National Geographic: Inside Hurricane Katrina (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: After tearing a path through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Hurricane Katrina was declared the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in United States history. Using government audiotapes, personal interviews and round-the-clock news coverage, this in-depth National Geographic special seeks to answer a long list of questions — among them, why were emergency personnel so woefully unprepared? And could it occur again?

Review: I found this extremely interesting as I really was not watching much TV at this time and mainly followed this disaster through newspapers and the internet. I knew there city was devastated, and I knew it was awful, but I didn’t realize it was this bad. Other pictures just didn’t show the magnitude like this did.

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Submitted by: Kathryn 8/29/06

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Taking a hiatus from his cross-country gigs with the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour,” Larry the Cable Guy (aka Dan Whitney) stars in his own feature-length film, following the efforts of a restaurant health inspector to acclimate to local tastes. In an uproarious finale, Larry outs impostors at the City Wide Chef Challenge, a televised knockoff of the hit program “Iron Chef” — and if that’s not enough, Jerry Mathers (”Leave It to Beaver”) co-stars.

Review: You have to be able to appreciate poop/diarrhea jokes and fart jokes to enjoy this movie, it’s very crude and juvenile. It was a bust for me but my father-in-law, husband and teen son were rolling all over the floor laughing until they almost cried so it is evidently funny to some people. Not my type of movie at all though.

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Submitted by: Brandy 8/28/06

No Deposit No Return (1976)

Netflix Synopsis: When their mother heads off on a vacation to Hong Kong, two mischievous siblings are sent to stay with their conservative, boring grandfather (David Niven). The children come across two inept criminals (Don Knotts and Darren McGavin) and get a bright idea: They’ll have themselves kidnapped! Sure that their plan will bring their mother back from her holiday, the kids proceed and manage to ruin the lives of their “captors” in the meantime.

Review: I re-rented this movie to celebrate the wonderful talents of Don Knotts and Darren McGavin who died within hours of each other this past February. It’s a cute movie, classic 70’s Disney fare. Darren McGavin was great but as usual, Don Knotts stole the show even from the child actors in the movie. Very few can perform physical and slapstick comedy the way Don Knotts could.

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Submitted by: Brandy 8/28/06

Red Eye (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Terrified of flying, Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) reluctantly hops a red-eye flight bound for Miami and buckles up for a bumpy ride. But her phobia morphs into terror when she learns that a fellow passenger (Cillian Murphy) has plans to murder the deputy secretary of Homeland Security — and wants to use Lisa as part of the plot. Master of horror Wes Craven directs this psychological thriller set at 30,000 feet.

Review: Excellent psychological thriller! The plot set up is not long and drawn out as it is in most thrillers, the story begins almost right away. Cillian Murphy’s eyes were enough to give me chills, add that to the character and his acting talent and he is pure villain..a perfect casting job. Rachel McAdams is fantastic and believable in her role as well. A great movie for thriller fans who appreciate the suspense and action without the blood and gore.

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Submitted by: Brandy 8/28/06

RV (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Climbing aboard their mammoth RV for a cross-country road trip to the Colorado Rockies, the McNeive family — led by dysfunctional patriarch Bob (Robin Williams) — prepares for the adventure of a lifetime. But spending two weeks together in one seriously small space has a way of cramping their style. Jeff Daniels and Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth co-star in director Barry Sonnenfeld’s raucous vacation comedy.

Review: what a hoot. This is how I like Robin Williams. Having used a travel trailer for camping before, I could relate to some of the situations. Some wonderfully LOL moments. A movie I’ll probably watch again, in the future.

Submitted by: Mel 8/27/06

Prison Break: Season 1 (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Determined to help his brother, Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), break out of the Fox River State Penitentiary, structural engineer Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) holds up a bank to get himself arrested so he can smuggle in the prison blueprints and hatch an elaborate plan to set them both free. With each episode, we learn more details about Michael’s ultimate prison break … but will it go off without a hitch?

Review: Has anyone else watched this series? I just finished the last disc. 6 discs in 10 days; but boy is it good. I think I’m as addicted to this as 24. And the guy who plays Michael Scofield is HOT!!! When it came out on TV last year, I didn’t think I’d like a show set in prison with criminals as the main characters, but boy was I wrong. Surprisingly, even those who are really nasty guys for the crimes they comitted, you find you like or at least enjoy following their story. I had the 1st show of the second season taped and plan to tape the one on Monday; hopefully, I’ll be able to watch the first 2 shows over the holiday weekend and be caught up and able to watch the show every Monday. I give this 5 stars, which is rare for a TV show.

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Submitted by: Kathryn 8/26/06

Silent Hill (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Determined to save her terminally ill daughter (Jodelle Ferland), Rose (Radha Mitchell) ignores the wishes of her husband and takes her to a faith healer. But her well-intentioned efforts somehow land them in an alternate reality — the deserted town of Silent Hill — where her daughter mysteriously disappears. Now, with only a police officer (Laurie Holden) to assist her, Rose is left to search for her child in a world of darkness and shadow.

Review: Seems to be the week of so-so movies. This movie had its good points, but it wasnt anything spectacular. There are some good creepy characters, the plot is interesting, although it does leave a few questions. Ending is one of those that made me and my husband go “huh?”. This movie was based on a video game, but I’ve never played the game so I really cant say how true to the game they stayed, or how well of an adaption it was.

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Submitted by: Lisa 8/24/06

In Her Shoes (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: This tale of two sisters — wild-child Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and straight-laced Rose (Toni Collette) — is based on the theory that they have nothing in common except for their size 8-1/2 feet. But Maggie’s discovery of a long-lost grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) the girls never knew they had could be the thing that brings them together for good. Ridley Scott sits in as producer on this comedy-drama based on a novel by Jennifer Weiner.

Review: Good movie. Much better as the character develop. Difficult situations developing into great relationships. Maggie & the grandmother, the sisters…. I really liked the movie.

Submitted by: Mel 8/23/06

Poseidon (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Battling the elements once again, Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm) re-creates Ronald Neame’s 1972 action classic with help from an ensemble cast that includes Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas, Emmy Rossum and Stacy Ferguson (aka “Fergie” of the Black Eyed Peas). A tidal wave spells disaster for a boatload of New Year’s Eve revelers when it capsizes the mammoth vessel, pitching the passengers into a desperate battle for survival.

Review: For those who love action-adventure movies paired with the latest technology, there is much to recommend of Poseidon 2006 in the way of special effects and modern movie-making when compared to the original 1972 movie. However, the storytelling itself pales in comparison and what’s the point of all the flashy special effects if the actual story lacks excitement and fails to hook the viewer? I just didn’t “feel” the energy or connection to Poseidon 2006 that one should feel when watching a survivor movie such as this. The only scene that had me gripping my seat was the scene between mother and son, through the grate. Other than that, I was pretty much emotionless….not a good feeling when viewing a movie in which all but a small handful of the characters end up dead. Poseidon 2006 is not a complete failure of a remake but even with the special effects, it can’t touch Poseidon 1972.

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Submitted by: Brandy 8/23/06

Poseidon (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Battling the elements once again, Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm) re-creates Ronald Neame’s 1972 action classic with help from an ensemble cast that includes Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas, Emmy Rossum and Stacy Ferguson (aka “Fergie” of the Black Eyed Peas). A tidal wave spells disaster for a boatload of New Year’s Eve revelers when it capsizes the mammoth vessel, pitching the passengers into a desperate battle for survival.

Review: There were some good special effects, but comparing it to the original… the original is MUCH better. In this version the characters are just thrust upon you and the plot seems very artificial. With the original I really cared about the characters, and was drawn to them. Josh Lucas seemed a very cold hero, whereas with Gene Hackman one could feel that his character really had the other folks on the boat as his motivation for getting out there.

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Submitted by: Lisa 8/23/06