This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: December 27, 2008

A bit of a screwy schedule this week, but here are the releases

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 at 1:46 AM

This is obviously going to be a limited week in terms of news and information and this week's DVD releases continue the trend as the following DVDs release on December 27 and obviously aren't today's releases as the Christmas holiday has thrown a kink in the release dates which is why Death Race, Burn after Reading, Hamlet 2 and American Teen all hit DVD on Sunday the 21st. For my take on those releases click here for last week's rundown. As for this week we have a group of three Paramount releases, which will them be followed by a more traditional week on December 30.

Eagle Eye
	Eagle Eye is one of those films that may play a lot better at home than it did in the theaters, since it has one of the dumbest plots ever conceived. Films like this traditionally are easier to swallow when you didn't have to drive somewhere, pay for parking, pay for tickets, watch 15 minutes of trailers only to feel bamboozled by the end of the feature. I gave the film a theatrical review equalling to a "C-", but once I finally get a chance to pop the Blu-ray in I wouldn't be surprise if I enjoy it much more the second time around.

The Duchess
	Now here is a film I don't expect to enjoy the second time around, seeing how the first time I gave it a "C-" considering it did nothing to elevate itself above the traditional story of the aristocracy. All of the award season promotion for this film has been centered on the set design and the costumes, and for good reason, those are the only two things worth talking about. How Ralph Fiennes' name is even in the ring for a Best Supporting Actor nod is beyond me and it is one more reason to take the Golden Globe nominations with a grain of salt.

Ghost Town
	I actually just finished watching Ghost Town before writing up this column. I was watching it on DVD and didn't get a chance to surf the features just yet and will probably ultimately review the Blu-ray edition, but I will say I didn't laugh as much as I did the first time around – at least not as much as I remember laughing the first time around… However, the story is still cute and there are some chuckles, but perhaps it's because I am spending time with my family and neither my sister or mother are big Ricky Gervais fans so the mood in the room was a little bit of a downer. Ghost Town, however, is a definite rental and perhaps a buy for those that find it really good. My recommendation is to stick with the rental and give it a second turn in a couple years… But the BBC version of "The Office" instead, it's many better spent.

Baghead
	Ugh, this movie had potential, but the ending is awful. Now, do consider the majority of critics disagree with me on this one as it has a 87% rating on RottenTomatoes which doesn't exactly jibe with my D+ review. Can't please everyone can yah? The idea behind the film is to make a "funny, truthful, endearing film that, maybe, just maybe, was a little bit scary, too." I found it to be none of those things, if not for a couple of creepy moments. The idea of a guy with a bag on his head staring at you is scary, but if the rest of this movie is supposed to be funny, truthful or endearing than those parts flew right over my head.

• Resident Evil: Degeneration (Blu-ray & DVD)
• Savage Grace
• Beethoven's Big Break
• Johnny Depp Triple Feature (From Hell / Benny and Joon / Edward Scissorhands) [$13.99]

• High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Extended Edition)
  Releasing on February 17, 2009
• High School Musical 3: Senior Year
  Releasing on February 17, 2009
• Battle in Seattle
  Releasing on March 10, 2009
• The Lodger
  Releasing on February 10, 2009

• High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Extended Edition)
  Releasing on February 17, 2009
• The 400 Blows – Criterion Collection
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• Collateral Damage
  Releasing on April 7, 2009
• Taking Lives (Extended Cut)
  Releasing on April 7, 2009
• Final Destination
  Releasing on April 7, 2009
• American History X
  Releasing on April 7, 2009
• The Wedding Singer
  Releasing on April 7, 2009
• The Robe
  Releasing on March 17, 2009