New in Home Entertainment
February 24, 2015
Whiplash
Rated R for strong language including some sexual references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
So now many of you are saying “did that Farmers Insurance guy just win an Oscar?” The answer is he didn’t just win it – he owned it. His win was one of the most dominant in an actor category that I have ever seen. And deservedly so. Whiplash tells the story of a young and talented drummer (Miles Teller) who is pushed to the point of insanity by his jazz instructor (played by now Oscar winner J.K. Simmons). It is a beautifully frustrating experience that provided not only my favorite performance of the year, but my favorite movie as well. It is a brilliant film that I can almost guarantee you’ll love – if you can make it to the end. A+
Big Hero 6
Rated PG for action and peril, some rude humor, and thematic elements
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of my biggest surprises on Oscar night was watching Disney win its second animated feature Academy Award for Big Hero 6. I’m sure they are still partying in Burbank. Based on a little-known Marvel comic and set in the futuristic California city of San Fransokyo, Big Hero 6 tells the tale of a young genius named Hiro who puts together a team of engineering nerds to save the world from a madman who stole his robot technology to use for sinister purposes. Very funny and action packed, it is an absolute blast to watch, whether you’re a kid or an adult. And in the robot Baymax, Disney has officially created one of the most lovable characters in its universe. A
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Rated PG for thematic elements, some violent action and partial nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
A surprise nominee in this year’s Feature Animated Oscar category is this beautiful hand-drawn story from Studio Ghibli. This tale of a young girl born from a bamboo stock and adopted by local villagers is like a lovely dream. It’s incredibly strange but unbelievably graceful in its telling. Although animated, I think adults are the main audience for this one. While the artistry is quite an achievement, this kind of animation, unfortunately, is lost on most children. But then some of the scenes will have you glad they aren’t watching when they come along. A-
Horrible Bosses 2
Rated R for strong crude sexual content and language throughout
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
The name Oscar should never even come to mind when thinking about this sequel to the very funny raunch com Horrible Bosses This new adventure follows our heroes (played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis) as they attempt to start their own company with a ludicrous invention. After they get screwed over by a ruthless business man (played by Christoph Waltz), they, of course, try to get revenge. While there are some laughs to be had here, the entire storyline is so ludicrous and unbelievable that it gets annoying. I love all of the many actors involved and I can appreciate what they bring to the table, but I was taken out of the film by its absolute lack of any sense of reality or organic action. C