When he's not tearing up the world stage as a musical superstar, Justin Timberlake dabbles in film. One of his latest projects is "The Open Road," an indie dramedy where Timberlake plays a minor league baseball player who reconnects with his estranged major league father (played by Jeff Bridges) when his mother becomes ill.
The subject matter allows Timberlake to show his acting chops, which he does in the below clip featuring him and Bridges having a heart-to-heart at a local bar. "The Open Road" hits DVD and Blu-ray on November 17.
The "G.I. Joe" film is nothing if not bombastic, so it's no surprise that there were dozens of special effects wizards working on the many CGI-heavy scenes. One of the flick's most explosive moments concerned an attack on a US Army helicopter resulting in its destruction.
In this exclusive clip from the DVD's bonus features, the crew shows exactly what went into creating that memorable sequence, from multiple angles and computer-generated layers. The film hit Blu-ray and DVD today.
After weeks of rather lackluster releases ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" being a prominent exception), we finally have a Tuesday jam-packed with first-run titles and notable catalog additions. From the on-screen debut of an elite military team to John Cusack's ode to love, we're covering them all in this DVD Report for Tuesday, November 3.
For any child of the '80s, the thought of "G.I. Joe" receiving the theatrical treatment was an intriguing proposition, and one fraught with worry. And for die-hard fans of writer Larry Hama's epic "G.I. Joe" comic book run, it was especially scary. In stark contrast to the campy animated series, Hama infused his 155-issue run with deeply developed character arcs, ever-twisting conspiracies and, to his credit, pulled no punches when it came to violence and death. Which "G.I. Joe" would the film rely on for its story and tone? While producers insisted they'd follow the comics -- and even brought Hama on as a creative consultant -- fans remained skeptical. Read more...
Fifteen years ago I was planning my nights around episodes of "Mystery Science Theater," programming math cheats into my graphing calculator and filming "60 Minutes"-style interviews with Cobra Commander. I was also madly in love with director Roland Emmerich's "Stargate," the German filmmaker's bold sci-fi experiment in 1994 that foreshadowed his big-budget juggernaut "Independence Day" only two years later. "Stargate" is now bowing on Blu-ray as a "15th Anniversary Edition," and it's one of a handful of notable releases during an otherwise forgettable DVD week.
"Stargate" finds Kurt Russell as a suicidal, no-nonsense military officer tasked to lead a group of battle-hardened veterans -- and soft-skinned ninny scientist James Spader -- through a newly discovered wormhole to an unknown destination. The other side winds up being a sandy desert planet whose native inhabitants have kept their human slaves in bondage under the guise of ancient Egypt. It was a wholly original concept, driven forward by personality-heavy stars, amazing location photography and Emmerich's strong sense for the fantastical. The film would eventually launch a number of successful television spin-offs, although sadly no follow-up film (although one was originally planned). Read more...
It's big, it's loud and now the bonafide monster film of the year is rolling out on store shelves. Michael Bay's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" made gobs of money at the box office and now it almost singled-handedly owns the release calendar this week. But a few other titles do manage to break through the shape-shifting pack, and we'll cover them all in this DVD Report for Tuesday, October 20, 2009.
There's not much purpose in rehashing the plot to "Revenge of the Fallen," the follow-up to the bombastic intergalactic war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Anyone interested in the DVD and Blu-ray has already seen the film, so the only thing really worth discussing are whether the presentation and special features make it a must-own. Well, if you count yourself a fan of the robot-friendly franchise, then it's a definite yes. Like the first film's home video release, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is one of the best looking and best sounding discs around, especially on Blu-ray. Bay's films have frequently been reference-quality material for home theater systems and this one is no different. Action pops off the screen in amazing clarity and the 5.1 DTD-HD audio track could probably knock halls in your walls. Read more...
Director Sam Raimi made a name for himself (and boyhood friend Bruce Campbell) with a series of low-budget horror films that began in 1978 with "Within the Woods," a short college project that would chart the rest of his career. While that particular movie remains little seen, it led directly to the cult classic "Evil Dead" and its two sequels, "Evil Dead II" and "Army of Darkness," and forever cemented Sam Raimi as a bonafide member of the horror club.
So it was with some regret among his fans that -- as his career progressed -- Raimi drifted into other areas of cinema, most notably the billion dollar blockbuster "Spider-Man" franchise, and seemingly left his chainsaw and boomstick behind. That was until 2009, when he came roaring out of the gate with "Drag Me to Hell," the veteran filmmaker's return to the genre that made him a legend. The film stars Alison Lohman as a young bank officer who is hexed at the decrepit hands of a vengeful gypsie. Like most of Raimi's works, it's mixed with his personal flair and imbued with a sense of humor, while remaining throughout a very scary movie. "Drag Me To Hell" arrives on Blu-ray and DVD with only one true special feature -- that the "Production Video Diaries," a half-hour look at the making of the film. It's unfortunate that Raimi couldn't be persuaded to record a commentary, as it's always a treat getting inside his head. Read more...
As the originators of the now-iconic "Scary Movie" franchise -- as well as their run on the critically-acclaimed "In Living Color" -- the Wayans Brothers have been a force in Hollywood for two decades now. So needless to say, their take on the dance flick genre found its fanbase and now their appropriately titled "Dance Flick" has hit store shelves.
The title was previously released on Blu-ray, and as of this week you can throw DVD into the mix. We've been given an exclusive featurette from the title below, in which director Damien Dante Wayans discusses the highs and lows of directing his family members. It's a fun little bit, so check it out.
Last week's major release was a 70-year-old classic, and coincidentally today brings yet another iconic film that's actually two years older. "Snow White" was Disney's first animated feature, and appropriately enough it marks the launch of their new "Diamond Series" Blu-ray line. But blasts from the past aren't the only highlights of the week, as Jack Black and Michael Cera rock it old school in today's DVD Report.
"Year One" combines the talents of mega-producer Judd Apatow and legendary director Harold Ramis for a old-fashioned road trip through the ancient world. Starring Black and Cera as down-on-their-luck cavemen, the film draws together an eclectic cast from the comedy scene, including Paul Rudd, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hank Azaria and many others. "Year One" had an underwhelming response at the box office, but Sony is hoping this Blu-ray and DVD release will bring in new fans. Audio commentary with Raims, Black and Cera is included along with a bevy of special features ranging from deleted scenes to cast interviews and a gag reel. Read more...
Rare is the occasion where the week biggest release isn't a new blockbuster but rather a septuagenarian, but that's the case this time as a young girl from Kanas eclipses anything New Hollywood has to throw at us. This is your DVD Report for Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
Since the advent of Blu-ray, studios have casually mined their catalogues for suitable re-releases, and while the results have often been notable, they're usually nothing to stop the presses over. But every once in a while, that little extra effort is made that blows something out of the water and we get something like MGM's timeless "The Wizard of Oz," which breezes into its 70th birthday with one of the best Blu-ray collections of all time.
Presented in a large hardbound rectangular case, the 70th Anniversary Edition of "Oz" comes as a three-disc Blu-ray set featuring a whopping 20+ hours of bonus content, and is highlighted by a completely remastered audio and video package that transports the 1939 fairy-tale into the high-def realm. The musical classic has never looked or sounded better; the film pioneered the use of color and that achievement is heralded in this release with unparalleled ease. Read more...
Way back in May, we premiered the trailer for the wonderfully named "Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus." In no short order, the trailer rocketed across the Internet, popping up on every blog under the sun and garnering millions of streams.
Well, now we're back with another treat. Direct from The Asylum -- the studio known for such fare as "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" and "Snakes on a Train" -- comes "MegaFault," an epic disaster film starring none other than "8 Mile" sensation Brittany Murphy and "ER" doc Eriq La Salle. The duo play a seismologist and a miner, respectively, racing to stop a giant earthquake that threatens to tear the world in half. Yup, Roland Emmerich has some competition on his hands. Check out the fury below, or click here to watch it in glorious high-def. "MegaFault" airs on the SyFy Channel on October 10, and hits DVD on November 24.
