What to rent: New DVD releases for 4/1/08

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:46:35 +0000

An interesting week in DVD releases, and if I was a Blu-Ray owner, there would be one that I’d DEFINITELY be buying, one of my favorite superhero movies in recent memory.

There is also a pretty evil barbershop film being released, and some silly chipmunks. Let’s get into it.

Unbreakable (Blu-Ray)

Bruce Willis can’t be hurt and the way the story unfolds in this dark, barely recognizable superhero tale, is just superb to me. The slow build and discovery is perfectly timed, one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best films.

It’s out on Blu-Ray, and how I wish I had a player. (Amazon)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Seville

A critically acclaimed film from 2007, because of the beautiful sets and amazing singing/acting by Johnny Depp, but it just wasn’t super appealing to me.

Besides the normal version, there is also a two-disc special edition. (Amazon)

John from Cincinnati: Complete First Season

I tried to watch this strange series from HBO, but it was pretty hard to get into and follow. Some interesting actors, like Bruce Greenwood and Luke Perry.

Some people totally dug it, I might have if I’d stuck it out.

Coyote Ugly: Blu-Ray – Pretty girls dancing on bars in high definition. Need I say more?
Becker: The First Season – Stars Ted Danson, who probably made more for the series than George Costanza
Alvin & The Chipmunks – Ugh, never, ever will I see this…unless my future child demands it. Even so, I’m more likely to let him watch Die Hard than this helium-fest.

Blu-Ray Releases

10.5 Apocalypse: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge)
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) (Fox)
Artie Lange’s Beer League (Echo Bridge)
Behind The Yellow Line (Celestial)
Blackbeard (2006) (Echo Bridge)
Category 7: The End of the World (Echo Bridge)
Coyote Ugly (Walt Disney)
The Curse Of King Tut’s Tomb: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge)
Hidalgo (Walt Disney)
The Last Sentinel (Echo Bridge)
Unbreakable (Walt Disney)

The Golden Globes to go on without actors or writing

Mike — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:00:17 +0000

There was a lot of speculation that the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards would be canceled this year because A) they have no writers and B) they may not get Hollywood stars who are supporting the writers.

Yahoo however is reporting that NBC says “the show MUST go on!” and that it will air as scheduled on January 13th.

I’m with NBC as far as the writing goes. If these guys who are on strike are the people who write those teleprompter jokes every year at every award show, do you really need them back to do it? Heck, I’m sure any number of us could come up with our own in a few seconds.

And now presenting the award for most undeserving comedy this year…Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks everyone!

Hanks: “Heya Johnny, those special effects in Sweeney Todd were awesome, how did you make neck-cutting look so realistic?”

Depp: “Like this!”

And then Depp proceeds to slice Hank’s neck with a plastic barber razor, fake blood gushes everywhere and people laugh hysterically.

See, that took like 30 seconds to come up with and just MIGHT be funnier than Californication, Entourage and Pushing Daisies, all of which got nominated over THE OFFICE.

Now, the big problem is that none of the stars are going to cross the picket lines to be on the show unless something clever is done.

Jeff Hermanson, the WGA Strike coordinator had this to say:

“If the Globes is telecast and it is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is a struck company, we will picket the show,” Hermanson said.

He went on to say that if they do go on with the show as stated above, writers will be placed outside the theater and actors crossing picket lines will have to go through them.

I just don’t see any big time stars making themselves look bad by doing it.

So is the show even going to be interesting to watch? I kind of want to just like most people slow down to see a car wreck on the side of the road.