Giveaway Contest: Win A Copy Of Pizza On DVD

DVD Confidential editor Scott Standish says "Pizza is silly, funny and every now and then, a little heartwarming." Now you have a chance to win a free copy of Pizza on DVD. To enter, simply e-mail Scott at DVD Confidential dot com with the subject line "I Love Pizza". At the end of this week, we'll choose two lucky winners to receive copies of this great new film starring Kylie Sparks, Julie Hagerty and Ethan Embry. Good luck!

Review: Baywatch Seasons 1 & 2 (B)

Review: Baywatch (Seasons 1 & 2)
Starring David Hasselhoff, Peter Phelps, Brandon Call, Holly Gagnier, Pamela Anderson
MPAA: UR
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

I never really watched Baywatch when it was on television. However I do remember this: It was a phenomenon and it really came out of nowhere. Critics were dumbfounded as to how this show became so popular. But as they say hindsight is 20/20. So let's take a new look at Baywatch, compliment of the new Season 1 and Season 2 DVD collection.

The show focused on a group of lifeguards in Southern California. Everyone is gorgeous, shallow and without a care. Head lifeguard Mitch Buchanon (played by the Hoff) is the veteran, father figure lifeguard that helps the younger lifeguards learn their way. Because life as a handsome lifeguard in California can be tough!

Watching Baywatch now, the reason for it's popularity is clear - cheese. Baywatch is the cheesiest, campiest, silliest, most ridiculous T&A television shows of it's time and thank dog for that. Girls are running around half naked, David Hasselhoff is acting like he thinks he's the man (I guess he was back then) and the music.. total cheese. You've got to love it.

If you like retro television, it doesn't get any better than the new 5 disc collections of Baywatch (both seasons one and two). I love the packaging (ridiculously dated 80's fonts and design) and you can't beat the extras. Fans of Pamela Anderson should take note that the sultry star actually joined the cast in season two, so if you are searching strictly for Pam, head straight for season two.

Review: Greg The Bunny: Best Of The Film Parodies (B+)

Greg The Bunny: Best Of The Film Parodies (2005)
MPAA:UR
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

I love puppets. And muppets. Actually, I'm still not sure what the difference is. But I do love puppets. The foul mouthed puppets from Greg the Bunny are damn funny, and their collection of film parodies is a classic.

For those not in the know, Greg the Bunny was an edgy show that was cancelled way too early by the Fox network. Luckily, Greg and his friends returned to the tube via the Independent Film Channel, and to celebrate, the kinds folks at IFC have released a great compilation of film parodies. Greg the Bunny and his friends Warren the Ape, Seth Green (yes, that Seth Green) and Count Blah make fun of classic films like 2001, Pulp Fiction (gotta love Dead Puppet Storage) and The Godfather. This show is edgy, out of line and truly funny. With puppets. yes!

Did I mention that I love puppets? And foul-mouthed puppets? All the better. If you've never seen Greg The Bunny, then you need to check this one out.

Review: Land of Plenty (C-)

Review: Land of Plenty (C-)
Directed by Wim Wenders
Starring John Diehl, Michelle Williams, Richard Edson
MPAA: UR
Grade: C-

Review by Mark Focus

Yawn. In the words of Deniro's character in Jackie Brown, What happened to Wim Wenders? He used to be be beautiful. Land of Plenty is slow moving (a Wenders trademark) but its also just not that interesting. In other words, its boring. But they pay me to watch and review these things, so here goes.

Land of Plenty is really all about how people look at the world differently after 9/11. But the two main characters are biased from their past experiences, and they don't really have much in common with average Americans. So there is the relevance issue as well. Anyway, John Diehl from "The Shield" stars as a paranoid USASF agent that is searching for clues of possible terrorist activity. He seems to be working on his own and doesn't really seem to have all his marbles. His niece (Lana, played by Michelle Williams) is back from Palestine, so obviously she has her own bias about the world post 9/11. She's searching for Paul, as he is her only living relative.

My issues with Land of Plenty are this: if you are going to do a slow moving film, try using top of the line actors. It makes things a lot more interesting. Otherwise it just gets.. boring. Where's Harry Dean Stanton when Wim needs him? This is a yawner and I can't really recommend it for anyone, even if you did like Wings of Desire (a classic) or Buena Vista Social Club (not bad).

Review: Nacho Libre (D)

Nacho Libre (2005)
Directed by Jared Hess
Starring Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera, Héctor Jiménez, Darius Rose, Moises Arias
MPAA: PG
Grade: D

Review by Scott Standish

As a huge fan of Napoleon Dynamite, let me cast my vote. Nacho Libre is a total failure.

Usually, Jack Black is funny as hell. That's for sure. But there's a big problem with Nacho Libre, Jared Hess' follow up to Napoleon Dynamite: it's just not funny. The story revolves around Nacho (Black), a monk that yearns to be a wrestler and live a fulfilling life outside of the monastery. He hooks up with a skinny side kick (Esqueleto) and he enters the competitive world of professional wrestling. There is thin back story about how he is doing all of this in an attempt to help the kids of the orphanage. Kind of like the Blues Brothers, but without all of that crafty nuance and surreal humor to get in the way.

By the way, Nacho is also in love with Sister Encarnación (Ana de la Reguera). She frowns on his wrestling but finds him charming. This romance is supposed to be a big part of the film, however Hess seems to abandon this story line, only to sidle back up to it later. By then, who really cares?

In conclusion. Nacho Libre has absolutely zero subtext. The dialogue is weak, the story is stupid and despite Jack Black's best effort at hamming it up, this film falls dreadfully flat. A better follow-up to the Napoleon Dynamite franchise might be the upcoming Sasquatch Dumpling Gang. Saw it, liked it, and can actually recommend that one.

Review: Twelve and Holding (B)

Twelve and Holding (2005)
Directed by Michael Cuesta
Starring Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho, Zoe Weizenbaum, Jeremy Renner, Annabella Sciorra
MPAA: R

Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

Kids today face alot more challenges than they did when I was a little rascal. No where is that more evident than in the excellent film Twelve and Holding, by director Michael Cuesta.

In Twelve and Holding, Conor Donovan, Zoe Weizenbaum and Jesse Camacho play kids that face challenges in their everyday lives. One is them is overweight and deals with the problems that come with that. His relationship with a high school football coach helps him take a new look at his life. Conor Donovan plays twins (Jacob and Rudy) that get in a fight with some neighborhood kids. He is definitely a young actor to keep an eye on. Malee, played by Zoe Weizenbaum is twelve year old girl that might have been adopted by psychiatrist Annabella Sciorra. She becomes obsessed with a construction worker, and obviously, there are some issues that will be associated with that.

Twelve and Holdng is a fine film by a very talented director. It is highly recommended.

Review: Pizza (B)

Pizza (2005)
Directed By Mark Christopher
Starring Ethan Embry, Kylie Sparks, Julie Hagerty, Judah Friedlander and Marylouise Burke
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Scott Standish

One of my favorite films of all time is American Graffitti. In the film, a young Michelle Phillips gets to spend the evening cruising with the legendary John Milner, played by Paul Lemat. Milner is a little too old to be hanging with a bunch of high schoolers, but he can't seem to make the transition into adulthood. Or perhaps he simply chooses not too. Anyway, the two hang out all night (as friends) and they learn a little bit from each other.

Pizza is a sly little underrated indie film that deserves a wider audience. Ethan Embry stars as Matt Firenze, a pizza delivery guy that is way too old for his job. Like John Milner, he is popular with kids younger with him, but that's because he is hiding from his future, while living in the past, stagnating in a small town.

Enter Cara Ethyl, played by the remarkable Kylie Sparks. Cara is smart, funny, and completely unpopular with her high school classmates. It's her 18th birthday, but no one comes to her party. Matt the piza delivery guy arrives with pizzas, and a friendship is formed. Matt has sympathy for Cara, and because it's her birthday, he lets her ride with hin on his deliveries.

Pizza is sweet, funny and very unconventional. The whole "older man/younger girl" relationship is a touchy subject - for obvious reasons. The entire situation sounds creepy, but the director deals with the subject with openness, and restrained sensitivity. Despite the awkwardness of the subject matter, director Mark Christopher confidently lets the story unfold and when its all said and done, it works.

I need to rave a bit here about Kylie Sparks as the slightly overweight, too-smart to be hip Cara Ethyl. She has great comedic timing and she seems very confident on-screen. We'll be keeping an eye out for this young actress in the years ahead.

Pizza is silly, funny and every now and then, a little heartwarming. Its not a classic but its definitely worth checking out.

Review: Shadowboxer (B)

Shadowboxer (2005)
Directed by Lee Daniels
Starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Helen Mirren, Vanessa Ferlito, Stephen Dorff, Macy Gray
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Marc Focus

After watching Shadowboxer, a family member asked me "what was it about"? Frankly, I didn't even know where to start. Shadowboxer is a strange film that heads off into some unusual directions. Maybe that's why I liked it so much.

Rose (played by the brilliant Helen Mirren) is a hired assassin that has come down with cancer. She has six months to live. So she tries to make the most of it, along with Mickey, her stepson (and lover) played by Cuba Gooding Jr. The two have remarkable chemistry and it's great to see two fine actors really get into their roles. Rose and Mickey go on a hit, and during the job, they encounter Vickie, a pregnant woman (the Angelina Jolie-esque Vanessa Ferlito). Due to the shock of the attack, Vickie goes into labor. Rose takes this as a sign and she spares the girl (and baby) from being killed. In fact the pair soon take Vickie and her baby under their wing.

There are tons of twists and turns in Shadowboxer, and the acting is brilliant. There are great performances by the two stars, and Stephen Dorff, Vanessa Ferlito and Stephen Dorff all do fine work as well. Macy Gray is refreshing as Vickie's foul mouthed best friend. The cinematography is stunning. The casting is top notch. However, there is an awful lot of needless nudity and graphic sex. While the sexual adrenaline didn't bother me, I imagine it that it might be a bit too much for some. The film probably would work just as well without it. But, as I said, it didn't really bother this reviewer.

Shadowboxer is a fine little film that comes as a nice surprise. Excellent acting, great cinematography and interesting casting. This one's a winner.

Review: Dick Tracy Show (Complete Animated Series) (B)

Review: The Dick Tracy Show (Complete Animated Series) (B)
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

The Dick Tracy Show was a fantastic animated series that ran in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Created by UPA, this series was a somewhat bizarre crime-fighting show that had lots of corny jokes and slapstick comedy. Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoyed this four disc compilation of the entire animated series.

Of course, Dick Tracy is the star of the show, but he really is just the set up man for his sidekicks, pals and evil enemies. My favorites are Mumbles, Flattop and Pruneface. GoGo Gomez, Joe Jitsu and Heap O'Callory also bring some laughs to the table and I found the crude animation style a little charming, especially in today's day of "over the top" Pixar style animation.

I rarely go into the DVD packaging of compilations, but I have to note that this series also comes with a nice little comic book. This collector's edition comes with 4 discs packed with 130 original cartoon episodes. It's a nice little piece of American animation from day's past.

Review: Save The Last Dance 2 (D+)

Review: Save The Last Dance 2 (2006)
Directed by David Petrarca
Starring Izabella Miko, Columbus Short, Jacqueline Bisset, Aubrey Dollar
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: D+

Review by Bobby Nashville

Argh. Another direct to video sequel. And of course, this one doesn't even have the original lead actress (Julia Stiles) back in the saddle. Save The Last Dance 2 is an exercise in pure capitalism. Obviously the first film made a ton of money, so why not crank out a cheap sequel? After watching this bland sequel, I really wish they wouldn't have.

Save The Last Dance 2 is the continuing saga of Sara Johnson, a wanna-be dancer that is now attending Julliard. The original role was played by Julia Stiles, and frankly, she's a much better actor than "Coyote Ugly" star Izabella Miko. She's not necessarily bad, but she's also not very good. On the other hand, the folks at MTV had the wise idea to hire Jacqueline Bissett as the grouchy instructor. She's a legend, and still very nice on the eyes, but even an old pro like Bissett can't get this train back on track.

Save The Last Dance 2 had to be made, just to rake in the extra cash that the studio felt was out there for the taking. But why not take the film somewhere? This rather bland sequel doesn't really surprise, or really entertain.

Review: Crossing The Bridge: The Sounds Of Istanbul (B-)

Crossing The Bridge: The Sounds of Istanbul (2005)
Directed by Faith Akin
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Mark Focus

If you are a fan of good music, or world travel, then Crossing The Bridge: The Sounds of Istanbul is for you. A rich blend of visual tapestries and audio delights, I found it charming. The film is an exploration of the incredible music that one finds on the streets of Istanbul. Mesmerizing and tempting, it is a wonderful little film.

Director Faith Akin traveled through Istanbul with a camera and recording equipment, fondly documenting the fantastic sounds and sites that one finds there. The movie brings a wide variety of musical styles, from classical "Arabesque" style to modern hip-hop. The great music is matched only by the lush visuals. Crossing The Bridge: The Sounds of Istanbul won the Best Foreign Language Film from the National Society of Film Critics, the Best European Film at the European Film Awards and the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Crossing The Bridge is warm, lush and vibrant. It brings a wide variety of musical styles to the table. It's highly recommended.

Review: Vikings - Journey To The New Worlds (B-)

Vikings: Journey To New Worlds (2004)
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Bobby Nashville

I've always wanted to know a little bit about Vikings. Who they were, what they did, etc. So, I jumped at the chance to see the new IMAX film Vikings, Journey To New Worlds. By the end of the experience, I learned a ton about Vikings (man, those guys went everywhere!), and as one would expect from an IMAX movie, I was mostly blown away by the visuals. This time I wasn't even on mushrooms.

Vikings: Journey To New Worlds was shot on location in Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. The scenery for Vikings is breathtaking and the computer generated effects are startlingly real. The film showcases the triumphs and downfalls of the Vikings 500 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. The DVD is rich with bonus features. The making of featurette is excellent.

What I really like about Vikings: Journey To New Worlds is that it works for adults and kids alike. It's educational and entertaining. I guess it's the perfect example of what folks call "edutainment". Sure that sounds a bit hokey, but what the heck, I still like it. Your kids can watch it. Or you can watch it (with or without the mushrooms), of course. Either way, it's all good.

Review: Preserve Me A Seat (B-)

Preserve Me A Seat (2005)
Directed by Jim Fields
Grade: B-

Review by Mark Focus

I guess I should admit right from the start that I went into this documentary biased. I love the old time movie theaters and I absolutely hate mega-plexes. The tiny screens. The mindless teens behind the concessions that really don't care about service. The rude audience members that talk during the movie, either to someone next to them, or (and this I really hate) on their cell phone. The movie going experience has really fallen on hard times.

Preserve Me A Seat documents efforts by folks all over the country to save their favorite old time movie theaters. Elegant, old time movie theaters across the country are being torn down, in favor of parking garages and condos. This film shows the beauty of these gorgeous architectural landmarks. It also documents a group of activist's struggle to save the Indian Hills theater in Omaha. The battle that they face to save this wonderful theater is inspiring, tragic and educational.

If you love classic movies and the wonderful theaters from the past, then you must rent this film. If you have a glorious old theater in your town, and it is still in operation, please give it your business. Director Jim Fields does a wonderful job in Preserve Me A Seat, showing just how important these architectural landmarks are to our history, identity and culture.