May 12, 2009

A substandard week for DVD releases, but a DVD release week nonetheless

Slim pickings this week, though we've been somewhat spoiled the last couple of weeks, so I can survive. My PICK OF THE WEEK is the only movie out this week on DVD that was anywhere near enjoyable. It's:
Taken
It's ridiculous and illogical, but there's a perverse pleasure watching Liam Neeson tear through tons of bad guys to find his daughter. It was an unlikely hit in theaters, so if you were one of the many who enjoyed it the first time around, it's worthy enough of being picked up for home consumption on DVD.
-The only other theatrical releasea on DVD this week are Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and Passengers. By removing Kate Beckinsale from the lead role, an Underworld movie kind of loses its main selling point. Throw in the absence of Beckinsale's husband Len Wiseman from the director's chair, and this pretty much becomes worthless. Passengers, on the other hand, wastes good perfromances from Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson in its desire to be a mystery, but it just turns out mysteriously disappointing.
-This last notable releases this week skipped movie houses and went straight to DVD (cue the scary music). The first is the Donnie Darko spinoff S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale. Richard Kelly had nothing to do with this one, and it definitely shows. It's just a big mess.
-My Vintage pick this week is Life as a House. What could have been Movie of the Week bad instead manages to be a fantastic emotional ride everytime I watch it. Credit goes to Kevin Kline, who was robbed of an Oscar nomination, and Hayden Christensen, who somehow isn't annoying (and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, no less). Check it out.
-What will you all be watching on DVD this week?

5 comments:

  1. seems like a bad week, i'll check out Life as a House

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  2. i was happy enough with Taken...nothing too amazing, but an effective popcorn movie

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  3. no leather clad Kate? what's the point then...

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  4. I dig Life as a House, good acting all around.
    -Matt

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