DVD’s I Bought This Week: December 9th
Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 9, 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.
The Dark Knight
The Pitch: One of the most epic crime dramas ever, disguised as a superhero movie.
Why Buy It?: As I’m sitting here writing this, I’m watching The Dark Knight and I’m still just amazed. The film is just layer upon layer of drama, action and suspense. The film is a masterpiece from the ground up. The meticulous and brilliant viral marketing campaign just gave us a taste of what to expect when the film actually hit audiences. Now the film is in an Oscar push, and also ready to overtake the number one spot as the highest grossing film of all time. So why buy this one? Because any responsible movie fan would.
Horton Hears a Who!
The Pitch: One of the best family films of the year that everyone forgot about.
Why Buy It?: I really loved this one. It came out so early in the year that a lot of people even forgot about this one. I didn’t though. I was almost as happy to pick this up as I was for The Dark Knight. With the wonderful voice talent of actors like Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell, you really can’t go wrong. Hilarious and with a great message, this one is great for the family or just someone looking for a laugh.
Man on Wire
The Pitch: Arguably the best movie to come out this week…
Why Buy It?: This one actually passed up Toy Story 2 as the highest rated film ever on Rotten Tomatoes. With a 100% fresh rating on 133 reviews, Man on Wire is one of the year’s highest rated film. Talk about a good week for DVDs. The film does not yield to the hype. Although it’s a documentary, it is immensely entertaining. Philippe Petit’s dialogue itself is sometimes even more entertaining than the actual feat of him tightrope walking between the twin towers.
Peter and The Wolf
The Pitch: The best TV show about a death metal rock band ever…
Why Rent It?: This was an Oscar winner for best animated short. Worth seeing? Yes. Worth paying over $10 for an animated short? I don’t think so. I really want to see this one, but I will not buy it for $17. I think this is certainly worth a rent though. This is old school, stop-motion awesomeness.
Flow: For Love of Water
The Pitch: A documentary about nature’s most precious resource.
Why Rent It?: I have been saying for a while now, that the next big resource that will be in high demand is water. Hey, you can’t drink oil right? Well this is another documentary on this week’s list, but still one that I’m dying to see. I am a pretty big fan of documentaries, especially entertaining ones. This one is a bit more political, but has still received some very positive reviews.
Europa – Criterion Collection
The Pitch: A post WW2 European film.
Why Rent It?: Yet another Criterion release that draws my interest. The great thing about Criterion, is that they usually choose films that are influential but not necessarily on the radar. This release includes a couple documentaries that would be really interesting to check out.
Sex and the City: The Movie (The Wedding Collection Ultimate Collectors Edition)
Synopsis: This is like robbing your purse or wallet.
Why Avoid It?: It’s not such a big deal that they came out with a special collector’s edition. It is a big deal that it is being released like a month after the initial release, and right before the holidays. This is an obvious double dip. I’d rather by Mama Mia for my girlfriend than shell out some extra cash for this special edition. What’s so special? A soundtrack, a book and a certificate that authenticates your naiveté.
Anamorph
Synopsis: A straight to DVD train wreck.
Why Avoid It?: Willem really needs a better agent. The guy has been in some of the better movies of the last ten years, and then he lends his talent to crap like this? Wtf. Also Scott Speedman should be on a much higher level by now. He was second billing in a blockbuster franchise, yet noone knows his name. So what is this movie then? Lunch money for two misguided stars.
Another Gay Sequel- Uncut Theatrical Version
Synopsis: Gay guys on spring break, trying to hook up.
Why Avoid It?: Should I? This might be a mistake, but here I go. This sounds like the most stupid plot for a film ever. I don’t care that it is a gay film, it just sounds dumb. ‘Gays gone wild,’ seriously? I can see this being RuPaul’s passion project, but I can’t see how this film could expect to be taken seriously.
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