This Week in DVD is a new column on /Film compiling all the latest info regarding new DVD releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Fry’s.
THE SIGNAL
Good horror films are a rarity nowadays, so whenever a notable entry in the genre comes out I like to make sure it gets noticed. The Signal is one such a film. It’s a brutal excursion into three very tonally different tales (combining elements of comedy and satire) detailing the takeover of a mysterious transmission that’s being sent through every cell phone, radio and TV and is turning people into psychotic killers. Not everyone will be able to look past its problems though (such as the weak ending), as proven by the somewhat mixed audience/critic reaction.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: An audio commentary, an alternate beginning, and deleted scenes.
| BEST PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| N/A | $19.99 | $13.99 | $19.99 |
EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? 2-Disc Deluxe Edition
Where? Best Buy
EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Bonus access to behind-the-scenes footage.
Where? Circuit City
THE BUCKET LIST
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman team up in director Rob Reiner’s tale of two dying geezers who head off on a road trip to enjoy all the wild experiences they missed out on when they were young and able. It’s said to be schmaltzy, predictable, and not just a little bit manipulative, and yet the film’s undeniable charm and two terrific performers manage to supersede any of the film’s shortcomings. Think of it as the male equivalent of a chick flick.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: Not much, disappointingly. Just a John Mayer music video and an interview with the film’s screenwriter, Justin Zackham.
| BEST PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| $16.99 | $15.99 | $13.99 | $13.99 |
JOHN ADAMS
The acclaimed seven-part HBO mini-series is coming to DVD, giving an inside look at the life of John Adams, which includes everything from the lead-up to the American Revolution to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And with Paul Giamatti in the role of John Adams, and Laura Linney as his wife Abigail, the film’s impressive cast only further propels this insight into U.S. history to greatness.
Blu-ray? No.
Notable Extras: Included on this three-disc set are an interview with David McCullough (the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography on which the series is based), a behind-the-scenes documentary, and an on-screen historical guide for each episode.
| BEST PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| $34.99 | $34.99 | $34.99 | $49.99 |
JUMPER
(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Special Editions)
You’d think an action sci-fi flick exploring teleportation abilities from the director of The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith would equate to fun times, but alas, Jumper has proven that is not the case. It’s an incredibly slapdash effort, with minimal action sequences, cringe-worthy dialogue, and the worst performance you’ll ever see from Hayden Christensen (and that’s including his work on the Star Wars prequels). Skip it.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: The single disc edition comes with an audio commentary and two making-of featurettes, whereas the 2-Disc Special Edition also holds six deleted scenes, two additional featurettes, an animated graphic novel, and a digital copy of the film for download.
| BEST PRICE* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| $16.99 | $15.99 | $13.99 | $13.99 |
*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $22.99 at each of the listed stores (excluding Circuit City, where it costs $21.99).
WITLESS PROTECTION
With each progressive Larry the Cable Guy movie, the box office intake seems to be getting lower and lower, so hopefully the end of his worthless career is near. In the meantime, here’s his latest shitfest, Witless Protection. You can tell how funny it will be based on that knee-slapper of a pun in the title. Almost as clever as Made of Honor.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: Three featurettes.
| BEST PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| $19.99 | $17.99 | $17.99 | $19.99 |
FUNNY GAMES
Michael Haneke’s extremely pretentious shot-for-shot remake of his own movie is just as much a middle finger to American audiences as the original film was, except this time you don’t need the subtitles on to understand how condescending it is. Outstanding performances from Naomi Watts and the two psychopath characters aside, this film adds up to nothing more than a worthless, miserable two hour torture session against the viewers (and their patience). Haneke would say that’s the point, but that doesn’t make him any less of an asshole for making it. Twice!
Blu-ray? No.
Notable Extras: None.
| BEST PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Best Buy | Circuit City | Fry’s |
| $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 |
Also available this week…
The Other Boleyn Girl – High Noon (2-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) – The Grand – The Boondocks (Season 2) – The List – Home Improvement (Season 8) – Soap (The Complete Series) – Hawaii Five-0 (Season 4) – The Odd Couple (Season 4) – Otis – 7th Heaven (Season 6) – Army Wives (Season 1) – American Gangster (Season 2)
What are you planning to rent or buy this week?
Exclusive: Exclusive bonus disc with The Other Boleyn Girl. Deluxe Edition has production notes, exclusive package artwork, and more. $22.99
$10 – 300, Knocked Up, Ocean’s Thirteen, National Treasure (2-Disc Edition), The Pursuit of Happyness, and more…
$7.50 – Batman Begins, Old School, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and more…
Exclusive: CD audio book included with purchase of The Other Boleyn Girl.
$12.99 – Charlie Wilson’s War, I Am Legend, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Across the Universe (2-Disc Deluxe Edition), Superbad (2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition), Spider-Man 3, 3:10 to Yuma, and more…
$6.99 – The Departed, Casino Royale (2-Disc Edition), Shooter, Mr. Brooks, Apocalypse Now (The Complete Dossier), Troy (Director’s Cut), Zodiac, and more…
Exclusive: 2 free movie tickets to see The Happening with purchase of any 2 of the following $7.99 movies…
$7.99 – I, Robot, 28 Days Later, Transporter 2, The Day After Tomorrow, X2, Fantastic Four, Die Hard, Die Hard 2, Die Hard: With A Vengeance, Predator, and more…
$5.99 – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Matchstick Men, Syriana, Sleepers, and more…
$6.99 – The Hitcher, Meet the Parents, American Pie, The Chronicles of Riddick, and more…
$8.99 – There’s Something About Mary (Collector’s Edition), The Transporter, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and more…
June 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Why can’t I stop myself from renting Jumper?
June 10th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I’m still gonna see Jumper. Hayden Christensen is sooo fuckin damn SEXY!!!! I can’t wait to masturbate to his beautiful face after watching 2 hours of him non-stop onscreen.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
What !? No Boondocks Season 2 shout out !?
“George Bush doesn’t like black people…” ;)
June 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
ok nevermind I see the fineprint…my bad.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Actually, Jumper was a extremely good movie. To bad YOU had to bash it because YOU didn’t like it. The only thing that I found to be bad with this movie is that they didn’t explain things, that were important, in other words I left the end movie with many questions.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Jumper was good. Don’t let some blog punk tell you what you should and shouldn’t view.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
a bit harsh on funny games.
its not perfect but i liked it and would reccomend it to most people.
as pretentious as it can be at times, some of its points on american film is totally valid.
when i saw the new one in theaters, there were groups of teenagers cheering when he ‘rewound,’ and laughing every time the characters got hurt. there were some bros infront of us who literally sat up and started paying attention for the first time when he was making her take her clothes off and strip. people like that are exactly the reason the movie was made. so as pretencious as you may see the movie, you have to admit there is some reason behind it. even if you dont like it, its still an original idea, fairly well done, and gets you thinking.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Yeah props to the Signal that’s cool!
I didn’t think it was very well reviewed but I thought it was great!
I can’t even think what it was about the ending that was weak? I’ll buy it and check it out again for sure.
The Grand was one I’ve been wanting to see.
It worries me that it didn’t rate a write up…I guess I’ll find out for myself.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
The Signal was very good, going to pick this up today along with “Protagonist”.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
taco man - Yes, it’s called an opinion. It’s generally what people use to gauge whether or not they should recommend something.
Cenzo - Obviously nobody should let one person’s claim against a film stop them from seeing it if they’re interested.
Also, thanks for the “blog punk” comment. Appreciate that.
september11th - Yes, I will certainly admit it has a significant purpose behind it, but it’s kind of hard to appreciate it when you know that the people that message is geared toward will never understand the film, nor will they probably even see it. And on top of that, the fact that the movie bombed so horribly at the box office in the U.S. kind of proves that not all Americans are interested in seeing a two-hour session of torture against its lead characters. (…he says only a week after The Strangers strikes box office gold.)
June 10th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Jerry Butler - It’s not about giving free advertising to the nationwide chains. It’s about letting the readers know what the best deals and coolest exclusives are at the stores they probably already shop at.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Jumper sucked.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
How someone can call The Signal a good film, and Funny Games as anything other than genius amazes me.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Batman: Gotham Knight
July 10th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Yo! I appreciate your blog, it really makes me want to pick up signal. I probably will. Thanks for the tip at where to buy it. If you could take a few suggestions, I would like to see a more definite verdict during the wrap up, though. On a few of your reviews I kind of have to think about whether you are recommending it or not… Most of the times it not, but occasionally it’s more of an synopsis. It’s alright though. Thanks for the tip ont he zombie movie again, I’ve been looking for a good one.