Latest DVDs, CDs, books: October 25
A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week:
DVDS
“Captain America: The First Avenger” (PG-13): Deemed unfit for World War II service, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers for a secret research project that transforms him into a Nazi-fighting supersoldier in this comic-book adaptation featuring Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci and Dominic Cooper.
Elsewhere on the recent-release front, it’s inner city vs. outer space in “Attack the Block” (R) as teen gang members defend their South London turf after an alien invasion. And Disney returns to the Hundred Acre Wood for another animated installment of “Winnie the Pooh” (G) .
Turning to movies that never played local theaters, the comedy “Father of Invention” (PG-13) stars Kevin Spacey as an infomercial mogul who’s imprisoned after one of his products maims thousands. Julie Delpy writes, directs and stars (alongside William Hurt and “Inglourious Basterds’ ” Daniel Bruhl) in the horror tale “The Countess” (not rated). And “The Office’s” Jenna Fischer plays a dental hygienist whose life is spiraling out of control in the comedy “A Little Help” (R).
Leading today’s documentary lineup: “The People vs. George Lucas” (R), which explores the love-hate relationship “Star Wars” fans have with the creator of that galaxy far, far away.
CDS
Coldplay, “Mylo Xyloto”: It’s pronounced “my-lo zy-letoe” or, as their record company calls it, “money in the bank.”
The new album from bombastic Brits Coldplay is pretty much a guaranteed hit, because as usual, the band pushes all the right buttons: The ballads will make your heart burst, and the rockers are sure to get stadiums full of fans up on their feet, lighters in hand.
While the record’s name may be kind of out there, the same can’t be said of its songs.
Also in stores: Michael Buble, “Christmas”; Chairlift, “Something”; Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”; Vince Gill, “Guitar Slinger”; Gringo Star, “Count Yer Lucky Stars”; Jedi Mind Tricks, “Violence Begets Violence”; Justice, “Audio, Disco, Video”; Toby Keith, “Clancy’s Tavern”; John Prine, “The Singing Mailman Delivers”; She & Him, “A Very She & Him Christmas”; Surfer Blood, “Tarot Classics”; Tom Waits, “Bad As Me”; Scott Weiland, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”; and Brian Wilson, “In the Key of Disney.”
BOOKS
“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson: The best-selling author paints a candid portrait in this biography based on dozens of interviews with Jobs as well as more than 100 of his family members, friends and foes.
On the fiction front, John Grisham’s “The Litigators” centers around two ambulance-chasing lawyers and a burned-out young attorney who find themselves involved in a real case involving a pharmaceutical corporation not accustomed to losing in court.
Also hitting shelves: “Charles Dickens: A Life” by Claire Tomalin; “Christian Louboutin” by Christian Louboutin; “A Christmas Homecoming” by Anne Perry; “The Christmas Note” by Donna VanLiere; “City of Whispers” by Marcia Muller; “Confessions of a Guidette” by Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi; “Destined” by P.C. Cast; “Jerusalem: The Biography” by Simon Sebag Montefiore; “The Night Eternal” by Guillermo del Toro; “Phantom” by L.J. Smith; “Red Army: The Radical Network That Must Be Defeated to Save America” by Aaron Klein; “The Snow Angel” by Glenn Beck; and “When Elves Attack: A Joyous Christmas Greeting from the Criminal Nutbars of the Sunshine State” by Tim Dorsey.
