This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: June 9, 2009
A mixed bag this week from Woodstock to Eastwood
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A few tidbits before we get started with this week's releases begin with news Howard's End is the film that won the Amazon.com online voting to become one of Criterion's next Blu-ray releases. A release date has not yet been announced, but a preorder has been made available at Amazon.
Next, I previously listed The Soloist for DVD and Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment, but have since been asked to remove the August 4 release date as it was apparently mistakenly added to the official release schedule. I will have an update once Paramount revises their schedule.
Finally, Deadline Hollywood is reporting The Weinstein Company's recent financial troubles have caused the studio to relinquish the DVD and Blu-ray rights to Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds with co-distributor Universal Pictures now set to step in. And now, on with this week's releases…
Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director's Cut | |
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| I am beginning with this one because of a guilty conscience. I have had the DVD edition of Warner Home Video's Woodstock director's cut for about a week and a half now, but haven't been able to muster up the desire to watch it. I did plug it into the player just before starting this post and have it playing in the background, but my lack of interest in '60s music is really going to deter me from being able to finish it. I thought the idea of an Oscar-winning documentary would encourage me to watch this nearly four hour doc filled with '60s tunes, drugs, sex and everything else that happened at the famed festival back in mid-August of 1969, but my lack of appreciation for the music that moved a generation is going to be a tough fact to get over. However, we can still talk about this massive new release because it truly is an impressive collection. First off, this is the director's cut and it is 40 minutes longer than the theatrical release making it 3 hours and 44 minutes. The DVD release comes on two discs and also includes a third disc including three hours of bonus features starting with 18 bonus performances from the likes of Joan Baez, Santana and The Who. A second feature called "From Festival to Feature" is a behind-the-scenes feature chronicling the festival and the filming of the documentary. The goodies included are made up of a ton of collectibles including a 60-page commemorative reprint of LIFE magazine, a fact sheet made up of things such as the number of births during the festival (2 of them) and reproductions of festival material such as tickets and some cool handwritten notes that may have been found around the festival grounds left by festival goers. While I may not be a fan of the music I will one day get through this massive collection, but I can tell you if this is up your alley you will definitely want to give it a once over. Warner has put together an incredible package and the evenly fringed buckskin-covered packaging is sure to satisfy any sense of nostalgia you may have. | |
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Gran Torino | |
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| So, I didn't particularly like Gran Torino as I thought it was a manipulative film attempting to gain your sympathy for a character that never earned it. Beyond that, the acting is incredibly shaky, primarily by the young actors portraying the Hmong family living next door. However, the DVD and Blu-ray edition are #1 and #2 on the Amazon.com sales charts for this week's releases so obviously I am in the minority. I, however, will not discount the fact this film is quality material to stir up conversation. For example, a couple of questions that pop in my head right off the bat: Does Walt earn any sense of redemption by the end of the film? Do actions always speak louder than words? | |
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Paramount Blu-ray Domestic Thrillers Fatal Attraction / Indecent Proposal | |
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| I just posted a write-up on both of these releases together, which you can read right here. The short of it says how much I like Fatal Attraction and how Indecent Proposal not so much. | |
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The Shield – The Complete Seventh Season | |
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| I am going to have to get out there and buy this one since it is the only season of "The Shield" I don't own, but I haven't heard anything about the quality of the final season. Any "Shield" fans out there want to tell me how good (or bad) the final season was? | |
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The International | |
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| This wasn't all that bad, but it's definitely a rental and not a buy. | |
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Fired Up! (Unrated) | |
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| This film actually surprised me, but it too is just a rental. | |
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Crossing Over | |
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| I never ended up seeing this film, but I haven't heard a lot of good things. Yup, that means rental… | |
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- Spinning into Butter
- Nobel Son
- Predator 2 [Blu-ray]
- Shaun the Sheep: Sheep on the Loose
- Reaper: Season 2
- Iron Maiden: Flight 666
- Obsessed
Releasing on August 4, 2009 - Fast and Furious (2-Disc Special Edition) (buy now)
Releasing on July 28, 2009
- Obsessed
Releasing on August 4, 2009 - Wrong Turn 2: Dead End
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - Wrong Turn
Releasing on September 15, 2009 - See No Evil
Releasing on August 11, 2009
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I liked crossing over thought it was very good in fact.
Shield season 7 is probably the best of the series. The story touches upon all previous seasons and each ep is a treat to watch. I don't want to hype it too much but I don't see how any fan could be disappointed.
I'm curious as to what 'game' Harvey Weinstein thinks he invented.
Hide and seek maybe?
@GregM: Good to know, anxious to complete my collection.