Kirby Ultra

Declared unfit for military service during World War II, scrawny Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) gets a chance to serve his country when he undergoes a procedure that transforms him into the ultimate super soldier: Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield, Cap must defeat the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), a Nazi scientist who hatches his own plan to take over the world with the help of a powerful cosmic artifact. Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci co-star in this exciting actioner, based on the Marvel Comics icon. 123 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD 7.1 Master Audio, DVS, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish, Portuguese; audio commentary; featurettes; deleted scenes; bonus short "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer" (2011); bonus digital copy. Also includes a DVD version of the film. Two-disc set.

The Marvel Comics superhero Captain America was born of World War II, so if you're going to do the origin story in a movie you'd better set it in the 1940s. But how, then, to reconcile that hero with the 21st-century mega-blockbuster The Avengers, a 2012 summit meeting of the Marvel giants, where Captain America joins Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk and other super pals? Stick around, and we'll get to that. In 1943, a sawed-off (but gung-ho) military reject named Steve Rogers is enlisted in a super-secret experiment masterminded by adorable scientist Stanley Tucci and skeptical military bigwig Tommy Lee Jones. Rogers emerges, taller and sporting greatly expanded pectoral muscles, along with a keen ability to bounce back from injury. In both sections Rogers is played by Chris Evans, whose sly humor makes him a good choice for the otherwise stalwart Cap. (Benjamin Button-esque effects create the shrinky Rogers, with Evans's head attached.) The film comes up with a viable explanation for the red-white-and-blue suit 'n' shield--Rogers is initially trotted out as a war bonds fundraiser, in costume--and a rousing first combat mission for our hero, who finally gets fed up with being a poster boy. Director Joe Johnston (The Wolfman) makes a lot of pretty pictures along the way, although the war action goes generic for a while and the climax feels a little rushed. Kudos to Hugo Weaving, who makes his Nazi villain a grand adversary (with, if the ear doesn't lie, an imitation of Werner Herzog's accent). If most of the movie is enjoyable, the final 15 minutes or so reveals a curious weakness in the overall design: because Captain America needs to pop up in The Avengers, the resolution of the 1943 story line must include a bridge to the 21st century, which makes for some tortured (and unsatisfying) plot developments. Nevertheless: that shield is really cool. --Robert Horton

Marvel Comics' God of Thunder hammers his way onto the silver screen in director Kenneth Branagh's action-packed epic. Banished from the realm of Asgard and exiled to a mortal life on Earth, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) attempts to reclaim his powers--and magical hammer Mjolnir--in an effort to return home and foil the sinister machinations of evil adoptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston). With Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin. 114 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD 7.1 Master Audio DVS, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish, Portuguese; audio commentary; featurettes; deleted scenes; theatrical trailers; bonus digita l copy. Three-disc set. Also includes a DVD and a Blu-ray 3D that requires a 3D television, a 3D Blu-ray player, and special glasses to reproduce the original theatrical experience.

Of all the folks in long underwear to be tapped for superhero films, Thor would seem to be the most problematic to properly pull off. (Hypothetical Hollywood conversation: "A guy in a tricked-out, easily merchandisable metal suit? Great! An Asgardian God of Thunder who says stuff like thee and thou? Um, is Moon Knight available?") Thankfully, the resulting film does its source material rather proud, via a committed cast and an approach that doesn't shy away from the over-the-top superheroics. When you're dealing with a flying guy wielding a huge hammer, gritty realism can be overrated, really. Blending elements from the celebrated comic arcs by Walter Simonson and J. Michael Straczynski, the story follows the headstrong Thunder God (Chris Hemsworth) as he is banished to Earth and stripped of his powers by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) after inadvertently starting a war with a planet of ticked-off Frost Giants. As his traitorous brother Loki (the terrific Tom Hiddleston) schemes in the wings, Thor must redeem himself and save the universe, with the aid of a beautiful scientist (Natalie Portman). Although director Kenneth Branagh certainly doesn't skimp on the in-jokes and fan-pleasing continuity references (be prepared to stick around after the credits, Marvel fans), his film distinguishes itself by adopting a larger-than-life cosmic Shakespearean air that sets itself apart from both the cerebral, grounded style made fashionable by The Dark Knight and the loose-limbed Rat Packish vibe of the Iron Man series. Glorying in the absolute unreality of its premise, Branagh's film is a swooping, Jack Kirby-inspired saga that brings the big-budget grins on a consistent basis, as well as tying in with the superhero battle royale The Avengers. --Andrew Wright

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This Kirby plush toy is an official, licensed product made by San-ei and imported from Japan. San-ei Kirby plush toys are high-quality, well-made, and safe products. This item measures approximately 5 inches along the longest dimension. The EAN for this product is 4905330121912.

This Kirby Sword plush toy is an official, licensed product made by San-ei and imported from Japan. San-ei Kirby plush toys are high-quality, well-made, and safe products. This item measures approximately 6 inches along the longest dimension. The EAN for this product is 4905330121950.

In Ultra-Talk, David Kirby poses a simple question: What makes a cultural phenomenon truly great? Exploring a wide variety of "king-sized cultural monuments," Kirby argues that one qualification for greatness is that a phenomenon be embraced by both the elite and the general public. Further, he argues, it must be embraced repeatedly over time.Kirby turns his critical eye to subjects that have been studied and written about, sought after avidly, discussed passionately, and even resisted vigorously around the world. Auto racing, Dante, folk music, food, Leonardo da Vinci, films, poetry, religion, striptease, television, and the internet are just some of the topics he examines. In Rome, heads of state kneel before Bernini's statue of Saint Teresa in ecstasy, says Kirby, and so do people who can't read. And everyone watches TV.Ultra-Talk pays homage to the work of two towering writers and critics. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Giacomo Leopardi both stated that a book was valid only if it had been accepted by both an intellectual elite and a vast public. Kirby would have added a second requirement: that the book's--or cultural monument's--popularity must have traction over time. By standing on the shoulders of Goethe and Leopardi, Kirby offers a way to read, see, and savor a post-theoretical worldview that everybody can share.

Nintendo DS Manual

Technical Information:Compatible Game System WiiGenre Action Number of Players Multi-Player (up to 4 Players) Rating Explanation Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

Run, float and fight your way through the adventure games as Kirby, gulping down enemies as you go. Kirby can inhale enemies and spit them out as stars, but the main gameplay comes from swallowing foes and copying their abilities, then using the abilities to defeat other foes and advance past obstacles.

Kirby's back and ready for a bellyful of adventure, in Kirby Squeek Squad. When someone steals some strawberry shortcake, the pink powerhouse sets out after them, learning new skills. All the classic floating, jumping and battling of a classic Kirby game are here, but with a massive boost. You'll mix and match abilities that Kirby copies, by using the stylus to drag them together inside Kirby's belly (located on the touch screen). The powers themselves now have the ability to affect the environment, as well as foes. Burn trees and grasses with the Fire ability, freeze water with the Ice ability. In sub-game mode, this game also features multiplayer fun for up to four players, using either Multi-Card or DS Download Play over DS Local Area Network.