HERE.  FINALLY, IT IS VERY PREDICTABLE -- THE ENDING COULD BE SEEN COMING ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING.  BUT, ALL IN ALL, NOT A BAD MOVIE.
RATING  2.5 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE A MAKING OF AND DELETED SCENES.

YOUR HIGHNESS

PRINCE FABIOUS AND PRINCE THADEOUS (JAMES FRANCO AND DANNY MCBRIDE) ARE BROTHERS WHO ARE POLAR OPPOSITES: FABIOUS IS THE PERFECT PRINCE: HONORABLE, BRAVE AND LOYAL.  THADEOUS IS NOT.  ONE DAY UPON RETURNING HOME FROM A QUEST, FABIOUS BRINGS HIS FUTURE BRIDE BELLADONNA (ZOOEY DESCHANEL) WHOM HE SAVED FROM AN EVIL WIZARD.  WHEN THE WIZARD KIDNAPS BELLADONNA, FABIOUS AND THADEOUS ARE SENT ON A QUEST TO FIND AND SAVE HER.  ALONG THE WAY THEY MEET ISABEL (NATALIE PORTMAN) WHO IS ON A QUEST ON HER OWN.
THIS IS A RAUNCHY PERVERSE COMEDY.  THERE ARE MANY DISTURBING SCENES AND SITUATIONS THAT MAY BOTHER YOU, BUT IF YOU ARE ACCEPTING, IT IS VERY FUNNY.  ALL OF THE ACTING IS GOOD.  THE STORY IS ENTERTAINING AND IT WILL KEEP YOU INTERESTED.  I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW WELL AND EFFECTIVE THE STUNTS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE DONE -- THERE WAS A LOT MORE ACTION THAN WHAT I EXPECTED.  IT WAS FILMED IN NORTHERN IRELAND, AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT COUNTRY CAN BE EASILY SEEN THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME RAUNCHY HUMOR THIS WEEKEND GIVE THIS MOVIE A SHOT.  YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.
RATING  3 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD ONLY HAS THE RATED AND UNRATED VERSIONS.
  

PLEASE GIVE

KATE AND ALEX (CATHERINE KEENER AND OLIVER PLATT) LIVE NEXT DOOR TO ANDRA (ANN GUILBERT) WHO IS 91 AND ABOUT TO DIE.  KATE AND ALEX OWN ANDRA'S APARTMENT AND PLAN TO EXPAND INTO IT WHEN SHE DOES DIE.  KATE AND ALEX HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ABBY (SARAH STEELE) WHO HAS ACNE AND SELF-IMAGE PROBLEMS.  TAKING CARE OF ANDRA ARE HER TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS MARY AND REBECCA (AMANDA PEET AND REBECCA HALL).  THIS MOVIE EXPLORES THEIR LIVES ALONE AND WITH EACH OTHER.
THIS WAS A QUIRKY COMEDY.  IT WON'T HAVE YOU ROLLING ON THE FLOOR; THE COMEDY IS GENUINE BUT ALSO VERY SUBTLE.  KATE IS A GOOD HEARTED PERSON WHO IS SEARCHING FOR MEANING IN HER LIFE AND IS TRYING TO FIND THAT THROUGH HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE.  ALEX IS SOMEWHAT CAREFREE AND IS JUST ATTEMPTING TO LIVE HIS LIFE.  ABBY IS YOUR TYPICAL TEEN: A BIT REBELLIOUS, A LOT SELF-CONSCIOUS AND JUST TRYING TO FIND HERSELF.  MARY IS A BORDERLINE ALCOHOLIC WHO IS OBSESSED WITH TANNING AND SAYS WHAT SHE IS THINKING WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.  REBECCA IS SOMEWHAT OF A WALLFLOWER WHO IS LOOKING FOR A RELATIONSHIP.  AND ANDRA IS A CRANKY OLD WOMAN WHO THE REST ONLY PUT UP WITH SINCE THEY ALL THINK SHE IS ABOUT TO DIE.  THIS IS A WELL WRITTEN WELL ACTED SLICE OF LIFE COMEDY WITH MANY CHARACTERS WHO ARE JUST A LITTLE OFF CENTER.
RATING  3.5 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE A BEHIND THE SCENES, OUTTAKES AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR.  

RUBBER

ROBERT IS A TIRE WHO ONE DAY COMES TO LIFE IN THE DESERT.  AS HE STARTS HIS JOURNEY HE DISCOVERS HE HAS A SPECIAL POWER THAT ALLOWS HIM TO BLOW UP STUFF.  HE ALSO HAS A CHANCE MEETING WITH A YOUNG GIRL, IS ATTRACTED TO HER AND FOLLOWS HER.
RUBBER IS A VERY DIFFERENT MOVIE.  THERE IS A MOVIE WITHIN A MOVIE AND A COUPLE OF TIMES THOSE TWO WORLDS COLLIDE, BUT THERE IS NO TRAGIC EVENT THAT HAPPENS.  WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN HAPPENS AND THEN THE TWO SPLIT APART AGAIN AND GO ON THEIR WAY.  IT MAY SOUND CONFUSING BUT THE MOVIE IS DONE SO WELL THAT IT NEVER GETS CONFUSING.  VERY QUICKLY YOU FEEL THE TIRE IS ACTUALLY ALIVE AND HAS EMOTIONS, FEELINGS AND MEMORIES.  IT CERTAINLY FEELS ANGER, FOR WHENEVER A HUMAN DOES SOMETHING TO IT THE TIRE GETS IT REVENGE.  ALSO, THE TIRE DOES VERY HUMAN THINGS: SHOWERING, SWIMMING AND WATCHING TV TO NAME A FEW.  THIS IS A MOVIE THAT YOU WILL EITHER LOVE OR HATE.  I LOVED IT, AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A CULT CLASSIC AND A FAN FAVORITE FOR YEARS TO COME.  GIVE IT A TRY.
RATING  3.5 OUT OF 5

THE RENTAL DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE INTERVIEWS WITH THE DIRECTOR AND CAST.

BAD TEACHER

ELISABETH IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER WHO GETS DUMPED BY HER FIANCEE.  SHE WANTS IMPLANTS AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO RAISE THE MONEY TO GET THEM, INCLUDING BREAKING THE LAW.  SHE ALSO WANTS THE SCHOOL'S NEW SUBSTITUTE, AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET HIM.  SHE ALSO DRINKS, SMOKES POT, SHOWS MOVIES RATHER THAN TEACH AND HAS A VERY FOUL MOUTH.
CAMERON DIAZ PLAYS THE TEACHER AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE PLAYS THE SUB.  THEY BOTH DO AN OKAY JOB, BUT NOTHING GREAT.  YOU WILL RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THE SUPPORTING ACTORS, AND THEY ALL DO AN ADEQUATE JOB.  AS FOR THE MOVIE, IT IS A COMEDY AND IT DOES HAVE A FEW LAUGHS BUT NOT MANY.  THE STORY IS SIMPLE, THE PLOT IS JUST BARELY THERE AND THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS PREDICTABLE WITH NO SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY.  AND EVEN THOUGH THEY TRY TO REDEEM ELISABETH, IN THE END YOU JUST DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT HER.
RATING  2.5 OUT OF 5

THIS RENTAL DVD HAS THE RATED AND UNRATED VERSIONS BUT NO SPECIAL FEATURES.

CATCH.44

THREE WOMEN, TES, KARA AND DAWN WORK FOR MEL, A DRUG PUSHER.  THEY MESSED UP THEIR LAST JOB, SO MEL HAS GIVEN THEM A CHANCE TO REDEEM THEMSELVES WITH THIS NEW JOB: FINDING OUT WHO IS ENCROACHING INTO MEL'S TERRITORY.  BUT, AS WITH MOST CRIMINALS, THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM, AND THE GIRLS HAVE MORE PROBLEMS THAN WHAT THEY PLANNED ON.
THIS MOVIE STARS MALIN ACKERMAN, NIKKI REED AND DEBORAH ANN WOLL AS THE THREE WOMEN, BRUCE WILLIS AS MEL AND FOREST WHITACKER AS MEL'S HENCHMAN RONNY.  WILLIS DOES HIS USUAL GOOD JOB, PLAYING THE DRUG LORD WITH A COOL EVILNESS; WHITACKER IS REALLY GOOD IN A ROLE THAT REQUIRED HIM TO PLAY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, AN EMOTIONLESS KILLER AND HAVE AN APPEARANCE OF BEING JUST A LITTLE INSANE.  I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THE WOMEN IN THE ROLES THEY WERE PLAYING: THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TOUGH ENOUGH TO BE DOING WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM, BUT THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF ACTING WITH WHAT THEY HAD TO WORK WITH.  AS FOR THE MOVIE ITSELF, THE DIRECTOR WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE STYLE OF A TARINTINO MOVIE: THE EDITING, THE DIALOGUE, CERTAIN SCENES AND EVEN THE SELECTED MUSIC.  IT WORKS FOR THE MOST PART, HOWEVER IT DOESN'T HAVE THE FEEL OR THE ENERGY OF A QT MOVIE. 
RATING  2.5 OUT OF 5

WATCHED THROUGH http://www.1channel.ch/