DVD Confidential King Kong Contest

We are excited to offer one lucky DVD Confidential reader the best movie contest prize pack to come along in years: one King Kong DVD, one King Kong baseball cap and one King Kong T-shirt. This is an awesome movie schwag giveaway, courtesy of Universal Pictures and DVD Confidential.

Here's how to enter the DVD Confidential King Kong Contest: 1) Sign up for our free DVD Confidential Newsletter and 2) email Scott at DVD Confidential dot com the answer to the following question: "Who played Ann Darrow in the original 1933 screen version of King Kong?" We will pick one lucky winner from the list of subscribers who have supplied the right answer. Good luck!

Review: King Kong (B+)

King Kong (2006)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Andy Serkis
MPAA: B+

Review by Scott Standish

King Kong is a thrill ride. Perhaps one that goes on a bit too long, but it is indeed thrilling.

Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) directs an all-star cast in King Kong, an updated version of the classic that we all grew up with. The film stays true to the original, and Peter Jackson artfully blends action, horror, fantasy and romance. It goes without saying that the visual effects are stunning and the art direction is incredible. The action scenes, specifically where Kong fights with various dinosaurs are truly amazing. King Kong is a wonder to behold.

The acting in King Kong is decent, although not spectacular. Naomi Watts (The Ring, Mulholland Drive delivers a fine performance but Jack Black (School of Rock, Melvin Goes To Dinner) is not at his best here. Adrien Brody (The Pianist) does a passable job as Watt's suitor but let's face it - the star of the show is Kong.

King Kong is a brilliant, amazing, mind blowing thrill ride. The problem is that it goes on way too long. Apocalypse Now can go on for three hours (it has to!), but how in the world did they allow a remake of King Kong to go past three hours? Sure, the Lord of the Rings had to be three hours (and three films) but I am baffled as to why no one told Peter Jackson to cut at least a half hour from this film. Don't get me wrong - I loved Kong but c'mon guys, three hours?

Anyway, Kong is a great film and it deserves to be in any collection, simply for the effects alone. It is truly incredible. King Kong is fun, gorgeous to look at, and at times, the film is very touching. Highly recommended.

Buy King Kong On DVD From DVD Empire

Sneak Peak: Somersault Hits Theaters April 21st

We here at DVD Confidential are always looking for interesting indie films, and this one looks like it could be good. It's called Somersault and it will be opening in select theaters in late April. Here is the info, direct from Magnolia Pictures:

"After making a misjudged advance towards her mother's boyfriend, 16-year-old Heidi (Abbie Cornish) flees her home for the small Australian ski town of Jindabyne. Entranced by the startling beauty of the wintry landscapes and falling snow, she begins to create a new life for herself. With little money or practical experience, she accepts a job at a petrol station and finds lodging with Irene (Lynette Curran). When she falls for Joe (Sam Worthington), the son of a wealthy local farmer, her self-destructive tendencies re-surface, and her fragile new world threatens to come tumbling down. An erotic, lyrical depiction of a young girl’s sexual awakening, Somersault is a breakthrough debut for both its director and its star."

Somersault opens in theaters in New York and LA on April 21st 2006. It opens in additional theaters through out June and July.

Somersault Movie Trailer

Review: Big Doll House (B)

Big Doll House
Directed by Jack Hill
Starring Judy Brown, Pam Grier, Roberta Collins, Sid Haig and Pat Woodell
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

Woohoo! You got to love the Big Doll House, a camp exploitation classic from director Jack Hill (Switchblade Sisters, Swinging Cheerleaders). The Big Doll House is lots of fun and it's one of the "early classics" now being released on DVD from legendary producer Roger Corman.

The Big Doll House has a story line that is as cliche as it gets - its basically your standard "women behind bars" flick, complete with evil wardens and drug crazed maniacs. It's a bit camp and surprisingly violent. This combo made the film a huge hit on the drive-in circuit. The Big Doll House was the second film for Corman's New World Pictures division and it helped to kick start the careers of Pam Grier (Jackie Brown, Big Bird Cage, L Word) and Sid Haig (Spider Baby, House of 1000 Corpses, Devil's Rejects).

If you are a Jack Hill or Roger Corman fan, you've probably got this one in your collection already. If you are interested in checking out a good exploitation film from the seventies, then you have to add this to your rental list. Big Doll House is a great "girls behind bars" movie and it's highly recommended.

Win The Triangle On DVD

Want to win a copy of The Triangle on DVD? We are excited to announce a giveaway of the Sci-Fi Channel event The Triangle on DVD, to one lucky DVD Confidential reader. DVD Confidential reviewer Bobby Nashville recently remarked about The Triangle, "For television drama, this mini-series is actually above and beyond what I expected."

Here's how to be eligible to win a copy of the Triangle on DVD. First, make sure you are subscribed to DVD Confidential's Monthly Newsletter (you must be a monthly subscriber to be eligible). Then, email scott at dvdconfidential dot com with the subject line "bermuda triangle". The first eligible entrant wins the DVD. Good luck!

Review: The Triangle (B-)

The Triangle (2005)
Directed by Craig R Baxley
Starring Eric Stoltz, Catherine Bell, Lou Diamond Phillips & Sam Neill
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Bobby Nashville

Ah, the Sci-Fi Channel. Where would we be without it? They churn out bad science fiction movies at a mighty fast clip and the bad ones are usually so bad that they actually are good (if that makes any sense). Occasionally, as is the case with The Triangle, they actually hit upon some decent fare.

The Triangle was a "television event" that aired on the Sci-Fi channel a little while back. Basically it was a three hour movie that was chopped into a mini-series and although the story muddles along, The Triangle does keep you interested throughout. The fact that it contains some decent B actors (Eric Stoltz, Sam Neill and Lou Diamond Phillips to start) is also a plus.

The story to The Triangle? Well, you guessed it, it's about a team of rag tag scientists, paranormal experts and grizzled journalists investigating that legendary triangle just off the coast of Florida. You know about the Bermuda Triangle, right? Boats disappear, then reappear without the crew. Planes also evaporate into thin air, then reappear decades later. Hallucinations, time travel, ghosts - it's all here in the Bermuda Triangle, so you can bet that it's perfect for the Sci-Fi channel's audience.

Bryan Singer (X-men, Usual Suspects) and Dean Devlin (Independence Day) produced this cheesey but entertaining mini-event and it shows. There are tons of decent special effects (and some shoddy ones tossed in for good measure) but overrall, the Triangle looks pretty darn good.

The acting in The Triangle isn't too bad (Lou Diamond Phillips is very good here) and the dialogue, while corny at times, is sometimes clever. For television drama, this mini-series is actually above and beyond what I expected. For science fiction and fantasy fans, The Triangle is not a bad choice.

Buy The Triangle On DVD

King Kong Online Game

The weekend is here and it's time for a little fun. We love video games and if you are looking for some diversion, here's some cool news:

The King Kong: The Battle for Skull Island game has just premiered online! This looks totally awesome. In the King Kong Battle game, users play the role of King Kong in an earth-shaking, no-holds-barred brawl with another monstrous denizen of Skull Island - the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Play the game brought to you by the release of Peter Jackson’s King Kong on DVD March 28th.

Play the King Kong Online Game

Review: Loggerheads (C+)

Loggerheads (2005)
Directed by Tim Kirkman
Starring Tess Harper, Bonnie Hunt, Chris Sarandon, Michael Learned and Kip Purdue
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: C+

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

A sly, subtle film, Loggerheads examines three separate families in North Carolina as they deal with change. An official selection at Sundance, the movie certainly has a confident tone. However, I felt that Loggerheads moved at a turtle's pace (pun intended) and I was hoping for a stronger script.

The acting in Loggerheads is actually quite decent. Bonnie Hunt stands out as a woman that has come to a crossroads in her life. She gave up her son for adoption at the age of 17 and feels that she now needs to locate him. Unfortunately, the adoption agency will not give up the information and she struggles to keep her life in order.

Chris Sarandon and Tess Harper put in decent acting performances in Loggerheads, but the script does not test their skills appropriately. The story line is a bit tedious and the pacing is deliberately slow. The camera work is fair and the music is average. I was expecting a little more from Loggerheads, a mellow laid back movie that fails to deliver the big dramatic punch.

Ellie Parker Comes To DVD April 11th

DVD Confidential has the inside scoop on Ellie Parker, starring Naomi Watts. The DVD is scheduled to be released April 11th. Here is the info, direct from the studio:

"A laugh-out-loud comedy about an aspiring actress trying to make it in Hollywood, “King Kong,” “21 Grams” and “Mulholland Drive” star Naomi Watts has the role of a lifetime in “Ellie Parker”, which is written and directed by Scott Coffey. Strand Releasing Home Video will release “Ellie Parker” on DVD, streeting April 11th.

“Ellie Parker” is a comic character study of a woman in contemporary Los Angeles who is struggling for integrity in her career and personal life – as she waits, and waits, for the actor’s dream of a Big Break. Watts and Coffey produced the film together, gathering a cast that includes Chevy Chase as Ellie’s manager, Rebecca Rigg as her best friend, Mark Pellegrino as her boyfriend, Coffey as a possible love interest and Blair Mastbaum as a crazy German director who may or may not hire her. Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar also makes a cameo appearance.

A character tailored to Watts’ impressive talents – Variety likened the actress to both Carole Lombard and Lucille Ball in its review of the film, Ellie Parker is the classic aspiring starlet who is perhaps a bit too old for the crazy life she leads. She is determined, however, to get her big break, even as she is forced to endure almost constant rejection and the unreasonable demands of would-be filmmakers and various Los Angeles poseurs. There’s never been such an acerbic look at the underside of the film industry as in “Ellie Parker”.

“A good movie, fearless and true, observant and merciless,” said Roger Ebert in the Two Thumbs Up review from Ebert and Roeper. “Naomi Watts was brave to make it and gifted to make it so well.” The Los Angeles Times raved “’Ellie Parker’ is at once hilarious and harrowing, and in being so, seems right on target…it’s a funny, fractured valentine,” while The New York Times exclaimed “corrosive, deadpan…it’s a tour de force.” Newsday called the film “killingly smart.” Perhaps Salon.com summarized the film most eloquently: “The sharpest, most authentic portrait of Hollywood life made in the last several years.”

“Ellie Parker” was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, and the film won a Special Jury Award as Best American Film at the Seattle Film Festival. At this same Festival, Watts was specially sited “for her bold, courageous and hilarious performance.”

“Ellie Parker” was initially a 16 minute short film which received great acclaim and lots of shorts film festival awards. Since the response to the short was so positive, Watts and Coffey decided to expand the premise into a feature film, giving the filmmakers the opportunity to explore the character more deeply. Thanks to Watts’ impressively layered performance and Coffey’s obvious affection for some of the archetypes he lampoons, those considering an acting career might think twice."

The DVD of “Ellie Parker” contains over 90 minutes of Special Features, including:

· Commentary Track by Writer/Director Scott Coffey
· Deleted Scenes
· Alternate Scenes
· Bonus Scenes
· Original Theatrical Trailer
· Letterbox, 16x9, Motion Menu

Buy Ellie Parker On DVD

Lovely By Surprise and The Neverything

We here at DVD Confidential are always on the look out for indie films. So it is refresh to see not one, but two series of quirky, interconnected short films debuting simultaneously on two sites: http://www.LovelyBySurprise.com and http://www.TheNeverything.com. Here is the info, direct from the producers.

"The five-week Web series brings together stars from Oscar-winning movies and hit television series, including "Grey's Anatomy," "A Beautiful Mind," "Amistad" and "Walk the Line." Written and directed by Kirt Gunn, they tell the story of an author whose fiction overtakes her real life. The two sides of the story (the fictional and the real) are presented on two separate Web sites -- one by Lincoln, the other by Mercury.

The narratives presented in LovelyBySurprise.com and TheNeverything.com preview the upcoming yet-to-be-named full-length feature film, written and directed by Kirt Gunn.

In Lincoln Zephyr's "LovelyBySurprise.com," an author who is experiencing a bout of writer's block turns to her mentor and former flame for advice. As the story progresses each week, viewers discover more about the conflict clouding her creative process.

Mercury Milan's "TheNeverything.com" introduces a series of offbeat vignettes with an independent film sensibility. Two quirky brothers lead a carefree, child-like exi"stence in their unconventional world: a houseboat in the middle of an empty field. They know nothing about the outside world. As the story unfolds, viewers learn that one brother is drawn to discover more of what the world has to offer.

Be sure to check out these quirky films available on http://www.LovelyBySurprise.com and http://www.TheNeverything.com two cool interactive sites dedicated to the short film form!"

Review: Red Eye (B-)

Red Eye (2005)
Directed by Wes Craven
Starring Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox, Jayma Mays
Rated: PG-13
Grade: B-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Red Eye is a thrilling little film... at least for the first half. Directed by horror film veteran Wes Craven, Red Eye has it's moments of chills and thrills, but in the end, this film does not complete the job.

Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers) stars as Lisa Reisert, a young hotel manager that is taking a much needed vacation. While waiting for her plane, she meets Rippner (played by Cillian Murphy, the wonderful villian from Batman Begins) a ruthless man that threatens family. I won't give away too much of the plot here, but suffice it to say that this is a simple, honest mystery/thriller held together by fine acting.

Kudos aside, the plot to Red Eye has loopholes galore and the ending breaks down into rather standard fare. There are a million opportunities in this film where the viewer asks "why doesn't the main character do something different?"

If you are seeking out a decent thriller to rent, you could do much worse than Red Eye. This capable film moves nicely, has tight cinematography and editing. The acting is above par in Red Eye, and despite a flawed script, the film is recommended.

The Triangle Comes To DVD

From our friends at Lionsgate Home Entertainment comes some exciting news. The exciting miniseries, The Triangle will be released on DVD March 28th, 2006. The Triangle originally aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2005 and was the network’s biggest event of the year. Here is the official synopsis for The Triangle, direct from the studio.

"Featuring an all–star cast including Eric Stoltz, Catherine Bell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Davison and Sam Neill, The Triangle offers a look into the dangerous truths behind one of the greatest legends of our time. Billionaire Eric Benirall (Sam Neill) is losing his cargo ships and their crews at a frightening pace – and he wants answers. His handpicked team of subject-specific experts includes skeptical tabloid journalist Howard Thomas, ocean resource engineer Emily Patterson, scientist/adventurer Bruce Geller and psychic Stan Lathem. Recruited with the promise of unlimited funding for their research and the chance for once-in-a-lifetime riches, the team sets out to solve this most daunting of puzzles. Deepening the mystery are circumstances surrounding Meeno Paloma, a boat pilot who experienced The Triangle’s deadly forces on a Greenpeace expedition – and whose life has never been the same since. After a jetliner disappears over The Triangle, bizarre, unexplainable occurrences begin to affect each member of Benirall’s team. When the government takes an alarming interest in their work, the four unlikely friends are drawn into something far more dangerous."

Buy The Triangle On DVD

Review: Domino (B-)

Domino (2005)
Directed by Tony Scott
Starring Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Edgar Ramirez, Delroy Lindo, Mena Suvari, Christopher Walken, Macy Gray and Dabney Coleman
MPAA: R
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

Talk about all over the place, this movie goes in a million directions at once. Chock full of cinematography hijinks and post production stylings, Domino has every trick in the book visually. The film looks wild and it certainly captures the tense lifestyle of it's main characters, professional bounty hunters.

Domino is based on the true story of Domino Harvey, a major model that quit the runway in favor of hunting down heavily armed criminals. Keira Knightley shines as Domino, and her co-star Mickey Rourke (Pope of Greenwich Village, Spun, Sin City), once again gives an incredible performance. Rourke is a truly underappreciated American actor and hopefully the Academy will give this man his due one of these days. Stars galore fill out the cast, including Macy Gray, the ubiquitous Christopher Walken (Wedding Crashers, King of New York), and hey, check it out - it's Dabney Coleman and those two dorky guys from 90210!

Domino certainly has it's moments, but when all is said and done, it tries too hard to be both an action thriller and a comedy. That's hard to pull off. Domino bombards the viewer from all angles and one is left not knowing, or really caring much for the main characters in the end. It's a shame, too, because the acting in Domino shines, especially from Knightley, Rourke and Ramirez. Walken fans will be disappointed, he phones this one in. In conclusion, if you are looking for an over the top rental, you might find Domino interesting, but don't go in with high expectations.

Buy Domino On DVD From Amazon

What We Are Reading: Hatter M - The Looking Glass Wars

Hatter M - The Looking Glass Wars
Story by Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier
Full color art by Ben Templesmith

Review by Bobby Nashville

I am a newbie when it comes to comic books, novellas and such. I do like a good story though and I really liked Sin City and Hell Boy, two recent films based on comic books. Hatter M is a series of stories with a similar tone: dark and brooding, with a sly sense of humor. I like that.

Hatter M tells the story of Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan. He is shot through a time portal and finds himself separated from Princesss Alyss of Wonderland. To make matters worse, he is now in Paris, France in the year 1859. He encounters secret enemies, evil doers and strange happenings at every turn. The streets are dark, the inhabitants are mysterious and Hatter M struggles to utilize all of his weapons. His mission is to return to his own time and place and make things right with the world.

The story and art direction behind Hatter M is tailor made for a film version, as I am sure the publishers are aware. The first edition of Hatter M sold out quickly and there is a huge demand for the second installment in the four part series. If you are a comics fan, this is an excellent series to check out.

Hatter M Looking Glass Wars Web Site

Review: Capote (B+)

Capote (2005)
Directed by Bennett Miller
Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Capote is a fascinating film that features one of the best acting performances in years. Philip Seymour Hoffman (Love Liza, Boogie Nights, 25th Hour) channels author Truman Capote so well, that you truly believe that he is Capote. It is a remarkable performance, and in this reporter's opinion, he deserved the Oscar win.

In the film, Truman Capote researches and writes In Cold Blood, a book about the vicious murders of an entire family in Kansas. He befriends killer Perry Smith and as the book nears completion, he begins to realize the toll that the book has taken on him. The pacing of Capote is excellent. One feels for Truman Capote as he is drawn deeper and deeper into the story. The ending of the film is poignant, sad and ultimately tragic.

Capote features some excellent supporting performances from some of our favorite actors. Chris Cooper (Adaptation) plays Alvin Dewey, the police chief that entertains the author, but is still determined to see justice prevail. Catherine Keener (Full Frontal, 40 Year Old Virgin, Lovely & Amazing) plays author Harper Lee and look for DVD Confidential fave Bruce Greenwood as Capote's close friend Jack Dunphy.

Well directed and remarkably well acted, Capote is a must see film. Highly recommended.

Academy Award Winners For 2006

Here are the winners of the 2006 Academy Awards:

Best motion picture of the year
Crash

Achievement in directing
Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
George Clooney, Syriana

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener

Original screenplay
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash

Adapted screenplay
Brokeback Mountain

Achievement in cinematography
Memoirs of a Geisha

Achievement in film editing
Crash

Achievement in art direction
Memoirs of a Geisha

Early Warning: Saw III Set For Halloween 2006

DVD Confidential has learned that the third installment in the Saw saga is set for release this Halloween. The first two were absolutely amazing and we are truly excited to see this third film in the series. Here is all of the advance information on Saw III, direct from the studio:

Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II) and screenplay by Whannell. The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.

Saw II set a Lionsgate record with a three-day opening weekend of $31.7 million last Halloween, becoming the widest release in Lionsgate history and achieving one of the best opening weekends ever for a horror sequel. With a domestic box office of over $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, Saw II easily eclipsed the $55 million domestic box office total of the original Saw. Saw and Saw II have grossed nearly $250 million in combined worldwide box office.

Saw II debuted as the #1 DVD in North America two weeks ago, becoming the fastest-selling theatrical DVD release in Lionsgate history with 3.9 million units sold in its first week alone. The movie was also released on VHS and UMD. The Saw franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.

"Yes, there will be more blood," said Block and Constantine. "Saw III will involve the same creative forces responsible for the tremendous success of Saw II. The Twisted team of Mark and Oren, along with Darren, James and Leigh, have all agreed to be prominently involved in Saw III. We are proud to be partnered with some of the most disturbing creative talents on the planet, and the Saw franchise will ensure that gore becomes every bit as much a Halloween staple as ghosts, goblins and candy corn." Block noted that the film will be dedicated to Twisted Pictures principal and Saw producer Gregg Hoffman, who passed away in November 2005.

"We have been discussing story lines that extend the Saw franchise to new limits and beyond with Lionsgate for the past several months," said Burg and Koules. "The most important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the Saw franchise’s core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the Saw saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud."

Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

Sneak Peek: La Mujer De Mi Hermano

DVD Confidential has the early news on the much talked about independent film La Mujer De Mi Hermano. Here is the inside scoop, direct from the studio:

"Lionsgate Films is proud to present the theatrical release of La Mujer De Mi Hermano on April 14th 2006. A beautiful, moving drama from director Ricardo de Montreuil.

After almost ten years of marriage, the stunningly attractive Zoë (Bárbara Mori) realizes that her marriage to Ignacio (Christian Meier) no longer carries the passion and spark it once had. Emotionally adrift, she is left to search for those sensations once again, and soon finds herself seduced into the arms of Gonzalo (Manolo Cardona), her husband’s brother. At first, Zoe becomes reinvigorated by the romance. But her decision soon launches a series of events that drives these three people through a gauntlet of revenge, secret and despair that will unravel them all."

Official La Mujer De Mi Hermano Web Site

DVD Giveaway: Win A Copy Of The Ice Harvest

Want to win a copy of the Harold Ramis' film The Ice Harvest, starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton? Of course you do!

Sebastian Francis Kennedy says "Harold Ramis has a very good track record when it comes to comedy. Groundhog Day is perhaps one of the most underrated comedies of all time. Caddyshack is a classic and National Lampoon's Vacation is one of the most popular comedies of our era. Obviously, the gentleman knows comedy."

Here's your chance to win one of the most eclectic dark comedies of the year. To be eligible, simply sign up for our Monthly Newsletter. Early next week we will pick the winners! Winners will be notified via e-mail.