BluTuesday - August 27, 2013
‘Sup, ProFans! Joseph here, and I’ve got the latest and greatest in Bluray and DVD for August 27, 2013. In this week’s episode, we talk about the Roaring Twenties, The Rock (again?), bikers, zombies, hospital drama, and America’s take on Sherlock Holmes. Got your drink ready? Let’s go then, old sport!
The Great Gatsby (Blu-ray+DVD+UltraViolet Combo Pack)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 49%
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s highly acclaimed novel set during the Roaring Twenties in 1922. Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is lured into the lavish world of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), on Long Island. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby’s nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await. This movie comes in three different versions: a three disc 3D Bluray/Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet version, a two disc Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet version, and a two disc DVD version. This movie has stunning visuals and stellar acting, and – whereas the soundtrack is apocryphal due to Jay Z’s involvement – it’s worth checking out. So much so that it is my pick of the week.
Pain & Gain (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 46%
From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes Pain and Gain, a new action/comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. Based on the unbelievable true story of a group of personal trainers in 1990’s Miami who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal enterprise that goes horribly wrong. This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. Listen…I love The Rock; he’s pretty much ubiquitous in this day and age for cinema. I honestly believe if I open up my browser, The Rock will be my homepage instead of Google. But, he’s good, and so is this. Watch in good health.
Sons of Anarchy: Season Five [Blu-ray]
From creator Kurt Sutter comes the adrenaline-charged Sons of Anarchy, featuring exclusive “creator’s cut” episodes and kicking into high gear with its biggest, most explosive season ever! As SAMCRO’s new president, Jax (Charlie Hunnam) is surrounded by ruthless enemies and gut-wrenching betrayal. With Gemma (Katey Sagal) fighting for control of the family and a bloodthirsty Clay (Ron Perlman) out for revenge, Jax defends himself haunted by the sins of his past. Alliances are forged, friends are murdered, and loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Now, with the truth in sight, Jax must do whatever it takes to secure the legacy of brotherhood and protect his family – even if it costs him everything. This series comes in both a three disc Bluray version and a four disc DVD version. This show is amazing, and the cast is top notch. Check it out.
The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season [Blu-ray]
In this uncertain world, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his band of survivors must not only fight the dead, but also face a whole new fear: the living. In this 16 episode season, the series Entertainment Weekly called the “greatest thriller ever produced for television”, Rick and his fellow survivors continue to seek refuge in a desolate and post-apocalyptic world and soon discover that there are greater forces to fear than just the walking dead. The struggle to survive has never been so perilous. This season also introduces new characters, including the Governor (David Morrissey) and fan-favorite Michonne (Danai Gurira), along with her zombie pets. This series comes in several different versions: it comes in a special edition five disc Bluray version, a standard five disc Bluray version, a Target-exclusive Bluray version, and a five disc DVD version. If not for The Great Gatsby, this would be my pick of the week, but…maybe next time. This is still a great show; check it out!
Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Ninth Season
It’s a year of bold new beginnings as your favorite doctors return to Seattle Grace for the biggest challenge of their lives. Experience every breathtaking moment with ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Ninth Season. From the ashes, romance will rise. The plane crash that took the life of Lexie Grey sends shockwaves throughout the hospital halls, with each surgeon handling the loss in their own personal way. Meredith finds her groove in the operating room, while Derek’s hand injury forces him to focus on something other than surgery. In the wake of Arizona’s injury, she and Callie rekindle their relationship. And as Mark fights to stay alive, Alex falls for someone new, Cristina tries to find the spark with Owen, and Bailey and Ben discover the perils of a long-distance relationship. Relive all the romance and excitement of ABC’s unforgettable prime-time drama. This DVD-only release is available in a six disc set. This is one of those shows where I honestly forgot it was still on…even though it came on after my favorite show that got cancelled too soon (that would be Last Resort, people). Give it a look if it’s something that interests you.
It would be a crime to miss Elementary: The First Season, which includes all 23 episodes released on 6 discs for the first time on DVD. This modern-day twist on the legendary detective finds Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) as a recovering drug addict, starting a new life in New York City as an NYPD consultant. By his side is his trusty “sober companion,” Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), hired by Sherlock’s dad to keep the investigator on the straight and narrow. Sherlock rejects Watson’s attempts to have him participate in group therapy and makes her life and job as challenging as possible. Meanwhile, Watson develops a flair for detective work, and discovers that following Sherlock’s instincts lead her down a frustrating yet fascinating path. For these two strong-willed partners in crime-fighting, justice is elementary. This series is only available in a six disc DVD version. I haven’t seen this show at all, primarily because I’m such a fan of BBC’s Sherlock, and I didn’t see a need for Holmes’ story to be retold in modern times. That being said, I think I’ll go ahead and give this a try. What’s the worst that could happen?
Well, that’s all we got for today. Got any questions or comments? Did I miss anything that caught your eye? Please feel free to let me know in the comments section below.
Until next time…
The Great Gatsby is such a perfectly crafted novel that it was going to be nearly impossible for that movie to do it justice; with that in mind, I think it did pretty decent. However, I wouldn’t say it’s worth watching more than once. Carey Mulligan is the best thing about it, to me; then I’d say the second best thing to me was the music. I enjoyed the use of modern songs in the soundtrack;. I think it helps to tie the film into present-day attitudes and how they are similar to those of the “roaring twenties” that helped lead to the Great Depression.
I think the movie is just way too slow; the music does a bit to alleviate that problem, but there’s nothing that could really help it. It’s two and a half hours, but it just feels like it’s a week long. I love the book and the story, so it’s definitely worth watching at least once.
Sorry I’m a bit late in responding to this.
I’ll say you may be right. I’m just not a huge fan of anachronisms in movies, especially when it comes to music. I honestly debated making TWD my pick of the week because everyone loves it, but I stuck with Gatsby.