It’s a pretty exciting week for DVD fans, as there are two big releases, and some interesting lesser known DVD’s.
Watchmen – It was a disappointment at the box office, but to me, it was one of the best things I’ve seen this year at the theatres. Watchmen gets released on DVD, and you have your pick of the regular version or the director’s cut [or if you can’t make up your mind – BOTH!] Zack Snyder directs a strong cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan about the life and struggles of a bunch of costumed heroes in an alternate 1985. I will still say that the opening credit sequence is the best of the year. I think for fans of the graphic novel, you will enjoy this film, if you go in not knowing anything about Watchmen, you will get a very different movie then what you expected. It’s more of a character-based story, instead of a comic book action film.
Coraline – From the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas comes Henry Selick’s very well-received film based on the Neil Gaiman’s book. The story centers on a girl who finds an alternate world that she likes a lot more then her real world, at least on the surface. The more she stays, the more secrets she discovers, and there not good secrets. A really great cast does the voice work for this film, and the DVD comes in one and two-disc editions and includes the 3-D version of the film. It’s definitely worth checking out.
G.I. Joe – Season 1.1 – YO JOE! They fight for freedom wherever there is trouble so I will buy their DVD. It was a staple of my youth, so it’s a guilt purchase. I hope the DVD lives up to the memory of my youth [I’m sure it won’t as very few things do]. The DVD is 4 discs full of awesomeness and contains 22 episodes. It’s obviously timed with the release with the upcoming film, but you cannot complain about that because this is what happens when films get released, all the old merchandise resurfaces.
Pushing Daisies: Season 2 – I have not watched one episode of this show, but I have been told that it was one of the best series on network television in recent years. Unfortunately for fans, Season 2 is the final season of the show, as it was cancelled. I know the basic premise of the show is about a man who can bring back the dead by touching them, but he can never touch them again, or else he will kill them. I know I’m making it sound like a hardcore drama, but it is not. Check out what all the fans of the show already know.
Pontypool – Bruce McDonald’s story of a radio station that is witnessing its town become incredibly violent because of a virus that exists in the English language. So the debate begins, should the radio station stay on the air, or are they causing the violence to get worse? Interesting premise!
Prison Break: The Final Break – This direct-to-DVD release is for fans only. I don’t think there is much point in watching this if you didn’t follow the TV series. I did not watch the series, but I did a little research, but don’t want to spoil anything because its contingent on you knowing how the series ended. So no spoilers for me.
The Great Buck Howard – Loosely based on The Amazing Kreskin, the story is about a magician’s assistant, played by Colin Hanks, and the stories and adventures he has with the magician played by John Malkovich. The magician has seen better days, and bigger crowds, but still loves what he does. The film also starts Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Tom Hanks. It didn’t get a big release in theatres, but Malkovich is always an interesting actor to watch on screen, so you might watch to see his work.
