The Alphabet Marathon: Blu-ray Edition
Now that I got a film on blu-ray that covers every letter of the alphabet I decided to attempt a blu-ray edition of the alphabet marathon... where I will attempt to watch 1 film for every letter of the alphabet (plus 1 film starting with a number) before the end of July.

I want to emphasize the word ATTEMPT because this is the first time I will be trying to do a timed marathon since getting back to work... and as you all know that really limits the time you can put in watching movies. Because of this I decided NOT to go in alphabetical order... just get in every letter before the month is over. As going in alphabetical order will slow me down a lot... there will be times I am just not in the mood to watch a film in a certain letter... so would be much easier to be able to temporarily skip that letter.

At least I am off tomorrow... so with any luck I will be able to fit in 3 or 4 tomorrow.

Title: After.Life
IMDb |Trailer |Wikipedia |
Year: 2009
Director: Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo
Writer: Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo (Writer), Paul Vosloo (Writer), Jakub Korolczuk (Writer)
Rating: Rated R : Nudity, Disturbing Images, Language and Brief Sexuality
Length: 103 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: PCM: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Christina Ricci as Anna Taylor
Liam Neeson as Eliot Deacon
Justin Long (1978) as Paul Coleman
Chandler Canterbury as Jack
Celia Weston as Beatrice Taylor
Luz Alexandra Ramos [Luz Ramos] as Diane

Plot:
After a horrific car accident, Anna (Christina Ricci) wakes up to find the local funeral director Eliot Deacon (Liam Neeson) preparing her body for her funeral. Confused, terrified and feeling still very much alive, Anna doesn't believe she's dead, despite the funeral director's reassurances that she is merely in transition to the afterlife. Eliot convinces her he has the ability to communicate with the dead and is the only one who can help her. Trapped inside the funeral home, with nobody to turn to except Eliot, Anna is forced to face her deepest fears and accept her own death. But Anna's grief-stricken boyfriend Paul (Justin Long) still can't shake the nagging suspicion that Eliot isn't what he appears to be. As the funeral nears, Paul gets closer to unlocking the disturbing truth, but it could be too late; Anna may have already begun to cross over to the other side.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes

My Thoughts:
OK... this was different. While I know I enjoyed this film... it left me feeling a bit confused. The storyline on this one really keeps you guessing. It could of gone one of 2 different ways. The problem is after watching the film I am still not sure which of the 2 ways was actually the case. But setting the confusing storyline aside... the cast was all good and I definitely can see myself watching this one again. I almost feel like I have to so I can see if there was just something I missed. Maybe watch it with the commentary track on to see if I can get the answers that way. While I liked the film... I hate that it didn't give us a clear answer.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5


Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life

Title: The Others
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Year: 2001
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writer: Alejandro Amenábar (Writer)
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Thematic Elements and Frightening Moments
Length: 104 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Nicole Kidman as Grace
Fionnula Flanagan as Mrs. Mills
Christopher Eccleston as Charles
Alakina Mann as Anne
James Bentley as Nicholas
Eric Sykes as Mr. Tuttle

Plot:
Academy Award® winner** Nicole Kidman (The Hours, Moulin Rouge!) delivers an utterly unforgettable performance in this chilling and stylish suspense thriller! While awaiting her husband's return from war, Grace (Kidman) and her two young children live an unusually isolated existence behind the locked doors and drawn curtains of a secluded island mansion. Then, when three mysterious servants arrive, it becomes frighteningly clear that there is far more to this house than meets the eye. Acclaimed by critics everywhere, the unpredictable twists and turns of this compelling hit will keep you guessing!

**2002, Actress in a Leading Role, The Hours.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes

My Thoughts:
I have always enjoyed this movie... is a really good ghost story. Even though I did figure out the end twist early the first time I watched it. This movie has some good atmosphere... and I think the cast did a great job. If you never seen this film... I highly recommend it.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5


Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life
N: Never Been Kissed
O: The Others

Title: The Box
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Year: 2009
Director: Richard Kelly
Writer: Richard Kelly (Screenwriter), Richard Matheson (Original Material By)
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Thematic Elements, Some Violence and Disturbing Images
Length: 116 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis
James Marsden as Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella as Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn as Norm Cahill
Holmes Osborne as Dick Burns
Sam Oz Stone as Walter Lewis

Plot:
Push a red button on a little black box, get a million bucks cash. But there's a catch: Someone somewhere – someone you don't know – will die. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple confronted by agonizing temptation yet unaware they're part of an orchestrated and – for them and us – mind-blowing chain of events. Frank Langella also stars in this gripping sci-fi mystery thriller from director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) and a short story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend).

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Music Videos
Interviews
Digital Copy

My Thoughts:
This is the first time I ever seen this film.... though I have been curious about it. While I didn't know what to expect going in... I found this film to be good in an interesting way. It does get a little strange in spots. But over-all it is worth the time put in to watch it.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5


Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life
B: The Box
N: Never Been Kissed
O: The Others

Title: Get Smart
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Year: 2008
Director: Peter Segal
Writer: Mel Brooks (Original Characters By), Buck Henry (Original Characters By), Tom J. Astle (Writer), Matt Ember (Writer)
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Some Rude Humor, Action Violence and Language
Length: 110 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Stars:
Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart
Anne Hathaway as Agent 99
Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23
Alan Arkin as The Chief
Terence Stamp as Siegfried
Terry Crews as Agent 91

Plot:
Steve Carell is in CONTROL as Maxwell Smart, the novice agent often out of his depth but never out of options in this action comedy pitting him against the nuclear scheme of the evil spy group KAOS. Anne Hathaway partners with Max as ever-capable Agent 99. And director Peter Segal (The Longest Yard) guides his stars (including Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin) through the dangerous realm of molar radios, multifunction pocketknives, exploding dental floss and more. "Get Smart works as an action film and it's funny." (Richard Roeper, At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper).

Extras:
Scene Access
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interactive Games
Outtakes/Bloopers
Digital Copy

My Thoughts:
Felt like something silly... and I definitely got that with this one. Possibly a little too silly in parts. But over all it is a fun watch... especially if you know the series it is based on. I think Steve Carell was perfect to play Maxwell Smart. I also think Anne Hathaway did a great job as well. Definitely worth checking out.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5


Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life
B: The Box
G: Get Smart
N: Never Been Kissed
O: The Others

Title: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Year: 2007
Director: Dennis Dugan
Writer: Barry Fanaro (Screenwriter), Alexander Payne (Screenwriter), Jim Taylor (1963) (Screenwriter)
Rating: Rated PG-13 : Crude Sexual Content Throughout, Nudity, Language and Drug References
Length: 115 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Spanish: DTS: 5.1, French: DTS: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Adam Sandler as Chuck Levine
Kevin James (1965) as Larry Valentine
Jessica Biel as Alex McDonough
Dan Aykroyd as Captain Tucker
Ving Rhames as Duncan
Steve Buscemi as Clint Fitzer

Plot:
Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as best friends and fellow firefighters Chuck and Larry, the pride of their Brooklyn fire station. Chuck owes Larry for saving his life. Larry calls in that favor big-time by asking Chuck to pose as his “domestic partner” so his kids will get his pension. But when a fact-checking bureaucrat becomes suspicious, the two straight guys are forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds. Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames and Dan Aykroyd co-star in this hilarious comedy.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Interactive Games
U-Control

My Thoughts:
I just finished watching this one. I am more of a fan of Kevin James then I am of Adam Sandler. I always liked Kevin James in the series The King of Queens and have always enjoyed his movies.... where with Adam Sandler it has been very hit and miss... where I only really like about half the stuff he does. While I liked this film... it definitely had it's moments... I found it to be no more then average. I felt that some of the scenes went a little far and was a little hard to watch. But over-all worth the time put in to watch it. Though it won't be often I can see myself watching ths one again.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5


Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life
B: The Box
G: Get Smart
I: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 
N: Never Been Kissed
O: The Others
S: Son of Batman

Aftre.Life is pretty clear after a second viewing, at least it was for me. I thought I had it after the first time, and mostly did. Holds up very well even on third viewing being positive how it ends.

Title: Mad Max
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Year: 1979
Director: George Miller (1945)
Writer: James McCausland (Screenwriter), George Miller (1945) (Screenwriter), George Miller (1945) (Story By), Byron Kennedy (Story By)
Rating: R
Length: 93 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Mel Gibson (1956) as Max
Joanne Samuel as Jessie
Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toecutter
Steve Bisley as Jim Goose
Tim Burns as Johnny the Boy
Roger Ward as Fifi

Plot:
In the ravaged near future, a savage motorcycle gang rules the road. Terrorizing innocent civilians while tearing up the streets, the ruthless gang laughs in the face of a police force bent on stopping them. But they underestimate one officer: Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson). And when the bikers brutalize Max's best friend and family, they send him into a mad frenzy that leaves him with only one thing left in the world to live for – revenge!

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes

My Thoughts:
I just finished this one. I originally wasn't sure if I seen this one before or not. Turns out I haven't. I was confusing this one with "The Road Warrior." The first thing I noticed is how young Mel Gibson was here... I didn't even recognize him at first. Though I shouldn't be surprised... this was made 35 years ago!

I have to say... I enjoyed every second of this film! Excellent from start to finish! It is filled with action and high speed car chases... what more can you ask? I now sit here and wonder how I managed to miss this one for all these years! If by chance you never seen this film... I couldn't recommend it any higher!

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5



Marathon Review Index:
#: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
A: After.Life
B: The Box
G: Get Smart
H: Hansel and Gretal: Witch Hunters
I: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 
M: Mad Max
N: Never Been Kissed
O: The Others
S: Son of Batman