New on DVD this week:
1) Children of Men – BUY: Little known fact: this is the best movie of 2006. Anyone that isn’t a critic or film buff probably wouldn’t know otherwise, but the Alfonso Cuaron-directed sci-fi/drama carries more emotional punch in a single frame than any of the five films nominated for Best Picture. Go buy this. Now.
2) Happy Feet – RENT: Singing and dancing penguins are always good for a few laughs, and the fact that it’s directed by George Miller (the man behind one of the greatest family films ever made) means that it’s probably pretty good.
3) The Pursuit of Happyness – RENT: One of the worst Oscar nominations of the past year, Will Smith certainly does a great job playing real-life stockbroker Chris Gardner, but it’s not at all award-worthy. Still, it made serious bank at the box office, which means more than few people were interested.
4) Turistas – PASS: Someone once described this film as “Tropical Hostel.” That’s enough for me.
5) Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj – PASS: Further proof that a National Lampoon film should never play in theaters again.
6) Curse of the Golden Flower – RENT: Fans of Zhang Yimou’s last two martial epics will definitely want to check out his latest period piece, but they’ll likely be disappointed in the lack of action. Sure, the trailer shows nonstop action, but it’s also almost entirely cut from the last 20 minutes of the film.
Also out this week is the fifth season of “The Shield,” the new Fantastic Four animated series, and season sets for “The Jeffersons,” “7th Heaven” and “Mind of Mencia.”
