Because I'm lazy, I didn't get a chance to do a December write-up, so here are two months worth of DVD reviews.

The Mouse that Roared, 1959
Peter Sellers is a genius. A small European nation (think Andorra) accidentally defeats the US in a war. Very funny. And smart.

Spider-Man 2, 2004
Damn, this was good. Way better than I expected. Better than the first, even. I think much of that may have had to do with the writers on this one. During the opening credits I noticed that one of the writers was Michael Chabon, who won a Pulitzer for his novel, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay", a novel ostensibly about comics.

Hacks, 2003
Uh, this was supposed to be funny. It was not. If anything, it was tedious.

The Bourne Supremacy, 2004
Better than the first. Well directed, I think. Decent writing. Some good action and intrigue. I can't help but enjoy a good spy story.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, 2004
Not as funny as I wanted it to be, but funny nonetheless. I'm starting to think that Ben Stiller will never be able to top Zoolander, which I found to be hysterical. A bright spot was the guy that played the kid in this, who was also on NBC's "Ed". This kid has got timing, and is a natural ham (but not obnoxiously so). He pretty much owns the DVD extra features, and with good reason.

Body Heat, 1981
Damn, Kathleen Turner used to be super hot. Also, a classic noir story from an era devoid of them.

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, 1996
Boring.

Sunshine State, 2002
I consistently enjoy John Sayles movies. This one is long and involved, but I really got into it. And not just because a major theme of this was zoning and gentrification and I am a dork. Though that helped. This one takes place in costal Florida and the story revolves around a once segregated community still struggling with its past as it struggles to find a future. As with any John Sayles film, it is well written, directed, and features fine acting.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico, 2003
Hooray for cartoony violence! The sequencing of the story took me a while to get used to, but really, who cares. It's all about the gunfights and that Salma Hayek is hot. Those are the important points. Also, Johnny Depp plays a great insane CIA agent, which really isn't any surprise. Though thoroughly enjoyable. I think the idea of a man in a CIA t-shirt and shorts enacting a coup of the Mexican government to be somewhat amusing.

Rick, 2004
I like Bill Pullman, but this was not as interesting as Netflix had lead me to believe. The story has a great short story style plot twist, even though it was completely predictable.

XX/XY, 2003
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's the story of a couple that had a fairly intense romance meeting again ten years later and the chaos that surrounds dredged up emotions.

I, Robot, 2004
Another movie I enjoyed much more than I thought I would. I was expecting to be complete outraged about bastardizing Isaac Asimov. Instead, I found loosely similar story to be fairly thrilling and shockingly uncheezy. I think this is one of the better Will Smith Saves The World pictures.

Riding Giants, 2004
An awesome documentary directed by skateboarding legend Stacy Peralta, who also directed the excellent "Dogtown and Z-Boys". This is a history of big wave surfing. It is visually lush, filled with engaging stories, and populated by real legends giving their own accounts. I highly recommend it.

In Smog and Thunder, 2003
A mockumentary about Northern and Southern California going to war, based upon an art exhibit. A funny idea that did not translate to film well at all.

Greg the Bunny: Disc 1 & 2, 2002
Why did this show get cancelled? Was is because it was actually funny? Screw you, FOX. Stop doing that. At least Arrested Development won some Emmys, thus forcing FOX to order more episodes. Greg the Bunny takes place in a world the same as ours, except that puppets are living creatures. The show is about a children's show, as directed by Eugene Levy's character. His semi-fuck-up son, Scott, played by Seth Green gets his best friend, Greg the Bunny, a job as the new star of the show. Hilarity ensues. Seth Green does an amazing job of having a fairly believable rapport with the puppets, which adds to the show immensely. As does Tardy the Turtle, a character reminiscent of Ralph Wiggum, though maybe a bit more retarded. The extras on Disc 2 feature a very entreating short about Tardy delivering a letter.

The Kid Stays in the Picture, 2002
I found this to be fairly entertaining for such an unbelievable work of self-indulgence. Jesus, Bob Evans must have balls the size of kickballs.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, 2004
One of the better films recently aimed at stoned college kids. I found it satisfying that it wasn't about a bunch of white kids. Oh, and I loved Doogie Howser snorting coke off a some naked chick's ass.

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