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Chobits - Vol 07 - Chat Room
Anime.Comedy.Drama Geneon Entertainment
Hideki and Chi have been through a lot which gives their friends many things to think about and reflect upon. What mysteries and revelations will they encounter now that they have a chance to sit down and review their lives…? And finally, Sumomo and Kotoko scramble throughout the city to find Chi, who's forgotten to put on a certain clothing accessory before leaving home!

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Action.Adventure Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney PG
C.S. Lewis's classic novel "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).
Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the "Shrek" franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren't knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the "Harry Potter" franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: "Narnia" does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. "--Dan Vancini"

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Action.Adventure Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney PG
C.S. Lewis's classic novel "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).
Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the "Shrek" franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren't knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the "Harry Potter" franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: "Narnia" does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. "--Dan Vancini"

A Cinderella Story
Comedy Warner Home Video PG
If you are one of Hilary Duff's most ardent pre-teen fans, chances are you'll find something to enjoy in "A Cinderella Story", but everyone else should proceed with caution. It's an updated fairy tale for the age of instant messaging, which is how Sam (Duff) develops a crush on Austin (Chad Michael Murray) before realizing that this Tennyson-quoting poet-at-heart is actually her San Fernando Valley high school's star quarterback and most desirable hunk. In a role that squanders her proven comedic gifts, Jennifer Coolidge is Sam's Botox-injected evil stepmother, and lame attempts at comedy turn her dimwitted stepsisters into buffoons, like many of the other cast members who struggle to find "anything" funny in the screenplay. So we're left with the bland, blonde charms of Hilary Duff, who fared better in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie", but manages to salvage her mainstream appeal in a comedy for which "cute" is not necessarily a compliment. "--Jeff Shannon"

Clerks II
Comedy Weinstein Company R
Lo and behold, "Clerks II" defies the odds as a sequel that even the most ardent "Clerks" fans can be happy about. Twelve years after Kevin Smith turned the independent film world upside-down with his $27,000 black-and-white comedy, perpetual slackers Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) return for another raucous romp in suburbia, but this time there's no beloved Quick Stop mini-mart to ensure their low-level employment. Now they're aimless 33-year-olds flippin' burgers at Mooby's, a fast-food joint with a cow theme that's "udderly delicious." Dante's engaged to his long-time girlfriend but has unexpectedly fallen in love with Mooby's manager Becky (and since she's played by Rosario Dawson, can you blame him?), and Randal's still holding out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of low ambition. The responsibilities of adulthood are rearing their ugly head, and with Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) still dealing weed and generally being obnoxious, well... something's gotta give, right? The way Smith has written this long-awaited follow-up, the dilemmas of Dante, Randal, and their ongoing friendship are something that anyone can relate to, and with Dawson lighting up the screen (in a role demanded by producer Harvey Weinstein to boost box-office appeal), the movie's romantic chemistry is surprisingly delightful. Rest assured, also, that Smith (shooting mostly in color this time, on a $5 million budget) hasn't forgotten where he came from: "Clerks II" is jam-packed with the same lewd, crude humor that made "Clerks" an indie-film phenomenon, and Smith's good-natured sincerity is still on full display, ensuring that only the most prudish viewers could possibly be offended. For everyone else, this is as enjoyable as any sequel could ever hope to be, with amusing cameos by Smith-movie veterans Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, among others. "--Jeff Shannon"

A Clockwork Orange
Drama Warner Home Video R
Stanley Kubrick's striking visual interpretation of Anthony Burgess's famous novel is a masterpiece. Malcolm McDowell delivers a clever, tongue-in-cheek performance as Alex, the leader of a quartet of droogs, a vicious group of young hoodlums who spend their nights stealing cars, fighting rival gangs, breaking into people's homes, and raping women. While other directors would simply exploit the violent elements of such a film without subtext, Kubrick maintains Burgess's dark, satirical social commentary. We watch Alex transform from a free-roaming miscreant into a convict used in a government experiment that attempts to reform criminals through an unorthodox new medical treatment. The catch, of course, is that this therapy may be nothing better than a quick cure-all for a society plagued by rampant crime. "A Clockwork Orange" works on many levels--visual, social, political, and sexual--and is one of the few films that hold up under repeated viewings. Kubrick not only presents colorfully arresting images, he also stylizes the film by utilizing classical music (and Wendy Carlos's electronic classical work) to underscore the violent scenes, which even today are disturbing in their display of sheer nihilism. Ironically, many fans of the film have missed that point, sadly being entertained by its brutality rather than being repulsed by it. "--Bryan Reesman"

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Science Fiction Columbia/Tristar Studios PG
Anybody who has written him off because of his string of stinkers--or anybody who's too young to remember The Goodbye Girl--may be shocked at the accomplishment and nuance of Richard Dreyfuss's performance in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Here, he plays a man possessed; contacted by aliens, he (along with other members of the "chosen") is drawn toward the site of the incipient landing: Devil's Tower, in rural Wyoming. As in many Spielberg films, there are no personalized enemies; the struggle is between those who have been called and a scientific establishment that seeks to protect them by keeping them away from the arriving spacecraft. The ship, and the special effects in general, are every bit as jaw-dropping on the small screen as they were in the theater (well, almost). Released in 1977 as a cerebral alternative to the swashbuckling science fiction epics then in vogue, Close Encounters now seems almost wholesome in its representation of alien contact and interested less in philosophizing about extraterrestrials than it is in examining the nature of the inner "call." Ultimately a motion picture about the obsession of the driven artist or determined visionary, Close Encounters comes complete with the stock Spielberg wives and girlfriends who seek to tether the dreamy, possessed protagonists to the more mundane concerns of the everyday. So a spectacular, seminal motion picture indeed, but one with gender politics that are all too terrestrial. --Miles Bethany

Clueless
Comedy Paramount PG-13
Alicia Silverstone won everyone over with her portrayal of a Beverly Hills teen, Cher, whose penchant for helping others with their relationships and self-esteem is a cover for her own loneliness. Director Amy Heckerling ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High") made a smart, funny variation on Jane Austen's novel "Emma", sweetly romantic and gently satirical of "90210" social manners. The cast is unbeatable: Dan Hedaya as Cher's rock-solid dad, Wallace Shawn as a geeky teacher, Paul Rudd as the boy who has always been Cher's surrogate brother--and the true holder of her most secret wishes. "--Tom Keogh"

Coming to America
Comedy Paramount R
Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at the same time. There are enjoyable sequences of Murphy's Prince Akeem applying his lordly manner to his new job in a fast-food emporium, and falling for the boss's spirited daughter (Shari Headley), who teaches him how to party down, American style. But the fish-out-water premise is never fully exploited. Star spotters will have a field day locating Cuba Gooding Jr., Donna Summer, Louie Anderson, Vondie Curtis Hall, "E.R."'s Eriq La Salle, and Samuel L. Jackson in their minuscule supporting roles. "--David Chute"

The Core
Action.Adventure Paramount PG-13
Smarter than "Armageddon" and equally extreme, "The Core" is high-tech Hollywood hokum at its finest. It's scientifically ridiculous, but this variant of "Fantastic Voyage" at least "tries" to be credible as it plunges deep into the earth's inner core, where a formulaic team of experts pilot an earth-boring ship to jump-start the planet's spinning molten interior, now stalled by a military secret that could seal the fate of all humankind. It's a geophysicist's wet dream that only a fine ensemble cast could rescue from absurdity, and director Jon Amiel ("Entrapment", "Copycat") draws excellent work (and plenty of humorous interplay) from Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci, Delroy Lindo, and a host of memorable supporting players, especially "The New Guy"'s D.J. Qualls as the world's greatest cyber-nerd. With enough digital F/X disasters to satisfy anyone's apocalyptic fantasies, this is a popcorn thriller with all the bells and whistles that its genre demands. Sit back, pump up the volume, and enjoy the dazzling ride. "--Jeff Shannon"

The Covenant
Action.Adventure Sony Pictures PG-13

In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold power formed a covenant of silence. One family, lusting for more, was banished, their bloodline disappearing without a trace. Until now.
Four young students at an elite private school who are descendants of the original families who settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600s, are bound by their sacred ancestry and special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel that threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected their families for hundreds of years.

Cowboy Bebop - Session 1
Anime.Action Bandai Entertainment
Session 1: Asteroid Blues
Session 2: Stray Dog Strut
Session 3: Honky Tonk Women
Session 4: Gateway Shuffle
Session 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels

Each of these two snazzy 20-minute installments is a self-contained and satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter, from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998. This is elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray, straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance cop with a cyborg sidekick and a genetically enhanced Welsh Corgi assistant, and as many wisecracks as punches get thrown. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format. --David Chute

Cowboy Bebop - Session 2
Anime.Action Bandai Entertainment
Session 6: Sympathy for the Devil
Session 7: Heavy Metal Queen
Session 8: Waltz for Venus
Session 9: Jamming With Edward
Session 10: Ganymede Elegy

Cowboy Bebop - Session 3
Anime.Action Bandai Entertainment
Session 11: Toys in the Attic
Session 12: Jupiter Jazz, Part I
Session 13: Jupiter Jazz, Part II
Session 14: Bohemian Rhapsody

The centerpiece of the third disc of this popular series is the two-part adventure "Jupiter Jazz," which offers hints about the shrouded past of hero Spike Spiegel. Spike returns to his old haunts on Callisto in search of a mysterious woman, and comes into conflict with his former underworld associates: the icy Vicious, apprentice mobster Lin, and transgendered barroom musician Gren. Director Shinichiro Watanabe's approach to storytelling is often fragmented and nonlinear, but the results form a strikingly moody collage of falling snow, gritty, blue-tinted cityscapes, and melancholy saxophone riffs. Few big-budget Hollywood features have presented a sense of urban alienation as effectively. The mini-mystery, "Toys in the Attic," comes to an unsatisfying conclusion that the elaborate computer-generated tracking shots can't disguise--and suggests that adding the spunky Ed to the cast was not a great idea. In "Bohemian Rhapsody," the crew of the Bebop find themselves pitted against an aged programming genius who designed a high-tech transportation system--and hid a flaw in the software. But he also concealed clues in chess pieces, setting up a formal and formidable battle of wits. Note: Viewers of Chinese ancestry and other viewers may find the depiction of the gang lords in "Jupiter Jazz" offensive. Unrated: Suitable for ages 13 and older for nudity, violence, and adult situations. --Charles Solomon

Cowboy Bebop - Session 4
Anime.Action Bandai Entertainment
Session 15: My Funny Valentine
Session 16: Black Dog Serenade
Session 17: Mushroom Samba
Session 18: Speak Like a Child

Director Shinichiro Watanabe and writer Keiko Nobumoto continue to explore the pasts of the main characters in this gritty, outer-space Western. In "My Funny Valentine," Faye confronts a two-bit confidence man and discovers that her background is as much of a mystery to her as it is to everyone else. "Black Dog Serenade" reunites Jet Black with his former partner at the ISSP (Inter Solar System Police) against Udai Taxim, the criminal whose attack cost Jet his left arm. This dark, violent tale of betrayal, discovery, and revenge offers both surprises and insights. In the silly "Mushroom Samba," the Bebop is out of fuel, and everyone's broke and hungry. Ed goes off to search for something to eat, and gets involved in the pursuit of a seedy mushroom dealer. "Speak Like a Child" showcases the sardonic humor that has won Cowboy Bebop fans on both sides of the Pacific. A mysterious package arrives C.O.D. for Faye that contains an ancient artifact--a Beta videocassette! Spike and Jet ransack a ruined museum on Earth to find a player; when they finally view the tape, they see a young girl cheering her future self, a girl who looks curiously like Faye... Unrated: Suitable for ages 13 and older for nudity, violence, and adult situations. --Charles Solomon



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