DVD’s I Bought This Week – April 8th

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 8, 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.

There Will Be Blood

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano
Rated: Rated R for some violence.

Synopsis: Oil. Money. DRAINAGE! Milkshakes. Blood.

Special Features: Additional Scenes, “The Story of Petroleum” featurette, There Will Be Blood – Pics, Research, Etc., “Dailies Gone Wild” featurette, Trailers

Why Buy It?: The fact that this film did not win more Oscars, just makes it draw even more comparisons to Citizen Cane for me. Mark my word, give it about 20 years and this film will go down as one of the all time classics. This was one of my favorites of 2007, and of all time. Go out and buy this before I drink your milkshake!

Formats: Standard DVD

Walk Hard

Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer
Rated: Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language.

Synopsis: A music icon walks through his life, hard.

Special Features: Deleted & Extended Scenes, Line-O-Rama, Song Performances, The Music of Walk Hard, The Real Dewey Cox, Commentary with Jake Kasdan, Judd Apatow, John C. Reilly & Lew Morton, Extended Footage Not Seen In Theaters, More Deleted & Extended Scenes, Additional Full Song Performances, A Christmas Song from Dewey Cox, Cox Sausage Commercials with Outtakes, Song Demos, The Making of Walk Hard, Tyler Nilson: A Cockumentary, Bull On the Loose, The Music of Walk Hard, The Real Dewey Cox, The Last Word with John Hodgman: Dewey Cox’s Last Interview, Commentary with Jake Kasdan, Judd Apatow, John C. Reilly and Lew Morton

Why Buy It?: While this was not the funniest Apatow film, it is still and Apatow film. John C. Reilly is still one of the funniest human beings to have a middle initial, and his performance is epic. The film has its obvious problems, but still has alot of funny moments that make it worth a purchase. If it had not been for all the special features of the two-disc edition, I would pass on buying the film in its single disc version.

Formats: Blu-ray, Standard DVD

Lions For Lambs

Director: Robert Redford
Cast: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Derek Luke, Michael Pena, Peter Berg

Rated: Rated R for some war violence and language.

Synopsis: A close look at making life-changing decisions.

Special Features: “The Making Of Lions For Lambs” featurette, “Script To Screen” featurette, “United Artists Legacy” featurette, Theatrical and Teaser Trailer

Why Buy It?: I think I may have been one of the only people in the world to like this. I hate preachy, pretentious films…and Lions For Lambs isn’t preachy or pretentious. It isn’t making a statement on the war, but it is making a statement about personal responsibility and how our decisions can effect the rest of our, and possibly others, lives. Not particularly entertaining, but an insightful film that is a must see in my book.

Formats: Standard DVD

Reservation Road

Director: Terry George

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly, Joaquin Phoenix, Mira Sorvino

Rated: Rated R

Synopsis: A coward kills a child with his car, and runs from his responsibilities.

Special Features: Deleted Scenes, Featurette: Looking Back on Reservation Road.

Why Rent It?: This one looked promising, but ultimately was way too dramatic. I mean, you’d expect alot from these actors in dramatic roles…but this one could easily win the record for losing my attention the quickest. Is all the whining necessary?

Formats: Standard DVD

The Waterhorse: Legend of The Deep

Director: Jay Russell

Cast: Brian Cox

Rated: Rated PG for some action/peril, mild language and brief smoking.

Synopsis: A boy is hard on his luck when, instead of finding a basketball shooting dog, he finds a mythical sea creature.

Special Features: Featurettes: Waterworks, Creating Crusoe, Myths & Legends, Setting The Scene, The Story, & The Characters

Why Avoid It?: I wonder how many cigarettes you can smoke to change a film to a PG-13 rating? This one contains some brief smoking. So not to worry, your kids can watch a boring and pointless film without you having to worry about their minds being corrupted. Chances are though, if you made them watch this, you have already done something that can’t be treated. Shame on you.

Formats: Standard DVD

P2

Director: Franck Khalfoun

Cast: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley

Rated: Rated R for strong violence/gore, terror and language.

Synopsis: A lonely weirdo traps a really hot chick in a parking garage. So whats wrong with this?

Special Features: Feature-length commentary track with Khalfoun and featurettes about the film’s production.

Why Avoid It?: So how long can you really trap someone in a parking garage? Not only that, but how long could you depict someone being trapped in a parking garage, in a 98 minute movie? Rachel Nichols is hot. What was I saying? Movies like this make my head hurt.

Formats: Standard DVD

Resurrecting The Champ

Director: Rod Lurie

Cast: Sam Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Rachel Nichols, Teri Hatcher.

Rated: Rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language.

Synopsis: A lying hack of a father, finds Sam Jackson doing his best Tyrone Biggums impression. Red Balls!

Special Features: Making Of featurette, Cast and Crew Interviews, Boxing / Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson

Why Avoid It?: Sam Jackson sounds like a mix between Dave Chapelle’s character Tyrone Biggums, and Damon Wayans’ Anton Jackson. Jackson was laughable, and there was not a single reason to like Hartnett’s character. Rachel Nichols is hot. Wait, did I already do this? Avoid it at all costs, and don’t believe the positive reviews.

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