New On DVD – December 1, 2009
Posted December 1, 2009 7:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian CityNews.ca Pick of the Week – The story picks up two years after the first Night at the Museum. Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has fulfilled his dream of being a successful inventor and is now hocking his glow-in-the-dark flashlight on TV (along with huckster George Foreman). When he pays a long overdue visit to his old employer at the Museum of Natural History he learns that a bunch of exhibits (his friends that come to life at night) are being sent to the Smithsonian to be permanently stored. While bummed out about this and wondering what he can do to help he gets a call from miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) telling him they are in danger at the Smithsonian and need his help. This new adventure introduces Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Kahmunrah (an evil Pharaoh played hilariously by Hank Azaria) as well brings to life some classic characters like Darth Vadar and Oscar the Grouch. If you enjoyed the first Night at the Museum this is just as fun and will please both kids and adults. Also available on Blu-ray. Special features include an audio commentary with director Shawn Levy, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, a featurette on Azaria perfecting the Pharaoh’s voice, and more. Film *** DVD *** (out of 5 stars).
Terminator Salvation (Blu-ray) – Set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles in 2018, John Connor (Christian Bale) is now the leader of the resistance against Skynet and their evil killing machines. He needs to save his father (played by Anton Yelchin), who is only a teenager, or it will change the past and John will not exist. None of this is explained well and doesn’t matter because the entire movie is a collection of meaningless action sequences that never seem to end. If director McG gave us a reason to care about the stuff being blown up it might have been a different story. The one saving grace is Sam Worthington’s portrayal of ex-prison-inmate-turned-resistance-fighter Marcus Wright. Worthington owns the role and in doing so manages to steal the film from Bale. The Blu-ray release is stunning and the high-def picture and sound help make up for the bad story. Special features include Maximum Movie Mode with director McG hosting the film and explaining how it was made, both the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut, two featurettes, and a digital copy of the movie. Film ** Blu-ray *** (out of 5 stars).
The Girl from Monaco (La fille de Monaco) – A lawyer (Fabrice Luchini) falls for the local weather girl (Louise Bourgoin) while in Monaco defending a rich widower (Stephane Audran) on trial for supposedly killing a member of the Russian mafia. The Girl from Monaco starts out as a fun film and then gets a little sad and dramatic. Bourgoin’s performance keeps the film entertaining the entire way though and Luchini is wonderful to watch. Special features are in French only and include audio commentary and an interview with Bourgain. Film *** DVD ** (out of 5 stars).
Paper Heart (Blu-ray) – Trying to find out whether she’s capable of feeling love, comedian Charlyne Yi (playing herself) goes on a mission to find out what love means to others while documenting it on film. Along the way she falls for actor Michael Cera (also playing himself). Is it a documentary or a work of fiction? That’s the question you’ll be asking while watching the film (they do visit Cera’s parents house in Brampton at one point attempting for more realism). Unfortunately the film is too cute for its own good and Yi and Cera are more irritating than fun to watch. Special features include musical performances by Yi, deleted scenes, extra interviews about love, a making of featurette, and a digital copy of the film. Film ** Blu-ray *** (out of 5 stars).
More new DVD releases this week: A Christmas Tale (Blu-ray), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Blu-ray), Gimme Shelter (Blu-ray), Snatch (Blu-ray)
brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com
Top image: Hank Azaria as the evil Pharaoh in Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. Courtesy 20th Century Fox.
