New in Home Entertainment – July 24, 2012

Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In Japanese with English subtitles
In Tokyo there is an 85-year-old sushi chef named Jiro Ono who owns a 10 seat restaurant in a subway station.  Thought by many to be one of the greatest sushi restaurants in the world, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded the prestigious three-star Michelin Guide rating.  This tasty documentary not only shows why Jiro’s sushi is so highly regarded, but also gives a great life lesson as well.  The theme put forth is that of finding something you love and do it for the rest of your life.  Jiro is a prime example of a man whose work is his passion and he has spent his entire life trying to improve his art.  He could have easily established a set menu and made the same sushi every day, but instead he chooses to grow as a chef while he creates and expands.  Even if you aren’t that big of a fan of sushi, and I’ll admit that I’m just a casual roll eater, you’ll find this film to be delicious diversion and a very entertaining yet moving story.  A

Get the Gringo
Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some drug use and sexual situations
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Even though this Mel Gibson film was highly praised by critics and audiences alike, it never saw the light of day in theaters and instead was subjected to a Direct TV On Demand release followed by this Blu-ray/DVD a few months later.  That is the reality for Gibson for the time being.  But please don’t let that stop you from picking up this little gem of a film about a man who steals millions before being arrested across the border.  Determined to escape from prison and get his money back, Gibson is in rare form as the anti-hero.  This is a really fun picture that will surprise the many folks that will now get the chance to check it out.  A-