Here’s what’s up for DISCussion this week:
FIRST RELEASES
-Nine (DVD and Blu-ray)
RE-RELEASES
-Saving Private Ryan (Blu-ray)
-K-19: The Widowmaker (Blu-ray)
-Escape from L.A. (Blu-ray)
Nine (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
Rob Marshall’s second movie musical after the Oscar-winning Chicago didn’t receive anywhere near the love that that film did. Nine is a musical version of the Fellini film 8 1/2, which is about a prestigious filmmaker trying to figure out his next project while wrestling with relationship issues.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 37% (bad)
Player Affinity Rating: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Commentary with director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca. Eight featurettes and three music videos.
Additional Blu-ray Features: None.
Amazon Price: $17.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDtalk.com): Video = 3.5 stars, Audio = 4.5 stars, Extras = 3.5 stars (out of 5). Rent it.
Saving Private Ryan (Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
Steven Spielberg’s extremely authentic and visually captivating World War II film gets a worthy Blu-ray release just about a month before Memorial Day and D-Day.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (excellent)
Player Affinity Rating: 9/10
Special Features: Introduction with Steven Spielberg; Featurettes: Looking into the past, Miller and his Platoon, Boot camp, Making Saving Private Ryan, Re-creating Omaha beach, Music and sound, Parting thoughts, Into the breach: Saving Private Ryan; Theatrical trailer; re-release trailer; Shooting War – WWII Combat Photographers (hosted by Tom Hanks).
Amazon List Price: $39.99
Score (DVDtalk.com): N/A
K-19: The Widowmaker (Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s most notable pre-The Hurt Locker film starring Harrison Ford as a Russian nuclear sub commander akin to The Hunt for Red October minus Jack Ryan.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 61% (good)
Player Affinity Rating: N/A
Special Features: Commentary by director Kathryn Bigelow and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth; The Making of K-19: The Widowmaker; three featurettes; Exploring the Craft; Makeup Techniques; Breaching the Hull; It’s in the Details; theatrical trailer.
Amazon List Price: $29.99
Score (DVDtalk.com): N/A
Escape from L.A (Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
The sequel to Escape from New York brings back Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken,
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 57% (okay)
Player Affinity Rating: N/A
Special Features: Theatrical trailer.
Amazon List Price: $29.99
Score (DVDtalk.com): Video = 2.5 stars, Audio = 2.5 stars, Extras = 0.5 stars (out of 5). Recommended.