Pick of the Week

This week it would have been easy to go with something like the third volume of Invader ZIM or the long awaited release of Ren & Stimpy, but I have decided to give focus to a film you may not of heard of. That film is an Italian suspense film called I'm Not Scared. I was able to see this in the theater, and am I glad I did. It was an amazing film with beautiful cinematography, great acting from a cast of mostly non-actors, and a story that is suspenseful and heartbreaking. I hadn't expected it to be such a wonderful movie.

To give a brief overview, the story is set in a small Italian town in the 1970's, a time when there were a number of kidnappings for ransom. A young boy, when playing with his friends in a field, discovers a child being held captive in a hole in the ground. He doesn't know how to process this, and makes up stories about him, until he discovers that his father may be involved in the capture. It features a wonderful performance by Giusseppe Cristiano, a boy who had no previous acting experience. It was directed by Gabriele Salvatores, who brings a great sense of pacing a structure to the film. And it was written by Niccolo Ammaniti, based on his own novel, who had grown up in this same region when the kidnappings were occurring. It is a great movie not to be missed.

Other releases that I am interested in this week are:

• The Ren & Stimpy Show: The First and Second Seasons - Uncut. Finally coming to DVD, I have not seen these in years. Sad thing to report is that 5 of the 32 episodes have been edited, about 2 minutes of total footage, despite being labeled as uncut.
• Invader ZIM - Horrible Holiday Cheer (Vol. 3). After getting the first set, I haven't been able to get enough of the little alien with dreams of world conquest.
• The Day After Tomorrow. Despite some political trappings, this is one of the best disaster films I've ever seen. With excellent effects, and serviceable acting, a fun ride. I have heard that a 2 disk version is in the works, so I may wait for that.
• Gothika 2 disk SE. A decent film, I have the single disk release, not sure if I'll spring for this.
• Raising Helen. I passed on this one in the theaters, but I like Kate Hudson and have heard some decent things about so I may give it a rental.
• Kamikaze Taxi. I love the title. This is a Hong Kong actioner which looks to be interesting.
• Eerie, Indiana: The Complete Series. I remember watching this years ago, a sort of Twilight Zone for the whole family.
• Taxi: The Complete First Season. I never really got around to seeing this, but the clips I have seen look hilarious.