NEW ON DVD: 'The Muppets,' 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Owen Williams The Daily Jeffersonian Published:

Perhaps you grew up watching "Sesame Street," "The Muppet Show," "Fraggle Rock," or "Muppet Babies" on TV, or you're a fan of movies like "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," or the half dozen Muppet movies that have been made over the years. If so, then a small part of your childhood was made more joyful thanks to Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets.

To a child's eyes, the life that Henson and his team brought to pieces of felt, wire and plastic was indistinguishable from reality. Before computer animation came along, the Muppets were the closest thing to magic on screen that a kid could see.

They haven't been on TV or in theaters in over 10 years, but Muppet lover, and recently minted TV and movie star, Jason Segel believed it was time for a comeback and pitched the idea to Disney Studios in 2008.

Now, the whole gang is back for another adventure and the audience is in for a treat. The story follows Walter, a new Muppet character, who lives with his human brother Gary (Segel). While on vacation visiting the old Muppet Studios with Gary and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), Walter overhears evil oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) explain his plan to tear down the studios and drill for oil.

Walter, Gary and Mary seek out Kermit the Frog and convince him to rally the long-disbanded Muppets cast to put on a benefit show and save the theater. From that moment on, it's all laughs, clever songs and too many cameos to count in this charming comedy. And yes, there's magic as well.

"The Muppets" has been rated "PG" for some light adult humor one expensive looking explosion. DVD and Blu-ray copies are available now to rent or buy.


In 2009, the Swedish blockbuster "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" took Europe, and then America by storm. Based on the popular novels by Steig Larson, and starring the fierce Noomi Rapace as the titular character, the film was an international success

A Hollywood remake was unavoidable. David Fincher directs this new version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" that stars Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig as hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist.

Lisbeth is the most fascinating film heroine in recent memory; she's emotionally damaged by her dark childhood, and she wears that gloom like the black clothes and makeup she dons. Lisbeth makes her living as a researcher for a security company but her hobbies are more invasive and illegal.

The story begins as Mikael has just learned he's on the losing side of a libel case brought against him by the subject of his latest exposé and is facing substantial loses to his credibility and his bank account.

Mikael is contacted by an aging but wealthy businessman who seeks his help in solving a decades old disappearance in his family. Wanting to get out of the spotlight, and not having any other financial options, Mikael accepts. Circumstances lead to Mikael hiring Lisbeth as his assistant and the secrets they uncover together are far worse than anyone had imagined.

It's impossible not to compare this remake to the original. The plot points are almost identical, and the characterizations will be very familiar to anyone who's seen the Swedish version but may seem very foreign to those who haven't. The English speaking actors have applied noticeable accents to their speech; the setting is still Sweden after all.

Give credit to the late author of the books, as his writing is the one constant that allows two such well made films to come out of it.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" has been rated "R" for brutal, and often sexual, violence. DVD and Blu-ray copies are available now to rent or buy.

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