Recommendations: July 6

The Amazing Spider-Man - This should have been in my recommendations for last week, as The Amazing Spider-Man was actually released on Tuesday.  This is a reboot of the series and focuses on Peter Parker's origins and high school years.  While I really wasn't eager to see a reboot of the series (no matter how bad Spider-Man 3 was), I thoroughly enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man.

Savages - Oliver Stone's latest movie, Savages follows two pot growers (Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch) after their shared girlfriend (Blake Lively) is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, causing them to seek out retribution.  While Kitsch's movies haven't exactly done well, I usually enjoy Stone's movies so I'll be checking this out.

Treasure Planet - It's the 10th Anniversary since Treasure Planet was first released, so Disney's releasing a special edition of it.  Based on the book of the same name, this animated film takes the classic story and sets it in space.  You can't go wrong with that.

Born on the Fourth of July - This is being re-released as part of Universal's 100th Anniversary, just in time for both the Fourth of July and the release of Oliver Stone's latest movie.  This is one of my favourite Oliver Stone movies, so be sure to check it out - although, perhaps not as part of your Fourth of July festivities, as it isn't exactly pro-America.

Barbarella - The 1968 cult film is being released onto Blu-ray this week.  Barbarella stars a much younger Jane Fonda in the titular role and the film follows her on her very sexual journey to find Durand Durand (after whom the band Duran Duran would be named).  Everything I've read about this movie suggests that it's both really bad and really good.

Through the Door - The first book by Canadian Jodi McIsaac Through the Door tells the story of Cedar McLeod as she is plunged into a world where the Celtic myths are all real.  I first heard about this book through a Facebook ad, where it was compared to a Diana Gabaldon novel; I've since also heard it be compared to Stephen R. Lawhead.  If you like magic this definitely seems like something to check out.

The Kite Runner - This is a really intense novel, following the life of Amir from his childhood in Kabul to his adult life in the US.  Amir's life is chronicled against the tumultuous events that have shaped Afghanistan in the last thirty years.