Friday, January 13, 2012

Must See Movies For 2012–the Help (Review)

 

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Summary:

The Help, the inspirational summer hit film people can't stop talking about, arrived on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand, December 6, 2011.

The #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the compelling performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. The Help is a courageous and empowering story about very different and extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project.

"Davis and Spencer are both brilliant"
– Owen Gleiberman,
Entertainment Weekly

The Help Blu-ray Combo Pack provides audiences with the chance to delve deeper into the movie through compelling, never-before-seen bonus features, including "The Making of The Help: From Friendship To Film", an intimate look at how the life-changing experiences of close-knit childhood friends director Tate Taylor and novelist Kathryn Stockett led to the creation of the best-selling novel and its transition to the big screen.

Additional bonus includes "In Their Own Words: A Tribute To the Maids Of Mississippi", which is an honest observation of life in the South from real-life maids, including director Tate Taylor's childhood caretaker, Carol Lee; Deleted Scenes; and nine-time Grammy Award®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof", music video from the film's end titles.

In continued efforts to provide consumers with multiple viewing choices and unprecedented quality, value and portability in a single purchase, The Help has been packaged as follows:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada
Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:
• The Making of The Help: From Friendship To Film
• In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi
• Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including "Humiliated", "A Book About Jackson", and "Johnny's Home" (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features:
• Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including "A Senator's Son" and "Keep On Walkin"
• "The Living Proof" music video by Mary J. Blige

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:
• The Making of The Help: From Friendship To Film
• In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi
• Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including "Humiliated", "A Book About Jackson", and "Johnny's Home" (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features:
• Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including "A Senator's Son" and "Keep On Walkin"
• "The Living Proof" music video by Mary J. Blige

1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
• Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including "A Senator's Son" and "Keep On Walkin"
• "The Living Proof" music video by Mary J. Blige

High Definition Digital Download = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
• Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including "Humiliated", "A Book About Jackson", and "Johnny's Home" (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)
• "The Living Proof" music video by Mary J. Blige

Standard Definition Digital Download = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
• Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including "Humiliated", "A Book About Jackson", and "Johnny's Home" (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)
• "The Living Proof" music video by Mary J. Blige

On-Demand
For additional information and pricing, please contact your television provider or favorite digital retailer. Bonus features are not offered with On-Demand.

 

My Thoughts:

The one thing that has changed as a result of starting a family is that my husband and I miss a lot of the new movie releases at the theaters, and have to wait until they come to DVD.  Instead of seeing these movies, we instead bring our daughter to see “G” rated films, with other families.  One of the movies I really wanted to see and missed on the big screen was the Help, which was based on Kathryn Stockett’s best selling book.  Having read the book and loved it, I couldn’t wait to see how the movie compared to this book. 

I can’t imagine that it took Kathryn Stockett so long to find a publisher for this amazing book.  But, I am glad that it was published and that a movie was made about it.  If you missed the Help when it was at the movies, or a reluctant, as you don’t think it is the type of movie for you, I highly suggest you pick it up today.  You will not be disappointed.  My husband watched it with me, and loved it.  And, he is not one for “chick flicks.”  And, I let my parents watch it, and they couldn’t stop raving about it.  My mom even went out the next day to buy the book.

I love the premise of the story -- Skeeter wants to become a writer, which is unheard of in the 1960's South.  But, with the help of Aibileen, a maid, she writes a book.  The film has a deep, emotion storyline that will have you crying one minute and then laughing the next.  The ensemble cast did an amazing job at portraying their characters.  This movie reminded me of one of my all-time favs, Steel Magnolias.  It has been a long time since I can say that a film had a powerful impact on me, and made me appreciate how far we have come as a society.  And, with two daughters of my own, I can't wait to see what they become, without being held back.  If they dream it, they can achieve it!

Buy the Help now at Amazon, or at your local retailer.

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this film from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

 

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