New Releases on DVD October 2009

Away We Go

A couple who is expecting their first child travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover “home” on their own terms for the first time. Cast: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Chris Messina, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Schneider. Rated R

Battle for Terra

In this animated feature, a peaceful alien planet faces annihilation, as the homeless remainder of the human race sets its eyes on Terra, a distant planet. Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, David Cross, Justin Long, Dennis Quaid, Luke Wilson. Rated PG

Cheri

In 1920s Paris, the son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman. Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Felicity Jones, Kathy Bates. Based on the novels Chéri and The Last of Chéri by Colette. Rated R

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

A bachelor is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends at his younger brother’s wedding. Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Anne Archer, Emma Stone, Michael Douglas. Rated PG-13

Goodbye Solo

On the lonely roads of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, two men forge an improbable friendship that will change both of their lives forever. Solo is a Senegalese cab driver working to provide a better life for his young family. William is a tough Southern good ol’ boy with a lifetime of regrets. Solo’s American dream is just beginning, while William’s is quickly winding down. Despite their differences, both men soon realize they need each other more than either is willing to admit.  Cast: Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco Galindo, Lane ‘Roc’ Williams, Mamadou Lam, Carmen Leyva. Rated R

Julia

Julia is a 40-year-old alcoholic who gets by on nickel-and-dime jobs. Seeing a financial opportunity after encountering a woman estranged from her son, Julia throws herself into a criminal plot that escalates beyond anything she ever imagined. Cast: Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate Del Castillo, Aidan Gould, Jude Ciccolella, Bruno Bichir, Horacio Garcia Rojas. Rated R

Land of the Lost

A has-been scientist gets more than he bargained for when his expedition takes a wrong time and ends up in the Land of the Lost. Cast: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone. Based on the television series created by Sid Krofft & Marty Krofft. Rated PG-13

Management

A travelling art saleswoman tries to shake off a flaky motel manager who falls for her and won’t leave her alone. Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Fred Ward. Rated R

Monsters vs Aliens

In this animated feature film, Susan Murphy gets turned into a giant monster on her wedding day when a meteorite from outer space hits her. She is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger, on a desperate order from The President, the motley group of Monsters are called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction. Rated PG

My Life in Ruins

A Greek tour guide attempts to recapture her mojo by guiding a ragtag group of tourists around Greece and showing them the beauty of her native land.Cast: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, María Ádanez, Sheila Bernette, María Botto, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, Harland Williams. Rated PG-13

Observe and Report

The self-important head of security at a shopping mall squares off in a turf war against local cops. Cast: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Ray Liotta. Rated R

The Orange Thief

Living on the outskirts of society, an orange thief and some other country-wise ruffians steal fruit for sustenance and the sheer excitement of courting danger. After the thief ends up in jail, his life takes a turn when his bunkmate promises him a deal. Italian dialogue; English subtitles. Cast: Andrea Calabrese, Wild Boar Giottoli, Miceala Saxer, Jean Marc Burger, Cesare Riatti, Maria Cecil Genovese.  Adult Language. Not Rated

Paris 36

Three unemployed performers decide to take over the music hall where they once worked and stage a show there. Cast: Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Nora Arnezeder. French dialogue; English subtitles. Rated PG-13

The Proposal

High-powered book editor Maggie is everyone’s worst nightmare: ruthless, driven, and tactless. When she finds herself faced with deportation back to Canada, she coerces her much younger assistant into marrying her. However, when the government becomes suspicious, they embark upon a charade in order to make the marriage seem legitimate. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White. Rated PG-13

Shrink

Unable to cope with a recent personal tragedy, a shrink turns into a pothead with no concern for his appearance and a creeping sense of his inability to help his patients. Cast: Kevin Spacey, Mark Webber, Keke Palmer, Saffron Burrows, Jack Huston, Pell James, Laura Ramsey, Dallas Roberts, Robert Loggia. Rated R

Sugar

A baseball player from the Dominican Republic struggles to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Cast: Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, Andre Holland, Ann Whitney, Ellary Porterfield, Jaime Tirelli, Jose Rijo, Michael Gaston, Alina Vargas, Richard Bull, Kelvin Leonardo Garcia, Joendy Pena Brown. Spanish and Portuguese dialogue, English subtitles. Rated PG-13

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

When college-bound Sam Witwicky learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers, he must accept his destiny and join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in their epic battle against the Decepticons. As the battle for Earth continues, the Decepticon forces have returned stronger than ever with a plan to destroy our world. Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro. Rated PG-13

Twelve Rounds

When New Orleans Police Detective Danny Fisher stops a brilliant thief from getting away with a multimillion-dollar heist, the thief’s girlfriend is accidentally killed. When the thief escapes from prison, he seeks revenge on Danny, taunting him with 12 rounds of nearly-impossible puzzles and tasks that he must complete in order to save the life of the woman he loves. Cast: John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian White. Rated PG-13

New Releases on DVD September 2009

The Art of War II: Betrayal

Agent Neil Shaw comes out of retirement after his martial arts mentor is killed, and uncovers a plot to assassinate U.S. senators. Cast: Wesley Snipes, Athena Karkanis, Winston Rekert, Ryan McDonald, Lochlyn Munro. Rated R

Bridge to Nowhere

Living in a rundown Pittsburgh neighborhood, four lifelong friends come up with a plan to get rich by running a prostitution ring. When their business takes off, they find things get way out of hand. Ben Crowley, Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips, Daniel London, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alexandra Breckenridge, Sean Derry, Ving Rhames. Rated R

The Butterfly Tattoo

Seventeen-year-old Chris, living and working in Oxford, falls in love with a free spirited girl named Jenny, find themselves torn apart by the criminal dealings of the adults in their lives. Cast: Duncan Stewart, Jessica Blake, Aidan Magrath, Dan Morgan, Christopher Dane. Based on the novel by Philip Pullman. Not Rated

Delgo

When a forgotten enemy returns, the fate of the world lies with a spirited princess and an unlikely hero. Take an exciting journey to a spectacular realm of magic, fantasy, romance, and adventure. Voices: Freddie Prinze, Jr., Chris Kattan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anne Bancroft, Val Kilmer, Malcolm McDowell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Louis Gossett Jr., Eric Idle, Burt Reynolds, Kelly Ripa, Sally Kellerman. Rated PG

Easy Virtue

A young Englishman marries an American divorcee on the spur of the moment in the South of France and then must return home to face his family. Cast: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes, Kris Marshall, Katherine Parkinson, Christian Brassington, Charlotte Riley, Jim McManus, Pip Torrens. Based on the play by Noel Coward. Rated PG-13

Gigantic

Brian is a mattress salesman who gets swept up into a romance with Harriet when she falls asleep on one of the beds in his store. To win her over, he must compete with her father, an art-collecting loudmouth with a bad back and deep pockets. Cast: John Goodman, Jane Alexander, Zooey Deschanel, Paul Dano, Edward Asner. Rated R

The Golden Boys

In 1905 Cape Cod, three retired sea captains try to lure an attractive middle-aged woman into marriage. Cast: Bruce Dern, David Carradine, Mariel Hemingway, Rip Torn ; Charles Durning ; John Savage ; Angelica Torn ; Christy Scott Cashman ; Jason Alan Smith with a special appearace by Julie Harris. Rated PG

Gooby

When eleven-year-old Willy moves into the family’s new house, his childhood toy, Gooby, comes to life as a big, scruffy, six-foot-tall creature who helps Willy through rough times with hair-raising and hilarious adventures. Cast: Robbie Coltrane, David James Elliott, Ingrid Kavelaars, Matthew Knight, Eugene Levy. Rated PG

Hannah Montana: The Movie

As Hannah Montana’s popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart, on the urging from her father takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most. Cast: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Melora Hardin, Vanessa Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus. Rated G

Leaving Barstow

A small-town teenager dreams of a bigger world, but his devotion to his mother and his awakening attraction to a new girl combine to keep him at home. Cast: Michelle Clunie, Kevin Sheridan, Steven Culp. Not Rated

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Art Bechstein is a recent college grad and plans on spending his last summer sleepwalking through the exams that will send him far away to a job chosen for him by his gangster father. But when Art meets the beautiful Jane Belliweather and her wild boyfriend, Cleveland, Art’s summer and life change forever.  Based on the novel by Michael Chabon. Cast: Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller, Mena Suvari, Nick Nolte. Rated R

State of Play

When D.C. reporter Cal McCaffrey is assigned to investigate the murder of an assistant to an up-and-coming politician, he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to bring down the nation’s power structures. In a town of spin-doctors and wealthy power brokers, he will discover one truth: when fortunes are at stake, no one’s integrity, love, or life is safe. Cast: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Helen Mirren. Rated PG-13

X-men Origins: Wolverine

Somewhere in the wilds of northwest Canada, two half-brothers with special powers grow up amid violence. Eventually they will become the near-indestructible warriors known as Wolverine and Sabretooth. Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds. Rated PG-13

New Releases on DVD July 2009

Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia

A team of U.S. Navy SEALS must find evidence to clear their names after they’ve been framed for an assault on the government of Colombia. Cast: Joe Manganiello, Ken Anderson, Channon Roe, Yancey Arias, Chris J. Johnson, Antony Matos, Keith David, Jennice Fuentes, Steven Bauer. Rated R

Chasing the Green

The true story of two brothers, Adam and Ross, who become millionaires. Their drive leads them into conflict with FTC officials trying to destroy them. Adam tries to reconcile this with his personal life, ultimately wondering what his true passion is. Cast: Jeremy London, William Devane ; Ryan Hurst ; Heather Mccomb ; Robert Picardo ; Dan Grimaldi ; Patricia Rae ; Larry Pine ; Chris Gunn ; Vinny Vella ; Lavinna Dowell ; Howard Nash. Not Rated

College Road Trip

When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father insists on coming along. Cast: Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Donny Osmond. Rated G

Coraline

A young girl walks through a secret door that she has found in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life, but much better. When her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents, including the Other Mother, try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family. Voices: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Ian McShane. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Rated PG

Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea

Genghis Khan, the name is a legend, the man was mythical. He was a soul who was obscured by his own achievements. He was a son, husband, father, and conqueror. The saga of one man’s march toward immortality and the battle to unite the tribes of Mongol under one rule. Cast: Takashi Sorimachi, Rei Kikukawa, Mayumi Wakamura, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Kenichi Matsuyama. Based on the story by Seiichi Morimura. Originally released as a motion picture in 2007. Japanese or dubbed English dialogue, English subtitles. Rated R

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Two guys try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam. Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart, Neil Patrick Harris. Rated R

Home

 By day their lives seem magical, but at night, Inga is troubled by her marriage and its lack of intimacy and her own fear of mortality.  The past comes back to haunt Inga, a poet who finds herself re-creating the events of her youth. She develops breast cancer and begins to use alcohol to quell the pain (in a similar fashion to her mother), and becomes fixated on a house that reminds her of her childhood home. Will she find a way to break the vicious cycle?  Cast: Marcia Gay Harden, Marian Seldes, Michael Gaston, Eulala Scheel, Paul L. Nolan, Candy Buckley. Rated PG-13

Knowing

A teacher discovers a time capsule that holds prophecies—some of which have already come true. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury, Lara Robinson, Ben Mendelsohn. Rated PG-13

Passengers

While helping a handful of airline crash survivors cope with their grief, a young psychologist begins to uncover conflicting accounts of the accident. At first, she believes that trauma is behind her patients’ different stories– until the survivors mysteriously start to disappear. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher, Clea DuVall, Dianne Wiest. Rated PG-13

Phoebe in Wonderland

Confounded by her clashes with the seemingly rule-obsessed world, a little girl seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher.Cast: Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Elle Fanning, Campbell Scott, Bill Pullman. Rated PG-13

The Pink Panther 2

When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther diamond, Clouseau is assigned to a dream team of international detectives who are under pressure to bring the master thief to justice before he strikes again. Cast: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin, John Cleese. Rated PG

Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup 2009 Champions

For the first time in almost 2o years the Staley Cup returns to the Steel City.  You can relive every magical step of their march to the 2009 Stanley Cup highlighted by series wins against Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, and the mighty Detroit Red Wings.  Go inside the championship season with exclusive footage featuring the sights and sounds of their memorable run, plus interviews with players and coaches. Not Rated

Powder Blue

On the gritty streets of L.A., the destinies of four people desperate for connection and redemption are about to collide. An erotic dancer, a grieving husband, a terminally ill ex-con, and a mortician all desperate for redemption collide on Christmas Eve. Cast: Forest Whitaker, Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Patrick Swayze, Lisa Kudrow, Kris Kristofferson, Eddie Redmayne. Forest Whitaker, Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Patrick Swayze, Lisa Kudrow, Kris Kristofferson, Eddie Redmayne. Originally released as a motion picture in 2007. Rated R

Push

A group of young American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities hide from a clandestine U.S. government agency. Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Djimon Hounsou.Rated PG-13

Ruby Blue

The sudden death of his wife has left Jack lost and alone. He is despised by his son and ignored by neighbours. A ray of sunshine arrives in the unlikely form of the eight-year-old, Florrie, when she moves in next door and delights in Jack’s neglected racing pigeon, Ruby, unwittingly rekindling Jack’s love for life, while forcing him to come to terms with his past. When his glamorous French neighbour, Stephanie, takes pity on him, Jack cannot help but fall for her charms. But when Stephanie reveals a well-kept secret, the nature of Jack’s friendship with Florrie is questioned by everyone and his life thrown into turmoil once again. Cast: Bob Hoskins, Josiane Balasko, Jody Latham, Josel Altin, Jessica Stewart. (2007) Not Rated

Street Kings

Tom Ludlow is a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of his former partner, Detective Terrance Washington, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he’s been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him. He teams up with a young detective to track down Washington’s killers, who track down the murderers and bring them to justice. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans. Rated R

Two Lovers

After Leonard moves back into the home he grew up in to mend a broken heart, he meets two women in quick succession. Michelle is a mysterious and beautiful neighbor. Sandra is the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family’s dry-cleaning business. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision, between desire and the comfort of love, or risk falling back into the same darkness that nearly killed him. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas. Rated R

Watchmen

When an ex-superhero is murdered, a vigilante named Rorschach begins an investigation into the murder, which begins to lead to a much more terrifying conclusion. Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson. Rated R

New Releases on DVD June 2009 Part 2

Be Kind Rewind

Two local outcasts attempt to save a local video store. Amateur film director Mike must find a way to save the business after his magnetized friend, Jerry, erases every movie in the store. Using an outdated video camera and their own special effects, the two embark on an adventure to remake all the movies, from “Ghostbusters” to “Driving Miss Daisy,” turning the two town misfits into local celebrities. Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz. Rated PG-13

The Caller

A corporate executive plans to blow the whistle on his company`s unsavory practices, putting his life in peril. Cast: Frank Langella, Elliott Gould, Laura Harring, Anabel Soda.  Rated PG-13

Confessions of a Shopaholic

A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support her shopping addiction. Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb.  Based on the books by Sophie Kinsella. Rated PG

Days and Clouds

In this film about work and marriage by Bread and Tulips’ director Silvio Soldini, a well-off Genoa couple has to face self-image, marriage, and work problems when their financial world crumbles.Cast: Margherita Buy, Antonio Albanese, Alba Rohrwacher, Giuseppe Battiston, Fabio Troiano.
In Italian, English subtitles. Not Rated

Defiance

Three Jewish brothers escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters. Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein. Based on the book Defiance: the Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec. Rated R

Gran Torino

Walt Kowalski is a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor, Thao, a young Hmong teenager, becomes pressured by his gang member cousin to steal Walt’s Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao’s family, Walt is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley. Rated R

Humbolt County

A disillusioned medical student finds himself stranded for a summer in a remote community of pot farmers.Cast: Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich, Frances Conroy, Madison Davenport. Rated R

Inkheart

A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books. She must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook’s hero. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, Rafi Gavron.  Based on the book by Cornelia Funke. Rated PG

The International

An Interpol agent attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring. Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen, Brian F. O’Byrne. Rated R

Killshot

Armand ‘Blackbird’ Degas is a Mafia hit man who shoots to kill and never leaves witnesses, until now. When Carmen and Wayne Colson see him at the scene of a botched murder attempt, they become his next targets. After entering witness protection, they discover the law isn’t on their side and decide to take matters into their own hands. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Cast: Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson. Rated R

Not Easily Broken

After years of disagreement concerning what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave and Clarice Johnson have finally reached a breaking point in their marriage. Clarice is hurt in a car accident and the obvious truth is that more than just her injuries need immediate attention. Cast: Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Maeve Quinlan, Kevin Hart, Wood Harris, Jennifer Lewis.  Based on the novel by T.D. Jakes. Rated PG-13

The Other End of the Line

When a beautiful customer service operator in India falls for a charming American executive over the telephone, they’re in for a serious case of mistaken cultural identity. With a penchant for all things American and a heart full of dreams, Priya flies to San Francisco to meet her destiny, and it looks like love at first sight. Now Priya and Granger must risk everything for true love. Cast: Jesse Metcalfe, Shriya Saran, Anupam Kher, Sara Foster, Austin Basis, Larry Miller. Rated PG-13

Priceless

When it comes to men, Irene has very rich tastes. One very confusing night on the French Riviera, she is duped at her own game. Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Jacques Spiesser, Vernon Dobtcheff, Annelise Hesme. In French, English subtitles. Rated R

Revolutionary Road

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb in the 1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems. Based on the novel by Richard Yates. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates. Rated R

Starting out in the Evening

An ambitious graduate student convinces a writer that her thesis can resurrect his career. Cast: Frank Langella, Lili Taylor, Lauren Ambrose, Adrian Lester. Based on the novel by Brian Morton. (2007) Rated PG-13

Waltz with Bashir

After not being able to recall the time he spent on an Israeli Army mission during the Lebanon War, Ari attempts to unravel the mystery by traveling around the world to interview old friends and comrades. As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, his memory begins to return in illustrations that are surreal. Hebrew or English dialogue. Rated R

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy is a down-on-her-luck girl who’s hoping to turn things around for herself with a summer job in Alaska, but finds herself stranded with no money in a small Oregon town. Cast: Michelle Williams, John Robinson, Will Oldham. Rated R

New Releases on DVD June 2009

Bangkok Dangerous

A hitman in Bangkok pulls off a series of jobs, falls for a local woman and bonds with his errand boy. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Charlie Young, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Panward Hemmanee. Based on the 1999 film by Oxide Pang Chun & Danny Pang. Rated R

Bedtime Stories

A hotel handyman’s life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. Cast: Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Jonathan Pryce, Courteney Cox, Lucy Lawless, Teresa Palmer. Rated PG

Dark Matter

Elite local patron, Joanna Silver, welcomes Liu Xing, a Chinese student, to Valley State University. He enters the university with dreams of fame and a Nobel Prize. Cultural differences and school politics threaten his ambitions and result in unimaginable violence. Cast: Liu Ye, Aidan Quinn, Meryl Streep. (2007) Rated R

Faith Like Potatoes

A farmer moves his family to South Africa and suffers a series of seemingly insurmountable losses. Through unlikely friendships and much needed divine intervention, he discovers his life’s true purpose and it sustains his unwavering belief in the power of faith. Cast: Hamilton Dhlamini, Jeanne Wilhelm. Based on the autobiography of Angus Buchan. Rated PG

He’s Just Not That Into You

A hardline advice guy falls for a woman who seeks him out because she can’t figure out the men in her life. Cast: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Kris Kristofferson, Justin Long. Based on the book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. Rated PG-13

Hotel for Dogs

When foster children Andi and Bruce need somewhere to hide their dog, they transform an abandoned hotel into a place where no stray gets turned away. Cast: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Don Cheadle. Based on the book by Lois Duncan. Rated PG

Incendiary

A young wife and mother suffers a devastating loss when London is rocked by a shocking terrorist bombing in this dramatic thriller. Wracked with guilt over an extramarital affair, and trying to piece her shattered life back together, she becomes embroiled in the police investigation of the attack, and discovers that the authorities will do anything to cover up the terrifying truth behind it. Cast: Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Macfadyen. Rated R

Last Chance Harvey

In London for his daughter’s wedding, a rumpled man finds his romantic spirits lifted by a new woman in his life. Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Richard Schiff. Rated PG-13

New in Town

A Miami businesswoman adjusts to her new life in a tiny Minnesota town. Cast: Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Frances Conroy, Siobhan Fallon Hogan. Rated PG

Nothing But the Truth

In Washington, D.C., a reporter faces a possible jail sentence for outing a CIA agent and refusing to reveal her source. Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Alan Alda, Vera Farmiga, David Schwimmer, Noah Wyle. Rated R 

Paul Blart Mall Cop

Mall security guard Paul Blart has always had dreams of becoming a state trooper. While nobody takes his present job seriously, all that changes when a team of thugs raids his mall. CastL Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O’Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi, Shirley Knight. Rated PG

Personal Effects

Ashton Kutcher stars as a broken man who sets off on a vengeance-filled search for his sister’s murderer, only to fall into the arms of a gorgeous older woman who may share the same torment. Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Spencer Hudson. Rated R

Smother

A thirtysomething unemployed man finds himself pressured by his wife to have a baby while his mother has decided to move in with the couple. Cast: Diane Keaton, Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler. Rated PG-13

Taken

A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter who has been forced into the slave trade. Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, Famke Janssen. Rated PG-13

The Tale of Despereaux

Once upon a time in the far away kingdom of Dor lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro. The two go on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness. Voices: Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Jenins, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, William H. Macy, Tracy Ullman, Emma Watson, Sigourney Weaver. Based on the book by Kate DiCamillo. Rated G

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Explores the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their slaves, the Lycans. Cast: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux. Rated R

Valkyrie

Based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and his assassination plot targeting Adolf Hitler. Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp. Rated PG-13

The Wedding Weekend

When a group of college band mates reunite 15 years after graduation to sing at a friend’s wedding, they take a break from their less than perfect lives to spend a long weekend at a cozy Hamptons beach house with their spouses, children, friends and one sexy Swedish nanny in tow. Cast: David Alan Basch, Chris Bowers, Samrat Chakrabarti, Alexander Chaplin, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Feuerstein, David Harbour, Elizabeth Reaser, Reg Rogers, Molly Shannon, Liz Stauber, Camilla Thorsson.  Rated R

What Doesn’t Kill You

Two childhood friends from South Boston turn to crime as a way to get by, ultimately causing a strain in their personal lives and their friendship.  Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet.  Rated R

While She Was Out

A suburban housewife is forced to fend for herself when she becomes stranded in a desolate forest with four murderous thugs. What starts off as a quick trip to the mall ends in the woods with a fight for her life. All she has is a toolbox and her will to survive. Cast: Kim Basinger, Luke Haas, Craig Sheffer. Rated R

New Releases on DVD April 2009

Doubt

Set in 1964,at the St. Nicholas in the Bronx. Father Flynn is a charismatic priest who is trying to upend the schools’ strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier. The Sister is the iron-gloved principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. With the winds of political change, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James shares with Sister Aloysius her suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis. Based on the stage play by John Patrick Shanley. Rated PG-13

Marley & Me

A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. Based on the memoir by John Grogan. Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin. Rated PG

Pineapple Express

Dale Denton is a lazy stoner who is the sole witness to a murder by an evil drug lord and a corrupt cop. Marked for death, Denton runs for his life, dragging his dazed dealer and his supplier with him on a hilarious adventure. Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny R. McBride.
Rated R

The Reader

Set in Post-WWII, Germany, Michael Berg is a teenager who becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from different works of literature. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life, only this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz. Based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink. Rated R

Role Models

Danny and Wheeler are two salesmen who trash a company truck while on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice – the two can either do hard time or serve 150 hours of community service in a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad. Cast: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks.  Rated R

Slum Dog Millionaire

Jamal Malik is an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ When the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating. Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up. Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan. Based on the novel  “Q & A” by Vikas Swarup. Rated R

The Spirit

Denny Colt is a rookie cop who returns from the dead as The Spirit. He is a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces that lurk in the shadows of Central City. The Octopus kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face. He has other plans for the city. He wants to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold hearted killer from the city’s rundown warehouses, through damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront. He does this all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader.  Cast: Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, with Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson.  Based on the comic book series by Will Eisner.  Rated PG-13

The Wrestler

A professional wrestler makes his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival. Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander, Ernest Miller. Rated R

DVDs New Releases March 2009

Australia

Australia, 1940s. An English aristocrat inherits a large ranch. English cattle barons plot to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover to protect her ranch. Together they experience four life-altering years, a love affair and the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown. Rated PG-13

Body of Lies

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency’s man on the ground, while on the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Simon McBurney. Based on the novel by David Ignatius. Rated R

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Poland, World War II. Innocent and naive 8-year-old Bruno is bored and restless in his new home. Ignoring his mother, he sets off on an adventure in the woods. He comes across a high fence which separates him from the people he can see through it. Soon he meets a young boy in striped pajamas, and a surprising friendship develops. Cast: Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend. Based on the book by John Boyne. Rated PG-13

Cadillac Records

Chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess’ Chess Records and its recording artists like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Etta James. Cast: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric the Entertainer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eamonn Walker, Mos Def, Beyoncé Knowles. Rated R

Elegy

Respected cultural critic and author David Kepesh is a middle-aged college professor who, for years, has lived in a state of “emancipated manhood.” He has had many romantic conquests, but few lasting commitments. This all changes when a beautiful, stunning young student enters his life and captivates him to the point of obsession. Cast: Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper.Based on the novel “The Dying Animal” by Philip Roth. Rated R

Flash of Genius

Based on the true story of Robert Kearns. The Kearns’ were a typical 1960s Detroit family. Bob is a college professor and part-time inventor. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns’ think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants, who originally embraced Bob’s creation, unceremoniously shuns him. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work, or anyone else’s for that matter, should be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. He and his family pay the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity. Cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham,Dermot Mulroney. Rated PG-13

Frozen River

Set  in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Ray, a white woman and Lila, a Mohawk are both single mothers, both earning minimum wage and facing desperate circumstances, are drawn by the lure of fast money into the world of border smuggling across the frozen water of the St. Lawrence River. New York State Trooper Finnerty ultimately brings the two to justice. Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O’Keefe, Mark Boone Junior. Rated R

Happy-Go-Lucky

Poppy is a life-loving and irrepressibly cheerful primary school teacher. She is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic and accepting. She lives with her best friend and flatmate Zoe in London. She is tested by a repressed driving instructor with anger problems, and, in turn, she decides to test him. She has exciting flamenco lessons, an encounter with a homeless man, an argument with her pregnant sister, and a love-affair with the social worker guiding one of her students. Cast: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Stanley Townsend, Kate O’Flynn, Caroline Martin, Oliver Maltman, Sarah Niles, Samuel Roukin, Karina Fernandez, Nonso Anozie. Rated R

I’ve Loved You So Long

A shell-shocked Juliette is released from prison after serving 15 years for murdering her young son. After being banished from her family, she is now reunited with her younger sister, Lea. Together, the sisters embark on a painful but redemptive journey back from life’s darkest edge. Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Grévill, Frédéric Pierrot.  French dialogue, English subtitles.  Rated PG-13

Lakeview Terrace

When a newlywed couple becomes the target of their neighbor, a stern police officer who disapproves of their relationship, they decide to fight back. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Jay Fernandez. Rated PG-13

Milk

His life changed history. His courage changed lives. Harvey Milk is a middle-aged New Yorker who, after moving to San Francisco, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977. His election makes him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. The following year, both he and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blamed his former colleagues for denying White’s attempt to rescind his resignation from the board. Based on the inspiring true story of Harvey Milk. Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco. Rated R

Quantum of Solace

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal.Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench. Rated PG-13

Rachel Getting Married

In and out of rehab for the past 10 years, Kym Buchman returns to the family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel. She brings with her a long history of personal crisis and family conflict. The wedding party, friends and relatives have gathered for an idyllic weekend of feasting, music and love, but Kym’s passion for the dramatic incites tension in the family. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Robyn Hitchcock, Sister Carol East, Debra Winger. Rated R

Twilight

Isabella Swan moves to gloomy Forks, Washington to live with her father. She begins her junior year in high school and becomes fascinated by Edward Cullen. He holds a dark secret which is only known by his family. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for, a true soul mate. But he knows the further they progress in their relationship the more he is putting Bella and those close to her at risk. Edward tries to warn Bella that she should leave him, but she refuses. A new vampire finds it a challenge to hunt Bella down for her irresistible blood. Now, the game is on and James will not stop until she is killed. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli.  Based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Rated PG-13

When Did You Last See Your Father?

When a 40-year-old writer visits his dying father, he begins to relive the memories of his past and is forced to realize that his once “immortal, invincible and infallible” father is human after all. Cast: Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, Sarah Lancashire, Elaine Cassidy, Claire Skinner, Matthew Beard. Based on the book by Blake Morrison. Rated PG-13

New Releases on DVD February 2009

Appaloosa

Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by a young widow who arrives on the scene with only a dollar and keen sense of survival. Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Lance Henriksen. Based on the novel by Robert B. Parker.  Rated R

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Chloe is a pampered Beverly Hills chihuahua who, while on vacation in Mexico with her owner’s niece, Rachel, gets lost. She must rely on her new friends to help her get back home before she is caught by a dognapper who wants to ransom her. In the meantime, Papi, a male chihuahua who is in love with Chloe goes in pursuit of her. Papi’s owner is a handsome young gardener for Rachel’s aunt Viv. He slowly develops a romantic interest in Rachel. Chloe befriends Delgado, a lonely German Shepherd, who travels with her and protects her from Diablo, the evil Doberman, who wants to return her and her diamond collar to the dognapper. Voices: Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, Edward James Olmos, Luis Guzmán. Rated PG

The Changeling

Set in a working-class suburb Los Angeles, 1928. Christine says goodbye to her son, Walter, and departs for work. Arriving home, Christine discovers that Walter is nowhere to be found. Christine launches a desperate a search for her son. Then, a boy claiming to be Christine’s son appears out of thin air. Knowing the boy is not hers, Christine invites the child to stay in her home. Christine cannot accept the injustice being pushed upon her and continues to challenge the Los Angeles police force at every turn. The police slander Christine and paint her as an unfit mother. Christine challenges the system and the only person willing to aid her in her search is benevolent local activist Reverend Briegleb. Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich. Rated R

City of Ember

For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the City’s massive power generator begins to fail, the streetlamps fade – along with the hopes of the townspeople. Now it will be up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient builders to find the way out of Ember before their world is plunged into complete darkness. Cast: David Ryall, Harry Treadaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, B.J. Hogg, Toby Jones. Based on the book by Jeanne Duprau. Rated PG

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Aspiring super-villain Dr. Horrible wants to join the Evil League of Evil and win the girl of his dreams, but his nemesis, Captain Hammer, stops him at every turn in this complete three-part musical from Joss Whedon. Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day. Not Rated

Eagle Eye

Jerry and Rachel are two strangers who have been ripped from their ordinary lives when they are “activated” as part of a high-tech assassination plot. Through blistering chases and shocking twists they try to escape –but where can they go when the enemy is everywhere? Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Billy Bob Thornton. Rated PG-13

Fireproof

Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind – it’s a natural instinct. But when it comes to marriage, it’s another story. After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. As the two prepare for divorce, Caleb’s dad asks his son to try The Love Dare experiment. While hoping the experiment has nothing to do with his parents’ newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. Now he will have to attempt to love his wife while avoiding God’s love for him. He will need to be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person who is no longer receptive to his love. Cast: Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Ken Bevel. Rated PG

Ghost Town

Bertram Pincus is an irritable, cranky Manhattan dentist who develops the unwelcome ability to see annoying dead people. When a smooth-talking ghost traps Bertram into a romantic scheme involving his widow Gwen, they become entangled in a hilarious predicament between the now and the hereafter! Cast: Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey. Rated: PG-13

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Troy, Gabriella, Chad and Sharpay are getting ready to graduate from high school. As college approaches, the senior are struggling with the idea of being separated from one another. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman. Rated G

Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa

In this Dreamworks animated feature, follow Central Park Zoo animals, including, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, along with the psychotic penguins, the monkeys, and the lemur leaders as they unexpectedly are now stranded in the middle of Africa. While Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria are rather happy with their new environment, they quickly realize that it’s not all that it seems. Meanwhile, the penguins attempt to repair the plane that they accidentally destroyed.  Rated PG

Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist

Nick knows exactly how long it has been since Tris broke up with him – three weeks, two days, and 23 hours. Now she is at his gig, with a new guy. Nick can’t understand how she could have moved on so fast. But that night, Nick meets Norah. They have nothing in common except their taste in music. This begins the night of Nick, Norah and Manhattan. Now, this chance meeting turned into a crusdade to find a legendary rock band’s secret show, ends up being a first date and a night that will change their lives forever. Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Jay Baruchel.  Rated PG-13

Nights in Rodanthe

Paul is a surgeon who long ago traded his family for career. Adrienne is a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband’s infidelity. At a remote inn in the Outer Banks, the pair expect to do some serious soul-searching, but an approaching storm forces them to turn to each other. Cast: Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Scott Glenn, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. Rated PG-13

Pride and Glory

Centers on a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers. The family’s moral codes are tested when Ray Tierney investigates a case that reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal that happens to involve his own brother-in-law. For Ray, the truth is revelatory, a Pandora’s Box that threatens to upend not only the Tierney legacy, but the entire NYPD. Cast: Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle. Rated R

Religulous

Comedian and TV host Bill Maher takes a pilgrimage across the globe on a mind-opening journey into the ultimate taboo: questioning religion. Rated R

Savage Grace

A dramatization of the true story of a young woman who married into a wealthy family whose extremely close relationship with her son turns into a deadly tragedy. Cast: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne. Based on the book by Natalie Robins & Steven M.L. Aronson.  Not Rated

The Secret Life of Bees

Lily Owens is a young girl who lives on the peach farm that her abusive father owns. Rosaleen is a black woman hired by Lily’s father to be a stand in mother for Lilly. Rosaleen insults some of the biggest racists in their town. Lily and Rosaleen run away to a town Lily believes that her mother once lived in. They go to live with the three Boatwright sisters on their honey farm. She finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping. Cast: Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo. Based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Rated PG-13

Swing Vote

When twelve-year-old Molly encourages her apathetic father to get involved, she sets off a chain of events on election day that ends with the presidential race coming down to one vote–her dad’s. Cast: Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez, Madeline Carroll. Rated PG-13

Towelhead

Follows the life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening after moving to suburban Houston with her strict father. Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello, Peter Macdissi, Summer Bishil. Based on the novel by Alicia Erian. Rated R

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Vicky and Cristina are two young American women spending a summer in Spain when they meet a charming guy and his beautiful but volatile ex-wife. Soon, smoldering sparks begin to fly in hilarious fashion when they all become romantically entangled. Cast: Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Messina. Rated PG-13

W

A look at the life of the George W. Bush. Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Toby Jones, Stacy Keach, Bruce McGill, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright. Rated: PG-13

New DVD Releases 1/09

Angels in the Dust

The inspiring story of Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who— with her husband and three daughters— fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to build Botshabelo, an extraordinary village and school that provides shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children. Not Rated

Burn After Reading

When a disc filled with some of the CIA’s most irrelevant secrets gets in the hands of two determined, but not very bright, gym employees, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. Events soon spiral out of everyone’s and anyone’s control, resulting in a non-stop series of hilarious encounters! Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt. Rated R

The Duchess

The compelling true story of a lavish world filled with smoldering passion, heartbreaking deception and stifling demands. Beloved by a nation but betrayed by her husband, vivacious and heroic Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire and “Empress of Fashion”, faced an agonizing choice between responsibility and love. Cast:Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell. Based on the book Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. Rated PG-13

The House Bunny

When Playboy Bunny Shelly is tossed out of the Playboy Mansion, she has nowhere to go. When she stumbles into a sorry sorority, she finds a place where she can finally put her skills to good use. Cast: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone. Rated PG-13

My Tale of Two Cities

“My Tale of Two Cities” is a feel-good “comeback” story starring the city of Pittsburgh and some of the it’s favorite neighbors including Franco Harris, Teresa Heinz Kerry, the late Mayor Bob O’ Connor, former Treasury Secretary Paul O’ Neill, Mrs. Joanne Rogers, “Mr. McFeely” of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, and many others.

The Women

Set in Manhattan, the story starts with beautiful, intelligent Mary Haines discovering her husband is cheating on her. Needing their support, Mary’s girlfriends all rally around her with advice, cocktails, and shopping. Cast: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen. Based on the play by Clare Boothe Luce and the 1939 motion picture screenplay by Anita Loos and Jane Murfin. Rated PG-13

New DVD Releases 12/31/08

Mamma Mia!

Sophie has just one wish to make her wedding day perfect –to have her father walk her down the aisle. Now she just has to find out who her father is! Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski.  Based on the songs of ABBA. Rated PG-13

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Alex O’Connell sets out to help combat the resurrected a Han Emperor. When Alex is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents. This time, the O’Connells must stop a mummy that has awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service. As the monarch roars back to life, the O’Connell’s find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, Luke Ford, Isabella Leong, Chau Sang Anthony Wong, Russell Wong. Rated PG-13

War, Inc.

Turaqistan is a country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former U.S. vice-president. In an effort to monopolize the opportunities the war-torn nation offers, the corporation’s CEO hires a troubled hit man to kill a Middle East oil minister. Now, struggling with his own growning demons, the assassin must pose as the corporation’s Trade Show producer in order to pull off his current hit. Cast: John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Ben Kingsley, Dan Aykroyd, Ned Bellany. Rated R