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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.

Let the doldrums continue to continue.

January 24, 2006

Another member of the Die Hard 2 Hall of Fame - Movies that can't be shown on a plane: Flightplan (Widescreen) (2005)

Jodie Foster is, at a minimum, reliably high quality even if the material isn't. Given the reviews and box office for Flightplan, this is likely one of those cases. I would have loved to watch this movie during my recent plane flight, when I was able to cram five movies into two flights, but, alas, there are no movies about scary plane rides allowed on planes. Included on the disc are two featurettes and a director's audio commentary with Robert Schwentke.

For reading the visitor's log at M.C, Hammer's house: Repo Man (Collector's Edition) (1984)

I have a friend who used to be a repo man…sort of. Really, he worked dispatching actual repo men out to, you know, repo. Unfortunately, he doesn't look like Harry Dean Stanton, which would be awesome. Actually, for the ladies, it's more too bad he doesn't look like a young Emilio Estevez. Wait, did the ladies think 1984 Emilio Estevez was hot? I have no idea. In any case, this Reagan-era film about a young repo man and his repo mentor is being released in a nice collector's edition DVD. Included on the disc is an interview with Stanton; deleted scenes and analysis of the deleted scenes with director/writer Alex Cox; a featurette with producers Jonathan Wacks and Peter McCarthy and Cox where they re-explore the set and scenes of the film; audio commentary with Cox, executive producer Michael Nesmith, casting director Victoria Thomas, and actors Sy Richardson,
Zander Schloss and Del Zamora.

For anyone looking for a good Disney animated film to show their children: The Aristocrats (2005)

A better documentary about comedians than funny movie, The Aristocrats suffers greatly from the hype. Billed as a hilarious film about a filthy joke, the film is actually just a film about a filthy joke. It's a joke that makes people laugh, but for the most part, it's a joke that only makes other comedians laugh, at each other's telling of the joke. Occasionally, the joke itself is funny, such as when it's told by Sarah Silverman, but otherwise it's mostly just an exercise in trying to be filthier. While that occasionally provokes a chuckle, rarely does it make you belly laugh. Perhaps something special is to be found on the extra features. Included on the disc are an audio commentary featuring directors Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette; a highlight reel; a featurette where the comedians tell some of their other favorite jokes; clips of the "Be an Aristocrat" contest winners; extended and additional footage and much more. It's an impressive set.

January 31, 2006

For necrophilia fans everywhere: The Corpse Bride (Widescreen) (2005)

For collaboration number 37 with Johnny Depp, director Tim Burton decided that Depp's usual animated acting wasn't enough, so he took it to another level. This animated tale of a man who accidentally marries a corpse also stars the voices of Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracy Ullman, Albert Finney and Christopher Lee. Included on the DVD set are featurettes on music, animators, Burton, voices, puppets and production.

For women who have been bowling lately: In Her Shoes (Widescreen) (2005)

In Her Shoes is the first film adaptation of a book by the reigning queen of chicklit, Jennifer Weiner. If the box office results are any indicator, it may be the last. Surprisingly, the film is pretty good, though certainly below the level you would expect from director Curtis Hanson, the man behind L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys, and 8 Mile. Toni Collette is typically outstanding, as is Shirley Maclaine. Even Cameron Diaz is well cast; though you get the distinct feeling she isn't doing a whole lot of actual acting. Unfortunately for fans of the book and movie, there isn't a whole lot to explore on the DVD. Enjoy the three featurettes.

For really not living up to the word "legend", no matter the context: The Legend of Zorro (Widescreen) (2005)

When you make a sequel to a movie that was, in retrospect, surprisingly good and surprisingly popular, it's probably not a good idea to make a crapfest. One of the most universally panned films of the year, The Legend of Zorro is just that. Bringing back cast members Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones is certainly a good idea, but an unnecessary plot about their (Catholic) characters divorcing (in the 1850s) and adding a precocious kid probably wasn't. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with director Martin Campbell (where he will hopefully apologize to fans of the first film); deleted scenes; four featurettes: (stunts, visual effects, the party; and trains); two multi-angle scene featurettes and other assorted extras.