New on DVD: 'Green Hornet'

In this film publicity image released by Columbia Pictures, Seth Rogen is shown in a scene from "The Green Hornet." (AP Photo/Columbia Pictures-Sony, Jaimie Trueblood)

"The Dilemma" ** (PG-13; 1:58) • Vince Vaughn is ridiculously conflicted when he spies the wife of best friend Kevin James with a young hunk. Directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder, this guy-centric comedy with a side order of feelings is neither funny nor sincere enough to please fans of the people involved. (Joe Williams)

Die Kino-Kritiker: «Thor»

Der Gott des Donners kommt auf die Erde: Die Marvel-Comicverfilmung «Thor» mit Natalie Portman und Chris Hemsworth zeigt einen verbannten Gott, wirre Intrigen und viel Humor.

Das Comicuniversum von Marvel ist sicherlich am besten für seine mutierten Superhelden bekannt, seien es die freundliche Spinne von nebenan namens Spider-Man, der grüne Riese Hulk oder die Mutantenschüler von Professor X. In Folge der scheinbar nicht mehr endenden Hochkonjunktur für Superhelden-Kinofilme setzt Comicgigant Marvel aber auch auf weitere Figuren aus seinem riesigen Archiv, sozusagen auf die B-Riege. Schon «Iron Man» war vor dem Erfolg der äußerst unterhaltsamen Kinofilme in Europa längst nicht so populär, wie die Kollegen Hulk oder Spider-Man. Auf dem Weg zum lang vorbereiteten «The Avengers»-Kinofilm, der mehrere Superhelden vereinen wird, bringt Marvel letztlich zwei weitere seiner zwar wichtigen, nicht jedoch zur populären Speerspitze gehörenden Figuren einem größeren Publikum näher. Ende des Kinosommers wird im treffend untertitelten «Captain America: The First Avenger» sehr US-patriotisch das letzte Puzzleteil für das Mega-Crossover gelegt, diese Woche macht das Marvel-Studio einen Ausflug in die nordeuropäische Mythologie.

New on DVD this week

JOLENE (2009, E1, R, $25) - Jessica Chastain. Remember that name. The freckled, flame-haired newcomer is a revelation in Dan Ireland's involving, over-the-top adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's short story about a 15-year-old orphan and her 10-year journey to happiness. Jolene encounters a lot of drama along the way in the form of botched marriages, visits to the psych ward and mob murders as well as disastrous romances with a gangster (Chazz Palminteri), a blueblood (Michael Vartan), a nurse (Frances Fisher) and a tattoo artist (Rupert Friend). "Jolene" might be episodic but Chastain is the thread that weaves it all together. Extras: bloopers, featurette and commentary by Ireland ("Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont").

"Fast Five" and the new action-movie brutality

Vin Diesel's adrenaline-jacked sequel, "Fast Five," has a disturbing message about greed and violence

There are various reasons to root for "Fast Five," an adrenalized, hip-hop-fueled action sequel that gets the summer movie season off to an early, roaring start this weekend. As mind-numbing urban-destruction movies go, it's carefully crafted and gorgeously photographed, with plenty of pumped-up bodies, juiced-up cars, Rio de Janeiro scenery and chase sequences of byzantine complexity and unremitting intensity.

“Water for Elephants,” Romanticism for Humans | njtoday.net – Everything New Jersey

By Michael S. Goldberger, film critic

If you’re in the mood for some good old fashioned storytelling, director Francis Lawrence’s “Water for Elephants,” adapted by screenwriter Richard LaGravenese from the popular novel by Sara Gruen, is just the ticket. As comfortably familiar as dad’s old easy chair, but not as predictable, this circus saga plays to the romantic sucker in you.

DVD releases for May 3, 2011

It’s quite all right to be skeptical of Michel Gondry’s take on the classic pulp hero “The Green Hornet” (Sony Pictures, $24.99/DVD, $32.99/Blu-ray SRP, PG-13). I’ll admit that I was taken aback by the odd casting of Seth Rogan as the titular crime-fighter. The trailers for the film didn’t do much to excite me either, highlighting the comedy instead of the action. But I’m quick to admit that first impressions were definitely wrong this time, as “The Green Hornet” proved to be an entertaining and better-than-expected good time. The film tells the story of millionaire-playboy Britt Reid as he teams up with his late dad’s assistant Kato (Jay Chou) to become a masked crime fighting team, taking on “Inglorious Basterds” star Christophe Waltz as a Russian mobster who is uniting the criminal families of Los Angeles under his command. Cameron Diaz appears as the love interest and James Franco pops up in a funny, uncredited cameo. Special features on the DVD include filmmaker’s commentary, a gag reel, a featurette on the writing of the film and a look at the real star of the show, the Black Beauty. Blu-ray bonuses include a PS3 theme, Jay Chou’s auditon reel, 3D animated storyboards, deleted scenes and the following featurettes: Double Barrel, The Stunt Family Armstrong, Finding Kato, The Art of Destruction and a conversation with director Michel Gondry.

Top Movies: Mediocre Kids Flicks - Arcadia, CA Patch

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