Brooklyn's Finest [Blu-ray]

Brooklyn's Finest [Blu-ray] Review

Brooklyn's Finest is an outstanding, gritty thriller with lots of action, suspense and superlative acting. This is not for the faint of heart with all of its violence; but if you can stand it you will be amazed by this film. While some people have written that the film starts out slow and builds up the pace toward the end, the film grabbed me by the throat from the very word go and it never let go of me until the very final frame. The plot moves along at a very good pace and there's plenty of solid, well done character development. The cinematography and choreography shine all the way through and the script was well written. The casting was well done, too.

When the film starts, we soon meet three New York City police officers working in a very high crime section of Brooklyn where there is a public housing project, an incident of a cop killing a kid and drug dealing as well. Eddie has worked for 22 years on the force and he is now only 7 days away from retirement with a pension he has longed for even though by the time we meet him he's a shell of a man with a drinking problem, interpersonal difficulties with his estranged wife and few friends. Indeed, the only person Eddie truly connects with is a hooker named Chantel (played wonderfully by Shannon Kane). In addition, there's Tango (aka Clarence, played by Don Cheadle) who's been working undercover with drug dealers for so long he's having trouble remembering who he really is; Tango is desperate to get off the assignment with its street work and have a desk job as a detective. We also get to know Sal (Ethan Hawke) who is also desperate to get his wife and kids out of their dingy, moldy home into a much better one--so desperate, in fact, that Sal has actually been grabbing some of that drug money for himself, not caring what rules he breaks or who he harms in the process.

You may think I've given too much of the plot away but I assure you that I haven't. The only other thing I will tell you is that for quite some while in this film, the three principle characters (Eddie, Tango and Sal) lead separate lives but near the end they all converge with some degree of interaction at the troubled housing project in Brooklyn. The last 25 minutes or so of the film are both powerful and memorable; but there is quite a bit of violence so I wouldn't suggest this for young children.

In addition, the DVD comes with some great bonus features including deleted scenes; the theatrical trailer and featurettes including "Chaos & Conflict: The Life of a New York Cop;" "Boyz N the Real Hood;" "An Eye for Detail: Director Featurette" and "From the MTA to the WGA: Writer Featurette." Look also for superb performances by Brian F. O'Byrne as Officer Ronny Rosario; Lili Taylor as Sal's wife Angela and Ellen Barkin as Agent Smith.

Brooklyn's Finest paints a bleak picture of life both on the New York City police force and in the public housing projects of Brooklyn but a lot of what we see here is tragically all too real. I don't think poilce corruption and severe burnout is wide spread; but these are topics that deserve consideration. I highly recommend this film for fans of the actors in it; and people who enjoy gritty crime dramas and thrillers with dark themes will want to add this to their collections.

Brooklyn's Finest [Blu-ray] Overview

Something of a genre homecoming, Antoine Fuqua's latest film once again finds him delving into the gritty, brutal realm of cops and crooks—as he did in Training Day. Tango is an undercover officer on a narcotics detail that forces him to choose between duty and friendship. Having been to hell and back, he wants out, but the powers that be won't let him quit. Family-man Sal is a detective tempted by greed and corruption. He can barely make ends meet, and now his wife has an illness that threatens the life of their unborn twins. Eddie is nearing retirement age and has long since lost his dedication to his job as a cop. He wakes up every morning trying to come up with a reason to go on living...and he can't think of one. Fate brings the three men to the same Brooklyn housing project as each takes the law into his own hands. Crosscutting between multiple subplots, Brooklyn's Finest unfolds violently and passionately as coiled, constantly roving cinematography contributes a measure of unease to the underworld action.

Brooklyn's Finest [Blu-ray] Specifications

Fans of the grit of HBO's The Wire, as well as of the mean-streets story intersection plot of Crash, will find a lot to like in the intense crime drama Brooklyn's Finest. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) with a sure hand, Brooklyn's Finest follows three NYPD cops who come from very different places (geographically and personally) as their lives, and the compromises they have made daily to coexist with the mean streets of Brooklyn, dovetail to a climax that will have viewers on the edge of their seats. Fuqua has assembled a stellar cast here, including Richard Gere, a veteran cop just a week from retirement; the always amazing Don Cheadle, an undercover officer whose loyalties to the force may be compromised by his growing loyalties to the groups he's infiltrating; and the film's true revelation, Ethan Hawke, a young corrupt cop whose morals make the stomach turn, though Hawke's performance is nuanced and riveting. Supporting cast members include Wesley Snipes as a badass gangster whom even the police have second thoughts about messing with. Other great performances are turned in by Vincent D'Onofrio, whose wooden delivery works here to make his character all the more menacing; Lili Taylor; and a ravishing, world-weary Ellen Barkin. The action is propelled along by the great performances, the excellent cinematography, Fuqua's deft direction, and the moody score by Brazilian composer Marcelo Zarvos. If the plot is a little far-fetched, even for a crime drama, the stellar performances more than make up for it, making Brooklyn's Finest one of Fuqua's, and certainly Hawke's, finest. --A.T. Hurley

Stills from Brooklyn's Finest (Click for larger image)

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 22, 2010 12:01:06

Blue Crush (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

Blue Crush (Widescreen Collector's Edition) Review

Released in 2002, "Blue Crush" tells the story of three young female surfers in Hawaii who support their lifestyle as maids at a high-class hotel. Anne Marie (kate Bosworth) has dreams of going professional, but she has to get over her past failures and her family's breakup to succeed. In the meantime a vacationing NFL quarterback (Matthew Davis) romances her and she has to determine if their relationship is real or just a fling (for him, that is). Michelle Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake co-star as Anne Marie's surfing friends.

As you can tell, "Blue Crush" is a 'sports film' in the manner of "Karate Kid" and a host of others. Although some of these movies go the comedy route -- e.g. "Cloud 9" and "Bad News Bears" -- "Crush" is a serious drama with fun flashes.

Filmed on the beaches/resorts of O`ahu, Hawaii, this is a beautiful and exhilarating film to watch, the perfect remedy if the weather in your area has been dreary of late.

There's no profanity, raunch or t&a exploitation but, to be expected, the film features good-looking women in swimwear throughout its 104-minute runtime (dudes too, if you're a woman). By "good-looking" I mean realistically so, not like "Baywatch" which normally featured masses of ultra-hot babes swarming the beaches.

For the first hour the film was pretty much what I expected it to be, nothing great but moderately entertaining for this type of flick, and then something happened at the the 58-minute mark that struck a chord with me. Anne Marie hits the waves with her friend (Rodriquez) to prepare for the Pipeline Masters event as we hear the song "Youth of the Nation" by P.O.D. This sequence touched me for some reason. The music & lyrics are emotionally potent and effectively set the tone for the remainder of the film.

"Youth of the Nation" exemplifies the zeitgeist of the new millennium just as "My Generation" perfectly represents the mid-60s and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" typifies the 90s (I was gonna say "and just as 'Muskrat Love' typifies the 70s" as a joke but decided not to -- LOL). Anyway, everyone's heard the song by now but if you're not sure go to youtube and listen to it with lyrics; it's an incredible piece, to say the least, and dig those heartrending lyrics! It's reality, my friend.

What affected me most with the story is the picture of the three maids, impoverished and disdained by the snobs but full of youthful zeal and hope. It strangely reminded me of something I experienced on my last trip to Southern California. I was leaving the last showing of a theater late at night and spied the janitorial crew coming in to clean with their mops & buckets. They were Mexicans, mostly young, and possibly illegal aliens. Everyone walked by them like they weren't there, like they were the scum of society or something. But I made a point to acknowledge them and smile. I don't feel I deserve a medal for this or anything; it's just that I made a decision long ago that, no matter how far I go in life, I'm not going to look down on or ignore those of lower stature. Why? I don't know, maybe because I'm scum.

Blue Crush (Widescreen Collector's Edition) Overview

WO YOUNG WOMEN WORK AS MAIDS IN A MAUI RESORT COMMUNITY.WITH OTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THEIR TIME, THE GIRLS DECIDE TO SURF. HEY BECOME VERY GOOD AND ENTER AN ALL-MALE CONTEST.

Blue Crush (Widescreen Collector's Edition) Specifications

Not to be confused with the 2002 feature film of the same title, Blue Crush is billed as the original all-girl surfer's movie, and it's guaranteed to please devotees of the sport. It's a mixed blessing, however, because it assumes familiarity with the sport and its superstars, dispensing with any educational or historical detail that would appeal to neophytes. After all, how can this film be dedicated to Rell Sunn (the pioneer of female competitive surfing, who died in of breast cancer in 1998 at age 47) and fail to explore her illustrious career? This haphazard approach extends to profiles of the young women who regard Sunn as their hero; we learn little of their backgrounds and how they rose to prominence on the waves. Blue Crush works best as a globetrotting, music-video tour of surfdom's prime locations (Samoa, Hawaii, the Gold Coast, South Africa) hosted by the sport's most prominent competitors, including several (Rochelle Ballard, Megan Abubo, Sanoe Lake, Keala Kennelly, Kate Skarratt) who appeared in Universal's popular feature. It's a lot of fun, especially if you "hang ten" on a regular basis. --Jeff Shannon

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 16, 2010 04:01:06

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series (Volume 2)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series (Volume 2) Review

This is the complete second season of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that originally aired in 1988 and it is perfect for any nostalgic TMNT fan. However corny it may be by modern standards, back when I was a kid it was one of my favorites.

This 1-disc set includes the following 13 episodes: Return of the Shredder, The Incredible Shrinking Turtles, It Came from Beneath the Sewers, The Mean Machines, Curse of the Evil Eye, The Case of the Killer Pizzas, Enter: The Fly, Invasion of the Punk Frogs, Splinter No More, New York's Shiniest, Teenagers from Dimension X, The Cat Woman from Channel Six and Return of the Technodrome.

Ninja Turtles is classic 80's cartoon fun perfect for kids of any age.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series (Volume 2) Overview

Join the hottest Heroes in a Half-Shell - Leonardo Michelangelo Raphael and Donatello - as they battle for good against gnarly Ninja bad guys in Season Two of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!DVD Bonus FeaturesFull Screen2.0 Digital Stereo SerroundDigitally Enhanced for Superior ClaritySystem Requirements: Running Time 289 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 012236174004 Manufacturer No: 17400

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 13, 2010 14:01:10

The Book of Eli

The Book of Eli Review

An epic masterpiece with a grand performance by Denzel Washington as Eli, a self proclaimed prophet, traveling West to his unknown destiny. The wastelands of post apocalypse America are filmed in New Mexico...direction, cinematography, costumes, plot, script and casting all top notch.

Eli's 30 years of walking encompass spiritual awakening and enlightenment for the viewer and many of those who cross his path (those who survive, anyhow). The plot centers around delivering a rare "book of faith" to an unknown place...mystery, drama, action and sci-fi horror abounding. Washington really extends his notable talent to portray a multifaceted character...a pariah, an enigma, a saint, a survivor with lightning fast reflexes, and yes, someone who eats what is necessary to survive, even a cat. Realism involves distasteful scenes, but it never fails to fascinate me on how callous we become to the suffering of humans...and yet, our horror and outrage cannot be contained if another species is harmed in a scene...reminiscent of watching Mr. Jingles get stomped in the Green Mile...kill all the humans, just don't hurt the animals! Hmmmm...

Great supporting cast of Gary Oldman as the CEO (Carnegie) of the new Wastelands. Mila Kunis (Solara) is terrific as Eli's traveling companion, reluctant protege, and the movie's visual delight. Those cool layered post apocalyptic clothes might catch on! Another memorable character is Jennifer Beals (who plays Claudia, Solara's mother and Carnegie's blind concubine). Beals emotes a surprising and welcome acting range, in having little choice in being a companion to an evil villain.

I loved thi movie, because it is provocative....and to read reviewers bickering over whether this movie is religious or spiritual is an interesting observation...indeed. The Bible being both the impetus of destruction and salvation.....thumbs way up!

The Book of Eli Overview

Eli walks alone in post-apocalyptic America. He heads west along the Highway of Death on a mission he doesn't fully understand but knows he must complete. In his backpack is the last copy of a book that could become the wellspring of a revived society. Or in the wrong hands, the hammer of a despot. Denzel Washington is Eli, who keeps his blade sharp and his survival instincts sharper as his quest thrusts him into a savage wasteland... and into explosive conflict with a resourceful warlord (Gary Oldman) set on possessing the book. "We walk by faith, not by sight," quotes Eli. Under the taut direction of the Hughes Brothers (Menace II Society), those words hit home with unexpected meaning and power.

The Book of Eli Specifications

With unflappable cool and surprising gentleness, Denzel Washington strides a bleak and barren world in The Book of Eli. Eli is headed west, but on the way, he passes devastation and squalor, and occasionally he must mete out some devastation of his own with a sharp blade. But when he arrives in what passes for a town in this dust-and-ash future, the power-hungry owner of the town's bar, Carnegie (Gary Oldman, looking a million years old), covets his one important possession. (Spoiler alert, sort of: it becomes apparent pretty quickly that it's a King James Bible.) Conflict ensues! Though the plot is simple and the "mystery" of the book doesn't last long, The Book of Eli is carried along effortlessly by its star. Washington has always had a compelling mixture of authority and tenderness, and it's this latter quality that makes this contribution to the testosterone-and-violence-drenched post-apocalyptic subgenre unexpectedly human. The script, while not particularly original, has effective dialogue and is smart enough not to explain too much. The supporting actors--including Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jennifer Beals (who hasn't aged a day since Flashdance), and Ray Stevenson (Rome)--are all capable and easy on the eyes. The movie's bleached-out, sepia-tone look isn't new either, but it suits the subject matter. Anyone who wants to be offended by the movie's spiritual conclusion would be wiser to enjoy the subversive insinuation that religion can enslave as much as save. All in all, a competent action movie with some enjoyably atypical elements. --Bret Fetzer

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 03, 2010 03:02:56