DVD’s I Bought This Week - April 15th

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 15, 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.

Juno

Director: Jason Reitman

Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner

Rated: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

Synopsis: A pregnant teen helps a couple by giving them a baby, and a divorce.

Why Buy It?: Juno was one of the best received films of 2007, and for good reason. Ellen Page is magnificent in this film written by Oscar winner Diablo Cody. You don’t need me to tell you why to buy it, just buy it and enjoy your time with the sassy teen that America fell in love with.

Formats: Standard DVD, Blu-Ray

Lars and The Real Girl

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Kelli Garner

Rated: Rated PG-13 for some sex-related content.

Synopsis: A socially inept man, tries to pass off a sex doll as his new girlfriend.

Why Buy It?: I actually thought that Lars and The Real Girl was one of the strongest scripts of the year. I loved this film, and it only further increased my opinion of Ryan Gosling as an actor. This film is painful to watch at times, but has one of the most important things you can have in any film: heart. This is a heartfelt and emotional film that was at the top of my lists in 2007.

Formats: Standard DVD

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead

Director: Sidney Lumet

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei

Rated: Rated R for a scene of strong graphic sexuality, nudity, violence, drug use and language.

Synopsis: Two brothers carry out the worst “get rich quick” plan ever.

Why Rent It?: While Sidney Lumet is not as big of name as Spielberg or Scorsese, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest living filmmakers. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead was great, but not without its problems. This one is worth a look, but not more than one.

Formats: Standard DVD, Blu-Ray

Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem

Director: Colin and Greg Strause

Cast: Steven Pasquale

Rated: Rated R for violence, gore and language.

Synopsis: Aliens and Predators get into a scuffle and scare the shit out of everyone.

Why Rent It?: I will easily call this one of the best guilty pleasures of last year. You thought Alien Vs. Predator was awesome? Well make way for the sequel that comes back bigger and badder than the original. Considering the plot, this one was actually pretty good.

Formats: Standard DVD, Blu-Ray

In The Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Director: Uwe Boll

Cast: Jason Statham, Ron Perlman

Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences.

Synopsis: Your worst nightmare, played out by some average actors.

Why Avoid It?: Uwe Boll, is the worst director ever. The worst part about him is that he actually believes that he is a misunderstood artist. I hope, with all of my heart, that two hundred years from now Uwe Boll is not mentioned in the same vein as HP Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe. Based on the fact that Boll was involved, I must make the assumption that the film could have been alot better had he not been involved.

Formats: Standard DVD

Death Toll

Director: Phenomenon

Cast: Lou Diamond Phillips, DMX

Rated: Rated R for violence, language, brief drug use and some sexual content/nudity.

Synopsis: The only cure for a city filled with crime is Ritchie Valens and DMX

Why Avoid It?: So, I think it is pretty safe to say that anything directed by someone named/called Phenomenon, can be considered utter crap. I just got a good idea though. Let’s compare the work of Phenomenon to Uwe Boll, and see who holds up over time. Oh, and Lou Diamond Philips looks more and more like a freak plastic surgery accident as he gets older. La, la, la bamba! Zing!

Formats: Standard DVD

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