Hot Products > DVD > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy & Futuristic

One of the first things a viewer notices about Cloverfield is that it doesn't play by ordinary storytelling rules, making this intriguing horror film as much a novelty as an event. Told from the vertiginous point-of-view of a camcorder-wielding group of friends, Cloverfield begins like a television soap opera about young Manhattanites coping with changes in their personal lives. Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving New York to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob's brother Jason (Mike Vogel) hands a camcorder to best friend Hud (T.J. Miller), who proceeds to tape the proceedings over old footage of Rob's ex-girlfriend, Beth (Odette Yustman)--images shot during happy times in their ex-relationship. Naturally, Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, bumming Rob out completely. Just before one's eyes glaze over from all this heartbreaking stuff (captured by Hud, who's something of a doofus, in laughably shaky camerawork), the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster stomping through midtown and destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and company hit the streets, but rather than run with other evacuees, they head toward the center of the storm so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth. There are casualties along the way, but the journey into fear is fascinating and immediate if emotionally remote--a consequence of seeing these proceedings through the singular, subjective perspective of a camcorder and of a story that intentionally leaves major questions unanswered: Who or what is this monster? Where did it come from? The lack of a backstory, and spare views of the marauding creature, are clever ways by producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves to keep an audience focused exclusively on what's on the screen. But it also makes Cloverfield curiously uninvolving. Ultimately, Cloverfield, with its spectacular effects brilliantly woven into a home-video look, is a celebration of infinite possibilities in this age of accessible, digital media. -Tom Keogh

Firefly is also about adult emotional relationships, for example Kaylee's crush on Simon, the happy marriage of Mal's second officer Zoe and the pilot Wash, the disastrous erotic stalemate between Mal and the courtesan Inara. Individual episodes deal with capers going vaguely wrong, or threats narrowly circumvented; character and plot arcs were starting to emerge when the show was cancelled. Fortunately, the spin-off movie Serenity ties up some of the ends; and in the meantime, what there is of Firefly is a show to marvel at, both for its tight writing and ensemble acting, and the idiocy of the executives who cancelled it.

On the DVD: Firefly on DVD is presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 with Dolby Surround Sound. It includes commentaries on six episodes by various writers, directors, designers and cast members as well as featurettes on the conception of the show and the design of the spaceship Serenity, four deleted scenes, a gag reel, and Joss Whedon singing the show's theme tune, more or less. One of the things that emerges from all of this is how committed to the project everyone involved with it was, and is--unusually, you end up caring as much for the cast and crew as for the characters.
All of the below and..., 2008-12-07
Gotta go with everyone else here but there's a bonus: 'Serenity' the Film (Sequel not prequel). Some small consolation for the dropped series 2, but a worthy feature length finale. 4 discs of pure gripping SF space opera.

I won't spoil it, but more personality development and truely epic set pieces, almost worthy of Star Wars, but more believable! Quality production and effects. Better yet are the deeply worked characterisation and intelligent dialogue and plot: Did anyone else ever play Traveller (RPG)? It's got a very clear personality this series. Unique and a must have on the shelf.

Prince Caspian is epic, evoking memories of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. (Some of the battle elements may seem too familiar, but they were in Lewis's book.) And it's appropriate for kids (Reepicheep could have come out of a Shrek movie), though the tone is dark and there is a lot of death, albeit bloodless. After two successful films, Disney and Walden Media's franchise has proved successful enough that many of the characters are scheduled to return in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com
One of the Best films I've seen in years, 2008-12-28
Not a young kids film but adults to 9 year olds will love it and play it again and again. The best fantasy adventure film since the Lord of the Rings trilogy and at times it is better than LOTR.

I got this for my 3 boys (10-12) for Christmas. We sat down to watch it and from the open sequence it is all out action with numerous twists and turns, that even I as a lifelong fan of the books was surprised constantly through the 2 hours and 20 odd mins with.

Its not a faithful adaption of the book but close enough but the changes to the original tale really work tremendously well and make this yarn exciting and surprising from start to finish.

The effects are as good as the best CGI and the characters superb, with many of them acting their socks off. I love the telmerine Lord Protector and his General and Lords, they really get the machiavellian aspect of the Court and its intrigues just right.

Prince Caspian and the young Kings and Queens are tremendous as well with just the right amount of seriousness and laughs. The other characters such as the dwarfs, centaurs and Reepicheep the mouse, well words fail me fantastic again.

Oh and lets not forget the White Witch who makes a quite seductive and scary entry for a short period.

This is a dark story with some real tear jerking moments and many awesome battle scenes.

The Lion,Witch,Wardrobe was tame for me, this is so very much better and quite honestly I find it hard to believe it is Disney.

One of the Best films I've seen in years.