Here’s what’s up for DISCussion this week:
FIRST RELEASES
-Invictus (DVD and Blu-ray)
-The Messenger (DVD and Blu-ray
RE-RELEASES
-Outlander (Blu-ray)
Invictus (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
Once considered a surefire Oscar contender for Best Picture, Clint Eastwood’s Invictus was not even nominated in the category, but it doesn’t diminish the Oscar-nominated performances of Morgan Freeman as the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as South Africa rugby captain Francois Pienaar. The story centers on the relationship between the two as they try and win a world cup to reunite South Africa in the days after Apartheid.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 77% (very good)
Player Affinity Rating: 7/10
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Matt Damon Plays Rugby: Turning a Hollywood Star into a Rugby Player; Invictus music trailer
Additional Blu-ray Features: In-depth picture-in-picture; Mandela Meets Morgan; The Eastwood Factor.
Amazon Price: $17.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDtalk.com): Content = 3.5 stars, Video = 4 stars, Audio = 4.5 stars, Extras = 4 stars, Replay = 3 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
The Messenger (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
One of 2009’s quieter Oscar contenders, The Messenger boasts an impressive performance from Woody Harrelson as a casualty notification officer who mentors a younger officer, played by Ben Foster, whose own close brush with death makes the job hard for him.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (excellent)
Player Affinity Rating: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Notification: a documentary about US Army Casualty Notification Officers and the families of fallen soldiers by Joe Kelly and John Vernon; audio commentary with Oren Moverman, Lawrence Inglee, Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson; Going home: reflections from the set; Variety screening series Q&A; The Messenger shooting script.
Additional Blu-ray Features: None
Amazon Price: $17.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDtalk.com): Content = 4 stars, Video = 4 stars, Audio = 3.5 stars, Extras = 3 stars, Replay = 3.5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.
Outlander (Blu-ray)
What’s its deal?
An attempt at a cult sci-fi hit gone awry in the eyes of many, Outlander, which comes to Blu-ray a whole year after its initial DVD release, stars Jim Caviezel in a movie about a traveler from another galaxy who finds himself on earth during the reign of the Vikings and brings with him baggage in the form of an alien predator.
Critics’ Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 39% (bad)
Player Affinity Rating: N/A
Special Features: Commentary with filmmaker Howard McCain, writer/exec. Producer Dirk Blackman and producers Chris Roberts and John Schimmel; Two Words, One Film: The Making of Outlander; deleted scenes, visual effects tests; animatics; artwork galleries.
Amazon Price: $14.99
Score (DVDtalk.com): N/A for Blu-ray
