While Rocky Balboa was widely accepted as a return to form for Sylvester Stallone, Rambo was a little more polarizing. I have read a lot of trash being hurled at the movie by reviewers and fans alike. Then again, I also read THIS INTERVIEW by someone who loved the hell out of the flick. This week is a smorgasbord of goodness to people who love Rambo. First, you can get the Rambo Special Edition DVD, which is also available in a Blu-ray with all the listed features plus a gallery of trailers from all previous Rambo films, and a unique audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone that utilizes Bonus View Picture-in-Picture and takes the viewer beyond the film. Extra features will include Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone, Deleted scenes, Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma, It’s a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon, A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo, The Art of War: Completing Rambo, The Weaponry of Rambo, A Hero’s Welcome: Release & Reaction, and a Digital copy of the feature film.
For those who want the entire Rambo experience, there are two different box sets available. You can get the first three Rambo flicks in a Blu-Ray box set or you can get all four films packaged together in standard definition with some nice extras. Why you would just want the first three alone is beyond me, but the only opportunity you have to own them all on Blu-Ray is to buy the three disc set and the new movie seperately. The stahndard edition includes the film mentioned above plus the other three films in the series: First Blood – Ultimate Edition, Rambo – First Blood Part II -Ultimate Edition, and Rambo III – Ultimate Edition. This 6-disc set comes in a limited edition collectible metal tin and is loaded with the best features from the entire series, plus a digital copy of the latest Rambo film.
First Blood
Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone
Audio commentary with novelist David Morrell
Drawing First Blood
Deleted Scenes
Exclusive Trivia Tracks
Rambo II
Audio commentary with director George P. Cosmatos
We Get to Win this Time
Exclusive Trivia Tracks
Rambo III
Audio commentary with director Peter Macdonald
Afghanistan: Land in Crisis
Exclusive Trivia Tracks
This week’s Criterion Collection release is The Thief of Bagdad from 1940. I’m sure you know the story, inspired by the Arabian Nights tales. When Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu (Sabu) to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess (June Duprez). The beautiful film, which won three Oscars (Best Cinematography – Color, Best Art Direction – Color, and Best Special Effects), gets a new digital transfer, from restored film elements, in a 2-Disc Special Edition. The biggest reason to buy this Criterion is the audio commentary with Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese!!!!!! Also included on this release are Visual Effects, a documentary about the technical achievements of The Thief of Bagdad, featuring interviews with special-effects masters Ray Harryhausen, Dennis Muren, and Craig Barron, The Lion Has Wings (1940), Alexander Korda’s propaganda film for the English war effort, created when The Thief of Bagdad went into production hiatus, Excerpts from codirector Michael Powell’s audio dictations for his autobiography, Excerpts from a 1976 radio interview with composer Miklos Rózsa, Stills gallery featuring rare images of the film’s production and photos shot in Dufaycolor Optional music and effects track, Theatrical trailer, PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by film scholars Andrew Moor and Ian Christie.
This week marks the release of a little horror film called Grizzly Park. You might have heard of it, as it was co-produced by some guy named Nunziata. You might have heard of him too. The DVD will include a commentary track and some featurettes about the making of the movie. Also, keep your eye out because Nick will have a blog with his thoughts on the movie coming soon!
Darfur Now
is an acclaimed, inspiring documentary that follows six people who are striving to end the suffering in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur. The six – an American activist (Adam Sterling), an international prosecutor (Luis Moreno-Ocampo), a Sudanese rebel (Hejewa Adam), a refugee leader (Ahmed Mohammed Abakar), a leader of the World Food Program (Pablo Recalde), and Don Cheadle – wait, what? George Clooney is heading it all up too. Wow. It’s been criticized for being too Hollywood when it comes to production values and for not presenting an accurate picture of how horrible conditions are in the third world country. But, it’s $5 and if you want to learn a little about the situation in Darfur you could do worse.
Are these destined to become cult flicks or just bad B-movies?
Speaking of:
TELEVISION ON DVD
Holocaust
The Invaders – The First Season
Absolutely Fabulous – Absolutely Everything
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2003) Volume 2
Degrassi The Next Generation – Season 6
Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Vol. 2
Rawhide: Season Three, Vol. 1
The Grand – Complete Collection
COMING SOON
There are a couple announcements concerning classic films getting the Blu-ray treatment. The first is the Jack Nicholson masterpiece One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. With a release date of July 15, it will include a commentary by director Milos Forman and producers Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz, a Making of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest documentary, additional footage and the theatrical trailer. On September 9, Cool Hand Luke will get both a standard definition special edition release and a Blu-ray release. Extras will include a commentary by Paul Newman biographer Eric Lax, A Natural-Born World-Shaker: Making Cool Hand Luke featurette and the theatrical trailer.
The months of August and September will be full of television on DVD releases.
August 19 – The Sarah Connor Chronicles (8 Episodes) will hit shelves with Extras that will include commentaries with executive producers Josh Freidman & John Wirth, cast members Summer Glau & Thomas Dekker, and more – deleted scenes, cast audition tapes (includes Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, and Richard T. Jones), storyboard animatics, a Summer Glau Dance Rehearsal, an Extended Director’s Cut of Episode The Demon Hand, and a “Creating the Chronicles” featurette.
August 19 – House, Season 4 (16 Episodes) will include commentaries with Cast and Crew, 5 featurettes (New Beginnings, Meet the Wirters, The Visual Effects House, Anatomy of a Crash, My Favorite Season 4 Episode), a gag reel, and a Season 5 Sneak Peek.
September 02 – Supernatural, Season 3 (16 Episodes). Right now, there are no special features listed, which sucks.
September 09 – Smallville, Season 7 (20 Episodes) Extras will include a Supergirl featurette, a Jimmy on Jimmy featurette, and Smallivlle Legends Mobisodes.
September 16 – Pushing Daisies (9 Episodes) the only extra material included will be a Pie Time – Time for Pie interactive featurette in which cast and crew dish out forkfuls of series secrets. This was one of the best new shows of last season and has been renewed for a second season. If you liked Dead Like Me, and have not seen this one yet, give it a shot.
BARGAIN BIN
There Will Be Blood $14.99
Rambo: The Fight Continues $14.99
Rambo: The Fight Continues 2 DVD Special Edition w/Digital Copy $22.99
Rambo: The Complete Collector’s Set (6 DVDs) $34.99
Minute Men $17.99
Vexeille $15.99
Cleaner $19.99
Holocaust $19.99
Grace Is Gone $17.99
Darfur Now $4.99
Jackass Presents: Matt Hamilton’s Tribute To Evel Knievel $14.99
Steve Miller Band: Live From Chicago $17.99 (2 DVDs / 1 CD)
Usher: Behind The Truth (3 DVD Set) $14.99
Bee Movie $19.99 *
Shrek The Third $19.99 *
Shrek $9.99 *
Shrek 2 $9.99 *
Flushed Away $9.99 *
Charlotte’s Web (2007) $9.99 *
Madagascar $9.99 *
Over The Hedge $9.99 *
* Free $5 Kung Fu Panda Concession Money when you purchase any of the marked titles above
Adam Sandler Essentials: Big Daddy $9.99 *
* Free Movie Money to see You Don’t Mess With The Zohan included with purchase of Big Dadd
$4.99 DVDs:
Rocky (1st Pressing), First Blood: Ultimate Edition, Rambo: Part II, Rambo: Part III, Running Scared, We Were Soldiers, Reservoir Dogs: 15th Anniversary Gas Can Edition, Young Guns, American Psycho: Uncut Killer Collector’s Edition, SAW, The Day After Tomorrow, Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Bourne Supremacy, Knockaround Guys, A history Of Violence, Green Street Houligans, Firewall, The Fugitive, Domino, Swordfish, Blade: Trinity, Lethal Weapon 4, M: I: III
BluRay High Definition Discs / Players:
Rambo: The Fight Continues $29.99
Rambo 1 – 3 Collection $39.99
Epic Conditions: The Weather Channel $24.99 Best Buy Exclusive
3:10 To Yuma $19.99
Michael Clayton $24.99
I Am Legend $24.99
The Golden Compass $24.99
Mr. & Mrs. Smith $24.99
Commando $24.99
Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer $24.99
Alien vs. Predator Requiem: Extreme Unrated Set $24.99
Blood Diamond $16.99
300 $16.99
Superbad: 2 Disc Unrated Extended Edition $19.99
We Own The Night $19.99
Resident Evil: Extinction $19.99
Blade Runner: 5 Disc Complete Collector’s Edition $24.99
DVD Sets:
Cory In The House: Season 1 $14.99
Gunsmoke: Season 2 $24.99
Lipstick Jungle: Season 1. $19.99
HeMan & The Masters Of The Universe: Volume 2 $14.99 *
Epic Conditions: The Weather Channel (5 DVDs) $12.99 Best Buy Exclusive
* Best Buy Exclusive Lithograph included with purchase
Cleaner $14.99
The Take $14.99
Bee Movie $14.99
National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets $14.99
Rambo: The Fight Continue $14.99
Rambo: The Fight Continues Special Edition + Digital Copy $22.99
Rambo: The Complete Collector’s Set $34.99
$3.99 DVDs:
Syriana, Sleepers, Behind Enemy Lines, Goldmember, Alien Resurrection, Belly, Hoodlum, Van Wilder: Unrated Edition, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Fallen, The Replacements, Rain Man: Special Edition, The Mask, Roll Bounce, Soul Plane: Special Edition, Predator 2, Wonderland, Blade: Trinity, Robots, The Invincible Iron Man, Caddyshack, The Dukes Of Hazzard, Hotel Rwanda, Dirty Dancing: 20th Anniversary Edition, Rocky, Unfaithful, Die Another Day: Special Edition, Fargo: Special Edition, Blade, The Pelican Brief, Dances With Wolves, Crash, Reservoir Dogs: Special Edition, Swordfish, Bug, Lord Of War, Domino, SAW, The Punisher: Extended Cut, Aliens: Special Edition, A History Of Violence, The Descent: Original Unrated Cut, Employee Of The Month, Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns, True Lies, In Her Shoes, Wicker Park, The Birdcage, Running Scared, The Devil’s Rejects, John Q., Akeelah & The Bee, Barbershiop 2: Back In Business, To Live & Die In L.A. : Special Edition, Empire Of The Sun, Doctor Stange, High Crimes, See No Evil, Money Talks, Mortal Kombat, Elektra (1st Pressing), Tenancious D & The Pick Of Destiny, Dorm Daze: Unrated, Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, A Time To Kill (Partially Obscured)
Blu-Ray High Definition Discs:
Rambo: The Fight Continues $29.99
Buy Two Blu-Rays From This Section – Get One Free:
Free Title Must be of equal or lesser value
First Blood, Rambo: First Blood – Part II, Rambo III, The Simpson’s Movie, A Night At The Museum, Mr. Brooks, Pathfinder: Unrated, Home Of The Brave, Man On Fire, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Sunshine, The Marine, 16 Blocks, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Eragon, Kingdom Of Heaven: Director’s Cut, The Day After Tomorrow, Alien vs. Predator, X-Men III: The Last Stand
DVD Sets:
Dragon Ball Z: Season 5 $29.99
Lipstick Jungle: Season 1 $19.99
Sex & The City: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6.1 / 6.2 $16.99 each $$$$
Weeds: Season 1 / 2 $12.99 each
The Office: Season 1 $12.99
South Park: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 $12.99 each
Friday Night Lights: Season 1 $12.99
Without A Trace: Season 1 $12.99
The George Lopez Show: Season 1 / 2 $12.99 each
Will & Grace: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 $12.99 each
Reba: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 $12.99 each
The Girls Next Door: Season 1 / 2 / 3 $12.99 each
Friends: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 $16.99 each
How I Met Your Mother: Season 1 / 2 $16.99 each
Charmed: Season 1 / 2 $16.99 each
The King Of Queens: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 $16.99 each
Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne: Season 1 $16.99
Arrested Development: Season 2 $16.99
Flight Of The Conchords: Season 1 $16.99
The Hills: Season 1 $16.99
The New Adventures Of Old Christine: Season 1 $16.99
The Simpsons: Season 10 $19.99
Two & .5 Men: Season 1 $19.99
Smallville: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 $19.99 each
Nip/Tuck: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 $19.99 each
One Tree Hill: Season 1 / 2 / 3 $19.99
Stargate SG-1: Season 10 $19.99
Babylon 5: Season 5 $19.99
Painkiller Jane: The Complete Series $19.99
Firefly: The Complete Series $19.99