Title: Fool's Gold: Widescreen
Year: 2008
Director: Andy Tennant
Writer: John Claflin...Original Material By, Daniel Zelman...Original Material By, John Claflin...Screenwriter, Daniel Zelman...Screenwriter, Andy Tennant...Screenwriter
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Action Violence, Some Sexuel Material, Brief Nudity and Language
Length: 112 Min.
Video: Widescreen :1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Matthew McConaughey as Finn
Kate Hudson as Tess
Donald Sutherland as Nigel Honeycutt
Alexis Dziena as Gemma Honeycutt
Ewen Bremner as Alfonz
Ray Winstone as Moe Fitch

Plot:
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson go for the gold (and the diamonds, emeralds and rubies) as a just-divorced couple who bicker and banter their way through an adventure- and laugh-packed undersea treasure hunt. McConaughey is Finn, in love with his ex (Hudson) and in deep with gangster Bigg Bunny. After eight years of searching, Finn gets a clue to the whereabouts of the Queen's Dowry, a fabulous fortune that mysteriously disappeared in the Caribbean in 1715. Now all he has to do is get the gold, get the girl and get going before Bigg Bunny gets him. Directed by Andy Tennant ('Hitch'), 'Fool's Gold' glitters with danger, action, romance, comedy, great one-liners and – a great time to be had by all!

Extras:
Scene Access
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Outtakes/Bloopers

My Thoughts:
I have been wanting to check this movie out since I first saw the theatrical trailer for it. I have always liked romantic comedies... and thought that the adventure/treasure hunting would really add to it. While I enjoyed the movie and think it is well worth watching... at the same time it didn't live up to the expectations I had for it. I feel it could have been better. To me at least... it felt like it was a bit drawn out. It should have been shortened a little. It just felt longer then it needed to be. But I enjoyed the storyline... liked all the characters and the ending... while expected... is good as well.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Title: Cujo: 25th Anniversary Edition
Year: 1983
Director: Lewis Teague
Writer: Stephen King (1947)...Original Material By, Don Carlos Dunaway...Screenwriter, Lauren Currier...Screenwriter
Rating: R
Length: 93 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Dee Wallace as Donna Trenton
Danny Pintauro as Tad Trenton
Daniel Hugh-Kelly as Vic Trenton
Christopher Stone (1942) as Steve Kemp
Ed Lauter as Joe Camber
Kaiulani Lee as Charity Camber

Plot:
Monstrous canine evil stalks a helpless, isolated family in rural Maine. Vic and Donna Trenton (Daniel Hugh-Kelly and Dee Wallace) struggle to repair their crumbling marriage, while their young son Tad (Danny Pintauro) befriends a hulking, lovable, 200-pound St. Bernard named Cujo. With Vic away on business, Donna and Tad take their decrepit car to be fixed at the remote farm of their mechanic (Ed Lauter). As their aging Pinto sputters to a stop and dies, Cujo appears. But the once docile dog has undergone a hideous transformation - and becomes a slavering, demonic, implacable killer possessed by almost supernatural strength... and unholy cunning. Critically acclaimed, CUJO is a fearsome, spine-chilling tour de force from the most popular name in horror!

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes

My Thoughts:
While I have seen this movie several times... this is the first time for me watching it since getting the 25th Anniversary Edition DVD. And also the first time I got to see it in it's OAR. And the transfer for this release looks and sounds great! Not only is it in it's OAR... but the picture quality is some much better then the original release. I have always enjoyed watching this movie. I never read the book... so I can't comment on how true to the book this movie is... though I have read that it is a pretty good adaptation. This DVD release has 2 movie related special features. First is the director's commentary... and the second is a 3 part documentary of the making of the movie. I didn't get the chance to check out the features... though I hope to before too long. Definitely a movie you should check out. Even worth the upgrade if you already have the original release.


My Rating: 4/5

Title: Big: Full Screen Edition
Year: 1988
Director: Penny Marshall
Writer: Gary Ross...Original Material By, Anne Spielberg...Original Material By
Rating: PG
Length: 104 Min.
Video: Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Tom Hanks as Josh
Elizabeth Perkins as Susan
Robert Loggia as MacMillan
John Heard as Paul
Jared Rushton as Billy
David Moscow as Young Josh

Plot:
TOM HANKS won raves for his Oscar® nominated performance (1988, Best Actor) as a twelve-year-old boy trapped inside a thirty-year-old body in director Penny Marshall's winning comedy.

At a carnival, young Josh Baskin (HANKS) wishes he was big – only to awake the next morning to discover he is! With the help of his friend Billy (JARED RUSHTON), Josh lands a job at a toy company. There, his inner wisdom enables him to successfully predict what children want to buy, making the awestruck, naive Josh irresistible to a beautiful ladder-climbing colleague (ELIZABETH PERKINS). But the more he experiences being an adult, the more Josh longs for the simple joys of childhood.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
DVD-ROM Content
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I have seen this movie several times on cable... but this is the first time I am seeing it since a good friend gave me the DVD. This is a movie I have always enjoyed quite a bit. It is just a fun movie to watch. I think Tom Hanks did a wonderful job playing an innocent kid inside a grown up body. Though that shouldn't be surprising... he is good in pretty much all he does. Whether it is comedy or serious roles. Unfortunately my friend only had the full screen edition to give me... but I hope to upgrade it to the widescreen if I get the chance. Something with better extras would be nice too.

My Rating: 4/5

Title: The Gladiator
Year: 1986
Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: William Bleich...Story By, William Bleich...Screenwriter, Tom Schulman...Story By, Jeffrey Walker...Story By
Rating: NR
Length: 94 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Ken Wahl as Rick
Nancy Allen as Susan
Robert Culp as Lieutenant Frank Mason
Stan Shaw as Joe
Rosemary Forsyth as Loretta
Bart Braverman as Dan

Plot:
Ken Wahl plays a top-notch mechanic obsessed with creating an invincible automotive machine. So obsessed, he creates an indestructible weapon on wheels to avenge the death of his kid brother who was viciously murdered by a hit and run madman.

Extras:
Scene Access

My Thoughts:
This is a TV movie from the mid-'80s. The audio and video quality on this release could be better. The video is a little on the soft side... and every once in a while there is a bit of a shake in the image. Not so much that you can't see what is going on... it is just enough to be barely noticeable. As for the audio... there is a bit of a hum under the dialogue. Once again it isn't so bad that you can't easily understand everything you are listening to... but there nonetheless. Through-out the time he was on the film I was thinking I knew the kid that played the little brother that got killed in the accident (Brian Robbins). After I looked it up I found out why. He played Eric on Head of the Class.

As for the movie itself. It is pretty good... I did enjoy it. But it isn't what I would call great. It is a little on the slow side for they type of story it was trying to tell. I almost lost my interest during some of the scenes... but it always seemed to pick back up shortly afterward. I also didn't care for the way it ended. It just left too many questions unanswered. Over-all I would say it is worth checking out if you can do so cheap... better yet for free. Luckily this is one of the many a friend gave to me... so didn't cost me anything.

My Rating: 3/5

Quoting Addicted2DVD:

Quote:

Title: Open Water: Widescreen
Year: 2004
Director: Chris Kentis
Writer: Chris Kentis...Writer
Rating: Rated R : Language and Some Nudity
Length: 80 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: DTS ES: 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Blanchard Ryan as Susan
Daniel Travis as Daniel
Saul Stein as Seth
Michael Williamson as Davis
Cristina Zenaro as Linda
Jon Charles as Junior

Plot:
In search of much needed relaxation, Susan and Daniel take a tropical island vacation. While scuba diving miles off the coast, the tour guide miscounts leaving them abandoned in the middle of the ocean. As the hours pass, the couple realizes they are not alone as a shark's fin breaks the surface water. Over the next 24 hours, the couple must fight to stay afloat and alive, surrounded by miles of ocean.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I decided to watch this one when I noticed on the cover it said it was based on a true story. Which is mentioned again in the opening of the film. I kind of have a mixed reaction to this one. It is a slow based movie... but that is not a problem for this one. It is expected to be so. I liked the two main characters. Not so thrilled with the ending. But the worst thing about it is that I really don't see any re-watch value to this film at all. While it is well worth the watch the first time around... I have the feeling I would be pretty bored with it if I was to watch it again. Though I can see myself getting more from it if I watch it with the commentary on next time... but beyond that.... can't see myself watching this one again.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Yes it true that it based on an incident that happed on the Great Barrier reef to a US couple where the boat left them behind. Can't remember all the details, I think it was a case there were head counted as being on board.

Title: The Longest Yard: Widescreen Collector's Edition
Year: 2005
Director: Peter Segal
Writer: Sheldon Turner...Screenwriter, Tracy Keenan Wynn...Original Material By, Albert S. Ruddy...Original Material By
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Crude and Sexual Humor, Violence, Language and Drug References
Length: 113 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
ConsAdam Sandler as Paul Crewe
Chris Rock (1965) as Caretaker
Burt Reynolds as Coach Nate Scarborough
Nelly as Megget
Michael Irvin as Deacon Moss

Plot:
Are you ready for a different kind of football? Comic superstar Adam Sandler teams up with the always-outrageous Chris Rock, rap-sensation Nelly and a gang of real pro football players and wrestling superstars in the hardest-hitting action-packed comedy of the year! After former NFL quarterback Paul "Wrecking" Crewe (Sandler) gets thrown into a maximum security prison, the warden orders him to put together a team of hard-core inmates to play a fixed warm-up game against the brutal prison guards. But little does he know that the "Mean Machine," led by a tough-as-nails coach (Burt Reynolds), have plans to settle their own score in this rib-busting, unforgettable laugh-out-loud riot directed by Peter Segal (Anger Management).

Extras:
Scene Access
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Music Videos
Outtakes/Bloopers
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I want to start off this review by saying that I have never had the opportunity to see the original 1974 version of this movie. So I can't tell you how it compares to it. But after watching this movie today... I would love to check out the original as I enjoyed every minute of this movie. I found it to be an all around fun movie. It has plenty of laughs and plenty of football action.... with a good storyline to bring it all together. I also liked that they got Burt Reynolds to play the coach in this movie after seeing that he played the part of Crewe in the original movie. I went into this movie with no expectations what so ever.... and came out of it a little surprised how much fun I did have watching it. It's also a good DVD release as there is no audio/video problems and there is a nice selection of extras to go along with it.

This movie was given to me from a very generous friend.... so I want to take this opportunity to say thank you once again. As I really enjoyed this one!

Now I just need to get my hands on the original!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Title: The Sandlot 2
Year: 2004
Director: David Mickey Evans
Writer: David Mickey Evans...Original Characters By, Robert Gunter...Original Characters By, David Mickey Evans...Writer
Rating: Rated PG : Language, Rude Humor and Brief Violence
Length: 98 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Max Lloyd-Jones as David Durango
James Willson as Johnnie Smalls
Samantha Burton as Hayley Goodfairer
Brett Kelly as Mac
Cole Evan Weiss as Saul
Neilen Benvegnu as Tarqell

Plot:
From the director of The Sandlot comes this fun-filled sequel that proves the power of teamwork and celebrates the magic of friendship.

Ten years after the original story, the local dirt field is now "home" to a new group of neighborhood kids who get together to share laughs, show off...and play ball! But the gang faces their toughest challenge as they try to retrieve an irreplaceable model rocket that lands in Mr. Mertle's (James Earl Jones) backyard behind left field—a forbidden territory guarded by a legendary, growling, slobbering beast known as "The Great Fear."

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Interactive Games
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I started this movie last night... finished it very early this morning since I couldn't sleep. I went into this one knowing I never seen it before... but after enjoying the first one I went into it with somewhat high expectations. I know that is something you should never do... but I couldn't help it. It turned out to not be quite as good as the first one... but I still enjoyed it. The first movie takes place in 1962... this one ten years later in 1972. While there was still neighborhood kids playing baseball in the sandlot... there wasn't as much emphasis on baseball in this one. Matter of fact... baseball really was a rather small part of it this time around. Other then that though... it pretty much followed the storyline of the first one. Almost scene for scene! This time around one of the kid's father worked for NASA and designed the first space shuttle and one of the kids took the model of it out and launched it at the sandlot. The model of the space shuttle lands in the yard with the huge dog... and the kids must get it back before the father gets back from his business trip. Basically if you seen the first one you also seen this one. Just replace the baseball with the model of the space shuttle and the rest is basically the same. I have mixed feelings about this. I would have liked to of seen a more original storyline... but at the same time I can't deny that I enjoyed it all the same.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Title: Uptown Girls: Special Edition
Year: 2003
Director: Boaz Yakin
Writer: Allison Jacobs...Story By, Julia Dahl...Screenwriter, Mo Ogrodnik...Screenwriter, Lisa Davidowitz...Screenwriter
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Sexual Content and Language
Length: 92 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Brittany Murphy as Molly
Dakota Fanning as Ray
Marley Shelton as Ingrid
Donald Faison as Huey
Jesse Spencer as Neal
Austin Pendleton as Mr. McConkey

Plot:
Brittany Murphy (Don't Say a Word) and Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam) shine brighter than all the lights of Manhattan in this delightful New York fairy tale. Co-starring Marley Shelton (Never Been Kissed), Donald Faison ("Scrubs") and Heather Locklear ("Spin City"), Uptown Girls will make you laugh, cry... and laugh again!

Molly (Murphy) is a partying rock 'n' roll princess whose money just ran out. Ray (Fanning) is a fussy nine-year-old whose last nanny just ran out. Only Ray's way-too-busy mom (Locklear) could think that hiring Molly would be the perfect setup for both girls. But as this unlikely pair faces everything from control issues (Ray's, of course) to temper tantrums (Molly's, of course), they discover that sometimes, your best friend can come from the place you least expect!

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
Music Videos
Closed Captioned
Soundtrack Spot

My Thoughts:
Since I realized I enjoy the work of the late Brittany Murphy... I thought I would give this movie a chance. This is a Disc that I got yesterday in that big package of discs. Unfortunately this one didn't impress me as much as most her others. She was fine in it. The storyline has potential... but I just didn't care for the way it all came together. While I was able to watch the entire movie I struggled to keep interested in it. The film has some boring moments that I couldn't wait to end. It has some sad moments. And it has some fun moments. One thing it didn't have is any laugh-out-load funny moments. I would say this film is pretty much just an average fare. Definitely nothing to go out of your way to watch... but if you are bored one day and have it sitting around or can catch it on cable... it can be a decent way to waste an hour and a half.

My Rating: 3/5