Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 10/14http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-10-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-10-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-10-14/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The big release this week is, undoubtedly, the latest adventures of Indiana Jones. There are so many fan goodies involved with this release, that you can check out our previous two posts for specifics -- one for the disc extras and one for the collectible extras. As for the film itself -- it's gotten a lot of banter about its plusses and minuses, but in the end, it's still 77% fresh. So basically, this is a Buy It if you're an Indy fan, and a Rent It, if you're not sure.

War, Inc.
This is the feature that plagues me. It has John Cusack. It was co-written by the wildly insane, talented, and fun Mark Leyner. Nevertheless, War, Inc. failed to impress. You know you've got to worry when a review starts with: "What do you say when a film is so bad that you actually feel physical pain for everyone involved?" So, I say with a heavy heart: Skip It.

Y.P.F -- aka -- Young People F**king
This is merely a funny and mostly honest look at sex, but with a title that flings out the F-bomb, it's gotten a whole slew of drama ranging from political movements to Ebert responses. But when it comes down to it, the Canadian comedy is funny, but it's not shockingly racy and has barely any nudity. You'll see more jaw-dropping sex and skin on True Blood. Buy It!

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 10/14

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsfeaturedIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullIndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkullWar Inc.WarInc.Young People FuckingYoungPeopleFuckingMonika BartyzelTue, 14 Oct 2008 09:32:00 ESTDon't Fear the Subs: Stunning Vietnamese 'Rebel' Actionhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/dont-fear-the-subs-stunning-vietnamese-rebel-action/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/dont-fear-the-subs-stunning-vietnamese-rebel-action/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/dont-fear-the-subs-stunning-vietnamese-rebel-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Rebel on DVD from Dragon DynastyImagine Spider-Man murdering a young boy. The Rebel isn't a revisionist superhero movie, but it does star Johnny Nguyen, who was the masked stunt double for Spider-Man and Green Goblin in two of Sam Raimi's web-spinning adventures. Here Nguyen plays Cuong, an enforcer for the French exploiters in 1920s Vietnam. Anti-colonial protests have been gaining force and exerting pressure upon the ruling French, and Cuong is expected to help put them down. Caught up in his violent duties, Cuong kills a boy almost without realizing what he's done. He feels instant, piercing regret, as though the guilt for all his sins has come crashing down upon him. His remorse becomes a galvanizing force that pushes him to stop shedding the blood of his own people.

To begin, he tries to help a young rebel escape torture and certain death. The beautiful Thuy (Veronica Ngo, AKA Ngo Thanh Van) is important to both sides: her father is leader of the anti-government movement. She is understandably wary about Cuong's true intentions. Just as he's making headway in convincing her of his sincerity, his cynical, ambitious overlord Sy (Dustin Nguyen, of 21 Jump Street fame, who's never been better) appears. Sy is less interested in Cuong's allegiance than in the possibility that he can lead him to Thuy's father.

While the story is riddled with contrivances and genre conventions, the action sequences set the film apart. Johnny Nguyen is flat-out amazing in his grace and control, while Dustin Nguyen more than holds his own in close-quarters fighting. Floating like a butterfly but stinging like a bee, Veronica Ngo, a dancer/model/singer/actress, looks extremely convincing as she fiercely defends her friends and her honor. Oh, and she's a babe and a half.

Continue reading Don't Fear the Subs: Stunning Vietnamese 'Rebel' Action

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]]>charlie nguyenCharlieNguyendragon dynastyDragonDynastydustin nguyenDustinNguyenjohnny nguyenJohnnyNguyenngo thanh vanNgoThanhVanthe rebelTheRebelveronica ngoVeronicaNgoPeter MartinFri, 03 Oct 2008 19:15:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/30http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-30/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-30/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-30/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Iron Man
At the risk of drawing the ire of Batfans everywhere, I'll just come out and say it: Iron Man is the best my favorite superhero movie of the year. (Dear Comic-Con: Please don't revoke my press pass.) Dark Knight is indeed brilliant, and brilliantly dark, but Iron Man is just so much more ... fun (AND it has social messages!). Poor Jeff Bridges may not hold a candle to the late Heath Ledger in the villain department, but Iron Man wins out elsewhere. Its characters are colorful and layered, its action is supremely stylish and never overbearing (unlike Transformers, even in its hot metal-on-metal action) and thanks to sensibilities of Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau, it's flat-out funny. Man-crush alert: Downey Jr. is fast on his way to becoming an acting icon, right up there with Al Pacino and Jared from Subway. Buy it!!!
(Available in both single disc and two-disc special edition)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The latest from Camp Apatow stars a far-too-naked Jason Segel, an almost unrecognizably sexy Mila Kunis 2.0, a scene-stealing Russell Brand, and Kristen Bell. The film definitely has its moments, but I'm just not sold on Segel as a leading man, who seems to equate "comedic skill" with "revealing your junk." And as much as we enjoy rooting for a lovable loser, at some point in the movie it helps if he stops moaning, crying and being generally so extremely pathetic. After Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder and The Happening, Sarah Marshall will have to settle for being the fourth funniest movie so far this year. Rent it, or buy it in the discount bin (Available in both single disc and two-disc collector's edition)

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/30

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]]>BiggerFasterfeaturedForgetting Sarah MarshallForgettingSarahMarshallIron ManIronManNew DVD ReleasesNewDvdReleasesStrongerTaxi to the Dark SideTaxiToTheDarkSideKevin PolowyTue, 30 Sep 2008 15:32:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/23http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-23/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-23/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-23/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sex and the City
MAIN PICKS AND MISSES

Sex and the City (Pick)
Leatherheads (Miss)
Run Fat Boy Run (Miss)
Deception (Miss)
Pathology (Miss)

INDIES ON DVD
Foot Fist Way, Mother of Tears

BLU-RAY
Sex and the City, Leatherheads, Deception, The Godfather, LA Confidential, Blow, Madagascar, Shrek the Third

COLLECTOR'S CORNER
The Godfather collection, High School Musical 2: Collector's Edition, LA Confidential Special Edition

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/23

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]]>deceptionfeaturedleatherheadspathologyrun fat boy runRunFatBoyRunsex and the citySexAndTheCityRaven SnookWed, 24 Sep 2008 20:15:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/16http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/16/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-16/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/16/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-16/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/16/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-9-16/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



There's a slew of new releases hitting shelves this week. Some are flashy, some are sweet, and some you should be ashamed if you spend your hard-earned money on them. As Peter said last week, we're still working out kinks in the new format, so weigh in below with your thoughts.

MAIN PICKS AND MISSES
Speed Racer (Pick)
Made of Honor (Miss)
The Love Guru (Miss)
The Babysitters (Miss)

INDIES ON DVD
Young@Heart, Finding Amanda, Harold, Snow Angels

BLU-RAY
Speed Racer, Hulk (2003), The Mist

COLLECTOR'S CORNER
High School Flashback Collection, Risky Business Deluxe Edition, and more!

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/16

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsfeaturednew DVDsNewDvdsSpeed RacerSpeedRacerMonika BartyzelTue, 16 Sep 2008 08:32:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'The Promotion' & 'Monster Camp'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/02/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-promotion-and-monster-camp/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/02/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-promotion-and-monster-camp/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/02/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-promotion-and-monster-camp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Promotion
After Dane Cook's Employee of the Month ripped out our interest in office-led comedies and stomped on it, The Promotion was a welcome breath of fresh air that has become a comedic emblem over here at Cinematical. It's graced a top films of 2008 list, popped up in a few fan rants, and has been part of a lot of multimedia. And now, after a modest release, the comedy is on DVD.

Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly play supermarket workers who vie for the same management position in a new store. Scott is told that he's a shoo-in for the gig, which will be nestled near his neighborhood, while Reilly is a new hire straight out of Quebec who is eager for the position. They fall into an insane battle of one-upmanship. In Scott's review, he said: "I just watched it with a jam-packed house at SXSW -- and these folks were laughing like nitrous oxide had just been pumped into the air ducts."

The disc features deleted scenes, a commentary with writer/director Steven Conrad and producers Jessika Borsiczky Goyer and Steven A. Jones, a making-off featurette, promotional webisodes, and finally, outtakes.

Check out Scott's Review | Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'The Promotion' & 'Monster Camp'

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsMonster CampMonster Camp DVDMonsterCampMonsterCampDvdThe PromotionThe Promotion DVDThePromotionThePromotionDvdMonika BartyzelTue, 02 Sep 2008 14:02:00 ESTDVD Peek: Slacker Indifference in 'Team Picture'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/27/dvd-peek-slacker-indifference-in-team-picture/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/27/dvd-peek-slacker-indifference-in-team-picture/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/27/dvd-peek-slacker-indifference-in-team-picture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Team Picture trailer


Just last week I received the latest release from the critic-led Benten Films -- Kentucker Audley's mumblecore film Team Picture, which comes out on DVD today. Imagine a Slacker sort of world with everyday life and a collection of varied people, but without the rolling conversation of UFOs and Like a Virgin pap smears.

Audley's style is to show a more realistic life without the allure of stars or irresistably charismatic actors. He leads the film as a slacker musician who really encapsulates the ideas of slackerdom in every area of life -- indifferent to his girlfriend's unhappiness, the need for a future path, and even the quirks of his roommate. While not for moviegoers looking for a fast-paced, tightly written story, Team Picture does have some charm as a sort of dead-pan voyeuristic look into modern slackers. Check out the video above to see what I mean.

The DVD has a commentary, a new epilogue, a short film, music performances, deleted scenes, trailer, and an essay by Nick Dawson.

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]]>CinematicalKentucker AudleyKentuckerAudleyTeam PictureTeamPictureMonika BartyzelWed, 27 Aug 2008 17:33:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Nightmare Before Christmas' & 'Lynch'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-nightmare-before-christmas-and-lynch/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-nightmare-before-christmas-and-lynch/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-nightmare-before-christmas-and-lynch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Last week, I alerted you to a few sneak previews for the new Collector's Edition of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and now you can see the discs in all their glory for yourselves!

The stop-motion classic stars Chris Sarandon as the voice of Jack Skellington -- the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown. He gets bored with the town's work of scaring humans on Halloween, and when he accidentally falls into Christmas and sees all the good tidings, he comes back with a plan to nab Santa and have Christmas Halloween-style. This, of course, leads to a whole big mess of kidnapping and stolen paramours.

Being a real Collector's Edition (and not a crappy re-release preying on our collector mindsets), there's a ton of special features to enjoy. There's a commentary, a tour of the Haunted Mansion done up for a holiday tour, a featurette on the seasonal transformation, Tim Burton's original poem narrated by Christopher Lee, and a making-of featurette -- just on the first disc! The second mainly includes the goodies from the previous release. There's Frankenweenie, Vincent, deleted scenes,art galleries and animation tests, a storyboard/film comparison, and a selection of posters and trailers. The blu-ray disc only offers an extra 30-second intro, but the ultimate contains a digital copy on a third disc, plus funky keepsake packaging and collectible extras.

Check out Patrick's Review | Buy the Collector's Edition DVD, the Ultimate Set, or the Blu-Ray disc

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Nightmare Before Christmas' & 'Lynch'

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsLynchThe Nightmare Before ChristmasTheNightmareBeforeChristmasMonika BartyzelTue, 26 Aug 2008 18:33:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Please Vote for Me' and 'Wizard of Gore'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/19/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-please-vote-for-me-and-wizard-of-g/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/19/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-please-vote-for-me-and-wizard-of-g/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/19/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-please-vote-for-me-and-wizard-of-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's a slow week, packed mainly with television box sets, but there are a few little-known films you might want to check out.

Please Vote for Me
This was a film that I was dying to see at TIFF last year, but scheduling conflicts kept me from it. Luckily, the highly praised Please Vote for Me is now hitting DVD shelves.

Imagine a group of third-grade students putting Tracy Flick to shame as they hold a democratic election for school monitor. In my day (man, that phrase makes me feel old...), school elections boiled down to some crappy posters and speeches, all resulting in a popularity contest. These Chinese students, however, have taken a cue from the political bigwigs. We're talking political consultants, polling, and exploitation -- basically a real election full of tiny tots.

Unfortunately, the only extra on this release is a theatrical trailer, but considering the reviews and how purely awesome this film sounds, I bet it's still worth it.

Check Out Ryan Stewart's Review | Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Please Vote for Me' and 'Wizard of Gore'

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]]>CinematicalPlease Vote for MePlease Vote for Me DVDPleaseVoteForMePleaseVoteForMeDvdWizard of GoreWizard of Gore DVDWizardOfGoreWizardOfGoreDvdMonika BartyzelTue, 19 Aug 2008 11:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Brand Upon the Brain!' & 'CJ7'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/12/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-brand-upon-the-brain-and-cj7/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/12/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-brand-upon-the-brain-and-cj7/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/12/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-brand-upon-the-brain-and-cj7/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Brand Upon the Brain!
If you ever loved the artistry of David Lynch, but thought his films were too dark and incomprehensible, there's Guy Maddin to ride in on a sea of comedic absurdity. With his silent film Brand Upon the Brain! he did something entirely different -- he created the ultimate live theater experience, one that can never be replicated at home unless you're ridiculously rich with a live orchestra, group of foley artists, a celebrity narrator, and a castrato at your disposal. But even still, this Criterion release does a fine job of coming close.

But first, the plot. The film focuses on a young Guy Maddin as he lives on a remote island that holds a lonely orphanage. His mother reigns with an iron fist and peeping watchtower while trying to reverse the weariness of age with her strange, scientist husband. Meanwhile, one of the orphans dies, strange holes are found on some of the kids, and some teen detectives come to investigate, all in the pulsing throb of teenage rebellion and sexuality.

While you can't create the live experience at home, Criterion has done everything possible to make this disc like the live experience. Each screening across Canada and the states had a celebrity narrator, and this disc allows you to choose between the seven narrators, which essentially gives you seven different ways to view the film -- from Maddin himself to Isabella Rossellini, John Ashbery, and Crispin Glover. There's also a documentary with interviews, two new short films, deleted scenes, a trailer, and an essay by Dennis Lim.

Check out James Rocchi's Review | Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Brand Upon the Brain!' & 'CJ7'

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]]>Brand Upon the BrainBRand Upon the Brain DvdBrandUponTheBrainBrandUponTheBrainDvdCinematicalCJ7CJ7DVDGuy MaddinGuyMaddinStephen chowStephenChowMonika BartyzelTue, 12 Aug 2008 12:02:00 ESTNew DVD Pick of the Week: 'Nim's Island'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/new-dvd-pick-of-the-week-nims-island/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/new-dvd-pick-of-the-week-nims-island/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/new-dvd-pick-of-the-week-nims-island/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The movie DVD choices from this week's release schedule are quite scarce, but there is Abigail Breslin swinging in to save the day.

Nim's Island
In the vein of classic family adventure scenarios, Breslin stars as Nim, a young girl who lives with her scientist father on a far-off tropical island. Life is idyllic until Nim's dad (Gerard Butler) is stranded far away leaving Nim to not only survive on her own, but also fight off the tour companies that threaten her island home. But she needs help and unknowingly turns to the worst person for the job -- the agoraphobic author (Jodie Foster) of her favorite literary adventure character, Alex Rover.

The DVD has a healthy amount of features for those looking to dip behind the scenes. You can choose between two commentaries -- one with Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, and the other with directors/writers Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. There's also 3 featurettes, a piece called "Abigail's Journey and Working on Water," and finally, deleted scenes.

Read Jeffrey M. Anderson's Review | Buy the DVD

Other New DVD Releases (August 5)

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder
Heavy Metal
Miss Conception
Wasted

Be sure to visit Peter's Indies on DVD for more new releases this week.

Continue reading New DVD Pick of the Week: 'Nim's Island'

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]]>Abigail BreslinAbigailBreslinCinematicalDVD REcommendationsDvdRecommendationsNims IslandNims Island DVDNimsIslandNimsIslandDvdMonika BartyzelTue, 05 Aug 2008 11:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Spaced' & 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/22/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-spaced-and-robot-chicken-star-wars/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/22/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-spaced-and-robot-chicken-star-wars/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/22/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-spaced-and-robot-chicken-star-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is a pretty slow week for DVDs, but there are two more TV-themed releases just perfect for the movie world with slices of celebs and Star Wars content.

Spaced
Tim and Daisy are two strangers who meet while trying to find a new place to live. When they find the perfect apartment, one that requests a couple, they fake it and move in together. The pair try to keep this from the alcoholic landlady while dealing with their dysfunctional romantic lives and spending time with downstairs neighbor Brian, Tim's best friend Mike, and Daisy's best friend, Twist. It sounds fun enough, but add in a ton of geeky cultural references, and names like Jessica Hynes, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, and then the rabid fandom starts to make sense.

While it's a number of years old, Spaced has created a whirlwind in the last year -- one that has stretched well beyond its UK borders. And now, finally, we've got the saucy new DVD. You've probably heard about this release over the last few months, because it's not your everyday DVD release. It's a star-studded event.

The packed disc offers not only commentary from people like Pegg, Hynes, and Frost, but also commentaries from Diablo Cody, Matt Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and Kevin Smith, plus Pegg teaming up with a few others -- Patton Oswalt and Bill Hader. There's also biographies, homage-o-meter, teasers, outtakes, featurettes, alternate endings... and even more.

Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Spaced' & 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars'

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsRobot ChickenRobot Chicken Star WarsRobot Chicken Star Wars DVDRobotChickenRobotChickenStarWarsRobotChickenStarWarsDvdSpacedSpaced DVDSpacedDvdMonika BartyzelTue, 22 Jul 2008 17:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'The Bank Job' and 'Meet Bill'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/15/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-bank-job-and-meet-bill/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/15/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-bank-job-and-meet-bill/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/15/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-the-bank-job-and-meet-bill/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Bank Job
It sounds like your run of the mill caper movie. It stars Jason Statham, which means that it could go either way. Yet this flick fell safely on the positive scale -- nabbing itself a 78% fresh rating. Our Jeffrey M. Anderson said of the film: "The Bank Job doesn't add anything new to the genre, but it delivers everything we loved about it in the first place."

Statham plays a hustler in debt named Terry who is trying to even the playing field and go on with life in 1971. One day, an old friend and model (Saffron Burrows) pops by with a tasty, albeit illegal, proposition -- there's a bank that is getting its alarms changed, leaving it open for a nice case of robbery. However, instead of taking the monetary goods, they'll hit the safe deposit boxes. Terry does it, but ends up coming across a lot of dirty secrets that reach from the mob to the British government. Oh yes, and it's a true-ish story.

On the 2-disc DVD, you can sift through a commentary with director Roger Donaldson, Saffron Burrows, and composer J. Peter Robinson, plus deleted/extended scenes, and a few featurettes -- "Inside The Bank Job" and "The Baker Street Bank Raid." The first tackles details about the film, while the other tackles the real crime for those curiosu about historical particulars.

Check out Jeffrey's Review | Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'The Bank Job' and 'Meet Bill'

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsMeet BillMeet Bill DVDMeetBillMeetBillDvdThe Bank JobThe Bank Job DVDTheBankJobTheBankJobDvdMonika BartyzelTue, 15 Jul 2008 14:02:00 ESTDVD Review: Stop Losshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



When Kimberly Peirce gave us Boys Don't Cry, it was a critical explosion. She came, she moved us, and Hilary Swank came out of it with an Oscar. The film raised our expectations, and they rested there as Peirce moved out of the spotlight and worked behind the camera. The wait lasted almost a decade, but after nine years, she was finally back with Stop Loss -- another film in the cinematic, Iraq War whirlwind. While it was destined to fall under the weight of Iraq apathy, it was another example of Peirce's commitment to personal stories.

Stop Loss is the fictional account of a real problem: over a hundred thousand soldiers have been denied release when their time in Iraq is up. Instead of best wishes, they're sent back to Iraq, and life beyond the war's struggles becomes a distant, vague hope, rather than a present reality. Ryan Phillipe stars as Sgt. Brandon King, a man who is headed towards the end of his time in Iraq, or so he thinks. First, his unit is tricked and attacked. He loses some of his men, and struggles with the realities of warfare -- dead friends, and the fact that no matter how hard you try, innocent people will fall in the fight.

Continue reading DVD Review: Stop Loss

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]]>Channing TatumChanningTatumCinematicalJoseph Gordon LevittJosephGordonLevittKimberly PeirceKimberlyPeirceRyan PhillippeRyanPhillippeStop LossStopLossMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Gotham Knight' & 'Batman Begins'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Batman: Gotham Knight
Like the Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight is a collection of filler stories. Created by the hands of different writers and animators, Gotham Knight was made to bridge the gap between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. But it's not just a collection of adventure stories -- these blips into Gotham take the story from all sides -- the villains that wreak havoc, the police whose work is interfered with, the kids who spot him in action, and even Bruce Wayne working with Lucius Fox on gadgetry. Be prepared for the look to be different -- this isn't your ordinary looking Batman -- but there are also nods to the past. Kevin Conroy voices Batman in this collection, just like he has for many years now on the animated series.

Of course, no true special release can be free of features, and Gotham Knight is no exception for this 2-disc release. On the first, you get a disc-wide commentary with Kevin Conroy, Dennis O'Neil, and Gregory Noveck (it pours through each episode) and a good preview of the upcoming animated Wonder Woman. On the second, you also get a long documentary called "A Mirror for the Bat" that discusses the character and the villains he fights, another called "Batman and Me, a Devotion to Destiny: The Bob Kane Story," and some final extras that focus on Batman: The Animated Series.

Further information on this release can be found, in-depth, at DVDTalk.

Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Gotham Knight' & 'Batman Begins'

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]]>Batman BeginsBatman Begins DVDBatman Gotham KnightBatman Gotham Knight DVDBatmanBeginsBatmanBeginsDvdBatmanGothamKnightBatmanGothamKnightDvdCinematicalGotham KnightGothamKnightMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 12:02:00 ESTDVD Review: Flakeshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/07/dvd-review-flakes/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/07/dvd-review-flakes/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/07/dvd-review-flakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Flakes is a neighborhood breakfast fantasy -- a funky, retro shop dedicated to cereal. You walk in, pick your crunch of choice, and are instantly served a bowl of cereal that you can enjoy with the quirky members of your community. But it's not all Corn Flakes and Cheerios -- there's a large wall of selections from the new to the old, discontinued, and hard-to-find varieties. It's history in a bowl, served without the capitalist cleanliness.

In a film, there's a number of ways this can play out that could make for a memorable and lovable indie experience. However, while Flakes mixes the worlds of High Fidelity, Reality Bites, Clerks, and Empire Records, it does so without the verve and life that made each of those lovable classics.

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]]>Aaron StanfordAaronStanfordChris PocheChrisPocheChristopher LloydChristopherLloydCinematicalFlakesKarey KirkpatrickKareyKirkpatrickMichael LehmanMichaelLehmanZooey DeschanelZooeyDeschanelMonika BartyzelMon, 07 Jul 2008 21:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Sex and Death 101' & 'My Blueberry Nights'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-sex-and-death-101-and-my-blueberry-n/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-sex-and-death-101-and-my-blueberry-n/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-sex-and-death-101-and-my-blueberry-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sex and Death 101
Finally! I've been waiting eons for Sex and Death 101 to hit the shelves -- ever since there was news that writer Daniel Waters was not only taking another stab at directing, but that he would be reteaming with Winona Ryder. Sure, it wouldn't have her digging into her blue clothes for more Veronica Sawyer, but I take what I can get.

Simon Baker stars as an executive and ladies man whose world is thrown into upheaval by the appearance of an e-mail -- one that includes the names of all the women he's had sex with, plus all the women he will canoodle in the future. Ryder, meanwhile, is "Death Nell," a femme fatale who targets men guilty of sex crimes. Other faces that pop up include Leslie Bibb, Julie Bowen, Sophie Monk, Mindy Cohn (yes, that Cohn), Dash Mihok, Patton Oswalt, and Neil Flynn.

The release includes a commentary with Waters, plus a featurette called "101 Perversions."

Seeing that this is the 20th anniversary for Heathers as well, Anchor Bay is also releasing the 20th High School Reunion Edition today.

Check out Scott's review | Buy the DVD

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]]>CinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsMy Blueberry NightsMy Blueberry Nights DVDMyBlueberryNightsMyBlueberryNightsDvdSex and Death 101Sex and Death 101 DVDSexAndDeath101SexAndDeath101DvdMonika BartyzelTue, 01 Jul 2008 08:02:00 ESTDVD Review: Futurama -- The Beast With a Billion Backshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/dvd-review-futurama-the-beast-with-a-billion-backs/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/dvd-review-futurama-the-beast-with-a-billion-backs/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/dvd-review-futurama-the-beast-with-a-billion-backs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With two of four Futurama movies now behind me, I think I have the formula figured out. If the first flick -- the very amusing Bender's Big Score! -- was a patchwork and episodic affair, then at least it was a choppy good time. It was great seeing the old Planet Express crew in their resurrected form, but since the film was made with perforations ... it was a little bit of a mess. (Basically, each of the four new Futurama flicks were made to be split into four television episodes apiece. And it really shows.)

So there's my biggest and most basic complaint about Bender's Big Score! and doubly so for Movie #2: The Beast With a Billion Backs. That the writers and producers were asked to create four modular-style movies when the fans were pretty much expecting "normal" movies. The kind with three cohesive acts and what-not. Such is definitely not the case with the first two Futurama flicks -- and I expect that it's a slight malady that will continue across Bender's Game and Into the Wild Green Yonder.

So with that obvious complaint out of the way, I can also say that Futurama Movie #2 is really funny, chock-full of unexpected surprises, stunningly animated, and an absolute treat for the old-school fans. If the movie feels more like four inter-connected mini-stories than one big "movie movie," then oh well. It's still great to see the Futurama gang back in action. Especially because they're still so damn funny.

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]]>dvd movieDvdMoviefunnyfuturamamatt groeningMattGroeningreviewthe beast with a billion backsTheBeastWithABillionBacksScott WeinbergThu, 26 Jun 2008 11:02:00 ESTDVD Review: The Free Willhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/dvd-review-the-free-will/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/dvd-review-the-free-will/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/dvd-review-the-free-will/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The word is a powerful tool that offers precise communication, as well as removal. But cinema is not about the word, it's about the scene. Matthias Glasner's The Free Will removes many of the words, and most of the padding that allows viewers a cushioned safety zone, leaving us to see, experience, and feel the pain and drama on screen in a way that forces us not to fall for cinematic tricks and clever writing.

The Free Will is the story of a rapist, Theo (Jürgen Vogel). However, instead of merely discussing his crimes and moving on, or revealing a carefully edited flashback, we're served the full, brutal force of his crimes. Much of the first half hour is a detailed account of one of his rapes -- no voiceovers, no chance for removal -- just the cries of his victim as he grabs her, savagely beats her, and sexually assaults her. It's a horrific scene to watch, and something that should definitely be missed by those with their own personal assault triggers, but this scene does serve a purpose. It makes rape real -- more than a word, and something you cannot ignore, no matter where the film takes you. It's not a removed crime like Kevin Bacon's portrayal of pedophilia in The Woodsman, where it's easier to sympathize with his character since the crimes are off-screen. We see Theo's crime, feel it, and know that what comes isn't just a simple love story.

Yes, this is the story of a man who is sent away for rape, and once he's released after almost ten years, tries to find love and live a normal life.

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]]>CinematicalDer Freie WilleDerFreieWilleJurgen VogelJurgenVogelMatthias GlasnerMatthiasGlasnerThe Free WillTheFreeWillMonika BartyzelTue, 24 Jun 2008 17:02:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Charlie Bartlett' and 'Definitely, Maybe'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-charlie-bartlett-and-definitely-m/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-charlie-bartlett-and-definitely-m/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-charlie-bartlett-and-definitely-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Charlie Bartlett
It was set to come out in August, a darkly comic, drug-filled teaser to the impending back-to-school September. Then the film got bumped to February, and slid in and out of theaters with barely a second glance. This is too bad, because we're talking about a flick free of the booze and boobs teen movie mentality, and one that stars Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, and Kat Dennings.

Charlie Bartlett is the story of a spoiled, ignored rich kid (Yelchin). With a mother (Davis) who is troubled and heavily medicated, he runs rampant with his own brand of living -- an Igby character with the talents of Veronica Mars. But when he's ravaged the available private schools, he gets sent to the public variety, where he ends up becoming not only a prescription drug dealer, but a pseudo psychiatrist. All would be well in this new gig, save for the fact that he's dating the principal's (Downey Jr.) daughter (Dennings), and the principal wants to bring him down.

It might have sneaked by without a glance, but the Charlie Bartlett disc offers a decent collection of features. First, there are two commentaries -- one is director Jon Poll with writer Gustin Nash, and the other is Poll with stars Yelchin and Dennings. There is also a Restroom Confessional featurette, and a music video for "Voodoo" by Spiral Beach.

Check out Erik's Review | Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Charlie Bartlett' and 'Definitely, Maybe'

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]]>Charlie BarlettCharlie Bartlett DVDCharlieBarlettCharlieBartlettDvdCinematicalDefinitely MaybeDefinitely Maybe DVDDefinitelyMaybeDefinitelyMaybeDvdDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsMonika BartyzelTue, 24 Jun 2008 12:02:00 EST