BluTuesday - November 6th, 2012
Hey, there! Joseph here, and I’m bringing you the good stuff coming out on Bluray for November 6, 2012. Today’s episode features a Japanese classic, BILLY!, the best Christmas the U.K. can offer, beautiful people in dramatic situations, your friendly neighborhood arachnid, and hugging it out, bitches. All set? Let’s dive in!
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, Rashomon is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people recount different versions of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. This eloquent masterwork and international sensation revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema—and a commanding new star by the name of Toshiro Mifune—to the Western world. With this being a Criterion release, it gets the full treatment, featuring a digital restoration, audio commentary, better English translation, and a booklet with – among other things – reprints of the two stories that make up this classic film. It’s a rarity where I get the pick of the week right off the bat, but this is one of those times.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77%
Directed and written by Ron Shelton (“Bull Durham”), and co-starring the sizzling Rosie Perez, “White Men Can’t Jump” tells the stories of Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) and Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) – as unlikely a pair of basketball hustlers you’ll ever come across. They team up to con their way across the courts of Los Angeles, playing a game that’s fast dangerous – and funny. This is a Walmart exclusive, and as such, there are no special features listed. Don’t let that (and the fact that it’s at Walmart) deter you; this is a very fun movie, and I really can’t take my eyes off the screen when it’s on. That may not have as much to do with the movie itself as it does with the sultry Rosie Perez, but…well…there you go.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
‘So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?’ The answer: Santa’s exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But this year, Santa’s son Arthur has an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. At the time of this writing, this movie is only being released in one flavor, and that’s a Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy set. This was an adorable movie that didn’t garner as much excitement as it should have. It’s one of those movies destined to become a modern classic, and it’s worth checking out.
The Bonfire of the Vanities (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 23%
A hit-and-run accident in the Bronx prompts a citywide conflict, fueled by ambitious politicians, greedy lawyers, and jaded ministers with a wealthy businessman (Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan) in the center of the controversy. Based on the best-selling novel by Tom Wolfe, director Brian De Palma’s film co-stars Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Melanie Griffith (Something Wild), Kim Cattrall (Big Trouble in Little China), Saul Rubinek (True Romance), and Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption). This movie is being released in either a Bluray or DVD version, neither version having any special features to speak of. I’m sure it’s an entertaining film to check out; in fact, I’m almost sure I saw it at one point. But, I don’t remember it, and maybe that’s the problem with this movie as a whole.
The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) – November 9, 2012
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 73%
The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. When Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero. This movie comes in four different flavors: a one-disc DVD set, a three-disc Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy set, a four-disc Bluray 3D/Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy set, and four-disc Bluray 3D/Bluray/DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy set with collectible figurines. There were some in the geek community that lamented this movie, but I enjoyed it; in fact, after watching it, I said that it was a superhero movie with heart. That was good enough for me.
Entourage: The Complete Series (TV-MA)
On July 18, 2004, this cultural phenomenon began airing on HBO. It tells the story of Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), an up and coming actor learning to navigate the jungle known as Hollywood. He’s joined by his best friend Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly) who serves as his manager, half-brother and actor Johnny Chase (Kevin Dillon), Salvatore Assante (Jerry Ferrera) childhood friend-turned-gofer, and his manager Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). Through it all, Vinnie and his friends all face the ups and downs of Hollywood life and everything the life of fame brings. The box set includes all eight seasons in either a Bluray or DVD format, and it is a must for fans of the show.
Well, there you have it, folks. Got any questions or comments? Did I miss something you wanted to talk about? Feel free to let me know in the comments below!
Until next time…
