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Chris Hemsworth stars in “Thor: Ragnarok.”
(Disney Home Entertainment photo)
“Thor: Ragnarok” (PG-13) – Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor, this time defending Asgard’s imminent destruction at the hands of his evil sister, Hela (viciously embodied by Cate Blanchett). To get there, he will need to face the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in battle, escape imprisonment, cross the universe and enlist a cast of characters from the familiar Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and more. The latest installment has Thor with shorter hair, no hammer (he loses it pretty early on) and an enchanting sense of humor. This Marvel Universe is the gift that keeps on giving.
“Lady Bird” (R) – Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is a high-school senior – rebellious, dramatic and inattentive of reality as she navigates her way through Catholic school, boyfriends, college applications and a deeply felt need for freedom and personal expression. It’s California in the early 2000s, and Lady Bird’s mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf) is left to support the family after her husband loses his job, all the while Lady Bird dreams of an Ivy League education and some culture. It’s a real, touching look at the bonds between mother and daughter, parents and children, and partners in life.
“The Breadwinner” (PG-13) – Eleven-year-old Parvana (Saara Chaudry) and her father tend a market stall in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. They tell stories to pass the time. When a misunderstanding with a local official leads to the father’s arrest, Parvana cuts off her hair and disguises herself as a boy in order to feed her family. She is joined by her friend Shauzia (Soma Chhaya), and both explore the freedom and perils that come with the bold steps she has taken. Bolstered by a fertile imagination and a penchant for storytelling, she sets out to find and free her father before the family is found out. The animation style lends itself lovingly to the story, which is based on the “Breadwinner” book series by Deborah Ellis.
“Faces Places” (PG) – The little gem comes from legendary French New Wave director Agnes Varda and enigmatic street artist JR. The perfectly odd pair take a leisurely journey around rural France, interacting with locals who become the focus of JR’s photographic installations – large-scale portraits printed from his mobile darkroom. It’s an adorable get-to-know-France tour. While Varda engages and quizzes the subjects, JR photographs and pastes the prints to walls and structures along the way. They are complementary souls, artist besties whose friendship develops delightfully right in front of us. No surprise that it’s nominated for best feature documentary in this year’s Academy Awards. No surprise either that when Varda could not make it to the Oscars luncheon, JR took a life-size cardboard cutout to stand in for her. (Subtitled)
New TV Releases
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“The Good Fight” Season 1
“Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” The Complete 3rd Season
“Blue Planet II”
“A Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking” Season 5
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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