VideoView - UPI Arts & Entertainment

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MOVIES

"The Rookie" -- The big, recurring dream of many an American boy is to stand out there on the mound, game on the line, and strike out the side with a withering fastball. Most only dream; this is about one who actually turned his fantasy into fact -- only it took an awful long time. This is the improbable, true story of Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a high school science teacher and baseball coach in a little West Texas town, once a promising pitcher himself many years ago, his own childhood dream buried in the dust of too many family moves. Now at 35, he's trying to teach the fine art of baseball to a group of marginally talented kids on a team going nowhere. Until, that is, one day when Jim lets fly a high hard one during batting practice and the boys are amazed at the speed he still has. A deal, then: they win their way into the district finals and maybe beyond, he tries out for the majors.

Well, it's all predictable from here as the team turns unbeatable and a reluctant Jim has to try out and, surprise, the pro's are just as impressed with that 97 mph fastball. After reaching an agreement with his wife (Rachel Griffiths) over family vs. career, he heads out to the baseball wars, oldest rookie in decades but one with whom to reckon. Quaid is very good in this pleasant, relaxed film, sentimental but not overdone, a skillful changeup from another rookie, director John Lee Hancock, and though you know what's coming, it's a pitch easy to take. 2002. 129 minutes. Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Rated G.

"High Crimes" -- Ashley Judd, in another of her women in peril thrillers, plays Claire Kubik, a high-powered Southern California attorney living it up with husband Tom (Jim Caviezel) until one night he's suddenly arrested by the FBI and whisked off to a military prison. A former Marine, he was now about to be charged with murdering nine people in an incident in El Salvador 15 years earlier, a deed he vehemently denies and accuses the brass of a massive coverup. Claire decides to defend her man herself and enlists the help of lawyer Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman), a somewhat seedy recovering alcoholic but an authority on military courts, to help poke holes in the prosecution case. Others meanwhile are trying to scare Claire off the case. Lots of false leads and a few minor surprises before things are sorted out in a movie that has its faults but is generally entertaining. 2002. 115 minutes. Fox Home Entertainment. Rated PG-13 (Violence, sexual content, language).

"Joe Somebody" -- Tim Allen plays Joe, a nobody who desperately wants to be a somebody. Joe's a lonely guy, dumped by his wife, hardly noticed at work where he's quite good at what he does and to top it off, is decked by the office bully before his young daughter. Like the 98-pound weakling in the old Charles Atlas ads, Joe decides to bulk up both body and confidence, learn some moves (from a comical karate expert played by James Belushi) and challenge the bully to a rematch. Two bright spots in his life are his precocious daughter (Hayden Panettiere), on whom he dotes, and a pretty co-worker (Julie Bowen) who liked him better the way he was. This comedy-drama tries hard and has its moments but not enough. This is more a "Joe so-so." 2001. 98 minutes. For Home Entertainment. Rated PG.

"Shiner" -- Michael Caine, a pleasure to watch even in the seamiest of circumstances, stars as low-life boxing promoter Billy "Shiner" Simpson, a ruthless conniver out for revenge after his latest shady deal turns tragic, in this gritty, violent British flick. Martin Landau co-stars as a rival American gangster. 2000. 99 minutes. Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Rated R (strong violence, pervasive language, some nudity).

"The Fog" -- John Carpenter's creepy 1980 ghost story, about a California town getting more than it bargained for in its centennial celebration, is back and getting the DVD treatment. Seems the town, Antonio Bay, was founded under sinister circumstances and the victims, under cover of fog, have come back for revenge. Familiar cast includes Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh and John Houseman. 89 minutes, from MGM. rated R.

VIDBITS

Coming up next: the Wesley Snipes adventure-fantasy "Blade II"... "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring," as expected, has shot into the lead among the nation's video rentals...

Quentin Tarantino, whose best work, "Pulp Fiction," is now on display in a dressed-up DVD rendition, will see his first film, "Reservoir Dogs," released Tuesday in a 10th anniversary, two-disc special edition package. The brutal tale of a botched jewel robbery, it stars Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney and Tarantino, himself...

Kid alert: Warner's "Scooby-Doo," the first live-action film of the famous cartoon dog and his crime-solving team is coming to video Oct. 11... More vintage TV is headed for DVD. Universal plans to release the first seasons of "Law and Order" and "Baretta" (starring Robert Blake) in October...