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Here’s a look at the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases:
BLU-RAY DISC:
Akira (Bandai)
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (Blue Underground)
The French Connection (Fox)
The French Connection II (Fox)
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (Fox)
Hurricane on the Bayou (Image)
Ronin (MGM)
Samurai 7 (FUNimation)
Sex Drive (Summit)
Super Speedway (Image)
Vanishing Point (Fox)
What Just Happened (Magnolia)
DVD:
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (Fox)
Four Flies on Grey Velvet (Ryko)
FTA (Docurama)
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (Fox)
Ironweed (Lionsgate)
The Last House on the Left (1972) (MGM)
The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (Sony)
On the Other Hand, Death (Liberation)
Protege (Dragon Dynasty/Genius)
Samurai 7 (FUNimation)
Sex Drive (Summit)
Summer Heights High (HBO)
What Just Happened (Magnolia)
TV-on-DVD:
The Brain (A&E)
Breaking Bad: Season 1 (Sony)
Canterbury’s Law: Complete Series (Sony)
Cities of the Underworld: Season 2 (A&E)
Dirty Jobs: Collection 4 (Discovery/WHV)
Girlfriends: Season 6 (Paramount)
Just Shoot Me: Season 3 (Sony)
The Lair: Season 2 (Liberation)
My Wife & Kids: Season 1 (Lionsgate)
Oliver Twist (BBC)
The Universe: Collector’s Edition (A&E)
HIGHLIGHTS:
This week’s pickings are slim, but let’s get to it…
Akira - Bandai/Honneamise bring the anime classic to Blu-ray. I haven’t seen this high def edition yet but it’s undoubtedly worth a look.
French Connection - "Popeye" Doyle makes his high def debut thanks to Fox’s release of both The French Connection and The French Connection II on Blu-ray Disc. Sporting a completely new color palette courtesy of Director William Friedkin, fans will definitely want to check out this Best Picture winner’s high def duds.
Inside Moves - This one actually got released last week but somehow it slipped under my radar. Richard Donner’s feel-good independent film finally gets the treatment it deserves – albeit on DVD only – thanks to Lionsgate. For some history on this release, fans of the famed director and/or this film should check out Adam Jahnke’s great interview with Donner over at The Digital Bits.
Ronin - First, the good news: MGM finally brings this underrated Robert De Niro spy thriller to Blu-ray and you can at long last watch that incredible car chase in 1080p. Now, the bad news: this disc is as bare bones as they come. Special features include surround sound, menus and subtitles. Somehow this feels akin to wheels, seats and headlights being listed as special features on a new car. Bummer.
Futurama - Into the Wild Green Yonder is the fourth (and final?) "Futurama" film and it just may be the best one yet. The 1080p image looks great, so Matt Groening fans don’t want to miss this one.
What Just Happened - It’s not The Player, but Barry Levinson’s jaded look at the Hollywood machine does warrant a look, especially for aspiring filmmakers. Magnolia’s 1080p presentation is good but not great, though they do give us a healthy dose of extras. This one’s worth watching if only for John Turturro’s hilarious portrayal of a Hollywood agent saddled with a weak stomach.
Greg’s Pick of the Week:
Sex Drive (Blu-ray)
Summit Entertainment | Unrated | 109 minutes | $34.99
When you’re watching a film that is equal parts road movie and good, old-fashioned teenage sex comedy, plus it features Seth Green as a smart-mouthed Amish mechanic, you know you’re in the midst of greatness. Starring a host of likeable young actors, Sex Drive is that modern rarity: a comedy that will actually make you laugh.
Summit brings Sex Drive to Blu-ray Disc where viewers can choose between watching the theatrical cut or a new, 20 minute-longer unrated version. In addition to 1080p video and a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack, extras include a filmmaker commentary and a trio of featurettes.
If you’re still on the fence, check out this trailer and just see if you can keep a straight face.
EVALUATION SYSTEM:
Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 projector
Carada Masquerade screen system (92")
Philips BDP7200 Blu-ray Disc player
Oppo DV-983H DVD player
Onkyo TX-SR805 A/V receiver
Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 speakers
Datacolor SpyderTV PRO 2007 video calibration
Monster Power HTS5100 power center
BetterCables interconnects
UltraLink speaker wire
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