How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
December 29, 2005
Taking a look ahead at the week's DVD releases is always dicey for your wallet. Nearly every week, there's a disc that would fit nicely into any size collection. When it comes time to decide what to buy, there are really two determining factors: how much you love the content and the quality of the extra features on the disc. The unreleased studio (film and television) back-catalogue means that every week there's likely something for you.
After several can't miss DVD weeks, the chickens finally come home to roost a bit. There's only one release the past two weeks everyone should have, but unfortunately, it's one of those "cult" things.
December 20, 2005
For anyone who wishes they could get some revenge...on what, I don't know: Four Brothers (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition) (2005)
This movie stars Mark Wahlberg and...some other guys. It has something to do with four guys who were either adopted or foster brothers and their adopted/foster mother is somehow killed. Basically, the whole conceit is an excuse for a revenge/action movie. Nothing wrong with that. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with director John Singleton; featurettes and deleted scenes.
For people interested in what happens at Michael Jackson's house every few months: The Great Raid (Widescreen Director's Cut) (2005)
This story of a 1945 raid by American forces on a Japanese POW camp was a significant disappointment at the box office. However, if you did happen to see the movie, the DVD features are impressive. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with director John Dahl, producer Marty Katz, technical advisor captain Dale Dye, editor Scott Chestnut and author Hampton Sides; deleted scenes; a documentary; outtakes; and featurettes on making the film, boot camp, history, and the Veterans.
For being over 40, unmarried, and still picky enough to demand that someone...Must Love Dogs (Widescreen) (2005)
A romantic comedy that happily stars two people of roughly similar ages (a rarity in Hollywood), Must Love Dogs features Diane Lane and John Cusack trying to find love on the Internet. Ignoring the implausibility that anyone who looks like Lane or Cusack would ever resort to the Internet to find love, the film also features the caveat that Lane's internet love interest must love dogs. Thus the clever title. Personally, as someone who likes dogs but does not love them, I felt that it was inappropriate for me to see the movie. If, however, you do actually love dogs, this DVD includes additional scenes with optional audio commentary and a gag reel.
For everyone, seriously, everyone: Serenity (Widescreen) (2005)
Sadly ignored at the box office, Serenity is an outstanding science fiction action movie. Much has been written on this Web site (and others) about the fate of this film and the television show that inspired it. It is that rare survivor of the Fox network's impressive instinct to kill only the best of their shows. It survived, through long odds, on the loyalty of fans, the devotion of creator Joss Whedon, and the undeniable weight of DVD sales.
Picking up roughly where the Firefly television show unjustly ended, Serenity (the film) follows the crew of Serenity (the space ship) as they are stalked by The Operative, who is tasked with bringing one of the crew back to Alliance custody. All that sounds impenetrable, but there's enough exposition to bring anyone new to the Serenity universe up to speed. Nathan Fillion leads a top-notch cast that is clearly comfortable with each other and the terrific dialogue from writer/director Joss Whedon. Serenity is a terrific movie and the DVD Pick of the Week.
Included on the disc are an audio commentary with Whedon; deleted scenes; outtakes; and featurettes. Whedon always provides breezy and honest commentary that actually adds to the film. While a larger haul at the box office would likely have resulted in a more comprehensive DVD experience (how about a cast commentary?), fans can always hold out hope that there's more to come. Serenity, it seems, may never die.
December 27, 2005
I don't know about you, but when Jennifer Connelly is splashed with dark water, I'm hoping she's wearing a t-shirt: Dark Water (Unrated Widescreen) (2005)
This psycho-thriller about a single mother being terrorized in/by her new apartment building features many exciting and marketable concepts: ghosts, children in peril and Jennifer Connelly. Okay, so none of those things alone has ever been a box office guarantee, but Jennifer Connelly sure is pretty. Included on the disc are an alternate Version Of The Film; featurettes on sound design and making the film; deleted scenes and an audio commentary on one specific scene.
Jessica Alba...bikini...Jessica Alba...bikini...: Into the Blue(Widescreen) (2005)
Perhaps you were not aware, but Jessica Alba wears a bikini in this film. Judging from the reviews, the filmmakers were content with that fact being the basis of the entire film. Frankly, that isn't a bad concept, but really they should have just done a 90-minute swim suit video rather than insisting on punishing everyone with more footage of Paul Walker attempting to put together a comprehensible sentence. While there's some basic plot points...drug lord, undersea divers, stash of drugs, blah blah blah, the only important thing is that shit blows up and Jessica Alba looks nice while wearing very little. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with audio commentary with director John Stockwell that promises to take itself way to seriously; 10 deleted scenes (with commentary from Stockwell, if you choose); and featurettes on the screen-tests and making the film.
For people who always wanted to see an animal lover devoured by his favorite animal: Grizzly Man (2005)
By now, the story is relatively well-known: grizzly bear activist Timothy Treadwell lived with grizzly bears off and on for years, documenting their lives. Ultimately, Treadwell and girlfriend Amie Huguenard were killed by the bears. While there is no footage of that, there is apparently terrifically gruesome audio. Director Werner Herzog uses Treadwell's own footage to build the documentary, with Herzong narrating. Included on the DVD are a 50-minute documentary on the making of the film's music and few other features.
It's a sparse set.
For helping the Walt Disney Company escape bankruptcy for just one more day: Toy Story 2 (Special Edition) (1999)
Disney's brilliant shell game continues, as they pull movies off the shelves for a few years in order to bring out a newer, more "special" edition later. While perhaps slightly purer than other studios, who sell special editions up to the moment they release the "ultimate" edition of a film, it's still a bit shabby, particularly for fans of the film. While I fall into the category of people who don't own the original Toy Story and Toy Story 2 releases (and will likely buy these), those who bought the first editions may be naturally curious about what they're missing. If history is any lesson, not much. Included on this release are deleted scenes and outtakes (roughly the exact same extras as the previous release). Also included are the "new features", a sneak peek at Pixar's next animated feature and a game. Convenient that both new features are essentially advertisements. In any case, with this release, the film's the thing. Toy Story 2 is arguably better than the original, with Buzz, Woody and the rest of the toys returning. This time around, Woody is kidnapped by a fanatical toy collector and his friends have to find a way to save him before their owner returns from summer camp. It's a great movie.
December 20, 2005
21 Hours at Munich (1976)
The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Chicago (The Razzle-Dazzle Edition) (2002)
Code Lyoko: Movie, Music and Mayhem (2003)
Creep (2004)
Cry Wolf (Rated PG-13 Full Frame) (2005)
Cry Wolf (Unrated Full Frame) (2005)
Cry Wolf (Unrated Widescreen) (2005)
ER: The Complete Fourth Season (6-DVD Set) (1997)
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Rated PG-13) (2005)
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Unrated) (2005)
Four Brothers (Full Frame Special Collector's Edition) (2005)
Four Brothers (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition) (2005) Frankie & Johnny are Married (2004)
The Great Raid (Full Frame) (2005)
The Great Raid (Widescreen Director's Cut)) (2005)
Her Name is Carla (2005)
Must Love Dogs (Full Frame) (2005)
Must Love Dogs (Widescreen) (2005)
November (2005)
Party of Five: The Complete Second Season (5-DVD Set) (1995)
Rebound (2005)
Santa's Slay (2005)
Serenity (Full Frame) (2005)
Serenity (Widescreen) (2005)
Vodka Lemon (2003)
December 27, 2005
2046 (2005)
Ab-Normal Beauty (2004)
American Pie Presents Band Camp (2005)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002)
Black Dawn (2005)
Bob the Butler (2005)
Chicago Boricua (2004)
Dark Water (Rated PG-13 Full Frame) (2005)
Dark Water (Unrated Widescreen) (2005)
Empire of the Wolves (2005)
The Football Factory (2004)
Grizzly Man (2005)
Happy Here and Now (2002)
Into the Blue (Full Frame) (2005)
Into the Blue (Widescreen) (2005)
The Path of Evil (2005)
Pterodactyl (2005)
The Shield: Season 4 (4-DVD Set) (2005)
Shooting Gallery (2005)
Toy Story 2 (Special Edition) (1999)
Twisted (1996)
UFC 53: Heavy Hitters (2005)
Undiscovered (2005)
When the Last Sword is Drawn (2003)
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005)
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