DVD Review: Thor (Blu-ray)

When it comes to bringing comic books to the big screen, nobody does it better these days than Marvel.  With the blockbuster performance of Iron Man, Marvel Studios proved that "if you want something done right, you do it yourself."  With strong performances, heavy nods to the comic book faithful, and a strong continuity tying the movies together, all building up to next year's release of big budget, ensemble adaptation of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers.

A couple of weeks ago, yet another member of the "Avengers Assembled" club made his way to home theaters with the release of Thor on DVD and Blu-ray.  It's officially "Hammer Time" (sorry about that, but I think everyone in the media is contractually obligated to make the M.C. Hammer reference) as Marvel's God of Thunder enters the battlefield.  But is the flick that perfect storm of action and adventure waiting to electrify comic book fans and filmgoers alike?  Or is simply more Hollywood bluster, amounting to little more than a special effects laden tempest in the proverbial teapot?

The King Has Returned!

For those people who weren't around in 1994 and for those who didn't want to see it in IMAX format in 2002, or those who for some other reason missed it the first two times it was released, Disney has re-released its blockbuster hit, The Lion King, in theaters this week. This time those marketing marvels at Disney have added a 3D format to the film (no doubt hoping to cash in on the current 3D craze sweeping theaters all over the country).

Generally speaking, I tend to think of 3D as a sort of gimmick, like the B-grade movies that filled drive-in theaters and matinees back in the 1950's with their accompanying cheesy special effects. And for me at least, I received the news that Disney had given this animated classic the 3D treatment with more than a little skepticism, despite my innitial delight at the thought of seeing it again in theaters.  The Lion King is a modern piece of storytelling genius that doesn't need any gimmicks to entice me to see it again in all its theatrical glory. That having been said, I shelled out thirteen dollars to see it last night in order to discover whether the movie still stood the test of time, or if my fondness for Disney/Pixar was coloring my memory for this film.