Written and compiled by The Film Nest guest contributor “FightinIrish” (peep him in the Comments section)
This weeks Blu-ray releases sees a couple of new classics from the Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg/Nick Frost team, an underseen (if completely justified) Seth Rogen film, new Criterions and some classic Star Trek adventures.
Please know anything you buy through use of the attached links goes toward supporting us at The Film Nest. Thanks in advance.
Much like the with Armageddon and Deep Impact, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line, this year Hollywood double dipped the movie chip, with mall cops. This is the Dante’s Peak to Paul Blarts’ Volcano. Take that for what you will. Did anyone see this movie (aside from our reviewer)? Probably not considering its small box office take, I know I didn’t, so now’s your chance to enjoy the hilarity of Seth Rogan, Anna Faris, and Ray Liotta in Blu-ray glory.
Specs: Picture-in-picture commentary track with Seth Rogan, Anna Faris, and director Jody Hill; Additional scenes; Forest Ridge Mall: Security Recruitment Video; Basically Training – Hollywood’s Latest Loose-Cannon Action Star Unleashed; Seth Rogen and Anna Faris Unscripted; Gag reel; BD-Live; Digital copy
Recipe for a Hollywood romantic comedy, take 1 part Matthew McConaughey, 1 part attractive female lead (in this case a Jennifer Garner will do), mix it in a bowl with love, deception and reconciliation for just under 90 minutes and serve. Of the rom-coms released this summer, I had little interest in this and so did most of you. Check it on Blu-ray for a night with your special lady friend.
Specs: Recreating the Past, Imagining the Future; It’s All About Connor: The Legends, The Lessons, and The Ladies; BD-Live; A Sea of Women
Terra means earth, land or dirt. If you pick up this BD and find the film to be worth more than that, consider yourself one up on everybody else.
Specs: Making of Featurette; Audio commentary with director Aristomenis Tsirbas; Deleted Scenes; Original Storyboards
If you haven’t seen this film, there is something truly wrong with you. Quite possibly the best zombie movie ever made, and it’s a comedy, much like last weeks’ release of An American Werewolf in London being the best werewolf movie ever. Edgar Wright’s direction, along with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost combine for a classic. Horror and comedy combine like chocolate and peanut butter in HD. Definitely a must own.
As a side note, I’ve seen this and Hot Fuzz at Best Buy for a few weeks, did someone break street date?
Specs: Audio Commentary with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright; Audio Commentary with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield and Lucy Davis; Audio Commentary with Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton; Audio Commentary with Zombies; Storyboards; Zomb-o-Meter; Missing Bits; Extended Bits; TV Tidbits; Zombie Gallery; Trailers; BD-Live; D-Box Enabled
The combination of Edgar Wright’s direction and the comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return in this homage to shoot-em-up action flicks. Not as good as Shaun of the Dead, but still a blast. Quick editing, the 2nd best James Bond, and an over-the-top shoot-out make this a keeper. And anyone that enjoys the over-the-top stupid fun action of Bad Boys II is all right in my book.
Specs: Audio Commentary with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright; Audio Commentary with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost; Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kevin Eldon and Olivia Colman; Audio Commentary with Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino (you read that right); Audio Commentary with Kenneth Cranham, Timothy Dalton; Paul Freeman and Edward Woodward; Audio Commentary with “The Real Fuzz”: Andy Leafe and Nick Ekland; The Fuzzball Rally – Uncut; Fuzz-o-Meter; Storyboards; Conclusive: We Made ‘Hot Fuzz;’ Speculative: Video Blogs; Forensic: Featurettes; Photographic: Galleries; Hearsay: Plot Holes and Comparisons; Special Effects: Before and After; Falsified: ‘Dead Wright;’AM BLAM: Making ‘Dead Wright;’ Dead Right and MUCH MORE
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
Rob Zombie’s first animated film, based on the comic book he created of the same name. I had hopes for Zombie as a director, saw House of 1000 Corpses and somewhat enjoyed The Devils Rejects for what it was, but I have been frustrated with his Halloween efforts. I might give this a spin on Netflix. With the voice talents of Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson and Zombie’s usual suspects, who knows? Worth a Netflix spin, but little more. If you want to line his pockets with cash, just wait for his new album dropping in November. Some say it’s an X-rated Scooby Doo. Mmm…Daphne.
Specs: Animatics; Deleted scenes; Alternate scenes
Val Kilmer, Sharon Stone, Michael Beihn and 50 Cent…YES?! No. Cop drama, lies, and bad acting by actors past their prime and rappers no one likes anymore. Who wants some?
Specs: Audio Commentary; Featurette; Trailer
The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
Previously released by Criterion on DVD comes this great music/documentary Blu-ray, taking us back to 1967 in Monterey, California for a weekend of musical ecstasy. With performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, The Mamas & The Papas, The Who and future 5th Beatle, Ravi Shankar, this is a trip in musical history. Highlight is Jimi Hendrix doing his now infamous guitar sacrifice by fire. Classic.
Specs: Additional 2 hours of performances; Audio commentary; Interviews; Photo Essay; Trailers; Monterey Pop Scrapbook
Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection
Here you get all 4 of the Next Gen Trek films (Generations, First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis), loaded with extras for each. Find out where the rank among other Trek films, here. Live long and prosper.
Specs: Audio commentaries; Featurettes; Library Computer; Storyboards; Galleries; Trailers; Star Trek IQ and MUCH MORE
I went through a period in college when I attempted to watch all Criterion released DVDs. I didn’t make it through and I’d be lying if I said it had nothing to do with French new wave films by Jean-Luc Godard, like this one. Although this, I never saw. For fans of his style, I’m sure this’ll be a good one.
Specs: New video interview with actor Anna Karina; A “Pierrot” Primer, a new video program with audio commentary by filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin; Godard, l’amour, la poésie, a fifty-minute French documentary about director Jean-Luc Godard and his work and marriage with Karina; Archival interview excerpts with Godard, Karina, and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo; Theatrical trailer
See the original, which started it all. Although it’s not Godzilla and related to his distant monster cousin, King Kong, I recall this exchange of dialogue from “The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror III.” Carl: Hey, I heard we’re going to Ape Island. Lenny: Yeah, to capture a giant ape. I wish we were going to Candy Apple Island. Charlie: Candy Apple Island? What do they got there? Carl: Apes, just not as big.
Specs: Audio commentary by Godzilla experts Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski; Featurettes: “The Making of the Godzilla Suit,” “Godzilla: Story Development”
Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
All four individual Star Trek films released this week rank in the top four slots of our Star Trek film ranking. Coincidence? I think not.
Shaun of the Dead is clutch indeed. Thanks for the write up. Props to Gojira.