5 Star Day (DVD REVIEW)

5 Star Day
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Astrology-Driven Romance Drama Arriving on DVD

Jake Gibson (Cam Gigandet) is eagerly anticipating enjoying a great birthday after reading a horoscope which predicts nothing but the best for Aquarians. Unfortunately, the rosy forecast turns out to be totally inaccurate as everything that could possibly go wrong does go wrong over the course of a bitterly-disappointing, next 24 hours.
From a plumbing problem in his apartment to having his car stolen to getting fired, Jake can’t catch a break. Even when he returns home from work unexpectedly early, he catches his girlfriend in the arms of another man.
Feeling duped, the suddenly-skeptical birthday boy decides to conduct his own study to assess whether astrology is reliable or simply pseudoscientific nonsense. And the research will simultaneously help him pass his course in Ethics, the last class standing between him and a college degree.
In order to determine if when and where you’re born is really a predictor of one’s fate, Jake uses hospital records to learn the identity of everyone who, like he, was born at St. Joseph’s around 10:30 PM on February 6th, 1982. After coming up with exactly three names, Sarah Reynolds (Jena Malone), Wesley Henderson (Max Hartman) and Yvette Montgomery (Brooklyn Sudano), he goes to great lengths to track each one down for a friendly tete-a-tete.
But Jake soon learns that finding folks is one thing, getting them to talk to a stranger with a weird agenda is quite another. For naturally-suspicious Sarah is a hardened, bartending single-mom with an abusive ex always lurking in the shadows. Meanwhile, Wesley is a struggling, saloon singer facing a serious health issue, and Yvette has her hands full between her family and a full-time job counseling troubled teens in the ‘hood.
Nonetheless, Jake refuses to be denied and his yeoman effort is the sum and substance of 5 Star Day, a sweet, serendipitous drama written and directed by Danny Buday. Provided you are willing to swallow a silly premise which has the protagonist crisscrossing the country in search of his long-lost nursery mates, the picture proves to be a pleasant enough diversion, not for its examination of astrology but rather on account of the love story which blossoms between gentlemanly Jake and damsel-in-distress Sarah.
A romantic reminder of less-enlightened times when asking a woman her sign was actually a viable pickup line.

Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running Time: 97 minutes
Studio: Breaking Glass Pictures
DVD Extras: Audio commentary with the director and cinematographer; deleted scenes; “Dependency” (a short film); a behind-the-scenes featurette; and a photo gallery.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (FILM REVIEW)

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Film Review by Kam Williams

3-D Sequel Set in South Pacific Features Search for Missing Grandfather

We were first introduced to Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) about four years ago when he embarked on a very eventful “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” courtesy of Jules Verne. Now, although he’s matured from a wide-eyed adolescent into a handsome, headstrong teenager with raging hormones, the lustful lad remains game for another exciting adventure.
At the point of departure of Journey 2, we find him decoding a cryptic distress signal being relayed via satellite from parts unknown. By locating the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates, he determines that the S.O.S. is being broadcast from uncharted waters in the South Pacific.
Next, he convinces himself that the message must be coming from his long-lost grandfather, Alexander (Michael Caine), an intrepid explorer who disappeared around the same area. Only by cobbling together maps printed on the pages of three literary classics: Verne’s Mysterious Island, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Jonathan Swifts’ Gulliver’s Travels, is Sean able to figure out that his grandpa might have discovered the Lost City of Atlantis.
When Sean insists on immediately mounting a rescue mission, his mom (Kristin Davis) gives permission on the condition that he be accompanied by his stepdad, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), a hunky Navy veteran. The two soon depart for the exotic island of Palau, where they hire a cowardly pilot (Luis Guzman) with a gorgeous daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) to fly them to a destination not on the map.
En route, they encounter a severe hurricane which has skittish Gabato struggling to control the chopper while Sean and Kailani make eyes at each other. The helicopter ends up crashing on the shore of an upside-down land of enchantment where small animals are large and vice-versa.
Hence, our heroes are as amused by a pride of miniature elephants as by enormous butterflies and bees big enough for a person to ride. Hopping aboard accommodating yellow jackets, the motley quartet proceeds to look for grandpa while simultaneously soaking in an array of visually-captivating sights ranging from ancient ruins to an active volcano which spews lava of pure gold.
Seamlessly blending elements of all three aforementioned novels, Journey 2 is a thrill-a-minute roller coaster ride guaranteed to keep the tyke and ‘tweener demos on the edge of their seats. The kid-friendly fantasy is breathtaking and frenetically paced but not frightening, and it even has its share of hilarious moments of comic relief, plus a heartwarming message to boot.
The best 3-D adventure since Avatar!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG for action adventure and a mild epithet.
Running time: 94 minutes
Distributor: Warner Brothers

Top Ten DVD List for 2-7-12

This Week’s DVD Releases
by Kam Williams


Top Ten DVD List for February 7th

Notorious [Blu-ray]


Anonymous


Annie Hall [Blu-ray]


Project Nim


My Teheran for Sale


The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall


Manhattan [Blu-ray]


The Valentines Collection - Featuring One Zillion Valentines


Love Story [Blu-ray]


Lady and the Tramp [Diamond Edition]



Honorable Mention

Spellbound [Blu-ray]


Adrift


The Apartment – Collector’s Edition


5 Star Day


Rebecca [Blu-ray]


In Time


A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas


Yakuza Weapon


Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred


3


What My Husband Doesn't Know


The Sunset Limited


A Warrior's Heart

Kam's Movie Kapsules for 2-10-12

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening February 10, 2012


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (PG for action adventure and a mild epithet) 3-D sequel sends Sean (Josh Hutcherson) on a mission to the South Pacific in search of the mythical island of Atlantis where his long-lost, explorer grandfather (Michael Caine) is rumored to be marooned. Cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman and Kristin Davis.

Safe House (R for profanity and graphic violence) International action thriller, set in Capetown, South Africa, about an inexperienced CIA Agent (Ryan Reynolds) who ends up on the run with the veteran spy-gone-rogue (Denzel Washington) he’s supposed to bring to justice. With Vera Farmiga, Sam Shepard and Brendan Gleeson.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (PG for sci-fi violence) 3-D re-rerelease of the 1st installment of the prequel trilogy, an episode perhaps best remembered for the distracting antics of Jar-Jar Binks (Ahmed Best). With Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Terence Stamp.

The Vow (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, an accident and partial nudity) Romance drama about a young newlywed (Channing Tatum) who works hard to win his wife’s (Rachel McAdams) heart all over again after her memory is erased by a car accident. Support cast includes Sam Neill, Jessica Lange and Scott Speedman.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Bonsai People (Unrated) Reverential biopic recounting the humanitarian effort of Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunis to wipe out poverty in the Third World by lending penniless people the seed money to start their own businesses. (In Bengali with subtitles)

Chico & Rita (Unrated) Oscar-nominated animated feature, set in Cuba in 1948, about the turbulent love affair of a talented jazz pianist (Eman Xor Ona) and a beautiful bolero singer (Limara Meneses). Voice cast includes Mario Guerra, Jon Adams and Lenny Mandel. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

In Darkness (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, violence and disturbing images) Holocaust drama, set in Nazi-occupied Poland, recounting the real-life exploits of a selfless sewer worker (Robert Wieckiewicz) who risked his life to save a dozen Jewish refugees from extermination by hiding them in tunnels under the city of Lvov for over a year. With Benno Furmann, Herbert Knaup and Marcin Bosak. (In Polish, German, Yiddish and Ukrainian with subtitles)

The Dish & the Spoon (R for profanity and sexual references) Mumblecore Movement romantic comedy revolving around a revenge-minded married woman (Greta Gerwig) who seduces a British teenager (Olly Alexander) she meets on the beach soon after learning that her husband has been unfaithful. With Amy Seimetz, Adam Rothenberg and Eleonore Hicks.

Perfect Sense (Unrated) Apocalyptic sci-fi thriller about a gourmet chef (Ewan McGregor) and a research scientist (Eva Green) who fall madly in love in the midst of a biological epidemic that robs people of their sensory perceptions. Cast includes Connie Nielsen, Stephen Dillane and Liz Strange.

Private Romeo (unrated) Homoerotic reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet set at a military school where a couple of star-crossed cadets (Seth Numrich and Matt Doyle) fall in love while staging a classic by the Bard of Avon. Featuring Hale Appleman, Charlie Barnett and Sean Hudock.

Rampart (R for violence, sexuality and pervasive profanity) Woody Harrelson stars in this cop drama, set in 1999, as an LA police officer whose career and private life take a downward spiral after he is videotaped beating a suspected perpetrator. A-list cast includes Ben Foster, Cynthia Nixon, Steve Buscemi, Sigourney Weaver, Ned Beatty, Ice Cube and Anne Heche.

Return (Unrated) Post-traumatic stress drama about a soldier’s (Linda Cardinelli) frustrating attempt to readjust to civilian life in the Rust Belt following a tour of duty overseas. With Michael Shannon, John Slattery and Talia Balsam.

The Turin House (Unrated) Nietzsche-inspired meditation on the meaning of human existence, set in Italy in 1899, as seen through the eyes of a horse whisperer (Janos Derzsi) and the farmer’s devoted daughter (Erika Bok). (In Hungarian and German with subtitles)

Top Ten DVD List for 1-31-12

This Week’s DVD Releases
by Kam Williams


Top Ten DVD List for January 31st

To Kill a Mockingbird – 50th Anniversary Edition


Drive


Thunder Soul


Bollywood Beats


Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears… and More African Folk Tales


Janie Jones


Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Limited 3D Edition


The Double


The Big Year


The Other F Word



Honorable Mention

Talking Heads: Chronology


Church Girl


Monsignor


The Thing


Dream House

Anonymous (DVD REVIEW)

Anonymous
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Intriguing Whodunit Questions Authorship of Shakespeare’s Plays

Who really wrote the works of William Shakespeare? That nagging question has remained the subject of speculation among academics for centuries, with authorship of his plays being alternately attributed to dozens of others, most notably, Christopher Marlowe, William Stanley, Sir Francis Bacon and Edward de Vere, aka the 17th Earl of Oxford.
The primary reason the Bard of Avon has been shown such disrespect is because of his humble roots and the absence of evidence that he had much of a formal education. Consequently, his detractors argue that only another nobleman could have been capable of writing about royalty in such sophisticated fashion.
Anonymous revives the controversial notion that the Earl of Oxford served as Shakespeare’s ghostwriter, in spite of a plethora a problems with that generally-rejected theory, starting with the fact that when the Earl died in 1604, ten of the Bard’s plays were yet to be published. Nonetheless, provided you are willing to ignore an abundance of such historical inaccuracies, the picture proves to be a decidedly delightful whodunit.
The film is a bit of a departure for Roland Emmerich, whose name one ordinarily associates with bombastic summer blockbusters like Independence Day and Godzilla. Here, however, the German director tones down his act considerably in service of a multi-layered mystery given more to subtlety and insinuation than to special effects and pyrotechnics.
Narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi, Anonymous opens and closes on Broadway in present-day New York City. Otherwise, the plot revolves around the unlikely financial arrangement secretly struck between rebellious, aristocrat de Vere (Rhys Ifans) and alcoholic commoner Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) at a time when the former was a prolific, closet playwright while the latter was a struggling actor.
Thus, de Vere’s need for a surreptitious means of staging his incendiary, anti-establishment productions conveniently dovetails with the Bard’s desire for fame and fortune. But because Shakespeare is close to illiterate, the ruse is hard to hide from most of his contemporaries in the theater world.
Meanwhile, de Vere himself has a host of his own issues to deal with, starting with his not only being the illegitimate offspring of Queen Elizabeth I (Vanessa Redgrave) but possibly having fathered a child with his mom. Throw in a jealous wife (Antje Thiele) and an ambitious father-in-law (David Thewlis) with designs on the throne, and you’ve got all the fixins for a convoluted, costume drama of, dare I say it, Shakespearean proportions.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence and sexuality.
Running time: 130 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes; commentary with director Roland Emmerich and scriptwriter John Orloff; and “Who Is the Real Shakespeare?”

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (DVDREVIEW)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Stoner Sequel Serves Up More Pot-Themed Hijinks

As with Cheech and Chong’s string of classic stoner comedies of a generation ago, it looks like longevity might also be in store for relatively-nerdy Harold & Kumar’s series of similarly-themed, Marijuana misadventures. Co-stars John Cho and Kal Penn reprise their roles as the title characters here, with the movie marking the latter’s return to the big screen after signing on to serve in the Obama Administration a couple of years ago.
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, the third installment in the franchise, unfolds a half-dozen years after the conclusion of the pot-smoking pair’s previous outing, Escape from Guantanamo. At the point of departure, we learn that the pals have grown apart over the interim, ostensibly because Harold has married, settled in suburbia and taken a job on Wall Street while Kumar has continued to enjoy the life of a carefree bachelor after getting kicked out of med school for flunking a drug test.
Obviously, it is just a matter of time before the predictable plotline must find an excuse to reunite the inseparable protagonists. That moment arrives when Kumar decides to deliver a package addressed to his ex-roommate which came to their old apartment. Although the suddenly-straitlaced Harold says he’s “kinda glad all the craziness is behind me,” the banker makeover is out the window once they discover a mammoth, Bob Marley-sized joint inside the parcel.
Upon lighting it, our heroes accidentally set fire to the Christmas tree and so they embark on a desperate quest to find a replacement before Harold’s wife (Paula Garces) and his in-laws return from Church. This proves easier said than done, given that it’s late on Christmas Eve.
What ensues is your garden-variety ganja flick, except with a distinctly Yuletide spin. So, brace yourself for a Christmas wreath festooned with cannabis instead of holly leaves, and for plays on words about “Winter Wonder Weed” and “Hannukah Hash.”
While the uninitiated might consider the incessant association of the holiday season with substance abuse almost blasphemous, fans of the franchise will undoubtedly get a kick out of the relentless irreverence. As the guys crisscross New York City in search of another 12-foot fir, they encounter everything from fellow party animals to naked nuns, Ukrainian mobsters and Santa Claus himself.
A raunchy and religiously-incorrect roller coaster ride for the very-open minded, not to be mistaken for one of those traditional, sentimental Christmas yarns.

Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for drug use, crude humor, pervasive profanity, graphic sexuality, frontal nudity and violence.
Running time: 90 minutes
Distributor: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Group
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Extended cut feature; digital version; Through the Haze with Tom Lennon; Bringing Harold & Kumar Claymation to Life; and additional scenes.