New on DVD: Corporate Satire, Sports, and Family Connections

What's new on the DVD aisle? Here's the breakdown.

The Informant

Comedy

The Gist: A agri-industry corporation has been cooking the books and one of their employees (Matt Damon) wants to blow the whistle to the Feds. As he relishes his imagined role as a super spy, his unhinged ego makes him present himself as more and more heroic, while the opposite may be true.

The Ups: A very good performance by Damon makes his odd character the center of a funny and intriguing story. This is quiet satire, a comedy for adults.

The Downs: Just once, it'd be nice to portray American business as the good guys.

The Verdict: Rent it. It's good for a few laughs, and for some reflection on why people do the things they do, however illogical they may be.

Be Aware: Rated R for language. IMDB parent's guide.

The Box

Suspense/ Thriller

The Gist: An ordinary couple leading an ordinary life is suddenly given a magical box. If they press the button in the box, they will get a million dollars. But someone, someone they don't know, will die. Yew gots yerselves a moral die-lemma here, folks.

The Ups: If you like preposterous set-ups, and you know who you are, it's a fun ride.

The Downs: Most people won't be able to get over the set-up, and the wooden acting and muddled storyline won't help.

The Verdict: Skip it, at least most of us. This is one of those films that a sliver of the population loves and the rest of us hate.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images. IMDB Parent's Guide.

The Damned United

Sports Drama - Foreign Film (UK)

The Gist: Although the title sounds like a horror flick, this is actually a sports movie. Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) is tapped to be the coach of the British football (ie: soccer) team Leeds United. While it offers enough football to be interesting, the film is really about the clash of egos behind the scenes.

The Ups: A brilliant performance by Michael Sheen and a tight, intelligent script make this a well-made movie.

The Downs: There is a limited audience stateside that can be bothered to care about football (ie: soccer) for 98 minutes.

The Verdict: If you're at all a football fan (ie: soccer), or a sports movie junkie, rent it.

Be Aware: Rated R for language. IMDB parent's guide.

Everybody's Fine

Drama

Read SixSeed's interview with the director of Everybody's Fine, Kirk Jones, here.

The Gist: A retired factory worker (Robert De Nero) sets off to visit his grown children after his wife's death. He discovers that the golden lives they were believed to have are, in reality, much more complicated.

The Ups: A sweet and real portrait of a man trying to reconnect with his children in a real way, this film benefits from an understated performance by De Nero. Many critics disliked this film, calling it smaltzy, which is a pretty good sign it lacks that cynicism that they love. Silly critics.

The Downs: Might make you want to call your dad. Or maybe that's an up.

The Verdict: Rent it. It's nice to see Hollywood take family seriously.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language. There is implication that someone may or may not be a lesbian. IMDB parent's guide.

Cirque de Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Horror/Suspense aimed at teens

The Gist: Riding the tailcoats of the "Twilight" trend, this movie is about a 14 year old boy who meets some, um, odd people from a freak show. Which leads to him becoming the half-vampire assistant to the vampire leader. Oh, and he also breaks a 200 year old truce between vampire factions.

The Ups: Not a brooding, pale, untouchable dreamboat in sight.

The Downs: Nothing in this movie rises above mediocre. There are some ghoulish images and ideas, but toned down for the teen set.

The Verdict: Skip it.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language. IMDB Parent's Guide

Sorority Row

Slasher Horror

The Gist: Some girls accidentally cause the murder of a sorority sister. All seems fine, until something starts hunting them down. Animal House meets Halloween.

The Ups: Sororities and psychotic murderers seem like a match made in heaven.

The Downs: It's a slasher flick. Ew.

The Verdict: Skip it and don't let your kids watch it. This is a public service announcement.

Be Aware: Rated R for strong bloody violence, language, some sexuality/nudity and partying. IMDB Parent's Guide

At SixSeeds, we want to talk about the stories that surround modern life.  We love movies -- in fact, we even have a “brick and mortar” called SixSeeds Video in Winchester, Massachusetts! We know that good films have an amazing power to move, inspire, and sometimes even transform life.  Bad ones make you regret plunking down the $10 for the privilege of listening to the guy next to you chew milk duds for two hours.

That’s why we want to keep you informed of the latest offerings on DVD and Blu-Ray.  Listing the new releases below doesn't mean you should rush out and watch them with your pre-schoolers.  In fact, over the course of the next few month, we’ll list many we wouldn’t let our teenagers watch.  (Some, we regret watching!)  But somewhere in America, a teenager is going to come to their parent and say, “Hey, I’m supposed to bring the movie to the slumber party.  May I bring...?”

And right there in the aisle of the video store, a decision will be made.

Read “The RunDown,” America, and choose wisely!