New on DVD

New on DVD

Where the Wild Things Are
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book, Wild Things follows a rebellious young boy named Max as he runs away from home and finds himself on an island filled with dangerous monsters that befriend him.  Director Spike Jonze (Adaptation) unleashes all of his creative prowess in this live-action fantasy that is at times weird, but always interesting.  Artistically, it is one of the most intriguing films of 2009, full of imagination and eye-popping wonder.  At times, though, it gets a little repetitive, but forgivably so.  I’m not so sure this is a film for young kids, but rather older kids, teenagers and even college students will probably love it.  A-

2012
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The Earth as we know it is coming to an end, as predicted by the Mayan calendar, and only a few people know it.  One of those people is John Cusack and he must rescue his kids and ex-wife before and bring them to safety before they are taken down with the rest of the planet.  Story-wise, this isn’t the greatest film ever made.  The escapes are very repetitive with each successive plane take-off barely making it and way too many close calls.  Also, logic issues abound which will leave you scratching your head throughout.  That being said, the special effects are what folks are most interested in here and they are spectacular and plentiful, even if they don’t make much sense all the time.  If you really want to add some gravity to the silliness, wait till The Road comes out and watch the films back to back, pretending the latter is the sequel. C

Ponyo
Rated G
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Master animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) tells the tale of a five-year-old boy that befriends a goldfish princess, who is the escaped daughter of great wizard and a sea goddess.  If you’ve seen any of his other films, you know that his storytelling is as eccentric as his animation style.  This story, inspired by The Little Mermaid, is for the most part mesmerizing, but at the same time really, really strange.  Dubbed into English from it’s original Japanese with a host of great voice talent such as Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, and Matt Damon, the film is very accessible for all ages.  Kids just need their imagination.  Adults might need a few drinks. B-