USCCB - (Film & Broadcasting) - DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of February 15, 2010

DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of February 15, 2010

This week's DVD and Blu-ray releases

The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account the discs' extra content.

Goodfellas (20th anniversary edition)

The heady rise -- and eventual downfall -- of three Brooklyn hoods (Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci) are shown from one gangster's warped point of view in this fact-based story spanning 30 years. Director Martin Scorsese synthesizes flowing cinematography, an eye for details and commanding performances into a chilling re-creation of the empty glamour, endless greed and sick violence that characterizes mob life. Much graphic violence and rough language. Spanish language and titles options. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray.) 1990

Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie

Whimsical, computer-animated retelling of the biblical story of Jonah and the whale, featuring a salad bar of Christian vegetables who sing and dance their way through this parable of God's unconditional love. Written and directed by Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer and based on the popular "Veggie Tales" video series, the movie's strong positive message is effective in reducing complex moral concepts into child-sized bites, making it an appealing alternative to the glut of merchandise-driven flicks geared to younger audiences. A-I -- general patronage. (G) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) 2002

The Ladykillers

Droll British comedy in which a daffy gang of crooks (Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers and Danny Green) take a London flat as their hideout while planning a big heist until their sweet old landlady (Katie Johnson) innocently gums up the works. Director Alexander Mackendrick rings in the comic changes adroitly, going from whimsical to black comedy as the bumbling thieves try to murder the old woman but wind up killing each other instead, then topping it off with a wryly innocent conclusion. Comic treatment of violence and criminal activities. Spanish language and titles options. A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray.) 1955

Ran

Samurai version of Shakespeare's "King Lear" by director Akira Kurosawa is, unfortunately, little more than an opulently staged historical pageant, lacking pathos and tragic force. Many battle scenes but the violence is stylized. Spanish language and titles options. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (R) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray.) 1985

These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.

Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.