Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Jack Black (Actor) | Rated: PG | Format: DVD

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a sequel that definitely lives up to its predecessor, thanks to excellent animation and a great mix of action, comedy, and important life lessons. Dragon Warrior Po (Jack Black) has matured and mastered many new challenges since learning the art of kung fu and defeating the snow leopard Tai Lung, but he hasn't lost his penchant for steamed buns, nor has he achieved what his teacher Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) describes as true inner peace. Before he can settle into the arduous task of self-discovery, word arrives that a nearby town of musicians has been attacked and their leader Master Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber) killed by a newly invented weapon that breathes fire and spits out metal--a weapon that is a harbinger of the end of kung fu and the domination of all of China by Lord Shen (Gary Oldman). Po and the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, David Cross, and Lucy Liu) set out to destroy the mysterious weapon and save kung fu, encountering the imprisoned and very dispirited kung fu legends Master Oxen (Dennis Haysbert) and Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) along the way, but the group quickly discovers that their task is far from simple. Even as Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) adamantly foretells Lord Shen's defeat at the hands of a warrior of black and white, Po struggles with the realization that he must come to terms with his adoption in order to let go of the past and become who he chooses to be. Only then can he achieve the inner peace that will empower him to triumph over his personal insecurities and Lord Shen. Kung Fu Panda 2 offers excellent animation and 3-D effects, nice brisk pacing, great voice talent, life lessons that ring true, and a healthy dose of comedy that includes everything from wisecracks to a dragon that eats unsuspecting villagers and then poops them out, and a radish trained in the art of kung fu. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

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Clash of the Titans (Snap Case)

Clash of the Titans (Snap Case) (1981)
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin Director: Desmond Davis

You have a classic tale full of drama, passion, and adventure. A tale of universal archetypes that speak to everyone. A tale that has remained unfailingly popular for thousands of years. Why not spice it up with a wacky mechanical owl? Such was the thinking behind Clash of the Titans. Maggie Smith, Laurence Olivier, and Harry Hamlin (one of these things is not like the others...) star in a toga-ripper about a valiant hero, capricious immortals, and lots and lots of giant stop-action monsters. Perseus (Hamlin) is the favored son of the god Zeus (Olivier), but he has unwittingly ticked off the sea goddess Thetis (Smith). Just to make things worse, Perseus falls in love with the lovely Princess Andromeda, who used to be engaged to Thetis's son. Soon Perseus is off on one quest after another, with Zeus helping, Thetis hindering, and lots of innocent bystanders getting stabbed, drowned, and squished. Of course, the whole thing is just an excuse to show as much of Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animation as possible, and good thing too. It's an old technique, but it still looks pretty darn cool, and it means the cast can just relax and do a bunch of reaction shots. Don't use this one to study for that big classical mythology exam, but if you just turn your brain off and enjoy the Kraken, it's pretty good fun. --Ali Davis

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Mulan (Special Edition)

Mulan (Special Edition) (1998)
Ming-Na (Actor), Eddie Murphy (Actor), Barry Cook (Director), Tony Bancroft (Director)

Solid entertainment from a new group of Disney animators. The story source is a Chinese fable about a young girl who disguises herself as a man to help her family and her country. When the Huns attack China, a call to arms goes out to every village, and Mulan's father, being the only man in the family, accepts the call. Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, sung by Lea Salonga) has just made a disastrous appearance at the Matchmaker and decides to challenge society's expectations (being a bride). She steals her father's conscription notice, cuts her hair, and impersonates a man to join the army. She goes to boot camp, learning to fit in with the other soldiers with some help from her sidekick, Mushu, a wise-cracking dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy). She trains, and soon faces the Huns eye-to-eye to protect her Emperor.

The film is gorgeous to look at, with a superior blend of classic and computer-generated animation. Directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook make the best of it: a battle in the snowy mountains is as thrilling as the best Hollywood action films. The menacing Huns are not cute but simple and bad. The wickedness is subtle, not disturbing. The film is not a full-fledged musical, as it has only five songs (the best, "Be a Man," is sung during boot camp). Eddie Murphy is an inspired choice for the comic-relief dragon, but his lines are not as clever as Robin Williams's in Aladdin. These are minor quibbles, though. The story is strong, and Mulan goes right to the top of Disney animated heroines; she has the right stuff. --Doug Thomas

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Planet 51 (Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]

Planet 51 (Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] (2009)
Dwayne Johnson (Actor), Jessica Biel (Actor), Jorge Blanco (Director), Javier Abad (Director)

What if there are creatures living on other planets in other galaxies? And what if those creatures are a lot like us? When American astronaut Chuck Baker (Dwayne Johnson) lands on what's supposed to be barren, rocky planet devoid of life, he gets a big surprise. It seems that Planet 51 is home to little green people who are living in what's basically 1950s Americana--or should that be 1950s Alieana? Chuck bears a marked resemblance to Planet 51's science-fiction comic book and horror movie characters the "Humaniacs," and hysteria breaks out because the little green men think his appearance marks the beginning of an alien invasion. Lem (Justin Long) is a junior curator at the local planetarium and one of the only people on the planet who is awed, rather than frightened, by the concept of a larger universe. While his fellow citizens set out to capture the invading alien, Lem believes Chuck when he declares that his mission is peaceful, and Lem risks his own safety to help him return to his ship and his home planet. With a little help from Rover (an American robot probe that has been sending rock samples back to Earth while ignoring the planet's life forms), Lem's neighbor and secret crush Neera (Jessica Biel), his friend Skiff (Seann William Scott), and hippie protester Glar (Alan Marriott), Lem just might be able to save Chuck. The question is--what will the personal consequences be for Lem? The story is an amusing twist on America's long-standing fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and the film has plenty of comic moments, but it ultimately lacks suspense and fails to truly engage the viewer. The result is a film that provides some laughs but is ultimately not that entertaining. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

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Looney Tunes - Golden Collection

Looney Tunes - Golden Collection (2003)
Series: Looney Tunes

For years, animation buffs have waited impatiently for the Warner Bros. cartoons to appear on DVD. The Warner shorts never commanded the budgets and prestige of the Disney and MGM films, and won fewer Oscars than they deserved. But decades after the best ones were created, they remain the quintessential Hollywood cartoons: brash, fast-paced, aggressively funny and uniquely American. Virtually everyone in the U.S. under the age of 60 grew up on these films, in theaters and on TV. The 56 cartoons in the set (out of a studio output of over 1,000) were transferred from good prints--which means the viewer can see dust, scratches, and occasional mistakes by the cel painters. The films are all presented uncut, in defiance of the killjoys who have insisted on censoring alleged "violence" in the versions shown on television. Warner Bros. is obviously testing consumer response with this set. Although the erratic selection includes many classics, purists will argue (correctly) that it offers neither a fair representation of the directors' oeuvres, nor anything approaching a coherent history of the characters or studio style. (Nearly half the films were directed by Chuck Jones; only three are by Bob Clampett, and there's nothing by Tex Avery or Frank Tashlin.) But it seems petty to carp about omissions and biases when the discs offer excellent, uncensored prints of some of the funniest films ever made in the U.S.--or anywhere else. (Rated G, suitable for all ages: cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon

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The Sword in the Stone (45th Anniversary Special Edition)

The Sword in the Stone (45th Anniversary Special Edition) (1963)
Starring: Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot Director: Wolfgang Reitherman

Based upon T.H. White's beloved novel, this Disney-fied version chronicles the tutoring of the Once and Future King, Arthur, as handled by the magician Merlin. Sword was a portent of things to come, with slapstick upbraiding storytelling, and cultural in-jokes substituting for wonder. But there's much to enjoy here as Merlin shows Newt, the young Arthur, things that will help him become the ruler of the Britons. The transformation sequences, where the boy is turned into a fish, a bird, and a squirrel are vintage Disney. The oft-repeated scene of Merlin battling it out with the mean old Madame Mim still is worth a few chuckles, but it belies the problem with most of the film--the scenes are only there for the chuckles. References by Merlin to television and other items of modern life also mar the generally innocuous landscape. Children will like it, but they won't cherish it. --Keith Simanton

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The Prince of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Starring: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes Director: Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells

Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

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The Great Mouse Detective (Mystery in the Mist Edition)

The Great Mouse Detective (Mystery in the Mist Edition) (1986)
Starring: Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone Director: Ron Clements;Burny Mattinson;John Michener;John Musker

Just because Walt Disney created contemporary and traditional classics of animation doesn't mean the studio is out of ideas--not by a long shot. The Great Mouse Detective is richly animated and offers a clever tale. It may not be as easily recognized a title as Aladdin or The Little Mermaid, but all three share the same director, Ron Clements. Originally released theatrically in 1986, the mystery borrows easily from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and is based on Eve Titus's book Basil of Baker Street.

When a brilliant toymaker is kidnapped by a creepy peg-legged bat, his daughter, Olivia, enlists the aid of the legendary Basil. Basil, Olivia, and Basil's assistant, Dr. Dawson, are part of an intricate city system of Victorian-era London mice. Basil quickly realizes his archenemy, Professor Ratigan (a rat who wants to be a mouse), is behind the abduction. Ratigan (voiced by Vincent Price) fiendishly aspires to take over London rodents--and will stop at nothing to achieve his greatest desire. The unlikely trio of good guys become heroes, of course. The engaging story line is a perfect introduction to Doyle's work and mysteries in general. Look for a very cleverly executed voice-cameo by Basil Rathbone (as Sherlock Holmes, natch). Alan Young (Mr. Ed) also provides a voice. Ages 4 and up. --N.F. Mendoza

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The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers (1977)
Starring: Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor Director: Art Stevens, Ben Sharpsteen

What can two little mice possibly do to save an orphan girl who's fallen into evil hands? With a little cooperation and faith in oneself, anything is possible! As members of the mouse-run International Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca respond to orphan Penny's call for help. The two mice search for clues and, with the help of an old cat named Rufus, track Penny to the clutches of the evil Madame Medusa in a dilapidated ship in Devil's Bayou. It turns out that Medusa is using Penny to locate and retrieve the Devil's Eye Diamond--a stone she'll stop at nothing to possess. With a cunning plan, courageous acts, cooperation from local animal life, and lots of faith, Bernard and Miss Bianca help Penny find the diamond and escape from Medusa. The result of their adventure is that Bernard and Miss Bianca become close friends and Penny gets adopted. This somewhat dark, classic 1977 animated Disney film is based on Margery Sharp's The Rescuers and Miss Bianca, and features the Academy Award-nominated song "Someone's Waiting for You." Voice talents include Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca, Bob Newhart as Bernard, Geraldine Page as Madame Medusa, and Jim Jordan (radio's Fibber McGee) as Orville Albatross. Followed by the sequel The Rescuers Down Under. (Ages 5 to 11) --Tami Horiuchi

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Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
Starring: Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon

Monsters don't exist, right? If they did, they'd be locked up in some secret government location so the general population wouldn't know of their existence. But what if monsters do exist... and they aren't evil, or even particularly scary? What if they're funny... and smart... and what if they might just be the key to man's survival? When a meteorite crashes in California on Susan Murphy's (Reese Witherspoon) wedding day, Susan is struck by a dose of otherworldly quantonium, her bridal glow becomes decidedly green, and she suddenly swells to a gargantuan 49 feet-11 inches tall. The Feds swoop in and whisk her away from husband-to-be Derek (Paul Rudd) to a government concealment agency where they dub her Ginormica and leave her to bemoan her losses and spend the rest of her days with strange creatures like B.O.B., the brainless blob (Seth Rogen), mad professor Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), the half-fish and half-ape Missing Link (Will Arnett), and the overly huge and strangely silent grub Insectosaurus. Next, Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson), ruler of an alien civilization, sends a huge robot to attack Modesto, Calif., to recover the quantonium released by the fallen meteorite. Under the ineffective leadership of President Hathaway (Stephen Colbert), the government embraces General W. R. Monger's (Kiefer Sutherland) suggestion to pit the imprisoned monsters against the robot in exchange for their freedom. The monsters are no match for the robot until Susan begins to really believe in her own abilities and embrace the power of her friendship with the other monsters. B.O.B is absolutely hilarious with his consistent propensity for misunderstanding, indiscriminate digestion of anything and everything in his path, and witless adoration of his fellow monsters. The crazy exploits of Dr. Cockroach inspire lots of laughter, Insectosaurus proves his worth in the end, and Ginormica serves as the glue that holds the whole film together. The InTru 3-D format is highly effective and if you like animation; visual, verbal, and action comedy; references to past science-fiction films; and lovable monsters; you'll enjoy Monsters vs. Aliens. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

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Cardcaptor Sakura Collection (Vol. 1-15)

Cardcaptor Sakura Collection (Vol. 1-15) - Amazon.com Exclusive
Starring: Sakura Tange, Junko Iwao



Reviews

An imaginative mixture of adventure, charm, and emotional warmth made Cardcaptor Sakura a big hit in both Japan and America. In contrast to the one-note and often bratty girls in American animation, ten-year-old Sakura Kinomoto is a good-natured but never saccharine character who learns and grows from her magical experiences. A cheerful 4th grader, she lives with her older brother Toya and her widowed father, a professor of archeology. Sakura dislikes math and Toya's teasing, and nurtures a crush on his friend Yukito. When she opens a mysterious book in her father's study, glowing forms fly into the night. Kero, the winged, toy-like creature from the book's cover, explains that she has released the magical cards created by the sorcerer, Clow Reed. Despite her protests, Kero insists that Sakura must become a Cardcaptor and retrieve them before they work mischief on the world. As she pursues various Cards, Sakura's best friend Tomoyo videotapes her adventures. Shaoran Li, a student from Hong Kong related to Clow Reed, initially challenges Sakura's right to the Cards. As they move from reluctant allies to friends, the relationship is complicated by Shaoran’s loudmouth cousin Meilin. Toya, who "sees things other people can't," keeps a watchful eye the magical goings-on.

Sakura wins increasingly powerful Cards, but is haunted by a recurring dream in which she battles an unseen foe atop Tokyo Tower. Meilin returns to Hong Kong, allowing the partnership between Sakura and Shaoran develop smoothly. When Sakura captures the last Card, she faces the confrontation she saw in her dreams. Losing this battle would have dire consequences. But Sakura proves herself worthy to become the new master of the Cards: the timid girl of the first episodes has discovered reserves of inner strength she didn't know she possessed. The arrival of Eriol, who is somehow linked to Clow Reed, produces new troubles for Sakura and her friends, just as Shaoran is coming to grips with the awkward realization that he likes Sakura. The interplay of personal moments and the increasingly ominous plot keeps this extremely popular "magical girl" series moving smoothly through the two and half seasons included in this collection. (Note: this series is rated "13 and Older," but appropriate for viewers three years younger. The popular Cardcaptors series heavily edits this original series for a much younger audience.) --Charles Solomon

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Last Laugh / Bedtime Stories / To the Rescue

Care Bears 3-Pack (Last Laugh / Bedtime Stories / To the Rescue) - Amazon.com Exclusive
Starring: Care Bears



Reviews

An Amzon.com Exclusive!!! It’s hard being the most loving, caring bears around, especially when you have to save the world from that master of meanness, Professor Coldheart. But the Care Bears always find a way, despite overwhelming odds, unmitigated malice and horrific heartlessness; our plucky heroes always manage to have the Last Laugh in this charming collection of Care Bear episodes from the wonderful world of Care-a-lot. This three pack DVD includes the Care Bears releases "Bedtime Stories", "Last Laugh" and "To the Rescue".

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Lain Complete Collection 4 Pak (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Lain Complete Collection 4 Pak (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Starring: Bridget Hoffman, Shô Hayami



Reviews

Disturbing, perplexing, sometimes infuriating, Ryutaro Nakamura's serial experiments lain covers some of the same themes as The X-Files and the films of David Lynch. When introverted 13-year-old Lain receives an e-mail from a dead classmate, she gains access to "the Wired," a virtual world that promises unlimited power to those who can exploit it. Gradually the borders between the real and the virtual blur, and Lain's own identity begins to fade and fragment. Her parents tell her that she is not really their child, her online self grows in power and independence, and shadowy organizations pursue her in both worlds. Finally she begins to realize that she is either reality's only hope, or its worst enemy.

Nakamura keeps the pace of serial experiments lain deliberately slow, imbuing the early episodes with a sense of mounting dread that pays off as the plot develops. The anime technique of panning across static images creates a meditative stillness that works perfectly, and the repetition of certain key images gives them a dreamlike significance. Viewers will either love or hate the complex plot, which seems intent on incorporating every possible paranoid conspiracy, from sinister nanotechnology to alien plots. However--unlike many other anime--it somehow hangs together, and frankly not understanding everything is part of the pleasure of this kind of story. Fans of action-heavy anime and people who like every loose end tied up should steer clear, but those who surrender themselves to the slowly unfolding mysteries of the plot will be amply rewarded. --Simon Leake

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Simpsons the Movie / Me, Myself and Irene / Meet the Spartans

Blu-ray Comedy Bundle (Simpsons the Movie / Me, Myself and Irene / Meet the Spartans) - (Amazon.com Exclusive) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Simpsons the Movie, Myself and Irene Me



Reviews

The Simpsons
The Simpsons had already ruled TV land for many years by the time they finally attempted to conquer the movie world as well. It was never any big secret that a Simpsons movie was in the works: Fox registered the domain name "Simpsonsmovie.com" in 1997, a full nine years before the film was finally greenlighted. When creator/producer Matt Groening’s creation finally made it to the big screen in 2007, it only turned out to be the biggest hit of the summer, raking in over $100 million gross in box-office receipts in its first week, before heading on to do over $500 million worldwide, proving that the best joke in the movie was actually played on the audience: "Why pay for something when you can see it for free?" asks Homer at the movie’s start. Naturally, all the trouble starts with him. When he adopts a pig ("Sir Oinks-A-Lot") destined for Krusty’s slaughterhouse, it triggers an environmental catastrophe, forcing the government to seal Springfield into a dome and destroy the city. While the family manages to escape and flee to Alaska, they eventually decide to return and help save the city in more-or-less classic Simpson fashion. As Homer’s joke about the audience shows, Groening and producer Al Jean are keenly aware that their franchise is first and foremost a TV show. Maybe a little too aware, as the movie fails to ever rise above anything more than an extended episode, and not even one of its best episodes at that. True, there are plenty of good jokes; the animation has been kicked up a notch to be particularly sharp and detailed; and there are some truly memorable moments such as Bart’s nude skateboard ride and the "Spider-Pig" song. But when the film finally materialized, the payoff for long years of anticipation turned out to be small as the movie failed to live up to its potential; it’s amusing but not truly funny. The Simpsons Movie leaves the impression that maybe the show’s writers and producers had already spent their best ideas on the best years of the TV show. Had it been made years earlier… well, we can only wonder what could have been. --Daniel Vancini


Me, Myself and Irene
In Me, Myself & Irene, Jim Carrey plays Charlie Baileygates, a cop for the best police force in the world (Rhode Island). In denial about his wife's affair, he's a nice guy who goes around trying to do the right thing but is taken advantage of every step of the way. Instead of confronting people, he takes the abuse, balls it up, and hides it in the pit of his stomach. His psyche can only take so much, though, and soon his alter-ego Hank pops out to do every libidinous thing Charlie would never do. It's a great premise for a Jim Carrey film. Unfortunately, it's not a great Jim Carrey film. Famous for the lowbrow, shock comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, and There's Something About Mary, here the Farrelly brothers get lost in a series of lazy gags and an even lazier plot about some evil golf development and the woman, Irene (Renée Zellweger), who needs to be protected because she knows something about it. Some of the jokes hit (there's a bathroom scene that's 10 times funnier than the hair-gel gag in There's Something About Mary), but many more miss. There are some great concepts (his three sons are hip-hop geniuses) that don't go anywhere (they swear a lot). It's like the movie itself has a split personality--funny ideas trapped in a less-than-funny film. --Andy Spletzer


Meet the Spartans
With Meet the Spartans, the creators of Date Movie lampoon penguins, Paris Hilton, American Idol, Britney Spears, Dancing with the Stars, Stomp the Yard, Brangelina, Lindsay Lohan, product placement, Sylvester Stallone, Transformers, and pretty much every other obvious target that's emerged since they made their last flick, Epic Movie. The main subject of mockery is 300, the visual-effects laden Greek warrior movie, the relentless homoeroticism of which is not-so-subtly pointed out with a mixture of scatology, phallic humor, painted-on six-pack abs, disco songs, blows to the groin, and spitting--lots and lots and lots of spitting. There's nothing remotely clever about Meet the Spartans, and even fans of pop-culture cuisinarts like Scary Movie may feel the genre is losing its oomph, but if you're looking for a shotgun blast of lowbrow gags, this is it. Along for the ride are Sean Maguire (The Class), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Ken Davitian (Borat), Diedrich Bader (Napoleon Dynamite), and Carmen Electra, without whom no movie of this kind would be complete. The only person who emerges with any credibility is comedienne Nicole Parker (Mad TV), who does a pretty spot-on impression of Ellen DeGeneres. --Bret Fetzer

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Blu-ray Kids and Family Bundle (Ice Age / Alvin and the Chipmunks /Night at the Museum)

Blu-ray Kids and Family Bundle (Ice Age / Alvin and the Chipmunks /Night at the Museum) - (Amazon.com Exclusive) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Ice Age, Alvin and the Chipmunks



Reviews

Ice Age
They came... they thawed... they conquered the hearts of audiences everywhere in the coolest animated adventure of all time! Heading south to avoid the bad case of global frostbite a group of migrating misfit creatures embark on a hilarious quest to reunite a human baby with his tribe. Featuring an all-star voice cast including Ray Romano John Leguizamo and Denis Leary Ice Age is "a pure delight" (New York Daily News) for all ages!


Alvin and the Chipmunks
Families come in many different shapes and sizes, but few humans consider rodents members of the family. Dave Seville (Jason Lee) is no exception, so when this flailing musician finds three young talking chipmunks gorging themselves in his kitchen cupboards, Dave is quick to question his sanity and then toss the offending chipmunks outside into the rain and restore order. When Dave hears the chipmunks singing outside his window, he realizes that that unusual trio might just be the world's next vocal sensation and he strikes a bargain with them--the chipmunks can stay with him if they sing his songs. While chipmunks Alvin (Justin Long), Theodore (Jesse McCartney), and Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) quickly begin to see Dave as a father figure, it's strictly a business arrangement for Dave and he maintains an appropriate emotional distance. Dave's frustration with the chipmunks mounts as they unwittingly wreak havoc on his personal life, but when Dave's old friend and record label mogul Ian (David Cross) begins to exploit the chipmunks for personal gain, Dave suddenly realizes what an important part of his life, and indeed his family, the three chipmunks have become. Hilarity reins in this live action/CGI comedy with many memorable scenes--think chipmunks showering in the dishwasher, riding in remote control planes, and bouncing off the walls under the influence of a serious caffeine buzz. Catchy Chipmunks' songs both new and old promise to lodge themselves in the minds of viewers long after the credits roll and even those none-too-enchanted with the premise of singing chipmunks can't help but be entertained by this comical film. (Ages 6 and older with parental guidance due to mild rude humor) --Tami Horiuchi


Night at the Museum
An irresistible concept meets computer-generated wonders in Night at the Museum, inspired by a 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc. Ben Stiller stars as Larry Daley, an underachieving inventor waiting for his ship to come in while getting evicted from one apartment after another for lack of funds. Larry's son needs some stability, so the well-meaning ne'er-do-well takes a job as night watchman at New York City's Museum of Natural History. What the soon-to-retire guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs) don't tell him is that an ancient pharaoh's tablet in the museum causes everything on display to come to life at night. Thus, Larry meets representations of Teddy Roosevelt, Attila the Hun, fire-worshipping cavemen, and Roman Empire soldiers, and learns to cope with an excitable T-Rex and man-eating, ancient animals. The film might have left things at that, but an added story element gives Night at the Museum some extra urgency and excitement, especially for kids: Larry becomes responsible for keeping this nightly miracle going and preventing anything in the museum from dying due to exposure to sunrise. Computer effects, as well as wildly imaginative costumes and makeup, help make the film appeal to the 8-year-old in everyone. Director Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther) works with a hugely talented cast, including Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Carla Gugino, and Steve Coogan. --Tom Keogh

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Baby Einstein Bundle of Joy (13-Pack) - Amazon.com Exclusive (2003)

Baby Einstein Bundle of Joy (13-Pack) - Amazon.com Exclusive (2003)
Director: Jim Janicek



Reviews

Contains 13 DVDs in a specially-priced bundle from the leader in child development video: Baby Einstein. From baby to preschool, these Baby Einstein bestsellers will be treasured and used by moms and children alike. Includes: Baby Bach, Baby Beethoven, Baby Einstein: Neighborhood Animals, Baby Einstein: Numbers, Nursery, Baby Einstein: Language Nursery, Baby Einstein: World Animals, Baby Galileo, Baby MacDonald, Baby Mozart, Baby Neptune, Baby Newton, Baby Shakespeare, and Baby Van Gogh.

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Rocky and Bullwinkle Seasons 1-2 (Amazon.com Exclusive) (1959)

Rocky and Bullwinkle Seasons 1-2 (Amazon.com Exclusive) (1959)
Starring: Edward Everett Horton, June Foray



Reviews

# Actors: Edward Everett Horton, June Foray, Paul Frees, William Conrad, Walter Tetley
# Directors: Bob Schleh, Dun Roman, Ernest Terrazas, George Singer, Gerald Ray
# Format: NTSC
# Number of discs: 8
# Studio: Shout! Factory
# DVD Release Date: August 31, 2004

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Trigun Complete Collection (Vols. 1-8) - Amazon.com Exclusive (2003)

Trigun Complete Collection (Vols. 1-8) - Amazon.com Exclusive (2003)
Starring: Masaya Onosaka, Hiromi Tsuru



Reviews

Who and what is Vash the Stampede, the hero of the popular fantasy-adventure Trigun? The outlaw with the 60,000,000,000 "double-dollar" bounty on his head or the good-hearted goof who'd rather eat donuts than fight? The poetic seeker of "the elusive mayfly known as love" or the jerk who goes gaga when a female comes within 20 feet of him? The pacifist who refuses to kill his enemies or the possessor of the power to destroy entire cities?

A sci-fi road story set on a desert planet that recalls the American West, Trigun offers a mixture of slapstick humor and violent action reminiscent of Rurouni Kenshin. Ex-assassin Kenshin Himura is a wanderer who wants to settle down and enjoy peaceful times with the group of friends he's assembled, but political exigencies force him into action. Vash is a more determined vagabond who also uses his destructive powers and crack marksmanship very reluctantly. Both men bear the external scars of battle and the internal wounds of romantic tragedy. But Vash lacks Kenshin's icy self-discipline and the love that makes his onerous past bearable. In his travels, Vash is accompanied by Meryl Stryfe and Millie Thompson of the Bernardelli Insurance Society, who try to minimize the liabilities the one-man disaster area causes. The closest thing he has to a friend is the itinerant priest Nicholas D. Wolfwood, and even he tells Vash, "When you're around, things always seem to get worse!" As Vash, actor Johnny Yong Bosh shifts effortlessly from anti-heroic suffering to adolescent exuberance.

The Limited Collector's Edition I comprises the first half of the series, which begins slowly. Director Satoshi Nishimura gradually accelerates the pace and suspense as Vash's enemies circle him warily, like hyenas waiting for a lion to stumble. Extras include the original Japanese promotional spots and a bullet necklace. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

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Scholastic Video Collection Super Set #2 (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Scholastic Video Collection Super Set #2 (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Starring: Various



Reviews

# Actors: Various
# Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Animated, NTSC
# Language: English
# Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
# Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
# Number of discs: 12

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Cowboy Bebop Complete Sessions Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Cowboy Bebop Complete Sessions Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Starring: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka



Reviews

Each of the snazzy 25-minute installments from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998 is a satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter. This is an elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (in the first of 26 episodes, one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance hunter with an ex-cop sidekick named Jet, a loopy fellow hunter named Faye, a teenage computer hack, and a genetically enhanced Welsh corgi assistant in tow. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format with as many wisecracks as punches being thrown. Unrated (suitable for ages 13 and older): violence, nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use, occasional ethnic stereotypes. --David Chute

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