Iron Man 2 : DVD/Blu-Ray released on September 28, 2010

Iron Man 2 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2010)

After the high-flying adventures of the first "Iron Man" image may billionaire playboy Tony Stark manufacturers and irrepressible (Robert Downey Jr.) is nursing a hangover. But not like any cat, he's had before: this is toxic, a potentially fatal condition due to heavy metals (or something) bleeding from the hardware-it is installed in the center of the chest. That's the problem must Stark in Iron Man 2 not, vindictive to the threat of the Russian science whiz helped Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), whose father, solve mention the "Iron Man" technology. There is an even greater problem for the film: the need for establishing a future Marvel Comics movie universe in which forces a large number of veteran characters, a requirement slowed, what by-line can produce the film (although join fanboys have a good time dig the notes here) set. Actually, the main plot no great shakes: Iron Man suit other is used (Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard in the first film, learns to climb), to argue still Strong with assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and a weaselly competitor (Sam Rockwell) attempts out-do the Iron Man suit with an army of drones Vanko developed. Mickey Rourke is a disappointment, burdened by a shaky Russian accent, and looked around skeptical about the genre foolishness to him, and Scarlett Johansson has to wait until the final few roles to unleash some butt-kickin 'abilities as the future of Black Widow. The highlight is sufficiently vivid, and the first half hour, including smirky appearance before a Senate committee Stark and a crazy showdown at the Grand Prix of Monaco offers a strong, quick opening. But the pause between these highlights is crying for more action and more Downey Improv.

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Kick-Ass : DVD/Blu-Ray released on August 3, 2010

The cinematic equivalent of a half case of Red Bull chased with donuts, Kick-Ass is a giddy, violent experience--and not your average superhero movie. Based on the comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., it offers a set of heroes who are decidedly without superpowers: Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides he'll be just like a comic-book character, and puts on a ridiculous green suit to fight crime as the mysterious Kick-Ass. Luckily, somebody else had the same idea and comes along to rescue the incompetent crusader: Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his daughter Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz), who also happen to be running around town wearing masks and vanquishing evil. And here we have the movie's masterstroke: Hit Girl, a pint-sized preteen who slaughters bad guys and swears like a sailor on leave (and was the focus of a measure of controversy when the movie was released). The main target of our heroes is a gangster (Mark Strong, Sherlock Holmes), whose neglected son (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, McLovin from Superbad) figures he might just pull on a costume himself and become… Red Mist! (One of the many funny things about Kick-Ass is that the superhero names are hopelessly lame.) Director Matthew Vaughn is operating at the same glib level as his Layer Cake, with cutesy song cues galore and a freewheeling appetite for cartoon violence. This means the movie's high wears off quickly, but it does get high--a crazy, hilarious (and by the way: decidedly R-rated) kick. All that, plus Nicolas Cage executes a deadly Adam West imitation when he pulls on his cape and cowl. That's entertainment.

• Actors: Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong
• Directors: Matthew Vaughn
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Lionsgate
• DVD Release Date: August 3, 2010
• Run Time: 117 minutes

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Clash of the Titans : DVD released on July 27, 2010

"Release the Kraken!" it could only Clash of the Titans, the 2010 remake, that the statement be kept to unleash the great creatures of the sea. The 1981 original boasted legendary Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animation technique various mythological creatures - it was his last feature project - and given the Cornball approach of the film in general that was the main draw. The remake provides new state-of-the-art special effects (released in 3-D) and a nice muscular sense of momentum. Sam Worthington (Avatar Guy) plays Perseus, a demi-god who does not know that, Zeus (Liam Neeson) is his father. Perseus is selected, an expedition to find and kill the Medusa, so evil brother of Zeus, Hades (Ralph Fiennes, in his sneak mode) upset misery on a port - and you know is coming, that means the octopus. Ye gods, it's a mess, and we have not even mentioned the witches and harpies and the Giant Scorpions. But if we did that, it would be clear that Clash of the Titans a perfectly dandy popcorn epic, is unpretentious and penetrating. Director Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2) is replaced by a fine rhythm going while Perseus Trek, and you can even forgive hokey waves-of-light-through-clouds seen from Olympus. Leterrier also had the good sense to Danish star Mads Mikkelsen, the wonderful import duties to offer mentoring Perseus, Gemma Arterton and Alexa Davalos meet the eye-candy roles. It is up to individual viewers to choose which they prefer - Harryhausen's magical hand-forged creations (his Medusa-sequence is an absolute killer) or the 21st Century slick computer-generated variations. But nostalgia aside, it would be hard to deny that this is a case where the remake tops, is the original.

• Actors: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Alexa Davalos, Ralph Fiennes
• Directors: Louis Leterrier
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: July 27, 2010
• Run Time: 106 minutes

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