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DVD/Blu-ray DISCussion (New for 4.4.11)

By: | Movie News | April 5, 2011

There are many new releases and re-releases this week for your entertainment and it is a real mixture of genres. Fans of both "Tron" films will pleased with both coming to DVD and Blu-ray and even in a combo pack together. And the big re-release of the week has to go to the Martin Scorsese classic Taxi Driver. There are a number of Oscar winning and nominated films getting a re-release. 

First Releases
- Tron: Legacy (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Little Fockers (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Casino Jack (DVD and Blu-ray)
- I Love You, Phillip Morris (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (DVD and Blu-ray) (Releases 4/8)

Re-Releases
- Tron (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Taxi Driver (Blu-ray)
- A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (Blu-ray)
- Fiddler on the Roof (Blu-ray)
- Babe (Blu-ray)
- … And Justice for All (Blu-ray)
- The People vs Larry Flynt (Blu-ray)
- Lars and the Real Girl (Blu-ray)
- Peter Pan (2003) (Blu-ray)


Tron: Legacy (DVD and Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Disney’s sequel to their cult classic Tron, Tron: Legacy was the first true 3-D film after Avatar, taking years to develop and shot with the next generation of 3-D cameras. This big budget project served as the directing debut for Joesph Kosinski and Jeff Bridges respires his role from the first film. Young actor Garrett Hedlund (Troy, Four Brothers) took on the lead role and Olivia Wilde (House) was the female protagonist. Other actors who appear in the film include Michael Sheen, Beau Garrett and James Frain (The Tudors).

Sam Flynn’s (Hedlund) father Kevin (Bridges) has been missing for 21 years. After receiving a message from one of his father’s business partner Sam sets out to investigate his father’s disappearance. Sam ends up in the computer world, The Grid and reunites with his father, but ends up in a dangerous world that has been taken over by his father’s creation Clu (Bridges).

Daft Punk provided the critically acclaimed soundtrack and it was considered an Oscar snub that they did not get nominated.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 50% (average)
Player Affinity Score: 7.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: First Look at TRON: Uprising, the Disney XD animated series; Visualizing TRON - How did the filmmakers bring to life the gorgeous world inside the GRID?; Installing the cast - Hear from all the stars of TRON: Legacy and their experience in making the movie

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed [BD Exclusive - Interactive bonus piece] - What happens immediately following the end of the movie? What is Flynn Lives and who is responsible for their efforts?; TRON: Disney Second Screen [BD Exclusive - Interactive bonus piece] - Using your iPad or computer, watch the movie with exclusive interactive elements available on your 2nd screen; Launching the Legacy - Beyond the amazing visuals is a rich story filled with an entire world's history and mythology. Discover how the writers and filmmakers created this complex fiction; Disc Roars - Watch director Joseph Kosinski use the raucous crowd at Comic-Con to record actual ADR for the disc game stadium crowd; Music video - "Derezzed" written, produced, and performed by Daft Punk

Amazon Price: $15.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray), $29.99 (3D Blu-ray), $49.99 (5 Disc Tron/Tron: Legacy Blu-ray Combo)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 5 stars, Extras 5 stars, Replay 5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.


Little Fockers (DVD and Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Some film franchises are too successful for their own good and the “Meet the Parents” series is a prime example. Meet the Parents was a critical and commercial success in 2000, but ended up spurring two unnecessary sequels, including Little Fockers. All the actors from the previous films respire their roles and the likes of Jessica Alba, Laura Dern (Jurassic Park) and Harvey Keitel join them.

Plot (or what there is of it) revolves round Jack (Robert De Niro) who has just had a heart attack and needs an male heir (why it cannot be his son from the first film I do not know). He picks Greg (Ben Stiller) but he has to prove himself for the honour and get his young children into a top private Elementary School. But hijinx arise with the return of Pam’s (Teri Polo) ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson), reports that Greg may be having an affair with a sexy pharmaceutical rep, Andi Garcia (Alba) and the use of an erectile dysfunction drug.


Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 9% (awful)
Player Affinity Score: 3.2/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Alternate Opening: Wedding Dream and Morning Wakeup; Alternate Ending: Treehouse; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel; The Making of A Godfocker: Behind the Scenes of Little Fockers; Bout Time; The Focker Foot Locker

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 1 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 2.5 stars, Replay 0 stars (out of 5). Skip It.


Casino Jack (DVD and Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Casino Jack is a comedy-drama loosely based on the career and crimes of powerful Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who resorts to fraud and corruption to get his way but slowly gets involved with a worldwide scandal. Starring Kevin Spacey, the cast includes Kelly Preston (Jerry Maguire), Barry Pepper and Jon Lovitz (Happiness) with George Hickenlooper (Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse) in the director’s chair. Hickenlooper unfortunately passed away before the film's release.


Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 35% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 6.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; Casino Jack: A director's photo diary ; Gag reel ; Deleted scenes

Amazon Price: $14.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


I Love You, Phillip Morris (DVD and Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Jim Carrey has had an interesting career as an actor starting with silly slapstick humor that has slowly matured into making serious dramas and more low-key comedies. Now Carrey takes on the role of the infamous con-artist and prison escapee Steven Jay Russell with Ewan McGregor as Phillip Morrris. Writing partners Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Bad Santa) make their directing debut.

Steven Russell is a conservative family man who after a need death experience comes out as gay and becomes a criminal. Whilst in prison, Russell meets Phillip Morris and he sets out to a perfect life with his new partner.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 70% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.2/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Audio commentary with producer Andrew Lazar and writers/directors John Requa & Glenn Ficarra; “The Making of I Love You Phillip Morris” featurette; Theatrical trailers

Amazon Price: $13.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 4 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.


The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (DVD and Blu-ray) (Releases 4/8)

What's the Deal?
The Chronicles of the Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was a massive Christmas hit in 2005 with a worldwide gross of $745 Million. But the sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was less successful and dropped by Disney. 20th Century Fox picked up the series and slashed the budget, moving the whole production to Australia. Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough) replaces Adam Adamson as the director and Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes continues as Lucy and Edmund Pevensie. Ben Barnes drops the Spanish accent to play King Caspian X. Simon Pegg and Liam Neeson offer their voices as well.

Set a year after the events of “Prince Caspian,” Lucy and Edmund are forced to live with their aunt, uncle and annoying cousin Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter) in Cambridge. Through a magic picture, the three youngsters are transported to Narnia and go with Caspian and his crew to save the Lone Islands from Slave Traders, find the lost lords of Narnia and stop a new evil encroaching on the world.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 49% (aveage)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted Scenes; Commentary By Director Michael Apted and Producer Mark Johnson

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Disc 1: Dawn Treader; Magician's Island; Ramandu's Island; Lone Islands; The Dark Island; Goldwater Island; Disc 2: Theatrical Feature DVD; Disc 3: Digital Copy

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray), $20.99 (Blu-ray/DVD Double Pack)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars, Video 0 stars, Audio 0 stars, Extras 1.5 stars, Replay 1 stars (out of 5). Rent It.


Tron (DVD and Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
The 1982 film Tron was revolutionary with its use of CGI special effects and creating a completely new world, even more remarkable considering the limits of computer technology back then. Whilst the film was not a box-office hit, Tron has developed a cult following.

Set in the world of computer game design, arcade owner/hacker Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is transported into a digital world and partners with a program he created, Tron (Bruce Boxleitner), to prove the company ENCOM is guilty of corporate espionage.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 67% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.2/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Audio Commentary with director Steven Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, associate producer and visual effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw and visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor (On Disc 1); The Making of Tron Includes interviews with cast members Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cyndi Morgan, Bernard Hughes, Daniel Shore, and David Warner. New Interviews with writer/director Steven Lisberger, Richard Taylor, Harrison Ellenshaw, Donald Kushner, and other key production personnel; Development Early development of TRON, Early Lisberger Studios animation, Early concept art and background concepts, "Computers Are People Too", Early video tests text card; Digital Imagery, Backlight animation, Digital imagery in Tron, "Beyond Tron", Role of Triple I, Triple I demo; Music, Lightcycle scene with alternate Carlos music tracks text card, End credits with original Carlos; Publicty, Trailers, Nato, work in progress, 1, 2, 3, & 4, Production photos, Publicity and merchandising; Deleted Scenes, Introduction by writer/director Steven Lisberger, Alternate opening prologue; Design (existing release), Introduction to design by writer/director Steven Lisberger, The programs - Flynn, Yori, Sark, The Bit, Guard, Tron, Dumont, MCP, Video Warrior, Misc, The vehicles, Lightcycles; Syd Mead discusses lightcycle design; Magi animation tests; Lightcycle designs; Recognizer: Recongizer designs; Space Paranoids video game

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Photo Tronology: Join director Steven Lisberger and his son, Carl Lisberger, on a personal journey to Disney's photo library and hear anecdotes and intimate stories from Steven as they uncover the original production photos and materials taken during the making of TRON

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray), $49.99 (5 Disc Tron/Tron: Legacy Blu-ray Combo)


Taxi Driver (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Taxi Driver is considered one of Martin Scorsese’s greates films as it was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. It also started Scorsese’s working relationship with Robert De Niro as his leading man and Paul Schrader as his writer. Jodie Foster broket out into Hollywood as a 12-year-old prostitute.

Set in the world in grim world of 1970s New York, Travis Bickle (De Niro) is a Vietnam vet who becomes a midnight taxi driver to combat his insomnia. Seeing the city at its worst and alienated from society, Travis takes matters into his own hands and becomes a vigilante. 

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.6/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: movieIQ; Original 1986 Commentary with Director Martin Scorsese and Writer Paul Schrader recorded by The Criterion Collection;Interactive Script to Screen; Feature Length Commentary by Writer Paul Schrader; Feature Length Commentary by Professor Robert Kolker; Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver; God's Lonely Man; Producing Taxi Driver; Influence and Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute; Taxi Driver Stories; Making Taxi Driver; Travis' New York; Travis' New York Locations; Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese; Animated Photo Galleries

Amazon Price: $12.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 4.5 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). DVD Talk Collector Series.


A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Stanley Kubrick was originally going to direct this modern retelling of Pinocchio, but because of his death, producer Steven Spielberg replaced him. Haley Joel Osment was at the height of his The Sixth Sense fame when he starred in this sci-fi flick with Frances O’Connor (The Importance of Being Earnest), Jude Law, William Hurt and Sam Robards (American Beauty), as well as voice performances from Robin Williams and Jack Angel.

In the future, global warming has affected the planet and cities such as New York and Amsterdam have been flooded. Robots (or mechas if you will) have been created and David (Osment) is a prototype of the first child mecha who can feel love and emotions. He is given to a family, but after an accident, David is forced to go on the run into this dark world.


Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 73% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 6.6/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Speical Features: Creating A.I.; Acting A.I.; Designing A.I.; Lighting A.I.; A.I./FX; The Robots of A.I.; Special Visual Effects and Animation: ILM; The Sound and Music of A.I.; Steven Spielberg: Our Responsibility to Artificial Intelligence; Trailers: 2 Theatrical Trailers HD; A.I. Archives

Amazon Price: $16.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 4 stars, Replay 5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.


Fiddler on the Roof (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Fiddler on the Roof was based on a popular Broadway musical and play which itself is based on the character Tevye from Sholem Aleichem’s stories. The Norman Jewison (The Thomas Crown Affair, The Hurricane) directed film won three Academy Awards in 1971 and was nominated for three more. Adapted by playwright Joseph Stein, Israeli actor Topol (Flash Gordon) was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award.

Tevye (Topol) is a Jewish milkman living in Tsarist Russia. He tries to marry off his three older daughters, as customary to family tradition, but they want to break free from the constricting customs of marriage. And all this goes on in a background of revolution and growing Anti-Semitism in rural Russia.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


Babe (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Based on the novel by Dick King-Smith, Babe was a children film that pleased the Academy, earning seven nominations in 1995. Helmed by Chris Noonan (Miss Potter), Babe tells the story of Babe (professional voice artist Christine Cavenaugh) who is adopted by sheep farmer Arthur Hogget (James Cromwell), who sees how his pig wants to be a sheep dog. 

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 7.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $20.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


...And Justice for All (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Norman Jewison’s other Blu-ray re-release of the week is the courtroom drama …And Justice for All, which earned Al Pacino andscreenwriters Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson (Sleepers) Academy Award nominations. John Forsythe (In Cold Blood) and Jack Warden (All the President’s Men) co-star as idealistic defense attorney Arthur Kirkland (Pacino) gets involved in a rife in the Maryland judicial system.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Cast Commentary; Writers Commentary; Deleted Scenes with optional commentary

Amazon Price: $12.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


Lars and the Real Girl (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
Somehow the director of the Mr. Woodcock remake, Craig Gillespie, was able to make a critically loved independent comedy. Starring Ryan Gosling (Half Gosling), Lars and the Real Girl earned a Golden Globe nomination for its star and an Academy Award nomination for writer Nancy Oliver (Six Feet Under, True Blood). Emily Mortimer (Harry Brown) and Paul Schneider (Bright Star) co-star as Lars Lindstrom (Gosling) meets the girl of his dreams. The problem is she is a sex doll he brought off the Internet. With his whole family and the community worry for the young man they play along with his delusions.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 81% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $14.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


Peter Pan (2003) (Blu-ray)

What's the Deal?
J.M Barrie’s novel has seen countless adaptations. The 2003 version by Australian director P.J. Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding) is a big budget live-action adaptation with Jeremy Sumter (Friday Night Lights) as the boy who will never grow up. Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) co-wrote the script with Hogan. Rachel Hurd-Wood (Solomon Kane) stars as Wendy and Jason Issacs (Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter) as Captain Hook. Peter Pan is a fairly faithful adaptation of the novel and play as Peter Pan takes Wendy and her brothers to Neverland but the Lost Boys are in the middle of a long war against Pirates led by Hook.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 76% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $16.49 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A

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