How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
August 18, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who constantly need reminding that TV siblings Dexter and Dev are actually married: Dexter: The Third Season
Dexter had one of the best debut seasons when it premiered on Showtime in the fall of 2006. I was familiar with its star, Michael C. Hall, during his Six Feet Under days and was blown away by his ability to transform from the tightly wound, gay funeral director David Fisher to the axe-welding, emotionless Dexter Morgan. In 12 quick episodes, the blood spatter specialist by day, serial murderer by night managed to track down Miami's elusive Ice Truck Killer, learn more about his mysterious past and family and keep his deadly secrets, well, a secret – all while juggling a relationship with a beautiful woman whom he can't possibly ever love.
With season two being a bit of a let down (in my eyes), it was up to the pay cabler series' third season to prove that Dexter still had it. Though it takes a good long while to get kick started – about half the season, in fact – Dexter sprints to the finish line with elegance and style.
And after a brief deliberation, I decided the series' junior season to be the show's best yet.
This time around, Dexter mistakenly kills an innocent man in the season opener. Unfortunately for Dexter, the victim happens to be the younger brother of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado, played by the wonderful Jimmy Smits. He's up for a guest actor Emmy, actually, and in my opinion deserves the prize.
Season four kicks off September 27th, with John Lithgow on tap to appear in all 12 episodes as a deadly serial murderer known as the "Trinity Killer".
Disc includes: The first two episodes of The United States of Tara: Season One; First two episodes of The Tudors: Season Three; Interviews with Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez and David Zayas; Dexter by Design (book excerpts)
The obligatory Simpsons plug: The Simpsons: The Twelfth Season (Limited Edition)
For those who are no longer keeping score – I definitely don't blame you – The Simpson's 12th season (episodes 249-269) was the one where a snowstorm traps the kids inside Springfield Elementary, the Williams sisters and company show up after Homer sets up a tennis court out back and the Simpsons check off another continent (Africa) from those they have visited. The Treehouse of Horror (11th to date) had dolphins taking over the world, Bart and Lisa setting up Goldilocks to be killed in a Grimm's Fairy Tales parody and Homer dying after eating a meager piece of broccoli.
Disc includes: Special introduction from Matt Groening, audio commentaries, deleted scenes, animation showcases, Comic Book Guy: Best. Moments. Ever. featurette, The Global Fanfest featurette, The Commercials – Original Sketches featurette
What's Next? A Scream update? Oh, wait...: The Last House on the Left
Prior to picking up his first screenwriting credits in about 15 years with the upcoming release of 25/8, Wes Craven produced a remake of The Last House on the Left, a horror film the famed director originally helmed – his first! – way back in 1972. Released early this year in a spring jammed with other horror-thrillers - The Unborn, The Uninvited, Obsessed and The Haunting in Connecticut among them – The Last House on the Left earned an okay $32.7 million in the States (and another $11 million abroad).
Starring Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter, The Last House on the Left tracks one family's attempt to exact revenge on a group of strangers who have shacked up in their home. Even worse, these same vagabonds shot and left for dead their daughter. How rude.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, Inside Look featurette
For people who frequent biker bars: Sons of Anarchy: Season One
FX's biggest series at the moment isn't the graying Rescue Me or even plastic surgery fav Nip/Tuck, but rather Sons of Anarchy, a biker drama that averaged a huge 5.4 million viewers in its debut season last year (numbers even first-run True Blood episodes can't beat). The show, starring Charlie Hunnam, Katey "hardest name to remember how to spell" Sagal and Ron Perlman, is loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, an influence that Perlman has been quoted in saying the show will probably stick with for the duration of its run.
If its first-season numbers are no fluke, you can expect to see this one hanging around FX for years to come. Season two stars September 8th.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, The Making of Sons of Anarchy: Season One featurette, Casting Sons of Anarchy featurette, The Ink featurette, The Bikes featurette, deleted scenes, Anarchy on the Set featurette
August 18, 2009
Blu-ray
Dexter: Seasons 1-3
Dexter: The Third Season
The Fighter
Go
Hannah Montana: The Movie
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
Julieta Venegas: MTV Unplugged
Kagemusha
The Last House on the Left
The Last Starfighter (25th Anniversary Edition)
Playtime (Criterion Collection)
Sicario: Ejecucion De Mando
Sons of Anarchy: Season One
Surveillance
Tyson
Visions of Britain & Ireland
Visions of Italy
DVD
The Beast: The Complete First Season
Cracker: The Complete Series
Darkside Blues: Complete Collection
Dexter: Seasons 1-3 (Set)
Dexter: The Third Season
Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete & Final 2nd Season
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Deluxe Edition)
Eli Stone: The Complete Second Season
Everybody Hates Chris: The Final Season
The Fighter
Final Destination Thrill-ology
Five Deadly Venoms (Collector's Edition)
Ghost Adventures: Season 1
Go
Gossip Girl: Seasons 1 & 2
Gossip Girl: The Complete Second Season
Hannah Montana: The Movie (Deluxe Edition)
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (Deluxe Edition)
iCarly: Season 2 Volume 1
Inglorious Bastards 2
Julieta Venegas: MTV Unplugged
The Last House on the Left (Unrated)
The Last Starfighter (25th Anniversary Edition)
Man vs. Wild: Season 3
Pete's Dragon (Special Edition)
Playtime (Criterion Collection)
Sex Pot (Special Edition)
Simon & Simon: Season 3
The Simpsons: The Twelfth Season (Limited Edition)
Sons of Anarchy: Season One
Surveillance
The Swan Princess (Special Edition)
Total Drama Island: The Complete First Season
Tyson
UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida
Versus (Special Edition)