DVD Weekly
DVD’s I Bought This Week - June 24th
Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 24, 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.
In Bruges
Director: Martin McDonagh
Cast: Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson
Rated: Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
Synopsis: Two hitmen on holiday - dark comedy style.
Why Buy It?: This is one of those films that I just didn’t believe any of the hype about, until I saw it. In Bruges is truly one of those funny dark comedies that can’t be passed up. This was one of my favorite releases of the week. I know alot of people don’t think much of Colin Farrell’s acting prowess, but he really does pull it off. Ralph Fiennes is awesome in this one too. Check it out.
Formats: Standard DVD
Definitely Maybe
Director: Adam Brooks
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz, Kevin Kline
Rated: Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking.
Synopsis: A dad tells his daughter about the three girls he got it on with before she was born, not in a creepy way though.
Why Buy It?: I think I might have mentioned my slight man-crush on Ryan Reynolds before…look I’ve gone and done it again. I just can’t avoid his movies because even if they are stupid, they are always entertaining. This is a Ryan Reynolds flick that will totally pull on your heartstrings. Oh, and if you were at least 10 years old in 1993 then you will appreciate a ton of pop-culture references in this one. “Who is Kurt Cobain?”
Formats: Standard DVD
Persepolis
Director: Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi
Cast:
Rated: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including violent images, sexual references, language and brief drug content.
Synopsis: A girl’s story that takes place during the Islamic Revolution
Why Buy It?: With a crap-load of Oscar buzz, Persepolis topped my list of must-see films from 2007. This is not necessarily one of those movies that you would invite all your friends over for, but it is totally worth seeing and buying if you love to own great films.
Formats: Standard DVD, Blu-Ray
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Nick Nolte, Seth Rogen
Rated: Rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements.
Synopsis: Two twin boys try to maintain a fake accent, while trying to escape Nick Nolte.
Why Rent It?: So I won’t lie, I liked The Spiderwick Chronicles. However, I did not like it enough to shell out another $20. I am fine with just seeing it one more time. Seriously though, how much of Nick Nolte’s voice can you put up with nowadays. Take some halls man.
Formats: Standard DVD, Blu-Ray
Charlie Bartlett
Director: Jon Poll
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Kat Dennings
Rated: Rated R for language, drug content and brief nudity.
Synopsis: A teenager uses his trust fund life to help sell prescription drugs to other teenagers.
Why Buy It?: The only way I can explain this one is that it is not bad. There were some things that I did like, namely Robert Downey Jr. However, there were alot of things I didn’t like. Anton Yelchin is just plain annoying. If a whiny voiced teenager like him started giving me advice on how to live my life, he would be under my car. This is a good one if you don’t mind predictability…otherwise take my advice and just go use your $20 to buy some prescription drugs from that one friend of yours.
Formats: Standard DVD
10,000 BC
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Steven Strait, Camilla Belle
Rated: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.
Synopsis: When mammoths attack!
Why Avoid It?: I was hoping that 10,000 BC would surprise me like Apocalypto did. Meaning, that it would be a good movie and better than I expected. I don’t know why I didn’t read the warnings. Any film that stars Steven Strait and Camilla Belle should not be called “epic”, unless the second word of the phrase is “failure” or “mishap”.
Formats: Standard DVD
The Hammer
Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Cast: Adam Carolla
Rated: Rated R for brief language.
Synopsis: A 40-year old man tries to resurrect his boxing career.
Why Avoid It?: I can’t wait for all six of you Adam Carolla fans out there to flame me, and stick up for him. When you have to bribe your production studio to get a limited theatrical release, there is a problem. Maybe Carolla should have employed Artie Lange and Larry the Cable Guy, then this could have been the biggest straight to DVD release ever!
Formats: Standard DVD
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7 Comments
June 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Not a bad week for DVDs.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I like Adam Carolla.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:51 am
I think I have to see In Bruges. I hate Colin Farrell, but I have heard great things about his movie. I would see it already if it weren’t for that fake Irishman. How dare you disrespect the Irish with your bad acting, Colin!
June 25th, 2008 at 6:00 am
To avoid a DVD simply because he had trouble getting it distributed is not only ignorant, but self-limiting. People like you sharing the same attitude is exactly why Adam Carolla had trouble going through the studios and had to distribute the film himself. The wise studios by the way decided to make and distribute Drillbit Taylor and The Comebacks instead. Both glaring gems of American cinema, right?
Have a look at The Hammer on rottentomatoes, and fandango and check out the ratings there. 100% from Top Critics, and 96% from the community (181/186 people loved it). Do yourself a favor and don’t avoid one of the best comedies made in the last decade because of some stupid prejudice or arrogance you have.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Matt, it’s not prejudice or arrogance….I just don’t think Adam Carolla is funny. Is that so bad? I don’t want to see it because I don’t find the star funny. So why see a comedy starring someone who doesn’t make me laugh?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Ok that’s fair. I wouldn’t have said anything if you’d posted that in the blog rather than “When you have to bribe your production studio to get a limited theatrical release, there is a problem.” That just implies you’re avoiding it because of pre-judged notions of low production value or something.
On the other hand, I completely understand if you don’t find him funny and want to avoid the film because of that. Although, I’ve heard it’s a clever romantic comedy and one of the best films of the year, even if you don’t like Carolla. It’s not a biopic of him or anything.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I actually bought The Spiderwick Chronicles. I thought it was a lot better than the last Harry Potter movies and prolly a bit more realistic than Harry Potter. Have to see Definitely, Maybe and Persepolis. Hated 10,000 B.C.