This week’s home video releases are anchored by last year’s top-grossing feature film.
Tag Archives: Josh Hutcherson
Video Verdict: Reviews of ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ and ‘Foxcatcher’
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Video Verdict: ‘Amour,’ ‘Epic’
This week’s major home video releases include an exciting animated movie and the drama that won best foreign language film at this year’s Oscar celebration.
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Snapshot Reviews: ‘Fast & Furious 6’ and ‘Epic’
I’m introducing a new feature here at ForrestHartman.com: Snapshot reviews. Please note that I will still write long-form critiques for my Video Verdict column. These are designed to give readers a quick assessment of new movies. Hopefully you find them useful and fun.
FAST & FURIOUS 6
2½ stars
Story: Dominic Toretto and his crew team with U.S. agent Hobbs in order to capture a dangerous mercenary who is at skilled at motorized hijackings as they used to be. Sweetening the pot is the apparent appearance of Dom’s longtime love, Letty, a woman the whole crew thought was dead.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Gina Carano.
Directed by: Justin Lin (“Better Luck Tomorrow,” “Fast Five”)
Bottom line: The plotting is ridiculous and the dialogue is melodramatic, but the stunts are as good as they get.
EPIC
3½ stars
Story: Animated film about a teen girl who discovers a tiny world of forest creatures engaged in a constant battle between good and evil. When she is magically transported into their world, she goes on a fantastic adventure.
Voice cast features: Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Beyonce, Chris O’Dowd, Pitbull, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz and Jason Sudeikis
Directed by: Chris Wedge (“Ice Age,” “Robots”)
Bottom line: Beautiful 3-D animation coupled with a compelling story. The fantastic writing, and Wedge’s excellent execution, make this the best animated movie since “Rise of the Guardians.”
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Video Verdict: ‘The Hunger Games’
This week, the first cinematic adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy is hogging the home video spotlight.
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Video Verdict: ‘John Carter,’ ‘Safe House,’ ‘Act of Valor,’ ‘Journey 2’
A thriller starring Denzel Washington and an adaptation of a much-loved science-fiction novel anchor this week’s home video releases.
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Video Verdict: ‘A Christmas Carol,’ ‘The Lottery Ticket,’ ‘The Kids Are All Right’
A number of high profile titles are making their way to home video this week. Included is an urban comedy starring Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson, an indie drama with Julianne Moore and Annette Bening and a holiday classic from Walt Disney Studios.
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