CHINATOWN Blu-Ray!

2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for blu-ray with announcements of Jaws, To Kill A Mockingbird, ET, and more.

Another hugely anticipated titles has just been announced.  At last, Chinatown is coming to blu-ray.

DIRECTOR ROMAN POLANSKI’S SEMINAL NEO-NOIR CLASSIC DEBUTS IN HIGH DEFINITION
                                                                     

CHINATOWN

Renowned Tour de Force Arrives on Blu-ray™ April 3, 2012 Overflowing with
Special Features Including Commentary by Screenwriter Robert Towne and Director David Fincher, a Three-Part Documentary, Personal Reflections from Leading Filmmakers and More

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. —Teeming with murder, corruption, greed and sex, director Roman Polanski’s unforgettable classic CHINATOWN arrives for the first time ever on Blu-ray April 3, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  Starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston, the film follows an intricate web of deception as private investigator Jake Gittes (Nicholson) unravels a mystery involving water rights that are critical to the development of Los Angeles, as well as unspeakable family secrets.  Written by Academy Award® winner Robert Towne, CHINATOWN was nominated for 11 Oscars® and was named by the AFI as one of the top 25 American films ever made.

With a new high definition transfer, the CHINATOWN Blu-ray sports packaging that features the original theatrical poster and includes a collectible booklet.  The disc includes over 2 ½ hours of bonus material such as an illuminating, feature-length commentary by screenwriter Robert Towne and director David Fincher (Zodiac); an in-depth, three-part documentary on the history and impact of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the continuing efforts to cultivate water resources for the metropolis; an appreciation of the film by prominent filmmakers; a look at the filming; an exploration of the legacy of this cinematic masterpiece; and more.

Blu-ray
                                                                                          
The CHINATOWN Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English Restored Mono Dolby TrueHD, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Special features are presented in high definition as indicated:           

o  Commentary with Robert Towne and David Fincher— Towne and Fincher offer unique insights into this classic film.  No matter how many times you’ve watched Chinatown, this commentary will open your eyes to a whole new experience.

o  Water and Power (HD)— In this three-part documentary, Robert Towne visits sites along the original Los Angeles Aqueduct for the first time.  He is informed of the social and environmental impacts and given insight into the major issues around the creation and ongoing operation of the aqueduct.

o   The Aqueduct (HD)— The City of Los Angeles completed the 233-mile gravity-fed aqueduct from the Owens Valley in 1913, under the leadership of a self-taught engineer named William Mulholland. L.A. Department of Water and Power representatives along with Catherine Mulholland, granddaughter of the engineer, discuss the development of the aqueduct and its contribution to the growth of the nation’s second-largest city.

o   The Aftermath (HD)— For decades a large rural community was desiccated under the management of water rights by the City of Los Angeles over a vast area of the Owens Valley.  Legal victories beginning in the 1970’s lead to successful reductions in environmental damages and the restoration of some natural habitats.  Historians, local ranchers and activists discuss the up-to-date impacts of the aqueduct and struggle to maintain a stable environment and community.

o   The River & Beyond (HD)— Prior to the building of the first aqueduct a century ago Los Angeles relied solely on its own local water supply: the Los Angeles River and its aquifer.  Today the river as a water resource is largely forgotten. Currently there are plans to re-develop the river to reduce L.A.’s dependence on imported water, reducing the environmental impact on distant communities, while creating parks and open spaces for the city.

o  Chinatown: An Appreciation— Chinatown has been hailed as a perfect film.
Robert Towne’s cynical labyrinth of secrets and sin, Roman Polanski at the top of his form, Jack Nicholson in all his glory, Faye Dunaway at her sexiest and most mysterious, John Huston as one of the creepiest and most unrepentant villains of all time, the great cinematography, the wonderful score, the bandage on the nose…

      In this featurette, prominent filmmakers express their personal admiration for the film:

o   Steven Soderbergh – Director – Traffic

o   James Newton Howard – Composer – The Dark Knight

o   Kimberly Peirce – Writer/Director – Boys Don’t Cry

o   Roger Deakins – Cinematographer – No Country For Old Men

o   Chinatown: The Beginning and the End

    Chinatown: Filming
    Chinatown: The Legacy
    Theatrical Trailer (HD)

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Super 8 Featurette Clips and a Coupon!

Super 8, one of my favorite movies of the year, arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday 11/22 and we're pleased to share  some featurettes from the release.

Also, click HERE for a $5 coupon to use when you buy the movie.  Which I know you will.  The coupon expires 11/27 so be sure to use it asap!


This clip, taken from THE SEARCH FOR NEW FACES featurette, features the cast discussing working with J.J. Abrams




This clip, taken from the MEET JOEL COURTNEY featurette, talks about Joel Courtney meeting Elle Fanning




The DVD/Blu-ray Trailer

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Goes Blu!

Paramount has announced that Star Trek: The Next Generation will join the original Star Trek series on Blu-ray next year, just in time for the 25th anniversary.


More exciting is just how this is being done.  Complete edits and transfers from the original negatives, recreated special effects and 7.1 sound are just the beginning. We don't even know what the special features will be yet.  Every episode of the show will be presented in 1080p.

The full season sets will follow after a special Fan Favorite set called The Next Level which releases in January with a feature length version of "Encounter at Far Point," the series pilot, and two additional award winning episodes.

Gross, there's drool on my keyboard...

SOURCE

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Blu-ray News: Breakfast at Tiffany's

On September 20, Paramount is releasing a 50th Anniversary edition of the classic Breakfast at Tiffany's!  

Check out the press release below.

PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED CLASSICS IN FILM HISTORY WITH A SPARKLING BLU-RAY RELEASE

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

Fully Restored and Remastered, Iconic Film Debuts on Blu-ray September 20, 2011 Including Over 90 Minutes of Bonus Features on the Making of the Movie,
Audrey Hepburn’s Timeless Style, the Music of Henry Mancini and Much More

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. – The exquisite Audrey Hepburn stars as the free-spirited
Holly Golightly in the unforgettable masterpiece BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and debuting on Blu-ray September 20, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  Based on Truman Capote’s best-selling novella, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S captured the imagination of audiences everywhere and made an indelible impact on movies, fashion and society at large.  In director Blake Edwards’ timeless classic, Hepburn’s intoxicating New York party girl embarks on a wildly entertaining, comedic adventure to find love in the big city.
George Peppard is the struggling and "sponsored" young writer who finds himself swept into Holly's dizzying, delightfully unstructured lifestyle as she determinedly scours Manhattan for a suitable millionaire to marry.  The film also stars Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam and
Mickey Rooney and earned Oscars® for Best Song (“Moon River”) and Best Score.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S has been fully restored and remastered for this 50th Anniversary Blu-ray release, which boasts over 90 minutes of special features including an exploration of the making of the film, a look at Audrey’s iconic style, a tour of the studio lot, featurettes on Henry Mancini and Tiffany’s, commentary by producer Richard Shepherd, photo galleries, the original theatrical trailer and more.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S Blu-ray

The BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Restored English Mono Dolby Digital, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.   Disc contents are as follows:

·         Commentary by producer Richard Shepherd

·         A Golightly Gathering

·         Henry Mancini: More Than Music

·         Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective

·         The Making of a Classic

·         It’s So Audrey: A Style Icon

·         Behind the Gates: The Tour

·         Brilliance in a Blue Box

·         Audrey’s Letter to Tiffany

·         Photo Galleries:

o   The Movie

o   Production

o   Publicity

·         Original Theatrical Trailer

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Garon's Movie Review: Thor

Thor
Written by:  Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne.  Story by: J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich.  Based on characters created by:  Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba , Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, and Rene Russo

The God of Thunder finally graces the the big screen, at least since Adventures In Babysitting, and contrary to my expectations, it's pretty good!

To be honest, I thought a Thor solo film would be a disaster.  I just thought his Norse mythology would prove to heavy for American audiences to digest.  Well, I'm happy to say I was wrong.

For this movie to be successful, Thor must be perfectly cast and I'm happy to say that Chris Hemsworth is perfectly cast.  He does a great job and brings Thor to life better than I would have thought possible.  Equal parts cocky and charming, his Thor is spot on.

Natalie Portman is pretty good as well here.  She doesn't have all that much to do to be honest but she's cute and quirky so it doesn't much matter.  I will say that Kat Dennings is a bit of a scene stealer as the comic relief but again, there wasn't much of her.

Anthony Hopkins turns in a great performance as Odin.  He really pulls off the multi-layered role of King and Father quite well.   I'm not sure anyone else would be any better for this role because he knocked it out of the park.

I have to say that I loved Tom Hiddelston's Loki.  I can't wait to see him in other films.  He is supposedly signed for three other Marvel titles.

As for Rene Russo, I have no idea why she is even there.  She has about four lines.

The rest of the cast does great as well, even if people seem to not like some of the characters.  I'll let you form your own opinion on The Warrior's Three.  Personally, I think the writer had no idea what to do with them.

The story finds Thor stripped of his powers and exiled to Earth after defying Odin's orders and essentially reigniting a war.  He has to learn valuable life lessons in order to become worthy of wielding Mjolnir (his magic hammer) again.

I won't say anything else for fear of spoiling.

I'll say that things seem to move pretty fast and it does feel like there were a lot of things cut out.  No doubt victims of test screenings.  These chops are noticeable but don't really take much away from the film itself.  I found myself thinking, "oh it feels like something was supposed to happen there, " just for a moment before slipping back into the world again.

Here comes my soap box moment:  DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE IN 3D.  It is unnecessary and only continues the tradition of lousy conversions.  The picture was much darker and at times felt slightly curved.  It does nothing to enhance the film and again is a big fat waste of money.  Plus I left with my eyes hurting.  Seriously, no 3D.  I beg you.

The visuals of Asgard are spectacular and the 3D does nothing but dim them.  It's sad really.  I don't understand why this has not gone away yet.  It's frustrating to say the least.


In the end, while Thor is not a perfect movie, it's a fun one that turned out better than I could ever have imagined.  It's a great look into the mythology of the character and his world.  It moves fast and it might feel a bit pat over all in terms of "learning his lesson" but at the end of the day it's pretty awesome to see Thor beating the holy hell out of things with that hammer.

Thor opens May 6!  That's tomorrow!

Also, be sure to stay through the credits.

Thor

Pop Culture Beast Rating

7/10

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Movie Trailer: Paranormal Activity

I need to see this immediately.

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Iron Man 3-D?

Reports are swirling that Paramount and Marvel are looking to convert Iron Man and Iron Man 2 into 3-D.

Can this trend just die already?

Not to mention news that hack extraordinaire (who is admittedly responsible for ONE good movie) Paul W.S. Anderson is looking to remake Three Musketeers in 3-D. THREE MUSKETEERS?!

Come on Hollywood, let's get back to making consistantly good movies instead of putting mediocre films and unnecessary remakes in 3-D.

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Daria Coming To DVD!!!

YES!

Source

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DVD Review: Friday the 13th Parts 4 - 6

Paramount has released the next set of Friday the 13th sequels on Deluxe Edition DVDs. This time, we're treated to Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, and Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.

We've recently spent time with all three of them and are here to give you the skinny. How to they measure up? Are they worth revisiting? Most importantly, are they worth your money?

One of these three sequels is the best of the entire series. Another is a fun, albeit mindless, plotless, and ridiculous entry in the franchise and the other is the worst entry in the entire series. Which is which?

Click the Rawr! for the reviews!




Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, clearly not as final as the title would indicate, just happens to be my favorite in the series. It could be that it was the first one I actually saw. Maybe I related to the Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman) character, being as I was that age when I saw this. Whatever the reason, Final Chapter has always been top of the list for me. I was a little worried when I received this because I hadn't seen it in a few years and I was worried it wouldn't hold up. Thankfully, it holds up pretty well.

This fourth entry is important to the franchise for a number of reasons. First, it's the start of the trilogy that features the Tommy Jarvis character. Second, it's the beginning of Jason's seeming ability to teleport (it's evident in this one that this power is simply sloppy editing, however in subsequent films it seems almost deliberate). Finally, it's the last time Jason is technically human in the franchise. After this, he becomes a zombie. Spoiler.

Part Four has all of the fun and scares you could want in a Jason flick. It's the least vapid of the series, outside of the original, and has some truly gruesome kills, including Jason's own demise at the hands of twelve year old Tommy. Everything you want in a Friday movie is here. The difference is, you don't feel dumb for having watched it. It's presented in a way that makes it seem fresh even though this is the 4th time we've visited Crystal Lake.

The Deluxe Edition DVD is loaded with features. We get commentary from the director, the screenwriter, and the editor, along with a fan commentary from director Adam Green (Hatchet) and Joe Lynch. Also included is the latest edition of "Lost Tales of Camp Blood, "Deleted scenes, a lost ending, original trailer, and featurettes "Jimmy's Dead Dance Moves" and Jason's Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter." Lastly, is the Mockumentary "The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part 1" which has citizens of Crystal Lake, historians, and conspiracy theorists discussing the legend of Jason Vorhees. People out there seem to be enjoying this but to be honest, I found it to be tiresome and somewhat pointless.

Overall, The Final Chapter remains my favorite of the Friday the 13th franchise. If I ever watch any of the films again, this would certainly be my first choice. A large part of this one was taken for the recent horrible remake so you are better off skipping that dud and watching this classic entry.


Next up is Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning this one being the worst of the franchise. It's here that the series became more like a routine. By now, the series is an old workhorse that should have been left dead after the mistitled Final Chapter. Instead, another dip in the well and we get a vapid, soulless entry into the franchise.

Tommy Jarvis is older now and finds himself staying in a halfway house for wayward teens. Eventually, murders start happening and Tommy suspects Jason has returned but then thinks it might not be Jason at all, but himself doing the killing. Spoiler: It's neither.

I don't want to spend too much time on this one because it really is awful. The disc has a commentary from director/co-screenwriter Danny Steinmann as well as various cast and crew, the next chapter of Lost Tales from Camp Blood, the second installment of The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited, a making of featurette, and the original trailer.

Completists, like myself, should definitely pick this up. Honestly, I don't know who else is buying these DVDs anyway. But on the off chance you aren't collecting the entire series, you can certainly skip A New Beginning.

Finally, we arrive at Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI. which is a pretty interesting entry in the series. This entry feels a little different than the others. It's a silly, mess of a movie but it's fun and it really doesn't take itself at all seriously. It feels more like a fifties monster movie than an eighties slasher. In fact, the death scenes are quite tame for the most part.

There is no plot to speak of honestly. Tommy Jarvis is back and he has come to crystal lake to make sure Jason is really dead. So, naturally, he digs up his body and then stabs it repeatedly with a steal rod (during a lightning storm I might add). The steal rod is struck by lightning, several times, and Jason is resurrected. This marks the beginning of Zombie Jason.

The movie is essentially Jason wondering around murdering people. That's pretty much it. I mean that is what all of the movies are but the others seemed to at least try to get some kind of a plot in their, even if they failed. This is just Jason walking through the woods killing everyone. Random people in the woods, cops, campers, teenagers, and anything else that gets in his way. While that happens, Tommy tries to convince the cops that Jason is back. The camp is reopened and for the first time in the series' there are actually kids at the camp, which makes for some laughs. That's all we have for plot. Still, it's fun.

This disc has pretty much the same features as New Beginning, plus deleted scenes. It was odd to me that the trailer presented here was a teaser trailer that just show Jason's grave bursting open to reveal an empty coffin, followed by the tag line "The Nightmare Returns." That would be more appropriate for a Freddy movie, no?

Anyway, the latest three releases are hit and miss for me. Picture wise and sound wise they're all pretty good. The effects hold up pretty well even with upconverting on the PS3. I still don't get the box design but it's a little late to fix that.

Paramount is doing a decent job with these sets. I'm curious how the hard core fans are reacting. I know people are really wanting these movies to be released completely uncut, and I'm hoping the upcoming Deluxe Edition of Part 7 (the most heavily censored of the series) is returned to its uncut glory. I doubt it will happen though.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, and Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI are all available on DVD now.

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Movie Clip: Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter

Next Tuesday, Friday the 13th Part IV, V & VI Deluxe Editions come to DVD!

Enjoy the above clip to get you ready for the next three films in the series.

Part IV is my favorite of the entire series so I am excited to see it released again since I haven't seen it in quite a while. Hopefully, we'll see a Blu-ray release for these soon.

We'll have reviews of these (plus the blu-rays of parts 2 and 3 next week!)

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Star Trek comes early!

Those of you eagerly awaiting the upcoming Star Trek film can start celebrating.

Paramount has announced that Star Trek screenings will officially begin on May 7, starting at 7pm.

Get your tickets now!

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DVD Review: Paramount Centennial Collection - To Catch A Thief and The Odd Couple

Paramount continues its stellar Centennial Collection with the release of the sixth and seventh films: Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief and the Neil Simon scribed The Odd Couple.

These are two classic and timeless films that are honored here with 2 Disc special editions jammed with features. Featuring such Hollywood Gold as Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, Grace Kelly, and Walter Matthau, these films are must own for anyone who loves that magic of the movies.

Click the Rawr! for the complete reviews!


To Catch A Thief
Written by: John Michael Hayes
Based on the Novel by: David Dodge
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, and John Williams

Cary Grant stars as a notorious jewelry thief John "The Cat" Robie who is forced out of his plush retirement in order to clear his name when a series of brash thefts strike the Riviera, all baring his signature style. With the help of an American heiress, he must catch the real thief in order to prove his own innocence.

One of the biggest hits of the 1950's, To Catch A Thief is a prime example of classic Hollywood Cinema at its best. It's exciting and charming, and made me wish for a James Bond film that starred Cary Grant.

The chemistry between Grace Kelly and Cary Grant is electric, despite his being some 25 years her senior. The two play well off each other and really take the film to another level.

Paramount has really treated this film well. It looks and sounds incredible, almost as if it was just produced. The 2-disc set is loaded with features including a commentary by Alfred Hitchcock historian, Dr. Drew Casper (How great is that name btw?), and numerous featurettes that touch on everything from Film Censorship to the writing and casting of the film. The set also includes the original trailer, photo galleries, film recommendations, behind the scenes, a featurette on Edith Head's years at Paramount, and more.

This is another great example of Hitchcock's brilliance. I hope we get more Centennial releases from him.

The Odd Couple
Written by: Neil Simon
Directed by: Gene Saks
Starring: Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau

I never really understood the hype when Grumpy Old Men was released. I didn't really get the big deal of having Lemmon and Matthau back together on the big screen. I guess it was because I hadn't seen The Odd Couple.

The story surrounds to unlikely roommates, neat and neurotic Felix Ungar (Jack Lemmon) who was planning to kill himself after his divorce until he is saved by his friend and slob Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau) who invites Felix to stay at his home. Hilarity ensues.

Even some forty odd years after its release, The Odd Couple still ranks among the best of a genre that is pretty much started, despite all the imitators.

Paramount has also given this film the special treatment with a 2-disc set full of featurettes, photos, a trailer, and a commentary by the sons of the film's stars.

The film looks and sounds as good as the day it was first released in 1968 and the performances are as hilarious as they ever were. This is pretty much the origin of buddy movies so if you like that kind of movie that certainly grab this one.

I continue to be impressed by the care and respect Paramount puts into these Centennial releases. They're truly giving us some great films fully loaded with some great and informative features. Every release so far is a must own.

To Catch A Thief and The Odd Couple are available now along with the rest of the Paramount Centennial Collection.

The next releases in this stellar collection are going to be the John Wayne classics The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado which are due out next month.

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Bluray Round Up!

This is going to be a new feature here that I want to try out. Now that Bluray is taking off studios are rapidly releasing a lot of catalog films. Rather than do a full fledged review on each release, I'll group them together and mini-reviews on the discs themselves. This feature will mainly be reserved for Catalog releases, meaning older lower profile releases of films. It allows me to get some great info out to you guys about a lot of different releases without inundating the site with large reviews on films that you may or may not be interested in.

Thankfully, the films we're discussing today are all three pretty interesting films that you might want to check out. Another bonus? They're running pretty cheap right now!

Click the Rawr! and read about today's featured titles: The Kite Runner, A Mighty Heart, and Things We Lost In The Fire


The Kite Runner
Written by: David Benioff.
Based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, Shaun Toub,Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada, Zekeria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, and Homayoun Ershadi

Bluray Specs:
1080p High Def
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD/French 5.1 Dolby Digital/Spanish5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English/English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Bonus Features: Commentary with Marc Forster, Khaled Hosseini, and David Benioff, Words from The Kite Runner, Images from The Kite Runner, Theatrical Trailer in HD.

Based on the brilliant novel, The Kite Runner is the story two inseparable young boys who's friendship is shattered by a horrible event. Years later, one of them will return to his home to right his past wrongs and hope he can be redeemed for his actions. This is a truly incredible story brought to the screen pretty well by Marc Forster.

The film, while good, doesn't compare to the novel. That's pretty much the standard when it comes to adaptations. The acting is fine and the direction from Forster is great I just didn't get the same connection from the film as I did with the book.

The Kite Runner looks and sounds great on bluray but features wise it's pretty weak, and this is a problem with all three films we're covering today. There is really nothing of note offered in terms of features. It's a perfect opportunity to do some features on the people and the culture of the region and to dispel some of the stereotypes. Some historical footage of the Russian invasion (assuming there is any) would have been interesting as well.

Fans of the book will be pleased with the film and while it's not quite as good as the book, it is still worth the watch. The disc is currently $14.99 at amazon so even with the small amount of features, you'll get a great deal on it.

A Mighty Heart
Written by: John Orloff
Based on the book by Mariane Pearl
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Mohammed Afzal, and Daud Khan

Bluray Specs:
1080p High Def
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD/French 5.1 Dolby Digital/Spanish5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English/English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Bonus Features: "A Journey of Passion: The Making of A Mighty Heart", Public Service Announcement, Committee to Protect Journalist, and the Theatrical Trailer (HD)

A Mighty Heart is also based on a book, but this one is a true story, one that is rather recent and one that was very much in the public eye. We all know the story of Daniel Pearl and we all know the outcome but A Mighty Heart takes us deeper and shows us a more personal side as a wife searches frantically for her husband.

This was one of a few war themed films that failed to capture America's eyes when it arrived in theaters. I guess as a country we just didn't want to see what happening on our news when we went to the movies. That is unfortunate because that means this rather well done film was missed by a lot of people.

This isn't really a film about a war so much as about a wife who has lost her husband who was covering a war. He is a victim of the war for sure, but it's not really the central theme here. That would be the strength and courage of this woman, played wonderfully (albeit miscast) by Angelina Jolie.

Unfortunately, this film is also light on special features. It seems like a missed opportunity to touch on some important subject matter regarding the region or even more info on war zone journalists. It would have been a great idea to include the HBO documentary on Daniel Pearl here but I'd guess the red tape would prevent that from happening.

This isn't a must see by any means, but it is a well made adaptation of a tragedy that no one should have to endure. It is a true testament to the strength, faith, and courage Mariane Pearl had during this time. It's a gripping and emotional film that is certainly worth checking out.

Things We Lost In The Fire
Written by: Allan Loeb
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Starring: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, Alexis Llewellyn, Micah Berry, John Carroll Lynch, Alison Lohman, and David Duchovny

Bluray Specs:
1080p High Def
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD/French 5.1 Dolby Digital/Spanish5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English/English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Bonus Features: A Discussion about Things We Lost In The Fire, Seven Deleted Scenes, and the Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Things We Lost In The Fire is about a family dealing with the tragic loss of a father and a husband and the connection formed with his childhood friend. It is a very emotional moving film that does at times come of a bit cliched. The biggest surprise here is Halle Berry. Now, to be honest, I find her to be excruciatingly uneven as an actress. At times she is rather good but mostly, she seems well, bad. Thankfully, she turns in a great performance here. She is sublte and restrained and brings a true sense of realness to the character. As for Benecio Del Toro, well, the guy is brilliant in everything he does.

Despite it's predictability and typical Hollywood blueprint, I found myself deeply enjoying the film. It really portrays a family reacting and dealing with grief and showcases how human connections are established during these tragedies rather poignantly.

Out of the three blurays we're featuring here, Things We Lost In The Fire has the fewest features. In fact, what it does have can barely be described as features at all. Deleted scenes, a trailer, and a featurette. Surely, there was more in the vaults to beef up this set with?

That said, the film does stands on its own. It's a touching little film that has some truly memorable performances and while the bluray isn't bursting with bonuses, the film does speak for itself.

The Kite Runner, A Mighty Heart, and Things We Lost In The Fire are all available now on bluray and each of them are going for the extremely great price of $14.99 at amazon. Totally worth it for each of them. You're getting three great examples of dramatic film making and while they're pretty light on bonus features, they are still worth checking out.

We have a lot more bluray reviews coming up including Doubt and The Day The Earth Stood Still. The next round up will feature the upcoming bluray releases of Grease and Ferris Bueller's Day Off!

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BluRay/DVD Review: Friday the 13th 1-3

Friday the 13th is now available on BluRay in gorgeous 1080p and that might not necessarily be a good thing. The biggest highlight here is that the film has been released uncut. That means that about 10 seconds or so of footage has been restored to the film. Yeah, 10 seconds. For the most part the film looks nice. There is still some grain and I noticed a few pops but over all the picture was pretty clean. This does not help the make up effects at all. This is especially true in the famous Kevin Bacon death scene. You can clearly see where the makeup ends. It's a completely different color than his face. I never noticed this on the old DVDs but it is blatant on the BluRay.

The movie is just as I remembered it, I'm not a fanatic of these movies so I really couldn't tell you where the gore was restored to. It seems kind of worthless when you can see the make up on the kill spots though. The acting is passable the movie is still fun to watch though by now its scare factor is significantly less than in years past.

The BluRay is loaded with special features some great, some kinda worthless. The good stuff is the interviews with Sean Cunningham, Victor Miller (he actually states Sean wanted a Halloween ripoff), and Tom Savini. There is also a commentary track with Sean and some cast and crew, trailer, secrets to the gore of the film, most of which are presented in HD.

The bad is this Lost Tales of Camp Blood. I don't understand the point of it. It's just a short film of some guy killing two people. Was this some contest I was not aware of? It's not even Jason doing the killing. Utterly pointless.

Is the BluRay worth buying? Honestly, probably not. The clarity takes away from the make up effects and the special features aren't special enough to warrant spending the extra money. If you are a die hard Jason fan then yes, pick this up. Otherwise, you're fine sticking with the DVD version.

Friday the 13th Part 2 is not on BluRay but has been remastered in HiDef with a new 5.1 audio mix and new special features. This time we get Inside "Crystal Lake Memories", Friday's Legacy: Horror Conventions, Jason Forever, and the trailer. Oh and another Lost Tales from Camp Blood which I didn't even watch. I had enough with part one.

Friday 2 brings us the bag headed Jason Vorhees on a rampage avenging his drowning and the beheading of his mother.

It's basically the same movie as part one. Except it's Jason this time running around with a pillowcase over his head. Still though, it is enjoyable. Retro glasses will serve these films well because if you're seeing them for the first time I really don't think you'll appreciate them.

Friday the 13th Part Two 2 is not uncut so the only bonus here is the remastered picture, which looks great, and the 5.1 sound which sounds well...great.

I didn't notice any of the make up issues that I saw with the first one so that's a bonus.

Friday the 13th Part 3, 3-D. I was extremely interested in this. I had never seen this film in 3-D before and was itching to watch it. Unfortunately, I got a splitting headache five minutes into the movie. When the 3-D kicked in it felt like someone was trying to scoop out my eyes while hammering a nail into my temples. Sounds like something right out of the movie. That put an end to my 3-D adventures with Jason.

That said, switching over to the standard version proved a much more pleasant experience. Not that pleasant though, this movie is a stinker. It's the same as the first two. More kids in the woods getting high, having sex, and getting eviscerated. This is an important film in the franchise only because it's where Jason obtains his iconic hockey mask.

I think I might have watched these movies too close together because I noticed that A they're almost exactly the same movies and B part three reused some kills in part one, most notably the Kevin Bacon scene. The only difference was that it was a hammock in part 3 and not a bed that the arrow was shoved through.

The print on this must have been a disaster because even with remastering there was some serious imperfections in the picture. I don't know if they just did a rush job on this or they just couldn't clean the film. It sort of gives it that retro feel though but still its noticeable when you see a brown sheen come over one of the scenes.

Friday 3 is devoid of special features outside of the unwatchable (at least for me) 3-D version and a trailer.

Are these new versions necessary? Absolutely not. The DVD artwork is gaudy and a giant step down from the artwork on the original releases. It would be worth while if Paramount continues to release the films uncut as the fans have been demanding for years. I am not aware of any plans to continue with the series at this point but I hope they do.

Why stop with the first three?

I also noticed that the only movie of the first three that takes place at Crystal Lake is part 1. The rest are set in areas nearby. I never realized that before.

Anyway, Jason fans are sure to enjoy revisiting these films before seeing the remake that hits theaters next week. I can't really justify the double dip considering part one is the only one presented as Uncut. We'll see what happens with the next ones. I'm curious if they will return Part 7 to its uncut glory.

Friday The 13th Uncut is available on DVD and BluRay now. Friday the 13th Part 2 and Friday the 13th Part 3 3-D are available on DVD now.

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Do we have a new Magnum PI?

Paramount Pictures is bringing the classic TV series Magnum P.I. to the big screen and allegedly the part of Magnum has been offered to Matthew McConaughey.

Pretty different from Tom Selleck.

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