Latest video releases reviewed
HEAD-ON/GEGEN DIE WAN ***
Directed by Fatih Akin. Starring Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Guven Kirac 18 cert
Noisy and drenched in overwrought gothic angst, Akin's tale of a romance between two troubled members of Hamburg's Turkish community was a surprise winner of the Golden Bear at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. It is certainly intense and well performed, but the adolescent posturing does become a little wearing. Donald Clarke
HEIMAT 3: A CHRONICLE OF ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS ***
Directed by Edgar Reitz. Starring Henry Arnold, Salome Kammer, Michael Kausch, Matthias Kniesbeck, Christian Leonard, Nicola Schössler 15 cert
The third part of Edgar Reitz's saga of 20th century German life is, sadly, the weakest in the cycle. Following the adventures of musician Hermann Simon (Arnold) from reunification to the new millennium, the series is certainly rich in powerful images. It is, however, grimly cautious about progress and totally uninterested in popular culture. Feels like the work of a man out of his time. Donald Clarke
THE RING 2 **
Directed by Hideo Nakata. Starring Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, David Dorfman, Kelly Stables, Elizabeth Perkins, Sissy Spacek 15A cert
Hugely confused sequel to the American version of Nakata's own superior Japanese shocker. Watts, the journalist whose life fell apart when a bewitched videotape introduced spectres to her living room, has retired to a quiet town in Oregon. Soon it is all happening again. Then it isn't. What already? DVD includes silly documentary detailing spooky happenings on set. Boo! Donald Clarke
LIFE IS A MIRACLE/ZIVOT JE CUDO **
Directed by Emir Kusturica. Starring Slavko Stimac, Natasa Solak, Vesna Trivalic, 15 cert
Having captured the Balkan war in all its horror and chaos in Underground, Kusturica delivers a much lighter exercise set in 1992, as Bosnian villagers try to persuade themselves the war will never happen. Some surrealist set-pieces are crafted with his trademark virtuosity, but this over-extended, cacophonous picture ultimately proves exhausting. Michael Dwyer
IT'S ALL GONE PETE TONG *
Directed by Michael Dowse. Starring Paul Kaye, Kate Macgowan, Beatrice Batarda, Mike Wilmot, Dave Lawrence 16 cert
A DJ revives his career after going deaf. People of a certain age used to argue that only those on drugs could possibly appreciate rave music. Well, the world does not hold enough narcotics to make this dreadful comedy palatable. "Why aren't you funny any more?" Kaye's Dennis Pennis used to shout at celebrity comics. Oh, the irony. Donald Clarke
