How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
May 26, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who wonder "how they did that": Children of Men [Blu-ray]
Based on a 1992 novel by P.D. James, Alfonso Cuarón's 2006 adaptation was an undeniable experience in theaters. Especially in its extended takes, which I only learned after having the pleasure of watching Children of Men that the seemingly impossible-to-film scenes were in fact pieced together from multiple takes.
As Cuarón told Variety in 2007: "Maybe I'm spilling a big secret, but sometimes it's more than what it looks like. The important thing is how you blend everything and how you keep the perception of a fluid choreography through all of these different pieces."
Whatever the case, a Blu-ray version of Children of Men is good news indeed.
Disc includes: The Possibility of Hope (documentary by Alfonso Cuarón), Under Attack featurette, deleted scenes, Theo & Julian featurette, Futuristic Design featurette
For people who want to watch what happens when a movie project goes through over a decade's worth of development hell: Killshot (Widescreen)
So much for that great comeback. Mickey Rourke went from The Wrestler – the fame, the fortune, the awards, basically tapping into the top of his career – to this. Let's file this one under one step forward, two steps back. Granted Killshot went from a bumped release date to straight-to-DVD to movie theater resurrection to one more final release date bump. (And that's the shortened version of things). Even so, blame it on unfortunate timing then.
Based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard, Killshot stars Rourke as Armand "The Blackbird" Degas, a criminal who vengefully seeks to kill the Colsons (Diane Lane and Thomas Jane) after the couple outs his senseless activity to the police.
Disc includes: None
For people who thought Will Ferrell would stop his TV adaptation shenanigans with Bewitched: Land of the Lost: The Complete Series (Limited Edition)
Before Will Ferrell tears it up on the big screen, get a load of Land of the Lost's original source material. The NBC series, which lasted for three seasons from 1974 to 1976, is about a has-been scientist, Dr. Rick Marshall, who gets sucked into a space-time vortex. Without weapons or anything useful on the ready, the doctor is spat out into an alternate world full of menacing dinosaurs and supernatural creatures. Ferrell has been tapped to play that very man.
Disc includes: Sneak peek at the Land of the Lost featurette
For people who can't get enough of that thick, Southern drawl: The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season
A show I have yet to see (though one that has brought in a huge chunk of revenue for TNT and is essentially one of cable's first true hits – besides wrestling), The Closer is the cable net's hottest property, even if it's been on for four years now.
The series stars Kyra Sedgwick as Major Crimes Division Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. Impressively, Sedgwick has been nominated for a SAG, Golden Globe and Emmy award for her performance in every year she's been eligible. She won a Globe in 2007.
Season five starts up June 8th with a premiere episode entitled, "Blood Money." According to creator James Duff, the season-long theme will be "change."
Disc includes: Unaired scenes, gag reel, To Catch a Lie: Observational Tips from an FBI Interrogator, A Day in the Life of a Homicidal Detective: Series Star Corey Reynolds Rides Along with Retired LAPD Detective Mike Berchem
May 26, 2009
Blu-ray
Andrea Bocelli: Vivere Live In Tuscany
Children of Men
Cinderella Man
Diana Krall: Live in Rio
Falling Down
Field Of Dreams
How The Earth Was Made
New in Town
Powder Blue
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (Extended Edition)
Seabiscuit
Shamo
The Sky Crawlers
Spy Game
True Romance
DVD
2008 MLS Cup Championship Game
Andrea Bocelli: Vivere Live In Tuscany
The Closer: Complete Seasons 1-4 (Set)
The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season
Designing Women: The Complete First Season
Diana Krall: Live in Rio
Falling Down (Deluxe Edition)
Ice Road Truckers: The Most Dangerous Episodes
Imaginary Bitches: The Complete First Season
Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series (Thinpack)
Kingdom Under The Sea (Special Edition)
Law & Order Special Victims Unit: Year Nine
New in Town
Powder Blue
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (Extended Edition)
Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Volume 1
Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Volume 1
The Sky Crawlers
True Romance (Director's Cut)
UFO Hunters: Complete Season 3
Universe: Complete Season 3
The Universe: Our Solar System
Where The Red Fern Grows
Where The Red Fern Grows, Part Two
WWE: Backlash 2009