The Runaways (2010)

It's 1975, and they're about to explode.

Directed and written by by Flora Sigismondi

Starring Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Scout Taylor Compton, Stella Maeve, Alia Shawkat, Johnny Lewis, Tatum O'Neil

Cherie Curie (Fanning) and Joan Jett (Stewart) want to create the first all girl rock group. They do this with the help of legendary music producer Kim Fowley (Shannon). After achieving huge success with Lita Ford (Compton) and Sandy West (Maeve) as the rock group The Runaways and their hit "Cherry Bomb," Curie develops a drug and fame addiction that could tear her family and band apart.

This is one of the best music biographies I've seen since Walk the Line. Stewart and Fanning are perfectly cast as Jett and Curie, not just playing them, but becoming them. There were times when I thought that they were using the real Runaways songs, while it was really the actresses singing. The movie gets hard to watch at times. Especially when it deals with Cherie's drug addiction. Fanning plays this part of Curie's life very realistically. I can't recommend this film more.

9/10

Rated R for language, drug use, and sexual content--All involving teens.

This movie is not for children. There is constant foul language, drug use, and a bit of nudity. I'd say 17+

The DVD contains a making of feature, a short promotional casting feature, and trailers for Chloe, Welcome to the Rileys (Starring Kristen Stewart) and The Bounty Hunter.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

It all begins with a choice.

Directed by: David Slade
Written by: Melissa Rosenberg based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter
Faccinelli, Elizabeth Reeser, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Jackson
Rathbone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Billy Burke

Bella Swan (Stewart) is about to graduate from high school. Soon after
graduation, her boyfriend, the vampire Edard Cullen (Pattinson) will make her
immortal. But first, there are mysterious disappearances in Seattle. They
connect this with a band of newborn vampires, brought together by the evil
Victoria (Howard) to kill Bella. To stop them, the Cullen clan form an uneasy
alliance with the tribe of werewolves. Meanwhile, Bella has to sort out her
feelings for the wolf Jacob (Lautner).

This was the best of the Twilight series. While twisting a few things from
the book, it still got most of the story in. David Slade (Who directed 30 Days
of Night and Hard Candy) knows his action, and provided it well in the battle
sequences. I was on the edge of my seat for the final 40 minutes.

While even heavier on the action than the first 2 movies, this one doesn't
skip on the romance. It even amps up the love triangle between Bella, Edward,
and Jacob in a way that is very believable.

As with the other 2 films in the series, this is an epic blast of romance
and action. You even get some awesome backstory with the characters.

9/10

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for some
sensuality.

This is the most violent of the Twilight films. Many vampires are killed,
and people are hurt. Some sexuality, as Bella wants to sleep with Edward
while she's still human. And quite a few kisses between the
characters. 13+

While not on DVD yet, I'd guess it's going to be out by October or
November.

Kiss the Girls (1997)

A detective is searching for a deadly collector. His only hope is the one who got away.

Directed by: Gary Fleder
Written by: David Klass
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Carey Ewles, Tony Goldwyn

Detective Alex Cross is searching for his kidnapped niece. He gets his first real clue when one of the kidnapper's other victims, Dr. Kate McTiernan (Judd) escapes from her captor. She reveals that the man Cross is looking for is named Cassanova, and that he's collecting his captives, killing them when they disobey his rules.

This is one of my favorite mysteries. Based on the novel by James Patterson, the script keeps very true to the book, omitting minor things that the film is better off without. Freeman and Judd are perfectly cast. I say this because as I read the book the first time, I pictured them in the roles. The suspense is very tightly wound, and the scares come at just the right times in the film. A perfect rainy day movie. I also recommend the sequel Along Came a Spider.

9/10

Rated R for terror, violence, and language.

This film isn't that great for younger members of the family. There is intense, albeit not graphic, violence, sexual situations, and quite a bit of language. A woman is nearly raped, and beaten by the killer. You see pictures of mutilated dead bodies in the police station, and hear descriptions of what happened to them. 16+

The sole feature on the DVD is the theatrical trailer.

My Fake Fiance (2009)

Directed by: Gil Junger
Written by: Howard March
Starring: Melissa Joan Heart and Joseph Lawrence

Jennifer (Heart) and Vance (Lawrence) are near strangers who meet at a friend's wedding. He owes money to a loan shark called The Monkey, and soon after, her moving van is stolen, leaving her with nothing but a box of throw pillows in a big new apartment. She stages a plan to help both of them. They fake a wedding to get the gifts. This way, she can stock her apartment, and he can pay off The Monkey. But things are easier said than done, as they deal with parents, nephews, and the attraction growing between them.

Okay, this is pretty formulaic for a romantic comedy, but that doesn't stop it from being very good. While littered with plot holes (Like where do all her clothes come from since everything she owned was stolen?), and cliches, it's very fun. Both Heart and Lawrence prove that they still have awesome talent, which was last seen in the 90s for both of them. And I recently read that they have a new sitcom airing on ABC Family later this summer. That should be very good if the chemestry on display here is still there.

9/10

Rated TV-PG for some sexual material

This is safe for most of the family. Younger children may not get all of the jokes, but there's nothign dirty here. The sexual material goes no farther than a kiss.

The DVD contains no special features.

The Laramie Project (2002)

Written and directed by Moises Kaufaman
Starring: Dylan Baker, Steve Buscemi, Jeremy Davies, Clea DuVall, Peter Fonda, Camryn Manheim, Joshua Jackson, Laura Linney, Christina Ricci, Frances Sternhagen

In October 1998, Matthew Sheppard; a 21 year old gay man; was bound, beaten, and murdered. Later, a group of theatre students came to his small hometown of Laramie, Wyoming to write a play focusing on the townspeople's reaction. The play, and this film were compiled from over 200 interviews.

This is one of the most horrowing and realistic films I've ever watched. And one that I feel everybody needs to see at some point. While it's made for NBC counterpart "The Matthew Sheppard Story" aired the same night this premiered on HBO, this is the better film, because it focuses on the reactions of those involved in the town. The dramatizations were note perfect, and the documentary style of filming was really incredible. Made it even more realistic.

9/10

Not Rated

This film contains graphic descriptions of what happened the night Matthew was attacked. While the event wasn't depicted, you get the full visual image from the stories pieced together. There is also strong language, including derogitory terms for homosexuals. 15+

The DVD includes a commentary by the real theatre group who are depicted in the film.