DISCussion: What’s New on DVD/Blu-ray (7.17.12)

It has been 60 years since the release of the popular musical Singin’ in the Rain, and to celebrate, it has been rereleased onto Blu-ray and a very special Blu-ray/DVD Combo which features a booklet, commentaries and documentaries.

First Release
- Lockout (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Friends With Kids (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Casa de Mi Padre (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Get the Gringo (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Intruders (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Turin Horse (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Three Stooges (DVD and Blu-ray)

Re-Release
- High Noon (1952) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Invasion of the Body Snatcher (1956) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Singin’ in the Rain (1952) (Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
- Down by Law (1988) (Blu-ray)
- Mean Streets (1973) (Blu-ray)
- The Butterfly Effect (2004) (Blu-ray)
- A Room With a View (1986) (Blu-ray)
- Murder in the First (1994) (Blu-ray)
- Spider-man Trilogy (Blu-ray)


**Recommendation of the Week**

Singin’ in the Rain (1952) (Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Directed by Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Written by Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynold, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell

What’s the Deal?
Singin’ in the Rain is a musical that has delighted millions. It is Gene Kelly’s most popular movie and even people who have not seen it know the famous title song, even if they learned it from A Clockwork Orange of all things.

Set in 1927 at the dawn of talking cinema, Don Lockwood (Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are a famous on-screen couple in the silent era. But Lina mistakes her fictional relationships with Don as real love. When Don’s producer Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) plans to make a musical, problems arise because Lina voice is not suited for talking cinema. An aspiring actress, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reyonlds) is brought in to partner Don but she too falls for the man.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.8/10

DISC DETAILS

Blu-ray Special Features: N/A

Additional Blu-ray/DVD Combo Special Features: Limited and numbered editions; 48 page hard cover production book with never-before-seen memos and photos; Custom full-size umbrella (40” diameter, consumer value $29.99); Theatrical poster reproductions; Includes 4 hours of Bonus Content; Commentary by Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanley Donen,Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Baz Luhrmann, and Rudy Behlmer; "Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation” All New Documentary; "Great Performances: Musicals Great Musicals: The Arthur Freed Unit at MGM” (1996 PBS Documentary); "What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of Singin' in the Rain"; "You Are My Lucky Star" Outtake; Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed Film Excerpts (A collection of 12 film clips from earlier movies that originally carried the Freed/Brown songs.); 26xScoring Stage; Session Cues; Stills Gallery; Trailer

Amazon Price: $13.86 (Blu-ray), $74.99 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



It is a big week of DVD and Blu-ray releases, even though the first releases are smaller movies such as Lockout, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Mel Gibson in Get the Gringo. There is large amount Blu-ray rereleases with many popular movies including High Noon, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Mean Streets and The Spider-Man Trilogy (again).


Lockout (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by James Mather, Stephen St. Leger
Written by James Mather, Stephen St. Leger, Luc Besson (screenplay), Luc Besson (original idea)
Starring: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace

What’s the Deal?
Luc Besson has made very entertaining movies as a director but in recent years he has become a brand, writing and producing movies like the “Transporter” series, the “District 13” series, Taken, From Paris with Love and Colombiana. Lockout was marketed on Besson’s name as two first-time writer/directors, James Mather and Stephen St. Leger, adapted his "idea" for the big screen.

In 2079, criminals are sent to a space prison to be placed in suspended animation, but there is a risk of mental side effects. The president’s daughter, Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace, Taken) goes on a humanitarian mission but ends up trapped when the prisoners riot. The American government has only person it can turn to, the wrongly convicted CIA agent Snow (Guy Pearce), to rescue her.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 37% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 6.3/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Breaking Into Lockout - Making-Of; A Vision of the Future- Production Design & Special Effects

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 1 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). Recommended.



Friends With Kids (DVD and Blu-ray)

Written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt
Starring: Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox, Edward Burns

What’s the Deal?
The indie movie Friends With Kids is drama-comedy that was written, directed and starrs Jennifer Westfeldt (Ira & Abby) and features an all-star cast with the likes of Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), Maya Rudolph (Away We Go), Kristen Wigg and Westfeldt’s real-life partner, Jon Hamm.

Jason and Julie (Scott and Westfeldt) are the last two single people in their group of friends who are all now partnered together and have kids. The pair decide to have a child together and stay friends because they know the toll kids have on romantic relationships.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 68% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 6.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted Scenes with optional audio commentary Gag Reel "Making of" featurette Audio commentary with Writer/Director/Actress Jennifer Westfeldt, Actor/Producer Jon Hamm and Director of Photography Will Rexer II

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Casa de Mi Padre (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Matt Piedmont
Written by Andrew Steele
Starring: Will Ferrell, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Génesis Rodríguez

What’s the Deal?
The comedy Casa de Mi Padre is the first of two movies set in Mexico this week. Starring Will Ferrell, Casa de Mi Padre was made entirely in Spanish. Armando Alvarez (Ferrell) is an Mexican ranger whose father has died. His younger, richer brother Raul (Diego Luna) returns with his fiancé Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez, Man on a Ledge). But when it turns out that Raul’s fortune was made from illegitimate means, Armando falls for Sonia and a drug lord (Gael García Bernal) and hell breaks loose.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 44% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:  Audio Commentary with Will Ferrell, Director Matt Piedmont and Writer/Producer Andrew Steele; Pedro Armendáriz Jr. Interview; Deleted Scenes; "Making Of" Featurette; "Fight for Love" Music Video; Commercials; ; Closed Caption

Amazon Price: $11.99 (DVD), $17.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


Get the Gringo (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Adrian Grunberg
Written by Mel Gibson, Stacy Perskie, Adrian Grunberg
Starring: Mel Gibson

What’s the Deal?
It has been a tough few years for Mel Gibson having been exposed for the racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semite alcoholic that he is in addition to the fact that many consider him box-office poison and actors refuse to work with him. So Gibson returned to basics, writing and starring in the action-thriller Get the Gringo for his Apocalypto first-assistant director to helm.

Gibson plays an American Driver who gets arrested in Mexico and sent to one of the nation’s worst prisons, “El Pueblito.” It is a tough place to survive and it is even worst for an outsider, but a 10-year-old kid (Kevin Hernandez) is prepared to show him the ropes.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 79% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Get the Gringo: A Look Inside; "El Corrido Del Gringo"; Music Video; ; Closed Caption

Amazon Price: $12.99 (DVD), $17.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Lasse Hallström
Written by Simon Beaufoy (screenplay), Paul Torday (novel)
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, Kristin Scott Thomas

What’s the Deal?
Based on Paul Torday’s popular novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a romance starring the ever-likeable Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.

Alfred “Fred” Jones (McGregor) is a scientist who works for the Fisheries Department of British government when he is approached by PR consultant Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Blunt) for advice on how to bring the sport of salmon fishing to the nation of Yemen. Despite the ludicrous scheme and Fred’s refusal to advise the project, he is forced to work with Harriet by the Prime Minister’s press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) and the soon sparks starts to fly.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 68% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Miracles Happen: Making Salmon Fishing in the Yemen; ; The Fisherman In The Middle East: Novelist Paul Torday

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3.5 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 1.5 stars, Replay 3.5 stars (out of 5). Recommended.



Intruders (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Written by Nicolás Casariego, Jaime Marques
Starring: Clive Owen, Carice van Houten, Daniel Brühl, Pilar López de Ayala, Ella Purnell

What’s the Deal?
Spanish atmospheric horror movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Orphanage and Rec are popular with critics and film fans and it seems that foreign production companies are trying to get in on the action. That is the case of Intruders, a British/Spanish co-production from 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring respected actors Clive Owen, Carice van Houten (Black Book, Game of Thrones) and Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds).

Intruders tells two parallel stories that affect families in England and Spain with two children being haunted by a mysterious creature known as Hollowface.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 33% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 5.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Featurette Behind the scenes Previews

Amazon Price: $26.09 (DVD), $14.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 2.5 stars, Replay 3.5 stars (out of 5). Recommended.



The Turin Horse (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky
Written by Béla Tarr, László Krasznahorkai
Starring: János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos

What’s the Deal?
The Turin Horse is Hungarian art-house movie that won the Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and was Hungary’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards. The Turin Horse is a fictionalized account of what happened to the horse that caused philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s mental breakdown in 1889.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 89% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: "Hotel Magnezit" (1978, 10 minutes), a short film by Bela Tarr; Audio Commentary by film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum; Press Conference with Bela Tarr, co-director Ágnes Hranitzky; actors Mihály Kormos, Erika Bók, and János Derzsi; director of photography Fred Kelemen; composer Mihály Vig; and co-producer Gábor Téni from the 2011 Berlin Film Festival (45 min); Theatrical Trailer; Booklet featuring an essay by film critic J. Hoberman

Amazon Price: $24.99 (DVD), $25.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



The Three Stooges (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Farrelly Brothers
Written by Mike Cerrone, Farrelly Brothers (screenplay), Three Stooges (short films)
Starring: Chris Diamatopoulos, Sean Hayes, Will Sasso

What’s the Deal?
The Three Stooges was dream project for the Farrelly Brothers, but they have fallen far from their heyday in the '90s. Three children are dumped at a Catholic orphanage, but years later when their childhood home is threatened with closure, Larry, Curly and Moe (Chris Diamatopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso) set out to save it.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 51% (average)
Player Affinity Score: 3.5/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted/Extended Scenes; The Three Stooges Mash-Up; ; Closed Caption

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: What''s the Big Idea?: A History of The Three Stooges; Knuckleheads: Behind the Scenes of The Three Stooges; Did You Hear That? The Three Stooges Sound Effects; Poifect! Casting The Three Stooges; Original Screen Test

Amazon Price: $19.96 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



High Noon (1952) (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Written by Carl Foreman (screenplay), John W. Cunningham (story)
Starring: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado

What’s the Deal?
High Noon is the other movie of the week celebrating its 60th Anniversary, one regarded as a classic Western from the '50s. It is told in near real time as well. Lawman Will Kane (Gary Cooper) learns that a gunslinger he arrested, Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), is returning to kill him on the day of his wedding. Will has to decide whether to run away or stand up and fight in a movie that symbolizes a criticism of McCarthyism.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 9.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: The Making of High Noon Hosted by Leonard Maltin; Includes Interviews with Lloyd Bridges; Stanley Kramer; Fred Zinnemann; John Ritter; David Crosby; ; Theatrical Trailer

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

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Don Siegel
Written by Daniel Mainwaring (screenplay), Jack Finney (novel)
Starring: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones

What’s the Deal?
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is considered to be a classic piece of sci fi from the '50s and as such it has been remade twice. In the town of Santa Mira, California, people are being replaced by alien “pod people” who look the same but are devoid of emotion and are preparing for an alien invasion. A local doctor, Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), discovers this plan and tries to warn the authorities before it is too late.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

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

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars, Video 3.5 stars, Audio 3 stars, Extras 0 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). Recommended.



Down by Law (1988) (Blu-ray)

Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni

What’s the Deal?
Jim Jarmusch is a celebrated art-house director and his black-and-white prison movie Down by Law is being re-released by the Criterion Collection. Down by Law follows three hapless men who somehow end up in a Louisiana prison.

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

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; Thoughts and reflections on the making of the film from director Jim Jarmusch; Interview with director of photography Robby Muller from 2002; Footage from the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, including a press conference; Sixteen outtakes; Music video for Tom Waits's cover of Cole Porte's "It's All Right with Me"; Q&A with Jarmusch in which he responds to fans' questions; Recordings of phone conversations between Jarmusch and Waits, Benigni, and Lurie; Production Polaroids and location stills; Isolated music track; Optional French dub track, featuring Benigni; Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by critic Luc Sante

Amazon Price: $24.49 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Mean Streets (1973) (Blu-ray)

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Martin Scorsese, Mardik Martin (screenplay), Martin Scorsese (story)
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, David Proval, Amy Robinson

What’s the Deal?
Martin Scorsese’s first feature film was Boxcar Bertha, but it Mean Streets that made his name and showed the world the talent he really possesses. Set on the streets of New York, Mean Streets follows two men: Charlie (Harvey Keitel) who works for his uncle and falls for a woman (Amy Robinson) his uncle does not approve of, and Jonny Boy (Robert De Niro), a near-psychopathic trouble maker who is in deep with loan sharks.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Commentary by Director Martin Scorsese, Mardik Martin and Amy Robinson; Vintage Featurette Back on the Block

Amazon Price: $14.95 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



The Butterfly Effect (2004) (Blu-ray)

Written and directed by Eric Bress, J. Mackye Grube
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart

What’s the Deal?
The sci-fi movie The Butterfly Effect is movie that shows a divide between critics and audiences. It only earned a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but has a 7.7/10 on IMDB.

Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is a 20-year-old student who has blocked memories of significant memories of his life. When he recovers his lost memories he is able to travel back in time and can alter the past. But every time he goes back there are unexpected consequences, making things worse.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 33% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Director''s Cut of the Film; Theatrical Version of the Film; The Science and Psychology of The Chaos Theory; The History and Allure of Time Travel; Director''s Cut Fact Track; Director''s Cut Commentary by Co-Directors and Co-Screenwriters Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber; ; The Creative Process; Visual Effects; Storyboard Gallery; Deleted/Alternate Scenes

Amazon Price: $14.95 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


A Room With a View (1986) (Blu-ray)

Directed by James Ivory
Written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay), E.M. Forster (novel)
Starring: Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Denholm Elliott ,Julian Sands, Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench

What’s the Deal?
Based on E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel, A Room With a View is a British costume drama filled with an all-star cast that won three Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (The Remains of the Day) and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for Maggie Smith.

Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) is a young upper-class woman with a romantic predicament: she has to choose between the passionate George (Julian Sands) or the priggish but socially suitable Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis).

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $44.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Murder in the First (1994) (Blu-ray)

Directed by Marc Rocco
Written by Dan Gordon
Starring: Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman

What’s the Deal?
Murder in the First is a legal thriller and fictionalized version of the case of Henri Young (Kevin Bacon), a petty criminal who ended up murdering a fellow prisoner in Alcatraz after spending three years in solitary confinement. A young idealistic lawyer, James Stamphill (Christian Salter), sets out to defend him from receiving the death penalty.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 50% (average)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $14.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


Spider-Man Trilogy (Blu-ray)

Spider-Man
Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by David Koepp (screenplay), Stan Lee, Steve Ditko (comics)
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco

Spider-Man 2
Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by Alvin Sargent (screenplay), Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon (story), Stan Lee, Steve Ditko (comics)
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina

Spider-Man 3
Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Alvin Sargent, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko (comics)
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace

What’s the Deal?
It is Spider-Man mania at the moment with the reboot of the series, The Amazing Spider-man being a box-office smash and a few weeks ago the Sam Raimi version of the series was re-released onto basic individual Blu-rays. Now a new Blu-ray boxset of the whole trilogy is being released as we follow Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) struggling with his life in his dual role as the superhero Spider-Man.

Spider-Man
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 89% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 7.9/10

Spider-Man 2
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.3/10

Spider-Man 3
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 63% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 5.6/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $44.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A