Region 1 DVD Releases for 26th July 2005

Part of: New DVDs

Tonight's episode: "Steele This DVD"

xXx: State of the Union

So we're finally at the point where underperforming summer releases will start showing up on DVD. For those of you who thought you'd have to wait forever to see xXx 2 again, your national nightmare is over. For the rest of us, it has only begun. And why isn't this movie called XXXII?

Now don't get me wrong. I have mad love for Ice Cube. He was awesome in Boyz N the Hood, Three Kings, and Barbershop. But his recent alliance with Revolution Studios (see my rant on them from last week) has produced this and Are We There Yet? And we've only just begun. A remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is on its way!

The Upside of Anger

For those of you who thought the word "upside" should only be followed by the words "your head" comes this Spring charmer about a disenchanted single mom (Joan Allen) and the ex-baseball player (Kevin Costner, in an utterly shocking turn of typecasting) who sweeps her off her booze-guzzling feet.

Critics were more or less enchanted with this Mike Binder written and directed romcom, and Joan Allen is already getting very preliminary Oscar buzz for her part. Costner, not so much, but he'll have another chance at playing the over-the-hill ladies' man this fall in Rumor Has It.

The only special features here are Joan Allen's daughters, played by Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell, and Alicia Witt. Hottest. Family. Ever.

Steamboy: Director's Cut

The only thing more remarkable than the fact that this anime took ten years to make and is from the acclaimed director of Akira, is the fact that when it finally did come out, the reception was kind of lukewarm. The trailer is amazing, and certainly the look of the film is unimpeachable, but the actual content seems to be in dispute. Given that I thought Akira was beautiful and well nigh incomprehensible, I'm not that surprised. Perhaps the fact that this is the director's cut will clear up some things, but I'm not holding my breath.

Included in the extras are "Animation Onion Skins," which I assume are some sort of cells, but may in fact be edible. There's only one way to find out!

Remington Steele: Season One

I don't remember much from Remington Steele, except that it was damn funny, and may very well have been the inspiration for Moonlighting, which came out three years later. Oh, and Pierce Brosnan established himself as the suavest motherfucker on the planet, which wouldn't pay off for another 13 years when he was cast as, imho, a rather underrated Bond.

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Article Author: David Dylan Thomas

David Dylan Thomas is a Philly-based writer/filmmaker who opines voraciously about dem pictures what move on the screen at DavidDylanThomas.com.

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  • 1 - Tan The Man

    Jul 26, 2005 at 12:01 am

    Yea! Upside Of Anger!

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