USCCB - (Film & Broadcasting) - DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of May 17, 2010

DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of May 17, 2010

This week's DVD and Blu-ray releases

The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from Catholic News Service. Theatrical movies have a Catholic News Service 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 the discs' extra content.

Extraordinary Measures

Engaging medical drama, based on actual events, about the often prickly partnership between a successful pharmaceuticals executive (Brendan Fraser) -- two of whose children (Meredith Droeger and Diego Velazquez) are afflicted by the same rare and fatal disease -- and the eccentric scientist (Harrison Ford) whose pioneering but underfunded research may offer the only hope of saving the kids. Director Tom Vaughan's adaptation of Geeta Anand's 2004 book "The Cure," which also features Keri Russell as the businessman's rock-solid spouse, makes no mention of the Catholic faith that helped to sustain the real-life dad but does chart his relentless, against-the-odds struggle to overcome the illness, a battle that initially seemed likely to derail his career and deprive him of what little time he might have left to spend with his son and daughter. Brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, at least five uses of profanity and about a dozen crude and a half-dozen crass terms. A-III -- adults. (PG) (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2010

Invictus

Uplifting sports drama, based on actual events, about the campaign of South African President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to unite his country behind the national rugby team (led by Matt Damon), once a widely hated symbol of white privilege under apartheid, as it became an unlikely contender in the 1995 World Cup competition. Adapted from John Carlin's book, "Playing the Enemy," director Clint Eastwood's account effectively chronicles how Mandela transformed the race for the championship into an opportunity to break down lingering racial prejudice and to demonstrate the generosity and openness to reconciliation of the newly empowered black majority, a salutary tale whose moral and artistic merits counterbalance the elements listed below, making it probably acceptable for mature teens. Brief scenes of violence, at least one use of the F-word, a few instances of crude and crass language and some mild sexual references. Spanish language and titles options. A-III -- adults. (PG) (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

L.A. Story

A TV weatherman (Steve Martin) is chased by a bouncy blonde (Sarah Jessica Parker) while he, with a little help from a magical freeway sign, pursues a reserved English journalist (Victoria Tennant). Directed by Mick Jackson from Martin's script, the result takes a wry view of the trendy populace of Los Angeles, which proves more diverting than the fairly bland fantasy-romance story line. Casual attitude toward premarital sex and minimal rough language. Spanish titles option. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) 1991

Once Upon a Time in the West

Any movie with such a plainly mythic title can't be all bad and this one really isn't bad at all. Epic, stately spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Leone, its wispy plot concerns hired killer Henry Fonda's pursuit of outlaw Charles Bronson and widow Claudia Cardinale's land, but it contains a whole encyclopedia of Western cliches and stereotypes that are irresistible for Western buffs. Others may enjoy it as a knowing spoof but one that is overlong and featuring some rather intense violence. A-III -- adults. (PG) (Paramount Home Entertainment) 1969

The Spy Next Door

Generally good-hearted but thin martial-arts comedy in which an undercover spy (Jackie Chan) posing as a mild-mannered pen salesman is left in charge of his divorced girlfriend's (Amber Valletta) three kids (Madeline Carroll, Will Shadley and Alina Foley), even as he works to thwart the evil schemes of a Russian criminal (Magnus Scheving) bent on cornering the international petroleum market. Director Brian Levant's family-oriented offering -- which also features country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and comedian George Lopez as Chan's CIA colleagues -- while sketchy, is mostly free of worrisome content and charts its central character's self-sacrificing efforts to protect the youngsters and win their trust, but scenes of hand-to-hand combat makes it unsuitable for the smallest viewers and brief interludes of mildly risque humor further restrict its appropriate audience. Considerable, though nongraphic martial arts violence, acceptability of divorce, some vaguely sexual humor, at least one crude term. Spanish titles option. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2010

Walkabout

Australian story of a lovely teenager (Jenny Agutter) and her 6-year-old brother (Lucien John) who, stranded deep in the wilderness after their father commits suicide, are rescued by a young aborigine (David Gumpilil) who leads them to eventual safety. Nicolas Roeg does better with his stunning location photography than he does with his heavy-handed direction of a movie that practically shouts out its theme of noble savagery. Extended nude swimming scene and a character's suicide are questionable elements. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (Criterion Collection; also available on Blu-ray) 1971

These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS 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;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.

Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.