This is the first of the weekly columns about new releases of DVDs. It will include my opinion of the movie/show if I saw it and my recommendation. Enjoy.
Kung-Fu Panda 2
I’m not sure if I can give you an unbiased opinion on this. For one, I’m not a fan of animated movies unless it’s something that connects me to my childhood. I’ll sit back and watch Disney classics like “Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” all day, but if it’s something that was released after I turned 16 I usually avoid it. I’m not trying to pass these movies off as something that only kids find entertaining, but I just can’t get involved in the story for whatever reason. Its more of a personal preference than any sort of judgement. I thought “Up” was one of the most over rated movies ever and aside from that I haven’t seen any other Pixar movies except for the “Toy Story” ones. This movie also stars Jack Black and I really don’t like him. I’ll never understand how he got famous because I find his comedy annoying and obnoxious. I realize that it’s only his voice acting in this, but I can’t stand to listen to him for 90 minutes. I’m never going to see this, but if you saw the first one and liked it you already know where you stand.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The first recommendation of this column goes to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, if you haven’t already done so, go see this movie as soon as possible. I saw it in the theater when it first come out and it absolutely blew me away. I went into the theater with low expectations due to the taste Tim Burton’s “Clusterfuck of the Apes” left in my mouth a few years back. This movie is not at all like that one, it is supreme on almost every level. It has a simple, yet interesting storyline, the acting was excellent and the special effects were amazing. The lead ape, Cesar, looked like he was in the room with the human actors and expressed hundreds of subtle emotion just by the way he looked and moved. It was completely mind-blowing and on par with the effects of the Na’vi in “Avatar”. If you’re into collecting DVDs, this is a must have. If not, just make sure this is the next movie you see, be it on Netflix or OnDemand. A must see.
Fright Night
I really like this movie because it was very viewer friendly. The story about a vampire living next door was good, but what pushed it over the top for me was that the characters in the movie knew about vampires. I love that fact that these guys were brought up on movies, TV and comics about the supernatural and, even though they were still shocked at their existence, they knew how to deal with them. There is nothing I find more annoying that a zombie TV show in which the character have never heard the word “zombie” (you know what show I’m talking about). I already saw this and although I don’t belive it’s worth buying on DVD, it definitely a good rental.
!!!BLU-RAY RE-RELEASE OF THE WEEK!!!
City of God
First off, if you haven’t seen “City of God” yet, you’re missing out. It’s an incredible crime drama set in the ghettos of Rio de Janeiro that is absolutely beautifully shot and edited. The story of a group of friends growing up surrounded by crime is heartbreaking as you watch them struggle to make it out. It is an amazing movie and a most definite must buy, especially on Blu-Ray. The HD version of the movie is amazing to look at, especially because of all the color distortion the director used. It would be a great addition to your collection and a movie you’d enjoy for years to come.
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