DVD Picks & Pans: May Smorgasbord

Military.com - Tom Miller

There's a lot to choose from among recent DVD releases: the high-octane sequel to a 2004 box office smash thriller; a new collection of the first three Indiana Jones movies; another season of one of television's most popular dramas; and a Showtime reality series with a salty title that seeks to debunk dishonest ideas.  Read on and bon appetit!
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"National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, 2-Disc Collector's Edition," DVD-2008 ($34.99, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment) Also available in 1-disc bare bones and Blu-ray editions.

Geeky treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nic Cage) returns for another improbable historical mystery.  This time out, a mysterious stranger (Ed Harris) appears with proof that one of Gates' ancestors spearheaded the plot to assassinate President Lincoln. 

Gates teams with his annoying assistant Riley (Justin Bartha), dad Patrick (Jon Voight), mom Emily (Helen Mirren), and estranged wife Abigail (Diane Kruger) to find a legendary City of Gold that will prove that Gates' ancestor was not one of the conspirators.  Don't ask.  It's complicated and requires a misreading of history to be plausible.

What follows is a globe-trotting odyssey—London, Paris, D.C., Mount Rushmore—that includes breaking into the Queen's office at Buckingham Palace, kidnapping the American President, wrecking half of London in a high-speed chase that attracts no cops, and an Indiana Jones-like exploration of a secret underground chamber complete with hidden dangers and narrow escapes.  But, no snakes. 

Most of the principals from the original are back including director Jon Tutteltaub and stars Cage, Voight, and Kruger, and while the action is fast and entertaining, the movie feels contrived and derivative. 

Military.com Rating: ** ½

(DVD extras include audio commentary with director Jon Turtletaub and Jon Voight, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a treasure-trove of featurettes including "Secrets of a Sequel," "The Book of Secrets on Location," "Inside the Library of Congress," and "Street Stunts: Creating the London Chase.")
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"Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection," DVD-2008 ($59.98, Paramount Home Entertainment)

For those who don't yet own the first three Indy adventures or who can't resist the allure of all-new features, Paramount serves up this new collection. 

Indiana Jones needs no introduction.  The archaeologist adventurer is one of Hollywood's iconic heroes and most profitable franchises.

All three of the Indy movies are here.  "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the first and arguably the best, introduces the intrepid Indy (Harrison Ford) as he rushes to beat the Nazis to the Ark of the Covenant which legend says confers invincibility.  All the things that will come to exemplify director Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones films are on view here: harrowing chases, secret hideaways, and more close calls than a Saturday matinee serial.  Here Indy is assisted by feisty former amour Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and Egyptian sidekick Sallah (John Rhys-Davies).  "Raiders" was nominated for nine Oscars and won four including Film Editing and Visual Effects.  It ranks 66th on the American Film Institute's "Top 100 American Movies."

"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" is the second and darkest of the three films.  Here Indy battles a destructive Indian cult that kidnaps children for forced labor and  possesses the holy Sankara Stones that they plan to use to enslave the world.  This time out, Indy's companions are singer/actress Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and precocious taxi driver Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan).  "Temple" received two Oscar nominations and won for Visual Effects.

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" reunites Indy with his estranged father Henry (Sean Connery) in a race against the Nazis (again) to find the Holy Grail—the chalice that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper and that is believed to confer immortality.  Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody), who's secretly working for the Nazis, provides a romantic interest for Indy and his father!  "Crusade" nabbed three Oscar nominations and won for Sound Effects Editing. 

It's been nineteen years since the last Indiana Jones film, but they have aged exceedingly well. 

Military.com Rating: *** ½

(DVD extras include 12 new special features including new introductions to each film by Spielberg and Lucas, "The Indy Trilogy: A Crystal Clear Appreciation," "Snakes Alive!" "Indy's Women Reminisce," and "Indy's Friends and Enemies.")
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"JAG: The Sixth Season," DVD-2008 ($55.98, CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment)

One of television's most successful dramas, "JAG" ran for ten seasons (1995-2005) and spawned a spin-off hit in "NCIS."

Intended as a mix of "Top Gun" and "A Few Good Men," JAG follows a team of Navy lawyers (Judge Advocate General Corps) as they investigate and try offenses involving military personnel.  (Unlike "NCIS" which focuses on field criminal investigations, "JAG" is more of a courtroom drama.) 

The cast is headed by JAG lawyers Lieutenant Commander "Harm" Rabb (David James Elliot), a former Navy fighter pilot, and Marine Major Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell).  A good bit of the show's spark comes from the tension generated by the obvious attraction between the two. 

In this, the sixth season, Harm travels to Russia and finds that he has a younger brother.  Meanwhile, Mac gets engaged and begins making wedding plans—a development that elicits a confession from Harm that complicates things.  And tragedy strikes series regulars Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux), a JAG lawyer, and Harriet (Karri Turner), his wife and an administrative aide at JAG.  Season Six unfolds in twenty-four exciting and often-surprising episodes on six discs.   

A consistent spot in Nielsen's Top 10, three Emmys and eleven nominations, and a ten-year run attests to this military drama's popularity, quality, and staying power.

Military.com Rating: ***
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"Penn & Teller: BULLSHIT! The Complete Fifth Season," DVD-2008 ($29.98, Showtime/Paramount Home Entertainment)

Showmen (magicians, comedians) Penn & Teller continue their abrasive myth-busting for a fifth controversial season on Showtime.

For their fifth season, the iconoclastic duo sets out to expose what they regard as the bull surrounding contemporary hot topics including the obesity epidemic, the vilification of Wal-Mart, breast hysteria, exorcism, immigration, handicap parking, and anger management.  The bare-bones set includes all ten Season Five episodes on two discs. 

Drawing upon their libertarian perspective, the hosts seek to expose the nonsense, dishonestly, and hypocrisy that often support popular fads, supernatural beliefs, and conventional wisdom.  Staking out the intellectual high ground as objective arbiters, the duo allows their targets to make their case.  The interviews, however, often seem less than neutral.  Opposing experts are then interviewed to rebut the proponent's views.  

The show has been nominated for eleven Emmys, including four times for Outstanding Reality Program. 

Agree with them or not, Penn & Teller are not afraid to tackle controversy and have fun doing it. 

Military.com Rating: ***
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Military.com DVD Picks & Pans Smorgasbord Ratings Guide
* Have the Rolaids handy
** Two words: fast food
*** Tasty
**** Succulent

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Copyright 2009 by Tom Miller