Preview - New films on DVD



(★★1/2 out of ★★★★) James Cameron invents a world and takes us into it in this visually stunning, utterly immersive and often silly epic, which has surpassed his own "Titantic" as the world's highest-grossing film. Cameron seamlessly blends live action and live actors with the most-convincing digital people the movies have ever seen in telling the story of a paraplegic "dumb grunt" Marine (Sam Worthington) who is given an artificially grown alien surrogate (an avatar) and takes that body to live among an alien moon's indigenous people, called the Na'vi. His mission: to convince them either to move away from exploitable land or discover the best ways to destroy them. Predictable story, clichéd dialogue and logical lapses aside, Cameron still manages to entertain. As a visionary tour guide, he has no equal. Be warned: There are no extras on this release. If you want those, you'll have to wait; two more editions are planned. 162 minutes; PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking. -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel


'Crazy Heart'

(★★★1/2) As boozing, down-but-not-quite-out country singer Bad Blake, Jeff Bridges delivers another unfussy, offhand performance bursting with depth and truth -- a flawless performance worthy of the best actor Oscar he won earlier this year. Bridges embodies this guy. Drunk as he is, Bad is still chivalrous enough to apologize to a love interest (Maggie Gyllenhaal) "for bein' less than you probably imagined me to be." Bridges sells that line and it would be a hard woman, even if she is too young for him, who wouldn't melt on hearing it. This performance reminds us that Bridges is the rare actor who has never had to make that apology. "Crazy Heart" lets him be every bit as grand as we'd hope him to be. 108 minutes; R for language and brief sexuality. -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel


'The Lovely Bones '

(★★1/2) A murdered 14-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) is stuck in purgatory, watching her family struggle and splinter over her death. Her father (Mark Wahlberg) obsesses over catching her killer, her mother flees his obsession even as Susie's sister (Rose McIver) falls under the gaze of the neighbor who committed the murder. The mystical thriller, from director Peter Jackson, is supposed to be about closure, but it offers little of that. Though properly chilling when it's supposed to be, it's a film whose effects, script and performances keep it at arm's length when it is supposed to be moving. 135 minutes; PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language. -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel


'The Young Victoria'

(★★★) We only know the Queen Victoria with the jowls, the Prince Albert in a can. But when they were young, she was quite the Hanover Rose, and he the dashing continental, smitten enough to want to become her consort for what would be "The Victorian Era." "The Young Victoria" boasts a first-rate cast, including Emily Blunt as Victoria, plus glossy production values and a thrilling score, all serving a story with intrigue, pageant, violence and romance. If it's not historically accurate with a capital "A," it's close enough for the colonies. 100 minutes; PG for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language and smoking. -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel


'An Education'

(★★★) "An Education" is Lone Scherfig's faintly creepy but richly rewarding coming-of-age drama based on the Lynn Barber memoir. An uneasy remembrance of an inappropriate relationship, it's a beautifully written, acted and felt drama about rejecting the handed-down values of parents and society and learning the hard way. It's also a coming-out party for young Carey Mulligan, who gives a dazzling, wise and witty performance as Jenny, a 16-year-old girl who begins seeing a 30-year-old man. 95 minutes; PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking. -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel