Lumbly, Carl

Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)

Characters from the original series of Justice League Unlimited are joined by a number of new superheroes making this final seasons showdown between Justice League Unlimited vs Legion of Doom the most suspenseful yet. After years of foiled plots and repeated beatings the galaxy's worse villains finally have a plan: strength in numbers! Led by Lex Luthor the Legion of Doom prepares to dominate the universe. First order of business: destroy the Justice League. Featuring the original seven Leaguers -- Batman Superman Wonder Woman Flash J'onn J'onzz Green Lantern and Hawkgirl -- plus many other favorites each episode showcases these heroes in battles like you've never seen. And just when you think they'vefaced the most unimaginable evils a dark figure from the past resurfaces to exact revenge on all of them.Running Time: 286 min.System Requirements:Run Time: 299 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 012569723566 Manufacturer No: 72356

In the final 13 episodes of Justice League Unlimited, Grodd recruits Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Bizarro, Giganta, and hordes of other villains to form the Legion of Doom, leading to numerous action-packed episodes of villains fighting the superheroes of the expanded JLU. The core members of the original series--Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Flash, and Green Lantern--are supplemented by such heroes as Green Arrow, Black Canary, Supergirl, Red Tornado, and Mister Terrific. But even waves of super-beings would be a bore if the stories weren't compelling and well-thought-out, and dashed with humor. It's the respect for the viewer's intelligence that elevates JLU beyond a kids' series to arguably the best animated-superhero show ever.

During the season, Hawkgirl meets Katar Hol, Hawkman, who claims that he and Hawkgirl are the resurrection of centuries-ago lovers, which throws a wrench into her developing relationship with Green Lantern ("Shadow of the Hawk," "Ancient History"). Flash fights a rogue's gallery of his arch enemies alongside Batman and Orion ("Flash and Substance"), Luthor switches brains with the Flash in "The Great Brain Robbery" (inside joke: Michael Rosenbaum is the voice of Flash, but plays Lex Luthor in the series Smallville) , and Luthor's and Grodd's struggle for dominance of the Legion of Doom comes to a head in the final two-parter, which leads to an unlikely partnership against the ultimate supervillain. The series also dips into other characters and realms of DC comic-book lore, such as the Legion of Super-Heroes ("Far from Home"), Deadman ("Dead Reckoning"), the Seven Soldiers of Victory ("Patriot Act"), Birds of Prey ("Grudge Match"), and Mike Grell's Warlord ("Chaos at the Earth's Core"). In the bonus features, the series creators discuss JLU's ongoing Cadmus story line, there's a music-only track of the series' final episode, and the creators do a 30-minute on-screen commentary talking about three late-season episodes. --David Horiuchi

Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection)

Three new episodes from the most famous superhero library DC Comics available for the first time on DVD. 1) "Initiation": A reluctant Green Arrow joins forces with the new Justice League to stop a rampaging nuclear monster in Asia. 2) "Hawk and Dove": Wonder Woman teams up with super-powered two brothers one warlike the other a pacifist to stop Ares' plans to escalate a European civil war into World War III. 3) "Kids' Stuff": Superman Batman Wonder Woman and Green Lantern are transformed into eight year olds in a desperate attempt to save the world from the magics of Mordred.Running Time: 595 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM Rating: NR UPC: 012569816497 Manufacturer No: 81649

Justice League - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection)

Superman Batman Wonder Woman The Flash Green Lantern Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl they have all used their unique powers to fight evil across the galaxy. These 7 super heroes unite to become the Justice League. These 26 adventures feature battles with favorite villains like Lex Luthor Vandal Savage and sorceress Morgan Le Fey. Acts of justice include saving Aquaman from a coup and clearing Green Lantern's name in a charge of genocide. From the smash hit TV series these triumphant tales of teamwork will enthrall and inspire!Running Time: 575 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM UPC: 012569750098 Manufacturer No: 75009

Justice League - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)

Better characterization and epic storylines combined with the usual topnotch voice talent make Justice League's second season even better than the first. Some of the more intriguing story lines involve the League forming an unlikely partnership with Darkseid against Brainiac ("Twilight"); an alternate-dimension Justice League establishing a martial state in order to keep the peace ("A Better World"), which raises an interesting moral question that came up later in DC's Identity Crisis comic series; the death of Superman ("Hereafter"); and the League teaming up with Doctor Fate, Aquaman, and Solomon Grundy ("The Terror Beyond"). Other villains include the Secret Society and the Joker's Royal Flush Gang; Amazo, the android who can absorb the heroes' powers; Vandal Savage; and Eclipso. Most story lines are given two episodes (except the holiday-themed single episode "Comfort and Joy" and the three-part season finale "Starcrossed") and involve some combination of the seven Justice Leaguers: Batman (voiced by Kevin Conroy, continuing his work from Batman: The Animated Series), Superman (George Newbern), Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg), J'onn J'onzz (Carl Lumbly), Hawkgirl (Maria Canals), Green Lantern (Phil Lamarr), and the Flash (Michael Rosenbaum). One of the themes developed was an emerging relationship between Hawkgirl and another Leaguer, but it threatens to come apart in the monumental "Starcrossed," when her fellow Thanagarians arrive on Earth to protect humanity from a Gordanian invasion and it turns out Hawkgirl has been keeping a secret from her teammates. Producer Bruce Timm, casting director Andrea Romano, and others also worked on the highly regarded Batman and Superman animated series, and the result is one of the best animated series on television, satisfying for adults and sometimes too intense for kids.

DVD features include commentary by producers Timm and James Tucker, director Butch Lukic or writer Stan Berkowitz, and story editor Dwayne McDuffie on three episodes (why they love Hawkgirl: "If she loves you, she loves you with all her heart. If she hates you, she's gonna hit you with that big honkin' mace."), and featurettes on the voice talent and the second season. The series is shown in the widescreen format it adopted for this season, but it's not anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions, which is unusual for 2006, especially considering Starcrossed was released in anamorphic widescreen as a stand-alone DVD in 2004. --David Horiuchi

Superman Batman Wonder Woman The Flash Green Lantern Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl - they have all used their unique powers to fight evil across the galaxy. These 7 super heroes unite to become the Justice League. Dangers across the galaxy threaten Deep-rooted feelings of mistrust and insecurity surface and plauge the Justice League causing internal strife and leaving them vulnerable to attacks from their enemies. But when one of their own commits the ultimate betrayal it could be the end of the Justice League and Earth forever. Don't' miss one second of suspense or one iota of excitement with this 4-disc 26 episode collection.Running Time: 593 min.System Requirements:Run Time: 593 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 012569723146 Manufacturer No: 72314

Caveman

Ringo Starr stars in this hilarious stone age comedy. Atouk and a group of outcasts unite against the menacing chief Tonda and some dim-witted dinosaurs. A hilarious comedy over a million years in the making!System Requirements:Starring: Barbara Bach Shelley Long Dennis Quaid and Ringo Starr. Running Time: 92 Min. Color. This film is presented in both "Widescreen" and "Standard" formats. Copyright 2002 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG UPC: 027616876577 Manufacturer No: 1003507

Yes, that's a former Beatle in caveman costume for this more-dumb-than-funny 1981 comedy about a prehistoric misfit (Ringo Starr) who recruits other misfits to start a new tribe. The jokes about flatulence and sex are banal, but the cast of then-unfamiliar faces is fun to watch from the perspective of history. The best thing going are some dinosaur special effects, though Ringo might argue meeting his future wife (Barbara Bach) was a good deal. --Tom Keogh

Batman & Mr. Freeze - SubZero

The Dark Knight and his cohorts Robin and Batgirl do battle with a scarily sympathetic archvillain in this superior animated movie that both kids and adults can watch without feeling insulted. While not quite as inspired as the previous Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (which is still the best portrayal of the title character ever to grace the screen), this well-plotted, awesomely stylish wall-to-wall actioner perfectly captures the fundamental essence of the classic comics, and makes the treatment of the same characters in the painful live-action Batman & Robin look even more ineptly misguided. Simply put, this is how the Masked Manhunter of Gotham should be depicted. --Andrew Wright

This breathtaking adventure explodes into animated action when the villainous Mr. Freeze kidnaps Batgirl. Now, racing the clock, Batman and Robin face off against Mr. Freeze in the iciest showdown of the century.

DVD Features:
Challenges:The Hunt for Mr. Freeze game
Filmographies:Cast and crew information
Other:Get the Picture: How To Draw Batman; music montage
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer:Trailers

Men of Honor

Men of Honor presents a great role model for younger viewers, yet it's rated R due to abundant use of the F word. With appropriate discretion, parents should allow their preteen and teenaged children to see this rousing if altogether conventional biopic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear. Played with gravity and gumption by Cuba Gooding Jr., Brashear was the first African American to become a master diver in the U.S. Navy, despite the lingering effects of segregation, opposition from Navy brass, and the amputation of his left leg following a tragic on-duty accident. Robert De Niro adds marquee value and salty bluster as Billy Sunday, the drunken, redneck (and fictionalized) Master Chief who watches, with gradual admiration, as Brashear attains his ultimate goal through sheer force of will.

This is all quite uplifting on its surface, but in attempting to hit the requisite highlights of an inspiring biography, director George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food) reduces Brashear's achievement to a succession of clichés, forcing Gooding and De Niro to battle sentiment with their noteworthy performances. As Sunday's neglected wife, Charlize Theron is completely extraneous; Hal Holbrook's diving-school commander is a ranting caricature; and newcomer Aunjanue Ellis barely registers as Brashear's wife (in part because their obligatory romance is handled with an utter lack of finesse). There's no question that Brashear's efforts are heroic and worthy of recognition, so Men of Honor serves its basic purpose. Still, one can't help but wonder if Brashear's story would be even more impressive with a more authentic treatment. --Jeff Shannon

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert De Niro deliver powerhouse performances (Chicago Tribune) in this triumphant epic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear.Men Of Honor tells the courageous tale of an African-American sailor (Gooding) who dared to dream of becoming a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Despite a ruthless training officer (De Niro) and a tragic shipboard accident Carl's iron will is never broken. Against all odds he pushes on to achieve the impossible in an incredible finish that will leave you cheering.System Requirements:Starring: Robert De Niro Cuba Gooding Jr. Charlize Theron David Conrad Joshua Feinman Ryan Honey Theo Nicholas Pagones Michael Rapaport Hal Holbrook Aunjanue Ellis Joshua Leonard David Keith Powers Boothe Dennis Troutman and Holt McCallany. Directed By: George Tillman Jr. Running Time: 128 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 Twentieth Century Fox.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 024543016656 Manufacturer No: 2001665

Pacific Heights

Ever a had neighbor from hell? You know, the one who never cleans, makes too much noise at night with his jigsaw, and breeds cockroaches and pumps them into your apartment? Never have? Well, pump up your paranoia with this outlandish if mildly enjoyable thriller starring Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine as San Francisco yuppies-cum-landlords who rent out an apartment in their Pacific Heights house to mild-mannered Michael Keaton in order to make the mortgage payment. What seems like a happy arrangement all around turns hellish when: (a) Keaton refuses to pay the rent; (b) firmly entrenches himself in the apartment thanks to some legal maneuvering; and (c) starts playing with the cockroaches. Ostensibly, Keaton wants to drive Griffith and Modine to bankruptcy and then pick up their fab Victorian house for cheap, but as is the way of all thrillers, he's got a sadistic and homicidal bent to back up his real-estate envy. Director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) manipulates the thrills somewhat effectively, if not gratuitously, especially with Griffith's damsel-in-distress character, turning on the tension in the don't-go-to-the-attic/garage/basement set pieces. Part of the problem of the film lies in its schizophrenic tone: one moment it's a what's-in-the-dark? thriller, at other times a nifty cat-and-mouse game of psychological wills between Keaton and his landlords. Both sides of the movie are effective in their own right, and Keaton is a great psycho, but Schlesinger doesn't quite bring it together, despite a considerably amped-up climax. Still, if the sight of a beautiful house being slowly destroyed is your idea of the ultimate horror, you'll be chilled to the bone. Look for Griffith's mother, Tippi Hedren of The Birds fame, in a small role. --Mark Englehart

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Based on Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, How Stella Got Her Groove Back stars Angela Bassett as a 40-year-old, Manhattan stock trader and single mom whose static life gets a jolt during a vacation with her pal (Whoopi Goldberg) in Jamaica. Sparks fly when Bassett meets a 20-year-old stud (Taye Diggs) who has an ambivalent career path but a great body and lots of sexual energy to burn. After some prodding by Goldberg's warm-funny secondary character, Bassett gets it on with the fellow--and proceeds to worry about what she's doing with a man half her age. The film is most enjoyable in its sunny, exotic early scenes and becomes more formulaic once the unlikely couple transports their will-we-stay-together-or-won't-we tensions back to the Big Apple. But director Kevin Rodney Sullivan goes out of his way to make a movie unabashedly thick with fantasy and wish-fulfillment for female audiences (it's Diggs who reveals a lot more flesh than the regal Bassett). This is a Saturday-night movie all around. --Tom Keogh

Get ready to groove with this heartwarming comedy full of love and friendship, starring sexy Angela Bassett and comic superstar and Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg. Through good times and bad, Stella (Bassett) and Delilah (Goldberg) have always had each other. Now, Stella's so busy building a life that she's forgotten to really live. But Delilah is about to change all that. What starts as a quick trip to Jamaica, ends as an exhilarating voyage of self discovery as Stella learns to open her heart and find love - even if it's with a man 20 years her junior. A captivating comedy that's sure to entertain, How Stella Got Her Groove Back glows with warmth, humor and tenderness.

Batman & Mr. Freeze - SubZero (Keepcase)

The Dark Knight and his cohorts Robin and Batgirl do battle with a scarily sympathetic archvillain in this superior animated movie that both kids and adults can watch without feeling insulted. While not quite as inspired as the previous Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (which is still the best portrayal of the title character ever to grace the screen), this well-plotted, awesomely stylish wall-to-wall actioner perfectly captures the fundamental essence of the classic comics, and makes the treatment of the same characters in the painful live-action Batman & Robin look even more ineptly misguided. Simply put, this is how the Masked Manhunter of Gotham should be depicted. --Andrew Wright

This breathtaking adventure explodes into animated action when the villainous Mr. Freeze kidnaps Batgirl. Now racing the clock Batman and Robin face off against Mr. Freeze in the iciest showdown of the century.Running Time: 67 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 012569717268