“Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience”
Youngsters who adore the Jonas Brothers will enjoy this movie.
It contains virtually nothing offensive, unless parents are bothered by the mildly sensual style of dance the Jonas boys do onstage or the hilariously Freudian foam spray they aim at their audience in one silly concert bit.
The film is a contrived and commercial bit of nothing. Even the supposedly “candid” moments backstage or in hotel rooms come off as awkwardly staged, with the brothers unable even to fake spontaneity.
Rated: G; contains nothing objectionable
DVD extras: 2-D extended movie with two additional performances; two additional bonus songs; featurette; digital copy of extended movie in 2-D.
“Two Lovers”
In James Gray’s quiet, unadorned romantic drama, Joaquin Phoenix is his old, clean-shaven self as Leonard Kraditor, a troubled young man who has moved back in with his parents in Brighton Beach, N.Y.
Torn between a gorgeous if unstable shiksa goddess (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the nice Jewish girl (Vinessa Shaw) his mom and dad are clearly crazy about, Leonard ultimately has to decide which self to express: the romantic but doomed artist or the settled but thwarted family man. Movies have visited this terrain before.
But the film has its pleasures, too, even if Paltrow seems wildly out of place in a drama committed to adamantly un-starry realism.
The movie’s chief value is to preserve Phoenix at the height of his wary physical grace, which recalls a young Marlon Brando.
Rated: R for profanity, sexuality, brief drug use
“Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li”
Though it’s based on the arcade video game, this movie aims for a humanized tale of good vs. evil in the martial arts genre. It is only semi-successful and too often a bore.
One good thing: Kristin Kreuk (of TV’s “Smallville”), who is effortlessly charming as Chun-Li, a young woman adept at martial arts. Chun-Li remembers her father’s violent kidnapping. A mysterious scroll points to the man who took him, so Chun-Li studies with Gen (Robin Shou), a martial arts master, who goes with her to Bangkok in search of the evil Bison (Neal McDonough) and his enforcer.
Rated: PG-13 for violence and sensuality
DVD extras: Contains both rated and unrated versions of the film; cast commentary; deleted scenes; featurettes.
The Washington Post
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
