Two Lovers DVD Review

Two Lovers - An Alliance Films’ Release

On DVD: July 14th, 2009

Rated 14A for sexual content, coarse language, and nudity.

Running time: 109 minutes

James Gray (dir.)

James Gray & Richard Menello (screenplay)

Joaquin Phoenix as Leonard Kraditor

Gwyneth Paltrow as Michelle Rausch

Vinessa Shaw as Sandra Cohen

Moni Moshonov as Reuben Kraditor

Isabella Rossellini as Ruth Kraditor

Special Features: Director’s Commentary, Behind the Scenes, Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, A look at Two Lovers, Photo Gallery.

(L-r) Elias Koteas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Joaquin Phoenix star in TWO LOVERS, and Alliance Films’ release.

© 2009 2929 Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.

Our reviews below:

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Two Lovers DVD Review By John C.

***1/2

James Grey’s Two Lovers is a fascinating study of relationships and the decisions we make while trying to do the right thing. Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is in his mid-30’s and currently single. His parents try to set him up with their family friend’s daughter, Sandra (Vinessa Shaw). Than he meets his neighbour Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow). He develops feelings for both of them, but he will have to make a decision about which one he wants to stay with. The story follows an interesting curve, it has twists and doesn’t just follow a conventional path.

Most brilliant about Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is how he perfectly embodies the character. Little mannerisms and actions are added perfectly to create a fully believable character.

The DVD includes commentary with director James Grey, An HDNet Look at Two Lovers, deleted scenes, behind the scenes featurettes and a photo gallery.

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Two Lovers DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Two Lovers tells the very believable story of Leonard, (Joaquin Phoenix), a man, who after a relationship that didn’t work out in the past, is left feeling depressed. He lives with his parents in an apartment, and works at the family drycleaning business. When a friend of the family wants to buy out their business, Leonard’s family wants him to get to know their daughter, Sandra, (Venessa Shaw), better. Leonard likes Sandra, but then in the hallway of his apartment building he meets Michelle, (Gwyneth Paltrow), a woman who has moved into the apartment across from his.

Michelle is quite needy, and Leonard feels compelled to continue helping her once he gets caught up in her problems. On the other hand, he still likes Sandra. Both woman are so different - practically polar opposites - that depending on Leonard’s mood, he gravitates towards one, or the other.

This movie is very believable, and the slow pace allows for everything to naturally unfold. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in particular is really accurate to the character he plays. Two Lovers is a very well made human-drama that is definitely worth buying.

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Two Lovers DVD Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Two Lovers is a low key drama about a man who gets caught up in a difficult dilemma. Leonard, who has bipolar disorder, lives with his parents. Leonard is lonely, so his family who is very close knit, sets him up with Sandra, a long time family friend. Leonard and Sandra like each other. But things get complicated when a new neighbour, Michelle movies in the apartment across his own. Michelle is troubled. She parties hard, is emotionally fragile, and is already in another relationship. Leonard an Michelle like each other. Leonard does not want to upset Michelle or Sandra, so he goes out with both of them. Who will Leonard choose?

Two Lovers is a well made film. The acting is believable, and the story is well written. The film is shot in grayish tones, which fits the somewhat slow and slightly sombre mood of the story. While this film doesn’t sugar coat, it never becomes depressing. In the end, things work out the way they are meant to work out.

The extras on the DVD include a commentary with director James Gray, deleted scenes, a behind the scenes featurette, a photo gallery, and HDNet: A look at Two Lovers.

This movie is very interesting, and is worth owning on DVD.

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Two Lovers DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Two Lovers is a sensitive drama about an emotionally overwhelmed man, Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix), who is faced with the difficult decision of choosing between two very different woman.

The first woman he meets is Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of the businessman who is buying Leonard’s family’s drycleaning business. It is a obvious that this is the match Leonard’s family prefers. At the same time that Leonard is getting close to Sandra he meets his extremely needy neighbor, Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow). Leonard is attracted to Michelle and finds it hard to say no to Michelle’s need for emotional support. Leonard also has to deal with his own emotional instability and the remnants of a recent heartbreak.

What makes this movie so watchable is the superb acting. Joaquin Phoenix gives an extremely believable and emotional performance as the troubled Leonard. Gwyneth Paltrow is also really nice to watch as Michelle.

In the end the story unfolds in a way that is somewhat predictable but satisfying. Fans of the lead actors won’t want to miss this one. The DVD extras include a commentary with Director James Gray, behind the scenes, deleted scenes, Hdnet - A Look at Two Lovers and a photo gallery. Whether you buy it or rent it “Two Lovers’ is worth checking out for Joaquin Phoenix’ performance.

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Two Lovers DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Two Lovers refers to the two women, Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw) in the life of Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix), who lives with his parents (Moni Moshonov & Isabella Rossellini) in Brooklyn NY. The film opens with an aborted suicide attempt by Leonard, whom we find out is bipolar after having had to break up with a fiancée on account of the “numbers”1. He meets Sandra when she comes with her parents to visit, as her father (Bob Ari) has offered to buy out his father’s dry cleaning business. About the same time Leonard runs into Michelle, who is being kept in a neighboring apartment as the mistress of one of the lawyers (Elias Koteas) in the firm where she works as an assistant. Leonard is awkward, a man of few words, who just wants to pursue his interest in photography and live a decent life. He and Sandra get along well and the prospects of marriage to her and working for her father are very attractive. At first, he just sees Michelle as a vulnerable friend that he looks out for, but becomes infatuated with her and is tempted to join her when she decides to break up with her lover and move away. With a third option in mind based on the opening scene, we are kept wondering right up to the end what choice Leonard makes.

In his third collaboration with director James Gray, Joaquin Phoenix turns in a brilliant performance, supported by a strong cast. The slow pace and intimacy of the story give us enough time to know every character and be really interested in what happens to them.

1numbers: refers to the genetic database kept by Jewish Americans to determine whether prospective spouses are both carriers of Tay-Sachs disease.

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Consensus: Two Lovers is a well-made, believable film with excellent acting from lead Joaquin Phoenix. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/

Release Date: July 15th, 2009

Rated PG for scary images, some violence, language, and mild sensuality.

Running time: 153 minutes

David Yates (dir.)

David Heyman (prod.)

Steve Kloves (Screenwriter)

Based on the books by J.K. Rowling

Nicholas Hooper (music)

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn

Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange

Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid

MIchael Gambon as Professor Albus Dumbledore

Alan Rickman as Professor Serverus Snape

Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley

Jesse Cave as Lavender Brown

Hero Fiennes Tiffen as 11-year-old Tom Riddle

Frank Dillane as teenage Tom Riddle

DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ fantasy adventure “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Our reviews below:

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

The sixth installment in the excellent Harry Potter film saga is an incredible film. As you probably already know, it follows the story of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), as they go through their second-last year at Hogwarts. This time, not only must Harry deal with digging deeper into the mystery of “he who shall not be named” (Dark Lord Voldemort), he also has to deal with his own feelings of love, as well as dealing with his friends as they fall in love around him.

There are some very dark moments in the film, but it’s also easily the funniest of the six films. The bickering between students about who’s “snogging” who is quite hilarious, it at times felt like a romantic-comedy. It’s darker moments, like the ones between Harry and Dumbledore and the flashback scenes, are mature and suitably atmospheric and creepy.

Every scene of the film is visually arresting. The darker scenes with their grey undertones, are particularly stunning. The opening 12 minutes should be amazing in IMAX 3D, when the film opens in the IMAX format in two weeks. The musical score by Nicholas Hooper is excellent, adding in pre-existing John Williams’ themes from the first film.

This is the best live-action blockbuster to come out all year, and is sure to get some nominations in at least the visual effects categories come Oscar time. At just over 2-and-a-half hours the film never drags. From the opening scene I was entranced and stayed that way until the end of the credits.

As a fan of the Harry Potter films, I found this one to be right up there with numbers one-through-three. Numbers four and five are good, but more just serve as a bridge. This is certainly visually the best film in the franchise. Watching all the films practically back-to-back, it’s interesting to see how these actors have grown up with their roles, and how perfect they really are as the characters. Even some of the smaller characters from the other films make appearances here, and what’s most impressive is that they’re still the same actors.

The movies are also very close adaptations of the books, although those who haven’t read the books won’t feel left out. On screen, these are fully developed characters that we really come to care about. HP 6 has been receiving many rave reviews. It currently stands at 95 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes which makes it the only Potter film to receive a score in the nineties. It even got a positive review from the Vatican’s newspaper.

After the last scene, as the credits started to roll, I took my notebook from my pocket and wrote these words, “A stunning achievement, a near masterpiece”. Enough said, I stand by my words.

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Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Review By Erin V.

**** (out of 4)

Briefly, this newest installment in the franchise sees Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their sixth year at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore brings back a former Hogwarts teacher, Professor Slughorn, as he taught Tom Riddle, (now Voldemort), back when he had attended the school. It is Dumbledore’s hope that his memories of Voldemort as a child will reveal a weakness that they can use to defeat him. I won’t go into much detail, considering the fact that the majority of people probably already know the gist of it. Despite the fact that this could be considered one of the darkest films near the end, it is also one of the funniest in the middle. After a few rather intense opening scenes we go to Hogwarts, where the feel is lighter, and, considering their ages, there is romance is in the air. Thanks to love potions, the actors get to act very comedic. Towards the end, things grow more serious again as we lead up to the climax that sets us right up for the next (and final) two installments. HP7, part 1, is currently set for release in November 2010, and HP7, part 2, for Summer 2011.

Now, what I really want to talk about in this film is the way that everything worked together so brilliantly. Come Oscar time, I am sure that we will see some nominations - if not wins. Despite the seeming length of the following, please bear with me, I just wish to highlight a few points...

1. Cinematography: from the opening scene, (sure to be stunning in IMAX 3D), we know that this is going to have really amazing shots. The camera swoops through the air, at the right moments settling for wide landscape/establishing shots. The use of these with the right amount of close-up’s worked well throughout the whole film.

2. Editing: part of the brilliance of the cameras was the way that it was all put together in the post-production process. During intense scenes, the close-cut editing is also particularly effective, as well as in dialogue scenes where we are able to see exactly the reaction shots needed, while not becoming a distraction with too much cutting back and forth.

3. Special Effects: Where do I even begin? The opening scene, the Quidditch match, all of the odd creatures, the fight scenes, all amazing! Also, of particular note, a scene near the end in a huge cavern was built mostly virtually for example, yet the crystal formations manage to refract what little (virtual) light in the room with amazing precision.

4. Lighting: the colour palette in this film really helps set the mood for certain scenes. We open on greyish-greenish undertones which make everything seem bleak and ominous. Even once we arrive at Hogwarts, the palette seems more drained than usually. Once romance starts to be in the air though, the colour warms up to a more inviting golden light. At the end, the greyish tones are back, but without seeing this usage for yourself, it is almost impossible to describe.

5. Music: the score to this film by Nicholas Hooper is stronger than his last outing for the franchise, HP5. He seems more comfortable in this position now, combining the original John Williams themes and new music with a greater ease. Like the lighting, the score is whimsical and fun at points, yet appropriately ominous at times.

6. Acting: the actors/actresses in the Harry Potter films are impeccably cast as usual. The main actors, most of whom have been with the series since the beginning, have grown with the roles in order to bring the mature performances needed for the characters. It would take too long to try to credit even five of them properly, so I will leave it by saying, great job to everyone.

7. And last, but certainly not least, Directing: David Yates, like Nicholas Hooper also worked on HP5. Again, like Mr. Hooper, his work on this film seems much more comfortable in the material. He seems to do a great job at getting good performances out of everyone involved. He is at the helm again for the last two, and I can’t wait to see how he handles things for those outings.

I could go through a complete checklist of things in this film, but I do not have the space here. So, this being said, I will mention quickly, screenwriter Steve Kloves does a wonderful job again in the adaptation for screen - not once during the 2h, 33m, does this film drag. Also a special mention to the costume designers and makeup artists, who also did a great job on this film. The set designers as well, succeed again in making the locations believable. I know I have not begun to cover everyone on this film. Maybe I should have done an article series instead... Anyway, see this film in theatres. That is the way it is so obviously meant to be seen, and as I thought just as it ended in theatres, this film was awesome in everyway!

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Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Review By Nicole

**** (out of 4)

The newest Harry Potter film is fun and exciting. In this newest installment, we see a mix of both funny and terrifying things. The Death Eaters, frightening tornado type creatures, terrorize both London and the wizard universe. Dumbledore brings Harry back to Hogwarts, introducing him to Horace Slughorn, a friendly potions teacher, who knows secrets about Tom Riddle/Voldemort’s past. The potions textbook that Harry receives belonged to the mysterious Half-Blood Prince, who may not be good, and whose identity is surprising. We also see the Malfoy family play a bigger, and badder role than before.

However, this movie is not all that dark. Much of the film is a comedy. The characters, now 16 year olds, are starting to have romantic feelings. Ron Weasley, after a particularly good Quidditch game, gets noticed by a pretty blonde girl named Lavender Brown. When he starts dating her, Hermione, who likes Ron, gets jealous. To get back at Ron, Hermione goes out with the school jock. Will Hermione and Ron ever get together? Meanwhile, Harry develops feelings for Ron’s sister, Ginny, who is dating someone else. The funniest point in the movie is when Ron finds a box of love potion spiked chocolates. Seeing Ron with a stoned and infatuated look on his face was just hilarious.

The film gets very exciting toward the end. The scene with Harry and Dumbledore in an old cavern, has some great jump moments, as well as heart stopping suspense. The very end of the movie, where the Half Blood Prince’s identity is discovered, has surprising and tragic results. (This is in no way graphically depicted.) The very ending leads right into the next story. I can’t wait to see the next film.

This film is one of the best this summer. The casting and acting is superb. The visual effects are stunning, the story is excellent, and the score by Nicholas Hooper is absolutely amazing. See this movie in theatres this summer. This is one movie you don’t want to miss.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review By Maureen

**** (out of 4)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a really well made, exciting, suspenseful, visually beautiful and often very funny blockbuster of a movie. I loved this film from start to finish. As a newcomer to the series (never read the books and only recently watched the first five movies) I wasn’t sure what to expect. The result was an amazing just over two and a half hours theatre experience.

From what I’ve been told, the storyline in this latest installment remains faithful to the storyline in the book. The film starts on a darker note with the death-eaters terrorizing modern day England. The opening scenes are shot in a greyish tone that visually sets the mood for the darker events that Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) must face as he assists headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) in his quest to protect Hogwarts from dark forces. Harry also faces figuring out the Half-Blood Prince’s true identity and the tragic consequence of that discovery.

This film isn’t all darkness however. With all the principal characters well into their teenage years it makes sense that budding romances (assisted with love potions at times) would play a big part in this movie. Some of the funniest scenes involve Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and his love potion enhanced infatuation. Hermione, (Emma Watson), Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and of course Harry also have their brushes with romance.

The cast for this movie is excellent as always. The acting is strong all around and it’s interesting to see the character development that takes place from one movie to the next. There are new characters in this story and they are also fun to watch.

Everything about this movie worked for me. The visuals and special effects are really good. The scenes with Harry and Dumbledore in the cavern are some of the best in this movie. The music score (Nicholas Hooper) enhances the many moods of this movie perfectly. My only complaint was that it was all over before I knew it. Whether you’re a long-time Harry Potter fan or a newcomer like me, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a must see this summer. Yes, it’ll be on DVD eventually but the theatre experience is amazing. Go see it.

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Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

Never having read the books or seen any previous Harry Potter films, we recently watched the first five films on DVDs for the first time in order to prepare to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth in the franchise. It is a fine film in anticipation of the final installment of the saga to come in two parts over the next two years or so.

We assume that the films have followed the books reasonably well, so fans will know what to expect and others won’t care, so I will not try to outline the plot too much here. Consistent with the coming of age of the main characters, we are treated here to various scenes of romantic comedy among them, with a bit of “snogging” (making out) here and there. Rupert Grint as Ron is particularly amusing at this, while Emma Watson as Hermione is left sulking in the background. Despite his friendships with Hermione and Luna Lovegood and a growing attraction to Ron’s sister Ginny, Harry is distracted by his greater mission with Dumbledore to defeat Voldemort, who has chosen the increasingly alienated Draco for his murderous plans. Draco’s mother and evil aunt Bellatrix have gotten Snape to take an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco and do what he must to ensure his success. The appearance of Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) is particularly charming. Despite the light tone of many scenes, there is some scary action. For example, the film opens with terrorist Death Eater attacks on the Millennium Bridge and other landmarks (sure to be awesome in IMAX 3D), and the Quidditch matches are more exciting than ever.

As with the other films, the rest of the cast and all aspects of the production are first-rate, though some may miss some of the more whimsical touches of the early installments–no ghostly head-tipping John Cleese for example. The musical score by Nicholas Hooper is particularly effective, adding much to the original John Williams material.

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RUPERT GRINT as Ron Weasley, DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter and EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger in Warner Bros. Pictures’ fantasy adventure “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Consensus: This stands up as one of the best Harry Potter films yet. This is a must-see-in-theatres Summer blockbuster. Congratulations to the whole team behind this one. **** (Out of 4)

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(L-r) EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger, RUPERT GRINT as Ron Weasley, and DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ fantasy adventure “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

"Che Part 1: The Argentine" on DVD today

E1 Films is releasing the first chapter in Steven Soderbergh’s epic 4 hour, 22 minute saga following the life of Che Guevera, on DVD today, July 14th. Watch for reviews of both films on August 4th, when E1 is releasing Che part 2: Guerrilla.

-John C.

Finn on the Fly DVD Review

Finn on the Fly - An E1 Films Release

On DVD: July 14th, 2009

Rated G for mature theme

Running time: 100 minutes

Mark Jean (dir.)

Kellie Ann Benz (writer)

Mark Jean (writer)

Teza Lawerance (writer)

Michael Souther (writer)

Jeff Danna (music)

Matthew Knight as Ben Soledad

Ryan Belleville as Finn

Ana Gasteyer as Dr. Madsen

Brandon Firla as Bob

Special Features: Trailer, Fun With Finn

Ryan Belleville and Matthew Knight in Finn on the Fly - An E1 Films Release

Our reviews below:

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Finn on the Fly DVD Review By John C.

*1/2 (out of 4)

Finn on the Fly is the story of a dog who turns into a human, much to the shock of his twelve-year old owner. Why did he turn into a human? Because he ran through the pet-door of the garage next door, just happens their neighbours are mad scientists, and eats some transformation serum. This is when he turns, over-night, into an adult man. Uses of many cliches, including a lot of terrible slow-motion, don’t make the film any better. The only dog-movie cliche that they don’t use is having one of the canines end up covered in paint.

I hope I'm not over-selling this film because it is, in fact as a whole, near-terrible. About half-an-hour too long for kids, and nearly an-hour-and-a-half too long for adults. That leaves about ten to fifteen amusing and entertaining minutes. All of which come from Ryan Belleville acting like a dog. His "dog-act" is quite good, but it would have worked a lot better if it was the subject of a 10 or 15-minute short film, centred only around a man acting like a dog. The movie plods along and feels a lot longer than it actually is. None of the stuff with the extremely obnoxious mad-scientist, Madeline Madsen, even come close to funny. Her scenes go on far too long, and her rats with human body-parts are just kinda-creepy. Ana Gesteyer as Dr. Madsen doesn’t give a campy performance, she gives a terrible performance. There is a difference.

Although I must conclude with saying that this is mildly worth a rental on DVD for a rainy afternoon, but pretty much strictly just for the 6 to 10 crowd. The DVD includes a featurette titled Fun With Finn, which shows us how they trained the dogs. It's about ten-minutes long, and is much better than the actual movie. The disc also includes the films trailer, which is also better than the film it's advertising, and a trailer gallery of other films.

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Finn on the Fly DVD Review By Erin V.

** (out of 4)

Finn on the Fly is the story of a 12 year old boy named Ben and his dog, Finn. They have just moved to a Port Hope, Ontario from Barcelona, Spain. Of course, Ben has no accent whatsoever. In order for the movie to have a plot, their new neighbors across the street happen to be mad scientists. If you’ve seen the trailers, than you will know that this results in Finn being turned into a human, and the scientists trying to capture him as a result. How does he even get into their secret lab? Well through the cat door that is big enough for even a small person to crawl through. Talk about high security. (But than again, stupid security breach's are common in this film.)

Is this a good movie? No. Will 6-10 year olds like it? Yes, which is why I’m giving it a full two stars. I do recognize that I certainly am not the audience for this film. (Now, something that really bugged me is that in one part of the movie, a kid leaves their iPod behind just to pipe it through loud speakers to create a distraction, thus losing their iPod, and leaving behind something that could be traced directly back to them. They were in a major system control room, why didn’t they just kill the power to the building, shut down the computers, or create a distraction another way?)

One of the major complaints I would have about this movie is the length. It is 100 minutes long! It could have easily been 70 - a whole half hour shorter. Since it’s only audience would be young kids, should it not have been better fit for shorter attention spans? The only way the movie even got this long was with a lot of extremely obvious, unnecessary dialogue near the end. (Like “follow me” when everyone already is.) I found the extra on the DVD where they show the dogs being trained far more interesting than anything in the movie. The trailer for the movie on the disc is better than the movie as well, actually...

With this being said, I wouldn’t recommend necessarily buying this for your kids, but maybe renting/borrowing it instead to see if it holds their attention first. Just be warned, this isn’t a movie where you will both enjoy it equally. All in all, this is not so much a family movie - it is a kids movie.

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Finn on the Fly DVD Review By Nicole

** (**1/2 for it’s intended audience of ages 6-12) (out of 4)

Finn on the Fly is a mildly entertaining kids movie. Set in Port Hope, Ontario, this movie is a twist on the classic boy and his dog story. Benito, (Benn for short), a 13 year Spanish immigrant, is trying to fit into his new Canadian school.

His only close friend is his dog, Finn. When Finn chases the neighbours’s cat into their garage, Ben follows him. Ben realizes his neighbour is actually a mad scientist, who is running a secret genetics lab in her garage. Finn ends up drinking a spilled substance, and turns into a man the next morning. At first Ben doesn’t recognize Finn, but soon realizes that this strange man in his house is his dog, when the man starts acting canine. Now he has to hide Finn before his mother comes in, and his cousin Eduardo comes over from Spain. Eduardo, meanwhile, gets arrested at the airport after calling a female officer “the bomb”. Conveniently Eduardo and Finn look alike, so Ben teaches Finn to talk, and pretends Finn is Eduardo. Ben’s parents are fooled, and the rest of the movie consists of Ben and his classmates trying to keep Finn away from the mad scientists.

This movie is your typical, mediocre kid’s entertainment. However, kids age 6-12 will probably love this movie. I know that, if I had seen this movie at that age, I would have really enjoyed it. Ryan Belleville as the man Finn is funny in his clown routine, and the whimsical score by Jeff Danna fits the light mood of the film.

My favorite part of the DVD however, is the bonus feature, Fun with Finn. Here, we see how the dogs in the film are trained. We also meet the wrangler, Sharri Davis, who tells us that all of the dogs in the film are rescued animals that have come to her dog sanctuary in Oakville, just outside of Toronto. (I believe the name of the place is BRB K9.) This segment is heartwarming, and makes the DVD worth it.

Finn on the Fly is an entertaining enough movie, that is good to watch on a long car drive. Rent it if you have the time.

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Finn on the Fly DVD Review By Maureen

** (out of 4)

Finn on the Fly is a mildly amusing Canadian made comedy that children in the 6-10 year old range and die-hard dog movie fans will likely enjoy.

When the new kid in town, Benito from Barcelona, is lonely and being teased by the other kids, he is happy he at least has his best friend, his dog Finn, to keep him company. That is at least until Finn accidentally ingests a serum at the mad scientist neighbors not-so-secret lab. The result is a new best friend for Benito, dog Finn turned human.

The plotline of this movie is silly, the mad scientists obnoxious, but the saving grace for Finn on the Fly is the wonderful performance by comedian Ryan Belleville as the man/dog, Eddy/Finn.

Watching Ryan Belleville make the transformation from dog to human is really funny and completely believable. His performance makes up for having to sit through the rest of the movie for the adults.

Six to ten year olds will likely love this movie. I know I would’ve enjoyed it at that age. Finn on the Fly is a good choice to buy or rent for a rainy summer afternoon or for that long drive to the cottage. The DVD extra showing how the dogs are trained is interesting for older kids and adult dog lovers.

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Finn on the Fly DVD Review By Tony

*1/2 (out of 4)

Finn on the Fly may be suitable for young kids, but the rest of us is will regret most of the 100 or so minutes spent watching it. At the risk of sounding politically correct as a former science teacher, I am uneasy about negative stereotypes of mad scientists, especially female ones. That aside, the whole film, based on the silly premise that a boy's sheepdog Finn could be transformed into a human, is full of dumb stereotypes and is just not that funny. Ryan Belleville as Finn in human form provides a few flashes of wit, which is more than canceled out by SNL alumna Ana Gasteyer’s obnoxious scientist schtik.

The DVD includes the trailer, which is better than the film (a bad sign) and also provides an interesting featurette on the dog wranglers, so it is not a total writeoff.

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Consensus: While it will be enjoyed by kids, this isn't the kind of film that the whole family can watch and equally enjoy. ** (Out of 4)

Toronto Harry Potter Marathon

Tomorrow, July 13th, at the Scotiabank theatre in Toronto, there will be a Harry Potter marathon. The show starts at 10 am. They will be showing the first five Harry Potter films. Tickets will be given out free, on a first-come, first-served basis. So arrive early to ensure a seat. It is happening in anticipation of the sixth Harry Potter film, which is opening at midnight on Wednesday. Watch for our reviews of the film, coming this week.

-John C.

Fox Searchlight and the Battle of the Unconventional Romances (UPDATE x 2)

By John C.

This July - Fox Searchlight will be releasing two films. One on the 17th, one on the 29th. The first one is a film that I’ve already seen. The highly enjoyable (500) Days of Summer. The film employs brilliant techniques to tell it’s story, including fractured narratives and split-screens. There’s even a dance number in the park. If the film had been a conventional romantic-comedy, none of these techniques would have worked. But because it’s a very fresh and unique film, all these elements work brilliantly. Fox Searchlight is pulling out all the stops trying to market the film. In the US, they’ve had free giveaways of summer food and promotional t-shirts. On May 26th, they announced free screenings of the film in 16 cities. On May 28th, 5 more cities were added to the list, including Toronto. I believe that once it opens, word-of-mouth will spread like wild-fire. Audiences will love the film. It has the appeal of two very likable lead characters and actors, played by Joseph Gordon-Levvit and, the almost always good, Zooey Deschanel. It’s “sunshiney” poster, is sure to attract crowds to the film as it decorates the multi-plexes. Our reviews of the film will be coming on July 17th, but I can tell you right now that I’m highly recommending it.

The other film is also an unconventional romance, one that I’ve not yet seen, but am very much looking forward to. Adam is the story of a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, who falls in love with the new girl that moves into his apartment building. I am at this point unsure how the studio is marketing this film, but I think that more focus should be put on it. (500) Days will find it’s audience no matter what, and it deserves it. It’s an excellent film. But due to the subject matter of Adam, people may not warm up to it the same way. On July 6th they announced free screenings of the film, but only in 13 cities in the US. If enough people are able to see it, especially in the Asperger’s and autism communities, then it will have a following. People may not see it on their own, but if they are told by other people to see

it, they will go. If you call them they will come. But only if enough other people already have, so that they have someone to follow.

(UPDATE) Denver, St. Louis and Toronto have now been added to the list of cities having free screenings of Adam.

(UPDATE) 5 more cities have now been added to the list - bringing the total count up to 21.

You can get more info on all of Fox Searchlight's films and sign up for free screenings at their website, here.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

http://www.iceagemovie.com/

Release Date: July 1st, 2009

Rated PG for some mild rude humour and peril

Running time: 94 minutes

Carlos Saldanha (dir.)

Mike Thurmeier (co-dir.)

John Powell (music)

Karen Disher as Scratte (voice)

Queen Latifah as Ellie (voice)

Denis Leary as Diego (voice)

John Leguizamo as Sid (voice)

Josh Peck as Eddie (voice)

Simon Pegg as Buck (voice)

Ray Romano as Manny (voice)

Carlos Saldanha as Dinosaur Babies / Flightless Bird (voice)

Seann William Scott as Crash (voice)

Chris Wedge as Scrat (voice)

(left-right) Ellie, Crash, Manny, Buck, Eddie and Diego aren't pleased with their chances of navigating the Chasm of Death.

Photo credit: Blue Sky Studios

Our reviews below:

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review By John C.

***1/4 (out of 4)

As a fan of the Ice Age films, I found the third installment in the franchise, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, to be a highly enjoyable film. It’s technically the best film in the series, the 3D effects are amazing. I never saw a double image while looking through the glasses. A brilliant aerial chase scene atop pterodactyls is particularly amazing to watch.

The story finds Manny and Ellie expecting their first child. Sid is feeling lonely about being alone, and Diego wants to leave the herd in fears of just becoming a babysitter. Crash and Eddie are the sidekicks. Those familiar with the films will know that Manny and Ellie are mammoths, Sid is a sloth, Diego is a sabre tooth tiger, and Crash and Eddie are possums. They fall through a crack in the ice, and end up in a lost world full of dinosaurs. The lovable Scrat is of course here as well, still chasing after that pesky acorn. This time he’s joined by a female squirrel-rat named Scratte.

New character to the franchise, the one-eyed weasel, Buck (Simon Pegg), is very funny and very crazy. Spending his days chasing after the great white dino which he has named Rudy.

While this film is not just for kids, it will certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages. The dinosaurs are cool, but never too scary. Anyone over 5 or 6 shouldn't have problem watching it. It’s a fun summer film for all ages, that’s worth seeing in either 2D or 3D.

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

This installment, the third in the (now) trilogy of Ice Age movies, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs follows much of the same pattern as the first two. I have enjoyed all three films. The films are what they are, and they know it. They aren’t trying to be anything else. The visuals in this movie are, clearly, the best in the series. New advancements in technology have allowed for that. The 3-D effect worked without a hitch for me, and there were certain scenes that were stunningly well done both in terms of use of 3-D and cinematographic effects. A scene in particular that you should know what I’m talking about in, is the pterodactyl chase sequence. The pterodactyls, being flown/flying like army fighter planes - complete with sound effects - were stunning to watch. The camera looped right along with the pterodactyls, without any real blurring of the 3-D effects.

As always in the Ice Age series, the characters can be kind of silly at times, but still fun to watch. Kids in particular will probably really enjoy this installment of the series. For those who love Scrat and his antics on the screen looking for his acorn, he is in this one as well, with a new edition - a female scrat, called Scratté. In the 3-D, Scrat with his furry bushy tail, and long nose employ the effect really well. There are certain elements that are quite nice to see in terms of the visual aspect of things.

The story is fairly simple. Manny the mammoth is ready to start a family with Ellie, his mate. Diego the sabre-toothed tiger wants to go out and have an adventure on his own, as tigers are less likely to live in a ‘herd’ anyway. This leaves Sid the sloth feeling quite left out and lonely, until he finds three (seemingly) unattended dinosaur eggs, and decides that he can be their ‘mommy’. Of course, once the eggs have hatched, they wreck havoc on the local playground, attempting to eat the other animals when they are hungry, etc. (Please note that this plot point is very unlikely to scare kids - it is played completely for laughs.) Then, to make matters worse, Momma Dinosaur comes looking for her babies. When Sid refuses to give them to her, (he thinks of them as his own), she takes both her babies and him back to her home by force.

Ellie wants to rescue Sid, so she leads the rest of the gang through a crack in the ice to a hidden world of dinosaurs that has (somehow) survived the brunt of the ice age. Manny thinks it’s too dangerous to be chasing a t-rex mother under the ice, and he is most probably right. Once there, they meet a strangely funny weasel named Buck, that fell into the ice-chasm years ago, only to meet up with a huge albino dinosaur named Rudy, who almost ate him and took out his eye. Determined to find the beast, he spends his days searching for his ‘Moby Dick’. Crash and Eddie, Ellie’s Possum ‘brothers’ think that Buck is really cool, and Buck agrees (reluctantly) to help them all find Sid.

This movie is fun, and the visuals are great to watch. This is probably the most family-friendly wide release movie in theatres right now, which means that it probably will earn lots considering that school is out. If you’ve watched the trailers for this movie you pretty much know what it’s going to be like. Not the most intelligent movie, but fun nonetheless. It’s good Summer family fun.

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

The newest Ice Age sequel is a lot of fun. Manny and Ellie are expecting a baby. Sid the sloth also wants a family, so when he finds three mysterious eggs under the ice, he draws faces on them, and calls them his babies. Trouble occurs when they hatch. The are baby t-rexes, and when the mother dinosaur comes around, she wants her babies back. Now the rest of the gang have to rescue Sid. In doing so, they discover a lost world under the ice, where dinosaurs still roam. They meet up with a lovably nutty dinosaur hunting weasel named Buck, who is searching for a huge, white dinosaur named Rudy. And of coarse, Scrat is back, this time with a female squirrel named Scratté. Now who will get the acorn?

This movie is fun. There are a lot of funny lines and quirky characters. The visuals are good, and the score by John Powell fits the movie well. The scariness in this film is limited to some animal/dinosaur combat. There is a lot of cartoon action as well. This movie seemed to be well received by children 6 years old and up, but this film will appeal to adults and teens as well. The 3D worked well. Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a fun, light summer movie that the whole family will enjoy.

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs is Blue Sky’s third animated installment in the ‘Ice Age’ series and the third on’s a charm. All the regular characters form the first two movies are back and a really funny new character, Buck, a slightly crazy weasel, is introduced. Also introduced to the story are a whole bunch of assorted dinosaurs. Scrat also meets his female counterpart, Scratté.

The story begins with Ellie and Manny expecting their first little mammoth. When Sid the sloth is feeling left out he decides to adopt three dinosaur eggs that he thinks have been abandoned. Trouble begins and the Ice Age gang discover the dinosaur world under the ice when Mama Dinosaur comes looking for her babies.

This isn’t a complicated story, but it its a whole lot of fun. There are a lot of lines that only the grown-ups will laugh at but there is also plenty of humour for the little ones as well. There is also plenty of action with dinosaur chases that is scary for only the youngest of viewers. Also throughout the movie is the ongoing drama of Scrat, Scratté and their ever elusive acorn.

I really enjoyed Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The animation s excellent, especially in 3D, there are a lot of laughs, the voice acting is great and there’s enough action to keep things interesting. Overall, this is a fun way to spend a summer afternoon or evening with the whole family.

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

A disclaimer up front: Ice Age films put me to sleep. There is really nothing wrong with them. They just don’t interest me as much as faster paced animated features from Pixar, Dreamworks, and other studios, which appeal to adults as much as to children. To its credit, my nodding off was less frequent for Ice Age 3, and what I saw was beautifully rendered and one of the best examples of 3D so far. For example, there is a breathtaking flying chase scene with fighter plane sound effects.

At a morning showing with a fixed low price we saw the 3D version without having to pay the 3D price premium. Since there was no problem following the simple plot, we didn’t mind the constant running commentaries among parents and their little kids all around us.

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Sid is delighted about the imminent hatching of three dinosaur eggs - and becoming a parent to dinosaur triplets.

Photo credit: Blue Sky Studios

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Consensus: The newest installment in the Ice Age series, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs has some of the best uses of 3D seen on screen so far. While the plot is simple, the visuals are great. This is one movie that will be a lot of fun for families this Summer. *** (Out of 4)

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Scratte and Scrat find themselves in another fine mess.

Photo credit: Blue Sky Studios

The Stone of Destiny DVD Review

The Stone of Destiny - An Alliance Films’ Release

On DVD: June 30th, 2009

Rated PG for coarse language, and language may offend.

Running time: 97 minutes

Charles Martin Smith (dir.)

Charles Martin Smith (screenplay)

Based on the Book ‘The Taking of The Stone of Destiny” by Ian Hamilton Q.C.

Mychael Danna (music)

Charlie Cox as Ian Hamilton

Kate Mara as Kay Matheson

Stephen McCole as Gavin Vernon

Ciaron Kelly as Alan Stuart

Billy Boyd as Bill Craig

Robert Carlyle as John MacCormick

Special Features: Taking and Making The Stone Of Destiny, Director’s Audio Commentary.

Charlie Cox and Billy Boyd star in The Stone of Destiny, in an Alliance Films’ release.

© 2008 Destiny Films, Inc. / The Mob Film Company (Stone) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.

Our reviews below:

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The Stone of Destiny DVD Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Stone of Destiny is a low-key but sometimes suspenseful and exciting heist film that is based on a true story, and told on film in a very believable way. 23 year old Scottish man Ian Hamilton decides to steal the ancient Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, in London, and bring it back to Scotland, as a symbol of national pride for the Scottish people.

Because of the time it takes place in, the heist sequence is very low-tech. But the filmmakers still manage to have an incredibly cool, suspense filled sequence, without any alarm systems blaring, or shoot-outs in the street. The sheer irony of some of the scenes, also make it very funny and immensely enjoyable.

The DVD has a very interesting 25 minute feature titled The Making and Taking of The Stone Of Destiny, and audio commentary with the director, Charles Martin Smith.

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The Stone of Destiny DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

The Stone of Destiny, known as the Stone of Scone, (pronounce “scoon”) looks like an ordinary slab of red sandstone. More than just it’s physical appearance, the stone’s importance lies in the meaning it carries for Scotland. After hundreds of years belonging to the Scots, in 1296 the stone was stolen from them by Edward I, and taken to Westminster Abbey, where it remained until it was taken back in 1950 by four Scottish students who were determined to get this symbol back for their country.

Based on the book ‘The Taking of The Stone of Destiny’ by Ian Hamilton - written mere months after the event while the facts were still hot in his mind - this is a story that was destined for the big (and little) screen since it happened. Ian Hamilton mentioned in the press notes for the film that “a screenplay would arrive at least once a year since then”. But it wasn’t until Charles Martin Smith’s script that he felt the story would be done justice. He also mentioned that there was a previous TV account of the events on the BBC. As he put it, it was an “atrocious production”.

While this is a ‘heist movie’ of sorts, since it took place in 1950, it is not one filled with gadgets to get past security alarms, and all those kinds of things. Thinking it over, it’s a good thing they got the stone out of there when they could, for when this happened, they had only a nightwatchman to contend with, and no cameras silently watching their every move, automatically sending the police within two minutes. No, hard as it was back then, it would be practically impossible to do what they did nowadays.

Despite all of this, the suspense does build up considerably. Be it just missing each other as one goes in one door, and another goes out another, losing the keys to their getaway car, and getting almost caught, this movie is very well paced. The quiet, non-violent rebellion that these young college students staged, was remarkable to say the least. Armed with the naiveté (that many young people have) to not know how impossible it would be to actually carry out their ambitious plan, they were not deterred from actually trying it. With visits to the Abbey, sketches of the floor plans etc., the students, led by Ian Hamilton tried to plan everything out as closely as they could. There were still surprises though, and estimates that were off, e.g., the stone, which weighs nearly 152 kg, or about 335 lbs, was heavier than they had expected it to be, when they actually went in to try to drag out of the Abbey.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this movie. The acting is good, as is the cinematography, and music. Canadian Mychael Danna’s score coupled with traditional Scottish music really added to the feel of this movie. The Stone of Destiny was shot on location in Glasgow, Scotland, London, England, and Vancouver, Canada. The sweeping shots of Scotland are beautiful to look at - it was nice to hear that the producers felt so strongly that parts of the film had to be shot in Scotland. There is no replacing the value that was added for that. The 25 minute bonus feature included on the DVD, entitled, ‘The Taking and Making of The Stone of Destiny’ covers some of these decisions, while talking to the cast and crew, as well as the real Ian Hamilton. After seeing the movie, it really is a good watch.

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The Stone of Destiny DVD Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

Stone of Destiny is a beautifully shot film following four college students and their quest to bring the Stone of Destiny back to Scotland. The stone was used in the coronation of Scottish kings and queens, until Scotland became part of Great Britain, in 1296. The stone was brought to Westminster Abbey, and used for British coronations. In 1951 however, one bold university student, Ian Hamilton, wants to steal the stone from Westminster Abbey and bring it back to Scotland. He recruits three other students to help him liberate the stone. It is decided that the heist will take place on Christmas Eve, when everyone else is busy. The heist is both exciting and suspense filled. The amazing thing about this movie is that it is based entirely on a true story.

The scenery in this film is spectacular, the acting is great, and the story is exciting and fun. We really root for these four, as their act frees the hearts of the Scottish people. Mychael Danna's score is beautiful, capturing the beauty of Scotland. This low key film is a pleasure to watch.

The DVD contains a commentary track, and an excellent featurette entitled "The taking and making of the Stone of Destiny". Here we have interviews with the actors and director. talking both about their experiences filming, and the history behind the film. The real Ian Hamilton is also interviewed, and has a cameo in the film.

Buy this DVD. You will want to see it more than once.

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The Stone of Destiny DVD Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

Stone of Destiny is an enjoyable, low key adventure story. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it all the more appealing.

Set in Scotland in 1950, the story revolves around four Scottish students who take it upon themselves to break into Westminster Abbey Christmas Eve and bring back the famous ‘Stone of Destiny’ and symbolically free Scotland.

Watching the four pull off this daring heist is a lot of fun. The fact that all this really happened is incredible to think about.

The strength in Stone of Destiny is the excellent acting, the beautiful scenery and the lovely musical score and of course the amazing story itself.

The DVD has a “Taking and Making The Stone of Destiny” feature that is excellent. It was especially interesting seeing and hearing Ian Hamilton, the man who actually organized and carried out this daring heist.

Stone of Destiny is worth checking out especially if you have Scottish roots.

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The Stone of Destiny DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Based on the recent book by Ian Hamilton (Charlie Cox), Stone of Destiny tells how he and three other Glasgow university students raided Westminster Abbey to retrieve the Stone of Destiny on Christmas eve in 1950. Originally a coronation seat for Scottish kings, it was taken out of Scotland in 1296 and placed under the coronation throne of English and subsequently British monarchs. After World War II, Scottish nationalism was far from the minds of most Scots, save for some activists encouraged by the university head John MacCormick (Robert Carlyle). Retrieving the Stone could rekindle it–failure to do so could result in long prison terms and ruin the lives of the perpetrators. Without giving anything away, I will simply say that Scotland eventually got a measure of self rule with its own parliament in 1998.

The exuberance of the good young cast in this Scottish/Canadian coproduction under American director Charles Martin Smith keeps the film lighthearted. While there is some suspense, the pace is much more leisurely than we are used to with today’s sophisticated security systems. Canadian composer Mychael Danna’s powerful score incorporates Scottish tunes in both full orchestral and traditional arrangements. Though I am of neither Scottish nor Irish heritage, I felt the same kind of vicarious nationalistic stick-it-to-the-English enjoyment that I got a few years back from the charming Irish film Hear My Song.

The DVD includes a moving featurette that, with spoilers, should be seen after the film. We meet the real Ian Hamilton, now in his 80s, who was always around to provide essential details, and was delighted with the results. As an actor himself, Charles Martin Smith was very supportive of the young cast, and they bonded quickly. They were further inspired by the actual locations used whenever possible.

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Consensus: Based on the remarkable true story, The Stone of Destiny is a film worth seeing. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

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Robert Carlyle stars in The Stone of Destiny, an Alliance Films’ release.

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