Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End
The biggest release this week is the third part of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. It may not be the more popular title around these parts, but it will sell a gazillion copies to add to its plentiful bounty (it made $958 million worldwide). I might have been one of the few people to actually be pleasantly surprised by you-no-who’s reemergence at the end of Dead Man’s Chest, so I might also be the one to not quite be so harsh on the third movie. It is hard to match up to a movie as great as Curse of the Black Pearl, and this movie could not do that, but it is not as bad as people might have you believe. It can actually be quite fun if you want to watch it “as a big piece of sprawling swashbuckling fluff” (thanks to message boarder Richard Dickson for that description). There is a regular version and a special 2-Disc edition. Neither version has commentary tracks.
Russ Fischer (5/10) – “So not only is At World’s End overly complicated and often emotionally hollow, the few moments that do have any meaning are contradictory and very poorly conceived.”
Devin Faraci (6.5/10) – “There are parts of At World’s End I genuinely liked. There are more adventure elements than sheer action elements in this film, and while Gore Verbinski is chanelling Terry Gilliam to the point that he should be collecting residuals (and Terry Jones as well – huge segments of the film felt like Erik the Viking to me), he creates nice compositions and crams his frame with interesting detail.”
David Oliver (7.7/10 for the DVD) – “Negativities aside, I did think that this was definitely a step back up from the overall disappointing Dead Man’s Chest. There were some fairly nice concepts at work here including the use of the pirate chart, the topsy turvy escape from Davy Jones’ locker and the resolution to the Will / Elizabeth relationship. And even though the final maelstrom battle went on long enough to require an overnight bag when going to the theatre to watch the film, I dug the concept and thought that for the most part it was executed well.”
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Bloopers of the Caribbean – hilarious outtakes of cast and crew
- Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom – a detailed breakdown of one of cinema’s most complex and impressive action set pieces (2-Disc Edition)
- Keith & the Captain– A revealing look at the dynamic relationship between living legends Keith Richards and Johnny Depp (2-Disc Edition)
- Tale of the Multiple Jacks – an in-depth look at the mind-blowing FX that went into creating multiple Captain Jacks (2-Disc Edition)
- Hoist the Colors – reveals the inspiration for the “Hoist the Colors” original composition (2-Disc Edition)
- Masters of Design – five individual documentaries highlighting the talented design teams behind this immense production (2-Disc Edition)
- #1: Jim Byrkit and The Map
- #2: Crash McCreary and the Krusty Pirates
- #3: Rick Heinrichs and the Singapore Set
- #4: Penny Rose and the Captain Teague Costumes
- #5: Chris Peck and the Pirate Code Book
- Inside the Brethren Court – a closer look at the legendary Pirate Lords and their costume designs, origins and unique personalities (2-Disc Edition)
- The Pirate Code: Revealed – explores the pirate code and the history of piracy (2-Disc Edition)
- The World of Chow Yun Fat – a look at the man behind devious Captain Sao Feng, international sensation Chow Yun Fat, and his meteoric rise to fame (2-Disc Edition)
- The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer – meet the renowned composer who created the film’s rousing score (2-Disc Edition)
Superbad
While Pirates of the Caribbean will be the best selling DVD this week, the one that most people around here are most excited about is Superbad, the best comedy since Knocked Up, which was the best comedy since Hot Fuzz. I guess it was a great year for comedy. All three of these movies are hilarious and I can’t wait to pick up Superbad tomorrow to add to my collection. The DVD will get the great 2-Disc Unrated Special Edition the day of its original release (unlike Hot Fuzz which churned out mucho dinero before finally ponying up and giving us the goods last week). This proves that Judd Apatow loves us just a little bit more than Edgar Wright. I tease, of course. They both love us and they prove it every time they release more goodness for our pleasure.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Line-O-Rama
- Cop Car Confessions – A Ride Along with Clark County’s Finest
- The Making of Superbad
- Original Table Read 2002 – Seth Rogen reads for the part of “Seth”
- Commentary with Filmmakers and Cast
- Pineapple Express: Exclusive First Look
- Cast Audition Footage (2-Disc Edition)
- Press Junket Meltdown (2-Disc Edition)
- The Music of Superbad (2-Disc Edition)
- “Everybody Hates Michael Cera” – The Unfortunate True Story (2-Disc Edition)
- On-Set Diaries (2-Disc Edition)
- Dancing Title Sequence (2-Disc Edition)
- Vag-tastic Voyage (2-Disc Edition)
- "Snakes on Jonah" Featurette (2-Disc Edition)
- Michael’s Voicemails from Jonah (2-Disc Edition)
- TV Safe – Watch Jonah Hill try to record alternate "safe" lines appropriate for television (2-Disc Edition)
- Table Reads (2-Disc Edition)
NFL GREATEST GAMES
St. Louis Rams 1999 Playoffs
Baltimore Ravens 2000 Playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002 Playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles 1980 NFC Championship Game
Cleveland Browns: NFL Greatest Games
If you are a fan of the NFL, this news should warm the cockles of your groin. The NFL is attempting to release complete games for purchase and they are testing a few titles to see how the reaction to them turns out. A few weeks ago, the 1985 Chicago Bears season was released in an edition that did not include all the games, but most of them in a huge 12-Disc set. It included 12 of the original network telecasts of the games during the Bears legendary season that year. It included the original broadcast team, had minimal cutting and editing (which is great considering how NFL Films usually chops up their games) and also included some post game stuff from the NFC Championship and Superbowl. Well, it must have went well because we are getting more released this week. While not full seasons, we are getting some great stuff here.
First off, we are getting the St. Louis Rams playoff games from their 1999 season. It will be a 3-Disc set and include their wins over Minnesota and Tampa Bay before defeating Tennessee in a Superbowl that was decided by mere feet. The playoffs were a perfect example of why the Rams were called the Greatest Show on Turf as they threw for 1,039 yards in the three post season games and turned a grocery store clerk into a folk hero.
Next up is the Baltimore Ravens 2000 season playoffs. This is a 4-Disc set that showcases one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL destroying all competition on their way to the Superbowl. Included are their 21-3 Wildcard victory over the Broncos, 24-10 win over Tennessee, 16-3 win over the Raiders and their 34-7 annihilation of the New York football Giants. If you like defensive football, this set is for you.
Skipping the first of New England’s Superbowl wins, the next set released this week is that of Tampa Bay’s rise to the top in 2002. The 3-Disc set includes their 31-6 win over San Francisco, their 27-10 win over Philadelphia and the revenge game as Jon Gruden led his new team to a 48-21 drubbing of his boss of the previous year and the Oakland Raiders.
The 1980 Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship victory is released in a single disc set as they thump their rival Dallas Cowboys 20-7. Not sure why it is getting a single game release, unless it is only being geared towards Eagles fans. The Eagles would go on to lose to the Oakland Raiders in the Superbowl that year.
Finally, we get the Cleveland Browns 3-Disc box set. Since Cleveland has never won a Superbowl, I would assume that is the reason they are releasing a generic 3-game set. This is the original Cleveland Browns. For those who don’t know, the Browns were moved to Baltimore by owner Art Modell, although he lost the legacy of his team which stayed in Cleveland. In 1999, the Browns started play again and are one of the more surprising teams this year. First on the DVD is the tense 1980 game between the Browns and the Packers, which climaxed in Dave Logan catching a 46-yard touchdown pass, bringing in the win with just seconds to go. Then, the Browns demolish the Steelers in a 1989 opening day 51-0 blowout, a game that was sure to be beautiful to Browns’ faithful. Finally, victory comes once more with the 2002 game against the Falcons that sent the Browns into the playoffs.
Ingmar Bergman – Four Masterworks (Criterion Collection)
Criterion is releasing a four film set by master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman this week. It is definitely a great pick up if you don’t already own the movies in the set, all previously released.
WILD STRAWBERRIES
- New digital transfer
- Commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie
- Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work, a 90-minute documentary by filmmaker and author Jörn Donner
- Stills gallery, featuring rare behind-the-scenes photos
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
THE VIRGIN SPRING
- New, restored high-definition digital transfer
- Audio commentary by Ingmar Bergman scholar Birgitta Steene
- New video interviews with actresses Gunnel Lindblom and Birgitta Pettersson
- Introduction by filmmaker Ang Lee
- An audio recording of a 1975 American Film Institute seminar by Bergman
- Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- A 28-page booklet featuring essays by film scholar Peter Cowie and screenwriter Ulla Isaksson, the medieval ballad on which the film is based, and a letter from Bergman on the film’s controversial rape scene
SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT
- New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound
- Video introduction to the film by director Ingmar Bergman
- New video conversation with historian Peter Cowie and writer Jörn Donner (producer, Fanny and Alexander)
- Swedish theatrical trailer
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
- Printed booklet including a new illustrated essay by renowned theater and film critic John Simon and an essay by film critic Pauline Kael
THE SEVENTH SEAL
- Audio commentary by noted film historian Peter Cowie
- An annotated, illustrated Bergman filmography, featuring excerpts from Wild Strawberries and The Magician with commentary
- Improved English subtitles
- Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
- Original theatrical trailer with optional English subtitles
- Restoration demonstration
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
FORD AT FOX (THE COLLECTION)
In the recent past, they released a few John Wayne collections showcasing The Duke’s best films in various genres. This week, we are getting the same treatment for the man who MADE John Wayne. If not for John Ford, Wayne would have never been the icon he somehow grew to be. John Ford is the greatest western filmmaker of all time. I would say arguably, but that would be incorrect, as there is no argument about that fact. John Ford is what westerns are all about. This collection is of Ford’s output for Twentieth Century Fox and includes everything from silent era films, to comedies to his beloved westerns. There are a few of his Fox movies missing here, but with this collection, I can’t see you bitching too much. If you can’t afford the $200+ price tag, there are 3 mini collections (one over silent films, one over comedy and a third “essential set). Single discs of some select films will also be made available.
- Just Pals (1920)
- The Iron Horse (1924) – Two versions – U.K. and United States, Commentary by Author & Film Historian Robert Birchard (International only), “Scoring The Past: The Iron Horse Sessions with Christopher Caliendo” featurette (International only), Restoration comparison (International only), Vintage program (International only) and an Advertising gallery (International only)
- 3 Bad Men (1926)
- Four Sons (1928)
- Hangman’s House (1928)
- Born Reckless (1930)
- Up The River (1930) – Theatrical trailer and a Still gallery
- Seas Beneath (1931)
- Doctor Bull (1933)
- Pilgrimage (1933) – Commentary by Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride, Restoration comparison
- Judge Priest (1934)
- The World Moves On (1934)
- Steamboat Round The Bend (1935) – Commentary by Author Scott Eyman, Restoration comparison, Theatrical trailer, Will Rogers Theater (Doubting Thomas, In Old Kentucky, Life Begins at 40)
- The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) – Restoration comparison, Interactive pressbook gallery, Advertising gallery and a Still gallery
- Wee Willie Winkie (1937) – Tinted version and black & white version, Restoration comparison
- Four Men and a Prayer (1938)
- Drums Along The Mohawk (1939) – Commentary by Film Historians Julie Kirgo & Nick Redman, Theatrical trailer and Still galleries (Advertising, Lobby cards, Studio portraits, Behind the scenes, Production stills)
- Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) – Commentary by Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride, U.K. prologue, Biography: Daryl Zannuck: 20th Century Filmmaker, Restoration comparison, Theatrical trailer, Movie Tone News (1934: “First Drought In Many Years Hits Mid-West”, 1934: “Drought Distress Is Increasing In The Mid-West”, 1934: “Mid-West Drought Distress Becomes National Disaster”, 1934: “Outtakes”, 1941: “Roosevelt Lauds Motion Pictures At Academy Fete”), Still gallery
- Tobacco Road (1941) – Interactive press book, Poster gallery
- How Green Was My Valley (1941) – Commentary by Anna Lee Nathan and Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride, Backstory: How Green Was My Valley, Still gallery and the Theatrical trailer
- My Darling Clementine (1946) – (2-DISC SET) – Commentary by Wyatt Earp III, Alternate pre-release version (Ford’s cut), What is the pre-release version featurette, Theatrical trailer and Behind the scenes
- When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950) – Restoration comparison, Advertising gallery
- What Price Glory (1952) – Two theatrical trailers, Fox Flix (Crash Dive, The Hunters, Morituri)
- Becoming John Ford (2007) – Feature-length documentary, The Battle of Midway (doc – 1942), Battle of Midway – Additional Footage (1942), December 7th (doc – 1943), Torpedo Squadron (doc – 1942), Ford at Fox Photo Galleries (estimated 29 to be broken out by title), Ford at Fox Movie Poster / lobby card gallery, Pressbook Galleries, Vintage Programs (The Iron Horse, Four Sons)
TELEVISION ON DVD
24 – Season Six
Battlestar Galactica – Razor (Unrated Extended Edition)
The Wire – The Complete Fourth Season
Will and Grace: Season Seven
Saturday Night Live – The Complete Second Season
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit – The Fourth Year
7th Heaven – The Complete Fifth Season
Touched By An Angel – The Fourth Season (Vols. 1-2)
Touched By An Angel – The Fourth Season, Vol. 2
Dante’s Cove – Season 1-2 & Original Pilot
Diagnosis Murder – The Third Season
THE HIGH DEF REVOLUTION
Battlestar Galactica – Season One [HD DVD]
Mr & Mrs Smith [Blu-Ray]
Cast Away [Blu-ray]
20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
OTHER DISCS TO DROP SOME CASH ON
Love’s Unending Legacy, Rocky – The Complete Saga Collection, Naked Boys Singing, Naruto Uncut Boxed Set, Volume 5, Arctic Tale, Wallace and Gromit: Three Amazing Adaventures, East Side Story, Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular, The Nanny Diaries (Widescreen Edition), Erik the Viking, Lady Chatterley, Bob Hope MGM Movie Legends Collection (Alias Jesse James/Boy, Did I Get the Wrong Number/The Facts of Life/I’ll Take Sweden/The Princess and the Pirate/The Road to Hong Kong/They’ve Got Me Covered), The Girl Next Door, The Hottest State, A Christmas Too Many, The Best Of Crank Yankers, New York, New York (30th Anniversary Edition), The Last Man on Earth
THE BARGAIN BIN
BEST BUY
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer $14.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest $14.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Blu-Ray $29.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End 2 Disc Limited Edition $22.99
*Best Buy Exclusive: Bonus DVD featuring 43 minutes of extras when you buy ANY version of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End*
*Best Buy Exclusive*
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End 2 DVD Gift Set includes 7" Captain Teague Figurine $29.99
Save $10 Instantly when you buy any 2 of these Blu-Ray Disc or PS3 Game Titles
$29.99 each
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (Blu-Ray)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Blu-Ray)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (Blu-Ray)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (PS3)
Superbad: 2 Disc Special Edition $22.99
*Best Buy Exclusive T-Shirt (on pack) with purchase of either the 2 disc or extended editions*
*Plus Get Superbad & either The Cable Guy or Not Another Teen Movie for $20 when purchase together*
Superbad Blu-Ray $29.99
24: Season 6 $37.99
*Best Buy Bonus: Film Cell on pack plus Save $5 on 24: Season 6 when you buy any 2 Vault Sodas*
24: Seasons 1-5 $24.99 each
Arctic Tale $19.99
Arctic Tale: HD DVD $29.99
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne $29.99
Tyler Perrys’ Plays $54.99
SNL: Season 2 $49.99
SNL: Season 1 $39.99
Rocky: The Complete Saga $39.99
The Wire: Season 4 $44.99
The Wire: Seasons 1-3 $39.99 each
Will & Grace: Season 7 $29.99
*Get any 2 Seasons of Will & Grace for $40*
The Nanny Diaries $19.99
Spider-Man 3 $16.99
Planet Earth $54.99
James Bond sets $34.99 each
X-Men Trilogy $19.99
Rambo Trilogy $19.99
Christmas Television Favorites $19.99
Lord of the Rings $17.99
Back to the Future Trilogy $17.99
Monty Python and the Holy Grail $12.99
Silverado $6.99
Battlestar Galactica: Razor $19.99
*Best Buy Exclusive Bonus Disc includes additional behind the scenes footage*
3 for $30 or 6 for $50
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, High School Musical: the Concert, Pulp Fiction, The Prestige, Escape from Witch Mountain/ Return to Witch Mountain, Baby Einstein: Lullaby Time, Signs/ The Village, Rounders/ Swingers, Blank/ High Fidelity, Kate & Leopald/ Serendipidity, Sin City, Sweet Home Alabama
2 Disc Special Editions $8.99 each
It’s a Wonderful Life, Oklahoma, Casino Royale, Robocop: (Steelbook), Poseidon, Memento, The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, Serenity, Raging Bull, Saw III, Fantastic Four: Extended Edition, Black Hawk Down, Boyz in the Hood, Dark Crystal, Dr. Strangelove, Gandhi, Panic Room, Taxi Driver, The DaVinci Code, The Color Purple, Enter the Dragon, Heat, JFK, The Lost Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, Rebel without a Cause, The Right Stuff, Robin Hood
TARGET
Wish Gone Amiss $14.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $14.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End *Exclusive Deluxe Edition* $24.99
*Note that this is the same 2 Disc Limited Edition as others have*
*(Deluxe includes 2 discs, bloopers, deleted scenes and exclusive National Treasure 2 Movie Cash)*
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Blu-Ray) $29.99
*Free $10 Target Gift Card with purchase of both Blu-Ray Pirates 3 and Pirates 1 or 2*
Superbad Blu-Ray $29.99
Superbad: Deluxe Edition *Also includes 64-page book & 8 Superbad Stickers* $22.99
The Nanny Diaries $16.99
24: Season 6 $37.99
Tyler Perry: The Plays $64.99
SNL: Season 2 $44.99
Rocky: the Complete Saga $39.99
Will & Grace: Season 7 $34.99
$10 Each
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Facing the Giants, The Riddick Trilogy, Curious George (Movie), Because I Said So
$6.50 each
Grandma’s Boy: Unrated, The Green Mile, Ther Terminator/ Robocop Double Feature, Aquamarine, Robin Hood: Men in Tights
TV on DVD
How I Met Your Mother: Season 2 $17.99
Entourage: Season 3, Part 1 $17.99
Weeds: Season 2 $17.99
The Boondocks: Season 1 $17.99
Roseanne: Season 9 $17.99
Stargate SG-1: Season 9 $17.99
The L Word: Season 4 $39.99
That 70’s Show: Season 7 $24.99
Scrubs: Season 6 $29.99
CSI: Miami: Season 5 $44.99
Flight of the Conchords: Season 1 $19.99
Prison Break: Season 2 $29.99
CIRCUIT CITY
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End offers
2 Disc Limited Edition $24.99
Blu-Ray $29.99
*Free Visual Guide with purchase*
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest $13.99
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl $9.99
Superbad *No Price Shown*
*Free Supderbad Beanie Cap with purchase of Superbad single DVD, Special Edition or Blu-Ray Disc*
Superbad: Special Edition $22.99
Knocked Up $15.99
The Nanny Diaries $19.99 *Free Cell Phone Bling with purchase*
Rocky: Complete Saga $39.99
Artic Tale $19.99
Battlestar Galactica: Razor $19.99
Will & Grace: Season 7 $29.99
The Wire: Season 4 $49.99
24: Season 6 $36.99
with purchase of 24 season 6 & any other season
24: Seasons 1-5 on sale $49.99 each
SNL: Season 2 $44.99
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Season 1 $24.99
Live Free or Die Hard $19.99
Santa Clause 3 $19.99
Shrek the Third $17.99
Transformers $17.99
Transformers HD DVD $24.99
$8.99 each
Flushed Away, Charlotte’s Web, Flags of Our Fathers, Dreamgirls, Babel, Freedom Writers
$12.99 each
Norbit, Blades of Glory, Disturbia, Shooter, Zodiac, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
*Free Golden Compass Movie Cash with purchase of the following*
Pan’s Labyrinth (Not 2 disc set) $7.99
Snakes on a Plane $7.99
Wedding Crashers $6.99
Blow $6.99
Take the Lead $6.99
Lord of the Rings Trilogy $9.99 each movie *Looks like the 4 disc edition*
$4.99 each
Empire, Vanilla Sky, Frailty, Born on the Fourth of July, An American Werewolf in London, The Rules of Attraction, Sliding Doors, Boomerang, Superstar, Head of State, Big Easy, Hardball, The Fighting Temptations, The Golden Child, Uncle Buck, 13 Going on 30: Fun & Flirty Edition, The Eagle Has Landed, Underworld; Evolution, Tomb Raider, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Black Hawk Down, Bad Boys, S.W.A.T., Cruel Intentions, The Jackal, The Professional, Black Sheep, You Got Served, Made, Booty Call, Snatch, Sneakers, Road to Perdition, T2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Red Dragon, Ali, The Hurricane, Spy Game, A Knight’s Tale, Lock Up, The Cooler, The Family Man, Godsend, To Catch a Thief, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Traffic, Angel Heat, Contract Killer, Black Mask, Sniper, The Ring, Stir of Echoes, Blue Crush, Way of the Gun, Mercury Rising, Wayne’s World, The One
Car Wash, The Life of David Gale, For Love of the Game, Congo, Troop Beverly Hills
$6.99 each
The Recruit, The 300 Spartans, Lucky # Slevin, Lord of War, Aeon Flux, Van Helsing, Munich, Doom, The Godfather, Apollo 13: Anniversary Edition, Finding Neverland, Good Morning Vietnam, Shaun of the Dead, Madea’s Family Reunion, Can’t Buy Me Love, Love Actually, Willow, The Goonies, Charlie Brown’s Christmas, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Shaolin Soccer, Redemption
Flightplan, Octopussy, The Last Dragon, BeoWulf & Grendel, Police Story, Rounders, The Others, Caddyshack, Cocktail, Chicago, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Ladder 49, Why Did I Get Married?, Breakin’, Robin Hood: men in Tights, Princess Diaries, Tide & Seek
$9.99 each
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Nativity Story, A Christmas Story, Elf, The Polar Express, Happy Feet