Every month, DVDFuture will highlight a few shows, TV specials, movies and documentaries on DVD and Blu-ray that are well worth checking out. We will be updating this article weekly to include as many selections as possible.
DVDFuture's 'Film and TV Highlights' -- May 2010
DVDFuture's 'Film and TV Highlights' -- March 2009
Every month, DVDFuture will highlight a few shows, TV specials, movies or documentaries on DVD and Blu-ray that are well worth checking out. We’ll try and update this article weekly to include as many titles as possible.
Movies:
TOP PICK
Invictus (on Blu-ray and DVD)
I never would have guessed that Clint Eastwood of all people would end up being the filmmaker to tell a story about Nelson Mandela's presidency. But, in the usual Eastwood fashion, the film explores both the nature of humanity, and the man behind the legend in very understated tones -- using Rugby almost as a metaphor. The performances are strong, as usual. And Eastwood's direction is a unique and oddly mesmerizing as ever.
The film arrives on Blu-ray in a stunning VC-1 BD50 presentation that draws out the film's lush visuals with striking depth and detail. The film's DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix delivers a stirring punch as well and while it's not an aggressive track per se, it's surprisingly engaging nonetheless. Unlike most Eastwood pictures, this BD actually receives a decent special edition complete with an exhaustive, explorative PiP track that delves into the production and it's origins. There's also a wonderful documentary about the story (it runs 36 minutes, HD) and a look at Eastwood's career (running 22 minutes, HD). If you love Clint Eastwood's latest films, you should highly consider adding this one to your collection.
*****
Valentine's Day (on Blu-ray and DVD)
I'll openly admit it, I kinda love "chick flicks," even the sappy, predictable kind, which is exactly the sort of film "Valentine's Day" is. Is the movie good? Not by a long shot. But, if you're looking for a refreshing, amusing star-studded slice of mindless romantic entertainment, the film should please. Just don't go into this film expecting Oscar-worthy material. This isn't a film capable of providing such pleasures. But that's not a bad thing, either.
"Valentine's Day" isn't really going to 'wow' people on Blu-ray, but it gets the job done with a solid, bright, consistent VC-1 BD50 transfer that suffers very few encode flaws. The DTS-HD MA track isn't particularly expansive, either, but it complements the film's naturalistic palette with vigor. Extras include a entertaining commentary track from Garry Marshall, two moderately amusing EPK featurettes (running 12 minutes total), a music video (from Jewel), a blooper reel (6 minutes), a terrific collection of deleted scenes complete with director intros (running an impressive 23 minutes), a Digital Copy of the film, and finally, a preview for the upcoming film, "Sex and the City 2." All special features, except the digital copy of course, are presented in high definition. If you love rom-coms, give this title a look.
*****
Armageddon (new to Blu-ray)
OK, elephant in the room -- this is not a particularly good movie. In fact, it's a pretty cheese-ball popcorn flick. But it's also an awesome Blu-ray, at least as far as the transfer and high-res are concerned. The extras, ported over from the barebones DVD, are trivial, and look as though they're taken from a tape source. But back to the transfer -- it's stunningly gorgeous, rich with detail, fantastic colors and stunning depth. I saw this film in theaters (three times, back when that was the cool thing to do), and I can say with confidence -- this film looks better here than it did in theaters.
And it sounds better, too. The film isn't exactly reference material -- the late 90s sound design isn't as sharp as a film made today -- but this high-res DTS-HD mix complements Bay's erratic, action-packed setting quite well. If only the extras, which include a music video and two trailers, were better. I'm guessing the material found on the Criterion release was left out for legal purposes, but where's the R-rated Director's Cut. Only one minute was added, but that minute housed several great character moments for the minor supporting players. I imagine we'll see a double-dip of "Armageddon" down the line, but until we do, this Blu-ray should more than please fans.
*****
Tombstone (new to Blu-ray)
"Tombstone" is a man's movie. It's packed with gritty heroes, gun fights, moral battles and brutal violence. And every moment of the film is electrifying. But, "Tombstone" was a production layered with turmoil. It's been said that Kurt Russell essentially directed the film, with the real director, the late George P. Cosmatos, sitting on the sidelines, unable to harness his epic western. Alas, these details have mostly been left on the cutting room floor. There's no retrospective documentary here on the Blu-ray, and no alternate cuts -- there was, at least, a "Director's Cut" releases on DVD. Sadly, that cut is not found here. And whose cut was it, Russell's or Cosmatos?
The transfer looks alright, but it's not nearly as jaw-droppingly perfect as the "Armageddon" transfer (both titles were released the same day by the same studio). Specks of dust and dirt are found throughout, and image details are a touch softer than expected. Colors are also a touch off, too. Make no mistake, this encode does look better than the previous non-director's cut DVD -- it's just far from perfection. The high-res DTS-HD mix is thunderous, but minor high-end crackles cause problems. Extras are again ported over from the DVD (Director's Cut DVD extras are still missing). They include storyboards, an EPK featurette and trailers and are presented in murky standard definition. Ultimately, this release is a bit of a letdown. The film is still a lot of fun, but the disc could have, and should have, been so much better.
*****
Cocoon (new to Blu-ray)
When we're young, we are afraid of dying, but our whole lives are ahead of us. And we enjoy what we have. But when we grow old, and death becomes imminent, we can often grow weary, and depressed, forgetting that life can only be enjoyed through action. And instead, many hide from it. "Cocoon" examines this idea through a terrific sci-fi lens, crafted by actor-turned-director Ron Howard. "Cocoon" has its flaws, to be sure, but it's an ambitious, visually stirring piece of sci-fi drama. The performances from the cast (both young and old) are terrific, and visual effects (albeit dated by today's standards) are quite gorgeous. While director Ron Howard has gone on to bigger better movies, "Cocoon" still remains one of his very best.
The single-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen using the AVC MPEG-4 codec on a single-layered BD25 disc. The transfer looks a little soft and washed out, but it's easily the best we've seen thus far. The DTS-HD high-res audio mix is involving as well, but not particularly aggressive. Extras aren't very impressive, either, with all of the material simply ported over from the laserdisc/DVD release. While this disc looks and sounds better than the DVD, it's a shame Fox didn't pony up any new goodies. Still, fans will want to pick this one up.
CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REVIEW of the DVD over at IGN.
*****
District 13: Ultimatum (on Blu-ray and DVD)
"District 13: Ultimatum" is a film loaded with action and great stunts, but the story is regrettably forgettable, and because of this, so is the action to some extent. The film shoots for intrigue, but comes up short (and dated). And the characters are never as fully developed as one would hope – particularly the gang leaders, who serve a much bigger purpose this time around. The film is chock-full of bells and whistles, and for many action fans, that's all this film needs. But for those looking for a genuinely engaging second chapter of the "District-13" series, this sequel doesn't quite deliver. It's not any worse than the first film per se; it's just not any better, either.
This single-disc Blu-ray boasts a sharp, clean, pristine encode presented in 2.35:1 widescreen using the VC-1 codec on a dual-layered BD50 disc. The film itself consumes 29.5 gigs of disc space. The French and English DTS-HD mixes aren't quite as clean, with cluttered bass and muddled surround activity. Extras, which include several featurettes, aren't particularly investigative, or interesting. Ultimately, "D-13:U" is not any better or worse than the first film, but the action sequences are a delight to watch. The film looks great, but sounds a little junky. Fans of the first film should definitely give this disc a spin. If you don't already own the first film, I'd suggest the combo set which contains both.
CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REVIEW of the Blu-ray over at IGN.
*****
The Tooth Fairy (on Blu-ray and DVD)
Make no mistake, "The Tooth Fairy" is not a good movie. It's actually unbearable if you're an adult. The film is packed with great actors slumming it in mediocre work. It's pretty clear "The Tooth Fairy" was concocted long ago and retooled for the modern era. The film reeks of mid-80s pop schmaltz -- the kind of kids stuff Richard Pryor used to be in (think "The Toy"). The Rock is fine here, but he's a far better performer than this. So are his able costars who appear pained to be in such a messy little movie. That said, there's little technically wrong with "The Tooth Fairy." it's not a bad movie per se; just mediocre in every imaginable way. Your kids will ultimately get a kick out of the film, but adults should probably just stay far, far away.
This three-disc Blu-ray gives host to a saturated, soft encode presented in 1.85:1 widescreen using the AVC codec on a dual-layered BD50 disc. The English DTS-HD mix is flighty and whimsical, but effective. Extras include a mind-numbing workout featurette for the kids called "Train to be a Tooth Fairy." It runs 20 embarrassing minutes. The disc also features a 4-minute karaoke feature tiresomely called "Fairyoke." Yuck. BD-exclusives include a commentary, a gag reel, deleted scenes and an additional behind the scenes featurette. Again, the movie is harmless, but flat and painfully boring for adults, but kids will find it charming. Rent it for them, and rent something for yourself afterwards.
CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REVIEW of the DVD over at IGN.
TV, Documentaries and Short Films:
TOP PICK THIS WEEK
Peanuts: The 1970's Collection: Volume Two (on DVD only)
I still remember the excitement that I had watching the Peanuts TV specials when I was growing up. Every holiday, ABC or NBC (can't remember which) would air a holiday-themed special. I had no real idea that most of these specials pre-dated my existence by as much as fifteen-twenty years. To me--they were brand new and fun to watch.
Even today, I take comfort in a good ol' episode of Charlie Brown. They're not particularly funny--they are more amusing than anything. But there's a spirit and heart at the core of the specials that make them worthwhile and quite enjoyable.
This awesome collection includes the following Peanuts specials: "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," "You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown," "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown," "What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown," "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown," "You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown."
Each episode is presented in full frame 1.33:1. The quality varies between the episodes though neither one of them look all that great. The specials are presented in a decently acceptable mono track that does it's job, but hardly excites. This two-disc DVD comes packed in a clear amaray case with a brushed slipcover. There is only one extra from this release – a brief featurette called “You're Groovy, Charlie Brown,” which examines the series and how it evolved throughout the '70s.
Fans who've yet to pick up any Peanuts DVDs should definitely give this two-disc set a look. Hopefully Warner will provide more "Peanuts" volumes in the near future.
*****
Deadliest Warrior (on DVD only)
The hit Spike TV show isn't exactly high art, but it's damn entertaining regardless. "Deadliest Warrior" pits foes from different eras (i.e. Viking vs. Samurai) to see who would, or could, win. The show is layered with fun sci-tech (explanations as to how or why certain foes would beat one another) and action (the actual mash-ups are pretty awesome) making "Deadliest Warrior" the perfect show to watch with the guys.
This three-disc set includes all nine match-ups from season one, presented in widescreen 1.78:1. The transfer and Dolby stereo sound are hardly worth writing home about (nor are the superfluous three EPK featurettes), but the show itself is a must-see. I can't wait for the upcoming videogame as well. If your looking for a testosterone injection, this is it.
******
CONTESTS:
Nothing yet.
******
________
* Follow DVDFuture on TWITTER for the latest in Blu-ray and DVD news and reviews!
* Email Me with Comments, Concerns, Questions and Complaints regarding this review, but please, be nice.
...???...
----R. L. Shaffer