STICK IT DVD TALK REVIEW AND TRAILER

HERE IS THE TRAILER FOR THE MOVIE STICK IT



Jessica Bendiger, who wrote the smarter-than-it-should-have-been script for Peyton Reed's cheerleader comedy Bring It On, attempts a two-fer with her directorial effort and, well, she gets points for difficulty but chokes on the dismount.

This time, it's all about gymnastics. The girl-centric, Karate Kid-wannabe plot just begs the question, hasn't there already been a girl Karate Kid movie? Didn't it star Hilary Swank and, you know, suck? The answer is yes, yes and yes, but apparently someone at Buena Vista forgot and made another one.

Missy Peregrym, a graduate of the same genetic research lab that spat out Piper Perabo and Amanda Peet, stars as Haley Graham, a rebellious teen facing time in either a juvenile facility or military school unless she ... trains in gymnastics. Huh? Is this common in the juvenile courts? Are ne'er-so-well youths being sent to cooking school and band camp instead of juvie these days? And, if so, why hasn't Stone Phillips done a searing expose on the subject?

Ah, but Haley was once a world-class gymnast who, of course, walked out of the Nationals two years earlier, leaving her team in the lurch and gaining a reputation as a, um, walker-outter. So her parents and the tough-but-fair juvenile court judge (Polly Holliday -- Flo from TV's "Alice!") make her go back and face her past. Apparently, walking out is as bad as it gets in Gymnasticland, because her bad-girl rep precedes her, and some of the other girls are (gasp!) rude to her. Her new coach also has a rep -- the girls who train at Burt Vickerman's school are known to sustain a lot of injuries (although we never see this problem) and he's known more as moneymaker than a motivator. So when he and Haley butt heads (of course), each learns a valuable lesson about integrity. Or something.

But here's the thing -- Vickerman's played by Jeff Bridges. And it's always delightful watching Bridges work, even when he's obviously slumming. He brings a charming, irascible, well-worn quality to the aging coach, and even when the movie sort of sucks (which is often) the quirky little flavors he brings to the character are never less than brilliant.

Stick It takes a really nice turn in its last act, veering in a very different direction than other flicks of its kind, but it's an uneven sort of development. Bendiger's script and direction belie a desire to make something fresh and new while still sticking to the old template of bad girl learns a lesson/snotty girl becomes her friend/dress-up musical montage in the mall/potential failure then triumph at the competition. And you really can't have it both ways. The gymnastics are cool, Peregrym is almost believable as an athlete (even though she's too tall and her breasts are a tad too big to compete successfully at that level) and, as mentioned, Jeff Bridges is his usual awesome self. Stick It doesn't entirely suck � but it's far from successful, making it a pale imitation of Bring It On that's only good entertainment for less-discerning 'tween gymnastics enthusiasts.

The DVD:
If you're a fan of the film, the DVD is a must-buy -- there are loads of genuinely entertaining extras, so if you or your 13-year-old daughter are nuts for Stick It, you may as well just buy the damn thing now so you can watch it over and over and over.

The video:
It's an absolutely gorgeous transfer, but that should be expected from brand-spanking-new movies at this point -- a clean, crisp anamorphic 1.85:1 picture with excellent color saturation and no noticeable edge enhancement. Really sharp, in every way.

The audio:
The sound is equally good, in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround (English, Spanish or French, with optional subtitles in each language). This isn't an effects-heavy film, but the hip-hop music track is a big part of its appeal, and the sound mix balances big, bold bass lines and dialogue nicely.

The Extras:
First up, there are two audio commentaries, one with writer/director Bendinger and actresses Missy Peregrym and Vanessa Lengies, and another with Bendiger, cinematographer Daryn Okada and editor Troy Takaki. They're pretty standard commentaries, focusing on specifics of the scenes, and how much fun it was to work with everyone, etc. Naturally, the second track is more tech-heavy, which is great if you like that sort of thing.

"Buttaharas," the inevitable blooper reel of gymnasts falling, actors blowing lines and Peregrym making a seemingly endless series of "funny" faces. (3 min.)

"Skinny Fat," offering deleted scenes with optional filmmaker commentary. Most aren't worth the trouble, but one sequence featuring Bridges and the girls making a run to a drugstore is absolutely hilarious. (13 min.)

Music videos for Missy Elliott's "We Run This (Stick It Edit)" and "Crowded" by Jeannie Ortega. Elliott's is cool and cutting edge with terrific dancing, while Ortega's is standard-issue movie clips intercut with her Aguilera-like singing.

"Hard Corps: The Real Gymnasts of Stick It" is just what it says it is, a delightful little snippet introducing the real stunt-double gymnasts. (4 min.)

"The Elites" offers full gymnastics routines -- floor, beam and uneven bars -- by some of the film's stand-in gymnasts. (9 min.)

"The Judges Table" shows the very impressive individual uneven bar routines, in slow-motion, that were used as part of the film's visual effects.(9 min.)

The bottom line:
If you're a grown-up who's hoping this film will be the equal of Bendiger's Bring It On, you'll be disappointed -- as an example of how a good director can make a script sing, you can't do much better than comparing Peyton Reed's direction on that far superior film with Bendiger's here. On the other hand, if you're a girl between the ages of 12 and 15, you'll probably love Stick It, and if that's the case, this DVD release offers a lot of bonus features that you'll adore.

TENACIOUS D AND THE PICK OF DESTINY TRAILER AND REVIEW FROM DVD TALK

Whether you've become familiar with "mock rock" outfit Tenacious D during their HBO series (airing sporadically from 1997-2000), their full-length debut album (2001) or the two-disc Complete Masterworks DVD (2003), they're certainly an easy act to remember. Comprised of actors / musicians Jack Black (High Fidelity, Mars Attacks!) and Kyle Gass (Jacob's Ladder, Elf), this two-man supergroup dubbed itself "The Greatest Band in the World" soon after its formation in the mid 1990s. Their goofy, lowbrow lyrics may trick casual fans into thinking "The D" is purely a joke act---and to be fair, nearly all of their material is completely tongue-in-cheek---but make no mistake about it, Black (AKA "JB" or "Jables") and Gass (AKA "KG" or "Rage Kage") are both talented musicians, songwriters and performers. Remember: great satire is only possible if you actually respect and understand the source material. Here's looking at you, Date Movie.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) brings the band's legacy to the big screen; luckily, it's everything you'd expect it to be: lowbrow, self-assured and full of catchy hooks. In no small part, it serves as a travelogue of The D's origin story and early adventures...with plenty of details embellished, of course. Our story begins as young JB (Troy Gentile, who also portrayed a young Black in Nacho Libre) grows increasingly frustrated with his Bible Belt parents and their anti-rock ways; seeking advice from Black Sabbath's Ronnie James Dio (below left), JB begins a journey to find his future partner-in-crime. Our heroes finally meet in Venice Beach and eventually begin their training while focusing their sights on The Pick of Destiny, an all-powerful guitar pick made of Satan's own tooth.

Tucked inside the film's free-wheeling, musically-charged exterior, however, is a fairly basic road trip story that sees our heroes looking to score rent money. They've got to rescue The Pick from the guarded interior of Sacramento's Rock & Roll Museum---but it's really not the pick itself that they're seeking, it's the success that will hopefully follow. Through hallucinations, a daring heist, a car chase, the Valley of the Shadow of Death and a "rock-off" with Beelzeboss himself, The D take their schtick one step farther with a bigger budget, a few recycled gags...and, of course, non-stock rocking. Part Bill & Ted, part Blues Brothers and part Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, The Pick of Destiny isn't entirely original but it is pretty darn entertaining. If you've heard their material, it shouldn't be a surprise.

Directed and co-written by Liam Lynch (Jesus Is Magic, TV's Sifl & Olly), The Pick of Destiny plays its tarot cards right during most of the 94-minute running time. The episodic pacing is fairly standard for a road movie, hitting plenty of right notes early and keeping the laughs coming throughout. Featuring appearances by famed rockers Ronnie James Dio, Meat Loaf and Dave Grohl as well as longtime D pals Tim Robbins, Ben Stiller and others, it should keep plenty of die-hard fans happy without (hopefully) scaring off too many outsiders. Though it didn't exactly set the box office on fire last November, The Pick of Destiny is a predicable yet satisfying comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Presented on DVD by New Line Home Entertainment (and as part of their Platinum Series line, no less), you'd never suspect The Pick of Destiny tanked by what we get here. Fans can look forward to an excellent technical presentation, while a host of entertaining extras provide plenty of support. All things considered, it's a well-rounded package that does the film plenty of face-melting justice. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Video & Audio Quality

Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for widescreen displays, The Pick of Destiny looks surprisingly good from start to finish. The film's warm color palette appears consistent and natural, black levels are solid and no major digital problems (edge enhancement and pixellation, for example) are on display. Long story short: comedies usually don't look this strong, so fans should be pleased with New Line's respectable efforts.

The audio is presented in robust Dolby 5.1 Surround EX and DTS-ES 6.1 mixes (as well as a more modest 2.0 track), all of which pass with flying colors. Obviously, such a musically-driven effort needs to have plenty of power behind it; luckily, all the channels are put to good use on many occasions. The film's non-stop dialogue is clean and clear throughout, while never fighting for attention during the frequent sonic assaults. Optional English and Spanish subtitles, as well as Closed Captioning support, are available during the main feature.

Menu Design, Presentation & Packaging Seen above, the animated menu designs are basic and easy to navigate. The 94-minute main feature has been divided into 14 chapters, while no obvious layer change was detected during playback. This one-disc release is housed in a standard black keepcase and includes a matching slipcover and promotional insert.

Bonus Features Though everything is squeezed onto one disc, there's plenty to dig through after the closing credits. Leading things off is a pair of Audio Commentaries; the first features stars Jack Black and Kyle Gass, while the second features director Liam Lynch. As expected, Black and Gass offer an entertaining and laid-back commentary, dishing out plenty of interesting tidbits and casual banter that D-sciples should appreciate. Lynch's track is a bit more low-key, but his frankness is appreciated; though this obviously isn't a technical tour-de-force, it doesn't overlap with the first track as much as you'd think. It's odd that all three participants weren't recorded together, but fans shouldn't mind the choice.

Tying in nicely is a Behind-the-Scenes Documentary (23:08, below left); it's a fairly standard featurette in most respects, touching on the film's pre-production, band history, cast, script and so on. The charisma of Black and Gass help to speed things along nicely, while comments from crew members and cast are also appreciated.

Also included is a collection of Deleted & Extended Scenes (16 clips with optional intro by director Liam Lynch, 30:09 total), including a longer version of the car chase, an alternate ending and a few minutes of outtakes. Everything here is worth checking out at least once, but it's easy to see why some of it didn't make the final cut.

Fans can also look forward to a small chunk of Studio Footage (21:34) featuring The D and composer John King goofing around in the studio...and occasionally laying down a few tracks, slowly but surely. Also here is a Music Video (2:25) for the title track, as well as a brief Featurette (4:44, above right) covering the music video's production; both are short and to the point, featuring additional comments by director Lynch and a few extras.

Closing things out is a handy Jump To A Song feature, allowing direct access to any of the film's 12 major music cues (including a "Play All" option), as well as the film's Theatrical Trailer (1:31) and Teaser Trailer (1:46). Also included is a handful of Sneak Peeks at current and upcoming New Line DVD releases, including Pan's Labyrinth.

All extras are presented in anamorphic widescreen and most include optional English subtitles. Since most major studios don't go the extra mile, it makes The Pick of Destiny seem that much more polished in comparison.

Created with die-hard D fans in mind, The Pick of Destiny successfully blends great music, goofy antics and a light-hearted story with energy to spare. That's not to say that newcomers won't enjoy themselves, but it's probably a good idea to get acquainted before jumping right in. Those who enjoyed the film theatrically should enjoy New Line's DVD package, equipped with an excellent technical presentation and a goblet full of entertaining extras. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny may be a one-note song full of lowbrow humor, but darned if it isn't catchy. Highly Recommended.

HERE IS THE TRAILER FOR THE MOVIE

E3 NEXT WEEK

NEXT WEEK IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAMING EXPO'S OF THE YEAR E3 AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOU ALL THE VIDEO GAME NEWS FROM E3 ALL NEXT WEEK.

HOW TO GET NEW MOVIES ONLINE

HERE IS A GUIDE TO GETTING NEW HIT MOVIES ONLINE FOR CHEAP 35 DOLLARS FROM NEWSGROUPS AND FROM NEWZBIN.

STEP 1 YOU NEED TO GO TO WWW.GIGANEWS.COM.

STEP 2 IS YOU SHOULD SIGN UP FOR 24.99 FOR THE UNLIMITED SPACE BECAUSE THAT WAY YOU CAN'T RUN OUT OF SPACE EVERY MONTH.

STEP 3 ONCE YOU PAY THE 25 DOLLARS YOU NOW GO TO EITHER WWW.NEWSLEECHER.COM OR GO TO WWW.SHEMES.COM AND DOWNLOAD THE FREE TRIAL OF GRAB IT OR YOU CAN BUY NEWSLEECHER FOR 30 DOLLARS FOR ONE YEAR.

STEP 4 NOW THAT YOU HAVE GRAB IT AND YOU HAVE THE SERVICE FROM GIGANEWS OPEN GRAB IT AND IT ASKS YOU TO PUT IN THE NEWS SERVER YOU PUT IN NEWS.GIGANEWS.COM AND THEN PUT IN YOUR NICK NAME AND PASSWORD THAT YOU GOT FROM GIGANEWS.

STEP 5 NOW YOU CAN USE EITHER THE SEARCH FROM GRAB IT TO SEARCH FOR FILES OR GO TO WWW.NEWZBIN.COM IT IS A SERVICE THAT YOU NEED TO SPEND BETWEEN 2-4 DOLLARS FOR 60 DAYS OF SERVICE ITS A GOOD DEAL. NEWSGROUPS POST FILES AND THEN THEY POST FILES CALLED NZBS WHICH YOU OPEN WITH GRAB IT OR NEWSLEECHER AND THEY LET YOU DOWNLOAD THE MOVIE OR GAME OR TV SHOW WHATEVER THE FILE YOU WANT. ONCE THE FILE IS DOWNLOADED WHICH COULD TAKE YOU ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS DEPENDING ON THE FILE WHEN IT IS DONE YOU OPEN THE FILE WITH WINRAR AND EXTRACT THE FILE AND THEN YOU CAN WATCH THE MOVIE YOU DOWNLOADED.

ANY COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

PS3 VS XBOX 360 WHICH WILL YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY ON?

I OWNED BOTH AT ONE TIME THE 360 FOR ME SUCKED BECAUSE OF ONE MAIN THING THAT THE PS3 DOES NOT HAVE THAT THE 360 DOES AND THAT IS THE NOISE. MY 360 WAS SO LOUD THAT I NEEDED TO PUT A PILLOW ON IT JUST TO PLAY MY GAMES FOR A FEW MINUTES TO AN HOUR. I PLAYED WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2007 ON IT AND EVERY TIME I PLAYED IT THE GAME WOULD MAKE SO MUCH NOISE I COULD NOT PLAY IT FOR HOURS LIKE I DO WITH EVERY OTHER SMACKDOWN GAME I HAVE PLAYED SO I DECIDED TO BUY A PSP AND THE SAME GAME SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2007 AND GUESS WHAT I PLAY THE GAME FOR HOURS AND NOT GET BORED BECAUSE I CAN HEAR THE GAME AND NOT THE MACHINE NOISE. NOW I THOUGHT THAT THE PS3 WOULD BE JUST AS LOUD BUT I HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT SAID THE MACHINE IS QUIETER THAN THE 360 AND BOY WERE THEY RIGHT THE MACHINE STARTS UP WITHOUT THE LOUD NOISE AND YOU CAN PLAY FOR HOURS WITHOUT THE MACHINE HEATING UP. SO FOR ME I THINK THE PLAYSTATION 3 IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE 360 THAT I SOLD MY XBOX FOR 3 GAMES ON THE PS3 AND TO RESERVE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2008 WHICH I CAN'T WAIT FOR. WRITE ANY COMMENTS IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY ON WHETHER YOU THINK THE 360 IS BETTER OR THE PS3 IS BETTER.