DISCussion: What’s New on DVD/Blu-ray (5.8.12)

From the Criterion Collection this week is the Blu-ray re-release of the 1995 French film La Haine. Like most Criterion re-releases, the Blu-ray of La Haine has the use array of documentaries, director commentaries and booklet as well interviews with a trio of sociologists.

First Release
- Underworld: Awakening (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Underworld: The Legacy Collection (Blu-ray)
- Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Vow (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Front Line (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Mother’s Day (2010) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Reykjavik to Rotterdam (DVD)

Re-Release
- La Haine (1995) (Blu-ray)
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) (Blu-ray)
- Dirty Dancing: 2 Film Collection (Blu-ray)


La Haine (1995) (Blu-ray) *Recommendation of the Week*

Written and Directed by Matthieu Kassovitz
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui

What’s the Deal?
This week the Criterion Collection rereleases La Haine, one of the most important French movies to come out in the ‘90s. Serving as the debut for director Matthieu Kassovitz (Babylon A.D.), La Haine (originally titled “Hate” in the USA) is set in the multi-ethnic suburbs of Paris over a 24-hour timespan. After a young man is beaten by the police, racial tensions are at a breaking point and a riot results. When a police officer loses his pistol and when Vinz (Vincent Cassel, Black Swan) finds it, he promises to kill a cop if his friend dies.

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

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director Mathieu Kassovitz, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack; English-language audio commentary by Kassovitz; Introduction by actor Jodie Foster; Ten Years of “La haine,” an eighty-minute documentary that brings together cast and crew a decade after the film’s landmark release; Featurette on the film’s banlieue setting, including interviews with sociologists Sophie Body-Gendrot, Jeffrey Fagan, and William Kornblum; Production footage Deleted and extended scenes, each featuring an afterword by Kassovitz; Gallery of behind-the-scenes photos; Trailers; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau and a 2006 appreciation by acclaimed filmmaker Costa-Gavras

Amazon Price: $28.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



The fourth film in this vampires vs. werewolves series, Underworld: Awakening is the main new release this week along with a Blu-ray box-set of the whole series. The romantic drama The Vow also debut and on the international front movies from Iceland and South Korea make there way west.


Underworld: Awakening (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Written by Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, J. Michael Straczynski, Allison Burnett, Danny McBride, Kevin Grevioux
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Sandrine Holt, Theo Jones, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea

What’s the Deal?
Underworld: Awakening is the fourth movie in the vampire vs. werewolves horror-action series and sees the return of Kate Beckinsale in all her PVC glory. In this sequel, Selene (Beckinsale) has been frozen for 12 years after humans have found out about vampires and lycans and gone to war with both races. The world has changed and both vampires and lycans have been nearly wiped out. But Selene finds out she has a daughter, Eve (India Eisley, The Secret Life of the American Teenager), a vampire-lycan hybrid whom she must protect.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 29% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 3.8/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Includes Filmmakers' Commentary

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Blooper Reel; "Heavy Prey" Music Video by Lacey Sturm featuring Geno Lenardo; ; 5 Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes:; Selene Rises; Resuming the Action; Awakening a Franchise, Building a Brutal New World; Casting the Future of Underworld; Building a Better Lycan

Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.96 (Blu-ray), $24.99 (3D Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 3.5 stars, Replay 2 stars (out of 5). Rent It.



Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie (DVD and Blu-ray)

Written and Directed by Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim
Starring: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrell

What’s the Deal?
The creators of Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!  have made a movie with the backing of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. In this comedy, Tim and Eric gain a billion dollars to make a movie but see their dream crash. To regain the film, they attempt to revitalize a failing mall.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 38% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; Behind the Scenes; Deleted Scenes; Extended Scenes; Interview with Tim & Eric; Commentary with Tim & Eric; HDNet: A look at Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie; Promo Video$; Shrim Screensaver; Posters

Amazon Price: $14.95 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray), $16.96 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


The Vow (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Michael Sucsy
Written by Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein, Michael Sucsy
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum

What’s the Deal?
Nicholas Sparks novel adaptations are very popular with a certain demographic, and now Hollywood is starting to just copy his formula. Based on a true story, The Vow is about Leo (Channing Tatum) and Paige (Rachel McAdams), a young married couple who suffer a tragedy when Paige falls into a coma after a car accident. When Paige wakes she loose the last five years of her memory which includes the part where she met Leo. Leo sets out to win her back though Paige’s parents and ex (Scott Speedman, Underworld) try to prevent it.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 29% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel; Director's Commentary

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: 3 Featurettes Exploring the Making of the Film

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

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A


The Front Line (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Jang Hun
Written by Sang-yeon Park
Starring: Ha-kyun Shia, Go Soo, Seung-soo Ryoo, Chang-seok Ko

What’s the Deal?
In the dying days of the Korean War, the North and South battle for the strategic point of the Aerok Hills in the east of the country. But a company commander of the South Korean army is shot by a South Korean bullet and Lieutenant Kang Eun-Pyo (Ha-kyun Shia) is sent to investigate.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 62% (good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $22.48 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Mother’s Day (2010) (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Written by Scott Milam, Charles Kaufman, Warren Leight (original screenplay)
Starring: Rebecca De Mornay, Jamie King, Briana Evigan, Patrick Flueger, Deborah Ann Wolf, Alexa Vega, Kandyse McClure

What’s the Deal?
Quality was never going to be an issue for Mother’s Day; it is a remake of an exploitation movie by Troma Entertainment, made by the director of Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV. It was also produced by Brett Ratner. This home invasion horror sees three brothers who have committed a bank robbery go to their mother’s home where they find out she has been evicted and a load of young people are having a party. But when their sadistic mother (Rebecca De Mornay, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle) shows up, the torture 'fun’ really begins.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 49% (average)
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $19.09 (DVD), $17.96 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars, Video 3 stars, Audio 3.5 stars, Extras 1.5 stars, Replay 2 stars (out of 5). Rent It.



Reykjavik to Rotterdam (DVD)

Directed by Óskar Jónasson
Written by Arnaldur Indriðason, Óskar Jónasson
Starring: Baltasar Kormákur, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Lilja Nótt Þórarinsdóttir

What’s the Deal?
A few weeks ago, the Mark Walhberg actioner Contraband was released on DVD and Blu-ray. Now, the Icelandic movie it was based on, entitled Reykjavik to Rotterdam, has earned a DVD release in North America. Kristopher (Baltasar Kormákur, the director of Contraband) is an ex-smuggler who has been released from prison and becomes a security. But under financial pressure he returns to his smuggling ways for one last job with his ex-partners.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): N/A
Player Affinity Score: N/A

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $11.93 (DVD)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A




Underworld: The Legacy Collection (Blu-ray)

Underworld
Directed by Len Wiseman
Written by Danny McBride (screenplay), Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, Danny McBride (story)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy

Underworld: Evolution
Directed by Len Wiseman
Written by Danny McBride (screenplay), Len Wiseman, Danny McBride (story)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Derek Jacobi, Bill Nighy

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Directed by Patrick Tatopoulas
Written by Danny McBride, Dirk Blackman, Howard McCain (sceenplay), Danny McBride, Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman (characters)
Starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Kevin Grevioux, Steven Macintosh

Directed by Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Written by Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, J. Michael Straczynski, Allison Burnett, Danny McBride, Kevin Grevioux
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Sandrine Holt, Theo Jones, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea

What’s the Deal?
The release of Underworld: Awakening also means we get a Blu-ray box-set of the whole “Underworld” series. Despite negative critical reception for all four entries, the series has developed a share of fans and  provided us with stylistic action,  mythology, hot women in PVC and the likes of Kate Beckinsale, Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy. Creator Len Wiseman has gone on to direct Live Free or Die Hard and the upcoming Total Recall remake.

Underworld
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 31% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 7.5/10

Underworld: Evolution
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 16% (awful)
Player Affinity Score: 7.5/10

Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 30% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 7.0/10

Underworld: Awakening
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 29% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 3.8/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: N/A

Amazon Price: $39.96 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Blu-ray)

Directed by Joe Dante
Written by Charles S. Haas (screenplay), Chris Columbus (characters)
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Christopher Lee

What’s the Deal?
The original Gremlins by Joe Dante was a popular movie in the '80s and was one of the movies that helped create the PG-13 rating. A sequel was released in in 1990 but it was not as well-received as the original. In this sequel, Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and his girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) return with Gizmo where the mogwais overtake a skyscraper owned by a media mogul.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 67% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Over 20 Minutes of Footage Not Seen In Theaters; Behind-The-Scenes Documentary; Commentary By Director Joe Dante, Actor Zach Galligan, Writer Charlie Haas and Producer Michael Finnell; Gag Reel; Alternate Home Video Sequence; Theatrical Trailer

Amazon Price: $14.49 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A



Dirty Dancing: 2 Film Collection (Blu-ray)

Dirty Dancing
Directed by Emile Ardolino
Written by Eleanor Bergstein
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Gray

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Directed by Guy Ferland
Written by Boaz Yakin, Victoria Arch (screenplay), Kate Gunzinger, Peter Sagal (story)
Starring: Diego Luna, Romola Garai

What’s the Deal?
Dirty Dancing has been a popular movie for young women since its release thanks to its coming of age love story, its soundtrack and of course the dancing. The original and the sequel are coming onto Blu-ray in a double pack. Now can you can buy a copy and make yourself an alcohol-filled watermelon for your girls’ night in.

Dirty Dancing
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 68% (good)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10

Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 23% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 4.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Dirty Dancing:; Commentary with writer/co-producer Eleanor Bergstein; Commentary with Kenny Ortega, Miranda Garrison, Jeff Jur, Hilary Rosenfield and David Chapman; Kellerman's: Reliving the locations of the film; Dirty Dancing: the phenomenon; Dancing to the music; Tributes: in memoriam - a tribute to Patrick Swayze, Emile Ardolino tribute, tribute to Jerry Orbach; The rythm of the dancing; Photo gallery; Fan reel; Theatrical trailer; Eleanor Bergstein script; Vintage featurette; Trivia track; Dirty Dancing live in concert; Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze; Outtakes; Music video: "Hungry Eyes" "She's Like the Wind" "(I've Had) the Time of My Life"; Multi-angle dance sequence; Cast interviews with Jennifer Grey, Eleanor Bergstein, Miranda Garrison and Kenny Ortega; Originial screen tests ; Deleted, alternate and extended scenes; Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights: Producer and choreogrpaher commentary; Multi-angle dance sequences; Deleted scenes; Baila! a dance piece; Inside Dirty Dancing: Havana nights; Yerba buena music video

Amazon Price: $14.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A