New on DVD: Dec. 2 (2003/12/02)- Tickets to Movies in Theaters, Broadway Shows, London Theatre & More

New DVD’s This Week: Dec.
2

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse
of the Black Pearl

When the
evil and mysterious Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) kidnaps
beautiful aristocrat Elizabeth (Keira Knightly), her childhood
friend and secret love Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) reluctantly
teams up with the roguish yet charming pirate captain Jack Sparrow
(Johnny Depp) to save her. But Capt. Jack has his own ulterior
motives: To exact revenge on Barbossa and his mutinous shipmates
for stealing the ship The Black Pearl out from under him and
find some lost treasure while he’s at it. Their quest
soon turns deadly, as Barbossa and his crew are hell-bent on
breaking a terrible curse that has doomed them to live on as
the undead–and intend to use Elizabeth’s blood to do
it.

What’s
Cool:

Commentaries with director Gore Verbinski and actors Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Jack Davenport and producer Jerry Bruckheimer
Featurettes: “An Epic at Sea: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Below Deck,” “Fly on the Set,” “Diary of a Pirate,” “Diary of a Ship,” producers’ diary featurette with Jerry Bruckheimer
19 deleted and alternate scenes
“Moonlight” scene progression
Blooper reel

	From Our Review:
	Considering it is based on a Disney theme park attraction, Gore Verbinski’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is surprisingly good, but it probably would not have been half as entertaining if it were not for Johnny Depp’s commanding performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. More. . .

Still Hot

X2:
X-Men United

In the second
chapter in the struggle between humans and mutants, the X-Men
face their greatest challenge yet, as a new and formidable opponent
to mutantkind has emerged. William Stryker (Brian Cox), a former
army commander and new leader of the anti-mutant movement, presents
a new and powerful threat. Rumored to have conducted testing
on mutant subjects, Stryker’s work is thought to be related
to Logan/Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) mysterious past. As Logan
continues his quest to find out about his past, the diabolical
Magneto (Ian McKellen), who has escaped from prison, proposes
a partnership with the wise and powerful Professor Xavier (Patrick
Stewart) to combat the new threat.

What’s
Cool:

Audio commentaries by director Brian Singer and cinematographer
Tom Sigel
Featurettes: “The Secret Origin of X-Men,” “Nightcrawler
Reborn: Introducing the Incredible Nightcrawler,” “FX2–Visual
Effects,” “Evolution in the Details: Designing X2,”
“United Colors of X,” “Wolverine Deathstrike Fight Rehearsal,”
more
11 deleted scenes

	From Our Review:
	X2: X-Men United is a thoroughly exciting and intriguing sequel in the X-Men series, a pure adrenaline ride. But with a weighty–and very important–message attached, the film also makes you think. More. . .

Bruce
Almighty

Though he
enjoys terrific success in his career as a TV news reporter
in Buffalo, New York, and has a loving girlfriend (Jennifer
Aniston), Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) never misses an opportunity
to dwell on the negative aspects of his life. When he botches
the career opportunity of a lifetime and is fired from his job,
Bruce turns to God not for help, but to complain, of course.
His awkward prayers are answered when he meets a janitor (Morgan
Freeman) who turns out to be none other than The Almighty himself.
Tired of hearing Bruce’s complaints, God empowers the out-of-work
journalist with all His abilities, challenging Bruce to see
if he can make better use of them. Wackiness ensues.

What’s
Cool:

Audio commentary by director Tim Shadyac
Featurette: “The Process of Jim”
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes

	From Our Review:
	PEven with all its predictability, Bruce Almighty and its star Jim Carrey still leave you crying from laughter. More. . .

Lara
Croft Tomb Raider:
The
Cradle of Life

On a journey
that takes her deep into a sunken temple, archaeologist and
explorer Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) stumbles upon a mysterious
sphere that contains the mythical Pandora’s Box. It isn’t long
before the leader of a Chinese crime syndicate steals the once-in-a-lifetime
find from Croft, ultimately leading Lara to the real mastermind–Dr.
Jonathan Reece (Ciaran Hinds), who intends to use the Box as
a menacing doomsday weapon.

What’s
Cool:

Deleted scenes
Commentary by director Jan De Bont
Featurettes on visual effects, scoring, training, weapons,
vehicles, and stunts
Music videos: “Did My Time,” by Korn and “Heart Go Faster”
by Davey Brothers

	From Our Review:
	Despite Angelina Jolie’s valiant effort and director Jan De Bont’s glossy visual style, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life‘s storyline is not intelligent enough to hold it together or outshine its predecessor, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. More. . .

The
Santa Clause 2

Acting as
the new Santa for the past eight years, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen)
has brilliantly shined in his post. Until, that is, he finds
out some ultra-fine print in his contract mandates he must get
married by this Christmas Eve or give up his Santa job forever.
That, in addition to learning his own son Charlie (Eric Lloyd)
has made this year’s “naughty list,” compel
Scott to take a leave of absence from The North Pole and assign
a temporary Santa to hold down the fort until he returns. Calvin’s
temporary replacement does not work out as well as hoped, leaving
it up to Scott to deal with his son and find a wife in time
to save Christmas.

What’s
Cool:

Commentary with actors Tim Allen and Spencer Breslin
Deleted scenes and outtakes
Interviews with the Tooth Fairy, Mother Nature, Father
Time, and the Easter Bunny
“Tour of the North Pole” and special effects featurettes

	From Our Review:
	Parents get ready. Kids will have a great time watching The Santa Clause 2–and will get pumped up for the real thing come the holidays. More. . .

Compiled by Owen Iozzio

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