Week of November 18

by Philip Yu    November 17, 2008

New on DVD this week is Pixar's ninth straight box-office smash, Ben Stiller's hilarious war movie parody, the sequel to a girl- powered sensation, and a look back on the life of a brilliant writer.

Pick of the Week

WALL-E Toys. Cars. Monsters. Bugs. Is there any story Pixar can't tell? The animation wizards have done it again with the out-of-this-world tale of a little robot with a very big heart. Hundreds of years in the future, the people of Earth have packed up and escaped to the stars, leaving behind WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) to clean up their massive mess. His lonely routine is fatefully interrupted when he encounters the sleek search robot EVE, setting in motion a fantastic comic adventure across the universe.

Controversial Comedy

Tropic Thunder "I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude!" Take a journey into Hollywood's hysterical heart of darkness with director/star Ben Stiller's hilarious movie-within-a-movie satire of the film biz, action flicks and the outrageous personalities that inhabit them. Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black are pampered actors on the set of a Vietnam War movie who are thrust into real-life danger and forced to become the fearless commandoes they're portraying in order to survive. Be warned: you'll never look at war movies, awards shows or Tom Cruise the same way again.

Girl Power

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Never underestimate the power of the Pants. America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn return for their next chapter as lifelong friends on the edge of womanhood. As the girls embark on separate paths for their first year of college, seeking adventure and dealing with heartache, they remain in touch by sharing their experiences with each other as they always have -- with honesty, humor and a magical pair or jeans.

You May Have Missed...

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson The doctor is in. Acclaimed documentary director Alex Gibney takes a probing look into the uncanny life of pioneer gonzo journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Narrated by Johnny Depp, with an iconic soundtrack, this fast-moving film recounts the major touchstones of Thompson's tumultuous life -- from his intense and ill-fated relationship with the Hell's Angels to his deep involvement in Senator George McGovern's 1972 presidential bid. It's a wild-eyed tribute to a truly unique figure.