The Order
Directed by Brian Helgeland
By Noel Dix

There appears to be some promising talent within the young Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon, but the two continue to make us wait for their breakthrough performances as they continue to sign on for mediocrity. The Order is an absolute mess of a film. Ledger in the role of a ghost-busting Catholic priest could have given this piece of work some camp value but it fails to produce even that level of entertainment, and The Order is unbelievably boring. Dumbed-down movies with no plot are one thing, but this script just makes no sense and has more holes than Swiss cheese. If you actually make it through this nonsense you will learn that while killing demonic spirits in Italy, Father Alex (Ledger) encounters William Eden, a very old man in a young body that eats the sins of the dying to give them a green light to heaven while he maintains his longevity. Briefly throw in escaped mental patient Shannyn Sossamon and some MTV-style edits and you have as strong a grasp on The Order as anyone who’s actually sat through this forgettable film. The DVD is wise in keeping things light when it comes to extras, serving us the usual audio commentary from director Brian Helgeland, as well as some deleted scenes. These outtakes are not the missing pieces that give the film more sense, but there are some interesting numbers with full CGI effects, like a swarm of birds invading an old woman’s home for no apparent reason. After being subjected to numerous takes of Heath Ledger bawling over a dead body, you quickly remember that The Order is crap, in case you forgot. Plus: theatrical trailer. (Fox)
270 Miles From Graceland: Bonnaroo 2003 - Dir. by Danny Clinch
Alias: The Complete Second Season
Alien Quadrilogy
American Wedding - Dir. by Jesse Dylan
Anything Else - Dir. by Woody Allen
Apartment Hunting - Dir. by Bill Robertson
Assassination Tango - Dir. by Robert Duvall
Bad Boys II - Dir. by Michael Bay
Bruce Almighty - Dir. by Tom Shadyac
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fifth Season
Dithers - Dir. by Reid Van Renesse
Firefly: The Complete Series
Freaky Friday - Dir. by Mark Waters
Gigantic (A Tale Of Two Johns) - Dir. by AJ Schnack
Gigli - Dir. by Martin Brest
Green Acres Season One
Hellfest 2002
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem - Dir. by Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Jeepers Creepers 2 - Dir. by Victor Salva
Jeremiah: The Complete First Season
Johnny English - Dir. by Peter Howitt
King Of The Hill: The Complete Second Season
Lost in Translation - Dir. by Sofia Coppola
Once Upon A Time In the West - Dir. by Sergio Leone
Open Range - Dir. by Kevin Costner
Out Of Time - Dir. by Carl Franklin
Punk’d
S.W.A.T. - Dir. by Clark Johnson
Seabiscuit - Dir. by Gary Ross
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season Six
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine The Complete Seventh Season
Steve-O Vol. III: Out On Bail
The Best of Mister Ed: Volume One
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Dir. by Steve Norrington
The Simple Life
Together - Dir. by Chen Kaige
Underworld - Dir. by Len Wiseman
Uptown Girls - Dir. by Boaz Yakin
Bayonetta [PS3 / Xbox 360]
"I've got a fever and the only cure is dead angels."
-Bayonetta

Ever since the Christmastime gaming deluge ended, I've been killing a lot of angels. Though God's messengers have been bad guys in other pop-cultural products ― His Dark Materials book trilogy, the pas... Full Review
Leif Vollebekk - Inland
Although he's a Montreal native, this debut album sparkles with many of the magical elements associated with Vollebekk's Scandinavian heritage. At times recalling Nick Drake's Bryter Layter in its fragility and subtle deployment of strings, but also the playfulness of fellow Montrealer Patric... Full Review
Lindstrøm Explores
Don't count on Norway's premier disco revivalist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm to ever turn in the same record twice. "All the artists and bands that I really like do surprising stuff every time, and I guess I just copy their way," he says from his Oslo home studio. "But it's also about not getting bored myself."... Read More
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
• Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the December 2003 Issue: • Contents Page • News • Click Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Points  •  Blab  •  Comics  •  Year In Review  •  Point of View  •  Questionnaire  •  Timeline • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Frequencies  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews • Music School --> N/A • Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio • Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue • Browse Issues