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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Fault’ carries heavy emotional weight

Rick Bentley Mcclatchy-Tribune

Romance and a familiar monster are in this week’s new DVD offerings.

• “The Fault in our Stars,” B-minus: A young couple meet at a cancer support group.

A gentle approach when making an emotionally charged movie allows an audience time to connect with the characters and then be moved by events that happen to them. “The Fault in our Stars” takes a more forceful approach. An unrelenting assault on the heart creates less of a sense of personal connection and more of a sigh of relief when it’s over.

Shailene Woodley gracefully slides between being afraid to allow anyone into her heart and giving in to the passions and exhilaration that come with getting so close to someone.

• “Godzilla,” B-minus: Director Gareth Edwards tries to deal with some character development and the franchise mythology, but in the end, the film is 123 minutes of Godzilla smashing anything that gets in his way.

• “Think Like a Man Too” D-plus: All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas. The nearly complete lack of laughs is reason enough to suggest that this production filmed in Las Vegas should have stayed in Las Vegas. What makes this waste of talent so much worse is that it’s the sequel to the endearing and funny 2012 release “Think Like a Man.”

One of the biggest mistakes is that the men and women head in separate directions for bachelor and bachelorette parties. What made the original film so good was watching the interplay of these couples. Their rocky road to romance was a journey worth taking, especially the efforts by the characters played by Michael Ealy and Taraji P. Henson to connect.

• “Hannibal: Season 2” B-plus: Creepy and well-crafted series that provides more insight into the early days of one of the most terrifying killers in film history, Hannibal Lector. Mads Mikkelsen turns in a brilliant performance as the central character in the series.

The set includes all 13 episodes plus special features that include select episode audio commentaries with the cast and crew, a feature-length documentary on the making of episode 205, plus featurettes on the style of Hannibal Lector and the prosthetics and effects in the show.

Also new on DVD:

“The Roosevelts: An Intimate History”: Seven-part documentary by Ken Burns that weaves together the stories of the Roosevelts.

“Prisoners of War: Season Two”: Israeli series on which Showtime’s Emmy-award winning “Homeland” is based.

“Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 Fused: Season 2, Volume 3 and 4”: Team works covertly to protect the Earth.

“Hawaii Five-O: The Fourth Season”: Police drama played out against a Hawaii backdrop.

“The Dead 2”: Zombies feast on the people of India.

“Scott & Bailey: Season Two”: Explores the personal and professional lives of two female detectives.

“Marvel Knights: Eternals”: A look at the ancient warriors by author Neil Gaiman and artist John Romita Jr.

“Arrow: The Complete Second Season”: Contains all 23 episodes plus the one-hour season one recap episode, “Year One.”

“Death in Paradise: Season Two”: Detective Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is still trapped on the Caribbean island of Saint-Marie.

“Ben 10 Omniverse: Galactic Monsters”: Adventures of the alien-transforming kid hero are presented in five stories.

“Secrets of Her Majesty’s Secret Service”: Learn about the spy agency popularized by Ian Fleming’s James Bond.

“Sleepy Hollow: Season One”: TV series about Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) awakening in modern times.

“Slugterra: Return of the Elementals”: New member is welcomed to the Shane Gang.

“Bones: Season Nine”: Bones (Emily Deschanel) and Booth (David Boreanaz) must address serial killer’s threat to murder five people if they marry.

“CSI: The Fourteenth Season”: Includes the 300th episode of the procedural series.

“DCI Banks: Season Two”: Stephen Tompkinson returns as Chief Inspector Alan Banks in three crime stories.

“The Battery”: Two former baseball players travel back roads of a post-plague New England.

“Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends”: Orange Blossom tries to deal with a big problem on her own.

“Good Witch’s Family”: Evil blows into town in the form of Cassie’s long-lost cousin Abigail.

“Father Brown: Season One”: Mark Williams plays a Catholic priest who has a talent for solving crimes.

“James McNeill Whistler & the Case for Beauty”: A look at Whistler’s art.

“Jungle Master”: Features voice talents Victoria Justice, David Spade, Josh Peck and Jane Lynch.

“Petals on the Wind”: Sequel to “Flowers in the Attic” starring Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn.

“South Park: The Complete 17th Season”: Animated adventures of Kenny and the gang.

“The Big Operator”: Mickey Rooney plays a shady labor union boss.

“Friend 2: The Legacy”: Tale of power corrupting all is set 17 years after the events of the first movie.

“Spartacus: The Complete Series”: Contains all 39 episodes of the cable series.

“Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship”: Ella and her friends embark on a series of adventures on Elephant Island.

“Warrior Princess”: Inspired by the true story of Queen Ahno of Mongolia.