NORBIT
Release Date: June 5
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Eddie Griffin, Marlon Wayans
Director: Brian Robbins
Length: 102 minutes
Critics panned “Norbit” when it was in theaters, but the comedy went on to gross $95 million at the box office. It’s one of those comedies you either love or hate. As a baby, Norbit’s parents throw him out of a moving car and he rolls in front of the Golden Wonton Orphanage, where he is raised. If you laugh at this point, you’ll probably enjoy the film. If not…it will be a long 102 minutes. Norbit’s life is all downhill from there. Rasputia, a beast of a woman and the butt of endless fat jokes, makes Norbit’s life hell. But there’s hope when his childhood sweetheart (Thandie Newton) returns to town. There are a few too many fat jokes and the character of Norbit is underwhelming, but there are plenty of funny moments and watching Eddie Murphy play multiple characters (Norbit, Rasputia, and Mr. Wong) is always a riot. But it’s the supporting cast that really shines. Eddie Griffin is hilarious playing — what else? — a pimp. Marlon Wayans has a brief but inspired role as a fast-talking exercise instructor. Even Eddie’s older brother, Charlie Murphy (who helped write the screenplay), gets into the act as the voice of Floyd the dog. It’s broad, juvenile humor. If you don’t take your comedy too seriously, you’ll probably love “Norbit.”
DVD GOODIES
Extras include 14 deleted scenes and the featurettes “Man of a Thousand Faces” and “The Stunts of Norbit.” But make sure to check out “Power Tap,” Marlon Wayans’ mock infomercial, probably the funniest thing on the DVD.
HANNIBAL RISING The story of how Hannibal Lecter became a cannibal serial killer. Read Blogzarro’s review here.
F TROOP SEASON 2 This six-disc set collects the 31 episodes from the 1965 season of the classic sitcom about a wacky cavalry troop.
ICHI THE KILLER: BLOOD PACK Two-disc uncut special edition of director Takashi Miike‘s 2001 movie about a sadistic Yakuza killer.
AFRO SAMURAI (Director’s Cut)
Release Date: May 22
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman, Kelly Hu
Director: Fuminori Kizaki
Length: 215 minutes
Afro Samurai is one badass. This westernized sci-fi hip-hop samurai anime tale somehow combines all these elements and creates one cool series. “Afro Samurai,” based on the Japanese manga by Takashi Okazaki, originally aired on Spike TV earlier this year in a five-episode mini-series. It’s the story of a samurai with a ginormous afro who is trying to avenge the death of his father. Ron Perlman gives an awesome voice performance as the No. 1 samurai Justice, who beheaded Afro’s dad right before his eyes. The director’s cut is dark and violent, full of blood, boobs, and Sam Jackson doing what he does best — spitting out the word “motherf***er.” Jackson actually voices two of the main roles, Afro Samurai and his fast-talking comical sidekick Ninja Ninja. “Afro Samurai” has awesome animation, a kicking soundtrack by Wu Tang member The RZA, and the baddest afro in cartoons. The first episode is fast-paced and intense, highlighted by the appearance of Justice, a baddie who wields a really long gun. The rest of the episodes don’t quite live up to the kickoff. But the finale, which also includes Justice, rocks. I guess I’m trying to say that we should have seen more from Justice. Nonetheless, “Afro Samurai” makes up for Samuel L. Jackson’s “Snakes on a Plane.”
DVD GOODIES
A second disc of bonus material includes a featurette on the voice talent, a RZA music production tour featurette, and an interview with the associate producer.
APOCALYPTO Director Mel Gibson follows up “The Passion of the Christ” with this action-adventure tale about the end of the Mayan civilization.
EPIC MOVIE The writers of “Scary Movie” spoof such blockbusters as “Superman Returns,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Starring Kal Penn and Adam Campbell.
KYLE XY, SEASON 1 This three-disc set collects the first season of the ABC Family series about a mysterious boy who doesn’t have a belly button.
HANNIBAL RISING
Release Date: May 29
Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans
Director: Peter Webber
Length: 117 minutes
Hannibal Lecter deserved better. In “Hannibal Rising,” one of the greatest screen villains gets a rather tepid origin story. It’s not a terrible movie, but this is Hannibal Lecter and expectations are high. How do you follow in Anthony Hopkins‘ masterful footsteps? It seems the producers didn’t even try to cast a worthy actor. French actor Gaspard Ulliel is forgettable as the young Hannibal Lecter, who evolves into a cannibal as he hunts down the men who killed his little sister during World War II. The movie is slow at times, but picks up once Hannibal starts eating through the cast. But “Hannibal Rising” adds very little to the “Silence of the Lambs” canon. If the main character wasn’t named Hannibal Lecter, it would have been an okay stand-alone thriller. But somebody had to cash in on Hannibal Lecter at least one more time.
DVD GOODIES
There are deleted scenes, commentary tracks by director Peter Webber and producer Martha De Laurentiis, and the featurettes “Hannibal Lecter: The Origin of Evil” and “Designing Horror and Elegance.”
PAN’S LABYRINTH A little girl named Ofelia enters into a fantasy world when her pregnant mother takes her to live with her sadistic stepfather in 1944 fascist Spain. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Read Blogzarro’s review.
THE FOUNTAIN In this sci-fi romance, Hugh Jackman portrays a man who travels through time to save his wife (Rachel Weisz). Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES After Arthur (Freddie Highmore) draws a sword from a stone he must fight a battle in his garden and find treasure in order to save his grandfather’s farm. Also starring Mia Farrow, with the voices of Robert De Niro, David Bowie, and Madonna. Directed by Luc Besson.
PAN’S LABYRINTH
Release Date: May 15
Starring: Ariadna Gil, Sergi López, Doug Jones
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Length: 112 minutes
Pan’s Labyrinth” is an eerie and beautiful fairy tale about a little girl named Ofelia who enters into a fantasy world when her pregnant mother takes her to live with her sadistic stepfather in 1944 fascist Spain. It’s an enchanting tale, beautifully realized. However, it was disappointing that the fantasy part of the story often took a backseat to the reality. It seemed like a fascinating world, but it isn’t explored as much as you’d like. The creepy Pale Man, whose eyes are in the palm of his hands, is only in one brief scene, and the only other fantasy creature in the movie is the faun Pan (there are some fairies flitting around, too). Director Guillermo del Toro does weave an intriguing story, and now I really can’t wait for del Toro’s “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.”
DVD GOODIES
A second, bonus disc includes the featurettes “The Power of Myth,” “The Faun and the Fairies,” “The Color and The Shape,” an episode of “The Charlie Rose Show” with director Guillermo Del Toro, “The Director’s Notebook,” production sketches as well as the theatrical teaser and trailer.
BECAUSE I SAID SO Diane Keaton stars as an overprotective mother who tries to set up her youngest daughter (Mandy Moore) with Mr. Right.
CATCH AND RELEASE A young woman (Jennifer Garner) movies in with her dead fiance’s two best friends (Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger).
MUSIC AND LYRICS A washed-up pop singer (Hugh Grant) hooks up with a younger woman (Drew Barrymore) to write a hit song.
THE HITCHER
Starring: Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton
Director: Dave Meyers
Length: 79 minutes
The Hitcher” begins with a bunny getting creamed by a truck. By the end of this movie you’ll feel just like that bunny. Sean Bean is menacing as John Ryder, the psycho killer who terrorizes a young couple (Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton) on their way to spring break. But not menacing enough. Based on the 1986 cult classic starring Rutger Hauer, “The Hitcher” is good for a few jolts in the first half, then disintegrates in the second. It’s one of those MTV-style updates in the vain of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” and “The Hills Have Eyes,” but only more ridiculous. It’s the longest 79-minute movie ever made.
DVD GOODIES
There are a few alternate and deleted scenes as well as the behind-the-scenes docs “Road Kill: The Ultimate Car Crash” and “Fuel Your Fear: The Making of Hitcher.” Featurettes include “Dead End” and “Chronicles of a Killer.”
LITTLE CHILDREN The lives of young married couples collide in suburbia. Starring Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, and Jackie Earle Haley. Directed by Todd Field.
DREAMGIRLS Based on the 1981 musical about three pop singers in the 1960s. Starring Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx. Directed by Bill Condon.
ALPHA DOG Based on the real-life drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood, one of the youngest men to make the FBI’s most wanted list. Starring Bruce Willis, Matthew Barry, and Justin Timberlake. Directed by Nick Cassavetes.
