Nance, Richard

The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)

Despite a troubled production history including a switch in directors, budget overruns, and delayed release dates, The Alamo turned out to be a remarkably intelligent mini-epic of corrective historical biography. Dispensing with the grandiose myth-making of previous films on this subject (including John Wayne's gung-ho 1960 version), this well-written film breathes new, credibly dimensional life into the stodgy legends of Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), Jim Bowie (Jason Patric), and Lt. Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson), who fought with 185 Anglo-"Texican" settlers (some historians claim their numbers were closer to 250) during the bloody 13-day siege by 5,000 Mexican soldiers at the titular San Antonio mission-turned-fortress in 1836. While Gen. Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) anguishes over military strategy and reluctantly withholds much-needed support, the Alamo defenders face the unbeatable multitudes commanded by Mexican Gen. Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria), and the screenplay (on which John Sayles was an early contributor, when Ron Howard was slated to direct) allows the central heroes to reveal a richer, more substantial humanity beneath their mythic reputations. Tackling his biggest production to date, director John Lee Hancock (who previously worked with Quaid on The Rookie) reportedly shot 100 hours of footage, so it's almost miraculous that this 135-minute battle drama is so evenly balanced in telling its oft-told tale. Thornton was deservedly singled out for his fine performance, and Dean Semler's cinematography is Oscar-worthy throughout. Of course, any film about the Alamo necessarily includes speculative history, and this one's no exception, but it's got a ring of truth that previous versions conspicuously lacked. --Jeff Shannon

From the studio that brought you PEARL HARBOR ... Academy Award(R) winner Billy Bob Thornton (SLING BLADE, Best Adapted Screenplay, 1996; BAD SANTA), Dennis Quaid (THE ROOKIE), and Jason Patric (RUSH) team up for the acclaimed action epic about one of the most important events in American history! It's the heroic tale of the 200 brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom defending a small Texas fort for 13 days against an entire army! Commanded by three men -- Lt. Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson), James Bowie (Patric), and David Crockett (Thornton) -- their against-all-odds courage at the Alamo would forever live on as a rallying cry for liberty and independence!

The Alamo (Full Screen Edition)

Despite a troubled production history including a switch in directors, budget overruns, and delayed release dates, The Alamo turned out to be a remarkably intelligent mini-epic of corrective historical biography. Dispensing with the grandiose myth-making of previous films on this subject (including John Wayne's gung-ho 1960 version), this well-written film breathes new, credibly dimensional life into the stodgy legends of Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), Jim Bowie (Jason Patric), and Lt. Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson), who fought with 185 Anglo-"Texican" settlers (some historians claim their numbers were closer to 250) during the bloody 13-day siege by 5,000 Mexican soldiers at the titular San Antonio mission-turned-fortress in 1836. While Gen. Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) anguishes over military strategy and reluctantly withholds much-needed support, the Alamo defenders face the unbeatable multitudes commanded by Mexican Gen. Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria), and the screenplay (on which John Sayles was an early contributor, when Ron Howard was slated to direct) allows the central heroes to reveal a richer, more substantial humanity beneath their mythic reputations. Tackling his biggest production to date, director John Lee Hancock (who previously worked with Quaid on The Rookie) reportedly shot 100 hours of footage, so it's almost miraculous that this 135-minute battle drama is so evenly balanced in telling its oft-told tale. Thornton was deservedly singled out for his fine performance, and Dean Semler's cinematography is Oscar-worthy throughout. Of course, any film about the Alamo necessarily includes speculative history, and this one's no exception, but it's got a ring of truth that previous versions conspicuously lacked. --Jeff Shannon

From the studio that brought you PEARL HARBOR ... Academy Award(R) winner Billy Bob Thornton (SLING BLADE, Best Adapted Screenplay, 1996; BAD SANTA), Dennis Quaid (THE ROOKIE), and Jason Patric (RUSH) team up for the acclaimed action epic about one of the most important events in American history! It's the heroic tale of the 200 brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom defending a small Texas fort for 13 days against an entire army! Commanded by three men -- Lt. Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson), James Bowie (Patric), and David Crockett (Thornton) -- their against-all-odds courage at the Alamo would forever live on as a rallying cry for liberty and independence!

Walking Tall - The Payback

Kevin Sorbo stars as Nick Prescott in this action-packed sequel to the hit film Walking Tall as the son of a small town sheriff who returns to home to discover the place in which he grew up is now overrun with crime drugs and violence. A group of ruthless criminals is purchasing real estate using strong-arm tactics. With the cooperation of corrupt local county policemen they have been pilfering gas from local gas stations leaving a trail of destruction behind. When Nick s father in an effort to stop the criminals is ruthlessly killed Nick enlists the help of an FBI agent in an effort to seek out justice and revenge.System Requirements:Run Time: 88 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 043396176744 Manufacturer No: 17674

Not a sequel, per se, to the 2004 feature Walking Tall with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (which in itself was only loosely based on the real-life story of Southern lawman Buford Pusser), this by-the-books actioner stars Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) as another taciturn tough guy who faces down small-town corruption with determination and a very big stick. Sorbo plays a former elite soldier who returns to his small Texas hometown to discover that his sheriff father has been murdered by a cadre of nefarious types (led by tattooed heel A.J. Buckley), and with the help of a comely FBI agent (Yvette Nipar), he takes up his father's badge and takes on the bad guy with a particularly large piece of hickory as his main weapon. Sorbo is a likely action star, though he lacks the charm of The Rock (or the downhome grit of Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson, who played Pusser in the '70s feature and its sequels), and the story is doggedly formulaic in its march to a showdown conclusion. The action, however, is plentiful, and should provide a passing distraction for viewers seeking some testosterone-heavy thrills. -- Paul Gaita

On the Borderline

Luke and Nicole are a young couple anxious to start a promising new life in California. During their long cross-country drive, they decide to make a scenic pit-stop at the Mexican border. But when all their money is stolen, they are stranded in a small town of locals. In need of quick cash, Luke takes the only job he can find from the town trouble maker - smuggling illegal aliens over the Mexican border. As the law closes in, Luke tries to collect and leave town but finds more trouble waiting for him on the borderline.

I Don't Know Jack

Hell Swarm

Accused of murdering his partner, policeman Bill Sabbath (Boyd Kestner, "Black Hawk Down") has just been executed by the authorities. But Billy's execution was a ruse, staged by a top government agent (Tim Matheson, TV's "The West Wing") who needs Billy for a secret commando unit to fight the aliens. Known as the Phylum, the aliens appear to be human, but are endowed with superhuman strength and a deadly plan - the first day of spring, they will release millions of bees infected with hyper-toxic venom, and unless Billy can destroy their operation first, mankind will discover hell on earth...