December Video Releases

December 4

Pirates of the Caribbean:

At World’s End

Second sequel to the blockbuster swashbuckler based – of all things – o a theme park ride. Still, a delightful and involving finale to the trilogy. It is a dark time as the Age of Piracy nears to a close. Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Company has gained control of the terrifying ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and its malevolent, vengeful Captain, Davy Jones. The Dutchman now roams the seven seas, unstoppable, destroying pirate ships without mercy, under the command of Admiral Norrington. Will Turner , Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa embark on a desperate quest to gather the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, their only hope to defeat Beckett, the Flying Dutchman, and his Armada. But one of the Lords is missing — Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), either the best or worst pirate ever, now trapped in Davy Jones Locker, thanks to his encounter with the monstrous Kraken. Director: Gore Verbinski. Stars: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Kevin R. McNally, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Andy Beckwith, Reggie Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Tom Hollander. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 168 min., Drama, Disney.

Superbad

Seth and Evan want nothing more than to lose their virginity before they head off to college. To do that, though, they need to get liquor for the big party that night. With the help of their friend Fogell, a.k.a. McLovin, and his fake I.D., the three of them go on a chase for that elusive booze, dodging incompetent cops while attempting to reverse a lifelong losing streak in one hilarious night. Director: Greg Mottola. Stars: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone, Aviva, Joe Lo Truglio, Kevin Corrigan. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Comedy, Sony.

Releasing December 11

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It has been a long, lonely summer for Harry Potter as he awaits his fifth year of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s bad enough that he must endure living with the odious Dursleys, but he hasn’t received even a note from his classmates and closest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. And there has not been any word from anyone in the aftermath of his confrontation with the evil Lord Voldemort. The letter that does arrive is not the kind for which he was hoping — pronouncing that Harry is about to be expelled from Hogwarts for illegally using magic outside of school and in the presence of a Muggle, namely his obnoxious cousin, Dudley. Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Imelda Staunton, George Harris, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalia Tena, Kathryn Hunter, Evanna Lynch, Gary Oldman, Harry Melling, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Sian Thomas, Jason Boyd, Richard Macklin, Charles Hughes, Susie Shinner, Auror Dawlish, Nick Shim, Ralph Fiennes, Apple Brook, James Walters, James Utechin, Alec Hopkins, Jason Piper. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 138 min., Fantasy, Warner.

High School Musical 2:

Extended Edition

More of the infectious music, high energy dancing and exuberant young cast that created worldwide High School Musicalmania with the original Disney Channel feature. The gang from East High takes the stage at the local country club summer talent show and scheming drama queen Sharpay is at the center of intrigue once more, using her influence to get Troy a job at the club in order to make him her singing partner at the annual show. When Troy arranges jobs for Gabriella and the Wildcats too, Sharpay has to do some fancy maneuvering to keep the others off the stage. Director: Kenny Ortega. Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman. 2007, Musical, Disney.

Releasing December 18

The Simpsons Movie

In the eagerly-awaited film based on the hit television series, Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he himself created. It all begins with Homer, his new pet pig, and a leaky silo full of droppings — a combination that triggers a disaster the likes of which Springfield has never experienced. As Marge is outraged by Homer’s monumental blunder, a vengeful mob descends on the Simpson household. The family makes a narrow escape, but is soon divided by both location and conflict. Director: David Silverman. Voices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Albert Brooks, rock band Green Day, Tom Hanks. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13,87 min., Animated Comedy, Fox.

Balls of Fury

A former ping-pong champ is brought in by the government to infiltrate a high-stakes underworld tournament and bring down the organizer, a feared crime boss. In this secret society, the competition is brutal and the stakes are high. It is the unsanctioned, underground, and utterly unhinged world of clandestine Ping-Pong tournaments. Down-and-out former professional Ping-Pong phenom Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) is sucked into this maelstrom when FBI Agent Rodriguez (George Lopez) recruits him for a secret mission. Randy is determined to bounce back and win, and to smoke out his father’s killer-arch-fiend Feng (Christopher Walken). Director: Robert Ben Garant. Stars: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, James Hong, Terry Crews, Robert Patrick. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 91 min., Comedy, Universal.

Once

Romantic music-infused story of two struggling musicians. When a brokenhearted street musician clicks with a beautiful and feisty keyboardist, the unlikely couple decides they have nothing — and everything — to lose. Over the course of one electric week, the duo writes, performs and records an incredible cycle of songs every bit as spontaneous and soulful as their improbable romance. Stars singer, songwriter and current Billboard chart-topper Glen Hansard (“The Frames”) and newcomer Marketa Irglova as the street musician and a Czech immigrant, respectively, as they write, rehearse and record songs that artistically reveal their unique love story. Written and directed by Hansard’s former band-mate John Carney. Director: John Carney. Stars: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Bill Hodnett, Danuse Ktrestova.. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 86 min., Musical Drama, Fox.

Releasing December 26

Rush Hour 3

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker reunite with director Brett Ratner for an all new adventure that takes them to Paris where they confront deadly Triads, beautiful women, an angry cabbie and an invasive French inspector to uncover the secret at the heart of the Triad syndicate. Half a world away in Los Angeles, Ambassador Han is about to disclose it. In his possession is explosive new evidence about the inner workings of the Triads — the most powerful and notorious crime syndicate in the world. The Ambassador has discovered the identity of Shy Shen, the very crux of the wide-ranging crime ring, and he’s about to reveal it to the World Criminal Court — until he is silenced by an assassin’s bullet. The Triads will go to any lengths to make sure their secrets stay buried, and there’s only one hope for stopping them. Here come Detective Carter and Inspector Lee, who head to the City of Lights to stop the global criminal conspiracy and save the life of the Ambassador’s now-grown daughter, Soo Yung. They don’t know the city, the language or even exactly what they’re looking for, but their race will take them across the city, from the depths of the Paris underground to the breathtaking heights of the Eiffel Tower, as they fight to outrun the world’s most deadly criminals and save the day. Director: Brett Ratner. Stars: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Elizabeth Pena, Tzi Ma, Julia Hsu. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 90 min., Action Comedy, New Line.