Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is now available on Amazon Instant Video. Based on the bestselling novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, An Unexpected Journey is the first leg in what will become The Hobbit trilogy, following the adventures of a younger Bilbo Baggins who goes on an epic adventure with a band of rough and tumble dwarves. If you're hoping for a movie that sticks close to the book, you'll be disappointed, but this is still a must see for any Tolkien fan. Read our review here.
In honor of the recent Cannes Film Festival, consider watching a past Grand Prix winner, Life is Beautiful (1997). Streaming on Hulu right now, the Italian film is a beautiful, moving story about a Jewish man who uses his imaginative humor to protect his son from the horror of life in a Nazi concentration camp. At times hilarious and at times heart-wrenching, this one is a classic.
It's hard to go wrong with Dr. Seuss. The Lorax (2012) featuring the voice of Danny DeVito, is now streaming on Netflix. In standard Seuss style, the film is visually fantastic and silly. The story is about the forest-creature called the Lorax, a grumpy businessman, and a boy who helps his city re-discover the wonder of trees. The environmental message is perhaps a little heavy-handed, but this is nonetheless a great pick for the family. Read our review here.
If you're into Westerns and crime shows, consider catching the Longmire season 2 premiere on Hulu. The television series follows the crime investigations of Walt Longmire, widower and sheriff of a fictional Wyoming county. The premiere of season 2 aired on A&E on May 27.
