The Descendants (Blu-ray) Criticize This! Pick of the Week - One of my favourite films of 2011, The Descendants tells the story of Hawaiian resident Matt King (George Clooney) after his wife is put into a coma and he learns she was having an affair. As he struggles with everything that is happening, he and his two daughters go on a mission to find and confront his wife’s lover. Directed by Alexander Payne, The Descendants has a lot of comedy mixed with the drama and in the end is a movie to celebrate. The Blu-ray has a great image and sound mix and is well worth picking up. Special features include deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, three music videos, a short film, a conversation with Clooney and Payne, and more. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film **** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars).
The Adventures of Tintin (Blu-ray) – Based on the classic series by Hergé, The Adventures of Tintin is a fun and exciting tale that follows young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) on an awesome treasure hunt with the tipsy Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis). Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson, Tintin was another one of my Top 10 films of 2011 and the best animated film of 2011 in my opinion. It has only gotten better upon repeat viewings too and is a film I’ll cherish for many years to come. This is a must-own title on Blu-ray as the look and feel of the film is presented perfectly in high-def and is absolutely stunning. Special features are packed and include over 90 minutes of featurettes. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film **** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars).
Young Adult – Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody re-team for this dreary look at the miserable, hard-drinking young adult author Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) who believes her high school romance (Patrick Wilson) is still in love with her and must be saved from his marriage and baby. She heads back to her hometown to find him and we get to watch her despicable display of arrogance as she attempts to destroy his life. You will probably want to hate Young Adult at first, but once it sinks in you may find you enjoyed the experience of watching it a lot more than you thought. Patton Oswalt also stars and delivers one of the best performances of his career. Special features on the DVD include audio commentary with Jason Reitman, making-of featurettes, and more. Film *** DVD *** (out of 5 stars).
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Top image: A scene from The Descendants. Courtesy Fox Searchlight.
