Release of the Week
Coraline (DVD & Blu-ray)
This Blu-ray features one of the best transfers I've seen all year, as I said in my previous review. Here's some more detail on the extras:
The Behind the Scenes [HD 35:53] covers most aspects of the production, with the notable exception of the score. Most of the runtime of the featurette is devoted to all the painstaking work and design that went into making the movie happen, from tiny buttons and zippers to the armies of stop-motion puppets. Likewise brief and to the point is the Voicing the Characters [HD 10:46] bit. The reason they both go by so quickly is that the bulk of both topics are part of the U-Control Picture-in-Picture featurettes that play during the movie. You can choose to have one of three things running at all times (Storyboards, Behind the Scenes, or Voice Sessions) and push a button on the remote to activate another one. The most annoying thing about this is that I can't have it "auto-play" both the BTS and Voice Sessions. Also included are some Deleted Scenes [HD 8:37]. Creepy Coraline [HD 5:03] is a quick bit with Henry Selick and Neil Gaiman talking about fears that Coraline might be "too scary" from its initial form as a bedtime story to the completion of the movie.
I think it wise of Universal to consolidate things by including the Digital Copy of the movie on the same disc as a standard DVD of the feature. The DVD 2-disc edition lacks the U-Control stuff but does have the BTS featurette and Deleted Scenes in standard def.
New Releases (DVD & Blu-ray)
Watchmen: Director's Cut (DVD & Blu-ray)
The primary differences between the DVD and Blu-ray editions here are twofold: the Blu features the Picture-in-Picture Zack Snyder commentary and BD-Live extensions of various sorts. The Maximum Movie Mode (as the PiP is called) is ok, but didn't set me on fire.
The second disc includes three featurettes. The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics [HD 28:46] is more for people unfamiliar with the source material than those who have their first printing issues vacuum-sealed and graded. Real Super Heroes: Real Vigilantes [HD 26:17] felt a bit of an odd fit, since I don't think anyone expected Watchmen to serve as some sort of call to arms for would-be real-life vigilantes. Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World [HD 16:49] has a physicist talking about just how much of the world of Watchmen is physically impossible at this point, or would have been in 1985.
There's a Digital Copy on both the DVD and Blu-ray 2-disc editions, along with a $10 off coupon for the massive Ultimate Collector's set coming in December. Fans of the material who really want to own that mega-set and who can't go without buying it now may carefully consider whether to go Blu-ray or not. Either way, you get the $10 coupon, and you're forgoing the higher resolution and Maximum Movie Mode, which is ok but nothing to scream about. The Director's Cut is also available on iTunes and On Demand services nationwide.
Echelon Conspiracy (Direct to Video)
A lot of people may leap to the conclusion this DTV wonder was ripped off of Eagle Eye, but it actually completely pre-dates the LeBoeuf-starring "that was it?"-inducing thriller. The movie actually takes place during the Bush presidency, and comes off as some sort of liberal agitprop against warrant-less wiretapping and Big Brother-ization of the NSA. I love liberal propaganda, but this is a great example of how Republicans do "political/spy thriller" better than Dems in the same way Repubs are terrible with comedy.
Shane West is some sort of brilliant "computer dude" who smirks a lot and gets caught up in some sort of "conspiracy" revolving around something called "Echelon." Ving Rhames is "FBI Dude" and Ed Burns plays "retired FBI guy who gets dragged back into everything." Martin Sheen plays the blatantly evil, Bush/Cheney-supporting NSA chief as well as the script allows. The female "lead" is little more than a waif who sleeps with West and promptly falls madly, boy-crazy in love with him for no good reason. The movie is watchable, but feels like a big-budget movie of the week.
Re-Dips
300
They've finally gotten all the features in one place from the DVD, HD-DVD, and just previous Blu-ray. Anyone who's waited to buy all the sweaty men fighting in HD can finally pull the trigger.
New to Blu
Midnight Express
I should be getting my hands on this one soon. It comes in the digibook packaging that's become all the rage with "prestige" releases.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Okay, I'll admit it: I actually enjoyed this movie, and though no one would have believed it a year ago, it's more progressive than Bruno. The Blu-ray includes a Director's Commentary and one with him, Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Worth a rental.
New to Region 1 (DVD only)
Made in U.S.A
Two or Three Things I Know About Her
Two Godard films from Criterion that I've never seen and will catch up with as budget permits.
The Empress and the Warriors
More Dragon Dynasty swordman stuff from the Far East. I'd give it a second glance for rental or purchase if it were on Blu-ray.
Imported TV
From the second season of The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh Seasons 1-3
2009 has been an excellent year for imported TV program(me)s from England. The I.T. Crowd, Gavin & Stacey, and Pulling are the ones that come off the top of my head, and this is another biggie. Rightly compared to surrealist Sid & Marty Krofft creations, The Mighty Boosh primarily concerns the lives of two zookeepers and a pile of misadventures that regularly include musical numbers and truly unpredictable narratives.
On the one hand, I'm thrilled that I can finally catch up with the whole series, but it's a lot to get through. Each season is split across two discs and contains featurettes, Commentaries, Outtakes, and Deleted Scenes. The original Pilot is on Season 2. All three seasons are highly recommended, and no, one need not be high to enjoy the show.
TV New Releases
This American Life Season 2 (DVD only)
I'm a devoted fan of This American Life, one of the best shows still on the radio. Even though I had seen clips before, I didn't catch the first season of the Showtime-aired TV show. Combining two favorite things of mine (the radio show and documentary filmmaking), I had a ball with this thing. The second episode, "Two Wars," (pictured above) features an Iraqi having conversations with people, and the resulting chats are fascinating, the depth of ignorance and refreshing insight alike. Two interactions with soldiers in particular will stick with me for quite some time.
It's priced to sell (less than $15) and includes the This American Life LIVE show, an extended episode, and a pair of commentaries. It's available on Netflix Watch Instantly, but of course that lacks the extras. Additionally, I don't want to connect to the internet to watch this when the mood strikes.
Pushing Daisies Season 2 (Blu-ray & DVD)
Cancelled before its time, but still cancelled. I'm told it looks great in HD. I'm waiting for a $$-saving two-pack of both seasons to drop in price.
Monk Season 7 (DVD only)
The insert on this denotes that this summer's will be the final season of Monk. I knew it had been on for a while, but seven years? Good for Tony Shalhoub!
Psych Season 3 (DVD only)
I haven't spent any real time with this show at all, but I enjoy the promos for Psych while I'm watching Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Prison Break: The Final Break
I never watched this show, but apparently they shot it near where I grew up.
Catalog TV
The Lucy Show Season 1
Apparently, this has been the most vocally-requested show in CBS/Paramount DVD's history, and it's full of extras. Even though Lucy & Desi were divorced, they still worked together on her new show until the beginning of its second season. Lucy plays a widowed single mother of two, who's joined on all sorts of hijinks by her forever co-star Vivian Vance, who plays Vivian, a divorced mother of one. There are piles and piles of little interviews, promos, outtakes, and specials spread across its 4 discs. It misses the chemistry of the two couple dynamic so many best know Lucille Ball for, but she manages fine on her own.
Hotel Season 1
Aaron Spelling's nighttime show from the year I was born is very indicative of its age, but I'm struck by the broad array of guest stars they had. James Brolin headlined the show, flanked by Connie Selleca as his assistant and Anne Baxter as the old lady who owns the St. Gregory Hotel, which is where most of each episode takes place. The show follows the lives, loves, and other quirks of the people who work and check-in at the hotel. Guest stars in the first season included Eva Gabor, Mel Torme, Scott Baio, Erin Moran (in a separate episode), Morgan Fairchild as a hooker, Heather Locklear, Martin Landau, Donald O'Connor, and a ton of others. I'm not certain that network TV has the balls to try a show like this one anymore, honestly. It's not my style, but it's extremely well-paced, shot, and written. Die-hard fans can finally have all 20 hours of this show's first season, including the movie of the week that served as its Pilot and first episode. I'd had more than enough after the first episode, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who miss this show for one reaosn or another, since it doesn't air syndicated anymore from what I can tell.