DVD’s I Bought This Week: December 23

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 23, 2008

A wise man once said “It’s not just about seeing Star Wars two weeks before everyone else. You’ve gotta plow through crap like Marie Antoinette and Catwoman as well.” I have the fortune of being able to see all of the films that I want, and find out that they are only worth one viewing (or less) before I would willingly pay for the DVD…and subsequently end up hating myself later. But for every The Whoopee Boys there has to be an Indiana Jones, and because of the great films I am able to put myself further in debt every week.

Eagle Eye

The Pitch: Enemy of the State, with magic tricks and Shia LaBeouf.

Why Buy It?: For how much I joke about how much this one is like Enemy of the State, I really loved that movie. I also really loved this one. Director DJ Caruso really knows how to put together a thriller. The movie is filled with action and some really awesome stunts. Shia is definitely becoming a better actor, and it will be a bit harder for most of anyone to question him now. This is just one of those home theater eye/ear candy DVD’s that I can’t pass up.

Blu-ray Available: Yes

The Duchess

The Pitch: Keira Knightley whooping it up in a corset.

Why Buy It?: I just can’t get away from period pieces. When they are done well, they just have an awesome feel to them that really takes you to the certain time they are depicting. On the flip side, there is also something about Keira Knightley in a period piece. It might be the fact that she’s wearing a corset. I digress. Ummm, this is a good movie too. I may have forgotten that fact with all my corset ramblings.

Blu-ray Available: No

Resident Evil: Degeneration

The Pitch: Resident Evil – The Game: The Movie

Why Buy It?: I have always been a huge fan of the Resident Evil video games. The first film was pretty good, but they went way off the reservoir with the rest of the bunch. Now Sony has taken the next logical step, make a CG motion picture version of the game, which has already been adapted into three films. You might sense a hint of cynicism there, but I think this is a good idea. The Final Fantast CG film was wonderful, and if it is anything like that…I will love to own this on Blu-Ray.

Blu-ray Available: Yes

Ghost Town

The Pitch: Ghost, sans Whoopi, with Ricky Gervais.

Why Rent It?: This is a rough one…everyone in America (don’t take that literally) loves The Office, but has no idea who Ricky Gervais is. So you have a guy with a ton of influence in the entertainment but not much face time, and throw him to an audience to see what happens. Imagine if Judd Apatow starred in one of his own films. Of course, the project would be carried by his writing, but people would have little or no interest in giving it a chance. Well I will give this one a chance Ricky, I will give this one a chance.

Blu-ray Available: Yes

Baghead

The Pitch: A screenwriter’s nightmare, their script comes true.

Why Rent It?: Remember Mark and Jay Duplass? No? Shame on you. They directed the Sundance and SXSW sensation The Puffy Chair. When they aren’t delivering recliners, they are writing the next big screenplay about a killer who wears a bag over his head. This sounds just cheesy enough to be right up my alley. I liked The Puffy Chair a lot, so again I will give this one a chance.

Blu-ray Available: No

Savage Grace

Synopsis: A dramtic portrayal of dramatic events.

Why Avoid It?: Where oh where has Julianne Moore been for the last five years? She really hasn’t done anything since The Hours or Far From Heaven. Anything she has been in, has only been for what seems like minutes…or a voice role in the a fore-mentioned Eagle Eye. I am not a fan of seeing Moore cry, it seems so fake and contrived, and this looks like a prime opportunity for her to conjure up some Hollywood tears. I am going to stay away from this one unless I hear something great about it.

Blu-ray Available: No

Pulse 3

Synopsis: They made three of these movies?

Why Avoid It?: This is Hollywood at its worst. Taking a crappy movie, and then turning it into a trilogy. Why does anything have to be a trilogy now anyways? It’s like if you make a sequel, a trilogy is going to bring some kind of magical closure to the horrible story you started in the first place. No one can leave it at one movie anymore, let alone two. Now we have to deal with tolerable, then bad and then worse. On another one of my brilliant side notes, anyone else think Noureen DeWoulf is really hot?

Blu-ray Available: Yes

Beethoven’s Big Break

Synopsis: Sarah Silverman’s brother in yet another Beethoven movie.

Why Avoid It?: So this is AKA Beethoven’s Sixth…or Beethoven .5. This is Hollywood sloth in the ultimate form. They are pretending that this is almost a prequel to the 1992 film, Beethoven. From the trailer, it actually looks like they are not only using the same gags from the original film…but possibly the actual footage from the first film. Also stars Eddie Griffin and Joey Fatone. Remember those guys? They used to be celebrities.

Blu-ray Available: Yes

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