Other anime series at home: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas's classic novel has been retold many times, but in this case, it gets the anime treatment. After meeting the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo during an adventure abroad, Albert de Morcerf, the son of a famous French war general, brings the aristocrat home to meet his parents. But there's one problem: Albert's new friend is the man his father betrayed years earlier … and the nobleman is back to exact revenge.

The Queue Review: Frost/Nixon

Netflix synopsis followed by my review. Enjoy!

Ron Howard directs this adaptation of Peter Morgan's popular Broadway play centered on a series of revelatory TV interviews former President Richard Nixon granted British talk show host David Frost in 1977. Nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, the film stars Frank Langella, reprising his Tony Award-winning stage role, along with a stellar cast that includes Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones, Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt.

One thing's for certain, Frost/Nixon is a must own for me. The emotion in this film is exceptional with it's sadness and griping intensity.

I've always thought Frank Langella, who plays Nixon, was a master of his craft and this performance offers no exception. Frost/Nixon is about what happens when two titans go at it; only one comes out on top.

By the end of the movie I felt gratified that America got to hear Nixon's confession, but I also felt sympathetic for a lonely man. This is by far, the best film of 2008 that I've seen so far.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Queue Review: The Wrestler

Netflix synopsis followed by my review. Enjoy!

Mickey Rourke (in a Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated role) stars as retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who returns to the ring and tries to work his way up the circuit for a final shot at defeating his longtime rival. Along the way, he tries to reconnect with his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), while exploring a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, also nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar).

I'm not a wrestling fan myself but you don't have to be to enjoy this film.

I like to call The Wrestler a brutal family movie. It made me feel warm, fuzzy and melancholy all at the same time. A very raw and honest slice of life. You have to watch the special features!

Expectations: New Release Tuesday

Today is a new release day and I'm mostly looking forward to The Wrestler. From what I've heard and the feeling I get, it should be well worth the rental.

I find it rather hilarious That Mickey Rourke punched Chris Jericho in the face. That spoiled brat Jericho deserved it after his little episode on Larry King. When a gracious Rourke professed his respect for the physical sport of professional wrestling, Chris Jericho wanted one thing, to pick a fight. It was clear that Mickey Rourke was not going to stoop to the level of this arrogant pre-maddona, but Jericho just had to have the last word.

Yet it turns out that Rourke had the last punch in the ring. I love it!

The other new release, Frost/Nixon, looks like another good one. I'm also interested in Frost/Nixon: The Complete Interviews (available 4/28) between British talk show host David Frost and Richard Nixon. This should be a good Tuesday.

My Instant Queue Review: Oasis

Netflix synopsis followed by my review. Enjoy!

Hailed as the seminal film of the Korean New Wave, acclaimed director Chang-dong Lee's romantic drama tells the story of two societal misfits (So-ri Moon and Kyung-gu Sol) and their struggle to find love and acceptance. Fate has brought them together, but their families are determined to keep them apart; can they keep their own little world -- their oasis -- intact? A Best Foreign Film nominee for the 2004 IFP/Independent Spirit Awards.

It doesn't matter if you're not considered "normal", true love doesn't care about that. This film warns of the pain ignorance can cause. It reminds us not to judge what we don't understand and to realize that everyone deserves a shot at love.

For the most part I enjoyed Oasis, but I don't believe that everyone is as cynical toward the disabled as this film presupposes. Being in a wheelchair myself I am in no way cut off from romantic love, and have had relationships to prove it.

3 out of 5 stars.

DVD's and blu-ray at home this week

1. The Wrestler (blu-ray: new release 4/21) - Mickey Rourke (in a Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated role) stars as retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who returns to the ring and tries to work his way up the circuit for a final shot at defeating his longtime rival. Along the way, he tries to reconnect with his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), while exploring a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, also nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar).
2. Mars Daybreak (DVD: 6-disk anime series) - Excitement and danger await Gram and his pals in this action-filled anime adventure about the inhabitants of the planet Mars. Suffering under a hobbled economy and a chaotic government, the citizenry can't find work and are reduced to having to make a living by illegal means. Even law-abiding Gram begins to see the attraction of life on the lam, as he soon identifies with the rebellious pirates who've abducted him.
3. Frost Nixon (blu-ray: new release 4/21) - Ron Howard directs this adaptation of Peter Morgan's popular Broadway play centered on a series of revelatory TV interviews former President Richard Nixon granted British talk show host David Frost in 1977. Nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, the film stars Frank Langella, reprising his Tony Award-winning stage role, along with a stellar cast that includes Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones, Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt.

The Queue Review: Moonphase

Netflix synopsis followed by my review. Enjoy!

Working as a photographer for a magazine that runs stories about the occult takes Kohei Morioka (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) to a castle in Germany, where he meets a young vampire (Chiwa Saito) and brings her back with him to Japan. The rest of this supernatural anime follows their hilarious experiences living together as unlikely roommates -- a situation made all that more entertaining especially since one of them is a creature of the night!

Get ready for an adorable, heart warming romance, chock full of supernatural mystery and human drama. Moonphase touches on the fear of being alone and asks the question, who is most important to you?

As an anime newbie I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the PG rating. I personally was in love with this series by the end, but if random anime cuteness throws you off you might want to skip Moonphase.

What made this series stand out for me was its masterful blend of four genre's; action, drama, romance and comedy. Despite the vampire theme, I don't believe the series qualifies as horror, or that it aims to.

The art is spot on with its rich color and sometimes abstract quality. The animation is in a creative league of its own in the castle scenes and later on during Kohei's training. And the English voice acting and dialogue is excellent!

5 out of 5 stars.