DVD Verdict reviews: THE CONSTANT GARDENER, TRANSPORTER 2, and more!

Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of 2046, ASTRO BOY COLLECTION (1980
SERIES), THE BACKYARDIGANS: THE SNOW FORT, BARBRA STREISAND: THE
TELEVISION SPECIALS, BOYS TOWN, CARTOON ADVENTURES OF GERALD MCBOING
BOING, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (193, THE CONSTANT GARDENER, CRONICAS,
GALLIPOLI: SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION, A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM, GUYS, MA
MERE, MUST LOVE DOGS, OPEN HOUSE, PUDDLE CRUISER, SAVE THE TIGER, SEVEN
MEN FROM NOW, and TRANSPORTER 2:


2046 (reviewed by Dan Mancini, overall score 92/100):
"He's playing his own game, by his own rules. And with results like 2046
-- easily one of the best films I had the privilege of seeing in 2005 --
I suggest we keep out of his hair and let him keep on playing."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/2046.php

ASTRO BOY COLLECTION (1980 SERIES) (reviewed by Mike Pinsky, overall
score 87/100):
"The thing I always notice first about Astro Boy is his hair. That
impossible hair. It points up in the front and the back, always at the
same angles, no matter which way he turns his head. Sort of like Mickey
Mouse's miraculous ears. In fact, like Mickey, Astro Boy also frequently
wears pants, but no shirt. So there it is: Astro Boy is Mickey Mouse.
With super powers."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/as...collection.php

THE BACKYARDIGANS: THE SNOW FORT (reviewed by David Johnson, overall
score 85/100):
"I have to say, The Backyardigans have really grown on me. Yes, some of
the animated movements are a bit eerie, but that takes nothing from the
delightful effect of the music and animation."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ba...nssnowfort.php

BARBRA STREISAND: THE TELEVISION SPECIALS (reviewed by Jonathan Weiss,
overall score 79/100):
"The thing about this boxed set is that I just don't see anyone who
hasn't seen The Prince of Tides a hundred and fifty times (her nails
were like buttah, buttah I tell you!) running out to buy this."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/barbrastreisandtv.php

BOYS TOWN (reviewed by Jonathan Weiss, overall score 91/100):
"But if you changed all the 'golly shucks' lingo to 'what's up yo,'
removed all the woolen plus-four pants and replaced them with nylon
track suits, and substituted the ever trusty pocket watch for solid gold
bling, and you'll find that the core of the movie is as current as it
ever was."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/boystown.php

CARTOON ADVENTURES OF GERALD MCBOING BOING (reviewed by Paul Corupe,
overall score 82/100):
"I think it's a little much to ask consumers to shell out for an
extremely brief 29-minute DVD of previously released material with no
bonus features, but here we are."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mcboingboing.php

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (193 (reviewed by Paul Corupe, overall score
77/100):
"Despite this barrage of competition, the 1938 Hollywood adaptation of A
Christmas Carol still remains a certified favorite, and many families
have made an annual holiday tradition out of watching Reginald Owen
portray Scrooge's struggle through a sleepless night of ghostly
encounters."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ch...scarol1938.php

THE CONSTANT GARDENER (reviewed by Rob Lineberger, overall score
96/100):
"With respect to Le Carre, The Constant Gardener is an adapted work that
exceeds its source. With Le Carre's twisty, tragic backbone, Meirelles's
deft, bold direction, and Abberley's hands-on passion for the film, The
Constant Gardener takes on its own life. Uniformly stellar acting seals
the deal."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/constantgardener.php

CRONICAS (reviewed by Adam Arseneau, overall score 78/100):
"What comes out from our televisions, computers, radios, and newspapers
is, at its very nature, trusted, be it legitimate information or not.
The undeniable fact is that we believe what we are told, and we believe
those who provide the information. As such, journalists have become the
guardians of knowledge. By releasing information in a particular way or
withholding other information, they drastically alter our impressions
and are able to influence our perceptions simply via delivery."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/cronicas.php

GALLIPOLI: SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION (reviewed by Neal Masri, overall
score 90/100):
"Peter Weir takes one battle and makes it a powerful commentary on World
War I in particular, and war in general. He illustrates through a very
personal story how soldiers, and indeed the world, were never the same
after the War to End All Wars."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/gallipolice.php

A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM (reviewed by Joe Armenio, overall score 80/100):
"A Great Day in Harlem ! is frustrating in that it skims genially along
the surface of a number of issues without ever engaging any of them; the
film itself is almost an afterthought in Image's new two-DVD release,
which features about four hours of extras, most of which share the
virtues and flaws of the original feature."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/greatdayinharlem.php

GUYS (reviewed by Aaron Bossig, overall score 86/100):
"The guy just wanted to tell a story, and that is the absolute best
reason to make a movie."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/guys.php

MA MERE (reviewed by Jesse Ataide, overall score 88/100):
"It's certainly a revolting film on many levels, but it manages to be
provocative at the same time -- always asking the viewer to consider
what is going on psychologically with these characters, and at what
point the line between appropriate and inappropriate sexual behavior is
blurred beyond recognition."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mamere.php

MUST LOVE DOGS (reviewed by Patrick Naugle, overall score 77/100):
"Will it surprise you to know that at the end of Must Love Dogs John
Cusack and Diane Lane end up together in each other's embrace? If so,
there is something seriously wrong with you."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mustlovedogs.php

OPEN HOUSE (reviewed by James A. Stewart, overall score 80/100):
"You're probably thinking something along the lines of: Is this film the
cinematic equivalent of a Beverly Hills mansion, or a dingy piece of
junk like Rockford's trailer? Neither, actually. While you can't get a
mansion with five bathrooms for $25,000, Mirvish's money bought the
equivalent of a decent little cottage in need of some repainting."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/openhouse.php

PUDDLE CRUISER (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 78/100):
"If you're a Broken Lizard completist then you own it already, and if
you dig the college-comedy thing you'll likely enjoy some what's going
on, but for the casual fan searching for some solid laughs in a 100-
minute span, I doubt this will do the trick."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/puddlecruiser.php

SAVE THE TIGER (reviewed by Ryan Keefer, overall score 83/100):
"The story is OK, but the performances aren't as overwhelming or as
memorable."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/savetiger.php

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW (reviewed by Ryan Keefer, overall score 78/100):
"An old western film, starring a well-known actor, finally comes into
the 21st century, and those who have been loyal in waiting have been
rewarded with a pretty good treatment from Paramount."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/7menfromnowce.php

TRANSPORTER 2 (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 67/100):
"Seriously, this film is so over-the-top, it makes xXx look like a PBS
documentary on 17th century cabinet-making."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/transporter2.php

Mike Jackson
Editor & Webmaster, DVD Verdict
www.dvdverdict.com

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