Blu-Ray/DVD Review Round Up
Hot guys in rough and tumble action.. with heart….yum! Check out these new offerings for your hunkorama home viewing pleasure.
From Touchstone Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures
Real Steel: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo
In the near future, Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a decent boxer who was forced to retire early when huge 9-foot-tall steel robots operated by remote control became the stars of the ring. Now, Charlie is a small-time promoter who pieces together scrap bots to travel the underground boxing circuit.
When his estranged 11-year-old son Max (Dakota Goyo) is left in his care, over time, the embittered Charlie feels like a dad and, together, father and son uncover an older ‘bot who just might be able to think and almost fight like a human. The three start winning… bigtime….together.
Special Features: The “Audio Commentary” by colorful director Shawn Levy is only on the DVD disc and is worth a listen. “Real Steel Second Screen: Ringside with Director Shawn Levy” goes like this.. the app is free to download from the Apple App store or for a laptop from www.realsteelsecondscreen.com. Second Screen provides bonus video content in a picture-in-picture window. You can also view without a second device.
“Countdown to the Fight -- The Charlie Kenton Story” – pretends the character is real and is a “mockumentary with cast members talking about Charlie’s story, son Max and robot Atom who is about to fight the famous Zeus robot. Kinda fun. “Making of Metal Valley” is a really good breakdown of filming Charlie and Max action in an old scrap yard full of broken, discarded robots. This is where they find Atom. Really interesting.
“Building the Bots” is a really cool, if short, look at designing the cool robots and building them both in computer and the life-sized, on set models which the actors loved.
“Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman's Champ” looks at the contributions of the boxing legend to the film. He had a big hand in training actor Hugh Jackman to be a believable fighter. Hot.
“Deleted & Extended Scenes”- especially entertaining because they contain a sequence left out of the movie; the “Deleted Butterfly Storyline”. This expands on son Max’s background and his new relationship with Charlie. Very cool. You also get some fun “Bloopers”
Wrapping Up:This heartwarming movie is about people first, fathers and sons, regaining faith in each other and in life in general; even the feelings between man and machine are explored. Evangeline Lilly from TV’s “Lost” is the love interest and she also packs a punch! Real Steel is also a major underdog story. You really root for the dad, son and robot all the way. The effects are amazing, robots are beyond cool and the fights are really action-packed. I loved this movie. You and your buds will too. I’d go buy it for sure!
From Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Abduction – Blu-Ray/Digital Copy
Teen bad-ass Nathan (Twilight’s Taylor Lautner) happens on a childhood photo of himself on a missing children website. His whole life is a lie. His parents aren’t his and Nathan is actually the son of a bigtime CIA operative.
He has been living a new life as protection from an international terrorist. He and his crush/neighbor Karen (Lily Collins) have to run for their lives when they see his “fake” parents (also CIA) murdered.
Special Features: Several. “Abduction Application” lets you pick one of three tracks to watch picture-in-picture as you view the movie or watch alone. “Abduction Chronicle” is the best for Taylor fans since it is his personal video account, behind-the-scenes of shooting the film. “Initiation of an Action Hero” talks about Taylor’s training and stunt work to become a real action star. In “The Fight for the Truth” you get a break-down of the movie’s many fight sequences and making the movie in general . “Pulled Punches” is an amusing blooper reel.
Wrapping Up: This film has a confusing story. Why is it called “Abduction” anyway? Taylor's character was never actually abducted. Whatever, Lautner is action boy supreme in the film, looks really buff and hot and you won’t be bored. A must for Taylor fans.. a rental for action/spy movie buffs.
From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
In Time – DVD
In a futuristic world where you die at 25 if you can’t literally buy more time, the rich have it easy but the working class has to slave away to buy each new day! Sucks, right? Working dude Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) thinks so too. BTW, his best bud is played by “The Big Bang Theory’s” Johnny Galecki.
When a millionaire, tired of living for centuries, gifts Will his remaining time, Will is falsely accused of his murder and goes on the run with a bored and beautiful rich gal played by Amanda Seyfried. They fall in love and are both determined to bring down this unfair system.
Special Features: Only one on the DVD. We didn’t get the Blu-Ray.
“Deleted and Extended Scenes”- There are eight: Some are cool story additions..when a baby is born.. does it have a timeclock? Do people just fall over at 25 when they run out of time? Justin and Amanda steal an armored car, bust into a millionaire’s house, play strip poker and hide in plain sight by “dirty” dancing at an outdoor festival.
Wrapping Up: This film not only stars hot Justin and Amanda but really makes you think about what you would do in their shoes. Would you gift an about to die person a few minutes of your own precious time on earth? Lots of action and effects round out the morality tale. A really fun watch. Recommend a buy for Justin/Amanda fans.. a rental for a great one time watch.
