Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Movie: 3
Picture/Sound: 3.5/4
Extras: 3

<I>Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Annette Bening. Directed by Kevin Costner. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1. 139 minutes. 2003. Two discs. Buena Vista Home Video 32055. R. $29.99.</I>

Video: 4/5
Audio: 3/5
Extras: 2.5/5
Boog, Elliot and all their forest friends return with an all-new adventure that is their fastest and furriest yet - this time in a big top circus! When Boog's buddies can't make their annual guys-only getaway, he decides to take a trip by himself. Stumbling across a visiting circus, Boog switches places with a look-alike circus grizzly and takes over his part in the act. But when the circus decides to go back to Russia, it's a race against time for Elliot, McSquizzy, Mr. Weenie and the gang to rescue Boog before it's too late.

Video: 2.75/5
Audio: 3.5/5
Extras: 0/5
"Otis" has everything he needs for the prom: the corsage, the convertible, the cool baby-blue tux (not to mention the fully equipped torture chamber in his basement). He even has the girl - a pretty blonde he's named Kim - who is dying to be his date. Literally.

Movie: 2.75
Picture/Sound: 4.5/4.5
Extras: 3.5

Video: 3/5
Audio: 3.5/5
Extras: 2/5
Gus Van Sant has been working on some great independent titles and forgoing the usual mainstream route. Paranoid Park reminded me a bit of his earlier film, Elephant, and takes the same route of hiring non-actors and using a low budget. Despite this approach Van Sant still delivers a very strong story with good character development. The film follows a high school skater who's involved in an unfortunate accident that costs a security guard his life. The film focuses on how this affects the boy's life and trying to figure out what to do. The narrative is weaved from different timelines allowing you to get a feel for the character before plunging you right into the events. I'm glad to see notable filmmakers start to go against the mainstream Hollywood feel with their films. Films like this show you don't need big names or high budgets to make an effective film.

Video: 3.75/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 2/5
In "Paris Je T'aime", celebrated directors from around the world have come together to portray Paris in a way never before imagined. Made by a team of contributors as cosmopolitan as the city itself, this portrait of the city is as diverse as its creators' backgrounds and nationalities. With each director telling the story of an unusual encounter in one of the city's neighborhoods, the vignettes go beyond the 'postcard' view of Paris to portray aspects of the city rarely seen on the big screen.