BluTuesday - December 4th, 2012
Happy holidays! Joseph here, and I’m bringing you the good stuff in Bluray for December 4, 2012. This week’s episode features the end of an era, fish in 3D, kids popping up out of nowhere, and the most hilarious display of jaundice ever. All set? Well, get your hot cocoa and let’s get to it.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 87%
It has been eight years since Batman (Christian Bale) vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar (Anne Hathaway) with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane (Tom Hardy), a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane. This movie comes in four different flavors: a single disc DVD version, a three disc Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet set, a three disc Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet set with Batman’s broken cowl (SPOILERS!), and as part of the Dark Knight Trilogy. This is a great ending to a great series (“Batman Begins” is an underrated gem, believe it or not), and it’s my pick of the week.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 99%
In the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, Marlin (Albert Brooks), an overly protective clownfish, embarks on a daring rescue mission when his beloved son, Nemo, gets scooped up by a diver. With his unforgettable friend Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) by his side, Marlin encounters an ocean full of memorable comedic characters on his momentous journey to find Nemo. Bring home the humor and heartfelt emotion of the epic adventure that captured the Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature Film” (2003). This is being released as part of Disney’s 3D conversion of everything they’ve ever animated, and as such, it comes in a five disc 3D Bluray/2D Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version, as well as a three disc Bluray/DVD version. This is a cute movie, and it’s fun for the whole family. I can’t recommend this any higher.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 39%
Disney brings enchantment home with The Odd Life of Timothy Green, an inspiring, magical story for the whole family starring Jennifer Garner. Cindy (Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) are a happily married couple who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim - and their small town of Stanleyville - learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts. From Academy Award-nominated director/writer Peter Hedges, it’s a heartwarming celebration of family as only Disney can deliver. This movie comes in a single disc DVD version and a two disc Bluray/DVD version. This movie had its heart in the right place, but it didn’t really execute all too well. I’m sure it’s something the kids might enjoy, but…you may want to see this one and keep on walking.
The Simpsons: The Fifteenth Season (TV-14)
The Simpsons reside in the town of Springfield. Homer works as a safety inspector at the local nuclear power plant; Marge tries to keep the peace in her family; Bart is the mischievous 10-year-old hellion; 8-year-old Lisa is the intelligent, saxophone-playing vegetarian member of the family; and baby Maggie conveys emotions via pacifier sucks. Viewers also have come to know and love the rich, and sometimes quirky, universe of characters that inhabit Springfield. Guest stars paying Springfield a visit this season include British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Glenn Close, famed author J.K. Rowling, Jennifer Garner, comedian Jerry Lewis, Evan Marriott, Sir Ian McKellan, documentarian Michael Moore and Simon Cowell. This set comes in a four disc Bluray set and a four disc DVD set, and both have lots of special features and deleted scenes for the perusal. If you’re a die-hard Simpsons fan, then you’ve been eyeing this for a while. So, pick it up and have fun with it.
That’s all I’ve got for now, but as always, if you have any questions or comments, hit me up in the comments section below.
Until next time…
I do like Joel Edgerton and sure The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a fine family film, but the other three here are all things that are awesome.
Yes…yes, they are. The Dark Knight Rises was absolutely thrilling from beginning to end, and its pacing betrayed its 2:45 running time.