DVD’s I Bought This Week - March 18

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 18, 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.

I Am Legend

Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Will Smith
Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

Synopsis: The last man on earth, keeps a dog and vampires as pets.

Special Features: Alternate Theatrical Version of Film, Four Animated Comics, Previews.

Why Buy It?: I have been excited for this movie for years, even though each film adaptation of I Am Legend has failed. I wasn’t a fan of Will Smith as Neville originally, but I did really like this film. Lise most people though, I liked the first 80% and then pretended that the end never happened. Good news though, the alternate ending is awesome.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Revolver

Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Jason Statham, Ray Liotta
Rated: Rated R

Synopsis: Poker chips and bullets, everywhere.

Special Features: Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Guy Ritchie and Editor James Herbert, “The Game: The Making of Revolver” Featurette, “Revolver: Making the Music” Featurette, “The Concept” Featurette, Seven Deleted/Extended Scenes, Outtakes, Photo Gallery, Music Trailer, Previews.

Why Buy It?: Are you kidding? This is my first does of Guy Ritchie since Snatch. I don’t care what people say, this one is a must buy if you are a Ritchie or Statham fan. Not quite as good as his other stuff, but that’s like saying “I will pass on Saving Private Ryan, because I know Schindler’s List is much better Spielberg.”

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Steep

Director: Mark Obenhaus
Cast:
Rated: Rated PG for extreme sports action and brief language.

Synopsis: Crazy stunts and snow.

Special Features:

Why Buy It?: I can’t express how much I love extreme sports documentaries like Steep, Riding Giants, Step Into Liquid, Adrenaline Rush and First Descent. Expect great cinematography and amazing visuals, a must buy in my book.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Life After People

Director: David de Vries
Cast:
Rated:

Synopsis: Look at our planet years after we are gone.

Special Features:

Why Buy It?: A shocking, and very interesting look at our planet in the very distant future. I forgot to DVR this, and only caught the end. This one is very interesting, and a History Channel quality special yet again.

Formats: Standard DVD

Atonement

Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan
Rated: Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality.

Synopsis: Girl falls in love with boy, after a raunchy note. Furious typewriters, and scandal ensues.

Special Features:Audio Commentary with Director Joe Wright, Seven Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary, “Bringing the Past to Life: The Making of Atonement” Featurette, “From Novel to Screen: Adapting a Classic” Featurette, Previews.

Why Rent It?: I didn’t buy into the hype on this one. It was good, but very anti-climactic. It was also a bit different from what I expected. Cinematography and a good score don’t automatically make a movie good.

Enchanted

Director: Kevin Lima
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Rated: Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo

Synopsis: Disney animation meets real world shenanigans.

Special Features:“Fantasy Comes to Life” Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, “Pip’s Predicament: A Pop-up Adventure”, Easter Eggs, Sneak Peeks.

Why Rent It?: I think I’m the only person in the world who looked at this one and thought it looked like crap. I love Disney’s thought process though. Their first step was to adapt every available fairy tale. Then they raided the history books and the bible for more old stories. Instead of inventing a new one…let’s make a live action version of our old ones! I still need to watch this one, maybe I will be converted.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Southland Tales

Director: Richard Kelly
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar,
Rated: Rated R for language, violence, sexual material and some drug content.

Synopsis: The world’s end as told by a movie star, porn star and war veteran.

Special Features: “USIDent TV: Surveilling the Southland” featurette, “This Is the Way the World Ends” animated short.

Why Rent It?: The next film from the visionary director of Donnie Darko. I probably should have bought this one, because you have to watch it more than once to understand it. I have also heard that it helps to read the graphic novels before seeing the film. From the mouth of the great Kevin Carr, “You make a movie, you make the DVD, I watch it, I grade it as that. I shouldn’t have to do research.”

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

Director: David L. Cunningham
Cast: Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston
Rated: Rated PG for fantasy action and some scary images

Synopsis: Only darkness can save us from bad film-making.

Special Features: Trailer

Why Avoid It?: This one sounds terrible, looks terrible, and I’m sure is terrible. How do you make a fantasy/action film within a PG rating and try not to suck? You would have to pay me to read the DVD sleeve.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Love in the Time of Cholera

Director: Mike Newell
Cast: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Rated: Rated R for sexual content/nudity and brief language

Synopsis: Boy loves girl and goes on a Chamberlain-like sexcapade, bedding hundreds of women, and calls himself a virgin to profess his love.

Special Features: Trailer

Why Avoid It?: This one burned my eyes and melted my soul. This crap was so long and so stupid, I want my money back, and a promise that Mike Newell will never ever even think about directing another film. Javier Barden, go grab a pneumatic air gun and kill everyone involved with this one.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

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