New in Home Entertainment
October 23, 2012
Prometheus
Rated R for sci-fi violence including intense images and brief language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
If you have questions about the origin of the Alien universe, Prometheus serves as a kind of prequel to the franchise and will provide some answers. It will also raise many more questions. The great thing about this new blu-ray release is that for a film like this that demands multiple viewings, it is now possible to do so without having to spend so much at the theaters. And unlike many of the top directors that don’t do commentaries, Ridley Scott loves to offer his voice to the background and here gives a nice addition for your second or third viewing. Now if only the film were a bit scarier… B+
Magic Mike
Rated R for pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) leaves the indie fare behind and instead tackles the world of male strippers in this pic starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Matthew McConaughey. So this might be more of a chick flick than a date film, but regardless, it’s decent enough entertainment if you don’t mind the lack of an interesting story. Supposedly based on Tatum’s previous career as a stripper, the story is bland and a little bleak. Just when you think you are heading into Boogie Nights territory, the movie takes you down a sort of lame turn. Perhaps if they had based the crux of the story on Pettyfer’s character rather than Tatum’s the film might have been more intriguing to watch. C+
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Rated R for language including sexual references, some drug use and brief violence
Availalble on DVD and Blu-ray
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley are two neighbors who build a friendship as the Earth is only a short time away from being destroyed. With the end of the Mayan calendar coming to a close, there have been many end of the world tales but the comedy approach taken here is original and funny, yet dark and pretty twisted. I never really felt a lot of chemistry between the two leads, but maybe thats the point. Great chemistry just might not be an option when you have hours left to live. Still the film manages to be enjoyable in spite of a dire ending that is inevitable. B
Secret of the Wings
Rated G
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
While Disney’s Tinker Bell movies haven’t exactly told the greatest stories, the animators sure do show off their talent in grand style. This new Fairies movie tells the tale of Tinker Bell as she visits the forbidden Winter Woods and discovers why her wings have been mysteriously glowing. It’s a cute enough movie if you have young kids (especially girls) and is bearable due to the spectacular imagery. It’s certainly not the best of Disney, but for a straight-to-video release it’s not half bad. B-
The Invisible War
Not Rated
Available on DVD
This years Sundance winner for documentary is a hard-hitting film about the massive cover-up and mishandling of rape in the military. Telling the stories of several men and women in the military who were brutally raped or sexually abused by their colleagues, only to be further victimized by the very organization that is supposed to protect them, this is a sobering and saddening expose that is a must-watch for any concerned citizen. I would especially advise women or parents of women considering the military to check this one out. The good news is that the film has already had a positive impact in the military. The bad news is that this story exists at all. A