The Package (1989) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bravo MGM; you've managed yet again to screw up a great movie with a terrible DVD. -It's actually an ORION picture, and I'd hoped that they would've cared more about its appearance, but no such luck. Of my 100+ DVDs, this is one of the worst looking with dull colors and a fuzzy image. (Let's hope they're more careful with their upcoming Woody Allen ORION collection.) This is a rather oldfashioned straight-ahead action suspenser like they just don't make them anymore in Hollywood, but it's difficult to be thrilled about that when you know you can enjoy a much sharper version on TV. Hackman, Heard, Cassidy and Jones lead a good cast, but in order to see them clearly we desperately need a remastering of this otherwise wonderful movie. Until then, avoid like the plague.

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From the director of The Fugitive comes a brilliant, explosively entertaining action/thriller featuring powerful performances by OscarÂ(r) winners* Gene Hackman (Unforgiven) andTommy Lee Jones (Men in Black). Featuring a superb supporting cast that includes Dennis Franz ( N.Y.P.D. Blue ), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and John Heard (The Pelican Brief), this'top-notch thriller(The Associated Press) really delivers!Sergeant Johnny Gallagher (Hackman) thinks he's been given a routine assignment: to escort a rebellious American soldier (Jones) from Europe to the U.S. for a military court martial. Gallagher soon learns, however, that the assignment is anything but routine, when he uncovers a terrifying military conspiracy. The clock is ticking down to a historic superpower summit, and Gallagher must stop the deadly plot before it's too late...for him and his country. *Gene Hackman: Actor, The French Connection (1971); Supporting Actor, Unforgiven (1992); Tommy Lee Jones: Supporting Actor, The Fugitive (1993)

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The In-Laws (Widescreen Edition) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)Why? Why why why?
Well, there are positives to get out of the way first. Albert Brooks is an inspired choice to recreate Alan Arkin's role from the original "In-Laws". He brings to every movie a fully-formed nebbish ready to let loose 6 or 7 really memorable zingers, and this was no exception. Michael Douglas has played a very wide range of stock characters, if not necessarily deep. And the original "In-Laws" certainly wasn't technically perfect: it suffered from atrocious film editing. Why not spruce it up with some CGI submarines, more expansive stunt sequences, and a Paul McCartney soundtrack?
Most of the changes in the remake, however, don't make sense. Brooks is playing a Chicago podiatrist, not a Manhattan dentist. Michael Douglas has been saddled with a female sidekick, the likes of which Peter Falk didn't need. There's considerable more emphasis placed on Brooks's daughter and Douglas's son... so they can argue at length about his pre-marital flings. Candice Bergen has a strenuously unfunny cameo as Douglas's ex-wife (Falk was happily married in the original, albeit to a wife who had no idea what he did for a living).
Most noticeably, the witty humor of the original is all but gone, save for a few Brooks gags. That's all been replaced by a wide variety of warmed-over sex and toilet jokes, which have been funny in a hundred other movies since "The In-Laws" came out, and which are so familiar here that you'll laugh at the joke before it's even finished. Indeed, with the main character being a nebbishy Jewish medical professional from Chicago, and his co-star an over-the-top CIA agent, you'll quickly realize that this is a remake of "Meet the Parents" more than anything else.
The accomplished David Suchet shows up for a pointless role only faintly evocative of Richard Libertini's in the original. I'm sure that blatant gags about repressed gay terrorists are still funny somewhere, but it is possible to do a movie without them. Right?
I wasn't expecting a carbon copy of the original "In-Laws". However, I was expecting something lively and original. And this movie isn't it.

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Family matters. Laughing matters. They're all a matter of laugh or death as Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks play opposites thrust together by their children's wedding and by CIA agent Douglas' involvement in an arms-smuggling sting operation, plunging mild-mannered podiatrist Brooks into the world of international intrigue.

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Nintendo DS Review

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(More customer reviews)There is just so much talk about video game systems these days. Especially since consumers are just craving the recently released Xbox 360 system from Microsoft. Argubly, there are always substitutes for anybody who has the urge for a game system, especially for when it absolutely comes to other systems. I had that craving for the Xbox 360, and instead I went back to Nintendo. After several times experimenting with different systems, I adored the DS system, and decided to stick with the handhelds. I was definitely right, and now that urge still stands with Nintendo's latest DS bundle pack.
The Nintendo DS Mario Kart bundle, is a great combination for anybody who loves the need for Nintendo's speed. The DS system is displayed in a bright red limited edition in this package, and comes with a wirst strap, AC adapter, and other accessories. I was really surprised about how simple it was to operate, without any batteries. All it takes is one quick charge on the Ac adapter, and you have wireless fun in a flash.
The game is also a great find too, Mario Kart DS. This game is absolutely great for die hard Mario Kart fanatics. In this edition, you can race your favorite characters from Mario, Yoshi, Bowser to name a few through over 30 outrageous tracks and challenges. The highlights are mainly around 2 seperate grand prixs:the nitro edition with 16 all new, clever tracks like the snow summitted DK Pass, to the even more wild and wicked Rainbow Road, and the retro edition that showcases several classsic tracks from Mario Karts past including Mario Kart 64, and the original Super Mario Kart from the Super NES system. The graphics are really superb, and definitely bring out even more with the 3-D highlights. The control is a little complex at first, but it is very easy to operate after a quick game. Arguably, for so many who've plaed the analog stick for the Gamecube and N64 editions. There are also so many great unlockables including characters like Waluigi, Dry Bones who just made a comeback in Mario Superstar Baseball earlier this year, and Daisy too.
All in all, the Nintendo DS Mario Kart Bundle is a absolutely great buy for anybody who has the need to get a video game system this year. While all the hype is on the Xbox 360 this time, this makes a great substitute for any parent. I really suggest this as a must have for anybody.
Nintendo DS: B+
Graphics: A-
Sound: B
Control: B+
Fun & Enjoyment: A
Overall: A 1/2-

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Time to race...on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection! The acclaimed Mario Kart series has hit the internet, letting you race and battle your friends all over the world with up to 4 karts at once. Not only that, but you even race 8 pals wirelessly with only a single Game Card! Over 30 courses, both new and classic! Players will tour courses from Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart: Double Dash, not to mention brand-new tracks and arenas! Total shell-tossing mayhem! With all the crazy items and frantic speed players have come to expect, this game is a Mario Kart fan's dream!

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Star Wars Battlefront II Review

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(More customer reviews)I haven't played through the whole game yet but the improvements I have seen so far are very good. However before I get to the changes in game play I have to say that this game makes Battlefront I look like a walk in the park. The space battles are HARD and when I say "HARD" I mean borderline "IMPOSSIBLE". Flying over to land on an opposing ship with turbo lasers frying anything that gets close to it only to land (if you make it) and have 10 enemy pilots waiting to blast you when you step out of the cockpit as well as automated blasters guarding vital systems that you need to blow up equals a lot of controller hurling frustration.
On the positive side the playable heroes are powerful but unfortunately seem to function more as temporary bonuses rather than "characters". Heroes can only be accessed during certain points in a battle and are limited to their own boards. For example you can't play as Han Solo during the Clone Wars. Once a hero is killed you'll be waiting awhile for them to respawn unless you change the settings.
The graphics are much improved over the first game but as a trade off (on the PS2 version) the game does suffer from choppy animation and even slowdown at times. As far as sound goes you will still get tired of hearing "They've captured a command post!" but having voice actors that at least sound similar to the each of the heroes was a nice touch.
Battlefront II also ushers in some new game play modes including the 501st mode which is Battlefront's version of a story mode that follows the storyline of the films. Some older modes have been given a new amount of depth including a much deeper, sophisticated Galactic Conquest mode and better Instant Action mode that lets you incorporate heroes right from the start (rather than having to unlock them)
All in all this is probably the most comprehensive, "all purpose" Star Wars game in awhile. While most Star Wars games focus on the events of specific movie or on characters that don't even appear in the movies, this game spans ALL the movies and has every major character, minion, and vehicle represented and playable in some way. You can't ask for much more than that...


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Star Wars Battlefront II adds all-new space combat, playable Jedi characters, and never-before-seen environments straight out of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Fans of the original Star Wars Battlefront will also enjoy an all-new single-player experience that takes players through an epic, story-based saga centering on Darth Vader's elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers where every action the player takes impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy. The game features an all-new single-player experience that takes players through an epic, story-based saga where every action the player takes impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy. The sequel features improved flight control, complex space combat that allows players to board enemy capital ships and battle to take over flying command posts or sabotage the ship to be used against the other faction, increased total online player numbers, and memorable multiplayer encounters in 12 new locations.All-new classic trilogy locations including the Death Star interior, classic space battles and the fight aboard the Tantive IV, Princess Leia's blockade runner Online Play capable (monthly fee may be required)

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