Each week DVDs come out. Some of them are worth your time and money and some aren’t. Some of them are movies I’ve seen, and some of them aren’t. Regardless, I give you my opinion on the big releases of the week. Take it or leave it, here’s the DVD Blend.
Are We There Yet? - I’m trying to figure out what makes everyone go to Ice Cube for roles these days. It’s almost as if he’s just a catch all. Can’t get Vin Diesel? Get Ice Cube. Can’t get Denzel Washington? Get Ice Cube. For this film the Cube man takes on a mix of the roles played by Ed O’Neill in Dutch and John Ritter in Problem Child. The thing is, those movies weren’t all that funny, so why rehash that material into yet another movie? Maybe the director’s commentary or the featurettes on this DVD release will explain it. Still, for a movie that was called a train wreck by the Cinema Blend staff, Are We There Yet? remained in theaters for a while. Check back later this week to see if we have a better experience with the DVD release.
The Aviator - Argh! Marty Scorsese has been robbed of his Oscar yet again! What does the man have to do to prove he is one of the century’s best directors. Not only does he prove Leonardo DiCaprio is an extremely talented actor (take that Leo naysayers!) but he molds a fascinating (true) story about Howard Hughes, one of the strangest and most disturbed men ever to hit the spotlight. Changing his film style to mimic the era of the story, Scorsese pays tribute to the evolution of film and flight as well as the real people his actors portray within the movie. Despite not winning an Oscar (I demand a recount! ) Warners Brothers is giving the film the royal treatment, with a two disc release (available in widescreen or fullscreen) full of extras that focus on both the movie and the reality of Howard Hughes.
Everybody Loves Raymond Series Finale - Last week the tears rolled and the nation mourned the loss of one of its favorite sitcoms as Ray Barone and company walked into the sunset. However, before the tears can dry the final episode is coming out on DVD for the three people who didn’t tune in and watch the finale, or for the four people who just can’t let go of bland, formulaic sitcoms. I don’t get how a studio can have a DVD release like this just over a week after the episode aired, but can’t offer affordably priced torrents of their own shows. I know I’ve gone down that tangent before but this really is just proving my point. As an extra, the disc contains the pilot episode as well, although its likely anyone who’s going to buy this already has that in the first season DVD set.
Fox Double Dip (with sprinkles) - Fox basically commits the unforgivable DVD sin this week with new DVD releases of last year’s hits I, Robot, The Day After Tomorrow, and Man on Fire. All three of these movies saw not only their theatrical release, but also DVD releases as well, so rereleasing these so soon is pretty ridiculous. I personally didn’t check out the I, Robot or Man on Fire, but I know one of my major complaints in my Day After Tomorrow review was the lack of extras. The only real featurette material was only available through exclusive web content, which I griped should have been on the DVD. I’d almost bet money that same featurette will now be on the disc as part of this 2-disc “collectors edition”. As much as I’d like to see decent releases for these discs, I’m passing them by. I’d rather not have a DVD with extras then promote studios getting away with blatant double dipping like this.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie - I’m not in the least bit surprised by yet another sequel to a popular Disney franchise, particularly the super-popular Pooh franchise which should about have A.A. Milne rolling in his grave by now. What does surprise me is that Disney attempted a theatrical release on this one first. Direct to video sequels seem to be the Mouse-House’s specialty these days. If only that power could be used for good, or at the very least put towards creating new products instead of squeezing all the blood out of Pooh, Tigger, and now Heffalups. The poor heffalumps, which haunted Pooh’s nightmares in the original Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh now get a sympathetic face painted on as they come front and center. Hmmm, maybe the folks over at Disney have been talking to George Lucas.
TV on DVD - Magnum, B.A. Baracus, and K.I.T.T. came by a couple of weeks ago with a united 80’s-action release date for their second seasons, which means Airwolf is flying in late with its first season release. Better tell Earnest Borgnine so he can ramp up the engines. Dave Chappelle may be missing in action, but that’s not stopping Comedy Central from releasing the second season of The Chappelle Show, which originally was supposed to be timed for the start of his third season. Everyone’s fifth favorite Vulcan, Kirstie Alley, brings her Fat Actress to the table this week, which I still think is more of a reality show than a sitcom. Saving the best for last, Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Steven Root and Andy Dick have never made watching a radio so much fun in the first and second season releases of NewsRadio.
