DVD REVIEWS OF NEW RELEASES.Byline: Rob Lowman `Syriana' rivets with story, acting `It isn't clearly black and white, but there are questions to be asked,'' says star and producer George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (May 6, 1961) is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter who gained fame as the lead doctor in the long-running television drama, ER on one of the extras on ``Syriana.'' ``That doesn't mean there is anything right about terrorism,'' he continues, ``but we have to at least discuss what creates the environment for those sorts of things.'' Clooney is referring to the questions of oil, money, power and terrorism that are at the heart of his intricate geopolitical ge·o·pol·i·tics n. (used with a sing. verb) 1. The study of the relationship among politics and geography, demography, and economics, especially with respect to the foreign policy of a nation. 2. a. thriller and, of course, what dominates real headlines. His character, Bob Barnes Bob Barnes is an American comic strip artist. His work includes:
(1) (Confidentiality Integrity Authentication) The three important concerns with regards to information security. Encryption is used to provide confidentiality (privacy, secrecy). operative (Clooney put on 30 pounds for the role) whose turf is the Middle East. Considered a maverick -- perhaps expendable -- by his employers, Bob does not see the post-9/11 world in black-and-white terms, either, and eventually becomes part of a clandestine power struggle involving oil companies and Middle East emirs as terrorism continues its allure to the disenfranchised in that part of the world. Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan (who also wrote: ``Traffic,'' a film with a similarly complex story structure inspired by a real issue -- the illegal drug trade), ``Syriana'' had its critics, who complained it painted an unfair portrait of big oil as being more powerful and manipulative than it really is. (You be the judge.) Though based on the writings of Robert Baer Robert "Bobby" Baer (born July 1, 1952), is an author and former case officer at the Central Intelligence Agency. Youth, career and geopolitical views Baer was raised in Aspen, Colorado and aspired to become a professional skier. , a veteran CIA agent who worked in the Middle East, the film makes no claim of being a true story. However, that greed and a thirst for control and power have been motivators to commit shady, illegal and bloody acts has been proven historically over and over. So while the film is fiction, the filmmakers have done their homework, and ``Syriana'' carries certain senses of reality within it that can't just be easily dismissed. Despite the geopolitical themes, the filmmakers have not neglected to make ``Syriana'' an engrossing engrossing, in English law, practice of acquiring a monopoly of goods in order to sell them at an inflated price. The offense was ordinarily limited to monopolies of foods. Related practices were forestalling, i.e. thriller. Also out this week is ``The Cult of the Suicide Bomber Noun 1. suicide bomber - a terrorist who blows himself up in order to kill or injure other people act of terrorism, terrorism, terrorist act - the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political ,'' a British TV documentary hosted by Baer, author of the book ``See No Evil.'' Part- of the film by Sean Batty and Kevin Toolis provides a history lesson about such terrorists, while another involves something personal for Baer -- the 1983 Beirut American embassy attack that killed a number of his friends and colleagues. The quest to find out who was behind the attack may have been personal for Baer, but the questions that both films raise are personal for all of us. Rob Lowman (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com ALSO OUT TODAY Oh, the horrors. The remake of ``The Hills Have Eyes'' is another lesson in why not to stray off the beaten path along those desolate dusty desert highways. Tourist traps on the main highway may eat up a vacationing family's funds, but stop at a grungy grun·gy adj. grun·gi·er, grun·gi·est Slang In a dirty, rundown, or inferior condition: grungy old jeans. [Origin unknown. gas station in an area where there were hundreds of nuclear bomb tests in the '50s and '60s -- and mutants have evolved -- and the entire family is likely to be eaten alive. Such is the story of ``They,'' the Wes Craven-produced remake of his 1977 shockfest. The new one is only for those hungry for an unappetizing second helping. ``Night Watch,'' the Russian vampire fantasy, is at least somewhat visually interesting. It's all about the fight between the light ones and the dark ones The film was a hit in Russia and is part of a planned trilogy. Some have thrown out loose comparisons to ``Lord of the Rings'' or ``The Matrix,'' but ``Night Watch,'' directed by Timur Bekmambetov Timur Bekmambetov (Kazak: Тимур Бекмамбетов, Russian: Тимур Бекмамбетов. , isn't in either league. For those who enjoy such fantasy fare, the film has some engrossing and gross moments, although it gets lost in its own silly mythology at times. The film is in Russian with English subtitles, but they don't get in the way of the action -- or the fun. THE CLASSICS ``Clark Gable -- The Signature Collection,'' with ``Dancing Lady,'' ``China Seas,'' ``San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden ,'' ``Wife vs. Secretary,'' ``Boom Town'' and ``Mogambo,'' offers some enjoyments. While Gable may have been one of the silver screen's biggest sex symbols, he made few really good films, although there are some entertaining ones among the collection, especially ``San Francisco,'' a rollicking rol·lick·ing adj. Carefree and high-spirited; boisterous: a rollicking celebration. rol story told around the Bay Area quake of a century ago. A special documentary about Gable is included. Called ``Tall, Dark & Handsome,'' it's hosted by Liam Neeson. The release of ``The Charlie Chan Collection -- Vol. 1'' elicits a sigh. Four of the films -- ``Charlie Chan in London.'' ``Charlie Chan in Paris,'' ``Charlie Chan in Egypt'' and ``Charlie Chan in Shanghai'' -- star Warner Oland as the title detective. The fifth film, ``Eran Trece,'' is a Spanish-language version of ``London'' with an entirely different cast (Manuel Arbo plays Chan). It's an interesting historic document, but I always felt uneasy about Chan not being played by an Asian. The portrayal of Chan during the 1930s and '40s may have been less racially offensive than many Hollywood portrayals of other minorities, but it wasn't free of stereotyping. And that's something to keep in mind, even if the films can be entertaining. Two other films of note: ``Equinox equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the sun appears to cross the ,'' the 1970 cult film from Jack Woods, is being given a special treatment by Criterion. The low-budget fantasy-horror film boasts a number of special-effect specialists who went on to greater fame. The 1968 ``Petulia'' is a mature, offbeat off·beat n. Music An unaccented beat in a measure. adj. Slang Not conforming to an ordinary type or pattern; unconventional: offbeat humor. love story starring George Scott and Julie Christie and directed by Richard Lester. Hollywood rarely approaches romance with this kind of intelligence anymore. TV SERIES ``Gram Parsons -- Fallen Angel,'' which first aired in 2004, paints an interesting of the legendary country-rocker who succumbed to his own excesses in a drug overdose Drug Overdose Definition A drug overdose is the accidental or intentional use of a drug or medicine in an amount that is higher than is normally used. . At 26 in 1973. The documentary doesn't pretend Parsons was an angel -- far from it -- or that he was a great musical talent. What it does show is his genius in creating a sound that has endured, combining twang with a beat. A terrific songwriter, Parson's influence is fet even today. Some of that can be seen in the ``Austin City Limits Austin City Limits is an American television music program and a staple of the Public Broadcasting Service. Known for featuring country music, the show also broadcasts performances of folk, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and roll, alternative rock, indie rock and other genres. Festival,'' based on the popular PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, series. The two-disc set from a 2005 concert features Los Lonely Boys, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Franz Ferdinand Ben, Neville Brothers, Sloan, The Pixies pixies prank-playing fairies; mislead travelers. [Br. Folklore: Briggs, 328–330] See : Mischievousness , Phish, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Drive by Truckers, Cake, Sheryl Crow and Rachel Yamagata. THE PRICE TAGS NEW FILMS ``Syriana'' (Warner; $28.98) ``The Cult of the Suicide Bomber'' (Disinformation dis·in·for·ma·tion n. 1. Deliberately misleading information announced publicly or leaked by a government or especially by an intelligence agency in order to influence public opinion or the government in another nation: ; $19.95) ``The Hills Have Eyes'' (Fox; $29.98 -- R-rated and unrated editions) ``Night Watch'' (Fox; $27.98) ``Eight Below'' (Disney; $29.99) OLDER FILMS ``The Omen -- Collector's Edition'' (Fox; $26.98) ``Equinox'' (Criterion; $39.95) ``Charlie Chan Collection: Vol. 1'' (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece) (Columbia; $59.98) ``Clark Gable -- The Signature Collection'' (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo) (Warner; $59.98) ``Petulia'' (Warner; $19.98) ``A Fine Madness'' (Warner; $19.98) ``The Loved One'' (Warner; $19.98) TELEVISION ``Gram Parsons -- Fallen Angel'' (Rhino/Warner; $19.98) ``Austin City Limits Festival'' (Image; $24.99) ``Justice League -- Season Two'' (Warner; $44.98) ``Superman -- The Animated Series: Vol. 3'' (Warner; $26.98) ``Adventures of Superman Adventures of Superman may refer to the following works featuring Superman:
``Lois & Clark -- The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third Season'' (Warner; $59.98) ``Look -- Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman'' (Warner; $14.99) ``Superman -- Brainiac Attacks'' (Warner; $19.98) ``Superboy -- The Complete First Season'' (Warner; $19.98) ``The Mary Tyler Moore This article is about the actress. For her 1970s television series, also known as "Mary Tyler Moore", see The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Tyler Moore Show -- The Complete Fourth Season'' (Fox; $29.98) ``Married With Children -- The Complete Fifth Season'' (Columbia; $39.95) ``The King of Queens -- The Complete Fifth Season'' (Columbia; $39.95) ``NYPD Blue -- The Complete Fourth Season'' (Fox; $39.98) ``NewsRadio -- The Complete Fourth Season'' (Columbia; $39.95) CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) GEORGE CLOONEY in ``SYRIANA'' (2) no caption (``The Hills Have Eyes'') (3) no caption (``Clark Gable - The Signature Collection'') |
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