Home Media Magazine - February 24, 2008 - (Page 24) REVIEWS I JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER Street 2/26 Warner, Animated, $19.98 DVD, $24.98 two-DVD special edition, $29.99 Blu-ray or HD DVD (3/18), ‘PG-13’ for violent content/images. Voices of David Boreanaz, Brooke Shields, Lucy Lawless, Neil Patrick Harris, Miguel Ferrer, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeremy Sisto, Kyle MacLachlan. Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com A s the creators of Justice League: The New Frontier are keen to point out, superheroes have become a modern-day mythology, as powerful in our imaginations as Zeus and Apollo were to the citizens of antiquity. Superheroes serve as symbols of hope, shining a beacon through uncertain times. Nothing beats the greatest heroes joining forces, and there is perhaps no more famous a supergroup than DC Comics’ Justice League. However, New Frontier isn’t a Justice League adventure per se, but more of a prequel to the team’s comic book introduction, showing how its members first learned to work together. The movie adapts the 2003 graphic novel DC: The New Frontier, by artist and writer Darwyn Cooke, who weaved ing costumed crime-fighters various threads of comic book who don’t seem to answer to history together to arrive at an anybody. iconic image that is faithfully Among the new breed re-created in the film. are Hal Jordan (Boreanaz), The story takes place in the better known as the Green 1950s, after the rise of SuperLantern, and an alien who man, Batman and Wonder will become the Martian Woman, and just as new superManhunter (Ferrer). Their established heroes are entering the spotlight. But it is also origin stories play out concurrently with the a time when Americans are unsure about trust- return of an ancient entity that is preparing an all-out assault against humanity. The new frontier of the subtitle references President John F. Kennedy’s vision for America heading into the 1960s, a statement of unity against that which would divide us. The wonderful animation, all-star voice cast and numerous references to comic book lore should satisfy most fanboys. Luckily, the ample bonus features, especially a comprehensive history of the Justice League, will help casual viewers sort it all out as well. An audio commentary with the filmmakers offers the usual behind-the-scenes insights, but a second commentary from Cooke is more helpful. The special edition’s second disc adds a featurette about the differences between the graphic novel and the adaptation, another featurette about the supervillain group the Legion of Doom, and three bonus episodes of the recent “Justice League” animated series. – John Latchem I 101 DALMATIANS: PLATINUM EDITION Street 3/4 Disney, Animated, $29.99 two-DVD set, ‘G.’ Voices of Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Lisa Daniels, Ben Wright. A 24 lthough it’s seen its share of incarnations (including a live-action feature), 101 Dalmatians was originally Walt Disney’s 17th animated endeavor, and one of the last he personally supervised. While it never spawned one of Disney’s princesses or other classic characters, it did churn out one of the most wretched cartoon villains of all time — Cruella De Vil (“if she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will …”). New parents Pongo and Perdita get more than they bargain for from their new litter of 15 puppies. Soon the duo are off on a cross-country journey to get their little ones back from the evil clutches of Cruella, who has her demonic eye on turning the new pups into a full-length fur coat. Aside from the cuddly characters, the extras in the platinum edition are plentiful, making up for the lame limited release from 1999. The first disc has two versions of pop-up trivia to accompany the movie: one for the family and one for the fan. There also is a “Cruella De Vil” music video by Selena Gomez, star of Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Disc two is where this version earns its spot in any family’s collection. Featurettes focus on the making of the movie, the creation of Cruella, and correspondence between Walt and Dalmatians author Dodie Smith. Fun features for the family include deleted songs and scenes. Those who haven’t had their fill can use the remote to play children’s games and take a quiz to determine which dog they best resemble in the “Puppy Profiler.” To learn or teach more tricks, pop the DVD into a home computer and adopt a Virtual Dalmatian for daily play. – Rachel Cericola I DAVIE & GOLIMYR Street 3/4 Anchor Bay, Animated, $14.98 DVD, NR. reated by small studio Lumenas and the stop-motion animation house Ageless Animation, Davie & Golimyr is a fresh and clever take on the David and Goliath tale. The 40-minute cartoon takes place in a seaside village inhabited by Zites. When word comes that a terrible giant is destroying such villages, a call for heroes is put out. Tiny pear-grower Davie answers the call, but is laughed at when he auditions against a mechanical foe. Later, however, it becomes clear that no one but Davie has the bravery and faith (and the God-magic-imbued pear) to face the villain. The characters are based on designs by well-known fantasy artist James C. Christensen, and a better choice could not have been made. The Zites are gnomish inventors, surrounded by fantastical contraptions full of gears and whirligigs, like the amazing faux giant Davie must face. The costumes on the clay characters are a rich patchwork delight, filled with tiny details like a window and flowerpot instead of a lapel pocket on the giant. Perhaps the best visual gag is the king of the Zites — the queen lives in a castle hat that sits atop his enormous head. The movie has a few oddities, but they don’t take away from the humor and good-natured storytelling. God and faith are of course big players in Davie & Golimyr, which should play well to audiences of any religion that delves into the Old Testament. Secular audiences — unless strongly atheist or agnostic — will also likely find this stop-motion animated film an unusual treasure. Reminiscent of the old-school stop-motion “Davey and Goliath” from the 1960s and ’70s, Davie & Golimyr shows how creativity can shine new light on a timeless tale. – Laura Tiffany C Home Media Magazine February 24–March 1, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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