This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: January 20, 2009

Nothing great on the shelves, but a lot to look forward to

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, January 20th 2009 at 1:42 AM

This week isn't exactly a great week for new releases, but as you will see at the very end of this article I have added a TON of new titles to the database over the past seven days including Quantum of Solace and Wave 3 of James Bond on Blu-ray which will bring us Goldfinger, Moonraker and The World is Not Enough all on March 24. I have also added several new Criterion releases, the X-Men trilogy is coming to Blu-ray as is The Silence of the Lambs.

As for new DVDs you can begin digging into those just below with a few brief comments on each as well as the EVEN MORE section, which includes several new catalog Blu-ray releases.

The Express
	I already reviewed the Blu-ray version of The Express and was pleasantly surprised. This film won't bowl you over with greatness, but it is certainly entertaining throughout and worth a rent.

City of Ember
	I never saw this film, but have heard it is decent and based on its 51% Rotten Tomatoes ranking it sounds like it's a rental at best. The film centers on some kind of underground city whose generator has just failed and it is now time to head back to the surface. I guess it could be cool, but based on the trailers I saw it looked like a lot of CG.

Repo! The Genetic Opera
	I haven't seen this either, but Sara just reviewed it and had some good words for the songs, but nothing all that good for the film itself. I really have no interest in this film whatsoever based solely on its director. Sure, Darren Bousman may be a fine director, but his decision to make three Saw sequels sort of leaves me cold when it comes to considering watching anything else he may deliver.

Saw V
	Sara just reviewed this one too and after catching Saw III in a hotel a few years back I vowed to never watch another one of these films again due to how downright awful that one was. Sara sledged through this fifth installment and while she said it was the best of the four sequels she didn't necessarily offer that opinion as praise.

Max Payne
	I have seen quite a few TV spots for this release as they are tying it into the playoffs and last night's Pitt vs. Syracuse game. However, the movie still stinks no matter what you market it with and once again Fox is banking on the word "Unrated" to trick the little kids into thinking this version has something worth watching in it. When will people learn the shit doesn't smell better just because you pile on more of it?

El Norte
	I have nothing to say about this title just yet as my Blu-ray review copy should be arriving today or tomorrow and I will try and get through it and get a review online as soon as possible. This should be the last time I am late with a Criterion Blu-ray review so hopefully I will be keeping you up-to-date for many months/years to come. I know very little about this title, but I am anxious to give it a first look. For those that like to blind buy Criterion titles have at it, but I should have a little more on it very shortly to hopefully help you make a decision.

Amusement
	Sara just published her review of this title and had a bit of a mixed reaction, which makes me wonder if I should give the Blu-ray a spin or not. When it comes to these manufactured horror films I can't help but believe most people are going to have the same opinion on them; a few scares, but not exactly great. It's the same-old, same-old. It's when people get truly freaked out by a horror that I typically stand up and take notice, such as my frustration with not yet seeing [REC].

The French Connection
	Fox was criticized quite a bit for the clean-up job they did with their Patton Blu-ray with people saying they had removed too much grain and the film had started to look plastic, fake and had that "worked on" feel to it. I have not yet seen the Blu-ray of Patton (even though I continue to eye it in my Amazon cart), but I believe a review copy of The French Connection is supposed to be heading my way. I know a lot of people eat this film up, but after seeing the film for the first time about five or some odd years ago I wasn't entirely convinced. However, I won't be surprised if a second viewing gives me a better appreciation for the film as most films that come with massive expectations rarely manage to live up to those expectations the first time around. One can only hope.

The Notebook (Limited Edition Gift Set)
	Ugh, I did not enjoy this sappy, over-the-top melodrama as it tells the story of the greatest love of all-time, and ever and ever. Blech, this one was too sticky sweet for my taste, but someone must love it as New Line felt compelled to deliver a massive Collector's Edition. Dig in ladies.

Igor
	I never ended up seeing the Weinstein's animated attempt of 2008 that hit with a thud and was forgotten shortly thereafter. I guess I lucked out.

• Magnificent Obsession – Criterion Collection
• King Kong (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
• Moonlight – The Complete Series
• Emergency!: Season Five
• The Rockford Files: Season Six
• Henry Poole Is Here
• The Children of Huang Shi
• Unfaithful [Blu-ray]
• Domino [Blu-ray]
• Election [Blu-ray]
• The Pink Panther [Blu-ray]
• Vacancy 2: The First Cut
• Antwone Fisher [Blu-ray]
• National Lampoon's Stoned Age – Unrated
• Bye Bye Birdie – Girls Night In Packaging

• Punisher: War Zone
  Releasing on March 17, 2009
• In the Realm of the Senses (Criterion Collection)
  Releasing on April 28, 2009
• Dodes'ka-den (Criterion Collection) (buy now)
  Releasing on March 17, 2009
• Il Generale Della Rovere (Criterion Collection) (buy now)
  Releasing on March 31, 2009
• Danton (Criterion Collection) (buy now)
  Releasing on March 31, 2009
• Happy-Go-Lucky (buy now)
  Releasing on March 10, 2009
• Rounders (10th Anniversary Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on April 14, 2009
• To Catch a Thief (Centennial Collection)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• The Odd Couple (Centennial Collection)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• Religulous (buy now)
  Releasing on February 17, 2009
• The Boy In The Striped Pajamas (buy now)
  Releasing on March 10, 2009
• Passengers (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• I've Loved You So Long (buy now)
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• Australia
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• Quantum of Solace (2-Disc Special Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• Quantum of Solace (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009

• Punisher: War Zone
  Releasing on March 17, 2009
• Goldfinger (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• The World is Not Enough (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• In the Realm of the Senses (Criterion Collection)
  Releasing on April 28, 2009
• The Wages of Fear (Criterion Collection)
  Releasing on April 21, 2009
• Moonraker (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2-Disc Special Edition)
  Releasing on April 21, 2009
• X2: X-Men United (2-Disc Special Edition)
  Releasing on April 21, 2009
• X-Men (2-Disc Special Edition)
  Releasing on April 21, 2009
• Brokeback Mountain
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• The Silence of the Lambs
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• Twilight
  Releasing on March 21, 2009
• Passengers (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• I've Loved You So Long (buy now)
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• Rounders (10th Anniversary Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on April 14, 2009
• The Grudge (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009
• Australia
  Releasing on March 3, 2009
• Quantum of Solace (buy now)
  Releasing on March 24, 2009