Articles by Meredith Ennis

On Demand DVD New Releases Nov. 11-17 Superman may be the headliner for this week’s releases, but a number of smaller films are making their debuts and are worth checking out. This might be a good opportunity to catch a foreign film or a documentary, too. The Attack An Arab surgeon living in Tel Aviv discovers a dark secret about his wife in the aftermath of a suicide bombing. (Hebrew and Arabic, subtitled in English)  Ali Suliman, Evgenia Didena (R, 1;42) 11/12 Same day as DVD. Blackfish Tells the story of Tilikum, a notoriously aggressive orca that killed three people while in captivity. Shocking […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Nov. 4-10 Grown Ups 2 After having moved his family from Hollywood back to his hometown, Lenny (Adam Sandler) and his buddies indulge in a wild day filled with old bullies, new bullies, schizo bus drivers, drunk cops on skis and 400 costumed party crashers. Also stars Kevin James, Chris Rock (PG-13, 1:41) 11/5 [Same as DVD] White House Down A Capitol Police officer taking his daughter on a tour of the White House must spring into action when a paramilitary group overtakes the facility, plummeting the nation’s government into chaos. Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, 2012). […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 28-Nov. 3 The big title this week is Monsters University, maybe the perfect antidote for those “over” the creepier monsters of the Halloween season. There are some big names in other films premiering, including Liev Schreiber (Last Days on Mars), James Franco, Danny McBride and Tim Blake Nelson (As I Lay Dying) and, last, but not least, Alan Rickman, Malin Ackerman and Ashley Greene (CBGB). If your thoughts have moved on to the Christmas holidays, you might consider Angels Sing with Harry Connick Jr. and Connie Britton. Monsters University (3-D) Find out how Monsters, […]

First published in 2003, the four-issue comic book series R.I.P.D. tells the story of a police force made up of officers who are on their second tour of duty, now working with the Rest In Peace Department. These officers can move between the real world and the netherworld and are charged with patrolling the afterlife and capturing “Deados” — spirits that have failed to “cross over” after death and instead return to Earth as murderous ghosts. Having led the team charged with translating some of Dark Horse Comics’ most popular titles into film (including The Mask, Hellboy and Hellboy II: […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 21-27 Fans of comedy have a lot to look froward to this week, with offerings from Kristen Wiig, Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson, and Jeff Bridges & Ryan Reynolds. But don’t be fooled by Steve Carell’s appearance in The Way Way Back, his character is not lighthearted or goofy in this film. With a few days left before Halloween, there are a couple of creepy/scary offerings on board as well this week. Before Midnight Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy return for their third go-round as Jesse and Celine — once again directed by Richard […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 14-20 Not too many big-name titles debuting this week, but there’s still plenty on offer: The Heat Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy star in this buddy-cop comedy about an uptight FBI agent who must partner with a foulmouthed Boston cop to go up against a ruthless drug lord. Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). Also stars Demian Bichir (R, 1:57) 10/15 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain The comic wows the crowds at this filmed performance of a sold-out show from Madison Square Garden. (R, 1:15) 10/15 Pacific Rim Humanity resorts to giant machines controlled by psychic links with their […]

The Purge is set nine years in the future, in a world where crime is completely legal for a single 12-hour period each year. In the film, on the designated night, a family is held hostage for harboring a fugitive being hunted by a murderous syndicate. Writer/director James DeMonaco came up with the idea for The Purge after a road rage incident that happened while out with his wife. On that occasion, the couple was  nearly killed by a reckless driver. DeMonaco recalls, “In a fit of terrible road rage I had gotten out of the car to argue with […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 7-13 After Earth Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith star in director M. Night Shyamalan’s futuristic tale of a father and son stranded on Earth a millennium after humanity left the planet. The son must brave the treacherous habitat to signal for help for him and his injured father. Also stars Sophie Okonedo (PG-13, 1:40) 10/8 The Hangover Part III Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are back as the Wolfpack in this Vegas-set adventure. An angry gangster holds their friend hostage demanding that they find Chow, who stole millions of […]

On Demand DVD New releases Sept. 30-Oct. 6 Documentary fans and fans of real life stories have a lot to choose from this week:  Linsanity and Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O are documentaries, Underground: The Julian Assange Story  is  technically not a documentary, but more of a biopic and Big Sur is about Jack Kerouac. Start getting in the mood for Halloween with Fright Night 2: New Blood and Apartment 1303. This is the End and Best Man Down should satisfy the itch for comedy. Lastly, make it family night and enjoy The Croods. The Croods This animated adventure follows a […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Sept. 23-29 Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants “Godfather of hipsterdom” Gavin McInnes goes on a stand-up comedy tour with his best friend from high school and things go from bad to worse to downright catastrophic. Also stars Steve Durand, Bryan Gaynor (NR, 1:08) 9/24 The Kings of Summer Three teenage buddies decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land in this coming-of-age comedy. A Grand Jury Prize nominee at Sundance 2013. Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Nick Offerman (R, 1:35) 9/24 Much Ado About Nothing Joss Whedon directs […]