DVD Review: "Hannah Montana" and More
Doug Nye - Mclatchy -Tribune News Service
Aug 19, 2009
"Hannah Montana: The Movie"
A sure-fire winner with the pre-teen crowd, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" (Walt Disney, 2009, $44.99), and a fun sci-fi fantasy, "The Last Starfighter" (Universal, 1984, $29.98), top this week's new titles arriving on Blu-ray.
Very few critics had much praise for "Hannah Montana: The Movie" but the fans of Miley Cyrus (a.k.a. Hannah Montana) could care less. The film gave them a chance to see their favorite star on the big screen and even mom and dad can sit down and enjoy it with the kids.
Here she plays Miley Stewart who leads a hectic life as pop star Hannah Montana. Her dad, Robby Ray Stewart (played by Miley's actual father, Billy Ray Cyrus), thinks it's time she gets away from the spotlight and back to her roots. So he and Miley return to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tenn., where the locals don't know she and Hannah Montana are one and the same.
That makes for some interesting situations when Miley promises the town council to ask her "friend" Hannah to appear at a fundraiser in Crowley Corners. Meanwhile, there is plenty of time for Miley to do several toe-tapping tunes. There are also some enjoyable musical moments from Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.
Also in cast are Vanessa Williams as Miley's publicist and Barry Bostwick as a heartless businessman who wants to replace a beloved meadow with -gasp! - a shopping mall. Also worth a mention is Margo Martindale who does a great job as Grandma Ruby. It ain't Shakespeare; just some down-home fun. Included is the Blu-ray disc, a regular DVD of the movie and a digital copy. Highly recommended for all the Hannah Montana lovers.
"The Last Starfighter"
"The Last Starfighter" is a marvelous off-beat sci-fi entry. Lance Guest plays Alex Roth who lives a simple life with his mom and brother in a trailer park. Alex's claim to fame comes when one night he breaks the record for most hits on a video game called Starfighter.
Much to his surprise, a fast-talking alien named Centauri (delightfully played by Robert Preston) lands near the trailer park and tells Alex he has been recruited to help fight an evil empire in another galaxy. Turns out the video game was placed on Earth to find someone who was a crack shot.
So off Alex and Centuri go to the distant reaches of outer space. There are plenty of special effects and some smiles along the way. It's one enjoyable movie. Also in the cast are Dan O'Herlihy and Catherine Mary Stewart. Recommended.
Other Blu-ray releases:
"Dexter: The Complete Third Season" (Paramount, 2008, $57.99) Michael C. Hall is back as Dexter Morgan, the Miami forensics expert who spends many of his evenings tracking down killers and other criminals who somehow have eluded the arm of the law. This three-disc set includes 12 episodes. Also available is "Dexter: Seasons 1-2-3" ($179.99). Highly recommended.
"Visions of Britain & Ireland" (Acorn Media, 2003-07, $49.99) This is the kind of release that reminds people of why they bought that Blu-ray player. It's a two-disc, four-program set of absolutely gorgeous high-definition aerial views of our planet earth. Here we get to sail over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. From the white cliffs of Dover to St. Andrews to Dublin and so much more. Highly recommended.
"Visions of Italy" (Acorn Media, 2001-08, $49.99) Here is reason No. 2 to have a Blu-ray player. It's another two-disc, four program sets that soars above Rome, Saint Peter's Square, Florence, Sorrento, Venice, Capri and elsewhere. Beautiful. Highly recommended.
"The Last House on the Left" (Universal, 2009, $39.98) Wes Craven first made his mark as a director in 1972 with a film bearing the same title. Now, he's back to revisit the film. This time a gang kidnaps and brutally assaults two women. Unfortunately for the gang, they later enter a house owned by the parents of one of the victims. The parents plot their revenge and plenty of gore follows.
"Surveillance" (Magnolia, 2008, $34.98) Three different people - a cop, a junkie and an 8-year old girl - offer their testimony after witnessing the brutal murder of her family. Each tells very different stories and it's up to a pair of federal agents to try to sort out the truth. Get ready for a surprise ending. Julia Ormand, Bill Pullman and Ryan Simpkins star.
"Sons of Anarchy: Season One" (20th Century Fox, 2008, $59.99) The lives, times and rumbles of a motorcycle gang. It's a hard-hitting and violent show but not without its light moments. Charlie Hunnan, Ron Pearlman and Theo Rossi are among the cast members. The three-disc set includes the first 13 episodes from the FX series.
"Go" (Sony, 1999, $28.95) This one is about drugs, funny moments in Las Vegas, sex and some offbeat characters. Desmond Askew, Taye Diggs, Katie Holmes and Timothy Olyphant headline the cast. If you liked the over-hyped "Pulp Fiction," you'll probably like this stuff.
"Tyson" (Sony, 2009, $39.95) Here's a portrait of the legendary and controversial Mike Tyson who became heavyweight champion of the world at age 20. The film chronicles his life from poverty as a boy to his quick rise to fame and how he eventually destroyed his own career.
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Copyright 2009 by Mclatchy -Tribune News Service
