Fox
This week: Ang Lee's "Life of Pi," a spiritual survival tale about a boy and a tiger lost at sea on a lifeboat, took home more Oscars (four) than any other movie this year, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score.
Also new this week is the making-of-"Psycho" biopic "Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, the animated kids' flick "Rise of the Guardians" and the sobering dramedy "Smashed" with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul.
'Life of Pi'
Fox
Box Office: $117 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% Fresh
Storyline: Ang Lee directs this existential adventure based on the book by Yann Martel that tells the story of Pi Patel, the son of an Indian zookeeper who hitches a ride with his family aboard a freighter bound for Canada to begin a new life there. When a brutal storm hits and the ship goes down, Pi finds himself adrift on a small lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, orangutan, rat and a hyena as they fight for survival in the open Pacific.
Extras: The Blu-ray highlight is the 63-minute "A Filmmaker's Epic Journey," as well as a making-of featurette, "Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright" and a gallery of stills and storyboards. The Blu-ray 3D edition has deleted scenes and VFX progressions in 3-D; the standard Blu-ray has them in 2D only.
We Say: Lee deservedly won the Oscar for Best Director for this achingly beautiful movie filled with swirling, dreamlike, occasionally phosphorescent images of animals both in the ocean and on land (if you have 3-D capabilities, the added dimension is used effectively by Lee to pull viewers into Pi's world). As an adult Pi talks with a writer about his pursuit of God via different religions, Lee's metaphor-laden masterpiece challenges viewers to look beyond the literal to find spiritual enlightenment in this fantastical, moving story.
'Hitchcock'
Fox
Box Office: $6 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 63% Fresh
Storyline: Based on the nonfiction book "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho'" by Stephen Rebello, this dramatic biopic follows the challenging business and marital partnership between Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), during the making of "Psycho." The Master of Suspense goes dark and obsesses about serial killer Ed Gein as he prepares to make one of the most shocking movies of its time ... but he needs his wife's support to pull it off.
Extras: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain a deleted scene, "Remembering Hitchcock," "Becoming the Master: From Hopkins to Hitchcock," "Obsessed with Hitchcock," commentary by Rebello and director Sacha Gervasi and several more behind-the-scenes featurettes.
We Say: Although it only scored one Oscar nomination — for Best Makeup and Hairstyling — Hopkins gives a spot-on performance as the lumbering director with an eye for his leading ladies (played wonderfully by Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson). But it is Mirren as the whip-smart, dutiful wife that stands by her man despite his faults who gives this real-life Hollywood story its strength and heart.
'Rise of the Guardians'
DreamWorks
Box Office: $102 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 74% Fresh
Storyline: This animated feature follows a group of immortal heroes with extraordinary abilities called the Guardians who join forces to protect the hopes and dreams of children everywhere when an evil spirit known as Pitch tries to take over the world. "Rise of the Guardians" features the voice talents of Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Chris Pine, Jude Law, Isla Fisher and Dakota Goyo.
Extras: All versions contain commentary, several behind-the-scene featurettes and even an interactive dream guide to help you interpret your dreams. The Blu-ray also has additional scenes, the Jack Frost Snowball Showdown video game that you play using your remote, and a Rock, Paper, Scissors with Sandy video game. There is also a Blu-ray 3D combo pack if you want to bring the theatrical 3-D experience home as well as an Easter Gift Pack with two wind-up hopping eggs.
We Say: This post-"Shrek" DreamWorks effort plays like a superhero flick for grade school kids, and it's that energetic young audience that will respond most favorably to the exhausting, frantic storytelling. The rest of us that graduated high school might find the story too "junior," but it's hard not to be impressed with the dazzlingly detailed animation.
'Smashed'
Sony
Box Office: $376,597
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% Fresh
Storyline: Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) are a couple that enjoy drinking together and having a good time. When Kate's boozing starts to affect her career as a teacher, she decides to go to AA, but Charlie doesn't stop. As Kate gets sober, she begins to realize that her marriage is probably doomed unless they can get on the same page.
Extras: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain commentary with Winstead and director James Ponsoldt, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes and a Q&A on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
We Say: This sobering dramedy features a standout performance by the underappreciated Winstead. Even though the shift in tone between serious drama and comedy is often jarring, "Smashed" still feels authentic in its exploration of alcoholism and how it unravels relationships.
Also New This Week:
"Willow" Blu-ray
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" Blu-ray
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" Blu-ray
"Sound City"
"Tristana" Blu-ray
"This Must Be the Place"