This Week: August 26th, 2008

New Releases

What Happens in Vegas - 6.4/10 - Trailer
Starring Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah
Set in Sin City, story revolves around two people who discover they’ve gotten married following a night of debauchery, with one of them winning a huge jackpot after playing the other’s quarter. The unhappy pair try to undermine each other and get their hands on the money — falling in love along the way.

Special Features:

1-Disc Set

• 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital
• 99 minute Theatrical release of the film

2-Disc Set (Extended Jackpot Edition with Digital Copy)

• 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital
• 101 minute extended cut of the film
• Director commentary
• Outtakes, deleted scenes and trailers
• Digital copy of the film

Blu-ray:

• Same as 2-Disc DVD set

Recommendation: Rent

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? - 7/10 - Trailer
Starring Morgan Spurlock
Spurlock searches for Osama bin Laden by visiting countries associated with the Al-Qaeda leader (Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Afganistan, and Pakistan), as well as others affected by Al-Qaeda (Greece, Egypt, and Israel). In each, he interviews individuals about their views of the United States and Islamic fundamentalism. He also constantly asks people he meets, “Where is Osama bin Laden?” Intercut with Spurlock’s search are the late stages of his wife’s pregnancy and the birth of their son after he returns. Much of Spurlock’s commentary is based on the concerns of a new father.

Special Features:

• Alternate Ending
• Animated History of Afghanistan
• Interviews: Israeli President Shimon Peres, Former IRA Leader Martin McGuinness, Egypt’s Democracy Activist Saad Ibrahim
• On being a Women in Saudi Arabia
• Secret meeting at the Watergate Hotel

Recommendation: Rent

Redbelt - 6/10 - Trailer
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro, Joe Mantegna, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky jay
Mike Terry is a self-defense instructor whose method of teaching is focused entirely on self defense that can be used in real world situations instead of sports combat. After a series of events, Mike is introduced to promoters, movie stars and debt. In order to pay off his debt and keep his business, Mike must enter prize fighting for the first time.

Special Features:

• 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital
• Commentary with David Mamet and Randy Couture
• Q&A with David Mamet
• Interview with Dana White (President of the UFC)
• Fighter Profiles
• Featurettes: “Behind the Scenes of Redbelt”, “Inside Mixed Martial Arts”, “The Magic of Cyril Takayama”

Blu-ray:

• Same features as the DVD release

Recommendation: Rent

Postal - 6/10 - Trailer
Starring Zack Ward, Dave Foley, Julia Sandberg Hansson, Verne Troyer
The story begins with a regular Joe who tries desperately to seek employment, but embarks on a violent rampage when he teams up with cult leader Uncle Dave. Their first act is to heist an amusement park, only to learn that the Taliban are planning the same heist as well. Chaos ensues, and now the Postal Dude must not only take on terrorists but political figures as well.

Special Features:

• Director commentary with Uwe Boll
• Deleted scenes
• Featurettes: “Raging Bull”, “Verne Troyer as Indiana Jones”
• Free Postal 2 PC Game

Blu-ray:

• Same features as the DVD release

Recommendation: Pass

Re-Releases

The Nightmare Before Christmas - 8.2/10
Starring Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens
The film follows Jack Skellington, the leader of a holiday-themed world known as Halloween Town, who becomes bored of his repetitive lifestyle and eventually stumbles upon the world of Christmas Town; interested in the new world’s culture, Jack attempts to combine the two holidays, with disastrous results.

Special Features:

2-Disc Collector’s Edition

• 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital
• What’s This? Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour
• Frankenweenie (Uncut Version) with new introduction by Tim Burton
• Vincent short film
• Tim Burton’s original poem narrated by Christopher Lee
• All-New Audio Commentary by Tim Burton, Director Henry Selick and Music Designer Danny Elfman
• Behind-the-scenes making of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• The worlds of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Town, Christmas Town, The Real World
• Deleted Scenes
• Storyboard To Film Comparison
• Original Theatrical Trailers and Posters

Ultimate Collector’s Edition

• 2-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Individually numbered, hand painted ultimate collector s bust
• Plays sound bites from the movie
• Includes Sandy Claws hat and beard with matching disc case
• Booklet containing original poem
• Letter of Authenticity

Blu-ray:

• Same features as the 2-Disc Collector’s Edition

Recommendation: Buy

Brotherhood of the Wolf: Director’s Cut - 6.4/10
Starring Samuel Le Biahn, Vincent Cassel, Emilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci, Jeremie Renier, Mark Dacascos
In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.

Special Features:

• 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
• Director’s cut (2 hours 31 minutes)
• Deleted Scenes
• Behind the scenes documentary
• Production notes
• Storyboards and trailers

Recommendation: Buy

Miami Vice (Blu-ray) - 5.9/10
Starring Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li
Based on the 1980’s TV action/drama, this update focuses on vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs as their respective personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined.

Blu-ray Features:

• Anamorphic widescreen with DTS-HD 5.1
• Commentary with Michael Mann
• Featurettes: “Miami Vice Undercover”, “Miami & Beyond: Shooting on Location”, “Visualizing Miami Vice”
• PIP function with tech specs, cast bios, production photographs and more

Recommendation: Pass

U-571 (Blu-ray) - 6.2/10
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Thomas Kretschmann, Jon Bon Jovi
In the midst of World War II, the battle below the seas rages. The Nazi’s have the upper edge as the Allies are unable to crack their war codes. That is, until a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, and the Allies realise this is their chance to seize the ‘enigma coding machine’. But masquerading as Nazi’s and taking over the U-boat is the smallest of their problems. The action really begins when they get stranded on the U-boat.

Blu-ray Features:

• Anamorphic widescreen with DTS-HD 5.1
• Commentary with director Jonathan Mostow
• PIP function

Recommendation: Rent

End of Days (Blu-ray) - 5.7/10
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Byrne, Robin Tunney, Kevin Pollak, Rod Steiger, Udo Kier
At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It’s up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

Blu-ray Features:

• Anamorphic widescreen with DTS-HD 5.1
• Commentary with director Peter Hyams

Recommendation: Pass

The Unrated Blogger’s Cut

I’ll be renting Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? because I really enjoy Morgan Spurlock’s work. I’ll also be updating my DVD collection with the director’s cut of Brotherhood of the Wolf even though I already own the original version. The film has great action and is a really great foreign film, I highly suggest any action fans watch this film.

How many films are you picking up this week?

Coming up next week:
New: The Promotion, The Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow*
Re-release: Transformers**, Eraser**, Outbreak**, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory**, Black Mask**, The Invincible Iron Man**
* denotes separate DVD and Blu-ray releases
** denotes Blu-ray only release

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