Open Range
Fans of old-fashioned westerns will enjoy this 2003 movie directed by and starring Kevin Costner. The real star of the film is Robert Duvall, who plays a crusty cowboy with flashes of humor that light up the screen. The story is the basic confrontation tale of open range riders vs. ranchers in the old West, with Costner and Duvall defending the freedom and values of a vanishing lifestyle. There's a quiet romance and the inevitable shootout, but exceptional filmwork keep you glued to your seat throughout.
Planet of the Apes: 35th Anniversary Edition
If you're a fan of the 1968 film starring Charlton Heston (not the 2001 remake), this special edition DVD will be a must-have. It includes commentary by many of the actors, including Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Make-Up Artist John Chambers and Music Composer Jerry Goldsmith. There's also a "Behind the Planet of the Apes" documentary and some outtakes. Additional goodies include footage shot by McDowell and trailers for this movie and all four movie sequels.
Freddy vs. Jason
Sure, Halloween may be long passed, but the season for horror movies never ends. Here's the mayhem matchup horror fans have long dreamed of: Freddy Krueger, from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, takes on Jason Voorhees of the Friday the 13th flicks. The two have 17 films between them, and this movie attempts to explain the origins of these killers. But it's not all psychoanalysis. As expected, there's plenty of blood and gory violence against teens. But their predictability is a big part of enjoying these movies, and this installment should satisfy fans for a while.
S.W.A.T.
This 2003 summer release had the star-power to go places, but didn't last long on the box office charts. It features Samuel Jackson and Colin Farrell as the veteran police officer and young hothead, in a Special Weapons and Tactics force in Los Angeles. The plot hinges on an arrested drug kingpin the S.W.A.T. team must transport into federal custody who offers $100 million on television to anyone who can free him. Needless to say, that makes for a hard day's work for the S.W.A.T. team, which includes members played by LL Cool J and Michelle Rodriguez.
