This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: July 14, 2009
Yes, [REC] is finally coming to DVD
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It's a mixed bag this week with a few you may want to check out and others you will probably want to avoid. However, the most notable item in this release is in the new release date section at the bottom as Paramount has announced the Centennial Edition of Chinatown, which will include an audio commentary with Robert Towne and special guest David Fincher. Yeah, you are interested in that one aren't yah? Look for it on October 6!
Now for the releases…
REC | |
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| This one is at the top of my Netflix queue and already is listed with a "Short Wait" note as many folks are wanting to get a chance to see it for the first time. I have heard nothing but good things about this film and I will finally be able to check it out for myself and decide if the hype is warranted. Oh, and then I can also watch Quarantine, which I have also heard is pretty good. Can't wait. | |
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Mad Men – The Complete Second Season | |
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| Lionsgate sent me the first season of "Mad Men" last July and after four episodes I had given up on the show despite the first few truly intriguing me. The show went from being about marketing guys and their struggles to becoming a period set soap opera that felt like every other TV drama. Of course, like everyone else, I thought Jon Hamm was a talent, but I have yet to return to the first season to see if it gets any better. To say I haven't watched a single episode of the second season is a no-brainer, but who knows… maybe someone can convince me in the comments this show becomes about something more than who is sleeping with who and actually provides some real drama. | |
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The Haunting in Connecticut (Extended Cut) | |
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| I was surprised to look and see The Haunting in Connecticut has an 18% rating at RottenTomatoes, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since I gave the film a "C" when I reviewed it, which shows up as "rotten" on the review collecting site. However, I think this is a good example of how RT isn't always a reliable determiner of a film's quality. Sure, this may be a C-worthy effort and not worth your money in the theaters, but an average horror in the theaters can easily become an above average at-home experience. The Haunting in Connecticut is a decent thriller, that while it has its problems, should be a worthy rental. Lionsgate did send over the new "unrated" cut, but I haven't given it a peek yet although I plan to. The unrated cut has 10 additional minutes of footage, and while the film was a PG-13 ghost story rather than some kind of a gorefest, I am sure those that have seen it realize there are some opportunities to up the stakes. The Blu-ray comes with both the unrated and theatrical version, an audio commentary on the unrated cut with the director, cast and producers and also includes interviews with the actual people from which the story was based. Fans of ghost stories may want to give this one some serious consideration. | |
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For All Mankind (Criterion Collection) | |
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| I just reviewed the Blu-ray version of this 1989 documentary, which you can read right here. In the review I point out how I am not a person who would ever buy a documentary, but I do enjoy the good ones and this one stands out as just that. If you are a doc fan definitely give it a peek, as the presentation is great and the features are fantastic. However, I still wouldn't buy it as I couldn't imagine myself watching it more than once and if I wanted to I would just rent it. | |
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The Towering Inferno | |
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| I have never seen this movie, primarily because I have never heard anyone say anything all that great about it. However, it does star both Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, which is the reason it is in my Netflix queue. Anyone out there like this film and excited about it hitting Blu-ray? | |
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The Edge of Love | |
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| This one snuck in-and-out of theaters back in March and for good reason, it's not that good. Despite starring Kiera Knightley, Sienna Miller and Cillian Murphy the film just doesn't really work as it should have either been tightened up or turned into a three-hour epic. As it stands it just has too many bumps along the way. You can read my theatrical review right here. | |
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Horsemen | |
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Lionsgate is running things this week just like Summit dominated last week. Horsemen is a film I actually plan on checking out simply because the premise interests me. Could be a good rental, here's the synopsis:
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- Explicit Ills
- I Still Know What You Did Last Summer [Blu-ray]
- Shark Week: The Great Bites Collection
- Van Wilder: Freshman Year – Unrated
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon / Curse of the Golden Flower / House of Flying Daggers Trilogy (Not quite sure I would call this an actual "trilogy")
- Michael Jackson – The Trial and Triumph of the King of Pop
- G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1
- ER: The Complete Eleventh Season
- Grey Gardens
- Leverage: The First Season
- The State: The Complete Series
- Chinatown (Centennial Collection)
Releasing on October 6, 2009 - The Wolf Man (1941) Special Edition
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - Rescue Me – Season Five: Part One (buy now)
Releasing on September 1, 2009 - An American Werewolf in London (Full Moon Edition)
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - Management (buy now)
Releasing on September 29, 2009
- Star Trek (Original Series) – The Complete Second Season
Releasing on September 22, 2009 - South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
Releasing on October 13, 2009 - An American Werewolf in London (Full Moon Edition)
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - Management (buy now)
Releasing on September 29, 2009 - Van Helsing
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - Miracle on 34th Street (buy now)
Releasing on October 6, 2009
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Give Mad Men a chance, the first few were a drag for me too, but it really picks up.
@Eric: What episode did you stop on?
Mad Men is quite possibly the best show on television right now. I understand that it can be difficult to get through the first few episodes, but it's worth it. The payoff towards the end of the season is well worth the slow build up.
It's a great period drama that discusses the changing times of the suburban, middle-class 50s to the influence of television in the hippie-fied 60s. It's more than just this man's family and job, but a dialogue of what was going on at that time. I feel like it's one of the best representations of life in the 50s/60s. But that appeals to me since I'm very interested in American history. If that's not up your alley, then you probably won't care for it.
Brad, I don't recall how you felt about Revolutionary Road, but if you liked it, I'm sure Mad Men will grow on you. They have similar vibes and make incredible attempts at historical accuracy from the set design to the costuming to the nuances of every day life in this period.
If you do get through it, the payoff in the last episode of Season 1 is quite possibly the best scene of television I have ever seen in my entire life. For all the other fans out there, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Perfect writing, directing, acting, design, cinematography. Everything was perfect in this one scene that was the culmination of everything that's been building up the whole season. Season 2 picks up a couple years later, and while the plot dips a bit, it's still an incredible show.
If you like The Wire, which was another of the greatest shows in TV history, Mad Men is similar in that each season has a fairly slow pace, but that gradually builds to an enormous pay off. I urge anyone that hasn't seen Mad Men (or finished Season 1) to try again. It took me a restart or two, but it was well worth the time and effort.
Has [REC] at the top of my queue as well (saying short wait) but they received one of mine today and I should be getting [REC] in the mail tomorrow.
Towering Inferno's a fine movie, worth a watch. The problem is it doesn't live up to the Newman-McQueen billing (or at least what one might expect from a movie with two marque leads). In that respect I'd say it's similar to American Gangster, forget about who's in it and it's an enjoyable watch. It has great special effects, by which I mean they lit sets on fire and had people run through them.
A post 2001 remake would be interesting to see considering what we now know about large buildings catching on fire.
I gave up on Mad Men in second season, too redundant for my liking. How'd season seven of The Shield work out for you, Brad?
Horsemen is the worst seven rip-off I've ever seen!
Is that Crouching Tiger/Curse of the Golden Flower/ House of flying daggers combo releasing on Blu Ray as well?