New on DVD
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I find it amazing, yet not surprising, that this spectacular series from the Sci Fi Channel was all but snubbed in the major Emmy categories this year. I fully believe that were the exact same show aired on HBO instead of basic cable, it would have swept the nominations, but that’s a scenario that lies in an alternate universe, just as the setting for the show. Regardless, Battlestar ended strongly with these last episodes and a finale blew its fans away. Over the course of the last several years the series has challenged many social issues such as race, religion, gender, torture, freedom, and class in a way that no other show on television has dared. Sure it’s science fiction, but this is not your normal brand of sci fi and has truly gathered a loyal group of followers. Along with this season 4.5 is a new complete series set, both on blu-ray and regular dvd that will allow anyone to discover for the first time, or catch up on what they might have missed. The blu-ray contains a special tease of the upcoming movie “The Plan,” as well as a six part retrospective of the show. A
Fast & Furious
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual content, language and drug references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This fourth film in the franchise brings the team together for only the second time. This time around Vin Diesel and Paul Walker team up to bring down a heroin kingpin, and of course race cars. Just like the other flicks in the series, the plot is thin, the acting is weak, but the action is big. Before you watch the movie, check out the original short film Los Bandoleros which was written and directed by Vin Diesel. It shows that Diesel actually does have some talent hidden away in there, and not only is it a better film than Fast & Furious, but it sets the movie up so that it makes more sense in the beginning. C
Prison Break: The Final Break
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After the fourth and final season of Prison Break aired on Fox, they decided to make a two hour movie to tag onto the end, with one more break. This time, Michael’s new wife Sarah is put into prison and the gang needs to get her out before she and her unborn baby die inside. When this show first started, it was such a great program. An architect who tattoos the blue prints of a prison on his body and gets arrested so that he can help his innocent brother escape? It was a seriously cool premise filled with colorful characters and great plot twists. But over four seasons and now this final soiree, the show has become a parody of itself. The Final Break came an entire season too late. D
Big Man Japan
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and crude humor
Available on DVD
Japanese with English Subtitles
This mocumentary follows the life of Masaru Daisato, a not-so-normal human that has the ability to grow to an enormous size in order to protect Japan from giant monsters. The problem is that he is lonely and depressed and unwilling to put his life on the line for his country. His wife has left him and he is not allowed to see his child. The people of Japan hate him for the destruction he leaves in his wake. To make matters worse, he’s kind of a coward. This is truly one of the weirdest films I have ever seen. The special effects are super-cheesy, yet hysterically funny at the same time. I found myself laughing throughout, all the time thinking that I wasn’t supposed to be. But once I got to the random ending, I realized that the laughter I experienced was planned by the filmmakers all along. What a strange and wonderful ride. B