While similar in theme, to "Bridges of Madison County", "A WALK ON THE MOON" is executed very differently, in terms of character exploration and pacing.   Diane Lane plays a young mother in the summer of 1969, feeling life is passing her by, until her passion is reawakened  by a young travelling salesman.  Viggo Mortensen is a fine actor, but horribly miscast here.  Lane is wonderful, as is most the supporting cast.  Director Tony Goldwyn uses enough restraint to coincide with some powerful imagery to let the story unfold. 

The transfer is extremely impressive, even without 16:9 enhancement.  There are a lot of natural landscape scenes wherein the depth of the scenery is brought to life with great clarity and color.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound mix is generally restrained, except to support some musical passages. 

"SMOKE SIGNALS" may be the most overrated movie of the year.  While not horrible, it's certainly not very good.  Supposedly crowds liked it at Sundance, and word spread that it had a fresh take on the clash between the modern world and cultural identity, etc.  Two native americans take a road trip and while they're very different in many aspects from one another, they share a heritage that makes them empathic to the plight of recognition in a cold world.  The characters don't feel like they have much complexity to them in spite of one contrived scenario after another.

The transfer looks good, but it's not a bright, slick looking image.  Shot on a modest budget, it's not supposed to need a vibrant canvas to share a wonderful story.    The dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack actually surprised us, for in spite of its budget, it has its share of well constructed effects. 

Woody Allen's latest comedy explores the world of "Celebrity" in various arenas, the fashion industry, sports, and of  course hollywood.  It's often brilliant, and sometimes hilarious.  Kenneth Branagh plays an "Allen"esque writer as he tries to build his network of support in getting published and making something of himself, while also hooking up with whatever beautiful women he can along the way.  His encounters include a surprisingly effective Melanie Griffith, and a ravishing Charlize Theron.  The sequence where Theron stretches her tongue to seduce Brannagh makes this a dvd worth own by itself.  Our only criticism is that there can be no argument Branagh is trying to imitate Woody Allen the entire film.  His mannerisms, "everything" is obviously Allen.  Why didn't Allen play this character?  It would have raised the film to an even higher level.

The transfer is excellent.  The black&white cinematography has strong blacks and grays.  The contrast is flawless, making for a pristine image throughout.   The mono sound is unremarkable. 

"A CIVIL ACTION" marks the directorial debut of writer Steven Zaillian.   It's an impressive debut, allowing for Zaillian to display a penchant for stunning visual moments.  The fact-based tale of a shrewd high-priced attorney, giving up everything in the persuit of justice, is compelling, and ultimately heart-breaking.   The only problem lies in the film's last 10 minutes, which is thoroughly anti-climatic.  The script just doesn't have any type of resolution.  I'm not talking in terms of allowing for a big-payoff, I mean in terms of finality.  There's none!    Still, Travolta's performance, along with the entire cast, is unforgettable.

The transfer is excellent, offering great depth and detail from the opening sky-cam shot to the ending.  There's great contrast and perfectly solid blacks and grays.   The dolby digital 5.1 sound mix offers an abundance of directional effects and atmosphere.