Movie Info:
Writer: Mariane Pearl, John Orloff
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Cast: Dan Futterman, Angelina Jolie, Archie Panjabi, Mohammed Afzal, Mushtaq Khan, Daud Khan, Telal Saeed, Arif Khan, Tipu Taheer, Amit Dhawan, Saira Nasir Khan, Aliya Khan
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 22, 2007
DVD Release Date: March 24, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

Paramount has decided to release a selection of their movies from 2008 on Blu-ray. As a whole, the quality of these movies is better than in standard definition, but Paramount has skimped on bonuses, recycling those from the original release and not adding much more than that. It seems almost silly to release these movies in Blu-ray if they offer not much more than the standard DVD release

I don’t want this to take anything away from the movie A Mighty Heart. Adapted from the true life memoir of Mariane Pearl concerning the abduction and murder of her husband, Daniel, this movie is beautifully crafted. There was a lot of hubbub when this film came out concerning lead actress, Angelina Jolie and her race not matching that of Mariane Pearl. Pearl herself praised the choice of Jolie and every effort is made by the cast and crew to make this film as realistically authentic as possible.

Honestly, Jolie’s performance as Pearl is heartbreaking. I didn’t find the fact that beneath the makeup I knew Angelina Jolie is a white American (Pearl is light skinned enough for Jolie to pass as her) to be any bit distracting. I was more interested in the story. This is a poignant look at problems in the Middle East and a reminder of how militants view ‘foreigners,’ especially Americans. Add in the fact that this is a true story and it is even more heart wrenching.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: Steve Shagan
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Terry O’Quinn, Andre Braugher, Steven Bauer, Joe Spano, Tony Plana, Stanley Anderson, Maura Tierney
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 3, 1996
DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

I have seen Primal Fear more than once. The first time I saw this movie was on television. I didn’t have any idea what I was getting myself into. I just knew that the movie featured Richard Gere and a young Edward Norton. Around the time I first saw Primal Fear, Edward Norton was just becoming a big name. It’s easy to see why he’s as well respected an actor today, due to the early performance he gives here.

This movie poses quite a few questions. There are questions about religion, morality, and how the two intersect. The movie is also quite the case study on the human mind. All of the actors do a remarkably excellent job in their respective roles. Both Norton and Gere were perfectly cast. The two leads balance each other out, though Norton might just have out acted the, at the time, more seasoned Gere in the majority of scenes they share.

While the acting carries the movie, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good had the plot been less than what it was. The story for Primal Fear is intense. The energy and action of this film make it work on so many levels. The storytelling is a major part of what stands out. Of course, the shocking ending helps. You will be spellbound, stunned and in awe by the ending of this film. The first time I watched this, I was not expecting the film to end the way it did, and that is the most important part of the story. It validates (and invalidates) so many other parts of the movie, with everything finally coming together and being answered, in the end.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.