Asa Butterfield in "The Boy In the Striped Pajamas"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
“Another Holocaust Story”

Hollywood loves making movies about the Holocaust. Movies with this theme always find an audience and generally rake in awards. “The Boy In the Striped Pajamas,” now out on DVD, is a view of this event through the eyes of a young boy and for that reason it is even more powerful than other stories have been.

It is based on a novel aimed at “young adults” but it is much too intense for most children and early teens. It is a “holocaust” story that has a tragic ending and though it is believable it is harrowing to watch.

Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is the eight year old son of a German soldier. He lives in Munich with his parents and sister. One day his parents tell him that they are moving to the country where his father (David Thewlis) has a new job. Unknown to Bruno he has become the Commandant of a Concentration Camp.

When they arrive Bruno spies the Camp from his window and thinks it is a farm. He wonders why the farmers all wear pajamas. His mother (Vera Farmiga) is horrified that Bruno has seen the Camp and forbids him from going to the rear grounds of their home. Bruno obeys at first and then becomes bored with his life. This leads him to disobey his mother and head for the “farm.”

There he finds a barbed wire fence and on the other side a boy his same age. His name is Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) and he and Bruno become friends. Shmuel tells Bruno that he is a Jew. Bruno has heard about Jews but does not buy into the hatred his father and others preach.

Eventually this friendship between the two boys leads to tragedy. No violence is shown on screen but the implication of what is happening is horrific to the extreme. For this reason small children should not be exposed to the film.

All of the actors in this movie are good with Farmiga and Butterfield being the best. Farmiga lets the reality of what her character’s husband is slowly creep over her face and into her eyes. Butterfield creates a boy of such innocence that his introduction to the atrocities of the war is painful to see.

“The Boy In the Striped Pajamas” is a good movie with a strong message, but it is difficult to watch and the horror of the film stays with you long after the movie has ended. This is probably just what director Mark Herman intended.

Because it is so horrific in parts it should not be shown to your younger children. Forget it is based on a children’s book and just know it is a movie about the Holocaust with the same impact as “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

Dwayne Johnson is enjoying a big hit with “Race To Witch Mountain,” but the “Mountain” magic started many years ago. Back in 1975 “Escape To Witch Mountain” was released, followed three years later by “Return To Witch Mountain.” In these films Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards played two kids who weren’t aliens but who had paranormal powers.

The special effects were good for the 70’s and your kids can enjoy both these movies now on DVD. They will also get to see Christopher Lee in “Return” as one of the best villains ever. And when they go to see “Race To Witch Mountain” they will get to see an adult Eisenmann and Richards making a cameo appearance.

Sally Hawkins won a Golden Globe for her performance in the comedy “Happy Go Lucky.” And happy go lucky is how you will feel after you watch this DVD. Hawkins plays a school teacher who always sees the positive in everything.

If this movie doesn’t lift your spirits nothing will. The story is full of hope and happiness and Hawkins’ effervescent Poppy is a character you will love. Make sure you get this one to watch.

“Synecdoche, New York” is a movie about life and a movie about the theater. A large ensemble cast brings this story of a daring director (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and his desire to let his art play out. It is a film about love, hate, desires and much more. Hoffman heads a cast that includes Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams and Diane Wiest among others.

The DVD contains a variety of featurettes that help give depth to the movie. They all add something and make the movie that much more enjoyable. So settle down with “Synecdoche, New York” and see some ensemble acting at its best.

Your kids will be very happy to hear there is a new “Dragon Tales” DVD available. This one is titled “Dragon Tales: Our Amazing Pets” and it contains five episodes of this great series that children have come to love.

All episodes have a special pet to focus on in Dragon Land. When the DVD has finished your kids will have many new friends they will want to watch over and over again. So rush out and get “Dragon Tales: Our Amazing Pets!”

Finally we have “Punisher: War Zone.” This time out Ray Stevenson plays Frank Castle, a one man vigilante force. His nemesis in this film is Jigsaw, who is played by Dominic West. These two larger than life characters make for an interesting study in contrasts.

The action comes fast and furious in this movie and it is a battle to see who will be the last man standing. To get the adrenaline pumping make sure you pick up your copy of “Punisher: War Zone.”
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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