This Week In DVD: Pineapple Express, Righteous Kill, Battlestar Galactica, And More
This Week in DVD is a column that compiles all the latest info regarding new DVD releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Fry's.
Please don't take the commentary on the movies and TV shows too seriously, as they're meant not to be reviews but rather previews that include the general thoughts and ramblings of a twice-committed DVD addict. The categories represent solely the author's intentions towards the DVDs at hand, and are in no way meant to be a reflection on what he thinks other people should rent or buy. So if he ends up putting a movie you like in the "Skip it" section without having seen it, please keep in mind that the time you could spend leaving a spiteful but ultimately futile comment could instead be used for more pleasant things in life. Like buying DVDs.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Unrated Edition)
One of my top ten favorite movies of '08, Pineapple Express manages to effortlessly combine old school action and Apatow-style comedy to hilarious effect. The excellent acting and directing make sure of this, with Seth Rogen and James Franco narrowing the gap on Cheech and Chong for the best stoner duo, and acclaimed indie director David Gordon Green maintaining a gritty intimacy that helps anchor the film to reality. This is definitely one I'll be watching again and again.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: The single-disc includes a cast/filmmaker audio commentary, deleted and extended scenes, and a gag reel. The two-disc includes everything on the single-disc, along with rehearsal footage, the first table read, featurettes (Joe Lo Truglio's Art of the Social Butterfly, Jonah Hill on Set, Stuntmaster Ken Jeong, Injury Report, Red and Stormy's Guide to Marriage), and raw footage.
*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $22.99 at each of the listed stores (including Amazon).
THE WACKNESS
The Wackness is probably the best film of 2008 that nobody saw, offering an extremely well-crafted and engaging coming-of-age tale about a drug-dealing New York City teen's last summer before college. It also doubles as a love note to the '90s. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend that you do.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: Audio commentary with writer/director Jonathan Levine and actor Josh Peck, featurettes (Keeping it Real: A Day in the Life of Writer/Director Jonathan Levine, Time in a Bottle: Behind the Scenes of The Wackness), The Luke Shapiro Show Episode 1, and deleted scenes.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SEASON 4.0)
I'm listing this in the "Buy It" section more out of obligation than genuine interest. While I haven't seen enough of the show to give a firm stance on how good it is, what I have seen didn't exactly encourage me to keep watching. And yet, constant protesting from the show's hardcore fanbase has convinced me to give it another chance. According to those individuals, this is without a doubt the greatest piece of sci-fi television ever produced. If that's really the case, I'm sure they're willing to overlook the fact that this DVD contains only the first 10 episodes of Season 4, forcing them to pay out the ass if they have any intention of completing the season with the next DVD release.
Blu-ray? No.Notable Extras: Original and extended versions of Razor, audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes (The Look of Battlestar Galactica, The Journey, Cylons: The Twelve, The Music of Battlestar Galactica, Season 4.5: The Untold Story – Untold), David Eicks Video Blogs, and Ronald Moore's Podcast Commentaries.
EXCLUSIVE DEAL:What? Exclusive packaging includes dog tags and book ($39.99).Where? Best Buy.
FRISKY DINGO (SEASON 2)
While not as good as Venture Bros. or Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Frisky Dingo is still one of the best shows Adult Swim has to offer. It's also the only show I know of that has a continuing storyline despite its 10-minute episode format. This actually acts as a benefit though, as it allows the creators to pack in as many ridiculous plot developments and off-the-wall jokes as possible without any issues of viewers growing bored. Season 2 of the show once again follows the ongoing battle between superhero Awesome X and supervillain Killface, this time as they vie for the presidency of the United States. The DVD contains 12 episodes.
Blu-ray? No.Notable Extras: A clip from the spin-off Xtacles series.
RIGHTEOUS KILL
Like many others, I was incredibly excited when I heard Al Pacino and Robert De Niro would be teaming up again for the first time since Heat. Then I found out the film they'd be starring in was from the same director as 88 Minutes, and my expectations plummeted. Apparently my fears were warranted too, as I've heard nothing but negative things about the movie since its release. I'm still interested in seeing it though, if only to witness two acting greats sharing the screen once again.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: Audio commentary, making of featurette, and behind the scenes footage.
BABYLON A.D.(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Special Edition)
I feel bad for director Mathieu Kassovitz. It looked like there could've been a somewhat enjoyable film to be found with Babylon A.D., but then the studios had to tear it apart. Is it really any surprise that the reviews for this are terrible?
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: The single-disc includes theatrical and unrated cuts of the film and 2 featurettes (Babylon Babies, Arctic Escape). The 2-disc includes everything on the single-disc, along with 2 additional featurettes (Fit For The Screen, Flight of the Hummers), a graphic novel prequel to Babylon A.D, and a digital copy of the film.
*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $22.99 at each of the listed stores (and $23.99 at Amazon).
BANGKOK DANGEROUS(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Special Edition)
Not even shitty enough to reach so-bad-it's-good status, Bangkok Dangerous is so utterly mundane and lacking in anything resembling entertainment, I'm still amazed I managed to survive the whole thing. How The Pang Brothers managed to butcher their own remake to such a degree is beyond me.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: The 2-disc includes 2 featurettes (From Hong Kong to Bangkok – A Cinematic Movement, Bangkok Dangerous: The Execution of the Film), an alternate ending, and a digital copy of the film.
*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $ at each of the listed stores (and $23.99 at Amazon).
DISASTER MOVIE
This movie represents so much of what's wrong with comedy, the teenage demographic and American society that I feel it's my moral obligation to not even credit it with purchasing info or a DVD cover image.
Other noteworthy DVDs available this week...Ping Pong Playa – The Tudors (Season 2) – Eden Lake – The Alphabet Killer – IMAX Ultimate Collection – Secret Diary Of A Callgirl (Season 1) – The Waltons (Season 8) – Postal (Director's Cut)
NOTE: Some deals may be in-store only.
Exclusive: Free $5 Target GiftCard and exclusive bonus disc with purchase of The Tudors (Season 2).$14.99 – Seinfeld (Season 8 or 9)$15.99 – Friends (Seasons 1 – 10)$17.99 – 24 (Seasons 1 – 6)$19.99 – The Tudors (Season 1), My Name is Earl (Season 3)
$29.99 – Battlestar Galactica (Season 2.0 or 2.5)$34.99 – Battlestar Galactica (Season 1 or 3)
Free $5 Gift Card when you buy any 2 of these movies...
$9.99 – No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, The Bank Job, The Water Horse, Leatherheads, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, We Own the Night, Baby Mama, Doomsday, Superbad, Definitely Maybe, Hitman, The Forbidden Kingdom, and more...$5.99 – Clerks II, Eurotrip, Supertroopers, Stripes, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Dude Where's My Car?, and more...
SALE: 50% off HBO titles$24 – 24 (Seasons 1 – 6)