Batman Begins [Blu-ray]
Batman – Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition)
d. Christopher Nolan
c. Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman

  

  • In-Movie Experience – Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer and others reveal the movie’s backstories as you watch (This feature playable only on Blu-ray players with BonusView capability or players with BD Live capability)
  • The Dark Knight IMAX Prologue (in HD)
  • Tankman Begins: A Batman Begins spoof
  • Batman – The Journey Begins: Concept, design and development of the film as well as the casting of Batman himself
  • Shaping Mind and Body: Observe Christian Bale’s transformation into Batman
  • Gotham City Rises: Witness the creation of Gotham City, the Batcave, Wayne Manor and more
  • Cape and Cowl: The development of the new Batsuit
  • Batman – The Tumbler: The reinvention of the Batmobile
  • Path to Discovery: A look at the first week of filming on rugged and remote Iceland locations
  • Saving Gotham City: The development of miniatures, CGI and effects for the Monorail Chase scene
  • Genesis of the Bat: A look at the Dark Knight’s incarnation and influences on the film
  • Reflections on Writing Batman Begins with David S. Goyer
  • Digital Batman: The effects you may have missed
  • Batman Begins Stunts
  • Confidential Files: Discover facts and story points not in the film
  • Stills Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer

I grew up in a Nazarene household, and for those who are unfamiliar with the religion, the Nazarenes don’t believe in going to the movies. Something about how supporting something wholesome like The Lion King will help create income to produce filth like Pulp Fiction. With such an upbringing, I grew up never seeing my first real movie until I was out from under my family’s roof. When I finally made it in those sacred doors, the revelation of the cinema changed the course of my life. The first movie I saw when I finally got into theaters was a little Tim Burton movie called Batman. I was very familiar with the character because, although I was not allowed to support the Motion Picture Association, I was allowed to read comic books. And, while I was a Marvel guy at heart, I still loved me some Batman. The movie blew me away. Looking back, it is not really as good as I once remembered, but still holds a part in my heart as a milestone for me personally. Now, flash forward to news that Christopher Nolan was set to direct the revamping of the Batman franchise. I am a huge fan of Nolan, driving quite a distance to find a theater showing Memento, so I could see this revolutionary new movie on the big screen, as it was meant to be. I searched out Following and found it not as enjoyable, but I appreciated the skills Nolan possessed. Let me backtrack to a few years ago. I was watching a very interesting movie called American Psycho. I was entranced with the story thanks to the incredible acting by Christian Bale. As I watched the movie, I said to myself: “self, this guy would be the perfect Bruce Wayne.” Never was I more right. Batman Begins was almost the perfect Batman movie. It looked great, was full of great action and had some wonderful actors performing at their best. And, yes, Christian Bale was the perfect Bruce Wayne. When I got my PS3, I was looking at Blu-Ray movies to try my hand at, not really having decided yet whether I really wanted to switch to the more expensive format. One of my biggest disappointments was the HD-DVD version of Batman Begins was getting all kinds of great reviews for its cutting edge PIP technology. They also said Blu-Ray was not up to standard to deliver this kind of special feature, and the point was moot since there was no Batman Begins on Blu-Ray anyway. This week, that is rectified. Batman Begins hits Blu-Ray, and will include the PIP feature from the HD-DVD. It’s also getting a new Special Edition standard release. Batman – Gotham Knight is animated and is supposed to bridge the gap between the two movies,

Stop-Loss
d. Kimberly Pierce
c. Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum

  • Commentary by director Kimberly Peirce and co-writer Mark Richard
  • 11 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary
  • The Making of Stop-Loss
  • ”A Day in Boot Camp” Featurette

There are some pretty good actors in this movie surrounding the Iraq War that makes it worth checking out. I really discovered Ryan Phillippe late in the game. I knew him from I Know What You Did Last Summer, but that’s like recognizing the best wino at the State Fair. What made him really stand out to me was his work alongside Kieran Culkin in Igby Goes Down. What could have been just another Alex Keaton rehash was proof that Phillippe was a star in the making. His performance as the American in the primarily British cast of Gosford Park also stands out to me as a highlight in a career that should soon be full of them, if he chooses his projects right. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum are two more promising young actors who might be ready to finally break out with both appearing in the upcoming G.I. Joe reboot. If you want proof of Gordon-Levitt’s acting chops, look no further than the wonderful Brick. As for Tatum, he has been the best thing in almost everything he has ever appeared (Step Up and She’s the Man). So what happens when three of this generation’s up-and-coming actors join forces? I don’t know. Despite the appearance of three of my favorites, I refused to watch the movie because of its subject matter. I am not against war movies in general, but the thought of the Stop-Loss policy pisses me off to no end. The director, Kimberly Pierce, does have the amazing Boys Don’t Cry under her belt, so I would assume the movie probably is better than I give it credit for, but it looks like much of America was as turned off at the idea as I was. It bombed at the box office, and I would venture to guess it is because much of America doesn’t like the idea of our boys being put into situations like this for a war that many no longer support. I am curious to the reception a movie like this would garner outside of America when it hits DVD in the UK in August.
 
The Ruins (Unrated Edition)
d. Carter Smith
c. Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore

  • Never-before-seen Alternate Ending
  • Original Theatrical Ending (Unrated Edition only)
  • 3 Deleted Scenes
  • Commentary by Director Carter Smith and Editor Jeff Betancourt
  • Making The Ruins
  • Creeping Death
  • Building The Ruins
  • Trailer

This movie got lots of love on CHUD, but I question certain aspects of the film itself. I gave it a favorable theatrical review as well, but looking back wonder if it will hold up as well watching it now. My biggest problem lies in the end which seems abrupt and tacked on, without any of the loose ends being tied up. That is not a good thing in this case, because to be honest, in any horror movie you need to at least be given a hint to what the fate of any surviving characters will be. In Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you see the surviving girl getting picked up and never see what happens to her, but you can tell by looking at her what her fate probably is. In The Ruins, I was disappointed because you just see the climax and then you are cut off and don’t have any clue what happened next. Whatever. It still worked well as a horror movie because the gore factor was raised pretty high and the actual bad guy in the picture was pretty damn unique and is something we have not seen before, at least in this way. I was a huge fan of Jena after seeing her in Donnie Darko. I also loved her in both Saved! and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Let me just say here, as a pretty big fan of Malone, she sucked horribly in this movie. She was completely unrealistic, even in her portrayals as the annoying, bitchy girlfriend before the devastation at the ruins. She was just really, really bad. The other four of the main actors did a fine job, but Malone really disappointed me. I’d like to know what was added to this unrated edition, as it is said there is a little more tacked on to the final resolution. However, also on the disc is an alternate ending which I have heard alleviates my gripes about the bad theatrical ending. I liked the atmosphere (the cinematography (Darius Khondji) and music (Graham Revell) were amazing) so I would like to be won over in the end. In a nice touch, all extras on the Blu-Ray are in High Definition as well.

Mon Oncle Antoine – Criterion Collection
d. Claude Jutra
c. Jean Duceppe, Olivette Thibault, Claude Jutra, Jacques Gagnon

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director of photography Michel Brault
  • On-Screen: “Mon oncle Antoine,” a 2007 documentary tracing the making and history of the film
  • Claude Jutra: An Unfinished Story, a 2002 documentary by Paule Baillargeon, featuring interviews with Brault, director Bernardo Bertolucci, and actors Geneviève Bujold and Saul Rubinek
  • A Chairy Tale, a 1957 experimental short codirected by Jutra and Norman McLaren
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
  • New and improved English subtitle translation
  • PLUS: A new essay by film scholar André Loiselle

Mon Oncle Antoine has been voted the best movie ever made in Canada on two different occasions in something called the Sight & Sound Poll. It has also been listed as one of the top ten Canadian movies of all time in the TIFF List. Heck, that must make it good. Criterion: “Claude Jutra’s evocative portrait of a boy’s coming of age in wintry 1940s rural Quebec has been consistently cited by critics and scholars as the greatest Canadian film of all time. Delicate, naturalistic, and tinged with a striking mix of nostalgia and menace, Mon oncle Antoine follows Benoit, as he first encounters the twin terrors of sex and death, and his fellow villagers, who are living under the thumb of the local asbestos mine owner. Set during one ominous Christmas, Mon oncle Antoine is a holiday film unlike any other, and an authentically detailed illustration of childhood’s twilight.”

Superhero Movie
d. Craig Mazin
c. Sara Paxton, Leslie Neilson, Drake Bell

  • Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Craig Mazin and Producers David Zucker and Robert K. Weiss (Extended Version Only)
  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • ‘Meet the Cast’ Featurette
  • ‘The Art of Spoofing’ Featurette

Let’s take a look at what Superhero Movie has going for it. David Zucker (Airplane!) is producing and his number one man Leslie Neilson is along for the ride. Now let’s see what the movie has going against it. NO ONE FUCKING CARES ABOUT SPOOF MOVIES ANYMORE!!!!!!! Let’s see what I can name off the top of my head: Epic Movie, Not Another Teen Movie, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3 (There was a Scary Movie 4?), Meet the Spartans, Date Movie. Seven of those movies are the fault of two men: Jason Friedman and Aaron Seltzer. And that is only since the year 2000. Coming up is Disaster Movie and Scary Movie 5. Now, David Zucker has made some great movies (Airplane!, Naked Gun and BASEketball were brilliant. Fuck you, BASEketball is BRILLIANT), but he has got to get rid of these rehashing hacks. I said no one cares about spoofs, but if that were true they would not still be getting made. Bobby Ray looks at his wife Emma Lou and laughs as he drinks his Schlitz Lite and nods at the television. “Lookie there Emma Lou, them there boys are making fun of Britney Spears again.” Emma Lou looks up from her National Enquirer and smiles her toothless grin. “I sure ‘en hopes that comes out on VHS this time!” Stupid inbreds. At least they get their EXTENDED EDITION, with much more stupid humor.

The Mummy (Universal Legacy Series)
The Mummy (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)
The Mummy Returns (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)
Van Helsing (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition)

    
 

EXTRA FEATURES FOR THE MUMMY (UNIVERSAL LEGACY SERIES)

  • Commentary by Film Historian Paul M. Jenson
  • Second commentary by Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns, and Brent Armstrong
  • Universal Horror Documentary
  • He Who Made Monsters: Life and Legacy of Jack Pierce
  • Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
  • Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed)
  • Posters and Stills
  • Trailers

Yep, there is a new Mummy movie a coming. I really have a beef to pick with these Universal Legacy Series people. A while back they released some really nice sets that included Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and The Mummy and they all included the original films plus the sequels. They were great little sets. Then suddenly, the re-released the originals in a special edition all their own, with some really nice special features not included in the bigger sets they released. The reason for this is simple. If we want all five (or whatever) Mummy movies, we get that set. Then if we want the nice special features, we then have to buy the next release, of a movie we already have, to get these features. They do what they do best, rape our wallets, pull out and then just slap us on the ass and walk out the door. They know what we are – consumer whores. I just wish they wouldn’t treat us like it. Also available this week are re-releases of both recent Mummy movies and – just to be a dick – I’ll let you see the cover for the unnecessary special edition of the really bad CGI crap fest Van Helsing. My guess is they are releasing that movie because nothing you see in the next Mummy flick will look as horrible as the mutations in that one. The Mummy will include 3 commentaries (with Director Stephen Sommers and Editor Bob Ducsay, with Actor Brendan Fraser, and with Actors Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O’Connor and Arnold Vosloo), a digital copy of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes (An Army To Rule The World Part 1, Unraveling The Legacy Of The Mummy, Visual And Special Effects Formation, Building A Better Mummy, Egyptology 101: Pharaoh Lineage), a photograph montage, a Storyboard To Final Film Comparison, the theatrical trailer, and a sneak peak at The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor. The Mummy Returns will include a commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay, a digital copy of the film, featurettes (An Army To Rule The World Part 2, Unraveling The Legacy Of The Mummy, Visual And Special Effects Formation, Spotlight on Location), a conversation with The Rock, Egyptology 201, a Live “Forever May Not Be Long Enough” Music Video, and a sneak peak at The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor. Van Helsing will include – eh, who the hell cares?

OTHERS

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

TELEVISION ON DVD

Stargate Atlantis – The Complete Fourth Season
Monk – Season Six
Psych – The Complete Second Season
The Batman – The Complete Fifth Season
I Dream of Jeannie – The Complete Fifth Season
Teen Titans – The Complete Fifth Season
X-Files Revelations

THE BARGAIN BIN

The XFiles: Revelations.  $14.99 *
Blood Brothers  $14.99
Sleepwalking  $19.99
The Mummy: 2 DVD Deluxe Edition  $14.99
The Mummy Returns: 2 DVD Deluxe Edition  $14.99
The Mummy (1932)  $19.99
WWE Presents: Nature Boy Ric Flair – The Definitive Collection  $19.99
* Move Cash included to see The X-Files: I Want To Believe

The Ruins: Unrated  $16.99 *
StopLoss  $16.99 *
Superhero Movie  $19.99 *
* Buy any TWO of the marked titles together on the same receipt and save $5

Batman: Gotham Knight  $12.99 *
Batman: Gotham Knight  2 DVD Special Edition  $22.99 *
* Best Buy Exclusive: Concession money included with the purchase of any Batman: Gotham Knight DVD
* Best Buy Exclusive: Steelbook box art plus a free character guide included with the purchase of Batman: Gotham Knight – 2 DVD Special Edition

$5.99 DVDs::
Days Of Glory, Saving Private Ryan: Special Limited Edition, Top Gun: Special Collector’s Edition, Miracle, BORAT, My Super ExGirlfriend, Waiting: 2 DVD Deluxe Edition, Forrest Gump, Eragon, Flicka, I Think I Love My Wife, Idiocracy, The Marine: Unrated, Black Hawk Down, The Karate Kid, Stripes: Extended Cut, American Beauty, Clear & Present Danger, The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, Armageddon, Cold Mountain, Annapolis, Dirty Dancing: Ultimate Edition, Young Guns, American Psycho, Reservoir Dogs: 15th Anniversary Edition, The Punisher, Caddyshack, The Fugitive, Syriana, The Pelican Brief, National Lampoon’s Vacation

$7.99 DVDs::
28 Weeks Later, The Hills Have Eyes 2: Unrated, Live Free Or Die Hard: Unrated, Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Night At The Museum, Little Miss Sunshine, Pathfinder, Daywatch: Unrated, Once, Everyone’s Hero, Firehouse Dog, John Tucker Must Die, The Last King Of Scotland, A Good Year, Waitress, The Namesake, Deck The Halls, Turistas: Unrated, Reno 911! Miami: The Movie  Unrated

Blu-Ray High Definition Discs
The Ruins: Unrated  $29.99
Batman: Gotham Knight  $29.99 *
Batman Begins  $19.99
Batman Begins Limited Edition Gift Set  $39.99 *
National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets  $29.99
Casino Royale  $29.99
Underworld: Evolution  $29.99
Open Season  $29.99
* Free Movie Money to see Batman: The Dark Knight when you buy any Batman Begins Gift Set
* Best Buy Exclusive: Concession money included with the purchase of any Batman: Gotham Knight DVD

DVD Sets:
Everybody Loves Raymond: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9  $16.99 each
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6  $16.99 each
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4  $16.99 each
The King Of Queens: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8  $19.99 each
Veronica Mars: Season 1 / 2 / 3  $19.99 each
Supernatural: Season 1 / 2  $19.99 each
I Dream Of Jeannie: Season 5  $29.99
I Dream OF Jeannie: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4  $17.99 each
Stargate Atlantis: Season 4  $39.99
Monk: Season 6  $44.99 *
* Get any one season of Monk for $19.99 when you buy Season 6
Fastlane: The Complete Series  $39.99 
Jake & The Fatman: Season 1  $24.99 
Batman Begins Limited Edition Gift Set  $27.99 ???? *
* Best Buy Exclusive: A Joker Lithograph

Superhero Movie  $13.99
XFiles: Revelations  $13.99 *
Tyler Perry Presents: Meet The Browns  No Price Listed
Vantage Point  No Price Listed
10,000 B.C.  No Price Listed
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (2008)  $9.99
WWE Presents: Nature Boy Ric Flair – The Definitive Collection  $19.99
* Free Movie Money to see X-Files: I Want To Believe in movie theaters on 7/25/08

Stop  Loss  $13.99 *
The Ruins  $13.99 *
* Purchased both marked titles together on the same receipt and Save $5

Batman: Gotham Knight  $12.99 *
Batman: Gotham Knight – 2 DVD Collector’s Edition  $22.99 *
* Circuit City Exclusive: Free Batman: Gotham Knight patch with purchase

$5.99 DVDs:
Batman Begins, V For Vendetta, Blade, Blade II, Blade: Trinity – Unrated Version, Superman: The Movie, Superman II: Richard Donner Cut, Superman III: Deluxe Edition, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace – Deluxe Edition, Spawn, Batman Beyond: The Movie, Challenge Of The Super Friends: Attack Of The Legion Of Doom, Challenge Of The Super Friends: United They Stand, Justice League: The Brave & The Bold, Justice League Unlimited: Joining Forces, Justice League Unlimited: Saving The World, Justice League: Starcrossed – The Movie, Justice League: Justice On Trial

$6.99 DVDs:
A Knight’s Tale: Special Edition, Spiderman, Spiderman 2, The Warriors: Ultimate Director’s Cut, Equilibrium, Armageddon, Underworld, Underworld: Evolution, Troy (Single Disc), The Matrix, Van Helsing, King Kong (Peter Jackson), The Bourne Identity; Extended Edition, The Bourne Supremacy, Saving Private Ryan, Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Cradle Of Life, Carlito’s Way: Rise To Power, Riddick, Platoon: Special Edition, Predator (1st Pressing), The Great Escape (1st Pressing), Dr. No, XMen, X2: XMen United, Die Hard (Current Edition), Die Hard 2 (Current Edition), Die Hard With A Vengeance, Top Gun: Special Collector’s Edition, Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2

Blu-Ray High Definition Discs:
Batman Begins  $21.99

DVD Sets:
Stargate Atlantis: Season 4  $34.99

Superhero Movie  $17.99
The Backyardigans: Mighty MatchUp!  $12.99
X-Files: Revelations  $14.99
Batman: Gotham Knight  $12.99
Batman: Gotham Knight – 2 DVD Collector’s Edition  $19.99 *
* Exclusive 4 bonus episodes of Batman Beyond included with Batman: Gotham Knight DVD

The Ruins: Unrated  $16.99 *
StopLoss  $17.99 *
* Purchase both marked titles together on the same receipt and receive a $5 Target gift card

$6.50 DVDs:
Seven, Legally Blonde, The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, National Lampoon Presents: Van Wilder

$10.00 DVDs:
Open Season, Parenthood, Meet The Parents / Meet The Fockers Double Feature, Spy Kids / Spy Kids 2 Two Movie Collection

Blu-Ray High Definition Discs:
Batman: Gotham Knight  $29.99
The Ruins: Unrated  $29.99
Batman Begins  $24.99

DVD Sets:
Monk: Season 6  $36.99
Stargate Atlantis: Season 4  $37.99
Psych: Season 2  $36.99
I Dream Of Jeannie: Season 5  $27.99
The Batman: Season 5  $14.99
Batman Begins: Limited Edition Gift Set  $27.99