DVD Pick of the Week: Hot Fuzz - Page 2

Co-writers Edgar Wright (who also directed) and Simon Pegg have crafted a story that develops characters that we can genuinely feel for while peppering their dialogue with comedic touches both blatant and subtle. It is a movie that has as many hidden jokes as it does overt silliness. It is a film that is not constrained by its genre roots, gleefully taking those conventions, turning them on their ear and then blasting them back out onto the screen.

Extras include deleted scenes with optional commentary, audio commentary with Pegg and Wright, storyboards, a trivia track, outtakes, and a making of featurette.

Also out this week:

• 300. This is visionary filmmaking, this is the beginning of legend. This is not a factual retelling — what it is is amazing, it's action-filled and just a blast to watch. It is available in single disk and two-disk special editions.
• Babylon 5: The Lost Tales. New Babylon 5 is here. Fans have been waiting a long time for this; the wait is over.
• Pathfinder. Decent action, but not a terribly good movie. Rental only.
• Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension). Another collection of Warner Brothers classics.
• Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938. Last week brought a Woody Woodpecker collection, this week brings some more classic theatrical toons to the DVD format.
• 20 Million Miles to Earth: 50th Anniversary Edition. The Ray Harryhausen classic remastered for its anniversary, it also includes a Harryhausen supervised colorized version. Not sure I like that....
• Roving Mars. An IMAX documentary that brings a great look at the Mars rover missions.
• The Darwin Awards. This is the fictional movie that takes you inside those devious awards. They have to be investigated in order to be considered, and Winona Ryder and Joseph Fiennes do that investigation.
• Dead Clowns. Gory zombie clowns wreaking havoc. How can you go wrong?
• Kung Fu Hustle: Axe Kickin' Edition. The edition that was released in the US was a cut version, this is the original Hong Kong cut.

So, what are you going to spend some time with?

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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