By DNA Smith
PICKS OF THE WEEK
“I Am Number Four” (PG-13) — John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is a teenager from another world who has powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man. Raised by a human in a small Midwestern town, John falls in love with the cutest girl in school, but the romance is cut short when he discovers that there are others like him and a gang of bounty hunters are out to kill him and his kind one-by-one, and in numerical order. John is number four.
“Gnomeo & Juliet” (G) — The director of “Shrek 2,” producer Elton John and Walt Disney Studios present a new take on Shakespeare’s immortal story of two star-crossed lovers in this animated family film. Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) are different colored garden gnomes who live on opposite sides of a backyard fence. Lured by a beautiful orchid, the two meet and immediately fall in love. Their forbidden romance sparks a war between the two families. Will the two young lovers ever find Happiness? Well, it’s a Disney movie, rated G, so do the math.
“The Royal Wedding: William and Catherine” (Unrated) — With this commemorative DVD of the BBC’s coverage of the Wedding of the Century, you can relive all the pomp and pageantry over and over again. Sigh at the beautiful gown. Smile at the adorable flower girls and pageboys. And laugh at the hats. Oh, those hats!
“The Great Dictator: The Criterion Collection” (G) — Charlie Chaplin’s classic satire of Adolf Hitler is now available in a completely remastered high-def, Blu-ray format. Special features include: commentary by Chaplin historians Dan Kamin and Hooman Mehran; the documentary “The Tramp and the Dictator,” narrated by Kenneth Branagh; on-set color footage shot by Chaplin’s brother Sidney; a booklet featuring an essay about the film, plus a 1940 article by Chaplin discussing the film.
“Public Speaking” (Unrated) — Originally shown on HBO, director Martin Scorsese presents a portrait of the life of satirist, journalist and gay-rights activist Fran Lebowitz, author of “Metropolitan Life” and “Social Studies.” Intercutting between archival footage from the 1970s, interviews with friends and admirers, and Lebowitz’s speaking engagements, Scorsese weaves an intimate tapestry of the life of one of New York City’s great writers.
TV SHOWS
“Kids In the Hall, The” Complete Series DVD Megaset
“Transformers” The Complete Series
“Childrens Hospital” Complete First & Second Seasons
“Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads” Season 1
“Trailer Park Boys” Seasons 1-7
“The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town”
“Melissa & Joey: Season One, Part One”
“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Great Outdoors”
“Rick Steves’ Europe: All 90 Shows”
“Jon Lovitz Presents”
“The Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show”
“Nova: Japan’s Killer Quake”
“Brad Meltzer’s Decoded” Season 1
“Samurai Champloo” The Complete Series
© 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.