Welcome to The Special Edition. I have had a crazy week, so I’ll just get this column out with little to no hoopla.
Stranger Than Fiction
Will Ferrell performed a song at the Oscars about comedy actors not getting any notice when it comes to Oscar time. The song was quite brilliant. Here, he makes a slight departure from his regularly scheduled programming in a movie that sounds a bit like a Charlie Kauffman feature. Farrell plays a man who hears voices in his head. And it’s not just any voice he hears, it’s a voice narrating his life. The thing is, Farrell is a character in a book, and the voice he hears is telling the story of his life as it is written. When Farrell discovers what is going on, he enlists the help of a literary professor played by a very funny Dustin Hoffman, and tries to discover what he can do to take more control of his life. That is when he discovers that it is in the author’s plans for his character to die. What could have been a deep Kauffman-esque film becomes a light, but enjoyable movie. Director Marc Forster is very capable at a deep, disturbing film (see Monster’s Ball), but here he plays more to the crowd pleasing sort of movie (see Finding Neverland). The DVD seems stacked and is well worth the watch.
EXTRA FEATURES:
“Actors In Search of a Story” featurette – A look at the cast members
“Picking The Right Team” featurette – A look at the crew
“On Location in Chicago” featurette – A look at the locations
“Words on the Page” featurette – A look at the script
“Picture a Number” featurette – A look at the graphics in the film
“On the Set” featurette
A montage of funny set moments
Deleted Scenes
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
Remember that song with Will Ferrell I mentioned at the Oscars? Well, he was not alone and was joined in the number by John C. Reilly and the star of this movie, Jack Black. I know Black is short on fans around Chud, but I am a fan and have been since before he became a top-line actor. For those fans who caught on to Black through his band Tenacious D – the self proclaimed “Greatest Band on Earth” – here is the movie Black has been promising us for a long time. What started as an HBO show, that aired alongside Mr. Show, turned into a cult sensation with songs such as Tribute and Fuck Her Gently. Here we have the movie which stars both members of Tenacious D, Jack Black and Kyle Gass. They are joined by an eclectic cast including Ben Stiller, rocker’s Dave Grohl, Ronnie James Dio and Meat Loaf, Colin Hanks, Tim Robbins and an appearance by the third Oscar singer, John C. Reilly. The movie is really a mismatch of prior movies, including The Blues Brothers and Crossroads. It is a must-watch for fans of Tenacious D. Most others just might not find it that amusing.
EXTRA FEATURES:
Commentary from stars Jack Black, Kyle Gass and director Liam Lynch
Deleted scenes with introduction from director Liam Lynch
Deleted/extended scenes
“Making of…” Documentary
“In the Studio” featurette
“Making of the Video” featurette for “The Pick of Destiny
Music Video: Tenacious D’s “The Pick of Destiny”
Jump to a song jukebox feature
Theatrical trailer
Teaser trailer
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut
This is the third different edition of Alexander that Oliver Stone has released. The version is an all-new un-rated edition, with 45 extra minutes of footage added back in. The extra on the 2-Disc edition is an introduction by Stone where he explains why he felt this third version was needed. Says Stone, “Over the last two years I have been able to sort out some of the unanswered questions about this highly complicated and passionate monarch — questions I failed to answer dramatically enough. This film represents my complete and last version, as it will contain all the essential footage we shot. I don’t know how many filmmakers have managed to make three versions of the same film, but I have been fortunate to have the opportunity because of the success of video and DVD sales in the world, and I felt if I didn’t do it now, with the energy and memory I still have for the subject, it would never quite be the same again. For me, this is the complete Alexander, the clearest interpretation I can offer.” Alexander: Revisited promices a bolder, more in-depth look at Alexander’s (Colin Farrell) life and his relationships with his mother, Olympias (Angelina Jolie), his father Philip (Val Kilmer), his lifelong friend and battle commander Hephaistion (Jared Leto), Roxane, his ambitious and beautiful Bactrian wife (Rosario Dawson), and his trusted general and confidant Ptolemy (Anthony Hopkins).
EXTRA FEATURES:
Introduction by Oliver Stone
Tideland
This is a movie that has really polarized audiences. Director Terry Gilliam has been called a visionary and a genius, yet his last two films (Brothers Grimm and Tideland) have been seen as major disappointments. The love for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 12 Monkeys and Brazil has given him tons of cred, but some are asking now if Gilliam has lost his touch. If nothing else, they ask if he is just maybe having a terrible decade. Devin mentions in his review (read it here) that the movie fits well in Gilliam’s oeuvre but is just a dismal, rank bore. I have not seen it, and can not pass judgement, but anything by Gilliam deserves a look. The making of features and the interview and commentary with Gilliam should at least prove interesting if the movie is not.
EXTRA FEATURES:
Introduction by Terry Gilliam
Feature length commentary by Tony Grisoni and Terry Gilliam
Theatrical trailer
Trailer gallery
A making-of featurette
A documentary short by Vincenzo Natali (with an optional commentary by Terry Gilliam and Vincenzo Natali)
An interview with Terry Gilliam
A Good Year
Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. Together, they brought us movie magic with Gladiator. Separatly, Scott gave us Alien, Bladerunner and Black Hawk Down. Crowe gave us the wonderful Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind and The Insider. They have rejoined here to bring us – a comedy? The plot outline reads “A British investment broker inherits his uncle’s chateau and vineyard in Provence, where he spent much of his childhood. He discovers a new laid-back lifestyle as he tries to renovate the estate to be sold.” It does not sound like something Ridley Scott fans look forward to and Russell Crowe fans flock out to see. Needless to say, it flopped. It did not even recover it’s budget worldwide. 26% rotten over at Rotten Tomatoes. Virtually ignored here on Chud. Is it any good? I don’t know. Scott is a good director and Crowe is a great actor, but the question here is the story. Did Crowe and Scott have a good year? You’ll have to see for yourself.
EXTRA FEATURES:
Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott
Making of “A Good Year”
Trailer
MORE TITLES TO SPEND YOUR CASH ON:
UPCOMING DVD NEWS
Due to time constraints, I am skipping the upcoming DVD news this week. I will make up for it next week with news of the releases of Volver, Little Children, Apocolypto, Bobby, Alpha Dog and The Hitcher — plus whatever is announced in the next week.
THE BARGAIN BIN
TARGET
Stranger Than Fiction – $16.99
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny – $16.99
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut – $18.69
Tideland – $15.99
A Good Year – $16.99
Everybody Hates Chris: The First Season – $32.99
Reno 911: Most Wanted, Uncensored – $12.99
The Return – $19.99
$7.50 DVDs: Robots, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie, Titanic, The Princess Bride: Special Edition, Caddyshack, Dukes Of Hazzard: Unrated
$10.00 DVDs: Take The Lead, Inside Man, Benchwarmers, RV, Peter Jackson’s King Kong, The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift
CIRCUIT CITY
Stranger Than Fiction – $15.99
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny – $17.99
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut – $19.99
Tideland – $22.99
A Good Year – $19.99
Everybody Hates Chris: The First Season – $39.99
Reno 911: Most Wanted, Uncensored – $12.99
The Return – $19.99
2 DVDs for $10: Incredible Mr. Limpet, Purple Rain (1st Pressing), Two Weeks Notice, I Am Sam, After The Sunset, Austin Power: International Man Of Mystery, Cellular, Queen Of The Damned, Ace Ventura (1st Pressing), Matchstick Men, 9 ½ Weeks, Little Nicky: Platinum Series, Message In A Bottle, The Pelican Brief, About Schmidt, Empire Of The Sun (1st Pressing), The Wedding Singer (1st Pressing), Clash Of The Titans, The Lost Boys (1st Pressing), A Perfect Murder, Mystic River, Grumpy Old Men, Twister, Bloodsport, Taking Lives, Absolute Power, The Whole Nine Yards, Murder At 1600, Scooby-Doo, Angel Eyes, Nation Lampoon’s European Vacation, Cradle 2 The Grave, Dreamcatcher, Gotti, Miss Congeniality, Analyze This, You’ve Got Mail (1st Pressing), The Outsiders: The Complete Novel, North Country
BEST BUY
Stranger Than Fiction – $16.99 (Buy with Bewitched, Something’s Gotta Give or Tootsie and pay only $20 for the two movies)
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny – $16.99 (Best Buy Exclusive Bonus Disc included with purchase // Bonus disc contains over 80 minutes of extras including home movies, deleted scenes and internet shorts)
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut – $19.99 (Get Extra Movie Cash for the movie 300 when you buy Alexander Revisited)
Tideland – $24.99
A Good Year – $19.99
Everybody Hates Chris: The First Season – $36.99
Reno 911: Most Wanted, Uncensored – $12.99
The Return – $19.99
$9.99 DVDs: Million Dollar Baby: 3 Disc Edition, The Shawshank Redemption: 2 DVD Special Edition, Mystic River: 3 Disc Deluxe Edition, Poseidon: 2 DVD Special Edition, Batman: 2 DVD Special Edition, Bullitt: 2 DVD Special Edition, The Phantom Of The Opera: 2 DVD Special Edition, HEAT: 2 DVD Special Edition, The Lost Boys: 2 DVD Special Edition, Constantine: 2 DVD Special Edition, True Romance: 2 DVD Special Edition, V For Vendetta: 2 DVD Special Edition
deepdiscountdvd.com
Stranger Than Fiction – $21.72
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny – $20.21
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut – $18.89
Tideland – $13.54
A Good Year – $20.71
Everybody Hates Chris: The First Season – $32.42
Reno 911: Most Wanted, Uncensored – $13.67
The Return – $21.77
E-Mails
Keep those e-mails coming (Chud1@starvingdogs.biz). Thanks to Scott for the nice words and thanks to Matthew for pointing out an obvious mistake in the last column. All comments are appreciated.
It was a great year for the Oscars with Martin Scorsese finally winning his Oscar and the great The Departed taking the best picture prize. If you have not gotten the DVD release of The Departed yet, you are doing yourself a disservice. Come back next week as I will talk about the upcoming releases of Borat, Fast Food Nation and others. See ya then.