We're a little late with the weekly column by Heather this week, and we apologize. Things have been pretty busy around here. Alright, let's get started. Heather is back, and your wait is over. After telling us to rent "Sweeney Todd" and skip "The Waterhorse" last week, Heather now jumps back in time a bit and reviews two releases that debuted on DVD late last year and early this year. While she likes Jamie Foxx and his crew of FBI agents investigating a deadly attack in the Middle East, she's not so fond of Jodie Foster running around New York killing, well... killers. Enjoy!

Skip it: "The Brave One"

This is what it is: Jodie Foster is Erica Bain, a New York City radio host who takes the law into her own hands after her fiancé is killed in a brutal attack. Terrence Howard plays a cop hot on her trail as she goes on a vigilante spree of sorts. The film is directed by Neil Jordan.

My always strong and quite often, brilliant opinion: What I will say about this film is this: director Neil Jordan definitely has an opinion. And boy, does that opinion read loud and clear throughout this film. I'm not even going to say I disagree with his opinion. Because a part of me believes that really bad guys deserve to get theirs. So when some nasty trash pieces get killed by their "helpless" victim in this flick... I may have even clapped a little, and said, "yeah, well they deserved it." Um, which as illegal as that is, and as terrible as it sounds, is probably an opinion shared by many.

Okay, so that being said, that's about all I really appreciated in this movie. I understand that by the time Jodie Foster has become this "I am out for justice" badass, she needs to be a real tough guy. But, why was she butcher than her fiance through the whole beginning of the film? She was, basically, a dude. I would have liked to have seen more of a transition. Their relationship just wasn't believable. I didn't like her at all in this. And I found myself just not caring about her.

This film was all pretty one dimensional, and just kind of weird. Yes, that's what it is, weird. I thought it was going to be this cool action/suspense film, but it just wasn't. It was, well, weird.

"The Brave One" was completely unrealistic, yet set in a realistic world. And that never works. Bad performances everywhere, bad dialogue, some neat camera angles maybe... but for me, that doesn't make a good movie. So I guess I "braved" this one out, so you wouldn't have to.

The final word: Because I snacked on my favorite little Haribou Gummi Bears while viewing this, I will give it 2 1/2 Gummi Bears out of 5. Probably just a red one and an orange one... didn't even get to my favorite clear ones... and while we're talking about it, what damn flavor is "clear" anyway?? Cripes.

Get it: "The Kingdom"

This is what it is: After a deadly bombing attack kills several Americans in the Middle East, a U.S. counterterrorism squad is sent in to find those responsible. But the FBI agents (Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, and Jason Bateman) quickly learn that they are the true enemy in that part of the world. Their investigation is cramped by local bureaucracy, and the team soon realizes that they may be next on the terrorists' target list.

My always strong and quite often, brilliant opinion: This film is disturbing. But only because it's dealing with what's real, and we all live in a disturbing time. "The Kingdom" tells a solid story, is chock full of great action shots, and is highly entertaining.

Jamie Foxx does a fine job, and is completely believable as the team leader. He seemed completely focused and committed to his character. He didn't annoy me once through this whole film, which was surprising, because I am not his biggest fan. Chris Cooper always turns it out, and Jason Bateman brought his brilliant comedic timing to the table - as well as displaying some strong dramatic chops. Even Jennifer Garner showed up with her "A" game. Great ensemble work by this cast.

The cinematography in this film is fantastic. The action didn't make me uh, sea sick, if you will, from jerky camera shots that often make their way into action films (was I the only one who got a little queasy during the Bourne movies?). And the scenes in the scary, sandy alley ways were enough for me to never book a ticket out thatta way.

This film covered a very "real" issue. A real scary issue. After one of their own is killed, Jamie Foxx whispers something into Jennifer Garner's ear. When what he whispered is disclosed at the end of the film, an eerie ironic common ground is revealed. This movie isn't just action. It's one to think about. And it definitely inspires great conversation after viewing.

The final word: Because I snacked on my favorite little Haribou Gummi Bears while viewing this, I will give it 4 1/4 Gummi Bears out of 5. The texture of the Haribous are just so much better, don't you think?