New on DVD: Dec. 9 (2003/12/09)- Tickets to Movies in Theaters, Broadway Shows, London Theatre & More

New DVD’s This Week: Dec.
9

As members of a task force fight an ecstasy drug ring in Miami, Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) unwittingly uncover a massive conspiracy masterminded by a ruthless drug lord who seeks to take over the city’s narcotics trade. When Marcus’ sister, undercover DEA agent Sydney Burnett (Gabrielle Union), is caught in the middle of the confrontation, the stakes are raised even higher–especially when Mike and Syd strike up a relationship, much to Marcus’ chagrin. Mike and Marcus have to put their differences aside and work together to help make the city, and those close to them, safe.

What’s
Cool:

Stunts and effects featurettes
Deleted scenes
Jay-Z music video, “La-La-La”
Sequence breakdowns

	From Our Review:
	Whatcha gonna do? This is the bloodiest, loudest and longest shootout of the summer–so avoid the streets of Miami if you have no appetite for destruction. If this is the best Smith and Lawrence can cook up after an eight-year absence, then these bad boys deserve a good spanking at the box office. More. . .

Gigli

When hit
man Larry Gigli (Ben Affleck) takes on what should be a routine
kidnapping job, he quickly realizes that he’s gotten into
more than he bargained for, being holed-up with his psychologically
challenged prisoner. Concerned that he is unable to handle the
job on his own, Larry’s boss sends Ricki (Jennifer Lopez),
a fellow assassin, to offer assistance. Things become complicated
when Gigli begins to develop feelings for his new partner.

What’s
Cool:

Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
Widescreen and Pan & Scan versions

	From Our Review:
	Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez may be one of Hollywood’s hottest real-life couples but on screen, they lack conviction. Gigli is a traffic accident you can’t keep your eyes off of. If you have a taste for morbid curiosity, go see it. More…

How To Deal

With her
father dating a woman she can’t stand, her mother being
alone, her sister struggling to deal with her future marriage,
and shallow cheerleaders and jock boyfriends populating her
school, Halley (Mandy Moore) is all but convinced that love
is a useless and unattainable concept. Yet, when a tragic event
leads to a chance encounter with a new acquaintance, Halley
soon realizes that love can come from the most unlikely places.

What’s
Cool:

Audio commentaries with director Clare Kilner and actress Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore profile
“Sharpening the Edge: The Evolution of Teen Fiction”
Music videos: “Why Can’t I?” by Liz Phair and “Billy S.” by Skye Sweetnam

	From Our Review:
	Director Clare Kilner’s How To Deal is too derivative and although star Mandy Moore puts forth a good effort in her second headlining feature, How To Deal, it is too similar to every teen drama that has come before. More…

Assassination Tango

As a renowned
hit man, John J. Anderson (Robert Duvall) has his life take
an unexpected turn when he is hired to carry out the assassination
of an Argentine general and falls in love with the rich and
mysterious world of the tango, as well as his teacher Manuela
(Lucianna Pedraza). As much as he wants to stay, he must return
home after his mission. As he tries desperately to find a way
out of Argentina, John must stay ahead of the vengeful military
if he is to survive long enough to escape the country.

What’s
Cool:

Audio commentaries with writer/director/actor Robert Duvall and actress Lucianna Pedraza
Deleted scenes
Alternate ending

	Interview:
	“Assassination Tango” Interview with Robert Duvall and Lucianna Pedraza. More…

Still Hot

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. . .

Compiled by Owen Iozzio

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