How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
July 8, 2008
BoxOfficeProphets.com
PICK OF THE WEEK
For people who go on archaeological digs: The Ruins (Unrated Edition)
Adapted by Scott Smith from his own 2006 suspense novel, The Ruins tells the story of a group of hot, young people (of course) who become unsuspecting victims from a trip to the Cancun that goes terribly, terribly wrong. While atop a pile of Mayan ruins, the young ones are slowly outsmarted by a spectacular (albeit quite supernatural) vine. Its abilities include launching instant attacks on any given target, perfectly replicating sounds and voices and other absurdities. I didn't get around to seeing the adaptation, but the acclaimed novel is quite good (as far as suspense-thrillers can be, at least). Though critics, including myself, seemed to like the novel, criticism was a bit harsher on the adaptation, with just 52 percent of critics giving the film a positive review, according to RottenTomatoes. Although for suspense, that's about as good as you can muster, unless you're named Silence of the Lambs.
Disc includes: Commentary by director Carter Smith and editor Jeff Betancourt, Making the Ruins featurette, Creeping Death featurette, Building the Ruins featurette, additional scenes, alternate ending, six extra minutes than the theatrical cut, trailers.
For people who think there's no cause for concern in continuing to drive their gas guzzling Land Rovers: 10.5: Apocalypse/Category 7: End of the World
Broadcasted on NBC in May 2006, miniseries 10.5: Apocalypse, sequel to the 2004 miniseries about a series of catastrophic disasters wreaking havoc on the United States, surely had viewers going absolutely wild over its destructive special effects – did they really just cut this fine country in half? Three days later, Al Gore put ManBearPig hunting on hold by releasing An Inconvenient Truth, and people didn't find this global warming business all that entertaining anymore. Case in point, NBC has yet to squeeze another miniseries out of its original idea. And the same goes for CBS, whose Category 7: End of the World, sequel to the equally destructive Category 6: Day of Destruction, has yet to spawn more calamitous offspring. Even so, both sequels are available today in one bundled package.
10.5: Apocalypse disc includes: Bare bones.
Category 7: End Of The World disc includes: Bare bones.
For people who like stealing things: Fastlane: The Complete Series
Oh Kelly Kapowski, how you've grown. Here, former Saved by the Bell star Tiffani Thiessen plays a harpy police lieutenant for a secretive division of the LAPD, while keeping two mismatched cops (Peter Facinelli and Bill Bellamy) under constant check. The series, about undercover officers who take down dangerous evildoers with a surplus of stolen cars and weapons at their disposal, was abruptly cancelled by Fox after a single season way back in 2003. High production costs, which covered its excessive explosions and guest star appearances, were said to be the root cause of why the network brought out the ax. However, the crime drama lives on through DVD, with the complete series being made available today.
Disc includes: Hot Stuff: Inside the Candy Store - Evolution of a Series featurette, Stunning Rides - Muscle Machines and Kit Cars featurette, Smoking Stars - The Cast featurette, Sizzling Action: Stunts and Chases featurette, bloopers, unaired and extended scenes.
For people without real weekend plans: Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Fourth Season
Originally a mere spinoff of the now-defunct Stargate SG-1, which itself is a televised spinoff of the original 1994 feature film, Stargate Atlantis has quietly made a name for itself over at the Sci-Fi network, with the series' 20-episode fifth season set to begin just a few days from now. As its name implies, Stargate Atlantis focuses on a human expedition to the lost city of Atlantis, located in the Pegasus Galaxy, according to the show's mythology. With this exploration comes human contact with powerful enemies, like the Wraith and Genii, both of which battle the humans who are trying to uncover Atlantis' secrets.
For those not typically around on a Friday night to watch new episodes, save for the most serious of fanboys (aka single men), now's your chance to get all caught up on DVD since all previously-aired seasons are now available.
Disc includes: Commentaries on every episode, A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis featurette, Mission Directive: Doppelganger with Robert C. Cooper featurette, The Doctor Is In: The Return of Paul McGillion featurette, Mission Directive: This Mortal Coil with Will Waring featurette, Mission Directive: Quarantine with Martin Wood featurette, Mission Directive: Outcast with Andy Mikita featurette, The Making of Trio featurette, A Look Back at Season 4 featurette, bloopers, deleted scenes, photo gallery, production design gallery.
For people who are tired of gritty cop dramas: Psych: The Complete Second Season
Launched in 2006 to more than six million viewers, comedy Psych quickly became appropriate, complementary programming for USA Network's other hit detective series, Monk. The series stars James Roday as faux-psychic Shawn Spencer, whose heightened observational skills landed him a job as a crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Former West Wing star Dule Hill plays his best friend, Burton "Gus" Guster. At this point, I've got no real qualms to speak of with this light comedy, except that Roday's contemplative, I'm-pretending-to-be-a-psychic face annoys me to no end (see all promos and/or publicity photos related with this show). Season three starts up next week.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, Where's the Pineapple featurette, The Name Game, Psychouts, Lil' Shawn and Gus webisodes.
For people who will boldly see any film at the movie theater for the sake of getting out of the house: Superhero Movie (Extended Edition)
If nothing else, the fine folks behind the Scary Movie franchise, Date Movie, Epic Movie, and the like really do offer something back to greater society. No, I'm not talking about the actual finished product – here, it's Superhero Movie – but rather the comically cruel movie reviews that pile up faster than the automobile carnage at a demolition derby. Memorable examples include: "This parody film plagiarizes Spider-Man to virtually laughless effect" and "Essentially a retread of every bad grade-school joke you're happy to have forgotten." Then there's James Lane, of Sacramento News & Review, who had nothing better to say than "...the gags just lie there and die..."
Seriously, don't tell me you went out and saw this one, a comedy spoof on many superhero movies, but mostly the first Spider-Man (which in itself is odd, considering that movie came out like seven years ago). But if you did see Superhero Movie in theaters AND enjoyed the thing – which accounts for probably 0.0003 percent of you – you'll be happy to know director Craig Mazin already announced that a sequel is in the works. So thanks to you, incompetent viewer of the American movie-going public!
Disc includes: Audio commentary with writer-director Craig Mazin and producers David Zucker and Robert K. Weiss, deleted scenes, alternative ending, Meet the Cast featurette, The Art of Spoofing featurette.
July 8, 2008
American Zombie
Annie Oakley (Boxed Set)
Atheism Tapes
Atonement / Pride & Prejudice (Side-By-Side)
Bangin'
Bat Without Wings (Widescreen)
Batman: Gotham Knight (Special Edition)
The Batman: The Complete Fifth Season
Betty Boop (Boxed Set)
Blood Brothers
Cannon: Season One, Volume One
Coldplay: Phenomenon (Widescreen)
Death of a Ghost Hunter
Death on Demand
December Ends (Full Screen)
Detroit Red Wings: 2007-2008 Stanley Cup Champions
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: Season 3
Fantasy Films Tin (Set)
Flakes (Widescreen)
For the Love of Dolly (Widescreen)
Hopalong Cassidy (Set)
I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Fifth Season
Iggy & The Stooges: Escaped Mania
Impact Point (Widescreen)
Jake and the Fat Man: Season One, Volume One
Jet Li's Fearless (Includes Movie Cash)
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
Journey to the Center of the Earth (Widescreen)
The Key
Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti Classic Album
Left Behind: Collection (Set)
Linkin Park: From A Whisper To A Scream
Monk: Season 6
The Pledge (Widescreen)
Rhythm & Blues
The Ricky Nelson Story
Ringo Starr: Live On Tour (Widescreen)
Sheryl Crow: In Concert (Widescreen)
Sleepwalking
Soul Food: The Complete Series (Set)
Soul Food: The Final Season
Sting: Jamaica 2003
Stop-Loss
Teen Titans: The Complete Fifth Season
This Kiss (Widescreen)
Toxic (Widescreen)
The Tracey Fragments
U2: Phenomenon (Widescreen)
Welcome To Amish America
Wire In The Blood: The Complete Fifth Season
The X Files: The Complete Eighth Season
The X Files: The Complete Fifth Season
The X Files: The Complete First Season
The X Files: The Complete Fourth Season
The X Files: The Complete Ninth Season
The X Files: The Complete Seventh Season
The X Files: The Complete Sixth Season
The X Files: The Complete Third Season
The X-Files: Revelations (Includes Movie Cash)
The X-Files: The Complete Second Season