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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Open Discussion – January 26, 2011

Jan 26, 2011 by Vic Holtreman 

Here’s your chance to choose the topics in our regularly scheduled open discussion post.

As usual – talk about whatever you like as long as it’s related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself – just remember to play nice.

View the original article here

Open Discussion – January 21, 2011

Jan 21, 2011 by Vic Holtreman 

Here’s your chance to choose the topics in our regularly scheduled open discussion post.

As usual – talk about whatever you like as long as it’s related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself – just remember to play nice.

View the original article here

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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Open Discussion – January 19, 2011

Jan 19, 2011 by Vic Holtreman 

Here’s your chance to choose the topics in our regularly scheduled open discussion post.

As usual – talk about whatever you like as long as it’s related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself – just remember to play nice.

View the original article here

Open Discussion – January 14, 2011

Jan 14, 2011 by Vic Holtreman 

Here’s your chance to choose the topics in our regularly scheduled open discussion post.

As usual – talk about whatever you like as long as it’s related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself – just remember to play nice.

View the original article here

Open Discussion – January 12, 2011

Jan 12, 2011 by Vic Holtreman 

Here’s your chance to choose the topics in our regularly scheduled open discussion post.

As usual – talk about whatever you like as long as it’s related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself – just remember to play nice.

View the original article here

Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: January 9th 2011

This week:

The box office shows True Grit, while Season of the Witch fails to cast a spell over audiences; Will Smith and Brett Ratner are Wheeler Dealers; Diego Luna and Lukas Haas get caught with Contraband; we travel back to the 60s using Pan Am and when we get there we meet a Playboy in the Magic City; Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and John Goodman are Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Eminem commits Random Acts of Violence.

Box Office

The Coen brothers and Jeff Bridges have shown some true grit and determination with their latest effort… er… True Grit. This seems to have paid off because, according to estimates, the western has taken the top spot at the box office – defeating nearest rival Little Fockers. The remake of the John Wayne film (if that’s what you want to call it) banked $15 million over the weekend, upping its total to $110 million.

Little Fockers dropped to second place after scoring another $13.7 million. The total gross of the Ben Stiller/ Robert De Niro face-off flick is now $123.9 million.

The much maligned (and delayed) Season of the Witch (read our review) opened at number three with a gross of $10.7 million. It’s not as bad of an opening as some predicted – but it could have been a lot better considering Nicolas Cage’s star-power. Having said that, the man has been making films like they’re going out of fashion, so maybe audiences are getting Cage fatigue.

Tron: Legacy upped its cume to $147 million after grossing another $9.8 million. Meanwhile, Black Swan banked another $8.3 million and brought its total up to over $61 million.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest Country Strong brought in $7.3 million over the weekend. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but ponder the fact that it’s only playing in about half as many theatres as Season of the Witch.

The Fighter punched up another $7 million, upping its total to $57.8 million – this should grow if it bags a few of those predicted Oscar nominations.

The King’s Speech talked its total up to $33 million. The historical drama brought in another $6.8 million over the weekend.

The top ten was rounded out by Yogi Bear and Tangled. Yogi scored another $6.8 million, while the Disney film brought in a smidgen over $5 million. Their totals stand at $75 million and $175 million respectively.

Movie News

1. Paramount Pictures has just sealed the deal on Wheeler Dealers.

According to Deadline:

“It’s based on the true story of a group of Miami twenty-somethings who landed a $300 million Pentagon contract to acquire massive stockpiles of old Chinese ammunition that wound up being sent to supply the Afghan army.”

Michael Lerner will write the script for Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment and Brett Ratner’s Rat Entertainment.

Will it be a comedy,drama, or an action film? Time will tell.

Source: Deadline

2. Diego Luna and Lukas Haas have joined the cast of Mark Wahlberg’s Contraband.

Baltasar Kormákur’s directs the smuggling drama, which is a remake of his own Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam.

Kate Beckinsale, Giovani Ribisi, and Ben Foster also star in the film.

Source: What’s Playing

3. The success of Mad Men means that 60s-set dramas are now “all the rage.”

NBC has given the nod for the pilot for Playboy, according to Variety:

“The hour-long drama is set in the frisky world of 1960s Playboy clubs. Chad Hodge (Tru Calling) wrote the script, which focuses on a group of women working as Playboy bunnies in the New York club. Playboy will use that as a jumping-off point to explore the nation’s changing mores and the coming sexual revolution.”

Playboy isn’t the only new drama set in the swinging 60s. Variety also says that:

“Starz recently gave a 10-episode order to the 1960s Miami series Magic City, while ABC is developing Pan Am, centering on the airline’s wild crew in the 1960s.”

I hope that these people realize that what made Mad Men a hit was the quality of the show, and not just the period setting.

Source: Variety

4. John Goodman has joined the cast of Stephen Daldry’s adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The former Roseanne star joins Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks in the film which is sure to be Oscar bait.

“The drama centers on Oskar, a 10-year old boy who loses his father (Hanks) in the Sept. 11 attacks and goes on a cathartic journey to deal with his loss. He scours New York for information relating to the lock-box key box left behind by his father and meets an assortment of people along the way — each dealing with their own forms of grief and loss that connect and parallel his own.”

Source: THR

5. Nine years ago rap superstar Eminem made his movie debut in Curtis Hanson’s Oscar-winning 8 Mile. Despite a huge gross and critical acclaim, he didn’t seem interested in repeating that success – until now.

The rapper is set to star in Random Acts of Violence for 20th Century Fox, which is said to “center on an ex-con just released from prison who is trying to stay on the right side of the law despite pressure from his former comrades. At the same time, the FBI is trying to recruit him to bring down the syndicate.”

David Von Ancken, the director of the underrated Pierce Brosnan/Liam Neeson western Seraphim Falls and multiple episodes of Californication will direct the film.

A spokesperson for Eminem said:

“Eminem’s producing team, including his manager Paul Rosenberg, have been developing this project for some time. Everyone involved hopes that it comes to fruition and the film goes into production, but as of right now nothing is set in stone and there is no firm start date.”

Source: THR

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.

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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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