NEWSThe PhilmGuy's DVD Review: 'The Green Hornet'; 'The Dilemma'
May 3 2011, Published 8:06 a.m. ET
The Green Hornet — Seth Rogen slims down to play a newspaper-owning playboy who becomes masked vigilante, with Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou as his servant/sidekick. Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson and Christoph Waltz are all game for punchy supporting roles in the action-humor extravaganza, but despite the efforts of director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), the film is hit and miss. The Blu-ray/DVD combo lacks a digital copy, but is otherwise filled with extras, including Chou's audition, looks at the stunts, filmmaker commentary and deleted scenes.
THE PHILMGUY'S DVD REVIEW: SOUTH PARK; HUMAN PLANET
Penn and Teller: Bullshit! Season 8 — The comedy-magic team continues to thrill, with Showtime's answer to Mythbusters — with less science and more gratuitous nudity and swearing. In the latest season they seek to expose frauds in, among other topics, the competitive cheerleading industry, the effort to scare parents into ceasing vaccinations of their kids and conspiracy theorists' beliefs that Area 51 houses alien technology. The show is an able mix of journalism and exploitative entertainment, and is an informative, engaging romp. The DVD offers scant extras.
Sniper: Reloaded — Billy Zane oozes tough-guy cool as a grizzled sniper who takes a young up-and-comer (Chad Michael Collins) under his wing as they try to take down an evil sniper who is picking off civilians. The action is B-to-C-plus material through and through, but offers plenty of thrills as its ticks off checkpoints in its dull, predictable plot. The Blu-ray is light on extras and is more suitable as a rental than a purchase.
THE PHILMGUY'S DVD REVIEW: THE KING'S SPEECH; RABBIT HOLE
The Dilemma — Taking an unexpected spin at a silly comedy, usually Oscar-flirting director Ron Howard slums it hardcore with this Vince Vaughn-Kevin James buddy flick. James is married to an unfaithful flirt (Winona Ryder), who tries to extort Vaughn in an effort to keep her affair a secret. As always, Vaughn cuts it up with meandering monologues, but his spark isn't enough to ignite an otherwise dull, rarely funny comedy. The Blu-ray includes a digital copy, deleted scenes and a tour of the shooting locations.
