DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: February 1st, 2011

February kicks off with one of the year’s best weeks for DVD and Blu-ray fans. The home video market is filled with great releases.

Nearly every genre is accounted for this week, from emotional dramas like Never Let Me Go to family-friendly comedies like Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Old classics such as Alice In Wonderland rest on the shelf next to newer classics like You’ve Got Mail.

There are plenty of other options for your buying pleasure this week. In fact, there are eight titles easily worth a look.

The following home videos can now  be found on DVD and Blu-ray.

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Monsters - One of the most underrated films of 2010 hits DVD and Blu-ray this week. The atmospheric monster movie earned a 4-star rating from us. In the review, Kofi Outlaw called Monsters a “moving and beautiful film” and “an experience that I can best describe as Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation meets Steven Spielberg’s remake of War of the Worlds.”

Monsters isn’t for everybody. It is not a traditional monster movie by any means. Instead of focusing on the destructive force of the mysterious creatures, the film focuses on the journey through the “infected zone” as a pair of Americans make their way home.

The micro-budget indie film did relatively well at the box office by earning over $3 million, but it didn’t make enough noise to capture the attention of the masses. Hopefully the home video release will shed light on one of the forgotten gems of 2010. The special features are reason enough to grab it off the shelf. With almost three hours of bonus features, this is one of the most in-depth releases of the year so far and well worth combing through.

Audio Commentary with Gareth Edwards, Scoot McNairy and Whitney AbleDeleted and Extended ScenesBehind the Scenes of MonstersMonsters: The EditVisual EffectsInterview with Gareth EdwardsInterview with Scoot McNairy and Whitney AbleNew York Comic Con Discussion with Gareth EdwardsHDNet: A Look at MonstersAlso From Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray

Let Me In – Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) stepped away from action to give us his American vision of the revered Swedish vampire film, Let The Right One In. While the initial reaction was overwhelmingly negative, the end result was a moody, beautifully-shot film that we gave a 3-star review. In his review, Kofi Outlaw called Let Me In “a fairly good vampire flick, but not quite as nuanced or powerful as the source material which spawned it.”

While many enjoyed the American remake, it just didn’t outperform the original. On its own, Let Me In is a great film, but in comparison to the original, it has only a few moments worth watching over its predecessor. Either fans felt the same way, or only the die-hard Let The Right One In fans saw the remake,  because it just barely passed its $20 million production budget at the box office.

Anchor Bay Entertainment put together a worthy Blu-ray release that at least rivals its predecessor’s home video in terms of special features. The most interesting supplement is a step-by-step analysis of the car crash sequence that remains the most impressive scene in the remake.

Audio commentary with director Matt Reeves.From the Inside: A Look at the Making of Let Me InDissecting Let Me In (BD-exclusive)The Art of Special EffectsUnrated deleted scenesCar crash sequence step-by-stepTrailer galleryPoster gallery

Never Let Me Go – Another great movie overlooked by the masses in 2010 is the emotionally stirring Never Let Me Go. The sci-fi drama is an intriguing mix of The Island and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Young British actors Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan all star in the melodramatic tale of an unconventional boarding school and its effect on the children raised there.

Much like Monsters, this dramatic film had trouble making big numbers at the box office. But while Monsters made a profit, Never Let Me Go earned only $2.5 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. It is strange the film did so poorly overseas ($72,798) considering its “foreign” cast.

Do not watch Never Let Me Go if you are not in the mood to cry a little. It might make even the toughest men cry, but it forces that emotion upon its audience and that intensity has driven some viewers away. The home video only features a single supplement – the making-of video – but the intrigue of a film many missed in theaters due to a limited theatrical run could be enough to earn the production budget back in sales.

Conviction – In keeping today’s tradition of low-budget movies with small box office returns, Conviction flew under the radar even with a pair of award-winning leads. The tearjerker gave its best shot at the Oscars with a sentimental drama starring Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank. In his 3.5-star review, Sandy Schaefer called it a “conventional melodrama.”

On a meager budget of $12.5 million, the film raked in a disappointing $6.7 million worldwide. While Hilary Swank earned a SAG Awards nomination for her role, the film just didn’t resonate as deeply as the filmmakers’ had hoped. As usual, home video is a second chance to wow audiences and earn a dedicated fan base.

The special features of this DVD and Blu-ray are underwhelming. The only supplement is an interview with Betty Ann Waters, the woman Hilary Swank portrays in the film. The power of Conviction is in the story and if you like a moving true-life tale, this is a good purchase.

Disney was kind enough to send us a copy, so we honor their generosity with this atypical Direct-to-DVD release review.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 – We were surprised almost three years ago when Beverly Hills Chihuahua was announced and even more shocked when it grossed nearly $150 million worldwide. It appears the power of family-friendly talking-animal comedy is still strong.

Even though the sequel went straight to DVD, it supplies plenty of family-friendly fun for the modern child movie fan. We’d like to give them more credit, but for now, studios know what kids like and talking dogs are high on the list.

George Lopez returns as the lead voice actor in this movie that isn’t as bad as it sounds. The CGI mouths on each dog are actually quite impressive and even on Blu-ray, the effects are smooth and natural (or as natural as talking dogs can look). The children will have plenty of fun with the games and supplements on this home video release.

Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies on the GoDylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray™ Is Suite!Music Video: Bridgit Mendler, “This Is My Paradise”Blooper Faux PawsBeverly Hills Chihuahua Challenge – interactive game show led by Papi

Alice in Wonderland 60th Anniversary Edition – One of the most revered animated classics of all time celebrates its 60th anniversary with a new Blu-ray transfer. Tim Burton’s recent remake only solidifies the unmatched quality of the original, which still holds up well after 60 years.

The Blu-ray re-release is an interesting one to review. It’s tough to watch anything in 4×3 these days (or maybe I am just spoiled by 16×9) and Disney does not help the distracting square image by slapping an animated sidebar on either side. The side bar changes throughout the film in an effort to make the sides of the screen easy on the eyes, but for home video fans, it will be a major flaw that Disney simply could not get around.

The video transfer is astonishing within the side bars. Alice in Wonderland is as crisp as ever and the colors pop, as they should in a psychedelic journey like this. The audio is pristine and it needs to be, for a movie that is driven by music.

This Blu-ray release has one significant purpose on the market right now. It isn’t to give those who grew up with Alice in Wonderland a proper transfer of the classic. Instead, this seems like Disney’s attempt to give modern families the highest quality version of the film in order to reintroduce it to new generations. The bonus features are proof of this effort. While many of us go straight for new behind-the-scenes interviews, the Blu-ray features mostly new games over new informational material. There is at least a detailed, 76-minute long picture-in-picture commentary with the film.

Through the Keyhole: A Companion’s Guide to WonderlandReflections on AliceOperation WonderlandDeleted MaterialsNewly Discovered Cheshire Cat SongWalt Disney IntroductionsReference Footage: Alice and the DoorknobPencil Test: Alice ShrinksThru the MirrorAn Alice Comedy: Alice’s WonderlandOne Hour in WonderlandFred Waring Show ExcerptOriginal Theatrical TrailersArt GalleryPainting the Roses RedDisney ViewTrailer Navigation

Pleasantville – This fantasy dramedy is filled with inspiration and deserves this Blu-ray release. J.T. Walsh’s last film, released posthumously, features a great cast in a film that delivers a striking concept about the visual power of color.

The most interesting aspect of Pleasantville is undoubtedly its use of color against black and white imagery. While it remains a story about overcoming differences and equality in a time that was riddled with prejudice, it is a visual gag that makes the movie worth multiple viewings. A movie so committed to a visual effect in a practical world deserves the Blu-ray treatment.

The special features are underwhelming, but hopefully provide all that is necessary to comprehend the staying power of this 1998 film. A featurette called The Art of Pleasantville will hopefully share the secrets of the visual effect.

Commentary by writer/director Gary RossIsolated score track with commentary by composer Randy NewmanFeaturette: “The Art of Pleasantville”Music video: Fiona Apple, “Across the Universe” (directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)Theatrical trailer

You’ve Got Mail – If you need a head start on a Valentine’s Day present, go ahead and snag the Blu-ray edition of You’ve Got Mail. The classic romantic comedy deserves more praise than most in its genre. It successfully predicted the future of relationships in an ever-changing world that now resides inside a computer for many Americans.

The best part of this Blu-ray release has to be the pull quote on the DVD and Blu-ray – “‘Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks should win a Nobel Prize for chemistry.’ –Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today.” It doesn’t get much more hyperbolic than that. Still, the two have shared unrivaled chemistry onscreen and Hollywood has been searching for the next great onscreen couple ever since.

The special features are worth a look and include three short featurettes and a commentary from director/co-writer Nora Ephron and producer Lauren Shuler Donner.

Commentary by director/co-writer Nora Ephron and producer Lauren Shuler DonnerFeaturettes: Delivering You’ve Got Mail, You’ve Got ChemistryHBO First Look: A Conversation with Nora EphronDiscover New York’s Upper West Side Selectable Movie TourMusic video: Carole King, “Anyone at All”The Shop Around the Corner bonus movie (on DVD)

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That’s it for the Breakdown today – be sure to check back with us next week.

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DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: January 25, 2011

The last week of January proves to be most fruitful for home video fans. Nine quality movies hit DVD and Blu-ray today.

Seven of the nine releases are new and stretch most of the major genres. We are going to stick to the biggest releases of this week, but check out your nearest shelf for a copy of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, Enter The Void and Nowhere Boy. From action comedy to sports drama, every audience will have something to watch on their television this week.

Oprah Winfrey made headlines this week for her new family discovery, but her performance in The Color Purple put her on the map and it finally hits Blu-ray this week. The Color Purple was nominated for 11 Oscars, but it isn’t the only nominated film on the table today. Broadcast News shares three Oscar-nominated performances on Blu-ray. We’ve got the breakdown on all the major home video releases this week.

The following titles can now be found on DVD and Blu-ray:

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Red - One of the biggest surprises of 2010 has to be Red. The geriatric action comedy never looked bad, but few at Screen Rant expected it to make our Top 10 Movie Moments of 2010 list, Favorite Movies of 2010 list and garner a perfect 5-star review from Vic Holtreman. In his review, Vic called Red “a great, fun summer movie.”

While Red didn’t match our high praise in the box office, it earned a modest $164 million worldwide. While that triples its production budget, it is tough to gauge whether Summit Entertainment considers Red a hit or not. Now that it hits home video, those involved can see if the movie truly has legs with movie fans. With a top-notch cast of Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich, there is no problem drawing attention.

Interestingly, the special features have little to do with the actual production of Red. Instead, the filmmakers dedicated the extra space to honoring the real agents represented in the action film. It is pretty unique to hear an audio commentary from an actual former-CIA agent.

Audio commentary with retired CIA field officer Robert BaerDeleted and extended scenesAccess: RED – Activate a variety of “scene-specific” features including interviews with cast members, real-life CIA expert commentary, animated documentary shorts on controversial CIA operations and more

Secretariat – Another surprise of 2010 is the sports drama Secretariat. Every year seems to bring us an uplifting sports drama and 2010 was no different, but Secretariat offered more than just lovable losers. In his 4-star review of the film, Paul Young called Secretariat “a wonderfully written film that is beautifully shot and a joy to watch.”

The true story of the Triple Crown-winning horse is one for the books. From the moment Secretariat crossed the finish line in the final Triple Crown race, everybody knew the story was made for the big screen. Luckily, Randall Wallace made it a theatrical motion picture instead of giving ESPN the glory of turning it into a cheesy made-for-TV movie. It may not have made big bucks at the box office ($59 million worldwide), but it served its purpose as the well-made sports drama of 2010.

Much like Red, the special features of Secretariat offer a real-world look at the story behind the movie. The supplements play out like a collection of unseen documentaries, which should accent the movie itself. One strange addition to the special features is an animated simulation of Secretariat’s race. Unfortunately, it isn’t as cool as it sounds.

Audio commentary by Director Randall Wallace (BD-exclusive)Heart of a ChampionEight deleted scenes (four of them BD-exclusive) with optional audio commentary by director Randall WallaceChoreographing the Races (BD-exclusive)A Director’s Inspiration: A Conversation with the Real Penny ChenerySecretariat Multi-Angle SimulationMusic Video: AJ Michalka, “It’s Who You Are”

Stone – Stone is yet another new release on home video that garnered high praise from us during its theatrical run. In his 4-star review, Kofi Outlaw describe Stone as “a satisfying and insightful arthouse film.” With big names like Robert De Niro, Ed Norton and Milla Jovovich, Stone has been on our radar for quite some time and it didn’t disappoint.

Unfortunately, the box office return was “arthouse” as well. Stone only mustered up a measly $8.4 million worldwide, almost $14 million shy of its production budget. It will take an impressive home video run to make up the production budget, but that may be the least of the filmmakers’ concerns.

If the movie does not attract people to the shelves, the bonus features sure won’t help. Anchor Bay Home Entertainment put no effort on the home video, so if anybody expects to see the insides of this psychological thriller, the only thing they will find is disappointment.

Making-of featuretteTheatrical trailer

Saw: The Final Chapter – The seventh Saw film did not do well in its attempt to capitalize on the 3D trend. In our 2.5-star review, Ben Kendrick writes that “Saw 3D will certainly appeal to fans who have stuck with the Saw franchise through the previous six films, however the 3D doesn’t really offer anything new.”

Saw 3D ranks sixth of the seven Saw movies after the tally of its entire box office return. Even though it made $130 million on a meager $20 million production budget, few consider this edition of the franchise a success.

While you can pick up the movie in 3D, it might run you close to $50. The special features are definitely not worth the extra price tag, but see for yourself what the home video has to offer.

Director and producer commentaryDeleted scenesMusic videos52 Ways to Die: recounting the traps from all the Saw films (BD-exclusive)

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Broadcast News – The world of broadcast television has been home to plenty of intriguing storylines in movies. Just recently, we saw Rachel McAdams test her ability in the newsroom in Morning Glory. While we might not see that romantic comedy make the Criterion Collection anytime soon, Broadcast News is deserving of the special treatment from the most heralded Blu-ray transfer company.

James L. Brooks’ news satire is a romantic comedy that has some real value. It is culturally relevant and politically intelligent, while still delivering a few laughs to keep the audience roaring. William Hurt, Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter all earned Oscar nominations in the 1987 Best Picture-nominated movie.

Broadcast News earned its Criterion release with a laundry list of Oscar nominations and the special features are plentiful as usual. It wouldn’t be a Criterion Collection release if the supplements did not keep you busy for hours.

New audio commentary featuring James L. Brooks and Richard MarksNew documentary on Brooks’s career in television and film, featuring actors Marilu Henner (Taxi) and Julie Kavner (Rhoda, The Simpsons) and several other of Brooks’s collaboratorsDeleted scenes and an alternate ending, with commentary by BrooksNew video interview with veteran CBS news producer Susan Zirinsky, one of the models for actress Holly Hunter’s character and an associate producer on the filmFeaturette containing on-set footage and interviews with Brooks, Hunter, and actor Albert BrooksOriginal theatrical trailerA booklet featuring an essay by film critic Carrie Rickey

The Color Purple – It’s been just over 25 years since The Color Purple introduced the world to Oprah Winfrey. Steven Spielberg’s dramatic film about the trials and tribulations of young African-American women was nominated for an astonishing 11 Oscars. The film gave us more than Oprah – it also jump-started Whoopi Goldberg’s career and gave us a serious Danny Glover before the awesome Lethal Weapon franchise kicked-off two years later.

The Color Purple may not sound like a movie in need of a Blu-ray re-release, but it is a beautifully shot drama that deserves the best treatment available. The DigiBook gives a nice collection of special features, but as usual Spielberg is nowhere to be found for an audio commentary.

Conversations with Ancestors: The Color Purple From Book to ScreenA Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting The Color PurpleCultivating a Classic: The Making of The Color PurpleThe Color Purple: The MusicalGalleriesTrailers

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January was a relatively good month for home video. Backdraft has proven to be the best Blu-ray re-release of the month with fantastic sound and a worthy video transfer. The Social Network continues to rake in the bucks as one of the top-selling home videos of the past few weeks.

February should prove to be even better with an opening week that includes the Blu-ray re-release of Almost Famous and new releases such as Never Let Me Go, Let Me In and Monsters.

Check back every Tuesday for the latest DVD ad Blu-ray release breakdowns.

Source: Blu-ray

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DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: January 18, 2011

This week’s DVDs and Blu-rays are thin in number, but varied in taste. No major blockbusters hit home video this week, but there is one movie and one television show that should easily make their way into collections everywhere.

Look for one of Ryan Reynolds’ most daring performances in the claustrophobic thriller Buried. Meanwhile, Timothy Olyphant starred as one of television’s best new characters, Raylan Givens, in the first season of Justified.

The following titles can now be found on DVD and Blu-ray.

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Buried – Ryan Reynolds starred in a film that took quite a risk by pinning the actor in a coffin for the entirety of the movie. The story is relentless and stays inside the coffin the entire time. Buried ended up as one of our Favorite Films of 2010. Our 4-star review was favorable as well, calling it “one of the most ambitious concept films of the year.”

Claustrophobia is put on full display with this thriller that grossed a mere $18 million, but it’s safe to assume the production budget was low as well. Either way, Buried was a success and definitely worth a rental.

Considering how much praise I gave Buried, you may be wondering why I only call it a rental. Well, the movie is great, but the home video is not. All that comes with it is a single 18-minute special feature documenting the making of Buried. Then again, what do you expect from a movie that takes place in a coffin?

Takers – Some movies come along and sweep you off your feet with non-stop action and engaging characters – Takers is not that movie. Instead, Takers is a generic movie whose only strength is its excessive use of color tones. We were unimpressed in our 2-star review of the action heist film.

Takers just missed our list of The 10 Worst Movies of 2010. While some fans think it deserved a spot on the list, it had some nice action sequences and certain scenes tried very hard to be good. It also found a way to double its production budget with a $68 million worldwide box office – chalk that up to the ensemble cast.

The special features are better than Buried, but lack enough of a behind-the-scenes punch to really make this home video worth your money.

Filmmaker and cast commentaryExecuting the Heist: The Making of TakersTake Action!Music Video: T.I., “Yeah Ya Know (Takers)”

Justified: The First Season – ?After giving a drug lord 24 hours to get out of Miami, the television viewing audience was introduced to the best new character on television, Raylan Givens. As Givens makes his way to a sit-down with said drug-dealer, there are 30 seconds left in that 24-hr time-limit. With Givens’ promise to shoot him dead when time runs out, audiences were left in suspense as this U.S. Marshall readied his gun.?

?With a couple of quick-draw gun shots the promise was fulfilled and the character of Raylan Givens became engrained in the minds of all those watching. It is with Givens’ intriguing temperament, combined with the terrific storytelling, that brought this iconic Elmore Leonard character to life in Justified and, once again, continues FX’s status as one of the top cable networks.?

The home video release of the complete first season includes all 13 episodes and a pile of extra features.

Commentaries: “Fire in the Hole” with executive producer Graham Yost, actor Nick Searcy, Elmore Leonard expert Gregg Sutter and director Michael Dinner… “Blowback” with Graham Yost and writer Ben Cavell… “Hatless” with actors Tim Olyphant and Natalie Zea, and writer Dave Andron… “Bulletville” with Graham Yost and writer/producer Fred GolanWhat Would Elmore Do?The Story of JustifiedJustified: Meet the CharactersShooting for KentuckyThe MarshalsMusic video: “Long Hard Times to Come”Season Two: A Look Ahead

Animal Kingdom – This Australian film is making all kinds of noise this awards season. It got off to a fantastic start when it won the Award for World Cinema at The Sundance Film Festival. Star Jacki Weaver was recently nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actress. In limited release few saw it, but the movie is filled with powerful performances.

If the Oscars come around and you still haven’t seen Animal Kingdom, you have only one person to blame – yourself. Give it a chance and rent it, or go for the blind buy. Either way, you might be thoroughly impressed by one of this year’s better foreign films.

The special features give a taste of the creation of Animal Kingdom, but save most of its secrets. The supplements are a quick look inside the movie.

Audio commentary with director David MichôdCreating Animal KingdomQ&A with director David Michôd and actors Jacki Weaver and James Frecheville

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This week was relatively disappointing for home video enthusiasts, but next week looks much brighter. A few major releases from 2010 and some overdue titles release in Blu-ray format hit shelves on January 25th.

Check back next week for details of the latest DVD and Blu-ray releases. There are sure to be more winners in the next batch.

Source: Blu-ray

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DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: January 4, 2011

The first DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown of 2011 features mostly low-budget movies that caused quite a stir in 2010. Most didn’t make waves at the box office, but had critics and fans racking their brains for answers to a variety of questions.

Catfish and The Last Exorcism tried to redefine the structure of documentary filmmaking by infusing a narrative style. Machete and Dinner for Schmucks used two very different styles of comedy to evoke laughter during the late summer. Meanwhile, Howl flew way under the radar and does its best to share an intriguing story with those who may have missed it in limited theaters.

There are a pair of fantastic Blu-ray re-releases to check out as well. Robert Rodriguez may make an extra buck or two this week on top of Machete with his re-release of the El Mariachi Trilogy. In addition, Backdraft finds its way on Blu-ray in what we all hope will be a worthy transfer of a deserving movie.

The following releases can be found on DVD and Blu-ray.

Machete - In our 2.5-star review of Machete, Vic Holtreman felt that even amidst the disingenuous political commentary, the movie had “LOTS of bloody violence…And [is] faithful to those old 70s flicks.” Put mildly, the movie is not for everyone. It is a spin-off of a trailer shown during the Grindhouse double feature brought to you by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. One fact remains, those involved clearly had a blast making it.

Made in typical Robert-Rodriguez-side-project fashion for only $10.5 million, the film did relatively well at the box office. With a worldwide gross of $40 million, one could argue it was a success. In the eyes of fans hoping for blood, guts, nudity, and plenty of kick-ass one-liners, the movie delivered in every way possible. Just look at the most memorable quote of the movie, “Machete don’t text.”

As of now, all we know about the home video is that it includes some deleted scenes. This would be a huge letdown, since Robert Rodriguez is known to bring a great pile of additional features to his DVDs and Blu-rays. Personally, I was looking forward to another edition of his Five Minute Film School series.

Catfish – In our dual-review of Catfish, I found the movie to be a poorly conceived faux documentary, while Rob Frappier absolutely loved its ability to capture today’s world. You be the judge by renting or purchasing the home video. Frankly, I don’t see how it can hold up on multiple viewings. Once the suspense of what might happen is gone, there is nothing left to invest in the movie.

If anything helped the film’s delivery, it was filmmaker Andrew Jarecki’s involvement. The director of Capturing the Friedmans must have helped the filmmakers behind Catfish truly understand what makes a scenario feel completely real, even if it may not be true cinema veritae. The film engrossed the masses to a meager $3.2 million box office over 77 days in theaters. It may have made a profit with those numbers, but the waves of its influence will only ripple so far – if it doesn’t gain some momentum on home video.

In what appears to be customary this week, Catfish leaves much to be desired in the special features category. We only know of one feature that will be on the DVD and Blu-ray copies – a 25-minute Q&A with the three filmmakers, Nev, Ariel and Henry. While it isn’t eye-opening on the reality of the documentary, it provides some good insight. Then again, you can just read our interview with the filmmakers.

Dinner for Schmucks - In our 1.5-star review of Dinner for Schmucks, Paul Young tried to figure out if the movie was “an ‘edgy’ comedy film or just a mean-spirited, uncomfortable attempt at laughs.” It might be a surprise to some that the movie didn’t make any of our end-of-the-year lists. There was quite a bit of negative feedback from you, the reader, in regards to its absence. While we understand your gripes with the movie, it just didn’t feel memorable in any way – even in a bad way.

The movie didn’t do so hot in the box office. It barely surpassed the $69 million production budget with an $86 million worldwide gross. It’s still hard to comprehend that two of the more likable comedians, Paul Rudd and Steve Carell, could be a part of such a forgettable film. Alas, it did happen, but some movies just find a second life on home video and this could be another one.

The remake of 1998 French comedy, The Dinner Game, comes with few special features. The ones available seem interesting enough, but it still disappoints in a genre where supplements are the best way to show all the funny bits that had to be deleted for the sake of tightening up the finished product.

The Biggest Schmucks in the WorldSchmuck Ups—Gag ReelDeleted scenesThe Men behind the Mousterpieces (BD-exclusive)Meet the Winners (BD-exclusive)Paul and Steve: The Decision—LeBron James press conference spoof (BD-exclusive)

The Last Exorcism – In our 3-star review of The Last Exorcism, Vic Holtreman called it “an unconventional and fairly satisfying horror film.” Another low-budget film hitting DVD and Blu-ray this week fills the horror genre nicely. Amidst money-grubbing movies like Saw 3D, controversial and mysterious ones like The Last Exorcism are a welcome addition.

On only a $1.8 million budget, the movie grossed over $64 million worldwide. That is an impressive turnaround, but not surprising as low-budget horror seems to be a popular style these days. Paranormal Activity reignited the flame that has dwindled since the days of The Blair Witch Project. The mockumentary approach may have helped add a dose of realism typically absent from the horror genre.

The DVDs and Blu-rays will feature a good list of special features to help you solve the riddles within the movie. If you need a jump start, just check out our explanation of the ending. Once you pick up a copy of The Last Exorcism, you’ll have plenty more to check out.

Audio commentaries: Director Daniel Stamm and actors Ashley Bell, Patrick Fabian and Louis Herthum & Producers Eli Roth, Eric Newman and Tom BlissFeaturettes: The Devil You Know: The Making of The Last Exorcism & Real Stories of Exorcism2009 Cannes Film Festival teaser trailerWitnesses to an Exorcism: An Audio Commentary with a Haunting Victim, Deliverance Minister and Clinical PsychologistAudition footageTheatrical trailer

Howl – When we heard about James Franco’s involvement in Howl, the Internet was buzzing with Oscars talk. The story is just offbeat and just real enough to capture some attention. Unfortunately, something was lost in the process because it didn’t even gross $1 million and has been completely absent from any Oscars talk.

If you missed it (and you likely did), now is your chance for a quick rental to see what the fuss was about. Frankly, the story of beat poet Allen Ginsberg is one worth knowing and what better medium to learn than film? It was only given a limited theatrical release after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, so its lack of presence in movie discussions may be a result of its lack of presence in theaters.

The DVD and Blu-ray will feature a nice batch of special features. If you are unfamiliar with Allen Ginsberg, the movie and supplements will give a nicely rounded picture of his story.

James Franco and directors commmentaryHoly! Holy! Holy! Making of HowlOriginal interviews with Ginsberg’s friends and collaboratorsNever-before-seen performance by Ginsberg in 1995 at NYC’s Knitting FactoryAudio feature: James Franco reads HowlAllen Ginsberg reads Sunflower Sutra and Pull My Daisy: never-before-seen footage from a performance in 1995 at the Knitting Factory in New York (BD-exclusive)Q&A with filmmakers moderated by John Cameron Mitchell (BD-exclusive)

El Mariachi Trilogy – Robert Rodriguez’s career began with a 16mm indie that shocked Sundance and became an unexpected hit. Needless to say, El Mariachi needed a proper Hollywood treatment. Rodriguez brought in Antonio Banderas and a trilogy took flight. Now, all the films are headed to Blu-ray. El Mariachi and Desperado will be placed on a single-disc edition, while Once Upon A Time In Mexico will have its own disc.

We’ve been used to getting a good portion of bonus features from Robert Rodriguez and these releases are no different. It’s unfortunate he took a break from these supplements on his other release this week, Machete.

Desperado / El Mariachi

Director’s commentaryThe Cutting Room10 Minute Film SchoolRobert Rodriguez’s Student Film: “Bed Head”10 More Minutes: Anatomy of a ShootoutMusic videos: Los Lobos with Antonio Banderas, “Morena de mi corazón” & Tito & Tarantula, “Back to the House That Love Built”

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Robert Rodriguez Audio CommentaryDeleted Scenes with Optional CommentaryTen-Minute Flick SchoolInside Troublemaker StudiosTen-Minute COOKING SchoolFilm is Dead: An Evening with Robert RodriguezThe Anti-Hero’s JourneyThe Good, the Bad and the Bloody: Inside KNB FXThe Cutting Room

Backdraft – One of Ron Howard’s first huge hits released on the now defunct HD DVD in 2007. Obviously that didn’t work out, so it has finally found its way onto Blu-ray. For the first time on home video, we can experience the massive action movie in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. My personal favorite aspect of the film has long been the unrivaled noise that precedes a backdraft – it is both haunting and nerve-wracking.

The special features should be a nice touch if you’ve ever wondered about the production. One aspect I am looking forward to the most is the mini-documentary on real fireman. The profession is profoundly interesting and the movie puts a huge Hollywood touch on it, so hearing from real fireman should be interesting to hear.

Ron Howard IntroductionDeleted ScenesIgniting the StoryBringing Together the TeamThe Explosive StuntsCreating the Villain: The FireReal-Life Firemen, Real-Life Stories

More big names from 2010 hit DVD and Blu-ray next week as The Social Network rushes to the home video market in time for the Oscars push and Piranha 3D makes waves in home theaters as well. A pair of great Robert De Niro films hit Blu-ray as well with a 30th Anniversary re-release of Raging Bull and Once Upon A Time In America.

Check back every Tuesday for the latest DVD and Blu-ray releases. If you have any favorites from this week, discuss them in the comments section below.

Source: Blu-ray

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DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: December 28th, 2010

The end of the 2010 is upon us. While most are looking back on the year that was, there are still a pair of home video new releases to check out.

The last DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown of the year is a short one that includes two extremely different movies.

One is a big-budget 3D spectacle with a weak story and the other is a low-budget character study set around a retiring hitman.

The following titles can be found on DVD and Blu-ray.

Resident Evil: Afterlife - Bad reviews didn’t stop the fourth installment of the Resident Evil franchise from raking in nearly $300 million worldwide. Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich team up again for the zombie-killing saga – but bring top-notch 3D to the table.

The film’s main pitch was its use of the revolutionary 3D technology seen in Avatar. Unfortunately, Afterlife utilized the technology to expose 3D sight gags and enhance some action without ever addressing a worthy plot. Still, the franchise has succeeded on its delivery of zombie action and Afterlife wasn’t a massive letdown. We gave it a 2.5 out of 5 in our review.

Many of the 3D theatrical releases suffer due to the lack of 3D home theaters, but the minds behind Afterlife hope that trend will change. The movie was created with a 3D audience in mind, so like Step Up 3, a 2D viewing experience would likely drastically decrease the entertainment value. If the home video has one strength, it is the extensive collection of bonus features. The entire behind-the-scenes world was accounted for from Outtakes to making-of featurettes.

Filmmaker commentaryUndead Vision: Picture-in-PictureDeleted and extended scenesOuttakesBack Under the Umbrella: Directing AfterlifeBand of Survivors: Casting AfterlifeUndead Dimension: Resident Evil in 3DFighting Back: The Action of AfterlifeVision of the Apocalypse: The Design of AfterlifeNew Blood: The Undead of AfterlifePwning the Undead: Gamers of the AfterlifePS3 Wallpaper Theme

The American – If big-budget action isn’t your thing, George Clooney stars in this week’s more artistic movie, The American. While the film saw enough success with a $64 million worldwide box office on a $20 million budget, it went relatively unnoticed during its 65 days in theaters.

Our 3 out of 5 star review suggested The American is anything but as far as its style. The film is definitely an atmospheric and photographic tale of one man’s experience during a hired hit. Some fell asleep in the theater – while others were mesmerized by the unique tone of the American.

The film itself is a wonderfully peaceful and visual tale, but the special features are practically non-existent. The feature commentary from director Anton Corbijn and a making-of documentary are well worth a look, but that’s about where the buck stops, apart from a few deleted scenes.

Feature commentary with director Anton CorbijnJourney to Redemption: the making of ‘The American’Deleted scenes

If you followed our Top 15 Must-Own Blu-rays of 2010 list, there should be plenty to watch over the New Year. Unfortunately, this week provides few worthy titles.

The first week of 2011 provides a few intriguing picks and plenty to get the year off right. Machete comes out on DVD and Blu-ray next week, but pales in comparison to the hotly anticipated re-release of the Desperado trilogy – an exciting addition to anybody’s Blu-ray collection.

Share your favorite DVDs or Blu-rays from 2010 in the comment section below.

Source: Blu-ray

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‘Cowboys & Aliens’ Trailer Breakdown With Jon Favreau

The innate silliness of the title Cowboys & Aliens aside, director Jon Favreau has selected to avoid going for the cheap joke with his comic book adaptation and aims to deliver a serious but fun romp that revolves around an extraterrestrial invasion of the Old West.

Fans were highly receptive to the official Cowboys & Aliens trailer when it premiered last week – enough so for Favreau to sit down and provide a bit of commentary on the trailer itself.

Favreau sat down with MTV to breakdown the trailer for Cowboys & Aliens, which he approached from the perspective of “if you’re doing a mashup of two genres, like science-fiction and a western, if you play one of them tongue-in-cheek, the combo’s not what’s going to be special.”

He went on to discuss how his decision to cast Daniel Craig as the amnesia-struck loner, Jake Lonergan (get it?), was motivated by the desire for Cowboys & Aliens to feel very much like an authentic western – even before the visitors from another planet show up.

For more about Cowboys & Aliens (including tidbits about why Favreau sees Harrison Ford as the John Wayne of his generation and who came up with the idea for Longergan to be tagged with alien tech), just watch the full trailer commentary below:

We like how seriously Favreau is taking Cowboys & Aliens, which frankly sounds like it should be the title of a goofy B-movie from the 1950s. The casting is spot on (especially with Ford), the action looks like a cool blend of western shoot-outs and sci-fi warfare, and the tone of the film looks to match that of a Sergio Leone or Sam Peckinpah movie.

Cowboys and Aliens arrives in theaters in the U.S. on July 29th, 2011. Are you excited to see this one?

Source: MTV

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