Here’s what’s up for DISCussion for this week:
First Releases
- Hot Tub Time Machine (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Crazies (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The White Ribbon (DVD and Blu-ray)
Re-Releases
- Predator (Blu-ray)
Hot Tub Time Machine (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s the Deal?
A clue is in the title: Hot Tub Time Machine is a comedy about a hot tub which doubles as a time machine. A group of friends, Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry), Nick (Craig Robinson) and Adam’s nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) have all reached personal lulls. To re-energize they go their favorite ski resort from back in the '80s. But chance sends the group back to 1986. They have to have to wait for the hot tub to be repaired and not interfere with the past. But of course it’s not a movie unless the time-space continuum is threatened.
Critics' Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 63% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.0/10
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; Includes both the theatrical and the unrated version of the film; Deleted scenes; Theatrical trailer
Additional Blu-Ray Features: Both the theatrical version and unrated version of Hot Tub Time Machine in high definition; Production: acting like idiots; Chevy Chase: the nicest guy in Hollywood; Totally radical outfits: dayna pink; Crispin Glover: one-armed bell hop
Amazon Prize: $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars, Video: 0 stars, Audio: 0 stars, Extras: 2 stars, Replay: 2.5 stars (out of 5). Rent it.
The Crazies (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’ s the Deal?
The Crazies is a remake of the George A. Romero cult classic of the same name. But while most of the time horror remakes should be avoided, The Crazies was met with decent critical reaction. The town of Ogden Marsh is a typical example of small town America, a close community where everyone is friendly with each other. But when a mysterious toxin turns people into murderous maniacs, the army is sent to quarantine the town. But on seeing the dark intentions of the government, the Town Sheriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) and his wife Judy (Radha Mitchell) try to escape the town and the toxin.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 72% (good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Audio commentary with director Breck Eisner; Behind the scenes with director Breck Eisner paranormal pandemics; The George A Romero template; Make-up mastermind: Rob Hall in action The Crazies motion comic episodes 1 & 2; Visual effects in motion; Storyboards: building a scene
Additional Blu-ray Features: Rob Hall In Action; The Crazies Motion Comic Episode 1; The Crazies Motion Comic Episode 2; Visual Effects In Motion; Teaser Trailer; Theatrical trailers (3); TV Spots (10); The Crazies Motion Comic Trailer: Easter Egg; Extra DVD disc with a Digital Copy of the film
Amazon Prize: $15.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3.5 stars, Video: 4.5 stars, Audio: 4 stars, Extras: 3.5 stars, Replay: 3 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s the Deal?
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the first adaptation of Rick Riodan’s series of young adult novels. Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is a troubled New York teenager, living with his single mother and struggling at school when he discovers that he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and he gets the opportunity learn how to use his demigod skills. But when Zeus’ (Sean Bean) lightning bolt is stolen, it is up to Percy and his friends to find it where it is before a war between the gods erupts. Some critics have suggested that Percy Jackson is basically Harry Potter with Greek mythology. This series even recruited Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer‘s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), has a similar storyline (i.e. a young boy learns he has magical powers), and recruited respected actors like Bean, Pierce Bronsan, Steve Coogan and Rosiaro Dawson in supporting roles. But Harry Potter is ending, so something needs to fill the void.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 50% (average)
Player Affinity Score: 6/10
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; 5 Deleted scenes; Discover your powers quiz ; The book comes to life featurette
Additional Blu-ray Features: Closed Caption; Disc 1 blu-ray; Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the lightning thief in high-definition; 10 Deleted scenes; Secrets of the gods featurette; Inside camp half-blood; Discover your powers quiz; Disc two dvd:; Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the lightning thief in standard definition
Amazon Prize: $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3 stars, Video: 0 stars, Audio: 0 stars, Extras: 2 stars, Replay: 3 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
The White Ribbon (DVD and Blu-ray)
What’s the Deal?
In recent years, German cinema has established itself as one of the best in the world. Many recent films have looked at Germany’s past, such as Downfall, The Lives of Others and The Baader-Meinhof Complex. The White Ribbon joins them, this time looking at rural Germany before the onset of World War I. In a North German village, a strange ritual punishment has happened and the children and teenagers of the church choir seem to be the key to the mystery. The White Ribbon was popular at festivals, winning the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. There is a lot of pedigree behind the film and it is open to interpretation.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 85% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Additional Blu-ray Features: Blu-ray exclusives include an inside look at the award-winning Film with Director Interviews, Premiere Footage
Amazon Prize: $20.49 (DVD), $36.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Predator (Blu-ray)
What’s the Deal?
The 1980s was a great decade for action films it gave us The Terminator, Aliens, the Mad Max trilogy, Die Hard and the Indiana Jones trilogy, just to name a few. Predator is equal to these films and an excellent example of high concept cinema, a film plot that can be summed up in one sentence: an alien hunts a team of U.S. Special Forces in the jungle. It was a hell of an action film from a period producing classic action films. This was a high point for Arnold Schwarzenegger outside the Terminator series, and John McTiernan used this film as a springboard for his career, directing Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October afterwards.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 77% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: 8.0/10
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: 5 hours of out-of-this-world extras; In-depth documentary; Director's commentary; Never-before-seen bonus footage; Revealing featurettes
Amazon Prize: $21.99
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
