“EASTERN PROMISES”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, R for frontal nudity, language, gruesome violence and graphic sexuality
Best extra: "Marked for Life" taped in hi-def is an exploration of the importance of tattoos in the Russian mafia – each one telling part of a man's life story – something that plays a significant role in the film.
NAOMI WATTS AND VIGGO MORTENSEN are brilliant as a midwife and a mob driver/corpse cleaner, respectively. The two become tangled as Watts discovers a diary of a young girl who dies after delivering a baby.
The girl's journal, written in Russian, reveals that she'd been forced into prostitution by the mob family that Mortensen's character works for. Even worse, Watts' character unwittingly brings the diary to be translated by the crime circle's boss – who the book says raped and impregnated the girl. It's a dark, chilling tale told and filmed masterfully.
Sadly, the HD/DVD comb disc extras are as bad as the movie is good. There are only two added features on the single-disc release. Absent are such standards as director's commentary, deleted scenes and a making-of piece. On the plus side, the HD picture is superior to the DVD.
The tattoo featurette – which is solid but short – and "Secrets and Stories," also in HD, only with brief bit with director David Cronenberg, who talks about taking Steven Wright's script to the screen.
The film will make you think, but the HD/DVD disc will make you wonder.
— Kyle Tucker
“THE KINGDOM”
HD widescreen and standard-def widescreen, 2007, R for intense sequences of graphic, brutal violence and for language
Best extra: An interactive mission dossier, exclusively on the HD disc, pinpoints investigative notes and background intelligence and provides a cultural guide throughout the movie.
FOR THE FIRST 120 seconds, director Peter Berg demands we take a history lesson. “We came to realize, people didn’t understand U.S. and Saudi relations,” he says during the commentary of his action-packed political thriller. The visual timeline chronicles Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, from its birth in 1932, to the monarchy condemning the 15 Saudi hijackers involved in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
The young director filmed for two weeks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and finished in Scottsdale, Ariz., using his trademark handheld camera. It puts viewers right in the middle of the action but excessive camera movement can be alarming. Motion sickness pills may be required, especially if you’re sitting super close watching the hi-def version.
A devastating terrorist attack at an oil company compound brings in the FBI’s Rapid Deployment Team led by Jamie Foxx with Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman. Palestinian actor Ashraf Barhom provides an emotional performance as Col. Faris Al Ghazi. He is assigned to escort the Americans, but quickly joins the hunt to sniff out the terrorists.
The HD/DVD comb disc includes deleted scenes in HD, pop-up video commentary with Berg, interviews and plenty of behind-the-scenes footage. You’ll also find a making-of documentary in standard-def and four different edits following the FBI agents into a climatic apartment building shootout.
— Bill Kelley III
“RUSH HOUR 3”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for language, irreverent humor
Best extra: The deleted scenes and an alternate ending all available in hi-def. Both can be seen individually or all together (with or without commentary by director Brett Ratner and screenwriter Jeff Nathanson).
CHRIS TUCKER AND JACKIE Chan are back. Well, to a point. Tucker (Detective James Carter) has been demoted to simple traffic cop, while Chan (Inspector Lee) protects Chinese Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma reprising his role, from the first movie). Han speaks to an international criminal court, which could bring down the Triad mafia. The planned revelation is thwarted by an assassination attempt. Tucker forces himself into the situation, and, by now, you get the picture. Yes?
The Blu-ray disc includes top-notch picture and sound, but an unimpressive video commentary with Ratner and Nathanson – featuring only a few storyboards and behind-the-scenes footage.
The second disc is loaded with hours of extras all taped in HD. “The Making of Rush Hour 3” documentary runs for 90 minutes, divided into chapters, from writing to post-production. A 60-minute “Production Diary” highlights the action thriller from start to finish in Paris and Los Angeles, and, “Visual FX Reel” demonstrates the Eiffel Tower fight sequence, with plenty of seamless CGI.
The “Rush Hour” franchise continues as disposable, fun action flicks with enough stunts and gun battles to keep you from falling asleep.
— Cliff Redding
“ONCE”
Enhanced widescreen, R for language
Best extra: In addition to the regular commentary track writer/director and two leads, they offer a series of commentaries on the film’s musical numbers.
“ONCE” HAS POPPED up on a number of ten-best lists of films for the year. Expect to see it on a few more before the end of the year. This shaggy tale of a down-on-his-luck busker and an intriguing immigrant woman who strike up an unlikely relationship is a surprisingly moving and simple tale.
It also has the honor of being a fairly unique musical – yes, the characters still put their heart out on their sleeves through song – but it’s somehow grounded in a quiet, recognizable reality. You won’t miss the Technicolor gloss or unseen orchestra blaring away.
Played by non-actors, Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard, lead singer of the Frames, the duo is measurable on a human scale. They leave the strong emoting to the songs, which they also wrote. Director John Carney simple photography matches the film’s-down-to earth feel.
It’s an absolute gem.
— David Putney
“THE HEARTBREAK KID”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2007, Rated R for strong sexual content, crude humor and language
Best extra: The gag reel is infinitely funnier than the film.
NO MATTER HOW HARD they try, the Farrelly brothers can’t recapture the magic of their hit comedy “There’s Something About Mary.” After the failures of “Shallow Hal” and “Stuck on You,” the brothers, for no particular reason, have decided to remake the comedy classic directed by Elaine May and written by Neil Simon. Apparently, the brothers just didn’t think these cinema icons did a good enough job the first time around, have shoved Ben Stiller in the title role, and completely wasted Michelle Monaghan, one of the best, young actresses working today. The comedy falls flat again and again and one longs for the critically acclaimed original.
HD buyers will be satisfied with this flawless transfer that sports warm, natural colors and excellent detail. A Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is included but, as with many comedies, it may accurately reflect the theater experience but isn’t anything to write home about. Extras include a dull commentary, deleted scenes, and a handful of short featurettes.
Recommended for audio/video quality on HD but not recommended for the film itself.
— Josh Boone
“HALLOWEEN: UNRATED DIRECTOR’S CUT”
Enhanced widescreen, 2007, unrated but contains graphic violence, profanity, nudity, and sexual situations
Best extra: Everything here pales in comparison to the fantastic feature-length making of documentary found on Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects" DVD.
ZOMIBIE’S REINVENTION OF John Carpenter’s wildly successful 1978 slasher classic is a fascinating failure that was heavily criticized by both horror fans and critics. Zombie strips all the mystery away from Carpenter's relentlessly scary and possibly supernatural Michael Myers and gives him a back story worthy of an episode of “The Jerry Springer Show,” including a stripper mother and a white trash upbringing. The first hour of the film diverges wildly from Carpenter's and then returns for a by-the-numbers remake in its second half. Zombie is a fine director who knows how to effectively build suspense and deliver the violence fans of the genre crave but remains an inadequate writer.
The theatrical cut and unrated director's cut have been released separately with essentially the same extra features. The director's cut is more violent (no surprise there) and reinstates an unnecessary rape scene. Extras include a commentary by Zombie who is thoughtful and giving to listeners, letting them in on his process and reasoning. An alternate ending, deleted scenes, and a handful of featurettes are included on the second disc.
— Josh Boone
“PAN’S LABYRINTH”
HD and standard-def widescreen, 2006, rated R for graphic violence and language
Best extra: A new hi-def (Blu-ray & HD DVD), enhanced video commentary that incorporates writer/director Guillermo del Toro's audio commentary and production features.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S brutal, beautiful adult fairy tale, one of the titles on The Pilot’s list of the best DVDs of 2007, was so good in standard-def it’s hard to believe the hi-definition treatment could up the ante.
Believe it.
The expansive and enlightening extras that were included on the two-disc set that came out in May have been picked up for the hi-def versions, among them “The Color and the Shape,” a feature that details the intricate palette del Toro used to spin his story. It’s another solid argument for the format (HD DVD for this review). The film, about a 12-year-old girl in fascist Spain who discovers her true identity and destiny, looks spectacular. (It sounds great, too.)
New for HD is an enhanced video commentary compiled from del Toro’s audio commentary and the production features. It not only runs concurrently with the movie, viewers have the option of pairing it with a running storyboard.
You want the complete experience? Here it is.
— Craig Shapiro
“THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION”
HD widescreen, 1974, 1976, 1994, unrated
Best extra: Vintage TV special “50 Years of MGM,” with the famed roll-call gala portrait featuring dozens of song-and-dance superstars that made MGM the dream factory.
GENE KELLY, FRED ASTAIRE, Judy Garland, James Stewart, Clarke Gable, Spencer Tracy, the Marx Brothers, Lana Turner, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Cyd Charisse, and the list keeps going and going – all in hi-def? That’s amazing.
The grand musicals of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s were wasting away in their vaults. Hoping to bring some attention to the studio’s 50th anniversary, a documentary was planned for TV. After viewing thousands of miles of footage, the original concept was scrapped and the studio decided to release the greatest highlight reel onto the big screen.
From the genesis to Elvis, MGM gives it all – starting with “Hollywood Revue of 1929” with “Ukulele Ike” belting out “Singin’ in the Rain,” which became the studio’s theme song. Hosting the extravaganza of MGM’s stars: Kelly, Astaire, Stewart, Taylor, Debbie Reynolds and more introducing dozen of classic moments – which we’ve come to love. Yes, there’s Garland singing “Over the Rainbow,” Kelly swinging on the lamppost in “Singin’ in the Rain,” Astaire dancing on the ceiling in “Royal Wedding” and more for the next two hours in HD.
Many of the old black-and-white clips reveal excess film grain in hi-def, but the Technicolor classics “Gone with the Wind,” “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” are spectacular. We can only hope Warner Bros. – that owns the rights to the MGM library – will release them in HD. They should be – good to go.
In 1974, moviegoers couldn’t get enough of “Entertainment,” so two years later, “That’s Entertainment II.” Astaire and Kelly dust off their dancing shoes for a fabulous number before introducing another great clip in HD. This time there are some nonmusical moments with Tracy and Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Gable, and the Marx Brothers in their funniest skits.
For a bonus, “Entertainment II,” features excerpts from “The Mike Douglas Show” with the host interviewing the superstars on MGM’s Stage 27, the home for the Vincente Minnelli’s 1954 musical “Brigadoon.”
Twenty years later, MGM released “That’s Entertainment III,” loaded mostly with outtakes and deleted songs. The disc features, 16 jukebox outtakes with Reynolds, Jimmy Durante, Horne, Jane Powell, Mel Torme, Sinatra and Garland.
This collection shouldn’t be missed – especially in HD (Blu-ray and HD DVD).
— Bill Kelley III
“THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES: VOLUME TWO – THE WAR YEARS”
Full screen, 1999, not rated
Best extra: Interactive Time Line
THINK WORLD WAR I and some of the names that come to mind: Baron von Richthofen, Vladimir Lenin, Mata Hari and Albert Schweitzer.
Then figure the fictional character most likely to have had run-ins with them all and others: Indiana Jones.
"The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume Two, The War Years" follows archaeological hero Indy in his younger days as he roams Europe fighting for the Allies, a fight that begins with his enlisting in the Belgian forces because they didn't question his age. It follows him as he embarks on such adventures as being a messenger, working for the French secret service and more.
Each disc focuses on one aspect of his fictionalized wartime escapades and a series of related extras based on fact.
For example, on the second disc, Indy (Sean Patrick Flanery) meets notorious spy Mata Hari in "Demons of Deception." The specials include a look at the battle of Verdun, a feature on Marshal Henri Petain (the French officer who was hailed in World War I then tried for treason in World War II), a biographical sketch of Mata Hari (was she knowingly a double-agent?) and a feature on how World War I was the birth of wartime espionage.
The fifth disc's features look at the progress of planes (from flimsy craft that were lucky to get off the ground to vital war machines), biographies of the Red Baron (the iconic ace who helped "write the book on aerial combat") and Anthony "The Flying Dutchman" Fokker, and a look at the Lafayette Escadrille of France. The accompanying movie, "Attack of the Hawkmen," has Indy assigned as an aerial reconnaissance photographer whose plane gets shot down by Richthofen.
Other discs' main titles are paired similarly with related features. Many of the war-related features rely on a mix of black-and-white war footage and historical analysis. When taken in tandem, each disc's extras offer a rounding out of the events the film centers on and all are done fairly well, though some of the historians have biases.
The ninth disc is just extras. A University of Texas professor delivers a lecture on world history at the beginning of the 1900s, focusing on what led to World War I and extending beyond that. He examines how revolution and war and interlaced, and how conflicts before World War I set the table for the world dynamics of an Axis-Allies split.
Two computer features cap things off. One is the interactive timeline; the other is a video game (Both are compatible for PCs and Macs). The game is entertaining, but when compared with gaming systems, it comes up short in terms of graphics and action in general.
The timeline allows you to navigate Indy's journal, to virtually travel the world and learn about the historical figures that are covered not only in this, the second of three sets of the Young Indiana Jones adventures, but also in the years preceding and following this DVD set.
Much of the information in the timeline is covered in the extras on the individual discs, but it comes in a concise format. It provides a quick hit, and if you're interested, you can watch the extended extras with the appropriate segment.
And if you want more than what is one the individual discs, the time line refers you to books, movies and has quick links to other Web sites.
It also allows you to catch up on what happened earlier in Indy's life and what's to come when Volume Three is released.
— Bill Kelley III
“SHAKIRA: ORAL FIXATION TOUR”
Enhanced widescreen, 2007, unrated
Best extra: A bonus CD of live tracks taken from the concert.
SHAKIRA FANS REJOICE. The sexy Latin pop star presents a 90-minute concert spectacle on Blu-ray. Whether you’re a fan of the music or not (I’m in the “not” camp), the transfer is impeccable. Shot on high-def cams, one could argue that watching this on a large enough HDTV with the proper sound system would completely rival a real live concert. Colors and detail are through the roof. This is reference quality image and the sound competes with the image every step of the way, boasting an uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround track that captures the live experience.
Extras include handful of featurettes, a photo gallery, and the before mentioned bonus CD.
— Josh Boone
“BRAVEHEART: SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION”
Enhanced widescreen, 1995, R for brutal medieval warfare
Best extra: “Tales of William Wallace” explores the history – fact and legend – of the Scottish warrior.
WRITER RANDALL WALLACE spent a long night in prayer after receiving word from his agent that Mel Gibson wanted to meet with him about his film treatment of Scot hero – and possible ancestor – William Wallace.
After all, the effect of legendary people, whether actor or warrior, has been known to have to a brain-softening effect. Randall Wallace was unwilling to compromise his story and steeled himself to say so.
That meeting turned into a fine meeting of like minds, Wallace advises in “A Writer’s Journey,” one of the entertaining extras included in this stunning two-disc, digitally remastered edition of the Oscar-winning epic. Author and actor went became creative soul mates. The rest is Hollywood history.
Even without winning five Academy Awards, “Braveheart” is a film that can easily be watched again and again, especially in this new presentation. You’ll want to catch all of the detail, in background as well as forefront. Visuals are as good as anything you’d find on HD. Cinematography is magnificent, especially the scenery of Scotland and Ireland. Mist and rain have layers, gusting from cloud to mist. Fabric has detail and texture from warriors’ ragged tartans to elegant court dress. And, when you arrive at scenes where moonlight plays along skin, you’re liable to feel like a voyeur.
You’ll find Gibson’s entertaining commentary on the first disc. He willingly admits that he and his writing pal played with historical accuracy. Wallace gives us his own history of creating the film. Trying to trace his roots for his children, a journey to Scotland provided inspiration when a guard at Edinbugh Castle advised that Robert the Bruce may have betrayed Wallace in order to smooth his way to Scotland’s throne.
Actual historical detail, missing in earlier presentations, is available here, along with a making-of and archival cast interviews. If “Braveheart” is a film favorite, you won’t want to miss this excellent edition.
— Kay Reynolds
“THE LAST LEGION”
Enhanced widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence
Best extra: Deleted scenes with optional commentary fill in story gaps.
BASED ON THE best selling novel by historian Valerio Manfredi, “The Last Legion” follows the story of young Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster), the 12-year-old last Caesar of Rome. Colin Firth is here as Aurelius, looking great in armor and swinging a sword with determination alongside his band of Legionnaires. The premise is fascinating, creating a possible history of Uther Pendragon and Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone.
The flaw? Told like a History Channel After School Special, it’s hard to take this seriously. The villains are villainous, the clichés are everywhere, young Romulus looks like he’d rather be playing video games and Firth is searching for the rest of what should have been a better movie. Let’s hope he gets another chance in the action genre. Won’t Peter Jackson be casting soon?
Specials include fight scene choreography (you’ve seen better), a storyboard-to-film comparison, commentary by director Doug Lefler, and a making-of you’ll only be watching if the writers’ strike goes on into 2009. Rent this nearly direct-to-DVD for the kids.
— Kay Reynolds
“THE LEGEND OF ZORRO”
HD widescreen, 2005, PG for sequences of violence, peril and action, language and a couple of suggestive moments
Best extra: Commentary from director Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”) and cinematographer Phil Meheux. Entertaining and you’ll learn things, too.
THE CHEMISTRY IS still there between Antonio Banderas (Zorro) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Mrs. Zorro). Adrian Alonso makes a fine young Zorro Jr. The stunts are cool and the brilliant Mexican scenery is great, especially on this HD (Blu-ray) presentation. The story is just a bit lame. It’s a fine family film but doesn’t quite stand up as a sequel to “The Mask of Zorro.”
Campbell tells us in commentary that fans have asked why Anthony Hopkins didn’t return for the sequel. The easy answer: Hopkins’ character died in the first film. “We thought about doing a kind of Obi Wan Kenobi type of thing,” he says.
“But it was just too much.”
Good choice, guys. The biggest problem here is an over abundance of plot. The Zorros get divorced? Nonsense! Maybe we should wait for “The Mask of Zorro” to come out on HD.
— Kay Reynolds
“MASTERS OF HORROR: SEASON ONE – VOL. IV”
HD widescreen, 2005-2006, contains mature content including graphic images of torture, gore, violence, nudity and sex. Not for children
Best extra: Audio commentaries with writers and directors for each film.
THERE ARE HORROR FILMS – and then there is the material found on Starz’s series, “Masters of Horror.” We finish the first season on Blu-ray with the final four films on Volume Four. It starts with “Imprint,” genuinely disturbing material from Takashi Miike. There are moments of surreal beauty contrasted with images and a story of unrelenting revulsion. No matter how much you want to, it’s impossible to look away. Case copy advises that cable network refused to air this episode. That’s believable.
The story tells of an American, Billy Drago, who returns to Japan to find a prostitute, Michie Ito, he fell in love with. He arrives too late to save her from a terrible fate, learning of the nightmare ending from another brothel girl, Youki Kudoh. Effects are incredible up until the end. Still, this tale is shocking enough to stay with you a long, long time.
The presentation concludes with a tale written and directed by Mick Garris, creator of “Masters of Horror.” “Chocolate” is a strange and absorbing little tale starring Henry Thomas and Matt Frewer. Thomas, a lab rat who helps develop flavors for a food company, begins to experience the sensation of being someone and somewhere else. The mystery will keep viewers guessing and makes a splendid bookend.
Two other features include “Homecoming,” one of MoH’s best from Joe Dante (“Gremlins”) and “Haeckel’s Tale,” directed by John McNaughton (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” It’s based on a Clive Barker zombie story. George Romero was originally scheduled to direct, but Dante does a great job here.
— Kay Reynolds
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