DVD Review - December 14

By Damon Smith

NEW to rent on DVD/Blu-ray

DVD of the week

The Conjuring (Cert 15, 112 mins, Warner Home Video, Horror/Thriller/Romance, also available to buy DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £22.99/Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray £29.99)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Joey King, Shanley Caswell, Haley McFarland, Mackenzie Foy, Kyla Deaver, Sterling Jerins, Shannon Kook, John Brotherton.

Roger Perron (Ron Livingston) and wife Carolyn (Lili Taylor) arrive at a rundown farmhouse in Harrisville with their five daughters. Eldest child Andrea (Shanley Caswell) sulks about relocating to the middle of nowhere while sisters Christine (Joey King), Nancy (Haley McFarland), Cindy (Mackenzie Foy) and April (Kyla Deaver) excitedly run from musty room to musty room. The family dog Sadie refuses to enter the property and that first night, the clocks all stop at precisely 3.07am. In the coming days, the Perrons experience increasingly violent episodes, which terrify Carolyn and her brood. In desperation, the family turns to renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga), who immediately sense a malevolent force. Based on a true story, The Conjuring steadily cranks up tension with doors opening of their own accord and whispering voices, before revealing the evil that manifests in every creaking floorboard. Wilson and Farmiga are solid and the younger actors brilliantly convey the terror that grips the household. If you don't learn the painful lesson of one Perron girl and you forget to check under your bed before going to sleep tonight, you only have yourself to blame. A subplot involving the Warrens' daughter (Sterling Jerins) and a possessed doll seems too fantastical to be true, recalling the hideous puppet in director James Wan's debut feature, Saw. Simplicity works best, and a game of hide and seek around the house delivers one of the film's truly creepy moments.

Rating: ***

Released

The Croods (Cert U, 98 mins, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Animation/Family/Comedy/Action/Romance, also available to buy DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99/3D Blu-ray £29.99)

Featuring the voices of: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman.

Caveman Grug Crood (voiced by Nicolas Cage) has taught his family to be afraid of the dark and new experiences. He protects his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), restless daughter Eep (Emma Stone), oafish son Thug (Clark Duke), feral baby daughter Sandy and decrepit mother (Cloris Leachman) by ushering them into a cave, where they will be safe from the prehistoric creatures that roam the land. Eep dares to rebel against her old man and during a forbidden night-time excursion she encounters a nomadic caveboy called Guy (Ryan Reynolds), who tells her that the end of the world is nigh. Soon after, the Croods' cave is destroyed by a massive earthquake that heralds the disintegration of the landmass into continents. The Croods join Guy and his pet sloth Belt on the expedition through uncharted territory in search of a new place to call home. En route, Grug confronts his fears about losing his children and Eep fans the flames of romance with Guy. The Croods is inoffensive, effervescent family fun that strikes a pleasing balance between romance and adventure. Each member of the titular family has distinct personality traits and De Micco and Sanders construct a nice running gag about Grug wishing his mother would shift her mortal coil. The prehistoric setting and saccharine father-daughter bonding are strikingly reminiscent of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, while the rebellious flame-haired heroine shares many tomboy qualities with Pixar's wee Highland lassie Brave. Familiarities aside, De Micco and Sanders's film bursts with vibrant colour, especially in eye-popping 3D, available exclusively on Blu-ray.

Rating: ***

Kick-Ass 2 (Cert 15, 103 mins, Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd, Action/Comedy, also available to buy DVD £19.99/2 Movie Collector's Edition DVD £22.99/Blu-ray £24.99/Steelbook Blu-ray £29.99/2 Movie Collector's Edition Blu-ray £29.99)

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Faison, Clark Duke, Iain Glen, Andy Nyman, John Leguizamo, Lindy Booth, Claudia Lee, Morris Chestnut.

Four years after events of the first film, Dave Lizewski aka Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has become an inspiration to other would-be heroes, and men and women from across the city don suits and masks to combat the criminal fraternity. Colonel Stars And Stripes (Jim Carrey) and his team called Justice Forever recruit Kick-Ass into their ranks, convinced that there is greater power in numbers. Haunted by the death of her father, Mindy McCready aka Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) accepts the advice of her guardian, police sergeant Marcus Williams (Morris Chestnut), and retires her mask to pursue a normal teenage life as a schoolgirl, even trying out for the cheerleading squad. "Aren't you tired of being on your own? I wanna team up like Batman and Robin," Dave tells Mindy, hoping to lure her back to the crime-fighting ranks. "No one wants to be Robin," she retorts dryly. When Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) vows revenge against Kick-Ass for the death of his father, Hit-Girl comes out of retirement to save her dearest friend. Based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr, Kick-Ass 2 continues the potty-mouthed misadventures of two young crime-fighters, who risk life and limb to ensure justice prevails. The humour is certainly darker in this sequel, the language is peppered with even more expletives and the on-screen carnage is unrelenting and graphic. Some of the one-liners sparkle but there's an air of familiarity about Jeff Wadlow's film that makes you wonder if Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl have already reached the end of the line. A two-disc set comprising the original Kick-Ass and the sequel is also available.

Rating: ***

Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (Cert PG, 106 mins, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Action/Family/Adventure/Comedy, also available to buy DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99/3D Blu-ray £29.99/Limited Edition Steelbook 3D Blu-ray £34.99)

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T Jackson, Douglas Smith, Leven Rambin, Jake Abel, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Head, Paloma Kwiatkowski.

A gargantuan bronze bull smashes the forcefield that protects Camp Half-Blood and almost kills Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), son of Poseidon. Dionysus (Stanley Tucci) and centaur Chiron (Anthony Head) rush to Thalia's tree, source of the camp's defences, and discover someone has poured poison into the bark, leaving the camp open to further attacks. The only artefact which can restore the tree, is the Golden Fleece, but this precious item lurks within the Sea of Monsters, otherwise known as the Bermuda Triangle. Clarisse (Leven Rambin), boastful daughter of Ares, is chosen to lead the quest to retrieve the fleece. However, an ancient prophecy suggests that Percy might be destined to successfully navigate the Sea of Monsters so he leads a separate mission in the company of best friend Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), daughter of Athena, sassy satyr Grover (Brandon T Jackson) and his clumsy cyclops half-brother, Tyson (Douglas Smith). Based on the book by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters is an action-packed sequel that will appeal to young adults. Thor Freudenthal may have replaced Chris Columbus in the director's chair but this second chapter in the series doesn't stray too far from the template of the original, re-imagining Greek mythology through the eyes of gung-ho teenage protagonists. All of the original cast return and effortlessly slip back into their roles including Lerman as the likeable hero and Jackson as his wise-cracking sidekick. Action sequences are competently executed and director Freudenthal gives the special effects team full reign in the final showdown that clearly nods to Raiders Of The Lost Ark. A two-disc set comprising Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief and the sequel almost available.

Rating: ***

2 Guns (Cert 15, 109 mins, Entertainment One, Thriller/Action/Comedy/Romance, also available to buy DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, Fred Ward, James Marsden, Edward James Olmos.

DEA Agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and NCIS operative Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) are running independent undercover operations, designed to bring down the empire of Mexican drugs cartel, Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). Bobby and Marcus are unaware of each other's status, both posing as criminals operating on the wrong side of the law. While Trench reports back to his handler, Jessup (Robert John Burke), Stigman secretly passes on his findings to his commanding officer, Harold Quince (James Marsden). Bobby and Marcus become embroiled in a hare-brained plot to relieve Greco of three million dollars of his ill-gotten gains. Once the two men discover they have similar covert missions, they surmise they are being set up for a spectacular fall and work together to stay alive when former allies turn against them. Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur, who previously worked with Wahlberg on the thriller Contraband, reunites with the muscular actor for this action-packed comedy where nothing is quite as it first appears. This anti-buddy comedy has a full arsenal of explosions, gun fights and machine-gun banter, plus a memorable scene in which Bobby and Stig are strung from the ceiling by their feet and used as target practice by an irate bull. The remainder of the action sequences are loud but unimaginative. A romantic subplot involving Bobby and fellow DEA agent Debs (Paula Patton) is malnourished and unconvincingly scripted. Do lovebirds really tell one another, "I meant to love you"? Apparently so.

Rating: **

Also released

Half-Sister (Cert 12, 90 mins, Studio Canal, DVD £19.99, Comedy/Drama)

New to buy on DVD/Blu-ray

Robbie Williams: One Night At The Palladium (Cert 12, 88 mins, 2entertain, DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99, Special Interest)

Robbie Williams recently claimed the honour of the 1000th album to top the UK charts with his latest LP, Swings Both Ways - his eleventh number one as a solo artist, equalling Elvis Presley. This concert DVD, recorded live at the iconic London theatre, features songs from the album plus other swing classics in the company of an orchestra and special guests Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.

Criminal Minds - The Eighth Season (Cert 15, 1025 mins, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, DVD £30.99/Seasons 1-8 Collection DVD Box Set £68.99, Thriller/Drama)

Six-disc set comprising another 24 gripping episodes of the crime drama, which follows members of the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) as they use their expertise to get inside the heads of dangerous predators. This series, Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) has left the team and newcomer Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) quickly makes her mark with supervising agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) and his colleagues David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). A missing school bus full of children becomes a hair-raising race against time, and in the finale, a copycat serial killer called The Replicator is unmasked. A 42-disc box set comprising all eight series is also available.

The Paradise - Series 2 (Cert PG, 469 mins, BBC DVD, DVD £24.99/Series 1 & 2 DVD Box Set £34.99, Drama/Romance)

Eight episodes of the BBC One Victorian costume drama based on Emile Zola's novel Au Bonheur Des Dames. This series, Moray (Emun Elliott) is languishing in Paris after breaking off his engagement to Katherine (Elaine Cassidy). She eventually pleads with him to return and help her new husband Tom Weston (Ben Daniels) save upmarket department store The Paradise from financial ruin. Moray re-ignites his romance with shop worker Denise Lovett (Joanna Vanderham) but their relationship, like the fate of the store, continually hangs in the balance. A six-disc box set comprising both series is also available.

Him & Her - Series 3 (Cert 15, 195 mins, BBC DVD, DVD £19.99, Comedy/Romance)

With the fourth series of the sitcom created by Stefan Golaszewski currently airing on BBC Three, relive the emotional highs and lows of last series starring Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani as twenty-something lovebirds Steve and Becky, who would gladly stay in bed all day watching DVD box sets were it not for constant interference from their loved ones. Steve gradually musters the courage to propose to Becky but his heartfelt declaration could be wrecked by Becky's irritating sister Laura (Kerry Howard) and her father Nigel (Ralph Brown), who would like to see Becky dump Steve and find someone more suitable.

Adventure Time: The Complete Season One (Cert PG, 282 mins, Warner Home Video, DVD £24.99, Animation/Children)

Three-disc set of 26 episodes of the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning children's animated series, chronicling the adventures of an inquisitive teenager and his magical dog. Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) is blessed with a canine best friend, Jake (John DiMaggio), who has the power to alter his shape and size. This special ability to morph comes in extremely happy as Finn and Jake journey through the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, and cross paths with colourful characters likes Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), Marceline the Vampire Queen (Olivia Olson) and the Ice King (Tom Kenny).

The Crash Reel (Cert E, 108 mins, Soda Pictures, DVD £17.99, Documentary)

Lucy Walker explores the dangers of extreme sports in this life-affirming documentary about one man's insatiable need for speed. In the run-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, US champion snowboarder Kevin Pearce and arch-rival Shaun White were poised to compete for the coveted gold medal by performing death-defying flips and tricks at daredevil speeds. Following a training accident in Park City, Utah, Kevin slipped into a coma with a traumatic brain injury, while Shaun stood proudly on top of the winner's podium. Kevin's family, including his brother David, rushes to his bedside to pray for his recovery, but when the athlete announces his desire to get back on the slopes despite his injuries, they strongly oppose. Doctors warn him that even a small blow to the head could be enough to kill him, but Kevin's passion for the sport is strong and he must decide whether to defy the people he loves for the sake of one last high-speed race.

Project Wild Thing (Cert PG, 83 mins, Drakes Avenue Pictures, DVD £15.99, Documentary)

Filmmaker David Bond is a doting father who lives in the city with his children. Like many parents, he is concerned about the youngsters' reliance on technology, which threatens to turn an entire generation into glassy-eyed zombies. Hankering for a return to the days of his own youth, Bond decides he wants to get back to nature - literally - with his family, so he appoints himself Marketing Director for Nature and constructs a flashy marketing campaign to sell the great outdoors to British families. This documentary follows Bond as he approaches bemused advertising professionals with his madcap scheme in the hope that he can persuade more people to abandon the city and take advantage of the spectacular countryside.

Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy (Cert 15, 210 mins, 4DVD, DVD £19.99, Comedy)

All seven episodes of Fielding's anarchic Channel 4 sketch show which melds animation and live action with music courtesy of Sergio Pizzorno from Kasabian. Offbeat recurring characters include music producer Tony Reason, who happens to be a manta ray and lives in a fish tank; food-guzzling New York City cop Sgt Raymond Boombox, who has a talking stab wound; and traumatised P.E. teacher Roy Circles, who might not be cut out for the job at hand given that he is a chocolate finger.

Leviathan (Cert E, 86 mins, Dogwoof Digital, DVD £14.99/Blu-ray £19.99, Documentary)

Documentary filmmakers Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel venture to New Bedford in New England, a historic whaling city that also provided Herman Melville with the inspiration for his celebrated 1851 novel, Moby Dick. In this tight-knit community, the directors befriend the locals and head out to sea aboard the FV Athenthe elements and flocks of wheeling gulls to haul fish and scallops out from the churning waters, to be served in fancy restaurants far from the sturm und drang of the Atlantic Ocean. With almost no dialogue, the film witnesses the reliance of this community on the sea and its reverence for the water, which can give life as well as claim it without mercy.

In The Shadow Of The Sun (Cert E, 87 mins, Dogwoof Digital, DVD £14.99, Documentary)

In Tanzania, witch doctors have propagated the lie that the body parts of albino men and women can bring wealth and prosperity, leading to a series of mutilations and murders. Albino-rights campaigner Josephat Torner embarks on a mission to educate Africans about the affliction and combat discrimination, tracked by documentary filmmaker Harry Freeland.

Half-Sister (Cert 12, 90 mins, Studio Canal, DVD £19.99, Comedy/Drama)

A woman sets out to discover her extended family and finds a great deal more besides in this offbeat comedy drama, directed by and starring Josiane Balasko. Nenette (Balasko) is 60 years old but has the mental age of an eight-year-old child. She is blissfully ignorant of the harsh realities of life, cocooned from all the nastiness by her mother. When the matriarch, who has cared for Nenette since birth, passes away, the daughter faces the grim prospect of being moved to a retirement home with her pet tortoise. So Nenette embarks on a quest to track down her biological father. Instead, she crosses paths with her brother, world-weary pharmacist called Paul Berard (Michel Blanc), who struggles to connect with her long-lost sibling.

When The Dragon Swallowed The Sun (Cert 15, 114 mins, Arrow Films, DVD £19.99, Documentary)

Calls from the Tibetan movement to free the country from Chinese occupation seemingly go unanswered, creating internal conflicts and contradictions that remain hidden to most outsiders. Director Dirk Simon attempts to make sense of the Tibetan cause and possible solutions to the divisions in this groundbreaking documentary, which was shot in China, India, Tibet and the US over the course of seven years. Set to an original soundtrack by Philip Glass, Thom Yorke and Damien Rice, the film dissects the complexity of the struggle with contributions from actor and fervent activist Richard Gere, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the newly crowned 14th Dalai Lama.

DVD retail top 10

1 (-) Despicable Me 2

2 (1) Monsters University

3 (-) Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game Live

4 (-) The World's End

5 (6) The Great Gatsby

6 (-) The Big Bang Theory - Season 1-6

7 (5) Wolverine

8 (-) Planes

9 (9) The Hunger Games

10 (10) Breaking Bad - The Final Season

Chart supplied by Amazon.co.uk

DVD rental top 10

1 (1) Now You See Me

2 (2) Oblivion

3 (3) World War Z

4 (4) Monster's University

5 (5) Behind The Candelabra

6 (6) Snitch

7 (7) Cloud Atlas

8 (8) Hummingbird

9 (9) Trance

10 (10) After Earth

Chart supplied by www.LOVEFiLM.com

Film streaming top 10

1 (-) Broken City

2 (-) What's Your Number

3 (2) Johnny English Reborn

4 (1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

5 (3) Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

6 (7) Green Lantern

7 (-) Win Win

8 (6) Race to Witch Mountain

9 (8) The Kings of Summer

10 (-) Cars 2

Chart supplied by www.LOVEFiLM.com