Let’s imagine for a moment that all of Hollywood exists in a universe written by Stephen King. It’s an awkward metaphor, I know, but we only need it for a minute. Because in one corner of Hollywood there is a veritable Pet Sematary full of would-be youth lit franchise openers — films intended as the first chapter in series that were never meant to be. City of Ember, The Golden Compass and Lemony Snicket come to mind; there are many more. Percy Jackson looked ready to be buried back there, but now it seems that ol’ Percy could be this metaphor’s Gage Creed, rising with glowing red evil eyes to menace the hapless inhabitants of a Maine town all over again.
OK, let’s ditch the terrible metaphor and just cut to it: while it looked as if Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief might not kickstart a series when released last year, there is word that Fox 2000 is now actively developing a film based on The Sea of Monsters, the second novel in Rick Riordan‘s series of books about young Olympians. Read More »
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This Week in DVD & Blu-ray is a column that compiles all the latest info regarding new DVD and Blu-ray releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy and Fry’s.
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
Hot Tub Time Machine is so aware of how absurd its storyline is that it doesn’t even attempt to justify it. In place of extensive exposition explaining the logistics of time travel and what it means for them, the characters cover all bases through Terminator references and extensive cocaine usage. The downside to making this sort of deliberately silly comedy is that the audience never has a chance to invest in the growth of the characters or care about what’s at stake, but sometimes, being funny is enough. And aside from a cute little romance, that’s the only area in which Hot Tub Time Machine hopes to succeed—and does. While the film adheres to the utmost basics of story structure and formula, it never does so at the expense of a quick gag, and is mostly an excuse to engage its immensely likable cast in a series of outrageous situations highlighting one of two things (and frequently both): time travel, and the ’80s. Oh, and drugs, too.
Available on Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: DVD – Deleted scenes. Blu-ray – Includes everything on the DVD, as well as Theatrical Promotional Spots (“Production: Acting Like Idiots”, “Chevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in Hollywood”, “Totally Radical Outfits: Dayna Pink”, “Crispin Glover: One Armed Bellhop”), and a digital copy of the film.
| BEST DVD PRICE |
| Target |
Best Buy |
Fry’s |
| $17.99 |
$16.99 |
$15.97 |
| Amazon – $16.99 |
| BEST BLU-RAY PRICE |
| Target |
Best Buy |
Fry’s |
| $24.99 |
$26.99 |
N/A |
| Amazon – $24.99 |
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Though it settles into exactly the same groove as the previously released teaser trailer just half of the way through, the new, second trailer for Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief finally gives us a look at what we want to see – the name-actor stars of the film. There’s Pierce Brosnan, Rosario Dawson, Steve Coogan and Sean Bean in here, if rather briefly. I have to say I’m digging Pierce’s beard – check it out for yourself in the embed below the break.
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You can see the first Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief teaser trailer embedded after the break. There isn’t any wonder that it features title cards announcing that it is from Chris Columbus, director of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone/Chamber of Secrets. The entire enterprise is standing on the shoulders of Potter, irrespective of any help it might or might not actually need from the boy wizard, or indeed the relative quality of the books and films.
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