In order to prepare yourself for this week’s big Watchmen opening, you could re-read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ original graphic novel, or you could ease the transition between dull ol’ motionless print and super-cool motion-ful movies by taking a look at Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, which combines voice-acting and what the special effects wizards of 1957 would’ve called “the dynamic exploration of the still photograph.” (It’s the worst of both worlds!) And while you’re getting your geek on, consider the latest DC Animated feature, Wonder Woman, which traces the glamazon’s heroic origins from Paradise Island to Washington, D.C. (Full review coming tomorrow.) Or the geeky part of you could meet your elliptical and poetic side and enjoy Wong Kar-Wai’s avant-garde kung-fu epic Ashes Of Time Redux, which may be one of the most beautiful and confounding movies ever to feature flying swordfights.
Also in stores this week are Baz Luhrmann’s flop war-western-romance Australia and the much-maligned surprise hit kidflick Beverly Hills Chihuahua, both of which you may find disappointing inasmuch as they’re really not as bad as you’ve heard. Australia is way over-the-top, but it has its heart in the right place, an infectious sense of daring, and energetic lead performances by Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. And BHC is mostly just bland—not as howlingly offensive as the pre-release buzz would have it. If you’re planning to rent either just to mock them, you might be surprised by how fundamentally entertaining they both are.
And speaking of not-as-bad-as-you-think, let’s close out this week with the first season of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, the original British version of the show that Fox has dumbed down considerably here in the states. In the UK KN, Gordon Ramsay helps revamp troubled eateries by offering sound advice, creative ideas and genuine camaraderie. In the US version, he roars in, throws money at the problem, then roars back out. Advantage: Brits.
7th Heaven: The Eighth Season
(Paramount, $49.98)
Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective
(Warner, $24.98)
Ashes Of Time Redux
Sony, $28.96