((Ital precede))) Editor’s note: This week The Chief launches a new entertainment column by local movie buff Bryan Raiser. The column focuses on the hottest new DVD movie releases.

Ready to take a flaming axe to that annoying kids DVD but looking for something of quality to replace it? Look no further than this week’s kid masterpiece: The Pirates! Band of Misfits. The Aardman team (Wallace and Gromit, Shawn the Sheep, Chicken Run) is back and again they’re serving up delightful claymation. Based on Gideon Defoe’s book The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists, silly pirates try to win a pirate of the year competition and of course the only way to do that is with zany adventures. Up to and including the invading of Charles Darwin’s boat, a villainous Queen Victoria and a parrot, which is actually a dodo bird. Those familiar with Aardman will be familiar with the story of bumbling-leading-man-makes-mistakes-alienates-but-friends-help-in-nick-of-time-everything-works-out plot. Sure, that’s as tired as most parents after a full Saturday afternoon, but in the end the visuals are so friendly that it’s difficult not to enjoy yourself.

•••

Your adult comedy fix can be fully satiated with Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest, The Dictator. This movie really should have been called NOT Borat, since everyone assumed it was another public stunt comedy. In fact, this is a straight-up, scripted, rapid-fire comedy. Bruno detractors are right to be cautious but if you like funny, you’ll like The Dictator.

•••

Quality TV series lovers can rejoice for the Season 2 release of Boardwalk Empire. This is a fantastic series about Atlantic City during prohibition with Steve Buscemi heading up a remarkable cast. Definitely worth your time.
All are available at Highland Video, the best/last video store on Earth.