2012 – The disaster flick comes to DVD. For those who do not know the plot, the Mayan calendar predicts the world will come to an end in the year 2012. In the movie, everything gets destroyed, from the White House to the Vatican, in epic, over-the-top action. The escape from Los Angeles sequence feels like a roller-coaster ride itself. John Cusack stars, and Roland Emmerich directs (he also directed The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day). The usual complaints have surfaced about the film, which is that it is all style, no substance, but if you want to see landmarks get totally destroyed, then this is the film to see.
Where The Wild Things Are – This film polarized audiences when it was released this past fall, but it is definitely worth checking out. Based on the popular Maurice Sendak book, the film follows the adventure of 9 year old Max, who runs away from home and finds himself in a land of monsters. As divisive as the film is, the cinematography is absolutely outstanding, and if you give the film a chance, you will definitely appreciate it. I’ve read that adults will get more out of this film than children. This is the must own of the week.
Gentlemen Broncos – From the director of Napolean Dynamite, comes the story of a boy who dreams of becoming a writer. He attends a fantasy writer’s convention and enters one of his stories, only to find out that a famous authour has taken his story, slightly changed it, and released it as his own. The humour is a little odd, but what else do you expect from the director of Napolean Dynamite. This film was widely panned by audiences and critics.
Ponyo – Acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki’s brings us the story of a fish who longs to be human. There are parallels with The Little Mermaid, as the fish is able to be human at some point, but this causes the balance of the land and sea to be disrupted. Miyazaki’s films are beautifully animated, and from what I’ve heard, this one is no exception.
Cold Souls – Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Giamatti. He is preparing for a part in a new production of “Uncle Vanya” but is feeling bogged down by the pressure of the role. To help deal with the pressure, he asks for his soul to be taken out of him, and put into storage, until he can deal with the stress. Unfortunately, when his soul gets stored, it also gets stolen, leading Paul on a quest to retrieve his soul. It definitely has a Being John Malkovich vibe to it.
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee – This is a film directed by Rebecca Miller and stars Robin Wright Penn. Pippa Lee is married to a much older man, and he decides that they should move to a retirement community. This big change makes her reflect on her life, from the rebellious teenager that she was, to the grown-up woman she has become. Definitely the most dramatic film of the week, but it got good notices from critics.
Bitch Slap – The title for this one lets you know right away if you’re going to like this film. The plot follows three women who are on a quest to steal $200 million in diamonds. It’s definitely cheesy, and over-the-top, but could be some fun.
Alice – From the makers of the TV mini-series “Tin Man”, comes this re-invention or re-imagining of the Alice in Wonderland story. The story follows Alice meeting a man named Jack Chase, who is kidnapped. A mysterious figure, named the White Rabbit appears and tells Alice that he knows more about Jack and for Alice to follow him. She steps through the looking glass, and into Wonderland. The description makes it sound like a science-fiction version of the story, but for fans of Tin Man, this should be right up their alley.
TV ON DVD
Designing Women: The Complete Third Season – The third season of the popular 80’s TV show that follows Annie Potts, Jean Smart, Delta Burke, and Dixie Carter follows the ladies as they run a design firm out of their home in Atlanta.
Until Next Tuesday!
