This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: February 3, 2009

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This week the releases are rather lackluster outside of one title I recommend all of you buy. However, there are some new release dates added at the bottom of the article you may be interested in, as well as a note from the Digital Bits giving us a few rumors saying Paramount plans on bringing the Indiana Jones Trilogy to Blu-ray release this holiday season and that DreamWorks will be delivering Collateral to Blu-ray in the next few months. Since I love Collateral this is exciting news and owning the actually good Indy films on Blu-ray will be a treat.

Other than that, I give you the latest releases.

Being There (Deluxe Edition)

	The only movie I would recommend everyone buy this week is Being There, a movie that proves Forrest Gump wasn’t as amazing and original as everyone thought it was and quite frankly is much, much better. I already reviewed the Blu-ray edition and was pleasantly surprised to see at least one person commented on it since it was an article that wasn’t about explosions, robots or fangless vampires that fall in love with small town teens. At least one person out there still enjoys great movies and I suggest you give this one a chance and join the movement.

Friday the 13th Parts 1-3 Jason Slasher Collection & History of Jason Voorhees

	Yeah, next weekend sees the remake, rehash, reboot, redo, or whatever they are calling it of Friday the 13th and I’ll admit I am interested in seeing it but I still believe the original film is one of the better horror films I have seen and deserves its classic status. Nah, it isn’t a supremely scary flick, but it is moody and atmospheric and has a great little story and plot twist to it. I just reviewed the Blu-ray release of the first film while Sara added her two cents on the three DVD releases, even though she admits to not being a big fan of the franchise (-1 for her).

Yentl (Extended Director’s Edition)

	I didn’t know where to put this film. Should it be featured or tossed into the “Even More” section at the bottom? I have never seen it and don’t have an immediate desire to either, but it was nominated for five Oscars and even won one even though this isn’t the most celebrated film in cinema’s history. To be honest I sort of laughed when I saw there was a director’s cut because I can’t remember ever a time where anyone even mentions this film, let alone wished the 132 minute running time had been longer. Oh well.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

	A definite improvement over the horrendous first film, which I still can’t believe became the massive success it did, but at this point I can’t help but think if you are going to watch an animated film why even bother with buying this one. Just rent it and be done with it. It’s not as if you will be sitting around and go, “I got it, it’s about time we watched that Madagascar 2 again!” Kung Fu Panda and WALL-E are the 2008 choices for animations to pick up. Nevermind this one.

Bottle Shock

	Bottle Shock was a publicity wild storm for about two weeks last year when I was getting information on it almost on an hourly basis in my Inbox. Some of it I replied to since it was interview opportunities with the likes of Alan Rickman and Chris Pine. Rickman is just bad ass so I wanted to chat with him and Pine was in Star Trek so I knew the fanboys would want to hear from him. Neither interview materialized, I never saw the film and here we are. Staring at a piece of box art that neither one of us is realy interested in… let’s move on.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2-Disc Edition)

	One really good thing came out of Zack and Miri Make a Porno, my interview with Kevin Smith. The movie was a so-so letdown, but Smith remains a personal favorite of mine.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

	Now talking about letdowns, this one was a major letdown for me. What appeared like it would be a great little film based on the trailers turned into pretty much a bore with a soundtrack that was trying to be hip and cool as opposed to actually being even remotely good. The lesson I learned from this one is to do my best to NEVER watch trailers, something I am trying desperately hard to live to all while posting every single new trailer that arrives. It’s not an easy task.

The Secret Life of Bees

	For a while there this was a potential Oscar contender. Then people saw it and not so much, but not on the level that it is a bad movie (I don’t know I haven’t seen it) just that it wasn’t an Oscar-worthy movie, which many may actually consider a compliment. From what I understand the performances in this flick are very good so it may be worth a rent.