If you’re a native Phoenician like me, you spent Saturday mornings glued to the television set watching “World Beyond” on Channel 5. Where else could you get your fill of B-grade movies like Starman, Food of the Gods, The Blob, and best of all, Godzilla. If you’ve seen the modern Godzilla with Matthew Broderick you’ll immediately recognize it as far slicker cinematographically and special effects-wise, and yes, perhaps even plot-wise too. But I found myself missing the mechanically squawky roar of the old Godzilla. You really can’t beat the cheesy charm of the originals, or the soundtrack that didn’t quite match the lips of the speaking actors (most Godzillas were dubbed from Japanese; and it is both obvious and yet oddly appealing). If you want to revive those days spent squatting in front of the old pre-remote TV set and eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles before your parents woke up, then check out “Godzilla, King of the Monsters,” “Godzilla versus Mothra,” “Godzilla versus Rodan,” “Godzilla: Terror of Mechagodzilla,” or “Son of Godzilla.” Relive your youth and introduce these time-worn treasures to your own kids.
Sometime in the near future, Kate is captured while trying to escape the ultra right-wing fundamentalist state of Gilead, once called the United States. Toxic waste from several ecological disasters have caused most women to become sterile. The rich and powerful want the most coveted of all things, a baby. Women of child bearing age are “offered” to those in power to serve as surrogate wives. Kate is trained, brainwashed to be a handmaid and is sent to the Commander (Robert Duvall) for impregnation. After the ceremony, based on the story of Rachel, the Commander’s wife Serena Joy (Faye Dunaway) feels left out, and their handmaid Offred (Natasha Richardson) feels like used property. She knows she must have a baby or she will die; or worse, be forced to live in the toxic dumps. For me, the movie’s ending came a little too quickly, while the book tells a fuller story. This is a stark and scary science fiction thriller that is a mixture of Orwell and Bradbury.
If you are in the mood for a great psychological thriller, then you should watch Mr. Brooks. It stars Kevin Costner, Dane Cook, and many other great actors. Kevin Costner plays a clean cut entrepreneur by day and serial killer by night with Dane Cook looking to become his apprentice. It is on the edge of your seat entertainment. One of the best thrillers I’ve seen in a long time.
This is quite possibly one of the best adaptations of a novel ever filmed. The basic premise-- boy works to win the heart of girl who despises him -- has since inspired at leasthalf the romance novels ever written, but here's where it all began. The result is just as "light, bright, and sparkling" asJane Austen intended. Jennifer Ehle is absolutely charming as the witty Elizabeth Bennett, while Colin Firth deservedly shot to sex-symbol stardom thanks to his turn as Mr. Darcy. Guaranteed to leave you smiling, this isthe DVD equivalent of chocolate!
