New DVD Releases – December 2008

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The four Pevensie children – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – return to Narnia, only to discover that hundreds of years have passed since they ruled there. Now, crowning himself king, the evil General Miraz has taken charge. The children enlist the help of a heroic mouse called Reepicheep. They set out find the exiled Prince Caspian, determined to see him rightfully named king. Cast: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell. Based on the book by C.S. Lewis. Rated PG

The Dark Knight

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman raises the stakes on his war on crime and sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker. The Joker, whose eerie grin, laughter, and inhuman morality makes him dangerous. Batman seeks to stop the mysterious Joker at all costs. He has no method at all and seeks to see the world plunge into the fire he has yet to light. But, Batman has come to represents the symbol of hope. Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman. Rated PG-13

Fred Claus

Fred Claus has lived in his little brother’s shadow for most of his life. Fred is in jail and Nicholas has to bail him out on the condition he come to the North Pole and repay his debt. Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson, John Michael Higgins, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Spacey. Rated PG

Hancock

Hancock is a hard-living and misunderstood superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public. When he grudgingly agrees to an extreme makeover from idealistic publicist Ray Embrey, his life and reputation rise from the ashes and all seems right again –until he meets a woman with similar powers to his and the key to his secret past. Cast: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan.  Rating: PG-13

The Happening

An unstoppable event threatens the world’s population by attacking the most basic human instinct of all: survival. Elliot Moore is an ordinary man who is trying to save his family from a terrifying, invisible killer. As Elliot discovers the incredible possibility of what is happening, it becomes very clear that no one is safe. Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Betty Buckley. Rated  R

Horton Hears a Who

One day, Horton the elephant hears a cry for help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can’t see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. Good thing since as it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home. Unfortunately for Horton, this gives him nothing but torment from his neighbors. They refuse to believe that anything could survive on the speck. Still, Horton stands by the motto that, “After all, a person is a person, no matter how small.” Voices: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, Amy Poehler. Rated G

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Science professor Trevor Anderson’s radical theories have tarnished his reputation. While backpacking across Iceland with his nephew Sean, the two find a cave that leads them deep down into the bowels of the planet. They go on a quest to find out what has happened to Trevor’s missing brother, also a scientist. Trevor, Sean and their mountain guide discover a fantastic and dangerous lost world in the center of the earth. There, they discover a bizarre landscape filled with terrifying creatures. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem. Based on the novel by Jules Verne. Rated PG

Man on Wire

A look at the high-wire walk made by Philippe Petit in 1974 between the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City, and how it is still considered one of history’s most artistic crimes. Based on the book To Reach the Clouds, by Philippe Petit. Rated PG-13

The Perfect Holiday

A single mother is raising her three children after the divorce from her rapper ex-husband. Her oldest son wants his parents to get back together. The youngest daughter would rather see her mom happy and decides to use Santa Claus to get her wish. The kids practically compete to see who will win the war of love. Cast: Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Charlie Murphy, Katt Williams, Jill Marie Jones, Rachel True, Malik Hammond, Khail Bryant.Rated PG

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Join the four best friends as they finish their first year of college and dive into a summer of excitement. Bridget journeys to Turkey on an archeological dig. Carmen plunges into the hectic, creative world of summer theater in Vermont. Lena discovers new love and old heartbreak at the Rhode Island School of Design. Tibby takes a big step in her relationship with Brian in the Big Apple. Cast: Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Rachel Nichols, Rachel Ticotin, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Blythe Danner. Based on the novel by Ann Brashares. Rated PG-13

Step Brothers

Brennan and Dale are two middle-aged loafers who are forced to live together when their parents get married. When their immature antics over TV privileges and personal property take their toll on their parents’ marriage, the devious duo hatch a scheme to reunite the couple. Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn. Rated R

This Christmas

For the first time in years, the entire Whitfield clan has come home to spend the Christmas holiday with their mother and her boyfriend. Each has brought plenty of baggage along with them. As the lights are hung and the tree is trimmed, secrets are revealed and ties are tested, but eventually they rediscover and celebrate the wonderful gift of family. Cast: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Regina King, Keith Robinson, Laz Alonso, Sharon Leal, Lauren London. Rated PG-13

Wall-E

Walt Disney Pictures presents a Pixar Animation Studios film. After hundreds of lonely years, a waste management robot finds a new purpose in life. With only a cockroach for a friend, he finds true love in another robot sent on a mission to Earth to see if it is safe for human life. MPAA rating: G.

Wanted

Wes is 25 years old and is a disaffected, clock-punching drone. His boss chews him out hourly, his girlfriend ignores him routinely, and his life plods on in interminable boredom and routine. Everyone knows Wes will amount to nothing – that is until he meets the sexy woman named Fox, and then everything changes. Wes’ estranged father is murdered, and the deadly Fox recruits him into The Fraternity, a secret society that trains him to avenge his father’s death, by unlocking his dormant powers. Fox teaches Wes how to develop his lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility. He discovers that The Fraternity lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: to carry out the death orders given by emotionless Fate itself. Cast: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Angelina Jolie. Rated R

The X Files

When a group of women are mysteriously abducted, the FBI reunites agents Mulder and Scully to investigate.Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connelly, Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner. Rating: PG-13.

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan

The Zohan is the finest counterterrorist agent the Israeli army has. That is, until he fakes his death and travels to Manhattan to live his dream as a hairdresser. All goes well until his cover is blown when he’s recognized by a Palestinian cab driver. The Zohan must now fight to live a peaceful new life in New York with his new career. Cast: Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider. Rated: PG-13