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. If the releases sound like something you want to buy, just click the link to go to amazon.com and you’ll support Cinema Blend with a few pennies. Take it or leave it, here’s the DVD Blend.
A Dirty Shame - Available as either the NC-17 version seen in theaters, or as “The Neuter Version” - a Rated-”R” edited version of the film. Either way you cut it, Tracey Ullman and Johnny Knoxville are just not two names I want to see together in a film about sex.
Click to Purchase A Dirty Shame
Click to Purchase "The Neuter Version" of A Dirty Shame
Hitch - Not to be confused with the recent song “Switch”, Wil returns to acting in this romantic comedy. Smith’s future projects include another song titled “Itch”, a halloween tv special called “Witch”, and “Bitch”, his eventual divorce hearing.
Click to Purchase Hitch (Widescreen Version)
Click to Purchase Hitch (Fullscreen Version)
Rory O’Shea Was Here - I had never heard of this movie until last week when someone brought it to my attention. I don’t really have to write any jokes about the story of a wheelchair bound punk who improves the lives of several “special people” when he arrives at their hospital. If it wasn’t for the critical acclaim the movie was drawing, I’d say the story idea was a joke all to itself.
Click to Purchase Rory O'Shea Was Here
Casino - 10th Anniversary Edition - Say what you want about Martin Scorcese, the man knows how to make great films, despite what the Oscar people might tell you. Casino is one of his best mafia tales, breaking most of the rules of traditional filmmaking, yet telling a fascinating story. Keep an eye open for cult movie lover Joe Bob Briggs, who gets a few minutes of screen time as he causes problems for Robert DeNiro.
Click to Purchase Casino - 10th Anniversary Edition
H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds - We’ve been reporting for a while about this smaller budget production of The War of the Worlds which saw a limited theatrical release and now comes out on DVD. I think it’s ballsy to release a smaller budget version of a story getting the big budget treatment. Is it worth checking out? Check back later this week and read my DVD review to find out.
Click to Purchase H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
Jaws - 30th Anniversary Edition - Of course if that hack Spielberg isn’t putting theatrical competition against the above War of the Worlds he’s getting a DVD release against them as well. This classic gets an anniversary release just in time for summer to remind everyone why they should be afraid to get into the water.
Click to Purchase Jaws - 30th Anniversary Edition
Tarzan II - Disney churns out another sequel, this time to their animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan. I’m surprisingly open minded to this one. Maybe it’s because I loved the theatrical film, maybe it’s because the commercials don’t look like second rate crap animation, or maybe because Phil Collins returns with more music. If only he could find a way to fit “Sussudio” in, my dreams would be complete.
King of Queens - Season 4 - Sorry, I can’t help it. While I usually poo-poo regurgitated sit-com crap I just can’t help but laugh at “King of Queens”. Season 4 might be more of the same thing the show had in the first three seasons, but I’ll still laugh at it.
Click to Purchase "The King of Queens - Season 4"
Northern Exposure - Season 3 - Finally, a true season for “Northern Exposure” fans. The first two season releases only had a handful of episodes due to short runs on television, but the third season is where the show finally picked up and took off. Unfortunately it appears Universal may have continued the trend from the second set, leaving out the original music in favor of cheaper music that’ll make money for the studio, but leave fans disappointed.
