New Summer DVD Releases - June 2009

12 Rounds

John Cena may not be having as good of a transition from Wrestler to actor as Dwayne Johnson, but he seems to be doing alright. Nothing makes me happier than to see non actors become movie stars. Wrestling is half acting anyways so I see WWE stars as half actors half athletes. In his latest foray into Hollywood he plays a New Orleans Police Detective.

When New Orleans Police Detective Danny Fisher (John Cena) is about to have the worst day of his life. A nearly untraceable internationally-known terrorist named Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) has kidnapped his girlfriend Molly Porter (Ashley Scott) and forced him into "12 Rounds" of dangerous games carefully plotted throughout the streets of New Orleans. Danny struggles to keep focus while the obvious ticking clocks and crude consequences that accompany each one of these "rounds" do their best to derail him from rescuing the love of his life before it's too late.

Ranging from tests of intelligence to Sisyphean tasks of endurance, Miles keeps Danny guessing at every treacherous turn. Each new round sends Danny hurtling through the city at a breakneck pace. As Miles toys with Danny, innocent citizens are threatened. Automobiles, streetcars and ferryboats are transformed into potential weapons of mass destruction. With the violent rounds mounting, one wrong move may take the match closer to a deadly conclusion.

Most who like this genre will agree that John Cena's acting has saved this movie and allowed it to compete with the summer DVD offerings with a pretty good rating.
Good movie for those warm summer evenings.
***(out of five stars)

Release Date: Friday June 30 2009
Genre: Action / Adventure
Director: Renny Harlin
Producer(s): Josh McLaughlin, Mark Gordon
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cast: John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian White

The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3

As John Travolta and his family continue to mourn the loss of Jett Travolta, the actor continues to remain out of the Hollywood spotlight – and according to co-star Denzel Washington, his friend is doing the right thing by laying low.

“Well, you know, this is a movie, this is entertainment,” Denzel told Access Hollywood Thursday night in LA when asked if “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” premiere was bittersweet without John. “He’s where he needs to be.”

The actor remained mum about whether he would speak to John after the premiere.

“That’s personal and you know, that’s personal,” he added.

As previously reported on Access Hollywood.com. Jett Travolta, 16, died from a seizure disorder on January 2 at the family’s home in the Bahamas.

Following the teen’s death, the family issued a statement, thanking everyone for the support in the wake of their loss.

“We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences,” the statement read. “Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives.”

Till next time . . .
See Ya
Lynn Valley1
gmr 2009

New Summer Movies 2009

Wow, the season of summer movies is upon us and what a season we are in for. This issue I will talk about the blockbuster remake, " The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. This is an updated and far more intense version of the 1974 classic with Robert Shaw, Walter Matthau and Martin Balsam. We won't even dwell on the 1998 made for TV version that fell far short of a good remake.

In this version, directed by award winning Tony Scott, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?


Starring:
Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli
Directed by Tony Scott

Theatrical Release Date:
June 12, 2009

Don't want to miss this one !!!

See Ya Soon
Lynn Valley1
gmr 2009