Blu-Ray/DVD Holiday Review Round-Up - Part 2
Started that frantic shopping spree for best buds, family and, hey.. yourself yet? Here are more Blu-Ray and DVD films ripe for the picking. In Part 2 of our review round-up, we’ve checked out Sci-Fi action, fun animation, a cool retro classic and even a scarefest. There is something here for the whole gang.
From Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Cowboys and Aliens – Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack
It’s 1873 in Arizona and a very cute (Daniel Craig) but clueless (no memory) cowboy stumbles into the tough town of Absolution. He’s wearing a super weird futuristic “bracelet” that he can’t take off. Local bigwig Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) doesn’t like the stranger messing with his town. Seems this guy’s name is Lonergan and he’s a wanted man. Dolarhyde is about take advantage of this when all alien hell breaks loose.
The citizens of Absolution are attacked by blinding lights and metal skyships that swoop down and grab folks off the streets. Seems only the stranger with the weird shackle on his wrist (which turns out to be a cool weapon) can save the day. An unlikely posse is formed consisting of Lonergan, Dolarhyde and his men, a beautiful and feisty woman (Olivia Wilde) and various local Apache Indians who unite to get back those abducted and fight for survival against an invading race.
Special Features: The Blu-Ray in this set features two cuts of the film: the one in theaters and an unrated extended cut, which adds more violence as far as I could tell and a little more on the characters.
You get a “Commentary” by director Jon Favreau that is pretty feisty and interesting. He obviously loved the subject matter. In “Conversations with Jon Favreau” we get cool interviews with Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Steven Spielberg (producer) and writers. Interesting.
Making-Of extra "Igniting the Sky: The Making of Cowboys & Aliens" is divided into different featurettes on production, story, visual effects and character. Everything is covered here really well. It was really fun to watch Olivia Wilde get yanked off a horse and high into the air.. doing her own stunt.
You get a “Second Screen” option so you can watch the movie with a little picture-in-picture that explains and expands on what is going on very well. I say watch one of the versions of the film first, then go back and enjoy extra info.
Wrapping Up: Although the “cowboy” tale in this movie is very typical of any Western, I really enjoyed the relationships and the “set-up” of the town before the “aliens” arrive to tear it up bigtime. Maybe the alien part of the story isn’t super original either but the critters look pretty cool and the action showdown looks really amazing. Daniel Craig makes a really hot cowboy (just watching him walk away can make your day) and Ford is a fun villain. Very well-worth a watch and a gift for Craig fans, Harrison Ford or Olivia Wilde fans and anybody who likes some serious shoot-em-up action.
From DreamWorks SKG Home Entertainment
Kung Fu Panda 2 – Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack
Story goes: “Dragon Master” Po the panda and his Kung Fu expert buddies The Furious Five are back and they get to fight evil peacock Lord Shen (voiced by the ever-cool Gary Oldman) who has some very big cannons on his side. Po discovers his real past (hey we knew his dad wasn’t really a goose!) and finds his inner courage all during some awesome butt-kicking scenes.
Special Features: Really packed!You get a whole new cartoon called “Secrets of the Masters” which intros us to early Kung Fu animals before Po. Cool! In “Animator’s Corner” you can watch and hear the animator’s talking about each scene in a picture-in-picture feature. Wanna draw for a living when you grow up? Watch this.
“Animation Inspiration” takes you on location in Asia for locales that inspired the animators for their beautiful backgrounds in the movie. Like a cool tour. Awesomely pretty. “Kickin’ It With the Cast” gives us Jack Black and crew cutting up on set and Gary Oldman is all sweet and classy. Lots of fun. “Deleted Scenes” aren’t super hot and we can see why they weren’t needed. “Panda Stories” is a fave of mine since we see real pandas at play etc. Sooooo adorable.
“Kung Fu Shuffle Game” is a kid-aimed game where you find Po or a bunny etc. as they move quickly around screen. “Ni Hao. Learn to Speak Chinese” teaches you a few words in Cantonese. Hey, why not learn another language? “Filmmaker’s Commentary” goes through the movie and is fine. I liked “Animator’s Corner” better.
Wrapping Up: This new adventure furthers the story of Po, has a very awesome villain and the visuals are pretty amazing. There is also more action and more laughs. Super enjoyable for teens as well as kids and you might not be able to get rid of your parents who will also sit down to enjoy it. So.. collect the combo pack and gift it to just about anybody on your list!
From Touchstone Home Entertainment
Fright Night – Bu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack
Okay, it’s not Halloween but you or some of your buds have to be into horror and horror/comedy and this is a good one to collect and gift. Story goes: Teenager Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) is a nerd on the cusp of popularity due to his hot girlfriend Amy (Imogen Poots). Old pal and fellow dweeb Ed is sure that teens in the neighborhood are disappearing because Charley’s next door neighbor Jerry (a very hot Colin Farrell) is a vampire!
When Ed disappears, Charley is finally convinced that Jerry is a blood sucker and he goes to Vegas to enlist the help of vampire hunter and Vegas magician Peter Vincent (David Tennant once Dr. Who) to kill Jerry and save Charley’s mom and girlfriend.
Special Features: Several really fun ones. “Peter Vincent: Come Swim in My Mind” features David Tennant in full Vincent costume talking about how cool his Vegas act is (over clips from the film). Really funny. “The Official How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie Guide” is a behind-the-scenes extra featuring filmmakers and cast giving you a list of Must Do’s for your own vampire film.
All agree as to how hot Colin is as Jerry. 1. Hire Hot vampires – “Colin is handsome/creepy” 2. Have vampire knowledge 3. You need a creepy vampire backstory 4. Blood and gore is a plus 5. Awesomely cool hero 6. State of the art weapons 7. Creepy music and hair-raising tension 8. Vampire needs an evil lair 9. Heroic vampire battle scene and 10. Sense of humor. Sounds good.
“Deleted and Extended Scenes: are actually pretty good. You get more with Charley and his girlfriend. “Squid Man Uncut” is just hilarious. It is the little fan film within a film that younger Charley and Ed and a bud shoot in a backyard. They are wearing beyond lame superhero suits etc. Just a riot. “Bloopers” are pretty fun too. “My fang fell out” and Colin bitching about flies on set. David Tennant gets gross. Worth a watch for sure. There is also a kinda strange and creepy music video with Kid Cuda called “No One Believes Me’”
Wrapping Up: This film features a teen hero with whom you can relate, a hot girlfriend for the guys and hot Colin Farrell vamping it up for the gals. David Tennant is hilarious and there are some really cool vamp scenes with interesting effects. Well worth a rental and a buy for fans of the genre or any of the actors. If your pal is into horror or horror comedy, this is a good gifting bet.
From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
The Rocketeer 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray
We don’t go “retro” too often but this fun, colorful sci-fi actioner by the director of the recent Captain America film, holds up really well in today’s world. Story goes: Back in the 1930’s, unlucky stunt pilot and mechanic Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) desperately wants to enter an air race but his plane has crashed. He finds an amazing rocket pack (you wear it on your back) that crooks stole from Howard Hughes (“Lost’s” Terry O’Quinn) and Cliff suits up to save a friend resulting in “The Rocketeer’s” popularity with the public.
Gangsters, hired by Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton), a Nazi spy posing as a bigtime movie star, are after Cliff to turn the rocketpack over to Sinclair’s Hitler-lovin’ pals. When Sinclair grabs Cliff’s hot girlfriend (a very young Jennifer Connelly), Cliff has to get his girl back and still keep the pack out of Nazi hands.
Special Features: Sadly, none.
Wrapping Up: This movie is one of my favorites; for the adventure, romance, action etc. It compares to recent superhero comic actioners like Ironman and Captain America. Since it takes place in the 1930’s, no dated things like the absence of cellphones etc. mar the enjoyment. Effects by ILM still hold up pretty well even on a big TV screen and the sound and picture have really been cleaned up. If you or your intended giftees are superhero movie fans or just enjoy a story set in old-Hollywood, I highly recommend The Rocketeer as a collectable or great holiday gift.
Check back for Part 3 of our extensive Blu-Ray/DVD Holiday Review Round-Up!
