DVD REVIEWS; THE LUCKY ONES (15) Verdict:.Byline: DAMON SMITH THE summer holidays have dropped an atom bomb on the regular release of DVDs. So, just when you might have some time on your hands, next week's most high profile new choice is limited to a straight-to-DVD release directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist). The Lucky Ones chronicles the trials and tribulations of three Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. veterans as they struggle to reintegrate re·in·te·grate tr.v. re·in·te·grat·ed, re·in·te·grat·ing, re·in·te·grates To restore to a condition of integration or unity. re into civilian life, with the A-list cast adding sparkle to a road movie with a comedic tinge. Fred Cheever (Tim Robbins), Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams) and TK Poole (Pena) ares heading home to their loved ones on the same flight when some contrived dramatic turbulence forces them to head on to the road together to resolve their inner conflicts. Veteran officer Cheever is out of the army for good and has paternal responsibilities back in St Louis, including getting his son into Stanford University via a highstakes trip to the gambling tables in Las Vegas. Private Colee and Sgt Poole are both on 30 days' leave. She is heading for the desert strip, too, on an emotional odyssey to visit her dead boyfriend's parents, while he prays for a miracle so he doesn't have to tell his fiancee that the piece of shrapnel embedded in his groin has left him impotent: an outrageous misfortune which could end their relationship. The Lucky Ones is only tangentially tan·gen·tial also tan·gen·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or moving along or in the direction of a tangent. 2. Merely touching or slightly connected. 3. a film about the war in Iraq, using the shared experiences of the three characters as a starting point for their journey of discovery. Burger and co-writer Dirk Wittenborn have no obvious interest in making pro- or anti-war statements, keeping the tone light with obvious detours into tears and self-pity. Familiarity ultimately breeds an urge to hit the fastforward button, but the three leads, playing innately likeable and decent people, keep us watching. Out to buy for pounds 15.99, with extras including a 'Look Inside' featurette. ASSAULT OF DARKNESS (15) Verdict: HIIII FORMER soccer star Vinnie Jones always loved to go shooting, so here he is as a deranged de·range tr.v. de·ranged, de·rang·ing, de·rang·es 1. To disturb the order or arrangement of. 2. To upset the normal condition or functioning of. 3. To disturb mentally; make insane. , guntoting local called Mr Hunter in writer-director Brendan Foley's slice of horror hokum about a group of strangers stranded in the Irish countryside. DAMON SMITH UP TO pounds 7.50 CASHBACK on DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. rentals www.mailcashback.com |
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