The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang, and has his first big fight with best bud Ron. Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold. But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Tri-Wizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation.--Ellen A. Kim, Amazon.com
The Samuel L. Jackson Collection. Shaft: With Samuel L. Jackson in the starring role and John Singleton directing ""Shaft"" is a new approach to one of the great film icons of the 1970s. He's tough he's smart he's cool - just what you'd expect from a man whose uncle and mentor is John Shaft who now as then is played by Richard Roundtree. Also starring in the Paramount Pictures presentation are Vanessa Williams Jeffrey Wright Christian Bale Dan Hedaya Busta Rhymes and
It begins with a death… or is it a murder? A woman runs in front of a car but the D.A. in charge of the case suspects there is more to the story than meet the eye… The investigation leads him to the woman’s husband who, he discovers, has experienced violent separation from all of his previous lovers. Finding one of his first girlfriends, the D.A. convinces her to testify against him; doing so will open up the depths of her soul and form a powerful and dark relationship between them.
Bizarre occurances continue to take place at Rogers High School and the students and teachers are still haunted by the infamous Abel Fyre a kid taunted and teased until he hanged himself in a forever feared corner of the school ten years earlier. A family of undercover supernatural agents aim to excorcise the evil forces at work....
Everyone's falling in love with the wrong person in this hilariously hot all-star romantic comedy - A Pyromaniac's Love Story! William Baldwin stars as the outrageous Garet who tries to win the love of his sweetheart (Erika Eleniak) withia blazing crime of passion... but she's got the hots for Sergio (John Leguizamo) who's carrying a big torch for a hot-tempered waitress named Hattie (Sadie Frost)! Mixed-up romantic signals and comic confusion abound until the smoke finally clears a
Ex-con Johnny (Scot Williams, 'The Crew') is forced into pulling a heist he wants nothing to do with. Mob Boss 'Shrewd' Eddie (Paul Freeman, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Hot Fuzz') has one million in dirty cash stashed at his home, just waiting to be stolen. But what Johnny doesn't know is that seven other dangerous criminals also have plans to steal the money... Filled with twists, double-crosses and murder, Hard Boiled Sweets is a crime thriller inspired by the International Best-Selling short film, 'A Girl and a Gun'. Special Features: Exclusive Artwork and Artcards
Ex-con Johnny (Scot Williams, 'The Crew') is forced into pulling a heist he wants nothing to do with. Mob Boss 'Shrewd' Eddie (Paul Freeman, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Hot Fuzz') has one million in dirty cash stashed at his home, just waiting to be stolen. But what Johnny doesn't know is that seven other dangerous criminals also have plans to steal the money... Filled with twists, double-crosses and murder, Hard Boiled Sweets is a crime thriller inspired by the International Best-Selling short film, 'A Girl and a Gun'. Special Features: Exclusive Artwork and Artcards
If you read the label on a box of chocolates you'll know exactly what you're gonna get. Life isn't like that in Forrest Gump, however, which is one of the reasons why this movie divided appreciative audiences from hard-hearted critics like few others before it. Audiences responded to the Frank Capra-style sentimentality of this warm-hearted tale of a good ol' American boy making his way in the world without ever losing his pure and simple innocence. Critics, however, were made uneasy by the apparently reactionary subtext to the parallel lives of Forrest and his girlfriend Jenny. Her fate, contrasted with his, suggests a triumph for plain ol' American values over dangerous freethinking hippies and liberals. Whether the movie is just unadulterated sentiment or right-wing propaganda, one thing at least was acknowledged by all: that Forrest Gump displays all the craftsmanship of one of Hollywood's most inventive directors and features a central performance from an actor renowned for his total commitment to every role. Thanks to Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks, even the most cynical critic will find it hard not to shed at least one tear by the end of this undeniably engrossing movie. The soundtrack is great, too. On the DVD: another good two-disc set gives fans of Gump and budding filmmakers alike plenty to enjoy. The anamorphic picture and Dolby Surround on Disc 1 do full justice to Zemeckis' vision, which is accompanied by two commentaries: one from the director, producer Steve Starkey and production designer Rick Carter, and another one from producer Wendy Finerman. Disc 2 has the usual making of documentary (30 mins), plus some neat featurettes on the production and sound design and the many special effects shots (including how they made Gary Sinise lose his legs). In addition there are some screen tests of Robin Wright and a very young Haley Joel (The Sixth Sense) Osment, plus trailers and a photo gallery. All in all this is a worthwhile package. --Mark Walker
An Affair To Remember:In this poignant and humorous love story nominated for four Academy Awards Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Though each is engaged to someone else they agree to meet six months later if they still feel the same way about each other. But a tragic accident prevents their rendezvous and the lovers' future takes an emotional and uncertain turn. Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing: Set in Hong Kong at the time
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