Mammoth

A computer nerd has to leave his family go to Bangkok to sign the papers to sell his internet gaming company for a lot of money. While they are separated, each of the family members, as well as the family’s Pilipino maid, goes through a series of personal dramas that weave in and out of the narrative with little rhyme or reason. There are moments of honesty and clarity that are compelling, but the stories never really tie together to a satisfying whole. 2 stars

The 14 Amazons

Tired of the ongoing war, and their men’s inability to end it, a group of females strap on some armor and head out to win the fight once and for all. Directors Ken Cheng and Shao-yung Tung fill the screen with tons of high-flying action, and they aren’t shy about showing a lot of blood (which looks like red paint), but they also take the time to give each of the Amazons just enough time on the screen to establish her character before she goes into battle. The result is hugely entertaining.

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out

Even if you know a lot about the composer/musician already, there’s still a lot to learn watching this fascinating documentary about the late, great Frank Zappa. There are a lot of fellow musicians and rock critics to tell you how big an influence he was on music, and there are lots or performance clips to show you how good he was at playing it. What’s missing is any actual interview footage with the man himself, and that keeps a good documentary from being great.

The Indomitable Teddy Roosevelt

This could be the ultimate DVD package of fans of the 26th President of the United States. Not only do you get a really good documentary about the man, but there’s also a pretty fascinating disc of ‘making of’ extras that let you go behind the scenes to see what it takes to make a great documentary. And if that’s not enough, the pack includes a CD of John Phillip Sousa marches, a gift that will make more sense once you’ve seen the documentary.

The Basketball Diaries

It seems impossible that The Basketball Diaries came out in theaters 15 years ago, but then you watch Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg and the rest of the cast and all you can think is how young they look. That and how good they are. DiCaprio is absolutely mesmerizing as poet/junkie Jim Carroll. His performance is raw and honest, a far cry from the more calculated performance he gives nowadays. It’s almost painful to watch, particularly the scene where he begs his mom (a very good Lorraine Bracco) to let him back in to their apartment after they have a huge fight. The rest of the cast is just as strong, and the story still stands up both as a cautionary tale of drug abuse and a celebration of being young and feeling invincible.

Ninja Assassin

It won’t take long for you to decide if Ninja Assassin is the right movie for you. If you can watch the first big fight scene and not lose your cookies when the bad guy gets his head sliced in half (horizontally, just under the nose), then you may make it through the following 90 minutes of martial arts mayhem.
Of course, if you cheer when the top half of his head hit the floor with a wet splat, and find yourself laughing out loud at the way his now disembodied eyes blink at you, then you are just may think Ninja Assassin is the best movie in years.
Directed by James McTeigue, Ninja Assassin is the story of a clandestine ninja death squad that the rich and powerful have been hiring for centuries to do their dirty work. When one of their best disciples defects from the clan to lead a less-bloody life, the ninja assassins do whatever they can to either bring him back or kill him.

Funny People

Judd Apatow’s dramedy about comedy hit a stone wall when it was originally released, primarily because audiences expected a lot of laughs from the man who gave us The 40 year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. With lowered expectations, the DVD comes across as more interesting, if still not very funny. Adam Sandler gives a good performance as the big time comedian whose brush with death makes him reconsider what is really important in his life, but Seth Rogan is even more annoying as his protégée.