Sorry I missed such a big week of releases last week. I was one of the 500,000 people in Oklahoma whose electricity was knocked out by the huge ice storm that ravaged the Midwest and was without power for almost the entire week. Regardless, I am back this week, and that is a good thing because this is the biggest week based simply on the arrival of one title.
BLADE RUNNER
This is it. If there was no other release this week, this one movie would still make it the most anticipated Tuesday of the year. Blade Runner (1982) is possibly one of the most beloved science fiction films in the entire geek nation that does not include the word Star in its title. Directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner tells the story of Deckard (Harrison Ford), a blade runner whose job it is to hunt down illegal replicants (genetically engineered beings that are almost indistinguishable from humans). But, you should already know that. I’ll just go into your options for this DVD release.
BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)
This 2-Disc Special Edition will include Ridley Scott’s Final-Cut version of the film. While he is not that interested in the film itself, Devin reviewed the new version HERE and I will let his words tell you what to expect with this version. “The new version of Blade Runner … is a marvel of technology and craftsmanship. The bar has been raised for the sort of wholesale restoration done here; not only is the picture immaculately detailed and crisp, the movie includes new special effects seamlessly and unobtrusively inserted into the action, as well as reshoots done two decades after the fact that will be noticed only by the most exacting viewer. I was looking for some of these reshoots, knowing what scenes were redone, and I couldn’t always find them. A standing ovation has to be delivered to the men and women behind the scenes of this Final Cut, for they’ve turned out a masterpiece.”
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Commentary by Ridley Scott
- Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
- Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer
- Documentary DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER
BLADE RUNNER: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (4-DISC)
On this version, you get everything that is in the Final Cut Special Edition, plus the 1982 Theatrical Version, the 1982 International Version, and the 1992 Director’s Cut. The Theatrical Version contains Deckard’s narration and has Deckard and Rachel’s (Sean Young) “happy ending” escape scene. The International Version includes more violent, extended action scenes and is the version released on the Criterion release of the movie. The 1992 Director’s Cut removes the narration and the happy ending, but also adds a scene that questions whether Deckard might in fact be a replicant himself – the “unicorn sequence”. There is also a fourth disc that includes the following special features
SPECIAL FEATURES (4th Disc)
- Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
- Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
- Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
- The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
- Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
- Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
- Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
- Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
- Unit Photography Gallery
- Deleted & Alternate Scenes
- 1982 Promotional Featurettes
- Trailers & TV Spots
- Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
- Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
- Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
- Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers
BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (5-DISC)
Everything from the other releases plus a fifth disc that includes the WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. This version includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending,” altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more. It will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard’s own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector’s photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Ridley Scott.
SPECIAL FEATURES (5th Disc)
- Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
- Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut
One more thing:
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
A television show on the air for almost 20-years, considered by many to be past its prime and nowhere near as funny as it once was gets its own movie. Hell, if Aqua Teen Hunger Force can get its own movie after a quarter of the same lifespan, I say The Simpsons has at least earned the right to put something up on the big screen. Now you get a chance to see it where you have watched it for the last two decades – the small screen. Was it funny? Was it worth the wait? Hell if I know. Here is what it’s got on it though.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Commentary by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, David Silverman, Dan Castellaneta, and joined by Yeardley Smith
- Directors Commentary by David Silverman, Mike B. Anderson, Steven Dean Moore and Rich Moore
- Deleted scenes
- Alternate Ending
- Homer’s Monologue On The Tonight Show
- The Simpsons Judge American Idol
- Homer Introduces American Idol
- Let’s All Go To The Lobby
- Alternate Character Designs by the Directors and Matt Groening
ONCE
Devin loved this little move, so I figure you should know it is about to hit DVD. He gushed in his review: “Once is the kind of movie that ruins it for other movies. Once isn’t just a nearly perfect little film, it’s effortlessly so, and you walk out wondering why more movies can’t just be this good.”
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Musical Commentary with Director John Carney and Actor/Musician Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
- Film Commentary with Director John Carney and Actors/Musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
- Free Music Download of “Falling Slowly” from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
- Making a Modern Day Musical
- More Guy, More Girl Featurette
- Webisodes – Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
- Trailers
STARDUST
I consider myself lucky. I really thought Oklahoma would offer very few places who would be willing to book Stardust in their theaters. I once had to drive a long way to see Memento when it was released. Pan’s Labyrinth lasted a hiccup here. The Fountain even less than that. We don’t get movies that are less than main stream. Thank God for Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeiffer on the movie poster staring down at us, because that might have been what convinced this Bible Belt state with little to no film support to book this film based on the Neil Gaiman story. I don’t know how much good it did, as most people I talk to have no idea what the movie is about and never even considered going to see it while it was in theaters. I, for one, loved it and I am very disappointed that the DVD seems to be so short in the way of extras. I did kind of geek out when I saw the documentary was entitled Good Omens, though.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Good Omens: The Making of Stardust
- Deleted Scenes
- Blooper Reel
- Theatrical Trailer
HALLOWEEN: UNRATED
Devin called this the worst movie of the year. Rob Zombie remade Halloween and might have used up the good will he earned with the great flick that was The Devil’s Rejects. I have heard that the movie’s biggest problem was explaining the back story of Michael Myers a little too much. He is supposed to be The Shape, not a victim of abuse who kills because of his mommy and daddy. He is supposed to be a cold blooded killer that could really be anyone standing around the corner, not someone you should find a way to sympathize with. The original was scary because it happened in a world that was a little too close to the one that we lived in at that time. This time, that only stands true if you live in a trailer park or a freak show. Eh, either way, I love Rob Zombie and think he has a pretty nice visual style, so I will brave the weather and check it out anyway. I want to hear the commentary track regardless. The documentary on The Devil’s Rejects rocks your socks off, so I want to see what he has on this documentary as well.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Audio commentary by writer/director Rob Zombie
- Alternate ending
- 17 deleted scenes with optional director commentary
- Re-Imagining Halloween documentary
- Conversation with Rob Zombie featurette
- Meet the Cast featurette
- Screen tests
- Bloopers
UNDERDOG
Jason Lee voices superhero Underdog. Next up is Alvin and the Chipmunks. What the hell are you doing Jason? You are better than all of this. Someone needs to call Kevin Smith. I think Lee might need the same intervention that Jason Mewes received a while back. I mean, for the love of Alanis Morissette, he needs to get back on track or he will end up like Jim Belushi when he’s old and used up. As for the DVD, you can get most of the seasons of the original cartoon for the price you would pay for this movie. I would recommend that.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Never-before-seen Bloopers
- Deleted Scenes
- “Underdog Raps”—A music video featuring Kyle Massey, star of Disney Channels hit show “Cory on the House.”
- Sit, Stay, Act: Diary of a Dog Actor—Shoeshine gives fans a peek at the making of the movie from his point of view. In an entertaining feature, Underdog “digs up” the real behind-the-scenes dirt.
- Underdog Original Cartoon Episode—“Safe Waif,” the very first cartoon episode featuring the caped canine.
RUSH HOUR 3
This was the year of trilogies. Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek and Spider-Man all saw their third movies released. Well, add to that list the one that got the least publicity (for obvious reasons). Brett Ratner brings his empire back to the Cineplex and we get more of Jackie Chan doing stunts while appearing confused while Chris Tucker plays the only role left that anyone in Hollywood will offer him. The fact that Chan has publically stated his hatred of these movies, and that he only does it for the money, should tell you all you need to know. I say he should tell Ratner that he will not do it anymore, find Owen Wilson, and created another Shanghai movie, because those films have more creativity in one of their scripts than all three Rush Hour movies combined.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Commentary by Director Brett Ratner and Writer Jeff Nathanson
- Theatrical Trailer
- Outtakes
- Deleted Scenes/Alternate Ending with Optional Commentary by Ratner and Nathanson
- Making of Rush Hour 3 Featurettes
- Visual Effects Reel
- ‘Le Rush Hour Trois’ Production Diary
- Easter Egg
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Vol. Two – The War Years
I reviewed Volume One of this set and I was impressed beyond belief. I know a lot of people are turned off by the price, but there was 30-hours of stuff on those discs to watch. The show was what the show was. Indiana Jones goes through various adventures and meets historical figures of the day, which slowly becoming the man that would find the Ark of the Covenant, discover the Temple of Doom and go on the Last Crusade with his pops. The show was geared for kids and because of that, these DVDs were a goldmine. There were documentaries on each of the DVDs with interesting information about everyone and every major event that Indy came across. The first volume was just amazing and I fully expect the second volume, where Indy goes off to fight in World War I to be no different. I know it is expensive for a television set, but it is worth every penny if you are a history buff, if you have a kid that you think would like to learn about history, or if you are like me and are just someone who is intrigued by learning. I can’t wait to get my hands on this set.
Man, there is just too much shit out this week. I’m just gonna list some more stuff here and what you can expect to see on it.
BRAVEHEART (SPECIAL EDITION) – commentary by Director Mel Gibson, a Tales of William Wallace featurette, A Writer’s Journey featurette, Archival Interviews with the Cast of Braveheart, a photo montage, History Channel Pieces, and two original theatrical trailers.
NATIONAL TREASURE (SPECIAL EDITION) – Multilevel Treasure Hunt, Alternate Ending with Optional Director’s Audio Commentary, Deleted Scenes with Optional Director’s Audio Commentary, Opening Scene Animatic with Optional Director’s Audio Commentary, National Treasure on Location, The Knights Templar, Treasure Hunters Revealed, Riley’s Decode This!—Plus Three Puzzling Challenges, National Treasure: Book of Secrets Sneak Peek, Additional Deleted Scenes with introductions by Director Jon Turteltaub, Ciphers, Codes and Codebreakers, On the Set of American History, To Steal a National Treasure, Exploding Charlotte
Balls of Fury (Widescreen Edition) – deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a Balls Out: The Making of Balls of Fury featurette, and an Under the Balls: The Life of a Ball Wrangler featurette
The Evil Dead (Ultimate Edition) – Both anamorphic widescreen and THE ORIGINAL full screen presentation will be included on separate discs. The widescreen edition will include a commentary by Director Sam Raimi and Producer Robert Tapert, whereas the full screen version will include a Bruce Campbell commentary. Other features include a One by One We Will Take You: The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead documentary, some new Treasures from the Cutting Room Floor, a Life After Death: The Ladies of The Evil Dead featurette, a Ladies of The Evil Dead Meet Bruce Campbell featurette, and an Unconventional featurette with the cast and crew. Completing the package will be a Q&A with a drive-in audience of hardcore fans, a Reunion Panel, a Discovering The Evil Dead featurette that looks at the British video release of the film, makeup tests, a Poster & Memorabilia Gallery, a still gallery, and the trailer.
Look, I know I am probably missing something, but with all the main releases, I’m just going to stop here. I’ll be back with next week’s releases early since the DVDs are going to be released on Wednesday instead of Tuesday next week according to Amazon thanks to Christmas but television commercials are advertising them to be released on Sunday. I don’t know when they will be released and where, so I’ll just list the releases early so you will know what is coming regardless of the date.