How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
December 22, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who think Zooey Deschanel should lend her voice to every movie she's in: (500) Days of Summer
(500) Days of Summer's marketing department had me by the balls months before this one was even released in theaters, so for me to show up on what I believe was its opening weekend is really no surprise to me. What was surprising, however, was how clever, unique and cute this movie turned out to be. It'd never show up on my list of favorite movies on Facebook or anything, but it does rank fairly high with me as far as 2009 movies go since this year, in my opinion, has been regrettably soft.
(500) Days of Summer isn't your typical Hollywood romance, but one that ends in heartbreak. No spoiler alert is necessary, given that (500) Days of Summer dubs itself as "not a love story." (And I'm sure something of that nature appears no less than five times on the DVD cover art). The film stars Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel as two delectably adorable lovebirds who meet, then consequently fall in and out of love over a period of, you guessed it, 500 days. Yes, Zooey's character's name happens to be Summer. It's not like this one is set in Death Valley or anything.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, extended scenes, Bank Dance featurette, Means Cinemash: Sid and Nancy featurette, Not a Love Story: Making Of featurette, Conversations with Zoe and Joseph featurette, "Sweet Disposition" music video by Temper Trap, Filmmaking Specials featurette, audio commentary, digital copy
For people who like having nails on all of their fingers, thank you very much: District 9 (2-Disc Edition)
I'm bound to lose a few readers here, but I just wasn't as captivated by District 9 as seemingly everyone else who saw it. (Hold your fire, please. I'm not finished). My personal issues with the movie reside only in the final quarter/third of the movie, so I won't at this point rule out a repeat viewing somewhere down the line. What did me in was nearly everything that occurred once Wikus adorned the mechanized battle suit. I felt the ensuing action sequences weren't balanced with what had already transpired. And what about its "resolution"? As the closing credits crawled, a dude in my theater yelled, "WHERE'S THE ENDING?" I'm with ya, brother. By the end, you'll come to realize that District 9 was a prologue to an inevitable District 10.
That aside, if you praised the cinematography in Blair Witch, you'll adore District 9's. It sets cinema verite on a whole new level, as the shaky camera technique is combined with frantic pacing and quick edits. I can't even imagine what this thing would have looked like on IMAX.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, audio commentary, The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log (three-part documentary), Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus featurette, Innovation: Acting and Improvisation featurette, Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9 featurette, Alien Generation: Visual Effects featurette, Joburg from Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9 featurette, digital copy
For people who love Jason Bateman, no matter what: Extract
Between Mike Judge's Office Space and its workplace follow up, Extract, the former is the better flick. Perhaps in time I'll grow to better appreciate the Jason Bateman vehicle, which unknowingly from the trailer was solely about his character's suspicion that his wife (Kristen Wiig) is having an alleged affair with the house pool guy handpicked by Bateman.
The movie wasn't without some genuinely funny moments, though. Any interactions between Bateman and Wiig, chiefly the sex/sweatpants issue we were treated to in the trailer (along with a sprinkling of other fine moments), would be the movie's highlights. Well, those, and the time Bateman's character does a bong hit with some stoners (including a mellowed out Ben Affleck). Just about the entire scene, and Bateman's inevitable paranoia, is comedy gold.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, extended scenes, Mike Judge's Secret Recipe featurette
For people who hope Seth McFarlane will do the same for Episodes I-III as he is doing for IV-VI: Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side
Family Guy's parody to Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back – Something, Something, Something, Darkside – finally hits store shelves two years after the show's Episode IV parody, Blue Harvest, premiered on TV. Originally scheduled to be season seven's finale, Darkside will instead be the season finale to the current 2009-10 season, slated to air in May. Like Blue Harvest, the hour-long parody sequel has Family Guy characters recast into Star Wars roles. This includes Stewie as Darth Vader, Chris as Luke Skywalker, Lois as Princess Leia and Peter Griffin as Hans Solo.
An Episode VI retelling, We Have a Bad Feeling About This – itself a parody of the often repeated "I have a bad feeling about this" – is already in the works. In addition to Family Guy, its recast characters will include ones from Seth McFarlane's American Dad! and The Cleveland Show.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, Family Guy Fact-Up featurette, The Dark Side of Poster Art featurette, Family Guy: Episode VI: We Have a Bad Feeling About This table read, digital copy
For people who are surprised they're still milking from the American Pie cash cow: American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Since 2003's disappointing American Wedding, the American Pie franchise has transformed into a series of cheaply produced, direct-to-DVD sequels that bear little resemblance to the popular trilogy that predate them. Save for Eugene Levy, who has appeared in every American Pie chapter as Jim's dad (even though we're sans Jim at this point), hardly anyone crossed over into Band Camp, Naked Mile or Beta House territory.
Even so, it's been reported that The Book of Love returns the series to the "feel" of the original trilogy – a prospect that may have me tempted to go see how it stacks up against American Pie mythology. In The Book of Love, focus returns to East Great Falls High ten years after the first American Pie movie. In a strike of familiarity, the film's protagonists are three hopeless virgins who embark on a journey to lose their virginity courtesy of a sex bible created by Jim's dad.
Disc includes: One the Set of American Pie Presents: The Book of Love featurette, Just the Tips: The Love Manual featurette, American Pie Trivia, American Pie-Cons, deleted scenes, gag reel, From the Set featurette
December 22, 2009
Blu-ray
(500) Days of Summer
All About Steve
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Special Edition)
District 9
Extract
Family Guy Presents: Something... Dark Side
Ichi
It Might Get Loud
Staten Island
DVD
(500) Days of Summer
All About Steve (Rental)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Special Edition)
Blind Date (Widescreen)
Call of the Wild 3D
District 9 (2-Disc Edition)
Extract
Family Guy Presents: Something... Dark Side
Ichi
It Might Get Loud
Kyle XY: The Complete Third Season
Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Three
Spice & Wolf: Complete First Season
Staten Island
Taxi: The Complete Series (Set)
Taxi: The Final Season
WWE: Survivor Series 2009
Year of the Jellyfish