This week is chock full of Re-issues most of which are aimed at your Valentine’s Day dollars or they want to wrap you up in a sleeping bag and beat you against a tree. Note – now that Friday the 13th is 30 years old maybe I shouldn’t make pithy references to it anymore.
February 3rd
Pick of the Week
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I imagine this movie would have made double if it didn’t have the word porno in the title which makes it appear far raunchier than intended, because I hear it is actually endearing in a foulmouthed Kevin Smith sort of way. I haven’t yet seen the movie but Kevin Smith is notorious for pouring everything into his DVD releases making them worth far more than the asking price. The only downside is that Kevin Smith said he will record the commentary later and post it as a SModcast, which is the podcast he does with producer Scott Mosier, so it won’t be included on the disc.
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
This movie looks like a cute version of an Apatow style comedy, and is supposed to be an excellent adaptation of a book (which I haven’t read). The DVD comes with two commentaries one for your average fans featuring the director and the two leads, but the other includes the writers of the book and the screenwriter which should shed some light on their collaboration on adapting the story. The set also includes a puppet show by Kat Dennings, and after Forgetting Sarah Marshall I am always in the mood for a puppet show.
Hounddog
To make this one fit in with the previous two I will rename it “Some guy and Dakota’s Infamous Rape Scene”. I don’t know anything about this movie other than it contains a supposedly tasteless rape scene of Dakota Fanning. Isn’t she a little young to be trying the racy roles to shake her “innocent young girl” image. I put the safe date at least at 20 before you can pull an Anne Hathaway (Havoc) or Alyssa Milano (Embrace of the Vampire) image overhaul.
The Secret Life of Bees
This is Dakota’s appropriate film release about a young white girl taken in by a loving black family that runs a honey farm. This type of movie isn’t usually high on my list but I respect the acting of Dakota, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Paul Bettany, and I am curious about Alicia Keys. She apparently did well in this all-singers cast.
Space Buddies
How did Disney release a movie without me even hearing about it? Oh right, Disney is terrible. If it doesn’t say Pixar somewhere near the title run for your life.
Bottle Shock
This movie echoes Sideways, however it has one big advantage in Alan Rickman. I don’t even drink wine and I am interested in seeing this story about the rise of California Wine making.
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous
I thought they said they would never release this in the United States? I guess Jessica Simpson’s star (ahem*chest) appeal is good enough to overcome the overwhelmingly terrible film reviews.
The Good Student
Tim Daly stars in a movie about a sad sack teacher who is blamed for a missing high school girl (Hayden Penettiere) whom he had an unhealthy crush on. It looks like the balance between comedy and drama is a bit off, but the trailer makes it look funny enough to earn a rental. If you have your own crush on Heroes’ Hayden you probably already preordered it.
TV and Reissues
Yentl
Is it mean to say I completely bought Barbara Streisand as a man in this movie?
Being There
Peter Sellers last film that was released while he was alive was one of his best and it earned him an Oscar nomination. I will certainly add this to my collection, even though I prefer Sellers in his zanier roles.
Inside Moves
This is another lesser known “classic” that is finally arriving on DVD which follows a man who recovers from a self-inflicted injury to become a basketball star.
Xanadu
The wildly musical fantasy starring Olivia Newton John gets it’s DVD release. I would normally mock the movie but I love ELO who did much of the soundtrack.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIV
WARNING! This may be out of print in a matter of weeks. Their products have a very short shelf life so buy it now if you want it. This collection includes the 4 films – Mad Monster, Manhunt in Space, Soultaker, and Final Justice. The features are fairly typical with some new interviews with some of the casts of these “Masterpieces”.
Friday the 13th Uncut
Friday the 13th, Part 2
Friday the 13th, Part 3 3-D
So Friday the 13th hits the big three O and we get inundated with a Jason barrage just in time for the remake. It appears the first 3 get the spit shine polish with new features and with the 3-D horror craze up and running Friday the 13th 3-D comes with Glasses. I am more likely to watch the documentary (His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th) myself which I will follow up with the ridiculously hard Nintendo game. If I can only get my hands on that Machete with a fast character…
Afro Samurai: Resurrection
The TV movie gets its DVD release and I continue to question myself as to why I haven’t seen an episode of the animated show featuring Samuel L. Jackson as a wildly violent samurai.
Natalie Wood Signature Collection
This is a good Valentine’s Day idea, or you can pick up most of these movies individually if you didn’t want the whole collection.
Oliver and Company
A lesser known Disney film sneaks out of the vault for its 20th birthday. My wife is being a completionist so I know I’m buying it, although I can’t remember anything other than Cheech Marin as the Chihuahua and some slightly catchy Billy Joel songs from the soundtrack.
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Comedies
Here is the Valentine’s Day mother lode, which is probably a better set than the Natalie Wood collection unless you know someone who loves Mrs. Wood.
February 6th
Madagascar – Escape 2 Africa
These Friday releases never go quite right. I bet you can get this on Tuesday since most clerks wouldn’t bother holding it for an extra three days for no good reason.