New in Home Entertainment – August 23, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

August 23, 2011

The Beaver
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference
Available on DVD and Blu-ray

It’s no wonder this little drama starring Mel Gibson as a depressed husband and father who can only communicate though a beaver puppet didn’t do well at the box office. After all, Mel is one of the most hated men in Hollywood right now (unjustifiably so in my honest opinion), and he plays a crazy man who talks through a beaver.  This concept doesn’t make for an attractive movie. But then ten minutes into it you get hooked and then you can’t take your eyes off of it.  Mel turns in one of his best performances and Jody Foster does great in her double duty role of director and leading actress.  While the film is extremely funny at times, it also serves up a stirring and sensitive tale of a man with an extreme mental illness and his family who is forced to suffer it along with him.  A-

Dexter: The Fifth Season
Available on DVD and Blu-Ray

While I loved the first two seasons of this hit show about a serial killer who only kills the bad guys, I never thought it could keep up its pace.  But then the breathtakingly scary season four hit leaving number five in it’s wake. With Dexter left a widower, single parent and prime suspect, the season takes an usual direction as he decides to combine forces with a new partner, played by Julia Stiles.  Some of the dialog and acting are a bit on the campy side and the scare factor can’t come close to Season Four, but overall the writing is strong and star Michael C. Hall proves again why he is an award-worthy actor.  B+

Troll Hunter
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of creature terror
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Norwegian with English Subtitles

While it sounds like cheesy B-movie, this Norwegian import manages to churn out a creative tale about a group of journalists attempting to capture footage of Norway’s troll problem that has gotten out of hand.  It’s ultra low-budget and won’t impress you with it’s less-than-dazzling special effects, but you will end up entertained and full of useless knowledge about trolls.  If you don’t want to read through the subtitles, never fear, there will be a big-budget Hollywood remake just around the corner.  B-