There's a certain point when you get so far behind that you feel like you're ahead. I've yet to discover that alternate dimension. The last month has been full of frustrating conflicts and the usual seasonal malaise. I've got to get the previous month worth of Roundups posted so I can move on.
A lot of what's to come below will be extremely brief, but I've either already written this stuff up, it doesn't really require much depth, or I haven't touched the release in question. The TV version of this item will run later today, and the first week of December will be up by the morning.
Week of 11.03
Catalog Blu-ray Upgrade of the Week
North by Northwest (Blu-ray & DVD)
"I didn't think I'd be as stunned as I was within the opening minutes of watching Warner's North by Northwest Blu-ray..." Full review here.
New Release of the Week
Food, Inc. (Blu-ray & DVD)
Good on Magnolia for picking this one up, and good for it being Oscar shortlisted.
New Release
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Blu-ray & DVD)
I don't know when or why I'd make time for this one.
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (Blu-ray & DVD)
This movie is better than you might think.
I Love You, Beth Cooper (Blu-ray & DVD)
A horrible movie with a too-old-for-the-part lead guy. Avoid this at all costs.
Aliens in the Attic (Blu-ray & DVD)
The most annoying thing about this disc is the forced intro before the movie, where High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale says "hey guys, it's me Ashley Tisdale, hope you enjoy watching Aliens in the Attic. blahblahblah". It's not optional, it just plays when you tell the disc to "Play Movie". The guy who plays her boyfriend in the movie is an extremely gifted physical comedian. Kevin Nealon, Andy Richter, and Tim Meadows make the most of what they have to work with. I must admit that Doris Roberts doing wire-fu was fun. The movie isn't really that bad compared to all the family-friendly PG junk cranked out each year.
Catalog New to Blu
Wings of Desire The Criterion Collection
Howard's End The Criterion Collection
Both of these, based on friends and colleagues' accounts, are rather wonderful. I'll have to catch up with them down the road.
It's a Wonderful Life
Forrest Gump
I dashed off some thoughts on these here. The picture on both is exceptional. Wonderful Life splits the shameful colorized version onto its own disc.
A Christmas Carol
I have no idea how good of a job VCI did on this. This Alistair Sim-starring version is a favorite of many. They include a DVD of the film with the Blu-ray (smart).
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection
As I said earlier, the transfers on these are "as close as I've seen to 'a film print at home'...Yes, they're grainy, but that's how they're supposed to look."
Love Actually
I'm a sucker for a couple sequences in here. I was recently-single when I first saw it, and every manipulative, cloying moment worked on me back then.
Say Anything
From my review: "The contents are worth the upgrade, but that cover is going to chain me to a desk to Photoshop my own."
Catalog
Columbia Film Noir (DVD only)
The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper
The only title previously on legitimate (non-public domain, lousy transfer) DVD is The Big Heat. The Sniper has never been on DVD (in the US at least).
The Claudette Colbert Collection (DVD only)
Three-Cornered Moon / Maid of Salem / I Met Him in Paris / Bluebeard's Eighth Wife / No Time for Love / The Egg and I
These titles are all new to DVD with the exception of The Egg and I, previously available as part of The Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle Volume 1.
Reissue
White Christmas (DVD only)
Paramount added some bells and whistles to this double dip.
Direct to Video
Command Performance (Blu-ray & DVD)
Dolph Lundgren + military action movie he directed himself.
Not Forgotten (DVD only)
Simon Baker and Paz Vega in a movie I gather isn't necessarily that bad.
Hardwired (DVD only)
I'll watch this one this week. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Val Kilmer, with a supporting turn by the excellent Michael Ironside that the box and press release don't go into detail about. Gooding's wife dies and he wakes up to find he's been implanted with a mind-control device that forces him to kill people. Kilmer is some sort of corporate weirdo tracking Gooding's every move. Oddly, Kilmer looks dorky and disheveled on the back cover but clean-cut and handsome on the front.
Week of 11.10
Vintage Blu-ray Upgrade of the Week
The General
I've only taken a little more time to play with this disc since I wrote about it here, but I've gotten all the way through watching the movie now. The picture quality really holds up nicely throughout.
New Release of the Week
UP (Blu-ray & DVD)
I covered both this and Monsters here.
New Release
Must Read After My Death (DVD only)
This looks really intriguing. Suppressed suburban secrets and the facade of normality wrestle one another in this found media documentary. The filmmaker's grandmother left an amazing archive of stuff behind. The only thing he added were his own voice reading correspondence and editing. It's going into the top tier of my "Where Do I Find the Time For This Thing I Find Interesting?" list.
Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut(Blu-ray & DVD)
I think I'll stick with the Director's Cut if and when I need to re-watch this thing.
The Ugly Truth (Blu-ray & DVD)
This movie spends away whatever moral high ground Katherine Heigl thought she had when she called her role in Knocked Up "sexist". The Alternate Endings are the same morally compromised garbage as the regular one.
The Accidental Husband (DVD only)
My The Moral Of entry on this one sums up how I feel about the movie.
The Answer Man (Blu-ray & DVD)
I hadn't heard of this one until I saw it on the release list. It looks interesting.
Spread (Blu-ray & DVD)
The Merry Gentleman (Blu-ray & DVD)
Ballast (Blu-ray & DVD)
Catalog New to Blu
Heat
I've set aside time to do a side-by-side comparison in the two cuts this week. I'll report back.
Near Dark
Now with Twilight-esque cover!
Logan's Run
The Negotiator
Covered here.
Monsters, Inc.
Godzilla (USA)
Red Heat
Week of 11.17
Vintage Blu-ray Upgrade of the Week
Gone With the Wind (DVD also)
They've finally gotten the color, contrast, and resolution perfect.
Recent Blu-ray Upgrade of the Week (tie)
Clerks / Chasing Amy / Fight Club
I covered the two Kevin Smith films here and have something on its way for Fight Club.
New Release of the Week
Star Trek(2009) (Blu-ray & DVD)
This was lavished with praise here. Trek is one of the very best new release home video titles of the year thus far.
New Release
My Sister's Keeper (Blu-ray & DVD)
My review hits tomorrow, including a look at the alternate ending that sets up a franchise (kidding, kidding).
Bruno (Blu-ray & DVD)
I'm surprised I ended up defending this movie.
Thirst (DVD only)
Limits of Control (DVD only)
Is Anybody There? (Blu-ray & DVD)
Franklyn (Blu-ray & DVD)
The Canyon (DVD only)
Catalog New to Blu
Galaxy Quest
Leon: The Professional
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Catalog New to DVD
Downhill Racer (The Criterion Collection)
Jeff has covered this one pretty extensively.
The Exiles
This is a wonderful addition to any cineaste's film education. Reviewed in full here.
Week of 11.24
New Release of the Week (tie)
Gomorrah (The Criterion Collection) (Blu-ray & DVD)
A raw, brutal movie that demands great treatment. This is yet another addition to my Criterion backlog.
Three Monkeys (DVD only)
Jeff's gone on about this movie so much I feel an imperative to track this down before the end of the year.
Direct to Video Release of the Week
The Maiden Heist (DVD only)
This is another Yari Film Group movie whose theatrical plans fizzled when the company went under. I haven't watched it yet, but I expect it to at least rent well for the same reason I want to watch it: Walken, Freeman, and Macy star along with Marcia Gay Harden. They could have called it Grumpy Old Heist. I'm glad they didn't.
New Release
Funny People (Blu-ray & DVD)
This is a better movie than its reviews might indicate. It slows in the third act, but is worth the ride.
Angels & Demons (Blu-ray & DVD)
I'm tackling this one next week before BNAT devours me whole.
Shorts (Blu-ray & DVD)
I have an individual piece on this one pegged for Wednesday. I want to get into how few movies for kids are really made for kids currently.
Santa Buddies (Blu-ray & DVD)
Four Christmases (Blu-ray & DVD)
I'm sure everyone reading this has been anxiously anticipating my reviews of these titles. I have good news: the wait will be over by Monday.
Catalog New to Blu
Angel Heart
The Monster Squad
New Police Story
Blood: The Last Vampire (Anime)
Frailty
Way of the Gun
Cujo
Air America
Ichi the Killer
My Brilliant Career
Catalog New to DVD
Mad Dog Morgan
Hopper's Troma classic is finally available on disc.
Reissue
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (DVD only)
This is the DVD version of the wonderful Blu-ray that came out about 6 months ago.
Disc Roundup (Movies) is posted as promptly as is possible, depending on how many discs there are to get through. Unless otherwise noted, assume that screener copies of titles reviewed were provided by the respective studio.