Insert Title Here–Pete’s Dragon, Moonrise Kingdom, and Avatar

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Pete’s Dragon Blu-ray

This charming 1977 film about an orphaned boy and his (animated) dragon friend may be largely unknown in the under 25 set, but it really is worthy of a second look. It has the storytelling and humour styles typical of Disney fare of the 70s, which means it plays a little hokey to modern eyes, but kids will enjoy it and adults who grew up with it appreciate it for its nostalgic quality.

Moonrise Kingdom Blu-ray

Wes Anderson’s latest film is one of the best of the year. It is the love story of a young boy and girl on a small island off the east coast of the US. It is filled with Anderson’s trademark quirky humour and inspired visuals and has a terrific cast, especially the two young leads. If you didn’t catch this one in theatres, you definitely need to go check it out.

Avatar Blu-ray 3D

By this point nearly everyone is familiar with the plot of Avatar, and most have seen it at least once. It’s been out on Blu-ray for two years, so why am I bothering to point it out this week? Well, previously it was only available in a 2D version. A bare bones 3D version was included with some Panasonic 3D TVs, but otherwise buyers were stuck with only 2D. Personally, I always try to see and purchase films in the format they were intended by the directors. That’s why I don’t go to films that were converted to 3D after the director was done with them, why I don’t buy films with modified aspect ratios, or watch anything that has been colorized. Since James Cameron very painstakingly composed Avatar for viewing in 3D, I was not interested in buying an altered version of the film. If you’d like to see the film again as it was intended, this is the disc to pick up.

Sleep well,

DTE

Premiere Week 2012: Walking Dead and Comic Book Men

The Walking Dead

After starting strong with an excellent six episode first season, The Walking Dead suffered greatly in its second. Series showrunner Frank Darabont was fired/quit before the season began and the budget was cut drastically. Audiences were given 22 episodes with plot that felt like it could have properly filled out 13. Characters were forced to spend so much time bickering and spinning their wheels that it quickly became difficult to find a single one who could be described as likeable. Though things improved slightly in the last five episodes, it never returned to season one levels. The season three premiere mostly continues in this positive direction. There is definite progress made by the characters and, with the exception of Lori, none of them come off as too irritating. There are still poor scenes which drag on interminably, most notably the campfire scene, but they were in the minority.

Stay, Skip or Give it 4: This is a difficult one to rate. If you’ve been watching up to this point, I think you should Stay. The show seems to be taking steps in the right direction, so hopefully our patience will be rewarded. On the other hand, if you haven’t watched yet, I’d have to go with Skip. The first season is good, but the deterioration that happens after that point make it impossible to recommend, at least at this point. If this season turns things around, then it could easily move back onto the recommended list, with viewers just having to endure a weak second season.

Walking Dead Season 3 trailer

Comic Book Men

Spawned from the hilarious Tell ‘Em Steve Dave podcast, Comic Book Men is a reality show which takes place in a comicbook shop in New Jersey. Though its first season had some issues, mostly the forced feeling “activity” for each episode, it was enjoyable and captured the spirit of the podcast in a safe-for-TV version, focusing on the camaraderie of the shop staff and watching the appraisal process for some very interesting (and some worthless) comicbooks and memorabilia. The second season premiere is very much in the same spirit as the first, and just as enjoyable. The running time has been reduced from one hour to half an hour, and unfortunately they chose to trim some of the buying/selling instead of some of the special task (this week a birthday party in the store). Nonetheless, it’s still great to see the TESD guys back on TV.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: Definitely a Stay for this one. If you’re a fan of the podcast or comics in general, you’ll find a lot to like here. Even if you’re not, the staff is funny enough to keep even viewers with no knowledge of the comic world entertained. It’s the rare show that allows viewers to laugh with geeks rather than at them. The reduced runtime and later timeslot this season don’t bode well for the show’s longevity, so enjoy this one while you can.

Comic Book Men season 2 trailer

D52: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Though The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was released in 1977, it is actually a collection of three shorts that had been previously released in theatres. Since A.A. Milne's Pooh books were not well known in North America, Walt Disney decided they should introduce the character in a series of shorts and then compile them into one whole which "audiences [would] love". Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was released in 1966, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day in 1968, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too in 1974.

The animation in this film is near perfect. It is simple and beautiful, the perfect match for the source material. The character animation is wonderful as well, capturing each personality remarkably and imbuing them with a sense of life that has allowed the characters to live on far outside the film. In addition to the often wry humour, the best element of the film is the way in which the animated characters are made to interact with the typeface of the book in which they are living. Not only does it serve as a clever visual distinguisher and allows for some interesting gags, it also helps to tie the film back to the world of the books which spawned it.

This is a fantastic film which absolutely holds up. There is really no reason not to watch it. It's funny, endearing, and entertaining, regardless what age you are. If you have somehow managed to not see it yet, you owe it to yourself to remedy that. Even if you have seen it before, watch it and experience it again. You'll be glad that you did.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh DVD trailer

Up next: The Rescuers (1977)

D52: Robin Hood

Robin Hood was released in 1973 and loosely follows the legend of the same name. Though it was not well received critically, audiences enjoyed it and it has remained well known despite its age and status as a lesser Disney film.

Released in the early seventies, the Disney studio was still trying to figure out how to run its animation division without Walt. Robin Hood was an attempt at a lower budget film than was typical for the studio. The most obvious cost saving measure was using character models from The Jungle Book, saving money on new designs. Sharp eyed viewers will also notice that several animated sequences are reused throughout the film. The most hidden budgetary concession is the reuse of rough animation from other films as the basis for animation of scenes. The most prominent use of this technique is during the dance number in Robin’s camp, which contains elements from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats.

The low budget employed is a non-issue. I loved this film as a child and it more than holds up. The songs are catchy, the story is fast paced and entertaining, and the characters are thoroughly enjoyable. This is a great introduction to the classic legend and a film that any fan of animation will enjoy.

Robin Hood DVD trailer

Up Next: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1973)

Premiere Week 2012: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The eighth season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia returns much as it ever was. This isn’t a show where things change. The characters don’t grow, their situation and relationships don’t improve or deteriorate. Each episode merely sees them facing a new (usually self created) obstacle. This is quite intentional on the creator’s part, having stated early on that when it finally came time to wrap up the show, the characters would all be in the exact same spot they started in. This method gives each episode a stand-alone quality, but also makes it difficult to judge if the show is improving or not. Some episodes are always better than others, but they all make you laugh at some point.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: This is a solid Stay. Even though the premiere wasn’t one of their strongest outings, it was still entertaining, and I have every reason to believe this season will be as funny as all the rest. If you have a taste for dark humour, definitely give this show a shot.

Mock trailer for season 8

D52: The Aristocats

The first animated feature created entirely after Walt Disney’s death, 1970’s The Aristocats is a bit of a mixed bag. The story is essentially a retelling of 101 Dalmatians, substituting cats for dogs, but losing some of its charm in the translation.

The animation here is still strong, but the film suffers directorially. It has two tones which battle throughout, the more sedate style of earlier Disney films and a more kinetic, hip style found in the studio’s live action offerings of the time. This disjointed feel, along with the lack of any really memorable characters, likely explains why it leaves so many audience members cold and has never really been regarded as one of the animated classics.

Probably because this wasn’t a very popular film at the time, I didn’t see The Aristocats as a child. Instead I was already well into my teens before first viewing it. As a result, I likely have far less nostalgia for this title than many of the others. That, combined with its tonal and character issues, makes this a notably average film for me. It’s certainly not a bad film, nor does it attempt to be great, it’s simply content in its averageness. Younger viewers will likely get the most out of this, though it is worth watching at least once, even for adults.

The Aristocats DVD release trailer

Up Next: Robin Hood (1973)

Premiere Week 2012: Arrow

Arrow is the latest of the CW’s attempts to bring DC Comics characters to television. It tells the story of a reimagined Green Arrow who has just returned from years on remote island where he was stranded after his yacht sank. Upon returning to civilization, he decides to exact revenge on a long list of people, though the pilot doesn’t reveal exactly how those people wound up on his list. The pilot episode quickly reveals what will likely be the formula for the rest of the series’ foreseeable future. Someone from Arrow’s list will come into prominence, likely often through his lawyer ex-girlfriend, and Arrow will track him down. At some point his younger sister, already referred to as Speedy in the opening episode, will learn his secret and join him as his sidekick. Even with the assumed higher budget of the pilot, the entire affair feels flat and lifeless. The directing is dull and the dialogue clichéd. The action is not bad for television, but also nothing special.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: My personal feeling was that this should get a Skip, but after browsing through some other reviews, I appear to be in the minority in this view. It seems that the pilot was generally well received, so perhaps I’m being overly hard on the show, possibly I’m still bearing a grudge over how terrible Smallville became. As a result, I’m going to Give It 4, and if you’re interested in it, you probably should too.

Arrow trailer

D52: The Jungle Book

The 1967 film The Jungle Book was the last Disney animated feature was the last to be personally worked on by Walt Disney and was released less than a year after his death in December 1966. It is a loose adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name, following the story of Mowgli, a human boy who was raised by wolves and grew up in the Jungles of India.

There are two real highlights to The Jungle Book. The first is the animation itself. Not only is it beautiful, as was typical with Disney’s work at the time, but it also features some of the best character animation ever produced, whether by Disney or any other studio. It is so strong, in fact, that it is still used as reference material for animators to this day, and that strength is evident even to the casual viewer. The second winning element of the film is its soundtrack. The songs by the Sherman Brothers are immediately catchy and many are universally known to this day.

The Jungle Book was never one of my favorites as a child and, watching it again now, I can’t say that my opinion has changed much. I enjoy the music and appreciate the technical prowess, but for some reason I just never quite get invested in the story or the characters. That being said, I’m definitely in the minority with this opinion and would certainly recommend seeing it. Most kids and adults alike will be able to get a lot of enjoyment out of the humour, action, and memorable characters.

40th Anniversary re-release trailer

Up next: The Aristocats (1970)

Premiere Week 2012: Homeland

Homeland

The big winner for Drama at this year’s Emmys was Homeland, and with good reason. It was easily the best new show of last season, combining smart dialogue, fantastic performances, an intriguing story, and loads of tension. The series focuses on a CIA agent investigating a recently released American soldier who had been held for years as a prisoner by a terrorist cell. Revealing any episode details would severely spoil the first season for those who haven’t watched it yet, but judging by the premiere episode, the second season will be every bit as strong as the first.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: Homeland is definitely worth a Stay. If you haven’t seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to watch this show. The first season is available online, on demand, and on Blu-ray/DVD, so track it down and start watching. You won’t regret it.

Homeland season 2 trailer

Premiere Week 2012: Once Upon A Time, 666 Park Avenue, and Amazing Race

Once Upon A Time

This series, about fable and fairy tale characters living in our world, had an uneven first year. The premise was strong, but the show itself seemed destined to focus more on the goings on in the real world, rather than the more interesting fantasy world, as only a couple characters knew of their true origin and worked to either reveal or hide that fact. The finale last year took a big gamble by changing all of that. In the closing scene magic was restored to the real world, causing all the fables to remember their true identities. The second season picks up from that moment and, if the premiere is any indication, it was a good decision. Making the characters aware of their pasts immediately makes the real world more interesting (as well as, hopefully, drastically reducing the need for the boy Henry, one of the worst parts of season 1). Aided by an increased budget, the benefit of which is immediately apparent in the sets and visual effects, and this show is definitely headed in the right direction.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Once Upon A Time earns a Stay. The huge change this year looks like it should fix many of the series’ problems. The new universe rules will make if far easier to fail in a big way, but the potential rewards are also much higher.

Once Upon A Time season 2

666 Park Avenue

In this new series, a young couple takes jobs as the building managers for an upscale apartment building in New York. Over the course of the pilot, it becomes apparent that the building is somehow connected to supernatural forces, with the building’s owner, in particular, making deals with various tenants, often with tragic prices. The pilot was well written, with characters that were interesting and enough hidden cards to keep viewers curious as to what exactly is going on.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: This is going to be a bit of a unique situation, in that I’m giving it both a Give it 4 and a Skip. The show is well made and looks like it will probably be worth watching, so if you’re interested, definitely check it out. Personally, though, 666 Park Avenue veers a little too far towards straight up horror for my tastes, meaning that I probably won’t be sticking around to keep watching.

666 Park Avenue season 1

The Amazing Race

There’s really nothing new to speak of about The Amazing Race. At this point, everyone knows what it is and whether they are interested in watching it.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: If you’re a fan of the series, there’s no reason not to Stay. None of the teams this go around seem to be particularly likable, but it should still serve as a decent diversion.

Amazing Race season 18