June wraps up with a hell of a bang this week. Don't forget to use and abuse the Best Buy coupon to save $5 on any Blu-ray or DVD priced $14.99+ (includes sale items!), as it sure to help while obtaining some of the titles hitting shelves today:
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy [Extended Edition] (Peter Jackson, 2001, 2002 & 2003) - A legendary modern trilogy that requires no introduction, fans were coping with a mixture of disappointment and outrage in April of 2010 when the trilogy finally arrived on the Blu-ray format - but only the theatrical cuts. Now, just over a year later, the much-adored, much longer extended cuts are available on Blu-ray in one nifty boxed set loaded with hours upon hours of special features.
Format: Blu-ray - Obviously, right? The more pertinent question with this release is where to buy it. Best Buy has it on sale for $69.99 this week (and you can use that nifty $5 coupon to make it a little cheaper). Amazon has it for the same price, making the Best Buy coupon pretty much irrelevant for this release considering the fact that you will still have to pay sales tax at Best Buy. Personally, as much as I was anticipating this release, I will be holding off until it goes on sale for a bit less - perhaps Black Friday.
Sucker Punch (Zack Snyder, 2011) - Most film enthusiasts I encounter either love Zack Snyder or hate him; I just so happen to be one of the former. His latest visual treat is about a young girl, Baby Doll (Emily Browning), who is placed in a mental facility and scheduled to be lobotomized by her abusive stepfather. In an effort to cope with her grim fate, Baby Doll retreats into an alternate reality created by her boundless imagination.
Format: Blu-ray/DVD/DC Extended Cut - The combo pack includes the extended cut of the film on Blu-ray as well as the theatrical cut on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy; the extended cut adds runs seventeen minutes longer. It appears to be on sale at most retailers for $22.99 this week, though it can be had a little cheaper at Best Buy with the $5 coupon.
Barney's Version (Richard J. Lewis, 2010) - An excerpt from the official synopsis: "Based on Mordecai Richler's prize-winning novel--his last, and arguably best--Barney's Version is the warm, wise, and witty story of Barney Panofski (Paul Giamatti), a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. A candid confessional, told (as its title implies) entirely from Barney's point of view, the film spans four decades and two continents, taking us through the many highs, and a few too many lows, of our hero's long and colorful life."
Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo - Another Sony Pictures Classics release, which means that the combo format is the only option. It seems to be retailing for roughly $29.99 most places (only a dollar less on Amazon). If your local Best Buy is carrying it (the one here in Wilmington, NC is), the $5 coupon will certainly help a little.
Max Manus: Man of War (Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg, 2008) - Set during Nazi Germany's WWII occupation of Norway, the film recounts the true story of the courageous saboteur, Max Manus (Aksel Hennie).
Format: DVD - Music Box Films is the distributor, which generally means one can expect very few supplemental features. The case is no different here, and the Blu-ray sports nothing extra. Unless you have a MovieStop in your area (which is selling the DVD for $22.99), your chances of spotting the title on store shelves outside of a Barnes & Noble are slim none. While B&N usually has higher prices, they are currently running a Buy-2-Get-1-Free special on all movies, which makes it a sensible option. Alternately, Best Buy has it available online for $24.99, and Amazon has it for $26.99.
3 Backyards (Eric Mendelsohn, 2010) - a meditative film that offers a glimpse into the lives of three different individuals on an autumn day in Long Island: a man (Elias Koteas) who decides not to go home and deal with his failing marriage when his flight out of town is canceled, opting instead to check into a hotel; a bored housewife (Edie Falco) who is all too excited when she discovers that her new neighbor is a popular actress; and an eight-year-old girl (Rachel Resheff) who misses her school bus while playing with her mother's bracelet, and decides to walk to school on her own
Format: DVD - Only available on DVD. I do not know of any retailers carrying the title in-stores, but you can acquire it from Amazon for $22.49.
Finally, it appears the the next DLC character for Mortal Kombat, Kenshi, will be arriving next Tuesday, July 5th. Here is a trailer courtesy of Netherrealm Studios:
The Adjustment Bureau (George Nolfi, 2011) - Loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, Adjustment Team; starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Michael Kelly. You can read my review of the film here.
Format:Blu-ray/DVD/DC Combo - The Blu-ray version of the film includes an exclusive feature (a 33-minute, interactive behind-the-scenes featurette), is BD Live-enabled, and comes with the DVD and a Digital Copy of the film. It is on sale at most retailers for $22.99 this week, though you can save an extra $5.00 with the Best Buy coupon provided at the top of this post.
Unknown (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2011) - Based on the French novel, Out of My Head by Didier van Cauwelaert; starring Liam Neeson, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Diane Kruger, Bruno Ganz, and Frank Langella. You can read my review of the film here.
Format:Blu-ray/DVD/DC Combo - The Blu-ray version has an exclusive feature (though it is only 5 minutes in length), and includes the DVD version of the film as well as a Digital Copy. It is on sale for $22.99 this week, but can be had for a little cheaper with the Best Buy coupon.
Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1955) - The Criterion Collection brings us this adaptation of the Mickey Spillane novel. Ralph Meeker stars as Mike Hammer, a private detective whose decision to pick up a hitchhiking woman one night has dire consequences.
Format: DVD - As I have mentioned in the past, I prefer my Criterions on DVD. The supplements are the same for both formats, and the DVD is significantly cheaper at $19.99 via Amazon (Best Buy does not carry the title in stores). If you have a MovieStop in your area, it is on sale for the same price as Amazon this week.
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (Jeffrey Shwarz, 2007) - a documentary about legendary showman William Castle, whose five-decade career included a slew of low-budget thrillers promoted by innovative gimmicks designed to enhance the theatrical experience. Joe Dante's 1992 comedy, Matinee, stars John Goodman as a character inspired by Castle.
Format: DVD - Only available on DVD. I do not believe it is being sold in stores anywhere, but Amazon has it for $17.99.
Finally, I will wrap up this update with a mention of the first downloadable character add-on for Mortal Kombat, which was released today for Xbox 360 and PS3 users. You can purchase the new character, Skarlet, for $5.00 (400 Microsoft points). For Xbox 360 users, however, the better option is to purchase the "Mortal Kombat Season Pass," which is priced at $15.00 (1200 Microsoft points). With the season pass, you will get Skarlet, as well as three other fighters as they are released in the future: Kenshi and Rain in July, and another fighter in August whose identity has yet to be revealed. Furthermore, with Skarlet comes Klassic Costumes for Cyrax and Sektor. Klassic Costumes for Smoke and Noob Saibot will accompany the July content, and two more unrevealed costumes will come with the August content. So, $15.00 now, and you will be able to download these fighters and costumes at no additional cost as they are released (essentially getting four for the price of three). This Xbox 360-exclusive deal is meant to compensate for PS3 users receiving an exclusive fighter (Kratos) and his stage, so they will wind up shelling out an extra $5.00 to acquire all the fighters. A fair trade-off, in my opinion. Anyways, my money is on the mystery fighter being Reiko, but we shall see soon enough...
This coupon will worked on ANY title priced $14.99 and up - including items that are on sale. It is valid through the end of July, so save the link and print as many as you like. I have been reading that some customers have had success using multiple coupons in one transaction (ie., buying three movies and using one coupon for each), though your chances will likely vary from store to store. Nonetheless, it is a stellar offer that will certainly come in handy over the course of the next several weeks.
Sadly, the major releases for today are Battle: Los Angeles and Red Riding Hood, but luckily I am here to fill you in on what films hit shelves today that might actually be worth your time, as the aforementioned two are most assuredly not:
Kill the Irishman (Jonathan Hensleigh, 2011) - from the director of the 2004 remake of The Punisher comes the true story of Danny Greene (portrayed by Ray Stevenson), an Irish mobster who begins a turf war with the Cosa Nostra in Cleveland, Ohio during the mid 1970s. Also starring Christopher Walkin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Paul Sorvino, and Linda Cardellini.
Format: DVD - I see no reason to pay the extra cash for the Blu-ray format, as the lone supplement - a documentary about the real Danny Greene - is included with both. Amazon has the DVD for $17.99.
Kingdom of War Parts 1 and 2 (Chatrichalerm Yukol, 2007) - The first two parts of a historical epic about the ruler who liberated the Siamese from the control of Burma during the late 16th century, King Naresuan the Great. A third installment was released this March in Thailand; I suspect it will be making its way Stateside on DVD and Blu-ray in due time.
Format: Blu-ray- It is distributed by Magnet releasing, so as expected the Blu-ray format sports no exclusive content, but Amazon is selling it for $17.99, which is significantly cheaper than the DVD version.
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Andrew Lau, 2010) - from the director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy (on which Martin Scorsese's The Departed was based), the film stars Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen (a role previously played by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury and Jet Li in Fist of Legend), who returns to China after fighting alongside the Allied forces in Europe during World War I, intent on hindering the Japanese and their plans to dominate the country.
Format: Collector's Edition DVD or Blu-ray - The features are limited, but identical for both formats. Best Buy has the Collector's Edition DVD for $19.99, while Amazon has the Collector's Edition Blu-ray for the same price. However, you can use the $5.00 coupon I linked to at the beginning of the post to make the DVD $14.99 at Best Buy.
Finally, I should note that the director of the Mortal Kombat: Legacy series has decided that he will premier episode nine during the San Diego Comic Con, which takes place from July 21st-24th. Whenever the episode is available for me to post, I will be sure to do so.
Here we are in June, with the first week in what is sure to be a long month filled with spectacular films making their way to DVD and Blu-ray.
True Grit (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2010) - The Coen Brothers' masterful remake of the classic John Wayne western - starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin - hits shelves today. The film received ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jeff Bridges), Best Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Format: Blu-ray/DVD/DC Combo - The combo pack includes the Blu-ray version of the film (along with a slew of exclusive features), as well as a DVD copy and a Digital Copy of the film. Best Buy has it for $18.00, while Amazon has it for a penny less. Most other retailers have it on sale for a comparable price, too.
Exorcismus (Manuel Carballo, 2010) - from IFC Midnight comes the tale of Emma Evans, a rebellious fifteen-year-old girl who becomes the victim of demonic possession, driving her to seek help from her uncle - a Catholic priest who has been suspended from his duties in the aftermath of an exorcism that ended with the death of the possessed. You can read my review of the film here.
Format: DVD - Only available on DVD, as is currently the norm for most IFC films, it appears. Wal-mart.com has it for $16.49 (before tax), while Amazon has it for $22.49.
The Housemaid (Im Sang-soo, 2010) -from IFC Films, a remake of a 1960 film of the same name (one that is highly regarded as among the greatest Korean films of all time), this South Korean thriller is about a housemaid who becomes involved in a love triangle while working for a wealthy family, inviting devastating consequences. The film competed for the Palm d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Format: DVD - Only available on DVD. Wal-mart.com has it for $16.49 (before tax), while it is $22.49 at Amazon.
Another Year (Mike Leigh, 2010) - a drama that chronicles the lives of a happily married couple over the course of the four seasons in a year, detailing their relationships with one another, colleagues, family, and friends. The film, like The Housemaid, competed for the Palm d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival; it also received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo - As was the case with The Illusionist, Sony Pictures Classics has opted to only release the film in a Blu-ray/DVD combo for Region 1. Amazon seems to have a slightly lower price than most places, offering it for $26.99.
On a final note, there is no new episode of Mortal Kombat: Legacy this week, which I suspect is due to the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) being currently underway.
