Picking out a new DVD release was actually somewhat difficult this week, what with the seemingly universally despised Blindness coming out and me having enjoyed it quite a bit. Will I buy it? I don’t know, but I did enter a contest to win a copy of it, so there’s that. But instead of a bleak science fiction film I have gone in a different direction, choosing instead a relatively obscure Thai martial arts film.  Now I know, when people think Thai martial arts they may think of Ong Bak or maybe even Tom Yum Goong, but this is a little bit different. Following a young autistic girl (Jeeja Vismistananda) who learns martial arts from watching television, and thus begins a quest of revenge. If you are a fan of as kicking women who totally kick ass, Chocolate is one you should definitely check out.

As for theatrical new releases, it is yet another week of holdovers for Oscar nominees competing against a bevy of new releases. With so many films being released week to week, I am almost under the impression that the studios don’t have much faith in any of them and are just hoping one of them sticks. Then I remember that it is February, and that means that of course studios don’t know what to do with any of these films. Thankfully, there is one film that should be must see for everyone, especially parents of small children, that movie being Coraline. Based on the fantasy book by Neil Gaiman and directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) this is the best kind of children’s film, a good one. It also has the extra added benefit of being rather scary, though while it should thrill kids it is bound to terrify parents.

But remember parents, just close your eyes and keep telling yourself, “It is only a children’s movie!”

As always trailers are after the break!

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Forgive me if my mind is somewhere else today. It is difficult to select new releases to recommend when I have recently received word that Bruce Campbell, The Chin himself, will be coming to the Twin Cities for the opening of My Name is Bruce. Which means I will get to meet him. This, along with meeting the Coen Brothers a few weeks ago, really makes me so much cooler then any of you. In my mind.

Anyways, it is slim pickings once again for DVD releases on Tuesday. I’m tempted to pick The Happening, which I actually did enjoy, but decided I’d pick a film I wanted to see but only had a split-second release in theaters. That movie being Boy A.

For theatrical releases it seems as if somewhere close to two dozen films are being released this weekend. While Flash of Genius, Appaloosa, Religulous and A Girl Cut in Two all look interesting enough for me to watch at some point, this week I am recommending a movie that I have already seen, enjoyed quite a bit and am quite confident most people will not like at all because nothing really happens in it. This movie is better known as Blindness.

As always trailers are after the break!

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