Blu-ray Buzz – Fun for the Whole Family in Public

This is a great week for family films on Blu-ray and DVD. And in addition to all the wonderful family offerings, the Pick of the Week is a strictly for adults production. It's a pretty fun week in the world of home entertainment.

Pick of the Week
We Live in Public
If I had seen this in 2009, it would have been in my top ten. Along with ANVIL, it's the best doc of last year. You probably don't know who Josh Harris is, but you should. He was an early Internet pioneer who became a Big Brother-like performance artist who through his art in 1999 talked about how we'd be living our lives today. It's a must see for anyone interest in the history and future of the Internet.

Buy "We Live in Public" on DVD Here!

Queue Qualified
Where the Wild Things Are
Spike Jonze's brooding adaptation of Maurice Sendak's famed children's book isn't really for the age of kids who usually read the laconic picture book. But the film does say a great deal about being that age. A young boy named Max travels to an imaginary world where he meets the Wild Things, a group of large beasts who have a talent for destroying things, especially relationships with each other. It's a thoughtful look at how confusing growing up can be.

Buy "Where the Wild Things Are" on DVD Here!

Buy "Where the Wild Things Are" on Blu-ray Here!

Ponyo
Hayao Miyazki is one of the best filmmakers working today. His animated films have true humanity, as well as a vast spirit of imagination. Like his masterpiece MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, this story is for the youngest in the audience, but still has a magic and honesty that can appeal to anyone. A boy named Sosuke finds a goldfish and wants to keep it. Turns out the goldfish is a sea princess who is desperate to become human.

Buy "Ponyo" on DVD Here!

Buy "Ponyo" on Blu-ray Here!

My Neighbor Totoro
In conjunction with the release of PONYO, Disney is re-releasing some other Miyazaki films, including his landmark film MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO. This is the best film ever made for the pre-school set. The film comes alive with the magic of childhood discovery. Satsuki and four-year-old Mei have moved into a new house with their father so they can be closer to the hospital were their sick mother is staying. Soon they are finding that the dust is alive and there is a giant magical creature called Totoro living in the woods. And when the Cat Bus arrives, the film has you wanting to buy a ticket to ride. Pure cinematic magic.

Buy "My Neighbor Totoro" on DVD Here!

Kiki's Delivery Service
KIKI’S is another sweet coming of age story from Miyazaki. Kiki is a witch in training who must go out on her own to serve a witch-less city. Tackling the typical problems of adolescence from boys to what clothes to wear to whom to make friends with, this magical tale brings humor and heart to an often difficult chapter in the book of growing up.

Buy "Kiki's Delivery Service" on DVD Here!

Castle in the Sky
Miyazaki’s most anime-like title, the story follows Pazu, a boy who dreams of flying and the princess that literally falls from the sky into his arms. The master filmmaker combines screwball comedy with sci-fi and a very sweet love story for an adventure that will make you dream of flying too.

Buy "Castle in the Sky" on DVD Here!

Clash of the Titans
This was one of my favorite films as a kid. I haven’t seen it in years and am excited to revisit it and see if the magic still holds up. One element that certainly retains its magic is the stop-motion animation from Ray Harryhausen. From Medusa to the Kraken, it was the way visual effects were done before CG.

Buy "Clash of the Titans" on DVD Here!

Buy "Clash of the Titans" on Blu-ray Here!

Buzzed About
Beaches of Agnes
One of the best reviewed documentaries of 2009, this is an autobiography of filmmaker Agnes Varda, who made such acclaimed films as CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 and THE GLEANERS AND I.

Buy "The Beaches of Agnes" on DVD Here!

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
From director Rebecca Miller (PERSONAL VELOCITY), this drama follows a woman named Pippa Lee, played by Robin Wright Penn, who put behind her wild life for a more domesticated one, but now her comfortable life comes into jeopardy. This one seemed to get lost in the awards season shuffle in 2009. Penn is always good and Pippa Lee seems like a very intriguing character.