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New on DVD

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: It’s a Very Sunny Christmas
Unrated but contains adult content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Danny DeVito and gang at the FX original series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia are premiering a not-fit-for-cable special premiering on DVD and Blu-ray this Christmas featuring the guys and girl from the worst bar in Philly as they celebrate Christmas in the worst ways they possibly can.  All they really want is nice, pleasant Christmas tradition to call their own when they realize that all of their traditions are less than desirable.  This 45 minute special, directed by Fred Savage, contains some some-splitting laughs including a set piece with DeVito that made me laugh so hard I had to press pause until I could catch my breath.  The gag was a copy from Ace Ventura 2, but worked so much better at a Christmas party than at a wild game park.  This is such an offensive show, and there is neither a redeeming quality amongst a single one of the characters, nor a full brain between them for that matter, and because of that, the comedy works so much better like this when they aren’t censored.  A

Funny People 
Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When famous movie star George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is diagnosed with cancer, he hires a young comedian (Seth Rogen) to write jokes for him, live with him, and basically take care of him.  Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin) was on quite a roll until this gamble didn’t pay off in theaters.  It’s not that it’s a bad film.  Quite the contrary.  In my opinion, the box office didn’t hit because of two reasons: they don’t like to see Adam Sandler as a jerk and they don’t find cancer comical.  It’s a tough sell.  Those who saw the film were rewarded with an overall heartwarming experience with as many tears as laughs and Sandler’s image was only slightly tainted.  One thing Apatow is excellent at is making sure his DVDs are full of extras and this one is the most packed yet.  I watched for what seemed like hours and still didn’t get through it all.  And I found it most of it enjoyable.  Whether it be the new unrated edition, the hour’s worth of deleted scenes, hour’s worth of extended scenes, stand up comedy, or other miscellaneous documentaries, this thing is loaded down and well worth the dollars spent.  If you are a fan of stand up comedy, I will go as far as to say this is a must own.  A-

Four Christmases
Rated PG-13 for some sexual humor and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon can’t leave for vacation when their flight is canceled due to weather.  But when a bad turn of luck puts them on TV discussing their misfortune, their four sets of divorced parents see them and demand Christmas visits over the next day.  You might read the premise and say “Wow – that sounds pretty funny – how can they screw that one up?”  Well they did, and big time.  This is one of the dumbest movies that came out last year, with every silly turn feeling more and more forced.  By the time Vaughn plays Joseph in the church play, most of you will have returned the disc to Blockbuster.  Or at least you’ll wish you had.  If you think at that point “It has to get better.”  It doesn’t.  Just get in the car.  Or better yet, don’t pick it to begin with.  F

New on DVD

Gone with the Wind: 70th Anniversary Edition
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
It’s amazing how beautiful a film can look after 70 years when it is as well preserved as this one has been.  And now five years after the last special edition, they have made an even more impressive print.  So should you discard your last set for this new one?  That depends.  If you have blu-ray – absolutely, although I wish they would have released a smaller set, minus the book, that would fit in my collection a little easier.  Also, the two disc DVD set looks nicer, but only includes the same old commentary we’ve listened to before.  So if you are a big fan or a blu-ray collector, it’s probably worth the upgrade, otherwise, save your bucks.  A-

Bruno
Rated R for pervasive crude and strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Sacha Baron Cohen really went all out in regard to pushing the limits of decency and good taste as Bruno, a German fashionista determined to be an American celebrity.  That being said, it is still incredibly funny, and if you watch with the commentary, which I highly recommend, you’ll find out just how brave he really was making this film.  There were a few moments in the film where I was certain his life was in real danger due to his stupidity, and sure enough, I was right.  Also on the disc are the deleted scenes, some of which were not allowed in the film due to being too objectionable.  That was hard to imagine before seeing them.  B+

Thirst
Rated R for graphic bloody violence, disturbing images, strong sexual content, nudity and language
Available on DVD
This Korean vampire film from Oldboy writer/director Chan-wook Park tells the tale of a selfless priest that receives vampire blood during an infusion and is sentenced forever to a new diet.  This is a very violent, very sexual twisted little film, and it’s one of my favorite so far this year.  It has a dark sense of humor with a perverse creativity.  In a quiet home you don’t get the benefit of an inappropriately laughing audience, but it’s still enjoyable just the same.  A

Farscape: The Complete Series
Available on DVD
When an astronaut is hurled across the universe, he finds himself in the middle of an intergalactic conflict.  Dealing with strange alien creatures and dangerous mercenaries, he survived four seasons in this cult-classic Jim Henson Productions TV show which is finally getting an all-in-one box set in time for the holiday.  Sci-fi geeks everywhere will be celebrating.  B

Rome: The Complete Series
Unrated but contains graphic violence, language, sexual content and nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While it only lasted a mere two seasons on HBO, this highly regarded epic sword and sandals series is my absolute favorite television show.  Through the two season, the stories of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Octavian are all told from the point of view of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson).  With brilliant writing, acting, and tremendous production, Rome is an event that we were lucky to have seen and one that we may never see the likes of again.  This new set doesn’t add too much on the DVD side, but the blu-ray has lots more to offer, not to mention an even more beautiful way to look at the ugliness that was Rome.  A+

Fight Club: You Are Not Special Edition
Rated R for disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality and language
Available on Blu-ray
This groundbreaking film starring Brad Pitt and Ed Norton is now ten years old and just as anti-social as ever.  Director David Fincher had a very fun time putting this blu-ray together, which should make it a very popular addition to many libraries.  You don’t watch a film like this for it’s stunning look, although the high def does add to the enjoyment, but the vast amount of special features, including a recent night out with Mel Gibson and some shocking deleted scenes, make this a great set to check out.  A

New on DVD

Up
Rated PG for some peril and action
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Pixar’s epic adventure of an elderly man that attaches thousands of helium balloons in order that he might realize his lifelong dream of traveling to South America, makes its home video debut in grand fashion this week.  Truly one of the most spectacular films to be released this year, Up is an emotionally impactful picture that plays as well with multiple viewings as it does on the first.  What’s more, it is a film that pretty much everyone will love, children, parents, grandparents, doesn’t matter.  This film hits a chord with its entire audience which is one of the reason why it is one of the top grossing films of all time at almost $300 million domestic box office.  I highly recommend getting the 2 DVD or blu-ray special editions due to the great special features found on them, including several documentaries showing the intense attention to detail and a wonderful look at man’s best friend.  Also out this week is a new blu-ray release of Monsters, Inc (still my personal favorite Pixar flick), and a new Cars collectors set including two die-cast collector cars. A+

The Accidental Husband
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief strong language
Available on DVD
Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is as happy as can be thinking he is about to get married, until he discovers his wife received advice from a radio talk show host (Uma Thurman), convincing her to leave him.  In order to get revenge, he convinces a friend to hack into the city records, and creat a fake marriage between he and the radio show host, keeping her from getting to her fiance (Colin Firth).  This straight to DVD romantic comedy has its moments, but due to predictability and not being very funny, it’s a tough pill to swallow.  Apparently, the premise was realistic according to a making-of feature on the disc, but it seems so outlandish and frankly a fiance that leaves for the silly reason as the one in the beginning here would warrant good riddance rather than revenge. C

Discovery Atlas: Complete Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this series, Discovery Channel travels to eleven countries, including France, Japan, Mexico, and India, and shows a unique perspective of each country by looking at its people, colors, and flavors and what makes them special.  This is not your typical travel documentary and what I like most about it is that instead of showing the similarities between their world and ours, it shows what makes their part of the world truly magical.  Information-wise the content is great, but aesthetically, the look is stunning.  If you are a world traveler, this might be one you might want to add to your collection. A

The Echo
Rated R for violence, disturbing images and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
An ex-con moves into his deceased mother’s apartment in New York City where he discovers that there is a ghost haunting the unit, and his life is in danger until he can figure out the spirit wants.  While not a great film, the pic does what a horror film is supposed to do – it scares.  And it’s not the “boo” scare either, but rather a nice, lingering creepiness that helps you forget the bad acting and lack of rational thought from the script. B-

New on DVD

North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition
Not Rated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this Hitchcock classic Carey Grant is Roger O. Thornhill, a mild-mannered advertising executive who is mistaken for an undercover agent named George Kaplan.  This case of mistaken identity sets him off on a dangerous adventure around the country with some of the most memorable set pieces in movie history such as a plane attacking him in a cornfield with nowhere to hide and the grand finale at Mount Rushmore.  If you have seen this film you will probably agree that this is one of the most entertaining films ever made.  If you haven’t seen it then shame – get it!  This new edition is loaded down with special features including a commentary by screenwriter Ernest Lehman, a brand new documentary on Hitchcock and a music only score featuring the composition of Bernard Hermann.  A+

The Maiden Heist
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, nudity and brief fantasy violence
Available on DVD
Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, and William H. Macy are security guards for a museum determined to steal pieces that they can’t live without when they discover that the exhibit is moving to Europe.  This is one of those of the films that you hate not to like.  The three have good enough chemistry, but the script is just not that great and the film lacks the energy needed to keep the pacing up.  I’m not sure why Sony decided to go straight to DVD with this one being that it might have had a small art house crowd, especially amongst older audiences.  C

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection
Available on Blu-ray
This collection of all six Rocky films on blu-ray sounded a little hoakie at first, but after digging in I forgot just how fun the Rocky franchise has been.  The first Rocky was a truly ground-breaking film and the second a great compliment.  But then how can you not love Rocky taking on Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren in 3 and 4 as well?  The films were total formula but the formula works.  Rocky 5 was a stinker, but 6 was tight and to the point.  Containing both brilliance and cheese in the same box set, this is a terrifically entertaining set of fight pics.  A-

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This IMAX documentary film about how mummies were discovered and created is a fascinating and stunningly filmed look at a world very few people will be familiar with.  Using historical recreations to dramatize the ancient Egyptian world and modern science to unravel the mummies’ secrets (no pun intended) the film should provide an interesting educational experience for kids and adults.  What’s most surprising is how much is packed into only 39 minutes of film.  The only negative is they tried too hard to show how the mummies of old were helping medicine of today and the link seemed a little weak.  If anything, it wasn’t interesting enough to put into an IMAX presentation.  B

Say Anything: 20th Anniversary Edition
Rated PG-13
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
It’s hard to believe that twenty years have passed since this classic high school romance hit screens.  John Cusack was just an unambitious teenager who wanted to date the smartest girl in school, played by Ione Skye.  The two had an unbelievable chemistry, which played against a Peter Gabriel soundtrack that most of us around my age can still recite even now.  This new edition holds up great.  The movie looks like a period piece that was made yesterday, except with a starry-eyed Cusack.  The disc is full of special features including an engaging trivia track that plays while you are watching the film and a great interview with director Cameron Crowe.  A

New on DVD

Whatever Works
Rated PG-13 for sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Larry David, pretending to be Woody Allen in this Allen film, is an old curmudgeonly man with a negative disposition and a terrible outlook on life.  One night he meets a young naive girl from the south played by Evan Rachel Wood who convinces him to let her live in his house until she can get up on her feet.  The two are polar opposites but have an almost neutralizing effect upon one another as the relationship goes from unfriendly to friendly to fatherly to possibly something else.  Starting out you could swear that this was going to be nothing but an uncomfortable yet funny comedy about a jerky old man set in his ways, but over the course of the film it lightens up rather quickly and turns a direction that you just don’t see coming.  At the very least it’s unpredictable.  At the most it’s rather funny and at times hilarious.  Larry David doesn’t have to be anyone but himself here and that’s just fine for this character.  While none of the acting is outrageously great, Wood and her mother, played by Patricia Clarkson, are both a hoot.  And for those of you that insist that you can’t put up with more than thirty minutes of Larry David at a time – good news – he disappears in the second act for a very large chunk of the movie.  And with this ensemble you don’t even miss him.  B+

Orphan
Rated R for disturbing content, some sexuality and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When a couple loses their third child during birth, they decide to adopt a young Russian girl to make up for the loss.  Unfortunately for them, the new addition is a saint to their face, but a demon behind their backs and a real danger to their family.  I was hesitant to see this one after star Vera Farmiga’s last creepy child movie Joshua was such a let down.  I have to admit that this one is a much better attempt at the genre though.  While the husband, played by Peter Sarsgaard is annoying in his ignorance, Vera and the little girl, played by Isabelle Furhman put on a nice little show with plenty of scares and chilling scenes.  Please take note of the R on this one though as this is a very violent, dark film with a little child doing things she shouldn’t be doing.  I can easily see folks grabbing it off of the shelves thinking it to be a PG-13 and wondering what they got themselves into.  B

Prisoner: The Complete Series
Available on Blu-ray
This popular British series follows a former top-secret operative who is abducted and thrown into a place known only as “The Village.”  Village residents are given numbers instead of names and each is held captive because of the knowledge they possess.  Now known only as Number Six, he battles to protect himself, discover the identity of Number One, and hopefully escape.  The convoluted plot and innovative style earned this TV show cult status in the 60s and now that it is being released on Blu-ray with a transfer from the original film elements and a newly remixed 5.1 surround track, it stands to attract its audience back and maybe pick up some new fans along the way.  The five-disc set includes way more special features than I had time to dive into, but should make any fan very happy.  Overall, I can see why folks liked this show and I’m actually anxious to see what AMC does with the new miniseries The Prisoner it is premiering in November.  A-

Dogfights: The Complete Series
Available on DVD
The History Channel recreates some of the most famous aerial dogfights from past, present and future in this 10 disc box set.  In Season One, they take a look back at the sky battles that took place in Guadalcanal, Korea, and Vietnam.  In Season Two, they take a look back at the great fights of World War One, where dogfights began, through Desert Storm.  Finally in Dogfights of the Future, they take a look at what our boys in uniform will have in store.  Overall, this is 23 hours of time-killing guilty pleasure that will have you glued to your TV in fascination.  It’s almost weird the addictive power this show has, and how fun it is to watch, even if you are like me and know nothing at all about planes.  A-