DVD reviews (ratings are out of five stars)

CARS (2006) Directed by John Lasseter
Cars is the latest Disney-Pixar release which focuses on the relationship between Lightning McQueen, a young up-and-coming racing car, and a quirky group of out-of-town vehicles living in Radiator Springs, a near-ghost town which has gone out of business due to the installation of a new bypass. Lightning learns - with the help of his new friends - that winning is not necessarily the only thing that matters when it comes to racing. To be honest, I started out watching this movie dubiously. I had read average reviews (ie. not the usual spectacular reviews Pixar releases normally get) and cars are nowhere near as cute as fish or as lovable as toys (or so I thought). But the usual sharp script we have come to expect is there. The usual delightful characters are there. The gorgeous animation is continually improving. The Disney morals and ability to move an entire audience : still there. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised that - while maybe not reaching the classic status Finding Nemo has - Cars still managed to leave me thinking that Pixar is still the best when it comes to animated movies with heart and style. ****

Ice Age 2 : The Meltdown (2006) Directed by Carlos Saldanha
Ice Age 2 begins in an age where the polar caps are starting to melt and the home of Diego the sabre-toothed tiger, Manny the mammoth and Sid the sloth (among others) is under threat. And so begins a humorous journey to find a new home before the melting ice makes way for a massive tidal wave of water which will flood the entire valley. Along the way, Manny the mammoth meets Elly, whom he needs to convince possums are small and not mammoth-sized, and Scrat has (many) more difficulties in finding an acorn to hold onto for more than a couple of seconds. This sequel contains some fabulous animation (much of which looks better than most CGI-enhanced live action), and the characters are a lively bunch indeed (Queen Latifah is the ideal choice for Elly). However, unlike Cars, much of the action and comedy in Ice Age 2 is more for the younger folk. Still, an ideal way to spend a weekend afternoon for the family. Be sure to watch some of the special features included on the DVD. ***

Nanny McPhee (2006) Directed by Kirk Jones
Nanny McPhee is one of the most magical movies to be released in some time, but with all the hype surrounding the Harry Potter, Narnia and Lord of the Rings movies, I fear some people may have missed out. Emma Thompson is terrific as Nanny McPhee, who arrives at the home of a father at his wits end trying to control his revoltingly bratty children. She manages to eventually teach them a lesson or two about behaving and, in time, wins their hearts. Featuring a superb score by Patrick Doyle, enough magic for five movies, and some stunning special effects and hilarious comedy, this movie (based on the children's book Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand) is a must-see for children and adults alike. ****

Final Destination 3 (2006) Directed by James Wong
This is the third (and final?) part of a cult horror trilogy aimed at the teen market. But there is something intriguing about these movies which make them the sort of movie you want to hate but secretly love at the same time. What sets this trilogy apart from the others is that there is no knife-wielding maniac dressed in a Halloween mask, no monsters, no aliens. Villain in these movies in death itself. And the helpless teens in these movies die in such creatively morbid, gruesome ways that you'll find yourself eager to see what the writers have up their sleeves next. Of course, it's complete trash, but it's an entertaining ride, so to speak (since the initial occurance where the kids cheat death in this one is a rollercoaster accident), and the young cast is generally likeable (except for the blonde bimbos in one particularly nasty scene). ***1/2

The Fog (2006) Directed by Rupert Wainwright
This is a particularly slow-moving horror film where by the time you've got to the end you'll wonder whether it was worth sitting through at all. I was relatively excited by the preview (but previews make everything look exciting), but maybe that was because I have fond memories of the 1980 John Carpenter original. The premise is simple - a thick fog bank approaches a sleepy island town and, as it turns out, inside the fog are a not-so-friendly group of murdered ghosts seeking their revenge on the residents. The effects are pretty dodgy and the cast is stiff, so unless you're a die-hard horror fan or have nothing to do on a dark, stormy night, it might be best to leave this one on the library shelf! Still, there are a few scenes where you think it might all be worthwhile. Then, Selma Blair opens her mouth again and you kick yourself for thinking it. **1/2

Ghostbusters (1984) Directed by Ivan Reitman
Ah, nothing like an old classic. Movies and moviemakers had so much imagination back then. Now, everyone relies on a good book to inspire them. This classic horror-comedy starts out when the 'Ghostbusters', a newly-formed ghost-hunting/catching group of middle-aged guys, become the most dialled number in New York City as ghosts and demons start popping up all over the place! A fantastic cast (including Bill Murray, Signourney Weaver and Dan Ackroyd), score (by the late Elmer Bernstein) and lots of scares and laughs (even now!) give this one a classic status from me! Well worth revisiting, or watching for the first time! ****1/2

Red Eye (2005) Directed by Wes Craven
This short, sharp and shiny thriller has a fantastic first half, but then loses it in it's final moments. A young hotel worker happens upon a charming - and somewhat creepy - young man in an airport shortly before their flight leaves, and ends up sitting beside him on the plane. It doesn't take her too long to realise that he has a sinister plan involving the assassination of one of her hotel clients and, if she fails to cooperate with that, the assassination of her father! A relatively far-fetched premise is handled well by Scream director Wes Craven, and the two young leads are particuarly good in their roles. However, when the plane lands, it becomes just another chase movie, which prevents the film from reaching the peak it may have since the plane sequences are so devilishly clever. ***1/2

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