Category: DVD Review

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence, frightening images and brief sensuality
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Video On Demand
The Harry Potter saga might be winding down but the intensity is heating up as Harry and gang go on a mission to destroy Voldemort once and for all.  This first in the two-part movie does little in the way of exposition, but rather assumes you know the what’s going on so they can get down to business.  While young kids will find it rather scary at times, the kids who grew up with it will be enthralled.  This release features some great extras including Maximum Movie Mode which takes you on a deeper journey of the production than if you were to listen to a simple commentary.  Also check out the feature Behind the Soundtrack that explores Alexandre Desplat’s original score which all but killed off the original themes by John Williams, and yet still triumphs as a lovely piece of music.  B+

Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Fox-Walden took over the Narnia franchise from Disney, but you’d hardly notice it with this third installment which places Edmond and Lucy, along with their annoying cousin Eustice as they meet up with Prince Caspian on his ship The Dawn Treader.  Just like the first two films, the acting is a bit flat, but the story and special effects are impressive enough.  Essentially a biblical allegory from author C.S. Lewis, many parents will find Voyage to be a nice alternative to Harry Potter.  B-

Casino Jack
Rated R for pervasive language, some violence and brief nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on a true story, Kevin Spacey plays infamous lobbyist Jack Abramoff as he goes from one scheme to another in order to use his influence to scam millions off of his victims.  Why this film didn’t do better at the box office I have no idea.  Sure it gets a little old towards the end of the second act, but there so much good comedy here that you hardly notice it.  Unfortunately, the comedy is based on reality which makes it slightly obscene.  Spacey and his talented cast come off as complete slimy misfits and you laugh on their way up and cheer their way down.  B

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Black Swan
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing images, language and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
It is safe to now use the phrase “Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman” thanks to this surprise hit about a ballerina who must transform herself into the Black Swan, both physically and mentally, in order to perform the leading role in Swan Lake.  While Portman’s performance was certainly noteworthy, this film wins on several levels including the powerful and stylish directing of Darren Aronofsky, the haunting cinematography of Matthew Libatique and the beautiful score by Clint Mansell.  It also doesn’t hurt to have actors such as Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey  involved.  For those who perceive this to be a ballet film or chick flick, you will be quite shocked at the macabre nature of the movie.  A

The Mikado: Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In 1939, The Mikado was the first screen adaptation from legendary light opera team Gilbert and Sullivan.  Over 70 years later, the classic British satire based in Japan is getting the Criterion treatment, including a newly remastered digital transfer, deleted scenes and many other great features.  Also being released this week from Criterion is the 1999 feature Topsy-Turvy which stars Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner as Gilbert and Sullivan as they give their first production of The Mikado in 1885.  B+

Little Fockers
Rated PG-13 for mature sexual humor throughout, language and some drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The Focker gang are back in the franchise that follows the battle between Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) as they come to  blows over anything that will separate Greg from Jack’s daughter.  The second film had some major problems as all it did was rehash the jokes from the first film, but this third installment attempts to at least break some new ground, although the gags are largely cliched and unoriginal.  I did like the addition of Jessica Alba as the drug rep attempting to place herself as the other women, but I wish Harvey Keitel would have had a larger role as the contractor putting the screws to Greg as he builds his new house.  While not as good as the original, number 3 is a vast improvement over Meet the Fockers.  C

TRON: Legacy
Rated PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D
Decades have pased since Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) disappeared into the computer world he created and now Flynn’s son (Garrett Hedlund) finds himself stuck in the same world; and the only person who can help him escape is his father.  I remember going to see TRON almost 30 years ago, but the only thing I really recalled from it was the production design, not the plot.  So revisiting the world, I was more than a little lost.  Unfortunately, the writers felt they needed to create a story that relies on the knowledge of the first film for full enjoyment, and Disney chose not to re-release the original TRON on home video until this week.  My advice – watch the original (no matter how cheesy it is) and then check out Legacy.  Legacy is not a bad film – it just needs to give its audience a helping hand to get them through the maze of confusion.  C+

Tangled
Rated PG for brief mild violence
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
You know it’s a strong year for animated films when a movie like Tangled garners some of the strongest reviews of the year, makes over a half-billion worldwide, and still can’t muster up an Oscar nom for best animated film.  That being said, the tale of Rapunzel, the kidnapped long-haired princess locked high in the tower, couldn’t have been more entertaining or beautiful to watch.  The characters are all incredibly well-written, the music finds Alan Menken at the top of his game, and the animation is perhaps Disney’s loveliest to date (not including the Pixar pics of course).  While I abhor most 3D films nowadays – if you have a 3D television – you will love what the animators did with this one.  It really enhances the picture instead of getting in its way.  A+

Made in Dagenham
Rated R for language and brief sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In 1968, a group of British women working in an automobile plant fight for equal rights, causing a disruption of the status quo in their own lives, their community and the entire country.  The true story of the Dagenham plant is inspirational, although a tad bit unoriginal.  Still, the performances are strong, especially those of the amazing Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins.  While not overly relevant for a message film, it is still a nice picture of the history of the Women’s Rights movement.  B+

The Resident
Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality/nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Hilary Swank is an ER doctor in New York that moves into an apartment with an unassuming landlord, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  She discovers soon enough that something strange is afoot with her new place and that she might not be alone in the apartment.  Trying to be creepy, the film just turns out to be weird, perverse and laughable.  Hilary continues on a bad string of movie luck with this new project that not only does nothing for furthering her career but damages her reputation a bit as well.  C-

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The Tourist
Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Shocking us all this year at the Golden Globes were the inclusion of The Tourist as best picture comedy/musical and best actor and actress noms for its stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.  Sure it’s sexy and the locations are nice, but overall this is nothing more than a boring version of Tom Cruise’s Knight and Day.  Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, whose German film The Lives of Others is rightly considered to be one of the greatest films of the last decade, received too much help from Hollywood on this film, which ultimately led to its blah-ness.  Not nearly as clever as it thinks it is, the film is as predictable as it is pretty.  But if you really just want a mindless spy movie that never pretends to be anything more than a silly love story – you might find some enjoyment.  As for me, I much prefer Knight and Day for my entertainment dollar.  C

Stand By Me: 25th Anniversary Edition
Rated R
Available on Blu-ray
When this classic coming of age tale was released twenty-five years ago I wasn’t allowed to see it due its R rating (please don’t tell my mom I watched it at a friend’s house on cable).  Watching it again now in this stunning HD transfer, one could easily believe the film was made yesterday.  This timeless tale of group of young boys that go on a journey to find a dead body is still relevant today and will bring a touch of nostalgia and a tear to the eye of anyone reflecting back on their own childhood.  I highly suggest checking out the picture-in-picture video commentary with director Rob Reiner and actors Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman.  This too serves as a wonderful trip down memory lane, allowing the audience to hear Rob and the boys discuss their own reflections of making the film.  A

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The Fighter
Rated R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While the real story of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother Dicky might have gotten by you in the mid 1980s, you would almost have to be living under a rock to have escaped the press The Fighter has gotten over the last few months.  Winning Academy Awards for supporting actor and actress, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, as well as a host of other known and unknown actors like Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams, turn in easily the best ensemble performance of the year in this unique boxing flick which is more about the relationships than the fight.  While the basic premise is essentially your typical boxing plot, the film turns out to be very special due to the strong writing and superb acting, as well as a nicely paced drama directed by the extremely talented David O. Russell.  Originally under the direction of Black Swan’s Darren Aronofsky, David picked up the reigns and turned what could have been just another sports flick into a critical and box office success.  A

Hereafter
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Video on Demand
When I first saw this film a few months ago, I didn’t really have much love for it.  And while I still don’t think it’s a particularly good film, the release is timely and completely and unexpectedly relevant.  The opening sequence of Clint Eastwood’s afterlife drama begins in a town as it is devastated by a tsunami.  The effects of the destruction were good enough to earn the film an Oscar nod and in light of what just happened in Japan, the movie couldn’t be more sobering.  I still think that the filmmakers chickened out of taking any kind of religious stance, and even went as far as to mock two of the world’s largest religions.  But this time around the film has a different vibe in spite of its boring screenplay and not-so-great supporting cast.  C+

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The Walking Dead
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
With the popularity of all of the vampire shows popping up recently on TV, it’s no wonder that someone wanted to create a series based in the zombie world.  In the wrong hands, this sounds like a horrible idea, but in the hands of Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont, it turns out to be brilliant.  In this short first season, a group of survivors during a zombie outbreak gather just outside of Atlanta and do their best to survive.  Although many of the ideas are stolen from the cornucopia of zombie flicks such as 28 Days Later and even Shaun of the Dead, the show turns out to be daringly original due to strong character development and just enough of the walking dead to keep you freaked out.  The relatively unknown cast of actors perform as a strong ensemble and the production values are through the roof, cable television or not.  And if you are like me and a victim of your cable company (AT&T in my case) not carrying AMC in HD, then you will love the boost in quality of the viewing experience.  A-

Jackass 3
Rated R for male nudity, extremely crude and dangerous stunts throughout, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I still can’t believe that no one from the cast has died or been too injured to keep on making these movies, but each one is getting funnier than the last, with the proof coming out on DVD and Blu-ray this week.  While I could still do without the bodily function stunts, the rest of the film is so funny it will make you hurt from laughter almost as much as the cast hurts from the actual stupidity.  Sometimes when I watch this stuff, I feel like Dax Shepard in the movie Idiocracy watching “Ow! My Balls,” hardly believing that this is the funniest movie of the year.  But then I take off my snobby critic hat and sit back and enjoy the awesome display of fatuity.  B+

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March 1, 2011

Bambi: Diamond Edition
Rated G
Available on DVD/Blu-ray Combo
What was originally supposed to be Walt Disney’s second feature film after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, became his fifth release and almost bankrupted the studio due to WWII and the loss of the European box office.  Now, almost seventy years later, Bambi still holds up as a masterpiece of animation and art.  With this blu-ray premiere, the print was cleaned up and enhanced again and looks simply gorgeous in 1080p.  Also there are many new special features that will have you watching the disc long after the movie ends.  Perhaps the coolest feature, and a groundbreaking one at that, is the new second screen technology which allows the movie to interact with your iPad or laptop while you are watching the film, providing a new and innovative way to learn more about the movie you are watching while you are watching it.  A

127 Hours
Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Certainly one of the best films of 2010, 127 Hours was also one of the most difficult to watch.  Hours tells the true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco) who finds his hand trapped by a boulder in the middle of nowhere which leaves him very few choices if he wants to survive.  Almost the entire length of the film is spent with Aron and his struggle, yet because of the superb acting by Franco and the intense directing of Danny Boyle, the film is extremely fast paced and never bores.  If you are even the least bit squeamish, however, you won’t want to come near this as it would make the strongest of stomachs weak.  But even with the gore fest, the film comes out triumphant and gives a great insight to the events that occurred and provides a positive, life-affirming message to its audience.  A-

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Due Date
Rated R for language, drug use and sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When father-to-be Robert Downey Jr. gets booted off of a plane for an altercation with Zach Galifianakis, the two end up on a cross-country road trip trying to get back home to Los Angeles in times for his child’s birth.  While the setup doesn’t make a lot of sense, the film itself works well as a buddy road comedy, mostly because of Galifianakis turning in a hilarious performance.  Downey is fine, but could have been played by anybody, and the role might have been better served had he and co-star Jamie Foxx switched characters.  As is, though, the film is still really funny at parts and worth the watch.  B

Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Musical Event of a Lifetime
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I have a special place in my heart for Les Mis since it is the musical that made me a Broadway junkie.  Before seeing this show, I had no interest in musical theater, but then I saw this in Oklahoma City in 1992 and it blew me away.  Since then I’ve seen it five or six times but have craved a version that I could just pop in the DVD or Blu-ray player and enjoy anytime.  So needless to say I was excited to get a chance to review this new concert event.  Putting together one of the most amazing group of singers you could imagine with a huge orchestra and a choir made up of various talents from West End theater, this production had me as happy as I could get in front of the TV.  The only flaw in the event is the addition of Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers in the role of Marius – most likely as a ploy to get young folks to see the show.  For me it was like Garth Brooks playing baseball: sure he sold some tickets and it was fun to see him in the uniform, but once he picked up the glove or bat you know it wouldn’t be pretty.  Rather than singing from the diaphragm, he has a throaty, poppy voice that stands out badly with the rest of the brilliant cast.  But don’t let that stop you from checking this out because not only do you get Lea Salonga and Matt Lucas, but in the role of Jean Valjean is one of the most lovely voices I’ve ever heard, performed by opera sensation Alfie Boe.  A

Waiting for Superman
Rated PG for some thematic material, mild language and incidental smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of the most glaring omissions from this years Oscar ballot was this sobering documentary about the failure of the American public school.  Following children and schools from around the country as well as leaders in education, the documentary sets out first to explain why we are in the mess we are in and then shows not only how we can get out of it, but how programs around the country already have.  Most of the blame given in the film lies on the very powerful teacher unions and the fact that it is almost impossible to fire a teacher in this country.  While the rebuttal is not allowed by the opposition, the case is made well and is difficult to refute.  The film itself is a roller coaster of emotion that will leave you in hopeless tears.  More than anything, the movie makes you angry that the answers seem apparent, but yet nothing is being done to correct the problem.  As an incentive to buy the film, the movie comes with a $25 gift card for donorschoose.org which will allow you to make a donation to school projects from around the country.  A-

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Paranormal Activity 2
Rated R for some language and brief violent material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After the terrifying first Paranormal Activity hit theaters I was very skeptical about a second installment.  So many horror films have lost their touch, such as Blair Witch and Saw, that I originally wrote this one off as just a way to make more money.  But these guys proved that they had more story in them and actually turned in a scarefest that was almost equal to the first.  PA2 takes place both before and after the events of the first one, allowing for a more complete story to be told.  Instead of Micah’s camera following all of the events, Katie’s sister and her husband set up a surveillance system after their house is left ransacked by what they thought must have been devious kids.  While I didn’t get that tingling feeling in my spine like I did in the first one, I still sat in the theater terrified, which is what a good horror film is supposed to do.  For those of you that hate blood and gore in your scary movies, you will especially want to check this one out since it relies more on what you don’t see than what you do.  A-

Life As We Know It
Rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and some drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Since I first saw the trailer of this film about a man and woman that hate each other but are forced to live together to raise their Goddaughter when her parents die, I knew that this would be a predictable rom com with another horrible premise.  While the movie mainly lives up its expectations, I am willing to offer up slight praise in that it’s mildly enjoyable.  I can’t recommend it due to the fact that the premise is so bad and the trailer is just a short version of the whole, but the acting is decent, given the material, and there are some cute moments that make it so you can’t quite hate it.  These mild annoyances clash with the mild enjoyment and produce a very average film rather than the terrible movie I was expecting.  C