Susan Granger’s DVD Update for week of Fri., Aug. 19:
Robert Redford’s convoluted, courtroom-centric “The Conspirator” chronicles the chaos after John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, focusing on the arrest and trial of Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), the widow at whose boarding house the killers launched their dastardly plot.
Set in 1994 in apartheid-torn South Africa, “The Bang Bang Club” examines the ethics and psychology that propels thrill-seeking photojournalists (Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Kitsch, Nells Van Jaarsveld, Frank Rautenbach) to risk life and limb on a daily, if not hourly basis.
Starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, “Something Borrowed” is a soul-searching chick flick about a good-hearted, yet weak-willed Manhattan attorney who falls in love with her petty, petulant, demanding best friend’s fiancé (Colin Egglesfield, resembling a young Tom Cruise).
The Blu-ray 3D version of “The Final Destination” – the fourth installment about twentysomethings who cheat Death only to have Death come back for them – includes the 2D version for standard Blu-ray and up to $8 off one admission ticket to see “Final Destination 5” in theaters.
Based on a series of South Korean graphic novels, “Priest” is a pulpy vicars-versus-vampires tale, starring Paul Bettany as a tortured Catholic Warrior Priest in a post-apocalyptic, alternate world.
“Meet Monica Velour” relates an awkward teenager’s road trip to meet his favorite ‘80s porn star (Kim Cattrall) at a rare live appearance; instead of a glamorous sexpot, he finds a 49 year-old single mom living in a trailer in rural Indiana.
There have to be better choices for kids than “Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil,” a lame, time-wasting, unnecessary sequel about Red Riding Hood (voiced by Hayden Panettiere), her Granny (voiced by Glenn Close) and the wicked witch Verushka (voiced by Joan Cusack).
PICK OF THE WEEK: Cary Joji Fukunaga’s remake of “Jane Eyre” breathes new life into a story that’s already been filmed at least 18 times, dating back to 1910. Young Mia Wasikowska captures the desolation, darkness and danger lurking behind the stark austerity of Thornfield Hall, where she’s befriended by the kindly, understanding housekeeper (Judi Dench).