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DVD/Blu-ray DISCussion (New for 3.27.12)

With Hollywood going hog-wild with DVD and Blu-Ray releases last week, we were bound for a bit of a letdown. This week certainly isn't light on titles, but there isn't a ton to get excited about. Two horribly reviewed family films get Blu-ray treatment, as do a pair of stuffy, Oscar-baity dramas. But for our Recommendation of the Week, we're going back 70 years to one of Hollywood's true classics. Humphrey Bogart told Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca that they'll always have Paris. Now, we'll always have this special edition Blu-ray to remember them by. 

First Release
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (DVD and Blu-Ray)
A Dangerous Method (DVD and Blu-Ray)
- Hop (DVD and Blu-Ray)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (DVD and Blu-Ray)
- In the Land of Blood and Honey (Blu-Ray)
- Corman's World (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Re-Release
- Casablanca (Blu-Ray)
- The Bodyguard (Blu-Ray)
- A Night to Remember (DVD and Blu-Ray)


Casablanca (1942) (Blu-Ray)
*Recommendation of the Week*

Directed by Michael Curtiz
Written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre

What's the Deal?
One of Hollywood's most iconic films ever gets yet another re-release, this time to celebrate becoming a septogenarian. You all probably know the story, and the quotes, and the moments by heart, but this new set is brimming with extras, and hell, it's never a bad time to revisit Michael Curtiz's Casablanca.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 9.7/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic”, Feature retrospective on director Michael Curtiz, “Jack Warner: The Last Mogul”, “The Brothers Warner”, “You Must Remember This”, Full size reproduction of the original 1942 film poster, 62-pg, production art book that includes never-before-seen photos, personal memos, and archival documents about the production, 4 collectible drink coasters

Amazon Price: $44.99 (Three-Disc DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack with Extras)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 5 stars, Video 5 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 4.5 stars, Replay 5 stars (out of 5). DVD Talk Collector Series.



Going into last year's Oscar season, two of the most buzzed-about titles were Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method. Despite the former's surprise Best Picture nomination, both were ultimately disappointments for the majority of people. They hit DVD and Blu-ray along with reviled family comedies Hop and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, overlooked December indies in the documentary Corman's World and Angelina Jolie's In the Land of Blood and Honey), and Blu-ray upgrades looking to cash in on current events (Whitney Houston vehicle The Bodyguard and the Titanic-themed docudrama A Night to Remember).



Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Release Date Dec. 25) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Eric Roth, Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)
Starring: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock

What's the Deal?
The gasps you heard on Oscar-nomination morning were ones of shock and (mostly) disgust from filmwatchers everywhere at the surprise Best Picture nomination for Stephen Daldry's latest film. With a whopping 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's the worst-reviewed Best Picture nominee since the site's inception.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 47% (average) (read our review)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: "Making Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", "Finding Oskar", "Ten Years Later", "Max von Sydow: Dialogues with the Renter"

Amazon Price: $14.99 (DVD), $17.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 3 stars, Replay 3 stars (out of 5). Highly recommended.



A Dangerous Method (Release Date Nov. 23) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by Christopher Hampton, John Kerr (book)
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel

What's the Deal?
How can you go wrong with Cronenberg, Mortensen, Fassbender, Knightlely, Freud and sex? Well, you could turn it all into a stuffy period piece. A Dangerous Method lacks the Cronenberg touch that made Eastern Promises and (especially) A History of Violence so special. It's not a bad film, per se, but certainly a disappointment.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 78% (very good) (read our review)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Feature audio commentary with director David Cronenberg, Making-of featurette, Theatrical trailer

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4.5 stars, Video 5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 4 stars, Replay 4.5 stars (out of 5). Highly recommended.




Hop (Release Date April 1) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by Tim Hill
Written by Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch
Starring: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuoco, Hank Azaria

What's the Deal?
Just in time for Easter comes this family "comedy" about a bunny who's supposed to become the Easter Bunny but would rather be a rock star. Luckily for him, he's nearly hit by a car driven by James Marsden, who happens to be thrilled about the prospect of become Easter Bunny. Hijinks ensue, etc., etc.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 25% (poor) (read our review)
Player Affinity Score: 4.3/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: All-new mini-movie; The world of HOP; All access with Cody Simpson; Emotion in motion: the dance of Ken Daurio; Russell Brand: kid crack ups; Carlos on Carlos: the Hop premiere according to Carlos; Games

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 3.5 stars, Replay 2 stars (out of 5). Rent it.


Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Release Date Dec. 16) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by Mike Mitchell
Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman (characters)
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Justin Long, Amy Poehler

What's the Deal?
Alvin and Co., along with the Chipettes of the "Squeakquel," go on a cruise only to find themselves accidently stranded on a (not-so-)deserted island. If you loved the first two, you'll probably love this one. If not, stay away!

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 13% (poor)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A




In the Land of Blood and Honey (Release Date Dec. 23) (Blu-Ray)

Directed by Angelina Jolie
Written by Angelina Jolie
Starring: Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic, Rade Serbedzija

What's the Deal?
Oscar-winner and tabloid queen Angelina Jolie tries her hand at directing for the first time with this hard-hitting drama about the Bosnian war. Few raved about it back in December (even fewer saw it), but it's also not the all-out disaster a Jolie-directed war film could have been.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 57% (average)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted scenes, "The Making of In the Land of Blood and Honey", Q&A with director Angelina Jolie and actress Vanessa Glodjo

Amazon Price: $16.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 2.5 stars, Replay 2.5 stars (out of 5). Rent it.



Corman's World (Release Date Dec. 23) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by Alex Stapleton
Written by Alex Stapleton

What's the Deal?
Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas, Coppola, Corman ... wait, who? Yes, this documentary follows B-movie icon and maverick producer/director Roger Corman's life and career, arguing he's as influential as some of the big names above.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (excellent)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Extended interviews, "Special Messages to Roger", Trailer

Amazon Price: $18.99 (DVD), $20.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 2.5 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). Highly recommended.



The Bodyguard (1992) (Blu-Ray)

Directed by Mick Jackson
Written by Lawrence Kasdan
Starring: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp

What's the Deal?
This Blu-ray upgrade is light on new content (all special features were also featured on the 2005 DVD release), but fans of the late Whitney Houston now have a hi-res way to remember her shining cinematic moment.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 33% (poor)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: "Memories of The Bodyguard", Music video for "I Will Always Love You", Theatrical trailer

Amazon Price: $11.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3 stars, Video 2.5 stars, Audio 3 stars, Extras 1.5 stars, Replay 3 stars (out of 5). Rent it.



A Night to Remember (1958) (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Written by Eric Ambler, Walter Lord (novel)
Starring: Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres

What's the Deal?
With the Titanic 3D rerelease just around the corner, Criterion gives us a Blu-ray upgrade of one of its first films. This telling of the Titanic doesn't have any action or love stories, but it stays true to history, and with an event this big, that's more than enough to keep a film dramatic and interesting.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 8.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $19.99 (DVD), $27.99 (Blu-Ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4.5 stars, Video 5 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 0.5 star, Replay 4.5 stars (out of 5). Highly recommended.

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