08/30/11 Recommended New Releases

This week I have a handful of recommendations among the titles hitting shelves, plus a title released last week that I unfortunately overlooked. Also, from now on I will include trailers, when available, for each recommendation:

In a Better World (Susanne Bier, 2010) - Earlier this year, renowned director Susanne Bier's latest film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film; today the Sony Pictures Classics release arrives on home video. The official synopsis reads: "Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Anton and his wife Marianne, who have two young sons, are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Their older, ten-year-old son Elias is being bullied at school, until he is defended by Christian, a new boy who has just moved from London with his father, Claus. Christian's mother recently lost her battle with cancer, and Christian is greatly troubled by her death. Elias and Christian quickly form a strong bond, but when Christian involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences, their friendship is tested and lives are put in danger. Ultimately, it is their parents who are left to help them come to terms with the complexity of human emotions, pain and empathy."

Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack - It is a bit disheartening that most of the spectacular films being released under the Sony Pictures Classics banner are only available in this expensive combo format, as it certainly keeps these works from reaching a wider audience. It is available for $29.99 at Best Buy, and Amazon has it for just $1.00 more.

The Perfect Host (Nick Tomney, 2010) - A feature-length remake of his own short film marks the directorial debut for Nick Tomney. Clayne Crawford stars as John Taylor, a criminal in need of a place to lay low after a bank robbery. Short on time and options, John knocks on the door of one Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce), posing as a friend of a friend who is new in town and has been mugged, leaving him empty-handed. Warwick, who is about to throw one of his impeccably-prepared dinner parties, invites John inside. Just when he thinks he has the upper hand, however, John discovers that his host is not quite what he appears to be.

Format: DVD or Blu-ray - The supplements are identical (typical of a Magnolia Pictures release) and the price difference is minuscule between the two formats, rendering it a matter of personal preference. Walmart stores are carrying the DVD for $13.00; Amazon has the DVD and Blu-ray available for $14.99 and $15.99, respectively.

Wrecked (Michael Greenspan, 2011) - Another directorial debut, this one from IFC Midnight. Adrien Brody stars as a man who wakes up inside a wrecked car out in the middle of the woods; in the car with him are two dead passengers, a gun, and a lot of money. With no recollection of who he is or how he got there, he simultaneously struggles to make his way to safety and to remember what happened.

Format: DVD or Blu-ray - Again, identical supplements and minor price differences make this a matter of preference. Walmart stores are carrying the DVD for $13.00; Amazon has the DVD and Blu-ray available for $12.99 and $14.99, respectively.

Cell 211 (Daniel Monzón, 2009) - During the orientation for his new job as a prison guard, a freak accident renders Juan Oliver (Alberto Amman) unconscious. While the other guards wait for a doctor to arrive, a riot breaks out led by a prisoner named Malamadre (Luis Tosar), and Juan is left behind in a cell. When Juan awakens to the chaos, he poses as in inmate in order to survive - an act that has potentially grave consequences.

Format: DVD - Only available on DVD. Amazon has it for $19.99.

House M.D. Season 7 - The most recent season of the hit television series, starring Hugh Laurie in the titular role, is available today.

Format: DVD - The Blu-ray format does contain an exclusive Picture-in-Picture feature for the entire season, but it does not strike me as a supplement worth the higher price tag. The DVD version is available in stores at Best Buy and on Amazon for $36.99.











And here is overlooked title from last week:

Cold Fish (Sion Sono, 2010) - The latest from the director of Suicide Club and Tokyo Gore Police. The official synopsis from the DVD release: "When Shamoto's teenage daughter was caught stealing, a generous middle-aged man helps to resolve the situation. The man and his wife offer to have Shamoto's daughter work at their fish store. Shamoto soon discovers the horrific truth of the seemingly perfect couple...who force him to get his hands dirty in their brutal business. Inspired by true events, Cold Fish is a bloodcurdling suspense drama that unveils the underlying insanity of an ordinary man."

Format: DVD - Only available on DVD. Walmart stores are carrying the title for $15.00; Amazon has it for $15.99.

08/23/11 Recommended New Releases

Things are back up to speed with a handful of releases making their way to shelves this week, two of them from South Korea's Lee Chang-dong:

Troll Hunter (André Øvredal, 2010) - Magnet Releasing brings us this critically acclaimed Norwegian pseudo-documentary. The official synopsis reads: "The government says there's nothing to worry about it's just a problem with bears making trouble in the mountains and forests of Norway. But local hunters don't believe it and neither do a trio of college students who want to find out the truth. Armed with a video camera, they trail a mysterious poacher, who wants nothing to do with them. However, their persistence lands them straight in the path of the objects of his pursuits: trolls. They soon find themselves documenting every move of this grizzled, unlikely hero the trollhunter risking their lives to uncover the secrets of creatures only thought to exist in fairy tales."

Format: DVD - Typical of most Magnet releases, the two formats sport identical supplemental features, so I opt for the DVD version, which is available at Amazon for only $10.99.

Poetry (Lee Chang-dong, 2010) - Official synopsis (via Amazon description): "Mija (Yoon Jeong-hee) is a beautiful woman in her sixties who moves gracefully through life, contemplating a trivial daily routine that is ill-suited to her refined persona. With elegance and a dash of eccentricity, Mija takes care of her ungrateful grandson Wook (Lee David) and makes a living by cleaning house for an elderly man who, though paralyzed by a stroke, still responds to her charm with bouts of drug-induced arousal. On a whim, Mija enrolls in a poetry class at the local cultural centre and begins a personal quest to find the perfect words to describe her feelings. However, she s plagued by the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and struggles with new vocabulary and the challenges of the creative process. When her world is turned upside down by the discovery of a monstrous crime, it is Mija's unique and touching poetry that allows her to defy the weight of shame and distance herself from a painful proximity to violence." Poetry won the award for Best Screenplay at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Format: Blu-ray or DVD - Though there is nothing exclusive to the format, the Blu-ray is only $2.00 more than the DVD at Amazon, making it $20.99, so it boils down to a matter of whether or not you own a Blu-ray player and/or which format you prefer.

Secret Sunshine (Lee Chang-dong, 2007) - Another Chang-dong film is out this week, this one via the Criterion Collection. The synopsis from the Criterion webpage for the film reads: "A master of intensely emotional human dramas, director Lee Chang-dong is a luminary of contemporary Korean cinema, and his place on the international stage was cemented by this stirring and unpredictable work examining grief and deliverance. An effortless mix of lightness and uncompromising darkness, Secret Sunshine (Miryang) stars Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon as a widowed piano teacher who moves with her young son from Seoul to her late husband’s provincial hometown for a fresh start. Quietly expressive, supple filmmaking and sublime, subtle performances distinguish this remarkable portrayal of the search for grace amid tragedy."

Format: DVD - As I have mentioned in the past, I prefer my Criterions on DVD, as that is how my collection began. Amazon has it available for $18.99; the Blu-ray is $24.99.

Win Win (Thomas McCarthy, 2011) - Paul Giamatti stars as Mike, a struggling New Jersey attorney as well as a volunteer wrestling coach for New Providence High School, where the team is in the midst of a losing streak. Scheming to keep his practice alive, Mike becomes the legal caretaker of an elderly client, whose presence breeds complication when the his grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) shows up at Mike's home seeking a place to stay. However, when it is discovered that Kyle is a gifted wrestler and he becomes the star athlete of the team, Mike thinks he has the perfect win-win scenario, until Kyle's mother shows up fresh out of rehab and threatens to ruin his newfound stability.

Format: DVD - The Blu-ray holds nothing unique in the way of special features, so I opt for the DVD format, which is available for $14.99 at Amazon.






On the video game front:  

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (developed by Eidos Montreal; published by Square Enix) - the third installment and prequel to the popular series that debuted back in the summer of 2000 - is out today. A cyberpunk-themed first-person role-playing game, the prequel is set in 2027 - twenty-five years before the original title - where players assume the role of Adam Jensen, a security officer for Sarif Industries - a company specializing in human augmentations. After an attack from a black ops team leaves Adam near death, he receives cybernetic augmentations to keep him alive. Upon awakening, he sets out on a mission to find the truth behind the attack.

In addition to the standard release ($59.99 for PS3 and Xbox 360; $49.99 for PC), there is a limited edition ($69.99 for PS3 and Xbox 360; $59.99 for PC) available, dubbed the "Augmented Edition."




It includes:

-Premium packaging
-40-page art book
-A bonus DVD containing a 44-minute "making of" documentary, the game soundtrack, the E3 trailer and animated storyboard, and a motion graphic novel adapted from the official series by DC Comics.

(Click to enlarge)

If you are looking to take advantage of the best deal available for Deus Ex this week, K-Mart is offering a $20.00 Gaming Coupon* for Shop Your Way Rewards members (which is free to join) with the purchase of either edition. However, if you are seeking the limited edition, K-Mart stores have an extremely limited number available nationwide (only 300 were shipped per platform, meaning many stores will not even carry it). With this in mind, it is possible - though stores do vary - that you can match this deal at your local Best Buy and thus receive a $20.00 gift card (or perhaps have the $20.00 value subtracted from your total, depending on how your local store operates).

*Gaming Coupons are issued with your receipt and are generally valid beginning on the following Sunday for a set period of time (one to two months). Furthermore, as the name implies, they are only valid on gaming products.

08/16/11 Recommended New Releases

Just one recommendation this week; next week will be just slightly more fruitful:

The Killing (Stanley Kubrick, 1956) - courtesy of The Criterion Collection, one of Stanley Kubrick's earlier films gets a much-needed update. The synopsis from the Criterion webpage for the film reads: "Stanley Kubrick’s account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood’s tautest, twistiest noirs. Aided by a radically time-shuffling narrative, razor-sharp dialogue from pulp novelist Jim Thompson, and a phenomenal cast of character actors, including Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Timothy Carey, Elisha Cook Jr., and Marie Windsor, The Killing is both a jaunty thriller and a cold-blooded punch to the gut. And with its precise tracking shots and gratifying sense of irony, it’s Kubrick to the core."

Format: DVD - Amazon has the DVD format available for $21.99; if Blu-ray is your preference, it is $3.00 more.

08/09/11 Recommended New Releases

Nothing caught my eye in the way of DVD/Blu-ray releases this week, but for the Mortal Kombat fans out there, the fourth (and perhaps final?) DLC character has been released today: Freddy Krueger. He is available on both the Playstation Network and Xbox Live for $4.99 or 400 Microsoft Points, respectively; if you purchased the season pass on Xbox Live, there is no additional charge for Freddy. Moreover, if you were a Playstation user who was on the fence about the characters, there is a bundle pack of all the DLC characters available for $14.99 (which mirrors the deal that Xbox users received with the season pass option, albeit after all of the content was released).

Also, once again there is a required Compatibility Pack that includes two free alternate costumes: a 'Retro' costume for Cyber Sub-Zero (essentially a palette swap for the 'Klassic' MK3 costumes previously released for the other cyborg characters, Sektor and Cyrax) as well as Sub Zero's MK3 costume (unmasked). Please note that for Playstation users, the Compatibility Pack comes in the form of a required update when the game boots this time instead of appearing with the DLC content in the Playstation Store (Xbox users will still acquire the Compatibility Pack from the Game Marketplace). What follows is a vignette for Freddy as well as his MKast episode and a trailer for the two costumes from the latest Compatibility Pack, courtesy of Netherrealm Studios:













 

08/02/11 Recommended New Releases

Not much happening this week (or throughout the entire month of August, for that matter); just a couple under-the-radar titles hitting shelves today:

Stake Land (Jim Mickle, 2010) - In a post-apocalyptic America that has been ravaged by an epidemic of vampirism, a young man named Martin (Connor Paolo) is taken in by a hunter, "Mister," after his parents are slaughtered by the undead. Together they travel across the nation in hopes of taking refuge in New Eden, a place rumored to be safe for humans. Winner of the Midnight Madness Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Format: Blu-ray - The Blu-ray format includes all of the features found within the 2-disc DVD Collector's Edition (and it is significantly cheaper, to boot). Amazon has it on sale for $13.49.

Outside the Law (Rachid Bouchareb, 2010) - Official synopsis: "After losing their family home in Algeria, three brothers are scattered across the globe. Messaoud joins the French army fighting in Indochina; Abdelkader becomes a leader of the Algerian independence movement; Said moves to Paris to make his fortune in the shady clubs and boxing halls of Pigalle. Gradually, their interconnecting destinies reunite them in the French capital, where freedom is a battle to be fought and won." The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film (Algeria).

Format: DVD or Blu-ray - The film can be had on whichever format you prefer for a reasonable price: Barnes&Noble.com has the DVD version available for $12.49, while Wal-mart.com appears to be selling only the Blu-ray version - but at the stellar price of $13.96. Both formats feature the same supplements.