Against the Ropes (DVD)
Meg Ryan stars in this fictionalized account of real-life boxing manager Jackie Kallen, the first female to ever make a name for herself in the sport. As the film begins she's just an assistant to the owner of a sleazy sporting arena, but her antagonism toward a mafia-affiliated boxing bigwig (Tony Shalhoub) and her hunch about the innate boxing talent of a young street thug named Luther (Omar Epps) lead her to take up managing. She recruits a retired trainer (Charles S. Dutton, who also directed) to mold Luther into a champ, and starts pushing and climbing through the sport's rampant sexism. The script by Cheryl Edwards is packed with platitudes and great throwaway lines, and to its credit the film doesn't shy away from showing Kallen's less flattering angles. Ryan looks and sounds great, sporting a fun Midwestern accent and a series of sexy outfits as she sashays through the cigar smoke and testosterone, tough-talking her way to victory in argument after argument. Though set in the present, AGAINST THE ROPES has a grungy 1970s feel to it, recalling ROCKY, THE CHAMP, THE MAIN EVENT and other films of the era. The real-life Kallen served as an associate producer.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseFull Frame - 1.33Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Dolby Surround - English Dolby Surround - FrenchAdditional Release Material: Featurettes - 1. A RINGSIDE SEAT
2. QUEEN OF THE RING: JACKIE KALLEN THEN AND NOW Theatrical TrailerInteractive Features: Scene Access Interactive Menus
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
For personal use only.
All rights reserved.
Keep your faith close to your heart with the fashionable design of this white gold diamond crusader's cross pendant.
Specifications:
14-karat white gold
29 channel-set round diamonds
1/4-carat total diamond weight
H-I color, I2 clarity
Polished finish
Comes with 18-inch white gold chain with spring ring clasp
All carat weights and measurements are approximate and may vary slightly from the listed dimensions. *T.W. (total weight) is approximate. 1/4 carat T.W. may be .22 to .28 carat.
Treatment code N. See
Gemstone Treatments for further information.
Description not available.
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
For personal use only.
All rights reserved.
First-time director Zack Snyder remakes zombie master George A. Romero`s classic 1978 gore-fest DAWN OF THE DEAD, wisely replicating only the basic elements of Romero`s movie, and instead sticking to his own vision of a world overrun by undead flesh-eating creatures. The action begins with nurse Ana (Sarah Polley) waking up to discover her boyfriend has become a tasty midnight snack for a formerly cute neighboring kid. To her horror, she realizes that the whole town is in a similar state of ghoulishness, until she runs into still-alive cop Kenneth (Ving Rhames); the levelheaded Michael (Jack Weber); and Andre (Mekhi Phifer), a rebel with a pregnant wife in tow. As in Romero`s original, the group heads for the local mall where they barricade themselves inside. More survivors surface, while in the outside world the zombies go about their day by slowly taking over the planet. Undeterred by the odds against them, the survivors plot, scheme, and enjoy their mall paradise. As they plan their escape, some incredibly gruesome special effects are deployed, often with a dash of wry humor added for light relief. Placing the messages from Romero`s version--a funny, scary look at consumerist society--on the back burner, the 2004 version of DAWN OF THE DEAD instead concentrates on delivering a witty blood-fest. The zombies appear to have taken their cues from the fast-moving corpses of Danny Boyle`s 28 DAYS LATER, and are generally much more agile than their 1978 counterparts. Director Snyder gets the balance between humorous set-pieces and plot development exactly right throughout, producing an enjoyable remake that can easily hold its own alongside the deservedly hailed original film.
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
For personal use only.
All rights reserved.