Rating: « out of ««««

Running Time: 99 minutes

Most people, myself included, typically think of The Nutcracker simply as a famous ballet. However, the stage production is actually based on a 1812 short story by author E.T.A Hoffmann.

The new Disney film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms uses the written work as a loose inspiration to tell a new tale. In some ways, one might even think of it as a filmic sequel. It is a colorful picture and one that may appeal to small children, but doesn’t translate nearly as well for older members of the audience.

Clara (Mackenzie Foy) is a downcast youngster, upset over the death of her mother enough to take it out on her father (Matthew...

Rating: «« out of ««««

Running Time: 88 minutes

It has been 15 years since British secret agent Johnny English (who was no doubt a parody of James Bond) first debuted on the big screen. Frankly, I can’t specifically remember much at all about the original film, but it was successful enough to spawn a 2011 sequel that fared equally well at the box office.

After a profitable run in other parts of the world, this week sees the release of Johnny English Strikes Again in North America.

When a mysterious computer hacker releases the names of every MI7 operative to the public, the U.K.’s prime minister (Emma Thompson) is forced to take very drastic measures. First, she must...

Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s a really big blockbuster coming your way, as well as a few intriguing independent films. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!


Big New Releases!

I Think We’re Alone Now – A devastating apocalypse leaves the world in tatters in this science-fiction/drama. Despite these horrifying events, the story focuses on one man who couldn’t be happier to be alone, creating his own personal utopia. Unfortunately, his existence is complicated by the unexpected arrival of another female survivor who wants to stay. Reaction was slightly more positive...

Rating: «« out of ««««

Running Time: 141 minutes

Most people know of astronaut Neil Armstrong as the first person to step foot on the moon. However, less are aware of the incredible work and dedication it took to get there. Director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) chronicles the man’s story in the biopic, First Man. The film expertly recreates the tension and peril that all of these explorers face as they head into the sky.

Sadly, the human drama isn’t nearly as engrossing.

The movie begins, following Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) as an aerospace engineer already engaged in testing equipment. After his young daughter succumbs to weakened health following a brain tumor...