Maxim’s Movie Reviews and Opinions Blog

These movies are coming out on DVD and Blu-Ray the week of January 6, 2009:

Pineapple Express

(2008) R After witnessing an underworld murder involving a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez) and a drug kingpin (Gary Cole), straitlaced pothead Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) must go on the run with his dealer (James Franco, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) to escape the wrath of the vengeance-minded criminals. Acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green directs the stoner road comedy, penned by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer, Evan Goldberg. Blu-Ray (+BD Live) | DVD | [Maxim's Review]

Righteous Kill

(2008) R Academy Award winners Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star in this taut thriller as a pair of New York City detectives tasked with investigating a rash of vigilante killings linked to a case years ago, suggesting they may have put an innocent man behind bars. John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino, Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg and rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent also star in this crime drama penned by Russel Gerwitz (Inside Man) and directed by Jon Avnet. Blu-Ray | DVD

Bangokok Dangerous

(2008) R Nicolas Cage stars in this action thriller as a lonely, cold-blooded assassin known only as Joe. While on assignment in Bangkok, Joe unexpectedly falls in love with a beautiful local woman (Charlie Yeung), and finds himself questioning his violent ways. When the true nature of his assignment is revealed, Joe refuses to carry out the operation, and unintentionally sparks an all-out war with his former client. Blu-Ray | DVD  

Babylon A.D.

(2008) Unrated Hard-boiled mercenary Toorop (Vin Diesel) accepts a risky mission to escort a virus-carrying woman (Mélanie Thierry) and her guardian nun (Michelle Yeoh) from Russia to China. But Toorop gets far more than he bargained for when a mysterious religious cult stops at nothing to kidnap the woman. Based on Maurice Dantec’s novel Babylon Babies, this postapocalyptic tale of genetic mayhem also stars Gérard Depardieu and Charlotte Rampling. Blu-Ray (0)

These movies come out on DVD and Blu-Ray the week of December 23, 2008:

The Duchess

(2008) PG-13 Keira Knightley stars as Georgiana, duchess of Devonshire, in this adaptation of Amanda Foreman’s novel. Unhappily married to the duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes, in a Golden Globe-nominated role), Georgiana indulges in extravagant vices and begins a scandalous affair with politician Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). Director Saul Dibb’s drama about the aristocratic 18th-century femme fatale also stars Charlotte Rampling, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney and Aidan McArdle.  Blu-ray | DVD    

Eagle Eye

(2008) PG-13 Returning home after the shocking death of his overachieving twin brother, an aimless slacker named Jerry (Shia LaBeouf) finds himself inexplicably linked to notorious terrorist cell. Now, with the nation’s law enforcement agencies hunting them down, Jerry and single mother Rachel (Michelle Monoghan) — who’s also been framed — must work around the clock to thwart a political assassination and clear their names in the process.  Blu-ray | DVD (Widescreen) | DVD (Two-Disc Special Edition) | [Maxim's Review]    

Ghost Town

(2008) PG-13 British funnyman Ricky Gervais (”The Office,” “Extras”) stars in his first feature film lead as Bertram Pincus, a hapless gent who’s pronounced dead, only to be brought back to life with an unexpected gift: a newfound ability to see ghosts. When Bertram crosses paths with the recently departed Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear), he gets pulled into Frank’s desperate bid to break up his widowed wife’s (Téa Leoni) pending marriage to another man. Blu-ray | DVD    

Resident Evil: Degeneration

(2008) R In this animated installment of the Resident Evil saga, Claire Redfield (voice of Alyson Court) and government agent Leon S. Kennedy (Paul Mercier) reunite in a busy American airport, where a T-virus-infected zombie has been set loose amid the civilian crowd. As Claire and Leon dodge and destroy zombies and search for any survivors, they must also expose the bioterrorists who are using the T-virus attack to hold the country hostage. Blu-ray | DVD (0)

Perfect English found on a product made in China. In this case - a protective film for iPhone 3G. If you can’t quite read: Protect your iPhone as good as the original Royal quality - optical material retains the true color of the screen Anti Scratch+Anti Dirt High Transparent Washable & Reusable 3 Layers design: top colorful protective film, screen protector, bottom transparent film - Anti reflection - Anti dirty dirt - Anti ultraviolet ray 1. Clean the screen with the clothes incidental, in remove the dust and contaminations 2. Peel off the second/PET material one the screen ward gently by the lable 3. Stick the screen ward on the LCD gently, and the rip off the PET material. MADE IN P.R.C. At first I was going to highlight the errors, but then decided to let you, the reader, find them. Every time I read it, I find more nuanced Enrlish. (0)

These movies come out on DVD and Blu-Ray the week of December 16, 2008:

Mamma Mia!

(2008) PG-13 Based on the international hit musical featuring the songs of pop superstars ABBA, this charming tale centers on a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) and her plan to uncover her father’s identity by inviting three of her mother’s (Meryl Streep) former lovers to her wedding. Produced by Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, this big-screen adaptation also stars Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Christine Baranski. DVD (Widescreen | Full-Screen | Two-disc Special Edition) | Blu-Ray  

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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Widescreen)

(2008) PG-13 The third installment in the Mummy franchise takes archaeologist Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) all the way to China, pitting him against an emperor (Jet Li) from the 2,000-year-old Han dynasty, who’s returned from the dead to pursue an evil quest for world domination. This time, O’Connell enlists the help of his family — including his wife, son and brother-in-law — to quash the so-called Dragon Emperor and his abuse of supernatural power. DVD (Widescreen | Full-Screen) | Blu-Ray | [Maxim's Review]  

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Generation Kill

(2008) NR A platoon of young but highly trained Marines leads the charge of American forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion. This HBO miniseries highlights the many challenges faced by the soldiers on the front lines, such as distinguishing civilian from enemy. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Stark Sands and Jon Huertas, this realistic portrayal of the Iraq War is based on a nonfiction book by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright. DVD | Blu-Ray  

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Burn After Reading

(2008) R In this dark comedy from Oscar winners Joel and Ethan Coen, ousted CIA official Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) loses his recently penned memoir into the hands of a pair of moronic gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand) who use it to try to turn a profit. George Clooney and Tilda Swinton round out the cast of this irreverent farce, whose title alludes to former CIA director Stansfield Turner’s book Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence. DVD | Blu-Ray

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The House Bunny

(2008) PG-13 When Playboy bunny Shelley Darlington (Anna Faris) gets evicted from the mansion, she is a woman without a country — that is, until she meets the sisters of Zeta Alpha Zeta, a sorority on the brink of losing its campus chapter. The Zetas need Shelley’s makeover expertise so they can attract a new pledge class — otherwise, their house goes to rivals Phi Iota Mu. But the Zetas have something Shelly needs, too: the confidence to be herself. DVD | Blu-Ray  

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