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Something to Do: Movies

There are several interesting choices this week, with The Darkest Hour leading the pack. An alien race has invaded Moscow and is consuming the power grid and using it as a weapon against us, while five young people are heading up the opposition. Also out, The Adventures of Tintin brings the Belgian adventure hero to life on the big screen. With Steven Spielberg directing from a script written by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright, this one promises to be something special. It doesn’t hurt any that the cast includes the likes of Daniel Craig, Simon Peg, and Nick Frost.

Daniel Craig is also in this week’s Americanized remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, while Simon Peg shows up in this weeks Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. If I was going to see a movie that wasn’t in the first paragraph this time around though it would have to be Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which sounds like it has the potential to be an Oscar contender for multiple awards.

Fullmetal Alchemist trailer

There is a new feature length film coming out in the Elric family saga, Fullmetal Alchemist : The Sacred Star of Milos. The video is more of a tease than a trailer, and the film will have a limited theatrical run, but this is still exciting news. If you don’t already know all about this modern classic, stop by their official Funimation site to watch some episodes and bring yourself up to speed on this paratime/steampunk romp. Thanks to Crunchyroll for the heads up on this one.

Luc Besson Lock-out trailer

Luc Besson is putting together a new science fiction film, and judging by the trailer it is going to be kick ass. Considering what he did with The Fifth Element, Transporter, and Leon, The Professional I am expecting something special. The plot is reminiscent of Escape From New York, in that a convicted (but not actually guilty) prisoner is offered his freedom if he can go to a completely lawless area and rescue a politically valuable hostage. This time around the crime he was accused of was espionage, the hostage is the president’s daughter, and the lawless place is a prison taken over by criminals so dangerous that they put it in orbit so they couldn’t escape. And doesn’t Guy Pearce look all Pliskin-like in the questioning scene? And look who’s asking the questions… this should be out in 2012, I am looking forward to it.

Something to Watch: DVDs

Staring us off this week is Rise of the Planet of the Apes, where we learned that we didn’t blow the Earth up after all, but did ourselves in through genetic engineering. Also out is Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, a Sherlock Holmes style action/adventure period piece filled with well known Asian film stars.

I there were any live action genre TV shows coming out this week, I was unable to find them. There is, however, a documentary that might be of interest; PBS’s Steve Jobs: One Last Thing.

For western animation, Kung Fu Panda 2 from Dreamworks continues the saga of Po, with world class animation and a great story. There is of course an expanded pack with a second DVD with new shorts and extras, as well as the Kung Fu Panda Collection, which has both the first and second movie in it.

Bleach Box Set 11 brings episodes 168 through 179 of the Soul Reapers epic series of battles home. Also available is Kekkaishi Set 3, which has the Barrier Masters fighting monsters for an additional 13 episodes. If you are wondering if either of these series are for you, you can watch episodes online at those links to find out. Odds are good you will not be able to watch Urotsukidoji New Saga Complete online; while it is a fantasy adventure about battling gods, it is also hentai, and as such for adults only.

There are a few re-releases into lower cost packaging today. Kino’s Journey – Complete Collection and Ikki Tousen – The Complete Series [S.A.V.E.] can now be acquired for $20 or less if you shop around.

New John Carter trailer

I first read this book when I was 14 years old, and immediately wanted to see it on the big screen. There have been various versions and attempts at it in the past, and strangely enough my favorite one so far features a former porn star as the Princess of Mars. But with the release of this trailer, I don’t think it is a contest any more. This will be the definitive version of ERB’s John Carter of Mars. Even if they did drop the of Mars part out of the title.