Alvin And The Chipmunks (DVD)

Jason Lee has always been one of my favorite actors. I think it was connected to the fact that he had an appearance in most of Kevin Smith's films (Mallrats, Chasing Amy). Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to see him play Dave Seville on Alvin And The Chipmunks. Now he won't win an Oscar for this role, but I thought he pulled off Dave pretty well. But the real stars of this show were Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. After a long wait, these chipmunks were brought to life through advanced CGI. Thankfully, they didn't sabatoge the film by changing their personalities. Other than the fact that they sing modern songs, I thought they stayed true to their personalities from the cartoon. This family film also takes an effort to poke fun at how mainstream entertainment has traided authentic creativity for the big bucks. More specifically, it addresses how overwhelming it can be for children in the entertainment industry. It highlighted how greedy executives overwork the hell out of some kids, just to increase their funds. I never thought I'd get that from watching this. I expected a fun family film (which it was), and surprisingly got more than that.

Alvin And The Chipmunks is out now on DVD.

The Police

Here is one band that's sorely missed. You don't have to look hard to see the influence The Police had on music, even up until this day. Thankfully, on their 30th anniversary (2007), this ultimate collection of their songs from over the years was released. This 2-disc set contains 28 essential songs you need to understand how they turned into rock legends. I've been meaning to cover this for some time. Even though it was released last summer, it's never too late to mention a good thing. To understand what real music is all about, a good place to start would be this collection. Just listening to their songs intently, you can see that they were way ahead of their time. They're songs may be over 20 years old, but they remain timeless!

Track Listing:

Disc 1
1 FALLOUT
2 CAN’T STAND LOSING YOU
3 NEXT TO YOU
4 ROXANNE
5 TRUTH HITS EVERYBODY
6 HOLE IN MY LIFE
7 SO LONELY
8 MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
9 REGGATTA DE BLANC
10 BRING ON THE NIGHT
11 WALKING ON THE MOON
12 DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME
13 DRIVEN TO TEARS
14 CANARY IN A COALMINE


Disc 2
1 DE DO DO DO, DE DA DA DA
2 VOICES INSIDE MY HEAD
3 INVISIBLE SUN
4 EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC
5 SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
6 DEMOLITION MAN
7 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
8 SYNCHRONICITY I
9 WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER
10 WALKING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS
11 SYNCHRONICITY II
12 KING OF PAIN
13 MURDER BY NUMBERS
14 TEA IN THE SAHARA

Rafter - Sex, Death, Cassette

Rafter, who's a part of Sufjan Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty family, has released a new album. Sex, Death, Cassette is the title, and it is quite an eclectic mix of songs. Considering this one is released by Asthmatic Kitty, I would expect nothing less than something that's eclectic. On the album, Rafter shows that he is a byproduct of a generation of artists that have learned to channel their A.D.D through creating good music. With too many musical influences to mention, his songs continually hit you by surprise, since you never know what to expect to hear next. The term "cookie-cutter" definitely does not apply to his music. To hear something fresh and new, look no further than Rafter's Sex, Death, Cassette.

Muse - HAARP (CD/DVD)

From the moment they stepped foot on the stage in Wembley Stadium, you could feel the energy coming from the 75, 000 fans there to see Muse perform. With the fans chanting "No one's gonna take me alive" along with the band during the opening song Knights Of Cydonia, Muse started what turned into an electrifying performance for the London crowd. Their latest CD/DVD release titled HAARP captured this entire show. I haven't had the pleasure yet to catch their live show. After watching this, I will make it a point to attend one the next time they hit NYC. They put on an energetic performance of their most popular songs such as Supermassive Black Hole, Map Of The Problematique, Starlight, and finally closing their set with the chilling Take A Bow. The visual effects on stage that backed up their songs were mind-blowing, which fit perfectly for their type of music. If you've never been to any of their shows, this DVD will put you right in the front row of this memorable show. Along with the CD that's included in the package, HAARP will make the perfect addition to any Muse fan's collection.

Atonement (DVD)

Atonement

Out now on DVD is the widely praised movie Atonement. Considering all the press this movie has recieved, I think most people are aware of it by now. What most people probably aren't aware of is how complex it actually is. At first glance, you'd assume it's a love story. It is, but not the kind you'd expect. It's also about how a horrible mistake can alter the course of your life, leaving you to carry tremendous guilt. When I first saw previews of the film, I thought, "Ok, it's obviously a love story, but how does the word 'atonement' fit in there?" The definition for the word means "reparation for an offense or injury." So I thought maybe someone cheated on their lover and had to atone for their mistake? After seeing the DVD, I realized that I was way off. Also, I always had the impression that the movies that get the most nominations at the Oscars were also the most boring. I was wrong again. Far from being boring, this story had my attention fully engaged as it progressed into a deep story that dealt with love, jealousy, lying, guilt, and war in a very real way. This film will make shake up your emotions a bit, maybe even stir up a little anger, if you're like me. The acting in the film was convincing by all the main characters. One role that particularly stood out to me was James McAvoy, who played Robbie Turner. The only other role I knew him for was Mr. Tumnus in the Chronicles Of Narnia. Needless to say, this was a role where he got to show he could play much more than a furry character in the land of Narnia. I expect to see him cast in more films after this. The hell that he and his lover Cecilia (Keira Knightley) have to go through, because of one horrible decision made by another character, is devastating. And all that leads up to what the "atonement" is for. Because of this bad decision by another character, lives have been torn and relationships have been shattered. And by the time you reach the end, you'll see how one person has to come to terms after dealing with a life of guilt. There's so many themes to pull from this. The extras on the DVD do a great job of expanding on these themes with different interviews, and the background of how the film was made. So like I was saying, I was surprised at how much I liked this. And chances are, you might be too. Overall, it's a film that really lives up to all the hype that surrounded it.

I Am Legend

I Am Legend

The Last Man On Earth Is Not Alone...

From the time that line was shown in trailers leading up to the release date of the film, I Am Legend was one of the most anticipated movies all year. I was among the many who couldn't wait to see it. My excitement was also combined with a cynicism of Will Smith's acting, based on his previous roles. For some reason, I still always see him as the Fresh Prince. Even in his more serious roles, I find myself expecting him to deliver some sort of a punchline to get the audience laughing. That was before I saw I Am Legend. After watching it, my impression of Will Smith as the Fresh Prince quickly vanished. In my opinion, his portrayal of Robert Neville was the best acting he's ever done.

Now, this post-apocalyptic thriller has finally hit the DVD shelves. And it was definitely worth the wait.

Immune to a virus that seemingly wipes out humanity, Robert Neville is the only survivor in NYC, and maybe the world. But, like the title says, he is not alone. Neville and his dog Sam are surrounded by the infected, who are people that carry this virus that turned them into vampire-like beings. Unable to come out in the daylight, they prowl the city at night. While trying to stay alive despite being outnumbered by the ravenous infected beings, Neville works in his basement to find a cure for the virus. With his time only limited to being out in the day, he searches the city for animals to run his experiments on. The way they pulled off creating a barren NYC in the film was amazing. As barren as the city is, so is Neville's spirit. The effects of being isolated for 3 years brings him to the point where he resorts to talking to mannequins for company. And this is where Will Smith shines in this role. You really sympathize with his character as he conveys the pain and loneliness that Neville has to go through.

Included in the special edition DVD version is an alternate ending. For everyone I know that has whined about the original ending, this version should put a smile on their face. If you haven't seen it yet, you'll be shocked as you see how this one ends. It replaces the original ending with a much more hopeful one. Personally, I still don't know which one I prefer. But it's great to have this awesome DVD version to see the characters' fates drastically change with two different endings.

I Am Legend is out now on DVD.

Blue Man Group How To Be A Megastar Live! CD/DVD

Rather than pay $70 for a ticket to see Blue Man Group, you now have the convenience of watching their How To Be A Megastar Live show on DVD. Included with the DVD is an audio CD, so you can also play it in your car, or wherever you like to indulge in some good music. It's hard to find an act out there that can compete with the energetic, musical circus of a show that Blue Man Group puts on. I popped this DVD on this past Friday night, half-asleep at about 2AM. I quickly woke up after seeing what developed right under my eyes. Three blue faced guys, creating sounds by banging on white tubes and whatever else was around them. Backed up by a full band and a huge display of colors and lights, this show will have you feeling like you're in another dimension. How To Be A Megastar Live! is out as of today, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a creative, inspiring, and electric live performance.