Moviefone's New Release of the Week
"Life of Pi"
What's It About? The best-selling novel about Pi, a 16-year-old boy who survives a shipwreck and is stranded in the ocean with a hyena, orangutan, wounded zebra, and Bengal tiger, is finally brought to the screen by Ang Lee.
See It Because: While an ambitious undertaking, Lee's masterful storytelling and spellbinding cinematography made believers out of even the most devout "Pi" fans -- and it's easy to see why Lee and the movie's visual artists were rewarded with heaps of Oscars.
Watch Ang Lee talk about working with a real tiger, in an exclusive clip from "Life of Pi" (video at the top of this post).
Moviefone's Blu-ray of the Week
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" 25th Anniversary Edition
What's It About? Disney's landmark Hollywood noir -- set in 1940s "Toon Town" -- is just as madcap and amazing to watch now as it was when it was first released.
See It Because: When "Roger" burst onto the scene, it was mind-blowing to see real people interacting with cartoons so effortlessly; the Blu-ray debut features the best visual presentation available and is loaded with "making-of" special features.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away"
What's It About? James Cameron's production of a 3D performance film of the trippy stage event is certainly a noble effort, but the grandeur of the show is lost in translation when converted to the small screen. Save up for the real thing.
See It or Skip It: Skip it.
"Hitchcock"
What's It About? It's not flawless, but in this biopic detailing the controversy surrounding the production of "Psycho" Anthony Hopkins nails the iconic director with humorous, freaky accuracy.
See It or Skip It: See it.
Watch an Exclusive Clip from the Special Features of "Hitchcock"
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"Rise of the Guardians"
What's It About? Santa, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy team-up to battle the Boogeyman in a grand fantasy adventure loaded with clever new twists on holiday traditions, There are a few moments that feel like "Happy Meal" commercials, but there's enough imagination (and then some!) to make "Guardians" an enjoyable viewing experience for any season.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"Smashed"
What's It About? Mary Elizabeth Winstead deservedly earned the best reviews of her career in this small, indie comedy-drama about a young woman whose life bottoms out when her "recreational drinking" gets out of control, and she begins to re-examine her marriage to free-wheeling, unintentionally-enabling husband ("Breaking Bad's" Aaron Paul).
See It or Skip It: See it.
"Sound City"
What's It About? Dave Grohl directs this documentary look at the modest recording studio where bands like Nirvana, Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, and countless other legends recorded their greatest albums. In addition to being a testament to the power of actual hand-made human craft in an increasingly digital auto-correct world, the film climaxes as an all-star concert.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"This Must Be The Place"
What's It About? Sean Penn appears as a thinly-veiled take on The Cure's Robert Smith, in a movie about a reclusive rock star who goes on a cross-country road trip to hunt down the escaped Auschwitz guard who tortured his late father. It's a gorgeously-filmed depiction of small-town America, and, as goofy as he appears, Penn conveys the character effortlessly. But it may be too quirky for its own good.
See It or Skip It: Skip it.
New to Blu-ray
"Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman"
"The Blob" (1958) Criterion Collection
"Brother Bear" / "Brother Bear II" Special Edition
John Carpenter's "Christine"
"The Fury"
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" / "The Hunchback of Notre Dame II" Collection
"Ministry of Fear" Criterion Collection
"Mulan" / "Mulan II" Special Edition
"Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire" | "Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster" | "Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico" | "Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword"
"Superman: Braniac Attacks"
"Tom & Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers"
"Willow"
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