Armchair Commentary

The Best Movies & TV of 2009: Science Fiction

I must admit that when I volunteered to blog about the top 10 science fiction DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2009, I thought it would be a relatively simple task. However, before the day was over, I realized that narrowing it to only 10 would actually prove quite difficult. Then of course, there is the ranking thing, how do you decide the order? I won't bore you with the intricately complicated ranking system I devised to handle my new found conundrum, but I can assure it didn't involve picking names out of a hat. With that said, here are a handful of movies and TV shows that any fan of sci-fi would enjoy. 

District 9 - What would you do if Peter Jackson gave you 30 million to make a movie? Director Neill Blomkamp made the best sci-fi movie of 2009. Deep, enthralling, original, and action-packed, this movie will leave you breathless.   

Dollhouse: Season One - Joss Whedon, need I say more? An underground group of “Actives” who change their personalities for the whims of the rich and powerful, not to mention, Eliza Dushku is very easy to watch. Sure, Fox canceled it, but they also canceled Firefly.

Star Trek – JJ Abrams didn't disappoint. He kept it true enough to the original for the Trekkies (time warps are helpful for re-imagining story lines) yet refreshed it enough to introduce the franchise to a whole new audience.

Franklyn – Could be one of the best sci-fi films Americans haven’t heard of. A temporal twister set in contemporary London and a futuristic Meanwhile City. In the vein of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, bring your thinking cap.

Ben X – A teen with Asperger’s syndrome finds respite from endless bullying at school in video games. A little bit like Donnie Darko, but with subtitles.

Watchmen – great comic book, great movie. Any questions?

The Prisoner: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] – Before there was Lost, there was the Prisoner.  A spy quits his job and wakes up on a mysterious island where people are given numbers instead of names. A constantly changing number two tries various methods to find out why he quit. Now you can revel in all that 1960’s mod high-tech weirdness in high definition since it’s now available on Blu-ray.

Logan’s Run [Blu-ray} – Made in 1976 and still good in 2009. Now on Blu-ray, so you can revisit all the incredible Oscar winning visual effects in stunning 1080p.

Fringe: the Complete First Season – I know, it’s another offering from JJ Abrams, but it’s a fantastic TV show. The FBI, a mad scientist, and his son team up to investigate seemingly related unusual crimes. Great to watch on DVD, because minor clues in one episode become important later in the season, I don’t recommend starting if you have anything pressing to attend to.

Monsters vs Aliens -  This one's for the kids. A young woman grows to an inch under 50 feet after being stuck in the head by a meteorite, gets locked away by the government, and is tasked with leading a team of 1950’s B-movie monsters to save the earth from an alien invasion. Sound like fun, right?   

See the rest of the top 100 DVDs, the top 100 Blu-ray discs, and many other lists at http://www.amazon.com/bestmovies2009. ---Mike

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": Best DVDs of May 2009

What it is:
Based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man born old who ages backwards, set in New Orleans, and spanning from the end of World War I to the present, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is at once an epic love story and a grand adventure. 

Why it's Significant:
Sure, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has been compared to Forrest Gump, and rightfully so, but for all the right reasons, let's not forget, Forrest Gump was a good movie. Like Forrest, the protagonist, Benjamin Button, who ages backwards, is a quirky outsider, meets incredible over-the-top characters in epic situations. In addition, Fincher’s film moves from one era to the next, capturing each decade with spot-on costumes and we also get another taste of the elusive childhood love interest. However, in this film, Benjamin actually gets the girl and the chemistry between Blanchett and Pitt is fantastic. To top it off, the age-defying special effects and stunning cinematography will leave you spinning. For movie buffs, The two disc and Blu-ray editions are being released as Criterion Collections with a 4 part documentary, feature length commentary by David Fincher, footage about visual effects, and many more extras. --Mike

Stephen Colbert's Message to Amazon Customers

Ladies and Gentlemen, the pinnacle of the year and the moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived -- Stephen Colbert has made an address to Amazon.com customers. It's no surprise that in his address, Mr. Colbert pitches his upcoming DVD, A Colbert Christmas – The Greatest Gift of All, releasing November 25th and now available for pre-order at Amazon.com. Described as “America’s favorite Christmas tradition” A Colbert Christmas will certainly be entertaining with guests like Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend, Willie Nelson, and Jon Stewart.  Not only will it make a great gift for any Stephen Colbert fan, a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the charity, Feeding America. Seems like his message is pretty well timed, considering that some of his DVDs and other Comedy Central hits are on sale until December 2nd -- Mike

Best DVDs of November 2008: "Kung Fu Panda"

What it is: Kung Fu Panda is the story of an overweight Panda named Po (Jack Black) who dreams of being a Kung Fu master like China’s legendary furious five, but seems destined follow in his father’s footsteps running a noodle shop. However, when a legendary imprisoned Kung Fu master Tai Lung (Ian McShane) escapes and the village looks for a champion, Po finds himself an unlikely and unconventional hero.
Why it's Significant: DreamWorks -- known for pairing top-notch talent with incredible animation, in films like Madagascar and Shrek -- scores another knockout with their latest release, Kung Fu Panda.  Available on DVD and Blu-ray Nov 8th, Kung Fu Panda features some of DreamWorks’s most incredible animation and fun-loving hilarity. The all-star line-up and heartwarming story promises to be fun for both children and adults. Also available on the 8th is the great one-two punch combination of the Kung Fu Panda Two - Pack (Kung Fu Panda + Secrets of the Furious Five), a special edition that gives fans a chance to discover the history of the famous furious five. Destined to be one of the best gifts this holiday season and an instant classic, you will not be disappointed. --Mike

Best DVDs of October: This American Life Season One

This American Life

What it is: Old favorite Chicago Public Radio show in a new format.
Why it's significant: Are you disgusted by reality TV saturation on TV? Are you sick of a small whinny population of L.A. and Orange County residents getting a disproportionate amount of air time related to their actual contribution to American culture? Then, This American Life is for you. Not quite reality TV, not quite documentary, This American Life Started as a Chicago Public Radio Show in 1995 and debuted in 2007 on Showtime as a new TV series. Long time listeners might ask why?  However, after watching the first episode, it’s easy to understand that the TV version allows the audience a new way of identifying with the person in the story. As it turns out, these people with their astonishing stories are just the opposite... ordinary. Despite how peculiar, outlandish, or eccentric their narrative, we can see that in fact they are quite normal people. Second, the visual format allows for a new depth of understanding. Something that we miss by just listening, the story teller’s environment, choice of clothing, hairstyle, manner of speaking, and hobbies all help to shape and tell their story.
For people who have never heard the radio show, This American Life is difficult to explain because the subject, the location, and even the format are slightly different between episodes. One episode is about how people experience God the next is about how the camera crew reacts to one of their unusual assignments. Engaging and interesting, each episode presents different perspectives and solutions to what sometimes seem to be common problems.  Watch the first season of This American Life and it’ll make you laugh, it might even make you cry, but most importantly it’ll make you think.  --Mike

Best DVDs of September 2008: "Iron Man"

What it is: Iron Man on Blu-ray and DVD. For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past year Iron Man, a Marvel Comics adaption, is about Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), an extremely rich weapons developer, who after being captured by terrorists, finds that his weapons aren't exactly being used for just causes. Putting his weapon building experience to good use, he develops a metal suit, escapes, then devotes his life to righting the wrongs his weapons have caused. Also featuring Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and directed by Jon Favreau.    

Why it's significant: If there is one movie release on DVD in September (more like all of 2008) which warrants an excuse to buy that Blu-ray player you’ve been putting off, it is Iron Man . Girlfriends, Wives,and Fiancés will forgive you once they see Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark tearing up the skies, his garage, and terrorists. If you’ve already upgraded to Hi Def heaven, then owning this movie is a no-brainer. What better way is there to show off your home entertainment system’s capabilities than the incredible action sequences of a driven and not-so-humble super hero?  Of Course, for those of you who have a mortgage, are still waiting to win the state lottery, or aren’t trust fund babies, Iron Man is also available on Standard Def DVD. It just won’t impress your neighbors… as much.  --Mike