How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
October 19, 2010
Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP’s look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: A dude doesn’t like what he sees in the mirror, Whales and dolphins flap around in the ocean and Norman Bates gets a house call from his mother.Pick of the Week
For people who receive things they didn’t ask for: Mirrors 2: Evil Lives
Back in 2008, the Kiefer Sutherland vehicle, Mirrors, outdid its $35 million budget by accumulating more than $77 million in worldwide receipts - $30.6 million of that in the States. With those kinds of numbers, a sequel seemed like a possibility, and a straight-to-video release feels about right.
A loose adaptation of the 2003 South Korean horror movie, Into the Mirror, Mirrors stars Sutherland as an ex-cop who realizes that he and his family are being targeted by an unknown force that is trying to break into their home through mirrors. It’s a movie about vanity, really. Kiefer stares into his own image for about 40% of it.
Anyway, the sequel, coined Evil Lives, is a lot closer to the now seven-year-old Korean film. It, also centered around an ex-cop, is about a man who’s haunted by visions of a young girl in, uh, mirrors. Shortly after, co-workers of his die, too. A comparison can be had between Mirrors 2 and the original movie; Into the Mirror is also included on the disc.
Disc includes: Making Of featurette, The Visual and Special Effects featurette, BonusView: Watch with the Woman in the Mirror, deleted scenes, original Korean film: Into the Mirror
For people who love whale watching: Oceans
Next to puppies messing around with each other in a nest of marshmallow and sunshine, just about nothing captures the heart of the average human heart better than exploring the interactions between and intricacies of the ocean animal. (Well, maybe I can think of a few more). Regardless, I think you get the point.
Oceans opened to a good-for-a-documentary $2.4 million on its first day, and made more than $6 million in its first weekend. Even Michael Moore would give a nod of the head to that one; his last movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, managed just $4.4 million.
Well, now the passion project by director/producer/narrator/line cook Jacques Perrin comes home to Blu-ray, and probably should look gorgeous on your big screens. Made for over $66 million, the docu took more than four years to complete and was filmed in more than 50 locations. I’m supposing the filmmakers didn’t skimp on detail.
Disc includes: N/A
For people who can’t believe the infamous Psycho shower scene occurs in the first quarter or third of the movie: Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition)
That movie with one of my favorite Hitchcock twist endings is celebrating a 50th anniversary this year. (Actually, a June 16th release would have put Psycho at exactly 50 years). As of today, though, even a Blu-ray version of the movie is available on the home media market.
I can’t say converting ‘60s titles to Blu-ray has overwhelmed the market yet, but that certainly seems to be growing in popularity. And why not? With a so-so year at the box office – I haven’t been to the theater much at all in 2010 – it only seems natural to reach into the back catalogs for source material.
Disc includes: N/A
For people who know to use earplugs when listening to loud things: Shonen Knife: Live at Mohawk Place 2009
I’ve very recently seen Shonen Knife live, and boy are they a wily bunch. They sing about absurd things like banana chips and don’t show a lot of variation between songs. It’s catchy and cute J-pop, and really a joy to see in a club or bar. I wouldn’t necessarily put songs of theirs in my home library, but they’d be worth the 10 or so dollars you’d probably have to spend to see them up close.
Shonen Knife is a band, actually, that has been around since 1981. And one of its three founding members – guitarist/lead vocalist/songwriter Naomo Yamano – is still rockin’ hard.
Disc includes: An extended interview
October 19, 2010
Blu-ray
Apocalypse Now (Special Edition)
Assault Girls
The California Kid
Civil War Battlefields
The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos
Eden of the East: The Complete Series
Escape From Colditz
Full Metal Panic Fumoffu: Complete Collection
Guadalcanal: The Island of Death
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Ultimate Edition)
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (Ultimate Edition)
Howling Trilogy
Joe Bonamassa: Live From The Royal Albert Hall
Mirrors 2: Evil Lives Moulin Rouge
Night of the Demons
Oceans
Please Give
Predator (Ultimate Edition)
Predator/Predator 2
Predators
Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Anniversary Edition)
Seven Samurai (Criterion Collection)
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Slayers Evolution: R Volume 5
Slayers Revolution Season 4
Talking To Heaven
Until the Light Takes Us
Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl
Wallander
William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
DVD
2010 U.S. Open Men's Final: Nadal vs. Djokavic
Accidentally on Purpose
Apocalypse Now (Special Edition)
Assault Girls
The Bionic Woman: Season One
Bob Dylan: 1941-1966 Tales From A Golden Age
Colin (Special Edition)
Deadlands 2: Trapped (Extended Cut)
Eden of the East: The Complete Series
Free To Be You And Me: 36th Anniversary Edition (Anniversary Edition)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Ultimate Edition)
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (Ultimate Edition)
Man v. Food: Season Two
Mirrors 2: Evil Lives
Night of the Demons
Oceans
Please Give
Predator (Ultimate Edition)
Predator/Predator 2 (Double Feature)
Predators
Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition)
The Psycho Legacy
The Real L Word: Season One
REO Speedwagon: Not So Silent Night
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Anniversary Edition)
Seven Samurai (Criterion Collection)
Shonen Knife: Live at Mohawk Place 2009
Tales From The Darkside: The Complete Series (Set)
Tales from the Darkside: The Final Season
Until the Light Takes Us (Deluxe Edition)
Wallander
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