Bllu-ray Review: The Hobbit - Extended Edition

By now, it's pretty much a given that a Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie will inevitably have an extended edition released eventually and so it is with The Hobbit.

Just in time for the upcoming release of The Desolation of Smaug in December, fans can gobble up this wonderful film and get all refreshed for the next chapter.  Or wait a few years for the giant box set of all the movies, assuming physical media is still around by then.

The extended edition adds 13 minutes to the film (putting it at 182 minutes or just over 3 hours), which may not seem like a lot, but there are some fun scenes added to make it all worth it.  The set is also packed with over 9 hours of bonus features, including more fan favorite appendices (parts 7 and 8), and commentary from the filmmakers.

This set is definitely for the fans as casual viewers might find themselves overwhelmed.  Personally, I loved it.  I loved the film and am super excited for the next one in a few weeks.

It's sad though to know that there will be inevitably another edition of these movie, and probably the others as well, that fans will almost certainly shell out more money for.  Until then though, as of this writing, you can name this extended edition of under $20 at amazon.  It's most certainly worth that much!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition is available now!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Extended Edition Blu-ray

10/10 Hobbit Breakfasts!

RAWR(for more)

Blu-Ray review: The Magnificent Seven and Return Of The Magnificent Seven

Two western classics are available now on blu-ray: the well...magnificent...Magnificent Seven and its sequel Return of the Magnificent Seven.

MGM released the films earlier this year in a collection that featured the entire series of films but these two are now available separately.

The first, The Magnificent Seven, is presented in a 50th anniversary edition with a decent amount of features including making of featurettes, trailers, lost images, audio commentary that features James Coburn, Eli Wallach and Walter Mirisch; and more!

The first film is a brilliant western version of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.  Wonderfully directed and acted and a pretty much flawless western.  Unfortunately, the sequel doesn't live up to the original.  It feels a little more like a cash grab than anything else.   MGM must not have much faith in it either because they have supported it with zero special features.  It's not terrible but compared to the original it just doesn't hold up.

Still, completists will probably want to pick up both titles and right now they're pretty cheap at around $12.99.

The Magnificent Seven and Return of the Magnificent Seven are available now.

RAWR(for more)

DVD/Blu-ray Review: Four MGM Cult Classics

It's an interesting bunch this go around.  Three blu-ray releases and a Limited Edition DVD on Demand release.

Three good movies and one horrible movie.

Should I just get the bad one out of the way?

Yeah?

I thought so.

Yeah, it's finally available for purchase if you are so inclined in a "Re-Released 1992 Edition" as opposed to I guess the actually good 2011 edition that is an entirely different movie.

The film is just as bad as you think it is.  Hokey, cheesy, poorly acted and supplemented with ZERO special features, assuming you might want any to begin with make this a no brainer to not buy.  Of course, if you are curious to see it or just want something to sit around and laugh at with your friends that this might just fit the bill perfectly.

Personally, I was just bored by the whole thing.  This film is a relic from a time before comic book movies were a Hollywood cash cow and it reflects just how poorly the properties were treated back then.   Rumor of a director's cut blu-ray are floating around lately.  I can't really see what possibly could make this any better.

The picture is barely better than a VHS and the lack of any supplements just  really makes this one you can pass on.  Especially with its $17.95 price tag.

Captain America (1992)

2/10

Let's just get away from this one and move on to the good stuff, shall we?

The Coen Brothers have a pretty interesting track record for me.  I know some people love everything they've ever done and probably will love everything else they ever do.  Personally, they're much more hit or miss.  If I sat down and really thought about it they might end up being more miss to be honest.  with Blood Simple, it's a bit middle of the road.  I don't dislike it but I don't exactly love it either.

I know this movie is 26 years old at this point but I'll still do my best to avoid spoilers.  The story has a man putting a hit on his cheating wife and her boyfriend.  There's a private detective and money and double crossing and scratch your head what the hell just happened moments that all add up to a tense but muddled film.

It's hard to tell just what exactly is going on half the time but despite that I still enjoyed the film.  I don't know that I loved it or would call it among my favorite Coen Bros. film (The Big Lebowski of course) but it was an interesting watch.

The film is shot wonderfully.   There are some great shots that really amp up the noirish feeling.  I especially got a kick out of the scene near the end when well, just wait for the guy to reach out the bathroom window.

The cast are all wonderful, especially Frances McDormand who was a lot more...delicate than I am used to seeing her.   Really interesting performance from her.

As for the disc itself, the blu-ray looks great.  Really nice color and sound.  I didn't notice any real issues with the picture and the transfer looked pretty good.  The special features on the other hand are less than stellar.  We get only a trailer and a commentary from Kenneth Loring of Forever Young Films.

Worth your money and worth your time, Blood Simple might not be simple at all but it makes for a good evening at home.

Blood Simple 

7/10

Next up is the Sam Peckinpah classic and recently remade Straw Dogs.  I had never seen this one before and in fact wasn't sure what it was.  I've heard people talk about it but never really got around to seeing it until now.  

It's funny, I posted on facebook asking if this is what happened after they got off the bus in The Graduate.  After seeing it, I hope not.

The story follows Dustin Hoffman Susan George as a newlywed couple who have moved into her fathers farm in a small Irish (I think?) village.  Once there they begin to get terrorized by her old friends.

Dustin Hoffman plays a pretty nerdy guy and you get the feeling that there is more to him, something kind of sinister under the surface that never really gets explored.    Eventually, he has to man up and defend his home, and a creepy guy he hits with his car, from the townspeople.

It's a strange journey with some fascinating moments and at the same time a couple extremely uncomfortable ones.  I'm not really sure how different the remake is from the original but I'm curious how they will handle some of the subject matter here.

The blu-ray is really well done.  The picture is crystal clear.  It's really a great transfer.  Were it not for the clothes and a young Dustin Hoffman it could have been shot a year ago instead of 40.

Unfortunately, this disc is also woefully short on special features.  We only get a trailer and TV spots.  You might have to look for the Criterion Edition if you are interested in special features.  This one is sadly without them.

Still, the film is really interesting to watch and see how this mild mannered man must ratchet up his capacity for violence to protect his home and his wife and a man who is for all intents and purposes a stranger, even if he may be in the wrong for doing so.  With some brilliant performances and really tense scenes, Straw Dogs is worthy of your attention.

Straw Dogs

8/10

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the thriller classic from Brian De Palma Dressed To Kill which inexplicably stars Michael Caine and Angie Dickinson.  This is a pretty crazy film in which women in contact with Caine find themselves at the business end of a razor stolen from his office.

If you don't already know the shock of this movie, I won't spoil it for you suffice it to say you probably won't see it coming.  This is clearly an homage to an earlier film that I can't name because in doing so it will reveal the secret of this movie.  Once you see Dressed To Kill you'll know exactly what I am talking about.  The follow the same exact formula almost to a fault.

I gotta give mention to Nancy Allen who definitely holds her own in this movie.  She plays a smart and tough as nails escort who gets caught up in this situation after witnessing a rather gruesome murder.  She ends up doing the police detectives (Dennis Franz) job and even used for bate to catch a sexually charged killer who's having a bit too much fun of the slice and dice variety.

It's a pretty decent thriller and if the ending is intact for you, you'll get an extra kick out of it.  The kill scenes are pretty cringe worthy and the acting top notch.  With a cast like this would you expect any less?

I'm not the biggest De Palma fan but I'll admit I enjoyed this one.  It has its camp moments and it has its good scares so it adds up to a fun watch for me.

Thankfully, MGM did not skimp on the extras for this one.   We get a making of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and director, a comparison of the three different versions of the film (Unrated, R-Rated and TV rated (?) versions of the film (the unrated film is featured on this release),a few other featurettes, photos, and a trailer.   I'm curious why they added features to this release but not to the more well prestigious ones we covered earlier.  Maybe a rights thing?

Aside from the features, MGM has given us a really great transfer free of any imperfections (at least that I noticed).  It's a really nice picture.  Maybe a little too nice at times which you'll see once you watch it.  I think you might be able to see things a little too clearly which might give one pause to think about what it is they are actually seeing.  If I say any more it'll ruin it!

Anyway, Dressed To Kill is a good watch for horror/thriller fans.  It has a great twist at the end and some good gore if that's what you're after.  It's also fun to see how the movie changes after the first few minutes.  It's sort of head spinning.

Dressed To Kill

8/10

Captain America, Dressed To Kill, Straw Dogs and Blood Simple are available now!

RAWR(for more)

Blu-ray Round Up: MGM Classics

MGM is kicking their blu-ray releases into high gear with the release of five (among others) classic films that would be at home on any film fans shelf.

Let's have a peak at these five MGM classics: Raging Bull, Dances With Wolves, Last Tango In Paris, Moonstruck and Rain Man.

Dances With Wolves is a much anticipated release for the films 20th anniversary.  The set  has a decent number of features that are unfortunately, not all that interesting.  Quantity isn't always quality.

Picture wise though, flawless is the word of the day.  It really does look gorgeous.  Unfortunately, I don't know that this movie will be one that merits repeat viewing.  It's a great movie, albeit with some flaws, but it's pretty long and at times a bit slow.  It's nice to have as a collector but honestly, I doubt you'll be pulling it off the shelf after you watch it.

Moonstruck is another story.  It's a charming little film that earned Cher her academy award.  Very funny with some fantastic performances.

Moonstruck looks wonderful on Blu-ray and the sound is top notch. 

Special features are decent.  You get a commentary and a few featurettes.   Nothing to go nuts over but then again, this is an 80's romantic comedy so really what features would one want?

Ah, the crown jewel of these Round-Up.  The 30th Anniversary Edition of Raging Bull.  A gorgeous transfer with superb audio and some really good features including 3 commentaries, a 90 minute making of featurette, a featurette with Martin Scorsese discussing film, and even Cathy Moriarty on Johnny Carson, among others.  Really great collection supplementing one of Scorsese's best.

There is a reason Raging Bull is an AFI Top 100 film.  Out of all the titles we cover this time, Raging Bull is the definite must own.

Last Tango In Paris.  I dunno what really to say about this one.  It was controversial back when it was first released but I'm not sure that today would have the same effect.  It was originally brandished with an X rating.  That was changed to NC-17 some 2 decades later.  Marlon Brando's performance was brilliant of course and the film is worth it for his performance alone.  It is a nicely directed human story about a man dealing with a devastating loss in a somewhat unusual way.  If you like movies about people who are lost and suffering that come together and have sex then you will want this movie.  It is after all presented it its original uncut glory.

It looks beautiful on blu-ray and almost like it's a new film.  The problem is that there are absolutely zero special features to speak of, outside a trailer.  Seems pretty odd to not give any real features to a film as controversial as this one was.

Definetly worth a buy and a watch.  Repeat viewings might not ever happen though.  Unless you REALLY like Brando.

I'm not a particularly big fan of Rain Man.  It's a good movie but I really never have the desire to ever watch it again.  I'm not sure why.  I feel like it is an okay movie bolstered by a great performance.  That said, it is a sight to behold on blu-ray.  Just beautiful, crisp and clear.  The audio is wonderful as well.  As for special features, well, it's a little skimpy.  Some commentary, a deleted scene and some featurettes only one of which is all that interesting.

I wouldn't call Rain Man a must own, especially if you have it on DVD.  It is a major step up in terms of picture quality but beyond that there isn't much to write home about.

So there you have it.  Quick looks at soem MGM classics.  All are good films, some are more repeat watchable than others but all of them deserve a spot on your shelf.  Most of them (with the exception of Raging Bull) can be had for under $20.

Rain Man, Moonstruck, Last Tango in Paris, Dances With Wolves and Raging Bull are all available now.

RAWR(for more)

Spaceballs: The Blu-ray Review!

Spaceballs
Written by: Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan, & Ronny Graham
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Starring: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, and Joan Rivers

Blu-ray Special Features:

Disc One Blu-ray: Watch the Film at Ludicrous Speed, Audio Commentary with Mel Brooks, Additional Commentary in Mawgese and Dinkese, Spaceballs: The Documentary, In Conversation: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, John Candy: Comic Spirit featurette, Story Board-to-Film comparison, Film Flubs, 3 Spaceballs Galleries: Behind the MOvie, The Costumes, The Art, Exhibitor Trailer with Mel Brooks Introduction, Original Theatrical Trailer.

Disc Two DVD: Feature Film in Standard Definition, Audio Commentary from Mel Brooks, Special Behind-the-Scenes footage, Original Theatrical Trailer

Specs: 1080p, English 5.1 Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround, Spanish Dolby Surround, Spanish Mono, and French and Spanish Subtitles.

Spaceballs has arrived on Blu-ray and I'm a little bit disappointed. Find out why by clicking the Rawr! to read the full review.



Spaceballs has a special place in my heart. I remember seeing it for the first time and instantly loving it. I always enjoy revisiting it and still appreciate it. It holds up pretty well, at least for me. So, it was with great excitement that I popped in the recent Blu-ray release.

It was Spaceballs all right. I still laughed. I still enjoyed it. It looks remarkably well for the most part. Especially scenes without effects. These are crystal clear and look fantastic. The effects shots are a bit sketchy but the movie is 22 years old by now.

Lots of features, but nothing new.

That there is the biggest problem. It seems like it is full of features but it's nothing new. It's a collection of what we've seen on the previous DVD releases. If you've never seen these features, then it's all new to you and is quite a bit to sort through. If you have seen them, well then this is just another dip at your wallet.

At the very least they should have added the G4 cartoon series. Sure it's terrible, but it would have made for a complete Spaceballs experience.

For me, the best part is revisiting this movie that I absolutely loved when I was younger and still love to this day. It's not a perfect film, but it's a great movie and probably my favorite Mel Brooks film. It's full of laughs, adventure, excitement, and other things a Jedi craves not.

Spaceballs is available on Blu-ray now.

RAWR(for more)

Fame posters and Trailer!

Two teaser posters and a teaser trailer debut today for the upcoming remake of Fame.

Official Synopsis:

A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a diverse, creative powerhouse where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting fame...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work.

In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, plagued by self-doubt, each student’s passion will be put to the test. In addition to their artistic goals, they have to deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of schoolwork, deep friendships, budding romance, and self-discovery.

As each student strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they’ll discover who among them has the innate talent and necessary discipline to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, they’ll find out who amongst them will achieve Fame…

Click the Rawr! for the teaser and the second poster!

FAME opens in theaters on September 25, 2009

RAWR(for more)

Lions for Lambs

Lions for Lambs

Directed by: Robert Redford

Written By: Matthew Michael Carnahan

Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Andrew Garfield , Derek Luke, and Michael Pena
MGM and United Artists

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are delicate subjects. Both igniting a maelstrom of debate and polarizing an entire country. Who's to blame for past mistakes? Be it the media, the president, ourselves. Lions for Lambs examines facets of the debate in ways we haven't really seen in mainstream American cinema. It is not a liberal antiwar movie. It is not a conservative pro war message. It's a human movie. A movie about people, about convictions. A movie about honor and courage and taking a moment to step up and do something.

It does not present an agenda. It gives options. It presents two sides of a fiercely battled coin. Yes it points fingers, but it points them equally at both sides.

Robert Redford has crafted a taut political piece of art told through three simultaneous stories.

Robert Redford and Andrew Garfield play teacher and student. Redford a professor desperately trying to show Garfield that he is gifted and can make a difference in his world if he only decides to do so. Garfield plays a cynical student who has all but given up on doing anything meaningful in his life. He is content to ride the coat tails and live the good life while the world moves on behind him. These scenes are expertly performed. At times I'd forget I was watching a movie at all. The words and the rhythm was so natural, so real. Redford delivers a subtle, enthralling performance and Garfield stands right there with him. Toe to toe with a legend and it seems like he didn't break a sweat to do it.

The second story is stars Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. Streep, a reporter who had praised Cruise's character in a previous article. Cruise plays a Senator with plans for victory in Afghanistan who is using Streep to sell his plans to the public. Cruise took this low key performance and ran with it. He played it perfectly. Almost too perfect, at one point I thought I was looking at John Edwards on the screen.

It is Meryl Streep who again shines. She plays a stoic reporter chosen to be the messenger of the Senator's new master plan. She can take such a simple character and turn it into a complex mix of emotions. Whether pointing out mistakes in the war or arguing with her boss about how the media rolled over and sold the war in the first place.

I would really love to see Streep and Cruise together again. They play great against each other.

The final story is that of two soldiers who are part of Cruise's characters new plan played by Derek Luke and Michael Pena. Best friends who went to war as a way of doing something. A way to be apart of the biggest thing happening in the world. They felt they had to do this so that when they return home they can truly make a difference. They're both former students of Redford's character and they flash back to scenes in the class room showing how they took a school project and turned it into something meaningful in their lives. The courage and commitment of these characters is inspiring. They put their lives on the line with no question. They believe it is right. They believe it is something they need to do for themselves and their country in order to make a difference later on.

I won't give details about what else happens in the movie. It is a journey you will need to take should you decide to see it (and you should).

Overall though, the movie leaves the ball in your court. It leaves it up to you to create the message you want to take from this movie. Whether you feel the need to take action, to stand up and make your voice heard.

It's a truly brilliant accomplishment and one of the most important movies of the year. A true political Tour De Force that should not be missed. A movie that succeeds where all other political movies this year have failed. It makes you feel something and it makes you think. A movie like this, you can't ask for much more.

Lions for Lambs is in theatres November 9, 2007.

RAWR(for more)