DVD Pick of the Week: The Ramen Girl

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope that this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles and what follows are not necessarily reviews, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists that I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

The Ramen Girl. Before seeing this title on the new release list, I had never heard of the movie. Since I am so unfamiliar with the title, it seems an unlikely choice for pick of the week. However, it's a movie that looks like it could be quite good, and features a plot that reminds me of the excellent 1985 film Tampopo. Supposedly, this actually is a remake of that film, only with some slight modifications to give it a bit more of a Western slant for American audiences. I know, I know, no modifications should be needed, but it need not necessarily translate to a bad movie. In any case, the story concerns an American girl, played by Brittany Murphy, stranded in Japan after breaking up with her boyfriend. She becomes a student to a ramen master and in turn learns about herself and love. I really want to see this. Can anyone attest to its quality, or lack thereof?

New in Town (also Blu-ray). This is one of those generic looking romantic comedies that has helped keep my movie attendance down. I had no interest in this when it first arrived on the big screen, and I still don't. The movie features Renee Zellweger as a big city girl sent to a cold, snowy town to try and turn around a failing plant. Here she is a fish out of water who becomes enamored with a local played by Harry Connick, Jr. I don't know, it may have a moment in it, but overall it looks rather weak.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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