Available on: DVD, Blu-ray/Combo Pack and digital download
This family drama is drawn from Benjamin Mee's memoir, a single dad verging on meltdown after the death of his wife (played in flashback by Stephanie Szosak). Matt Damon appears as Mee, a journalist who quits his job and purchases a dilapidated zoo (that includes a home) in Southern California. His brother (Church) dubs the idea "insane," but Mee's 7-year-old daughter (Jones) is ecstatic. Working with lions, tigers, and bears, Mee and his troubled teen son Dylan (Ford), begin to find common ground, but the cost of caring for dozens of wild animals necessitates selling tickets to the public. However, before doing so he must first make required safety upgrades. Johansson appears as a volunteer animal caretaker, and the sort of woman Mee might love -- once he is redeemed by his work and completes the porcupine enclosure to overcome his prickly situation. DVD features: Commentary with Director Cameron Crowe, Actor J.B. Smoove and Editor Mark Livolsi, It's a Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animals. Blu-ray/Combo Pack features same plus: film on both Blu-ray and DVD, Deleted & Extended Scenes, Gag Reel, We Shot a Zoo, Their Happy is Too Loud, The Real Mee, Gallery by Still Photographer Neal Preston, Sneak Peek, Theatrical Trailer.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED
(2011)
PR: * * (C)
Directed by Mike Mitchell
Starring Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate
Voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, David Cross
Fox//Rated G//Animated//87 minutes
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download
While taking a tropical cruise, the Chipmunks, and their girl-band friends, the Chipettes, are accidentally swept overboard, only to be marooned on a tropical island. They are followed by their hapless human sponsor Dave (Lee), along with series villain Ian Hawke (Cross) -- the latter decked out in a pelican suit. Dave spends most of the film desperately searching for his charges who have landed on the opposite side of the island. The first two "Chipmunk" movies made $400 million apiece, a figure the threequel hopes to equal by placing Alvin and the Chipmunks in survival mode. It's the nuts for the six and under set. DVD and Blu-ray extras include a tongue-in-cheek feature about shooting on location in Hawaii and a ìMusic & Dance Machineî that allows viewers to skip directly to the musical bits. DVD features: Munk Music & Dance Machine, Munking Movies in Paradise. 2-Disc DVD features same plus: Disc 1: Going Overboard with the Chipmunks, Everybody Munk Now!, Alan Tudyk, Chipmunk Apprentice, Music Videos Sing-a-longs, Fox Movie Channel presents Growing Up Alvin, Fox Movie Channel presents In Character With Jason Lee, Extended Scenes, Promotional Fun, Sneak Peek. Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack features same plus: film on both DVD and Blu-ray, Digital Copy.
EUREKA: Season 4.5
(2011)
* * (C)
Created by Andrew Cosby, Jaime Paglia
Starring Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Erica Cerra, Niall Matter, Joe Morton
Universal//Not Rated//Sci-Fi//439 minutes
Available on: DVD
As before, The SyFy Channel's popular series splits its DVD season into two parts, this set encompassing the second half of season four. The main story arc follows preparations for a mission slated to explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The team behind the effort works at a top-secret scientific research center hidden within the small Oregon town of Eureka. As the center searches for 20 viable astronauts, and rushes to perfect a new, ultra-fast method of space transport, town sheriff Carter (Ferguson) and his scientist soulmate Allison (Richardson-Whitfield), explore their romantic relationship. Likewise, sheriff's deputy Jo (Cerra), and her guy pal Zane (Matter), rekindle their on-and-off romance. Jaw-dropping special effects showcase the disaster of the week (such as spontaneous black holes or renegade nanobots) as writers shoehorn a bit of the through storyline around the lead characters' continued romantic sagas. Though frequently tiresome, the occasional episode sparkles with thrilling twists and bright storytelling. 3-Disc DVD features: Podcast commentary on selected episodes with Co-Creator/Executive Producer Jamie Paglia and Executive Producer Bruce Miller, Deleted and Extended Scenes, The Mythology of Eureka, Holiday Episode: O Little TownÖ, Gag Reel, Eureka: Season 5 Sneak Peek, Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode: Don't Hate the Player.
CHINATOWN
This family drama is drawn from Benjamin Mee's memoir, a single dad verging on meltdown after the death of his wife (played in flashback by Stephanie Szosak). Matt Damon appears as Mee, a journalist who quits his job and purchases a dilapidated zoo (that includes a home) in Southern California. His brother (Church) dubs the idea "insane," but Mee's 7-year-old daughter (Jones) is ecstatic. Working with lions, tigers, and bears, Mee and his troubled teen son Dylan (Ford), begin to find common ground, but the cost of caring for dozens of wild animals necessitates selling tickets to the public. However, before doing so he must first make required safety upgrades. Johansson appears as a volunteer animal caretaker, and the sort of woman Mee might love -- once he is redeemed by his work and completes the porcupine enclosure to overcome his prickly situation. DVD features: Commentary with Director Cameron Crowe, Actor J.B. Smoove and Editor Mark Livolsi, It's a Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animals. Blu-ray/Combo Pack features same plus: film on both Blu-ray and DVD, Deleted & Extended Scenes, Gag Reel, We Shot a Zoo, Their Happy is Too Loud, The Real Mee, Gallery by Still Photographer Neal Preston, Sneak Peek, Theatrical Trailer.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED
(2011)
PR: * * (C)
Directed by Mike Mitchell
Starring Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate
Voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, David Cross
Fox//Rated G//Animated//87 minutes
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download
While taking a tropical cruise, the Chipmunks, and their girl-band friends, the Chipettes, are accidentally swept overboard, only to be marooned on a tropical island. They are followed by their hapless human sponsor Dave (Lee), along with series villain Ian Hawke (Cross) -- the latter decked out in a pelican suit. Dave spends most of the film desperately searching for his charges who have landed on the opposite side of the island. The first two "Chipmunk" movies made $400 million apiece, a figure the threequel hopes to equal by placing Alvin and the Chipmunks in survival mode. It's the nuts for the six and under set. DVD and Blu-ray extras include a tongue-in-cheek feature about shooting on location in Hawaii and a ìMusic & Dance Machineî that allows viewers to skip directly to the musical bits. DVD features: Munk Music & Dance Machine, Munking Movies in Paradise. 2-Disc DVD features same plus: Disc 1: Going Overboard with the Chipmunks, Everybody Munk Now!, Alan Tudyk, Chipmunk Apprentice, Music Videos Sing-a-longs, Fox Movie Channel presents Growing Up Alvin, Fox Movie Channel presents In Character With Jason Lee, Extended Scenes, Promotional Fun, Sneak Peek. Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack features same plus: film on both DVD and Blu-ray, Digital Copy.
EUREKA: Season 4.5
(2011)
* * (C)
Created by Andrew Cosby, Jaime Paglia
Starring Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Erica Cerra, Niall Matter, Joe Morton
Universal//Not Rated//Sci-Fi//439 minutes
Available on: DVD
As before, The SyFy Channel's popular series splits its DVD season into two parts, this set encompassing the second half of season four. The main story arc follows preparations for a mission slated to explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The team behind the effort works at a top-secret scientific research center hidden within the small Oregon town of Eureka. As the center searches for 20 viable astronauts, and rushes to perfect a new, ultra-fast method of space transport, town sheriff Carter (Ferguson) and his scientist soulmate Allison (Richardson-Whitfield), explore their romantic relationship. Likewise, sheriff's deputy Jo (Cerra), and her guy pal Zane (Matter), rekindle their on-and-off romance. Jaw-dropping special effects showcase the disaster of the week (such as spontaneous black holes or renegade nanobots) as writers shoehorn a bit of the through storyline around the lead characters' continued romantic sagas. Though frequently tiresome, the occasional episode sparkles with thrilling twists and bright storytelling. 3-Disc DVD features: Podcast commentary on selected episodes with Co-Creator/Executive Producer Jamie Paglia and Executive Producer Bruce Miller, Deleted and Extended Scenes, The Mythology of Eureka, Holiday Episode: O Little TownÖ, Gag Reel, Eureka: Season 5 Sneak Peek, Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode: Don't Hate the Player.
CHINATOWN
