Recommended January DVD Releases
Let's take a look at the best DVDs for January 2010.
Adapted from the children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, this is an animated comedy. The setting is a tiny Atlantic island that prospered from the sardine business, but the market collapsed, leaving the inhabitants with nothing else to eat. Then Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) invents a machine that can transform clouds into various kinds of food, including burgers and ice cream. Tourists flock to the island, and a local TV weather girl (voice of Anna Faris) forecasts what will fall from the sky. But the machine goes haywire while producing spaghetti and meatballs.More »
At the time of singer-dancer Michael Jackson's death, he was preparing for a series of concerts in London, and this documentary presents an edited version of rehearsal footage he had shot at LA's Staples Center to help him put together a highly polished show. The rehearsal footage is interspersed with interviews of musical performers and behind-the-scenes personnel involved in the show, but there is nothing about Jackson's offstage life. However, the King of Pop is seen rehearsing versions of some of his greatest hits, including "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."More »
This documentary traces surfing from its origins in Polynesia to the present. In the early 1960s, movies and pop songs transformed a sport pursued by only a few people into a mainstream activity and big business. Then Greg Noll began surfing big waves off Oahu's North Shore. Also, Jeff Clark pioneered surfing dangerous Mavericks Beach near San Francisco. More recently, Laird Hamilton uses tows by jet ski to enable him to ride monster waves.
More »
Set in 2004 Baghdad, this tense, realistic drama focuses on three American soldiers whose job is to harmlessly disable improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The movie takes no position on the morality of the Iraq War; instead, the story is about the moment-to-moment lives of the men in the bomb squad. The three are played by relatively little known actors: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty, with Renner giving a memorable performance. Actors in supporting roles include Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce and David Morse. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow.More »
Taraji P. Henson stars in this melodrama with humor that was written and directed by Tyler Perry, adapted from his own stage play. There's lots of music with supporting roles played by three topnotch singers: Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige and Marvin L. Winans. Perry appears in two minor roles, including his famous alter ego Madea. Henson portrays April, a boozy, self-centered lounge singer who is reluctantly forced by circumstances to assume responsibility for her sister's kids. (April's singing voice is supplied by Cheryl Pepsii Riley.) But April eventually redeems herself.More »
Ellen Page (Juno) leads a mostly female ensemble cast in this coming-of-age dramedy that marks the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, who also appears in a supporting role. Set in and around Austin, Texas, the story centers on teenage Bliss Cavendar (Page), whose domineering mom (Marcia Gay Harden) wants her to compete in beauty pageants. Then Bliss joins the Hurl Scouts roller derby team, skating under the name Babe Ruthless. Teammates use pseudonyms like Maggie Mayhem and Bloody Holly. But the championship match conflicts with the Miss Bluebonnet contest.More »
'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' DVD
Adapted from the children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, this is an animated comedy. The setting is a tiny Atlantic island that prospered from the sardine business, but the market collapsed, leaving the inhabitants with nothing else to eat. Then Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) invents a machine that can transform clouds into various kinds of food, including burgers and ice cream. Tourists flock to the island, and a local TV weather girl (voice of Anna Faris) forecasts what will fall from the sky. But the machine goes haywire while producing spaghetti and meatballs.More »
'Michael Jackson's This Is It' DVD
At the time of singer-dancer Michael Jackson's death, he was preparing for a series of concerts in London, and this documentary presents an edited version of rehearsal footage he had shot at LA's Staples Center to help him put together a highly polished show. The rehearsal footage is interspersed with interviews of musical performers and behind-the-scenes personnel involved in the show, but there is nothing about Jackson's offstage life. However, the King of Pop is seen rehearsing versions of some of his greatest hits, including "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."More »
'Riding Giants' DVD
This documentary traces surfing from its origins in Polynesia to the present. In the early 1960s, movies and pop songs transformed a sport pursued by only a few people into a mainstream activity and big business. Then Greg Noll began surfing big waves off Oahu's North Shore. Also, Jeff Clark pioneered surfing dangerous Mavericks Beach near San Francisco. More recently, Laird Hamilton uses tows by jet ski to enable him to ride monster waves.
More »
'The Hurt Locker' DVD
Set in 2004 Baghdad, this tense, realistic drama focuses on three American soldiers whose job is to harmlessly disable improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The movie takes no position on the morality of the Iraq War; instead, the story is about the moment-to-moment lives of the men in the bomb squad. The three are played by relatively little known actors: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty, with Renner giving a memorable performance. Actors in supporting roles include Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce and David Morse. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow.More »
'Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself' DVD
Taraji P. Henson stars in this melodrama with humor that was written and directed by Tyler Perry, adapted from his own stage play. There's lots of music with supporting roles played by three topnotch singers: Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige and Marvin L. Winans. Perry appears in two minor roles, including his famous alter ego Madea. Henson portrays April, a boozy, self-centered lounge singer who is reluctantly forced by circumstances to assume responsibility for her sister's kids. (April's singing voice is supplied by Cheryl Pepsii Riley.) But April eventually redeems herself.More »
'Whip It' DVD
Ellen Page (Juno) leads a mostly female ensemble cast in this coming-of-age dramedy that marks the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, who also appears in a supporting role. Set in and around Austin, Texas, the story centers on teenage Bliss Cavendar (Page), whose domineering mom (Marcia Gay Harden) wants her to compete in beauty pageants. Then Bliss joins the Hurl Scouts roller derby team, skating under the name Babe Ruthless. Teammates use pseudonyms like Maggie Mayhem and Bloody Holly. But the championship match conflicts with the Miss Bluebonnet contest.More »
