The Passion of the Christ
Fox Home Entertainment

- The DVD release of "The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson's intense two-hour film about the last hours of Jesus' life before his crucifixion. Last winter, when the film was released it rocked many Americans who were experiencing the horrors of war and the devastation of a lethal economy. The film seemed to come at a time when many people felt the need to revisit some of their core beliefs and despite controversy about the content and charges of anti-Semtism, it became a huge hit. Gibson, who spent 13 years researching it and financed the film with a reported $35 million of his own money, proves again that he's a savvy filmmaker. Passion has an exquisite look of antiquity down to the muted earth tones of the rock buildings and the period costumes and a wonderful cast of mostly unknown actors that speaks in Aramaic and Latin with English subtitles. And, it works!

The film opens with Jesus (Jim Caviezel, "A Thin Red Line" and "Angel Eyes") praying in a garden as Caiaphas (Mattia Sbragia) and some of the Pharisees insist on his arrest. They beseech Pantius Pilate (Hristo Naumov Shopov) to crucify him. Not all of the priests agree with this tactic and Pilate hesitates fearing the political fallout back in Rome if this situation isn't handled properly. Meanwhile, Satan (Rosalinda Celentano) slithers around Jesus waiting for any opportunity to lure him away from his faith. You don't have to be religious to realize the enormous fear that Jesus felt when he realized what lie ahead of him. Jesus' scourging is extremely violent and it is prolonged in excruciating detail with blood splattering on the Roman guards faces and flesh clinging to the spike whips. Because of these scenes, the film is not for the faint hearted or children. It will move even the most stoic viewer.

There has been a lot of debate and controversy about Gibson's reasons for making Passion and the great possibility that it will inspire anti-Semitism. While Pantius Pilate was portrayed more kindly than in past films, I felt that the objections of some of the Jewish priests and followers showed that not every one agreed with the events that took place. And, while the scourging of Jesus is horrific, I believe most moviegoers will think about the basic Christian doctrine of love. What I am curious about is Gibson's casting of a woman as Satan. No one has mentioned this fact and whether his conservatism influenced his decision. It may be a first in modern religious films (I haven't found any other instances). In years to come, I'm sure film scholars will find the trio of women -- Mary the mother, Mary Magdalene, the whore and Satan as a woman -- in The Passion of the Christ worthy of much copy. Nevertheless, in this riveting, narrow telling of Jesus' last hours, Gibson certainly compels Christians - devoted and lapsed - to think about faith. He wanted it to be realistic and it is for everyone in the audience.

Unfortunately, the DVD release of "The Passion of the Christ" only presents a letterbox version of the film and doesn't include any features. It would've been wonderful if we'd gotten an audio commentary from Gibson and some of the actors as well as some source material about the composition of the film. One can only hope that another version with lots of interesting features will be released sometime in the future.

The Ladykillers
Touchstone Home Entertainment

- This is the Coen Brothers at their devilish best! Tom Hanks stars as a crafty, eccentric thief who moves into the quiet home of the good church lady (Irma P. Hall) and tunnels toward a cash-filled safe with the help of his trusty band of thieves. Of course, the unsuspecting church lady is no dummy and when she catches the gang with the cash, they orders them to return it or surrender to the cops. Can they change her mind or will the church lady have to be bumped off?

Ethan and Joel Coen (O Brother Where Art Thou?) have created another slice of wholesome Southern living and the quirky personalities that make up this part of the country. The gospel music is first rate and the rustic honest, home cooking and genuine greedy provide lots of laughs. Hanks matches his eccentric posturing and vocal deliverance's with Hall's earnest pronouncements. They are two funny actors who create two funny characters. Hank's gang -- a wily Asian, klutzy explosive expert, a dumb jock and a foul-mouth hip hop youngster -- are a good cast and you'll laugh out loud at their antics. The Coens' pinpoint the self-serving nature of individual greed in Southern hospitality.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, wide screen disc include a hilarious "Slap Reel" of outtakes between Marlon Wayans and Hall; a delicious music deleted music video, a wonderful documentary about the man behind the band and instruments and much, much more.

The features include a wacky behind-the -scenes look at the making of the film and gives the Olsen twins a chance to let fans explore their world.

Angel: Season Four
Fox TV DVD

- Season Four of "Angel" brings everyone back to the fold. While it opens with a fantasy that Angel has of a cohesive, loving family, his life is not this warm. While his friends Gunn (J. August Richards), Fred (Amy A. Cher) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) look for a missing Angel (David Boreannz), they don't realize that his teenage son, Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) has locked him steel box and dropped it at the bottom of the local river. Plus Cordella (Carisma Carpenter) is still missing, too. Actually, she's a heavenly body looking down on everyone. Wesley manages to rescue Angel, who banishes his son from the hotel, the singing demon Lorne (Andy Hallett) is located and Cordella returns but has no memory of anyone. She bounds with Conner as powerful demon claws his way up from hell to earth and begins to wreck havoc of the world. The impending doom of the earthly world unify the warring parties as they fight to avoid apocalypse. Eventually, Connor and Cordella's union spawns a baby -- a deadly beauty Jasmine (Gina Torres) and they group must almost bond to save the world, again.

"Angel" has always been a popular series because the battle between good and evil spotlights the tension of most adolescents and youth. Boreannz is still a dangerous romantic leading figure and in Season Four, he gets to be funny, scary and wise. The creators Joss Wheldon and David Greenwalt leads the series in many new directions with the birth of Connor (the spawn of two vampires) and then his daughter Jasmine. He makes the impossible possible and mirrors real-life tensions about identity, love and struggle in this unusual series. When Jasmine offers the world paradise, the price is too high. Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it and live with the consequences. This is still an alluring series and I can vouch for that fact since I wasn't a fan of the regular series but found myself being drawn into Season Four.

The 6-disc set includes all 22 episodes in a crisp widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. There are selected audio commentary by Wheldon, Alexis Denisof, Andy Hallett and many others. Also included is a marvelous overview with cast and crew interviews; amusing outtakes and behind the scenes look at the Hyperion Hotel, the Beast and "Malice in Wonderland: Wolfram and Hart" featurettes. It's all good and fans will love it! Furthermore, new viewers, like myself, will get a detailed information about the series. The is an excellent DVD with loads of fun!

Edited by Veronica Mixon
images courtesy of Fox and Touchstone.

to TOP