New on DVD: Wild Things, Apocalypse, and Aquatic Animation

Looking for a new DVD option this week? Here's the rundown of the week's new offerings:

Where the Wild Things Are

Children's Book Adaptation

The Gist: Based on the classic children's story book, this movie follows Max as he leaves home to sail in and out of weeks to reach the island of the Wild Things. After he roars his terrible roar, the Wild Things make him their king. But being king is harder than he'd ever imagined.

The Ups: Like the book, this movie captures the feel and emotion of being a child, particularly a little boy, with its illogic, its overwhelming frustrations, its consuming moments of happiness. The movie is seen through a child's eyes, through the fog that children live in, a world governed less by logic than by urges and emotions. Its sparse cinematography is achingly beautiful.

The Downs: If you love the book and have a vivid picture of it in your mind, Spike Jonze's interpretation of the book might clash with your own. Although I did not find the images frightening in themselves, I think some children identify so much with the movie that it becomes overwhelming to them.

The Verdict: Rent it. Buy it. This is a serious movie, just like childhood is serious. Max has real problems. Like many little boys, he cannot articulate his fear of the big world and the scary things that surround him, such as the prospect of the sun burning out, his sister's transition to adolescence, or his father's absence. He wants to tear up trees and throw rocks and be in control, but in reality, being in control is scarier than any of the other things out there. What he really needs is to know his mom's in control. For some little boys, some wild things that we have the privilege of raising, this will be one of the most important movies of their childhood. It's that good.

Be Aware: Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language. IMBD parents guide.

2012

Apocalyptic Thriller

The Gist: It's the end of the world as we know it and John Cusack feels fine. Civilization is ending - something about solar flares, earthquakes, and volcanoes - and Cusack must keep his family one step (literally) ahead of the gaping crevices and blasting lava that threaten to consume them.

The Ups: Lots of stuff blows up. Lots. Tons. Over and over and over.

The Downs: How do I say this gently? It's, um, stupid. A textbook case of director who couldn't say no to himself, Roland Emmerich figured if one earthquake that swallows enitre cities was good, six is even better. Ditto tearful goodbyes and heroic rescues.  By the end of the movie, you're not so sure it's a bad thing that the world is gone.

The Verdict: Skip it. The only reason to see this was to watch the mayhem on the big screen. It just won't be the same on your TV. You'll never get those two hours of your life back.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language. IMDB parent's guide.

Ponyo

Animated children's movie - foreign film (originally Japanese but revoiced in English by top-notch actors)

The Gist: Boy meets goldfish. Goldfish longs to be human. Goldfish becomes human through magic, but upends the world order and upsets her father. Do you recognize the story? It's "The Little Mermaid."

The Ups: It's hard to find the right adjective for this film. Imaginative. Breathtakingly beautiful. Lyrical. Poetic. Captivating. Charming. It's just a beautifully done movie on all levels.

The Downs: It will make American cartoons look pale in comparison. An ecological message that might strike some as heavy-handed.

The Verdict: Rent it. This is animation as it's meant to be.

Be Aware: Rated G. IMDB parents guide.

At SixSeeds, we want to 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 month, 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.

Read “The RunDown,” America, and choose wisely!