There’s a lot of stuff that comes out all the time, and the companies are want your attention and mostly…your coin. But, you know, it’s your coin and you have to take care where you spend it. With these posts we try to take you through recent releases so you can make up your mind. If you find the info here to be of use, do us a favor and purchase stuff from Amazon through us. Especially if you were going to buy the stuff anyway. That gives us kickbacks, which help pay for things. Like the server. And coffee. And therapy. We thank you.
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[ad#longpost]Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close gives you a young boy on a quest as a means of showing grief and how it’s dealt with. Oskar is trying to deal with the fact that he lost his father on 9/11. As his means of doing so, he goes on last adventure that he believes his father had planned for him: one involving a key…and finding the lock it fits in. With Tom Hanks as his father and Sandra Bullock as his mother, plus an excellent supporting cast (including the finally Oscar nommed Max Von Sydow), the film is dramatic and emotional and worth viewing. The audio and video on this Warner Brothers release are both superb, even though this wouldn’t be the sort of film I would necessarily say required the hi-def treatment. Bonus bits are woefully short, though, as you get a making-of, a featurette on newcomer actor Thomas Horn, a featurette where cast and crew discuss 9/11 and then some rough footage of Von Sydow at work. No commentary. Again, worth seeing once–decide for yourself whether or not you require it on your shelf. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
I can see where there’s not going to be a lot of middle-of-the-road reactions to I Melt With You, the Male Road to Male Destruction Movie Starring Males. The males in question are Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven and Christian McKay. They wind up at the beach for an annual get together, being college buddies now in their mid-40s. They drink. They do drugs. They party. But there’s plenty happening just below the surface that a tragedy and a reminder of a promise from the past will mess with their heads in a major way. Fans of the actors involved might want to rent this, but it’s probably not the sort of thing you want to watch drunk and/or depressed. Just saying. The Magnolia Blu-Ray release comes fairly stacked, with a commentary with the director, Lowe & Piven and another with the director, co-writer and cinematographer. There’s also behind the scenes material, deleted scenes, interviews and more. The hi-def treatment here looks okay, but it didn’t blow me away and this film doesn’t scream hi-def regardless. Again, perhaps worth a rental but just don’t watch it at a Bad Time. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
Sometimes the Weinstein Company throws their weight behind a film from an award-seeking perspective and you can see their point (Shakespeare in Love) and sometimes you can’t (Chocolat). And while My Week With Marilyn doesn’t hit the heights of the former example it’s nowhere near the latter. While the supporting characters are quite good: Branagh has some excellent moments and Judi Dench is Judi Goddamn Dench Don’tcha Know, it’s Michelle Williams actually becoming Marilyn Monroe that sells this thing. Say what you want about the rest of the film–and many have–but I don’t think you can touch her performance. I kept forgetting I was watching Williams. Damn good job there. So it’s worth watching, yes–and the Blu-Ray? Well, the video and audio here both seem to be excellent, but you have a small amount of bonus-ness. There’s a director’s commentary and an all-purpose featurette. This really cries out for a commentary with Williams (one with Branagh and Eddie Redmayne as well would be perfect) and a bit more behind the scenes stuff. My hope is that this is the rush-it-out-near-the-Oscars edition…and a better one is due. Had Williams won, that would have been certain…now, not so sure. Rent it first and see if you want to buy…but it is worth seeing regardless. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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It’s funny about Breakout Kings…I remember when I watched the pilot (which I checked out because Wire vet Domenick Lombardozzi was in it) I thought, “This show is okay…but man, Jimmi Simpson is the reason to watch this.” And they appear to know that…because while a member of the ensemble in the pilot, he’s front and center on the cover art here. And yes, the show is a decent “guilty pleasure” show…kind of like the closest thing we’re going to get to Suicide Squad. Shot is this: to catch escaped convicts…enlist the services of some convicts who are good at escaping. It’s a decent premise and it works. The Fox release here has all thirteen first season episodes across four discs. You get some audio commentaries, deleted scenes, interviews, and a featurette about the character T-Bag, who makes an appearance here from Prison Break. The features are nice, but to own something you really need replay value…features or not…and if you’re hardcore on the show, the $1.50/episode price point might make sense. Sample it and assess for yourself. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
The Killing from AMC hits Blu-Ray from Fox, with all thirteen episodes across three hi-def discs. The shot is this: a pair of detectives are put on a homicide investigation of a seventeen-year-old girl. Each episode lasts a day and thus you get two weeks worth of seeking the killer. Not only do you have the mystery of the crime itself, but you get the family of the victim trying to deal with what’s happened and also some other ramifications as things unfold. If you like crime series but would like to check out something that doesn’t have the glitz of CSI, then this might be up your alley. Worth checking out as long as you bear in mind it’s a slow burn series, not one that you can just jump in with one episode and make your decision. The Blu-Ray treatment here is decent, with an extended season finale, deleted scenes, two commentary tracks, gag reel and interviews. The Blu-Ray is actually cheaper than the DVD as I type this…so that’s a no brainer. Although I would suggest checking out the show first (rent or Netflix) before diving in and purchasing. As always, the question of replay value comes into view…and some people can rewatch crime dramas…some can’t. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
BFS returns with another BBC series, hitting Region 1 DVD. It’s the third series of Land Girls, covering the activities of the group of the title, formally known as the Women’s Land Army, during World War II. Yes, it could be construed that they were geomancers of some kind, but no: it was women brought in to handle the agricultural side of things now that all the men had been shipped off to deal with the war. With this five-episode set, you get Hoxley Manor being turned into a hospital after the local actual hospital gets bombed. You also get new girl Iris (played by Lou Broadbent), one of the other girls has a missing husband who may resurface and other such drama ensues. No bonus bits and the per-episode cost is around $7…but considering this may be the only way to see it (I can’t seem to find if it’s played/is playing on American TV at present), it may be the only way to snag it. The first season is available on Netflix, so other seasons may eventually follow suit. At that price point, sample before buying however you can manage it. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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Reindeer Games moves to Blu-Ray with the Director’s Cut from John Frankenheimer, this being his last theatrically released film. The shot is this: Ben Affleck is in prison. Has a buddy in prison. Buddy in prison has penpal out of prison. Upon buddy getting killed and Affleck getting out, Affleck discovers penpal is Charlize Theron. Affleck pretends to be his buddy. I don’t think anyone can blame him. Especially because he had no idea buddy was being played to wind up as part of a casino heist. And Affleck’s character, not being the buddy, has to fake his way through the best he can. This is the director’s cut (with the same features) that hit DVD over a decade ago. The film didn’t do all that well at the outset, and throwing close to twenty minutes more on the running time doesn’t necessarily improve it. The bonus bits are a commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette and alternate/deleted scenes from the theatrical cut. The hi-def video and audio aren’t that great IMO and this film doesn’t scream hi-def anyway. About the only reason I can see to snag this over the DVD is that…well, this is only $8 at the moment. Yikes. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
The Town saw Ben Affleck getting back into the director’s chair and also in front of the camera as well, giving us a quite serious heist film which also starred Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm. So it’s not enough that you run a caper, yes? One of the witnesses, who you’re sure isn’t able to testify in court it’s you–is the woman that you have a thing for. Recipe for disaster? But of course. More than hijinks ensue. I know that a lot of people liked the film–hell, I liked the film–I thought it was quite the solid feature. I know this. But does it warrant an “Ultimate” Collector’s Edition? First things first: this isn’t its Blu-Ray debut. Indeed, the extended cut hit previously. In that first go-round, you got both theatrical and extended cuts (with commentaries by Affleck on both) and a series of behind-the-scenes bits. Now you also get a new alternate ending, a commentary on that alternate ending and a new making-of docu. And there’s the collectible bits: a map of Charleston, film prop reproductions, a behind-the-scenes book and more. Also, I don’t recall the Blu-Ray release from before looking anything but good…and this one looks good as well. I know there should be some difference seeing as how you’ve gone from one Blu-Ray disc to two to house the various cuts (and even I can do that math). But I can’t see the difference without comparing the two side by side. Also, this Ultimate release has an Ultimate price tag: almost three times the price of the original Blu-Ray release. So if you love this movie–I mean seriously love it, it might be worth plonking coin. Otherwise, rent it, glean the new stuff and move on. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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It only makes sense for the Warner Archive, while the focus is on Edgar Rice Burroughs due to the recent release of John Carter, to release the 1966 TV series Tarzan on Region 1 DVD for the first time. While silent films gave us Tarzan on the big screen back in 1918, it took until the 60s to get the Ape Man on the small screen. The show would last for two seasons and fifty-seven episodes and would feature Ron Ely in the title role (he would later go on to play Doc Savage as well). All thirty first season episodes are here across two releases, each with four discs each. From Warner Archive, this is a MOD title and has been remastered–it doesn’t look pristine, but then again…it is from 1966. So bear that in mind. The price point per episode is around $2.75, which isn’t terribly for the fan that wants access to this stuff and can’t really get it any other way. Sadly, no bonus bits…but it’s a legit release, so that’s something. Rent it or Netflix it if possible if you want to sample it before purchasing. (Click here to buy Part 1 from the Warner Archive. Click here to buy Part 2 from Amazon.)
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Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel is one of those docus that you need to see if you consider yourself a cinephile of any stripe. You especially need to see it…if you’re not immediately in agreement that you need to see it. It’s not because he’s got one of the best profitability track records in filmmaking history. It’s not even because he knows how to crank out films that are, if not high art, then at least deeply enjoyable. No, it’s because he discovers and influences new talent…and even if you don’t know why Corman is important to your moviewatching history, trust me…he’s influenced somebody you love. They talk to everybody from Joe Dante to Eli Roth and Robert DeNiro to William Shatner. And you get to see the man work and you get a history of his work. Granted, the Blu-Ray treatment isn’t completely necessary–this is a docu with a lot of archival and interview footage, after all–it does look good considering, and is only $4 more than the DVD as I type this. You do get some bonus bits: extended interview snippets and personal messages to Roger from some of the people interviewed. Definitely worth watching–and Corman aficionados will want to own. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
A young reporter stumbles onto a great secret, having to do with a model ship, and runs off into rollicking adventures with his dog Snowy. That’s the synopsis. And yet, as I revisit The Adventures of Tintin, two problems with the movie itself come back to me. One: I didn’t give a damn about Tintin himself. He bored the hell out of me. Indeed, Snowy was a more interesting character. And when Haddock arrived, at last the film had some energy to it. I have been told more than once that Tintin doesn’t have much to him in the books, so maybe if you’ve read the books you were expecting that and all was well. And two: Tintin’s character design himself I found very Uncanny Valley-ish. The other characters all had a bit of animated caricature about them…but Tintin they tried to be Too Human…and it creeped me out the whole time. So yeah, the film didn’t work for me–but I realize I’m no doubt in the minority again. Regardless, this Blu-Ray sports a decent array for those awaiting the inevitable More Mongo edition that will come out before the inevitable sequel. Audio and video are both excellent. You also have a making-of feature, a character retrospective, a look at the cast and characters, a design featurette, motion capture info, a featurette on Snowy, a music featurette and more. No feature-long docu, no commentary. If you do purchase, know you’ll be doing it again later–that’s all I’ll say on the subject. B0034G4P4Y
Another film that probably would have fared better if marketing had known what to do with it–posters and so forth seemed, to me anyway, to mark it as a straight-up refusing to grow up sort of comedy. And the “straight up” part of that is what’s lacking, as instead you get Charlize Theron as a Young Adult author (the source of the brilliantly layered title) going back home to try to steal her old beau from his family and coming to terms with her life along the way. Worth watching for everybody involved (but especially Theron and Patton Oswalt), it’s going to resonate with anybody staring down the barrel of getting older, no matter how they’re dealing with it. Oy. The Blu-Ray release from Paramount, even though this isn’t a screaming-for-hi-def sort of flick, looks and sounds pretty damn fantastic. It’s not bare bones, either: audio commentary with director Jason Reitman and other crew members; a making-of; a scene deconstruction; an extended Q&A with Reitman and deleted scenes. Not everybody’s cup of tea to own, just on replay factor reasons, but if you do want to own–the Blu-Ray’s only $3.50 more. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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Okay, so here’s my problem: I might be a Looney Tunes purist. I don’t know. But full disclosure: the animation style of The Looney Tunes Show puts me off from jump. Do I expect them to be able to ape the classic style? Not necessarily. I’m not sure I know what I want them to do. But I tell you this to disclose my problem. The show’s problem? It’s a show for kids when the original cartoons simply weren’t. But there you go: it doesn’t appear to be targeted at me anyway, especially when you consider the setup, where everybody lives in a single area and hijinks just ensue. And I’m not sure who this DVD is targeted at, either: another four episode job, putting the per episode price point at over $3 each. And no bonus bits. Wait for a full season set. For the price of buying the first three volumes of this, you could get the Platinum Edition Blu-Ray for your kids instead and show them some real Looney Tunes. Sorry to be a bitter old man, but there you have it. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
As the Pink Floyd re-issue madness starts to draw to a close, for those people who can’t afford the Uber Mongo Edition of The Wall there is some solace in this: the three-disc Experience Edition version from EMI. Yes, you have the first two discs, which forms the original album, remastered. But the really exciting bit is the third disc, entitled “Work in Progress.” This third disc has twenty-seven demo tracks including “The Doctor” (an early version of “Comfortably Numb”) and “Sexual Revolution” (which would later show up on Pros on Cons of Hitch Hiking, the Waters solo album). I am a hardcore Floydian (hardcore enough to aim for the Uber Immersion version of the set at some point in the near future). A mid-level hardcore Floydian might be satisfied with this re-release and good on them. The album still sounds fantastic. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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There’s just something about European cult cinema of the 60s and 70s. It’s so…very much itself. It’s where you can get weird smoothies blended together from sex, art, surrealism, and the slightly disturbing. That’s the case with Baba Yaga, hitting Blu-Ray from Blue Underground. And comic book geeks, know this: it’s a comic book movie by definition. Yes, it’s based on the work of Guido Crepax (who I’m familiar with) and his Valentina series (which I’m less familiar with). And the Valentina of the original title gets involved with the sorceress of the new title and hijinks, sex, dreams, death and sex ensue. Also look for Ely Galleani as an S&M doll that shouldn’t be sexy, but is. (It will all make sense when you see the film. Or not.) Anyway, because this is Blue Underground, they do the hi-def treatment up right, with as good a video and audio presentation for this 1973 film as you’re going to get. And the bonus bits are ported from the DVD: an interview with the director, a documentary on Crepax, deleted and censored scenes plus a comic-to-film comparison. Now, yes, there’s nothing new bonus wise, so double-dippers might want to think twice. But if you do desire to own it for the first time, it’s only $3 more in hi-def than it was in DVD. So that’s a no-brainer. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
So the marriage of Roger Corman and SyFy progresses. And we try to eventually run out of animals to have attack mankind. Thus: Camel Spiders. Granted, it’s a good choice…these bastards get huge and spiders of any size are a bit unnerving. But give them Miracle Gro and most people with sense want to run screaming. The shot here is familiar: the critters catch a ride to the United States, decide they like it here…and go apeshit. Well, spidershit. Deaths and hijinks follow. Now…it’s a Corman film. And it’s a SyFy film. And it’s a When Animals Attack film on top of all of that. Which means that if you watch this with some friends and alcohol, you’re almost guaranteed a good time. I don’t know anyone who really takes these things seriously-seriously, so there’s that. Also, while the video and audio are good (this one doesn’t necessarily warrant hi-def regardless), there are no bonus bits whatsoever. So I can’t imagine who would want to own this. Maybe if you’re a C. Thomas Howell completist? No idea. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
Before diving into Embodiment of Evil, bear in mind that this is the “final” chapter in a Brazilian horror trilogy. I had never heard of the previous two films before–which I think is a terrible shame since they have two I’m-so-60s-midnight-movie-it-hurts titles: At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul and This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse. Genius. This marks the return of director Jose Mojica Marins, who also plays the lead madman, Coffin Joe. So he’s back at the character after forty years away. Nice. Joe is getting out of prison and wants to pick up where he left off–finding a woman who can bear him a son. His idea of “dating,” however, involves cannibalism, screwed up hallucinations and lots of torture and gore. I realize that while he was in prison Match.com was invented and he probably didn’t get the memo…but still. Meanwhile, some other memories of Joe’s past are after him as well–some real and some imagined. In a word, the film is pretty messed up. If you enjoy foreign horror films that make you wonder just WTF you’ve tuned into, then this is right up your alley. And this is the first time it’s hitting Region 1/A anything, since it’s been previously available seemingly every place but here. Synapse brings it to the table for us, giving you a DVD/Blu-Ray combo. You get a fairly solid hi-def presentation here with a little bit of bonuswork: a making-of and some premiere footage. I would recommend you don’t just buy this outright unless you know it’s directly in your wheelhouse. But again, fans of foreign horror will want to at least take it for a test drive and then see if the replay factor tips in their favor. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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A pair of new releases are out from the Warner Archive. First we have Living in a Big Way, starring Gene Kelly. According to their press materials, the film’s hardly ever screened and yet Kelly termed the dances in it some of his best. It’s from 1947…Kelly has returned from The War and is dealing with both the problem of homeless veterans and the fact that’s he’s due to be married very quickly upon returning. Fans of this will want to check it out as the Kelly hardcore will enjoy a film that they probably haven’t been able to catch reliably until now, and this is finally an official Region 1 DVD release. No bonus bits, but those wanting a Kelly collection will want to snag it. (Click here to buy it from Warner Archive.)
Also we have The Sky’s the Limit; this time we’re talking about Fred Astaire. This 1943 film gives you Joan Leslie as a magazine photographer and Astaire as a seeming civilian. He wants her–she thinks he’s a louse for not being involved with The War. The trick is, of course, that he is–he’s just in town for an eight day furlough and is trying to keep a low profile. Hijinks and dance numbers ensue. Again, it’s for the hardcore Astaire fans who have been itching for a Region 1 release. Everyone else should check it out as a rental if possible…but no bonus bits live it as a strictly completist buy. (Click here to buy it from Warner Archive.)
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54 is the 1998 film that had Mike Myers in a rare dramatic role, playing Steve Rubell, that man behind the famous/infamous disco club in New York, Studio 54. Ryan Phillippe is on board to give us our window character into the world of sex, drugs, partying and disco, with Neve Campbell and Salma Hayek providing support. The film is worth watching to see Myers, but this Miramax/Lionsgate Blu-Ray release doesn’t give much to warrant much beyond a Netflix or rental. The audio might be good but the video is not great–at least not need-it-on-Blu-Ray great. And this isn’t a hi-def screamer anyway. Myers completists might want to end up owning, but wait for a serious sale. No real bonus bits to speak of. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
Part of the fun of getting films from around the world is seeing what can be done with various genres by different people. Enter Marko Zaror, Chilean asskicker. He plays Mandrill, a code-named super-bounty hunter badass on the trail of revenge for the death of his parents. And now he’s getting his chance. If you are a hardcore fan of the fu, then you are used to watching films that are primarily about the fight sequences and not much else…so this shouldn’t bother you, the fact that the film itself isn’t terribly stunning on its own. Features are a small behind the scenes bit and a look at some fight scenes–both short bonuses. This isn’t a film that screams Blu-Ray either, since it’s been processed so that it isn’t crystal clear and is sort of “grindy.” But this is worth a rental or a Netflix if you just need a bit of throwaway action to scratch that particular itch. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
National Lampoon’s The Legend of Awesomest Maximus. It wasn’t “Oh hey, Tony Cox is in this…that’s cool” or “So that’s what Rip Torn has been doing with his time.” No it was…”Haven’t we already done this?” Wasn’t this Epic Movie? No, I’m confused…it was actually Meet the Spartans that I was thinking of. And that’s the problem: they’re all just sort of…interchangeable and forgettable. The Parody Blender genre is a way to make a film for cheap and eventually make your money back through the umpteen ways that a film has to do so these days. That being said, there are people for every film, and perhaps your idea of a great time is to get intoxicated and watch one of these with friends…especially one with characters named King Erotic and Hotessa…if so, then more power to you. But own it? On Blu-Ray? One with no bonuses? Probably not. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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Fox is porting some DVD family releases over to Blu-Ray. We start off with the teen girl mermaid story, Aquamarine, featuring a pre-Nancy Drew Emma Roberts. Two friends discover a mermaid who’s out to find love and willing to grant the girls a wish if they can help her out. Hijinks thus ensue as both the mermaid and another popular girl who head-to-head for the eye of a lifeguard. Bonus bits you get a director and producer’s commentary plus scene-specific commentary from the cast. You also get some other featurettes including auditions, clothing and deleted scenes plus some others…all of which makes it a decent array for the target audience. Trouble is, this isn’t the sort of film that screams hi-def–and doesn’t blow my mind in the format regardless. When you look also at the fact that the DVD price (which is where this stuff got ported from) has dropped to less than $7…not quite sure who should snag this. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
Ferngully is, quite frankly, a film that I missed, having come out in 1992 and, not being Disney, not really drawing me in at the time. It also looked a helluva lot like a Don Bluth film (it isn’t) and I was never much into his stuff. But I know many people who have a fondness for the environmental fairies-teach-humans-something and fairies-fight-bad-environmental-evil-guy flick. The film doesn’t resonate with me like it does with many, but I know some will be happy for this hi-def upgrade. I will say that the cover art is poorly chosen, as it does look like one of those knock-off DVDs I see at Publix…you know, “Judo Grizzly” or some such rubbish. We again have a direct port of features: a commentary which includes the director and art director Ralph Eggleston (Art Director on Up); a script-to-screen comparison feature with optional commentary from the screenwriter; a making-of; a featurette about Tim Curry’s musical number sequence and a vintage featurette. Now this isn’t the sort of restored animated feature we’ve seen from the likes of Disney and Warner Brothers…and I don’t have the DVD here to compare it to. It’s not cranking my tractor but it might just be my lack of nostalgia for the film. I will say that this is twice the price of the DVD (with the same features), so take that under consideration, whatever your level of love for it. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
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A decent enough western that’s remembered mostly for an amazing and mental descent down a ridiculously angled cliff on horseback, it’s The Man From Snowy River. In this Australian western, you get a young man who has to earn the inheritance of his father’s ranch. To do this, he sets off to prove himself and, because he’s an overachiever, has to deal with a wild “mob” of horses and also with the daughter of the local rich guy. Local Rich Guy and his brother are both played by Kirk Douglas. Like I said, it has equal moments of corn and satisfaction. The Blu-Ray is decent enough from a hi-def perspective–and this is one of the Fox family releases that really does need to be cleaned up, what with all the shots of horses running like mad. And there’s nothing in the way of bonus bits. You’re again looking at a DVD that’s just $7 vs. this is which is near to $16. So I would say rent it to perhaps check to see if the upgrade is worthwhile. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
And lastly in this array, we do have an actual Don Bluth film, Thumbelina. Born of a flower and waiting for a prince that’s her size (check the name). Torn from her chance at happiness by a series of events that splits up the two lovers so we can have a film, hijinks and adventure ensues until she can be happy again. Again, it’s a Bluth film, and once you get beyond NIMH my interest admittedly wanes. The hi-def audio and video don’t do anything to really blow me away and there’s nothing in the way of bonus bits. And again, you’re looking at this vs. a $5.50 DVD. So unless you just absolutely have to have Bluth on Blu-Ray…save some coin. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
