Reel Rentals: October 2009

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 08:46

Land of the Lost, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Orphan

By Victoria Phillips

Land of the Lost
October 13

In this remake based on the wacky 1970s television series, Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), his research partner Holly Cantrell (Anna Friel) and an unsuspecting tour guide stumble into a parallel universe in which space and time collide. The trio must battle ape men, dinosaurs and a treacherous jungle to stay alive and get back to their own time.

Their Take: “I raise my voice in a bleat of lonely, if moderate, admiration.” —Roger Ebert

Our Take: Not Will Ferrell’s best work, but it’s still good if you’re in a goofy mood.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
October 20

The Autobots and Decepticons are back. This time, however, the entire universe is at stake. As Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) goes off to college, the Earth comes alive with 46 transformers ready to duke it out. Machine and man team-up for this second war of mammoth proportions and earth-shattering might.

Their Take: “In-your-face, ear-splitting and unrelenting.” —LA Times

Our Take: We love Optimus Prime. Enough said.

Orphan
October 27

A married couple adopts a 9-year-old Russian girl from a local orphanage after their third child is stillborn. In the midst of an already troubled marriage, the couple finds that the new addition to their family always seems to be around when something is amiss. They soon discover the orphan is hardly who she seems.

Their Take: “So sloppy, so lowdown, so shameless and so entertaining.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Our Take: It was super creepy—and we loved every second.