for June 12 DVDs

  • THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

    John Travolta is the bad guy in this remake of this 1974 Walter Matthau vehicle about a robbery on a New York subway train

  • IMAGINE THAT

    Eddie Murphy in a family-oriented fantasy about his daughter’s amazing imagination.

  • 1. GRAN TORINO:

    Clint Eastwood stars in and directed this Academy Award-level film that didn’t get any nominations, the story of Walt Kowalski, a retired, widowed, Detroit auto assembly line worker who is increasingly unhappy with the change in his neighborhood as Asians, gangs, and non-traditional people move in.  The capper comes when a young Asian boy tries to steal his prized mid-70s fully restored Ford Torino.  What ensues is an endearing story with an ending that you won’t see coming. Rated 14A.

  • 2. THE INTERNATIONAL:

    Good cast here with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts.  Good premise too … the world’s banks are somewhat corrupt and they are trying to rule the world.  One of the best on-camera gun battles that I have ever seen ensues in a museum and goes on for what seems like half the movie … but in the end, it’s all for nothing. I felt cheated with the ending of this movie – two hours invested for a return of … not very much.  Rated 14A.

  • 3. JOHN ADAMS:

    Not a movie, but an HBO mini-series about the American President that won multiple Emmys last year.   Paul Giamatti is the star, and I mention it here because it attracted so many awards – but it’s a piece of Americana that doesn’t fly that well on this side of the border.  Nearly 10 hours in length, you really have to like your history-come-to-life to sweat through this one.  Rated PG.

  • 4. GRAN TORINO:

    Most of the Asian actors featured here aren’t professionals … but in large measure, this is how Dirty Harry would act if he were retired.  I thought it was a great movie!
DIRTY HARRY (1971): 
Clint Eastwood had great hair and lots of it as Harry Callaghan, San Francisco police inspector who would shoot first and ask questions later.  It’s dated, but still a great movie.  Original star was to be Frank Sinatra, who declined because of an injury.  Paul Newman was approached, but said, no, try Eastwood.

  • LAND OF THE LOST

    Based on the 1974 TV series, this one takes a lot of liberties – good dinosaurs, but lots of infantile humour

  • MY LIFE IN RUINS

    Nia Vardalos is a treat in this romantic comedy.  Where has she been?

  • THE HANGOVER

    Strictly for “Old School” fans … a grotty tale of a bachelor party in Vegas gone bad.

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