New in Home Entertainment
December 17, 2013
Prisoners
Rated R for disturbing content including torture, and language throughout
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When Hugh Jackman and Terrence Howard discover their daughters have been kidnapped, they track down who they think is the kidnapper and begin to torture him hoping that he will spill the beans on their whereabouts. Meanwhile, a police officer played by Jake Gyllenhaal is desperately searching for the childrens’ captor hoping to find them while they are still alive. This is one dark and dismal ride with a good script and great acting. But you have to be in the mood and its hard to get in the mood for a film like this. Tough to watch but worth the time invested. B+
The Lone Ranger
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, and some suggestive material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Lone Ranger star Armie Hammer blamed the poor box office of this Disney tentpole on critical bullying, but I blame it on just simply not being very good. Johnny Depp is decent as Tonto, but that doesn’t overcome the problems. First of all it sells itself as a family-friendly film but it is horribly violent. Watching a man cutting out another man’s heart and eating it while his henchman watches on like he’s getting off is just sick, even if the deed is mostly just implied. Some of the action is well-choreographed and fun to watch, and I loved the score by Hans Zimmer, but at two and a half hours, the film is way too long without earning the right to be. Maybe if they had cut out all of the Tonto sequences where he is an old man, the film might have been tighter and easier to watch, but overall this one is a chore that you’ll want to keep your finger on the fast forward button for. C-
Kick Ass 2
Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and brief nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Directly following the events of the first film, Kick Ass and Hit Girl are just trying to resume normal lives when a crime spree drives them to be super heroes again. Joining a small group of vigilantes, including Jim Carey’s ex-mafioso turned born again Christian hero Colonel Stars and Stripes, they must face their arch enemy, whose name I can’t print, in order to stop the epidemic of violence and crime. I really wanted to love this movie since I adored the first one, but losing writer/director Matthew Vaughn really took the punch out of this franchise. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still sick and violent, but not in the kick ass way that Kick Ass was. B-
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Super Adventure!
Available on DVD
Looking for a good stocking stuffer for the young kids in the family? Try out this Disney Jr. DVD featuring Mickey Mouse and friends as super heroes as well as 3 other great clubhouse episodes. Four years ago I would scoff at reviewing something like this, but throw in a toddler who loves both Mickey and super heroes and I get a smile on my face. Best of all, the program likes to promote learning including mathematics and deductive reasoning. B+