New DVDs: War, Sci-fi, and Redemption

The Hurt Locker

The Gist: Intense and relentless portrait of the bomb squad tasked with disarming and removing explosives from the streets of Baghdad.

The Buzz: One of the defining Iraq war movies of our time, this film is almost universally lauded and practically guaranteed a shot at an Oscar.

The Ups: Cliche-free, gritty, tense, it all adds up to a great war movie.

The Downs: None.

Be Aware: This film is rated R for language and violence. It is intense and should be considered adult fare.

Moon

The Gist: Sam Bell, a lone astronaut living on the moon's surface, has just weeks until his contract is up and he can reconnect with humanity. You just know that's when strange things start happening.

The Buzz: This is the year's best sci-fi movie you didn't see. Tense, intelligent, and brooding, it deserved more attention.

The Ups: The film keeps you interested while exploring what it means to be human, now or in the future.

The Downs: Lags a little in the second half.

Be Aware: Rated R for language. Also has some limited sexual imagery.

Fame

The Gist: Kids from a performing arts high school chase their dreams in this remake of the 1980 hit.

The Buzz: A weak script and weak characters make this film a disappointment.

The Ups: Tons of heart and quite a bit of melodrama, if you like that kind of thing.

The Downs: Unoriginal, cliche, poorly made. But at least you can still rent the original 1980 film.

Be Aware: Rated PG 13 for thematic material, including teenage drinking, a sexual situation, and language.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

The Gist: Oscar nominee Taraji P Henson plays April, a lounge singer with a married boyfriend. Compelled to take in her sister's three children, she finds her values and lifestyle being challenged. And that's a good thing.

The Buzz: Tyler Perry, creator of Madea and other over the top characters, makes his most mature movie yet.

The Ups: A film in which redemption, faith, love, and character are taken seriously and treated with respect.

The Downs: Wavers between moving and slapstick.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving a sexual assault on a minor, violence, drug references and smoking.

The Simpsons

TV on DVD: The Simpsons 20th Season

The Gist: It's hard to believe it's been over 20 years since patriarch Homer Simpson belched his way into our lives, bringing along incorrigible Bart, prissy Lisa, baby Maggie, and growling Marge.

The Buzz: Back when this show was created, it was daring and new. Now it's hard to imagine life without the Simpson's satiric take on, well, everything.

The Ups: It's funny because it's true (usually).

The Downs: It's funny because it's true. Humanity is so very mockable.

Be Aware: Some parents don't think Bart is a good influence on their kids. He's not intended to be.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER by Greg Whiteley

Our Emmy-nominated filmmaker gives us a peek into his head.  When asked for a movie that didn't get the popular acclaim it deserved, he recommended:

Deep Water

At SixSeeds, we talk about the stories that surround modern life.  We love movies -- in fact, we even have a “brick and mortar” called SixSeeds Video in Winchester, Massachusetts! We know that good films have an amazing power to move, inspire, and sometimes even transform life.  Bad ones make you regret plunking down the $10 for the privilege of listening to the guy next to you chew milk duds for two hours.

That’s why we want to keep you informed of the latest offerings on DVD and Blu-Ray.  Listing the new releases below doesn't mean you should rush out and watch them with your pre-schoolers.  In fact, over the course of the next few months, we’ll list many we wouldn’t let our teenagers watch.  (Some, we regret watching!)  But somewhere in America, a teenager is going to come to their parent and say, “Hey, I’m supposed to bring the movie to the slumber party.  May I bring...?”

And right there in the aisle of the video store, a decision will be made. 

Come back next week to read “The RunDown,” America... and choose wisely!