NEWS

DVD Pick of the Week: Stardust

Written by Chris Beaumont
Published December 19, 2007
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It has a strong cast which features Michell Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Claire Danes, and a small role played by the great Peter O'Toole. It was directed by Matthew Vaughn (who first made a splash with the Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) Brit gangster film Layer Cake), from a story by Neil Gaiman (MirrorMask, Beowulf).

The DVD release features include a making of featurette, a blooper reel, and deleted scenes. It is not exactly a fully loaded release, but the film alone makes it a worthy addition.

Also out this week:

  • The Simpsons Movie. I admit that I have not been a big fan of recent seasons and had my doubts going into this. I am glad to report that the movie was fantastic and will make a great gift for that special someone. The DVD comes complete with multiple commentaries, featurettes, and deleted scenes. Very funny flick.
  • Blade Runner. This is finally available in remastered form (yes, there was the single disk released earlier this year, but this is the one we were all waiting for). It is available in a beautiful five-disk set, containing all cuts of the film, and packaged in a numbered briefcase, a four disk set that is only missing the work print version, and a two-disk set only containing the new final cut put together by director Ridley Scott.
  • Halloween. The new re-imagining from Rob Zombie works quite well. No, it is not great, and no, it does not supersede the original. Still, it is an intriguing new look at the classic slasher icon that inspired countless clones. It is available in the theatrical cut and a new unrated cut. There are notable differences, be sure to check out my review.
  • Once. Here is a movie that I had hoped to see on the big screen but missed. I here it is a wonderful musical tale that delivers on all counts. Now is my chance to see it and see if it lives up to the reviews.
  • Underdog. Jason Lee takes on the role of the heroic dog in this enjoyable family flick. It is nothing terribly special and probably not worth adding to your collection (unless you have a child who loves it), but it is worth tossing in the queue for a rental.
  • Rush Hour 3. Easily the worst of the trio. They waited too long to make it and Chris Tucker proves to be supremely annoying and not the least bit funny. Even Jackie Chan looks tired and uninterested in being there.
  • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Vol. Two: The War Years. I never did watch any of these, but many seem to love them. Perhaps I should give it a shot?
  • National Treasure: Two Disk Collector's Edition. Just in time to help promote the sequel that is about to hit the big screen, here comes a special edition to suck your wallet dry.
  • Balls of Fury. Not a great movie by any stretch, but definitely funny. It benefits from a strong cast led by Christopher Walken, Dan Fogler, and James Hong. This martial arts comedy by way of table tennis has a focus and goes for it. Don't look for any redeeming message here.
  • The Last Legion. This would-be epic starring Colin Firth went through theaters in the blink of an eye. Makes one wonder if it is truly worth seeing? Perhaps as a rental.
  • Hatchet. Here is another movie I wanted to see on the big screen. Unfortunately, it never came to my town. If reviews are to be believed, this will be a blast of old school horror. How can you go wrong with a film that has a title that is straight and to the point?
  • The Evil Dead: The Ultimate Edition. This was very nearly my top pick. Yes, a film that has received countless releases over the years. This edition finally puts the proper full frame ratio version back on the market. The Ultimate Edition is a three-disk set with some new featurettes, wide and full screen versions of the film and a third disk of extras. It may be worth it for those wanting the full screen, or for those who never bought it before. This is a low budget horror classic.
  • Illegal Tender. This is straight up B grade material, but it really works. It has an infectious energy and has a bit more depth than one would expect. It also has Wanda DeJesus playing a tough-as-nails mother and Rick Gonzalez (television's Reaper) as her son who has to step up and take action. Definitely worth checking out.

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Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings and Draven99's Media Center.
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DVD Pick of the Week: Stardust
Published: December 19, 2007
Type: News
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Film and TV Business, Video: News
Part of a feature: DVD Pick of the Week
Writer: Chris Beaumont
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Comments

#1 — December 19, 2007 @ 11:48AM — Rebecca Wright [URL]

I can't disagree with your pick. However, I had not seen The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Vol. Two: The War Years, until I recently received a copy. It's top flight stuff and I'll be posting a review soon.

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