This is another packed week with some great new releases and a slew of titles I'm curious to hear what others think about. Lots of action and intrigue… and some laughs too.
Pick of the Week
Batman: Under the Red Hood
The DC Direct and Warner Premiere titles have been consistently good. This is one of the best. The story delves into the death of the second Robin — Jason Todd — and in the process tells a compelling story about Batman's relationship with his wards. Stellar voice cast includes Bruce Greenwood, Neil Patrick Harris, Jensen Ackles, Jason Issaacs, Wade Williams and John "Bender" DiMaggio, who puts a unique stamp on the iconic Joker. For fans of the animated Batman incarnations, this is like BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, but with a harder edge. Don't let direct-to-Blu-ray or animated make you think less of this film. I'm sure if Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale saw this they might rethink their objections to bringing Robin into the live-action series.
Buy "Batman: Under the Red Hood" on DVD Here!
Read my Blu-ray review of "Batman: Under the Red Hood"
Buy "Batman: Under the Red Hood" on Blu-ray Here!
Queue Qualified
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
I ranked this film at #26 on my top 50 films of the 2000s list. Ang Lee's wire-fu masterpiece brought a new style of action to America in a mainstream way. The romance between Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh's characters is somber and heartbreaking. Ziyi Zhang's Jen Yu is a princess who dreams of becoming a fighter. Her rebellion against her place in life causes a great deal of pain for the heroes of the tale. Of course there is amazing action, but the characters are rich and compelling too. Jen Yu might be a great swordsman, but when she faces Chow's Li Mu Bai, she quickly learns what a master can really do. One of the few examples of a film transcending language by receiving a Best Picture Oscar nomination in addition to its win in the Foreign Language category.
Buy "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" on Blu-ray Here!
Buzzed About
The Art of the Steal
From Don Argott, the director of the doc ROCK SCHOOL, comes this new doc about the political struggle to bring Dr. Albert C. Barnes' $25 billion collection of modern and post-impressionist art to Philadelphia. The film takes a negative view of the process in which the city government and the guardians of the collection allegedly colluded to go against Barnes' wishes about keeping the art in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. Roger Ebert said in his review, "What is finally clear: It doesn't matter a damn what your will says if you have $25 billion, and politicians and the establishment want it."
Buy "The Art of the Steal" on DVD Here!
Clash of the Titans
The 1981 version is a guilty pleasure of mine from childhood. It seems the new version of the Greek myth about Perseus isn't a huge improvement going by what the consensus of critics seem to think. But to hell with consensus, I still want to see this one. Why? Because it has giant scorpions, Medusa and the Kraken in it that's why. My childhood brain is allowed to guide me from time to time.
Buy "Clash of the Titans" on DVD Here!
Buy "Clash of the Titans" on Blu-ray Here!
Home
This French drama stars Isabelle Huppert (THE WINGS OF THE DOVE) and Olivier Gourmet (THE SON) and shows how the lives of a family are turned upside down when a EU sanctioned highway is constructed right next their rural house. The reviews were pretty universally positive for this one. Said to mix family drama (something the French do really well) and a comment on the impact civilization has on the environment for better or for worse.
Repo Men
Now this one was pretty universally panned by critics. But like TITANS, I'm still curious. The premise is what has me here. In the future, people can buy synthetic organs on credit and if they can't pay repo men come to get them back. Complaints say the script doesn't take the promising premise anywhere instead gets bogged down in gore. But its got Jude Law, Forest Whitaker and Liev Schreiber in it, how bad can it be? I know, I know, Law is box office poison, but I still like him. Going out on a limb and giving this one a chance.
Buy "Repo Men" on Blu-ray Here!
The Secret of the Grain
It's taken this critically acclaimed film a long time to come to DVD and Blu-ray, but thanks to Criterion it's finally here. As I said earlier, this is a family drama and the French know how to do family dramas. The story follows a 60-year-old immigrant to France who hates going to his shipyard job everyday. The divorcee has stayed in Sete mainly to be close to his kids. He's always dreamed of owning his own restaurant, but can't see how he can ever realize that dream. This one made a ton of critics' top ten lists. Have been looking forward to seeing this one.
Buy "The Secret of the Grain" on DVD Here!
Buy "The Secret of the Grain" on Blu-ray Here!
Vincere
This Italian production tells the true-life story of Benito Mussolini's rejection of his first wife Ida Dalser and their son Albino when she no longer fit into his political ambitions. Ida is the focus of the story as she campaigns to be recognized as Mussolini's wife and her son his heir. So when she is committed and there is not proof of their marriage, how do you think her claims of being Mussolini's wife will be taken? Looks like powerful drama.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
