When it comes to movie channels, there’s no name more famous than Home Box Office, doing exactly what its name implies, bringing the movie theater home. As the reigning heavyweight in terms of premium cable networks in the United States, no competitor exceeds its total subscriptions, HBO can be found in countless houses and hotels, or perhaps more importantly in the winter months, indoors. When running out to the theater or even video store is an inconvenience, sometimes it’s best to curl up on the couch and watch a movie of your choosing. If you find yourself in an HBO home in the near future, here are our top picks for On-Demand movies currently playing:1. Valentine’s Day If you’d like to watch Valentine’s Day in the days leading up to the actual Valentine’s Day (February 14^th) make haste, as the movie expires from On Demand on February 13^th. With an all-star cast featuring Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Topher Grace, Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Patrick Dempsey and more, yes more, this hilarious love-fest explores the holiday through the perspectives of varying relationships providing unforgettable laughs and valuable insights.2. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian After moving up in the world since landing the night watchman job at the Museum of Natural History, Ben Stiller’s reprises the role of Larry Daley, as he reunites with old friends across history, and makes a few new ones, as he attempts to stop their shipment to the Smithsonian where without the magical Golden Tablet they will be nothing more than lifeless relics. Read the rest of this entry »

There are lots of reasons not to show children a movie, one of which is it’s really good. That’s right, many aspects of modern cinema that enhance the overall quality of a film simply aren’t appropriate for certain eyes. Humor, nudity, two staples of successful box office hits, simply do not cater to well-balanced upbringings. So when basking in the light of your thoroughly decorated Christmas tree and rent a holiday themed movie to carry on the seasonal spirit thought the house, stay away from these selections. But by all means, go ahead and pop them in the old DVD player once the milk and cookies are out and the kiddies are asleep.1.Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Stanley Kubrick’s final film, and quite the accomplishment it is. Amid the post-Thanksgiving lights, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman give a performance only enhanced by their real life relationship and chemistry at the time of filming. However, with more nudity and stronger sexual content than some all-out adult films, it’s better to be viewed in private with the Mrs. Clause of the house.2.Bad Santa (2003) Simply hilarious. Billy Bob Thornton in a roll he was born to play, but that statement enough should tell you this isn’t a Santa you want your children to associate with. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s generation of up-and-coming actors, mired in pandering money-makers best epitomized by the Twilight saga, make at least this audience long a time in which young actors actually put out movies that told realistic coming of age stories. There is something to be said with a young actor or actress connecting to an audience in a relatable way, never better expressed than in the Brat Pack’s string of hits throughout the mid to late 80s. Who was the Brat Pack, you ask? You may recognize the names Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez just to name a few (Patrick Swayze, John Cusack and Robert Downey Jr. often find themselves in the mix as well). The Brat Pack left a lasting legacy in their film, with young viewers today still feeling as if they grow up right can pop in a DVD and watch the characters on-screen grow up right alongside them. Without further ado, here is the cream of the crop

1. The Breakfast Club (1985) Never has the high school landscape been so thoroughly explored across the diverse landscape of tight nit cliques, sticking together to ensure social survival. Watch as fences built up semester after semester slowly come down over the course of a Saturday detention.
2. Sixteen Candles (1984) Life, and love in particular, can be confusing for a 16-year old girl, and who better to play a 16-year old girl than a young Molly Ringwald of the same age. Step into the dark shade of an older sister’s shadow as a young lady on the verge of woman hood tries to find happiness on her 16^th birthday.
3. St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) The Brat Pack grows up a bit in this film, essentially connecting with a post collegiate audience attempting to adapt to life in the real world. Watch as a close knit group of college friends struggle to stick together and come to terms with varying levels of success in both love and the workplace. Read the rest of this entry »

Director Jacques Audiard calls his film A Prophet his “anti-Scarface”. That’s a handy guide as to what to expect in this riveting crime flick. There is none of Tony Montana’s glamour, no camaraderie ala Goodfellas. Instead, A Prophet follows one central character, a French Arab named Malik and played by Tahar Rahim, who is forced to survive in prison with no one but an intimidating Corsican mobster to guide him.Like the best crime movies, A Prophet is the story of how people construct their identities, but it also demonstrates how the Corsican mob is changing. Older bosses like the film’s Cesar (played by Niels Arestrup, The Bourne Ultimatum) are out of date, their glory days harkening back to the days of the French Connection (when heroin was smuggled from France to the U.S. in the 1950s-1970s). Malik is the new breeda boss whose reputation is not made on experience, but on study. After all, he’s in prison. What other option does he have? Read the rest of this entry »

After a career that lasted six decades, Dennis Hopper died of complications related to prostate cancer on May 29. Hopper was 74. Though he is best known as an actor who often played villains and other unstable characters, Hopper also directed and wrote a number of films. One of his best known early roles was in the 1969 hit, Easy Rider. In this film, Hopper co-stars alongside Peter Fonda, playing the role of a young biker who sets out on an adventure with his friend to bike across the country, meeting many interesting characters along the way. What many people don’t know is that Hopper had been playing smaller roles in TV and film for over a decade before this big debut. Some of his earlier works included Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. Read the rest of this entry »

When “the Mrs.” suggests a movie, most men are looking at an hour of their life they may never get back. While a lot of “chick flicks” will have guys heading for the exit, these 3 movies actually deliver a good laugh for both sides for the great sex divide.

1. Hitch This romantic comedy introduces us to Albert Brennamen (Kevin James), a lovable loser hopelessly in love with his client, famous movie star Alegra Cole (Amber Valleta). Through a hilariously insightful diet of dating advice from professional “date doctor” Alex “Hitch” Hitchens (Will Smith), Albert attempts to woo his celebrity crush and overcome his shy demeanor. Hitch faces some love quandaries of his own as gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), trying to get to the bottom of the unusual pairing of Albert and Alegra, has the elusive bachelor feeling emotions long buried in his past. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, noticeably fewer people are venturing out to the theaters to get their movie fix. Companies are continually coming out with more convenient and cheap ways to provide audiences with the movies they want to see. It appears that many people are willing to wait longer to watch a movie for a lower price on a smaller screen than pay 6-12 dollars for a movie ticket. Here’s a rundown of the most popular movie viewing tactics.

1. Theaters: The pros are obviousa big screen, first time availability, a captive audience, and a big tub of buttery popcorn. The cons, however, seem to be overpowering. Why suffer through high ticket costs, far driving times, and irritating lines when there are cheaper and easier ways to watch movies? The true movie fans will agree that theaters are the only medium that can provide the ultimate movie viewing experience.
2. Blockbuster: Ever since VHS tapes came out, Blockbuster has been reaping the benefits of take home movies. Recently, however, their revenue is down 22. It appears people still love to rent movies; they’re just choosing to rent from more accessible venues. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the last few years we’ve been seeing more and more movies based on books. That old familiar line, “based on the bestselling book” seems to be the start of half the movie trailers lately. Where this used to be confined to only a few movies each year and showed preference to novel series’, this is becoming a tendency of almost every genre.In the last few years we have seen the unprecedented obsession and fandom of the Harry Potter series and now the Twilight saga. Both series have resulted in very successful motion pictures, but these are actually less surprising as largely popular series such as The Lord of The Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia often result in films. However, no matter what genre of film you’re interested in chances are you’ve seen a “based on the book” movie recently. On the romance scene, we’ve seen one Nicholas Sparks’ novel after another turned into films: the ever-popular The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and recently Dear John. All of these books made sappy but powerful tear jerkers over the last few years. Read the rest of this entry »

From relationships gone awry to failed attempts at reliving the “glory days,” the last ten years have produced many unforgettable comedies. After a start on Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell has made his way into a number of movies on our top ten list. If you’re looking for a fun flick to watch with the friends, any one of these knee slappers is sure to keep everyone entertained.

1. Wedding Crashers (2005): This all-star cast takes you along the journey of two best friends who spend their weekends crashing the weddings of strangers in order to find girls. When John Beckwith (Owen Wilson), falls for one of these ladies, things take an interesting twist as he and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) spend the weekend with her wealthy, dysfunctional family.
2. Old School (2003): When Mitch Martin’s (Luke Wilson) girlfriend cheats on him, he joins together with Frank Ricard (Will Ferrell) and Beanie Campbell (Vince Vaughn) to recreate their glory days on a college campus. The three forget grown-up life for a while and attempt to start their own fraternity.
3. Anchorman (2004): Another Will Ferrell classic as he plays chauvinist newsman Ron Burgundy who becomes threatened by the presence of the new female news reporter, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), who’s headed straight for the top. This popular flick is full of memorable lines that will be quoted for decades. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for a new film to see, but want something a little different than the big comedy hits and predictable love stories, check out your local Indie theater. This genre is often overlooked but produces some phenomenal, thought provoking pieces. Here’s our pick at some of the best.

1. 7 days: A film about inner conflict and revenge, Bruno Hamel’s daughter is raped and murdered and he sets out to enact his own form of justice on the perpetrator. When Hamel subjects his daughter’s killer to horrific torture it raises the question of what exactly is justice and how far would you go for your loved ones.
2. All That I Love: This gripping film takes place in Poland during the Russian occupation of the 1980s. A young boy starts a band singing songs about his political frustration. A young romance that forms is at risk because of the differing political positions of their families. This film offers an emotional look at the profound effects political culture can have on one’s adolescent years.
3. Armless: The main character, John, leaves his wife one day to find a surgeon who will fulfill his dreams of having his arms amputated. The tale twists into an interesting look into marriage and acceptance of the one’s you love. Read the rest of this entry »