DVD REVIEWS OF NEW RELEASES 'COLLATERAL' SHINES LIGHT ON L.A. AT NIGHT.Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor Director Michael Mann Michael Mann is the name of:
In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a film that had a compressed time frame and was set in nighttime L.A. when he came across the script for ``Collateral.'' The thriller stars Tom Cruise as a hit man named Vincent hired to kill five people involved in a case against a drug lord. Shortly after arriving in the City of Angels, Vincent hires a cabdriver, Max, played by Jamie Foxx Jamie Foxx (born December 13, 1967) is an American actor, singer, and stand-up comic. Foxx is possibly best-known for his performance of musician Ray Charles in Ray, and for his collaborations with director Michael Mann. , to ferry him around for the night, explaining that he's getting signatures to close a real-estate deal. Mann says he thought he knew Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. until he started driving around. ``In '95, I had to wait for Al (Pacino) and Bob (De Niro Noun 1. De Niro - United States film actor who frequently plays tough characters (born 1943) Robert De Niro ) to be available for `Heat.'' So for about a half year I was prowling prowl v. prowled, prowl·ing, prowls v.tr. To roam through stealthily, as in search of prey or plunder: prowled the alleys of the city after dark. v.intr. around the city with a friend of mine ... a commander in the LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. . We'd drive in an undercover car and answer radio calls from all over the city, and that's when I realized I didn't know anything about L.A. I had been living in a kind of self-imposed cultural ghetto. The director says he wanted to do a film like ``Collateral,'' because ``L.A. is virgin territory. It's relatively unexplored and very evocative and very emotive. It's kind of a landscape of dreams.'' In ``Collateral,'' though, the dreamy rhythms of a South Central jazz club A jazz club is a venue where the primary entertainment is live jazz. Often such venues are in the basement of residential buildings. They are rather small compared to other music venues, reflecting the intimate atmosphere of jazz concerts. and syncopation syncopation (sĭng'kəpā`shən, sĭn'–) [New Gr.,=cut off ], in music, the accentuation of a beat that normally would be weak according to the rhythmic division of the measure. of a trendy nightspot in a Korean area of town are turned into a nightmarish world of bullets and blood amid the neon lights and bright colors as Vincent makes his appointed rounds with a terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. Max as his chauffeur. ``Now we gotta make the best of it, improvise, adapt to the environment, Darwin, s--- happens, I Ching I Ching a book of divination and speculations. [Chinese Lit.: I Ching] See : Prophecy , whatever man, we gotta roll with it,'' Vincent tells Max when something goes wrong. Dressed in a light gray suit that doesn't seem to fit him, though it matches his salt and pepper
To help him get him ready for the role, Mann had Cruise, who has been too long underestimated as an actor, prepare for the film in a number of ways, including wearing a deliveryman's outfit and carrying a package in a busy marketplace in order to approximate the sense of anonymity needed in his character. The episode - caught on a hidden camera - is one of the extras on the 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. . Though he puts his actors through their paces, Mann insists that Cruise and Foxx ``do the heavy lifting,'' and that comes out in some detail during a scene that makes you believe them. While Foxx and Cruise are the marquee names of the film - both giving outstanding performances- it is Mann's restless vision of Los Angeles, a city even many of us who live here don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. , that is the star. ``Collateral'' (DreamWorks; $29.99) includes ``City of Night: The Making of Collateral,'' ``Special Delivery'' and other featurettes on two discs. 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King' Like the previous two extended editions of ``The Lord of the Rings'' films, the extended ``Return of the King'' is worth the time and investment. The additional 50 minutes added to the Oscar-winning best picture (making it around four hours) by director Peter Jackson helps to both clarify the story and enhance it. After the original version came out, some fans wondered about the fate of evil Saruman (Christopher Lee
Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE (born May 27, 1922) is an English actor known for his professional longevity and his distinctive basso delivery. ), whose scenes were cut out of the theatrical version. That is shown, as are numerous other events. If you noticed that the wizard Gandalf was without his white staff during the final battles or wondered how Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) got on the Corsair corsair: see Barbary States; piracy. ships, there are scenes that answer those questions. There are new special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. - one creating a warrior figure of Sauron, who up until then is seen only as a huge fiery eye. Beyond that, though, are small dramatic touches that help round out the film. Also be on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout a cameo by Jackson. ``The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)'' (New Line; $39.99) includes commentary and a host of features on four discs. 'I, Robot,' 'The Door in the Floor,' 'We Don't Live Here Anymore,' 'The Princess Diaries 2' Taking place in the not-too-distant future (2035) in Chicago, ``I, Robot'' cautions us yet again about artificial intelligence going out of control. ``Suggested'' by the 1950 stories of Isaac Asimov Noun 1. Isaac Asimov - United States writer (born in Russia) noted for his science fiction (1920-1992) Asimov , this ``I Robot,'' directed by Alex Proyas, has Will Smith as a robot-hating police detective named Del Spooner who is called in to investigate the suicide of the eminent scientist behind the rise of the robotic world. Spooner soon realizes that the scientist has left ``bread crumbs'' behind, hinting there is something undue about his death. The detective soon locks horns with his boss and the head of the robotic company, who is about to roll out a new series of the machines. ``I, Robot'' tries to tackle some philosophical questions about technology and humanity couched in arguments between Spooner and a disciple of the scientist, Dr. Susan Calvin Dr. Susan Calvin is a fictional character from Isaac Asimov's Robot Series. She was the chief robopsychologist at US Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc., the major manufacturer of robots in the 21st century. (Bridget Moynahan). The conversations are never quite as profound as you might like, as the film's focus turns to special effects (some looking like they're from a video game) and action. Still, ``I, Robot'' does raise some questions and is not without its entertainment value, especially for those who might enjoy shots of skin of the buffed-up Smith. ``The Door in the Floor,'' based on the novel ``A Widow for One Year'' by John Irving, boasts a superb performance by Jeff Bridges. An always interesting performer, Bridges' ease in slipping into a role almost makes it seem like he isn't acting. In ``The Door in the Floor,'' Bridges plays Ted Cole, a successful author and illustrator of children's books. He and his wife (Kim Basinger) have loss their teenage sons in a car accident, but even the addition of a young daughter - now 4 - shortly after the accident hasn't eased their pain. When a young man named Eddie O'Hare (Jon Foster) arrives for a summer to work as Ted's assistant, he finds his literary idol is far from the man he thought he was. The film traverses the familiar fatalistic fa·tal·ism n. 1. The doctrine that all events are predetermined by fate and are therefore unalterable. 2. Acceptance of the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable. universe of Irving, though director Tod Williams has for the most part avoided much of the author's squishier side. Still, the film is clearly Bridges'. The actor is able to encompass Ted's many contradictions the way few actors can. Kenneth Lonergan's ``We Don't Live Here Anymore'' is a corrosive look at marriage. It revolves around two couples - Mark Ruffalo and Laura Dern as Jack and Terry Linden, and Peter Krause and Naomi Watts as Hank and Edith Evans. The infidelity involved is the manifestation of deeper problems. It's hard to be sympathetic to anyone in this film, except perhaps Ruffalo's Jack, but ``We Don't Live Here Anymore'' does touch some raw nerves. ``The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'' once again takes us to the mythical kingdom of Genovia, where Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway), once a U.S. teen and heir to the throne, is advised by her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews). In this Garry Marshall-directed sequel, Mia is now graduating from college and facing suitors while searching for love. There is no need to go on about this bit of fluff - you've read the fairy tale. ``I, Robot'' (Fox; $29.90) includes commentary by Proyas and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and a making-of featurette. ``The Door in the Floor'' (Universal; $29.90) includes commentary by Williams and featurettes. ``We Don't Live Here Anymore'' (Warner; $27.95). ``The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'' (Disney; $29.99) includes commentary by Marshall and Andrews, bloopers and deleted scenes. 'Mary Poppins,' 'Meet the Parents,' 'Top Gun,' 'Rocky Anthology,' 'The Rambo Trilogy' ``Mary Poppins'' is truly one of Disney's most magical creations. Julie Andrews, who had been deemed not enough of a name to play Eliza Doolittle - a role she created on stage - in the film version of ``My Fair Lady'' - showed her star power by winning the best-actress Oscar as the super nanny who is ``practically perfect in every way.'' This 40th anniversary edition is filled with lively extras, including the new 50-minute documentary ``Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins.'' There is also fun new commentary with Andrews and Dick Van Dyke  This page is protected from moves until disputes have been resolved on the .The reason for its protection is listed on the protection policy page. , who played the chimney sweep Bert. But even without this, ``Mary Poppins'' remains a charming combination of live action and animation with great songs like the poignant ``Feed the Birds,'' the fun ``Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'' and ``A Spoonful of Sugar,'' and the Oscar-winning ``Chim Chim Cher-ee.'' With ``Meet the Fockers'' about to hit theaters, Universal is releasing a special edition of ``Meet the Parents.'' Buying the new DVD gets you some new extras in the form of two featurettes, deleted scenes and outtakes not included in the previous edition. Tony Scott's ``Top Gun'' owes its success as much to Tom Cruise's toothy grin as it does to his razzle-dazzle direction. Now there is a new, remastered edition about the hotshot Naval pilot. The story is long on action and short on logic, but never mind - all anyone wanted to see are pretty faces with a hard-rocking score. The ``Rocky Anthology'' chronicles the tale of a Sylvester Stallone's undersized undersized see dwarfism, runt. and underdog boxer whose success story in ``Rocky'' (1976) caught the public's fancy but who, by ``Rocky V'' (1950), had clearly overstayed his welcome as the fighter became a punch-drunk loser in a film that had as much appeal. There is also a box set of Stallone's other iconic character in ``The Rambo Trilogy - The Ultimate Collection.'' Again, it is the first of the three Rambo films, ``First Blood,'' that is the best. The story of a Special Forces Vietnam veteran who can't find a place in postwar America has its moments before careening The careening of a sailing vessel is laying her up on a calm beach at high tide in order to expose one side or another of the ship's hull for maintenance below the water line when the tide goes out. into a blood bath. In the two sequels, Rambo just turns into a killing machine for God, country and big box office. ``Mary Poppins: 40th Anniversary Edition'' (Disney; $29.99) includes commentary, featurettes, the new animated short ``The Cat That Looked Like a King,'' deleted song ``Chimpanzoo,'' a trivia game and pop-up fun facts on two discs. ``Meet the Parents: Special Edition'' (Universal; $29.90) includes deleted scenes, outtakes and featurettes. ``Rocky Anthology'' (MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. ; $62.96) includes all five movies plus the A&E biography ``Sylvester Stallone: The Rocky Road to the Top,'' on six discs. ``The Rambo Trilogy - The Ultimate Collection'' (Lions Gate; $44.90) includes all three movies, featurettes and commentary by Stallone on three discs. ``Top Gun: Special Collector's Edition'' (Paramount; $19.99) includes commentary by Scott, Jerry Bruckheimer and Navy experts, a documentary on the making of the film, never-before-seen footage and featurettes on two discs. 'Carnivale' and more TV It took a while to warm up to the edgy and weird HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy series ``Carnivale'' with its David Lynch overtones, but it slowly gained a strange momentum of its own. Set in the Depression-era dust bowl, it stars Nick Stahl as Ben Hawkins, a dispossessed young man who joins the traveling carnival run by the diminutive Samson (Michael J. Anderson Michael J. Anderson (October 31, 1953) is an American actor known for his role as the Man from another place in David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks, notable for being a 'little person'. Anderson was born with a genetic bone condition osteogenesis imperfecta. of Lynch's ``Twin Peaks''). Though Ben feels odd at first, it soon becomes apparent he has powers stranger and stronger than the psychics, strongmen and oddities who populate the troupe. Out in California, where the carnival is headed, there is another man with strange powers, Brother Justin Crowe Brother Justin Crowe is a fictional character in the American television series Carnivàle, inspired by the historical Charles Coughlin. The drama, set in the 1930s American Midwest, aired on HBO from 2003 to 2005. He was played by Clancy Brown. (Clancy Brown), an evangelistic preacher with tormented visions. Atmospheric, spooky, it's easy to get hooked on ``Carnivale,'' which is returning for a second season on HBO next month. By the way, Rodrigo Garcia, the son of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, directed the first and last episodes of the first season. Other notable television box sets are listed below. ``Carnivale - The Complete First Season'' (Warner; $99.90) includes all 12 episodes, three with commentary, and a featurette on six discs. ``Family Guy - The Freakin' Sweet'' (Fox; $19.90) includes five episodes chosen by series creator Seth MacFarlane, one that never aired on TV and another restored to its original uncensored state, plus commentary. ``Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond is an American sitcom originally broadcast on CBS from 1996 to 2005. It is one of the most critically acclaimed American sitcoms of its time. - The Complete Second Season'' (Warner; $44.90) includes 25 episodes from the 1997-98 season, bloopers and deleted scenes on five discs. ``Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - The Ultimate Collection'' (Ventura; $44.95) on four discs. ``Quantum Leap - The Complete Second Season'' (Universal; $59.90) includes all 22 episodes from the 1989-90 season on three discs. ``Reba - Season 1'' (Fox; $39.90) includes 22 episodes, commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers and outtakes on three discs. ``Star Trek The Original Series - The Complete Third Season'' (Paramount; $129,90) includes 24 episodes, plus two versions of ``The Cage,'' Gene Roddenberry's introduction to ``The Cage'' and featurettes on eight discs. Rob Lowman, (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) TOM CRUISE, top, and JAMIE FOXX in ``Collateral.'' (2) IAN IAN Interactive Affiliate Network IAN i am nothing IAN Instrumentation & Automation News IAN Ianuarius (Latin: January) IAN Instituto Agronomico Nacional (Paraguay) IAN Incident Area Network McKELLAN in ``The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.'' (3) JULIE ANDREWS in ``Mary Poppins.'' |
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