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The Smurfs

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  • Title: The Smurfs
  • IMDB: link

smurfs-blu-rayThe Smurfs were a staple of my Saturday morning cartoons growing up. For those unfamiliar, Smurfs are small blue magical creatures named after their most prominent characteristic (giving us characters like Handy Smurf, Jokey Smurf, Poet Smurf, Sneezy Smurf, and the like). They live in mushroom houses, feed on Smurfberries, and spend most of their time singing and hiding from an evil wizard who wants to destroy them.

Fleeing from the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) a handful of Smurfs find themselves pulled through a magical portal into our world. Now Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters), Smurfette (Katy Perry), Grouchy (George Lopez), Brainy (Fred Armisen), Gutsy (Alan Cumming), and Clumsy (Anton Yelchin) find themselves in New York. To find their way home they enlist the help of a stressed out marketer (Neil Patrick Harris) with an egomaniacal boss (Sofía Vergara) and a pregnant wife (Jayma Mays).

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The Tree of Life

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  • Title: The Tree of Life
  • IMDB: link

tree-of-life-blu-rayThe Tree of Life is one of those rare films that you can use as a barometer to judge other’s tastes in films. If they dismiss it completely for its odd editing, non-linear structure, and perplexing nature that will tell you one thing. If they simply praise the look of the film and its challenging storytelling without noting its obvious flaws that will tell you something else.

The Tree of Life is a very good, but sometimes maddeningly frustrating, film. The director gives us the story of a family in Waco, Texas, in the 1950’s. We also get a much shorter look at one of the children (Sean Penn) years later. Interspersed with these tales is the origin of the universe and creation of life on Earth.

Those who don’t wish to be challenged by a film should give The Tree of Life a wide berth. You’ll need patience and a willingness to accept the kind of journey on which it wants to take you.

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Harry Potter and the Complete Collection on Blu-ray

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  • Title: The Complete Harry Potter
  • Wikipedia: link

harry-potter-complete-blu-raySeven books, eight films, spanning an entire decade. The complete Harry Potter collection is available for the first time on Blu-ray and it’s definitely worth picking up (even if it is definitely lacking in terms of extras).

For the first time I sat down and was able to watch the entire Deathly Hallows in one sitting, and I’ve got to say it holds up well. From glancing through the collection the other titles also work well on Blu-ray. Warner Bros. has a larger set ready to hit stores next year, but, unless you’re a total Harry Potter maniac, having all eight films on Blu-ray in one slim case is all you really need.

The set is listed at $140, but with not too much searching you should be able to pick it up for about half that price (a little less than $10 per Blu-ray isn’t too shabby). The series has its highs (The Prizoner of Azkaban) and lows (The Order of the Phoenix), but it’s a great collection to own, especially at this price.

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Doctor Who – Series Six (Part Two)

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  • Title: Doctor Who – Series Six (Part Two)
  • tv.com: link

doctor-who-series-six-part-twoBy Silencio Lake, on the plane of Sighs, an impossible astronaut will rise from the deep and strike the Time Lord dead. The two-disc set collects the final six episodes of Series Six including The Doctor (Matt Smith) facing his death at the hands of River Song (Arthur Darvill).

Although the collection doesn’t include a great stand-out episode there are several good episodes including “Let’s Kill Hitler” and “The Wedding of River Song” which wraps up River Song’s story arc and gives us the conclusion of the series cliffhanger. Craig (James Corden) returns for “Closing Time” and Rory (Arthur Darvill) is forced to make an impossible decision in “The Girl Who Waited.” We also get a spooky hotel, and the somewhat less spooky insides of of terrified child’s cupboard.

Even if the extras include only a couple of Monster Files, Part Two a good wrap-up to Series Six and a nice compliment to Part One. Aside from the upcoming Christmas episode it’s the only Doctor Who we’re going to get for awhile.

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Cars 2 on Blu-ray

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  • Title: Cars 2
  • IMDB: link

cars-2-blu-rayAlthough far different in tone and story than the first film (which I love to no end) Cars 2 moves from themes of small town life to take its characters overseas for the World Grand Prix. And the most unlikely one of the bunch will find himself in the middle of a spy adventure. For more on the film check my the original review.

The movie works as well on DVD and Blu-ray as it did in the theaters. The look of the World Grand Prix is terrific and the spy story (even if it does center around one of my least favorite characters) provides some great moments.

The two-disc set includes Blu-ray and DVD copies of the film, commentary by director John Lasseter, and a pair of animated shorts, “Hawaiian Vacation” and “Air Mater.” The five-disc set also includes a 3D disc, digital download, and a few extra features including deleted scenes, documentaries, and a world tour exploring the various cities used in the film.

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