New in Home Entertainment
November 6, 2012
Arthur Christmas
Rated PG for some mild rude humor
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
While last year threw us some real duds in the animated feature category, a couple of films popped up unexpectedly as real winners. A Cat in Paris, which I recently reviewed, was an excellent foreign film that snuck in with an Oscar nom, but the best of all of the category is finally getting a blu-ray release this week. Arthur Christmas tells the story of the youngest son of Santa Clause who has a heart of gold, but is shadowed behind his older and much more arrogant brother. As Santa is about to retire, his reliance on his oldest son leaves a child without a present and it is up to young and clumsy Arthur to save the night. This is not only a wonderful animated film, filled with beautiful animation and story-telling, but it is one of the best Christmas films to come out in years. The movie was far from successful at the box office last holiday, but my prediction is that this home video release could very well make this terrific film a new Christmas classic. A
Ruby Sparks
Rated R for language including some sexual references, and for some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From the directors of Little Miss Sunshine comes this unique little comedy about a writer who manages to bring his dream girl to life with his writing, and then continues to control her with every word he types. You would think from the trailer and description that this would be a romantic comedy, but I think it’s far from it. First off, I’m pretty certain that one of the reasons it performed so poorly at the box office was that many were turned off due it’s misogynistic central theme. If it is demeaning to women, it certainly doesn’t mean to be, but being that the girl is almost like a programmable robot doesn’t exactly scream romance. In fact, the movie takes quite a dark turn down this direction in the second act. The script is brilliantly written by the films star Zoe Kazan who is obviously inspired by Charlie Kaufman more than Nora Ephron. The casting is also perfect with her as Ruby and Paul Dano as the nerdy but kind-hearted writer. What the film lacks in romance, it more than makes up for in thoughtfulness and creativity and it is overall very enjoyable. A-
Your Sister’s Sister
Rated R for language and some sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
A year after the death of his brother, Jack is depressed and having trouble getting on with his life. When his female best friend convinces him to spend some time in her parent’s remote lake cabin, he agrees only to find himself sharing the cabin unexpectedly with his best friend’s lesbian sister. Of course a drunken night with bad decision making ensues and when the best friend joins the fray, a dramedy of reflection, tension and secrets flows out. The film itself is fairly entertaining. The performances are good and the script is well-written, but you have to be in the mood for an adult-themed indie that is far less funny than it should be. B-
Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon: The Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, Kurosawa’s classic is getting a very complete treatment from Criterion in this new hi-def edition. When a man is murdered and his wife raped, four people give differing accounts of the events, showing how different the truth can be depending on the vantage point of the viewer. This international classic is presented here with a new digital restoration and soundtrack as well as tons of features about not only the beauty of the film but also the legacy it has left behind. A