Adventure Time: Frost & Fire (DVD)
Heroes Finn the Human and his best friend, the shape-shifting dog Jake, travel across the Land of Ooo and encounter its unique inhabitants. Whether it’s saving Princess Bubblegum, defeating zombie candy, mocking the “oxy-moronic” Ice King, or rocking out with undead music wiz Marceline the Vampire Queen, with Finn & Jake it’s always Adventure Time.
The supplementary characters are as important part of the show as Finn and Jake so it’s fitting two of the most influential personalities should be featured in a standalone compilation DVD. Finn’s relationship with the Flame Princess has always been hot and cold. Her temper is shown to be a danger to everyone, but the value she places on honesty counters all her inherent negativity. The Ice King is a generally amusing individual with his combined creepiness and vulnerability. The first episode literally pits the fire and ice against each other, giving the collection its title. Other stories also feature Magnus, the Bubblegum Princess and several disruptive appearances by the Magic Man.
There are no special features. (Cartoon Network & Warner Home Video)
Doctor Who: Last Christmas (Blu-ray)
In the annual Christmas special, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) face their last Christmas trapped on an arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures. Who are you going to call? Santa Claus!
This series’ Christmas special is always a momentous occasion. It’s generally the episode in which the new Doctor is revealed or, as in this case, a major plot point is resolved. When Clara’s sleep is disturbed by Santa Clause, one would think that would be the strangest thing to occur in one night. But it’s actually more surprising to see the Doctor also appear on her roof, ready to whisk her away without explanation as if their separation in the season finale never occurred. Of course it did and repercussions of their decisions is thoroughly explored throughout the hour-long episode with an especially poignant dream sequence at the end. Nick Frost is great as St. Nick, who fittingly adopts a more sarcastic personality than is typical of the character. And the creatures are a weird cross between facehuggers and djinn.
Special features include: commentary; and behind-the-scenes featurette. (BBC Home Entertainment)
Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer’s Curse (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
Gareth (Julian Morris) goes in search of a fallen comet rumored to contain gold and is shocked to instead find the dragon Drago (voice of Sir Ben Kingsley). After Drago saves Gareth’s life, the two become intricately bonded and must work together to defeat an evil sorcerer and stop his reign of terror. Along the way, Gareth learns the true meaning of being a knight.
Fantasy stories are meant to stretch the imagination, bringing the impossible to life in a way that seems tangible and nearly believable. However since these tales are already pushing the limits of reality, they also run the risk of appearing silly. Unfortunately, having built such a significant vulnerability into this narrative requires an equally significant suspension of logic to keep the story on course. Kingsley’s voice of Drago gives the CGI character greater depth and perceivable emotions since the reptile’s facial features are not especially expressive. There are also many unanswered questions regarding the long-term pros and cons of the dragon bond. In essence, this short-sightedness is prevalent through much of the film.
Special features include: “Bringing Drago to Life.” (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
The Interview (Blu-ray)
Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight.” When they discover that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists. As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the most unlikely candidates, to ‘take out’ Kim Jong-un.
Thanks to all the conspiracies and controversies surrounding this film after the Sony hack, it unjustifiably became one of the most anticipated films of 2014. People that would never normally attend to this type of humour were demanding the opportunity to see the movie – and then they did and they disliked it and the world was allowed to return to its previous state. Fans of writers/directors Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s previous collaboration, This is the End, will not be disappointed. Along with Franco, they apply the same brand of comedy to this ludicrous spy mission, which includes hiding large objects in one’s butt, a secret love of margaritas and adorable King Charles spaniels. They didn’t pull any punches when deciding to mock this controversial figure, choosing to imagine the insecure man behind the propaganda. Overall it’s understandable why North Korea would be upset by the unflattering portrayal of their Supreme Leader and the suggestion of homegrown insurgents; but the movie is also so ridiculous, taking it the least bit seriously is equally absurd.
Special features include: commentary by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; deleted scenes; “Naked and Afraid”; “Directors of This Movie”; “Puppy Power”; “Here Kitty Kitty”; “Joking Around”; “Spies Among Us”; “Randall Park Audition Tape”; “Dating a Dictator”; “Getting Into Character”; and “Line-o-Ramas.” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
An ancient creature’s distant roar sparks the curiosity of Tinker Bell’s (Mae Whitman) good friend Fawn (Ginnifer Goodwin), an animal fairy who’s not afraid to break the rules to help an animal in need. But this animal — massive and strange with glowing green eyes—is not really welcome in Pixie Hollow, and the scout fairies are determined to capture the mysterious beast before it destroys their home. Fawn, who sees a tender heart beneath his gruff exterior, must convince Tink and the girls to risk everything to rescue the NeverBeast before time runs out.
Tinker Bell was always one of the more popular Peter Pan characters. The vigour with which people will clap to revive the tiny creature is a testament to their adoration, so it’s not surprising they’ve expanded her character’s universe to create a new story world. But even though Tinker Bell’s name is in the title, this film is centred on Fawn and the NeverBeast. Inspired by the director’s daughter, Fawn loves all creatures and sees the goodness in all of them, great or small. The NeverBeast is a cuddly-looking cross between a cat and dog with a possum tail. The relationship the two form is moving, which makes the high stakes of the final act all the more engaging. Behind Fawn’s fearlessness is Nyx’s (Rosario Dawson) distrust, which has another lesson about jumping to conclusions and judging a book by its cover.
Special features include: deleted scenes with intro by director Steve Loter; “5 Essential Ingredients to Getting Gruff”; “My Dad’s Movie: The True Story of the NeverBeast”; “Jeff Corwin’s Guide to Real-World NeverBeasts”; “Tink’n About Animals”; “Gruff Love”; and “My Dad’s Movie: Hanging Out at the Premiere.” (DisneyToon Studios)
