CliqueClack

Veep and The Borgias bring politics – governmental and familial – to home video

Politics and political intrigue top this week’s home video releases with HBO’s Veep (Season 1) and Showtime’s The Borgias (Season 2) taking center stage. Syfy’s new series Continuum is getting a very quick season one release following the conclusion of the network broadcast, and Paramount is finally getting Enterprise out on Blu-ray … fitting since it was the only Star Trek series actually shot in HD. Also on DVD this week, classic episodes from The Carol Burnett Show, the complete Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and another collection of Mystery Science Theater 3000 flicks! To see these titles and the rest of the TV releases for March 26, have a look at our shopper’s guide and click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase!

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Lincoln and Miramax dominate home video on March 26

It’s an exciting week for home video as Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln comes to DVD and Blu-ray. There have been many portrayals of the sixteenth president of the United States over the years, but if you have not seen Daniel Day-Lewis’ definitive, Oscar-winning work, do yourself a favor and check this movie out. While not a perfect film — the scenes at home between Lincoln and wife Mary bog things down a bit — the dramatization of the process of getting the 13th amendment passed makes for a surprisingly gripping story.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, the Billy Crystal/Bette Midler comedy Parental Guidance is also released on March 26. The biggest news, however, is the release to Blu-ray for the first time of a large collection of titles from the Miramax library including Beautiful Girls, Shipping News, Music of the Heart, and American Son. There are a lot more movies to see this week, including individual releases of the Jurassic Park trilogy, so have a look at our shopper’s guide and click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase.

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Les Misérables becomes an even more intimate spectacle on home video

When I reviewed Les Misérables back in December for its theatrical release, I commented on how this epic production was surprisingly intimate because of director Tom Hooper’s use — some might say over-use — of extreme close-ups during some of the movie’s big musical numbers. The film version of the beloved stage musical certainly divided fans of the show because of its not exactly strict adaptation from stage to screen, and a lot of movie-goers felt that the close-ups were more than a little over-powering on a giant movie screen. Of course, the biggest complaint came at the expense of Russell Crowe’s singing ability, or lack thereof depending on how you felt about him, but I still defend his voice. It’s not a “Broadway voice” by any means, and that fact alone set him apart from the rest of the cast who did have the ability to belt their tunes to the back of the house. He wasn’t bad, but his voice just didn’t mesh well with the others or the material. But kudos to him for giving it a shot. It certainly wasn’t enough to ruin the movie, for me anyway.

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Admission is a sweet and charming if slightly maudlin comedy

Our past shockingly has an effect on our future. Those mistakes and mishaps don’t stay buried even if we pretend they’re gone. But there are other options … finding purpose and improvement. For those able to, attending higher education might help stave off the problems of the future. College has a high importance in our culture, theoretically indicating what will become of us. Perhaps. It’s not always so simple, especially when the past comes back to haunt us.

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On the Road is a meandering, intense, brilliant mess

Charisma only goes so far if there’s nothing to back it up. Risk taking will eventually catch up with you if there’s no safety net. And every generation of youth is the same. Ennui, boredom, confusion, lack of focus — these are eternal struggles when you aren’t worried about starving to death. Sometimes it does’t just happen to fictional movie characters either — sometimes it’s real life. Sort of.

On the Road, from director Walter Salles, is based on the so-called “voice of a generation” book of the same name by Jack Kerouac about a character based on himself and his various friends and family. Sam Riley plays this author-insert role of Sal Paradise, who is an aspiring writer (as are we all). Sal gets caught up in the destructive tornado that is Dean (Garret Hedlund), who screws, drinks, and drugs himself through life. Sal ends up “on the road” several times, sometimes by himself to go to Dean and other times to leave him, sometimes with Dean and his sorta girlfriend MaryLou (Kristen Stewart). Many cameos are littered throughout this movie, introducing interesting characters and then discarding them after a few minutes. It becomes all about Sal growing up and hoping Dean will mature … or maybe leave him alone.

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Spring Breakers is a bizarre, brazen, and beautiful blast of bacchanalian bombast

Recently there have been an awful lot of “coming of age” pieces in the popular media, from television and books to the movies. It’s understandable; it’s a constant, universal problem regardless of which culture you come from, even in the most difficult of circumstances. But when affluent countries become unstable (like the United States) and the future becomes uncertain it permeates the culture and people, in obvious or subtle ways. The “spring break” phenomenon is said to have originated with being timed around the holiday of Easter, but after World War II, it became synonymous with vacations to Florida and massive partying. And always about the youth, battling impermanence and holding off the worries of the future with a lot of escapism. Sex, drugs, music. Crime.

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The Croods is a movie with heart for the entire family

Have you ever walked into a movie not quite knowing what to expect and finding yourself pleasantly surprised when you enjoyed it more than you thought you would? DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature, The Croods, had just that effect on me.

All I went in knowing was that it was going to be about a prehistoric family and that Nicolas Cage voiced the father. My expectations were a tad on the low to neutral side. However, I think it was the fantastic animation and imaginative takes on the prehistoric flora, fauna and creatures of all varieties that quickly captivated me. It also didn’t hurt that I was given a free poster and temporary tattoos afterwards. What can I say? I’m a big kid at heart. Continue reading 'The Croods is a movie with heart for the entire family' »

Olympus Has Fallen is a pretty explosion without anything behind it

What is it about the lone hero that is so appealing? It has been in stories since they’ve been written down, from way back in Babylonian times with the Epic of Gilgamesh. Naturally, the hero gets some help along the way, from wise old men, a wily old policeman, or the Pentagon. And the hero will seek something important for the arc of his character; revenge, rescuing someone, achieving transcendence (that one’s actually also as old as Gilgamesh). Maybe it’s because when it comes down to it, we are individuals that live in giant packs of other individuals. The idea of making a difference as a singular entity is relatable and immediately connective to all people. Doing something to gain the accolades and love of others, even posthumously, that’s a goal that seems pure and useful. Even when you’re rescuing the President of the United States from radical militant North Korean anti-separatists.

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A night of safe and sorry performances of Beatles tunes on American Idol

You did catch Jimmy Iovine’s call about the girls having outperformed the guys on American Idol last week, didn’t you?

That right there should have been a not-so-little sign to the gentlemen they need to step things up … WAY up. After last week’s performances, there isn’t one girl who can’t hold her own song for song against any of the guys. But maybe something goes awry this week between the 9 remaining contestants, so let’s see what we can see …

Kree Harrison “With A Little Help From My Friends” You can’t really beat flawless, can you? I’ve said it before: Kree’s my favorite, but there was nothing surprising, sassy or unpredictable about her covering this song (and in Joe Cocker’s style). She was atop the heap in last week’s voting, she’ll be up there again this week.

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The Vampire Diaries needs to honor humanity

As moving and significant as it was, I had my reservations about how The Vampire Diaries went off into their wonderfully short winter hiatus this year, with “Stand By Me.” It was well-written and -acted, cathartic and transitional and important, but what comes next could be a very slippery slope. Taking away yet another human character will have its consequences for sure, but taking away the humanness of Elena, a trait upon which this series is driven, could be a grave mistake.

And from what I saw last week, that’s exactly what it is. I’m not sure I’ve ever considered an episode of The Vampire Diaries to be horrible (sub-par, maybe), but “Bring It On” was a complete train wreck.

The good news is that nothing lasts for long on The Vampire Diaries — it’s a quick-moving storyline filled with twists and turns — so they should be able to right this sinking ship fairly easily. Here’s what needs to happen to fix this potential disaster. …

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