This week really does not interest me that much concerning the DVD releases. There are a couple of pretty cool re-releases of older movies, but the new movies leave a bit to be desired. Oh well, you take the good with the bad and I move on:
CATCH AND RELEASE
d. Susannah Grant
c. Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis
In Catch and Release, Jennifer Garner stars as Gray Wheeler, a young woman whose fiancé, Grady, dies just before their wedding. She deals with her grief by moving in with Grady’s two roommates, Sam (Kevin Smith) and Dennis (Sam Jaeger) and discovers that Grady may have had some significant secrets. She also gets to know his old childhood friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant), an irresponsible playboy whom she’d previously pegged as one of the least reliable people in the world. While the movie is neither a romantic-comedy nor a drama, it rests somewhere between the two and just never seems to find its place. It is directed by an accomplished screen writer (Susannah Grant, Erin Brockovich) but just seems to throw every movie cliché at the viewer, and hopes one or two of them work. From the giant displays in my local Wal Mart, they are selling this as a rom-com, with a giant Jennifer Garner to sell it to the girls. I will say that I would be tempted just because Kevin Smith is involved in the commentary, which always entertains me.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Audio Commentary – Susannah Grant – Director; Kevin Smith; John Lindley – Cinematographer
- Behind the Scenes – Making of CATCH AND RELEASE
BREAKING AND ENTERING
d. Anthony Minghella
c. Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Juliette Binoche, Robin Wright Penn, Martin Freeman
Read Devin’s review here: “if it had begun poorly I would have been able to adapt to its badness more quickly, but as it is, watching the movie is like having a lovely drive and suddenly driving into an endless chasm.” – 5 out of 10
In his review, Devin mentioned that he really wanted to like this movie, directed by Anthony Minghella. The man won an Oscar for his direction of The English Patient and was nominated twice for his screenplays for The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. It is always exciting to see where a talented writer is going next. With such talent as Jude Law, Ray Winstone and Juliette Binoche in the film, it should have been great. In his review, Devin mentions that the movie started strong, and that would cause even more excitement, but the movie just fell apart in the second half. Jude Law plays Will Francis, a successful London landscape architect with offices in the crime-ridden King’s Cross area. Will falls in love with Amira (Juliette Binoche), the Bosnian immigrant mother of a boy who’s burgling his offices.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- 6 Deleted Scenes
- Commentary by writer/director Anthony Minghella
- “Lie, Cheat, Steal, Love: The Making Of Breaking & Entering” featurette
MUSIC AND LYRICS
d. Marc Lawrence
c. Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett, Campbell Scott
This is a movie that should have been huge. Hugh Grant is the king of this type of romantic comedy. Drew Barrymore has proven she can fit in to the genre just as well as anyone else. As a result, the close to $140 million it made worldwide should come as no surprise. The fact that it made less than half that in the U.S., should come as no surprise either, as it seems like the U.S. is getting a little tired of the formulaic romantic comedies that were once so huge not ten years ago. Hugh Grant plays a washed up singer who is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an aspiring teen sensation. Though he’s never written lyrics in his life, he sparks with an offbeat younger woman (Barrymore) with a flair for words. Well, that is about as cookie cutter as you could expect. After reading that, anyone could set down and type out a script that would probably come pretty damn close to what was finally put up on the screen. Hugh Grant can be brilliant in rom-coms but he needs to get back to the type of scripts that made him great to begin with. Marc Lawrence (Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice) is not that writer. Despite that, it remains the better new rom-com to come out this week, if you really have to watch one.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Additional Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Note for Note: The Making of Music and Lyrics
- PoP! Goes My Heart Music Video
BIG – EXTENDED CUT
d. Penny Marshall
c. Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, John Heard
THAT THING YOU DO – EXTENDED CUT
d. Tom Hanks
c. Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, Tom Everett Scott
Ok, now that I have trudged through the new releases, lets get into what is good this week. The re-releases. First up is a pair of movies by Tom Hanks. The first, and more popular of the two, is his classic BIG. What boy ever wished he would grow up quicker, get away from childhood and get into the real world where he could do whatever he wanted without anyone telling him what to do. Now, look at your life and tell me how many of you miss the innocence of childhood – the ability to play and just be a kid – free with nothing to worry about but what you are going to do that day. Big is a near perfect movie that explores both sides. Tom Hanks plays Josh, a boy who wishes he was bigger at a magic wish machine and wakes up in Tom Hanks body. Now he must deal with all sorts of strange things, like finding a job and developing a romantic relationship with a woman, all while still being a child inside. The movie is one that, evey time I watch it, I wish I was a kid again. Just to play and to be innocent and to use that innocence to just have fun again. That is what a movie should accomplish and this one brings it in spades. Big will be released as a 2-Disc special edition with both the regular cut and the extended cut included.
The second movie is a more recent one, That Thing You Do, Tom Hanks’ feature film debut as a writer and director. The movie takes place in 1964, where an American band, The Oneders, try to capitalize on the recent British invasion (led by the Beatles). When the original drummer (Giovanni Ribisi) breaks his arm, a new drummer, Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) takes his place, adds a little jazz to a recent song the band was developing, and that song heads straight to the top of the charts. Hanks plays the bands manager, while Jonathan Schaech, Steve Zahn and Ethan Embry round out the band. The movie shows the rise to fame for the band, who change their name to The Wonders, and the eventual fall due to creative differences and a woman in the middle (slightly mirroring the fall of the Beatles). It all plays out very well and is a very enjoyable film, worth the double dip. That Thing You Do will also be released as a 2-Disc edition with both the extended cut and the regular cut included.
SPECIAL FEATURES (BIG)
- Theatrical & Extended Cuts
- BIG Brainstorming – An audio documentary by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg using archival audio material of the original creation of the script
- 10 Deleted Scenes with Optional Intro by Peny Marshall
- BACKSTORY: BIG
- Carnival Party Newswrap
- Zoltar Easter Egg
- TV Spots
- 2 Trailers
SPECIAL FEATURES (THAT THING YOU DO)
- Commentary by Tom Everett Scott, Jonathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry & Liv Tyler
- Making THAT THING YOU DO – The Story of The Wonders
- *THAT THING YOU DO! Reunion – The Wonders – Big In Japan!
- HBO First Look: The Making of THAT THING YOU DO!
- THAT THING YOU DO! Title Song Submissions
- Josh Clayton – "Feel Alright" Video
- Trailers & TV Spots
DIRTY DANCING – TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
d. Emile Ardolino
c. Jennifer Gray, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach
When I was a kid, there were two movies that was a holy grail to all the girls I knew – Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing. It was one of those movies that all the girls worshipped and all the boys just kind of scratched their head in puzzlement at. So many girls I knew could quote these two movies line for line. I could quote one line – “No one put’s baby in the corner,” although for a long time, I had no idea who baby was, or why she was put in a corner. However, there are a ton of women out there who absolutely love this movie and this release is for them. In the 1960s, Frances (Baby) goes to a summer camp in the Catskills. Her wealthy family expects her to fit in and make friends of their own class but she soon falls for bad boy, Johnny Castle, the hunky but penny-less dance teacher. When her father finds out, he forbids her to see him. Johnny is entered in a dance contest with Baby, and can only win with Baby. Guess the ending. The movie won an Oscar for “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” The DVD is a 2-Disc edition with a ton of extras. Buy it for your girl and then go out for a night with the guys. She really won’t mind once you put this is in the DVD player and hit play. Then run like the wind.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Audio commentary with writer/co-producer Eleanor Bergstein
- Trivia Track
- “Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze” interview featurette
- Tribute to Jerry Orbach
- “The Classic Story on Stage” featurette
- Deleted Scenes
- Alternate Scenes
- Extended Scenes
- Outtakes/Gag reel
- Original Screen Tests
- Multi-Angle Dance Sequences
- Interactive Photo Gallery
- Jennifer Grey Interview
- Eleanor Bergstein Interview
- Kenny Ortega Interview
- Emile Ardolino Tribute
- Hungry Eyes Music Video
- She’s Like The Wind Music Video
- (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life Music Video
OTHER DVDs TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON
There are a couple of movies here I did not give much time to, but you should be aware they are out. Donnie Brasco is being re-released in an extended edition. It is a great movie that really allows Johnny Depp to shine alongside Al Pacino. The second is a re-release of an extended edition of Revenge, the Tony Scott directed movie that was based on the Jim Harrison novella of the same name. It is another powerhouse movie that really showcases a Kevin Costner that you may not be used to seeing. You get some brand new interviews with the people involved with that movie on the disc as well.
COMING SOON: THE DVD NEWS
BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
d. Scott Glosserman
c. Nathan Baesal, Krissy Carlson, Robert Englund
release date: June 26, 2007
You have been hearing about this movie here on Chud since it was first released in limited theaters. If you are like me, you are probably really anxious to see if it is as great as everyone said it was. In his review (read here) Devin said the movie is “far too great for you to ignore. Start getting excited about this movie, which continues 2006’s track record for great horror films, and start getting excited about Glosserman, who is going to soon be going on to great things.” Well, the time for you to get really excited is almost here. Anchor Bay has announced the DVD release of Scott Glosserman’s horror mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Extras include an audio commentary with actors Nathan Baesal, Angela Goethals, Britain Spellings and Ben Pace, The Making of Behind the Mask, The Casting of Behind the Mask, deleted and extended scenes, with optional commentary with director Scott Glosserman, a trailer and teaser, and a DVD-ROM screenplay. Get excited.
BLACK SNAKE MOAN
d. Craig Brewer
c. Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake
release date: June 26, 2007
I am amazed at how many people have no idea what this movie is about. People who only saw the trailer seem to think this is a grindhouse type movie, an exploitation flick, and just ignored it. Writer and Director Craig Brewer, who helmed Hustle and Flow prior to this, in an interview by Devin (read here) said “I don’t think anyone who can’t get past [the campaign] doesn’t need to see the film. However I’m hoping that credibility of Hustle & Flow… now a lot of people are seeing it because of DVD and because of online who originally said, ‘I’m not into rap, I’m not into pimping,’ who have come up to me and said the movie was about more than they thought.” A morality tale that sees Samuel L. Jackson try to save Christina Ricci, so he can eventually save himself is much more than what you might think it is. To get more of a feel for the movie, read that great interview. Then you can buy it June 26th. Extra material will include an audio commentary with writer/director Craig Brewer, a Conflicted: The Making of Black Snake Moan featurette, a Rooted in the Blues featurette, a Black Snake Moan featurette, and deleted scenes. HD DVD and Blu-ray releases will also be available.
THE BARGAIN BIN
Color Coded for Your Pleasure
All Best Price New Releases deals are in YELLOW
All Gimmick Promotions are in BLUE
BEST BUY
CURRENT RELEASES
Big – $14.99
Breaking and Entering – $19.99
Catch and Release – $16.99
Dirty Dancing – $14.99
Donnie Brasco – $14.99
Music & Lyrics – $16.99
That Thing You Do – $14.99
That 70’s Show, Season 6 – $34.99
The 4400, Season 3 – $29.99
Young Aphrodites – $19.99
Cagney and Lacey, Season 1 – $32.99
The Caine Mutiny – $19.99
To Catch a Thief – $12.99
Comedy of Power – $24.99
Back to School/Easy Money – $14.99
The Dead Girl – $19.99
Deliver Us from Evil – $24.99
Fur – $19.99
The Secret Life of Words – $19.99
The Guns of Navarone – $19.99
The Painted Veil – $19.99
Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 8 – $29.99
Revenge – $14.99
Because I Said So – $16.99
The Tiger and the Snow – $19.99
Voltron, Defender of the Universe – $24.99
OTHERS
Dreamgirls – $19.99 – Buy the DVD and the movie soundtrack for $25 total
Steel Magnolias – $9.99 – Buy with Catch & Release for only $20
13 Going on 30: Special Edition – $9.99 – Buy with Catch & Release for only $20
Sex and the City – Complete Series Box Set – $149.99
House Season 1 / 2 – $48.99 – buy together for only $50
That 70s Show 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 – Buy with Season 6 and save $10 instantly
$5.99 DVDs: 50 First Dates, America’s Sweethearts, Hitch, Closer, Spanglish, Something’s Gotta Give, Mona Lisa Smile, Anger Management, Maid In Manhattan, Jerry Maguire, Stepmom, Legends Of The Fall
$9.99 DVDs: Employee of the Month, You, Me & Dupree, Miami Vice: Unrated, Clerks II, The Protector, American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile, Jet Li’s Fearless: Unrated Edition
CIRCUIT CITY
CURRENT RELEASES
Big – $15.99
Breaking and Entering – $19.99
Catch and Release – $19.99
Dirty Dancing – $14.99 – Buy with 20th Anniversary CD for $25.00
Donnie Brasco – $15.99
Music & Lyrics – $15.99 – Free Movie Cash to see Lucky You when you purchase Music & Lyrics
That Thing You Do – $15.99
That 70’s Show, Season 6 – $34.99
The 4400, Season 3 – $34.99
Young Aphrodites – $19.99
Cagney and Lacey, Season 1 – $34.99
The Caine Mutiny – $19.99
To Catch a Thief – $12.99
Comedy of Power – $19.99
Back to School/Easy Money – $15.99
The Dead Girl – $19.99
Deliver Us from Evil – $19.99
Fur – $19.99
The Secret Life of Words – $19.99
The Guns of Navarone – $19.99
The Painted Veil – $19.99
Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 8 – $29.99
Revenge – $15.99
Because I Said So – $16.99
The Tiger and the Snow – $19.99
Voltron, Defender of the Universe – $34.99
OTHERS
The Holiday – $16.99
A Night at the Museum – $19.99
The Hitcher (2007) – $19.99
Déjà vu – $19.99
Alpha Dog – $19.99
The Queen – $19.99
Dreamgirls – $19.99
The Thorn Birds – $21.99
Girlfriends, Season 1 – $19.99
How I Met Your Mother, Season 1 – $19.99
Weeds: Season 1 – $17.99
Oprah: 20th Anniversary Collection – $39.99
Grey’s Anatomy: Season 1 – $19.99
Grey’s Anatomy: Season 2 – $39.99
Desperate Housewives: Season 1 / 2 – $39.99 each
Everybody Loves Raymond: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 – $24.99 each
That 70’s Show: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 – $19.99 each
Charmed: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 – $27.99 each
Roseanne: Season 7 – $27.99 – Purchase Roseanne: Season 7 and get any other season of Roseanne for Free
$4.99 DVDs: Guess Who, Trading Places, Sky Captain & The World Of Tomorrow, Garden State, Big Trouble In Little China, The Best Man, The Jazz Singer, Primal Fear, Reservoir Dogs: 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Kentucky Fried Movie, Submerged, Wonderland, Young Guns, Harlem Nights, The Ring (Naomi Watts), An Affair To Remember, Pay It Forward, I Am Sam, Dog Soldiers, French Kiss, Moonstruck, Something To Talk About, State Property, Steel Magnolias, Sleepless In Seattle, Troop Beverly Hills, 28 Days, Claudine, Great Expectations, Best In Show, Catch Me If You Can, When Harry Met Sally, Woman, Thou Art Loosed, The Princess Bride: Special Edition, The Terminal
$8.99 DVDs: Walk The Line, Beerfest: Unrated, Take The Lead, Pulse: Unrated, Clerks II, The Descent: Original Unrated Cut, RV, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion, Waiting, Undisputed II: Last Man Standing, Must Love Dogs / You’ve Got Mail Double Feature, M:I: III, Ice Age, The Lady In The Water, Barnyard, See No Evil, Ed Wood, The English Patient, Employee Of The Month, The Lake House, Remember The Titans: Director’s Cut, An Unfinished Life, Chocolat, Gone In 60 Seconds: Director’s Cut
ONLINE BEST OFFERS
(Prices listed include basic shipping charges)
CURRENT RELEASES
Big – DeepDiscount.com – $14.74
Breaking and Entering – DVDPacific.com – $21.22
Catch and Release – Buy.com – $19.89
Dirty Dancing – DVDPacific.com – $14.92
Donnie Brasco – DeepDiscount.com – $14.14
Music & Lyrics – DeepDiscount.com – $19.84
That Thing You Do – DeepDiscount.com – $14.74
That 70’s Show, Season 6 – Amazon – $34.99
The 4400, Season 3 – Amazon – $26.99
Young Aphrodites – DVDPacific.com – $15.80
Cagney and Lacey, Season 1 – DeepDiscount.com – $27.34
The Caine Mutiny – DVD Planet – $18.46
To Catch a Thief – DeepDiscount.com – $9.52
Comedy of Power – DVDPacific.com – $18.66
Back to School/Easy Money – DeepDiscount.com – $13.67
The Dead Girl – DeepDiscount.com – $15.24
Deliver Us from Evil – DVDPacific.com – $21.05
Fur – DeepDiscount.com – $19.15
The Secret Life of Words – DeepDiscount.com – $20.74
The Guns of Navarone – DVD Planet – $18.46
The Painted Veil – Buy.com – $19.89
Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 8 – Amazon – $29.99
Revenge – DeepDiscount.com – $14.14
Because I Said So – Buy.com – $19.89
The Tiger and the Snow – DeepDiscount.com – $15.06
Voltron, Defender of the Universe – Walmart.com – $22.43
Well, this week is very underwhelming for me DVD wise, but that is good. I can save my money because next week, I will need it. The Fountain. Pan’s Labyrinth. Enough said.