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Off to see the wizard
3 ‘Harry Potter’ films released Tuesday, 2 as revamped editions07:55 PM CST on Saturday, December 5, 2009
This week, we start at Hogwarts:
Harry Potter Ultimate Editions of The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets Timed to coincide with the DVD release of the latest in the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Warner Home Video releases the first two of what will become a series of eight ultimate editions of all the Harry Potter films. These editions, also on Blu-ray, will come with previously released supplements but also with much more new material. Stone includes various games, deleted scenes, an introduction by Daniel Radcliffe, and tours of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and several other locations. The Chamber also offers deleted scenes, games, tours, never-released screen tests of Radcliffe, Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione), and several other interactive games and activities. Both editions offer a one-hour segment of the new documentary Creating the World of Harry Potter, which will eventually combine and become an eight-hour opus. These four-disc sets (Blu-ray: $49.99, DVD: $39.99), plus digital copy, also contain a theatrical version of both films along with extended versions of the films, with footage not seen in theaters. The Blu-ray has the “In-Movie Experience” feature in which Chris Columbus, the director of both films, examines them with storyboard comparisons, still galleries and more.
*
Public Enemies (***1/2) Johnny Depp stars as 1930s gangster John Dillinger in director Michael Mann’s stylish and glamorous film. Depp, who was born about 60 miles from Dillinger’s birthplace in Indiana, adequately captures the handsome gunman who terrorized banks in the Midwest before being gunned down by FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) while leaving a Chicago movie theater. Marion Cotillard plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger’s moll-in-waiting, and Billy Crudup makes a too-handsome J. Edgar Hoover. As always, this Mann film shines from Dante Spinotti’s cinematography and Colleen Atwood’s beautiful costumes.
Rated R, 140 minutes.
The DVD arrives in two-disc special edition Blu-ray, two-disc special edition DVD, single disc and digital download. Included in both special editions are commentary from Mann, a 21-minute “making-of” featurette, and three 10-minute featurettes on criminal technology, the real Dillinger and the locations. The Blu-ray version holds additional materials.
*
Julie and Julia (***) Meryl Streep enlivens the action during her half of this odd but enjoyable biopic about renowned chef Julia Child (Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams), who pledges on her blog to cook her way through Child’s well-known Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Director Nora Ephron freely flips between the decades separating Child’s learning years in Paris with her diplomat husband (Stanley Tucci) and with Powell’s current-day obsession with her culinary idol.
Rated PG-13, 123 minutes.
The DVD offers commentary from Ephron and a “making-of” featurette. The Blu-ray version holds more supplements, including cooking lessons from Jacques Pepin.
*
The Cove (***1/2) In this riveting documentary, director Louis Psihoyos risks arrest and bodily injury to capture the appalling treatment of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Psihoyos joins the intrepid members of the Oceanic Preservation Society, and dolphin lover and former Flipper trainer Richard O’Barry, as they dodge Japanese police and plant secret cameras and sound equipment to photograph and record as much of the carnage as possible.
Rated PG-13, 92 minutes.
*
Vampire Party (**1/2) Satire, humor and horror mix — somewhat — in this entertaining French film that sees a trio of beautiful young people snagging a coveted invitation to a posh party outside Paris. Once there, they discover a gang of vampires luring victims. The young ones flee from room to room, stopping just long enough to crack some heads and some jokes. International star Tcheky Karyo plays the bloodsucker in charge.
Not rated, 85 minutes.
*
Moonlight Serenade (**1/2) Amy Adams’ presence seems odd in this low-budget, no-name production. She co-stars with Alec Newman in a song-filled drama-romance about a woman (Adams) who aspires to become a singer, eventually joining forces and falling for Nate (Newman), a financial adviser who moonlights as a pianist and singer. Problems develop and are solved, while everyone belts out a lounge tune or two. Not much drama and a few too many musical montages.
Rated PG-13, 91 minutes.
*
The Real Story: Part Two The Smithsonian Networks return with three episodes from their popular series that examine the origins of and truths behind well-known fictional and non-fictional characters. Investigated in the approximately 45-minute segments are the true stories behind the Untouchables, James Bond and Indiana Jones.
Rated TV-G, 138 minutes.
*
Ride Around the World This original IMAX production features rapid glimpses of cowboys around the world, including location footage from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Canada and Texas.
Not rated, 44 minutes.
*
Knut and Friends Director Michael Johnson follows the world’s most adorable and celebrated polar bear cub, Knut, from his first public appearance to his adoption by a Berlin zoo, where a zookeeper makes it his personal mission to raise the rapidly growing ursine celebrity.
Not rated, 86 minutes. Also on Blu-ray.
*
Lost — The Complete Fifth Season Our week’s top television series on DVD sees the return of ABC’s popular, but often puzzling, series. In these 17 episodes, on five discs, the Oceanic Six returns to the island to face the Dharma Initiative. With an ensemble cast that includes Matthew Fox, Terry O’Quinn, Michael Emerson, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews, Henry Cusick and Jeremy Davies.
Rated TV-14.
The DVD set, also on Blu-ray, includes commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, an on-location featurette, a “Day with Richard Alpert” featurette, and segments on the Dharma Initiative and on the series’ baffling trips through time.
*
Also this week: Beautiful Losers, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Michael Jackson: The Life & Times Of The King Of Pop, World’s Greatest Dad
DR. BOO ALLEN is an award-winning film critic for the Denton Record-Chronicle.
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